Have you heard the “White Noise”? White Noise is a brand-new rock musical that opened yesterday at the Royal George Theater in Chicago. The show is about a major record label where a top-selling producer stirs up an explosive cocktail with two diametrically opposed groups-”White Noise,” an irresistible pop band that churns out catchy tunes of coded ratial rhetoric and “Bloodbrothas,” the hip-hop-turned-gangsta rap duo. The show is inspired by real life about the conventional challenges of free speech, media and the power of pop culture. Also, the band White Noise, consisting of the characters Eva and Eden, are loosely based on the real-life sister duo Prussian Blue. Brilliantly written by the young Matte O'Brien; music and lyrics by Robert Morris, Steven Morris and Joe Shane. The show is produced by Whoopi Goldberg, and what a perfect producer to have on board. They all made great effort to make this show rock!

The cast was led by MacKenzie Mauzy as Eva and Emily Padgett as Eden, both extremely talented playing the sisters that formed as White Noise. The band also included Eva's sadistic neo-nazi boyfriend Duke played by Patrick Murney, whose performance showed such strong emotion. The “Bloodbrothas” rap duo is played by incredible duo of Wallace Smith and Rodney Hicks. Then, we have the record producer, the crazy funny Douglas Sills, whose sarcasm and attitude worked really well, along with his assistant Jake played by Eric Morris. They worked great as a team.

As quoted by book writer Matte O' Brien, he said, "White Noise is a powerful and contemporary look at how language and music are used and misused as an influence in pop culture. We live in a world where rhetoric is carefully designed and targeted to sell. As such, it is oftentimes hard to know right from wrong, and we easily become desensitized to what words mean. We hear the noise around us, but we are not listening. This show encourages us to sharpen our awareness to what we're consuming-the words, the sounds, the media messaging-and reminds us that we always have the choice to decide what we take in, and what we let out.”

This show raises the bar for a rock musical. The lights, the set, the band, the cast, the story. It all works! The music and lyrics were very catchy. But watch out! Some of the lyrics in some songs and the language in this show may make some people cringe. Even though the show is very anti-Semitic, racial,  and controversial, it did make a very solid point. We should really listen and pay attention to the world around us and what we hear in music and in television, because people decide to take in what they want to hear, and are sometimes blinded by actual reality and the truth behind things. Matte O'Brien makes a very solid point above, talking about how everything is targeted to sell. The people that buy the music really should listen to what they're buying. Sometimes the truth is in the lyrics. Overall, despite a lot of the subject matter and being billed a "Cautionary Musical", please be cautioned because this show could be a solid hit on Broadway!

The production quality was magnificent! I definitely recommend this show to everyone! GO SEE IT! I think this show will make it a long way, especially when it goes to Broadway! Best of luck to the cast and crew to this show! I know I'll definitely be seeing this again.

Tickets are currently on sale for the 8-week limited engagement. April 1-June 5, 2011, at the Royal George box office, 1641 N. Halsted Street, by phone (312) 988-9000 through Ticketmaster or www.whitenoisetickets.com

Tickets for the regular run, on sale through June 5, 2011, are $54.50-$74.50. Student tickets are available at the Royal George box office for $20. Student tickets must be purchased in-person with a student I.D.

For more information, visit www.whitenoisebroadway.com. Follow White Noise on Twitter, http://twitter.com/wnbroadway and http://www.facebook.com/wnbroadway.

The Boys are back in Town! Thin Lizzy comes back to Chicago for the last leg of their tour, and man do they still sound good! Some old members, some new. But either way, they make up a great team! The band's comprised of new lead singer Ricky Warwick (The Almighty) who replaced original lead singer, the incredible and legendary Phil Lynott, original member Scott Gorham on guitar and vocals, Vivian Campbell (Dio, Def Leppard) on guitar and vocals, Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake) on bass guitar and vocals, original member Brian Downey on drums, and original member Darren Wharton on keyboards and backing vocals.

The band that opened for TL was a Chicago-based band called Marty Casey and Lovehammers. A great alternative rock band with a front man who acts like Freddie Mercury in my opinion. Marty Casey got claim to fame as runner-up to be new lead singer for INXS on the reality show “Rock Star: INXS”.

Despite the rest of the band's initial apprehension, they supported Casey and could occasionally be seen in the television crowd cheering him on during his performances. On September 6, 2005 Marty Casey debuted a different version of the pop-heavy Lovehammers song, "Trees", which had been previously available for download on the Lovehammers website. It became an instant hit with the audience and debuted on MSN.com as a #1 download. They played a great set of originals, along with a great cover of The Who's “Teenage Wasteland.”

