Have been reviewing last fall's excellent music line-up- this 2011 Spring Thunder Beach is rockin' with Geneva, the Southern All Stars, and this afternoon (Sat. 4/30/11) at the Shoppes at Edgewater, the Ms. Thunder Beach Pageant, 2:00 p. m.
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Eli's comin'- to Sandpiper again, WHAT a SHOW they always put on.
I think that's the bottom line. From Pat Travers to the newest recruit, these folks are having FUN giving it up for the audience. Sure, it's a living, but if you've ever run the roads, it's hard work. All of the musicians here look like they are happy to be with us. It shows, and there is no substitute. Ever.
{October, 2010] Edgar Winter wowed the crowd at The Shoppes at Edgewater Friday night.
His now sliver white locks sport bobbed bangs- analogous with his show- classic, yet cutting edge. He brought support , Doug Rappaport on a nice black Les Paul, kOko [sic] Powell beating the bass, and Jason Carpenter cheerfully rising to the daunting task of drumming WITH Edgar Winter. Make no mistake, it was WITH; Winter is still the master of his instruments- playing his trademark keyboard strapped around his neck , as well as augmenting percussion on a darkened stage with lighted drumsticks during a perfect “Frankenstein.” He brought out some saxophone blues showing the amazed crowd just who is the “Texas Tornado.” Like Bugs Bunny with the maestro, Winter had the group laughing and stunned at the same time as he tormented the guitarist ; Winter scatting a solo,and commanding Rappaport to match it, increasing the range and difficulty each time, until the good natured (and excellent, aside from the shtick) guitar player just looked at the fans and shook his head sadly. Speaking of fans- they were within touching distance of the stage, and the musicians leaned as far as they safely could to accommodate any desire for closeness or camera phones. Winter himself shook hands during songs, never missing a beat. With Molly Hatchet at Shoppes at Edgewater and ELI at the Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort, (They're there NOW, Spring 2011!) the problem is whom to see.
Each has so much southern rock cred and jam potential. Rocking happy people and a night of really good boogie was pretty much guaranteed, since both groups are made up of musicians who’ve been touring the South for, say, a few years. To paraphrase a local morning show talker, don’t ever say there is nothing to do in Panama City Beach.
And Thunder Beach? This reviewer rides a bicycle, but had a fantastic time at the week’s festivities and has never seen so much rock and roll. For free.
