For the second year in a row, All Music Magazine was invited to a private, charitable function held in the great state of Texas. This fundraising charitable event brings great music to support the Austin Humane Society and the Forever Young Foundation organizations. The Forever Young Foundation Founded in 1993 by NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young, the Forever Young Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization focused on passing on hope and resources for the development, strength, and education of children.
The entertainment for this event is always epic and great rock and roll. On the bill for this year for entertainment were The Jessie James Dupree Band, Music Mob, and headliner George Thorogood and the Destroyers. The event was held at a private residence with 25 picturesque acres surrounding the home. The grounds had the concert stage at the end of the street in the cul-de-sac, a full-size Ferris wheel, carnival games with prizes, inflatable slides, a petting zoo, face painting, and even a temporary tattoo artist. Additionally, there were two food trucks, an Italian ice booth, and a taco buffet. The charitable silent auction lasted all day and had numerous items which included; signed custom guitars by musicians, multiple signed jerseys, multiple signed football helmets, signed albums, signed footballs, a GROOVY hi-fi system from the 70s, the coolest Mike Tyson pictures/signed glove display frame, and many other items. There were herds of deer roaming the grounds and even puppies supplied by The Austin Humane Society that you could hold or play with and were ready for adoption. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and this event just accented those remarks.
The first night, with a very private guest list, saw The Jessie James Dupree Band as the night’s only live entertainment. The band consisted of Jessie James Dupree, singer/guitarist for the band Jackyl, Roman Glick the bass player for the band Jackyl, Jessie’s son Nigel Dupree on guitar, and drummer Rodney (Hammer) Beaubouet.
The Jessie James Dupree Band came out and just plain delivered. Jessie James Dupree is a larger-than-life personality and he had the stage and the microphone. He invited the host resident up to sing backup on a song, he invited long-time friend Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Vince Neil) to join his band for a few songs on lead guitar while moving his son Nigel to drums. Then to keep it with the theme of being a family affair, he asked Blando’s 16-year-old daughter on stage for the crowd to wish her a happy birthday as he and her father sang to her. Then before she could escape the stage, he presented her with a birthday cake with 16 candles. The Jessie James Dupree Band concluded the show with “Lumberjack” the signature Jackyl song where Jessie sings with the aid of a live chainsaw while cutting a bar stool in half and smashing it on the stage. Truly a sight to see live!
The Jessie James Dupree Band:
Jessie James Dupree – Vocals/Guitar/Chainsaw
Roman Glick – Bass
Nigel Dupree – Guitar/Vocals/Drums
Rodney (Hammer) Beaubouet – Drums
Jeff Blando – Guitar
The second day got underway as the evening’s bands were introduced by SiriusXM radio personality, Eddie Trunk. When you’re at a show and Eddie Trunk is your MC, you know you are at a bonified high-octane rock and roll show!
Eddie Trunk
Music Mob kicked off the evening of the last night. Music Mob is the formation of a band that adds different musicians to morph into bands that play songs that are fan-recognizable with one or more musicians from the original band that recorded the hits. This is the brainchild of guitarist/vocalist Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Vince Neil), he thought is why not play covers with the original artists and allow the audience to hear more than one band’s material?
Jeff came off the touring circuit with his band Slaughter, and he brought Jordan Cannata, Slaughter’s drummer with him. The two were joined by Rudy Sarzo of (Quiet Riot/Dio/Whitesnake/Ozzy Osbourne/Blue Oyster Cult) on bass, thus giving Music Mob a wide catalog of songs to play. 10 of the 13 songs of the show were songs from Rudy’s past bands. It was interesting that the setlist didn’t include any songs from their current touring bands, Quiet Riot and Slaughter.
The trio played like they had played together for years as they were tight and in the same groove. Jordan Cannata is one of the best drummers to watch and hear, Rudy Sarzo is an incredible bass player with 50 years of experience in many high-profile bands, and the guitar wizardry and wonderful vocals of Jeff Blando rounded out a very energetic and talented performance. Blando was also the music director for all the bands performing at this event!
Band:
Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Vince Neil) – Vocals/Guitar
Jordan Cannata (Slaughter) – Drums
Rudy Sarzo ( Quiet Riot/Dio/Whitesnake/Ozzy Osbourne/Blue Oyster Cult) – Bass
Setlist:
1.I Don’t Know (Ozzy Osbourne Cover)
2. Fool For Your Lovin (Whitesnake Cover)
3. Rainbow In The Dark (Dio Cover)
4. Cryin’ In The Rain (Whitesnake Cover)
5. Stay With Me (Faces Cover)
6. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne Cover)
7. Holy Diver (Dio Cover)
8. Baba O’Riley (The Who Cover)
9. The Last In Line (Dio Cover)
10. War Pigs (Black Sabbath Cover)
11. Heaven and Hell (Ozzy Osborne Cover)
12. Tush (ZZ Top Cover)
13. Still Of The Night (Whitesnake Cover)
The last night came to a crescendo with the performance of 50-year rock veteran, George Thorogood, and the Destroyers bringing their “high-energy boogie-blues” to the crowd. With the songs “Who Do You Love?”, “House Rent Blues / One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, and “Bad to the Bone,” George Thorogood always performs a great show. Even at the age of 74 he was all over the stage and just plain rocking out. If you have a chance, George Thorogood is a must-see performer. I have said many times, with all of the rock shows I have attended over the past 5o years, three of my all-time top ten shows belong to George Thorogood. He may not be the wildman he once was, but he still holds his own on many musicians half his age.
Band:
George Thorogood – Lead Vocals/Lead, Slide and Rhythm Guitar
Jeff Simon – Drums
Billy Blough – Bass Guitar
Jim Suhler – Rhythm/ Lead Guitar
Buddy Leach – Saxophone, Piano
Setlist:
1.Rock Party
2. Who Do You Love? (Bo Diddley cover)
3. Mama Talk to Your Daughter (J.B. Lenoir cover)
4. I Drink Alone
5. House Rent Blues / One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (John Lee Hooker cover)
6. Cocaine Blues (Johnny Cash cover)
7. Gear Jammer
8. Get a Hair-cut (Don’t Panic cover)
9. Bad to the Bone
10. Gloria (Them cover)
11. Move It on Over (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover)
12. Born to Be Bad
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Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.
