Growing up as a Generation X’er was a treat musically. The music of the time was an eclectic mix that allowed us to soak in a diverse appreciation of many styles. As the ’60s faded out, lyrics of the folk sound resonated in our minds while the ’70s and ’80s rock introduced us again to a heavier mix of instrumental solos. As disco came upon us we saw pop sounds interspersed with a mix of more dance oriented music from NYC, LA, Detroit, and the UK. Then as the large hair bands began to fade out, we were introduced to a whole new indie/grunge sound from the Seattle region. I think those that were raised during this time period feel an appreciation more so for music for some reason. The one thing that seems to hold true as you look at this era of music, those that performed then, are still going strong today and still touring to sold out shows all over the world. Included in this eclectic group were stand out musicians Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
They made music on stage and that chemistry extended into their personal lives as they took the ’80s by storm. Pat’s strong vocals paired with the fretting strings of Neil were beautiful music that took your gut and made you stand strong and tall. It’s no surprise that they are still going strong today both on and off stage.
Playing to a sold out crowd at The Turning Stone Casino Showroom, husband and wife duo Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo began the show with a video reel of their history together. I have to admit that this preface to the show gave me even more of an understanding and appreciation of their journey together.
Pat Benatar was a classically trained vocalist who began singing in grade school, and just never stopped. Making her mark on NYC in both the clubs and on/off-Broadway Benatar had a vision for what she wanted to achieve, and this vision held a strong musical partner. She needed someone who would hold their own beside her, as well as inspire her. After hearing Neil “Spyder” Giraldo, she knew that was the perfect match. Spyder was an established musician, writer, producer and had been playing with Rick Derringer band when they met. It was an “Invincible” pairing and together they were unstoppable as they created hit after hit.
Fast forward to today, after raising their two daughters, they have taken to the road again to share this magic once again with fans in their 35th Anniversary Tour. I can attest that the magic is still there, and their talent even more refined and fine tuned. They had the crowd at hello as they sang all of my personal favorites and some unexpected covers. As a teenager in the 80’s, the look and stage presence of Pat Benatar was larger than life. Even though many emulated her look, it was her strength that hooked me. As a female rocker in the 80’s Benatar proved to everyone women could be fierce and sexy at the same time. No more Stepford wives ladies, we were going to break that image wide open and take control of our lives. Pat Benatar knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish, had the vision, had the perfect partner to share that vision with, and in turn we have been blessed to be on the receiving end of her journey.
Pat Benatar/Neil Girlado Set List: Shadows of the Night; All Fired Up; Invincible; We Live for Love; One Love; Precious Time; Strawberry Wine; Promises In The Dark; We Belong; Hell Is for Children; You Better Run (The Young Rascals cover); Hit Me With Your Best Shot; Love Is a Battlefield;
Encore: Everybody Lay Down; Let’s Stay Together; Heartbreaker / Ring of Fire/Seven Nation /Godfather Theme
For several years now, right in the heart of Central NY we have had one gem of a venue, that has continuously brought country music fans the latest and greatest music directly from Nashville. Proudly displayed on the walls within The Turning Stone Casino & Resort you’ll find show posters. Signed by each artist that have performed over the course of the almost twenty-two years since their opening in July 1993.
Constantly bringing audiences their favorites from both today and yesterday, The Turning Stone certainly has kept country music fans entertained.
The first show I ever saw at The Event Center, would be the legendary Martina McBride. This sold out show was the perfect introduction for me to this venue as Martina McBride performed two full hour sets of award-winning music. Featuring some of the greatest country classics from her recently released Timeless album — later to be certified as Gold and Platinum.
Ms. McBride’s performance took me back to my youth in Tennessee, as she sang country standards of Hanks Williams, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Johnny Cash to name a few. After a quick costume change, back on stage she came belting out her own hit after hit. This show and Ms. McBride made a lasting impression on me that evening.
Eli Young Band – Turning Stone Showroom
Fast forward to today, as a music photojournalist I absolutely love covering shows at this venue and still feel that excitement, the same feeling that came over me as I watched Martina McBride mesmerize her audience. The amazing lighting & sound staff, and the top-notch lineup this venue constantly brings to the country music fan base here in Central N.Y. is very much appreciated.
These shows continue to sell out and the big acts continue to frequent this centrally located venue. In my opinion, I believe their ongoing success can be attributed to the fact that they continually listen to their audiences and bring to them the acts they wish to see. Turning Stone also provides these acts with top-notch technology to give their audiences the best performances possible.
Tin Rooster – Turning Stone Casino Exit 33
For those just looking for a place to relax, have some down home country barbecue for dinner, and hear some of your favorite local country musicians on the weekends. The Turning Stone once again listened to their patrons. In 2013 they added their Exit 33 Venues which includes the Tin Rooster, an establishment focusing on everything down home country. With a shiny bedazzled rhinestone clad saddle hanging from the center of the dance floor like a disco ball, locals have had the chance to chow down on down home country cooking, enjoy libations at the full bar areas, while working it off afterwards line dancing and shaking what their momma gave them country-style.
Tin Rooster – Exit 33
The Tin Rooster, along with the other venues within Exit 33 provide a constantly packed venue for the local acts. Showcasing their music each weekend to an eager audience. On occasion you can even see some major national acts for little to nothing on the Tin Rooster stage.
In fact, this past New Year’s Eve, the Tin Rooster treated their patrons for a night to remember. Ringing in the New Year with local favorites The Beadle Brothers. They kicked off the night and primed the already eager audience while they counted down the clock, waiting for the new year to arrive.
To round out the eventful evening, national act and crowd favorites, Love & Theft took the stage. As Love & Theft performed, they rang in the New Year in country-style. Patrons celebrating the holiday and donning proper New Year’s Eve attire, goofy glasses on their “Angel Eyes”.
This is just one of the treats we continue to get from our country music venue sources at the Turning Stone.
Nashville may logistically be about 13 hours away. However for central New Yorkers, one of country music’s largest fan bases — it’s just a hop, skip, promenade, do-si-do, and two-step down the road and off of the thruway on Exit 33.
For more information on weekly acts, please take a moment to visit the webpage for Exit 33’s Tin Rooster, where you’ll find the latest acts, menus, and information on how you can book your own parties.
Scotty McCreery was only 17-years-old when he won the 10th season on American Idol in 2011. Perhaps this young man was new to those just seeing him for the first time, however Scotty had spent most of his life singing and playing and preparing for his moment on that stage.
Growing up in North Carolina, Scotty McCreery at the age of 5-years-old received a book from his grandmother about Elvis, and from that point on, he knew what he wanted to do. He began learning guitar immediately thereafter and throughout his school years participated in chorus and plays, as well as sang at his local church. No stranger to the stage, this young man competed in several contests throughout his teenage years, and participated in numerous benefit concerts raising money for different causes.
