Collective Soul Al Land Stadium St Pete, Fl 7/11/2018

The Rock & Roll Express Tour rolled into St. Petersburg, Florida Wednesday night with Collective Soul, 3 Doors Down, and special guest Soul Asylum. The evening was held at Al Lang Stadium, a 7,500-seat stadium that was used primarily for baseball for 40 years but is now home to The Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. With the thick humid air and intermittent drops of rain falling, Soul Asylum hit the stage for an abbreviated 35-minute 7 song set. David Pirner’s vocal presence and lead guitar set the audience at the edge of their seats as The Asylum jumped and dance over the entire stage. Pirner teased the audience by stating “Here’s a song we threw together in the dressing room for you,” as his introduction to Soul Asylum’s 1993 hit, Runaway Train. The fun carried well into the crowd as their set warranted an encore that wasn’t granted.  

Set List:

Misery, Shut Down, Shove, Whatcha Need, Runaway Train, Bus Named Desire, and finishing with April Fool.

3 Doors Down was the headliner of the evening and the last to go on stage. The sun had already set and the lighting and stage construction were that of a mega star. They were well polished, and the production was spectacular. They did however have to follow an impressive performance by collective Soul. The show started with the guitar players perched on platforms above the stage which gave a cool second tier level look. But, there was too much going on and made the show almost distracting as band members were climbing to the platforms. 3 Doors Down was formed in Mississippi in 1995. The Grammy Award nominated band has sold over 16 million albums worldwide.

Set List:

Duck and Run, Time of My Life, Not My Time, Away From The Sun, Let Me Go, Going Down in Flames, Road I’m On, Be Like That, Citizen Soldier, Danko, In America, Behind Those Eyes, My Way, Loser, Kryptonight, Here Without You, and When I’m Gone.

The band I most anticipated and was sent to review, Collective Soul was sandwiched between two good bands. Collective Soul’s founder, Ed Roland leads the band with the charisma and charm equal to the most famous front men in rock n Roll history. With the first two songs complete, Roland headed over to the keyboards and started playing an intro that wasn’t quite recognizable, which soon turned into their 1993 hit Shine, bring the crowd it their feet. The song that put Collective Soul on the map and lead to their first record contract. Orlando’s WJRR picked up the song from a radio station at Georgia State University and other stations followed suit. Atlantic Records signed the band, and their debut album sold over 2 million copies in America in 1994.

Their set ended with Run from their 1999 album Dosage. Roland played acoustic guitar and all the band members came to the front edge of the stage waving to the crowd. The song continued after they had left the stage and were out of sight. It seems a very fitting ending to an impressive performance.

Collective Soul did not disappoint me or those in attendance, I had felt they should have been headlining the show, and in my opinion, they outperformed the headliner 3 Doors Down.

Set List:

Now’s The Time, Over Me, Shine, Heavy With Lyrics, Why Pt 2, Better Now, Precious Declaration, December, Right As Rain, Observation of Thought, The World I Know, Gel, Where The River Flows, and Run.

Billy Buchanan Pioneers of Rock 'n Soul 6/1/2018

This past Friday night, June 1, 2018, MNPRmagazine sent me to photograph and submit a review of the dynamic Billy Buchanan, performing at The Athens Theater in Deland, Florida. I have had the pleasure to see and photograph Billy seven months ago in the “Songwriters Showcases of America”. I thought I knew what to expect before I arrived, but I was pleasantly surprised as I was treated to Billy’s “Pioneers of Rock ‘n Soul” show.

Billy Buchanan grew up in Cleveland, Ohio just 15 miles south of Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame and The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. He has opened or shared the stage with numerous international acts like; Harry Connick Jr., Tower of Power, Jersey Boys, KC & The Sunshine Band, The Four Tops, and even Alice In Chains to name a few. Billy’s career has taken him to 26 countries and all 50 states. His discology includes six solo albums and two albums released with his old band Fusebox. Billy has had three Top 20 songs on the CCM carts.

Tonight, was a show to honor Hall of Famers that laid the ground work of Billy’s musical influences. Buchanan’s portrayal of his childhood heroes was spot on. Billy Buchanan wasn’t playing tribute, this was a total transformation. The songs, outfits, costumes, and even wigs sent the audience back in time. Back to a time of the birth of Rock n Roll, when the citizens were defiant of the status quo, and all was good. Friday night was a “feel good” show, one that reminded us of the past and about the artists that paved the way of music the rock culture.  The audience danced in the isles during the show and remained after even after the house lights rose, clapping and screaming for more.

Billy came out on stage dressed as Little Richard to start the show. Little Richard is know as the inventor of Rock & Roll, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the first inductees in 1986. I was close to the stage and from what I could see, it was Little Richard! He went to the piano and belted out “Tutti Fruiti”. At that moment I knew I was in for a very exciting evening. Next followed “Lucille”, “Good Golly Miss Molly”, and “Keep a Knockin”. Billy, or Little Richard, left the stage. The band played “Chain of Fools” and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”.  Then the large screen above the stage played a video introducing the next performer of the night.

Chuck Berry followed next, duck walk and all. He was also inducted with the initial group to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Chuck’s set started with “Johnny B Goode”.  Then he played my favorite, “No Particular Place To Go”, still trying to locate the Kokomo. Then he ended his set strong with “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Rock and Roll Music”. Like before, Chuck left the stage as the band played on with Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and “At Last” by Etta James. As before, the video screen had a short message and introduced the next icon.

Sam Cooke, named the forth “Greatest Singer of All Time” by Rolling Stone, strolled onto the stage. In 2013 Sam Cooke was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, also in Cleveland Ohio. He started his set with “What a Wonderful World” followed by “You Send Me”, “A Change is Gonna Come”, and “Twisting the Night Away”. Sam and the audience twisted as they became more engaged. When Sam exited, and the band played Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, “Dancing in The Streets” and “I Can’t Help Myself” by The Four Tops.

