Concerts

Blame Sally DVD release party at Harlows

2012-09-05T22:50:01Z

Award winning Blame Sally will be performing at Harlow’s in Sacramento on Sunday September 9th at 7:00 p.m.

Blame Sally brings you everything from stompboxes to fiddles, as they weave their magic in a tapestry of musical delight. And don’t for a minute think of them as a folk band as they add a little bit of rock, and a whole lotta heart into each and every performance, blending the different genres into a melodic work of art.

Their live performances are more than just a musical journey, as they banter back and forth with each other in between songs as only true friends can do, making for a very entertaining evening.

Their most recent Sacramento appearance brought droves of fans from the San Francisco Bay Area to the KVIE studios in Sacramento to record an intimate concert that would later be used to raise money for public television. You can get more information regarding the CD/DVD at KVIE.com, as well as donate and receive free tickets to their upcoming show at Harlow’s where they will be releasing the KVIE CD/DVD to the public.

Winning top honors for “Big Big Red,” “Wide Open Spaces,” and “Bird in Hand,” as voted by fans in the Independent Music Awards, their popularity continues to soar as Blame Sally is quickly becoming a worldwide sensation. They are currently touring across the country and across the pond with upcoming stops in the UK and Ireland.

I’d be remorse if I didn’t mention that band member Monica Pasqual also won an Independent Music Award for Best Concept Album on This Cold Desire.

Blame Sally is made up of four women, who decided to get together to play a little music in their spare time with no dreams of grandeur and no expectations, simply enjoying each other’s company while playing a little music.

Band members include Pam Delgado (percussions), Renee Harcourt (guitar/bass), Jeri Jones (guitar/bass) and Monica Pasqual (piano/accordion) – I know, not a Sally in the lot!

I had a chance to ask Monica some questions:

Randy - You originally got together as a group to hang out and have some fun. At what point did you realize there was something special happening?

Monica - Monica - We realized we had something special the first time we got together. It was so fun and sounded so good - and that was the reason we really wanted to protect it and make sure that we were doing it for the right reason. We had all pursued "careers" in music and had gotten tired of trying so hard to make it. We loved playing together and we wanted to keep it that way, so we sort of dedicated ourselves to the idea of making great music and having fun together.

Randy- Do you have any regrets not pursuing your musical talents earlier in your careers?

Monica - We actually had all pursued music to varying degrees when we were younger. I started playing piano very young and thought I would have a career in classical piano. I was a professional dance accompanist and also composed for choreographers and then started writing songs and singing in my late 20s. I put out three solo albums before starting to play in Blame Sally. I was definitely pursuing music, so it's been sweet to finally feel the payoff of lots of years of work!

Randy - Do you have any advice for the many musicians with day jobs?

Monica - I'm not sure I feel qualified to give advice - but I can say this much: There are no guarantees, no matter what you do. I got a lot of advice from family and friends to focus on a more stable career and in some ways I'm sure they were right. Making money as a musician is not easy - and honestly, if the aim is to make money and get famous, it's probably not the right career for you. But If you are truly passionate about music, it doesn't really matter what advice you get from other people - you find a way to do it, whether you have to keep a day job or not. Most musicians and artists I know have hobbled together a life and career that includes "straight jobs" and their art - sometimes leaning towards one or the other full time.

Randy - Now that you are on the road so much, are you still able to take the time to just hang out and have a good time?

Monica - The truth is that sometimes when I get home from being on the road I just really need to be by myself for a while. But there is a point where that retreat becomes habitual and needs to be broken, connections with friends and loved ones have to happen again. It is incredibly important to check out completely from the band and the business of the band in order to be able to reconnect to it with energy and passion. At least that's the way it works for me!

Randy - In an effort to show women across the country that they can make a difference, you recorded a DVD to help out public television and spread the word. What did that mean to you and do you believe it has helped get the message out.

Monica - For some reason it seems like almost everything we do as a band has ended up being a message - and we're okay with that. I think that we represent the exception to a lot of rules that people accept but don't really believe in. We are 4 women who have chosen to work together for a common goal, we nurture each other and we manage to work together really collaboratively. The fact that we are having our first real public success at our age is unusual - but it shouldn't be. For some reason people think that performers (particularly female performers) are more relevant when they are extremely young - but like people in any other career, there are incredible gifts that come from experience and time. We tell a different story then a 20 year old would tell, and I think that we tell it in a fresh way that has nothing to do with "nostalgia".

Regarding PBS - we believe that it will be a great opportunity to connect with more people who will resonate with that message. The program is just starting to be aired now, so it remains to be seen. We hope that it will be another mutually supportive relationship.

Randy - What is your most memorable moment on the road?

Monica - I'm having a hard time finding one - but I think we've all found it pretty incredible to be touring in Europe lately. We have had the chance to travel in a way that is totally unique - instead of seeing the world from a tourist's perspective we have been totally welcomed inside the living rooms of new friends who are eager to share their lives and perspectives, and are super interested in us, too. It's almost like being an ambassador - it's one thing I never expected to experience.

Randy – As the recently announced winners of the Independent Music Awards for three separate categories, how does that feel and what does it mean to you as a band?

Monica - It's great to be acknowledged for this. It's interesting that we were chosen in three different categories that really represent some of the variety that we encompass. With three lead singers and writers in the band - we sometimes find it difficult to concisely categorize what we do. It's particularly sweet that we won all categories we were finalists in (including two more for my solo work) in the popular voting part of this. It's good to know we resonate with the people who actually go out and listen to music.

Randy is an occasional writer/photographer for SacramentoPress and regularly blogs at SacAndBeyond.com

Tesla to kick off Summer Concert Series at Thunder Valley

2012-02-11T02:21:34Z

Thunder Valley Casino Resort will kick off their summer concert series on May 18.

Thunder Valley has brought a diverse lineup of acts to their summer stage in past seasons, and 2012 promises to be just as good, with everything from local favorites such as Tesla to cross-border sensations, including three-time Grammy-winner Diana Krall.

Krall also just recently collaborated with Paul McCartney on his latest album, “Kisses from the Bottom.”

According to Doug Elmets, spokesman for Thunder Valley;

“Our hope is that the entertainment will appeal to a broad cross-section of our patron base while also attracting people who haven’t experienced our AAA Four Diamond resort,” Thunder Valley spokesman Doug Elmets said.

Ahhhh – Lest we forget about the gambling and other amenities that Thunder Valley has to offer.

“The Thunder Valley summer concert series has helped bring much needed entertainment to the Sacramento region, and we are certain that the lineup for this summer will be a crowd pleaser too,” he said.

And how can it not be with Tesla opening the season? While Thunder Valley hasn’t announced its entire lineup for the season, it’s bound to be a great summer with a little something for everyone.

I’m sure we’ll see an artist or two for the younger crowd, or how about a mixed martial arts fight or two?

For the getting older crowd we have Tesla and I’m sure we’ll see other 80’s and 90’s artists throughout the season.

For the really older crowd, well, there’s always Pano Hall.

Whoever makes it to the Thunder Valley stage, it’s bound to be a great summer concert series. Check out thundervalleycasino.com/entertmenaint for the latest updates.

Getting Righteous at Thunder Valley

2012-01-30T01:30:28Z

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member and legendary Righteous Brother Bill Medley brought a crew of extremely talented individuals to Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday, including daughter McKenna.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Righteous Brothers. The second half of the duo, Bobby Hatfield, died of a heart attack back in 2003; Medley now tours with the 3 Bottle Band and McKenna.

Kicking off the show was a video showing Medley as he made appearances in various shows throughout his career, including the David Letterman Show and the hit television series, Cheers. As the video ended, Medley started to sing “A Song for You” while he was still offstage. After about a minute he started to make his way to the stage, providing for a nice dramatic entrance.

71 year old Medley’s voice has taken a beating over the years. While sounding coarser and a bit rough at times, he was able to make it work. The audience was enthralled with Medley from the start as he continued with “Ready, Willing and Able” and “Soul and Inspiration.” In between songs he would talk about life and joke with the crowd.

For his hit song, “Time of My Life,” from the movie “Dirty Dancing,” Medley brought out McKenna to perform Jennifer Warnes’ part. McKenna did an awesome job and has a very melodic voice with a bit of a country/blues flavor.

McKenna went on to perform solo, singing “Silk Flowers” and “Give Me One Reason.” When McKenna completed her set, Medley sat down at the keyboards and called on band member Bob Gulley to sing some songs with him and McKenna. This is where Medley shined, providing the audience a glimpse of what it’s like to jam with the best.

3 Bottle Band has been playing together with Medley for over 35 years, and it shows. This is a very talented group of musicians including Gabe Rabben (drums), Bob Gulley (bass), Tim Lee (keyboards) and Larry Hanson (lead guitar). Also a member of the band is America’s Got Talent winner Michael Grimm. However, Grimm was not present at Friday’s show.

Motown comes to Thunder Valley

2012-01-16T02:45:19Z

Armed with 20 vocalists, six band members and four crew members impersonating the legends of Motown, RPM Crown Productions brought their Hitsville USA Legends of Motown Tribute Show to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday.

There was a sold-out crowd of diehard Motown fans there to enjoy some of the greatest hits from the Motown era. It was perplexing that more people weren’t up on their feet during some of the performances. However, after each performer finished their set they were met with more than a few people giving them a standing ovation.

The all-star lineup included acts such as The Four Tops, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and even a brief break from Motown for a little bit of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

With the plethora of tribute shows currently playing across the country, it’s refreshing to see a solid lineup of talented individuals bringing not just one, but nine legendary acts to the stage in one spectacular show.

I was worried that with so many acts playing on one stage we’d be there all night slogging through hit after hit. That wasn’t the case. Each act played full versions as well as shortened versions of their respective hit songs, keeping the show moving at a pretty good clip.

Emceeing the event was Nick Harper, a radio personality from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. As he introduced each act he provided a brief history and highlighted some of their hits.

Kicking off the show was The Four Tops. Decked out in white suits and moving in perfect harmony, they sang their hits, “Sugar Pie Honeybunch,” “Standing in the Shadow of Love” and “Ain’t No Woman Like the One I Got.”

Following The Four Tops were The Supremes in evening dresses singing, “Just Keep Me Hanging On,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Love Child.”

Al Green was handing out roses to a number of the female audience members as he sang, “I’m so Tired of Being Alone,” “Let’s Stay Together,” and “Love and Happiness.”

And so it went throughout the evening as nine artists entertained the crowd bringing hit after hit.
Don’t miss the next tribute show at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, the Legends of Soul Tribute Show. These shows sell out fast, so get your tickets ahead of time.

Below is a complete list of artists and the songs performed.

The Four Tops
“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”
“Standing in the Shadows of Love”
“Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”

The Supremes
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
“You Can’t Hurry Love”
“Love Child”

Al Green
“Tired of Being Alone”
“Let’s Stay Together”

Smokey Robinson
“More Love”
“Ooo Baby Baby”
“Tears of a Clown”

The Spinners
Intro to “I’ll Be Around”
“Ghetto Child”
“Sadie”
“Rubberband Man”

Chaka Khan
“Sweet Thing”
“I’m Every Woman”

Prince
“Purple Rain”

Gladys Knight
Intro to “Use My Imagination”
“Save the Overtime”
“You’re Number One (in My Book)”
“Midnight Train to Georgia”
“Neither One of Us”

Stevie Wonder
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”
“My Cherie Amour”
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
“Superstition”

The Temptations
“Getting Ready”
“I Can’t Get Next to You”
“Cloud Nine”
“Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down”
Intro to “Super Star”

Sinbad

2012-01-03T02:41:36Z

The purple one was in-the-house at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday.

