Opening act announced for the Levitt’s Tommy DeCarlo/Rudy Cardenas show

By Levitt Pavilion

Posted on June 23, 2022, June 23, 2022

Right now, you might say that LanceBattalion is “just another band out of [North Texas], on the road and tryin' to make ends meet.”

But if LanceBattalion has anything to say about it, their music will one day be as memorable as those nostalgic lyrics from Boston recalling the legendary rock group’s earliest days.

On June 25, the ambitious young retro rockers will take a mighty leap towards realizing their dream when they open for the Levitt Pavilion’s first ticketed concert for 2022—a show headlined, as a matter of fact, by none other than Tommy DeCarlo, the singer for Boston since 2007, along with special guest Rudy Cardenas, an “American Idol” star famous for Journey covers.

About the show…

Singer Tommy DeCarlo has performed on every Boston tour since 2007, playing to sold-out audiences around the world. A former Home Depot manager, DeCarlo is perhaps one of the world’s most unlikely rock stars, having joined Boston following the death of the band’s original lead singer, Brad Delp.

A tribute song about Delp’s passing that DeCarlo wrote, recorded, and posted came to the attention of the band’s management, and the rest is history. (Read more about Tommy DeCarlo’s amazing story here and here).

Some of the top touring professionals in the business will join DeCarlo on stage at the Arlington show, including August Zadra (Dennis DeYoung Band) on lead guitar/vocals; Walter Inoon (Survivor/The Babys) on keyboards/guitar/vocals; Mike Morales (Dennis DeYoung Band) on drums; and Payton Velligan on bass/vocals.

Rudy Cardenas first rose to national prominence in 2007 as an “American Idol” contestant known for his rousing performance of one of Journey’s most beloved anthems, “Open Arms.” His relationship with the band’s music has continued since that time, and Levitt guests can expect to hear Cardenas perform a range of favorite covers from both the Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie eras at the June 25 show.

LanceBattalion is a group of freshly graduated Mansfield High School musicians, guy friends from back in the day, who formed a band in 9th grade after encouragement from their teacher, Lance Davis. Three years later, Levitt exec Letatia Teykl caught their retro-flavored act—which includes southern rock, blues, grunge, and a bit of country—when the boys performed at a Mansfield restaurant where she happened to be dining. That very evening, Teykl invited the group to open for Desperado, a popular Eagles tribute band that headlined a Levitt show in 2021.

“The guys were great on our stage, and our audience loved them,” says Teykl. “When the opportunity to pair them with Tommy and Rudy came up, I knew we had a winning concert combination.”

General admission and reserved seating tickets ($38/$75) for the DeCarlo/Cardenas show are available now at levittarlington.org. The Levitt will also offer a VIP concert experience ($125) that includes premium seats and come-and-go access at the Levitt Center, where credentialed guests can enjoy complimentary hospitality and sweeping views of downtown Arlington. Food and beverage concessions, including alcohol service, will be available on site for all attendees. UPDATE: The VIP option is sold out, but reserved seating is still available.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Levitt’s highly popular free outdoor concert series, which runs May through mid-summer, then picks up again Labor Day weekend and runs through October.

Concert Info/ Tips:

6:30 p.m.: Gates open. Early arrival is suggested for anyone with general seating tickets and those who wish to eat or drink before the show.

7:30 p.m.: Opening act - LanceBattalion

9 p.m.: Headliner Tommy DeCarlo (of Boston) with special guest Rudy Cardenas (“American Idol”)

• Coolers, chairs, and outside food/beverages are not permitted at the June 25 show, nor are pets. (But all of these are welcome for the Levitt’s non-ticketed shows.)
• Concessions will be available, including beer, wine, and spirits. Also, eclectic pre-and post-show dining options abound at walkable and short driving distance destinations throughout downtown Arlington.
• Parking is free – here’s a map.