#remember when fontaines dc were about to get to no 1 so she released the physical copies of folklore a day early so she beat them to it lma

[timoswerner]

that blonde demon woman needs to be stopped

[calvinphilip22-blog]

The Foreigner Experience

In January, the rock band Completely Unchained stormed the Reilly Arts Center stage in a crank-it-to-11 flurry of sparks, leaps and wild hair. Lots and lots of hair. Think manes of hair. Think late '70s, early '80s. Think David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen.

That’s what hundreds of people were thinking that night, as Completely Unchained not only played Van Halen’s hits but inhabited the style and swagger of the legendary California party band. The show was part of the WIND-FM Rocks the Reilly Series, now in its third season. The Ocala-based classic rock radio station brings tribute bands into the arts center, and the shows have proved very popular, often selling out.

The success of the series is part of a larger phenomenon: Venues are booking more tribute acts — musicians who not only play the music of popular, often-gone acts but play the parts. They dress like the originals, strut like the originals, bend guitar strings like the originals. While the burgeoning local arts scene is presenting many headliners and fresh new acts, there definitely is a diverse menu of tribute bands. Reilly Arts Center in Ocala: Let It Be - The Beatles, Cash Unchained — The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute, Remembering John Denver, Nightrain — Guns N’ Roses Tribute and Pig Floyd — The Music of Pink Floyd.

Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale: The Everly Brothers Experience, Hotel California, John Denver Tribute and the Neil Diamond Tribute. This list is not complete. Also, several acts listed are returning. 200 ticket prices. But fans still want to hear that music. 20 ticket to a show minutes away, they will opt for a date night or girls night out in their hometown. Tribute bands also are cheaper for venues. 12,000 or less. Ticket prices are lower, but tribute bands generally fill — at the very least — several hundred seats. With tribute bands, WIND-FM Rocks the Reilly Series has been very successful, noted Hunter, an on-air co-host and WIND-FM’s program director. "We’ve had quite a few sellouts. These things are hot," she said. "It makes for a great date night. From teens to baby boomers, people simply love the sounds, styles and attitudes of classic rock.

20 ticket to see what they missed all those years ago is quite reasonable, local sources contend. Manning said there definitely has been an increase in tribute bands in the last five years. When 7 Bridges started 12 years ago, Manning said there were a handful of Eagles tribute bands touring. "We turn down more shows than we accept," Manning said, noting 7 Bridges also caps its tour dates these days to allow for more family time and side projects. "The appetite is there," said Matt Wardell, CEO and artistic director of the Reilly. So is the inventory. Wardell said the Reilly gets a handful of calls each week from promoters trying to book their tribute bands into the venue. It’s tricky, Wardell noted, because the Reilly never intended to book tribute bands when it opened, opting to present Ocala Symphony Orchestra concerts, local productions and original touring acts.

But the popularity and supply of tribute bands — good tribute bands — is not to be dismissed. WIND-FM rents the Reilly to host their tribute shows, but the Reilly staff has started booking their own tribute concerts in between larger acts and symphony shows. Last weekend’s Denny Diamond concert, for example, was a Reilly-hosted show, whereas Let It Be will be part of the WIND-FM series. "Five to eight years ago, performing arts centers wouldn’t even think about a tribute band," Manning said. But, now, a performing arts center such as the Reilly or Circle Square is perfect for tribute bands.

Fans of the original bands are at an age where sitting down with a cocktail is far more appealing than going to a sweaty bar or a stadium that demands standing. "I saw the Queen (and) AC/DC show at Reilly. It was awesome. I also went to the John Denver one and the Elton John show. I love them," noted Ocala resident Laura Fontaine. JoAnn Grosso, adding she has been called up on stage to dance at tribute shows. Other locals are not quite on board with the tribute band proliferation. Wardell said the Reilly does not want to be tribute band-heavy. It strives to fill its schedule with diverse and original acts with headliner appeal. But the tribute band market is hard to ignore. He said the Reilly vets tribute acts carefully, examining internet clips and talking to references. To be sure, there are bad tribute bands out there. But the increase in tribute bands also means there is a larger number of good bands, Manning said. "The tribute bands have really stepped up their game in the last five or six years," he said. They know how to put on a good show — a production with lights and quality sound and interaction.

