10 Years @ Mahalls (2/8/25)
10 Years wrapped up their brief but impactful headlining tour over at Mahall’s in Lakewood this past Saturday. They continue out on the road in May in support of Citizen Soldier. Of course, Ohio had to give us a bit of snowfall before the crowd was meant to hit the roads, but the weather didn’t stop anyone from coming to the sold-out show. It’s always a joy when big-name artists can pack our local venues and give the audience an intimate night. 10 Years’ most recent album, ‘Inner Darkness,’ gives fans a rock sound that’s reminiscent of their first album, ‘Division,’ released in 2008. Their set was a mix of their recent releases, like the new song ‘Optimist,’ along with the oldies like ‘Fix Me’ sprinkled throughout. No matter the release date of the song, everyone sang their heart out to the variety of acoustic and rock songs. Mahall’s was packed with generations of fans, between parents who brought their young kids and those at every stage in between.
Since Mahall’s is a smaller venue, the only way to photograph the show was to be within the crowd or sometimes find a bench to stand on. This type of intimate photography helps the viewer feel like they were there watching the show with everyone else. It’s special, and I’m glad I got to capture it.
10 Years was supported by Keith Wallen, the singer of Breaking Benjamin, along with opening act Kamenar. Kamenar is a two-piece act between twin brothers Sean and John Kamenar. With only two members, duties are split up with Sean playing guitar, bass, and vocals, while John covers the drums and amping up the crowd. Kamenar debuted in 2020 with their self-titled EP and released a few singles in 2024 and 2025. They surprised me when they did a cover of Badflower’s ‘Animal,’ as I am a fan of them myself, and I loved their rendition of it. They are more alternative rock compared to the other bands on the bill, and their inspiration from the 70s and 80s bands was evident in their sound. I look forward to hearing what else they create this year!
Photos by Sami Butler
Kamenar
10 Years