This young man is not only extremely talented, he is very well grounded. With his family and his faith supporting him, he has continued to pursue his dream of music while attending the North Carolina State University. This ACM, American Country Music, and CMT Award winning artist continues to grow musically, while keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
As the show at Turning Stone Casino began, I was in visual heaven as they had one outstanding video show playing in the background. As audibly appealing as each song was to me that Scotty sang, the visual effects behind him was the cherry on top for me. The timing of videography matched perfectly with his music and choreography. This was an extremely well put together production and showcased his talents perfectly.
Scotty McCreery – Turning Stone Casino Showroom
Looking around me I couldn’t help but take in the diversity of the crowd that evening. There was every generation there from young girls reaching and screaming out as though they were at Beatle mania, to their grandmothers who sang along with every song. It was crystal clear that this country crooner appealed to the masses. Whether it was an upbeat tempo, a dedication to those who we have lost serving our country, or belting out a mashup of some of country music greats: “King of The Road” by Roger Miller, “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard, “White Lightning” by George Jones, and “Mountain Music”, by Alabama. His music spanned generations and showcased his voice impeccably. All in all, this was one amazing show, and I see great things on the horizon for this artist. Already with three albums already under belt, fans can look forward to a fourth he’s currently working on that is expected by years end.
Touring this summer with Rascal Flatts on their RIOT TOUR 2015, catch him as he will be back to New York August 29, 2015 at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit www.darienlake.com/concerts/ for this and many other upcoming LiveNation concerts.
In a business that is constantly changing, few bands can boast that they have had a successful career for more than fifty years. Maintaining a strong fan base and generating new fans throughout the entire course of time, The Beach Boys should absolutely boast of their successes every chance they get. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Music Hall of Fame in 1988 and being awarded the NARAS’ Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy in 2001, their achievements have not slowed them down from doing what they love most, playing music. Mike Love
The Beach Boys
First making waves in 1961 with their hit song “Surfin’” it didn’t take long for these California teenagers to get signed and record their first album featuring hits such as “Surfin’ Safari” and “Surfer Girl” as well as the B side single of “Surfin’ Safari” – “409”, which incidentally was re-released as the A side later on. To date, the original record showing “409” as the A side has never been found. To all collectors out there, if you have it, don’t let go of it. They quickly followed this album up with “Surfin’ U.S.A.” which became their first Top Ten album going to number three on the charts. With a total of 29 albums, these bandmates have had successful careers both together, and as solo artists, riding the waves with its ups and downs throughout that time period.
NYSMusic had an opportunity to talk with frontman, Mike Love, about his upcoming show at the Turning Stone Casino Showroom April 21, 2015, his career, personal relationships, and what it’s been like to live life as a Beach Boy.
The Beach Boys
Kathy Stockbridge (KS): Thank you so much for speaking to our readers here at NYSMusic.com. We’re really excited to have you here in the Central NY area this week at the Turning Stone Casino. I have been a personal fan for years. I won’t say how many though as that may give away this girls age. You have had an iconic career. Fifty plus years in one of the most legendary bands ever is quite an accomplishment, and very hard to achieve in the music industry today. So congratulations for that. It’s a career you began this many moons ago with your cousins? The Wilsons?
Mike Love (ML): Yes, they are first cousins. Yes, my mom and their dad are brother and sister. My cousin Brian and I are just about a year apart. We grew up together and we actually had a lot of the same experiences that we actually put into songs when we first started to do this. Experiences relevant to southern California.
KS: I can just picture you folks harmonizing together around a piano on holidays? Is that how it came about?
ML: That’s exactly how it was. My mom was, Emily “Glee” Wilson, Murray Wilson’s sister, the father to Brian, Dennis, and Carl. Every birthday, every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, was a really big deal and we would do Christmas carols and whatnot together. Brian and I would get together and go every Wednesday night for Youth Night at the Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church to sing songs there, and then on the way back to my house from there we would sing Everly Brothers songs and the doo-wop songs back in the late ’50s. So that’s how we got our start through family connections, through family Christmas’, birthday parties, and holidays. My mom was a big music enthusiast. She had recitals of all kinds, she sang in the opera, such as Madam Butterfly and such so we got that influence. We grew up with a grand piano, an organ, and a harp in our living room. That was such an omnipresent aspect of our young lives was music.
KS: That is really cool, and a cool way to grow up having music surround you. Your careers took off in a time that was in such turmoil and civil unrest. However most of your music reflected sunny southern California. Explain to me how your writing stayed so positive in a time of war and civil unrest.
ML: It was a conscious decision that we made, at least on my part. Although there were lots of issues going on during that time. We were all post WWII babies, and there was still attention to the Cold War and we were taught to drop under our desks because the Russians were going to bomb us with A-Bombs. So that type of thing was definitely going on around us but what I chose to do is accent on the positive. And so we sang of the things that were positive in our life and our life style growing up in southern California. Not to far away was the beach so there was surfing, surfer girls, high school experiences. In 1962 we wrote a song “Be True To Your School” and that was all about our high school spirit and the spirit of Friday night football, the cheerleaders, and all that. And how do you get to these places whether it’s school or beach? In southern California things are pretty spread out so you needed a car. We all had our favorite cars, that we ended up acquiring once we started to make some money. So it was cars, and beach life, and school life and of course we did a song in 1965 called Barbara Ann. ‘Went to a dance, lookin’ for romance’ . That became a big hit for us. However it was done original by an east coast group called, The Regents. It became a huge hit for The Beach Boys. We do it every night on our shows. It brings back a lot of memories for our original fans of course, but its amazing how some of these songs resonate with children. I have a 19-year-old daughter that when she was a little toddler would go up to our cd player singing “Ba Ba Ba, Ba, Ba, Bar Ann “. She wanted to hear “Barbara Ann”. She would play that twenty times in a row. So it’s kinda incredible how multiple generations are connecting to The Beach Boys and our sound, (which is primarily harmony), and the subject matter, which we said. Then as we get a little older, we get a little more introspective, then our sounds change like when the “Good Vibrations” came out in 1966 and it went to number one. It was our biggest selling single until Kokomo came along in 1988. So we had a wide range there of feelings and moods and subject matters to work with over those years.
KS: I read that after the JFK assassination you and Brian sat down to write “Warmth of The Sun”. Talk to me about where you were mentally that day as you were writing that song. How did it help you and a whole generation get through some of those difficult times going on around you?