As Thin Lizzy came out, the crowd roared with yells and applause. I'll tell you one thing, these guys really know how to get a crowd going. They played all their big hits that night. From “The Boys Are Back in Town,” “Jailbreak,” and “Still In Love With You.” Ricky was a great lead singer, and everybody showed off their stuff amazingly! They came out for 2 encores paying tribute to late TL guitarist Gary Moore who passed away not too long ago. Overall, a fantastic concert that was no to be missed!

Go to www.thinlizzyonline.com to see where they'll be playing next!

Also check out Marty Casey and the Lovehammers at www.lovehammers.com

I got a chance to catch up with new lead singer Ricky Warwick for a bit to talk about how it feels to be the new front man of Thin Lizzy.

Buzz: What drove you into performing?

Ricky: Well, I've seen a band called Stiff Little Fingers playing In Belfast when I was 14, and it was one of those moments of me knowing I wanted to play guitar. It was one of those shows that blew my mind. I knew right there and then that's what I wanted to do. It was life changing.

Buzz: How long have you been with Thin Lizzy?

Ricky: Well, I started last May, so it's coming up to be a year.

Buzz: Where did The Almighty start from?

Ricky: The Almighty started in a small town in Glasgow in Scotland. I moved to Scotland from Belfast when I was about 15. I met a couple of guys in my last year of high school, and we started playing in bands, and we stated rehearsing every week. We've been playing together for about 4 or 5 years, and we morphed into The Almighty. We started out very quick with that band. But it was basically born in Glasgow, Scotland.

Buzz: I know you're from Belfast. What do you think about Gary Moore and his passing recently? How has his death affected you and the rest of the band?

Ricky: Well, you know, it's awful. He was just an amazing guitar player. He played on my favorite Lizzy Album, which is “Black Rose.” I never knew Gary. That was probably because he's from the same part of Belfast as I'm from. But I never knew him. I always knew him as a fan, you know?Obviously Scott and Brian, who've played with him. It has a big effect on them. They've lost a friend and a fellow musician. It was very sad, you know. And he left at 58 years old which is awfully young. It's just sad when you lose a great talent like that, you know?

Buzz: Now I know Vivian Campbell is in the new lineup with you and he's in Def Leppard. Now, how long have you known Joe Elliott and how did you meet one another?

Ricky: Joe and I met back in Dublin, Ireland back in 1996 at a secret David Bowie concert. How cool is that? I was living in Dublin at the time, and I went to the David Bowie concert obviously. And I knew Joe was a big fan of The Almighty cause of the magazines and everything. But we've never met. I just walked in and he was standing at the bar and he said, “Ricky Warwick?'” and I said “Joe Elliott?” He bought me a drink and we hung out. We love going to see music and have a great love of soccer. And we've been best pals for going on 20 years now. I was the best man at his wedding, and you know he's just a great guy.

Buzz: Where did the name Thin Lizzy come from?

Ricky: It was Eric Bell, the original guitar player that came up with it. He got it from a comic. I think it was called The Dandy, which was a UK comic back in the day. And there was a character in there called Tin Lizzy, which I think was a robot. And it just became Thin Lizzy. I know when it first got around, Phil didn't like the name, and nobody could come up with anything better. So it just obviously stuck. It turned out to be the fantastic band name that it is.

Buzz: Can you tell me about the legend of Phil Lynott?

Ricky: Yeah, well I grew up on Lizzy. They're one of my all-time favorite bands. And being Irish, they were a huge impact on my life when I was a kid. And Phil, he was just so enigmatic. He was a rock star. His lyrics were phenomenal. He wrote about stuff. It's almost poetry. It's so beautiful the way he writes. He's a great front man, a great bass player. He's just God. You know to the kids that are just starting bands, just go on YouTube and look at Phil onstage. Look at his moves. Look at the way he delivers songs, because you want to be a rock and roller, that's what you need to aspire to. That guy right there. And he was a comic back in the day. You gotta understand, back in Ireland, there was very few black people in Ireland. I mean, you see a black guy, you know, fronting a rock and roll band. It was just so unusual, and so fantastic. I mean I worshiped all the guys in the band. And the fact that you think, these guys are all Irish, that just makes it even cooler, you know? And you know the world now, it's such a multicultural place now. And in Ireland with the very very few black people back in the day, Phil was very unique. You know? Just the way he looked. Such a strong look. And he was just a great songwriter. Such a great front fan. He's probably the greatest front man in the world in my opinion.

