Story by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Get out your tie-dye t-shirts because Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead fame are bringing their band Further to Booth Amphitheatre in Cary this July 11.

Further Goes Beyond the Dead

No doubt, Lesh and Weir and the band will play lots of Grateful Dead. But the new band covers other artists too, including Pink Floyd and the Beatles. The late Jerry Garcia did some memorable covers, including his take on Dear Prudence.

Further puts their own post-Dead stamp on some more classic material, giving Dead-fans and rock music lovers of all stripes something to appreciate and consider.

Event Details

Further
featuring Bob Weir & Phil Lesh
Wednesday July 11, 2012
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Cary, NC

Tickets are priced at $59.50 for Reserved Pit, $39.50 for General Admission Lawn. Lawn Price will increase to $45 on the day of the show.

Internet pre-sales begin March 12, but check the Booth Amphitheatre website for updates and mark your calendars. You can also visit the Further 2012 tour website.

Keep on Trucking

There are a lot of poor quality clips of Further on YouTube – bad cell phone video, shaky, dreadful sound. Maybe an opportunity for KBA to record a live show? I happen to know an Emmy-award winning producer who lives right here in Cary.

In the meantime, how about some vintage Grateful Dead from a 1972 show at the Koncertsal in Copenhagen, Denmark. You can also see this clip on YouTube.

Story by Lindsey Chester, photo by Philippe Leroyer.

Cary, NC- Chalk it up to the “never a dull moment” saying, but this weekend Cary has a lot going on! Take a look at our CaryCitizen Calendar for the complete listing of what you can find from WakeMed Soccer Park to Booth Amphitheatre and everywhere in between.The weekend gets off to a rocking start with a Battle of the Bands.

Friday night April 8, at the Green Hope High school, bands will compete to win a $100 prize money as the school raises money for their after Prom party. The Battle starts at 7pm and tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door.

Also on Friday, Panther Creek High School debuts their performance of The Sound of Music at 7pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or through www.seatyourself.biz/panthercreekhs. They perform the second night on Saturday at 7pm.

Saturday, April 9, head out early with the 33rd annual Cary Road Race at Booth Amphitheatre which starts at 8:30am. This family event includes a 5K, a 10K and a 1 mile Fun Run. Official times and places are published in the Cary News.  Online registration still available at on Town’s websitewww.townofcary.org. Call 919-469-4363 for info or to volunteer. Registration: In advance: $10 recreational $13 competitive and on race day: $12 recreational, $17 competitive.

At Noon, enjoy some sports with a cause.  “Bats for Matt “  moves this year to the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary. The day will feature a high school conference baseball game between Green Hope and Panther Creek. For some more excitement guests can enjoy a silent auction, raffles, food and beverage, games and prizes, inflatables and live entertainment. The Matt Cossa Memorial Foundation raises money in Matt’s memory which is donated to the Duke Cancer Institute. Entry fee is $8 with children 10 and under admitted free. Gates will open at 12:00 noon.

At 1pm, the Panther Creek Arts Boosters present a benefit performance by Daniel Truitt, who played Rolf in the original musical Sound of Music. The performance will be at Contrast Creative, located at 2598 Highstone Rd. in Cary. Tickets are $25 include beverages, hors d’oeuvres and desserts and benefit the PCHS Arts Booster Club.

Later that night the RailHawks season gets underway with a home game versus Puerto Rico at WakeMed Soccer Park. The RailHawks finished their preseason 4-1-2, outscoring the opposition 9-3 and posted five shutouts. Last year the team made it all the way to the finals, and everyone has high hopes for 2011. Games start at 7pm and tickets are available at the gate or in advance at the park. Kids 3 and under are free, 3-8 are only $5. Adult pricing ranges from just $10-$20 per game. For the complete schedule click here

Sunday, April 10, be amazed by the SAS VocalMotion singing group who will perform at the outdoor Sertoma Amphitheater in Bond Park at 3pm. If you are a fan of the TV show Glee, then this event is for you! VocalMotion has been entertaining audiences all over the Triangle for the past 17 years. They will perform a Broadway-style musical revue that includes a variety of music from pop to country, Billy Joel to Michael Jackson, and everything in between. The concert is free.

Plan Ahead

Spring in Cary is a busy time and next weekend is no different. As Wake County Schools head into Spring Break, look on our Calendar for the annual Easter Egg Hunt,  tennis championships at the Tennis Center, a poetry festival, The Spring Litter Sweep, the final Marvelous Music series concert and more RailHawks Soccer.

