Concert Review: Nothing More (Ritz Raleigh)

BY MAUI CABRAL

There’s something powerful about opening the year with a show that reminds you exactly why you do this. First big show of the year. My favorite venue. One of my absolute favorite bands.

Walking into The Ritz Raleigh, it felt like a reset. New year. New energy. Same love for live music. And with Nothing More headlining, I already knew this night was going to be anything but quiet.

Doobie kicked the night off with personality and confidence. His energy felt effortless, The kind that pulls the room in instead of forcing it. A perfect opener to loosen up the crowd and get everyone locked into the rhythm of the night. From behind the camera, you could feel people waking up. Heads nodding. Smiles forming. The night officially started here.

Then came Archers, and this one hit different for me. This was my second time shooting them, and watching their growth live is wild. They brought a perfect blend of melody and aggression, emotional and heavy. Their sound carries weight without losing its soul. The crowd leaned in hard for this set, and you could feel that connection forming fast. Archers is the kind of band you watch and think, “yeah, these guys are going places.”

When Catch Your Breath hit the stage, the room shifted. This band is built for moments like this. Massive hooks. Crushing breakdowns. Emotion you can scream along to. Their set felt cinematic, like a Michael Bay movie--dark, dramatic, and powerful. The crowd was fully locked in by this point, singing along and moving like one body. This was the turning point of the night. From here on out, it was full throttle.

And then the lights dropped. The room tightened forward. The air changed. And Nothing More did what they always do.

This being my fourth time shooting them, I can confidently say they never miss. Jonny Hawkins doesn’t just perform. He BECOMES the music. Every scream, every movement, every moment feels intentional. This band turns emotion into motion and turns a crowd into a force. Songs like “Jenny,” “Go to War,” “This Is the Time,” and my absolute personal favorites “FreeFall” and “STUCK.” The entire venue screamed every word like it meant something personal. Because for a lot of people, it does.

From the pit, it felt like capturing controlled chaos. Sweat flying. Lights cutting through smoke. Fans reaching toward the stage like they’re trying to grab onto the moment. There’s no better way to kick off a new year than standing in the photo pit at The Ritz, camera in hand, watching a band you respect do what they do best.

Fourth time shooting Nothing More. Second time with Archers. First big show of the year. And it already feels like this year is going to be something special.

This wasn’t just a concert. It was a reminder. A reset. A spark. Nothing More didn’t just headline Raleigh.They set the tone for the year. And I’m grateful I got to capture it.

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JOSH "MAUI" CABRAL

Hey! I'm Maui. Originally from Queens, New York, now making Raleigh, NC my new home. I'm a touring photographer and Nomadic Motorcycle Rider, obsessed with seeing the world through different lenses!

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