World Stage 2006 Update

The lineup for the next World Stage Event is starting to fall into place. So far we have commitments from quite a few of favorites from previous WS Shows including........

Don Barnes from 38 Special, Kevin Chalfant from The Storm, The Ides Of March, Last years hit performer, Rik Emmett formerly of Triumph, Blues great Anthony Gomes, Henry Paul of Blackhawk, along with the amazing voices and talents of Toby Hitchcock, Kimi Hayes, Lisa Mcclowry and the Spectacular World Stage Band. There are also a few others who are currently working on making arrangements to attend and we will announce their addition to the cast as soon as we get confirmation from them. It will no doubt be another fantastic event!!! The show takes place on Feb 18th, 2006 at College of DuPage. Get your tickets SOON as this will be another sellout performance and tix are going fast!!

Well my new solo album "Above The Storm" is finally mixed and mastered. This album will "drop" on March 26th on the Frontiers Records label. It is currently being released in Europe and Japan but I am hoping to  land a u.s. deal this time out. In the meantime it will be available on this site in early April. This album spans a lot of musical ground from big ballads, to funky soulful stuff, to southern rock, ( its no wonder- I wrote 5 of the songs with Johnny and Donnie Van Zant!) to pop to hard rock. Lyrically it is a very personal album with a consistant message. 

Also in the pipeline- Larry Millas and I have just finished the 5.1 mix for the new Pride of Lions DVD - Live in Belgium. There will be 2 related products: the DVD in 5.1 and stereo sound, and a separate CD version of the concert with a bonus disc which includes rarities and bonus tracks from the first 2 Pride of Lions albums. The video portion is stunning with a high definition 13 camera shoot. It was a magical night for us in Belgium and soon you will be able to be in the front row. The DVD and CD will be released on frontiers in April.

On January 10th Chuck Soumar and I visited the Hanson Center in Burr Ridge, IL to give what has become our annual concert. The Hanson Center is a wonderful compound which in addition to being a world class horse farm is also a recreational facility for adults with disabilities. Going into our fourth year of charity shows, Chuck and I had a ball playing for the super- receptive audience. We do it "unplugged: style (with Chuck playing percussion and background vocals) and generally keep it really loose without a set list, just calling out songs when we think of them and asking for requests from the audience. We started out with "All Join In" an old tune from the band Traffic. We went through many of the hits from throughout our careers then asked for requests. The answer came back a resounding Play Elvis! So a Heartbreak Hotel and a Hounddog later the place was rocking. 50 minutes later we closed with Eye of the Tiger.

The joy on the audiences face was a greater gift to us than any fee we could have been paid. Music certainly is the groove that unites us all.

Thanks to everyone who attended our show and to the staff at the Hanson Center including Lynn Esposito, Karl Krizka and Donna Dee. See you there again next year!!

 

One of the members of the Ides of March crew, R.C. McWilliams, had to take a sabbatical from the Ides family to pursue a wonderful opportunity in Las Vegas with Guitar Center. I remember seeing the white maned RC first at the Lyon's Brewing Company about 7 years ago. I remember liking the way he seemed to know the words to all our songs and was applauding wildly after each one. He has been our drum tech for about the last 5 years, has never missed a gig, and is always there early to set up Mike's gear (being an excellent drummer himself really helps him in his set up job- tuning, placement etc.) He also helps the whole band with set up and anything we need- in other words a true gem. Along with Toby Bermann we have had the best stage crew any band could ask for. But he was so much more than an employee- he was a part of the Ides family.

This photo is from our farewell pary to RC held at my studio in early January. Everyone made it out to honor him- not only the band but Frank Pappalardo- from the Sound Board, and Amy Blaze and Terry Becker who handle our merchandise and design work. First matter of business was recording the background parts for "Above The Storm" which the Ides added to my record (the guys sound like angels!) Then we got into party mode and brought out the Salerno's pizza (thank God that some things never change!) and then the custom cake.

I think you can tell by our smiles that a large time was had by all. Here's hoping you achieve everything you want in this next phase of your carreer RC. Next time you're in we'll jam like we did onstage a few months ago!!

I had the pleasure of joining Buddy Guy onstage at one of his legendary January shows at his blues club- Buddy Guy's Legends. Buddy was the best I've seen him that night- I never saw him so energized. He is a true genius of the blues. Before the show in his dressing room we decided to play Mustang Sally as a tribute to Wilson Pickett who had passed away that very day. I hope that Wicked Pickett heard us that night 'cause we tore the roof off the place. We then segued into Johnny B. Goode- which I turned into Buddy B. Goode! I can't remember ever having more fun onstage. Buddy just motivates you to try to out do yourself. Thanks to Buddy Guy, the Buddy Guy Band, Paul Natkin (who supplied the photo you see above), Kelly Keagy and Monique Larroux, Karen Peterik and Rich Brom who accompanied me there, and especially to Harvey McCarter- Buddies right hand man who invited me to play and showed us the utmost in hospitality.

Jim