Buzz: How did you join Thin Lizzy?

Ricky: Very simple. I know Scott. I've known Scott for a while. Scott asked me to join the band, and I couldn't wait a second to say yes.

Buzz: How do you feel performing with these Rock Legends?

Ricky: It's a dream come true. I'm living a dream. When somebody says to you as a kid, “Would you like to front one of your favorite bands?”, you think that would be so great. And it's happened for me, so it's very surreal. I'm very honored. I'm very proud. I'm very aware of Thin Lizzy, and I want to do my best for Lizzy fans. For Phil, for myself. And it's just like Christmas every day man, it's fantastic.

Buzz: How has Thin Lizzy's music, and performing with them, aspired you in being a better musician and singer?

Ricky: Well, just be learning a lot about the way Phil would write songs and his sense of melodies. They're such great songs. And you gotta play them with some passion and intensity. And you gotta be just as tuned into Phil, and you gotta play them the way people know them and love them as well. You know, you can't just screw with greatness. You shouldn't screw with greatness. So I like to deliver the songs, where people recognize them straight away, and in the end Ricky Warwick's singing this song. There's a balancing act you gotta do to get that Phil created, and you're putting your own personality into it as well. I would never dream of trying to clone Phil. I think that would be the biggest insult you can give the guy. There's only one Phil Lynott, and that's it.

Buzz: What advice would you give aspiring rock singers and musicians?

Ricky: Obviously play from your heart. Learn from greatness. Check out amazing front men and singer, and watch what they do. And try to incorporate that into your own technique and your own style. Play from your heart and follow your gut.

Oh, what a night it was! A night full of laughter fun, and the great sound of 4 guys blending in harmony. They are Under the Streetlamp. Under the Streetlamp consists of Michael Ingersoll, Michael Cunio, Shonn Wiley, and Christopher Kale Jones. Since Jersey Boys closed a while back, these guys decided they wanted to form a show where they still can sing the songs they want to sing, tell fun stories, and joke around with each other and the audience. The guys met because they were all in Jersey Boys. Under the Streetlamp is an original show that was self-produced by Michael Ingersoll.

 They started out the night singing old songs from the 50s, with songs like “I Wonder Why,” “Blue Moon,” and “Sh-Boom.” Then they each took turns showing the audience their own stuff. Shonn started with “Fools Fall in Love/L.O.V.E.,” then Cunio told the story about how he got started with Jersey Boys. He then went on to sing “At Last” in the original key. That's amazing for a male vocalist. It was then time for Ingersoll to show off his stuff with “Save the Last Dance/Cupid.” After they took their turns, they payed tribute to the Beach Boys. Then Shonn payed tribute to late Johnny Ray with “Cry.” A beautiful song that belongs in the book as one of the greatest songs of all time. Shonn agreed. Then they closed the first act with a nice Soul Medley.

The Paramount Theatre in Aurora holds about 1,800 seats. Almost every one of them was filled for the concert. The house was packed. The guys said that this the most tickets they've ever sold for a concert of theirs. It's well worth it. I've seen these guys 6 times and they never cease to amaze me. Fans of the show Jersey Boys were in for a treat for the second act. The boys started with “December '63 (Oh What A Night)” then went into a “Stay Medley”. After the audience roared with applause, they talked about bands and artists that influenced them. Cunio started off with his tribute to the Beatles with “Twist and Shout”. Then Ingersoll payed tribute to Elvis Presley with “Devil in Disguise.”As the tributes went on, Cunio payed tribute to Van Morrison, singing “Moondance”. Shonn then proceeded to tell the story about how his father influenced him as a performer. He explained to the audience how his father was a dancer, and how he followed in his father's footsteps and became one too. Then, he proved to us what he can do, and boy can that boy tap. He tapped incredibly as he sang “When You're Smiling.” Ingersoll came up right after him with a tribute to his grandfather who was a jazz pianist, with a great arrangement of “That's All.” Next up, it was Christopher Jones' turn with his signature song from Jersey boys, “Can't Take My Eyes Off of You.” Before the song, he explained what it was like playing Frankie Valli and what it was like meeting him. After the song, the audience cheered with applause for the song they all knew and loved. The boys closed out the show with a Rock Medley. For the encore, they came back out with “Workin' My Way Back to You” from Jersey Boys.

