Concert | The Beauty Around Us

Posts tagged ‘Concert’

Pure Prairie League Concert

My stepdaughter works as a reporter for our local newspaper. Stacey had a job assignment yesterday afternoon at Struthers Library Theater to interview members of the country-rock band, Pure Prairie League. Bob accompanied Stacey to the interview. The interview was scheduled for 4:00 pm. Bob said it was close to 5:00 pm, though, before the interview commenced. Prior to the interview Bob and Stacey watched the band, as they went through sound check and kind of a short rehearsal. Bob said it was cool to watch the band set up and interact with each other.

As a result of meeting with the band, Bob and I had an unexpected date night. While at the Pure Prairie League interview, the bass player gave him two tickets for the show. The tickets were for the rear balcony row k seats 10 and 12.

This is the bass player, the band member who gave the show tickets to Bob.

The Pure Prairie League concert began at 8:00 pm and ran straight through until approximately 9:45 pm. They played an additional 10-15 minutes in an encore performance.

I was not familiar with the band. I can’t recall ever hearing the name of the band. I did recognize two songs, though, during the concert — “Let me Love You Tonight” and “Amie”. The concert was very good. Thank you, Stacey, for inviting your dad along on the interview. Thank you to the bass player, too, for the complimentary tickets. We had an awesome date night!

Music in the Park: Border Ride

Each summer, residents and visitors alike have the opportunity to attend free Music in the Park concerts held on most Friday evenings at Soldiers and Sailors park, located along the banks of the Allegheny River, in the heart of downtown Warren. This year’s Music in the Park program began on June 3 and ends on September 2. Music genres includes rock, country, bluegrass, and jazz. Bob and I attended this past Friday night’s Border Ride concert.

Border Ride

Members of the band are: Cathy Pearson (fiddle), Scott Pearson (mandolin and fiddle), Jimmy Metz (banjo, Dobro and vocals), Darla Evans (bass and vocals), and Nelson Boosel (guitar and vocals).

Border Ride is a bluegrass band. We enjoyed very much listening to the 2-hour concert. Each band member performs passionately. In addition to the music, we enjoyed the dynamics of the band. Border Ride has fun, while performing.

Here is a short video clip that I created from three video captures. The video will give you some idea of Border Ride’s impressive musical talent. Be sure to click on HD for best video quality.

If you would like to learn more about this wonderful bluegrass band, you may do so by visiting the Border Ride website. If you enjoy bluegrass music and have the opportunity to do so, please take in one of Border Ride’s concerts. You will not be disappointed!

Day Old Soup

We met Paul and Debbie, Scott and Donna, and Bob and Barb at the North Warren playground parking lot at 6:00 pm on Friday, June 19th. The eight of us rode to Tidioute PA via Route 62. While in Tidioute, we ate dinner at the Hotel Tidioute and listened to the three-man band, Day Old Soup, at the Picture Park on Main Street.

Service at Hotel Tidioute was a bit slow, owing to the fact that the waitress and cook were overwhelmed by the number of people in town for the Day Old Soup concert, who came in for food / beverage to eat in or take out. We didn’t mind the slow service, though. The waitress was very personable, and we just spent the wait time socializing with each other. Our food, when it arrived, was hot and very good. Bob ordered the Shrimp Basket; I ordered the Haddock Fish Fry.

Our evening had more to it than just getting together and enjoying some music together. Sonny, who is Paul and Scott’s cousin, paid for the band to attract awareness to his new antique store. Boondocks Antiques & More is located across the street from the Picture Park and was open late. We attended the concert to show our support to Sonny.

Day Old Soup played mostly classic rock, and the music was good.

We departed Tidioute around 9:00 pm and rode Route 337 home. We knew we would see deer on our way home, and several deer did cross in front of us. We kept a diligent watch, and everyone returned home safely.

Music in the Park: Border Ride

Each summer, residents and visitors alike have the opportunity to attend free Music in the Park concerts held on most Friday evenings at Soldiers and Sailors park, located along the banks of the Allegheny River, in the heart of downtown Warren. This year’s Music in the Park program began on June 7 and ends on September 6. Music genres includes rock, country, bluegrass, and jazz. Bob and I attended this past Friday night’s Border Ride concert.

the band “Border Ride”

Members of the band are: Cathy Pearson (fiddle), Scott Pearson (mandolin and fiddle), Jimmy Metz (banjo, Dobro and vocals), Darla Evans (bass and vocals), and Nelson Boosel (guitar and vocals).