Okay, not The Purple One (as in Prince), but the 55 year old standup comedian Sinbad, who was decked out in a freshly tailored purple shirt. I also wouldn’t say “in-the-house,” more like in-the-tent, since it was held in Thunder Valley’s Holiday Pavilion. While it’s a tent, it’s extremely spacious and exquisitely decorated, complete with several bars, restrooms and a whole lotta seats.

Sinbad put on a great show, playing to a full house of young and old alike. As soon as he hit the stage, he started talking about how this was such a great location for a casino like Thunder Valley.

There’s nothing around for miles except for cornfields and a landfill, he joked. He warned everyone that they should hold their breath when they walk outside and then come back inside and gamble some more, referring to the occasional minor aroma coming from the landfill a few miles down the road.

Continuing his rant about the location, he explained that after he put the address into his GPS, it asked him why he wanted to go there.

Sinbad wanted to know why it is 1200 Athens Road when there’s nothing around. Who came up with the number 1200, he wondered. There’s nothing around for miles, so why not a 1?

As he was going through his routine, bantering back and forth with audience members, he asked the ladies in the audience what made them angry. Several shouted out “Cheating!” To which he replied, if a man cheats or if he leaves the cabinet door open, you’re just as pissed. It’s the same thing, so why not cheat.

He’d rather not, but give us some options, he pleaded.

He also wanted to know why it is that everyone says it’s the man that’s cheating. There’s always a woman he’s cheating with. Sinbad used Herman Cain as his specific example for the evening.

Continuing with his questions for the ladies he asked them what they wanted and in time, dealt with a number of responses; money, communication, sleep and sex among them.

The best part of Sinbad’s shows will always be his interaction with the audience, responding without skipping a beat, and joking about real life situations. A fun time was definitely had by all in attendance.

As Sinbad ages like a fine wine (in his purple shirt), his jokes remain fresh. Add to the mix his quick wit and audience participation, and you end up with a very entertaining night out.

It’s refreshing to listen to a comedian who doesn’t believe he has to be crude to make people laugh. Sinbad is one of the few remaining comedians that puts on a clean and entertaining show.

Jingle Bells Rock Thunder Valley

2011-12-17T02:39:29Z

Sixty-two-year-old veteran rocker Eddie Money brought his Jingle Bell Rock tour to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Thursday. Scheduled to appear was former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm and former Jefferson Starship lead singer Mickey Thomas.

The day before their performance at Thunder Valley, it was announced that Gramm would not be performing for the remaining tour due to acute laryngitis, so Gramm was not in attendance.

As the concert kicked off with Money and Thomas taking the stage, the audience immediately started chanting, “Lou! Lou! Lou!” Money responded by explaining the situation and said they had added a couple of songs to their setlist to make up for the missing Gramm. This was followed by more than a few polite boos – is there really such a thing as a polite boo?

Money exited stage left while Thomas started singing “Jane.” Thomas wore a striped shirt with a loosely worn red Christmas tie, while he banged out “Sara,” “We Built This City,” “Nothings Going to Stop Us Now.” Thomas ended his set with “It’s Christmas Time Pretty Baby,” singing in the style of Elvis Presley.

The 62-year-old Thomas’ vocals really stood out throughout his set, sounding just as good as he did all those years ago, in particular when he sang Annie Lennox’s “Winter Wonderland.”

Backing Thomas was Money’s regular crew consisting of longtime band members Tommy Girvin (lead guitar) and Glenn Symmonds (drummer), with more recent additions Lee Beverly (bass) and Chris Groves (keyboards).

Following Thomas, Money came out singing “Baby Hold On” and “I Wanna Go Back.” As Money sang, he shuffled back and forth across the stage and even pulled out the saxophone to show everyone he can still play.

Rounding out the show, Money and Thomas took the stage together singing “Jingle Bell Rock” and a rocking version of “Jingle Bells.” For their encore they performed John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”

While Money’s vocals were not as pristine as Thomas’, he made up for it with his overall stage presence, sense of humor and kindness toward the audience, reaching out to shake hands with a few people in the front row.

Offstage, Money is extremely generous and cordial to all those around him, introducing himself to anyone standing near. His generosity doesn’t stop there.

Money is a strong supporter of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which helps support families of military personnel lost in service to our nation and for severely wounded service members and veterans.

Money is hoping fans will help bring some holiday cheer to heroic members of the armed forces by going to eddiemoney.com and purchasing his single “One More Soldier Coming Home.” All the proceeds will go to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Air Supply in demand at Thunder Valley

2011-12-12T03:12:11Z

Wow. What the hell happened out at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday night?

It seems soft rock group Air Supply, playing to a packed house of lovesick fans, actually came out and rocked the house.

I know. I still don’t believe it, but it’s all true! It was bedlam, I tell you.

“Here I Am” thinking “Sweet Dreams.” What are the “Chances” I would find myself in a “Sanctuary” where “Me Like You” can feel “The Power of Love” “Everywhere,” only to have a real rock concert break out. Seriously!

Air Supply started out innocently enough with “Even the Nights are Better,” and then segueing into “Every Woman in the World.”

OK so far, but as veteran performers Russell Hitchcock (lead singer) and Graham Russell (lead guitar) weaved their hits through the guise of soft rock, I should have noticed the younger band members standing at the ready. That should have been my first clue.

The newest members to the band could have been playing for Papa Roach the way they were attacking their instruments, running and jumping around the stage. This should have been my second clue.

Jonni Lightfoot (bass guitar), CJ Burton (drums), Amir Efrat (keyboards) and Aaron McLain (guitar), all kicked out some serious tunes.
As the band made their way through their repertoire, the crowd started to react more and more with every hit played, but that all changed when Russell went acoustic with their new song, “Everywhere.” Just prior to the song, Russell requested that some audience members crowd down on the floor in front of him, having them sit on the floor.

While everyone was gathering around Russell, he explained how he enjoys sitting on his balcony at home and looking off into the mountains. He pointed to the spotlight, saying it represents the sun going down, and you all are the mountains.

“This song is about how love is all around us, and it’s called ‘Everywhere,’” he said.

Now I know you’re asking yourself, how is this not soft rock? Well, it is, but it’s really rocking in a Tesla/Eric Clapton unplugged kind of way.

But really the trick here is how Air Supply corralled a large portion of the audience to the very front of the stage and between the aisles. As soon as Russell was done with “Everywhere,” the band struck up “The One that You Love,” and Hitchcock headed out into the sea of madness, followed by Russell on guitar, neither of them missing a beat. That’s when they begin working the crowd into a complete frenzy.

Hitchcock was handing out hugs and kisses as he made his way up one aisle and down another. Women were grabbing at him as his crew fought to keep them at bay. Once they made their way back onstage, it was too late for the audience. They were under Air Supply’s spell, swaying to the music, with the periodic fan jumping up to grab Russell as he came close to the edge of the stage.

For their encore they played “Me Like You” and “All Out of Love.” It was quite obvious the crowd was not ready to leave, and there could only have been a handful of people who left before the end of the show.

I hate to say it, but Air Supply is a master of entertainment. There, I said it.

I like Air Supply.

Christmas with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2011-11-21T03:25:35Z

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra mesmerized the audience Saturday afternoon at Power Balance Pavilion in the first of two Christmas shows.

For those of you who may not be familiar with TSO, they are a progressive rock band that incorporates classical, orchestral, symphonic and progressive elements into hard rock and heavy metal. They are famous for their series of rock operas and storytelling.

This was a high-energy show with a combination of lasers, lights, pyrotechnics and video screens all synchronized to TSO’s music.

Dressed in black, the orchestra made their way on stage while chimes were playing. As they were assembling onstage, there were clips of Martin Luther King Jr. from the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, as well as John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and others, with each round of new faces drawing applause and cheers. Once onstage they started playing “Who I Am,” with video screens and lights blazing in perfect unison.

The talented storyteller Phillip Brandon started weaving a tale of an angel coming down to Earth on Christmas Eve. Brandon’s phenomenal voice, reminiscent of the famous James Earl Jones, drew the crowd into the tale as a hush came over the audience. After the introduction, the orchestra started playing “An Angel Came Down,” complete with lights and lasers.

As the orchestra began “First Snow,” it actually started to snow in the arena. OK, not really snow, but the pretend kind of snow. You know the one with tiny bubbles raining down? Couple that with all the video screens filled with snow added to the sensation of real snow. It was quite breathtaking, leaving the audience in complete awe as they listened to an extremely talented line-up of musicians.

A newcomer to TSO, violinist Asha Mevlana was off the charts rocking it with her purple high-tech violin. As she ended a solo routine, the crowd gasped in unison as she snapped her bow in half over her knee, ending the song. This was so much more dramatic than smashing a guitar to smithereens, since it was completely unexpected.

As they wrapped up the story, the orchestra treated the audience to a number of songs, including a mix from one of their albums, “Christmas Canon Rock,” at which point they brought out founder, composer and producer Paul O’Neill.

This was my first exposure to TSO, and I have to say they left me wanting more, even after a two-and-a-half-hour performance.

Chippendales seducing the ladies

2011-11-18T02:56:36Z

OMG! I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to write this after the Chippendale’s performance at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Wednesday night.

It was only after taking a cold shower and having a glass – scratch that – a bottle of wine that I was able to start thinking clearly.

What? No! The water heater went out and a “glass” of wine is how I like to end my day.

My intent on writing this is to warn any unsuspecting women who may decide to take in a show like the Chippendales’. Don’t. Seriously, nobody liked the show!

It was quite obvious that every woman in the place, which was around 99.9 percent of the people, couldn’t stand the show. I couldn’t believe it! I was completely dumbfounded. They were screaming “Get off!” almost the entire show. The Chippendales never got the message. They stayed onstage the whole time!

The strange thing is when they finally ended the show and did get off the stage, all the women started screaming “More, more, more.” I know, I find women confusing, too. They say one thing and mean another. (Come to think of it, they may have been screaming “Take it off!”)

As for the men onstage, I felt bad for these guys. It appeared to be a little chilly in the room, but that didn’t seem to dampen their enthusiasm. All I can say is I was feeling a tad inadequate at this point.

The biggest criticism I have of the show? It was the most disgusting display of pure animalistic behavior I have ever witnessed. It was really quite a sight to see. None of the women could keep it together. They were falling over in the aisles, standing on chairs, trying to get back stage, onstage, or anywhere close to those big hunks. Now hold on a minute! I’m only referring to them as big hunks because I know that’s how women refer to those large glistening bodies of pure muscle and all their gyrating ways.

I will say there was definitely an excitement in the air as the show progressed, but it’s difficult for me to explain the atmosphere. I liken it to when I receive a package from FedEx that I have to sign for because I know it’s got to be something really cool, otherwise I wouldn’t have to sign for it. Well, that’s the way all the ladies were acting, but I guess they weren’t interested in a FedEx package.

Speaking of packages – the Chippendales were the complete package, with eight of the most physically perfect male dancers all competing for the audience’s attention, all dressed in their trademark bow ties and shirt cuffs with bare torso, at least some of the time.

The opening was quite dramatic with the stage dark and ominous and smoke filling the air. One by one they took center stage with a lone spotlight lighting their muscular curves and superior physique. Is it getting hot in here?

The first few routines found these delectable morsels stripping down to pretty much nothing – why do I keep writing like this? Delectable morsels? Now I’m starting to worry.

As each layer came off, the decibel levels in Pano Hall rose exponentially. People were gathering outside trying to get a glimpse of the show. Quite the curious crowd.

A couple of times during the show, they danced around the audience, going down aisles and over chairs. One of the Chippendales was looking for someone to give an autographed poster to. He found her when he exclaimed she deserved it for grabbing his penis. Yes – there you have it. I said it, now it’s out there for all to see.

