MARCH 2008 Issue.pmd - RAG Magazine

The festivities wrapped-up on Sunday, with performances fromsome of the area’s best artists, including Wreckly J’s, the seductive,Amber Leigh, and the Jimmy Buffett tribute act, the CaribbeanChillers. Music aside, there was food galore, and many lucky ticketholders were also able to help judge a spicy Garlic Chefcompetition. “I knew it would be a good idea to get a bunch ofhippies together for a few days to pig out and dance! I am extremelypleased with the turn-out!” explained Entertainment Director,Screamin’ Jerry Leeman. These sentiments were also shared bythe gala’s long-running host, Andy Childs, who proclaimed, “Thisyear, we had a packed house that wasn’t detoured by theshowers; we ended up having a beautiful night and wonderfulcrowd!” - Todd McFlikerAaron LewisJanuary 28, 2008Hard Rock Live○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○Have you ever been to a friend’s house who plays acousticguitar? If you don’t know him or her that well, then you’re aboutto find out exactly how diverse his or her taste in music canreally be. This statement can also be applied to Staind frontman, Aaron Lewis, as he embarks on one of his “not to miss”acoustic tours (in between Staind records). It’s just Aaron, amicrophone, and a couple of acoustic guitars. Oh yeah, and hispersonality. For someone who I like to refer to as “an oversizedCabbage Patch doll,” Lewis has quite the sense of humor, whichis probably what makes these performances so intimate; orabout as intimate as you can get with a couple thousand people.Just like being at a friend’s house, everything Lewis does is “offthe cuff.” There is absolutely no planned setlist. If Lewis hearsa fan yell out asong title, hejust may playthe song.D u r i n gtonight’s show,Lewis pulledout Peter,Paul, andMary’s, “PuffThe MagicDragon,” (a gototune fanswill recognize from his previous visits to the Hard Rock) while4-Non Blondes’, “What’s Going On,” was done with the samefeeling, high notes and all. Nirvana’s, “Rape Me,” was notonly called-for on the spot, but figured out by Lewis just thesame.However, what the fans really wanted to hear were thesignature tunes Lewis has penned that made all of us fansof him and his band’s music from the get-go. It’s obviousLewis was fully aware of this because he opened the showwith the crowd pleasers: the reflective, “Everything Changes,”the haunting, “It’s Been Awhile,” and “Outside.” In the end,what really made the show memorable was Lewis unplugginghis acoustic guitar, sitting on the edge of the stage (withouta microphone), and asking the crowd to simply “shut up” ashe played, “Intro;” a song that not only showcased Lewis’spower as a performer, but as a vocalist. No matter whereyou were in the venue, you heard, you felt, that powerful voice.If ever there was an unforgettable concert moment: this wasit. - Matthew Pashalian • Photo: Sean McCloskeywww.RAGmagazine.com | 17