 Overall, it was a very enjoyable concert. If you like music from the classic era, but also love the contemporary sound, you will LOVE these guys! One thing I really appreciate that these guys do, is they always try to raise money for awareness at every concert. Tonight, it was for the local food pantry. At every concert, they always auction off a framed copy of “Can't Take My Eyes off of You” signed by Frankie Valli himself. Tonight, it was bought for $5,000. I highly recommend this show to everyone. I'm not just saying that to say that. You really will appreciate what these guys have to offer, and they seemed to make all of us happy in the audience. At the end of the night, we were all humming their songs coming out of the theatre. If you can make your audience remember you coming out of the theatre, then you really did your job as a performer. Congrats on everything guys, and keep on rockin'!

 Be sure to check out their website, and see when these guys will be coming to a city near you! www.underthestreetlamp.com

What can I say about “Johnny Boy's Graduation” other than it's INCREDIBLE! This show had to have been the BEST time I've ever had! The show, an interactive comedy by Mark Nassar, co-creator of “Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding,” and by Kevin Alexander, Denise Fennell and Justine Rossi, takes place at Boni Vino Restaurant on Van Buren Street in Chicago. From the moment you walk into this restaurant, you're family. Johnny's mom greeted me at the door, and the rest of the family started hugging me as I'm walking in. When you walk in, it looks like an Italian restaurant. Everyone was waiting in the lobby by the bar, as members of the family were walking up to people and making small talk. As everyone was talking, the wonderful Tiffany Turner, who plays Stella was singing songs until everyone went in the dining room. And man, can she sing! I was talking to a buddy of mine when sweet Little Mary came by, played by the funny and talented Sarah Bockel. She was telling us how she doesn't like to sing in front of crowds, then everyone forced her to sing. She sang Patsy Cline's “Crazy”, and WOW! One of the best versions I've heard. After Mary sang, we all entered into the dining room. Everyone was assigned to different tables. I was lucky enough to sit with the family. The main host for the evening was Dommie Spits, played brilliantly by creator Mark Nassar. He cracked me up all night. What I love about this show, is that everyone in the show interacts with the audience. The Chairman (George Hambach), assisted by The Saint (Johnny Rickert), went up to make speeches, along with Suds (Ron Cooper), Max Golden (Marty Shannon) and Willie Whacko (Bato Postran). The speeches leading up to Johnny Boy's arrival were hilarious, with the video screens showing Johnny Boy's release from prison. As we were waiting for Johnny Boy to arrive, we were the invited friends and family, throwing him a surprise party. Then, the arrival. Everyone went crazy, and the honoring began. The ever so funny Franny, played by the hilarious Jane Allyson, went up on behalf of her husband The Chairman to make a speech for Johnny. There were other members of the family too that were making speeches for Johnny. The ever so lovely Camille, played beautifully by Samantha Gold, and her husband Mickey Mouth, played by the brutus John Bellon. There was Little Mary, and her wise-ass/filmmaker husband Nicky Nerves, played by the hilarious Peter Parilli. The part where he brought his new “star,” played by Jan Godshaw, was hysterical. Along with filmmaker Dante (David Gigante), these two are a good team. But most importantly, we can't forget Johnny Boy's one true love Angie, played by the wonderful Jamie Brouillette.

As the getting-out-of jail-party commenced, all the family and friends are trying to figure out where the diamonds are. See, the reason Johnny Boy got thrown in the slammer for years, was for participating in a jewel heist. He was the only member of the gang that got caught and had to do time. But Johnny Boy is also the only one who knows where the diamonds are. Throughout the whole show, that's what's on everyone's minds. But, anyway, back to the party. Before we eat the elegant food that's served to us, Father Mike (James Grana) says a prayer for us with a plastic light up Jesus. The food was great. They were serving mostaccoli, ravioli, sausage and chicken. Don't complain about the food, or you'll get whacked. As the night goes on, there's more comedy, more fun, and more laughter. The party continues into the lobby room with dancing and singing. Father Mike was playing guitar, while everyone was partying it up. Throughout the evening we also had the smooth-voiced crooner, Mr. Bobby Boni (Joe Bonadonna). He entertained the crowds with sing-a-longs and a “Sinatra Battle.” Then, finally, by the end of the show, we have Det. Gus Tedakis, played by the brilliant Peter Buckley, raising all the commotion. As the show came to an end, we find out where the diamonds are, and a couple other surprises you have to see to check out! After the show, you can meet everyone out of character, and do karaoke.