Several people had the opportunity to jump onstage. In one case three ladies were in a game show where they were told to complete a task. The first one had to perform her best lap dance on one of the Chippendales. The second had to demonstrate her favorite position when making love, and the third had to demonstrate her favorite way of putting on a condom. The third won due to her technique and the timely fashion of completing her task. Oh – I should clarify. She put it on a banana.

This was definitely ladies’ night out. There were a few men in attendance, and you could tell which ones were straight. They were carrying a ball and chain and didn’t look all too happy. I believe my count was two husbands/significant others in attendance.

The show was so successful that Thunder Valley had to provide additional seats to accommodate the larger-than-expected crowd.

After the show, the Chippendales remained onstage so audience members could have their photos taken with their favorites. I declined. They also announced they would be going to Thunder Valley’s Falls Bar for an after-party. [Insert loud cheers here.]

So at the end of the day I feel like I was able to embrace my inner gayness and survive. As I’m sitting here writing this, I’m convinced that I have no lingering side effects from the show.

British invasion causes riot at Thunder Valley

2011-11-15T02:29:40Z

Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone played to a full house of old diehard Herman’s Hermits fans at Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s Pano Hall Sunday night. That’s not to say everyone in the audience was old, just older than most.

The Noonatics, those who carry around vinyl albums and old Herman’s Hermits 8-tracks, may have known what they were in for, but I sure as bloody hell wasn’t.

The 64 year old rocker joined the British band as the lead singer (Herman) at the young age of 15. You do the math.

I went to see Herman’s Hermits to relax and enjoy some oldies but goodies, so when Noone took the stage and started singing, “I’m Into Something Good,” I was thinking, “Ahhhh, this is perfect.”

Then the bloody bloke started yapping and from that point on there was no relaxing for anyone. All we could do was laugh at the bugger. He’s completely bollocks!

He explained to everyone that a friend told him that Sacramento, Yuba City and Clarksburg were way out in the country and if he wanted to make us happy he had to play some country music. He started singing Johnny Cash’s, “Ring of Fire,” resulting in the audience laughing throughout the song.

Noone was all over the map, singing songs from Johnny Horton, Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, and of course Herman’s Hermits hits as well.

At one point, one of the noonatics in the front row pulled out an old vinyl album cover from years and years ago. Noone, the mad hatter that he is, grabbed the album and stuck it over his face, displaying the old photo of himself. He then started singing and marching across the stage. It was quite comical.

Another rant was about looking like Nick Nolte. He said as he was coming through the casino someone stopped him and asked about the show. They got all excited, screaming as they pointed at him, “Hey! You’re Nick Nolte.”

In between jokes he actually did sing a hit or two. This guy has a great voice and as soon as the band started up any of their past hits, the audience erupted in cheers and clapping.

Those that could still stand did.

Noone sang most of their hits including "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am” and “There’s a Kind of Hush.”

Prior to the show, Noone went out of his way to engage people, shaking their hands and saying hi. You could tell he lives for this stuff and thoroughly enjoys it.

After the show, a path was cleared by the ever so diligent security staff at Thunder Valley to make way for Noone as he made his way to the exit. There he started signing autographs and chatting it up with anyone who would listen. The guy just can’t help himself – It’s who he is. After all, what do you expect from the son of an accountant!

Peter Noone is the real deal. Not only does he sing, but he entertains too – with a smile.

Cirque Shanghai’s Bai Xi

2011-11-14T04:21:33Z

The Cirque Shanghai’s Bai Xi put on a breathtaking show Thursday and Friday night at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, playing to a standing room-only crowd both nights.

Bai Xi translates to “100 amazing acts.” However, I only counted 16, but they were 16 amazing displays of physical strength and grace. The show was full of spectacular colors, talented young men, women and a number of young girls. It was a magical night with some mind-boggling performances and a variety of visually stunning costumes.

As the show opened, the performers started in the back of Pano Hall dressed in spectacularly colorful costumes. Working their way through the audience with a winking parade-style dragon and waving giant flags, they were saying hi to audience members and shaking hands.

Once onstage they immediately started in with their incredible balancing act with a unicycle riding on top of a red umbrella and then appearing to fall off stage.

These guys had everything from contortionists to roller skating, including juggling pottery and even juggling hats!

The contortionists, dressed in yellow, ranged from little girls to young women. They started by arranging themselves in a single-file row from front to back, with the smallest in the front as they spread their arms out. They started climbing over each other, bending into unimaginable positions. It was quite the spectacle.

Next up was a number of young men balancing on a single ladder. As one man made his way on stage, he was balanced on a ladder, wiggling his way to center stage. Once there another man climbed on from behind and made his way to the shoulders of the first man. They finally ended up with four men balanced on the ladder.

At one point a number of young kids came out stuffed in colorful barrels, and I mean stuffed. These kids were very bendable, and at one point there was one in one end of the barrel and another in the other end and then they would trade off balancing each other on the one end. Crazy!

There was an awesome hat routine that was very well choreographed. These guys made their routine look deceptively easy, until they called a few audience members onstage to help them out.

That was when I noticed Rachel Steele, lead singer of local country rock band Road 88, sitting in the audience. As they were looking for volunteers it was obvious that Steele did not have her hand up, but one of the men went right to her and insisted she come up onstage. It was funny watching Steele, who is used to leading, having to follow these guys as they directed her, and three other audience members through several routines.

I’m thinking with fellow Road 88 band members Scott Prentice and Billy Haggard in attendance that they had prearranged Steele’s selection. Steele was definitely caught off guard and very entertaining.

Steele was doing a great job, and you could tell she felt this was in the bag when they had her dancing and clapping her hands above her head. However, once they started showing her their hat routine, she had quite a bit of difficulty duplicating their moves.

The other two audience members didn’t fare any better than Steele, but kudos to the young lady who actually did a cartwheel, much to the audience’s delight.

This was a fast-paced show with stunning acrobatics, gymnastics and a whole lot of grace. The only downside of the night was the height of the stage. During several acts the stage was so low that it was difficult to see what was going on. Luckily there were only a few parts where it was difficult to see.

I’m sure they will be back to perform at Thunder Valley again, and if they do, you don’t want to miss it!

Midnight Star Shines on Thunder Valley

2011-10-31T03:17:55Z

Seventies musicmakers Midnight Star and A Taste of Honey packed Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Friday night, keeping the audience on their feet for most of the show.

A late start didn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm as Grammy Award-winning A Taste of Honey, featuring original band member Janice Marie Johnson, stormed the stage. Johnson was decked out in a pink sequin dress and high heels and sporting her bass guitar.

As soon as the band kicked into gear, the audience was on their feet, as the band played all their hits like “I’m Talking About You” and “Disco Dancin’.”

After a quick wardrobe change into an orange kimono, Johnson sang her hit song “Sukiyaki” as the audience settled back in their seats.

The audience catapulted out of their seats as Johnson finished the set with their biggest hit, “Boogie Oogie Oogie.”
Prior to the show, Johnson was backstage meeting some of her fans. I’ve attended a number of meet-and-greets, and Johnson was one of the most down to earth artists I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. She asked everyone their name, repeating it back to ensure she got it right. She would give them a hug and then start asking them questions while they were getting their picture taken. Class act all the way!

After a longer than expected break to change out equipment, the audience was back up on their feet as founding Midnight Star members Belinda Lipscomb (vocals), Melvin Gentry (guitar/vocals), Bo Watson (keyboard/vocals) and Bill Simmons (keyboards) took the stage with longtime bandmates Kenneth Gant (bass) and Bobby Lovelace (drums).

Pumping out their signature R&B electro-funk sound, they had the crowd singing and cheering to “Electricity,” leading into a brief version of “Headlines,” “Wet My Whistle” and “Midas Touch.”

I thoroughly enjoy bands like Midnight Star that take the time to choreograph their moves for each song. It adds a completely different dynamic to the performance, and it just plain looks good. Obviously the crowd agreed, because as soon as the band started moving in sync with each other, the audience responded with a round of applause.

After ending their set with “Freak-A-Zoid” and “No Parking (On the Dance Floor),” it was obvious the crowd was quite satisfied with the night’s performances by both bands.

Halloween sizzles at Thunder Valley

2011-10-29T00:58:44Z

Thunder Valley Casino and Resort kicked off the Halloween spirit Thursday night with the sexy Lodi native and star of the reality TV show “The Girl Next Door,” Bridget Marquardt. DJ D-wrek from MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” was — you guessed it — the DJ, and Tone Loc made a special guest appearance.

Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino was transformed into a nightclub, complete with semi-private lounge areas, a couple of dance floors, a popular DJ, a well-stocked bar and a few hot babes thrown in for good measure.

Most of the attendees dressed for the occasion. Some wore evening wear, while others wore their favorite Halloween costume. Myself: jeans and t-shirt (just thought you’d want to know).

Marquardt was a Playboy Playmate and one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends, which was the basis for the TV show. Luckily she brought a few of her close friends and playmates along to show off her new line of Halloween costumes called Bridget by Roma.

Marquardt wore her Peacock costume, which she designed with the help of fellow playmate and Hefner girlfriend Holly Madison.

Prior to the show, a number of the “girls” were working the room and taking pictures with audience members, while DJ Dwerk attacked the turntables. There was even a photo booth where people were taking their pictures and having them printed out.

Once the fashion show started, everyone crowded around the runway to take a gander at the new costumes — or should I say the ladies.

Starting off the show was Branae Whitney, a Playboy Live model wearing the Ring Master outfit. I won’t go into all the details of the ensemble other than to say it was red — hot.

There were 11 costumes in all ending with the Fruit Cup worn by Leticia.

Tone Loc took the stage armed with his deep, gravelly voice, a Nike T-shirt, sunglasses and a towel wrapped around his neck. I’m sure a large portion of the crowd was wondering how the rapper was doing in light of recent events.

A couple of weeks ago, Loc collapsed during a performance in Atlanta while singing “Funky Cold Medina.” He had a similar incident at a Pensacola, Fla. concert back in 2009 while singing the same hit.

If I’m not mistaken, Loc didn’t play “Funky Cold Medina” and ended his set with “Wild Thing.”

Loc’s voice has stood the test of time. He sounded just like he did all those years ago, and the audience ate it up. He walked up and down the runway shaking people’s hands while he belted out his hit songs.

He appeared to be in good health and spirits, joking around with the audience and remaining active most of his performance.

Continuing with the Halloween theme, Thunder Valley Casino is hosting a huge Sinners and Saints party on Saturday at 9 p.m. I have it on good authority that the photo booth will be back. Sorry, guys, the playmates won’t be there, but they will have go-go dancers!

Rock Allegiance at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-09-27T02:37:28Z

The Rock Allegiance Tour pulled out all the stops for the last night of their summer tour.

Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion hosted an unforgettable evening of loud riffs and primordial deafening screams. Seven bands were schedule to perform. Drive A, Crossfade, Red, P.O.D. and Puddle of Mud were scheduled to perform, as well as co-headliners Buckcherry and Papa Roach. Puddle of Mud was unable to attend due to an illness. Me be thinking hangover, but what do I know?

This concert was off the charts with people jumping over barriers to get to the bands and the bands jumping over barriers to get to fans. I didn’t know whether I should be watching the bands or the crowd. Both were entertaining, both were over the top and both were screaming at each other. It was a mess!

Out of all the bands, I think Buckcherry had the best performance of them all. While just as crazy as the other bands, they had a modicum of control to the point of sounding like a real band. Not to rip the other bands, but when these guys are screaming into their mics with their guttural growls and flying through the air like Mighty Mouse on crack, it’s hard to hear them because they’re out of breath - or headbanging with someone in the crowd. It was obvious that absolutely nobody agreed with me, since everyone was screaming and singing along with each and every band.