You can find all this and more on our CaryCitizen Calendar.

CaryCitizen events are edited by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Randy Roberston.

Cary, NC- The town of Cary officially celebrates Halloween on Sunday, October 31st.,  Leading up to that day, there’s plenty of spooky fun for everyone!

Haunted Twilight Tour of Downtown Cary: Friday, October 22

Join the Cary Players for a macabre tour of historic downtown Cary. Your tour guides will share spooky legends and tales of yesteryear, guaranteed to send a chill up your spine.  The tour will take guests on a spooky trip through Downtown while hearing legends and tales of yesteryear.

• Where: Starting at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center (119 Ambassador Loop)
• When: Tours start at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Admission is $13 for Cary residents and $15 for non-residents.
• Registration is required and tours are limited to 13 people. Register using EZ-REG.

Rocktoberfest- Sat Oct 23

The Cary Y (YMCA Drive) is holding their first Roctoberfest! carnival atmosphere will include :Catapult Pumpkin Launching, Rockin’ Dance Party, Carnival, Moonbounce and obstacle courses. Free for all – non- Y members included.

• Where: The Cary Family YMCA
• When -4:00-7:00 pm

For more info contact Dawn White at dawn.white@ymcatriangle.org

Do You Believe in Ghosts?- Sunday Oct 24 and Saturday Oct 30

Join Curt House of Triangle Paranormal Investigations for a presentation and journey through haunted NC. Learn about local ghostly investigations and how ghost hunters operate. Advance sign up required for both sessions. Ages 13+ only.

• Where: Cary’s West Regional Library (4000 Louis Stevens Dr).
• When: 2:00-3:30pm, Sun Oct 24 and sat Oct 30.
• Call 919 463-8500 for more information.

Children’s Pumpkin Carving : Sat Oct 24

The Umstead is hosting a children’s pumpkin carving event for ages 8-12 on their Lakeside Terrace. The event includes treats for the kids, warm cider and cocoa and champagne for the parents! Each child will receive a cleaned out pumpkin and get to select a kit for carving.  Umstead chefs will be on hand to assist them in creating a perfect holiday creation. There’s a $20 fee.

• Where: The Umstead Hotel & Spa, Lakeside Terrace
• When: 3-5pm

Explore Cary-Area  Cemeteries: Tues Oct 26

Join the Friends of the Page-Walker Hotel as they explore the mysteries and secrets held by local cemeteries, identifying the resting places of historic figures and bringing to light the more obscure facts and questions from both prominent and well-hidden burial grounds in Cary and its outskirts.

• Where: The Page-Walker Arts & History Center (119 Ambassador Loop)
• When: begins at 7:30 pm.
• More information and online registration: Click Here

Reel-y Scary Movie Series: Tuesday Oct 26- Sat Oct 30

As reported earlier- beginning Tuesday Oct 26- Sat Oct 30, Koka Booth Amphitheatre  plays a scary movie each night.  Tickets are $3/ adult and kids 12 and under are free. Picnics welcome! Bring your blankets or lawn chairs.

• See Schedule here.
• Where: Booth Amphitheatre (80003 Regency Parkway)
• When: Gates open at 5:30 pm and movies start at 7:30 pm.

Halloween Bash: Sat Oct 30

Enjoy Tricks and treats in a family-friendly atmosphere. Carnival games and the Cary Haunted House created by students in Cary’s Applause Haunted House class. Hosted by The Cary Teen Council and Applause! Cary Youth Theatre.  Admission is $1 for the games and $1 for the haunted house. All proceeds benefit the Cary Teen Council.

• Where: Herb Young Community Center (101 Wilkinson Ave)
• When: 5-9 pm

Pumpkin Decorating- Sat Oct 30

Bring your own small pumpkin and the Library will supply the decorating materials and Halloween treats.

• Where: Eva Perry Library (2100 Shepherd’s Vineyard Rd)
• When: 10-11:30 am

Registration required, call 919-387-2100, Kindergarten and up only.

Safe ‘n Sane Halloween: Sun Oct 31st

Come dressed to win! This celebration is held each year at the Cary Towne Center. Retailers will have treats for the kids who come dressed in costume beginning at 2:30-4:30pm. Enter to win the costume contests which will be judged by age group. A magician and some “not – so – scary” story telling will entertain the kids. Trick or Treating begins at 3pm.