Ray Charles appeared on the stage to thunderous applause as he made his way to the piano stage left. Ray has been ranked number ten on Rolling Stones list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. Like Little Richard and Chuck Berry, Ray Charles was in the initial class of inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. This was a high-powered line up. Ray played “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”, “Georgia On My Mind”, “I Got a Woman”, “America The Beautiful”, and ended with “Hit The Road jack”. Ray then left the stage and, as before, the band played the up-beat song “I Heard it Thru The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye, and “I’ll Take You There” by the Staple Singers.

The last performer of the night was Billy Buchanan, himself. As I said in the beginning, I was there to cover him, but I was treated to an iconic line-up of Rock and Roll, and Soul superstars. Billy Buchanan, is a superstar in his own right, and played his set to complete the night on a high note. “Working for a Living” started the set, then “Love Me Right”, “Get to You”, and ended with “Pioneers”. I have seen many acts in my time.  Billy, always brings energy and the crowd leaves satisfied and smiling. As I drove from the show, “Hit The Road Jack” was playing in my head. I smiled to myself as I had witnessed tonight that, Rock n Roll will never die, because it’s in our hearts. It’s who we are.

Jonathan Davis The Black Labyrinth Tour @ The Plaza Live Orlando, FL 5/14/2018

Monday night at the intimate Plaza Live in downtown Orlando, I decided to go and see Korn’s front man Jonathan Davis, at the last minute. When I arrived. I immediately noticed the theater had been cleared of the isles of seats. The floor was general admission and wide open, much like forty years ago when I started attending concerts. I felt at home, nostalgic and anxious for the show to begin. This was going to be a fun night!

Jonathan Davis’ tour proceeds the May 25, 2018 release of his debut solo album, “Black Labyrinth” As Davis put it, “I am doing it the old fashion way, letting my fans hear the new album before it’s released.” The stage was lit with a red glow. If Jonathan Davis performs his solo shows with the same energy and swagger as he delivers to his Korn audiences, this was going to be a great concert. The set included 11 new songs on the soon to be released “Black Labyrinth” on Sumerian Records. With an additional 4 songs from the 2007 album “Alone I Play” recorded by “Jonathan Davis and the SFA”, which contained songs written for the movie “Queen of The Damned”. He performed “Forsaken” from the movie soundtrack on the third song, symbolistic possibly to the photographers that had to exit the photography pit at the end of the third song.

Jonathan’s latest album was written over the past 11 years during his down time while recording and touring with Korn. The common theme of “Black Labyrinth” is of inner personal struggles and outward rage of societal ills. The mood was dark, and the audience reacted to each word as if their existence were alive in each lyric and Jonathan Davis knew them, and how they felt deep inside. While listening to the message of each song, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences.

The point of this tour resembles unlocking the Ganzfeld Experiment. Davis is trying to provoke thought and emotion with song titles “Under My Skin”, “Forsaken”, “What You Believe”, “Final Days”, “Basic Needs”, “Your God”, “Medicate”, “System”, and “Happiness”. All topics of individual inner conflicts.

“During the experiment, some people see shit, some people have out-of-body experiences, and some people think there’s someone else in the room,” he goes on. “To me, it shows there’s something else out there other than religion, consumerism, and all of that. There’s a level of enlightenment I want to achieve. With all of the bullshit going, everyone is stuck on their fucking cell phones. This takes us way out of that.”

There was clearly more happening in the room than just an artist performing music and entertaining fans. Jonathan’s album title, the lyrics, and the show experience are defined within the album title. The definition of Black “of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white” and a Labyrinth, “a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze.”

If you get a chance to see Jonathan Davis’ “Black Labyrinth” tour, be prepared for a deep and emotional experience, try not to get lost.

Bob Green and The Whiskey Conspiracy Florida Music Festival, Orlando, FL 5/12/2018

Saturday 5/12/2018 was the last day of the 18th Florida Music Festival’s 3-day concert event. 150 local unknown bands on 15 stages throughout downtown Orlando, Florida looking to get signed and discovered by a record label. The festivals final act was Alabama born Bob Green and The Whiskey Conspiracy, performing on stage in the historic Cheyenne Saloon.

The Whiskey Conspiracy is a 6-piece ensemble complete with an electric violin. At first glance the audience would assume they were about to hear a country music set. But, this band is alternative rock with country roots. Bob Green has a full voice that any country singer would be envious of, but he is much more versatile in style and range. Bob Green is currently ranked the number one singer songwriter on ReverbNation in the Orlando area.

Bob has been playing guitar 15 years. He started playing his Junior year as an art student a college in Birmingham, Alabama. After college Bob moved to Orlando, Florida and released his first album "Diamonds and Dead Roses", a blend of Blues, Rock, and Country. 2011 his second effort was released “Eloquent Profanity”. After a five-year hiatus from recording, Bob release is third album entitled “Pop and Soul” in 2016. Since then, Bob Green has been writing songs and will be back into the studio soon.

The evening started with an unrecorded song “Back to Neverland”, followed by a crowd favorite “Ghosts” from the “Pop and Soul” CD. The band then played “Time to Go” another unrecorded single. Next, was the country influenced single “Atlanta”, also from “Pop and Soul”. Bob then had a surprise and unveiled a song he wrote on Tuesday this week, “The Whites”. Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” was the final song of the set, which I am sure will be remembered by all in attendance, as they sang along with Bob. Bob Green’s vocal strength, soulful delivery, and versatility are really an enjoyable pleasure in a show that encompasses different genres and somehow, he brings it all together.

