Jim Peterik's World Stage - Up Close
and Unplugged
Can I start by saying I'm a huge fan of acoustic music? Of course I can. It's my keyboard. Not only natively acoustic stuff like folk or roots rock, but also acoustic arrangements of big rock classics.
My wife and I ran an acoustic concert series at a small theatre in Indiana from 2000 - 2007. Somewhere in there, we had five of what came to be known as "County Stage" shows with Jim Peterik and friends. It was always Jim, Chuck Soumar and Larry Millas of The Ides, and usually Jeff Boyle and Lisa McClowry. In later years, the mix also included Toby Hitchcock from Pride of Lions. And then there was the year we threw in Kevin Chalfant just for good measure. They came to be known as "County Stage" because they were a scaled-down, miniature version of Jim's big "World Stage" events, done "Storyteller"-style.
Those shows were some of my favorite concerts ever. Not only because I had become friends with an incredibly gifted group of musicians, but because we were giving the audience something special. 150 people at a time got to experience the big melodic rock thing up close and acoustic. And they ate it up.
A slightly larger audience (300) recently got to experience much the same thing at the Montrose Room of the Hotel Intercontinental in Rosemont, Illinois. Billed as "Jim Peterik's World Stage: Up Close and Unplugged," the show featured Jim Peterik, Lisa McClowry, Jeff Carlisi (former guitarist for 38 Special), Jack Blades (Lead singer and bassist with Night Ranger), Christian Cullen (ex-Pride of Lions and World Stage keyboardist, currently tickling the ivories for Night Ranger alongside Jack), Jeff Lantz (World Stage and LIfeforce keyboardist) and cameo appearances by ex-Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison and Ides of March co-founder and bassist Bob Bergland.
"The experience we had at Chicago Street Theatre [the theatre where we held those concerts] showed me that we could do this show and have a good time doing it," Peterik told me after the show.
"I've always enjoyed playing acoustic, and the format we used at CST gave the audience a different kind of connection to the artists. I liked that. In fact, the comment I heard the most was how the audience felt like they were sitting in on a jam session between old friends -- which was exactly what it was. They got the stories behind the songs, the camaraderie -- I think it's a great addition to the regular full-metal World Stage shows."
Everyone on that stage had a history with each other, and it showed. They've all worked with and toured with each other over the years, so when they tell the stories, there's a familiarity and understanding. They also know each other's work, so when it came time to work out the acoustic arrangements for big arena rock songs, everybody had a little something to add. Being seasoned touring musicians didn't hurt, either. Take, for example, Jack Blades.
"I've known Jack for about 25 years, and it was still cool to hear those songs done our way," said Jim.
"I'd only ever heard Kelly [Keagy, Night Ranger's drummer and other voice] sing 'Sister Christian' before. To hear Jack sing it was just one of my 'goosebump moments' that night. Another was the chorus to 'High Enough,' the Damn Yankess classic. That is, in my book, one of the best choruses in rock. Just incredible. And to hear the harmonies with all of us, especially with Lisa taking the high "Tommy Shaw" part -- man, I was thinking how cool it was to be a part of that, in the middle of it!
"I think what made this all work was that all of the artists were really stoked to do it -- being a part of it all coming together -- that we were as much a part of the audience as they were. You know, the verses for 'High Enough' are really duets, and and Lisa really proved herself that night. Not only with her solo songs, which she nailed, but with the occasional lead line and the harmonies. What an amazing blend.
"And Carlisi -- if you look up 'Southern Gentleman', his picture pops up. He's one of my dearest friends, and an incredible guitarist. My wife Karen said to me, 'You know, he doesn't need to sing. He sings with his guitar' and she's right. I told him that if I'd had the licks he played on 'Roses for No Reason' before, I'd have put them on the record. He said, 'Well, I was just noodlin' around....' and I said, 'Well, you noodle good!'
When I asked Jeff Carlisi for his thoughts on the show, he told me that "We were talking about it at breakfast the next morning, and of course I stayed an extra day with Jim, and we were discussing exactly what it is we do and why these sort of events -- these "storyteller" writers-in-the-round sort of shows -- are so special.
"The obivous is that with such an intimate venue, the audience feels close to you. And the stories are something special - quite often, you're getting a little glimpse of something behind-the-scenes that you haven't heard before.
"I think we all agreed that when the audience leaves, they've all experienced something. They've laughed, some have probably cried at a poignant ballad, they've rocked out -- there are a lot of different swings and emotions that they go through so when they walk out of there they feel more connected to the artist and to themselves."