"Abbey Road" was a last creative gasp for the Beatles, and on Wednesday the tribute band RAIN turned it into a multi-media, sensory assault. The classic album came out in 1969. It felt like 50 years flashed by in the two-hours, with stunning visual and audio re-creations at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. "Abbey Road" is a daring, sonic adventure that simmers with furious energy and mind-expanding rock and roll. I’ve seen many Beatles’ tribute bands and presentations, but nothing could match the quality of the music and the visual presentations in this show. RAIN has appeared on Broadway and also played the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The Beatles were well on their way to breaking up in 1969. "Abbey Road" seemed like a farewell get-together in the recording studio that the album was named after.

"We wanted to make one last great album, and that’s how we made ‘Abbey Road,’" Paul McCartney has said. Steve Landes (John Lennon), Paul Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Alastar McNeil (George Harrison) and Aaron Chiazza (Ringo Starr) make up RAIN. They can’t match the Beatles but this group and its Broadway-show like presentation captures the music, emotion and atmosphere of the Beatles. The Beatles, who broke up in 1970, would release one more album - "Let It Be" - after "Abbey Road." That LP was mostly a rehash of old tapes and performances for the "Let It Be" movie. "Abbey Road," in contrast, is a fresh burst of musical adventure. In some ways, it’s a bittersweet album, sort of like a graduation.

The time has come to leave old friends and start over - but you want to have one last blast with your buddies. Landes gave props to John Lennon with a blistering cover of "Come Together" to start off Side 1 of the album. Landes, with shoulder-length hair and a wearing a chalk white suit, captured the 1969 Lennon look. And then there’s George - the quiet Beatle. George Harrison reached a musical climax on "Abbey Road." His ballad, "Something," on Side 1 (RAIN did not perform it) is a classic. Harrison kicked off Side 2 with another standard, "Here Comes the Sun." McNeil played an acoustic guitar on the song to perfection and was spot on with his vocals. After that number, the Beatles turned Side 2 of "Abbey Road" into one of the greatest rock performances in history. And that’s not an exaggeration.

I didn’t expect much from RAIN but they surprised me. The first hour of the program was a guided tour of Beatles history. It started with the appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. The early songs were fun, as were the old television commercials shown on the giant stage screens behind the band. "Twist and Shout" was the highlight of the early years, with Landes wailing and rocking like a youthful John Lennon. As time passed, the Beatles evolved as human beings and musicians. A turning point in the show was the era of "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver." McNeil, as George Harrison, impressed with his lead guitar work and harmonies.

He did a remarkable job on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," starting the song slow and eventually building to a booming finish. RAIN displayed bright, colorful costumes for "Sgt. All in all, it was a concert to warm the hearts of aging Beatles fans. "It’s the music that matters and that’s why we’re all here today," said Trevor Edwards, who grew up near London and was visiting The Villages. Villager Stan McAlevey said the songs still have depth and meaning. "The Beatles were great storytellers," said McAlevey, who plays guitar and performs. He appreciates "Abbey Road" and what it means in Beatles’ history. "It’s one of the last times that they were happy together and they enjoyed making music," he said. "I love Side 2, when they ran all those songs together.

Led Zepplin tribute band Whole Lotta Led who will be headlining The Waterfront in Norwich. Ahead of Whole Lotta Led’s return to Norwich on Thursday, ADAM AIKEN caught up with Norfolk-born lead singer Lee Pryor. To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Lee Pryor is speaking from his home near Brighton. But he’s not like the legions of all the other 60-somethings enjoying life on the south cost. Pryor is about to hit the road again with his band, Whole Lotta Led, and head to Norfolk - the county where he was born. The Led Zeppelin tribute band have won plaudits for their live shows which, for most of us, are as near as we’ll ever get to seeing the real thing.

They are semi-regulars at the Waterfront, in Norwich, where they draw bigger audiences than many "original" acts, and they are back there this week. Check out the local listings and there are plenty of tribute acts on the circuit - some of them very impressive. But Whole Lotta Led are different from most of their peers. There’s no dressing up, there are no wigs - it’s all about the music. "Some of the other bands out there are really good, but we’re musicians, not actors," says Pryor. "If you’re not trained in acting, you can’t pull it off. Pryor joined Whole Lotta Led - who have been around for nearly a quarter of a century - in 2012, and is regularly struck by the reactions of the audience. And for those who aren’t new to the music, the gigs often take them back in time.

