The 2025 version of the Experience Hendrix Tour recently stormed into DC with a thunderous stop at Warner Theater for another outstanding edition of the annual project.
This year’s line-up was stellar with Kenny Wayne Shepard headlining and playing a sensational last segment of the show at Warner Theatre on April 5. Other performers for this year’s edition included: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, Devon Allman, Samantha Fish, Noah Hunt, Mato Nanji, Henry Brown, Ally Venable, Kevin McCormick, Dylan Triplett, Tony Beard, Sam Bryant, and Orlando Wright.
The atmosphere was sensational and appropriate for how a Hendrix show should be. There was video going before the show started of Jimi Hendrix playing his legendary Stratocaster to such immortal songs as “Purple Haze,” “Foxy Lady,” and “Crosstown Traffic” blistering through the Marshall amps on stage before the show began. The crowd was milling about anxiously as if getting ready for a real Hendrix show. T-shirt lines were long, and there were numerous conversations on-going about the night’s show, and what people hoped to hear by the fantastic group of musicians assembled.
Mato opened the show on vocals with a sizzling lead guitar by Ally Veneable during “Foxy Lady” as the two-hour performance began. The show progressed with classics, “Are You Experienced,” followed by a great cover of “Killing Floor.”
Watch the official trailer for the 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour on YouTube:
By the time Zakk Wylde reached the stage for “Catfish Blues,” it’s safe to say the crowd was primed and ready for the next direction the night’s performance took as Wylde much to the shock of the audience left the stage and went into the crowd playing ferociously bending strings and playing with the guitar above his head as the energized crowd was left astonished to the playing right in front of them.
Not to be outdone, Devon Allman walked onto the stage and ripped out a classic version of “Purple Haze” that left the crowd bewildered and standing in support of Allman’s great effort playing this Hendrix classic.
The phenomenal Eric Johnson from Texas was up next and left no doubt why he is considered one of the greatest guitarists of his generation as he played a fantastic version of “All Along the Watchtower,” “Power of Soul,” and “One Rainy Wish.”
The show progressed along a roaring path as Samantha Fish came on and played sensational covers of “Burning of the Midnight Lamp,” “Angel,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” and “Crosstown Traffic.”
Other members of the show played sporadically during different songs featured for the performance.
Legendary Kenny Wayne Shepard was the final performer for the evening and played an amazing set with “Red House,” “Them Changes,” “Gypsy Eyes,” “Come On,” and finished the show with a blistering “Voodoo Chile” medley.
The evening was sensational for not only Hendrix fans, but for any fan of classic rock music. Some of the finest performers in the business play this annual tour, and anyone interested in ’60s/’70s classic rock should catch this show at one of the tour stops.
Setlist:
1. Foxy Lady
2. Fire
3. Little Wing
4. Are You Experienced?
5. Killing Floor
6. Hey Joe
7. Catfish Blues
8. Purple Haze
9. Manic Depression
10. All Along the Watchtower
11. Power of Soul
12. One Rainy Wish
13. Burning of the Midnite Lamp
14. Angel
15. Spanish Castle Magic
16. Crosstown Traffic
17. If 6 Was 9
18. Red House
19. Them Changes
20. Gypsy Eyes
21. Come On
22. Voodoo Chile Medley
Here are some photos of the Experience Hendrix Tour at the Warner Theatre in DC on April 5, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
