Monday, April 20, 2015

Indy Concert Review: Autograph w/ Special Guest - Jambox - Southport Bar & Grill - Saturday, April 18, 2015


 
 
 
Jambox
Hometown: Indianapolis
Genre: 70's and 80's rock

Jambox - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com

 
There are close to sixty local bands here in Indy, ten of which I have now blogged...so I've got my work cut out for me this Spring and Summer.  This is the third time for me to blog on Jambox...so does that mean I'm partial to them? *smile* Well...I do really like these guys, yes...and I know there are many others who would agree.  Even back in the 80's, I had certain bands I liked to follow.  I know it was a great honor for Jambox to open for Autograph here in Indy.  It was a fun show for sure...a small, intimate feel provided in the 'concert room' at Southport Bar & Grill on Indy's south side.
 
Eric - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com
Dave and Rusty - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com
 

 
 
Jambox is:
 
Eric Rozens - lead vocals
Ritchie Wilkison - guitar
Jeff Ellison - bass
Dave Lucid - keyboards
Rusty Scutt - drums



Jeff - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com

 
Ritchie and Eric - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com


Rusty - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com
 
Check out their website for contact/booking; pictures and videos; merchandise and club dates info:
 
 

 
The guys rocked out for about an hour with tunes from Journey (certainly a given), Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Starship, Yes, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, Kansas, Boston, Toto, Rush, The Who, Head East and others.  Jambox is easy to like because they rock so well.  If you haven't had opportunity to see them, please do so...guaranteed to be a good time. Just since last November, Jambox has been on the local scene, and have developed a strong following.   You can catch them again at Southport Bar & Grill June 20th.  Last night it was turn up the Jambox, then turn it up with Autograph!
 
 
Autograph
Genre: American heavy metal (glam metal)
 
 
Many rock bands over the years have dealt with break-ups and replacing members, some successful, others not.  One of the most obvious and toughest to overcome is changing out a lead vocalist.  That is as much the sound as all the instruments, which are sound, but the voice is so specific.  One band that comes to mind that effectively managed this is AC/DC.  Autograph had a different line-up in the mid-80's when they started, which included a different vocalist, Steve Plunkett and at the time keyboardist Steve Isham.  Formed in 1983, hailing from Pasadena, California, five rock and rollin' guys rode a wave of success until 1989, when they left RCA (their record label at the time) and the original band fell apart.

 
Steve - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com
Fast forward to the twenty-first century...2013, and we see a reunion form, now with two new guys, Simon Daniels, lead vocals/rhythm guitar, and Marc Wieland on drums, alongside original members Steve Lynch and Randy Rand. Perhaps the question is, can the music match the original Autograph style? Will it all fall into place once again? Can success repeat after nearly a two and a half decade gap? What will be different this time around? Well, there has to be new material, even though the old is a big part of who the band is.  Their 80's fans haven't forgotten their hits, but you cannot live everything in the past and move forward into the future, so some new stuff is necessary to keep it fresh, mixing it in with the former.

 
Randy - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com
The 'new' Autograph is currently touring throughout the U.S. this Spring and Summer, hitting the small venues, headlining and using local talent for openers.  It seems to be working quite well for the guys, and the fans appreciate the intimacy.  The band is absolutely personable, allowing for 'meet and greet' after their show. I believe the whole experience is on a level of 'real' that just doesn't come with the big arena performances.  I think that's what fans want and need these days.
Simon - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com

 
Autograph is:
 
Steve Lynch - lead guitar/background vocals
Randy Rand - bass guitar/background vocals
Simon Daniels - lead vocals/rhythm guitar
Marc Wieland - drums


Marc - Southport Bar & Grill – 4/18/15
Photo credit: Bill Iles – Rock ‘n Race Photography
http://www.racenrockphotography.com
 
The night opened with a tune from the 1984 release 'Sign In Please', 'Deep End'.  Others from the same, included 'Send Her To Me', 'Cloud 10', 'My Girlfriend's Boyfriend Isn't Me', and 'All I'm Gonna Take'. Also mixed in, 'Crazy World' and 'Blondes In Black Cars' ('That's The Stuff' - 1985), 'Dance All Night', 'She Never Looked That Good For Me', 'Bad Boy', 'When The Sun Goes Down', and 'Loud and Clear', the title track from their 1987 album, and their new 2015 release 'You Are Us, We Are You', rounded out the show, their final song being 'Turn Up The Radio'.  Southport Bar & Grill patrons were treated to a guitar solo by Mr. Lynch, and the evening moved right along. Fun was had and memories were made. I believe the transition to a different vocalist is working well for these guys, and I hope and expect to see a lot more come from them in the near future.  April 21st is set to release another single 'I Lost My Mind In America'. Check out their website: http://autographband.com/ for pictures, tour information and more.  I hope you get a chance to see them in your town. Be a part of the new experience. Turn it up and get rocked....get your Autograph on.

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