Nelson Boosel (guitar and vocals)

Darla Evans (bass and vocals)

Jimmy Metz (banjo, dobro and vocals)

Scott Pearson (mandolin and fiddle)

Cathy Pearson (fiddle)

Scott and Cathy Pearson are not the only musical members of their family. We enjoyed performances by their son.

We enjoyed performances by their daughter too.

Here is a short video clip that I created from three video captures. The video will give you some idea of Border Ride’s impressive musical talent.

Weekend in South Central Pennsylvania – Cruise Night

This blog post concludes details of our extended weekend vacation (August 5-8) in South Central Pennsylvania. The first day of our vacation was mainly a driving event. We drove 5 1/2 hours from our home in Warren, PA, to our hotel in Jonestown, PA. On the second day of our vacation (August 6) we took a stroll alongside Union Canal in Lebanon and visited the quaint village of Mt. Gretna, where we saw Leon Redbone in concert. On the third day of our vacation (August 7) we visited Hershey Gardens during the morning. In the afternoon we visited the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Later in the day we attended Lickdale Campground’s annual Cruise Night.

While riding the elevator to our hotel room the first day of our weekend vacation, I noticed a bulletin announcing a Cruise Night at Lickdale Campground on Saturday evening. The bulletin read as follows:

“4:00 to 8:00pm, Music from 5:00pm, Burn-out Pit opens at 8:00pm
Bring your Classic, Custom or Antique Car, Truck or Motorcycle
and spend an evening at the campground
enjoying great music & food and lots of great looking cars!”

Lickdale Campground was located across the street from our hotel. We made plans to attend the Cruise Night. So, one week ago today, we were enjoying the sights and sounds of Lickdale Campground’s 7th annual Cruise Night. This event was free for everyone; however, donations and canned goods were being accepted for Lebanon Food Bank.

Weekend in South Central Pennsylvania - Cruise Night

Some of the cars at the Lickdale Campground Cruise Night
(please click on image to enlarge)

Bryan Stevenson with “The Hit List” entertained the crowd with music from the 50’s – 60’s. I hadn’t heard of this band before. I enjoyed listening to their music.

The Burn-Out Pit opened at 8:00 PM.

Burn-Out Pit

Concrete pavement watered down

This was the first time I attended a burn-out event. The first “contestant” only squealed her tires on the concrete pavement. I didn’t take her photograph, as her performance wasn’t a burn-out.

The second “contestant” was a man riding a motorcycle.

Tire smoking just a little bit

Tire smoking a lot!

This was the third “contestant”.

This man went through all gears, while in the burn-out pit.

The car started to slide!

Tires smoking a lot.
The smoke was coming right at us!

We walked back to our hotel shortly after that last burn-out. More “contestants” burned their tires after we left; however, we had seen and heard and smelled (!) enough. The smell of burning tires was in my hair, on my clothes and seemed to have permeated my very body! That’s our hotel across the street. It’s shrouded in a cloud of smoke from the burn-out pit.

This concludes our weekend in South Central Pennsylvania. We returned home on Sunday, August 8th.

Weekend in South Central Pennsylvania – Mt. Gretna

This blog post continues details of our extended weekend vacation (August 5-8) in South Central Pennsylvania. The first day of our vacation was mainly a driving event. We drove 5 1/2 hours from our home in Warren, PA, to our hotel in Jonestown, PA. On the second day of our weekend vacation (August 6) we took a stroll alongside Union Canal in Lebanon and visited the quaint village of Mt. Gretna. Yesterday’s blog post provided details and photographs of the Union Canal. This blog post provides details and photographs from our visit to Mt. Gretna.

From Lebanon it was only a short drive to Mt. Gretna.

Upon our arrival in Mt. Gretna, we were surprised to learn that we were on the historic grounds of The Pennsylvania Chautauqua. We had thought there was only one Chautauqua, that being Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. We have visited Chautauqua Institution many times, as it is located within a 30-minute drive of our house. Imagine our surprise when we learned that there are over 200 Chautauquas created as part of the late 19th, early 20th century movement that began in 1874 at Chautauqua, New York! The Pennsylvania Chautauqua was established in 1892. As is the case with Chautauqua Institution, the purpose and mission of The Pennsylvania Chautauqua is the advancement of literary, scientific, intellectual, physical, and social welfare and the promotion of cultural and religious activities, recreation and entertainment.

We arrived in Mt. Gretna around 10:00 AM. We spent the next 3 hours admiring the playhouse and the cottages surrounding the playhouse, walking through the Fairy Garden and relaxing on the shores of Lake Conewago.

