thunder Valley Casino Resort
Pyschic Sylvia Browne just can’t get it right
Sylvia Browne at Thunder Valley Casino
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Psychic Sylvia Browne continues to rack-up epic fails when it comes to helping families with missing children and her psychic predictions in general.
Parents who are desperate to find answers about their missing child have turned to Browne for her “expert’ advice, only to be told their loved one is dead, setting off an avalanche of emotions for family and friends.
In the recent case of Amanda Berry, who was kidnapped 10 years ago and escaped her captors earlier this week, Browne informed her mother in 2004 that she was dead.
Browne was a regular on “The Montell Williams Show,” so host Montell Williams invited Amanda’s mother Louwanna Miller on his show to talk to the Psychic in 2004. Browne informed Miller that her daughter was dead, “She’s not alive, honey. Your daughter’s not the kind who wouldn’t call.”
In an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper Miller said that she believed Browne.
Sylvia Browne at Thunder Valley Casino
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Prior to informing Miller that her daughter was “not alive,” in 2003 Browne told the parents of missing teen Shawn Hornbeck that he was dead, even providing details as to the location of his body. While his dead body was never recovered, his living breathing body was found by authorities in an apartment in Kirkwood, Missouri, where he was being held captive with another individual.
Browne responds:
Browne responded to her critics today on her Facebook page, “I want to make this clear for all of the people who are upset about my prediction on the show that day. Most people writing or posting about this story have not watched the show,” she continued, “For those of you who want to know what I did say to her mother, following are my exact words from the transcript.”
Browne explained, “Amanda’s mother asked me asked me if I was ever wrong and this is what I said to her. ‘Only God is right all the time but of course I’m wrong,” Browne responded. “But after 50 years of doing this work, I’d better be more right than wrong. I always say I hope I’m wrong. When it comes to this, I hope I’m wrong.’”
Browne neglected to address the comments being widely quoted, “She’s not alive, honey,” and how often the psychic has been wrong in these types of cases.
One fact remains. Browne told Miller that her daughter was dead and she was wrong.
CelebrityExaminer recently saw Browne at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, Calif. where she “entertained” a sold-out crowd of believers.
The 76-year-old psychic allowed a set number of audience members to step up to the microphone to ask a question. However, Browne was clear when providing instructions to the audience. “Please just one question, and when you get up, don’t just say ‘tell me’. At least give me a category otherwise we’ll be here for a 45 minute reading.”
Read: Review: PSYchic Sylvia Browne
For the most part Browne provided answers that one would expect, being direct, but vague with her answers. There were times she mentioned names, but due to the format of the questions and answers, it was difficult to determine if she was accurate in her responses since there were no follow-up questions.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper looked into the psychic’s claims in a segment of Anderson Cooper 360, which can be viewed on Youtube.
If you want all the dirt on Browne you can visit Stop Sylvia Browne. As of this writing the site was currently down.
Are you a fan? Do you believe? If so, why?
Medley’s get righteous at Thunder Valley Casino
Bill Medley – Click for more images
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and legendary Righteous Brother Bill Medley along with daughter McKenna Medley, performed at Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday.
Bill was backed by the very talented 3 Bottle Band, who has been playing together with Medley for over 35 years. Band members were Gabe Rabben (drums), Jamie Browning (bass/vocals), Tim Lee (keyboards), and Larry Hanson (lead guitar).
This year marks the 51st anniversary of the Righteous Brothers. The second half of the duo, Bobby Hatfield, died of a heart attack back in 2003; Medley now tours with the 3 Bottle Band and his daughter Mckenna.
McKenna Medley – Click for more images
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Kicking off the show was a video showing Medley as he made appearances in various shows throughout his career, including the David Letterman Show and the hit TV series, Cheers. As the video ended, Medley started to sing “A Song for You” while he was still offstage. After about a minute he started to make his way to the stage, providing for a nice dramatic entrance.
The audience was mesmerized with Medley from the start as he continued with “Show Me” and “Soul and Inspiration.” In between songs he would talk about life and joke with the crowd.