Once Buckcherry took the stage there were a number of people jumping the barriers, only to be rewarded with the ever so gracious security team greeting them and quietly and politely dragging their sorry arse to the curb. Once Buckcherry jumpstarted the crowd into a renewed frenzy, they passed the baton to Papa Roach to finish the night off in style.

Papa Roach hit the stage in full stride and had heads bopping, fans rocking and people jumping off the stage. It was quite an event and all caught on tape, since Papa Roach was filming their part of the show for a new music video. They even had a $100,000+ camera on a boom moving over the crowd to catch all the action.

This really was a night to remember – such a bestial display of pure testosterone all on one stage. As I was heading home listening to the Backstreet Boys I kept wondering what it would be like to fly around like Mighty Mouse on crack, maybe next time.

Vietnamese Autumn Breeze

2011-09-26T07:17:01Z

The Asian invasion was back at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort this weekend with the Vietnamese Autumn Breeze bringing some of the biggest names in Vietnamese entertainment. Most of the show was spoken in Vietnamese, but there was a scattering of English thrown in for good measure.

Due to a pretty cold evening, at least compared to recent nights this week, the audience was somewhat thin. Checking inside, it was obvious that many concertgoers made a last-minute decision to try their luck inside the casino rather than brave the elements outside.

Kicking off the show were the emcees for the evening, Leyna Nguyen and Trinh Hoi. As in past Asian shows I’ve attended, it was fun trying to figure out what was going on. At one point, Nguyen and Hoi were talking in Vietnamese, and Nguyen started saying “chop chop” and using her fingers as scissors. Hoi paled and the audience was on the floor laughing, so you can only imagine what they were talking about. Once I realized what they were talking about, I think I went pale too.

The first artists out of the gate were singing duo Truc Linh and Truc Lam. They brought along with them a small dance troop. The audience was pretty non-responsive through their set, as they were for most of the evening, until the later acts. Linh and Lam are sisters in their mid- to late-20s and got their start in 1992, when they performed for the first time in public for a television program in Saigon.

They sang two songs, “Xin Cho Anh Yeu” and “Bang Bang.”

Huong Thuy, a singer from southern Vietnam known for Ca dao and Cai Luong singing, was up next. Thuy appears frequently on the long-running Vietnamese diaspora variety show, “Paris by Night.”

Thuy sang “Ben Song Cho” and “Hop Mat Lan Cuoi.” The audience was a little more upbeat when she first came out but quickly settled down.

Vu Khanh, one of the crooners of the night, came out singing “Yeu.” As he started his second song, Y Lan joined him and they sang “Chieu” and “Tram Nho Ngan Thuong.” This was met with quite a bit of applause.

Lan finished off with a solo of “What’s Up,” which she sang in English. She did an awesome job, hitting the high notes spot on. This got a partial standing ovation – remember most of these people were freezing.

My favorite act of the night was Tuan Anh. She – scratch that – He came out making a couple of jokes. I have no idea what he was saying, but I was on the floor laughing. This guy is just plain funny with his mannerisms, accents and, of course, his style – very comical, but once he started singing, it’s obvious he’s a singer first, comedian second. He sang “Em Lat Tat Ca” and “I Who Have Nothing.”

Trieu Minh hopped on stage and sang “Chi La Di Vang” and “Tinh Yeu Khong Quat Ve.” She sounded great, and at one point she had the dance crew join her onstage.

Bang Kieu was up next singing “Chuyen Tinh Yeu” and “Nang Hoi.” He was a mix between crooner and pop.

Comedian duo Bao Liem and Bao Vy came out to a cool reception, but by the middle of their set they had the audience laughing. It’s at this point I wish I knew what the two were going on about, since I started laughing without knowing why.

The second crooner of the evening was heart throb Quang Dung – yes, I said dung. Stop laughing! It’s the guy’s name! So, Dung came out singing “Vi Ngot Doi Moi” and “Vet Thu Tren Lung Nguoi Hoang.” I heard many of the women screaming. I’m thinking they must have sat on a cold chair or something.

Headlining the evening’s event was Toc Tien. This young lady wanted to be a doctor as she was growing up and still aspires to do so, but her singing career has temporarily sidetracked her. She has a wonderfully soulful sound and definitely got the crowd going. She was the only performer of the evening who really got the entire crowd cheering. She is an awesome performer and earned the right to headline such an event.

As I’ve said before, although I don’t speak Vietnamese, it was interesting to attend a concert where you can’t understand the language. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what language you speak when listening to music. It’s what moves you that counts.

Girls' Night Out at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-09-26T06:53:46Z

Local radio station V101.1 hosted the Freestyle Explosion at Power Balance Pavilion, with radio personality Dr. Don Sainte-Johnn as the emcee and Expose headlining. Giving Expose top billing was a brilliant idea, since they are credited for bringing the freestyle genre of music to the forefront back in the ’80s.

The Freestyle Explosion revisits the freestyle sound that was popular in the late ’80s and early ’90s, an underground mixture of Latin hip-hop, electronic supplementation and the occasional house grooves. Despite their brief stint in the spotlight, the artists who brought freestyle music to the masses have been immortalized on the club circuit, with a die-hard fan base throughout Europe and in most major cities in the United States.

Friday night was definitely girls’ night out, as hundreds of women packed into Power Balance Pavilion, with a few guys dragged along, to see Expose, Lisa Lisa, Shannon, Debbie Deb and Cynthia. And there was some eye-candy thrown in for the ladies, like Johnny O, and Nice & Wild.

First up was David Torres, one of the three original members of Nice & Wild. He opened with “Diamond Girl,” gyrating across the stage, much to the delight of all the women. I’m not so sure the guys were happy with the opening, but, hey, they could have grown a pair and stayed home. I found his vocals flat, but he put on a good show.

Next up was Cynthia singing a medley of her hits, including “Change on Me” and “Gonna Get Over You.” She was less energetic than the others, but she made up for it with her stellar vocals.

Following Cynthia was Johnny O singing a medley of his hits, which included “Fantasy Girl.” He was joined by Cynthia, and together they performed a great rendition of “Dream Boy/Dream Girl.” Johnny O was very energetic, eliciting screams from all the women and a few men — but I’m sure you’ll never hear them admit it.

Debbie Deb came out with three ladies from the audience. She only introduced them as her backup dancers, without mentioning anyone by name. She sang two of her hits, “Lookout Weekend” and “When I Hear Music.” She sounded great.

The Cover Girls, consisting of Evelyn Escalera, Lorrain Munoz and Sabrina Nieves, came out singing “Wishing on a Star” and a number of other hits, ending with “Inside Outside.” They did a great job and had some old-school choreography going, which I think is just classy.

Shannon came out and sang several of her hits, closing with “When I Hear Music.” Prior to taking the stage, several enlisted soldiers were introduced to the crowd. Shannon and Debbie Deb had performed in Iraq, where she met Specialist Gonzalez, Sargent Gray and Specialist Bradford.

I spoke to Bradford prior to the show, as he was sipping his cocktail – compliments of Shannon. Hailing from the 49th Military Police Brigade, Bradford first met Shannon at Camp Liberty. He said Shannon committed to the troops during her visit in Iraq, and that they were welcome at any show, wherever she was playing. As she tours across the country, her tour manager has been keeping in touch via Facebook and phone, letting troops know her schedule and arranging VIP passes. All three soldiers wanted to be sure I mentioned how thankful they were to Shannon for giving them the opportunity.

Shannon danced with the soldiers during her performance. Having two left feet, as I do, Bradford struggled with his moves, but he gave it a valiant effort. Both Gonzalez and Gray were having a great time, getting down with Shannon.

After a brief intermission, the concert really took off with Lisa Lisa jumping up on stage. She played a number of hits, including “Can You Feel the Beat,” “Lost in Emotion” and “Kiss Your Tears Away.” She had the audience up on their feet the entire set. She sounded great, while her two male dancers rocked the stage. She looked like she was having a great time, showing us her infectious smile. From my perspective, Lisa Lisa should have been headlining, but I get it.

Finally Expose arrived singing “Seasons Change.” They sounded good and had a well-choreographed routine going. They sang several hits, ending with “Point of No Return.” While they did a fantastic job entertaining the crowd, I believe Lisa Lisa stole the show. By the time they were finished, many people had already started leaving. This may have been due to the concert going well past 11:30 p.m.

It was fun watching young and old enjoy a bit of old-school music. I didn’t mind either. Let’s face it — there was a bit of eye-candy there for the guys, too.

Lynyrd Skynyrd at Thunder Valley Casyno

2011-09-24T01:05:21Z

Lynyrd Skynyrd arrived with both barrels blazing promoting their latest album, “God and Guns,” in their Florida’s Finest tour at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Thursday night. The band entertained and delighted a full house of die-hard Skynyrd fans – a.k.a. the Skynyrd Nation.

It was obvious that their music is enjoyed by a number of generations, as I watched young and old stand up and cheer. Crowds of non-ticket holders gathered in the parking lot area and on the sidewalks outside the amphitheater.

When they took the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers, with the band kicking it off with “Working for MCA.” As they were leading into “I Ain’t the One,” lead singer Johnny Van Zant said hello to the crowd and thanked everyone for being there.

The audience never sat down the entire concert, even through the slower medleys, such as “That Smell.” The band sounded great and had a solid stage presence, keeping the audience engaged throughout the evening.

Guitarist Rickey Medlocke was tossing out guitar picks to the audience and I thought to myself, how does he know they need a guitar pick, let alone that they play guitar? But it didn’t matter. They were gobbled up before they even had a chance to hit the ground.

They dedicated “Simple Man” to our troops as a huge backdrop fell into place showing the U.S. flag and emblems of the various armed services. It was a touching moment, with the crowd going quiet but remaining standing.

Toward the end of the concert, Van Zant waved an Alabama state flag attached to a microphone stand. He was encouraging the audience to scream “Alabama!” to prepare for their next song, “Sweet Home Alabama.” As soon as they started up the song, they were met with the wildest and loudest cheers of the show.

For their encore the band came out with Van Zant taunting the crowd.

“You know what you want to hear,” he said.

“Free Bird!”

“In the words of my brother Ronnie Van Zant, what is it you want to hear?”

“Free Bird!” And with that last request, they started up the song.

KC and The Sunshine on Thunder Valley

2011-09-20T03:12:31Z

Singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Harry Wayne “K.C.” Casey brought disco back, for at least one night, as KC and the Sunshine Band took over Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Sunday night. Creating a theatrical display of dance moves that he created back in the 70’s along with four stunning young ladies, KC had the audience putting on their boogie shoes - all under one huge disco ball.

But first, starting off the evening was the venerable Con Funk Shun, an R&B group made up of five frontmen and four band members. The band got their start out of Vallejo, Calif. back in the 70’s, churning out hits through the 80’s. They are responsible for a number of hits including "Chase Me," "Got To Be Enough" and "Electric Lady."

The frontmen, comprised of Michael Cooper, Karl Fuller, Felton Pilate, Paul "Maceo" Harrell and Danny "Sweet Man" Thomas, came out dressed in blue blazers and white pants. Immediately they jumped into a well-choreographed routine that had some audience members cheering. They looked classy performing in lockstep while holding their instruments.

That might not have come out right, but you get the idea.

It was obvious many of the audience members had not heard of Con Funk Shun, but they quickly became fans after the first couple of songs. With their six-part vocal harmonies, horns and more, they blasted out a whole lot of funk, some dance party grooves and a dash of romantic ballads, all to a very receptive audience.

Their set appeared to run long when the announcer jumped in.

“Let’s give it up one more time for Con Funk Shun.”

The band kicked it into another two songs; it was obvious they were up there having a good time and didn’t want it to stop.