• Where: Cary Towne Center, corner Walnut and SW Maynard Streets.
• When: Beginning at 2:30 pm.

PumpkinPalooza- Sun Oct 31st

Come in costume and enjoy this 5th annual Halloween event. Costume parade, fun and games for the whole family.

• Where: West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stevens Dr
• When: 2-3:30 pm

Adult Fun: Costume Parties: Saturday Night, Oct 30

For the grown-ups that want to dress up and do some adult “trick or treating”, several area bars are hosting Halloween costume parties on Saturday Night, Oct 30. Here’s a brief list:

• Connolly’s (1979 High House Rd) has DJ George spinning songs all night.
• Rally Point Sport Grill (1837 N Harrison Ave) will have Sanity Station playing live music.
• Mac’s Tavern (1014 Ryan Road) has live music with the Hitmen.

Safety First

In conjunction with these activities, the Town of Cary Police Department will host its annual Halloween safety talks over the next two weeks at 33 local daycare centers, reaching over 1,800 children. Discussions will cover tips for children and parents alike, and information will be distributed for children to share with their parents/guardians. A complete list of Halloween safety tips may also be found at www.townofcary.org

“Whether trick-or-treating in your neighborhood or participating in Town-sponsored events, safety is crucial,” said Lt. Travis Baker of Cary’s IMPACT team. “Simple efforts like using the buddy system, carrying a flashlight and checking candy before eating it will make Halloween more enjoyable for all.”

Visit the Calendar

Want to know what’s happening in Cary? Visit the CaryCitizen Calendar!

Know of a Cary event that you’d like us to add? Contact Lindsey Chester.

Photos by Chris Adamczyk for CaryCitizen.

Cary, NC – CaryCitizen photographer Chris Adamczyk was everywhere this past weekend – Le Tour De Femme Bike Race, The Winter’s Tale play, and Cary’s Eid Festival at Booth Amphitheatre.

Many different cultures were represented in the bazaar and on the stage, from exotic swirling dancers to symphony music and even Bagpipe players and Scottish dancing.

Enjoy the slide show and experience this multi-cultural festival for yourself! It’s sure to be a hit again in Cary next year.

Cary, NC – The Town of Cary will join 1.8 billion people worldwide in celebrating two Eids or “festivals” next weekend.

On October 9, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, the Cary Eid Festival, an American Holiday Event, will commemorate Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Feasts) and Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) with a bazaar, food, music, arts and dance from all over the world to celebrate the two Muslim holidays. There is no admission fee from 11 a.m.–noon; after 12 p.m., admission is $4 for adults and kids 12 and under are free.

“Come join this multi-ethnic ‘Festival Without Borders,” said Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager. “This is another family-friendly opportunity to celebrate the integrations of various faiths, beliefs and practices.”

The Mission

The mission of the N.C. Eid Festival, Inc. is to “bridge the communities of various faiths, beliefs, and practices by promoting the Eid Festival as an American Holiday Event”.

As part of the festivities, local middle and high schools and arts and cultural organizations will present classical orchestra, choir, music and dances from Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Turkey, China, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland. A piece of art will be presented to the Town of Cary from a designated Muslim country as a token of thanks for its sponsorship.

More than 9 million Muslims in the United States celebrate Eids along with over one billion people around the world in more than 100 countries on each continent.

More Events

For more upcoming events in Cary, visit the Calendar.

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Photo from NcEidFestival.org.

Mind the Gap will play again at this year's Maripalooza festival Sunday, Oct 3.

Cary, NC – Don’t miss the Maripolooza event this  Sunday, October 3 from 1-6 pm at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Cary’s Mariposa Schoolis hosting this third annual fund raising event to raise awareness about autism. The Mariposa School is located in the MacGregor Office Park off of Rt. 64 and specializes in the individual education of children diagnosed with autism. They conduct fund raisers to defray some of the costs of this education.

Local Folks Donating Time and Talent

Mind the Gap donates their musical talent to local charities and covers  a wide variety of music  from the 1960s to present, including a few originals. MTG is made up of IBMers with engineering backgrounds, bringing not only great sound but a few fun surprises to each show. Having day jobs allows the band to also pursue another key interest, giving back to those in need.

