On an extremely hot day, straight out of Hades, concert goers gathered for the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee as they have done for a decade now. With only a thin layer of sun block on for protection, the area in front of the stage was filled up by young people flirting with potential sunburn from hell to see a fantastic band. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals took the stage in the afternoon and shocked everyone who was watching. They were just phenomenal!

From the beginning of rock and roll music, bands have made wonderful musical creations for the world to hear. They leave their stamp of art work out for everyone to experience. With Potter's recent top ten hit "Paris (Ooh La La)" it is quite apparent that they are really going to mark the world as their territory. As time slips by, we will find that Grace Potter & The Nocturnals have a lot to offer the music appreciators of the world. They absolutely rocked the hell out of Bonnaroo.

The confident Potter is a multi instrumentalist and showed off her talent through the set list despite the unbearable heat. The group of five musicians is one of the most talented groups of the day and it doesn't appear that they will be going away for a very long time. As they work in the footsteps of artists like the Kinks and James Brown, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals musical career will be something to watch as they rise to the top. They have had an incredible start and they really should be watched closely to see what tomorrow brings.

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals have played Bonnaroo several times before. They have been playing the fest consistently for a few years now. The charge of energy that comes from this band as they perform live is amazing. They have power like the Stones and know how to add in some melodic moments that may somewhat resemble a Pink Floyd style. Everything blends together among the technical guitars, thumping bass, and rumbling drums. With the talented eye candy of Grace Potter at the helm, this band is going to be just huge.

The band waved and said goodbye at the end of their set and left the audience pleased with a fantastic show. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals entertained the crowd with some good quality music. While they wowed the audience, all of their hard work could be heard within their music. It was quite clear that this group has been influenced by all the cool musicians of the 60's and 70's. Whoever they were inspired by originally, it melts down into a real good group. The mix of the musicians in this band and their influences makes this a group that would be very hard to contend with in skill and over all coolness. This group is definitely going to be leaving a lasting impression for rock bands to come.

Unfortunately, with all the heat that was present in Manchester, it was really hard to enjoy the incredible display of talent that was unfolding right before your eyes. Music fans bobbed their heads as they wiped the sweat from their brow. They were drinking anything and everything in an attempt to beat the Tennessee heat and they were losing. With temperatures in the upper nineties, it was almost impossible to enjoy anything while baking in an oven. This group would have been great to see in a cool, air conditioned environment.

After the festival was over, the rumors of a rough crowd came out. Allegations of thefts happened throughout the camp grounds. As the concert goers enjoyed the music, thieves lurked around camp sites. The happy concert goers came back to their sites only to feel violated. Over the course of the four day music festival, apparently a few bad apples helped to spoil the bunch. Very sad and heartfelt reports came out that a young lady was raped during the event. It does appear that this festival that is being referred to as a “mini Woodstock” was not all rainbows and puppy dogs.

Teenagers were running around drinking Red Bull and Monster energy drinks, as they passed their joints acting a fool. Under a tent a young man smokes a pipe of opium as two girls sit next to him holding a baby as they smoke marijuana. All sorts of drug paraphernalia was on sale at the fest promoting the use of drugs to the crowd. Skimpy clothing was a way to keep cool, but some Bonnarroo attendees chose a much freer clothing option, nothing.

Within the mix of musical acts comes a very wide demographic that was attending this show. Racist statements were made about having an artist like Little Wayne playing the same show with bands like Buffalo Springfield. Comments about “Wiggers” and “Niggers” made for a stressful time for some and were completely unnecessary.

Tickets for the 2012 Bonnarroo festival are on sale now, but there are a lot of things to consider before making a purchase. There is a huge potential for the entire weekend next year to be a gigantic heat wave as it was this year. There is a chance that concert goers could be involved in a violent crime. If you are at all worried about the heat or you are just too old and civilized, this may not be the show for you. If you do miss it, you could be foregoing a chance to see someone who is just a musical superstar like Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. They’ll leave you singing “Ooh La La La La La La La.”  

The Nocturnals

Matt Burr - Drums

Scott Tournet – Guitar, Harmonica

Catherine Popper – Bass, Vocals

Benny Yurco - Guitar, vox

“A Jew never laughs without looking at his wife for approval.” – Jackie Mason

Funny is a good way to be classified if you are involved in comedy. For a comedian, it is much better to be classified as a “side splitter;” making the audience hurt from the joke because they laughed so hard. Ordained rabbi turned comic, Jackie Mason, has never been classified as just funny, but only a “side splitter.” He has always been a comic’s comic.

