“Before rock royalty, Knoxville, Tennessee’s The Sedonas opened the evening with a set that felt both fresh and familiar. From the moment they hit their first chord, the band caught your attention. Rooted in Americana and blues but spiked with psychedelic edges, their songs carried an energy that filled the hall with promise. They didn’t sound like an opener; they sounded like a band on the rise, intent on leaving their stamp. Tracks like “Livin’ Fastly”, “It’s Bad” and “Happens Right” showcased their knack for mixing soulful harmonies with jagged intensity. Midway through the set, frontman James Connor Wike grabbed a megaphone and began singing through it, throwing his voice like a rock ’n’ roll ventriloquist. It was a striking, unexpected touch, a throwback to the 1990s. Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots had pulled the same move in the height of the grunge era. For a moment, The Sedonas bridged generations of rock, proving bold gestures still land in 2025. Their ability to shift gears, from stripped-down intimacy one song to full-band fire the next, kept the crowd locked in. By the time they left the stage, the cheers were real, not polite. They didn’t just open for ZZ Top; they primed the room for what was to come.”

“Our opening act tonight will be The Sedonas… They have opened up for many top-level groups so they had experience, very simple demands, and knew how to deliver to a new audience. This got the nod from our team and the Live Nation promoters, and they’re off to the races tonight. The audience seems to like them, despite not knowing the band or history. Well, this is sure one that this band earned.”

“Stomping into Tracks Of The Week in a rich, gritty flurry of blues rock guitars and strident lead vocals ('Is he an American Toby Jepson?' one Classic Rock staffer wondered) The Sedonas mix swaggering US roots and rock’n’roll into one juicy, classic but bright-eyed package. You could say it’s what’d happen if Joe Bonamassa wore denim shirts and made a heartland record, but really "reckonin’ more" is its own thing. No rulebooks are rewritten and yet it has a certain edge that makes us sit up and pay attention.”

“James Connor Wike believes the Sedonas songs have always sounded their best live. Perhaps it’s a notion precipitated by the Knoxville-based foursome’s desire to win over audiences as an opening band, but whatever the Sedonas have been doing over the past decade, since forming, has worked and landed them in supporting slots, opening for The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and ZZ Top. The Sedonas’ recent run of shows also prompted the band to revisit a collection of live performances since forming in 2016 on their latest album, "Opening Selects." Each called “bootlegs,” the 14 tracks on "Opening Selects" are a mixed chronology of the Sedonas’ catalog spanning their 2017 debut "American Paint" through their third album, "The ’79 Session," in 2022. 'All of these tracks have been broken in for several years now,' said Wike in a previous statement. 'They have the feel we always intended.' Opening Selects is a collection of what the Sedonas have done best, live, introducing the band’s musical DNA of Americana, country, rock, blues, and more genres. 'Our sound has generally been very raw and live, even in the studio,' adds Wike. 'We take risks onstage with improvisation, and that comes through clearly on "Opening Selects." It highlights how cooperative our group can be live.' The album kicks off where everything started for the band with a live version of “Live My Years” from "American Paint," then into “You Know (You Ought to Know)” and “Too Tired (For Common Sense),” from "The ’79 Session," along with the Sedonas’ funkier 2018 single, “Mind.” Live versions of tracks from the band’s 2020 release, "The Sedonas LP," also slip in with the harder rock “Livin’ Fastly,” and “It’s Bad,” along with more nuances on the slower “Trace of Rain” and “1 Day or Another.” As the band gears up for more shows and hits the studio again, Wike reflected on the Sedonas’ first live release, touring with legends, and where they’re headed next...”

“Kicking off the night was Knoxville, Tennessee's The Sedonas, a band whose music combines rock and American roots. They're no strangers to the big stage, having opened for countless legendary bands through the years, so it's no surprise they're adding one more legendary band to that impressive list. Last night's performance featured an acoustic set with just James Connor Wike on lead vocals and Ryan "The Velvet Hammer" Sise on guitar. It was a short but sweet set and a strong, intimate performance as Pinewood Bowl filled up. Wike's vocal range was powerful but dialed back just enough to not overpower the stripped-down versions of their music acoustically, and Sise's performance on guitar was just about as buttery smooth as you can get and what this type of performance needed. The way he played that guitar was the perfect balance to Wike’s vocals. Although it was an unplugged set, you could still very much feel the power of their music and the American roots it grew from. They gave us a dose of Tennessee we needed last night. We hope they come back to Nebraska soon, and if you didn’t see them this time, you’ll want to see them next.”

“The Sedonas make blues rock music in songs that carry you in and out and keeps you rocking all the way through. This outfit opened for The Who on their last tour, and knows how to keep the audience up on their feet and grooving on their sound, which feels like it was made for the big stages of the world. “Reckonin’ a whole lot more… in store / more… a whole lot more… /Lord I know what for more… a whole lot more… /For sure” is the chorus that’ll have you in its grip.”

“Anyway, what about the new single? It’s a proper thigh slapper, that’s what it is. Within seconds, you’ll be patting your upper leg as if it’s a particularly adorable labrador. The chorus soars both sonically and lyrically: 'Don’t ever dwell through your wrong / Won’t ever help you move on.' Shout out too for the guitar solo-ing, which is more intricate than a microscopic doll house. Personally, I find that whistling can be as irritating as a heatwave in May, especially when performed by a middle-aged man who seems desperate to communicate to everyone within the same post code that life is tickety-boo. However, whistling can be useful for enhancing songs as well as retrieving labradors. If it’s good enough for Maroon 5 and Benny Blanco, it’s good enough for The Sedonas. Whistling along to "Whistlin’ Along" is infinitely more pleasurable and beneficial to humanity than the bland piping of a man who’s too proud in his ability to put one foot in front of the other. 'Down my road / I keep trying cause it’s all that I know.' Yes, that’s more like it.”

“But inside the Blue Gate Performance Center in Shipshewana, a different kind of storm is brewing—one made of bluesy riffs, growling basslines, and the unmistakable swagger of Southern rock legends ZZ Top. Before the bearded icons could take the stage, the crowd was greeted by a surprise that quickly proved itself worthy: The Sedonas. Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, The Sedonas blend elements of psychedelic rock, blues, and alternative to create a sound that’s both timeless and fresh. Their energy was undeniable, with the lead singer radiating charisma and delivering an electric performance from the first note to the last. The standout moment from their 30-minute set came during the song 'Happens Right'—a groovy track that saw the frontman whip out a megaphone for a gritty vocal effect that added just the right amount of edge. It was one of those rare opening act moments that leaves you excited to catch the band again, not just content that they warmed up the room...”

“The true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll is a hard essence to capture, and some flourish easier than others. To fit the bill, one must have the walk, the talk, the looks and the stage presence to identify as a rock star. An unwavering sense of self-confidence and persistent networking are requirements for the trade, as well. East Tennessee is loaded with diamonds in the rough when it comes to notable musicians, but James Connor Wike and his band The Sedonas have solidified themselves as pillars of the Knoxville rock scene. Since their first album, 2017’s “American Paint,” The Sedonas have toured the country with such legendary acts as The Who, ZZ Top, The Black Crowes and many others. The group’s most recent release, “Opening Selects,” features tracks recorded from live performances and gives a great snapshot into the soul of The Sedonas. In anticipation of that new album, Wike and I sat down at Open Chord to discuss the new album and his past experiences that have influenced the style of The Sedonas thus far...”