A nice mix of action is coming to the stage. Here is our Youtube enhanced preview

Rhonda Vincent with opening act Newgrass Troubadours

Ticket Prices: $15.00, $20.00, $25.00, $30.00

D.L. Hughley and Friends “Laugh Your A*s Off Comedy Explosion

Ticket Prices: $45.00

Seems a little steep for DL but remember he was an original “King of Comedy” so hopefully he still has some good material.

Here is some classic stuff.  WARNING- We rate this PG13 because much of what he says seems to be pretty common language. Some might give it an R.  But it is hilarious when he starts cracking on the audience.

The Color Purple

Ticket Prices: $47.30, $58.30, $63.80

Michael McDonald

Ticket Prices: $35.00, $45.00, $55.00

Living legend Willie Nelson, Master Illusionist David Copperfield, 14 time Grammy winning Bluegrass performer Ricky Skaggs  and a Comedy Central favorite  comedian Brian Regan will all perform on the MPAC stage in January.

Here is a preview of each artist:

Willie Nelson created this video himself. Guess you don’t have to have a big studio to make a cool video!

Although Willie skips the original intro in the Tom T Hall classic:

Well I met the man in Montgomery, Alabama
I was waiting on a bus and he was shining shoes
And I heard him say:

listen to the lyrics at about 24 seconds for a Montgomery reference. Maybe he will sing the original intro at the show.

David Copperfield is probably the most recognized magician in the world.Here is a mentalist trick that you can actually play along with.

From “I Walked on the Moon”. Hilarious clip about food and their  labels.

It doesnt get any more vintage than this. A seven year old Skaggs performing with Lester Flatt and Earl Tubbs

Visit MPAC online for tickets and more info

If you have or know of anyone who has footage or photos of Rick performing Human Touch please contact the editor. Eddieographer is gathering footage to construct a fabulous video using footage from different cameras. All contributors will be given full credit.

In the meantime

Stu Cook original member

Doug “Cosmo” Clifford- original member

The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre and Rick Springfield are Great News.

The fest start with Alice Cooper’s Theatre of Death on the 7th, followed by a back to back night of Creedence Clearwater Revisited on the 15th and Queensryche on the 16th and then closing out with Rick Springfield on the 24th.

There is even a Disney Playhouse event on the 18th to get the whole family in on the action.

Here is the cut and paste info from MPAConline.org and a cool video of each act follows.

Being described as a legend in one’s own time is certainly a blatantly abused cliche’, but no one has taken a vivid imagination and unusual persona to the people with as much controversy and success as Alice Cooper. Call him Master of Shoch Rock, Black Humorist, Supreme, or simply one of the era’s great showman, his mark has been undeniable.  Some of his hits include “Eighteen,” “Elected,” “School’s Out,” and ” No More Mr. NIce Guy.” Along with the classics of “Only Women Bleed” and “Poison.” With the release of “Along Came a Spider,” his 2008 album, Alice shows no sign of slowing down.

Creedence Clearwater Revival founding members and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo” Clifford have announced numerous North American tour dates with their band Creedence Clearwater Revisited. The two former members of the legendary group Creedence Clearwater Revival launched the Creedence Clearwater Revisited project to once again perform live CCR hits – the touchstones of a generation. The group’s performances are more than a rock concert, they are a celebration. Creedence Clearwater Revisited concerts have audiences singing, shouting and stomping along to every note of every song. Creedence Clearwater Revisited also includes powerhouse lead singer/rhythm guitar player John Tristao, lead guitarist Tal Morris and multi instrumentalist/vocalist Steve Gunner. Creedence Clearwater Revisited’s album Recollection (Hip-O/Universal Records) was recently certified Platinum by the RIAA. Its CD in the Best of 20th Century Masters Millennium Collection series (Hip-O/Universal) was released last year.

Hollywood Reporter critic John Lappen described a Creedence Clearwater Revisited concert as “… an amazing list of hit after hit that was done serious justice by the players involved. The cheering crowd had big smiles and whoops of joy at hearing live some of the best American rock ever written and recorded.”

“…And people sometimes lose the vision of where we came from. They’re sitting in the laps of luxury in a country that was built on over 3.5 million deaths…”So begins the saga of American Soldier.Brace yourself for the boldest statement of Queensrÿche’s storied career.“We began the project that would become American Soldier right after Mindcrime II was released,” says Queensrÿche frontman and visionary Geoff Tate of his band’s ambitious new release, their fourth for Rhino. “The process started with a conversation with my dad. He was a career military man, with the Marines in Korea and an Air Force tour of duty in Vietnam in ’68. He was with the Air Force my entire life. He had never talked about his experiences in war, and all my life I’ve been asking questions and waiting for the stories that I never heard. These past couple of years he started talking, and I taped one of the conversations. That was the beginning…”American Soldier is more than a concept album; it is a statement of mission, a revelation of purpose, and a march for understanding. This record is not political at all,” affirms Tate. “It’s very much a statement of the soldiers; it’s where they are at and what they have experienced. I hope the album, as a whole, is a statement that can get them talking to each other and begin that process of connecting that needs to happen between people.”In a first for Queensrÿche, all of the guitar tracks on American Soldier were recorded by Michael Wilton.With American Soldier Queensrÿche’s epic career continues, proving yet again that the only thing that can rival the band’s music is their vision. As Geoff Tate’s father says in the chilling introduction to “The Voice,” the album’s closing track, “You reap what you sow…”Don’t be afraid…-Paul Gargano (02.09)

Lita Ford Gets Wicked with Queensryche

The Queen of Heavy Metal, Lita, has teamed up with Queensryche for a fall tour that can only be described as a metal fan’s ultimate musical fantasy. Instead of just hitting the road with Geoff Tate and the gang, Queensryche will also be joining Lita onstage for her entire set.