During intermission I had a chance to talk to three individuals who I will affectionately refer to as the three stooges. Sporting afros, fake moustaches, headbands and other accoutrements, these guys had a following of their own.

They would only give me their stage names of Stefan, Jethro and Samson. I asked Samson what gives with the outfits.

“We’re f**king fans, baby. It’s disco and that’s why we go man.”

Women were having their picture taken with them almost the entire concert. They were very entertaining.

An instrumental introduction began and the crowd started cheering as, one at a time, each band member slowly took the stage, walked to the front, stopped for a beat or two, and then took their place on stage. This made for a very dramatic entrance. You could feel the tension build in the crowd as they anxiously waited for KC to make his way on stage.

Will he enter on the right, or the left?

People were looking back and forth trying to figure out where he would pop out.

Prior to KC arriving, the Sunshine Girls grooved to the beginning of “Shake Your Booty.” KC finally emerged (from the right) and went straight to the keyboard and started pounding away and doing what he does best – entertain.

A couple of verses into his first song, KC blasted from the keyboard, dancing with the ladies from one side of the stage to the other. As he started into his second song, “Boogie Shoes,” he sounded somewhat out of breath and was breaking out in quite a sweat.

At the end of his second song, KC acknowledge his weight gain and how much older he was. The catch phrase for the night was “What the hell happened?” in reference to how much time had elapsed since he started over 39 years ago.

He also tried to educate all the younger people in the audience as to who he was.

“For you young people, you’re probably wondering who I am. I was your mother’s *NSYNC.”

Going on, he warned them that this is what Justin Timberlake will look like in thirty years.

“I should change the name to KFC and The Sunshine Band,” said KC, referring to his weight.

He said he wanted to play a few slow songs next, but promised that the remainder of the show would remain upbeat. He went on to play a number of slow songs including, “Yes, I’m Ready,” “Let’s Just Kiss & Say Goodbye” and “Please Don’t Go,” before picking up the tempo with “I’m Your Boogie Man.”

At 60 years old, KC has been in the entertainment industry a long time and knows how to put on a great show. While his vocals are nowhere near what they used to be, he makes up for it by sheer energy, musicianship and by surrounding himself with some of the best talent in the industry – the lights aren’t bad either.

Ramon Ayala at Thunder Valley

2011-09-20T02:53:33Z

The “King of the Accordion” and four-time Grammy winner Ramon Ayala played to norteño and tejano fans from both sides of the border, with most fans singing along to every song. A mostly older crowd jammed into Thunder Valley Casino and Resort to watch their old favorite perform. There were a few younger fans peppered throughout, enjoying the music just as much as their elders.

Ayala arrived on stage with his trademark green, white and red accordion. The crowd erupted in cheers and several individuals made their way up to the stage to pay tribute to the man.

Ayala was joined on stage by his band, known as Bravos del Norte. Band members were Mario Marichalar (bajo sexton and vocals), Fidencio Ayala (bass), Jose Luis Ayala (drums and vocals), David Laure (percussion) and Raul Rosales (emcee and percussion).

Ayala played a number of his hits including “Mi Piquito de Oro,” a Latin version of "Cotton Fields," and “Un Puño de Tierra,” which had the entire audience on their feet.

I’m used to seeing Thunder Valley Casino’s outdoor stage packed with instruments, amps and gear of all shapes and sizes, but when I looked at the stage there was a set of drums, congas and some microphones. I thought for sure they hadn’t finished setting up. The band performs with a minimum amount of gear which consists of a set of drums, congas, two accordions, bajo sexto and a bass.

It was fun watching the crowd react to each and every song. You could see couples looking into each other’s eyes. I’m sure some were remembering when they first met, others their first kiss, all to the music they were listening to at the time. Some songs had people swaying in their seats, while others brought them to their feet. It was obvious they knew each and every song.

Ramon Ayala has been singing, composing and playing his accordion for over 45 years. He has recorded over 100 albums and has been featured in thirteen movies. He is considered a legend of norteño music and is one of the most recognized and bestselling artists of the genre.

The Human League

2011-09-09T00:47:43Z

The Human League teamed up with Men Without Hats at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Wednesday night, playing to a less than packed house.

Both groups are synthpop bands who got their start in the early ’80s. The Human League has had a number of hit songs since and in March of this year released their 10th album, “Credo,” 30 years after their first album.

Men Without Hats kicked off the evening playing a number of their hit songs, including "Moonbeam," "Pop Goes the World" and "The Safety Dance."

The only original band member, Ivan Doroschuk, came out donning a cowboy hat. He was bathed in red or blue light almost the entire time on stage. Doroschuk was very energetic, dancing back and forth across the stage, waving his arms in the air and looking like he was having a good time.

The music was loud, making it difficult to hear Doroschuk sing. I don’t believe he sounded that great, but that may have been because he was being drowned out by his own music. I was really disappointed, and it seemed the audience agreed. Only a handful of people were up on their feet until the last song “The Safety Dance,” when everyone got moving.

I should have known the moment Doroschuk came on stage with a hat that this wasn’t going to be good. Let’s face it, Men Without Hats means men without hats. I kept looking for “America’s Got Talent”’s Piers Morgan in hopes that he could buzz them and be done with it. These guys were more reminiscent of a bad ’70s band than an ’80s revival band.

Once The Human League took the stage, it all changed. These guys put on a great theatrical production, complete with a video backdrop with the drummer playing front and center of the screen. The video splashing all over the drummer made for a great look.

Founding member and lead singer Philip Oakey was dressed in black with a black hood for the first song, “Never Let Me Go.” Oakey started by walking slowly into the spot light singing the chorus, “Go/ go/ go,” and then fading back, out of the light, until the next chorus. The whole time band mainstays Susan Anne Sulley and Joanne Catherall were singing and dancing in unison on both ends of the stage.

The Human League has evolved over the years but remains true to their unique electronic pop sound with smooth vocals overlaying synthesizers and digital keyboards.

They had the attention of the audience from the moment they stepped out on stage. They had several wardrobe changes, various videos playing in the background and good, solid vocals. All the band members were high energy, including Nic Burke, who was jumping from keyboards to guitars and back again.

I would highly recommend checking The Human League out the next time they are in town. They put on a great theatrical production and have a number of hits spanning several decades to enjoy.

Lost in the 80's at Thunder Valley

2011-08-29T02:04:44Z

Friday night was quite the ride down memory lane for everyone who listened to the radio back in the ’80s. The Fixx, Wang Chung and Naked Eyes all played to a packed Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.

You could say this was a British invasion of sorts, since all three bands hail from England. They were a smashing success in the ’80s, all with No. 1 hits. It was quite an impressive lineup, with only one concern: What time will I get home? There’s a whole lotta hits to be played from each band.

Naked Eyes, best known for their first single, “Always Something There to Remind Me," kicked off the evening with “Voices in My Head.” The band’s original members were Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards. Fisher died in 1999, so Byrne is touring with three new members.

During his set he kept telling the audience that it was OK to get up, dance and have a good time. The audience was slow to respond. However, by the end of the set he had a few people on their feet dancing, but only a small fraction of the audience.

Byrne had a good stage presence and was very energetic, but the lack of vocals on some songs hurt his performance. He sounded great on some of his older hits but not so good on others, as he seemed to struggle on the higher notes.

Wang Chung followed with a number of their hits, including “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” Original band members Jack Hues (vocals, guitar) and Nick Feldman (bass, guitar) were simply awesome. Hues worked up the crowd with his theatrics and excellent vocals, while Feldman did it with pure energy and total absorption in his performance.

The amazing story here is how awesome the band sounded, despite only rehearsing together for one day. I spoke to young keyboardist Dave Appelbaum, and, needless to say, he was quite ecstatic about being able to play a couple of gigs with the talented Wang Chung.

Appelbaum explained his involvement with the band, that it was one of those friend-of-a-friend-type of scenarios, and, before he knew it, he was hooked up with the band along with the drummer who happened to be in the same circle of friends. On Saturday they headed to Fresno to play another gig with the band, and they hope to hook up with them at future concerts.

Each of the “newbies” were armed with MacBooks and referencing their sheet music often. Regardless, they appeared to be playing effortlessly, as if they had been playing the songs for years. Appelbaum looked totally immersed in the moment, pounding on the keyboard and just plain rocking it.

Wang Chung had the crowd worked up in a sweat. Most of the seats were empty, with people filling the aisles dancing. They didn’t sound just like they did when they were younger, but they still sounded awesome with Hues’ deeper, more mature vocals taking center stage. They played “Rent,” a new song off their latest CD, “Abducted by the ’80s.” The song is a very ’80s reminiscent, catchy tune with Feldman throwing a bit of Prince-like vocals into the mix.

With such an exceptional set by Wang Chung, I started to wonder how The Fixx was going to be able to follow such a performance. I didn’t have to wonder long. Front man Cy Curnin was just as animated, if not more so, than Hues. As Curnin sang, his hands were always on the move, telling their own story.

The Fixx stills tours with all its original members: Curnin, keyboardist Rupert Greenall, guitarist Jamie West-Oram, drummer Adam Woods and bassist Dan K. Brown. The band’s dynamic style and high energy immediately created a connection with the audience, bringing the majority of people to their feet. By night’s end there wasn’t a single person sitting.

It was a fun night for all. Pano Hall started out full, but by the end of the night, about a third of the audience had left. I’m sure that was because the concert went past 11 p.m.

Mr. Fluffy puffs up Thunder Valley

2011-08-22T02:20:53Z

The one and only Gabriel Iglesias, better known as Mr. Fluffy, performed at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort on Saturday night, entertaining well over 3,500 people with his hilarious mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects. I say well over 3,500 judging by the overflow in the parking lot next to Thunder Valley’s outdoor amphitheater.

Just prior to his performance, Iglesias had over 10 chocolate cakes delivered by fans to his dressing room. He said he performed a routine around seven years ago about a chocolate cake, and to this day fans are still delivering cakes to his performances. The record is 27 cakes at one event. Why do people bring him cakes from a joke made seven years ago? Iglesias said it’s all because of reruns.

As Iglesias took the stage, he told the crowd he was checking his tweets. He found out there was an 11-year-old with his family in the parking lot listening to his show. He apologized in advance for any foul language he may use. For the most part, it was a refreshingly good, clean show with very few offensive words. The four opening acts were Martin Moreno, Alfred Robles, Rick Gutierrez and Noe Gonzalez, and they were a bit more offensive.

The audience thoroughly enjoyed Iglesias’ ability to joke about the local area, including taking jabs at competing casino Cache Creek and joking about Chipotle in downtown Sacramento, where he ate earlier in the day.

This was a fun show with new material that Iglesias is trying out for an upcoming DVD. Even though the audience was falling on the floor laughing, some audience members were chanting for some of his older material. Being the gracious man he is, he did one more new routine and ended the evening with several routines from the past, starting with his Krispy Kreme joke, which had the audience cheering. When he did the Volkswagen routine, the audience started telling the joke in unison with Iglesias.

Normally the bars are hopping, but the audience was completely caught up in Iglesias’ routine and remained in their seats the entire show. As he ended the evening, he was sure to tell the audience that he’s a gambling man and will be in the casino later on. He wanted to make sure that if anyone saw him gambling that he would be honored to have them come up say hi and take a picture with him.

I had a chance to talk to Iglesias prior to the show – my opportunity to ask Mr. Fluffy himself a hard-hitting journalistic type question.
“So what do you think about your new Xbox with Kinect?” Pretty lame question, but he loved it. He has the Zumba dancing game, and he’s been burning up some major calories. He did jokingly say that he was not about to go live with it.