Seeing Jackie Mason tell jokes is like stepping into the ring with a prize fighter. He will hit you with so many jokes in the matter of just a few minutes that it hurts. First he will hit you with an upper cut of a one liner. Then he gets you on the left side and then the right side. As he keeps going he gets more and more powerful with each joke told. He doesn’t give you a chance to breathe and he knows he is funny.

Jackie has been involved in the performing arts for over six decades and has become a comical legend. If you look up funny in the dictionary you find a picture of Mason. His ability to take an audience and tear them up with his jokes is just amazing. Absolutely a remarkable comedian to see live.

Jackie started out in the “Borscht Belt” as a comedian in the 1950’s. He shortly after became an ordained rabbi in his mid-twenties. After three years of being a rabbi, Jackie quit the synagogue to become a comedian. He later stated that, “Somebody in the family had to make a living.” He had almost instant success. Everybody was starting to love Mason and his popularity began to grow by the early 1960’s. He had made a few appearances on the “Ed Sullivan Show” that jump started his career and finally released his first comedy album I'm the Greatest Comedian in the World, Only Nobody Knows it Yet! The ball was rolling for the young comedian as he started to gain some momentum. He was on fire!

1964

Jackie Mason had an incident that caused him to be banned from the “Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. During a Mason monologue, Ed Sullivan was off camera and gestured that Mason should wrap things up. The nervous Mason responded to Sullivan by telling the audience, "I'm getting two fingers here!" He then gestured back, "Two fingers for you!" All footage taken of his outburst didn’t show what Mason did with his hands. Sullivan was outraged and he was quite certain exactly what he saw. The ban lasted for a year and half and Mason made his final appearance on the show once the ban was lifted.

Mason bounced back and had a successful career within standup comedy, radio, television, and movies. He had multiple T.V. specials and appeared on several shows including “30 Rock” and “The Simpsons.” Mason also performed in the movies; “The Jerk,” “History of the World: Part I” and one of his funniest roles was as Jack Hartounian, in “Caddyshack II.” He referred to everyone at one point in the movie as a “fonzinoon” and then he gave the definition. “A fonzinoon is a guy who farts in the bathtub and bites the bubbles.”  

One of the roles that is most commonly miss-credited to Jackie Mason is the role of the Aardvark in the cartoon “The Ant and the Aardvark.” The voice was actually done by John Byner and was meant to be an impersonation of Jackie Mason. Apparently Byner did such a good job with the voice that he had most people fooled.

Currently Mason is performing a weekly morning segment on the John Oakley Morning Show in Toronto. Jackie comes on for a brief segment in the morning to throw in his two cents. He also completed a feature film called “One Angry Man.” The movie was modeled after “Twelve Angry Men,” but needed to be tailored to fit the Jewish comic. He also has completed another movie that is scheduled to be released in 2011. The movie is going to be opening in Florida and moving around the country. He is scheduled to be at The Horseshoe Casino’s theater The Venue (777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, Indiana) on March 12, 2011.

In 2006, the organization Jews for Jesus used Mason’s likeness for a pamphlet. His picture was set next to the quote “Jackie Mason … a Jew for Jesus!?” Mason filed a lawsuit against the organization for the unauthorized use of his likeness and won. The court papers that were filed with Mason’s comments within the documents stating that “While I have the utmost respect for people who practice the Christian faith, the fact is, as everyone knows, I am as Jewish as a matzo ball or kosher salami. ”

Mason made claims that the organization had used his likeness to gain attention and try to convert people to their side of thinking. The group Jews for Jesus responded to the suit by saying, "Shame on him for getting so upset about this." The lawsuit settled, with Mason accepting the apology from the Jews for Jesus organization.

Mason has been accused of racism a few times over his career. In 1991, Mason made the comment about the mayor of New York, David Dinkins, that he was "a fancy schvartzer with a moustache." The NAACP criticized mason for his comments and he later apologized. After that he was accused of racism when a comic of Christian Arab Palestinian descent, was removed from opening for him at a Chicago appearance.