“The Hotwires” are a local bluegrass band that strives to push past what’s expected, even within those boundaries, to shape a cutting-edge, left of center bluegrass sound that’s hip, yet refined while tipping their hats to the original masters of the art.

“The Magic Pipers” are a  young energetic trio from Raleigh, who “rev up” their audiences with a wide variety of rhythm & blues, rock, top 40, oldies, and dance music! The trio includes Ron Ross on keyboards, Jason Sikes on lead guitar and Joey Brantley on drums. Combined, they represent 20 years of professional experience, which includes many VIP performances at Alltel Pavilion! All three of the members provide vocals and even switch instruments on occasion.

And if all that live music wasn’t enough, live performances by the Cary YMCA Super Skippers and the NC State Dance team will round out the stage.

There will also be activities for kids, food, a silent auction, and much more! For more information, visit the Maripolooza website.

More Events on the Calendar

Want to know what’s happening in Cary? Visit CaryCitizen’s Calendar. Have an event in Cary that you’d like us to add? Contact Lindsey Chester!

CaryCitizen is sponsored by FrantzForHouse.org

Story by Lindsey Chester and Hal Goodtree. Photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Diwali is most certainly one of the undiscovered gems of Cary culture. It’s a big, happy, family event, attended by thousands from across the state and around the world. But many Cary-ites don’t know about it.

Maybe this is the year to change all that.

To mark Cary’s 10th year of celebrating Diwali, the festival has expanded to three exciting events taking place at Booth Amphitheatre this October. The big celebration on October 16th is free.

Diwali – A Cary Gem

One of the best things about Diwali is the lack of hype. No big brands or Hollywood stars.

It’s totally multi-generational, colorful as a peacock and a treat to the eye, the ear and even the tongue, with an amazing assortment of traditional foods.

Dancers and musicians of all ages stream across the stage. A few are stars from India, but most are drawn from local groups and clubs. The choreography and performance is top notch, and it’s inspiring to see friends and neighbors thrill the community from the big stage at KBA.

This year’s theme is ‘Jashn -Celebrating 10 years of Hum Sub’. ‘Jashn’ means the celebration of an auspicious event or a festival nurturing a feeling of communal warmth, and its merrymaking as highlighted in India’s tradition.

Hum Sub, the organizing producer for the events, is a Cary-based non-profit promoting Indian culture and heritage.

2010 Diwali Events

This year, for the first time, the festival will extend over 3 weeks and include 3 separate celebrations, all at Booth Amphitheatre..

Diwali Garba (Dance Night)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
6– 11 p.m. (gates and event both open/start at 6 p.m.)
$5 per adult
Kids 5 and under free
No outside food/beverages allowed
Parking is Free

The following weekend, a Bollywood Movie is scheduled for the big screen at KBA:

Diwali Movie Night
Friday, October 8, 2010
6-11 p.m. (gates and event both open/start at 6 p.m.)
$3 per adult
Kids 5 and under free
No outside food/beverages allowed
Parking is Free

And finally, the celebration culminates in a day-long festival with a craft bazaar, food and entertainment.

Diwali
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Gates open at 10:30 a.m.
Event program 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; followed by a fireworks display
Reserved Gold Circle Seating –$10, Tickets available through Ticketmaster outlets and the Box Office
All other seats are Free
Parking –$5 per car

The Stars Come Out

The finale of Diwali on October 16th is always marked by international talent- and this year is no exception.

“The Pandit Sisters” belong to the Mewati Gharana of music in India. Winner of The Filmfare awards Best New Musical Sensation, they have performed live with Oscar winner A.R. Rahman.

Shweta Pandit will be accompanied by Indian Idol 3 finalist, Parleen Singh. Their performance culminates with spectacular fireworks.

Ticket Info:

Tickets can be purchased at Booth Amphitheatre (Tuesday- Friday, noon – 6 p.m. or Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) or any Ticketmaster Outlet, or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. Booth Amphitheatre Box Office will be open for all on sale events.

For complete event information go to www.boothamphitheatre.com or call (919) 462-2025.

More Cary Events

If you’ve never been to Diwali, you must go. If you’ve been before, bring a friend. Bring some kids. Bring your Grandma. A good time is guaranteed for all.

And for more Cary events, check out the CaryCitizen Calendar.

Photos from Diwali 2009

Even before there was a CaryCitizen, we loved Diwali. Here are some photos from last year.

