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Classic Rock News, Reviews And Interviews
December 14, 2013
Review: Tobymac at the BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
Photo and Story by Scott A. Smith
Tobymac’s sonic gumbo of rock, funk, old-school R&B and more flowed like musical honey on Dec. 12 in Tulsa, Okla.
The former DC Talk member and five-time Grammy Award winner brought his Hits Deep Tour to Tulsa’s BOK Center, and the set list stood exactly as promised — it was crammed to the gills with Toby’s radio staples and equally favored LP cuts. Guitarist Tim Rosenau’s staccato, clean-toned intro to the bouncy “Me Without You” later gave way to crunchy, glorious hard-rock distortion on “Eye On It,” “Tonight” and “Gone.”
Throughout Toby’s 80-minute set, Toddiefunk slapped, tapped and thumped what sounded like brand-new strings on his bass, and drummer Brian Haley kept the rhythms assertive and adventurous. “Steal My Show,” “Lose Myself” and “Speak Life,” all terrific tracks from Toby’s No. 1 album from 2012, “Eye On It,” gushed with new-found confidence and purpose on the Tulsa stage.… Continue reading
November 26, 2013
Ten Questions with Dewey Bunnell – Founding Member of the Band America
Interview and photos by Isaac Rodriguez
Rock Legends Photographers
Q: What music or musician inspired you to be an artist?
A: When I was young in the 50’s my dad would play Elvis, Bill Haley, and the Everly Brothers, those were the early years, but I think once I picked up a guitar in the early 60’s I would have to say immediately The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and the surf instrumental music. Then I quickly got inspired by the Beatles, like everyone else I suppose, also the singer and songwriters of the 60’s. But if I would have to pick one band I would say it’s a tie between the Beatles and The Beach Boys.
Q: When did the band America originate?
A: Technically we started as the band America in 1970. We were a band in high school in London England. We went to an American school in England.… Continue reading
November 21, 2013
Ten Questions with Charlie Daniels
By Rock Legends Photographer Isaac Rodriguez
Photos by Isaac Rodriguez
(These are edited excerpts from the interview)
Q: The fans from the Rock Legends Cruise have been asking to see you play. Is that something you would consider?
A: We did a cruise one time, and (laughs) we had kind of a bad experience due to weather. It was a rough cruise. I just don’t know, we have to see about that.
Q: What artist past or present that you never played with would you just to get on stage and jam with?
A: BB King, hands down. I’d love to get up and jam with BB.
Q: The inspirational postings that appear on Facebook, do you do that personally?
A: Actually I do it on twitter, it comes up on Facebook. I do one every day, usually some bible scripture and I hope it’s something inspirational that will be encouraging to the people.… Continue reading
November 20, 2013
Interview with Firefall
By Isaac Rodriguez
Rock Legends Photographers
I had the pleasure today of meeting and watching the band Firefall perform. Firefall delivered an awesome concert which had the crowd cheering and singing along. This performance was at The Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale, Florida on November 12th. This is an awesome venue with very reasonable prices for their events, and a very friendly and helpful staff. I also had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Jock Bartley, one of the founding members of the band. A special thank you to Michelle and Lisa for making this possible.
Q: What music or musician did you listen to that inspired you as an artist?
A: The main group of course was the Beatles when they came out, and they changed the world. Beatlemania took over! They were great song writers and
singers, but when I heard Eric Clapton play for the first time the heavens opened up and I said “I want to do that”.… Continue reading
October 21, 2013
Review: ZZ Top at Tulsa Hard Rock, Catoosa, OK
Photos & Story by Scott A. Smith
Lengthy, fuzzy beards? Check.
Sequined, south-of-the-border jackets? Check. 
Cool-as-the-breeze sunglasses? Check.
Loud, purple-colored guitars? Yep, ZZ Top still has these and quite a bit more.
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals), Dusty Hill (bass,vocals) and Frank Beard (drums, vocals) remain rock music’s sharp-dressed men, and more importantly, they continue to be a sonic force to be reckoned with under the stage lights.
The “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” fired up a hit-single-friendly set list for a capacity audience on Oct. 18 at The Joint inside the Tulsa Hard Rock in Catoosa, Okla., proving to be a willing-and-able unit bent on delivering the musical goods.
Within seconds of the house lights darkening, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band infused grit into the night-opener, “Got Me Under Pressure,” with Gibbons’ six-string picking staking claim to the sound system’s mid-range frequencies.
The song’s bouncy rhythms and side-stepping arrangement immediately put band and spectators in an easy-going mood.… Continue reading