In 2009, Mason did it again. One of the worst people he could have said anything about was Barack Obama. During a live performance Obama was referred to as a "schvartzer" which in Yiddish and German it loosely translates into black or Negro. Later Mason’s comments came out trying to back pedal. "I'm an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where 'schvartzer' was used. It's not a demeaning word and I'm not going to defend myself." A black political commentator Angela McGlowan defended Mason's comments and strongly disagreed that he was trying to use the term in a racist fashion. "It's easier to insult someone's mother than it is to insult Barack Obama," said Jackie. He had been chased down by reporters after the incident. He cursed at them and told them he has said worse things about other minorities.  

Mason has been making fun of politics during his entire career. He thrives off of the punch line. "If you wanted to hear politics, you'd go to Henry Kissinger, you wouldn't go to hear Jackie Mason. The reason I speak about politics is because I know I can get a laugh out of it. As soon as I tell a line without a laugh, I don't tell it anymore,” says Jackie.

This man’s comical career has been an amazing thing study and watch how it unfolded. So many comedians over the years have tried to be Jackie Mason, but there is only one problem. There will never be another Jackie Mason. He joke telling style is unique and no one can tell the punch line quite the same way.

As Jackie Mason enters into his sixth decade within the performing arts it doesn’t seem like the man will ever slow down. He has made people hurt from his jokes and stories in a clever way like no other comedian could. The side splitting ex rabbi has always been a comic’s comic and always will be.

Jackie Mason Quotes

"Eighty percent of married men cheat in America. The rest cheat in Europe."

"Politics doesn't make strange bedfellows, marriage does."

“It’s no longer a question of staying healthy. It’s a question of finding a sickness you like.”

“I was so self-conscious, every time football players went into a huddle; I thought they were      talking about me.”

"Did you know that the Jews invented sushi? That's right - two Jews bought a restaurant with no kitchen."

“I have enough money to last me the rest of my life unless I buy something.”

Music was coming from the monitors as the curtains started to open slowly. Fans peaked through to get a glimpse of the blue lit stage. The crowd was ready to see the main attraction at Chicago’s House of Blues on a cold December night. Sister Hazel started to play and any thoughts of the frigid temperatures outside were quickly forgotten. It was a fantastic night for music.

Chicago was graced with two shows by the band from Gainesville, Florida, Sister Hazel. The group came out and performed some of their best songs such as “All For You” and “Change Your Mind.” They brought out so many songs with the intentions of entertaining the crowd and that is exactly what they did. Going along with the holiday season they played the Christmas rock song “Run, Run, Rudolph” which had everyone dancing. The Soggy Bottom Boys would have been proud to see the song “Man of Constant Sorrow” to be played so close to the original. It was a flawless performance and sounded just like the CD.

Front man Ken Block led the band with the upbeat guitar oriented songs, to the vocally driven a cappella sections of other ditties. His lead vocals were sweet sounds to the ears. Vocally the entire band blended well with each other within every song. Ken’s acoustic guitar work was done in a fast paced strumming style. His guitar was a clear representation of how hard he plays. He was well on his way to wearing a hole in the body as a lot of country and folk players had done in the past.

The bottom end was provided by Jett Beres. He played the same five string bass during the entire show through a bass rig that could move the Earth. Within the main floor, the rumbling could be felt within your feet. He had quick fingers that played the kickass bass lines and a tone that made everything he played sound warm. He also has a very wide range vocally. He brought the definition of three part harmony a new meaning.

Completing the rhythm section is Mark Trojanowski on drums. His timing was better than any clock and his versatility was displayed on everything he played. He was completely on fire during the entire show. He showed amazing dynamics and at times he was a great example of playing less is more. He wasn’t on stage being an animal like other drummers have done. He knew how and when to hit with the absolute correct amount of force. He is just a solid in the pocket drummer.

A great asset to the band is found in Andrew Copeland. This guy provides rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals, and a solid foundation of music within this rock band. What more could you ask for in a musician? His part within the band is holding down the rhythms and melodies. Within his role, he helps to fill out the bands musical style and sound. He is a very talented musician and it shows within his performance.

Last but not least is Ryan Newell on lead guitar. During every concert, the man who has the spotlight is always the guitar player. Ryan deserved every bit of it as he shined through on what he played. His guitar work is in the same league with some of the great guitar Gods. He played some intricate and flashy guitar riffs that amazed a lot of people within the room, including musicians. When he picked up a slide and moved it across the strings it was just magical.

