Damon Johnson books a Sunday matinee at The Law Office in Yorkville

The Brother Cane frontman and former Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders guitarist plays a 3 p.m. show on Jan. 17, months after his band's first album in 28 years.

A rock guitarist who has played for Thin Lizzy, in a converted law office on a Sunday afternoon in January: that's the kind of booking that makes a small-town music room worth knowing about. Damon Johnson is coming to Yorkville.

Damon Johnson plays The Law Office Pub & Music Hall in Yorkville on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, at 3 p.m. It's an afternoon show, so plan around it. Tickets are $25 to $60 through Prekindle. The date was announced Oct. 22.

Johnson comes into 2027 off the biggest year he's had in a while. This spring his '90s band Brother Cane, re-formed, released Magnolia Medicine, its first new album in 28 years, on April 17 through Double Dragon Records and Virgin Music Group (Blabbermouth; KNAC). Written and recorded in Nashville, the 11-track record reunited him with producer and songwriter Marti Frederiksen, whose credits include Aerosmith, Def Leppard and Sheryl Crow. The title came from home: Johnson and his wife nursed a dying Little Gem magnolia in their backyard back to health.

Johnson told Goldmine that Magnolia Medicine is his favorite album of his career.

It's a record with weight. "The Wolf On The Mountain" deals with mental illness in a family and a community, and "Prince Charming" is a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, with Skynyrd's Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke appearing on the album. Blabbermouth's review gave it a 9 out of 10, and Johnson told Goldmine it's his favorite thing he's made. Brother Cane has more dates starting in December, per Ultimate Classic Rock.

Before the reunion, Johnson spent years as a sideman and solo artist. He left Black Star Riders to pursue a solo career (Blabbermouth), and his own site lists solo records including *Memoirs Of An Uprising* and 2021's *Battle Lessons* (Damon Johnson). He has also talked to Guitar World about the joy of independence and playing shows in fans' houses, which is a useful hint about how comfortable he is in a small room.

The Law Office suits that. The bar at 226 S. Bridge St. took over a building that was a working law practice until 2015, and its owners have said they book independent, original acts rather than cover bands, with a green room downstairs for performers, as OH42Fifty reported when it opened. It's the sort of place where an afternoon show feels like a gathering rather than a concert.

A 3 p.m. Sunday start in the dead of January is a good deal. You get a guitarist with this résumé up close, and you're home before dark settles in.

Bring a friend who still has their Brother Cane CDs. They'll want to be there.

Sources: Brother Cane announces first new album in 28 years, Magnolia Medicine (Blabbermouth) (blabbermouth.net); Brother Cane is back with new album Magnolia Medicine (KNAC) (knac.com); Brother Cane – Magnolia Medicine review (Blabbermouth) (blabbermouth.net); Damon Johnson discusses Brother Cane's new comeback album (Goldmine) (goldminemag.com); Brother Cane interview, tour dates 2026 (Ultimate Classic Rock) (ultimateclassicrock.com); Damon Johnson discusses leaving Black Star Riders (Blabbermouth) (blabbermouth.net); Damon Johnson (official site) (damonjohnson.com); Brother Cane / Magnolia Medicine (Damon Johnson official site) (damonjohnson.com); Damon Johnson on hard-rock heroes and playing shows at fans' houses (Guitar World) (guitarworld.com); DAMON JOHNSON (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders) interview (Eternal Terror) (eternal-terror.com); The Law Office: a shimmer of hope for live music (OH42Fifty) (oh42fifty.org); Tickets – Prekindle (prekindle.com); JamBase show listing (jambase.com)