Items filtered by date: November 2007

Kimberly Katz’ Platinum Press

“This Brilliant Jew is No Dummy!”

I have been eager to see the brilliant comedian and actor Don Rickles live and in concert for so many years. I saw him perform finally at The Venue in Hammond, Indiana last week and I was blown away by his abundant energy and razor sharp rapier wit. Even at 84, Don is still knockin’ ‘em dead with his own, unique brand of insult comedy.

The audience in the sold out house roared as Rickles’ hysterically skewered those in the front rows. “Hey look it’s a black guy in the front row, isn’t that nice, that’s lovely, send them some champagne. Oh and you the Jap, why don’t you take a picture of the nice black couple in the front row with their champagne - you’re never gonna’ see that again!”

I am Jewish too, and there is kind of an unspoken thing that if you ARE Jewish, you can joke about Jews, and since your people survived the Holocaust, well… you can pretty much safely joke about everyone else.

Rickles’ is a long time Democrat, and the thing that actually makes his insult comedy politically correct is that instead of spewing hate, he is actually defusing all the stereotypes and generalizations that most people have bubbling under the surface, and he allows them to come out into the light of day and pop like so many soap bubbles in laughter.

I was surprised to find out that this long time friend of Frank Sinatra is actually in possession of a great set of pipes himself. Rickles’ performs a couple of great tunes in his act with a full orchestra behind him and with great force and emotion. I was very impressed and had no idea he could sing so well!

I also loved the general atmosphere of his show. Many of my relatives, my grandparents and great aunts and uncles have all passed and being there with Don and his audience, which happily had a lot of alta cockers - old Jews in it, was like being back at home at my grandparent’s house in Miami, Florida as we kibitzed around trying to make each laugh. What a wonderful evening it was and I have rarely seen an audience this size and with so many races and ages in attendance, leave a show laughing and with such huge smiles on their faces!

One of my favorite bits was about his wife of 45 years, Barbara. Don says

”I still have to give her what she wants once in a while. When I come home and hear her saying, ‘Pussycat? Pussycat?’ I know I have to jump under the bed and say ‘Meow? Meow’ -Yeah, I still do it for her…because everything is in her name!”

Rickles continues to be very active on the stand-up comedy scene, and is still a popular performer in Las Vegas with many dates booked through the end of 2010. He has no plans to retire and as he recently said in an interview: "I'm in good health. I'm working better than I ever have. The audiences are great. Why should I retire? I'm like a fighter. The bell rings and you come out and fight. My energy comes alive. And I still enjoy it!”

Once up a time there was a very successful movie franchise, about a green ogre and his desire to live alone in a swamp. As with so many fairy tales, the path to happiness did not run smoothly, and soon his stinky corner of the world is disrupted by all manner of fairytale creatures. He sets off to preserve his solitude, but before he knows it, he has befriended a talking donkey and is on a mission to battle a dragon and save the princess. Along the way, he learns that girls can fart just as loudly as boys, and true love doesn’t always come packaged as you’d expect.

The beauty of Shrek was the way it took standard fairytale conventions and twisted them, just a little, to keep the parents on their toes and capture the imagination of their offspring. Shrek the musical doesn’t depart too far at all from this concept, with plenty of quick fire lyrics that sail just over the heads of the children and high-energy songs to keep the story moving along.

Eric Petersen (Shrek) holds the musical together, doing a great job of bringing emotion, humor and pathos to the role, while wearing the theatrical equivalent of a foam hot-dog suit. It’s a tough role to pull-off; everyone knows the storyline and Petersen could just do an impression of Mike Myers. Instead, he brings his own charm to the role. Alan Mingo, Jr. (Donkey) brings masses of passion and energy, but does sometimes fall into impersonation territory. His donkey is a cross between Little Richard and Eddie Murphy but while he’s always entertaining, it can get a little over-played. This show belongs to Haven Burton (Fiona) as she tap dances with rats in “Morning Person” or assures us of her faith in fairytales in “I Know It’s Today”. She gets the best of both the choreography and lyrics for the majority of the show, only being upstaged by Carrie Compere (voice), as a sensational dragon brought to life by a three person puppet in “Forever”.

Shrek the Musical has been a long time coming. High-brow British director Sam Mendes suggested the idea to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg back when the second movie was in production. This is Dreamworks Theatrical’s first venture into legitimate theatre, and the first night audience reponse suggests that this is going to be a successful one. There’s enough here for repeat visits and both children and adults will be enchanted by the high-energy show in which everyone lives happily ever after.

