Pictures by Tracy May

The staging featured an elevated platform with large, sweeping staircases on each side and lights everywhere. This was in complete contrast to Lady A’s last visit to the amphitheatre, when headliner Tim McGraw’s setup prevented opening acts from bringing along too much staging. Hillary, Charles and Dave took the stage with the same high-energy performance that fans have come to expect from the Grammy-winning band. Lady A performed lots of fan favorites including “American Honey”, “Just A Kiss”, “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” and “We Owned The Night”. In all, the show was the perfect mix of new music and older tunes.

Rock / country crossover act Darius Rucker seemed to be enjoying the evening as well, offering a set made up of tunes from his solo career as well as pulling out a few Hootie & The Blow songs. The crowd loved it.

Unfortunately, due to an incorrectly advertised starting time, we missed an opening set by the band Thompson Square. Hopefully, we’ll get to see them in Tampa again soon.

(Images by Tracy May)

Eric Johnson at REH

Fresh off his appearance on the Experience Hendrix Tour at Ruth Eckerd Hall in March, rock guitarist Eric Johnson returns to Clearwater headlining his summer tour in support of his latest album at the Capitol Theatre.

Through August 20th, Johnson will be touring the USA from coast to coast as a headliner with band members Chris Maresh on bass guitar and Wayne Salzmann on drums, then will depart for a European tour.

A long time in the making, Up Close has received rave reviews.  All Music Guide pointed out that “(Johnson) continues to find interesting ways to hone his specific craft on Up Close, while Premier Guitar Magazine raved “Johnson has created another worthy addition to his already legendary catalog.”  It shouldn’t be overlooked that Up Close features an impressive list of special guests (Sonny Landreth, Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan and Jonny Lang).

Speaking to M Music Magazine, Eric had the following to say about what his goals were for Up Close:  “To find new ways of doing things.  We’re all the sum of our history.  After a while, we start to create certain patterns in what we do.  I wanted to break some of that repetition.  If you keep to the same format, the vibe stays the same, even though the music might change.  If you want to grow, you have to bread down walls and find ways to work that are different than the past.”

Johnson has long been considered one of rock’s most talented six-string players, as evidenced by his aforementioned platinum-certified 1990 release, Ah Via Musicom, its hit single Cliffs of Dover as well as a Grammy® Award win for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance” in 1991.  The song also recently was introduced to a whole new generation of rock fans, when it was featured in the hit videogame, “Guitar Hero”.  In January Johnson’s signature Eminence speaker and Fuzz Face were introduced and are selling at a quick pace.

Also on the bill are ex-Hootie & the Blowfish front man turned county singer Darius Rucker and husband & wife duo Thompson Square.

Tickets are $56.50 & $67.00 and can be purchased through Live Nation.

To get ready for the show, check out a few pics from Lady A’s 2010 performance at the Ask0Gary Ampitheatre.

(images by Tracy May)

(Images by Tracy May)

Firefall at the Capitol Theatre

FRIDAY

• Lit, The State Theatre, St. Petersburg
• Blast Friday with Firefall, Downtown Clearwater

SATURDAY

• Greg Lake, The Historic Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
• 98 Rockfest, The Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa
• Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale in Concert: “10″, The Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
• Sleeping Giant, Local 662, St. Petersburg
• Lacuna Coil, The State Theatre, St. Petersburg

Ian Anderson

This tour will feature a more theatrical production with video and additional musicians, including Ian’s band: bassist David Goodier, keyboardist John O’Hara, drummer Scott Hammond, and wunderkind guitarist Florian Opahle — all of whom have performed with Ian on his solo dates over the years as well as having performed at various times as members of Jethro Tull.

Ian’s new album, THICK AS A BRICK 2 (TAAB2) also features David, John, Scott, and Florian. It was produced by Ian Anderson and mixed by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson (who also re-mixed Jethro Tull’s AQUALUNG-Special Edition, released this past fall.)

TAAB2 answers the question 40 years later, whatever happened to Gerald Bostock (the person credited with writing the lyrics for THICK AS A BRICK, which hit number one on the US Billboard Pop Albums chart. With the first THICK AS A BRICK, Jethro Tull broadened rock beyond the limitations of the short song format).  Ian Anderson says “Part two” gave him a chance to wonder, “How we baby-boomers look back on our own lives, and often feel an occasional ‘what-if’ moment. Might we, like Gerald, have become instead preacher, soldier, down-and-out shopkeeper or finance tycoon?”

Since 1972, the original THICK AS A BRICK has never been performed in its entirety although a few minutes of the material have been a regular repertoire staple in both Tull and IA solo shows over the years.

After 44 years of leading Tull to 54 countries worldwide and more than 60 million albums sold, Ian Anderson celebrates these true progressive rock classics with old and new fans across world-wide. Ian is known as the flute, voice and composer of the legendary Jethro Tull which formed in England in 1968. Since their first performance at London’s famous Marquee Club in 1968, the band has released 30 studio and live albums and earned a prominent place in rock history.

Reserved tickets priced at $89.50, $69.50 and $59.50 will be available at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office located at 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater or by calling 727.791.7400.  The Ruth Eckerd HallTicket Office is open Monday through Saturday, from noon to 6 pm and one hour prior to showtime. Patrons may also purchase tickets at www.rutheckerdhall.com 24/7.