On May 25, 2025 I was off to the Hopmonk Novato in Novato California for an awesome show. KC Turner was hosting the Bob Schneider band with special guests Daniel Rodriguez. That show was hot and the bands were hotter and this was the first time this year visiting the outside stage.
Daniel Rodriguez was the first performer of the night. Hailing from Denver, Colorado, he was a talented musician who kicked off his set with “El Dorado”. The song energized the stage and captivated the entire audience. Next, they transitioned into “Abilene”, which had the crowd fully engaged and enjoying themselves.
When the band played “Steal”, everyone settled down briefly to soak in the mellow vibes of the song. After finishing “Steal”, they received enthusiastic applause before introducing the band members. Then, they began playing “Good Graces”, during which some audience members joined in to sing along. This song had a positive impact on the crowd, and it was evident in their response.
The next song was inspired by a quote from Quincy Jones regarding ego, and it was titled “Mixtape”. Daniel expressed that this song encapsulated what was going through his mind as he pondered the quote. Following that, he introduced a song he co-wrote with Wes from the Lumineers. Originally a heartbreak song, they decided to rewrite it as a graduation song, naming it “Graduation”. This song felt like a warm embrace, resonating deeply with the audience.
Next up was “Delores,” a track that swept everyone away with its lyrical charm and soothing melody. After that, they played “Seasons,” reminding the audience that while other regions may not consider this time of year significant, it holds a unique beauty here in Colorado.
Then came “Lover’s Grave,” a stunning tune that the band delivered flawlessly. They wrapped up their set with “Radio Song,” which earned a strong round of applause and excited cheers from the crowd, who were hoping for an encore. Although Daniel concluded his performance, the show was far from over.
Follow Daniel Rodriguez band members on social media
Daniel Rodriguez – guitar / vocals
Zack Jackson – bass
Kevin Matthews – drums
Justin Mazer – guitar
Setlist
1). El Diablo
2). Abilene
3). Steal
4). Good Graces
5). Mixtape
6). Graduation
7). Dolores
8). Lover’s Dream
9). Radio Song
The band opened with “Let the Light In” and came out with high energy. However, they had to start the song three times because they were training for the Olympics, and the audience’s cheering just wasn’t meeting their expectations. A new category called “audience” was introduced, where the crowd needed to cheer whenever the band mentioned the town they were in. We had all been slacking off—until now!
Their next song, “Human Torch”, was incredible and featured the accordion, making it a real treat as they jammed through it. This was followed by “Medicine”, which was a stunning hit and received enthusiastic applause from the crowd. “Katie” and “Round and Round” came next, further engaging the audience.
When they performed “World Exploded into Love”, it was a somber hit that the crowd loved, evident from the great applause. During “Big Blue Sea”, they initiated a sing-along that ended too soon, prompting Bob to complain. However, the crowd made up for it in the next verse, singing the entire section.
As they transitioned to “Boom Box”, the energy picked up again, and they rocked the stage for a few minutes before slowing it down for “Sunlight Through Glass”. Although it was slower, the song was still amazing, crafted with “100% non-racist materials,” as everyone knew was important.
When “Peaches” began, the audience continued to reflect on the last song, but yes, it was also a non-racist tune. “Peaches” was a slower, rhythmic song that was a joy to listen to. “Owning the Rain” followed, maintaining the slow and rhythmic vibe, which the crowd thoroughly enjoyed.
As they began “Buongiorno Baby”, Bob playfully asked for our passports. At that moment, Oliver, the keyboard player, packed his bag and walked off the stage down the aisle, the closest thing he could muster to an Italian song. Towards the end of “Buongiorno Baby”, he returned to the stage, but by then, Bob was playing keyboards, so Oliver just danced along.
Next came “Bullets”, followed by “Burger King in Rome”, a humorous song that was perfectly timed in the set. Bob had everyone laughing as he performed it, and people continued singing it long afterward.
“The Unknown” followed, which had a sound reminiscent of a Queen song, albeit slightly rewritten. Next was “Honeypot”, where Bob engaged the entire audience in singing “Na Na Nana La Na Na Nana” multiple times, creating a special moment.
Then they played “Call Me By My Name”, followed by “I Saw You At the Cheesecake Factory Bar”, a humorous number about a guy trying to meet a girl. This was followed by “Becky’s in Prison”, a song loosely based on his wife—hopefully, it was all in good humor!
Next up was “Mudhouse”, a song perfect for dancing. Bob invited everyone to join in, and the crowd was having a splendid time. He encouraged them to sing along, which lifted the energy even higher.
“40 Dogs” was a well-known song, and the audience sang along enthusiastically as the band played. Finally, “Tarantula” closed the evening, featuring yet another sing-along. We all had a blast shouting out the chorus: “There She Goes, Under the moonlight, Under the stars, Tarantula!” And with that, the concert came to an end, leaving us with great memories.
Follow Bob Schneider band members on social media
Bob Schneider – guitar / vocals
Oliver Steck – keyboards / accordion / trumpet
Bruce Hughes – bass
Kyle Thompson – drums
Kevin McKinney – guitar
Setlist
1). Let the Light In
2). Human Torch
3). Medicine
4). Katie
5). Round & Round
6). World Exploded into Love
7). Big Blue Sea
8). Boom Box
9). Sunlight Through Glass
10). Peaches
11). Owning the Rain
12). Buongiorno Baby
13). Bullets
14). Burger King in Rome
15). The Unknown
16). Honeypot
17). Call Me By My Name
18). I Met You at the Cheesecake Factory Bar
19). Becky’s in Prison
20). Mudhouse
21). 40 Dogs
22). Tarantula
Follow Daniel Rodriguez on social media
Follow Bob Schneider on social media