BY MAUI CABRAL The air’s warmer. The energy’s lighter. And the crowd? Ready, and Red Hat is ready for the first show of the season! Walki...
BY MAUI CABRAL
The air’s warmer. The energy’s lighter. And the crowd? Ready, and Red Hat is ready for the first show of the season! Walking into Red Hat for the first big outdoor show of the year, you could feel that excitement immediately. People reconnecting with live music after the off-season, that buzz of anticipation before the sun fully drops behind the stage. And with Bush headlining? You already knew it was going to be a strong start.
For me, this one hit a little more personal too. My second time shooting Bush, and a band that carries a lot of history behind their name.
Opening the night was James and the Cold Gun, bringing a gritty, no-frills rock sound that felt right at home in an outdoor setting like this. Hailing from the UK, their music leans into that classic alternative rock DNA. Loud guitars, raw vocals, and a stripped-back energy that doesn’t try to overcomplicate things. There’s a hunger to their performance, the kind you see in bands that are still climbing but already know exactly who they are. Simple. Loud. Effective & Emotional.
Then came Mammoth, and you could feel the shift. Fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, the project carries one of the most recognizable last names in rock history. What stands out live is how much this band has carved its own identity. Blending modern rock with classic influence, Mammoth delivers a sound that feels both familiar and fresh. Tight musicianship, strong hooks, and a stage presence that feels confident without needing to prove anything. Their set hit hard in all the right ways, the kind of performance that reminds you legacy can evolve without losing its weight.
And then... Bush. As the lights dropped and the crowd surged forward, there was a different kind of energy in the air. One built on years of connection. Formed in the ‘90s, Bush helped define an era of post-grunge and alternative rock. Songs like “Glycerine,” “Machinehead,” “Comedown,” and “Everything Zen” didn’t just chart, they became part of people’s lives.
And live? They still hit exactly the same. Gavin Rossdale commanded the stage with that same raw intensity. Moving through the crowd, reaching out, making a venue that big somehow feel personal. That’s something you can’t fake. That's something that comes from years of doing this at the highest level. The crowd didn’t just sing along. They felt every lyric. Every lyric. Every chorus. Every moment.
This being my second time shooting Bush, there was a different level of appreciation this time around. You’re not just trying to capture the moment. You’re understanding it better. Anticipating movements. Reading the stage. Catching those small details that make a performance feel alive in a photo. And at a venue like Red Hat, with the open air, the lights, and the crowd fully locked in, every frame felt like it carried a little extra weight.
James and the Cold Gun brought the grit. Mammoth brought the power and precision. And Bush? They brought the legacy. The first show of the season set the tone exactly how it should. Loud, emotional, and full of life. Because after a night like this, one thing’s clear. Concert season is officially back. And it’s already off to a hell of a start. 🤘
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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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