Shrek the Musical is brought to Chicago by Broadway in Chicago and is at the Cadillac Theatre (151 W. Randolph St) until September 5^th. For more information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com and www.broadwayinchicago.com .

Shrek the Musical features a book and lyrics by Pulizter Prize winner David Lydsay Ahare, music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori and is directed by Tony Award-nominee Jason Moore and Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford. Set and costume designs are by Tim Hatley, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Peter Hylenski, choreography by Josh Prince, music supervision by Tim Weil, music direction by Andy Grobengieser and orchestration by Danny Troob and John Clancy.

Josie’s on vacation far away. Come around and talk it over.

The opening lines to The Outfield’s “Your Love” implore the packed house at Duffy’s Tavern and Grille (420 ½ W. Diversey) to take part in an illicit encounter with a dude whose girlfriend is way out of town, and on Wednesday night the people respond favorably. Eager screams and empty glasses dominate the spacious bar’s back room topography. I feel my own fist inexplicably rise above my head and begin to pump back and forth. Two young women rush up to the stage, and then they climb onto it.

Perhaps we are so excited about being prompted to commit adultery because the suggestion comes from Louis Stigwood, enigmatic nerd vocalist for The Spazmatics, Chicago’s best 80’s New Wave Synthpop cover band, the band that has played Duffy’s Tavern and Grille every Wednesday night for nearly five years.

Donning his trademark suspenders, horn-rimmed glasses and rainbow propeller hat, Louis fits right in – at least on stage. His fellow band-mates are garbed in white button-down shirts, ties of varying lengths and widths, a protective helmet, slicked back hair and, of course, pocket protectors; these rockers appear more likely to subscribe to Mental_Floss than to Rolling Stone. The cumulative effect of the motif and their outstanding stage presence sets The Spazmatics apart from any band you’ve seen in the last ten – wait, make that twenty-five – years. They’re an hommage to the great New Wave bands of the 80’s, bands like Devo, The Buggles, and Men At Work, who celebrate nerd culture instead of stepping on it.

Importantly, beyond costumes, synchronized dance moves, and over-the-top ribald banter, The Spazmatics are solid musicians who consistently put on a good show. Louis’ impressive vocal range allows the band to transition seamlessly from Billy Idol to Cyndi Lauper, while Shureman Larusso’s guitar shredding always makes me stop and appreciate, about four dollar-beers in, how these guys are talented, and how I’m lucky to live in a city that houses professional cover bands.

The night wears on but the music keeps coming. It’s nearly one in the morning, and everybody knows that this set will soon end. The band starts up one of my favorite songs, The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” with Shureman on the mic; I go crazy, I am afforded extra personal space, and then they say goodnight as the last reverb fizzles away. The DJ starts to play Top 50 radio jams. Duffy’s is somber for a drunken mass of young people. We’re somber because the night is over, because the Brown Line is no longer running, and because, for almost a whole week, it is no longer 1985. Thankfully, sometimes The Spazmatics play Friday nights at Uncle Fatty’s Rum Resort (2833 N. Sheffield). Let’s be grateful for small mercies.

To learn more about The Spazmatics, follow them on Facebook, check out their recently renovated website, www.chicagospazmatics.com, or come to Duffy’s next Wednesday. We’ll all be there.

The Venue at Horseshoe Casino had a very special guest recently. “Oh what’s his name” played a show with a group of very worthy musicians performing some rock hits while the crowd chair danced the night away. Ringo Starr (A.K.A. Billy Shears) and his All Star Band was just an absolute joy to see. The former drummer of ‘Rory Storm and The Hurricanes’ and that other group he was with has been a band leader for the last four decades.

The band started to play “It Don’t Come Easy” and out walked the main attraction, Mr. Richard Starkey. This 1971 single got people pumped up and ready for the evening. The song referring to the breakup of The Beatles delighted everyone. The night started on a high note and never came down.

As the night continued, Ringo and the boys pressed on with great songs such as; “I Wanna Be Your Man” and “Photograph.” The crowd had a sing along with the well known song that children still sing today like it was a nursery rhyme, “Yellow Submarine.” His baritone vocals in the song and comical bridge make this just a wonderful ditty for people of all ages.

The band would play a few of Ringo’s songs and then he would take a backseat during parts of this show while the other members of the band stepped forward and took the lead. Each member of the All Star Band came to the center of the stage for two songs of their own.