The events coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored by FrantzForHouse.org

Cary, NC- It’s Fall and as the weather cools down (finally!) events are heating up around town. Here’s a sampling from our Calendar. If you have Gmail, you can copy from our calendar to yours flawlessly.

Wednesday, Sept 22

Crosby, Stills and Nash (if you’re a Baby Boomer- you remember them!) play at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway

Tickets:
$43.50/General Admission Lawn
$76/Reserved
$176 VIP Hot Ticket Package
For complete event information go to www.boothamphitheatre.com or call (919) 462-2025.

What’s Up Downtown! Gathering at Chatham Street Cafe from 5:30-7:30. Sponsored by the Heart of Cary Association, they invite you to have some wine, and appetizers and network with like- minded folks about where downtown is headed. Event is free.

Thursday, Sept 23

Lady Antebellum brings cross over country rock to Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway. Warm up band is David Nail

Tickets:

$45 / General Admission Pit

$29.50/ General Admission Lawn Seats

$45/Reserved Tables

Lawn Ticket prices increase to $35 day of show

For complete event information go to www.boothamphitheatre.com or call (919) 462-2025.

Friday Sept 24

Cary Art Loop/ Final Friday Many Galleries will be open in the evening with artists receptions from 6-8 pm:

Cary Senior Center, in Bond Park

Fine Arts League of Cary’s Senior show by artists all aged 55 and above. This reception s from 3-5pm

Herb Young Community Center at Wilkenson Ave:

Artist Elise Okrendi: “Scenes of Serenity”,  pastel paintings capturing the beauty of North Carolina, and other places around the world.

Page- Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop :

Emily Lees: “Raku in Black, White & Red, Sometimes with Orange or Yellow”. Lees’ flat vase forms create interplay between two & Three dimensions. Inspired by 19th century Japanese woodblock prints Exhibit runs from Sept 24- Oct 25

Also at Page-Walker: FALC (Fine Arts League of Cary)  exhibit: “Miniatures Traveling Exhibition” present a traveling exhibit of works in miniature Some works as small as 1 by 2 inches!

Town Hall Gallery on N. Academy Street

All Week (Monday Sept 20- Sunday Sept 26)

Cary Town Band performs Friday at Cary's Sertoma Amphitheatre

By Lindsey Chester, Events Editor

Cary, NC- This first weekend after Labor Day, the Town plays host to an array of events as lazy summer gives way to another busy Fall.

Friday

In honor of Patriot Day on Saturday (Sept 11) the Cary Town Band gives a concert at Sertoma Amphitheatre beginning at 7:30pm. The Band will be joined by the 82nd Airborne Division All American Band from Fort Bragg,  and will feature a military theme for the evening. Expect rousing patriotic music! Free.

The Hopscotch Music Festival is coming to the area. As part of that, Galaxy Cinema in Cary is screening  Oddball at 3pm, a movie from the band Animal Collective . The film’s director, Danny Perez, and a “special guest” (perhaps some members of the band) are expected to make an appearance.

Saturday

Save a Life Walk is part of Yellow Ribbon Suicide Awareness & Prevention Week, Green Hope High School’s PTSA is hosting a 5K walk to fund suicide prevention amongst teenagers. The day will kick off with registration at 7:30 (for those who haven’t pre-registered) and the actual walk will start at 9am. During the day, you can catch one of several screenings of the movie  “A Cry For Help.” At the end of the walk, participants will be treated to a pancake breakfast. Registration is $20 and includes the event T shirt.

A Prairie Home Companion – Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion comes to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Saturday evening. It’s a hilarious mix of radio play, music and  sketch comedy. Not sure if this show is being recorded or broadcast live on NPR, but Keillor is sure to riff on Cary. Tickets still available. CaryCitizen will be covering the show.

Live Music Venues – Giorgio, The Corner Tavern, Connolly’s Irish Pub, each are featuring live bands. Giorgio will host Latin Night in their club room. Connolly’s has the band “Wild Ride” and The Corner Tavern has “Late Bloomers.” Far as we know, all events are free.

Sunday

Montana Skies plays in Bond Park’s Sertoma Amphitheatre at 3 pm as part of the ongoing Fall Music Series. The duo combine traditional cello with electric guitar and electric cello for a sound somewhere between an orchestra and  a rock band. This event is free.

Cary’s Calendar of Events

For all this and more Cary events, visit the CaryCitizen Calendar. Send your events to calendar@carycitizen.com.