Iglesias was in the fourth season of “Last Comic Standing” and won Comedy Central & Comcast Cable's Comedy Special of the year in 2003. In 2004 and 2005 he was voted into the Top 25 of Comedy Central's “Standup Showdown.”
He also has a brand new series on Comedy Central starting on Oct. 6th called “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution.” The show will feature stand-up routines from Iglesias and other comedians.

Toad had Harlow's Hopping

2011-08-20T01:26:28Z

Years ago when our kids were young, my wife would set their alarm to play Toad the Wet Sprocket’s CD “Fear.” Every morning I was treated to the song “Walk on the Ocean.” Some mornings I would hear just the beginning chorus, and other mornings I’d hear the entire CD. Those were the bad days – not to say the music was bad, but the kids just wouldn’t get their butts out of bed.

Well, the kids are all grown up now and in their 20s. Don’t ask me for their exact age. I’m not wired that way. So it was quite a delight to take a couple of them over to Harlow’s in Sacramento to see Toad the Wet Sprocket on Thursday. Seeing the two of them watching the band that started their day, every day as kids, brought a tear to my eye. I can still hear the CD going off in the morning as if it was just this morning – wait a second, it was this morning – they still live at home! I cried a lot that night.

The evening started out with Garrison Starr, a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles. She did a great job warming up most of the crowd, but there was a lot of chatter going on while she performed. She didn’t appreciate the fact that so many people weren’t paying attention and took several jabs at the audience.

After a brief set change, Toad the Wet Sprocket took the stage with barefoot lead singer Glenn Phillips belting out “Something’s Always Wrong.” This caused the standing-room-only crowd to shout and cheer.

Phillips made his political views clear between songs, describing the Tea Party as an accident between two buses. The first bus was full of libertarians, the second full of Tea Partiers. The resulting crash combined the worst elements of both.

“Great, now I’m going to get my ass kicked after the show,” Phillips said after several more Tea Party jokes.

“Finally Fading” was a tune Phillips wrote during the band’s 14-plus-year hiatus. It was nice to see him perform it with the original members, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning and drummer Randy Guss.

Recently Toad re-recorded their original songs, allowing them to distribute and publish their own work, since rights to their original recordings are held by Columbia Records. This has helped them stay true to their original sound. Phillips, despite throat surgery early in his career, sounds exactly like he did at the beginning of his career, over 25 years ago. He doesn’t look like he has aged much since then, either.

Toad is scheduled to release their first new studio album since 1997’s “Coil” sometime next year. They played several songs that are slated to be on the new album. The audience enjoyed the newer music, but it was a completely different atmosphere when they started playing music that the audience was familiar with.

Toad ended the concert with “Walk on the Ocean.” That’s when I woke up. Realizing I must have been dreaming, I reached over to turn off the alarm clock and the music stopped. Once out of bed, I headed to the bathroom and yelled to see if Mom had breakfast ready yet. Ahhh, life is good – waking up to Toad and having a nice hot meal waiting for me. Why leave?

DISCLAIMER: I don’t live with Mom. Yes, I did once. OK, maybe more than once, but I don’t live with her now. I do live with my lovely wife Ruth and too many kids.

The Tubes

2011-08-01T02:48:55Z

The Tubes, one of the most theatrical new wave rock bands of the ’80s, brought their sometimes offensive and oftentimes outrageous show to Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Friday. They are best known for their onstage presence and hits like “She’s a Beauty,” “Talk to Ya Later” and “The Monkey Time.”

In an extravagant mix of theater, rock and social criticism, Tubes lead singer Fee Waybill started the show with “Haloes,” followed by a rant about the sad state of the economy and how Boehner was going to “f*** us some more.” Almost every other word from him was f*** or b****.

There were those in the audience who loved the show and others who seemed to want to bolt out of the room. However, Waybill’s stage presence kept everyone glued to their seats for most of the concert.

Waybill got off to a rocky start, sounding off key, and I was ready to suggest he retire. However, his second song, “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World,” originally recorded by James Brown, left me wondering why he didn’t kick off the show with this song. He did a superb job, with a nice raspy blues sound. I thought this was one of the better songs of the evening.

He lost some of the audience due to his crude language and outrageous outfits. I know last week I said Pat Monahan of Train was in competition with Lady Gaga for multiple costumes changes, but scratch that. Waybill changed multiple times in a makeshift dressing room off to the side of the stage, arriving back on stage in some normal and not-so-normal outfits.

At one point he showed up in a Roman-style costume with barely any coverage in the lower extremities – front or back. Sadly, the front row was in the worst position of all, when at the end of the song Waybill turned to face the band and bowed in thanks, leaving the front row speechless, – or should I say sightless.

I thought Waybill was hit or miss for most of the concert, falling short on some songs and kicking it up a notch on others. I found his monologues mostly offensive due to his absurd views of women. He was also losing some of the audience, but that all quickly changed when he came out singing “White Punks on Dope” dressed as Quay Lewd, aptly named after the drug Quaalude.

As soon as Quay Lewd hit the stage, the crowd went wild, shouting back the chorus line, “white punks on dope,” and pointing back to Waybill. At this point, most people in the audience were on their feet, hands in the air, and moving to the beat.

“White Punks on Dope” has historically been their last song at concerts, so when the band left the stage, some audience members began filing out the door. Those who remained were treated to an encore that totally kicked the crowd into full gear.

Ending with “She’s a Beauty” and “Talk to Ya Later,” Waybill showed up in a costume reminiscent of a carnival hawker. The last two songs had the crowd gathered at the front of the stage dancing and shouting. At the end of the set, the entire band made their way to the front of the stage, where they shook people’s hands and thanked them for being there.

Thunder Valley Sets Off Dyno-mite!

2011-07-09T02:32:01Z

I was heading out to the Super ’70s Soul Jam at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Thursday night, so I donned my rose-colored glasses, bell bottoms and platform shoes.

I packed snacks like Big Hunk, Bottle Caps and Screaming Yellow Zongers before leaving. I knew I would get the munchies since I’m such a burnout and can’t leave home without a joint or three (hey, I have a prescription). I was just hoping I could maintain with all that groovy music playing. The last thing I needed was for some narc to rat me out. As for the concert, it was far out, man, and, I should add, dyno-mite!

Right on. I get it. Not everyone can be as hip as the hipsters from the ’70s, but last night at Thunder Valley everyone was hip and just hanging out with the likes of the Dramatics, the Stylistics, the Delfonics, Heatwave, Carl Carlton and the emcee for the evening, Jimmy JJ Walker. The audience was grooving in their seats and boogieing in the aisles. I think there were a lot of sick people at the concert, since many of the people in the bleachers had the same prescription as me.

To start the night off, Walker took the stage. Most people remember Walker from his role on “Good Times” as James Evans Junior, or JJ. In fact, Walker coined the term “dyno-mite,” which became slang for great or fantastic.

Walker started right off with black people versus white people and didn’t let up throughout the evening. He attacked the criminal justice system and how black people are convicted and sent to prison while white people such as Casey Anthony and Lindsay Lohan walk. During a brief break, he told the black people to be back in three minutes, but white people to be back in 10. It was all in good fun and the audience loved it.

Carl Carlton was next on stage, singing two of his most recognizable songs, “Everlasting Love” and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.” Right away people were up dancing in the aisles and having a great time. Carlton complained about the heat, hoping the sun would have gone down by the time he started, but they got an early start at 7:30, so no such luck.

Following Carlton was Heatwave with original lead singer Keith Wilder. They performed a number of their hits, including “Boogie Nights” and “Always and Forever.” When “Always and Forever” started, more couples jumped up to dance, including Lonnie and Brenda Prudhomme (see photo). I think Lonnie was a reluctant participant, but that’s just my opinion.

Next up was the Delfonics with founding member Wilbert Hart and longtime member Garfield Fleming. After all these years, they still sounded the same singing their hits “La-La (Means I Love You),” “Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” and “Break Your Promise.”

When the Dramatics took the stage with original band member L.J. Reynolds, they got off to a rocky start. Not all of their songs sounded quite right, but they did hit their stride with “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” and “My Girl.”

Headlining the show was the Stylistics with original band members Herbert Murrell and Airrion Love. They performed many of their hits, including “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” “I'm Stone in Love with You,” “Break Up to Make Up” and a medley of all their hits, ending the show with “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”

By the end of the show, the crowd had diminished somewhat due to the late hour, but those who remained were still up and dancing all the way to the last song. Everyone had a great time and just got lost in the moment, remembering years gone by.

The summer concert series at Thunder Valley Casino is in full swing. The complete entertainment schedule is available on their website.

Randy Miramontez is a contributing writer and photographer with The Sacramento Press.

Chinese Concert Series at Thunder Valley

2011-06-27T02:41:33Z

A Chinese invasion of sorts took place on Saturday in Lincoln, where Thunder Valley Casino hosted a Chinese concert series starring some of the biggest names in Chinese entertainment.

The stars of the show were Dragon Li, Michelle Kim and Niki Chow. All were well received by the mostly — scratch that — all Asian crowd. That was a good thing since the concert was mostly in Chinese, with only a couple of songs with English interspersed.

At one point I could swear they were talking about me. I usually only get paranoid after taking illicit drugs or riding in an elevator with people talking in a language I don’t understand. Oh well, next time I’ll have to bring a Chinese-to-English translator. Wait, isn’t there an app for that?

The audience loved the show, which was a combination of singing and chatting with the audience. Both Chow and Li started up conversations with audience members while keeping their fans laughing. Several fans ended up on stage dancing and singing. No translator required.

Although I don’t speak Chinese it was easy to follow what was happening both onstage and off. While the stars of the show were speaking in Chinese it was obvious to me when they were telling a joke versus telling a story, or setting up a song. Their body language spoke volumes and once a song began you couldn’t help but sit back and enjoy the music.

It was obvious from the start that Dragon Li was the seasoned veteran. He bantered back and forth with the audience in between songs and was quite comfortable onstage as were both Yim and Chow. He seemed to enjoy the audience participation more than his fellow artists.
Li, an actor and singer, got his start in Hong Kong in the late 1980s when he entered a singing contest, Sing Bao Ji Yei. There he was discovered by a talent manager and later signed with EMI Records. He recorded a number of television and movie theme songs, including “Superstar (Gui Sing),” “Brave (Nan Ji Han)” and “Confused (Ching Mi).” Li also starred in the television series “Journey to the West (Si You Gei).”

Michelle Yim, also known by her Chinese stage name Mai Suet, is a Hong Kong actress. In 1975, Yim joined Commercial Television, and in 1976, Yim acted in “Legend of the Condor Heroes,” a Wuxia TV series adaptation of Louis Cha's novel of the same title. In 1978, Yim started working with Television Broadcasts (TVB) and guest-starred in one of the period dramas, “The Twins,” which later became one of her best works. Her most recent work won her the award for best drama performance by an actress for her role in “Moonlight Resonance” at the Asian Television Awards.

Niki Chow is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop (Hong Kong popular music) singer. Until recently she was under contract with BMA Records, but she terminated the contract to pursue a new contract with TVB. She has appeared in several movies and television series, including “Hard Fate” and “The Gentle Crackdown.” She won the most improved actress award at the TVB Anniversary Awards in 2005 for her performance in “The Gentle Crackdown.” She has also authored several books and is scheduled to begin filming an Ancient Series [Is this the title? If so, it should be in quotes.] for TVB beginning in July.

The summer concert series at Thunder Valley Casino has just started and tickets are selling fast. The complete entertainment schedule is available on their website.

Randy Miramontez is a contributing writer and photographer with The Sacramento Press.

Paul Rodriguez

2011-05-07T01:27:03Z

The legendary Paul Rodriguez celebrated Cinco de Mayo Thursday night in style at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort, playing to a sold out crowd. Joining Rodriguez on stage was Gene Pompa and Dennis Gaxiola, both accomplished comedians in their own right.

