Photos and Review by Max Stewart
Recently formed supergroup Close Enemies rolled into Atlanta’s Avon Theater on a Friday night in June, marking their third appearance in the city in a year and a half. At this point, Atlanta has unofficially become a second home for the band, thanks in part to the fact that they have been using the home of Atlanta’s own Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow, Don Henley) as a rehearsal base. That familiarity was evident throughout the night, as the band played with the confidence and chemistry of a group that has spent far more time together than its relatively short existence would suggest.
The group’s pedigree is impossible to ignore. Alongside Stroud on guitar is Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, drummer Tony Brock (The Babys, Rod Stewart), guitarist Trace Foster (best known as longtime guitar tech to AC/DC’s Angus Young), and vocalist Chasen Hampton, whose professional career began at just 11 years old as a member of The Mickey Mouse Club. While each member brings decades of experience to the table, there is little sense of ego onstage. Instead, the focus remains squarely on the songs.
The band dedicated much of the evening to material from their debut album, proving that Close Enemies is intent on building a future rather than simply celebrating the past. Songs such as “Sound of a Train,” “Inside Out,” and “Rain” showcased the group’s knack for crafting straightforward, hook-driven rock songs built around Hamilton’s melodic bass work, Stroud and Foster’s tasteful guitar textures, and Hampton’s powerful, expressive vocals. The newer material comfortably blended classic rock muscle with a modern songwriting approach, earning enthusiastic responses from an audience that appeared well familiar with many of the new songs.
Of course, the band’s collective history was never far from the surface. Hamilton stepped into the spotlight for Aerosmith favorites “Sick as a Dog” and the timeless “Sweet Emotion,” both songs carrying extra weight given his role in writing them decades ago. Meanwhile, a spirited rendition of The Babys’ “Midnight Rendezvous” served as a fitting showcase for Brock, who now calls Georgia home. Rather than feeling like obligatory nostalgia plays, these songs felt woven naturally into the set, connecting the members’ past accomplishments with the band’s current creative chapter.
What became increasingly clear throughout the evening is that Close Enemies is far more than a side project built on recognizable names. The chemistry is genuine, the songwriting is strong, and the audience response suggested that this band has already begun carving out an identity separate from the legendary résumés that brought its members together. For a group still in its infancy, Close Enemies already feels built for the long haul, with one foot planted firmly in rock-and-roll history and the other pushing confidently toward what comes next.
Look out for a full video interview we did with the band as well!