The Whiskey Conspiracy this evening was comprised of Bobby Fazioli (Bass), Michael Whitaker (Drums), Ted Herrera (Guitar), David Lopez (Keyboards), Emily Rebbeca Misura (Violin) and Bob Green (Lead Vocals/Guitar).  

I have had the please of seeing Bob Green perform in 2016 in singer songwriter contest, then again in a local club last year. He seems to get better every time I hear him. Keep an eye open and an ear out for “Bob Green and The Whiskey Conspiracy”, it is a show you don’t want to miss. Seriously, an alternative rock show with a violin. Who doesn’t want to see that?

A time to reflect.

Well if you been following along with my story here in my blog, it's been a great journey. From deciding to get serious about concert photography, getting the equipment for the job, getting credentialed, to actually getting published and writing concert reviews. 

Juggling my three business and working on my new art is harder than i originally thought. This week alone I had a shoot on Tuesday an hour away in Melbourne, Fl., The Joe Bonamassa Blues/Rock show. It was wild as there was heightened security and many limitations on where I had to stand and for how long. The other photographer at the event thought he would challenge the restrictions and he was asked to leave after the first song. I got lucky, when I finished the third song, the venue asked if I would like to continue shooting in the confines of the video room. Luckily I had brought my 300mm lens with a 1.4 teleconverter so that I could catch the action from that distance. They turned out to be my best shots of the night. Always be prepared! 

This evening I'm shooting a local country singer/song writer in downtown Orlando. Today is a part of the Florida Music Festival. Many bands over three days in multiple locations throughout the city. Inside, outside, and in the streets. Each band is allowed 30 minutes, so this will be a quick in and out.

Monday night to end the crazy seven days, I am going to fill out the genre's by shooting Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of Korn. A metal show, my first. This is something I really wanted to do as the subjects move much more than other shows. The lighting is usually brilliant and some really creative compositions can be captured. The venue is tough, as the stage is two feet high and the front row is just five feet back. There isn't a designated photo pit, so the photographer is obstructing the paying customers view. I have bought knee pads just for this occasion, to keep low. None the less, most of the greatest pictures from the greatest concert photographers are taken at metal shows. So I am grateful for the opportunity. I applied for this show just two days ago. Thought that I would get denied as it was so close to the actual concert date, but yesterday I got confirmation that my photo pass and ticket would be at will call.

The thought that I get to photograph these shows from the best seat in the house and not have to pay for a ticket is really the cool aspect of this profession. The Joe Bonamassa tickets were starting at $140 a seat. I feel extremely privileged. This has been such a hard but satisfying year. I have never really done anything in my life artistically. I am also my worst critic. So, I have actually graduated to have a couple of coaches to help with my portfolio and my concert review skills. I am trying

to be the best at this profession. Well, the best I can be. There is always someone better!

Joe Bonamassa King Performing Arts Center Melbourne, Fl 5/8/2018

The King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida hosted a birthday party last night. The guest of honor was Joe Bonamassa and his all star band. 2000 fans packed the King Center to capacity and to share the night with this blues and rock virtuoso in an intimate setting with great acoustics.

May 8th is Bonamassa’s birthday. The crowd shared birthday cards, and adoration with their favorite blues artist. Joe reciprocated and brought the gifts. Joe played two hours of silky smooth licks and opened entry into the soul of one of the finest masters of the guitar.

Hitting off the show was four songs on his new up and coming untitled studio album due out in the fall of 2018; “King Bee Shakedown”, “Evil Mama”, “Just Cause You Can”, and “Self Inflicted Wounds”. The crowd settled in, and after the eighth song, needing to catch his breath I assume, Bonamassa introduced his magnificent band. They were, Horn player Lee Thornburg of Super Tramp and Tower of Power, Paulie Cerra saxophonist and vocalist, Anton Rig the drummer of David Letterman’s band for over 20 years, Nashville’s most sought after bass player Michael Rhodes, and on Keyboards The famous Reese Wynans, who use to play with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, and Kenny Wayne Sheppard. Just added for this tour were two backup singers from Australia, Jane McCray and Wanita Chippins I believe.

After the introductions were made, the show took on a rock and roll atmosphere with a British blues influence. This wasn’t the Mississippi Delta blues that we are accustom to here in the states with the soulful growl of Muddy Waters or BB King. But more of the British take on the blues from Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, or Jimmy Page. Two of the last three songs were bluesy Led Zeppelin covers, “Boogie with Stu”, and the final number, one of my favorite blues numbers from Zeppelin’s first album, “How Many More Times”. The show ended on a high note and the band left the stage to a standing ovation. They had played two hours and some of the crowd thought that was it and some started to leave. How could there be more? But, Joe and the band came back out for the final curtain call. Bonamassa said he had a present for all of those folks in the audience that might have been disappointed that they might not have known any of the songs from his set. So, his gift to them was “Sloe Gin”, the title track off his 2007 album.

A month prior to this show my Editor in Chief at MNPR Magazine, Richard Bolwell, published a review/press release of the artist. The beginning of the article was about Joe Bonamassa teaming up with Fender to release a re-issue of a signature model, of the popular “high-powered” ’59 tweed Twin-Amp, known as “The King of The Amps”. So naturally I searched the stage to locate The King. To my surprise, there were four ’59 tweed Twin-Amps positioned along the front of the drum riser. The sound was amazing and the source was well protected by plexiglass in the fashion that a dignitary would be protected with a bullet proof barrier. The amps can be seen in at lease one picture with this review. Priced at $3,499.99 a piece, who could blame Joe for protecting the four of them with bullet proof glass?