ML: Well actually, the way it happened was, I went to Brian house. He had just recently moved out of his household where he had grown up with his brothers and his mom and dad, The group had just moved out of the home in Hawthorne, CA and had rented a house. I went over to visit him and we started writing this song. It was a very melancholy song, with beautiful harmony, very pretty melody, and I wrote the words to it from the perspective of (it was so melancholy) the loss of a love you’d once had. That the other person didn’t feel the same way any more..and that happens to a lot of us growing up over the years. We went to sleep after writing this beautiful song and we were awakened in the morning with the news that President Kennedy had been taken to the hospital in Dallas.
KS: So it preceded the events of the assassination then? Wow!
ML: It was very eerie knowing that all these feelings while writing this song and I don’t know if we were in tune with an ominous mood to come. We must have finished the song around two or three in the morning and slept until hearing the news that President Kennedy had been taken to the hospital in Dallas the next morning. So that was an enormous shock and we didn’t change the lyrics or anything like that. It’s still about the loss of a love. Although you still have the moment of having felt that way at one time. It was recorded a couple of weeks later actually in the studio. But when we recorded it obviously it was charged with a lot of emotions. When we do that song it takes me back to that time period and still to this day carries a lot of emotion. The song itself is very beautiful and haunting and the harmonies are incredible.
KS: Now speaking of things you recorded around that time, one of them was what has been deemed your “Best Unreleased Album” of all time which was “Smile”. Then the following year you re-worked that album and released “Smiley Smile”. Explain to the readers the story surrounding these two albums.
ML: Well the first one had some great tracks on it and music on it. Then Brian had an experience with LSD, in which he went from being very dynamic and resourceful in the studio to becoming a recluse. When people ask me what is my one biggest regret of The Beach Boys career, it was the influence that drugs had on some of the members. In particular, Brian. So he felt that he couldn’t go forward any more with that particular album, the “Smile” album, so he shelved it. So then we worked on something a lot more lighter, a lot more whimsical and lighter and called it “Smiley Smile”.
KS: You mention that your experiences with drugs or the choice of not using drugs. You actually chose the latter and chose to learn meditation. Talk to me about that. We see the choice today even of doing meditation and/or yoga to eliminate the stresses in life. In the ’60s you had to have been experiencing just as much stress that we do today. And do you still continue today with your meditation?
ML: Yes I do. It’s a choice. You can do things to relax or achieve a high. There’s ways of doing it chemically with drugs or people choose to drink alcohol. The problem is that many of the things people do to escape or just feel better or feel relaxed they have a not so great side effect. So experiencing that, and looking and seeing that happening around me firsthand, it made me appreciate the fact with mediation I could do something that had no negative side effects, just all beneficial, and achieved that deep relaxation is one of the most wonderful things about it to be completely relaxed without any influence of any drug or alcohol or anything like that. And it has no side effects other than you feel good and gives you more energy and creativity and clarity. So that was so obviously to me so much more beneficial than the other paths to relaxation or escape. That it lead me to not only learn TM (Transcendental Meditation) in the summer of 1967, but I was invited by Maharishi to go to India in early 1968. In fact George Harrison and I both had our birthdays (we’re both Pisces) and we both had our birthdays in the spring of 1968 at Marishi’s place in India. Rishikesh, India is where the Ganges comes out of the foot of the mountains…it’s a beautiful spot. And that was a remarkable journey. It was most fascinating to me because we meditated for long hours and then listened to Maharishi lecture virtually every night and sometimes a couple of times a day too. So it was a fascinating period of my life and one that forever gave me the appreciation of the value of meditation.
KS: It sounds surreal. It had to help as you were all on the road and in close confines and you have such stressors from your record label and fans, and having to constantly churn out musical hits one right after another, that I’m sure that this was as assistance to you, especially for your creative side. Did you find it to help stimulate you creatively?
ML: Yes. What it helped me to do is to not get into the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol that was presented to so many people. Not only in the group, but in the world. So when there was a clear decision to be made, are you going to do something life supporting or life damaging. So in the case of “Smile” I was never opposed to the music or the experimental nature of it, or anything like that. In fact there are some brilliant tracks on that, and we all contributed our voices. But what I was very concerned about was the changes I saw occurring in my cousin Brian’s behavior. He became virtually a recluse for a period of time.
KS: That had to be hard to watch occurring.
ML: It was terrible. Because you see the same thing happen to my cousin, Dennis, who passed away in 1983. He had a long struggle with alcohol and just about every drug you could possibly imagine. And to see a guy go from very handsome and vital and viral and active and dynamic on stage to just acting like and looking dissipated and to the point where I believe was the cause of …the reason they say was drowning, but he was under the influence at the time so.
KS: That’s just so sad. And you see that still today with people choosing to use those methods for relaxing and escape. Now changing stream here, I’m kinda curious about this…in 1980 you played a show at the Washington Memorial, but then three years later in 1983 you were not allowed to. What happened? Then in 1984 Nancy Reagan invited you back and you were able to again. What was that all about?
ML: That’s right. That was a fascinating time period when James Watt, who was Secretary of Interior, under the Reagans , a cabinet member, he was head of Secretary of Interior and the Parks Department is a division under that (under the Secretary of Interior) and so he made a decision (James Watt) that rock music wasn’t appropriate for July Fourth. He wanted military bands and I actually think he actually had Wayne Newton come out that day…
KS: Not to say Wayne Newton isn’t American, but come on, rock and roll and The Beach Boys can’t get much more American to me.
ML: As you had pointed out, we had done July Fourth concerts prior to that and they went over great, with hundred of thousands of people came out, and so when we were able to come back it was incredible. In fact one year we played Philadelphia in the afternoon and Washington DC in the evening. And we played to over a million and a half people on one day. It’s a Guinness Book of Records kind of thing.
KS: That’s so karmic, to be banned and then the following year have more than a million people come to see you.
ML: Nancy Reagan could not have been nicer. And Ronald Reagan just made fun of the whole thing, and treated it all as a funny joke. So Nancy was very very sweet and always has been. I got an award early last year called “The Ella Award”, named after Ella Fitzgerald. A lot of people have gotten that award, i.e. Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, a lot of great singers and such. I was given the honor to receive that award, and Nancy Reagan made a little recording to be played that evening to congratulate me. So even many years later she’s still be so very kind and sweet towards me and towards the group.
KS: How sweet…she is amazing! As we fast forward to your career in the 1980’s I have to tell ya that “Kokomo” is one of my all time favorite songs. As you mentioned before, you have collected new fans as the generations evolved and talk me a little about how you regenerated yourselves into a whole new generation?