The best part of the show was when the band broke into the middle guitar jam of “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Newell hit all the tough guitar licks from this classic rock anthem as if Joe Walsh was there himself playing it for you. He was backed up on the double guitar solo parts by Ken Block.

The band did the same customary routine as all other acts do. They pretend they are done with their show and leave the stage knowing damn well that they are coming back out for another song or two. For their encore they came back out and performed the song “Champaign High.” The acoustically based song had left the fans with a smile on their face.

During the show there was a positive energy that flowed around the room. Good, happy music was being played and the audience welcomed the sounds with open arms. As the show went along, the fans felt that positive energy coming from the stage and sent the feelings back to the band with applause and cheers.

The show had ended and the fans left the building. They huddled together in the streets attempting to stay warm as they waited for their cars to be brought to them. Smiles were everywhere despite the frigid temperatures.

Sister Hazel was just an incredible band to see live. Their ability as musicians is unbelievable. The entire group was on the money within all of the songs they played. Five guys performed as if they were one unit captivating the ears and eyes of the patrons at the House of Blues in Chicago. One word describes the show that was done and that is perfection! It was a fantastic night for music.

It’s always a pleasure to see an act that is completely unique. Something they do is without a doubt nothing like any other group that you have ever seen. Their show, their gimmick, their music, takes you on a musical journey letting your mind roam freely. Within the band Strictly Jug Nuts, they have captured a live music show that is incredible, original, and leaves a warm feeling within you after they are done.

Strictly Jug Nuts came out to wow the crowd and show off their talent as they always do. Band leader Skip Landt hasn’t been playing banjo for a long time, but he has advanced well on his instrument of choice. For the kind of music being played it may not be the most technically difficult pieces, but to your ears it is magical. Landt helps lead this group of ten musicians into a masterful presentation every time they play.

The group covers some old songs such as “Summer-time” and “My Blue Heaven” that are done in their own style. They move along, chugging through music so effortlessly and always leaves a smile on the face of the onlookers from ear to ear. What an incredible act to see and they continue to amaze audiences.

In 2009, Strictly Jug Nuts was the winner of the Battle of the Jug bands competition. They beat out some great groups during their run for the head spot, but no one could’ve beaten them. The group is just that good. For the 2010 competition, they were invited back to lead off the competition with an unfortunate rule. The previous year’s winner can play as an exhibitionist, but they aren’t eligible to win. The group took the stage at the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 North Knox Avenue - Chicago, IL 60630) with their heads held high. All ten of them were proud to be back and they played as if they were going for the win. If they would’ve been able to qualify, they would’ve been in the running for the main spot again.

They played a few songs leaving your jaw on the floor. The song “Ragmama” was a great little number that had a nice feel to it. The song flowed as it was driven by the musicians. People tapped their feet to the sounds as the songs moved along. They also played three other wonderful numbers; “Richmond Woman Blues,” “You Shouldn’t Say That,” and “29 Ways.” It was a perfect selection of songs for this crowd that came out. Everyone was happy to see this group perform.

Five incredible bands entered the competition with the winner based on audience votes. Bands that entered the competition were: One More Thump, The Schticklers, The Hump Night Thumpers, The Slap & Tickle Band, and The Barehand Jugband. In the end, The Schticklers, claimed the top seat and Strictly Jug Nuts had to pass the torch on to a very deserving band of musicians.

In 2011, Strictly Jug Nuts will be back in the competition fired up and ready to go. As they practice their music and prepare for each and every show, they do so as if it is a competition. They pour their hearts and souls into the music; living their dreams of being a working musician. They are one of the most unique groups in the city of Chicago and really something to see. Strictly Jug Nuts is just awesome. Next years competition can’t come soon enough.

Musicians in the band Strictly Jug Nuts are:

Skip Landt – Banjo, Vocals

Chuck Krauser – Guitar, Vocals

David Kachelon – Harp, Vocals

Fran Landt – Jug, Kazoo, Vocals

Andy David – Guitar, Vocals

Ginny Morin – Spoons, Kazoo, Vocals

Richard Stowell – Mandolin, Vocals

Jacob Fishman – Washboard, Vocals

Petrie Fishman – Kitchenware, Vocals

Steve Brownstein – Electric Washtub Bass

On Halloween eve, a group of traveling musicians graced the ears of concert goers at the Rialto Square Theater (15 E. Van Buren ~ Joliet, ILL. 60432). Five men took the stage just after 8:00 P.M. to entertain a full house. Ian Anderson and crew came out quietly and started to play “Life’s A Long Song.” It was a memorable time.