Bonamassa has released 15 solo albums with 11 reaching number one on the Billboard Blues charts. Even from his early days, of opening for B.B. King at 12 years old, Joe Bonamassa has dazzled the blues world with his percussion and ability. From what I previewed last night, he will be releasing his twelfth number one blues record this fall.

Grindstone Sinners @ Delandapalooza in Deland, Florida 4/14/2018

Deland Florida is a sleepy college town between Orlando and Daytona Beach Florida. It is home to Stetson University and great music festivals. I was attending the Songwriters Showcases of America last November in Deland. The city’s all day music festival hosts over 160 acts on 28 stages placed around town on street corners and inside in the local clubs.

I was on assignment for an artist that was up for “Song Writer of the Year”. While traveling through the streets to her stage, I pasted multiple musical acts. But, I was literally stopped in my tracks when I heard a remarkable guitar riff. My companion, my wife, warned me to hurry up as we still had a ways to go. But I was frozen, and my attention was on the band that was playing at the end of the blocked street on a small open stage. I couldn’t get my camera out fast enough to take a few pictures. The performer was playing his ax behind his head; shades of Jimi Hendrix. I was flabbergasted. Who is this band? After the song, my wife and I got back to our journey heading to our stage. At the end of the day, our artist won Songwriters Showcases of America “Songwriter of the Year”. What I had witnessed earlier was the Songwriters Showcases of America musician of the year, Jay Umlauf of Grindstone Sinners. The band was also up for “Song of the Year”, “Live How You Love” from their 2017 self-titled CD and “Band of the Year”. All I knew was that I had to see this band again and soon.

Well, Saturday night, April 14, 2018 I had a chance to head to Delandapalooza once again. The previous two years were all day affairs, but tonight I was on a mission to see just one band, Grindstone Sinners. They were going on the mainstage for their final set at 10pm, the last performance of the festival on the main stage. Upon arrival, the main stage was backed up an hour. This was great, as I really wanted to speak with the band and see if they had a few minutes for an interview. We met in the parking lot while they were unloading their gear. Members include; Jay Umlauf (guitar-vocals), Jeffrey Hunt (bass guitar-vocals), and Daniel Conner (drums). Ashlyn Weidemiller (vocals) was absent as she had not yet arrived.

The band, all but Jay are 18 years of age, with Jay recently turning 19. What I experienced was a tight bunch of friends. The three young men met in kindergarten and have been playing together in this band for 5 years. Ashlyn’s vocals were added just three years ago, and their sound came together.

There wasn’t any sign of pretentiousness or entitlement even after early success on their first offering just five months ago. These were great young men eager to help me write my review about their band. When I asked who were their influences, Jay spoke up and said “Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and The Grateful Dead.” At the time it was obvious to me that these young men, and these influences were what I would expect to hear from of my generation. I was taken back. But, if my children would have grown up to be musicians, they may say the same thing as that’s what was played in the home as they grew up. So, I actually felt a sense of pride that the heritage lives on. Folks, this band doesn’t play 80’s pop, or 90’s rap. They perform soulful rhythm and blues from the 1960’s and 1970’s. A heavy rhythm section of Jeffery and Daniel keeping the beat, Jay wailing riffs on extended solos, and finally the soulful angelic voice of Ashlyn brings it all together. These young adults have old rock-n-roll souls. I couldn’t help but smile the whole set as I watched through my viewfinder clicking away. I got so into it, I took twice the number of pictures I usually do of any band.

The set started with “I’ll Be Damned”. Followed by “Because of You” from their 2017 album. The set contained only one other prerecorded single “Faded Love”. This tells me that eight of the 10 songs played tonight are a great start on a new CD. But, when I asked if they had any plans on heading into the studio anytime soon, they said no. The band is contemplating a live album. I can say, after seeing a complete set, this band needs to be seen live. This is where the magic happens. One might categorize them in the future as a jam band with the likes of The Grateful Dead if their fondness of tie-dye is any indication.

The name Grindstone Sinners is a play on words. Going to work in a traditional way, with nose to the Grindstone, is far from the aspirations of this group. And, Sinners go against the grain. So, there you have it. They want to earn their living doing what they love to do; just play music and don’t have any desire to work 9-5 jobs.

You can hear their first CD on Reverb Nation, Spotify, YouTube,  iTunes, and Amazon.com: Prime Music. This tight knit group of friends are something special and with the right manager and producer, they will be a household name in the very near future. My grandchildren, if musicians, might possibly sight Grindstone Sinners as their musical influences.

Melissa Crispo at The Abbey in Orlando, FL 4/7/2018

Fresh off the Melissa Etheridge Caribbean Cruise at the end of last month, Melissa Crispo and her band played The Abbey in downtown Orlando, Florida. This intimate club was chosen by Melissa to share her birthday with her fans that had come from as far as Australia and Ireland. The set started with “Just Say Goodbye” from her latest CD “Tomboy”, followed by “Back Where We Started” from her first CD. The band proceeded with songs from both CD’s. The second half of the show Melissa put down the acoustic guitar and moved over to the electric piano located at the front right of the stage where she played “You’re Gone”, alone and by herself on the stage. Fans recognize this number as the song Melissa usually performs a cappella most nights but equally moving performed solo on the piano. We were also treated to a song from the new CD that is in the works “Turn it Up Loud”. All songs are written for the new album. It’s just a matter of identifying the right producer at this point. With any luck, the new CD will be released by fall of this year followed by an east coast tour to kick off sales. Currently Melissa Crispo’s songs can be found on Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, and iTunes.  

