The new year will kick off in Classic Rock style here with tributes to Tom Petty, Pink Floyd and an appearance by the Orchestra, featuring former ELO members.
Petty, a native of Gainesville, died in October at 66, but his music remains as vibrant as ever. Free Fallin will pay tribute to the memory of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 5 and 8 p.m. in Savannah Center.
Tom Brademeyer sings Petty’s vocals and plays guitar for Free Fallin, which has been playing the Heartbreakers’ songs for the past decade. The band’s show features instruments and costumes that attempt to recreate a live Tom Petty concert.
Pink Floyd’s created its own mark in music history with the release of “Dark Side of the Moon” in 1973. It reached No. 1 that year and stayed on the record charts for the next 15 years.
“Classics Albums Live: Dark Side of the Moon” will be presented Monday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. in Savannah Center.
“Classics Albums Live” features as it says, “an ensemble of world-class musicians recreating the greatest Rock albums ever recorded live on stage. Note for note, cut for cut using every instrument it took to record that album exactly as you remember it.”
It will be quite a challenge with “Dark Side of the Moon.” The album by Pink Floyd – David Gilmour, Roger Waters Rick Wright and Nick Mason – produced a couple of hit singles, “Money” and “Us and Them.” Over 50 million copies of “Dark Side of the Moon” were sold.
It remains one of the most influential and ground-breaking rock albums of all time.
Electric Light Orchestra, ELO, was known for its blend of rock, pop and classical musical influences.
Former members of ELO now tour as The Orchestra and will play Jan 11 at 5 and 8 p.m. in the Savannah Center.
The band’s hits include: “Evil Woman,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Turn to Stone,” and “Strange Magic.”
The original ELO was founded in England by Jeff Lynne. He was the dominant force in the band, writing the songs and producing the records. Lynne is not with The Orchestra, but former members are and the sound is still powerful.