One lone spotlight came on and shined on the main attraction as he strummed away on his half sized acoustic to open up the night. During the entire relaxed sit down performance there wasn’t one bad note played by anyone in the group. It was a flawless evening of music.

Ian Anderson, obviously the person everyone came to see, was having an incredible performance as usual. His guitar playing was just as smooth as ever. He switched from guitar to singing to flute and jumped back again. Sometimes he did it all within a single song. He is a real showman. At one point he put on his spectacles and read a story to the audience that had been initially done by Jethro Tull on Passion Play. “The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles” was definitely the highlight of the evening hands down. This may have been the first time the reading had taken place since 1973 and it was long overdue. As Ian usually won’t play much from Passion Play, this came as a shock to most of the true fans. The place was filled with smiles from ear to ear.  

The songs selected were aimed at more of the true fans. This show was for the people that had been listening to Jethro Tull for decades. Classic pieces such as “Up To Me,” “Nursie,” and “Budapest” were amongst the songs played, but newer pieces were played as well.

A new song called “Hare in the Wine Cup” is an unreleased ditty about a rabbit that had taken up residence in Ian’s backyard while on tour. Before he had the chance to get home to see it, one of his pets, a terrier, had gotten a hold of poor Mr. Rabbit and there wasn’t much left of him after that. As the song was introduced, Ian explained, that this song was all that they had to remember the little guy with.

A few other works that were heard were “Wondering Again” Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” and another new one called “A Change of Horses.” He also dedicated a song to the previous bass player, Dave Pegg. He explained that Dave enjoyed a drink from time to time and was known to turn blue from excessive drinking. He then introduced the song “In the Grip of Stronger Stuff.”

Everyone waited for the most popular song in the Jethro Tull library to come out. They waited to hear the six note introduction to that song. The group threw everyone off at first when they did “Aqualung” in a completely unique melancholy sounding arrangement. The song was done very much like a Quentin Tarantino movie. The middle came first, then the beginning, and finally came to an end. Some fans seemed to be turned off, but the true fans who have heard this song so many times before, found it to be refreshing. They had taken the song completely apart and put it back together and made a different song out of it. This was no longer the heavy classic rock song that everyone knew so well, but it had become a new work that gave a new feeling to “sitting on a park bench.”

Ian toured again without Martin Barre and Doane Perry, but in those spots were some very worthy and capable musicians. On drums was James Duncan who played with finesse all evening long. Not once did he hit the drums with over exerted force and nor did he have to. The amazing dynamics of this well seasoned professional was a delight to hear. He had very large shoes to fill and did so without a problem at all.

Florian Opahle filled the stage left position on guitar. A few people were asking were Martin was; that they missed Martin. Once Florian played his classical guitar piece in a flamenco style, the crowd welcomed the young six string master with applause as he ripped through quick guitar riffs effortlessly. A little later in the show he had another solo, this time on electric. He nailed a piece by JS Bach and in the middle he put in a Van Halen signature tapping piece as well. He definitely gained the hearts of everyone in the room.

Amazing performances of ebony and ivory were done by Mr. John O’Hara. This incredible musician provided the delicate classical piano sounds, the amazing Hammond B-3 power, and all the sounds and patches needed to make this show perfect. He tore up “Thick as a Brick” and the opening of “Locomotive Breath.” His capabilities were incredible. When the applause came he was motionless in acknowledging the audience. He knew what he did was good and didn’t need to ham it up for the crowd.

Dave Goodier provided the deep notes during the evening that were both heard and felt. The bottom end was the perfect accent to everything being played. During “Bouree” he stepped up to play a middle solo part. He was just phenomenal in everything that he did. Dave also became a multi-instrumentalist during “Thick as a Brick.” He went back and forth during the beginning of the song playing bass with mallets in his hands and teeth to quickly taking the mallets to trigger the notes on a glockenspiel. Everything he did was beautiful.