Melissa Crispo’s music career started in 2002 playing solo acoustic shows in local bars. By the time she released her first album, “A Break in the Clouds”, she had already played six Hard Rock Live shows and had performed as the opening act for Sophie B. Hawkins, Styx and Jefferson Starship. Once the CD was released, her top singles “Not Me” and “Sweet Dreams” were played on the local radio station. She performed at the Florida Music Festival, and shortly after, Melissa was contacted by MTV about the use of one of her songs on the CD to be used in an upcoming series. It seemed hard work had paid off and her career was on the way up. But, like everything in the music business, timing is everything. On November 5 of 2007, the Writers Guild, or labor unions that represented television, film, and radio went on strike. The strike would last until February 12, 2008. MTV scrapped the show and the financial meltdown in the United States was underway.

Melissa put her aspirations on hold and started a new career as a paramedic. For the next eight years she kept her love for performing live on weekends in local bars. She also didn’t stop writing. In 2013 Melissa released a new single “Running in Circles”. The single was used as a score in a local film that was released in 2014 titled “Untold”. The movie was released but never made it out of the theaters in the Orlando market. This limited success lit a fire and Crispo released her second album in 2016. My review of the second album was, “this EP shows an experienced artist that has matured with strength and depth in lyrics”. The contents were more sophisticated than her initial offering and easier for this writer to identify”.

In October of 2016, Melissa Crispo left her job as a paramedic to pursue her music career full time once again. She received an invitation to play on the Melissa Etheridge Cruise as a solo act in November of 2016, just before the release of her second album “Tomboy”. She was welcomed back on board The Melissa Etheridge Cruise in 2018, this time with her band. The 2016 Etheridge Cruise yielded an invitation on “Country Cruising” which sailed in January of 2017. Next, she participated in a night of country music at The House of Blues Orlando in February. Later that year, an invitation was extended for a three show trip to Ireland in September 2017. This was second time she has been invited to perform in Europe. The new album’s title track “Tomboy” received airplay on a local station. It also put “You’re Gone” from the first CD on a local music station, 97 Country.

Things are looking up for this artist that has paid her dues and possess the work ethic and drive of living the dream. If timing is everything in music, Melissa Crispo’s time has come.

Darius Rucker Stars Runaway Country in Kissimmee, FL 3/25/2018

Runaway Country came to the Silver Spurs Rodeo grounds in Kissimmee, Florida this weekend. The 80-acre complex’s three-day festival resembled an RV convention with competition tailgating in the parking lot. That’s something here in the south that we normally reserve for American football. Located in the rear of the property were two erected stages. The Main stage was like those that are constructed in stadium concerts. The smaller stage in the back, called “My Apartment”, signified the difference in size between the two. The smaller stage was for artists that are up and coming.

Darius Rucker was the headlining act was on Sunday, the last day. The 52-year-old star took country music by storm ten years ago when releasing his first hit single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”. Later in 2009, he charted two more hit singles, “It Won’t Be Like This For Long”, and “Alright”. Rucker also was tapped that year for The New Artist Award from the Country Music Association. Those that have followed the career of Darius Carlos Rucker, remember him fondly as “Hootie” from the Grammy Award winning band “Hootie and The Blowfish” which he founded in 1986 while attending The University of South Carolina. That band recorded five studio albums and charted six top 40 hits.

With such diversity, and so much material from two genres, there wasn’t a fan in attendance that felt left out, or unfulfilled. Personally, I enjoyed the walk down memory lane as Darius Rucker performed “Let Her Cry”, and “I Only Wanna Be With You”. He even got a little funky with “Friends in Low Places” written by Garth Brooks.

The songs were great, but the showmanship and professionalism displayed by this seasoned veteran was “the show”. His pure love of performing was on display during this two hour show. I believe Darius Rucker would be successful no matter what genre he decides to tackle in his future.

Marshall Tucker St Augustine, Fl 3/09/2018 "Southern Uprising"

Gracing the stage at St Augustine, Florida’s “Southern Uprising” was Marshall Tucker Band. Sandwiched between The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band the South Carolina band held their own. Marshall Tucker Band is currently on their 2018 “Juke Jamming Tour”. They proved their longevity by turning the crowd into a giant Florida sing alone. Crowd favorites “Can’t You See”, “Take The Highway”, Fire On The Mountain”, and their highest charting single “Heard It in a Love Song” from the album “Carolina Dreams” released in 1977, had every one involved.

Marshall Tucker isn’t in the band and never has been. While trying to name the band, legend has it the name was inscribed on the door key of a warehouse they had rented to practice in. The story is told that Marshall Tucker was a blind piano tuner that had rented the space before the band. Doug Gray (Lead Vocals) is the only original member, joining him on stage this night was Tony Black (Bass), Marcus James Henderson (Keyboards, sax, flute, vocals), B.B.Borden (Drums), Chris Hicks and Rick Willis (Guitars and Vocals).

The band sounded as sharp as ever and the flute playing of Marcus James Henderson is always a crowd favorite. Marshall Tucker was formed in 1972. They have recorded 23 studio and 4 live albums. Marshall Tucker is a Southern rock/Blues band that has been know to stretch out a tune or two with long jams. While listening, I forgot, or didn’t realize how familiar their catalog of songs were. I didn’t sing with the crowd, but a my foot was a goin.

Robin Trower at Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida 3/11/2018

Sunday Night, Robin Trower graced the intimate, acoustic confines of The Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida. It has been 20 years since I took my 12-year-old son to see the master of the Stratocaster on stage. On the way home from the concert that night, my son was extremely quiet, then he proclaimed, “I want to learn to play guitar Daddy”. Yes, that is the same emotion that I felt at 13 years old when I first stole “Bridge of Sighs” from my older brother’s vinyl collection in 1974. Up until that point, I had never heard anything that reached so deep inside me from a musician.

