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Martina McBride: Everything you wanted to know from A-Z Critic's Picks: Partyin' down with Cowboy Mouth
Riverbend 2015 online
Visit timesfreepress.com/news/riverbend to get complete coverage of the 2015 Riverbend Festival.
This is another tough night to choose just one act because there are several solid choices.
Juice Newton might be one of those acts that raises an eyebrow with the less-informed, but she's a great singer. In the 1980s she was top of the country charts with songs like "Angel of the Morning," "Queen of Hearts," "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" and four No. 1's: "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)," "You Make Me Want to Make You Mine," "Hurt" and "Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers)" with Eddie Rabbitt.
At Riverbend she's teamed with Exile, which had the No. 1 Pop hit "Kiss You All Over" in 1978, then wracked up 10 No. 1 country hits between 1983 and 1985, so my guess is it will be one of the early surprises of the festival with fans.
Cowboy Mouth is another one. You might only be aware of their hit "Jenny Says," but they are a great, fun live band. Energetic doesn't even begin to describe the band, especially lead vocalist/drummer/sparkplug Fred LeBlanc. And with 10 album's worth of material, there's plenty of melodic songs for their setlist.
But it is my belief that there are a few bands that you should see every chance you get and War is one; nobody lays down a cool groove like them. Just hearing "Low Rider" live is worth the effort, but they also bring "The Cisco Kid," "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Slippin' Into Darkness." Even people who can't dance manage to find the grooves in those songs.
Fans of the band will also remember that Eric Burden of the Animals was the original lead singer and the voice on War's "Spill the Wine" hit.
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First Friday Red Party
Vibe Events and Tanqueray sponsor the "Go Red Party" Friday, August 3 at Markham 801.