"It’s all about people’s memories," he says. "Music often brings things back in a way that a photograph doesn’t. "We like mixing up the set," says 67-year-old Pryor. Pryor was born in Great Yarmouth before his family moved south when he was a few years old. But he regularly returned for holidays and to help his grandmother in her guesthouse. And while Aerosmith have their own Rock ’n’ Roller Coasters in California and Paris, Pryor has his own favourite fairground attraction a little closer to home. "The Snails are still there!

" he says. "When I went back I had to have a go on them, and on the Tubs! And, in a way, that seems fitting for the congenial and down-to-earth Pryor. He and his fellow bandmates, who have earned the backing of Zep guitarist Jimmy Page, have the talent to be doing their own thing but they are happy paying homage to their heroes. And they are definitely worth checking out. Whether you remember Zeppelin from the old days or whether you just want to see what the fuss was all about, you’re not going to get a find a better tribute than Whole Lotta Led deliver.

To say that Talent Factory owners Larry and Cindy Sloan are bringing in some great shows would be an understatement. Tribute performances have been huge for them in the past year or so, and the Sloans didn’t even have to go after their March 15 tribute show. The leader of Made in America, a Toby Keith tribute band, called the Sloans. "Toby has a lot of his fan base (in Iowa)," Wenzel said. If you love country music, love America and/or love Toby Keith, the Friday, March 15, show is one you won’t want to miss. Those attending are going to see the same size band that Keith actually tours with, Wenzel said.

"We have all 12 pieces … fiddle, horns … and the hits; we have two hours-plus of nonstop Toby Keith top 100 hits," he said. With lights and props, they will drape the stage in patriotism. "You’re going to feel a lot more patriotic going out than you feel going in … We make you feel proud of your country before the night’s over," he said. Keith songs Wenzel enjoys performing most include "You Ain’t Much Fun," "Should’ve Been a Cowboy," "I Love This Bar" and "How Do You Like Me Now? And he really enjoys the end of each show — where they unleash the patriotism.

"We go into ‘American Soldier’ and ‘Courtesy Of The Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).’ That’s the crescendo," he said. Keith, an America country singer, songwriter and record producer, has definitely made a name for himself when it comes to big and patriotic country songs. But knowing him personally, Wenzel said the media has not always captured who Keith really is. "He’s a man’s man. He loves hunting, fishing, having a beer and talking about sports. And he has a deep love of America … I think he’s a bit misconstrued in the media … He’s portrayed as a far-right conservative when he’s really a moderate independent. When you talk to him, you figure that out," Wenzel said. Wenzel thinks it’s incumbent on him, as the tribute artist, to spread the word about who Keith is and to bring the best "Almost Toby" performances to his audiences.

"Toby Keith just loves his country and the military," he said. "That comes from fact that his father served and lost an eye fighting for the United States in the Army. A lot of his songs that are patriotic are stories about his dad. Wenzel actually opened for Keith’s band — Easy Money Band — when he was in another tribute band. "I’m probably the only person to open for Toby Keith and play him in a band," Wenzel said. But Wenzel, 46, notes that he doesn’t profess to be a Keith clone in life. "That impersonation (of Keith) begins and ends on stage … I bring it all to the stage," Wenzel said. A native of Chicago, Wenzel has been playing music for nearly 30 years.

He switched to country music around 2010, "when I started my band Suburban Cowboys." That band went on to win a couple of Chicago country music awards for best country entertainer. "It was in that band (Suburban Cowboys) that I opened for Toby Keith at (Keith’s) bar in Rosemont, Ill.," he said. Wenzel’s current band, Made in America, has been performing for about two years. "We’re all seasoned veterans," Wenzel said. Great Ides of March is a famous band out of Chicago that wrote hit song "Vehicle" back in the 1970s. The horn section will be in the Made in America band when it comes to Nevada.