We are all older than those passed days, but one thing stands the time. The smooth rock blues from Robin Trower’s signature model Fender Stratocaster is the bridge that reaches inside Robin Trower’s soul, and reaches out to the listeners. It’s an experience. Do not expect pyrotechnics, or a huge production, from the show. The experience is for the ears, it’s about the music, and your witnessing one of the greatest that has ever strapped on a Stratocaster.

Robin Trower began in the mid Sixties and was only noticed in 1967 while playing with Procol Harum and the release of the mega hit, “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. To this day, Trower says that “The big break for me was Gary Brooker getting me to join Procol. That opened up the whole world. Without that I would never been able to go on and do what I’ve done.” But, in the same breath he adds, leaving was “The best career decision I ever made”.

The current US leg of the tour is Richard Watts (Bass/Vocals) and Chris Taggart on drums joining Robin Trower on stage for a powerful rock/blues trio. The group highlighted last years release of “Time and Emotion” released in May, with the single from that album, “The Land of Plenty”. To accommodate his long following of many fans in attendance (Me Included), he masterfully performed “Too Rolling Stoned”, “Lady Love”, and the title hit “Bridge of Sighs”. The trio played for almost two hours which included a two song encore.

Robin Trower has recorded 23 solo albums in his career and just celebrated his 73rd birthday in Orlando’s show Friday night. Come see this amazing artist while he continues to tour and perform his Stratocaster magic. The music will move you, watching the master as his face contorts with every note coming deep from within, bridging his magic and musical message to the audience. Enjoy.

The Outlaws at the St Augustine Amphitheater “Southern Uprising” 3/9/2018

The Outlaws came to the party in St Augustine, Florida ready to rumble at “The Southern Uprising” Friday night. They led the party off with old favorites like “Hurry Sundown”, “Ghost Riders in The Sky”, “There Goes Another Love Song” and of course, finishing off with “Green Grass and High Tides”.

The Florida “Guitar Army”, originally formed in 1969 played masterfully the entire set. The four guitar players sometimes were in a straight line, other times switching positions. They even paired off in two’s while each guitar soloed. Monte Yoho, the only founding member of the band kept “The Army” in check with a steady Southern Rock-n-Roll tempo on the drums the entire set.

Of the four bands performing at “The Southern Uprising”, there wasn’t a band had more fun than the opening band, The Outlaws. You could see it on their faces, they were having a wonderful time. If you get a chance to catch them in their four remaining dates in Florida. April 4th at the King Center in Melbourne, April 5th at The Ranch Concert Hall in Fort Meyers, April 6th at The Key West Theater in Key West, or The Lyric Theater in Stuart on April 7th  , don’t miss their energetic show.

By Mark Horan

The Charlie Daniels Band. "Southern Uprising" St Augustine, Fl 3/09/2018

Friday night I had the trill to photograph The Charlie Daniels Band in St. Augustine Florida during The Southern Uprising concert. Charlie Daniels has been playing music to his fans and the world for over 6 decades. Starting as a studio musician playing on three Bob Dylan albums. Charlie has writing credit on “It Hurts Me”, a song Elvis recorded. He also played in 1975 on Hank Williams Jr’s album “Hank Williams, Jr. and friends”.

Charlie Daniels will be celebrating his 82nd birthday this year and you would never know it watching him on stage. He may not move about as much as when he wore a younger man’s cloths, but he puts on a show that I will remember the rest of my life. “Long Haired Country Boy”, and “The South’s Gonna Do it Again” brought the crowd to its feet. The crowd really broke loose, with the initial notes dragged by the violin bow across the strings of the 1979’s crossover hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. This song still gets airplay on classic rock and country music stations to this day.

More importantly than the music career that started when Charlie Daniels quit school in 1955, is the man. As I made my two and a half hour drive home after the show, I had time to reflect on what I had just experienced. I was treated to back stage access to meet Mr. Daniels. He was gracious, entertaining, and hospitable. He met fans for an hour just before the show. He signed autographs, posed for pictures, and shook hands. I can’t recall any artist with this much accessibility just before taking the stage to play to a packed house. You could easily see he really enjoyed every part of the interaction. Within minutes of exiting backstage, I had to hurry to find my place in the pit because The Charlie Daniels Band was taking the stage.

This is a very religious man in which he proudly displayed with his “Jesus Is Lord” belt buckle and sang “How Great Thou Art”, showing his gospel roots. He isn’t pretentious and doesn’t get on stage to preach, he is an entertainer. There was however a reference to America’s Armed Forces, and the packed house cheered loudly. We must give thanks to those men and women who are serving, have served, and those who will serve in the future. Mr. Daniels understands without the sacrifice of our Armed Forces; American lives might be much different. We wouldn’t be sitting in the open air of a spring night in an amphitheater enjoying live music in America’s First City. Charlie Daniels has been a big part of USO tours since 1990 and has performed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There wasn’t any political shaming, just a sense of life is a blessing, So, let’s enjoy it. How refreshing.

Charlie Daniels is a great entertainer and musician, but more importantly, he is his own man and a patriot.   

By Mark Horan

Travis Tritt "The Southern Uprising" St Augustine, FL 3/9/2018

When Travis Tritt, hit the stage headlining the Southern Uprising concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheater Friday night March 9, 2018, the crowd was warmed up, even with temperatures dropping into the 50’s. The stage, and the lights, it was hard not to understand that the two time Grammy winner was going to put on a big show. Travis Tritt was Billboard’s 1990 Top New Male Artist of the year! Since 1990, Travis Tritt has charted more than 40 times on the Hot Country Songs charts. He has recorded nine albums in which seven are certified Platinum or higher and 20 top ten singles.

