Tickets to Bon Jovi Tulsa show go on sale Nov. 16
Rockers Bon Jovi have announced that their 2010-2011 “The Circle World Tour,” promoted by AEG Live, will stop April 13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16 and can be purchased at the BOK Center Box Office and all Tickets.com outlets, phone at (866) 7BOKCTR or online at www.bokcenter.com.
Ticket prices are $29.50, $59.50, $99.50 and $129.50. Tickets are subject to applicable service charges and event time and date are subject to change.
The GrammyAward-winning band will spend much of the next two years on the road, performing 135 shows in 30 countries.
With the grounds of New Meadowlands Stadium as their backdrop, the band’s Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres recently announced their two-year global trek with an exclusive performance for a group of more than 5,000 lucky contest winners, fan club members, and on-site construction workers currently building the venue. Following in the footsteps of their hugely successful “Lost Highway Tour” — Billboard’s No. 1 top-grossing tour of 2008 — Bon Jovi will draw fans around the world into “The Circle,” with a residency at London’s O2 Arena in June 2010 before returning to America in the fall for an additional nationwide leg, and further dates well into 2011.
The Nov. 10 release of the band’s new album, “The Circle,” and subsequent world tour, provides a powerful reassertion of Bon Jovi’s commitment to the rock ’n’ roll that has been the band’s indelible signature since it began more than 26 years ago.
For more information on the tour, go to www.bonjovi.com.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for Nov. 6-8, 2009
Rodney Atkins
Here is a list of events happening this weekend (Nov. 6-8) around Oklahoma. For more information, go to www.wimgo.com.
- NORMAN – Catch country star Rodney Atkins at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: www.riverwind.com.
- SHAWNEE — Hear “American Idol” David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, at 7 tonight at Firelake Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Information: 964-7263 or www.firelakegrand.com.
- Take in art, food and music at the sixth annual Girlie Show from 8 to midnight tonight and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Farmers Public Market, 311 S Klein. Information: www.thegirlieshow.net.
Classical Mystery Tour
- Watch the Oklahoma City Philharmonic perform with Beatles tribute band Classical Mystery Tour at 8 tonight and Saturday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.
- TULSA and THACKERVILLE — Listen to country star Alan Jackson and up-and-coming band Gloriana at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com. Or catch Jackson in concert at 9 tonight at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- See new art – from small works exhibits to a container show – during the monthly Paseo Gallery Walk in the Paseo Arts District. Hours are 6 to 10 tonight and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
- Hear Chevelle with Halestorm and After Midnight Project at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern Ave. Information: www.diamondballroom.net.
Billie Letts
- SHAWNEE - Hear Tulsa author Billie Letts (”Where the Heart Is”) give the keynote address at the 2009 Red Dirt Book Festival on today and Saturday. Letts will speak at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Raley Chapel at Oklahoma Baptist University. Multiple writing workshops, special programs and panel discussions with authors and editors will be included in the two-day book festival that’s sponsored by Pioneer Library System. The festival opens at 9 a.m. today. Letts and other featured authors will close out the festival with a book signing at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Geiger Center on OBU’s campus. To register for the free festival (which is required) or get more information, go to www.reddirtbookfestival.org.
- Listen to Billy Joe Winghead, Bloody Ol’ Mule, the Starkweather Boys and more from noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday at “Drumming for Derek,” a benefit for Oklahoma City drummer Derek Dugger, who has brain cancer. The event will be at 66 Bowl, 3810 NW 39 Expressway. Information: 946-3966.
- MIAMI – Catch the Casey Donahew Band in concert at 7 tonight at Buffalo Run Casino. Information: www.buffalorun.com.
“Frankenstein”
- Watch Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and TheatreOCU’s production of “Frankenstein” at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. today, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in Oklahoma City University’s Burg Theatre, 2501 N Blackwelder. The production is recommended for middle school and high school students. Information: www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org.
- TULSA – Hear Rob Zombie with Nekromantix and Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Brady Theater, 105 W Brady Street. Information: www.bradytheater.com.
- See a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Also, hear Don Conoscenti at 9 tonight and John Fullbright at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Door. Information: www.bluedoorokc.com.
- Watch Red Dirt Improv perform “Music, Mayhem, and Mamet” starting at 7 tonight at IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan. Information: www.reddirtimprov.com.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for Nov. 6-8, 2009
Rodney Atkins
Here is a list of events happening this weekend (Nov. 6-8) around Oklahoma. For more information, go to www.wimgo.com.
- NORMAN – Catch country star Rodney Atkins at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: www.riverwind.com.
- SHAWNEE — Hear “American Idol” David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, at 7 tonight at …
Read more Weekend Warmup for Nov. 6-8, 2009 at BAM's Blog
Concert review: AC/DC shakes Oklahoma City’s Ford Center all Wednesday night long
AC/DC singer Brian Johnson performs at a recent stop of the “Black Ice Tour.” (Associated Press photos)
AC/DC guitarist Angus Young wails away during a recent show.
AC/DC’s “Black Ice Tour” skidded into the Ford Center Wednesday night with the unrelenting force and can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it spectacle of a massive train wreck.
