977 Rocks 97.7 FM - Butler PA

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
2017-05-11 | PPG PAINTS ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PA, United States
The Getaway Tour
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

PITTSBURGH, PA – PPG PAINTS ARENA – MAY 11
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 AT NOON
AT LIVENATION.COM.

BREAKING BENJAMIN
2017-05-03 | Stage AE
MAY03

BREAKING BENJAMIN
STAGE AE — PITTSBURGH, PA (OUTDOOR SHOW)
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Pricing

$35.00

Additional ticket fees not included. fees vary by market

Date
May 03, 2017
Doors open at 6:00 PM

Location
Stage AE
400 North Shore Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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Artist Link
http://www.breakingbenjamin.com/
More Info
General Admission – All Ages
This show is outdoors – Rain or Shine!

– See more at: http://promowestlive.com/events/2165#sthash.EFtLD8sR.dpuf

Faster Pussycat
2017-04-27 | CATTIVO, Cattivo 146 44th Street , Pittsburgh, , PA, 15201 , United States
Cattivo

146 44th Street
Pittsburgh, PA, 15201
http://www.cattivopgh.com

WINGER
2017-04-26 | Jergels, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, 15086
WINGER

Wednesday, April 26, 2017
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Show Time: 7:00 PM / Doors Open: 6:00pm
100 – Early Entry Tickets at 5:00 Available – $40.00
Minors under 21 must be accompanied by Parent or Legal Guardian
A former member of Alice Cooper‘s band, bassist Kip Winger formed his own group in 1986; in addition to vocalist/bassist Winger, the group featured guitarist Reb Beach, bassist Paul Taylor, and drummer Rod Morgenstein, formerly of the Dixie Dregs. Taking their name from their leader after a last-minute change from Sahara, Winger specialized in the stylish pop-metal that sent Bon Jovi and Poison to the top of the charts. The band’s eponymous debut sold over a million copies on the strength of the rocker “Seventeen” and the ballad “Headed for a Heartbreak.” Winger‘s second album, 1990’s In the Heart of the Young, was equally successful, selling over a million copies and featuring the hit power ballad “Miles Away.” However, the band didn’t outlast the post-alternative pop-metal backlash and the group faded away after the release of their 1993 album Pull. Kip Winger launched a solo career later that decade, releasing three albums before reuniting with his former bandmates in 2002. After a brief tour alongside fellow pop-metal veterans Poison, the band returned to the studio to craft their first album in more than a decade. 2006’s IV stuck close to the formula that made Winger famous, and the resulting reunion tour was captured on the two-disc set Winger Live. Another album called Karma quickly followed in 2009, but the group took its time to deliver Better Days Comin’, which appeared in the spring of 2014.

NIGHT RANGER
2017-04-21 | Jergels, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, 15086
NIGHT RANGER

Friday, April 21, 2017
Show Time: 8:00 PM / Doors Open: 6:00pm
100 – Early Entry Tickets at 5:00 Available – $75.00
Night Ranger has both epitomized and transcended the area rock sound and style of that era and beyond, with songs that have significantly impacted popular culture and continue to expand their ever-growing fan-base. Night Ranger is proof that powerful songs, plus accomplished musicians is the perfect formula for continued success.
Night Ranger has earned widespread acclaim, multi-platinum and gold album status while leaving their indelible mark on the music charts with a string of best-selling albums (Dawn Patrol, Midnight Madness, 7 Wishes, Big Life and Main in Motion), its popularity fueled by an impressive string of instantly recognizable hit singles and signature album tracks. Producing legendary hits such as “Sister Christian”, “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”, “When You Close Your Eyes” the anthemic “(You Can Still) Rock in America”, along with “Sentimental Street”, “Goodbye”, “Sing Me Away”, “Four in the Morning”, and more. The band was also one of the first big “video” bands, with over 10 number 1 videos on MTV.
Over the years, the band’s music has made notable contributions to and been featured in many different areas of media and popular culture. Night Ranger’s songs can be heard in TV Shows: The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, American Dad, Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, Parks & Recreation; Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and Grand Theft Auto video games; Rock of Ages hit Broadway Musical and feature film; the Oscar-Nominated film Boogie Nights, Friday the 13th, Teachers, Sixteen Candles, The Secret of My Success; JBL’s “Hear The Truth” branch campaign; and many more!
Night Ranger is Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead & rhythm guitars), Eric Levy (keyboards) and Keri Kelli (lead & rhythm guitars).
$49 advance – $56 day of show – $75 early entry at 5:00

BON JOVI
2017-04-05 | PPG PAINTS ARENA, Pittsburgh, United States
THIS HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE TOUR
BON JOVI

PITTSBURGH, PA – PPG PAINTS ARENA – APRIL 5
TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM.