Overall, this was the best theater experience I've ever had. And I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend everyone should see this show! You'll have a blast! If you've gone to “Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding,” you will love this! A wonderful interactive experience, where you'll leave never wanting it to end. I recently caught up with Creator and Producer Mark Nassar, who told me a little about how this show came to be, and about its origins. Thanks Mark for creating a FANTASTIC show!

7 pm on Saturdays Open-ended run, Boni Vino Ristorante, 111 W. Van Buren St., Chicago. $60, includes dinner except for drinks. Tickets are available on the website: www.johnnyboysgraduation.com If you enter the code BUZZ, you'll get $5 off tickets.

Buzz: I heard that there's a prison across the street from the restaurant. Does that have any significance to the show?

Mark: There is a prison on the corner about a half block away. The MCC. metropolitan correctional center. federal prison. mostly a hold for people waiting to go on trial. I was visiting a friend who had a stay there. walked down the street and there was Boni Vino's like a gift from heaven -perfect location. plus it gives us the opportunity to show a video of johnny getting out of jail and walking to the party in one shot. i don't think we'll ever find a better location. a guys getting out of jail and it's only a hundred yards away. plus the place didn't need any design or decoration. it was better than a designer could do.

Buzz: Where did you come up with the idea for this family?

Mark: In this case I created characters for actors I already new and wanted to use. mostly TNT vets in NY. the parts evolved from rewrites and they went from being mob to being a family of thieves. They are a little of both now.

Buzz: What prompted you to come up with Johnny Boy's Graduation?

Mark: I always wanted to do an interactive show about gangsters. then an opportunity arose when I needed money for a video project. I got together with some TNT vets (Kevin Alexander, Justine Rossi, Denise fennell) wrote a timeline with some characters. Kevin, also a writer of TNT came up with the idea a party for a guy getting out of jail. bingo! we threw up a very loose improv gangster party for only one night and it was a huge success. we raised a good amount of money. we did it again as a fundraiser for a theater company. Yonkers fireman played the gangsters. it was a riot. I thought it would be a success in chicago because of the gangster mythology there and with the success of TNT in Chicago, I thought it would be a no-brainer. I looked for for years for the right space here and finally found it in Boni Vino's. (of course when I found it I had no money but that's another story and a good one.)

Buzz: How is this show different from Tony and Tina's Wedding?

Mark: The basic difference of course, is that one is a wedding and the other is a gangster coming home party. The party itself is the most similar aspect of the two pieces. I think where they diverge is that "Johnny Boy's" is more scripted. It's still more event driven than lot driven because we want to avoid it being a murder mystery, but the actors have far more lines than they do in TnT.

Buzz: Will this show eventually go to New York?

Mark: The original producer of TnT has shown a lot of interest in bringing it to NY. I also have interest in Vegas. For now though, I am focusing on Chicago, solidifying it here, before I move it to another city.

Buzz: What made you want to write this show?

Mark: On the interactive side I have written, in addition to JB's and TnT, I wrote a show called "Birdy's Bachelorette Party", which is a spoof on "Chip n' Dales" and a big ole girl's night out. Ran for five years at the Culture Club in NY. As far as standard plays, I wrote a play called "The Mayor's Limo", about a guy who pisses on The Mayor's Limo and lands in a squad room. It had a successful off- broadway run, is published by Samuel French and was made into an Indie film called, "A Line in the Sand", which I also wrote. It won a good amount of awards on the festival circuit. (The film has won awards from: Bridge Fest (Audience Award), Santa Monica International Film Festival (Best Feature and Audience Award), Montana Independent Film Festival (Best Feature), Naperville Independent Film Festival (Best Actor - Jon Bernthal), Canada International Film Festival (Best Feature and Grand Jury Award), George Lindsey UNA Film Festival (Golden Lion Award). As a result of this success I have been hired to write about 4 screenplays in the last couple of years by various producers. I have a play, called "Shouting in the Wilderness", which had a workshop in Aiken South Carolina. www.shoutinginthewilderness.com

I would like to add the most important part of Johnny Boy's, I think is the casting. I was so lucky to get the types and talent that I did. I wanted authentic working class Chicago types. I have people with a ton of experience and some with little or none. This cast has gone above and beyond just acting. They have helped in all aspects of production and sold a ton of tickets to keep this thing floating in the beginning. With no money down this was surely a very trying, yet rewarding organic theater experience. Also people like Vic P, and dear friends in Chicagoland took care of me, helped me and allowed this thing to happen.