ML: It wasn’t a conscious effort to go after a new generation of fans, it just so happens that The Beach Boys music appeals to all ages. It’s a pretty awesome thing that people will tell us, people we just meet at concerts and meet & greets, they’ll tell us that younger generations have their music, and that’s always so. When I was growing up we had Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis, and all the doo-wop groups. And our parents had the type of music that preceded that time such as the big bands, the Andrew Sisters, the Mills Brothers, and all those of that generation. So every successive generation their people who are coming out with music that appeals to them and are the most popular groups of the day. But the thing that is remarkable about The Beach Boys is grandparents like The Beach Boys as well as children and everybody in between. So that is a pretty phenomenal achievement. It’s not a conscious achievement, it’s just that our music with the melodies and the harmonies which is what distinguishes The Beach Boys from so many others, are just so compatible. And then the subject matter appeals to the older people from the standpoint from the nostalgic point of view, but for the youngsters they are experiencing some of the things that we sang about in the earlier records. In Kokomo goes “Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya, Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama”, well it could be the older guy saying let’s get in the RV and go to Florida or it could be the young child thinking that his mom is a pretty momma.
KS: Yes, it’s upbeat, it’s positive, that’s what makes it appeal to them.
ML: Yes, the chorus has an appeal to multiple generations right across the board which is very cool. And I pat myself on the back because I came up with that chorus.
KS: Well, I have to say well deserved because you did good. One of my favorites. You’ve had a lot of other stars cross over to do some remakes of your songs, Fat Boys did “Wipe Out”, Van Halen did “California Girls”. If you had an opportunity to go on the CMT show “Cross Roads”, who would you love to perform opposite with on there?
ML: Bruno Mars. I love his brand of entertainment because he reminds me a lot of James Brown.
KS: Love Bruno Mars, and I can see that.
ML: His total R&B thing, he does ballads just as well, and rock, and he has a great band. So I would love to collaborate with him.
KS: That would be a great one!
ML: There are plenty of great singers every generation, and sometimes music or the way it’s produced or the subject matter doesn’t appeal to everyone but we’ve been fortunate enough that our stuff has been given a bit of respect by successive generations for five decades now.
KS: You had the foresight to purchase the name or license the name “Beach Boys”. Were you always the business savvy one in the bunch?
ML: Well no, I didn’t purchase the name. What it was I was given the license to travel as The Beach Boys, and Bruce Johnson and I do that. Brian has pursued a solo career for many years, for the last 15 or more years, and he goes as Brian Wilson as I continued on with The Beach Boys as I have done since the beginning.
KS: Now you folks had the opportunity to come back together in 2011/12 to record a new album and celebrated a 50th Anniversary Tour for a set number of scheduled events. At the end of that you all once again disbanded and went on your own separate ways again. Do you foresee any other reunions in the near future? Do you want to dispel any rumors that may be floating out there about your not continuing on together?
ML: Well, there were a lot of things that were not done according to the agreements we had that left a not so great impression on me to the point where it suffices to say that the tour was great, from the standpoint of the original fans got to see us all together, those of us the remaining members, but there is no intention to do anything like that again at this point and time.
KS: Well you are a Grammy Award winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award, you are an inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, what’s on the horizon for you? What would you love to accomplish still?
ML: Well, I’ve been writing a lot of music over the last several years and we’re looking for ways to let that music to see the light of the day. So that’s been something that we’ve been hoping to accomplish over the next several months. So, there’s plenty to do. We continue to tour, we did 142 shows last year.
KS: That’s a big tour schedule. Wow! Will I get to hear some of the new music at your show this week at the Turning Stone Showroom?
ML: The song “Pisces Brothers” which I wrote as a reminiscence of George Harrison and the time we spent in India for our birthdays in 1968, we do that in our shows. So that’s one of the newer things. And people seem to really like it.
KS: I can’t wait to hear it, especially since I have an understanding of the back story to accompanies it. I have to thank you so much again for taking the time to speak to me today. It was truly an honor.
As our interview concluded I could see why their music had touched so many during the 60’s and how it continued to span numerous generations. Throughout the 60’s when so many were writing and singing about how to make love not war, The Beach Boys continued to sing about the things that made our country great, the simple things in life during times of sadness and fear. It wasn’t because it didn’t effect them too, as it so clearly did. They just chose to take the positive approach in their writing. It suited them I believe. It suited their voices and harmonies. Mike Love had a positive attitude about life. I could hear it in his voice as he shared about his times in India. It made me want to look into this beautiful place he and George Harrison visited. I also heard the sadness in his voice when he cautiously spoke of the drug problems that faced his cousins. They are his family. They were childhood friends. But what rang out loud and clear though was the love he had for both his music and his fans throughout a career of 50+ years, and the excitement about his new music and sharing the one song especially about a time that truly was a life changing event for him. He very well could have gone a different path in life, however he didn’t. He chose to take the positive approach to making his life and career the best experiences possible. He continues to do this still today.
While researching different articles over the years about The Beach Boys, putting together questions I wanted to ask Mike (which I must add were so numerous I couldn’t possibly burden him in one interview to learn everything) I came across what seemed to be a thread of negativity. I found articles on problems he and his cousins had. I came across criticisms of his acceptance speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And I came across half written stories of speculation about the 50th reunion tour and why they didn’t remain together. As a journalist we want to have a sensational story full of juicy tidbits that the next reporter didn’t get. We want that scoop. And after speaking with Mike I believe I did just that. I got that juicy story no one else seemed to write about. I got to hear the feelings behind the voice. These young men were not only a band, they were a family in every sense of the word. The voice I heard didn’t depict any animosity or any ill will or any negativity at all. The voice I heard carefully chose his words wondering if they would be twisted into meaning something totally different that one day he would have to explain in another interview. The voice I spoke with wanted to share how The Beach Boys were a great band that made great music during a time of ill will and despair. They were family and friends that came together to sing in perfect harmony during a time we needed harmony the most. And they still today sing in harmony, whether on the same stages or not, they still share their love of music with those that love their music, and it was apparent..they hold each other in high regard. So there’s your scoop folks, for every story, there’s always another viewpoint to those words that are written. From my viewpoint, this is the story that needs to be written. A story of the music, the family, the love from Mike Love.
Join Mike Love and Bruce Johnson, together with their amazing band as they play The Turning Stone Showroom April 21, 2015. Tickets can be purchased at The Turning Stone Box Office or online at http://www.turningstone.com/entertainment/the-showroom.
Looking for a new and different place to spend a quiet evening away from the kids? Looking for a unique place just brimming with a romance, beautiful music, and specialty drinks on hand to round out the perfect setting to take your special someone? Whether it’s making a first impression or showing that someone how special they are to you, I have the perfect setting; The Turquoise Tiger at the Turning Stone Exit 33.
Turquoise Tiger – Turning Stone Casino
This venue has been fashioned after 1940’s Film Noir. It features the sexiest specialty drinks around, classic 1940’s period art deco design, photos of the jazz and standards greats, and featuring some of today’s most sought after musicians to entertain you. Seated by a dapper young man decked out in a zoot suit, it’s as though you are transformed into a different era the moment you step inside the doors.