STEVIE NICKS
2017-03-31 | PPG PAINTS ARENA, Pittsburgh, United States
24 KARAT GOLD TOUR
STEVIE NICKS
with special guests THE PRETENDERS

PITTSBURGH, PA – PPG PAINTS ARENA – FRIDAY, MARCH 31
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM.

GREEN DAY
2017-03-25 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | PETERSON EVENT CENTER, PITTSBURGH, PA, United States
2017 Revolution Radio North American Tour
GREEN DAY
with special guests AGAINST ME!

PITTSBURGH, PA – PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER – SATURDAY, MARCH 25

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM

JACKYL
2017-03-14 | Jergels, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, 15086
JACKYL

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
BUY TICKETS
Show Time: 7:00 PM / Doors Open: 5:00pm
Special Guests: Sound Servent and Dying Breed
100 – Early Entry Tickets at 5:00 Available – $40.00
Minors under 21 must be accompanied by Parent or Legal Guardian

SCOTT STAPP – THE VOICE OF CREED
2016-11-27 | Jergels, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, 15086
Sunday, November 27, 2016

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Show Time: 8:00 PM / Doors Open: 6:00pm
Scott Stapp’s artistic and personal journey have encompassed all the talent and torment imaginable in scaling to musical success. The founding member of Creed chronicled his questions, his quest for answers, and his dreams from faith to fatherhood in chart topping hits, “My Own Prison,” “Higher,” and “With Arms Wide Open,” which dominated the sonic landscape of the 90s-2000s. His soul-piercing lyrics backed by thundering rock riffs garnered a Grammy award, and countless other accolades of creativity and chart domination, not to mention legions of fans, who felt a kindred spirit in his honesty.
Creed toured extensively through its reign atop rock music, but for Scott, the musical machinery to keep the show going meant some terrible personal cost, as he sunk into depths of depression, and periods of erratic behavior that was later to be revealed as undiagnosed bipolar disorder, prompting self-medication that turned to addictive behaviors. His creativity, passion, and desire to be transparent in his struggle never waned, and were evident on his debut solo album, The Great Divide (2005), the Full Circle album from a “rebirthed” Creed in 2009, several tours, his starkly revealing memoir, Sinner’s Creed (2012), and his highly-acclaimed second solo album, Proof of Life, in 2013, which brought Scott’s first number one song on the Christian charts.
Scott’s spiral with addiction and bipolar disorder through the past year proved to be the most harrowing chapter of his life. With the love and support of his family, acceptance of his diagnosis, proper combinations of treatment and therapy, and a balanced, healthy lifestyle, grounded in faith, he has come through to the other side. He has a fresh purpose in performing, writing, and singing, to bring hope to “even one person” who is amidst the kind of struggle he knows. He is now sharing his stories with the world (recently featured in People Magazine and the Dr. Oz Show). Hope has always been a theme of his music, and now, that level of hope takes on a whole new dimension.
Scott and his wife, Jaclyn, are appearing in vh1’s Couple’s Therapy in the current sixth season, hoping to be a real-life example for other families with similar struggles, and an inspiration that healing and rebuilding life together is possible.
Scott is embarking on an international tour with his first-ever stops in South Africa (December), continuing with U.S. dates in 2016.
In gratitude for the many interventions made in his behalf, Scott devotes himself to “paying it forward” to others in need through numerous outreaches. He created the “With Arms Wide Open Foundation” in 2000 to help underprivileged children and families around the world. The foundation has donated over $1 million to various causes. He is also involved with CHARM (Children are Magical) which his wife founded to heighten the awareness of children’s issues and provide underprivileged youth with the tools to enrich their lives. Currently Scott resides in Brentwood, TN with his wife, Jaclyn, and their three children.

