Gig Review and Live Photos : Robert Cavuoto
After touring the globe, Black Stone Cherry are bringing The Celebrate Tour to Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ, on November 18th. They are joined by special guests Them Dirty Roses and Ayron Jones. The tour started on November 4th in New Orleans, LA, and sees the band crisscrossing the U.S. with the final show on December 10th in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Kentucky-bred hard rockers draw on their dynamic musical perspectives to deliver a hard-hitting hybrid of the two. The band unites four diverse musicians whose inspirations span an expansive spectrum with Chris Robertson [vocals/guitar], Ben Wells [guitar], Steve Jewell [bass], and John Fred Young [drums].
The Celebrate Tour marks a powerful reunion between the band and their devoted New Jersey fanbase, who are eager to experience the sheer energy and heartfelt emotion that have always defined BSC’s sound. In addition, the band will release a new four-song EP, Celebrate, in March 2026, featuring three original songs and a cover tune.
Tonight’s show promises a setlist that delves into Black Stone Cherry’s rich catalog, featuring timeless hits, fan favorites, and new songs. They hit the Asbury Lanes hard from the onset of the show, with the anthemic “Me and Mary Jane,” with its roaring guitar riffs instantly electrifying the crowd. They rolled straight into a blistering “Burnin’,” with Ben and Steve tearing across the stage, headbanging and whipping up the energy to a fever pitch.
A relentless guitar onslaught fuels a BSC show, courtesy of Chris and Ben. These two guitarists showcased their unique and diverse talents. Ben delivers the hard-rocking, screaming guitar, while Chris counters with a slow-burning blues brilliance. On stage, their playing is explosive like holding a match to gasoline! Mild-mannered and soft-spoken offstage, Ben transforms into a full-blown beast once he hits the stage, headbanging longer and harder than most thrash metal players at a European metal festival. With a voice that effortlessly shifted from silky smooth to thunderously powerful, Chris commanded the stage, captivating the audience with his unwavering singing, playing, and storytelling.
John ensured all songs were timed and paced to perfection, a versatile drummer who seamlessly adapted his playing to suit each song. Steve’s lightning-fast playing handled the low end and knew how to handle a song by playing between the melody and the harmony, which is felt more than heard. During the last song, he and Chris traded instruments mid-song, and Steve handled its tasty guitar solo.
Their setlist covered their 16 songs, including “Cheaper to Drink Alone,” “When the Pain Comes,” and “Stay.” All played with the unbridled passion and energy of when it was originally written. The band also gave fans a preview of what to expect from BSC in the future, performing two songs from their upcoming EP, “Celebrate” and “Neon Eyes.” Both are solid, hard-hitting rock songs that fit nicely with their classics.
As the show neared its finale, the crowd’s energy reached a fever pitch when the world’s best hype man, Ben, told the New Jersey audience they were about to ramp things up for the final three songs. The band launched into their notorious Kentucky trash anthem “White Trash Millionaire,” a wah-wah soaked “Blame It on the Boom Boom,” and closed the night with “Lonely Train.”
Before the show, I caught up with Ben to ask if there were any songs he was looking forward to playing tonight. He shared that when we play “Lonely Train,” which was on our first album, it is still fun and gets people excited. Every show is a new experience, so that any show can be someone’s first show, so even though we have been playing a song for so many years, you have to go into it with the mindset.”
BSC’s no-nonsense, hard-hitting rock hits their fans with the same unmistakable punch as a swig of Kentucky bourbon, smooth at first, then burning all the way down. These bad boys captivate crowds with their raw authenticity, heartfelt emotion, and unwavering message of resilience. Their ability to craft songs that leave an indelible mark on the listener’s soul is a testament to their status as true musical trailblazers, redefining the boundaries of hard rock and southern rock to connect with their audience in a way few other acts can match.
Tickets to their remaining shows can be found here: https://www.blackstonecherry.com/
To pre-order their upcoming Celebrate EP, click here: https://lnk.to/BSC-Celebrate
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