Along with a lot of the band’s regulars, Wenzel said he’s pleased to announce that two Iowa musicians, horn players, Dave Rezek and Paul Bilson, both of Des Moines, will join the band at the Talent Factory. When possible, "we like to add local musicians," he noted. The closest Made in America has come to Iowa before is a performance in Savannah, Ill. So, for Iowa’s Toby Keith fans, this show is a unique opportunity. 25 (for front and center rows, while they last). Doors will open at 7 p.m.; the show itself will start at 8 p.m. "We hope that country fans will give us a spin and enjoy the night with us," Wenzel said.

"This show is so much fun. He (Keith) basically sings about three different things — beer, women and the American flag. What’s not to like about those three subject lines? "If you went to a Toby Keith show, you would leave there smiling. For Wenzel and the guys in the band, "we’re all patriotic dudes. ’s a labor of love. One last reminder from Wenzel, for those who attend, "Make sure you bring your red Solo cups. As a side note, those who enjoy good shows should come back the next night, Saturday, March 16, for Beatles tribute band, Rocky Raccoon. 10 for general seating.

Brett Young learned from ACM Awards host Reba McEntire that he's 2018 New Male Vocalist of the Year ahead of the official awards show. Caught off guard by the news — and call from the icon — he could only spout his gratitude. There is surely no better way to start the day, and as McEntire offered one more congratulations and then hung up, Young sat on the sofa in disbelief. Staring at his phone, a big smile soon takes over his face. This is his first-ever ACM Award, but it isn't his first accolade — the singer has been met with massive success since releasing his self-titled debut album last year. His first single, "Sleep Without You," hit No. 1 and went on to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. He was named a member of the inaugural class of Taste of Country RISERS i 2017, and his follow-up single, "In Case You Didn't Know," also rose to the top of the charts (and is now certified 3x platinum).

Grateful Dead lead guitarist Jerry Garcia may have died in 1995, but his group’s music lives on. That’s in part because of tribute bands like DeadBeat, which will be at 9 Wallis this Friday.

The lineup features Beverly natives Gary Barth and Jason Cohen. The Grateful Dead have always enjoyed an ardent group of followers, called Deadheads, and DeadBeat was formed in 2005 to satisfy the members’ hunger for live performances of songs by the original band. "The passion for it is extraordinary," said Barth, who plays rhythm guitar and sings with DeadBeat, which plays throughout Greater Boston and southern New Hampshire. Those faces can range in age from 18 to 80, proving that the Grateful Dead are drawing new fans today, Barth said.

When DeadBeat recently played at The Stone Church in Newmarket, New Hampshire, he saw fans who weren’t even born when Garcia was still alive, but were singing every word. "To me, ultimately, it’s about the music," Barth said. "From a purely musical standpoint, they’re so incredibly diverse. They epitomize what we call Americana, but depending on the time period, it could have been folk, jazz or rock ’n’ roll. The Grateful Dead were also renowned for jamming, rather than playing slavish imitations of their own recordings, and rarely repeated a song if they played at the same venue on successive nights. "For me, I always say it’s that curiosity about what’s around the next corner, even within this song — where is this jam going?

The shared attentiveness of fans generated a spirit that made Grateful Dead concerts special events, so that Deadheads would follow them from city to city on a tour. Barth said that he went to 10 concerts during the original band’s career, which began in 1965, and said they featured none of the theatrical gimmicks that some rock bands rely on to hold an audience’s attention. "There was no banter, never an interaction with the crowd," Barth said. "In fact, there was an incredible interaction, but it was unspoken, nonverbal. The band didn’t record a lot during their long career, producing 13 studio albums, because their focus was on live performances, where they often introduced songs years before recording them. "In the ’60s, it was more blues-based, but more psychedelic," Barth said. "Then in 1970, ‘American Beauty’ and ‘Working Man’s Dead’ were very folky, Americana.

ROCHESTER - The Rochester Opera House will present The Spirit of Johnny Cash at the Rochester theater on Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m. 27, are available now to the general public. The Opera House box office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, and in person at the box office, located in Rochester City Hall. This is what country music is all about - the music of Johnny Cash. Harold Ford is incredible as Johnny Cash. He sings and looks exactly like the man in black - and it comes naturally. Accompanied by the Red Hot Cash Band, an extraordinarily talented team of musicians, The Spirit of Johnny Cash recreates the music that made Johnny Cash country music’s most iconic performer.