Brookroyal

Brookroyal is a rock band that formed in Saint Louis, Missouri, growing out of an idea that began back in 2004 as nothing more than a "fun project" before the band officially came together in May of 2007 . The founding lineup brought together musicians who were already fixtures of the local scene, with Jack Wiese, David Brown, Jason Zykan, Bon Lohman and Adam Stewart having played in bands around St. Louis for almost ten years, sharing stages with acts like Evanescence, Seether, 3 Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Story of the Year, Madina Lake, Drowning Pool, Adema, Sum 41, and Chevelle . Guitarist Kyle Brooks, who grew up in the Southern Illinois towns of Johnston City and Fairview Heights, had actually formed his first band with singer Jack Wiese years earlier, and started playing guitar at age 11, forming his first band with Wiese at 18, staying together for four years, splitting for another four, and then reuniting in 2007 to form Brookroyal .

The band's breakthrough came with the release of their debut album, and their guitar-heavy sound dominated the club scene in St. Louis, with the critically acclaimed album "Motives" earning strong radio support in the Metro area for songs like "There Was a Time," "Save Today" and "Before You Walk Away" . That momentum led to a high-profile opening slot, as Brookroyal was booked to open for Disturbed at The Pageant in St. Louis , a milestone for a still-emerging regional act. The band followed with the "There Was a Time" EP, and after entering the studio in 2008 to work on the EP, the single "There Was a Time" earned an add from St. Louis radio station 105.7 The Point, propelling the band to a sold out hometown show at Pop's Concert Venue, a 1500-seat feat rarely achieved by unsigned acts in the club's history .

Brookroyal's career arc continued to build through the early 2010s as the band pursued a more ambitious third record. They began tracking their third release with producer James Michael, known for his work with Sixx:AM, Motley Crue, Papa Roach, Alanis Morissette and Meatloaf, in Nashville in 2011 , before an unexpected opportunity interrupted production when Godsmack's Sully Erna invited them to open a leg of the Mass Chaos Tour alongside Godsmack, Staind and Halestorm in 2012 . Returning home, the band finished the album, titled "Cycles of Life & Sound," which showcased a wide array of heavy hitting energy paired with softer emotional honesty, reflecting a more seasoned and mature band, and featured guest appearances from Sully Erna of Godsmack, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, and Dan Marsala of Story of the Year . Behind the scenes, the album's path was anything but smooth, as the band saw touring with Godsmack delay the record while they were also busy navigating a frustrating pursuit of a major label deal that took its toll on the group . Ultimately, tired of the waiting game without a major deal solidified, the band released "Cycles of Life & Sound" on 339 Records, the indie label run by their manager Scott Gertken .

Brookroyal has remained active in the years since, continuing to perform and release music out of their St. Louis home base. The band still plays local shows, including acoustic sets, and has continued releasing new material such as the single "Reaching Out," available across Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Amazon . Their legacy rests less on mainstream chart success and more on their reputation as one of the hardest-working bands to emerge from the St. Louis rock scene, a group of longtime friends and musicians whose grinding, DIY persistence carried them from local clubs to national tours alongside major rock acts.

For this archive, Brookroyal represents one of the many regional rock acts that Wayne Dennon captured in a single night behind the lens, a show from 2010 preserved here in 14 photographs that fans have returned to view 11,478 times. Modest in number but rich in energy, these images stand as a small but lasting record of a band that built its name the hard way, one sweaty club show at a time, and of Wayne's own dedication to documenting that scene as it happened.