Pompa opened the evening and really got the crowd excited. He says he is an old-school, hardcore political activist. For instance, he still won't eat grapes because of the plight of the migrant farm workers. He also won't eat raisins because of the older migrant farm workers. That's how hardcore he is. He also won't eat prunes, but that's for a completely different reason.

Next up was Gaxiola. He really got the ball rolling with his impressions of various marriage proposals. First up was the Mexican proposal: “You gonna keep it?” Then came the African-American proposal: “As the judge in this case, I find the DNA evidence is a match and you are the father.” The cowboy: “Please, don’t tell Mom,” which really got the crowd roaring.

Pompa came back out on stage to introduce Rodriguez. Rodriguez started off by saying it was nice to be back from the Middle East and then simply stated, “We got him,” and that was all it took. Everyone in the crowd knew he was referring to Osama and the audience erupted into cheers. For the past several years, Rodriguez has been working with the USO to help entertain our troops in the Middle East. This last trip was his sixth journey overseas.

With his classic style of comedy, mixing Spanish and English, Rodriguez’s performance was exactly what the audience was looking for. There were a couple of times when it appeared Rodriguez was through for the evening, only to then think of something else to talk about. Then it would be off on another litany of jokes and one-liners leaving no nationality or religion untouched.

Rodriguez took aim at Germans, Italians, Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans (the Mexicans of Japan), and even Mexicans. He also berated the various religions, in particular Catholic priests — I’ll just leave that one alone.

Rodriguez is considered one of the first Latin Kings of Comedy. As an actor and comedian, his career spans over two decades and includes starring roles and featured appearances in over 40 films and countless television series and comedy specials.

Make sure and get out to Thunder Valley Casino’s summer concert series, which kicks off this month with Creedence Clearwater Revisited on May 21, followed by The Fray on May 25.

Randy Miramontez is a contributing writer and photographer with The Sacramento Press.

Bo Bice - B stands for Alabama

2011-04-11T03:02:05Z

Bo Bice, B is for Alabama!

While the latest round of “American Idol” contestants continue battling it out for the top spot, “Idol” alumni Bo Bice played to a full house in Thunder Valley Casino’s Pano Hall Friday evening. The crowd was a wide range of young and old.

For those non-“American Idol” fans, Bice was runner-up in season four, coming second to none other than Carrie Underwood. Being a proud Alabaman, Bice adopted Lynyrd Skynyrd’s hit “Sweet Home Alabama” as his theme during his “Idol” journey. Alabama Governor Bob Riley even declared May 24 Bo Bice Day.

Bice hit the stage with “Keep on Rollin.’” He continued with two more upbeat songs until he got to “Country,” which was a slower medley of various hit songs that influenced him during his earlier years. He played several songs from his latest album, “3,” including “Long Road Back” and “Take Yourself with You,” which is dedicated to his mother. The crowd loved it start to finish and even gave him several standing ovations throughout his performance.

Bice has a great stage presence and never stopped moving, pointing and winking at people and making regular eye contact (an “American Idol” trademark). The only exception was those poor people in the front row. The way he was throwing the mic stand around was a little scary, and they were ducking for cover. OK, maybe not literally, but I bet they were thinking about it!

Bice thanked Thunder Valley several times and mentioned how impressed he was with their lighting system.

Just prior to performing “Sweet Home Alabama,” Bice left the stage to grab a custom guitar with an interesting local story. While visiting local radio station KNCI 105.1 FM last year, he admired another guitar which was custom-made by Woodshop Rocks for country music artist Brad Paisley. The bass guitar was an actual bass guitar, as in the fish variety. Way cool!

Turns out, Woodshop Rocks is a program at Roseville’s Buljan Middle School designed to teach seventh to 12th grade students the value of hard work, one guitar at a time. With woodshop programs getting cut all over the country, it’s refreshing to see a program like this survive, especially one that challenges students in an area that interests and motivates them. Not only do the students learn about woodworking, but math, science and, most importantly, life skills.

Bice contacted program leader Duane Calkins, and soon after student Brittany Brazil began helping design Bice’s brand-spanking-new guitar in the shape of — you guessed it — Alabama. The design includes the images of a number of Alabama music legends, plus the opening notes to “Sweet Home Alabama” on the neck. You really need to check out Brazil’s work.

Earlier that day, Bice had visited Buljan Middle School to pick up his new guitar and treat the students to a performance of “Sweet Home Alabama.” He ended the story by introducing Calkins and Brazil, asking them to join him onstage and letting them know they would be performing “Sweet Home Alabama” with him onstage.

I spoke to Calkins after the show, and he was under the impression nobody could hear him. Oh how wrong you were, Duane. We heard you and Brazil loud and clear! It sounded great, too. The audience loved it, and it was the best part of the performance.

If you haven’t been out to Thunder Valley to take in a concert, you really should think about treating yourself. Next month they kick off their summer series with Credence Clearwater Revisited on May 21, followed by The Fray on May 25.

Set list in the order performed:

• Keep on Rollin’
• Vehicle
• Long Road Back
• Country
• Different Shades of Blue
• Whipping Post
• Who Knows What
• Take Yourself with You
• Get on and Ride
• The Real Thing
• Witness
• Sweet Home Alabama
• Whiskey

Randy Miramontez is a contributing writer and photographer with The Sacramento Press.

Pat Boone

2011-03-29T01:44:18Z

The legendary Pat Boone performed to a sold out crowd Sunday night in Thunder Valley Casino’s Pano Hall. Pat Boone is a singer, songwriter and actor, but that is not all. He also claims to be the great, great, great, great (yes, that’s four greats) grandson of the famous American explorer and adventurer Daniel Boone.

Pat Boone sold millions of records during his career, and was even the second most popular singer of the late 50’s. He was second to, you guessed it, Elvis Presley. In fact, right before hitting it big, Elvis opened for one of Boone’s concerts. You may also have heard of Debby Boone, one of Pat Boone’s daughters, who had the number one selling record in 1977. The record included “You Light Up My Life,” a number one hit for ten weeks straight.

The show started with a number of introduction videos. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the way into the clips, the audio missed a beat and was out of sync for the remainder of the introduction. While Boone sang a few songs, including TuttiFruiti, the majority of the show was Boone narrating a compilation of video clips highlighting his career.

Boone ended the evening with a song he wrote in response to a court case in California. The case deliberated the removal of the phrase “under God” from The Pledge of Allegiance. The song, “Under God,” was well received by the audience.

The show was a little heavy on video clips and light on performance.
After the show, I talked to Pat Wagner, who was a Pat Boone fan while growing up. Wagner told me she really enjoyed the show and found the clips of his career entertaining, but she thought that it was a bit slow at times. She would have liked to see Boone perform a few more songs.

This was Boone’s first show in this format. Following the show, his team was seen asking audience members how they could improve future performances. This being said, future shows might have a better balance of videos and live performance.

If you are interested in finding out more about Pat Boone, you can check him out at http://www.patboone.com/.

For a complete list of upcoming shows at Thunder Valley Casino go to http://thundervalleycasino.com/Entertainment

Randy Miramontez is a contributing writer and photographer with The Sacramento Press.

Eric Clapton Arrives . . .

2011-03-05T02:43:53Z

Finally! Eric Clapton performed (a little late) to a full house Thursday night at the newly renamed Power Balance Pavilion. But it was worth the wait!

Los Lobos began their set just after 7:30 p.m. and played for over an hour due to Clapton’s late arrival. The crowd was mostly calm during the set of Los Lobos, but one could sense the tension building the longer they played. Once Clapton finally arrived on stage with his trademark Stratocaster, the crowd broke into a frenzy.

It was classic Clapton from the moment he stepped onto the stage, starting with “Key to the Highway” and “Going Down Slow.” He performed several acoustic songs, including “Layla,” but the biggest disappointment of the night was that he didn’t perform “Tears In Heaven,” my personal favorite.

Clapton’s set-list:
“Key to the Highway”
“Going Down Slow”
“Hoochie Coochie Man”
“Old Love”
“I Shot the Sheriff”
“Driftin’”
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”
“River Runs Deep”
“Same Old Blues”
“When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful”
“Layla” – seated Gibson ES 335
“Badge”
“Wonderful Tonight”
“Before You Accuse Me”
“Little Queen of Spades”
“Cocaine”
“Further on up the Road”

Clapton was accompanied by Willie Weeks on bass, Chris Stainton and Tim Carmon on keyboards, Steve Gadd on drums, and Sharon White and Michelle John on vocals.

A strange thing happened to me on the way to the concert. As I was driving to the Power Balance Pavilion, formerly known as Arco Arena, I heard Sacramento Press Editor in Chief David Watts Barton talking about some guy named Clapton on KFBK. OMG! I was on my way to see the very same guy for the Sac Press! How strange is that? Barton was talking about how Clapton was the first act at the Sacramento Sports Arena (sometimes referred to as the Original Arco Arena), the Arco Arena, and now the Power Balance Pavilion. At least that’s what I thought I heard since I only caught the tail end of the conversation. By the way, David, you give good radio.

Crystal Clear

2011-02-21T04:48:29Z

Country singer Crystal Gayle performed to a sold-out crowd Friday night in Thunder Valley Casino’s Pano Hall. The audience was a mixture of old and older. Suffice it to say there were a few wheelchairs in the house, but this was a more sophisticated crowd with several people arriving in the snazzy electric versions.

All joking aside, it was clear that everyone in attendance had been following Crystal Gayle throughout her 40-plus-year career. Luis and Janet Gutierrez, who came all the way from Vallejo to see Gayle perform, were extremely pleased with the show. Their only complaint was that they wished she had played more of her original songs.

In addition to her hits below, Gayle also performed a number of Buck Owens hits and a song made famous by Dean Martin, “Miracles Are Made of This.”

“When You’re Smiling”
“Love To, Can’t Do”
“Why Have You Left the One”
“Just You and I” (originally performed with Eddie Rabbit)
“Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue”

The Gutierrezes almost didn’t get tickets ahead of time, thinking they could purchase tickets once they arrived at Thunder Valley. Little did they know that the older crowd likes to plan ahead, and the concert was already sold out. They were lucky enough to snag a couple of tickets due to a few no-shows and even landed in the front row.

Gayle performed with her sister, Peggy Sue Wright (backup and lead singer), Jay Patton (saxophone and vocals), John Kearns (lead guitar and vocals), Will Barrow (piano and vocals), Rob Price (bass), and Duane Norman (drums).

Gayle is best known for her song “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and her floor-length hair. Both were present Friday night. She appeared in a black sequin dress and leather-studded belt. Completing the ensemble was her famous long black hair that draped all the way to her ankles.

Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb and later changed her name at the suggestion of her sister, Loretta Lynn. Lynn was already on the road to stardom during Gayle’s early years. It’s said that the idea of Crystal’s name came from the chain of Krystal hamburger restaurants that started in Chattanooga, Tenn. (you can’t get any more country than that).

Just before the end of the concert, Gayle performed a gospel medley and thanked the audience. The majority of the crowd started to get up and leave before she announced that she would stick around for one last song, which was “When I Dream.” I guess she didn’t realize that most of the folks had to head home to take their fiber and get to bed.

Randy Miramontez is a Contributing Writer and Photographer with Sacramento Press

Dyeing to be Dead

2010-11-29T21:09:03Z

Given the recent frosty weather conditions, downtown Sacramento’s Crest Theater was the perfect venue for Dark Star Orchestra’s re-creation of the Grateful Dead’s concert held at the Cal Expo Amphitheatre back on June 9, 1984. Last night’s performance was attended by a mostly older crowd and many of the attendees were lighting up before the concert even starting.