Guitarist Rick Derringer played his fingers down to the bone on every guitar piece during the night. During his presentation the first song he played was “Hang on Sloopy” from his days with the McCoy’s. He did the original version with parts of the song that never made it to the record. As he talked during the middle of the song explaining how the record company had cut out a verse, he proclaimed, “I’m here tonight to set the record straight.” For his second song he made the most obvious choice, “Rock and Roll, Hoochie-Koo.” During this song Rick was just on fire. He ended the song with a flashy guitar solo that included fast runs and tapping that would make the 1980’s guitar shredders look on with amazement. One of the most under-rated guitar players in the world had taken the lead role in this band.

Wally Palmar from the Romantics completed the guitar rhythms and some great background vocals for this group. He played a variety of different guitars, but it was quite obvious that he was in some way influenced by the Beatles. At some points he was playing a Rickenbacker guitar and his amp of choice was a Vox. He impressed the crowd with an updated version of “Talking In Your Sleep.” For the people in the audience the show kept rocking out when he did the jam “What I Like About You.” His amazing abilities and sweet vocals were definitely a tremendous addition to this band.

The bass playing done by Richard Page from Mr. Mister was a complete shock. This man really knows his way around the lower register of the music staff. His expertise was provided on every piece, but when he presented his number one singles to the audience no one was sorry to hear them. The songs “Kyrie” and “Broken Wings” were a nice fit within the other songs chosen for the concert performance. His vocal and musical contributions were very well received.

Gregg Bissonette filled out the night on drums completing the rhythm section. On most of the songs Ringo played alongside him, but Gregg was definitely the main drummer for the evening. He held the rhythms and kept them tight. His timing could not have been knocked off beat with a wrecking ball. His dynamic range on the drums was perfect and he knows how to hit hard or with finesse.

Gary Wright filled out the band on some great keyboards and vocals as well as the rest of the band. One of the most memorable moments or the concert was when he stepped up to the front of the stage for his first number and sang “Dream Weaver.” The song that had been played on every classic rock station for years was being played before the eyes of the concert goers and most of them couldn’t believe how flawless it was. There was no lip syncing being done during this performance; this man was just that good. When it came time for his next song “Love is Alive” his performance was just impeccable as well. Two smooth songs with a crooner of a voice that has remained polished over the years.

One of the jam band masters Edgar Winter had his time during the show as well. His first song he did was the awesome riff jam “Free Ride.” The song rocked just like the record! His contribution was complete when he played one of the coolest instrumental jams ever, the song “Frankenstein.” The man made an impressive jump from keyboards, to drums, to sax and back again. He was the very first keyboard player to put a strap on a keyboard and walk around the stage with it. He stated during the show, “I got tired of being stuck behind a piano.” This night would not have been the same without hearing this awesome man play everything that he did. Winter is truly one of the greatest musicians to ever take a stage.

The night continued on passing the torch from Ringo to the band and then back to Ringo again. The mix of songs from the 1960’s to the present was just a great combination of music for everyone. Ringo did a few songs from his new album Y Not. “The Other Side of Liverpool” was a great song to bring out for the night. It fit the classic Ringo writing style and was accepted by the crowd that didn’t know the new material.

Another song that was done was “Act Naturally” which he explained it was almost a biographical song, making fun of himself. He played a great piece from the early days called “Back off Boogaloo” that was sang around the room. He then introduced a song that he described as not going over well the previous nights before and he wasn’t sure if he was going to continue to play it. He asked the audience to be the judge. They then started in singing the opening line “Billy Shears” to one of his most popular songs “With a Little Help from My Friends.” The place went nuts!

At the end of the night as Ringo takes his bows the band went into a few choruses of “Give Peace a Chance” which sent chills up and down the spines of the members of the audience. Everyone throughout the room could almost feel the presence of John Lennon. Goose bumps were everywhere!

Ringo gave his goodbyes, the band continued on with a few more bars, and then it was over. Billy Shears and the All Star Band galloped off into the sunset to the next town. What a fantastic evening as “Oh what’s his name” got by with a little help with his friends.  

If you've seen the Walking With Dinosaurs commercial and think you already know what this is, let me stop you right there. Because I too watched it and I was like, "Oh, giant animatronic dinosaurs doing Jurassic Park in an arena."

Nope. Not even close.