PETER WOLF & THE MIDNIGHT TRAVELERS
2016-11-22 | Jergels, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, 15086
Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Show Time: 8:00 PM / Doors Open: 6:00pm

A Cure for Loneliness manifests the same vibrant passion for music that’s motivated Peter Wolf for most of his life. Growing up in an artistic, politically engaged family in the Bronx, he became an early rock ‘n’ roll convert after attending an Alan Freed rock ‘n’ roll revue that included performances by Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Frankie Lymon. His thirst for new and old sounds drove him to exploring blues, soul, country, folk and jazz, inspiring weekly visits to Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and leading to acquaintances with many of the music’s surviving originators.
Wolf’s natural loquaciousness won him a job as an all-night DJ on the fledgling FM rock station WBCN. Adopting the persona of “the Woofa Goofa,” he spun raw rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm ‘n’ blues, channeling the spirit of the flashy, fast-talking DJs he’d grown up listening to.
Wolf’s encyclopedic musical knowledge came in handy when he and some like-minded Boston players formed the J. Geils Band, much of whose early repertoire was drawn from Wolf’s vast record collection. The band soon became a local favorite injecting a much-needed jolt of raw, uninhibited rock ‘n’ roll into the ’70s scene and was soon signed by Jerry Wexler for Atlantic Records. Between 1970 and 1983, the J. Geils Band released 13 influential albums, topped the pop single charts with 1981’s “Freeze Frame,” “Love Stinks,” “Centerfold,” and earned a reputation as one of rock’s most exciting live acts, thanks in large part to Wolf’s flamboyant, hyperactive stage presence.
After going solo with 1984’s Lights Out, Wolf continued to stake out new musical territory with the subsequent releases Lights Out, Come As You Are, Up to No Good, Long Line, Fool’s Parade, Sleepless and Midnight Souvenirs, and A Cure For Loneliness. His solo work has seen him collaborate with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Merle Haggard, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Little Milton, Wilson Pickett, Shelby Lynne and Neko Case. Wolf temporarily reunited with his J. Geils Band cohorts for live shows on several occasions between 1999 and 2015, but his solo career has remained his creative focus, as A Cure for Loneliness makes clear.

$26.00 – $29.00 Jergels.com

BUCKCHERRY W/SPECIAL GUESTS
2016-11-21 | Jergels, 103 Slade Lane, Warrendale, 15086
Monday, November 21, 2016

Show Time: 8:00 PM / Doors Open: 6:00pm
The Los Angeles-based hard rock act Buckcherry formed in mid-1995, after singer Joshua Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson were introduced through their tattoo artist. After cutting several demos, the duo recruited bassist Jonathan “J.B.” Brightman and drummer Devon Glenn and began performing live, quickly earning a local following for their swaggering, grunge-flavored music. Following the subsequent addition of second guitarist Yogi Lonich, Buckcherry signed with DreamWorks Records and issued their self-titled debut LP in 1999. Singles such as “Check Your Head” and “For the Movies” were modern rock hits, allowing Buckcherry to raise their profile by summer 2000.
The following year, Buckcherry released their second album, Time Bomb. Although it wasn’t widely noticed by critics, AC/DC recruited the band as an opening act for a series of shows, and Buckcherry’s audience grew accordingly. In July 2002, founding member Joshua Todd unexpectedly quit the group, and Buckcherry took a multi-year hiatus to recoup. They eventually regrouped in 2005 with original members Todd and Nelson, as well as newcomers Xavier Muriel (drums), bassist Jimmy Ashhurst, and guitarist Stevie D. The revised lineup hit the studio later that year to record 15, which was released in early 2006 and yielded the band’s first Top Ten pop single, “Sorry.” 15 went platinum on the strength of its crossover appeal, and Buckcherry quickly returned in 2008 with a fourth album, Black Butterfly. The concert album Live & Loud 2009 was released the following year, as the band prepared to hit the road as Kiss’ opening act.
The band released its fifth full-length album, All Night Long, in August 2010. Despite debuting at number ten on the Billboard Top 200, the album failed to generate a major hit single. Soon, Buckcherry parted ways with Atlantic and signed to Century Media, which released the heavy, melodic Confessions in February 2013. As part of their promotion for Confessions, the band assembled several short films to accompany it. A year later, the band released the Fuck EP, a six-track record where every song contained the F-word in its title. That EP was a stopgap prior to the full-length Rock N Roll, which came out in August 2015; it debuted at 93 on the Billboard Top 200. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Goo Goo Dolls
2016-11-13 | Palace, 21 West Otterman St,, Greensburg , PA, 15601, United States
Drusky Entertainment & Kirschner Concerts Presents
Goo Goo Dolls
In support of their new Album ‘Boxes’
Sunday November 13th, 2016
The Palace Theatre
21 West Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601
Drusky Entertainment and Kirschner Concerts presents the Goo Goo Dolls in support of their new album ‘Boxes’ for an all ages show at The Palace Theatre (21 West Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601) on Sunday November 13th, 2016. 6:30PMDoors, 7:30PM Show. Reserved Seating tickets will be available for $45.00, $55.00, $65.00 and $85.00 in advance and $50.00, $60.00, $70.00, and $90.00 the day of the show. Tickets on sale Friday August 19th at Noon Ticketfly.com or by calling 1-877-4-FLY-TIX.
Press assets are available upon request. Please contact Josh Bakaitus (josh@druskyent.com) for additional information regarding this event.

