Concert Review: Jake Banfield + Mitchell Tenpenny

Mitchell Tenpenny at the Ritz (Photo Credit: Casey Tharpe)

Cold rain and live music usually don’t mix well—but that didn’t stop anyone from lining up outside The Ritz the night Mitchell Tenpenny rolled through Raleigh.

It was one of those damp, bone-chilling evenings where the rain seemed determined to hang around. Still, fans showed up early, hoods up and jackets zipped tight, standing in the drizzle just waiting for the doors to open. The line stretched down the sidewalk, and not a single person seemed bothered by the weather. If anything, it felt like the rain only added to the anticipation. Everyone knew once they got inside, the night was going to heat up fast.

When the doors finally opened, the crowd flooded in, shaking off the rain and filling the venue wall to wall. The buzz inside the room was immediate—friends grabbing drinks, fans pushing closer to the stage, and that familiar low rumble of excitement that builds right before a show begins.

The night kicked off with Jake Banfield, and he wasted no time making an impression. From the first few notes, his vocals were strong, gritty, and full of emotion—exactly the kind of voice that grabs your attention in a packed room. But it wasn’t just the music that connected with the crowd.

Banfield took time between songs to talk with the audience, and one moment in particular stood out. He introduced one of his songs by opening up about mental health and the importance of talking about it. The room grew noticeably quieter as he spoke, fans listening closely as he shared the story behind the track. It was honest, real, and the kind of moment that reminds you live music can be about more than just the performance—it can start conversations that matter.

By the time his set wrapped up, the crowd was fully locked in and ready for the headliner.

Then the lights dropped, the band stepped out, and the energy in the room shifted instantly as Mitchell Tenpenny hit the stage.

From the jump, Tenpenny and his band were electric. The kind of energy that grabs a crowd by the collar and doesn’t let go. His vocals were sharp and powerful, cutting clean through the roar of the crowd as fans sang right back at him. Every song seemed to hit harder than the last, with the band driving the momentum forward and the audience feeding right into it.

Tenpenny worked the stage like a seasoned performer—moving from one side to the other, engaging the crowd, and keeping the energy high from start to finish. It’s one thing to sound good live, but it’s another to command a room the way he did that night.

Mitchell Tenpenny and a fan (Photo Credit: Casey Tharpe)

By the end of the show, the earlier rain felt like a distant memory. The room was buzzing, voices were hoarse from singing along, and fans lingered long after the final song, not quite ready for the night to end.

If the weather outside tried to dampen the mood, it failed. Inside The Ritz that night, Mitchell Tenpenny delivered the kind of performance that reminds you exactly why people are willing to stand in the rain for live music. 🎶🔥