I am happy to say that on Thursday, February 24th I was given the opportunity to photograph Chris Janson at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Il. I have been a fan of Chris for a while now, and I was honored to be able to photograph him. Shane Profitt and Ray Fulcher were the openers this evening and both artists performed their set acoustic. Shane Profitt is a new artist in the country scene who has a voice that I feel will be a great addition. He is a down-home southern man with a rich voice.
Ray Fulcher is an up-and-coming artist in the country music world. I had the honor of photographing him last November when he toured with Luke Combs, and I was excited to photograph him again in a new setting. He sang some of his songs such as “Girl in It” and “Way Out,” as well as a few songs he cowrote, which were “Does to Me” and “When it Rains it Pours,” that were both recorded by Luke Combs.
After Profitt and Fulcher sang their sets, it was time for Chris Janson to take the stage. He sang some of his hits which included “Good Vibes,” “Drunk Girl,” “Done,” “Buy Me a Boat,” and his next prospective single “Bye Mom.” Chris has an amazing stage presence and knows how to keep the crowd engaged. He danced around the stage the whole night and told the audience many of the backstories behind his songs. His energy and personality were very vivid throughout the whole show. It was impossible not to be smiling and laughing along with him. There were many solos performed throughout the evening including the fiddle, electric guitar, and banjo. One of my personal favorite parts of the show were Chris’s harmonica solos. He is a stellar harmonica player and that is not an instrument that is very common today.
As well as performing many of his hits, he sang many covers from different genres. He covered “I Love this Life” by LOCASH, “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars, and “Mountain Music” by Alabama. About halfway through his set his mic stand was removed and replaced with a mic stand that resembles the stand at the Grand Ole Opry. Chris was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry March 20, 2018, and he carries that honor with him through his replica mic stand. After Chris sang his last song of the set, he walked over to the drums and performed a drum solo. This concert started off my 2022 on a high note, and I am thankful that I received this opportunity. Chris has an infectious energy, and I am honored to have photographed him, his band, and the opening acts.
For additional information on the musicians and the Rialto Theatre, please visit:
Rialto Square Theatre – https://rialtosquare.com
Shane Profitt @ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/shaneprofitt_music/?hl=en
Shane Profitt Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/shane-profitt/1535892798
Ray Fulcher – https://www.rayfulchermusic.com
Chris Janson – https://www.chrisjanson.com/allin?ref=Typed/Bookmarked
Jaclyn Duske studies design and photography at the University of St. Francis. Jaclyn has had a passion for country music since childhood. In addition to her studies, she regularly takes on outreach and volunteer opportunities and spends her down time with her pets!