Jamie Browning
Photo: Randy Miramontez
The 72 year old Medley’s voice was rough at times, but had a nice coarse sound to it. He even made fun of himself after singing “Unchained Melody,” saying he knew everyone was waiting to see if he could hit the high note, but didn’t. He did follow the joke with a quick high note, which sounded great.
For his hit song, “Time of My Life,” from the movie Dirty Dancing, Medley brought out Mckenna to perform Jennifer Warnes’ part. McKenna did an awesome job and has a very melodic voice with a bit of a country/blues flavor.
Tim Lee (R) and Larry Hanson
Photo: Randy Miramontez
McKenna went on to perform solo, singing “Silk Flowers” and “Give Me One Reason.”
After McKenna completed her set, Medley sat down at the keyboards and called on band member Jamie Browning to sing a few songs with him and McKenna. This is where Medley shined, providing the audience a glimpse of what it’s like to jam with one of the best.
Gabe Rabben
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Mckenna has just recently started a blog called “A Righteous Fit,” chronicling her daily struggles and successes to keep fit. McKenna says, “Staying in shape is a constant struggle for me. I’m not here because I have all the answers, even though I may have a few tricks- especially when it comes to traveling,” she goes on to say, “But I just want to inspire good health, and have a place to be accountable for my own health.” It was fun following her posts on her trip to Thunder Valley.
V101’s Big Valentines Jam
Club Nouveau
Photo by: Randy Miramontez
Thunder Valley Casino Resort did it again Friday night as they packed them in for V101’s Big Valentine’s Day Jam with a stellar lineup including Sacramento’s own Club Nouveau, Zapp, and The Bar-Kay’s.
Thunder Valley Casino’s Pano Hall was at capacity as droves of fans crowded in to see their favorite bands from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Starting off the show was Club Nouveau performing a number of their hits including “Situation #9,” “Jealousy,” and their No. 1 hit “Lean on Me.” The crowd met them with wild applause as fans were jumping to their feet.
The Zapp Band
Photo by: Randy Miramontez
A couple of their songs fell flat for me, but the audience didn’t seem to mind since the majority of the room remained on their feet for most of their performance. Closing with “Lean on Me,” the instrumentals were lacking with the piano getting lost in the mix of things. Founding members Jay King and Vallerie Watson were joined by original member Samuelle Prater.
The logistics for this show were difficult at best with Zapp and The Bar-Kay’s bringing in a large number of instruments with everything from drums and keyboards to Zapp’s Peter Frampton style Talkbox. This may have contributed to the less than stellar performance by Club Nouveau.
The Zapp Band
Photo by: Randy Miramontez
Zapp followed Club Nouveau with many of their hits which included “More Bounce to the Ounce,” “Dance Floor” and “Computer Love,” just to name a few. Founding members and brothers Lester Troutman, Terry “Zapp” Troutman and Vontel Troutman were joined by Gregory Jackson and Thomas Troutman.
What can I say about the Zapp band other than they simply killed it. Great colorful props, bright clothes, bright lights, and wonderful sounds, this group of guys had the crowd on their feet during their entire set.
As Zapp finished their set a large number of people headed for the doors. While some came back in for headliner The Bar-Kay’s many didn’t. Apparently a small portion of the fans were there to see Zapp.
The Bar-Kays
Photo: Randy Miramontez
As The Bar-Kay’s took the stage the crowd was re-energized and back on their feet. The crowd seemed more subdued for The Bar-Kay’s than for Zapp, but that evaporated mid-way through their set.
Onstage was Larry Dodson (lead singer), James Alexander (bass), Tony Gentry (guitar), Ezra Williams (keyboards), Carlos Sargent (drums), Mark Bynum (keyboards), Darrel Stanley (background vocals), Archie Love (background vocals) and Mike Anderson (guitar).
The Bar-Kays
Bringing on the funk, The Bark-Kay’s performed many of their hits including “Soul Finger,” “Let’s Have Some Fun” and “Hit and Run.”
While The Bar-Kay’s had a stellar performance, at the end of the day Zapp stole the show and clearly should have had top billing.
