You meet a lot of music fans as a professional concert photographer, but over the past couple years, one has stood out to me the most. When culling through my photos from events across the state, I kept seeing the same guy, always up front by the barricade. Show after show, photoset after photoset, there he’d be. Finally, at a concert not too long ago, we met and got to chatting.
Waterloo resident Jim Reiners is, to put it lightly, quite an avid concertgoer. Reiners credits his parents for introducing him to live music, bringing him to see “Rama Lama Ding Dong” singers Sha Na Na back in 1979. But he states his true “first concert” was the Eagles back in 1980.
Fast-forward about 45 years and Reiners attends, on average, between 50 to 60 concerts per year. Last year was particularly prolific; he claimed to have caught a whopping 96 shows.
“Whatever kind of mood you’re in, music can fix that,” he said. “Music becomes your own personal therapist. Music has always been a way of life for me. It can get you through anything, and it’s always been there for me.”
Of all the artists he has seen, the most frequent has been the alternative country band the Mavericks, with a whopping 44 concerts. Reiners brought his mother along to 28 of those shows. While he generally doesn’t mind attending concerts alone, you’ll usually find him joined by his sister, brother-in-law or another guest, as he always makes sure he has an extra ticket.
You’ll frequently find Reiners at shows across eastern Iowa, but he’ll travel all around the state — and occasionally out of state — to get his concert fix. Since living in Iowa, the farthest he’s traveled for a show was down to Dallas in 2018 to see Eric Clapton. He may soon surpass this, as Reiners plans to make his way to Florida in 2026 for the Sound Wave Beach Weekend. More often than not, Reiners will attend touring artists’ shows, but you’ll occasionally find him supporting local artists. Some favorites include Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50s and Not Quite Brothers.
It’s not about the stats for Reiners. He’s keen to turn every concert into an experience, frequently purchasing VIP/meet-and-greet upgrades. “Some artists, like Slash, love getting to know their fans,” he shared. “Other artists like to have conversations that feel personal, and make you feel connected,” which he said makes those VIP experiences even more valuable.
Some of his special experiences can’t be bought, like when he was invited up on stage for a couple of songs by Theory of a Dead Man. They were looking for veterans to honor, which they’re known to do on their tours, and there was Reiners. You’ll often find him in the front row, whether the format is seated or standing.
“I feel that going to concerts keeps me younger,” Reiners said. “I know these artists won’t be around forever, and my health won’t always be the same, so I figure I’ll experience all of this while I can.”
He shared a hot tip for souvenir-minded fans: arrive early, as there’ll often be exclusive merch available in limited quantities. A particularly revered item for Reiners is the classic tour poster. He radiated with pride as he showed off his set of two Metallica posters acquired from their M72 World Tour stops at Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium on Aug. 16 and 18, 2024. Only a limited number were available and, in a move that seemed tailormade for fans like Reiners, the two separate posters can be combined to create one seamless landscape.
The Metallica diptych hangs in his house among many, many other concert posters. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Reiners’ home could double as a museum to live music. Every wall in his house, from the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom, is lined from top to bottom with framed tour posters (several signed by the artist), and other gems he’s collected from concerts. There’s an extensive collection of framed setlists (again, some signed by the artists), which Reiners usually winds up obtaining at the end of the performance — a perk of leaving late. You can also find drumsticks, picks, vintage T-shirts and several signed guitars. Standout items include two Joe Bonamassa bass guitars, and one acoustic signed by the Eagles, which he won back in 2014.
But collecting is only part of the experience, and when a show is underway, Reiners is focused on the music and the community that grows around it. Being a part of the crowd gives him the opportunity to meet new people.
“I’ve made a lot of friends through concerts, whether it is fellow fans, security for shows, the photographers, etc.,” he said. “I’ve become connected with people on social media by going to all of these concerts and venues. These are now all people I am able to attend concerts with, and not only that, but some of them even become family to me.”
Reiners shouts out his best friend, Mike. There’s quite a memorable story on how they met, so if you ever see him at a show — perhaps after arriving early and posting up by the front stage barricade — you can ask and see if he’ll tell the tale. Maybe you’ll become another member of Reiners’ concert family.
“Music brings people together,” he told me. “… Our country has been so divided lately in numerous ways, but being at a concert, everyone is there for the same thing for a couple of hours. We’re all there to just enjoy some live music.”
Upcoming shows on Reiners’ radar
Thursday, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m., A.J. Croce Presents Croce Plays Croce, The Englert, Iowa City
Reiners loves that A.J. is keeping his father’s legacy alive. Aside from his own music, he performs some of his dad’s, as well as tells stories about his father, Jim.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 8 p.m., Paul McCartney “Got Back” Tour, Iowa Events Center, Des Moines
After seeing McCartney, Reiners can proudly say that he has seen half of the Beatles.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:30 p.m., Richie Lee and the Fabulous ’50s, Rhythm City Casino, Davenport
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., Rodney Crowell w/ William Elliott Whitmore, The Englert, Iowa City
“I’ve never seen him before, but I enjoy going to theaters like the Paramount and Englert because they are both fantastic venues, and have great staff.”
This article was originally published in Little Village’s September 2025 issue.
