Photos by Daniel Ashwood ; Written by Daniel Ashwood
Ballyhoo!’s 2025 Winter Tour made a stop at The Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA, on February 7th, packing the house for a sold out show at one of my favorite venues. The Maryland based Ballyhoo! brought The Harbor Boys along for the tour and invited DC’s own The Cassaday Concoction to kick off the night. From start to finish, the energy in the venue was amazing, making for an unforgettable night. This was my first show of the year, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off 2025.
The Cassaday Concoction opened the night with their signature blend of blues, funk, and rock. Led by frontman Chris Cassaday, the DC-based band delivered an explosive set filled with groove-heavy jams and powerful vocals. This was my second time seeing them live, and they never fail to bring energy to the stage. Their setlist included crowd favorites like “Surffunktasticsexjam,” “I Give Up,” and one of my personal favorites, “All About It.” Their funky rhythms and powerful lyrics set the perfect tone for the night ahead.
Next up, The Harbor Boys took the stage, shifting the vibe with their reggae-rock-hip-hop fusion. Also hailing from Maryland, they brought a laid back yet high energy performance that had the crowd rocking.I loved seeing a saxophone player up on stage. The crowds always go crazy for a sax player! They played hits like “Sunday Hangover,” “Another Day,” “Care Free,” and “Dive Bar,” each song building the excitement for the headliners. Their sound was the perfect bridge between the openers and Ballyhoo!, keeping the momentum strong.
From the moment Ballyhoo! came out on stage, it was clear we were in for a wild ride. It’s incredible to think they’ve been together for 30 years and still bring this level of energy and passion. Ballyhoo! is led by singer and guitarist, Howi Spangler, and it’s amazing to see how much passion he puts into his performances, even after 30 years. The drummer, Donald Spangler is also an OG member of the band and kept the pulse of the show driving forward. As a Maryland-based band, Ballyhoo! has a deep connection with the DMV music scene, and their fans showed up in full force.
They ran through a killer setlist packed with fan-favorites like “Walk Away,” “Clip My Wings,” “Social Drinker,” “Dark Sunglasses,” and “Blaze This Weed.” Two songs, in particular, stood out…“Middle Finger” which brought some hilarious crowd interactions, while “Mixtape” had the entire venue hyped up and was easily one of the best moments of the night. Ballyhoo! has this rare ability to create an atmosphere that’s both high-energy and incredibly chill at the same time, making their live shows something truly unique.
This entire lineup, Ballyhoo!, The Harbor Boys, and The Cassaday Concoction, made for one of the most memorable shows I’ve been to in a while. You could throw all three of these bands into a playlist, head to the beach, or fire up the N64 for a session of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and it would be the perfect soundtrack. If you haven’t seen Ballyhoo! live yet, do yourself a favor and change that.