For a complete listing of upcoming shows visit Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
First annual induction into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame
Founder of SSHOF T.C. Martin – Click for more images
TC Martin, founder of the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame (SSHOF), introduced the first class of inductees into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The nominees include legends that are forever rooted in Sacramento’s pop-culture.
Opening, Martin explained that him and his partner Jim Hanzalik with WorldOne Presents had always wanted to do something like this and wondered why nobody else had started this before now. After a number of calls to various sports legends in the Sacramento area, including Dusty Baker and Mayor Kevin Johnson, the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame was founded.
Referring to the 56 nominees Martin said, “It was time for them to be recognized and so the goal here was to publicly acknowledge and recognize the great individual talent that we have here in Sacramento, Calif.”
Dennis Gaxiola roasts inductees
Present in the audience were baseball greats Leron Lee, Rowland Office, and Jerry Royster, along with boxing hero Loreto Garza.
Voting for the nominees took place between November 20 and December 20, where Sacramento area sports fans were able to cast their votes online for their favorite sports legend.
Fans were allowed to vote for their top five sports figures from a list of 56 nominees that spanned generations of Sacramento superstars. Over 7,300 votes were cast with fans ultimately selecting the inductees.
The inductees for the first annual SSHOF were, in order of introduction:
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson – Click for more images
Kevin Johnson
Thirteen year career in the NBA and a three time NBA All-Star, Johnson had 13,127 career points, and 6,711 career assists.
Johnson was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 7th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. On February 28, 1988, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. In his first full season with Phoenix, he grew into one of the game’s elite players averaging 20.4 points and 12.2 assists per game. He joined Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to average 20 points and 12 assists in a season.
In the summer of 1994, Johnson played with the U.S. National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team II. He led the Dream Team II squad to a Gold medal in the FIBA World Championships.
With basketball behind him Johnson continues to be the spotlight as he is the Mayor of Sacramento. He was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. He continues to be a positive role model for kids and is extremely popular in his hometown.
Jennifer Cartwright Thomas accepts award for brother Bill Cartwright
Bill Cartwright
Sixteen year career in the NBA, three time NBA World Champion and played in the 1990 NBA All-Stars. Cartwright has 12,713 career points, and 6,106 career rebounds. Three time West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
Cartwright was the third overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, selected by the New York Knicks, making the All-Star team in his rookie season averaging more than 20 points per game. He went on to play nine seasons with the Knicks before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1988.
Starting in 1991 through 1993, Cartwright helped the Chicago Bulls win three consecutive NBA Titles. Playing a total of 16 years in the NBA, he retired after the 1995 season and went on to become assistant coach to Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls. He later became head coach of the Bulls.
TC Martin and Summer Sanders – Click for more images
Summer Sanders
Sanders is a Double Olympic Gold Medalist from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona for the 200m Butterfly and the 4x100m Medley. She also scored the silver for the 200m Medley and bronze for the 400m Medley.
Sanders won three gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games before embarking on her collegiate career at Stanford University.
Sanders began her second career while she was still competing, when in 1992 she was a commentator for CBS Sports for the NCAA Swimming Championships. In 1996, she was a commentator for NBC’s coverage of the swimming events at the Atlanta Olympics, and contributed to the network’s coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as an on-site reporter at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Sanders has appeared in films and numerous television shows including “Celebrity Apprentice” and Food Network’s reality series “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.” She also spent 8 years co-hosting “NBA Inside Stuff.”
Sanders is also a health and fitness advocate, producing articles, tips and workouts for various magazines, as well as the author of “Champions Are Raised Not Born.” She is a UNICEF and a Right to Play Ambassador, and the national spokesperson for the ReThink Varicose Veins campaign.
Tony “The Tiger” Lopez – Click for more images
Tony “ The Tiger” Lopez
Lopez is a three time world champion boxer, with two International Boxing Federation Super Featherweight Champions and a World Boxing Association Lightweight Championship.
Lopez’s career record is 50 wins, eight losses and one draw. Included in his 50 wins is a whopping 34 knockouts.
