John 5 and the Creatures Invade Mickey’s Black Box in Lititz, PA – 2/13/24 – Review and Photos by Sharon Sipple
- Sharon Sipple
- February 17, 2024
- Latest Concert Photos, Show Reviews
- John 5, Mickey's Black Box, Sharon Sipple, Sticks n' Stones
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John 5 brought his solo tour with the Creatures to Mickey’s Black Box in Lititz PA. It is safe to say that this was one of the most anticipated shows of the year at Mickey’s. The day of the show featured the first major snow in over 2 years. The weather did not keep most from being able to make it.
Sticks n’ Stones from Toronto, Ontario opened the evening with their heavy rock style. They played 9 songs in their set. The crowd was very receptive. The band is young, but has good stage presence and great chemistry. It was obvious they were having a great time on stage. I think we will hear more from this band in the future.
I really wanted to see John 5, but came into the night not knowing what to expect. I had seen him with Rob Zombie. Of course I knew that he will now be touring with Motley Crue. But, I had never attended a show headlined by a guitarist. All I can say is WOW! From the moment John 5 walked onto the stage, he had the audience in the palm of his hand, mesmerizing them with his guitar skills. When he did finally speak to the audience, it was with a very soft voice. It is obvious that rather than words, he chooses to speak with his fingers. His alter ego ‘John’ joined him on stage during “I am John5” to the delight of the crowd.
Personally, I was blown away at the number of instruments he played in the show. He used a toy ray gun to play bass, played a small guitar, and even incorporated the banjo. John5 developed his love of music watching “Hee Haw” with his Father when he was a boy, and Roy Clark played the banjo often. This made me chuckle, as my own Father also watched Hee Haw regularly, although I wanted to change the channel.
As he started to wind down the show, he played a few Motley songs, encouraging the audience to sing along, which they did. The minute he struck the first note of each song, the audience knew what was coming! It was a very cold night, and when it was time for the encore, John 5 said that instead of doing a traditional encore, they would just keep playing and started taking audience requests. The show wrapped with white John 5 balloons, and some pyro.
I left the venue with a new appreciation for this man’s talent. While he certainly has a reputation for his ability to shred, I do think it gets overshadowed when you see him as part of a band. If you get the opportunity to catch John 5 and the Creatures, you won’t be sorry! The current solo tour wraps March 1. You can then catch John 5 out on the road with Motley Crue in the coming year.
