While some popular musical acts benefit from bringing peers in their genre along on the road with them to aid with less than stellar ticket sales or a lack of sufficient hits, some obviously don’t require any help in the field. In these instances, being treated to ‘two for the price of one’ is simply […]
Category: Live Review
Dayne and Friends ‘Lead’ NY ‘Back’ to the ’80s
In any educated conversation about female artists of the 1980s, there are certainly going to be a few names that are unavoidable – Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, and of course, Madonna, all immediately come to mind. But as ardent fanciers of the totally awesome decade will attest, the roster of gifted women who […]
RATT ‘Back For More’ In New York
Sleaze rock veterans RATT scurried into Long Island, N.Y.’s Paramount on Thursday, December 19, as part of their In Your Direction tour, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the group’s seminal offering, Out of the Cellar. The rodent-branded quintet, led by gravelly-voiced front man Stephen Pearcy, barreled through a brisk, hits-heavy set that leaned considerably on tracks […]
‘Rockin’ the Paradise’ – Styx is Stellar in New York
When veteran artists produce new music, it tends to be a precarious endeavor. While diehard fanatics of still-active classic bands of the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, such as the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and Cheap Trick, will usually seek out any and every release of their favorite acts, the vast majority of casual […]
Queen Musical Set To ‘Rock You’
Jukebox musicals have always been one of the most popular varieties of stage presentations. From Movin’ Out, which features the reflective, down-to-earth, stylings of Billy Joel, to Mamma Mia!, a raucous celebration of Swedish dance pop sensations ABBA, to Rock of Ages, a tongue-in-cheek tribute to 1980s glam rock, the subgenre has seen its share […]
Joan Still ‘Loves Rock ‘n’ Roll’ While Heart Tries To Find the ‘Magic, Man’
Two of rock’s most decorated female-led acts closed out this year’s Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater concert season with both a bang and a whimper, depending on which portion of the performances one referred to. Dubbed Love Alive, headliners Ann and Nancy Wilson, with their bandmates in Heart, teamed up with punk pioneer Joan […]
Extreme Bring The ‘Funk’ To NY
Widely pigeonholed for their syrupy, Everly Brothers-esque hit “More Than Words,” Extreme has always been a band that’s defied expectations. Although the New England-bred funk rock act’s career was launched with their self-titled debut at the tail-end of the 80s, it wasn’t until their 1990 sophomore release, Pornograffitti, lit up the charts that Extreme became […]
A ‘Rock’ing Conversation With Mitch Jarvis
Royal Flush had the pleasure of speaking with Mitchell Jarvis (Lonny) before a recent performance of Rock of Ages. In addition to discussing the hit jukebox musical, the gifted thespian weighed in on his starring role in last year’s Gettin’ The Band Back Together, his favorite 80s rocker, and what the future holds. Royal Flush: […]
It’s ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ At Rock of Ages Revival
Glam rock and theater are two canons of pop culture that seemingly couldn’t be more distinct. But if that’s entirely true, the thousands of hybrid fans of both genres that have made Rock of Ages, Chris D’Arienzo’s cleverly crafted classic rock creation, one of the longest running shows in Broadway history, clearly failed to get […]
Chicago Still Getting ‘Stronger Every Day’
Chicago is anything but an ordinary rock and roll band. Though often associated with softer style acts such as REO Speedwagon, Air Supply, and Orleans, in reality, the Midwestern outfit, formed more than 50 years ago in Illinois’ most populous city, is much more complex than that. While most traditional classic rock bands boast an […]