Ian made mention to the fact that his flutes from time to time wind up in some strange places. As this one legged rock flautist has been the influence to all other flautists since he picked up the instrument, it is truly amazing how far his influence goes. Like let’s say outer space? He made the announcement that one of his flutes made it into the hands of an astronaut that was going to be doing a tour of duty on the International Space Station. She would be bringing the flute with her into outer space. It is amazing how many people this man has touched with his music. He made a further announcement that if you should see a long silver thing floating through space; it may be that the rest of the crew got tired of listening to it being played.

The show may have been the best Ian Anderson show ever. The crowd had their ears graced by music provided by the five outstanding men on stage. As the flawless evening came to close it left concert goers happy and smiling. Over two hours into the show, it ended way too soon. The group of traveling musicians disappeared into the night hopefully to return again. We will be looking for them to return.

"Before Elvis there was nothing." – John Lennon

Over one billion albums sold! No solo artist has ever reached the popularity status of Elvis Presley. The power that was in his voice, the friendliness in his show, and the complete musical package was just a masterful presentation. Many have tried to duplicate his style and presence within their show without much success. No one has ever been able to duplicate him accurately, until now. The Ultimate Elvis Tribute was a powerful depiction of the King of rock n’ roll; what a phenomenal show it was to see.

Four different Elvis performers took turns singing through a chronological presentation of the greatest performer that ever lived. From the early breakout days to the beginning of the 1970’s, every performer did just an awesome job vocally and within their show, they brought you back to the live Elvis experience. For the people who never saw a live show from Presley, this is the show to see. There is a little bit of every era of the King.    

The Early Years

Victor Trevino Jr. started the show in the role of young Elvis. The band backed him up performing the rockabilly style hits from over a half century ago. The band came in kickin’ the music out with the hallow body guitar, standup bass, and small drum kit. In the back was a piano player tickling away at the ivories. Trevino sang songs like “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “Hound Dog.” He stole a lot of the ladies hearts when he sang “Love Me Tender.” Women were lined up in front of the stage to get kisses in between vocal lines, waiting for the young King. He performed a fantastic replication of the early era of rock n’ roll music. After his opening songs he came back and pulled off the more difficult “G.I. Blues” without a flaw. He was just awesome.

The Hollywood Years

Kevin Mills came out and took the stage for the movie star-post army era. He brought out one of the most popular songs, “Blue Hawaii.” The background singers/dancers took it to the next level and just knocked the audience over. There was a storm of music coming from the stage and it was attributed to hurricane Mills blowing straight off of the island of Hawaii. He performed some of the more mature debonair songs from the popular movie career. Unbelievable!

Kevin had a co-performer for some of the songs. Lori Russo came out and performed as Ann Margret and she was amazing. The girl on stage was Ann Margret. She looked so much like her, danced, and spoke like the incredible entertainer. She was a carbon copy of Margret within every move she made and truly has the voice of an angel. Together they sang “The Lady Loves Me” with absolute grace as they became one for the song. They absolutely had to do the song “C’mon Everybody.” The crowd chair danced - snapping their fingers, clapping their hands, and turning their heads to the left and the right. They performed the Ray Charles hit “What’d I Say” from the movie Viva Las Vegas. Of course, they did the upbeat title track from that movie as well. Lori Russo and Kevin Mills gave the crowd their monies worth, but the show wasn’t over yet.

The ’68 Comeback Special

Leo Days came out in a black leather suit looking like he could take on the world. The fitting song, “T-r-o-u-b-l-e” was chosen for the attitude being presented. His was just monstrous performer within everything he did. The voice came through your very soul and connected to your musical being in a way that could have only been done by the King. Smiles were on the faces amongst the concert-goers, from ear to ear, during the awesome Elvis classic “One Night.” He sat at the front of the stage with the rest of the band singing his heart out, just like they did in 1968. He also performed “Jailhouse Rock” and a perfect version of “Are you lonesome tonight.” The middle monologue was so much like the record and there was no lip-syncing being done. This man was really that talented.

Vegas and the Early 1970’s

Bill Cherry slid across the stage in sequined jumpsuit and cape for the final jaw dropping performances. His amazing voice bellowed through the auditorium with every note. His impersonation was done so naturally. During one of the most popular songs of that era, “Suspicious Minds” Cherry had a chance to shine and that’s exactly what he did. He handed out scarves to the ladies in the audience and some women went nuts for them as if Presley was on the stage in front of them. One lady tried tugging at a scarf around his neck before he had the chance to hand it over. Two other ladies were both snatching at the same one in front of the stage before they regained their sense of reality. Bill Cherry’s best performance was during the patriotic classic “An American Trilogy.” Often considered one of the best tributes to America, this song had veterans standing and saluting the stage. The incredible set of pipes brought down the house and unfortunately was leading everyone to the end of the show.  

