The Leo Project formed in 2005, beginning as an acoustic act before evolving into a heavier, electric outfit. Founded in 2005 as an acoustic effort, The Leo Project has not so much found its niche as created one, with front man Tyler Lyon joined by his cousin Lance Bennett on percussion and Sean Hamel on bass. Together they developed a sound and stage show that left acoustic in the dust but retained the musicality synonymous with that genre, becoming electric in every sense of the word. In 2007, the band's search for the perfect complement to their already bold and virtuosic ensemble was completed by the addition of guitarist Creighton Bibbs. With this expanded lineup, the band leaned into a heavier, riff driven attack while keeping the layered vocal harmonies that had defined their earlier work.
The band's breakthrough period arrived in the years surrounding their debut full length, The Burning, and the follow up recording sessions that would define their sound. Exploring the Metal edge of Rock with searing instrumentals, the combined vocal talents of all four members gave The Leo Project a mature lyric and harmonic presence, with listeners detecting eclectic elements of artists as diverse as Pantera, Phil Collins, ZZ Top and Van Halen while remaining unmistakably their own. Early 2009 saw the release of the band's much-anticipated second album, with studio work completed in collaboration with producer Fred Archambault, known for his work with deftones and Avenged Sevenfold, released through the indie label Burning Scissors Records. That record showcased the group's signature blend of soulful vocals, blistering guitar work, and driving percussion, capturing the same intensity that had already made them a formidable live act.
Throughout their career arc, The Leo Project built a reputation as a hard working touring band that could hold its own alongside major national rock acts. The Leo Project was sought after by a variety of venues that promised their patrons the ultimate concert experience, and fans and industry professionals alike were impressed when the band shared the stage with performers like Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, 3 Days Grace, Seether, Slipknot, Sevendust, Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, As I Lay Dying, Unearth, 36 Crazyfists, Hinder, Powerman 5000, Bobaflex, and Hypnogaja. The band also spent time on the road as direct support for classic rock acts, including a run of dates opening for Tesla around 2009, exposing them to broader and more varied audiences beyond the hard rock and metal circuit.
The band has continued to operate under the name TLP in more recent years, maintaining an active presence with fans through social media and continuing to describe itself in terms consistent with its original sound. TLP brings a unique sound to the music scene, walking the line between hard rock, metal and mainstream hits. While the group never achieved mainstream chart dominance, their persistence on the club and support tour circuit through the late 2000s and beyond left them with a loyal following and a reputation as a reliably intense live act, the kind of band whose stage shows made a strong impression on photographers and fans working the regional rock scene.
It is fitting that The Leo Project has a place in this archive. Wayne Dennon photographed the band at one show in 2009, right around the period of their second album and their busiest run of tour support slots, and that night is preserved here in 19 photographs. Those images have since been viewed 14,918 times by visitors to this site, a small but lasting record of a band that spent those years sharing stages with some of hard rock's biggest names, captured through Wayne's lens and kept alive as part of his ongoing photographic legacy.