They call themselves The Pink Floyd Experience, and what an experience it was. From the moment you step into the theater, you can see the haziness on the stage, as if it were a Pink Floyd concert. I have seen The Australian Pink Floyd Show and Think Floyd USA, and in my opinion, these guys did what those other two tribute bands can't do. The Pink Floyd Experience is made up of 6 guys. Tom Quinn on lead guitars and vocals, Howard Pattow on lead vocals and guitars, Gus Beaudoin on bass and vocals, Jesse Molloy on saxaphone, keyboards and vocals, John Cox on keyboards and vocals, and John Staten on drums. Wait, there's no female backup vocalists? That's right. These 6 guys did all the vocals themselves. These guys showed those other Pink Floyd tribute bands what you can do when you have 6 guys doing everything. Besides, less is more. The only drawback I had was I was waiting for the lasers, but they had a cool light show, and the videos were phenomenal. They started off the night playing the entire album of “Animals” from front to back. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of that album. I've always been a “Dark Side of the Moon” fan. But the guys really pulled it off. The best song they performed off that album in my opinion was “Dogs”. There's just so much emotion in that song. After they performed the entire album, they took a 15 minute intermission.

The second set was unbelievable. The guys played all sorts of Pink Floyd songs from their catalog. They were playing everything from “Time” and “Money” to “Run Like Hell”. The performances of each of these players was very unique. Howard Pattow on lead vocals was a pleasure to listen to. His vocal range is unbelievable! He was able to mimic Roger Waters perfectly. To be honest, it's hard to find good vocalists who can sound like Gilmour and Waters. But these guys were able to do it really well. Jesse Molloy on saxaphone really blew me away! I've seen other sax players playing Floyd, but this guy outdid them all. He blasted through “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Money”. The lead guitarist Tom Quinn looked and sounded like Dave Gilmour. The biggest highlight of the night was “Comfortably Numb”. These guys rocked the hell out of that song! With the disco ball whirling and the dazzling light show, everyone was cheering, because they knew the words. There were about 1,500 people at this concert. All Pink Floyd fans. It felt like you were at a Floyd concert. There was the stench of marijuana and alcohol everywhere, screaming fans and audience sing-a-longs. It was like being at a huge party. By the end of the night, they closed with “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” from “The Wall”. All topped off by a giant inflatable pig being thrown into the audience, which was very cool. Overall, The Pink Floyd Experience lived up to its name and was a great experience.

To find out more, check out their website: www.thepinkfloydexperience.net

SPACE in Evanston has to be one the coolest places to see live music acts! Not only is it a small intimate setting, but you can meet the acts that perform right after their concert for a meet and greet. The atmosphere is very relaxing, and tonight it's “Songwriters Night.” The two songwriters tonight are the legendary Jimmy Webb, who has written thousands and thousands of songs for famous recording artists. Then, after Jimmy was Alice Peacock, a great singer/songwriter, who is from Chicago. The night was calm and fantastic. First up, we had Jimmy Webb. Jimmy is a legend, and an incredible songwriter and performer. His compositions include “Up, Up and Away”, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston”, and “MacArthur Park.” His songs have been performed or recorded by Glen Campbell, The 5^th Dimension, Thelma Houston, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, R.E.M., Elvis Presley, The Supremes, and Richard Harris. He is the only artist to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics and orchestration. Jimmy's performances were heavenly, as he was performing his magic on the piano. Not only is he a great performer and songwriter, but he is a great storyteller. Throughout the night, he was telling the stories behind his songs. He also talked of his experiences with the people that helped him and inspired him, and he has a great sense of humor. The show was sold out. There were Jimmy fans everywhere. People I talked to knew exactly who he was. They were telling me how they grew up with his music, and how it's affected their lives. Being a singer/songwriter myself, I felt a deep connection to his music, growing up with songs. But the small, intimate setting made this concert magical. He started off with songs like “Galveston” and “By the Time I get to Phoenix.” The concert lasted about an hour and a half. Now the cool part was when he came out to meet his fans and sign CDs. Jimmy just released a new album he supporting on the tour called “Just Across the River.” The album has duets with Vince Gill, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne, Glen Campbell, Michael McDonald, Mark Knopfler, J.D. Souther, and Linda Ronstadt. If you get a chance, listen to this CD. It's incredible! Overall, a magical, elegant performance from the great Jimmy Webb. Thank you Jimmy!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Webb