When the stage was set and the band was in their places, the spectacular lighting came on. Travis burst onto the stage leaving no inch uncovered as he greeted the adoring fans from stage left to stage right. The whole evening was building to this moment. The Outlaws and Marshall Tucker Band were the Southern Rock type influences of Travis Tritt, and Charlie Daniels was the crossover from Southern Rock to today’s country genre. The metamorphosis was complete. But, wait a minute, the music was apoplectic. Yes, this was country music, but Tritt played good old southern rock as well. As a professional, he understood the audience had mixed music taste and he responded in kind.

I am not a huge fan of country music, but this wasn’t Nashville comes to Florida. This was by far the best stage production of the night and Travis Tritt is a bonified musician and seasoned entertainer. The show was spectacular, and the crowd responded to the performance.

I left the performance a Travis Tritt fan, the Country music fan is going to take some time.

Blackberry Smoke Orlando, FL 3/3/2018

Orlando, Florida kicked off their free outdoor Spring concert series Saturday night with Atlanta Georgia’s Blackberry Smoke. The band opened with “Six Ways to Sunday” from the The Whippoorwill album released in 2012. When the dust settled after their third song, Charlie Starr greeted the crowd and went into a favorite from the last album “Waiting for The Thunder”.

Blackberry Smoke’s 6th studio album, “Find A Light” is due to be released April 6, 2018. And they teased the fans with a sneak peek of the track "Best Seat in the House".

Blackberry Smoke has been absent from bringing their outlaw honky-tonk country style to Central Florida since 2016, and the packed crowd let them know they were missed. If their new effort “Find A Light”, is anything similar to the response of their 2016 release “Like An Arrow”, which was released on, “Three Legged Records”, “Find A Light” will sail to the top of the US Billboard Country and Americana/Folk charts as before.

Blackberry Smoke is Charlie Starr (lead Vocals and Guitar), Paul Jackson (Backup vocals and guitar), Richard Turner (Bass), Brit Turner (Drums) and newest member (2009) Brandon Still on Keyboards. Saturday nights set list was as follows, Six Ways to Sunday (2012), Good One Comin’ On (2008), Ought to Know (2016), Waiting for the Thunder (2016), Crimson Moon (2012), Let it Burn (2016), Sleeping Dogs/Come Together (2012/Beatles 1969), Shakin’ Hands With The Holy Ghost (2012), Best Seat In The House (Unreleased), Lucky Seven (2012), Up in Smoke (2009), Ain’t Got the Blues (2012).

Before the members came on stage, as I watched the empty stage waiting for the bands arrival, listening to the PA blast out the preconcert music, a man appeared holding a soldering object. He proceeded to perform a ritual of coating each microphone and amplifier on stage with this mysterious smoke that could barely be seen in the dim stage lighting. One could only surmise it was Blackberry Smoke. If you are a fan of Southern Rock, put Blackberry Smoke on your list to attend their next show next time they come around to Central Florida. Orlando’s free concert series are really magnificent events to attend has they are bring in some of the finest entertainment available.

MNPR Magazine Published Me!

Well, it's been almost a year since I started my quest into concert photography. I have gotten the right equipment, I have learned to use it, I have gotten credentials with a local paper, I have used those credentials to help me get photo passes to national shows. Four the past four weeks I have been writing reviews for resent shows, Joe Satriani, Blues Traveler, Uriah Heep, and The local band, The Wait.

I have submitted concert pictures and the reviews to the paper and they decided not to publish any of them. I was initially told by the publisher that he wanted to expand the paper and to keep submitting them to the editor of the Arts and Entertainment section. That gentleman is retiring at the end of the month and apparently has decided to not start publishing anything as edging as rock-n-roll in his last month at the paper. I get it, but hopefully the new editor sees things differently.

Then last week I submitted my reviews and pictures to an online magazine from the UK. The first three reviews,  they passed on, as I submitted them last week, a couple of weeks after the shows. But, Sunday I submitted my newest review and photos of the band The Wait, from Saturday night. They published them! My first concert photo's published. The paper had published my work on two occasions, but they were paid assignments, not concerts. The goal has always been the publishing of my concert photographs.  The first national show I got a photo pass for, "The Outlaws", I met two photographers  Michelle Wilson and Michael G Yanko, they have been making their living for 30 years photographing concerts. Michelle is actually a writer, and a darn good photographer too. So, I decided that I needed to add more than just the pictures, I would also write reviews. I sent her the first review and asked her for input. What I didn't expect was the in depth grading she gave me. We went over the review on the phone and I made the changes. Kind of felt like I was in high school and the teacher was going over my English composition. Michelle Wilson studied English literature at Long Island University. She currently is a Photographer at Rock Legends Photographers and Blues Concert Photos, Staff writer at Live For Live Music and Writer/Photographer at Concert Photos Magazine . Thank You Michelle for your tutelage.  

Last week I answered a post from a publisher who use to be, or still is a concert photographer. Richard Bolwell ,  is looking to expand his music publication, "MNPR Magazine", worldwide. He expects reviews with concert photos. And now I'm published! Check out my first review and concert photo's of "The Wait"

It took 11 months, but if you keep your eye on the prize, work hard, and get the proper training, anything is possible. I have also gotten hiring requests from bands to take their photos. It's not a career, but I am having fun and just when I least expect it, it my pay the bills.  

The Wait 2/17/2018 at The Orlando Brewing Company

The Wait, with their latest single charting number one locally, and top 40 nationally on ReverbNation, the online platform for artists to advance their careers with more than 3.8 million members. The band took to the stage Saturday night at The Orlando Brewing Company at 1301 Atlanta Ave in South Orlando, Florida. They just wrapped up recording their new LP of 12 new songs, which is scheduled for release April 15, 2018. The early success of the new single has shot new life into the group whom have recently reunited in 2017 after going their own ways twenty years earlier.