Lopez was a warrior in the ring and known for his outstanding punching power and exciting fights. His fights were the highest grossing bouts in the history of Sacramento as he fought some classic matches at the Memorial Auditorium and Arco Arena.
He is remembered for his two victories over Rocky Lockridge including the 1988 “Ring Fight of the Year” which was televised nationally. In October of 1992 he beat Joey Gamache for the WBA Lightweight title. Other notable victories included two wins over John John Molina, Tyrone Jackson, Jorge Paez, Joey Gamache, Dingaan Thobela and Greg Haugen.
Lopez will always be remembered for his crowd pleasing style and smile. He still resides in his hometown and currently owns a Tony “The Tiger” Bail Bonds agency in downtown Sacramento.
Dusty Baker – Click for more images
Dusty Baker
Where do you start with someone who is so accomplished in all things baseball?
Baker’s baseball career spans over 38 years. He has played with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants. He’s a two time All-Star with one World Series Championship in 1981. Golden Glove winner, two time Silver Slugger Award and the National League Championship Series MVP in 1977.
Baker has managed the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and currently the Cincinnati Reds. He has 1,581 victories under his belt poised to surpass his good friend and colleague Tony LaRussa.
Dusty started playing locally at Del Campo and American River College before being drafted in 1967 by the Atlanta Braves. Playing with numerous Hall of Famers including Hank Aaron, Baker has seen it all as a player and manager.
Dusty was the first National League manager to win Manager of the year award three times. He has been to the post season as a skipper with all three of his teams (SF, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati). He recently won the 2012 NL Central division title with the Reds, (the second time in the past three years). He made an immediate impact with all of his teams he has managed taking over struggling teams and leading them into the playoffs.
Dusty continues to live the Sacramento area during the off season and has been an outstanding member of the community.
Press conference: Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame
TC Martin founder and Executive Director of SSHOF
In a recent news conference held at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, TC Martin founder of the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame announced the first class of inductees into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame.
Voting took place between November 20 and December 20, where Sacramento area sports fans were able to cast their votes online for their favorite sports legend.
Fans were allowed to vote for their top five sports figures from a list of 56 nominees that spanned generations of Sacramento superstars. Over 7,300 votes were cast with fans ultimately selecting the inductees.
Dusty Baker talks to reporters
The top five vote getters will be enshrined and honored on February 2, 2013 at the First Annual Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame Celebration to be held at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
“The fans really embraced this” said founder and Executive Director, TC Martin. “The fans were actively involved in the voting process and showed great support for the concept and their favorite athletes. We have seen a tremendous response from Sacramento sports fans.”
Tony “Tiger” Lopez talks to reporters
Heading the first induction class of 2013 is current Cincinnati Reds Manager and former Giants skipper, Dusty Baker. “It is an honor and privilege to be selected” said Baker, who was on hand for the press conference. “I’m honored to be from Sacramento and this shows everyone around the country what great talent we have here.”
Also selected were former Elk Grove and NBA star Bill Cartwright, fellow NBA all-star and current Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson, boxing legend Tony “Tiger” Lopez, and Olympic medalist Summer Sanders.
“This is truly an honor and I sincerely appreciate the recognition” said Cartwright. “To be part of this group with these tremendous athletes is terrific.”
Tony Lopez signs autographs for fans at Thunder Valley Casino
Also on hand at the press conference was local boxing legend Tony “Tiger” Lopez, who has won three world titles. “It’s a big honor” said Lopez. “For people to show the appreciation of all the hard work it’s very special to be honored in my hometown.”
Four of the five inductees will be present to accept their induction at the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame Celebration event on February 2nd at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Cartwright will not be in attendance since he just accepted a head coaching jon in Japan. Fans will get and up close and personal look at these Sacramento legends. Tickets are now on sale at Thunder Valley or at ticketmaster.com. VIP ticket packages are available which include a meet and greet with the inductees.
Ohio Players frontman Sugarfoot dead at 70
Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – Click for more images
I am extremely sad to report that Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, the colorful and flamboyant lead singer for the Ohio Players, died yesterday at the age of 70.
