“Experience Hendrix” at Toyota Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT March 29 2025
I was born in 1968, the year Jimi Hendrix was at his zenith of popularity, regarded as a well-known and phenomenal guitarist, who left both fans and famous musicians in awe every time he appeared live on stage. As a teen, I bought his Smash Hits album (after hearing so many of his songs on the radio), which helped me learn how to play the bass guitar. Later on, as an established musician, I played many of his songs in various bands, learning to appreciate his talent for songwriting, as well as his innovative guitar playing. But I had never truly experienced Hendrix before. That all changed on Saturday night March 29 2025, when Experience Hendrix brought their unique show to the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut for people to “Celebrate The Music and the Legacy of Jimi Hendrix.” The three-hour, 23-song extravaganza was filled with so much talent in one night that it was almost too much. I mean, how many times can someone have their mind blown by unbelievably talented guitarists playing and channeling one of the greatest rock guitarist of all time?
The pre-show had Hendrix’s music playing over the PA while images, film clips, and photos were projected on the back of the stage, which was set up with two drums sets and Marshall amps on either side. The lights went down and Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s father’s adopted daughter, came out to address the crowd. She welcomed them to the “Electric Church,” and instructed them to clap their hands, dance, yell, and scream. When the crowd obliged, she wryly said, “You can do better than that – not for me, but for The Artist!” pointing at an image of Hendrix on the back screen, then added, “Tonight, you will indeed get what you give.”
Throughout the night’s varied performances, the foundation was solidly held down by drummers TONY BEARD (Peter Frampton, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Jeff Beck) and SAM BRYANT (Kenny Wayne Shepherd) and bass players KEVIN MCCORMICK (Jackson Browne and Melissa Ethridge) and ORLANDO WRIGHT (Buddy Guy), who switched up for each artist’s set. Vocalist HENRI BROWN seemed to be the appointed MC for the night, announcing each artist as they took the stage. He opened the show with the “Foxy Lady,” having patrons sing along with the refrain at the stop each time, while Indigenous frontman and guitarist MATO NANJI skillfully and faithfully performed the classic Hendrix track, save for when his guitar momentarily cut out during a verse, which only seemed to emboldened him to play a more impressive solo. Right away, it was apparent that the crowd was all in, and there was indeed an electricity starting to swell in the atmosphere of the venue.
ALLY VENABLE took the stage to perform “Fire” (which included a stellar wah-wah guitar solo), and “Angel” (which featured her high register singing prowess). DEVON ALLMAN joined Nanji for a Derek and the Dominoes version of Hendrix’s sublime “Little Wing,” with the two guitarist trading off on both fiery and tastefully mellow solos. Singer DYLAN TRIPLETT came out to join Allman, Nanji, and Venable with a powerful and soulful version of the bluesy “Red House,” with each playing expressive solos, which received spontaneous applause. Triplett stayed for “Killing Floor,” a Howlin’ Wolf tune Hendrix covered many times in concert throughout his career.
When Henri Brown announced, “Please welcome to the stage – Zakk Wylde!” the venue erupted, as ZAKK WYLDE proved to be a crowd favorite, receiving an immediate standing ovation upon entering the stage like the Norse God, Thor, only the hammer Mjölnir was replaced by his Warhammer FR Norse Dragon Bullseye Electric Guitar, which he pummeled into submission with extraordinary power and energy during an extended “Purple Haze.” Wylde ventured out into the audience, while stage hands frantically held up and navigated his guitar chord. A single spotlight beam tracked him, and at one point shown from above, as if the spirit of Hendrix himself was looking down and imbuing him with his essence or proving he was indeed worthy or wielding his signature six-string weapon. He wandered around, guitar wailing, and eventually made it back on stage, finishing the song while holding the guitar above his head. He kissed his two fingers, and pointing up exclaimed, “God bless Wallingford, Connecticut, and Jimi Hendrix!!!” Henri Brown joined Wylde for “All Along the Watchtower,” and although Brown unfortunately messed up a few of the lyrics (twice!), Wylde made up for it with his relentless and powerful guitar playing, waving to the excited crowd while they hollered enthusiastically, appreciating what they just witnessed.
Although Zakk Wylde was a difficult act to follow, ERIC JOHNSON came out with a perfect guitar tone sounding remarkably like Hendrix, and played some deep cuts from Hendrix’s groundbreaking 1967 album Axis Bold As Love. Johnson held the audience spellbound, his fingers running up and down the fretboard with such dexterity and clarity, receiving applause, howls, and gob-smacked gasps during his performance. Henri Brown got the crowd clapping and singing along to “Them Changes” (from Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies), urging everyone to stand up, and when they did, he had them sing the chorus of “We Got to Live Together” that would have made Billy Cox proud. It certainly was an “Electric Church” moment.
MARCUS KING (son of blues guitarist Marvin King) clad in a fringed leather vest, white shirt, and white cowboy hat, sauntered on stage next, for a solid string of Hendrix classics including “Stone Free,” “Crosstown Traffic,” “Hey Joe,” and “Manic Depression” (Nanji and Allman joining him on the latter). King seemed to liven up the crowd with his jovial presence, soulful vocals, and exceptional guitar playing, and when Devon Allman returned with Nanji to perform the psychedelic “Are You Experienced?” they ended the song with a recognizable riff from the Allman Brothers instrumental song “Jessica,” which received rousing applause.
Vocalist NOAH HUNT and virtuoso guitarist KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD came out for a stunning final set of the night, which included: “Gypsy Eyes,” “Come on (Let the Good Times Roll),” and two of Shepherd’s “favorite Jimi Hendrix songs” – a medley of “Voodoo Chile” and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return).” Shepherd switched guitars after each song he performed, most likely because the instruments needed a break or to be cooled down after the drubbing he gave them from his fiery fingertips. In between the two final songs, Shepherd took his time, even sitting on one of the monitors, to play some quiet, yet intense guitar solos that slowly built up to a crescendo with Sheppard at one point playing with the guitar behind his head and doing a one-handed solo while pointing out at the crowd, the audience members with their collective jaws agape, minds blown once again by this unbelievably talented guitarist. Shepherd ended his medley holding some piercing notes, then playing the guitar riff from Hendrix’s “Third Stone From The Sun” before strumming the final chord of the night while pushing his whammy bar to the limit. With the roar of the crowd still resounding, Janie Hendrix came out for a few parting words before he ensemble’s final collective bow.
There was, and will only ever be, one Jimi Hendrix, but Experience Hendrix lives up to its name, and not only celebrates the music and furthers the legacy of this once in a lifetime artist, it gives fans of his music the ability of hear, feel, and experience a bit of what it must have been like to be present at one of his shows back in the day. As this talented array of musicians performed, I could certainly feel the presence of Jimi Hendrix, in the collective spirit of the audience and emanating from the stage through the music he left us. Have I ever been experienced? I can now say, “Well, I have.”
For more tour information: https://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/
SETLIST:
Foxy Lady
Fire
Angel
Little Wing
Red House
Killing Floor (Howlin’ Wolf cover)
Purple Haze
All Along the Watchtower
Power to Love
One Rainy Wish (with “Waterfall” intro reference)
Burning of the Midnight Lamp
Spanish Castle Magic
Them Changes / We Got to Live Together
Stone Free
Crosstown Traffic
Hey Joe
Manic Depression
Are You Experienced? (with Allman Brothers “Jessica” riff at the end)
Gypsy Eyes
Come on (Let the Good Times Roll (Earl King cover)
Voodoo Chile
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (with “Third Stone from the Sun” riff in the end)