Warehouse Live Midtown in Houston witnessed a long-awaited reunion in the rock world on the night of May 9th as Brother Cane, along with Black Heart Saints and local band Thrower, delivered an electrifying performance that shook the foundations of the venue. Anticipation was high for the return of Brother Cane, which had not appeared on stage as a band here in the Houston area since 1998. As soon as teasers for a reunion filtered out on social media, excitement started to grow that the tour might have a stop in H-town along its way. Founding Brother Cane member and lead guitarist/vocalist Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders and most recently Lynyrd Skynyrd) even mentioned that he was amazed at all the replies to the reunion tour post asking for a show in Houston. Joining Damon in the Brother Cane lineup was fellow founding member and bassist Glen Maxey. Rounding out this lineup were Tony Higbee on guitar and Jarred Pope on the drums (both members of The Tom Keifer Band) along with Buck Johnson on keyboard/backing vocals (Aerosmith, Hollywood Vampires and Whiskey Falls).

    Local band Thrower took the stage first and proceeded to show the Warehouse Live Midtown audience why they should be expecting to see them more frequently in and around town soon. Despite being a local band, their commanding stage presence and tight musicianship left a lasting impression on the audience, earning them enthusiastic applause and cheers. You can catch Thrower who will be joining Saliva, Drowning Pool and Above Snakes on the SNAFU Le Tour 2024 which starts this month in Nashville, TN.

    Following Thrower's performance, Black Heart Saints took the stage with a vengeance, unleashing a sonic assault of blistering guitar solos, thunderous drums, and soaring vocals. Having been formed in Austin in 2014 this foursome features musicians Josh LeBlanc on vocals, Mark Sean on lead guitar, Ian C.G. on bass and wildman Nathan Flores on drums.

    Their hard-hitting set captivated the crowd from start to finish, with highlights including their new single “Human Xstacy” and the classic songs "Sledgehammer" and “Immigrant Song” both performed as what can only be described as in the metal style of Black Heart Saints. Bravo! By the time they left the stage, the audience was primed and ready for the main event.

    As the anticipation reached a fever pitch, Brother Cane emerged under a cascade of lights and smoke, ready to deliver a performance that would leave a lasting mark on Warehouse Live Midtown. From the opening chords of "Horses & Needles," it was clear that the band was firing on all cylinders, their raw energy and undeniable charisma igniting a firestorm of excitement among the crowd.

    Frontman Damon Johnson commanded the stage with effortless swagger, his powerful vocals soaring above the pulsating rhythm section provided by Glen and Jarrod. Guitarist Tony Higbee dazzled the audience with his showmanship and solos, his fingers flying across the fretboard with lightning speed and precision that he is well known for.

    Throughout the set, Brother Cane delivered a masterclass in rock 'n' roll, seamlessly blending their more well-known hard-hitting anthems “That Don’t Satisfy Me” and “Got No Shame” with other classics like "Hard Act to Follow" and "And Fools Shine On". Each song was delivered with passion and conviction, drawing the audience deeper into Brother Cane’s sonic world with every chord and lyric.

    As the night drew to a close, Brother Cane returned to the stage with a special encore performance of Thin Lizzy’s "The Boys are Back In Town.” Damon joked to the crowd after the song that they had played a private party at the request of his cousin the night before in Dallas and that it was attended by over 1,000 partygoers and as soon as they stared playing, he could see members of the audience swiping their phones to see who the hell it was that was performing, since most of them had no clue. Damon stated that they never play a 2-song encore, always ending their show with “Got No Shame.” Damon then announced that for tonight for the first time ever they were going to perform a second song for this night’s encore. Tony then rang in the first chords to the start of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” It was a fitting end to an unforgettable night of music, one that showcased the power of rock 'n' roll to unite and inspire.

    In conclusion, Brother Cane, along with Black Heart Saints and Thrower, delivered a concert experience that transcended expectations, leaving a lasting impression on all who were fortunate enough to be in attendance. With their electrifying stage presence, masterful musicianship, and undeniable passion for their music, they proved once again why they are one of music’s most formidable live rock and roll acts.

A tip of the hat to Warehouse Live Midtown for bringing in this show that I have waited 30 years for.

Brother Cane Setlist:
Horses & Needles
That Don't Satisfy Me
Blinded By The Sun
How Long
I Lie in the Bed I Make
Breadmaker
The Road
Make Your Play
Are You In There Anymore
Woman
Hard Act to Follow
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (ZZ Top cover)
Hung on a Rope
And Fools Shine On
20/20 Faith
Machete
Got No Shame

Encore:
The Boys Are Back in Town (Thin Lizzy cover)
American Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover)