On Wednesday, October 29, Lakeview brought their Blue Collar Country Tour to the Williams Center in Rutherford, New Jersey. The duo, made up of Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy, was joined by fellow country artist Brandon Wisham. The country/rock duo turned a Wednesday night into a party.
Lakeview’s music has a blend of different genres and influences, which you can see in the fans. There was a mixture of rock fans, country fans, and even metal fans, all there to see the show. Their set featured a lot of songs from their 2024 album, Lakeview, but also featured some of their newer songs, like “Name in a Song,” and older songs, like “Hits Different.”
The venue itself was nothing like I’ve ever seen before. The Williams Center was originally built in the 1920s to show movies. The theater was partially burned down in the late 70s and rebuilt. It was and still is a popular and loved venue in Bergen County. When threats of development took over, the people took a stand to save the theater. Today, the Williams Center houses three theaters and other spaces for the community to use.
Before the show began, I attended the Meet and Greet with Lakeview before their performance, and let me tell you, it was a blast. From posing for silly videos and pictures to answering thoughtful questions with fans, it was a fun experience for the fans to see everyone present and engaged. Don’t worry, Brandon Wisham was right in the middle of the fun, too!
Speaking of, Brandon Wisham was first to take the stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar. Don’t be fooled, his set was a perfect start to the evening as he performed a mixture of his own songs in addition to covers of songs you may not expect. From Luke Combs, to Three Days Grace, to Justin Bieber, yes, you read that correctly – Brandon had the crowd singing and ready for Lakeview to take the stage. Although he’s a young artist, Brandon is making big waves in country music. With songs like “Pain Won’t Last,” featured on Bailey Zimmerman’s album, Religiously, Wisham is known for his raw and emotional storytelling style that really connects with people. Brandon made a point ot speak with concertgoers after his set and made a point to thank each person for coming. He’s such a genuine person, and I’m sure he left the show with more fans.
“It’s been incredible to experience playing shows in front of these different markets and getting to experience making new musician friends in the LAKEVIEW guys, but I feel like we’re lifelong brothers. We’ve gotten to connect as people, and it’s been fun to experience.”
Brandon Wishman about the Lakeview Blue Collar Country Tour, 2025
Next to take the stage were Jesse and Luke themselves. They opened the show with their popular song, “Hits Different,” and the fans were right there singing along. The duo and the crowd were full of energy the entire night – you’d never guess it was a Wednesday night. When speaking to fans before the show, I asked them how they became Lakeview fans. Some heard Lakeview opening for Breaking Benjamin and have been fans ever since. Others heard snippets of their songs through TikTok and began listening to more of their music. It’s funny how everyone has their own experiences with artists, and all end up together to enjoy the music.
“Rutherford was great. We’ve never been to that part of New Jersey before, and on a Wednesday night to have that many people show out and sing all the songs is something that me [Jesse] and Luke never really expected, and we can’t wait to come back.”
Jesse Denaro about the Lakeview’s Rutherford Show
Lakeview’s story sounds as if it came right out of a song. Hard work brings about friendship, music, and success. Both Jesse and Luke came from musical families, but didn’t cross paths until later, when they were touring with separate metal bands over 10 years ago. They eventually moved to Pittsburgh, where Lakeview began. After working their day jobs, they would write music together. They found success and have been making music and performing ever since. You may have seen Lakeview touring with Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mitchell Tenpenny, and/or Chase Matthew. As a duo, they have nearly 30 million streams on their single “Home Team” and have performed all over the world.
Jesse and Luke are the epitome of what happens when you put your mind to your true passions in life. They wanted to pursue music full-time, and now they’re headlining their own tour. They wanted to write music that was different than what was on the radio and music that people related to, and they are. It’s never too late to go after what makes you happy in life, and Lakeview is the best example of that. Sharing that journey with one of your best friends just makes it that much more special.
Their Blue Collar Country Tour began in Texas back in September and ends in Rochester on November 1. Keep an eye out for their social media pages and website for upcoming shows. If you’re a fan of artists like Randy Travis, Don Williams, and Nickelback, to name a few, then you’ll also be fans of Lakeview.
Setlist: Hits Different, Loser, Dying Breed, Wrong Side of the Tracks, $ Money $, See me in a Suit, Name in a Song, Neon Nightmare, By Now, What I Know Now, Drink with Friends, Lips of an Angel, Bad Day to be a Beer, Son of A, Home Team
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