Walking With Dinosaurs is a theatrical show that is very much in the theme of a Discover Channel type program (well, duh BBC produces it) scientifically based, but not without its own drama.

Hosted by Paleontologist Narrator "Huxley" (played by Jack Stone), we're taken back millions of years and through different stages of dinosaurs and the Earth. The story is really about the Dinosaurs, and the production allows the focus to be on these spectacularly portrayed beasts. 17 dinosaurs in all during the show, completely life sized and 'alive". Several times during the show you will have to remind yourself, "no, these are not real dinosaurs."

What makes this production work, beyond the incredible technology that brings these giant lizards to life is the sound and soundtrack of the show. Brilliant roars, storms, suspenseful music...all of it together with some pretty inventive supporting props and lighting are what makes this better than just some kind of puppet show. It draws you in to the whole experience  and make you a part of the action.

If you do decide to bring kids to the show, my advice is to sit back a bit if they're under 10. While there isn't any overt violence in the show, the sound combined with giant roaring dinosaurs will freak out little kids if they're so close. As the dinosaurs lumber and sway across the stage, tails swing close to the crowd, and the lifelike eyes staring at you make you feel like lunch. So if you're bringing little ones, upper deck might be the way to go.

But it is still a great way to entertain the entire family. All ages and interests will find something to be in awe of during the 96 minute show. It holds your attention the entire time. Not once will you check your watch or wonder when it's going to be over.

The show itself as a cohesive piece did well to establish a beginning, middle and climactic ending to a story we pretty much already know. Huxely is a great adventurer type guide to the story, but doesn't try to compete with the real stars of the show, the dinosaurs.

Definitely a must-see for the remaining shows before it leaves town. Walking With Dinosaurs is playing at the Allstate Arena until August 1st.

It always surprises me how many people don't know about the Marriott Theatre way up north in the frozen tundra known as Lincolnshire. Because it truly is a gem of local entertainment.

What's great about shows at the Marriott is that they don't settle for whatever category people might want to lump them into, such as "resort entertainment" or "community theater." Every production has amazing quality and attention to detail. Even with the Children's Theater the quality isn't brought down because they're performing in front of a bunch of kids.

Pinocchio is this season's children's theater piece, and it would definitely hold it's own with the 'big boys' out in Chicago's big theater scene, as well as New York. It takes a little bit of magic to make little kids stay engaged and sit still for an hour, and this production and cast did amazingly well. Guest critic, 3 year old Emma Sale was very impressed, and she screamed through 40 minutes of Shrek. So that should tell you something.

This production was more traditional and less Disney, which can be hard to pull off sometimes, especially if you're telling a story the Mouse has already covered. But this rendition of the classic fairy tale had great acting, especially good choreography, and characters that would hold their own with any popular sidekick. The grasshopper "Hopper" was expertly written and performed. Jiminy Who? Hopper was way better.

Great modern day twists, especially the hip hop turn the Pleasure Island boys took. Especially engaging and fun. And as always with any kids show, there has to be a little something hidden in the writing for the kids and all of it delivered.

Stage management also makes this show work. Lighting was expertly done, and it's always amazing to me how they make such a small circular stage so visually cohesive with the story line. Music and sound were phenomenal too.

My only real criticsm of the show is the song choice. The room would get a little antsy during the slow tempo solo pieces, and the Blue Fairy had such a sharp operatic sporano that I'm not sure it clicked with the younger audience. Not because of quality, but because I don't think they could follow and understand the lyrics. And the songs might have been a bit too long. But that's really just me being a nitpicking theater geek.

Especially great was the Q&A hosted by Hopper with the actors after the show. It really gave the kids a great education on the Theater and nice to see them take the time and engage their audience and answer some fun questions.

Pinocchio is definitely a treat. Fast paced, quick witted, and very exciting multi-directional use of the stage, will keep you entertained. I was actually a bit disappointed that it was only a smidge under an hour. Definitely one to see before the run is over August 29th.

*Pictured above is Jameson Cooper and Cory Goodrich (photo by Peter Coombs)

There is something to be said in this era of huge concert productions, for a musician to fill a venue, show up with a band, and play. No huge frills, pyrotechnics, or costume changes, just two sets of solid material.

Natalie Merchant came back to Chicago after taking a seven year break, and took the stage as if that hiatus never even happened. Returning to the music scene with the amazing "Leave Your Sleep" 2 cd album, she still gave the same vibe she's so adept at, and that's making you feel like you're in the middle of an after dinner jam session in her living room. There was dancing, fun stories, joking with the crowd (even swiping a cell phone and taking her own pictures!) and all of those things that have you leaving the show with a smile on your face.

