Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Sinful Lilly at Wicked World Scare Grounds

At least three events took place in Lexington, KY, last weekend: a football game, a horse race...and a Sinful Lilly show at Wicked World Scare Grounds. In the morning, gridiron and equestrian fans crowded the interstates, hotels, and restaurants. At night, loyal rock music fans flooded a highway for this show. If they hadn't seen Sinful Lilly before, they got a bonus package. 

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

This was my fifth time seeing them. In this longest set I've seen yet (it lasted about an hour), they played a lot of songs I'd heard but hadn't seen live. Such songs included Bikini Machine, Human Fly, and Nothing Left.

Also part of this rockin' treat (without tricks) was Fredi's guitar solos and Nikki's stage presence...magnified.

Photo credit Best Shots Photography


Photo credit Best Shots Photography



Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Photo credit Best Shots Photography


Before the show, one of my best friends treated me to a delectable Indian dinner at Taste of India. As we ate, she told me a few times no one who eats there leaves hungry. The same applies to this past Saturday's show. If you didn't get your ears, eyes, and heart full of rock music, you did it wrong


Monday, July 19, 2021

Tattered Sons

 I just wanna go to a concert.

Stop crying and throwing temper tantrums. America has opened up a little bit more. And guess what? Bands have concerts again now.

While you were at home pouting, watching another show on Netflix, I was out at Knoxville Harley-Davidson seeing Tattered Sons from southern Kentucky.

Photo credit to owner

With a 14-song setlist, there was plenty to bob your head to and sing along with--or just plain enjoy. This generous setlist allowed everyone to choose their favorites. My favorite original was "Walking Shoes" and cover, "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Other covers they played were "Mississippi Queen"--complete with cowbell--and "Come Together." 

They kept promising some good rock music; they delivered.


Derek Lester, bass
Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Tattered Sons wants to come to Knoxville as many times as possible. Do yourself a favor: turn off the TV, get out of the house, and go see them. 











Monday, July 5, 2021

Stairway to Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin

A piece of advice for those my age and younger: see as many tribute bands as possible. In that way, you can capture the way rock bands played when music was king, had substance, mystery. On the top of your list should be Stairway to Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin 

They graced us loyal, proud concert goers at Open Chord this past Saturday night, playing all the hits of Led Zeppelin. The hour-and-a-half long set did us lifetime Zep fans justice. Bottom line: you name the song, chances are they played it. From "Black Dog" to "The Immigrant Song" to "Ramble On" to "The Ocean" (one of my personal favorites), they kept us on our feet, at the edge of our seats, wanting more. 

In addition to his vocals effortlessly echoing those of Robert Plant, lead vocalist Phil Creamer continually fascinated me with swinging his hips, arching his back. Even at this writing, I'm still mesmerized.





Photo Credit Best Shots Photography


Add to that the audience participation. After all, we know all the words.

Photo Credit Best Shots Photography



Guitarist Paul O'Connor was unreserved in his charisma and talent...especially when they played "Dazed and Confused" (ie, the bow).



Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

Surely everyone who has listened deeply to Zep's songs like I have
loves their innovativeness in their music. Therefore, I won't sound strange when I say I like the thumping bass at the beginning of "Dazed and Confused," brought to us by bass player Eric Swanson.


Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

In case you're wondering, yes, they played "Stairway to Heaven." Something awesome about their cover of it is, they had drums through the whole song. Excellent work, Paul Scholten.


Photo Credit Best Shots Photography