Some of my people in Southwestern PA have a running joke about the local bar scene: it's always 1975 in Pittsburgh. It's a bad analogy on musical interests, basically saying most yinzers still listen to rock radio bands like Skynrd, Yes, Eagles, and Pink Floyd. It's not, not true. Just exaggerated. To be fair, there are plenty of Tesla fans here too. I heard Modern Day Cowboy at the 412 Bar and Grill last week.
Today I opened up an article about my hometown's 2017 version of the infamous Roar on the Shore, and discovered it's always 1986 in Erie. A double take was done.
It is refreshing to see Great White and Tom Keifer are playing consecutive nights for the festivities. If anyone cares, Great White is probably not Jack Russell's Great White (an entirely separate band). No, it's probably Mark Kendal's Great White, which is technically still Great White I guess. As for Tom's show, I wonder if Jeff LaBarr is pissed at him for billing himself as Tom Keifer of Cinderella? I would still pay to see Tom Keifer, for free... Ummm...
Also slated to play is Molly Hatchet. Danny Joe Brown has been dead for over a decade, but hey, it's still Molly Hatchet. Believe it or not, it's a band I've personally seen 3 times, just not since 1990, never without Danny Joe Brown, and never Hlubeks version of the band. I'm sure it's still badass.
I want to see all three. I'm considering crashing on my sister's floor for a weekend to come home and relive some youth. Up until this announcement, my biggest hair nostalgia "want" this year was the Tracii Guns / Phil Lewis reunited LA Guns (not the scabby Steve Riley version, which also featured Phil Lewis up until Dec of last year, weird, confusing, shite you can't make up) at Jergels on August 5th.
All of the above are examples of what eventually happens to working musicians from nostalgic bands. They have to make a living, and resign themselves to endless touring cycles living off of former glory. It does get a little silly when bands, especially 80's bands, have multiple versions out there competing for a limited headcount. But I've always maintained that if a musician can make a living off of music, they should, even if there are 2 Ratts, 2 Great Whites, 2 Queensryches, 2 LA Guns, and God knows what else exists. Are there 2 Bang Tangos?
In keeping current, I may go see Dawes this weekend at the 3 Rivers Arts Fest. I'll call that the Yawn on the Lawn, but I'm all about some free music.
I'm 15 again this year folks. Life is always good, but this year, it's mid-life good.
Nago