UPDATE: In an official family statement released by Scott Hanover the family said, “Yesterday, Leroy ‘Sugarfoot’ Bonner passed away quietly in his hometown of Trotwood-Dayton, OH. While his family, friends, colleagues, and fans mourn his passing they celebrate fondly his memory, music, and legacy.”
The statement continued, “Humble yet charismatic, soft spoken and of few words, the weight of his thoughts, lyrics, and music has influenced countless other artists, songs, and trends. He will be missed but not forgotten as his legacy and music lives on. More details and an official historical perspective of his career will soon be forthcoming.
His Facebook page is available to all to post comments, reflections, and testimonials of this wonderful and gifted man: https://www.facebook.com/sugarfootsohioplayers.”
The Ohio Players were originally formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1959, and were known as the Ohio Untouchables. After a brief breakup the band regrouped in 1963 adding Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner on lead guitar and eventually he went on to front the band.
The band’s first big hit single was “Funky Worm”, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and made the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1973, selling over one million copies.
The band had seven Top 40 hits between 1973 and 1976 including, “Fire,” “Love Rollercoaster” and “Who’d She Coo?”
Recently the master of funk brought the Ohio Players to Thunder Valley Casino Resort (read review). Sugarfoot was helped onstage and appeared frail. However, backstage he was jovial and very friendly to the staff and fans as they lined up to meet the ‘70s icon.
Review: PSYchic Sylvia Browne
Sylvia Browne
Not to be confused with pop-sensation PSY, PSYchic Sylvia Browne performed two shows at Thunder Valley Casino Resort recently, with both shows complete sellouts.
Browne is a self-proclaimed psychic and bills herself as a spiritual teacher, author, lecturer and researcher in the field of parapsychology. According to her website she is, “well known for her dynamic, genuine, down-to-earth style and personality. She lectures, teaches, and counsels people from all over the world including Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.”
As I entered Pano Hall I was dodging wheel chairs and walkers as the mostly older crowd slowly filled the room to capacity.
Center stage was a comfortable looking chair for the 76 year-old Sylvia with a couple of microphones setup onstage and off, for audience members. Her husband of five years, Michael, assisted Browne onstage transferring her from a wheelchair to the chair. She required the wheelchair because a few months ago she broke her hip and her arm.
Sylvia Browne – Click for more images
As the show started, Browne said she was there to talk about how people can protect themselves. She went on to explain how people are concerned about how they look, but never think about their soul, going on to say, “We really in this day and age, need to be spiritual warriors.”
For about an hour Browne continued telling various stories about her life and how she guides people through storms. Many of her stories were extremely humorous and anyone coming into the room may have thought there was a comedy show going on.
As people first entered Pano Hall they were given a ticket for a chance to ask Browne a question. Almost an hour into the show Browne started pulling tickets from a jar and reading off the number, as she did people were to head to the nearest microphone.
Audience member asking Sylvia a question
After pulling about 30 tickets, Browne made it clear what was allowed when asking a questions saying, “Please just one question, and when you get up, don’t just say ‘tell me’. At least give me a category otherwise we’ll be here for a 45 minute reading.”
Questions ran the gambit from, “I wanted to ask about my health,” to, “I lost my son a couple of years ago.”
For the most part Browne provided answers that one would expect, being direct, but vague with her answers. There were times she mentioned names, but due to the format of the questions and answers, it was difficult to determine if she was accurate in her responses since there were no follow-up questions.
Browne was aggressive and harsh with some of her answers, especially when you compare her bedside manner with the likes of John Edward, who is friendlier and more astute when it comes to readings. In his live performances he takes a “shotgun” approach with a portion of the audience, narrowing down to a particular individual by asking questions until he gets a hit.
Browne is no stranger to controversy. One of her more infamous blunders came when she informed a couple that their kidnapped son was dead, only to have him surface alive three days later.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper looked into the psychic’s claims in a segment of Anderson Cooper 360, which can be viewed on Youtube.
If you are a fan of Browne, then it’s well worth your money to take in a performance and listen to her insights and humorous stories. However, I took little from her “readings” since audience members were only allowed one question, with very little interaction.
