Emerson Hart is no stranger to performing in and around Virginia. He has fond memories of playing at venues like the 930 Club in Washington and Tysons Corner in NOVA.
Hart is the frontman for Tonic, a trio that includes Jeff Russo and Dan Lavery, and got its start nearly 30 years ago.
Other than a short hiatus, the alternative rock band has continued to perform before crowds, large and small, at large venues throughout the world, and yes, even in smaller cities like Waynesboro.
“Virginia has always been a part of our career, obviously, the DC area as well,” Hart told AFP. “The original 930 Club, new 930 club, and we’ve played Tysons Corner many times. We’ve played throughout Virginia, and we’ve never had a bad show.
“We’re no stranger to small towns.”
Tonic will bring its alternative rock sound to The Foundry at Basic City Beer Co. on Oct. 10, the first of three shows in Virginia for Hart to close out 2025. Additional shows are planned in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
With more than 4 million records sold, Tonic is best known for songs including “If You Could Only See,” “You Wanted More,” “Take Me As I Am” and “Open Up Your Eyes,” to name a few.
Tonic will be the fourth show in RocktoberFest, a lineup at The Foundry that includes a mix of 90s nostalgia bands, tribute shows and rising stars.
In addition to Tonic, tickets are on sale for shows with Buckcherry, Jackyl and Sebastian Bach.
Tonic: From the ‘90s to now
The resurgence of ‘90s bands touring again and selling out venues isn’t a big surprise to Hart.
“I feel like there was a real connection from that period of like ’93 to 2003,” Hart said. “I think there was a lot of really solid rock lyrics, melody-driven music being made.”
Not a lot has changed over the years as far as the kind of show that Tonic performs, but what has changed, Hart said, is how the audience watches it. He misses the days when fans would hold lighters in unity; today, the sentiment has been replaced by cell phone lights.
“I would prefer them [fans at a show] to put their phones down and watch the show and not film it, but I understand they want to share, and they want to relive, and that’s part of that relaxation, that comfort level.”
Music is ‘powerful medicine’
Music, no matter how you take it in, can be good for your mental health and a welcome distraction from everything else happening in the world.
“Everything is kind of really off kilter sometimes, currently, and people want to go and listen to rock and roll, and they want to dance, and they want to remember that there’s still music in this world, and it’s still awesome.”
Hart’s day-to-day routine, with two boys under the age of six at home, is entirely different than when he toured full time. Tonic’s fans have also grown and changed over the years, and many who maybe couldn’t see a live show in the band’s heyday because they didn’t have a lot of disposable income, now have a second chance to take in a performance.
“I just have to write about what I lived through or what I see, or what I see friends going through,” he said. “Because odds are, if I’m writing it, and I’m connect to it, that means there’s other people out there who’ve gone through the same thing, because we’re all human beings.”
Not too long ago, Tonic was playing in another country, and Hart honed in on a young girl in the front row, likely 17 or 18 years old, singing every word to “If You Could Only See,” their breakout hit single that was the most-played rock song in 1997, even though it wasn’t in her language.
“That’s powerful medicine, you know. That is so reaffirming. I don’t know that girl, but a thought I had in my head when I was 22 years old is now her thought in her head. It’s crazy right? I mean that connection to music is just so powerful.”
ICYMI
- The Foundry | RocktoberFest to feature Buckcherry, Tonic, Jackyl, Sebastian Bach
- Waynesboro: The Foundry finds its groove booking nostalgic bands from the ’90s
The emotional connection fans have with lyrics, whether it’s a Tonic song or something from one of their solo careers, is something that is never lost on Hart.
“People that come up when we’re doing meet-and-greets and stuff like that, they’ll say I was having a hard time in my life, and your record pulled me through that. That means everything to me,” Hart said. “That means more than selling a million records because that’s what we’re supposed to be doing.”
When it comes to his legacy as an artist, he wants to be remembered for being one of the good guys in the business and not some “standoffish ass,” in his words.
“I want to be remembered as number one, a good songwriter; number two, a good singer; and number three, a good person.”
Beyond Tonic: Hart, Russo and Lavery
In addition to touring with Tonic, Hart has made a name for himself as a solo artist with three albums on his own. He also performs with Kevin Griffin, Better than Ezra; and Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray; in Ezra Ray Hart. When Tonic wraps up performances on Oct. 18 in Texas, he’ll have about a month off before hitting the road again with Ezra Ray Hart for 20 Christmas shows on its first “90s Hits & Xmas Riffs” tour. The show comes to Norfolk on Nov. 21.
Russo is now a sought-after composer for film, television and video games. He wrote the score for HBO’s The Night Of and won an Emmy Award for the music composition for Fargo.
Lavery played bass in The Fray before establishing himself as a writer and producer. In recent years, he’s been involved in artist management working with Joe Jonas and Adam Lambert.
Mark your calendar: Virginia shows
- Oct. 10 – Tonic at The Foundry, Waynesboro (with Brisk); tickets here
- Oct. 11 – Tonic at Capital One Hall, Tysons (with Brisk)
- Nov. 21 – Ezra Ray Hart at Harrison Opera House, Norfolk, “90s Hits and Xmas Riffs” tour
The Foundry: RocktoberFest lineup
- Oct. 03 – Rocktoberfest kickoff and Rock to Recovery
- Oct. 04 – Shot Thru The Heart (A Tribute to Bon Jovi)
- Oct. 05 – Buckcherry with Nashville Pussy plus Drew Cagle & the Reputation
- Oct. 10 – Tonic with Brisk
- Oct. 11 – Jackyl with Four Thirty Four
- Oct. 24 – Thunderstruck: America’s AC/DC Tribute
- Oct. 25 – Monsters of Rock Halloween with Wahookies & The Rewind Experience
- Oct. 30 – Big Something Halloween show
- Nov. 08 – Sebastian Bach (original voice of Skid Row)
- Nov. 09 – Black Stone Cherry with Them Dirty Roses & Ayron Jones
The Foundry at Basic City Beer Co. is located at 1010 E. Main St. in Waynesboro.
Tickets for the entire RocktoberFest lineup are on sale at TheFoundrySound.com.
Tonic: ‘If You Could Only See’
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Crystal Graham