For Lisa McClowry, the newcomer to the bunch, it was quite an evening. "I've worked a lot with Jim, and I've known Jeff for a couple of years. But to be able to sing those songs with Jack -- 'High Enough' was definitely a high point for me.
"I think the show worked so well for the fans because you're so close to them. And to get the kind of response I got to my songs was pretty special, especially among the company on that stage..."
The one comment common to everyone was that it really felt like we were in Jim's living room, listening to a group of old friends sitting around, shootin' the bull, jamming on whatever felt good. I suppose you could distill it down to "It was just plain fun to watch!"
Jack Blades is no sranger to unplugged rock - there's usually a segment in the middle of a Night Ranger show that's acoustic, and he tours with Tommy Shaw as "Shaw-Blades" now and again, usually playing acoustic guitars. He told me, "I love doing that kind of stuff. When I go out with Tommy [Shaw], we do that sort thing, but this was really fun.
"We could sing the Night Ranger stuff, the Damn Yankees stuff, Survivor, 38 Special.... it was great to tell those stories and to be able to sit and have those people laugh -- that's the greatest thing about being able to do a show like this. Everybody gets to really enjoy themselves and laugh, and to hear stories, some of which we've never heard before.
"For me, that's one of the coolest things, to be able to do these songs in a different way. I mean, people are used to hearing 'Coming Of Age' with huge, screaming Ted Nugent guitars and then you're able to pull it off with three or four acoustic guitars and have everybody rocking along -- that's what it's all about."
One thing that you couldn't help but notice was the chemistry among the performers. Jim said, "Everyone on stage just really gelled. I handed over a solo near the end to Jeff Lantz [keyboards] and he just took off. Not only can he play faster than most people, but very soulfully as well. Always surprising me.
"And Christian Cullen -- what can you say? He's such a great spirit to have on stage -- always smiling, always grooving -- even if Jack hadn't insisted on bringing him along, I'd have had him anyway. He's always a part of the World Stage family," said Peterik.
I asked Carlisi about the on-stage camaraderie. "It's funny. The relationships I've built over the years - we're all from very different places, both geographically and musically with our influences growing up. Sure, there was a common starting point -- let's say it was The Beatles -- but then as we started developing we found our own niche and went in our own directions.
"But like I said in the story about how I met Jim - there was a chemistry and a bond that became so strong that not only were we successful working together, but we became good friends. To me, that's amazing.
"When you carry that feeling into an arena like the Montrose Room, you know..... I was telling Jack, 'You know, a lot of those stories we told we've all told before. Sure, there were a few new gems, but most of them we've all told. But there never was a moment when I was thinking, 'Oh, there he goes with THAT story again....' It felt fresh and genuine, and Jim said, 'That's because it WAS genuine.
"Jack said he'd never heard the story of when I first met Jim. I mean, I'm at this guy's house in LaGrange [right after 'Rockin' Into The Night' was a hit], I ask about an old photo of him on the wall and he's telling me he had been in The Ides Of March. I said, 'Yeah, sure you were.' Maybe some local band called The Ides of March, but the real 'Vehicle' Ides? Yeah, right.
Jeff said, "You know, when we tell those stories, it takes us back to a place and time in our memories. Same with the music. That's what music does -- most people have a strong emotional response to a certain song, and it's associated with a time or place or event in their lives. I'll have someone come up to me and say, 'Man, the first time I heard 'Hold On Loosely' I was sliding sideways into the parking lot at high school.'
And you can thank Larry Millas, one of the original Ides and a top-flight sound engineer, for making sure everyone could hear the magic.
And magic it was. Jim said, "Everyone involved with the show, from the artists to the promoter, was very happy with the way things turned out.. I really hope this becomes a regular thing."
So do we, Jim. So do we.
--------Paul Braun
Music Junkie, Team Peterik Web Scribe
Vocalist Lisa McClowry, in collaboration with producer Jim Peterik (Grammy award winner, Oscar nominee for Eye Of The Tiger, writer of The Search Is Over, Hold On Loosely, Vehicle and many more), has released her new CD, Time Signatures (NuGroove\Worldstage Int’l, distributed by Red\Sony). Having built up a huge and passionate following as “a singer’s singer” on the live scene, McClowry combines powerful vocals with incredible songs that merge Hot A/C, R&B and beyond. If you like Corinne Bailey Rae and Alicia Keys, don’t miss your chance to catch the next rising
star on the pop music scene.
The music player below has sound bytes from 3 of her amazing songs from the CD. Enjoy!!!
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