Tower of Power amps up New Year’s
Tower of Power – Click for more images
Tower of Power electrified a sold out crowd at Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s New Year’s celebration on Monday night, concluding the casino’s four day countdown to the New Year.
The band started around 10:30 p.m. and the crowd immediately responded by clapping and jumping to their feet, with a number of couples spilling into the aisles to dance.
The San Francisco Bay Area based band got their start in the late 60’s when founding members Emilio Castillo (tenor sax/vocals) and Stephen “Doc” Kupka got together. Joining the two founding members onstage were long standing members Francis “Rocco” Prestia (bass) and Dave Geribaldi (drums), along with Larry Braggs (lead vocals), Roger Smith (keyboards/vocals), Tom E. Politzer (lead tenor sax), Adolfo Acosta, (trumpet/flugelhorn), Jerry Cortez (guitar/vocals), and Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet).
Stephen Kupka – Click for more images
Starting their set with “I Like Your Style” and “Ain’t Nothing Stopping Us Now,” the horn section is obviously the cornerstone of Tower of Power’s musical style, as Castillo, Doc, and Rocco started flexing their horns causing the audience to cheer even louder.
When TOP, as their fans refer to them, started playing their slower songs like “Just When We Start Making it” and “Me and Mrs. Jones,” droves of fans left their seats and headed to the aisles to slow dance.
As the New Year arrived, the band struck up “Auld Lang Syne,” as everyone donned their hats and noise makers (compliments of Thunder Valley), as hundreds of balloons started tumbling to the floor.
It was quite a sight to see, and hear, as some people popped balloons, while others were hitting them back up into the air.
Balloon drop – Click for more images
Once things settled down, Tower of Power continued with “Young Man” and “Soul With a
Capital S,” leaving many of their fans wanting more.
Those with any energy left headed to the casino for their 1:30 a.m. drawing, where someone won a share of $25,000, including the grand prize of $10,000.
Tower of Power still has a lot of energy left after all these years. Couple the two founding members with the younger members of the band and they still have a recipe for success.
Set-list:
I Like Your Style
Ain’t Nothing Stopping Us Now
Having Fun
Oil in the Ground
Can’t You See
Come Back Baby
Funkafize
Just When We Start Making it
Maybe It’ll Rub Off
So I Got to Groove
Me and Mrs. Jones
Jame Brown Medley of songs
Hard to Go
Souled Out
Auld Lang Syne
What is Hip
Young Man
Soul With a Capital S
Air Supply in demand at Thunder Valley
Graham Russell (L) and Russell Hitchcock
Crap it happened again.
Last year Air Supply stormed into Thunder Valley Casino Resort playing all their hits from the ‘70s and 80’s, pretty much nothing but love songs, and I liked it. It was after that show, back in December of last year, that I started questioning my maleness. Was it time to turn in my man-card?
To prove to myself that I wasn’t playing for the other team, I decided to take in a Chippendales show (review) followed by a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight (review). That didn’t go so well. You can read those reviews and decide for yourself, but in my mind, I think I failed – not that that’s a bad thing, at least that’s what my wife keeps telling me.
Russell Hitchcock and Jonni Lightfoot – Click for more images
Well I got a do over as Air Supply came back to Thunder Valley Casino on Sunday night playing to another sold out crowd.
It all started out quietly enough as founding members Russell Hitchcock (lead vocals) and Graham Russell (guitar/vocals) took the stage with fellow band members Jonni Lightfoot (bass/vocals), Aaron McLain (guitar/vocals), Aviv Cohen (drums), and filling in for Amir Efrat on keyboards Davy Nathan.
Hitchcock wading through the crowd – Click for more images
They kicked of the night with “Even the Nights are Better” and “Just as I Am,” as their fans greeted them with deafening applause, mixed with the occasional scream.
Midway through the show, Russell went unplugged with “Me and The River,” as Nathan accompanied him on keys. All the other band members, including Hitchcock left the stage.