LINKS:
http://www.googoodolls.com
http://www.druskyent.com
http://www.ticketfly.com

ABOUT GOO GOO DOLLS:
Early in their career, the Goo Goo Dolls were frequently dismissed by critics as mere imitators of the Replacements; however, they refined and mainstreamed their sound to become one of the most popular adult alternative rock bands of the 1990s, selling millions of records to audiences largely unfamiliar with their influences. That’s no knock on the band, either — the music simply improved in craft and accessibility as the years progressed, and radio happened to be receptive to a style that, one decade earlier, would have been considered collegiate power pop. Thus, the band landed two huge hits with the acoustic ballads “Name” and “Iris,” followed by a string of Top Ten singles.
The Goo Goo Dolls formed in 1985 in Buffalo, New York. Guitarist/vocalist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac, and drummer George Tutuska initially banded together under the name the Sex Maggots, and their new moniker was chosen from an ad in True Detective magazine at the behest of a local club owner. Originally a cover band with a taste for power pop and classic rock & roll, the group soon began writing original songs. Their early sound recalled the Replacements’ origins as a bratty punk band: melodic, snotty, and a little bit thrashy. That sound was the reason the band attracted the interest of the heavy metal label Metal Blade, which issued their debut album in 1987 (known either as The Goo Goo Dolls or First Release). Released in 1989, the follow-up album Jed continued in a similar vein, and the band’s college radio breakthrough came with 1990’s Hold Me Up, a Replacements-ish power pop record.
Released in 1993, Superstar Car Wash was the Goo Goo Dolls’ artistic breakthrough; though it did nothing to quell the Replacements comparisons, it was a finely crafted pop/rock record, and its lead single, “We Are the Normal,” was even co-written by Replacements leader Paul Westerberg himself. Still, Superstar Car Wash wasn’t the commercial force the band hoped it would be, especially in light of the success of similar bands like the Gin Blossoms. That all changed with 1995’s A Boy Named Goo, when an L.A. rock station put the acoustic-driven ballad “Name” into heavy rotation. It was eventually released as a single and climbed into the Top Five later that year; platinum sales for the album followed close behind. Unfortunately, drummer Tutuska was no longer around to enjoy the band’s success; prior to the album’s release, he’d been sacked and replaced by Mike Malinin.
Dissatisfied with the royalty rates in their Metal Blade contract, the Goo Goo Dolls waged a legal battle that wound up allowing them to jump to parent company Warner Bros. Somewhat drained, Rzeznik and the band shook off a case of writer’s block to contribute a new ballad, “Iris,” to the soundtrack of the 1998 Nicolas Cage/Meg Ryan romance City of Angels. Appearing that April, the song became a monster smash, although it was never released as a single (so its official Top Ten pop chart status doesn’t convey how popular it was). For a better indicator, “Iris” spent nearly a year on Billboard’s airplay charts, including an astonishing 18 weeks at number one, and was nominated for three Grammys.
The band’s next album, Dizzy Up the Girl, was released during the middle of “Iris”‘s marathon airplay run and eventually sold over three million copies. Its clean, polished sound completed the Goo Goo Dolls’ transformation into mainstream pop/rockers who happened to have alternative roots. Further hits from the record followed over the next year, including “Slide,” “Dizzy,” “Broadway,” and the Grammy-nominated “Black Balloon.” Although Dizzy Up the Girl quickly became the Goo Goo Dolls’ highest-selling album ever, none of its singles appeared on the band’s 2001’s career retrospective, Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce, which focused on earlier material and B-sides instead.
The Goo Goo Dolls’ audience shrank a bit during the 2000s, although the band still managed to go gold with its seventh studio album, 2002’s Gutterflower. A concert recording, Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004, appeared two years later and helped fans endure the long wait for the band’s next studio effort, Let Love In, which didn’t appear until 2006. It, too, went gold, as did three of its singles: “Better Days,” “Stay with You,” and a cover of Supertramp’s “Give a Little Bit.” A traditional greatest-hits album, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: The Singles, was released in 2007, followed one year later by Vol. 2, which followed Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce’s lead by compiling rarities, B-sides, cover songs, and live performances into one package.
Recording sessions for the band’s ninth album began taking place in spring 2009 with producer Tim Palmer. Although a release date was scheduled for February 2010, the band headed back into the studio in January to make several last-minute changes to the album, with longtime producer Rob Cavallo — who also worked on Dizzy Up the Girl and Gutterflower — lending his help. Something for the Rest of Us was ultimately released that summer. The album debuted at seven on the Billboard 200 but generated no hit singles. The Goo Goo Dolls supported the album into 2011 and in 2012, they turned their attention to recording a new album. The resulting Magnetic was released in June of 2013, preceded by the single “Rebel Beat.”

