Little River Band is on their 50th Anniversary Tour

Little River Band is celebrating an incredible milestone with their 50th Anniversary ‘Happy Anniversary Tour,’ which began in January 2025.  They are currently on their North American leg, which will last until December and span the entire United States. I had the pleasure of attending the January 25th date at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois. While I’ve been a long-time fan, this was the first opportunity I’ve had to see them live and I was just so incredibly impressed with every aspect of this tour.

Most importantly for everyone thinking of attending, they sound absolutely great.  I do not know who is producing sound for this tour, but it was perfectly clear all the way to the upper balcony, where we were sitting.  You could hear every note from every instrument and each vocalist. It was all exceptionally clear and plenty loud, but not painful or overwhelming.  The last time I heard sound this good was at a Tori Amos concert, and she’s one woman with a piano.  Little River Band has a LOT of moving parts and multiple instrument changes and it was flawless.

You also wouldn’t know that there’s only one remaining member from the classic lineup. The touring band includes a group of exceptional vocalist/musicians with everyone doing double duty on at least one instrument as well as taking lead on some of the songs.  They have the harmonies absolutely nailed and the vibe of the original band remains perfectly intact.  The touring band includes:

• Wayne Nelson: Bassist and lead vocalist, a 45-year LRB veteran who has been a cornerstone of the band’s sound. You know him from his lead singing duties on famous LRB hits like “The Night Owls”, and co-lead on their 1982 smash “Take It Easy on Me.” He’s the remaining member from their 70s and 80s heyday.
• Chris Marion: Keyboardist and Dove Award-winning producer, he’s an all-around team player, supporting all of the harmonies as a vocalist and taking the instrumental lead on the keyboard driven songs.  As a producer, Marion was part of a team that worked with Garth Brooks, Doug Stone, Charlie Chase and The Oak Ridge Boys. 
• Ryan Ricks: An incredible and precise drummer who is also a solid vocalist. A former backup singer and drummer for Loretta Lynn.
• Colin Whinnery: Guitarist and vocalist, delivering compelling guitar riffs and harmonies that enhance the band’s classic hits as well as contributing new compositions for the tour. Colin is a musician, songwriter, and engineer. He has toured as a guitar player with Wynonna Judd, Lonestar, Bryan White, and Savannah Jack.
• Bruce Wallace: Guitarist and vocalist, the newest member is another accomplished Nashville musician. He has performed with superstars such as Wynonna, Kid Rock, Shelby Lynne, Mindy Smith, and David Gates. His songs can be heard on releases by Trace Adkins (“Damn You Bubba”), Dierks Bentley (“Gonna Die Young”), Montgomery Gentry (“So Called Life”), and Katie Armiger.

This tour not only honors their rich musical legacy but also introduces fresh material from their latest album, ‘Window to the World,’ now available on all major streaming and download platforms. They performed both the title track and “First Time”.  Both of these are solid songs, just as good as anything coming from Nashville right now, which isn’t a surprise seeing their two new Nashville guitarists and songwriters were among the authors.

But this really is a true 50^th Anniversary tour.  You can expect to hear the hits from “Reminiscing” to “Lady” to “The Other Guy.” You won’t be disappointed as a classic LRB fan. “Help is on Its Way” is dedicated to soldiers and first responders on this tour.

One really incredible moment was apparently inspired by Glenn Frey from the Eagles.  The band members put down their instruments and gather around a single old-school Cardioid mic, like they were doing an old timey radio show in the 1940s.  Then they sing a number of covers in 5-part harmony, including parts of songs by Post Malone, Jelly Roll, and of course, The Eagles.  Little River Band is not stuck in the past.

The ‘Happy Anniversary Tour’ is a testament to Little River Band’s enduring legacy and their unwavering commitment to maintaining their signature sound while incorporating new material makes this tour outstanding. They are probably playing a mid-sized theatre in a town near you. They are going to be all over the place this year.  Get out to see them.  It’s a genuine treat.

Photos provided by Little River Band and taken by Suzanne Magnuson at the Genesee Theatre.