Turquoise Tiger – Turning Stone Casino
I recently had the opportunity to visit the venue and meet one of the regular musicians, Devin Bing. Devin hails from New York City and his blend of sultry crooning, and jazzy beats of the great standards bring a toe tapping mix t0 some of my all time favorite tunes.
Devin Bing – Turning Stone
In between sets of his show, Devin so generously sat down to talk with us recently about his music, his inspirations, and his future plans.
Kathy Stockbridge (KS): Hi There. I am so super impressed with you. With your talent. You are so young to love this genre of music. Tell me how did you come to play this type of music.
Devin Bing (DB): I know right. I am a product of my environment. My mother is a cabaret singer and actress, and my father started a live theater off-Broadway, very off-Broadway in Long Island. So I grew up with Gershwin, and all that music. So the music again, was a product of my environment as I heard it all the time. It was just so beautiful to me. I also am into instrumental jazz. Once I heard Miles Davis “Kinda Blue”, I was like “WOW”, love the art of improvisation. That’s why I do the trumpet sound.
KS: That was amazing, I was blown away by your vocal talents beyond just the singing.
DB: When I was growing up and studying music, and I was evolving as a musician and singer, fascinating to me was George Benson and Ella Fitzgerald’s scatting and their vocal improvisation. I been lucky enough to learn an instrument to improvise on, but to the take the vocal instrument and emulate and turn it into a horn player or something more has always been a passion of mine.
KS: When making note of it I titled it “vocal trumpet”.
DB: You know what I call it? A “Trumouth”. You know a Trumpet + Mouth? It actually has brought me attention for gigs as people see it online and want to book me because of it. But seriously, Miles Davis was a big influence and bridging that vocalist/instrumental thing has always been a passion of mine.
KS: You mentioned you studied music. Did you study through high school, or did you go to a musical college?
DB: Yes, yes I did. I went to University of Miami. Not sure if you are familiar with it, but it’s one of the top 5 jazz schools in the nation. What happened was all the studio musicians from the 60’s and 70’s had a big studio explosion at that time down in Miami. So in the 70’s when all these studio cats, who were jazz players doing studio sessions for the Bee Gee’s and artists like that, got together they decided to stay down there and start a program. And then from the late 70’s on it just grew. So I went down there as a vocalist, but I ended up double majoring in both vocals and piano. It actually was the first time they had someone do that.
KS: After graduation you returned to NY?
DB: Yes. I was living in Miami hustling the scene. But there really wasn’t a scene for me there. It was very club heavy. Very Latin Band. There really wasn’t the cultural scene for what I did. So being from Long Island, I decided to come back home because it was better for what I had decided to do.
KS: So who are your musical influences? I can guess just by listening to your first set list, but I want to hear from you.
DB: No…no I want to hear who you think.
KS: Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie…maybe Ella….who am I missing?
DB: No you did great…in fact the list goes on and on. When I was younger, when I was 13 or 14 and all my friends were listening to Back Street Boys, I was listening to Miles Davis and Mel Torme. I was an anomaly. I wanted to be the next Harry Connick Jr. Harry Connick Jr. was someone I listened to an it’s funny how when you grow up you emulate artists and you are trying to figure out your sounds, I emulated Harry Connick Jr. Then I got into Stevie Wonder. I was like oh my God, that was like great. I wanted to sing like that. But do it in jazz. I kinda had this soul and Motown meets jazz. In fact my second set of my act features Stevie Wonder. It’s a part one and part two kind of show.
KS: Well I have to say, you blew me away with part one of the show. You sang one of my all time favorites songs, “Nature Boy”. And I loved your jazzy soulful rendition of it. Normally it’s a really slow song, but you breathed a new life into it.
DB: Oh good, and that’s really what’s happening to me in New York where I’m carving a new niche of jazz singing even the standards. Where I’m taking all these traditional songs and turning them on their heads giving them a younger hipper sound.
KS: Do you see a younger crowd coming to your shows? Tonight you have a mix of 30’s, 40’s, 50’s all here appreciating your music. Do you find you audiences getting younger?
DB: Absolutely, I have been headlining a club down in NYC called the Metropolitan. It’s off-Broadway, so being off Broadway there are a lot of cabaret singers and I’m very different. I’m not a cabaret singer, I’m straight jazz and pianist. But I sing a lot of the same songs they sing. We all sing “My Funny Valentine”, we all sing “Nature Boy”, and the Gershwin tunes, but no one sings them the way I do. I did a show at Lincoln Center and it was a show with a lot of cabaret singers. I came out and sang “Fly Me To The Moon”. And all 1,200 people were like…. It’s been really exciting to be able to do music that I love and to be able to keep it alive and give it this fresh facelift.
KS: Do you have any projects going on? Don’t you have a new album you’re working on?
DB: Yes, yes I do and I’m glad you want to hear about it, because I love talking about it. It’s an album called Shaken Not Stirred. Now I wanted to develop a concept that brought back the art of the LP which is a full album. So many people are making mixed tapes of just single songs and whatnot. I wanted to create something that was not just a collaboration of single songs. So I wrote this album to tell a story from beginning to end. I wrote and produced every composition, and I wrote it cinematically so that you are almost listening to a movie. It takes you through this epic love story about a crooner/night club singer, that meets this mysterious woman and goes on this search to find her. After searching for her he finally finds her and asks her to surrender to loving him. They get together only to discover there’s the opposite side of the love where he finds out she’s not exactly everything he had imagined. Then the torment begins. It goes through this element of I want it all or nothing at all. I actually throw the song All of Nothing At All in there where it goes through that part; the addiction of love and how you need it. Then you go through the ultimatum where it’s me or nothing, and then ultimately the last song is about coming to the realization of his destiny. A lot of it is based on Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist in the sense of how it focuses on finding your destiny. The moral of it is, whatever love it is you are pursuing, never give up and follow your destiny. There is a lot of layers to it, but ultimately when you listen to it from beginning to end, it’s this love story with beautiful arrangements, and again it’s got this cinematic style.
KS: When can we expect the release of this album? I can’t wait to hear it.
DB: We’re finishing it up and expect a release in early part of 2015.
KS: Are you planning on going out to tour with it?
DB: Absolutely. We’re doing some things in Brooklyn and some throughout NYC, and then after that we’re hoping to be out touring with it.
KS: Well I can’t wait for its release and hearing your new music!
As the interview concluded and he returned to get ready for the second set of the evening this extremely talented young man-made a lasting impression on me. I love to see the music of some of the greatest performers and entertainers of all time continue today with a flair from this new generation. Often compared to Michael Buble’ and Harry Connick Jr., Devin Bing is definitely making a name for himself, while continuing to honor traditional standards in a new soulful way.