Copyright © 2016 Drusky Entertainment, All rights reserved.

Alice Cooper
2016-09-24 | Kovalchick Complex, 711 Pratt Dr,, Indiana, PA, 15705, United States
Drusky Entertainment Presents
Alice Cooper
An Evening With…
Saturday September 24th, 2016
Kovalchick Complex
711 Pratt Dr, Indiana, PA 15705
Drusky Entertainment presents an evening with Alice Cooper for an all ages show at the Kovalchick Complex (711 Pratt Dr, Indiana, PA 15705) on Saturday September 24th, 2016. 6:00PM Doors, 7:30PM Show. Reserved Seating tickets are available for $31.00, $36.00, $46.00 with a limited number of Gold Circle Seating tickets also available for $76.00. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 8th at 10 a.m. and can be purchased through the Kovalchick Complex box office (711 Pratt Drive, Indiana, PA ), online at iuptix.com, and by phone at 1-800-514-3849.
Press assets are available upon request. Please contact Josh Bakaitus (josh@druskyent.com) for additional information regarding this event.

LINKS:
http://www.alicecooper.com
http://www.druskyent.com
http://iuptix.com

ABOUT ALICE COOPER:
With his influence on rock & roll long since acknowledged, there is little that Alice Cooper hasn’t achieved in his remarkable career, including platinum albums, sold-out tours and any number of honors and career achievement awards. Alice Cooperpioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he’s best known for.
Alice has been touring consistently, year in and year out, averaging over 80 concerts annually, both within the USA and internationally, with his band which features the three guitar attack of guitarists Ryan Roxie, Nita Strauss, and Tommy Henriksen, plus the rhythm section of drummer Glen Sobel and longtime bassist Chuck Garric. As he heads back out on the concert trail each year, Cooper insists he’s still motivated to continue touring and recording albums, as well as making time for such side projects as Cooper’stown (his Phoenix-based restaurant/sports bar) and his “Nights With Alice Cooper” nightly radio show, syndicated domestically and worldwide on over 100 stations.

Aaron Lewis
2016-09-23 | Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead, 510 E. 10th Ave, Munhall, 15120
Drusky Entertainment Presents
Aaron Lewis
The Sinner Tour
Friday September 23rd, 2016
Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
510 E 10th Ave, Munhall, PA 15120
Drusky Entertainment presents Aaron Lewis “The Sinner Tour” for an all ages show at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall (510 E 10th Ave, Munhall, PA 15120) on Friday September 23rd, 2016. 7:00PM Doors, 8:00PM Show. Reserved Seating tickets will be available for $37.00 and $47.00, with a limited amount of Gold Circle seating tickets available for $57.00. Pre-Sale tickets will be available Friday August 19th from10:00AM to 10:00PM using the password: [REDACTED] General Tickets on sale Saturday August 20th at Noon Ticketfly.com or by calling 1-877-4-FLY-TIX.
Press assets are available upon request. Please contact Josh Bakaitus (josh@druskyent.com) for additional information regarding this event.