Lita will perform three songs on the tour, including her hit song, “Close My Eyes Forever,” which she will duet with Geoff; as well as two new songs, “Crave,” the duet with her husband Jim Gillette which debuted at #2 on metal radio and is another huge hit for Lita and “Patriotic S.O.B.” with the Queensryche band backing her up.

“I’m so excited about how we’re doing this tour,” says Lita. “It’s a really cool way to do a show. I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing my fans again as well as meeting Queensryche’s fans. It should be a real fun time for all.”

GreatNewsMontgomery.com was there to catch the action.

Other winners of the prestigious International Magicians of the Year title include David Copperfield, Chris Angel and Penn and Teller. This is the BIG ONE for magicians.

Theatre of Illusion is described as a magical concert for your eyes

“Audiences cross over a threshold of disbelief only moments after the Spencers take the stage. The duo presents a big, high-tech stage show that combines drama, comedy, romance, and suspense with elaborate stage illusions that include dazzling special effects and magnificent set design.

Working with some of the leading creators, inventors, designers, and builders in the industry, the Spencers feature many original illusions that you simply won’t see anywhere else.

Kevin believes, when presented properly, the art of illusion has the potential to move an audience – both emotionally and intellectually – in much the same way as great music, inspiring dance, and powerful theatre.”

The  Spencers are great magicians but what drew out attention to them was not their great act but the fact that they are real people who give back to the communities they visit. For example:

This couple is super-talented and are working on something else besides Theatre of Illusion and their other community service projects. Have a look at this video we received.

Before the show MPAC general manager, Allen Sanders announced some of the great upcoming shows to the Centre and it was impressive.

Click here for info

JT and Leanne of Mix103 fame also appeared onstage and had some great things to say about MPAC as well.

Here are some interesting pictures from the evening

Eddie runs into Kim Traff, publisher of RSVP magazine  before the show

The FAB Foiur made the crowd work real hard for a tshirt-it was a nice one though

You can buy your own shirt or CD  at their online store click  here

The Yellow Submarine zipping over the stage

This “Ed Sullivan” sure looks familiar

Who is he really ?

For the answer to that question and a full review of the show see the upcoming issue of

RSVP Magazine.

We are really excited about contributing to the magazine and look forward to adding depth to the  already entertaining style and content of

the” River Region Guide for all Things Social”

IN the meantime enjoy the videos

Here is a picture of a car in the parking deck that would have been real appropriate for our Beehive review

Updated 22 Sept 2009

Copy of original review submitted to RSVP

Ed Sullivan  welcomed us to his “really big shew” at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre and introduced the FAB4

Coming out in suits and opening with I Wanna Hold Your Hand and  Please Please Me they recreated music that spearheaded the British Invasion of the 60′s

The use of original graphics and period news reels displayed on a big screen behind the band added big time visuals and excitement to the show.

After finishing chartoppers I Saw Her Standing There and Twist and Shout most of the ensemble went backstage leaving  Ardy Saraff  to display his mastery of McCartney by  performing  Yesterday in perfect sync with a vintage Paul McCartney video.

Instead of an intermission, Jerry Hobin- Ed Sullivan in Pulp Fiction,  came back and cracked joke after joke that kept the audience laughing in stiches.
He announced several upcoming guests  that included a male flamenco dance team from Spain called the “Cavorting Cahonies” and apologized that the twins from Tennessee couldn’t make it as Dolly Parton was feeling ill.

Attired in lavish outfits reminiscent of  Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band the FAB4 reappeared to jam some more.
Like George Harrison, Michael Amador rocked and plucked the lead guitar while Ron Sandoval mimicked the drumstrokes of Ringo Starr to perfection.

The hippie and trippy Strawberry Fields was a crowd favorite while everyone wanted to ride in a Yellow Submarine that streamed across the stage. After taking much good natured ribbing throughout the evening  Ringo deservedly  got some spotlight  love with a Little Help From My Friends.

Ron Mcneil recollected the tragic and senseless death of peace advocate John Lennon then sang a stirring version of Imagine that left a lump in this reviewers throat and brought tears to the eyes of several audience members.

These blokes looked liked, talked like and sounded like the Beatles  so much so that Paul Stanley of Kiss recently  said “we sat in the audience and our jaws dropped…and its pretty difficult to have our jaws drop”

The show ended with Revolution  and an extended version of Hey Jude that had everyone standing and singing improvised versions of the title.

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