During the entire show, Elvis Presley sang his heart out for the audience at The Horseshoe Casino. This was not a bunch of bad impersonators, but a group of well trained professionals that brought the best music ever made to the stage. The unbelievable voices of all four men, the awesome band, and the backup singers brought the works of Elvis alive once again. They were all fantastic.

Trevino, Mills, Days, and Cherry combined their efforts into one show that well represented Elvis Presley, The King of rock n’ roll. Each one of the performers had a well rehearsed and well scripted part, becoming the greatest icon of the twentieth century. Elvis may have left the building forever, but his music lives on with great impersonators like these four gentlemen. As each one gives their all to perform, the King is looking down upon them. After seeing this show, he must be smiling with delight. They did his songs such justice. He would be proud.  

Hammond, Indiana’s Horseshoe Casino is the place to be to have a good time and see some of the best musical performers. The Venue, an auditorium inside the casino, was the setting for one of the best impersonation acts to come about in a long time. The Prince Experience came in presenting all the best works of Prince bringing you back into the 1980’s for a walk down memory lane. What an impressive show!

Gabriel Sanchez was in the lead spot impersonating one of the most fabulous entertainers to ever exist. His ability made you feel like you were actually watching Prince. He sang the parts with perfection, dancing in a way that impeccably mimicked the pop music icon. His strut across the stage, the voice, and everything within his appearance made you believe that ‘the artist formerly known as’ was right in front of you. “It’s Prince!” a young lady shouted. And she was right.

Sanchez danced on the stage in erotic movements that kept the interest of the ladies in the room as he performed exactly like his royal badness. Awesome musical ability was being displayed for the show and was completely beyond belief. The musicianship in everything he did was overwhelming. The guitar work that he pulled off was a strong duplication of the multi-instrumentalist. The authentic reproduction of Prince was done to perfection right down to his signature guitar. He wasn’t just an awesome performer covering someone else’s music. Gabriel Sanchez actually becomes the man that developed the Minneapolis sound.

Some of the songs that were played were: “1999,” “When Dove’s Cry,” “Raspberry Beret,” and “Little Red Corvette.” Definitely the smoothest and coolest musical spot of the show was during “Purple Rain.” The band came in nice and slow during the intro, gradually moving forward into the body of the song. What a monumental performance.

The show was not limited to just Prince Songs. A video clip played from the smash hit movie Purple Rain. When the clip had finished, out walked a classy gentleman, David “Mor-ess Day” Gonzalez. He came out in the roll of Morris Day and stole the show for two songs, “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.” It was an amazing time. He had the look, the sly dance, and the voice down pat. Nobody was there to bring this guy his mirror and from the reaction of the women in the room, he didn’t need it either. Oh EE Oh EE Oh!

Gabriel sat down behind the drums for the song “The Glamorous Life” as one of the background singers, Jennifer Shafer, took the lead for the role of Sheila E. The vocalist that had been hiding in the back came forward and sounded like the real McCoy. The voice was so close to the original cut it was amazing. She has such an awesome vocal ability and tone.

During the pop masterpiece, drummer Junior Gamaz, stepped to the front of the stage while his kit was kept warm for him. At the front of the stage was a set of timbales. He proceeded to nail the Latin percussion parts within the song. Then, without stopping, Junior and Gabriel switched spots on drums without missing a beat. They were simultaneously playing the six piece kit as Gamaz regained his throne. Gabriel may have been Prince, but Junior Gamaz was the king of the kit.    

During the entire show Gamaz held down the clock with precision. His hard hits and flash was so perfect for this group. When it came time for his drum solo it wasn’t like any other show boating that has been seen by other drummers. His original technique was refreshing to see and was quite clear that this man has rehearsed. There was a drum trigger that he would hit to get other sounds and accompaniment during his outing of becoming one with the audience. The drum rolls would run around the kit with such finesse captivating the onlookers.