I highly recommend a night out at The Turquoise Tiger for a relaxing evening of fine drinks, a timelessly classic atmosphere, and some of the best music around. To catch Devin this month at The Turquoise Tiger, don’t forget to mark your calendars for April 10th and 11th at 9pm when he once again returns.
True to form, Michael Bolton brought his classy performance to his fans at the Showroom at The Turning Stone Casino.
With a full band and rich sound, he commanded the stage. His fans, of all ages, sang along with every song. Performing hit songs “Sittin on the Dock of The Bay” and “Said I Loved You But I Lied” just started the show. Bolton sounded amazing live. His voice so smooth, yet raspy. I could have listened to him all night!
The Showroom is the perfect setting for a show as personal and intimate as Michael Bolton’s performance. Hoping he comes back again soon.
It doesn’t matter if you were a child of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, or the new millennium, you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know who the Eagles are. There are only a handful of rock songs that I catalog as classic rock and roll. These are the ones that have had the ability to pass over generation to generation only gaining popularity and momentum each time played. “Hotel California,” written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Fry is one in this category.
Don Felder Turning Stone Casino
It was with eager anticipation that together with a packed audience on March 24, The Turning Stone Casino welcomed Don Felder and his star-studded band to the Showroom. As I awaited the show to begin, you could feel the audience’s excitement and eagerness to begin their evening. After all they knew they were in the presence of a musical legend.
Don Felder, best known as lead guitarist of The Eagles, is one of rock and rolls leading guitarists of all times. Inducted with his bandmates in 1998 in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Don Felder has been recognized as one of the elite musicians and songwriters of all times. When talking with a friend recently about The Eagles, he stated that in all of their music, “there was not one throw away lyric”. I agree wholeheartedly. As I sat listening to the music this evening I couldn’t help but notice the lack of pomp and circumstance on stage. There were no fancy sets, no logo backdrops or drum kits, no fancy lighting, and not even a merchandise table set up outside the doors. Tonight’s show wasn’t about anything but music. I contemplated this, how indicative of this generation of musicians and songwriters. At the time their music was popular and their tours crossing continents, it was only the lyrics and composition of music that brought the feelings. Visual effects were nice, but not necessary. Lyrics had a message, musical composition featured the talent of each instrument, and the combination of the two together evoked emotions. So as I sat there enjoying this show, I became part of the music in a new way that today’s audiences don’t often see. It’s a shame really that many will not see or appreciate music without all the visual effects to carry the point across.
With that aside, for those of you unfamiliar with Don Felder, shame on you. Don began his musical journey at the age of 10 when he traded a handful of cherry bombs for a used guitar. I do believe he got the better end of that trade, or should I say, we did. You see, this trade was prompted by, who other than, Elvis Presley as Don watched him on The Ed Sullivan Show. Mental note, I wonder how many of today’s artists began their musical journey after seeing an artist on the Ed Sullivan show?
Growing up in Gainesville, Florida, Don learned guitar and played throughout his teenage years with his childhood friend Stephen Sills and Bernie Leadon. There must have been something in the water down there in Gainesville. In Don’s high yearbook his band’s photo was featured along side his friend Tom Petty’s band. In fact, Don actually gave Tom Petty guitar lessons. It was also during this time he learned slide guitar from friend Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers. Forget the Fountain of Youth, I want to drink from their musical water fountain.
After graduation, Don found himself in Boston with good friend Bernie working in a recording studio. It was working with Bernie that he was introduced and hired to accompany The Eagles on slide guitar for their new song “Good Day In Hell”. That’s all it took. Immediately following that session, Don Felder became the new Eagle. With a country sound at that time, Don’s input helped to bring the band new audiences with his added rock and roll edgy style in their new music.
As both composers and writers, the team of bandmates churned out hit after hit. How could they not with each and every member having such talent. Individually they each were a storm of musical genius, however together they were a musical tornado. Shortly after Don’s joining the band, they wrote and produced their legendary album Hotel California. Coming to the guys with his musical demo of Hotel California, they sat down and gave lyrics to what would become one of rock and roll’s most memorable songs of all time. With Don and Joe Walsh’s guitar solo at the end of Hotel California, it is no wonder they have been considered one of rock and rolls greatest guitar teams ever. The lyrics evoke a sense of mystery and drama that metaphorically represented to them a time in the music business that sucked them in, however as much as they may want, they could never leave. Well at least for a few more years that is. In 1980 The Eagles broke up. Working individually on successful careers, it was in 1980 after “Common Thread” was made that we saw the original bandmates reunite for the “Hell Freezes Over” live performance for MTV. It was on this live performance we get a glimpse into Don’s original Spanish flavor in his guitar solo at the end of the Hotel California. A live rendition that is absolutely one of my favorites.
This reunion became short lived however as differences still continued, and amongst lawsuits and hard feelings, the band split for a final time. This however hasn’t held Don back. Working in the industry with legendary musicians like the Bee Gees, Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Nicks, and Kenny Loggins to name a few, Don’s music continued to find it’s way to the recording studio, movies, and television. He is known for his work with Gibson and in 2010 they honored him with two signature reissues of the Don Felder Hotel California 1959 Les Paul and the Don Felder Hotel California EDS-1275 guitars. This avid guitar collector has never sold any of his guitars, and this photojournalist would love an opportunity to one day see this extensive collection and photograph it. A girl can dream!
Moss has not grown on this rock and roller however, touring extensively over the years with bands such as Styx and Foreigner, and even penning a New York Times Bestselling book, “My Life in The Eagles (1974-2001). This therapeutic non-fiction allowed Don to tell his side of the story as well as move onward and upward, which he has so graciously done.
As he and the band took the stage last evening, I couldn’t help feel as though I was in the presence of greatness. Joining him was an elite group of the most talented musicians in the world. On bass we had Shem von Schroeck who played with Kenny Loggins and Ambrosia, on drums/percussion was Chris Ralles who played with Pat Benetar, on keyboards was Timothy Drury who played with The Eagles and Whitesnake, and last but not least was the one who helped keep Don on his toes on guitar, Greg Suran. Greg was lovingly referred to as the “young whippersnapper” and who has played with Joe Walsh, the Goo Goo Dolls, and the B52’s. Yes, the stage was peppered with some of the most amazing musicians in the world.