As Russell finished “Me and The River” he was handed another guitar for his next song, only it wasn’t working. As Nathan, the guitar guy, not to be confused with Nathan the keyboard guy, worked on the problem, Hitchcock came back out on stage and told a joke about an elephant and something about a stocking over his head. It was quite funny, but you had to be there.
Taking a bow
Once Russell had his guitar functioning again, Hitchcock appeared stage left, walking straight into a sea of fans. He was handing out hugs and kisses to a number of fans, as he sang “The One That You Love,” with Russell wading into the crowd as well.
That’s when everything changed.
As the crowd was worked into a frenzy Hitchcock and Russell made their way back onstage to play “Lost in Love” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” with the crowd still going wild.
Pandemonium broke out as the band left the stage, with the crowd on their feet clapping and screaming for more. After the requisite wait, the crew jumped back onstage to finish with “Goodbye” and “All Out of Love.”
By the time Air Supply finished their 90 minute set I was passing out hugs and telling everyone I loved them, like there was no tomorrow – Obviously the Mayans were wrong. It was then I realized I’d failed again.
Goodbye man-card.
These guys are pure entertainers and make for a great night out.
Set-list:
Even the Nights are Better
Just as I Am
Every Woman in the World
Sweet Dreams
Here I Am
Chances
Dance with Me
Power of Love
Me and the River
The One That You Love
Lost in Love
Making Love Out of Nothing at All
Goodbye
All Out of Love
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy roars into Thunder Valley
Scotty Morris – Click for more images
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy brought the roaring twenties and swing revival to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday, as the casino continues their countdown to 2013.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has been bringing the big band era music to the masses for over 20 years. Their music takes the listener back to the days of old, when gangsters weren’t quite as scary, and a flapper was a young and trending woman, not something found in a toilet. Some say those were the good ‘ole days.
Mixing their roaring twenties attitude and big horns, the band of all things swing, fuses together some of the most prolific sounds of swing, jazz and contemporary classics to create an original and exciting array of sounds that put the likes of Cab Calloway to shame, well almost. Nobody can put Calloway to shame.
Gotta love them horns!
Kicking off their set with “Come On With The ‘Come On’” and “Calloway Boogie,” they had the audience dancing in their seats from the start. That was a bit strange, because at most concerts fans would be standing up in the front row dancing. Apparently this was a more subdued and polite crowd.
Thunder Valley missed out on an opportunity to provide a dance floor for the many fans wanting to get up and boogie. While a number of people were dancing off to the side, the carpet just didn’t cut it.
Still in holiday mode, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy went on to play a few of their songs from their Christmas album including “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Mr. Heatmeiser.”
Andy Rowley (L) and Karl Hunter
As the band started up with Cab Calloway’s “Minnie the Moocher,” lead singer Scotty Morris led the crowd through the ho-dee ho-dee ho’s and the Hi-dee hi-dee hi’s. During the song the audience jumped in at the appropriate times as well.
This was an extremely fun concert with a high energy band. While some people may never give Big Bad Voodoo Daddy a listen due to their roaring twenties label and swing sound, others are quickly realizing that this is a band that has a sound all its own, with some very catchy tunes.
Click for more images
Band members include Scotty Morris (lead vocals and guitar), Kurt Sodergren (drums and percussion), Dirk Shumaker (double bass and vocals), Andy Rowley (baritone saxophone and vocals), Glen “The Kid” Marhevka (trumpet), Karl Hunter (saxophones and clarinet), Joshua Levy (piano and arranger), Anthony Bonsera Jr. (lead trumpet) and Alex Henderson (trombone).
You can catch these dapper fellows on The Tonight Show on Jan. 9, where they will perform “Why Me?”
Set-list
Come On With The “Come On”
Calloway Boogie
Merry Christmas Baby
Mr. Heatmeiser
Mr. Pinstripe Suit
Hey Now
The Reefer Man
Minnie the Moocher
Diga Diga Do
Devil’s Dance
5-10-15 Times
We Three Kings
Zig Zaggity Woop Woop
You and Me & The Bottle Makes 3
I Wan’na Be Like You
Go Daddy O
Encore
Why Me?
So Long Farewell-Goodbye
