Summer Concerts - Opening Bands

One of the great things about getting to concerts early/on-time is seeing opening acts. This summer was an eye/ear-opener for me seeing some new bands. The most awesome new band I saw was The Answer. From Belfast, they opened for AC/DC and are getting some FM radio air play in Chicago on XRT and the Loop. If the question is, who is my new favorite hard rock band is, they are The Answer. They remind me of a clean combination of Zeppelin, Skyrnyd, and Def Leppard. The Donnas is an all-girl, big hair/'80's style rock band. I was a defacto groupie as I ground down to the 2nd row at Ravinia for some up-close viewing and rocking. Sam Yahel and Friends is a tight little Manhattan jazz combo; perfectly suited to opening for Steely Dan. Not a huge jazz guy, but it worked. Widespread Panic is certainly not new; but are to me. I saw and heard why they have such an immense and loyal following. So, get to your next concert on time or early and see some new acts.

The album cover shown is an original release copy of GFR's 1971 E Pluribus Funk album. The band's name is a play on the Grand Trunk Western Railroad which operated in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois and ran through the band's home town of Flink, MI.