As Don began his set with Already Gone and One of These Nights, the crowd began to warm up. It was the third song into the set though that took me by surprise. Don asked, who in the audience liked Stevie Ray Vaughn? Hello, who doesn’t like Stevie Ray Vaughn? It was at this moment I realized this man’s extensive vocal and musical talent far exceeded what I expected, as he rocked the crowd playing Pride And Joy. I could have left at this moment completely satisfied, however I’m glad I didn’t because as the night went on, and the songs played on, he only got better and better. In fact I must make note and tell you this. Sometimes a musician sounds wonderful on an album and then live his voice can be strained and not sound quite a clear. This was the exact opposite for Don. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with his vocals. His voice is so very smooth, so very strong, and so very melodic that I’m shocked he wasn’t front/lead vocals on more numbers for The Eagles.
As if my musical crush couldn’t get any larger, the man has a sense of humor to boot. That’s the equivalent to a musical hat trick for me; voice/musicality, stage presence/audience attention, and humor. Yep, I was over the moon happy to be covering this show and bringing this to my readers, as Don teased how he wrote the song Tequila Sunrise about his new friend Jose’. Jose’ Cuervo that is. It was on this particular song that I took note of how well this group harmonized together. Then came Seven Bridges Road. For anyone who has seen Don’s live show, you will know exactly what I’m talking about here. Originally as a warmup song vocally for the group, I would say that they surpassed warm up right to red-hot. Wow! Again, did I mention how well these men harmonize together? Thank you. That is all I can say about this song. Thank you.
I sat listening to these songs, one right after another, of hit after hit; Those Shoes, Witchy Woman, The Long Run, Heartache Tonight, and Life In the Fast Lane. Let me tell you, it was a set list of some of the most famous rock songs of all times. However it was an original call Girls In Black that really impressed me. This song truly rocked. Was one of my favorites of the night.
As the crowd cheered for an encore, the band took the stage for one of my personal favorites “Take It Easy”. I found myself amongst those standing and singing along like a teenage groupie. Then out to the stage came the double neck guitar. Yep, we all knew what was coming, and deliver he did. Was a highlight in my career, I must say, to see Don Felder with that double neck guitar performing Hotel California within a few feet.
As the song ended, and the crowd came to their feet chanting and clapping, I knew that this show was truly special. Don brings his passion of music to audiences sharing with them one heartfelt performance. No matter how many are in the audience, he brings you an intimate performance without pomp and circumstance. This toned down, music first approach showcased not only the songs sang, but the musicians singing them.
For more information on Don’s Tour Calendar, please visit donfelder.com to see if they will be coming to a venue near you.
Wynonna Judd and Friends brought their quaint classy show to the Showroom at the Turning Stone Casino. The stage was set with simple decorative accent furnishings in a beautiful inviting atmosphere.
Judd appeared on the stage alone with her guitar for her very first song in such a raw and personal performance. She truly loves her fans and shows that in the way she gives them bits and pieces of her personal life and is so frank while interacting with them.
Wynonna’s band joined her and the chemistry was so obvious. Like a family, they shared stories and laughter while giving the fans an honest emotional performance. Her feisty attitude and passion for what she does is truly amazing. Listening to her perform with such emotion gave me goose bumps. A true entertainer in every way, she draws you in and captivates you while her delivery takes you to another time and place where you relate to that song .
Opening for Wynonna was Peter Scobell. A former US Navy SEAL and close friend of the late Chris Kyle, Peter sang a couple of songs accompanied by only his guitar. Another personal performance that gave you a small glimpse into his life and travels. To close his set, Peter performed a song written for his late friends Chris Kyle and Chad Littlfield “Hearts I Leave Behind” and of course I witnessed several concert goers wiping tears from their cheeks as they listen to his tribute. I would have to say this show is definitely in my top 10 all time favorites.
If a person was to go to research country music over the last 60 years, the one name that would continuously pop up as a pioneer in country music would be Kenny Rogers. Kenny’s unique raspy voice, his charming good looks, his witty personality, and his varied range of talent in all aspects of entertainment sets him apart from the others, and makes him an entertainers entertainer.
Kenny Rogers at Turning Stone Casino
Beginning his career in the mid 1950’s with a band called The Scholars, Kenny’s career did not begin as a singer. Playing in the band he eventually moved forward to the front of the stage to establish his own band, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, and by the late ’60s was racking up hits such as “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” and “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”. In the late ’70s, Kenny struck out on his own launching what would prove to be a huge solo career garnering him with more than 120 hit singles, albums topping the charts for more than 200 weeks, and sales of more than 100 million records worldwide. As a solo artist and as one of the leading duet partners in country music, Kenny continued to acquire award after award for years to come, ultimately being awarded the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Country Music Association, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Kenny Rogers at Turning Stone Casino
Kenny has one of those voices that amasses fans everywhere he goes, including those from other genres. Kenny’s ability to cross over into unchartered waters from Country to Pop, when there were clearly lines between the two at the time, set a precedent that would allow other country musicians to follow to this very day. One of Kenny’s most memorable cross over moments recently just celebrated a 30 year anniversary; the “We Are The World” song and video. This particular project was a collective effort of artists from all over the nation to gather to bring a voice for those in need during the 1980’s. To this very day seeing this video and hearing this song, touches our hearts. I am happy to report as well that this project still continues to raise month to help those in need. Kenny’s ability to straddle both genres is a feat that not easily accomplished, and whether it was Michael Jackson back in the 1980’s or his recent performance with Phish at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Kenny’s ability to bridge these genres, bridge these generations, and bridge continents bringing his music to those that love him never ceases to amaze me, once again demonstrating that music is a universal language.
Kenny Rogers – Sheet Music for We Are The World -Autographed by Participating Artists
I recently saw Kenny Rogers on “The Big Interview” with Dan Rather, and was once again blown away by yet another talent that Kenny possesses. Over the years Kenny has had the ability to fine tune his camera skills and has become one fine photographer. In 1987, Kenny Rogers published a collection of photographs featuring some of the days biggest names in the entertainment business; Michael Jackson, Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, Ray Charles to name a few. During this interview he spoke of how he shot it all in black and white, and how his friends agreed to the shoot because he promised to shoot one role of film only. If he got it (the photo), he got it. If not, than that was it. To see some of these photos, I am absolutely in awe. Kenny has the eye my friends. The collection, titled “Your Friends and Mine “, showcased Kenny’s ability to capture the feelings or another human being in one still moment. His use of black and white was classic, and his use of lighting for the subjects, spot on. My adoration for the man and his talent just grew tenfold.
Michael Jackson – Photo by Kenny Rogers – Featured in Your Friends and Mine
The one thing I’ve learned about Kenny, he loves to wear many hats, and try many new ventures, and for each one he attempts, he nails it. Whether it is songwriting, performing, producing, engineering, photography, or acting, Kenny’s ambition to satisfy his creative outlet becomes our prize.
