::: Jim Peterik :::

World Stage 2008
by Vern Tuttle

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It’s getting to be kind of like the Super Bowl.

Without the commercials.

World Stage is the music event of the year for Jim Peterik, The Ides, and all of the fans that fill the seats year after year. The phrase “World Stage Season” was heard around Jim’s studio, and it is well known that for the weeks before the show, little else is discussed. Tickets go fast, and rumors run wild. “Who’s on the show this year?”
being the big question.

Let’s get this out of the way at the start-the word on the street is that this was the best one ever in the eight years of the series. Three and a half hours long, and it went by in a flash. The styles when from a whisper to a scream and everywhere in-between. Here’s the story in a nutshell.

At just after Eight P.M. on February 16th. from the dimmed stage of the McAninch Center of the College Of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, under the colorful video presentations of TERRY BECKER, CHRISTIAN CULLEN began the piano/sitar obligato of “Night Of The World Stage”. From Stage Left the star of the show, JIM PETERIK entered to a standing ovation. The great BOB STROUD from WDRV-FM then welcomed the crowd and the rest of the band joined in. Jim introduced the guest stars who entered the auditorium from the rear of the house.

The entire cast roared through “Night”, and segued into “Live Life” as the stars filed off to let Jim shine in the solo spotlight. Following the opening numbers, the first guest was TOBY HITCHCOCK and the World Stage band became PRIDE OF LIONS. What can be said about Toby, and how he has come into his own as a singer and entertainer. The bar was set high for the night.

Next up was Guitarist Joel Hoekstra, who has been a World Stage mainstay from the very beginning, and for this show Jim asked Joel to perform a solo number. Sometimes Guitar virtuosos take themselves too seriously, but Joel’s good humor was in clear evidence, as he shredded with abandon. It’s no wonder that Joel is employed by 4 classic big-name bands, and is in constant demand.

There have been whispers that Jim Peterik has embarked on a jazz project, and the next few tunes confirmed the fact. Guest guitarist and singer NICK COLIONNE dazzled the crowd with his clothes before he played a note. On the other side of the stage, a quiet, bespectacled gent stepped up to the mic, Everyone has heard STEVE EISEN play the sax, as he is one of the top call players in the Country, and a member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, but here he was in the flesh. This was going to be a new flavor of World Stage, to be sure.

LISA McCLOWRY hopped off the singer’s riser to come center stage and perform the song she wrote with Jim -“Unconditional Surrender”. Nick’s fluid jazz guitar licks were truly “something else” in the World Stage machine, as were the stinging solos of Steve Eisen. Lisa, who has rocked out, sung pop, and soothed with ballads at previous World Stages, now assumed the mantle of Jazz diva, scatting with the best of them. It was jarring to remember that this was a JIM PETERIK show at heart. Is there any music this man can’t master? (Rumors of a rap segment for next year are unfounded).

Nick Colionne took the next two songs,and subsequently took the crowd as well. Between intense guitar solos and smooth vocals, Nick had the whole room in the palm of his hand. Nick even got a few laughs as he “spoke to the ladies” in a bid to get them out to the lobby to buy his CD’s. Jim went head to head with Nick in a “guitar behind the back of the neck” battle. Nick is working with Jim on his “smooth jazz” project, and if these three songs are any indication, the disc is going to be fabulous. He’s a great addition to World Stage.

LOBSTER NEWBERG, which is currently COLIN PETERIK on Keys and guitarist PHILL MILLER kicked the energy level up a notch or eight with their feature tune. Some of the boys in the World Stage band sat in, and they had their hands full with Newberg’s complex rhythms and dense arrangements. Colin and Phill aren’t even 20 years old, folks. Colin’s music just continues to impress.

From cool jazz to progressive to Rock at its hardest in three songs. World Stage is a crazy place. JOE LYNN TURNER is one of Rock’s greatest tenors, and has fronted more than a few superstar groups like Rainbow, Deep Purple, and Yngvie Malmsteen. Joe and J.P. have been writing partners for many years, and 2008 is Joe’s first time at World Stage. Yes, the man rocked like a beast, performing his Rainbow hits “Stone Cold” and “Street Of Dreams” before ending the first set with Deep Purple’s epic “Highway Star”. Christian absolutely nailed the iconic Hammond Organ solo, not to be outdone by MIKE AQUINO and Joel who impossibly threw down Richie Blackmore’s studio guitar duet like they were picking dandelions. Earlier in the day, Joe Lynn was heard to say that the World Stage boys played that song the best he’d ever heard. High praise, indeed, and well deserved by the guys.

After intermission, it was time for THE IDES OF MARCH. In the shadows, SCOTT MAY started the second half with a short but brilliant piano solo reminiscent of the “Layla” coda that led into the familiar strains of “Flip Side”. LARRY MILLAS took leave of the mixing console to join the Ides and sing his inimitable solo, and CHUCK SOUMAR’s piccolo trumpet blazed forth. Nick Colionne, and Joe Lynn came aboard for an extended “Vehicle” with solos by just about everybody, including Trombone whiz DAVE STAHLBERG. Steve Eisen joined BOB
BERGLAND on Sax, and MIKE BORCH manned the drums.

World Stage favorite ANTHONY GOMES of the NEW SOUL COWBOYS stepped up to perform “Love’s Got The Power” with the Ides. The song is an Ides summer festival staple, but took on a different face with Anthony in the mix. Awesome! Anthony then burned through a set of his tunes and demonstrated why he is considered one of the hottest young blues sharpshooters out there. It’s only a matter of time before Anthony will take his place at the top of the charts, and the World Stage faithful will be able to say to everyone, “we told you so!”.

The reunion that everybody had hoped for, for so many years finally happened. JIMI JAMISON the voice of so many platinum hits with Survivor made his World Stage debut. Jimi got a standing ovation just for walking out, and when he started singing, the place went wild. We have lived with the Survivor songs for so many years, and have heard them sung masterfully at World Stage by artists like Kevin Chalfant, Toby Hitchcock, and J.P. himself, but there is an unmistakable thrill in hearing the voice from the record. “Jaimo” hit each song out of the park, and by the time he got to “I Can’t Hold Back” nobody could hold back. Jimi and JP are in pre-production of a new Jimi Jamison solo album, and those who have heard the rough mixes are lavish in their praise. Welcome home, Jimi!

There’s only one person who could close a show like this, and when DON BARNES of 38 Special takes the stage, the party becomes a celebration. Don and JP together are magic, and the energy spirals up. Don was in rare form, and the crowd showed Don the love. Bassist KLEM HAYES was movin’ and groovin’, doing his patented “Klem Walk” to the front of the stage, By the time the band got to “Rockin Into The Night” it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if mighty ED BRECKENFELD had picked up his various drums and juggled them in perfect time. Lisa and singing partner THOM GRIFFIN were wailing away behind Don in perfect harmony, as the show came to an end.

But that wasn’t all, folks. JP came out with his Minarik Guitar shining and his Matchless amp on 11 wrenching a wild guitar solo, before settling into the groove of “Eye Of The Tiger”. To hear Jimi J and JP sing this with Joe Lynn and Toby H adding to the mix was pure and simple magic. And then it was over. The whole crew appeared in the lobby for meet and greet. A spectacular night, indeed.

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