Check out more of Jimmy Webb at his website: www.jimmywebb.com

It was late in the night, and next up was Alice Peacock, a fantastic singer/songwriter. She was there with her guitarist/co-producer/co-writer Danny Myrick. The two found the commonalities in their backgrounds – Myrick is the son of a southern Baptist preacher, Peacock the daughter of a northern Methodist minister – strongly influenced their co-creation. What I love about Alice is that you can easily relate to her music. Danny told me that night, “Songwriting is such an interesting thing.” The thing about it is you never know where the idea for a song can come from. But all the songs she played were flawless. They both were entertaining conversing with the audience and also telling the stories behind the songs. One song that I thought was so beautiful was “Time,” where Alice sat behind the piano playing solo. Other great moments were “Sunflower,” which was in the film Because of Winn-Dixie and the song “Bliss,” which was featured in the clothing ads for “J. Jill” and in “Hershey's” commercials. For just two people on stage, Alice and Danny knew how to rock the crowd! Whether it was the audience sing-a-longs, or Alice and Danny taking turns singing. Very entertaining and very energetic! Before their show, Danny and I were talking about today's music, and how we process classic songs to today's music. Alice has four albums released already. Her first, “Real Day,”, her second, the self-titled “Alice Peacock,” featuring John Mayer and Indigo Girl Emily Saliers. Her first two albums were more folk-rock. Alice sounds like the love child of Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, and Laura Nyro all put together. Her third album entitled “Who I Am” was a beautiful pop record with Alice at the piano throughout the whole album. Most recently she released a brand new album “Love Remains,” which is the first collaboration for Peacock and Myrick. Great rocking album! Before Alice's two hour set last night, I caught up with Alice for an in-depth interview with her, while Danny was minding his own business at the coffee maker.  Thanks Alice for letting us be a part of your family for two hours!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Peacock

Check out more of Alice Peacock at her website: www.alicepeacock.com

Buzz:   So Alice, who are your influences?

Alice:   There are so many. Everything growing up. The songwriters, Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, Laura Nyro. You really learn from the craft. Mostly, the classic singer/songwriters. In Nashville, song is king. It's just you and the guitar.

Buzz:   Were you born here?

Alice:   I was born in Minnesota, but I'm currently living in Nashville. I moved to Nashville 2 years ago, after living in Chicago in Lincoln Park for 12 years.

Buzz:   What is the life of a Singer/Songwriter?

Alice:   I think when you're a songwriter, you have to give your antenna up. You never know where your inspirations are gonna come from. It's all about balance. You have to stay open.

Buzz:   What do you think of today's Music compared to the classics?

Alice:   I'm not a fan of noise. I'll always get surprised by something good. There's great artists like Radiohead, Coldplay and Ray LaMontagne.

Buzz:   What made you go into music?

Alice:   I had no choice.

Buzz:   What do you like to write about?

Alice:   Life, everything, anything. Last night, I was very inspired to see Shawn Mullins. I think it's always good to see other artists performing. It's like that antenna. Always staying open, like a TV. I haven't written about my son yet, but eventually it will happen. I think I need to write about myself. Some of my best stuff has been solo. I call it your deposit into your creative bank.

Buzz:   How does being a musician make you a better person?

Alice:   I think being a mom has made me a better person.

Buzz:   What made you want to pick up the piano and guitar? Which came first?

Alice:   Well, I was originally a Theatre major. I was in Musical Theatre. But I started playing music at an early age. I played piano first, and then eventually got to guitar.

As the crowd of over 600 people were waiting in anticipation for a once-in-a-lifetime “experience,” four guys were on their way out. Yellow Matter Custard, a Beatles supergroup consisting of: Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Transatlantic, OSI, Liquid Tension Experiment, Liquid Trio Experiment, Avenged Sevenfold), Neal Morse (Transatlantic, Spock's Beard) , Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big) and Kasim Sulton (Utopia). They take their name from a lyrics in “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles. “Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.” All four guys are legends in their own way. Mike Portnoy, dressed like a fancy Englishman. Paul came out with a psychedelic collared shirt that looks like something George Harrison would have wore. Kasim was dressed up in black pants, black vest and white collared shirt, just like Paul McCartney would have worn. Finally, Neal....well Neal just wore black jeans and a black t-shirt. But he knows how to look cool in whatever he's wearing. Either way, all these guys looked like they were experienced musicians ready to rock their butts off!