Concert review by Kristen Collosso. Photos by Chris Adamczyk.

The Carolina heat broke just in time for two 1980s hit-makers to grace Booth Amphitheatre’s stage on Thursday night. Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon brought all of their greatest hits to Cary and gave us a really fun evening!

Tyler Bryant

The night kicked off with up-and-coming artist Tyler Bryant and his band. While he is very much a fresh young musician, Bryant has already shared the stage with many great classic artists including Aerosmith, BB King, Styx, and Vince Gill. His days as a musician started early, and it was obvious from his performance on Thursday night that he is certainly a rising star.

The guitar riffs and the soulful vocals of Bryant’s original tunes seemed to draw strongly from 70s rock. Bryant entertained the mostly middle-aged crowd with a brilliant cover of Jailhouse Rock and a great story about how a Tom Petty song (Honey Bee, specifically) got him out of a speeding ticket.

Winners of the Cary Scavenger Hunt had front row seats.

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar’s highly anticipated set was next. I loved observing the excitement of all the 40-something year old women who’d come to see their teenage idol. Some even dressed up for the occasion. I watched as a woman asked her husband to move over so another woman whom she’d just met could dance next to her!

At 57 years old Pat Benatar is still as beautiful as ever, and she can still hit every single note. She powered through her biggest hits, including Hit Me With Your Best Shot, You Better Run and Heartbreaker, as well as some of her more obscure fan favorites. She even commented that she was tired of performing Hit Me With Your Best Shot but her band (and audiences) would never let her leave it out!

Around the middle of the set, Benatar sat performed an acoustic set of You Better Run, I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend and We Belong with her guitarist, co-writer and husband Neil “Spyder” Giraldo. I loved this portion of the set because it felt like Pat and Neil had just sat us all down in their living room to tell us a few stories behind some songs they’d written together.

One thing that really struck me about Benatar as a performer was how very gracious and humble she was toward the audience. Every time we’d erupt in applause, she’d put her hand to her heart and thank us profusely. Basically, what’s not to love about her?

Set list: Pat Benatar

1. All Fired Up
2. Shadows of the Night
3. If You Think You Know How to Love Me
4. Promises in the Dark
5. Invincible
6. You Better Run
7. I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend (I Just Wanna Be Your Lover)
8. We Belong
9. Hell is for Children
10. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
11. Love is a Battlefield
12. Encore: Heartbreaker

REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon took the stage for the final set of the night.

While REO is best known for their power ballads Keep On Loving You and Can’t Fight This Feeling, it must be stated that many of their other songs are loud, high-tempo and extremely dance-able.

So anyone who gives you that look when you say you’re going to see REO Speedwagon in concert (you know…THAT look) clearly hasn’t seen them live! REO rocks!

The infectious energy of front man Kevin Cronin kept everyone on their feet throughout the show. Fans seem to be divided on whether his affinity for storytelling is annoying or endearing. As for me, I’d go with the latter — his stories always keep a smile on my face!

Speaking of smiling — the entire audience got a huge laugh when Cronin choked up during the final lyric of Can’t Fight This Feeling. He laughed and put his head down for a moment, instruments still going, and then announced (in song): “I just swallowed a bug, oooh yes I did!”

KBA Cranks It Up for REO

Perhaps the highlight of REO’s set was near the end, when Cronin acknowledged that several people in the crowd had been motioning for them to turn the volume up. “We see you out there, and we’d love nothing more than to crank it up for y’all,” he said. “But the sound police are out tonight and they won’t let us do it!”

This was, of course, met by a massive amount of booing! It seemed like Booth Amphitheatre had just been called out. But a song or two later, Cronin came back to the front of the stage to make an announcement. “I just wanted to announce that, for the first time in history, this venue has agreed to crank it up!”

The audience roared its approval! Imagine that — the first band to ever get the volume up at Booth Amphitheatre was none other than REO Speedwagon! I think I’ll use this story next time my friends give me that look.

Set list: REO Speedwagon

1. Don’t Let Him Go
2. Keep On Loving You
3. In Your Letter
4. Take It On The Run
5. Keep Pushin’
6. Golden Country
7. Can’t Fight This Feeling
8. Son of a Poor Man
9. Time For Me To Fly
10. Back on the Road Again
11. Roll with the Changes
12. Encore: Ridin’ the Storm Out

Concert Slideshow

Chris Adamczyk filed this slideshow from the concert.