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Posted 8/24/2010
Written by James Downing
Going to see a Pat Benatar concert is like putting a quarter in a classic rock juke box. She performs hit after hit and her voice still sounds great! By adding to that wonderful voice, Pat’s husband Neil Giraldo and his screaming guitar licks, you have one of the best shows on the classic rock circuit today.
Pat Benatar In Concert - Neil Giraldo
Pat Benatar In Concert
Pat didn’t have a new album out to promote this summer but she does have a book out called “Between A Heart And A Hard Place.” Each city tour stop became an appearance at a local bookstore to sign copies of the book and to meet her fans. She was going to be at the Davis Kidd Book Store in Memphis at 12:30pm on the day of the show, so I packed up my bags and took off early that morning so that I could meet up with my friend Julie, who lives in Memphis, and go meet Pat.
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REO Speedwagon
Written by James Downing
Summer means one thing for fans of rock and roll music. That is the time when your favorite rockers are likely to load up on the bus and hit the road. They might have a new album to promote or they might not. But one thing is for sure and that a lot of bands will be playing outside venues. For the past 10 years The Memphis Botanic Garden has hosted a summer concert series called, “Live At The Garden.” The series has hosted a wide range of bands from The Moody Blues to Diana Ross to Train just to name a few. This year two of my favorites were co-headlining a tour that made a stop at The Garden. That is Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon. Continue Reading…
Sheryl Crow - Chattanooga, TN
Written by James Downing
I have always loved a pretty girl with a guitar… And when they could sing I loved them even more. Joan Jett, Susanna Hoffs, Nancy Wilson, Lita Ford and all of the rest of the female rockers always caught my eye. Now, the first time I saw Sheryl Crow on TV with that big red bass, I knew I was hooked before she ever opened her mouth. Over the years she has become my very favorite female singer. I was over-joyed when I heard that she was putting out a new CD this summer and was going on a tour to support it. Continue Reading…
Written By Mike Arnold
On Saturday July 10th, 2010, Concert Blast accepted the invitation to cover the Scorpions farewell concert from their current “Get Your Sting and Blackout Tour,” as the tour stopped in Nashville, TN.
With Tom Thompson on vacation and James Downing attending another show in Memphis, Concert Blast photographer Brian Hasbrook and I attended the show. Here’s the Concert Review.
Scorpions - Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN
It’s been decades since I had the opportunity to witness a Scorpions concert. In fact I had never seen them as a headliner! I always thought that the Scorpions was a good (not great) opening act, but on this night my mind was definitely changed as the Scorpions made believers out of the estimated 6,000 hard rock fans in attendance!
The house lights flickered as a warning for people to get to their seats, an AC/DC song blasted over the house PA system to get the fans ready for a night of excitement. As soon as the song ended, the house lights went down, the stage lights came up and the rockers in the crowd screamed as they anticipated the Scorpions to take the stage for the last time in Nashville, TN (if this is actually a Farewell Tour). Continue Reading…
Written By Mike Arnold
On Saturday July 10th, 2010, Concert Blast was invited to cover The Scorpions farewell concert from their current “Get Your Sting and Blackout Tour,” as the tour stopped in Nashville, TN.
With Tom Thompson on vacation and James Downing attending another show in Memphis, Concert Blast photographer Brian Hasbrook and I attended the show. Here’s the Concert Review for opening act, RATT.
Ratt - Stephen Pearcy
80s hard rock favorites RATT opened the show to an estimated crowd of 6,000 in attendance. When RATT took the stage to flashing lights and noises blasting through the PA system, the crowd became immediately on their feet and remained there for most of the night. Continue Reading…
Alice Cooper
May 17, 2010
Knoxville Memorial Coliseum
Knoxville TN
Written by James Downing
When I was 14 years old I was listening to the music of The Partridge Family, Bobby Sherman, The Osmonds and all of the other “Bubblegum Music” of that era. I thought this music was so cool. Little did I know I had no idea what cool was.
I remember sitting in study hall reading a teen magazine and a friend came up and thumbed through it.
He asked me a question that would change the way I looked at music for the rest of my life. He said, “Have you ever listened to Alice Cooper?”
Alice Cooper In Concert
Of course my response was “Who is she?” He laughed and said it was a guy. Continue Reading…
The Bangles
May 2, 2010
The Pageant
St Louis, MO
Written by James Downing
While Mike, Brian, and Tom were paddling their way around Memphis during the Memphis In May festivities, I was high and dry in St Louis for The Bangles concert at The Pageant. The Bangles have always been one of my all time favorite bands but I had never had the chance to see them live. When I saw that they were playing a date in St Louis, I put in for my vacation days at work and got a ticket the first day they went on sale. I was very excited during the weeks leading up to the show. I was finally going to get to see The Bangles live!
James Downing with Susanna Hoffs
The Bangles were the off spring of another band called The Bangs. An LA band with it roots firmly in the Paisley Pop sound that is so popular in that city. Michael Steele, who was also a brief member of The Runaways, teamed up with sisters Vicki (guitar) and Debbie Peterson (drums) and Susanna Hoffs (guitar) to form one of the most memorable bands from the 80′s. Continue Reading…
Heart
Chattanooga, TN April 15, 2010
Tunica, MS April 17, 2010
In the 70′s one thing was rare in rock and roll. That was a rock band that was fronted by a woman. You had the Carly Simons and the Carole Kings but there just wasn’t that many “rocker chicks” making music in the 70′s. That was until 1975 when two sisters from Seattle, Washington released the album “Dreamboat Annie”. The record was a huge hit and was heard blasting out of the speakers of any rock station not only in America, but all over the world. The two sisters were Ann and Nancy Wilson. They followed up “Dreamboat Annie” with “Magazine”, “Little Queen”, “Dog & Butterfly” and many more. Each album spawned hit single after hit single. The hits kept coming and the band had even more success in the 80′s.
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Here’s a Concert Blast interview with Lawrence Gowan of Styx that Mike Arnold conducted in November, 2009. Many Styx fans continue to ask about Dennis DeYoung, not knowing that Dennis hadn’t been in the band for over 10 years. Canada’s Lawrence Gowan has stepped in and has done an excellent job!
On November 15 2009, the Can’t Stop Rocking Tour made its stop in Nashville, TN. Mike Arnold had been communicating with Styx’s publicists and management about a possible interview with their keyboardist/lead singer, Lawrence Gowan. On the day of the show, their schedule became much tighter as Styx was invited to sing the National Anthem before the Tennessee Titans football game. Since they were under such time restraints, Mike and Lawrence decided to conduct their interview through email.
For those who aren’t familiar with the rocker, enjoying learning a little about Lawrence.
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What do you get when one of rock and roll’s best guitarist, mix that with a little rock-a-billy and throw in some Christmas cheer for good measure? You get the annual Brian Setzer Christmas Extravaganza. On Wednesday, Dec. 9th 2009, Brian Setzer and company played to a completely sold out Ryman Auditorium and boy did the concert goers get their money’s worth. The stage was decorated with Santas, Wooden Soldiers, Christmas Trees and wrapped gifts. This is the 7th year that this show has toured during the Christmas season. And judging from the reaction of the crowd he will be doing it for many years to come. They loved it.
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