Songwriters and bandmates, Don Rowe lead guitar, Terry McMahon lead vocals, and Gregg Saxonis on drums, came together in Boston Massachusetts in 1988. Then set out on the road by management to Orlando in 1989. Once in Florida, they kept recording material and became a headliner throughout Central Florida, until 1997. Their Rock / Indie or alternative rock music style, lead to opening for The Romantics to Foghat.

With added members, Randy Cook keyboards/backing vocals, Mike Knarreborg guitar/backing vocals, and Vince Heyer on bass, the bands maturity and three part harmonies makes for a full sound. Saturday night’s show highlighted the band’s past and present work with “Firewall”, “Stay in Love”, “World Without You”, and the newest hit single “One Day is Now”.

From the show I witnessed Saturday, it appears that experience is paying off. The show was refreshing and what Central Florida needs right now. I can honestly say, it has been well worth The Wait!

Uriah Heep House of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL 2/14/2018

Uriah Heep hit the stage of The House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, FL with their arsenal of four decades of work to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The set spanned back as far as 1972 with fan favorites, “The Magician’s Birthday” and “Stealin”. A Uriah Heep show isn’t complete without “The Wizzard”, “Sweet Lorraine”, and “Easy Living” which followed. Since 1969 the bands lineup has changed, there have been 25 different members. The only original member being Mick Box on lead guitar. Vocalist Bernie Shaw and keyboard player Phil Lanzon joined in 1986. Drummer Russell Gilbrook joined the band in 2007, with the newest member, bass player Davey Rimmer being added in 2013. The five members played like they had all been there at the inception.

Over the course of 49 years, the British rock band, Uriah Heep has released 25 studio albums, 18 Live albums, and 39 compilation albums. Similar in popularity to Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Led Zepplin in the 1970’s, the size of the audiences in the states declined in the 1980’s. The band still fills out large venues in Russia, Japan, and Eastern Europe.

Orlando was the first stop on the current US tour and lead singer Bernie Shaw promised that after the tour was over, he and his band mates were going into the studio to record their next album back in England and in 2019, they would return to The House of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL to rock out again.

Blues Traveler 2/10/2018 House of Blues Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Saturdays show opened with lead man, John Popper proclaiming, “We’re 30 years old”. The Blues Traveler 30th year Anniversary Tour was welcomed to The House of Blues Lake Buena Vista to a delighted, sold out audience. In traditional style, the first three songs ran into one, with “Run Around” ending the stretch. “Run Around”, the longest charting radio single in Billboard history at 26 weeks of “Most Played by Jockeys” was Billboard's original airplay chart, before the inception of the current “Hot 100” chart. Which also won them a Grammy in 1996. With the opening momentum in full swing, John Popper and the band, poured it on until the final note. Born out of the 1990, Blues Travel is one of the few remaining jam-bands on the scene. Similar in style to The Grateful Dead, Phish, Widespread Panic, and The Allman Brothers, where the songs performed on stage go off into their own life while being played in front of a hungry crowd.

Blues Traveler just left the studio recording their 13th album titled, “Hurry Up and Hang Around”, which is due to be released this spring.

The opening band, Los Colognes from Nashville, is touring on their third and newest released album “The Wave”.

Blues Traveler is John Popper on lead vocals and harmonica, Ben Wilson keyboards, Brendan Hill drums, Chan Kinchla guitar, and Chan’s younger brother Tad Kinchla on bass. Thirty years, and this tight, well-oiled machine maybe ready for thirty more, or another ten at the very least. This is an Anniversary Tour, and not a farewell tour. Don’t worry, those of you that were unable to get tickets to this sold out show will have another chance when Blues Traveler, Travels again to Central Florida.

Joe Satriani's G3 2018 Tour at The Hard Rock Live Orlando

Orlando paid homage to some of the greatest guitar players on the planet Tuesday night January 30th. The standing room only crowd at Hard Rock Live was treated to almost four hours of hard driving rock-n-roll from Joe Satriani’s, G3 2018 tour stop. Since 1996 Satriani has been gathering the world’s best guitar players and having them perform on one night, then sharing the stage for the finale.

This year's lineup of innovative guitar masters, Joe Satriani of Deep Purple and Chickenfoot, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Phil Collen of Def Leppard. Joining the trio for the last two songs, Deep Purple’s "Highway Star" and Stevie Wonder’s "Superstition" was UFO’s Vinnie Moore.

The night started with Phil Collen’s band taking the stage for the first set. Collen has been described by Satriani as a “Total Virtuoso” which is quite a compliment if you consider the source. Collen offered blues with the soulful voice of Debbi Blackwell-Cook. Next, followed heavy metal guitarist, John Petrucci who has been named as one of the top ten greatest guitar shredders of all time by GuitarOne Magazine. Last was the headliner, the ultimate master, Joe Satriani. Satriani has sold in excess of 10 million albums with 6 going Platinum and Gold, which makes him the number one selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time.

You could tell Satriani was having the time of his life and the crowd responded with every note. After Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith's drum solo, Collen, Petrucci, and Moore joined Satriani’s band to end the show on a high note. The music kept getting better and better as the night wore on and all in attendance didn’t want it to end as the capacity crowd remained in their seats and shouted for more.

If you love rock-n-roll lead guitar players, buy a ticket the next time the G3 tour comes to your town. You will leave satisfied guaranteed.

Past guitar virtuosos who have performed with G3 over the years have included Steve Vai, Steve Morse, Eric Johnson, Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Fripp, Yngwie Malmsteen, Adrian Legg, Michael Schenker, John Petrucci, Phil Collen, Marty Friedman, and after tonight's show, Mr. Vinnie Moore.