The Hopmonk Tavern in Novato California hosted Turning Jane who was opening for the incomparable John 5. The show was a sold-out event on December 7, 2024 and rightfully so, as this was a stellar evening of entertainment.
Turning Jane was the first band to take the stage opening with “Daydream,” they stunned the crowd from the very first notes. Despite being together for only a year, they played with the cohesion of a much more established band. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, this all-female group truly shredded. As they moved into their next track, “Trouble,” the previously skeptical audience began to rock along with them. By the time they reached “Crucified” and “Honey,” they were firing on all cylinders and clearly enjoying the experience.
After a few songs, the band introduced themselves and shared their connections; the only non-related member was the bass player, who had auditioned to join. Their next song, “The Flame,” rocked hard and led into “Darling.” The energy was contagious, and the crowd couldn’t help but dance as they played. They then launched into “All Because of You,” which featured an amazing drum solo to kick things off. Following that, they delivered a Led Zeppelin medley that included “Whole Lotta Love,” “Black Dog,” and “Stairway to Heaven.” The band figuratively blew the roof off the venue. This was exactly what the crowd was looking for and there was still one more band to come!
Turning Jane Band Members:
Taylor Heart – vocals
Jordii – drums
Marin – bass
Izzy – guitar
Setlist:
1). Daydream
2). Trouble
3). Crucified
4). Honey
5). The Flame
6). Darling
7). Haunted
8). All Because of You
9). Whole Lotta Love / Black Dog / Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin cover)
Coming out to Gene Wilder‘s version of “Pure Imagination,” John 5 launched into “Strung Out” with an awesome guitar riff that shredded. From there, he headed into “Que Pasa,” showcasing his guitar skills as only he could.
That night, it was just him and his drummer, who held down the beat the entire time. The next song was “Crack It,” in which he shredded his guitar with intensity. He then transitioned into “Howdy,” a song with a distinctly country sound and flavor. After that, he put in a light-up mouthpiece and rocked out to “L.A. Express,” complete with several guitar changes and even throwing in a bass guitar.
“I Am John 5” is a self-titled track that absolutely rocked everyone’s socks off. He played it like he was on fire—figuratively, of course. Returning to the country vibe, he performed “How High the Moon,” which earned roaring applause afterward. Following that, John 5 moved into “666,” donning a mask that perfectly suited the song. “First Victim” was a wild track featuring 5-6 guitar changes—simply incredible! “Black Grass” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” followed, with him dominating both songs; the latter turned into a sing-along.
Then he went to the mic and humorously noted, “And that was the first song.” Everyone laughed, and he added an apology to the ladies for their boyfriends dragging them out but assured them that the show was almost over. Next in the set was “The Ghost,” followed by “Cactus Flower,” which he jammed out with a killer style. He then slid into “Season,” returning to rock out and shredded like a madman. After that, bassist Richard Ramirez joined him on stage, and they rocked out some Motley Crüe intros, including “Livewire,” “Too Fast For Love,” “Home Sweet Home,” and “Wild Side,” before finishing up with “Dr. Feelgood” and “Kickstart My Heart.” It was an amazing show—if you missed it, you really missed out!
John 5 Band Members:
John 5 – guitar
Alejandro Mercado – drums
Richard Ramirez – bass
Setlist:
1). Strung Out
2). Que Pasa (John 5 and The Creatures song)
3). Crank It – Living With Ghosts (John 5 and The Creatures song)
4). Howdy (John 5 and The Creatures song)
5). LA Xpress
6). I Am John 5 (John 5 and The Creatures song)
7). How High the Moon (Morgan Lewis cover)
8). Six Hundred and Sixty Six Pickers in Hell, CA
9). First Victim
10). The Black Grass Plague (John 5 and The Creatures song)
11). Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen cover)
12). The Ghost
13). Cactus Flower (John 5 and The Creatures song)
14). Season of the Witch (John 5 and The Creatures song)
15). Mötley Crüe Medley
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Photographer of about 10 years, I have been shooting concerts for about 8 of those years. I started to get serious about concert photography about 6 or 7 years ago and now try to shoot as many as I can. I shoot mostly rock but, have done some country and big band stuff. I love music and since I am nowhere close to being a musician, this is a way I can be a small part of what, in the words of Henry Rollins, “gets me through the highs, the lows and everything in between”.