LINKS:
http://aaronlewismusic.com
http://www.druskyent.com
http://www.ticketfly.com

ABOUT AARON LEWIS:
If it sounds like Aaron Lewis is long past defending his Country music pedigree, that would be a correct assessment. Lewis would prefer the music speak for itself and, with the release of SINNER, Lewis’ stunning Dot Records follow-up to his groundbreaking full-length solo debut The Road in 2012, any would-be detractors will be pretty much out of ammo.
Lewis, however, is not. SINNER blasts through today’s Country music doldrums like a shot of 100-proof whiskey, with the singer making zero compromises with either himself or the restrictions of a format that seems to have abandoned its rougher tendencies in favor of pop and ‘70s rock inclinations largely lacking in grit.
“I’d like to think that SINNER is a newer take on classic, traditional Outlaw Country, Waylon and Merle and Willie, and Hank Jr. and Johnny Cash and all that stuff,” says Lewis. “That was the music I heard as a kid, and that’s the Country music that permeated my soul and stuck with me my whole life.”
Lewis admits he “didn’t really pay attention to any of the Country music in between” that early Outlaw exposure and his emergence as a new voice for the genre with the release of “Country Boy” on the Town Line EP in 2011. “I was too busy going down the road of one day ending up being in a rock band, and revolting against the music I was basically force-fed as a kid,” he says. “I finally came around full circle, and this music crept back into my life. My plumber at the time bet me that I wouldn’t write a Country song, so I sat down and wrote ‘Country Boy,’ and the rest is history.”
As the front man for one of modern rock’s most successful bands in Staind, Lewis admits his entre into the Country world has been met with mixed reactions. “I have definitely dealt with some of the old guard questioning my commitment to the genre, questioning how much of this might be a toe-dipping in the water to see what the temperature is,” he says. “I had, and still have, a very established career in the rock world, and as much as that has been a blessing in some ways, it has been a curse in others in trying to be looked at as somebody who is taking this seriously and isn’t just trying to go where the money is. There has been a pretty big misconception I’ve had to battle, but there has also been lots of support. There have been times I’ve been told by a program director that my record was his favorite that came out that year but he couldn’t play it because it’s ‘too Country.’ The landscape of Country radio today doesn’t really leave any room for an artist like myself that has no desire to mix pop music with Country music. Why would I do that?”
Few pop-tinged songs would dare feature lyrics as candid, biting and personal as those on SINNER. If “Country Boy,” with it’s swaggering bravado, was the opening salvo, the 11 songs on SINNER herald a man who admits—and often deeply regrets—his personal shortcomings, yet offers no excuses. “This is an album of acknowledgement, admittance, moments of self-awareness,” he says. “It has been a pretty trying time in my life over the past few years, and these songs are what have come of it. At the risk of sounding cliché, my music has always been therapeutic for me.”
Produced by Country legend Buddy Cannon (whose production resume boasts masterpieces with artists ranging from Kenny Chesney and George Strait to Merle Haggard and George Jones), and recorded over 16 intense hours at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios, SINNER captures what was going on in Lewis’ head at this point in his life; laid back with a soundtrack that harkens back to the Country genre’s most honest and musically adventurous artists.
“I loved working with Buddy,” says Lewis. “He’s an amazing, highly accomplished producer that really doesn’t have very many bad ideas. And he also steps back and allows you to be creative and do whatever it is you’re doing, and doesn’t try to change the vision that you have. I was able to write and record a record that I was responsible for how it came out.”
