Saving Abel Packs Diamond Jo in Dubuque for Free Concert

A nostalgic band that helped build the soundtrack of a lot members of my generation took the Mississippi Moon Bar stage at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque on Friday, August 7th for a free concert.

Saving Abel stormed on the scene in the mid-2000s with a pair of racy yet instantly infectious jams in "Addicted" and "The Sex is Good." Much has happened since then. In 2024, a riff between founding members Jason Null and Jared Weeks led to the two men splitting up and starting their own versions of "Saving Abel" with their own lineups. Null's iteration of Saving Abel was the one who took the Diamond Jo stage this past weekend.

Saving Abel Proves That Many Fans are Still "Addicted" to Their Music:

Null's version of the band features mainstays Scott Bartlett (rhythm guitar), Scott Wilson (bass), and newcomers Randy Webb (vocals) and Garfield Redden (drums), both of whom were part of the Cincinnati-based band One Day Alive.

The energetic Webb made it a point to note that the crew has been on tour almost nonstop since October 2025 and were heading into a much-needed two-week break after this weekend. Even ostensibly exhausted, Saving Abel brought the energy and the good vibes to the Moon Bar, which probably had a few hundred spectators at peak.

This sounds like a contrarian take for the sake of one, but I promise it's not. I think my favorite Saving Abel song of the night (and in general) has to be "Drowning (Face Down)." It carries a vibe very similar to Creed, and the instrumentation really pops for a song that has a great deal of meaning imbued in its lyrics.

Apropos of nothing, but Catherine and I had a fun "brush with fame" after the show. When leaving the Diamond Jo, we walked past Saving Abel's tour bus. Before I could even remark about the bus, Randy Webb emerged from the casino's backdoor exit and beelined for his bus. The three of us had a quick chat. We thanked him for a great show. He off-handedly apologized that his voice wasn't as strong as it typically is. We didn't notice. He was a consummate professional; someone who clearly recognizes the incredible place he's in right now serving as the frontman of a band that still captivates countless across the country.