We even got a PowerPoint poetry lesson! Slides and Merchant's obvious knowledge and love of poetry prompted her to ask us, "Who says poetry isn't fun?".

Well, I still don't think it is. But it would be if Natalie Merchant became an English professor!

The music however, was the reason we were all there, and as usual, didn't disappoint. Backed by a folk/orchestral band of rotating musicians, Merchant stuck mostly to the "Leave Your Sleep" material, but we did get the favorites intertwined within the two sets. Some of the concertgoers were a little put off by so much focus being on "Leave Your Sleep", and I too would have liked to hear a bit more from "Ophelia" and "Motherland" but the journey the new music takes you on with it's ranging tempos and conceptual lyrics was better than listening to the songs we've known for years.

We did get songs like "Carnival" but reworked to have a fun Flamenco vibe to dress it up and make it shiny and new again. And "Eat For Two" was so haunting and beautiful in the way it was stripped down.

Merchant's voice is as great as it always has been, taking the tempo and genre changes of each song and bringing us right into the journey. Pitch perfect, haunting, and emotional it's no wonder that her music and fan base has remained solid even after a seven year absence.

You definitely came away from this show with a smile and bounce in your step, not even realizing an entire night just went by. Great show, and an amazing performance.

Kimberly Katz' Platinum Press

I enjoyed this piece about an upper middle class family in Glencoe struggling to welcome an errant family member home after his five-year stint in prison.

Tony nominated actor Kevin Anderson plays Doug, the black sheep of the family and does a great job portraying the wild mood swings a person might experience trying to fit in and accommodate alienated family members as he adjusts to the basics of having a nice place to sleep again, nice food to eat and nowhere else to go. Kevin, who is originally from Gurnee Illinois, is well cast in the role and has a good sense of comic timing. Now at age fifty, he has the depth and road weariness to make you believe he is the disoriented, loser of this well educated, moneyed family.

Francis Guinan also gets high marks for his role as the neurotic, out of work, ineffectual father figure. Guinan’s high strung, detail oriented performance made me actually squirm in my seat with its authenticity. I was waiting for his character to explode, which he does finally when he discovers his precocious genius child has purposely killed all his exotic fish.

I also enjoyed Cynthia Baker’s portrayal of her character “Betty”, a cougar who has been writing to Doug while in prison and who desperately and futilely tries to win his affection and trust by showering him with expensive gifts and unconditional love but to no avail as he bluntly reminds her over and over, “I’m not going to f-ck you.”

Kudos also to set designer, Jeff Bauer, who has designed a sumptuous, spinning set that really makes you feel you are inside and on the patio of a gorgeous Glencoe million dollar home on the edge of a forest preserve.

The luxury and beauty of the home are also quite sterile in the way that many of these homes are and serves to exemplify the main theme that no matter how nice your home,

if you aren’t happy inside it, you might as well be back in prison - prison of another kind.

The feeling of isolation in the home with it’s track lighting and vaulted ceilings, completely surrounded by trees also serves the play in that each family member are so lonely themselves, that just having Doug’s presence there in this big house is a welcome, distraction, kind of like welcoming home a new puppy. They are eager to play with him (Doug) but desperately afraid he will metaphorically crap all over the house and their lives.

There are a few problems with Joel Drake Johnson’s script that only he can iron out - places where the monologues are not cut properly and cause these fine actors to struggle to make them sound natural and believable.

Overall though, I think that the Chicago families who attend theater at Victory Gardens are very much like the one in this play and will see themselves in it in a new and ultimately positive light.

*photo by Liz Lauren - Kevin Anderson (left) and Bubba Weiler

Romance, Passion and Beyond. As one of the four plays featured in National Pastime Theatre’s current Naked July Festival, “Eros” is certainly the most suggestive. Sensuality and passion are vividly brought to the forefront in Shifra Werch’s steamy play that uses a collection of sexy scenes made famous by film, sticky-hot monologues and visual art in order to experiment with the boundaries of eroticism.

The tone of “Eros” is immediately set with its provocative opening that has the cast members, scantily clad in black underwear, lustfully longing for each other in a heated display of passion. The audience is then taken on a journey through a handful of erotically charged scenes inspired from Romeo and Juliet, Brokeback Mountain and The Vampire Chronicles, separated by racy slideshows and intriguing pieces such as DeDe Deylynn’s “When I Fuck You”, sexily performed by Carolina Granger.