By the first song, everyone was singing along. The guys played at least 40 songs that night. Playing everything from “Don't Bring Me Down,” “Penny Lane,” Helter Skelter,” to an “Abbey Road Medley”. They opened with the upbeat “Back in the USSR.” Whether it was the amazing soaring guitar solos from Paul Gilbert, to the piano-guitar craziness of Neal Morse, this concert had the word “FUN” stamped all over it. All emceed by “The Portnoy” himself at the drums. Only once, did Mike come out from behind the drums. That was for an acoustic “You've Got To Hide Your Love Away.” The other times he was moving his sticks like magic. Not once did the band stop to take a break. They swept through those 40 songs like a tornado sweeping through the city. It's amazing how much energy they had for such a long set. There were lots of cool people there of different ages. The youngest being a 9-year-old little girl up by the stage. I'm glad parents are starting their children with The Beatles at an early age.

The band all took turns singing lead on the songs, which is a great variety. The awesome thing about Yellow Matter Custard is they've been around since 2003. Well the guys have been around for longer than that. But they performed only twice before: May 17, 2003 at Upper Montclair, New Jersey and May 18, 2003 B.B. King's Blues Club, New York. They released their New York show for a live DVD and CD release in 2005. Just this year, they all decided to come back out and play again. This time playing completely different songs in The Beatles' back catalog. Also, new on board is Kasim Sulton from Utopia on bass and vocals. This guy has a fantastic vocal range. No wonder he's the Paul McCartney part. He sure looked and sounded like it. He's filling in for Matt Bissonette, who couldn't come out on tour because of scheduling conflicts. But Kasim made it worth while. Then you have Neal Morse, who was so good at this, he seemed like a real Beatle himself. Neal is an incredible songwriter and performer, and a very nice guy. I got the chance to meet with Neal right after the concert for an in-depth interview. And, wow, what an opportunity and honor it was to meet him. I want to thank him for this tremendous opportunity. Rock on Neal!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Matter_Custard

Buzz: What influences your writing?

Neal: Well, everything. Everything I'm around or hearing. The conversations that I have with people. I was in a jazz band a while back called Windows with a guy named Skipper Wise, and that jazz guitar sound, I wanted to use for “The Light” album. My dad was a choir director. My son Wil plays piano at the Blair School of Music. I actually wrote a song about him called “Seeds of Gold.”

Buzz: What made you branch out with Spock's Beard to go solo?

Neal: Well, I fell into prayer. The lord told me to go and try my own thing.

Buzz: How did the album “Testimony” come about?

Neal: Well, I quit with all the bands. I was waiting for what God was gonna do with me. I had a lot of musical ideas I wanted to work with. I filled out 8 or 9 cassettes with songs. My daughter Jayda was born in 1998 with a really large hole in her heart. And my wife and I were really worried about her., and she had to go through surgery and everything. Then, one day, we went back to the doctor, and they couldn't see the hole anyway. It was truly a blessing. And I wrote the song “Jayda” on Testimony 2 for her. But I believed this from the bible. Psalm 37, III & IV “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Buzz: I noticed every album you've released thus far since “It's Not Too Late” has had a biblical reference or influence. Why is that and how has the bible helped you through all these years?

Neal: Well I've used the bible a lot on my albums if you notice. At least on the concept albums. Testimony is my story. It's how the bible is part of your daily life. One is my take on the book of Genesis. Question Mark is about the Tabernacle. The messages from different preachers, and the idea that the only high priest comes once a year. Sola Scriptura, which is about Martin Luther. Then there's Lifeline, which is a step away from the prog concept albums. It's a collection of songs exploring a variety of topics.

Buzz: What made you wanna join Yellow Matter Custard?

Neal: Well Mike asked me to do it, and I thought it would be a lot of fun. God also told me to do it.

Buzz: What's your next project?

Neal: I got Testimony 2 coming out. It's very exciting. Then, I have another project I'm working on with Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, and Casey McPherson. We don't have a band name yet, but we'll see what happens. It should be really interesting.

Buzz: Are you ever going to reunite with Spock's Beard and how do you like how they're doing?

Neal: I think they sound great! I just checked out their last album and it sounds great! I'm playing the Voltage Festival in London with them. I'm playing Saturday and they're playing Sunday. We'll probably play a couple songs together or something.

Buzz: Do you write all the songs on your worship albums? Do you use psalms from the bible?

Neal: It was a calling to Europe. I went to preach there. My wife and kids and I would sing some of these songs in our church. The one day someone said to me, “You should record some of these songs.” And we did. I asked a couple friends to help me out on the album. But, no, there's some psalms we use. And there's some covers of some worship songs we do as well.

Buzz: Last but not least, how do you think writing music and performing music has helped you as a person and as a performer?

Neal: Well, the performer thing, you really have to be careful of. God's given me a gift in that. How I express myself to other people. God's helped me in that way. I'm always praying.