Tesla has long been one of the great live bands in rock. Breaking out at a time when “hair metal” ruled the scene, Tesla eschewed the trappings of that scene to create hard hitting rock that has withstood the test of time. While the band’s lineup has changed a little since its heyday, the 2025 version of Tesla remains an unparalleled live band.
Please scroll for Tesla live photos and a review.
Indian Ranch is one of the more unique venues to catch a band. The outdoor amphitheater is located on the beach of a sprawling campground. Weekend shows take place at 1:00 pm which gives sort of a festival feel to each concert. At 1:00 pm sharp, opening act Kurt Deimer took the stage. I’ve been a fan of Kurt’s for a few years now and was excited to see the new lineup of his band. Deimer did not disappoint. The crowd was sparse when they took the stage, but with each song, more and more people took their seats to witness the energy and power of Deimer and his band. The band, led by guitarist and vocalist Marco Pera, tore through the material with Pera’s cleaner vocals perfectly complimenting the gruff tone of Deimer. Kurt Deimer is really one of the best up and coming bands, catch them live whenever you get the chance!
There wasn’t an empty seat to be found when Tesla took the stage. The outdoor venue was at capacity with people overflowing onto the beach and grass around it. Tesla roared to the stage with a pair of hits, “Rock Me To The Top” and “Modern Day Cowboy”, from their classic 1986 debut Mechanical Resonance. A few things were immediately clear. First, vocalist Jeff Keith is ageless. His voice sounds just as good now as it did almost 40 years ago. Second, these songs are timeless. They don’t sound dated, lyrically, “Cowboy” is just as relevant as when it first blew us all away in 1986. Finally, third, the band is amazing. Guitarists Frank Hannon and Dave Rude simply melt your face while bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Steve Brown drive the show with a pounding rhythm.
It’s not surprising that the bulk of the set was made up of tracks from the first three classic Tesla records. Mechanical Resonance, The Great Radio Controversy, and Psychotic Supper each featured 3 songs while mid-career releases Into The Now and Forever More each had one song. Their new track “All About Love” was featured, as well as classic Tesla covers “Signs” and “Walk Away”.
Tesla is a band that always felt under the radar. Although they had huge hits and success, they never really made that jump to large arena headliner. That being said, they still pack the rooms they play, all 3,000 tickets were sold out for this show, and they still get the crowd on their feet singing along to every song.
Ed. note – The band’s management only approved the use of 5 photos, I had a lot more great shots from the show!
