At Largo Cultural Center
All Photos By Travis Failey Photography
Sometimes in life, you’re simply pulled toward a moment—an event that feels unavoidable, especially when a sports or music legend comes to town. Friday night at the Largo Cultural Center was one of those moments for me and many others, as Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton rolled into town with his supergroup, CLOSE ENEMIES.
CLOSE ENEMIES is anchored by Hamilton on bass, joined by drummer Tony Brock—whose resumé includes The Babys and Rod Stewart—along with guitarists Trace Foster and Peter Stroud (best known for his work with Sheryl Crow), and vocalist Chasen Hampton. While I wasn’t familiar with Hampton going into the show, it didn’t take long to understand why he’s fronting the band. His presence, range, and command of the stage made it clear he belonged at the center of this lineup.
Before CLOSE ENEMIES took the stage, the crowd of a few hundred was warmed up by the dynamic twin-brother duo Kamenar. Sean and John Kamenar have been steadily building their reputation both locally and nationally for years, and their growth in musicianship, songwriting, and stage presence was evident throughout their set. That evolution has opened doors, leading to cross-country tours and opening slots for acts such as 10 Years, Night Ranger, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, and many others.
The brothers mixed in original material—some of it unfamiliar to portions of the older crowd—but they knew exactly how to shift gears when needed. Their cover of David Essex’s “Rock On” instantly connected, drawing smiles, head-nods, and a sing-along chorus from the audience. Despite their limited seven-song set, Kamenar made a strong impression, particularly with their single “Animal,” which climbed to No. 28 on the Modern Rock Billboard chart.
After “Animal,” Sean joined John for a drum-solo tag-team before addressing the crowd, expressing how much of an honor it was to share the stage with one of their heroes, Tom Hamilton. The brothers have said many times that without Aerosmith, they wouldn’t be doing what they do today—and that gratitude resonated deeply in the room.
After roughly a 30-minute intermission, CLOSE ENEMIES took the stage and launched into a heavy, confident set built primarily around new material, with a few familiar classics woven in along the way. Having listened to several of the released tracks ahead of the show—with the band’s debut album still a couple of months away—I was curious how the songs would translate in a live setting. Any doubts were quickly erased.
They opened with “Rain,” followed by “Sound of a Train,” immediately setting the tone for the night. To my surprise, a significant portion of the crowd was already singing along to the choruses with Chasen Hampton, and that momentum only continued to build during “Sweet Baby Jesus” and “More Than I Could Ever Need.”
The latter proved to be one of the emotional high points of the evening, tugging hard at heartstrings throughout the venue. Couples held hands, a few tears were shed, and for a moment the room felt completely locked in with the band—a testament to just how powerfully this new material connected in a live setting.
The band also reached back into the catalog to deliver some classic material, including The Babys’ “Midnight Rendezvous,” which went over extremely well with the crowd. Then, in a moment that felt completely organic, a fan yelled out “Get Your Wings,” referencing Aerosmith’s 1974 release. The band clearly heard the call and responded with a stunning rendition of “Seasons of Wither,” earning one of the biggest reactions of the night.
CLOSE ENEMIES followed with “Dry Rocket” and “Wink of a Feather,” before giving the audience exactly what they were hoping for by unleashing Aerosmith classics “Sick as a Dog” and “Sweet Emotion.” The energy in the room surged as the familiarity of those songs collided with the band’s own identity.
After the rest of the band exited the stage, drummer Tony Brock remained behind to deliver a rousing solo that brought the crowd to its feet. The night closed with another original—and a personal highlight—“Head First,” putting an emphatic exclamation point on an already memorable set.
As the crowd filtered out of the venue, Hampton returned to mingle with fans, chatting and posing for photos. He was genuinely kind and humble, matching his powerful vocal performance with an equally strong personal impression. As a band, CLOSE ENEMIES played with the chemistry and tightness of a group that’s been together for years. Guitarists Trace Foster and Peter Stroud worked seamlessly in tandem, never competing for the spotlight, while Hamilton comfortably took a step back, letting his bandmates shine.
With the new release set for March and a full slate of tour dates on the horizon, CLOSE ENEMIES will be coming to an area near you—and hopefully back this way to impress even more fans, myself included, once again.
For all things CLOSE ENEMIES https://closeenemiestheband.com/
KAMENAR
CLOSE ENEMIES