Written on tour and during infrequent down times over the past two years, and road-tested in front of fans that basically served as judge and jury for inclusion on the record, the songs on SINNER together alternate between swagger and vulnerability, biting humor and fierce independence. Lewis and his creative compadre Ben Kitterman (Lewis’ former bus driver who earned a permanent place by his side on the road and in the studio once his talent was discovered), are joined by such A-Listers as Brent Mason (guitar), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Jim “Moose” Brown (keyboards), Bobby Terry (guitar), Pat Buchanan (guitar) and Tony Creaseman (drums). Also taking part are such country stalwarts as Mickey Raphael, Willie Nelson (who adds a committed gravitas to the title cut), Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski and Vince Gill. Remarkably, “I think I got Vince Gill to sing the word ‘shit’ for the first time in his career,” Lewis says with a laugh.
Most of the songs were cut live in the studio, using scratch vocals. “I had a pretty good idea what I wanted the album to sound like,” says Lewis, “and then it was a matter of just going in and either playing songs for the guys in the studio live on an acoustic guitar and let them go from there; or playing them YouTube clips of the song live off of somebody’s phone. Most of the time, they didn’t even need to listen to the whole song, they got the gist of it, charted it out, and then went in there and nailed it on one or two takes. Everything is live, everybody was just playing the song and going right to tape, and then 16 hours later the recording process was complete.”
The result is an album that is “as raw and as real and as un-messed with as it could possibly be,” according to Lewis, with the energy of a “band” record and an introspective tone that completely reflects the state of mind of Aaron Lewis. Creative flourishes abound, with innovative arrangements melding with traditional honky-tonk structures and instrumentations, along with muscular ballads and powerful themes of love, loyalty, alienation and regret, tempered by a dose of humor and knowing introspection.
While Lewis’ lyrics and vocals astound throughout, perhaps the most impactful song on an immensely interesting and entertaining album is its hidden track, a version of the Bruce Robison gem “Travelin’ Soldier” featuring vocals from Lewis then-13 year-old daughter, Zoe. In her recorded vocal debut, Zoe nails it, providing an innocence and purity of tone that serve the song’s lyrics to the highest level. It’s an auspicious debut, and one Lewis admits could change his daughter’s life.
“I am beyond proud,” says Lewis. “She has this innocence and purity to her voice because it’s a completely raw, untrained voice. All I was doing in the room, silently, with hand gestures and body motions, was just trying to get her to sing loud and project, just trying to get her to go after it.”
The power of Zoe’s debut begs the question of how Lewis would feel if his daughter were to embark on a career in a business he has been openly critical of. “I would be very, very cautious, and supportively against it, if that makes any sense,” he says. “It is a vicious, vicious industry, and I would have to be right there at her side, holding her hand the entire time in order to be comfortable with it. I’ve heard it all already, every possible thing you could throw at my daughter to influence her in some way, and it ain’t gonna happen.”
While SINNER may surprise those unaware of Lewis’ lyrical depth and vocal authority, hard-core fans of his concerts (which he describes as “a very healthy mix of cowboy hats, baseball caps, tattoos, black shirts”) will rejoice in having definitive copies of songs they’ve been hearing live and on the Internet, some for a couple of years.
Lyrically, Lewis generally doesn’t lead with his political views (though his stance is often to be found for those who look), he has been publicly outspoken in ways few Country artists dare in these complicated, polarizing times. “I believe in this country, I believe in the Constitution that created it, I believe in conservative capitalism, I believe in all the things that made this country great, and I will not shut up about that for anyone,” he states. “And if you don’t like it, don’t talk politics with me, because I’m constitutionally correct in every single thing I say.”
As to whether his outspokenness has impacted his career, Lewis says, “It’s not hurting me as far as I know, but I couldn’t give a damn, I don’t care. And, honestly, I could care less if I lost a couple of people because of that along the way. If you can’t enjoy my music anymore because you don’t see eye-to-eye with me, then so be it. Whatever.”
And, after putting his heart and soul on the line to create SINNER, Lewis feels similarly about how it lands in the marketplace. “You can’t make everybody happy,” he says, “so you put your best foot forward, you hope everybody likes it, and if they don’t, f- ‘em.”