In fact, just before the band began to play I was alarmed by the sight of a bunch of smoke wafting through the air. I grabbed a security guy to let him know the theater was on fire, but he said it was Ganja Man. I wondered to myself if this Ganja Man had a super hero complex running around with a name like that. After a few minutes, I noticed the smoke getting thicker so I asked the security guy to go find this Ganja Man and tell him to put out the fire. He turns to me and says, “Dude, ganja’s not a man it’s weed, you know pot.” I felt like an idiot and wished I’d spent more time listening to Cheech and Chong when I was growing up.

Ok, so maybe that didn’t really happen but you get the idea.

Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) was formed in 1997 when guitarist John Kadlecik hooked up with keyboardist Scott Larned with the concept of re-creating complete Grateful Dead concert performances. The band name even comes from the Grateful Dead song, Dark Star.

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Dead, as they were referred to by their fans, was best known for their unique and eclectic style fusing elements of rock, folk, blues, country and jazz. Fans of the Dead were known as Deadheads and were extremely dedicated to the band, following them from concert to concert. The more dedicated deadheads began selling tied dyed shirts and veggie burritos in order to make money so they could continue to follow the band. The Grateful Dead disbanded after lead singer and guitar player, Jerry Garcia, suffered a fatal heart attack in 1995.

DSO has been able to remain true to the Dead’s past performances because the Dead allowed their fans to record their performances. This has provided DSO with a huge archive of past shows which is currently stored in a database referred to as the Deadbase, listing all the Dead’s past performances along with the order of songs. Since the Dead's music was improvisational, DSO doesn’t try and play the music note for note. They improvise as well.

Current members and their Grateful Dead counterparts include Jeff Mattson guitar and vocals as Jerry Garcia , Rob Eaton on rhythm guitar and vocals as Dead co-founder Bob Weir, Kevin Rosen playing bass as Phil Lesh, Dino English on drums as Bill Kreutzmann, Rob Koritz on the second set of drums as Mickey Hart, Lisa Mackey performing vocals as Donna Jean Godchaux, and Rob Barraco on keyboards playing as three past performers.

I was able to speak to one gentleman, who wished to remain nameless, as did everyone else. He was in his late 60’s and has been following DSO around since last year. He was an original deadhead and attended a number of Grateful Dead concerts. He spends most nights in his van as he tries to keep up with the bands aggressive tour schedule. Dressed in a tied dyed shirt and armed with an oxygen tank he headed straight for the stage as soon as the concert began. Yes, I said oxygen tank!

I also spoke to a woman who said she was 60 (she volunteered this information). She knows one of the band members, and she and her husband attend as many performances as possible. Just before the concert started, she pulled out a small rug to dance around on. In between songs, she did stretches.

DSO recreates the music from a concert nearest the location of the venue they are playing and refuse to release any information until after their performance. For you die-hard deadheads, here is the complete set list from last night’s re-creation of the Dead’s June 9, 1984 Cal Expo Amphitheatre concert

Set One: Iko Iko; Hell In A Bucket; Loser; Cassidy; Dupree’s Diamond Blues; CC Rider; Deal

Set two: I Need A Miracle; Bertha; Playing In The Band; China Doll; Jam; Drums; Space; Black Peter; Sugar Magnolia; One More Saturday Night

Encore: Keep Your Day Job

DSO will be playing at the Crystal Bay Club in Crystal Bay, NV before heading to Southern California.

For more information regarding Dark Star Orchestra

Photos by Randy Miramontez.
Randy Miramontez is a Contributing Writer and Photographer with Sacramento Press

Dane Drewis – A Family Recipe for Success

2010-11-25T20:26:15Z

It’s the time of year when family and friends get together for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, and this Thanksgiving eve Harlow’s, in downtown Sacramento, was no exception.

On a night when most people are busy preparing for their Thanksgiving Day festivities, singer, songwriter and local boy Dane Drewis, his father Dale Drewis (vocals and bass), Jason Weed (drums), and Mike Camilleri filled the house. Also performing was Drew’s sister, Janel Drewis, and Thaw Jack Frost.

The show started with a fantastic performance by Janel who, according to her father Dale, has all the talent in the family. She sang several covers and the crowd went wild after she belted out Lady Gaga’s, Alejandro. As Dane witnessed first-hand, sharing the stage with family can have its drawbacks when at the end of her set Janel told the crowd that he had performed as Elvis in a school play, fully decked out in a cape and accessories. All was not lost, however, when she was kind enough to add that he now has a 3rd degree black belt.

Janel was followed by Thaw Jack Frost, with Chris Twomey (guitar and bass), Dan Rau (guitars and bass), Nathan Bisig (guitars), and Lucas Thompson (drums). These guys really got the crowd going. By the end of their set half the people were on the dance floor having a good time.

Dane (aka Elvis) kicked off his set with a song from his album Rock & Soul. Dane also treated the crowd with a new song they have been working on and, based on the audience’s reaction, it’s going to be a hit.

Some say Dane sounds like Jason Mraz, others argue he sounds like John Mayer. While Dane considers both a great compliment, with his unique and eclectic sound coupled with strong vocals and harmony he deserves to stand on his own. With his unique style and sultry sound, he can’t be pigeon-holed into any particular category. Dane finds it all flattering, and believes his eclectic sound keeps them from being boring.

Dane was born into a long line of musicians. His grandfather was a classical composer in the 1930’s and his grandmother was an accomplished violinist/pianist. Both of his parents were full-time musicians during his formative years.

Dane started his music career as the front man for Cuesta Drive. While singing, composing, and playing guitar for the band, Dane wrote and produced three records with Cuesta Drive. Earlier this year, he released his first solo EP entitled Rock & Soul. As the title suggests, the album is an interesting mix of styles and like last night’s show it’s a family affair. His two sisters, Janel and Deena, provide vocals, guitar, keyboards and percussion. Dane’s parents, Dale and Janet, also provide vocals along with flute accompaniment and percussion.

I had the opportunity to ask Dane a few questions before the show.

Sacramento Press: What does it mean to you to be able to perform on-stage with your family on Thanksgiving Eve?

Dane Drewis: Playing with the family on Thanksgiving Eve is a great honor. We are able to play together quite often, but being able to take it to the next level on a larger stage feels great and there’s nothing I’d rather be doing!

SP: Earlier this year, you made an unsuccessful run at American Idol. Any comments or lessons learned that you would like to share?

DD: If there's one thing I learned from American Idol . . . it's to not give up. There were so many kids who were there and who were hungry. I realized that to really succeed in music you need to never give up. It’s one of the most competitive fields out there, and nobody has made it to the top on sheer luck. Another interesting thing I realized about American Idol is that they are not really looking for the most talented person. It’s more than that. Imagine if Jason Mraz, John Mayer, or John Legend tried out. They might make it kinda far, but chances are they wouldn't get past the initial rounds. So to anyone who tried out and didn't get anywhere (like me!), keep your head up! There are tons of different avenues for a musician/artist to break through!

SP: I noticed on your Facebook page that you’ve booked a 2011 tour. Care to share?

DD: As of right now we have a college campus tour in April 2011 in Colorado and are hoping to get more along the way, in Utah, Arizona, and Southern California. Very excited to start touring colleges! Everything is still in the works, but we will definitely be hitting the road fulltime in 2011. Hoping to play over 150 shows!

Dane’s upcoming appearances:

Friday December 10th and 11th at 08:00 PM
Ten 22, 1022 2nd Street, Sacramento

Thursday December 16th at 8:00 PM
The Crow’s Nest, 2218 E Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Friday December 17th at 8:00 PM
Shenanigans, 705 J Street, Sacramento

Wednesday December 22nd at 8:00 PM
Marilyn’s on K, 908 K Street, Sacramento

Friday January 21st at 8:00 PM
Powerhouse Pub, Folsom, CA

Saturday February 12th at 8:00 PM
Harlow's, 2708 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95816

Yu Kosuge Takes CSUS Piano Series by Storm

2010-11-21T21:27:48Z

Despite a cold, rainy, windy Saturday night, CSUS’s Capistrano Music Recital Hall was at near capacity for the debut of the 17th annual CSUS Piano Series. Founder and host of the event, Professor Richard Cionco, explained that Yu Kosuge was selected to kick off the Piano Series because she represents the youngest generation of professional pianists enjoying a sky-rocketing success world-wide. The evening’s event was graciously sponsored by Richard Graves, M.D.

Ms. Kosuge entered Tokyo University of the Art at the ripe old age of 4, after she was selected for a program aimed at providing specialized education to gifted children. At the age of nine, she made her orchestral debut playing with the Tokyo New City Orchestra. She has released nine CDs and has also published a book, Jõnetsu no Cadenza, in which she recalls her career path in music as well as humorous incidents from her concert life.

The audience was a mix of young and old. Most notable was Edward McGrath, age 94, who has had the pleasure of watching some of the greatest names in piano perform and can now add Ms. Kosuge to that list.

Yu Kosuge arrived on stage with her customary salmon-colored dress and black tennis shoes, which were later replaced by beautiful sparkling high heel shoes after the intermission. During her first set you could hear the beeping of a truck backing up. I got excited, thinking here's the reason she’s sky-rocketing to the top, only to discover it was just the CSUS Marching Band unloading their equipment. There was some shuffling noise coming from the hall until Professor Cionco kicked some band butt between songs. Poor guys had no idea there was a concert going on, let alone that a world renowned pianist was in the house.

Despite a rocky start with a wardrobe malfunction and a bit of noise, Yu Kosuge’s performance was spectacular. I’m no piano aficionado and I don’t consider myself well-versed in the cultural art of music, but the crowd’s reaction to her performance and the chatter afterwards made it quite obvious that she’s a force to be reckoned with. She received several standing ovations and I overheard people talking about the intensity of how she played, as if she were channeling energy from an unknown source. Even I could feel the intensity.

Granted I have no idea if her performance was flawless from a technical perspective, but the wonderful sounds emanating from her fingertips were breathtakingly magical. With a touch of pianissimo, a wide range of colors, and a little staccato here and there, she won the audience over from the moment she started playing.

She started the evening with works by both Beethoven and Chopin, moving on to Japanese composer, Toru Takemitsu, after the intermission. The climax of the evening was when she played the twelve Etudes, Opus 10 by Chopin. To the audience’s delight, she performed this difficult piece magnificently, and here I was thinking I was going to be able to catch up on some well needed rest. No way. This woman can play pianissimo like no other and then, BOOM, the piano roars to life nearly knocking you out of your seat.

This wonderful performance is just the beginning!

The CSUS Piano Series was started in 1994 by the Professor of Piano, Richard Cionco, and for seventeen years has included world-class artists from as far away as England, France, and Japan. This year is no different, scheduled to appear are:

Evelyn Chen – Saturday, February 5th at 7:30 pm
Jon Nakamatsu – Sunday, March 27th at 3:00 pm
Adam Neiman – Saturday, April 16th at 7:30 pm

The annual Piano Series also offers several free Piano Master classes taught by some of the most respected names in the piano world, including:

Evelyn Chen – Monday, February 7th at 2:00 pm
Mark Valenti – Monday, February 21st, at 2:00 pm
Adam Neiman – Friday, April 15th at 6:00 pm

The Series culminates with the annual Piano Festival slated for April 16-18, 2011. The Valencia Young Pianist Competition will be held on Saturday, April 16. It’s not open to the public, but guest artist Adam Neiman will be performing at 7:30pm that night in the Music Recital Hall.

LOCATION: Music Recital Hall, CSUS, 6000 J St., Sacramento
COST: $15 general; $10 students and seniors
FOR MORE INFORMATION: (916) 278-5155; www.csus.edu/music