Octoberfest of Music at MPAC

The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown Montgomery will have four great concerts in October.

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.”