The other half of the dynamic duo of background singers, Tracy Sparks, came forward to sing a duet with Gabriel. The song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was done flawlessly. During the entire show, Tracy’s voice could be heard, but she finally had her moment to shine. It was really a shame to not hear this angelic voice more in the lead.

The sax player, Peter Neumer, was a tremendous feature of the show. The solos were incredible to hear. The prolific player created some of the best sounds of the evening and kept hitting high notes that made everyone smile. This player was no amateur. A seasoned professional could only pull off the parts he played. He was amazing in everything he did. The show would not have been the same without him.

G Money filled in the bottom end on bass with funky lines that you could feel within your soul. Amazing slapping techniques came from the mighty hands of this bassist that helped to move the feet of the concert goers. The ace of the thick gauged strings definitely did more than hold the root of the chord; he rose to the level of supremacy.

Andrew “Droopy” Walker brought his guitar skills forward and it was sweet. The man brought his six string out to play and he tore it up. Unbelievable guitar parts were strummed, picked, plucked, and flaunted so effortlessly. He played the parts so well leaving a lasting impression for everyone that paid the price of admission for the show.  

Mitch “the doctor” Cooper played the ebony and ivory keys providing the perfect sounds on every ditty that was duplicated. His fingers ran up and down the boards quickly. Nothing was less than superb when he played and he was on fire. The sounds obtained were just like the original recordings. One word describes Mitch. Fantastic!

All of the incredible performers during this show pulled together their talents and made everyone believe they had just seen Prince. Gabriel Sanchez played the part so well it could’ve fooled the biggest fans. This is definitely a must see show if you are now or ever have been a fan of Prince.

The sky down poured all night long and into the morning leading up to the show. Skittish people afraid they would melt started to proclaim that the out door party would be cancelled. As luck would have it for the second year in a row the sky cleared up and the sun peaked out. The ground started to dry up and mother nature allowed Woods Bash 2010 to go on as planned. Big Randy put together a great show as always. The entertainment consisted of four incredible bands that played throughout the day. This was a true party!!

First band up was the new group out of the O’Hare area of Chicago called Ballistic. This group warmed up the place in style. Performing mostly cover songs from the classic rock genre, the band played their set of songs to wake the crowd up, and that is exactly what they did. The songs “Crossroads” and “Sunshine of Your Love” were definite highlights for the lunchtime crowd. The crunchy guitars, sweet vocals, and in sync rhythm section was a great start to the party. They finished up with an original song called “Red Ducati” that was the best performance of their set and it blended into an extra long jam of Nugent’s “Stranglehold.” They were fun.

Rhino 39 took the second spot with a vengeance. This group was a solid head bangers band every step of the way. Performing a song from Metallica seemed to be an easy task for such a rock solid band. The bass player and drummer paved the road for the rest of the group to follow. The grooves were deep and heavy old school metal. They brought out a Drowning Pool song with a little count off, getting the crowd to be involved with the show. “One, Nothing wrong with me – Two, Nothing wrong with me.” As the opening line “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” started the song, concert goers were carrying a devilish grin. Once Rhino started in with Pantera’s “Walk” most heavy metal enthusiasts couldn’t contain themselves any longer.

Rising Up Angry out of Florida had some issues and showed up late so their set was cut short. This highly professional band came in and performed a short set blowing the woods apart. Louder than the previous two bands, this group was over powering the vocalist and PA on every move. They band was so powerful and was just amazing. What bleed through on the vocals was incredible as well, but could barely be heard. They were just a high energy band; they were super tight and never made a mistake musically. It would be suggested to see this band in a setting with a PA that can keep up with their enormous sound levels. It might be nice to actually hear them with vocals. Oh yeah, they were that loud!

The AC~DC tribute band Problem Child was undoubtedly the best band of Woods Bash 2010 and had the most seasoned musicians of the party. This group came in sounding just like the group from down under with all the power and the show of the heavy rocking band. The boys jammed a bunch of the old classics from this band and a few of the “B Side” songs as well. They played the songs “T.N.T.,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” and “Sin City” imitating one of the most popular bands in the world. The guitar player came out dressed like Angus Young playing solos note for note just like the master. The vocalist did a great job of putting on a show when he climbed on the roof of the pavilion. Problem Child was definitely as close as you could possibly get to being AC~DC without actually being the real McCoy. They were just awesome and definitely the main event!!