Curator, Shifra Werch, based on her research in which she asked several people what turned them on, chose each piece used in “Eros”. Werch not only did a fantastic job in choosing the material, but she also did well in assembling a shining cast that includes Reggie Robinson Jr., who hits a homerun with his performance of “Song of Solomon”, along with Taylor H. Entwistle and Nicolas Gamboa who successfully merge hot and funny in “Yum”. Gina Marie Koontz and Jason Gorczyca round out the outstanding cast that works so well together and continuously displays a strong comfort despite the changing of sexual partners from scene to scene.

In line with the Naked July Festival, “Eros” contains plenty of nudity to further convey its message and it is done with great direction - beautifully and tastefully.

“Eros” is stimulating from beginning to end and is a show that will most likely bring you back to see it again. The National Pastime Theatre is located at 4139 N. Broadway in Chicago and tickets are just $20. Playing through August 1^st, “Eros” is performed Thursdays at 10pm and Sundays at 8pm. For more information, visit www.npt2.com.

Be sure to come early for each Naked July show where you will be treated to the romantically soulful piano playing of Zoya Fuchs. 

*Pictured above are Taylor H. Entwistle and Reggie Robinson Jr. in "Eros"   

Has it ever ran through your mind what celebrities look like during a certain predicament, event or activity? After seeing Jonny Lang perform at the House of Blues on the 16th of July, I have a solid feeling I know what he really looks like when he is reminiscing, heartbroken, angry, passionate, intimate, thankful and going poo-poo and potty!
 
I hate to disturb any graves or upset any folks who consider Elvis as one of their faves, but his hip "thang" is pale in comparison to the mojo of Jonny Lang!
 
That is, Jonny's jerking movements of his entire body, tensed-up facial expressions and strong, animalistic vocal explosions and guitar playing throughout his show, I swear, must be how he appears during experiencing the big "O!" With that said, I came to conclude that while he performed at last Friday's show he seemed to have 69 or so!
 
Jonny Lang has had quite a ride, given the strapping young lad was invited to play at Mick Jagger's 56th Birthday Bash, where he jammed with Jagger, Bono, Elton John and Ron Wood side by side. (www.jonnylang.com 2010)
 
Plus, when Lang journeyed into the Gospel sound, he was awarded a Grammy for his album "Turn Around" (www.jonnylang.com 2010.)
 
Another notch was added to Jonny's belt when he performed at the White House when Bill Clinton was in office, and gave the President something heartfelt--Rather than giving Clinton a cigar, Jonny gave the President a Fender guitar! (www.jonnylang.com 2010)
 
Now, back to Jonny's Chicago performance where some of the songs he played were "Red Light," "Thankful," "Livin' for the City," "Breakin' Me," "Rack Em' Up" and an encore including "40 Days and 40 Nights" as well as "Lie to me," proving he and his band are undoubtedly some of the most talented jam musicians in existence!
 
Jonny had a Gospel singer do a handful of solos that gave me goosebumps from my gourde straight down to my toes!
 
Also, Jonny revealed he played at the old Fitzgeralds and Buddy Guy's Legends his first trip to Chicago. He elaborated he was really nervous to play at Buddy Guys, and while he did, he looked over and saw Buddy Guy watching him. "So I have a lot of good memories in Chicago," said Jonny while the lights were dim.
 
Right after Jonny left the stage of the House of Blues, I asked fans for their reviews.
 
"Amazing--nothing was missing from the show. It couldn't have been better, and I saw the Rolling Stones twice, and he was better than them," asserted Jill Matthews.
 
(Poor old slick, Mick Jagger, has seemed to have lost some of his swagger.)
 
Breck Reich, another satisfied concert-goer, confessed [Jonny Lang] "was better then John Mayer, and he loves John Mayer!"
 
Additionally, Mark said "the expressions on Jonny's face are real--they show what he's feeling. And we [he and his slightly buzzed buddies] like it best when he whales on the guitar and he did tonight," I agree with Mark whole-heartedly.
 
Lastly, before the interview I had with Jonny on Thursday, his PR had professed he hasn't been up to par and is in need of rest. Nonetheless, the show of his "Live by Request" tour screamed Jonny is still one of the Music Industry's best!
 
Sources:
www.jonnylang.com

*Photos by Tracy Walsh