As Kenny took the stage at the Turning Stone his stage presence and witty personality had the audience eating out of his hand the moment he walked out there. I absolutely loved Kenny’s ability to laugh at life and himself. Recently making a commercial for Geico, as the commercial played on the screen behind him, he teased the audience about his role as The Gambler singing “Know When To Fold Them”, and this jesting continued throughout the evening. It is this lighthearted attitude coupled with his ability to reach out and touch his audience on a personal level that makes him a legend.
Kenny Rogers at Turning Stone Casino
Joined this evening by the lovely and extremely talented Linda Davis, Kenny is known as one of the most sought after duet partners being paired in the past with Dottie West, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes, and Juice Newton to name a few. As he brought Linda out to join him, his ability to harmonize with anyone and everyone astounds me, and the collaboration was a perfect match.
Linda Davis has been involved in country music since the 1980’s and she herself has won a Grammy together with Reba McEntire on the hit song, “Does He Love You”. As she sang, her angelic voice carried throughout the venue touching everyone’s soul, while her smile brought those to each and every one of us sitting there taking in her performance. She herself shared her excitement with the upcoming holiday celebrations as she was spending the first Christmas with her new grand baby, daughter of Lady Antebellum’s lead singer, Hillary Scott. This lovely lady, by no means Kenny pointed out, looked like any grandmother he had ever encountered.
This show was an amazing mix of both the celebration of the holidays and the celebration of Kenny’s life long career of hits. Even though he may be the Gambler on-screen, taking in one of his shows is what I would call a sure bet, as there is no gamble involved when taking the time to come see Kenny Rogers in concert at The Turning Stone.
As the holiday season and 2014 wrap up, we all become reflective of the experiences we did or did not have throughout the year. Did we fulfill any or all of our resolutions we swore we would do this year? Did we take the time to stop and smell the roses in our hectic fast paced lives? Personally I always feel like I’m going at warped speed spinning my wheels trying to accomplish daily tasks, let alone that long list of resolutions I swore I would get to this year. As December engulfs us, that warped speed becomes even faster, and before you know it, the year is over and we are left thinking…where did the time go? Like most individuals, we all have great intentions to do that one thing or that one project on our “To Do” list for ourselves. For some reason it never is accomplished as we are so busy doing for everyone else. After all, when prioritizing things in life, we often forget to prioritize ourselves. I’m sure this applies to all individuals, even musicians. For today’s musicians, you see them touring the majority of the year, making it difficult to fit in a personal life with family and friends, let alone getting to the studio to record new music or that project they’ve been wanting to work on. Such is Trace Adkins.
Trace Adkins “The Kings Gift” Turning Stone
This was the case for Trace Adkins. For years he had wanted to record a Christmas album, but for him it couldn’t just be any album. He had a vision for what he wanted to share with his fans. Last year, his long awaited project, The King’s Gift, was released and Trace began to tour to share his vision of what Christmas is all about. I had the opportunity to see his show last year, and when I heard he was returning to the Central NY area again I couldn’t wait to return to see it once again.
Trace Adkins – The Kings Gift Turning Stone
Trace’s show is unique and a personal insight in Trace’s love of this holiday. His stage is set to make you feel like you were in his living room sharing the holiday with him.
Trace Adkins “The Kings Gift” Turning Stone
He surrounds himself with some of the finest musicians and professionals in their field, giving you a top class production. You have Michael Stribling on Uilleann Pipes, Steve Mackey the Bassist, Emily Kohavi on Violin, Mark Gillespie who is a multi instrumentalist, Brian Wooten veteran guitar extraordinare who has played guitar with Trace for years, Megan Mullins on violin, Jon Coleman who is musical director, Erin Slaver on vocals, Johnny Richardson on drums/percussion, Emily Nelson the cellist, Michael Spriggs who is legendary in the business, has been inducted in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, and is a premier guitarist as well as the Celtic specialist on tour (he co-produced The Kings Gift and played all the guitar on the album), and the legendary Alyth McCormack vocalist and veteran of the grammy winning band The Chieftains. Together, this amazing production delivers a spectacular family show that kicked off my holiday in style.
Trace Adkins – “The Kings Gift” Turning Stone
As Trace begins the show, he comes through the door as though he’s returning home for the holidays. As he enters, he immediately greets the audience as though they were old friends waiting for his return.
Trace Adkins – “The Kings Gift” Turning Stone – Guess Which Is His Favorite
Throughout the evening, in a setting that is equipped with a decorated tree, stockings on the mantle of the fireplace, gifts to give, and the comfiest looking chair I ever did see, he shares how the project came to be, what the songs mean to him, how the songs were created and passed down through time, and then he shares his rendition of the music. For some time now, I’ve been sitting here trying to think up a cute analogy of his deliverance, a description of sorts of how I was impressed on his musical abilities, but heck folks, all I keep thinking is how darn sexy that deep voice of his was. That voice of his is just so strong and powerful that all the women in the audience melt, myself included. But yet, he’s still a man’s man, and those men in attendance loved him just as much. Like so many greats before him, his renditions make a lasting impression on you as he signs favorites such as “O Come Emmanuel”, “The Little Drummer Boy”, or the most beautiful versions of “I Saw Three Ships” and “Tannenbaum” I have ever heard. He jokes that in one hundred years his song “Badonkadonk” will not be remembered. Perhaps not. I do know though, that his recording of The King’s Gift, will be remembered and played as a family favorite each holiday when the cd’s come out during the holiday season.
Trace Adkins – “The Kings Gift” Turning Stone
Trace not only gave a stellar performance of The Kings Gift, Trace also gave gifts of his own. At each show throughout the Christmas tour, he donated the tree used each night up on stage during the performance, to a local charity. At the show in Verona, NY, he donated the spectacular tree to the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program at Fort Drum, NY. The BOSS program focuses on those men and women stationed throughout the world, fostering a feeling of, and becoming a part of, their communities through organized activities. Especially during the holidays, it is so important to have that sense of community as these men and women are so far from their homes and families. For other lucky audience members that won the lottery drawing, they received autographed posters and a grand prize of a signed guitar by Trace.[FinalTilesGallery id=’60’]
I had the opportunity last year to meet the tall dark and handsome country superstar as he met with a group of fans during a question and answer session before the show. What I took away from the experience is what a down to earth person he was, how grateful he is to those fans that love him, and most importantly how much he loves sharing his talent with those that will listen. Trace Adkins’ TheKing’s Gift is definitely a show to see should it come to a town by you next year. Put that down as a resolution you must keep for yourself. You won’t be sorry.
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Growing up in North Carolina, Scotty McCreery at the age of 5-years-old received a book from his grandmother about Elvis, and from that point on, he knew what he wanted to do. He began learning guitar immediately thereafter and throughout his school years participated in chorus and plays, as well as sang at his local church. No stranger to the stage, this young man competed in several contests throughout his teenage years, and participated in numerous benefit concerts raising money for different causes.