And that’s exactly how the Australian rock gods started the show. The giant screens came to life with a bawdy animated video of a devilish Angus Young, distracted by naughty groupies, driving a runaway engine. The large-scale cartoon culminated in pyrotechnics flaring, a huge locomotive bursting through the back of the stage and the energetic rockers thundering out their latest hit “Rock N Roll Train.”
Though the venerable band surely needed no such gaudy introduction, singer Brian Johnson, guitarist Angus Young, his rhythm guitarist brother Malcolm Young, bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd proved from the outset their unadulterated commitment to rocking the Ford Center.
AC/DC specializes in mammoth, primal hard rock, with plenty of suggestive lyrics, intimations of violence and a wicked sense of fun. Often criticized for steadfastly adhering to its formula of huge riffs and pounding rhythms, the band’s stick-with-what-works approach was nearly impossible to argue with during Wednesday’s wildly entertaining show. Even seeing Johnson wearing his usual slouchy hat and sleeveless shirt and Angus Young in his trademark schoolboy outfit was a thrill.
The estimated 12,000 fans — there were a surprising number of empty seats for a tour that has notched numerous sell-outs — were clearly onboard. The crowd, which ranged from hollering graybeards to air-guitar-playing children, leapt to its feet as the houselights went down and stayed standing throughout the band’s two-hour set.
Like Johnson and Angus, the throng was in perpetual motion, constantly waving arms, pumping fists and banging heads. The gravel-voiced Johnson grinned maniacally as the fans took over chorus after chorus, na-nah-ing through “Thunderstruck” and shouting along to “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.”
The band drew heavily on its arsenal of colossal hits, invoking screams of delight as it hammered through favorites like “Back in Black,” “TNT” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
The rockers maintained their titanic intensity on new songs like “Big Jack,” “War Machine” and “Black Ice,” the title track from their successful 2008 album. Unfortunately, many fans used those less-familiar songs for bathroom breaks or beer runs, but there are no ballads at an AC/DC show, after all.
The band also tapped its 36-year-old catalog for a few deeper cuts such as “Shot Down in Flames” and “Dog Eat Dog.” The bluesy groove of “The Jack” set the mood for Angus to perform his signature strip tease, dispensing with his jacket, tie and shirt and finally flashing AC/DC boxers at the elated audience.
“The boy’s got a devil in his fingers and the blues in his soul,” Johnson quipped as Angus scorched through the song’s fiery solo.
And both have the heart of showmen and the stamina of men half their age. While the rest of the band rocked steadily in the background, Johnson and Angus made frequent trips down the catwalk jutting out from the enormous black stage. The singer strutted and incited the crowd, while the guitar slinger charmed the fans with his duck walk.
Of course, a flair for theatrics never hurt a rock band, either, and the concert was packed with extravagant and engaging set pieces (which undoubtedly played into the $100 ticket price). Johnson took a running leap and swung from the big bell suspended above the stage to open “Hells Bells.” A towering, buxom blowup doll straddled the locomotive and swayed to the beat of “Whole Lotta Rosie.”
AC/DC ended its set with “Let There Be Rock” featuring an outrageous extended solo from Angus, who wailed away like a man possessed as the platform at the end of the catwalk lifted him high above the horde. As he fell to the ground, still playing as he spun in circles, confetti exploded into the air.
As the rockers returned for their encore, the guitarist suddenly emerged from beneath the stage in plumes of red-tinged smoke for “Highway to Hell.” And when they finally closed the concert with “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” blasts from six canons punctuated the anthem.
The sheer spectacle and raw might of AC/DC’s show contrasted with the low-tech opening set by Northern Irish rockers The Answer. Unknown to most of the crowd, the band earned a warm but not sizzling welcome with its solid string of blues-rock songs.
— BAM
Concert review: AC/DC shakes Oklahoma City’s Ford Center all Wednesday night long
AC/DC singer Brian Johnson performs at a recent stop of the “Black Ice Tour.” (Associated Press photos)
AC/DC guitarist Angus Young wails away during a recent show.
AC/DC’s “Black Ice Tour” skidded into the Ford Center Wednesday night with the unrelenting force and can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it spectacle of a massive train wreck.
And that’s exactly how the Australian rock gods …
Read more Concert review: AC/DC shakes Oklahoma City’s Ford Center all Wednesday night long at BAM's Blog
OKC Philharmonic going on a Classical Mystery Tour, giving away Beatles box set
Classical Mystery Tour
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will reunite this weekend with the Beatles tribute band Classical Mystery Tour.
The orchestra and the band will perform together at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.
In 1996, Classical Mystery Tour joined the ranks of the many Fab Four tribute bands out there, but what sets this group apart is that its appearances are backed by a full symphony orchestra.
The group played a successful engagement with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in January 2007, so Classical Mystery Tour will help the orchestra open its 2009-10 pops season this weekend.
Band members Jim Owen (John Lennon), Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney), Tom Teeley (George Harrison) and Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr) will return for two performances conducted by Martin Herman.
For more information, click here to read Fine Arts Editor Rick Rogers’ story about the show. For tickets and information, call 842-5387 or go to www.okcphilharmonic.org.
