Hi, y’all. I never know whether to talk about the great shows I’ve been to or tell you about the ones coming up. Of course I want to do both but don’t have space or time. I’m so excited about what’s coming that I’m getting right to it.
    Seacrets is throwing a huge party Sunday - an homage to partying in Key West during the winter and featuring several of our local entertainers who keep the tourists happy there as they do here all summer. It’s billed as Sunday in the Keys and here’s the lineup. Long-time local performer Kevin Poole begins at 1pm followed by Matt Quinton. At 3:30 Long Island transplant to Ocean City John LaMere is up. Next (at 5) is the latest sensation to hit Seacrets that everyone is talking about - it’s the Nick Norman Band. Then you’ll hear Steven Turner, Brian Walsh & Angelique Buckley with another hour of Nick Norman following. Next up at 7:30 will be Joe Bachman (joined by Steven Turner & Brian Walsh) who John tells me he became good friends with while in Key West. Then Nick’s whole band will play another hour capping off an incredible day of music. You won’t have any trouble getting your Key West groove on with this group of performers. At 9pm the always entertaining group from Miami’s South Beach, Innasense, will take the beach stage and Joc Bachman and The Crew will pump it out from the big stage in Morley Hall. It’s an incredible day of music at the most amazing entertainment mecca on the East Coast - Seacrets!
    Next up - I’m so excited that one of my favorite tribute bands is coming back to play at The Purple Moose Thurs., July 26. It’s The Rising, a superb Bruce Springsteen tribute band featuring Tom Vitorino as The Boss. I gotta tell ya, the attention to detail in the recreation of these mega hit bands is just incredible. I’m thinking of the gals of Kick It Out last week doing their Heart tribute. What a show! We can count on the same high energy devotion to all things E Street Band with The Rising. Their mission as a brotherhood of friends and musicians is to honor the music of Springsteen performing songs spanning nearly five decades, from “Greetings From Asbury Park” through Springsteen’s 2009 release “Working On A Dream.” There are no pre-recorded tracks, no pretend playing. The band uses all of its collective power to hold true to the artistic vision, to both honor the artist, and the fans. The result is a rollicking good time. You don’t want to miss it. And make sure you hit the boards Fri. or Sat. to catch premier ‘80s long-hair band Surreal.
    Sundays have been a blast at Fager’s Island. Last week we heard the world’s second best U2 show performed by Gene Marchello (as Bono) Joe Cumia (as The Edge), Denis Perry on bass and new to the group, Vinnie on drums. They call themselves 2U and they are too wonderful. The quality of the playing was top notch and Vinnie continually impressed my drummer friends sitting nearby (Joe Mama & Frank DelPiano). Gene has incredible vocals demonstrated even further when they veered off into some Journey tunes. Wow! Turns out these fine musicians also have a Journey tribute band called Amost Journey. If you happen to be in Disney’s Epcott this month, they will be performing there July 21-28.
    Ok, see how easy it is for me to slip into cool stuff that’s already happened. Gotta get back to what’s coming - and that would be the Piano Man himself, Robert Eric. He began his Piano Man tribute with the group “Big Shot” in 2003 playing in the Long Island area. He toured as Billy Joel in “Rocksplosion”  in 2004-05 throughout New York/Metropolitan area. Robert Eric now performs regularly at Caesars, Harrahs, Trump Marina, Hilton and Jersey coast. Eric is licensed by Billy Joel and JoelSongs to record a dance remix album of Piano Man classics - called ClubBillyJoel available at CDBaby.com. This is going to be a big band sound, my friends, complete with horns, keyboards and a female backup artist. Can’t wait for the show.
    M.R. Ducks was off the charts last week with three big days starting with Dr. Harmonica & Rocket 88 on Fri. Good to see Doc (Mark Kenneally) feeling better and playing like his old self. I’m pleased for him that he is to be inducted into the International Blues Hall of Fame on Sat., Aug. 4 at the Blue Parrot in Wilmington, Del. Sure wish I could go. If you want to: mikeparkerblues@netzero.com. Congratulations, Mark; you deserve it.
    Saturday rocked as usual with Johnny Bling on the dock; then Sunday Over Time performed at Ducks. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard this group and I must say I was impressed. It was quite a few years ago that I first heard them at 707 (sure wish they would get opened up again, don’t you?). In fact, several of the guys were still in school then. They’ve been playing together for eight years now - yeah, that means  drummer Tim Berzins, who is 23 now, was only 15 when they started. (His dad Ray Berzins is their sound man.) Leader Mark Marvel on guitar is a long-time music teacher at Indian River High School whose many students over his three decades of teaching have excelled in the music world. In fact, all the players in the band (except John Ragonese on sax) are former students. Greg Reynolds plays bass and Jordan Marvel on trumpet and Eric Marvel on keyboards are Mark’s sons. We all really enjoyed the antics of Jordan as he danced his way through the crowd still playing with joyful abandonment. The music was tight, the repertoire enticingly varied and the connection with their audience captivating. I can guarantee you a good time when you party with this band, which you can do twice this weekend - Fri. at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, and Sat. at Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill.
    I was thrilled to hear music of another kind at the Fabulous Three Tenors and a Diva show presented by the AGH Auxiliary held at the Community Church of OP. A combination of classic opera pieces and show tunes was sublime food for the soul. Thank you! Cya later!