Copyright © 2016 Drusky Entertainment, All rights reserved.

BRYAN ADAMS
2016-09-13 | Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH, United States
Get Up Tour
BRYAN ADAMS

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – COVELLI CENTRE – SEPTEMBER 13

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 15 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND
2016-09-11 | PPG PAINTS ARENA, Pittsburgh, United States
THE RIVER TOUR
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND

PITTSBURGH, PA – CONSOL ENERGY CENTER – SEPTEMBER 11
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, MAY 20 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM

BLINK 182
2016-08-28 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
BLINK 182
with A DAY TO REMEMBER and ALL TIME LOW
BURGETTSTOWN, PA – FIRST NIAGARA PAVILION – AUGUST 28
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, MAY 6 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM

YES
2016-08-17 | Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead, 510 E. 10th Ave, Munhall, 15120
Drusky Entertainment & Kirschner Concerts Presents
YES
“The Album Series” 2016 Summer Tour
Wednesday August 17th, 2016
Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
510 E 10th Ave, Munhall, PA 15120
Drusky Entertainment and Kirschner Concerts presents YES “The Album Series” 2016 Summer Tour for an all ages show at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall (510 E 10th Ave, Munhall, PA 15120) on Wednesday August 17th, 2016. YES will be performing both “Drama” in it’s entirety and “Tales From Topographic Oceans” sides 1 & 4 as well as selections from greatest hits. 7:00PM Doors, 8:00PM Show. Reserved Seating tickets will be available for $67.00, $82.00, and a limited amount of gold circle tickets available for $100.00. A special pre-sale will be available Thursday April 14th from10:00am to 10:00pm using the password: [REDACTED] Tickets on sale Friday April 15th at 10:00am Ticketfly.com or by calling 1-877-4-FLY-TIX.
LINKS:
http://yesworld.com
http://www.druskyent.com
http://www.ticketfly.com

ABOUT YES:
Founded in 1968 by Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, Grammy-award winning recording artists YES have created some of the most important and influential music in rock history, such as iconic pieces “Roundabout,” “Close to the Edge,” “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “Starship Trooper,” and countless others. Its albums, including Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, and 90125, have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA, and have sold over 50 million records total in its career that has so far spanned almost five decades. Among the world’s most influential, ground-breaking, and respected progressive rock bands, YES continues creating masterful music that inspires musicians, fans and music lovers around the world.

Copyright © 2016 Drusky Entertainment, All rights reserved.

Ted Nugent
2016-08-16 | Stage AE
Ted Nugent
August 16
Stage AE
On sale April 22
Doors 6:30pm
Tickets $30 adv/$32 dos

Bush & Chevelle
2016-07-29 | Stage AE
Bush & Chevelle
July 29
Stage AE OUTDOORS
On sale April 29
Doors 5pm
Tickets $39.50 adv/$40 dos

Heart with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Cheap Trick
2016-07-21 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
Lineup:
Heart with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Cheap Trick
Heart
Joan Jett
Cheap Trick

Jul 21, 2016 Thu 6:30 PM EST

First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania

Disturbed & Breaking Benjamin With Alter Bridge & Saint Asonia
2016-07-19 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
Disturbed & Breaking Benjamin With Alter Bridge & Saint Asonia

Lineup:
Disturbed & Breaking Benjamin
Disturbed
Breaking Benjamin
Alter Bridge
Saint Asonia

Jul 19, 2016 Tue 6:30 PM EST

First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania

STEELY DAN
2016-07-17 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
The Dan Who Knew Too Much Tour 2016
STEELY DAN
with special guest STEVE WINWOOD

BURGETTSTOWN, PA – FIRST NIAGARA PAVILION – JULY 17

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 15 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM

Journey & The Doobie Brothers with special guest Dave Mason
2016-07-16 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
Lineup:
Journey
The Doobie Brothers
Dave Mason

Jul 16, 2016 Sat 7:00 PM EST

First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
livenation.com

GUNS N’ ROSES
2016-07-12 | Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
The “Not In This Lifetime” Tour
GUNS N’ ROSES

PITTSBURGH, PA – HEINZ FIELD – JULY 12

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 8 AT 10 AM
AT LIVENATION.COM

Dave Matthews Band
2016-07-09 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
Dave Matthews Band

Lineup:
Dave Matthews Band

Jul 09, 2016 Sat 7:00 PM EST

First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania

Def Leppard
2016-07-08 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
Def Leppard

Lineup:
Def Leppard with REO Speedwagon and Tesla
Def Leppard
REO Speedwagon
Tesla

Jul 08, 2016 Fri 7:00 PM EST

First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, PennsylvaniaS

Billy Joel
2016-07-01 | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Friday July 1st at PNC Park.

Ticket info here:
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/ticketing/billy_joel.jsp

One Hell of a Night with Joe Walsh & Bad Company
2016-06-28 | KeyBank Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, United States
lineup:
One Hell of a Night Tour
Joe Walsh
Bad Company
Steve Rodgers

Jun 28, 2016 Tue 7:00 PM EST

First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