In conjunction with the shows, the OKC Philharmonic is giving away one of the new Beatles’ stereo box sets and a set of four box seats to one of the performances. Participants must be 18 or older to enter, and the deadline is for entries to be submitted online is 2 p.m. Thursday. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing of all eligible entries.
To learn more or enter the contest, go to www.okcphilharmonic.org/contest-rules.
-BAM
OKC Philharmonic going on a Classical Mystery Tour, giving away Beatles box set
Classical Mystery Tour
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will reunite this weekend with the Beatles tribute band Classical Mystery Tour.
The orchestra and the band will perform together at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.
In 1996, Classical Mystery Tour joined the ranks of the many Fab Four tribute bands out there, but …
Read more OKC Philharmonic going on a Classical Mystery Tour, giving away Beatles box set at BAM's Blog
Irish rock band The Answer opening for AC/DC tonight in Oklahoma City
The Answer
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
AC/DC’s opening act has The Answer
Frontman Cormac Neeson hopes eventually he won’t get so many questions when people learn the name of his band is The Answer.
The Irish blues-rockers have spent the last year getting priceless exposure as opening act for AC/DC’s worldwide “Black Ice Tour.” The tour will make a stop tonight at the Ford Center.
“Part of the experience is soaking up a few tricks of the trade from these guys that have been in the business for so long, and you combine that with obviously the exposure that The Answer’s getting by playing in front of these massive crowds, it’s just a perfect tour for us to be on right now,” Neeson said in a phone interview earlier this year from the road.
The tour has taken the hard-rocking quartet all over the United States (including an appropriately icy January date at Tulsa’s BOK Center), throughout Europe, back to the States, into Canada and back to America. Along the way, the band has played “Late Night With David Letterman,” put a song on “Guitar Hero: World Tour” and released a new album, “Everyday Demons.” The Answer is releasing this month “Comfort Zone,” the soulful new single from the album, its first full-length record to get an American release.
“It’s all coming together and all combining to really build up a strong momentum,” he said. “It’s our second album, so thus it’s the first album that we actually had to sit down and write over the space of three months as opposed to a collection of songs over the previous couple of years … so there’s a consistency there, there’s a kind of fluency in statement that we’re trying to make.”
Their globe-trotting trek started with the band’s formation nine years ago in Northern Ireland. Neeson, guitarist Paul Mahon, bassist Michael Waters and drummer James Heatley secured a U.K. record deal in 2005 and released their debut album “Rise” to keen reviews and solid sales.
Among others, the album captured the attention of Australian rock gods AC/DC, who handpicked The Answer for the hotly anticipated “Black Ice Tour.”
“I don’t whether it’s a case of them maybe seeing a bit of themselves in where we’re at at the moment — you know, a band (that’s) a native of Good Brit in the States — but luckily enough, they were willing to give it to us,” Neeson said.
“We were in the running with another 200 bands, and I think if it had come down to industry politics, we wouldn’t have been within a hope in hell of getting it. So, it’s quite refreshing to know that a band like AC/DC still has the humanity to give it to a band that really needs it and, we feel, deserves it.”
Though the influence of AC/DC, along with the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes and Free, echoes through The Answer’s music, Neeson said the band has deliberately steered clear on any rock-retro blues clichés and worked to establish a distinctively modern sonic identity.
“When kids listen to a band, they want a band that’s gonna sound fresh and something that they can really attach themselves to and be a part of,” he said.
The band’s winding journey with AC/DC is ending later this month, as the Irish lads embark Nov. 25 on their first headlining tour of the U.K. Along the “Black Ice Tour,” the group has played a few solo shows, including Tuesday night and back in January at Ardmore’s Two Frogs Grill.
“They’re the best live act I’ve ever seen at Two Frogs,” said owner Aubry Harris, whose venue recently hosted Bret Michaels and Vince Neil. “They’re a no-name in the States right now, but they’re smoking good. It’s only a matter of time before they hit big.”
In the event they become breakout rock stars, Neeson said The Answer will have some valuable insight into mounting a massive tour.
“It’s a lesson in how to pull off a tour of this magnitude. We (previously) spent 2 ½ years touring all around Europe and Japan and Australia and places like that. You know, we’re no strangers to life on the road, but … the sheer scale of the whole thing … you really have to pace yourself and come to terms with it as soon as you possibly can. You can’t let it kind of overawe you.”
In concert
AC/DC with The Answer
When: 8 tonight.
Where: Ford Center, 100 W Reno.
Information: (800) 745-3000 or www.okfordcenter.com.
-BAM
Irish rock band The Answer opening for AC/DC tonight in Oklahoma City
The Answer
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
AC/DC’s opening act has The Answer
Frontman Cormac Neeson hopes eventually he won’t get so many questions when people learn the name of his band is The Answer.
The Irish blues-rockers have spent the last year getting priceless exposure as opening act for AC/DC’s worldwide “Black Ice Tour.” The tour …
Read more Irish rock band The Answer opening for AC/DC tonight in Oklahoma City at BAM's Blog