Mt. Gretna Playhouse

Mt. Gretna cottage

Hall of Philosophy

Entrance to the Fairy Garden

The Fairy Garden

Children leave notes for the fairies in the Fairy Garden.

Bob, relaxing at Conewago Lake

As we sat on the shores of Lake Conewago, we enjoyed each others’ company while listening to the sounds of children swimming in the lake and watching butterflies flit among the flowers.

Before leaving Mt. Gretna we ate lunch at The Jigger Shop, which is an ice cream parlor that has been around since 1895.

The Jigger Shop

We enjoyed a lunch of cheeseburgers, fries and coleslaw at The Jigger Shop. For dessert we shared a Jigger Sundae, which is one of the best sundaes I have ever eaten. A Jigger is vanilla ice cream covered with either butterscotch or chocolate syrup (we chose butterscotch syrup) and topped with whipped marshmallow and jigger nuts served in a tall parfait glass. I have no idea what jigger nuts are. The nuts are cocoa colored and finely ground. The taste of the nuts is unique, neither bitter nor sweet.

After eating lunch at The Jigger Shop, we returned to our hotel with plans to return to Mt. Gretna by 7:00 PM. We made it back to the hotel by 1:30 PM. We must have been pretty tired because we each ended up taking a nap!

We returned to Mt. Gretna, as planned, by 7:00 PM. The reason for our weekend visit to South Central Pennsylvania and, in particular, Mt. Gretna was to hear Leon Redbone in concert at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse. Bob has been a big fan of Leon Redbone since he first heard him in the mid 1970s. This year, for Father’s Day, Stacey gave Bob two tickets to the concert. Not being familiar with Mt. Gretna, our morning visit to the village was a dry run to locate the Mt. Gretna Playhouse and determine where we would park for the evening’s concert.

Who’s Playing – Leon Redbone in Concert

It was requested that no photographs be taken during the concert. Therefore, the only photograph of Leon Redbone that I have is on the billboard shown above.

Stacey purchased GREAT seats for the show. We were seated in the center, the second row from the open-air stage. Almost every seat in the 700-seat auditorium were filled. The show began at 8:00 PM, with comedian Joe Recca as the opening act. Joe Recca was entertaining; he was funny. He had a twinkle in his eyes and an engaging smile, a chuckle at times, as he laughed at his own jokes.

After a short intermission, Leon Redbonetook the stage at 9:00 PM. Leon’s piano accompanist came onto stage first and took a seat at the piano on the left side of the stage. The piano accompanist was attired in top coat and tails. Next came Leon; he walked carefully, with cane, to his chair in the center of the stage. Leon wore a white hat with dark band around the base, sunglasses, a dark tie, a dark pair of pants, dark shoes and a white coat. After settling in his chair, Leon began singing his classic tunes. Leon brings to life the music of early blues, jazz and ragtime artists. Leon peppered the show with vaudevillian comedy and engaged in banter with the pianist. I enjoyed the entire concert, but especially liked listening to Leon play the harmonica and whistle. I enjoyed watching the pianist, too, as his fingers played skillfully over the keys of the piano. It was a great show. We both thank Stacey very much for affording us the opportunity to see Leon Redbone in concert.

Ribfest 2010 – Third Day: the band “Willow Creek”

Warren held its 7th annual Ribfest this past weekend. The Ribfest is a four-day event. Bob and I attended Ribfest each day, beginning on Thursday afternoon (July 15). We listened to Paul Eisert in concert on Thursday afternoon. On Friday we listened to two Rock-n-Roll concerts. The first concert was the band “Jack the Dog”. The second concert was the band “The Earthquakers”. On Saturday we participated in the Thank A Vet Dam Run. When we returned to Betts Park, the site of the Ribfest, we listened to the local country band “Willow Creek” while enjoying the taste of pulled pork sandwiches from Sgt. Oink’s BBQ Co.

The band “Willow Creek” performs today’s country hits. With the exception of lead singer Ron Carrington, Jr., the band has been together for eight years. Ron, a former Warren Idol winner, joined “Willow Creek” in January 2009.

the band “Willow Creek”

Members of the band are: Ron Carrington Jr. (lead singer), Allen Harle (lead guitar and vocals), Joe Miraglia (pedal steel guitar), Bill Woodfield (piano, keyboard and vocals), Tim Reed (bass guitar and vocals) and Jason Dorman (drums).

Ron Carrington Jr. (lead singer)

I know Ron personally, which made listening to the band “Willow Creek” extra special for me. It was the first time that I had heard the band perform. It was the first time, too, that I heard Ron sing. “Willow Creek” is hot; the music sounds similar to the original country songs.