Adopt The Arts Concert and Auction Raises $106,000 Funding School Music Programs


Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons and Slash at ADOPT THE ARTS. Photos Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons and Slash at ADOPT THE ARTS. Photos Credit: Tiffany Rose.

The Adopt The Arts event at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA on January 12th raised over $106,000 in one night and funds music programs in LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) elementary schools. They brought together various music industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Photo credit: Tiffany Rose.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Photo credit: Tiffany Rose.

The event honored Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Butch Trucks of Allman Brothers Band, and artists thrilled the crowd performing a rare set including hits from ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers. The sets included:

ZZ Top set:
1. “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Damon Fox, Billy Duffy)
2. “Tush” (ZZ Top) (w/ Billy Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Jimmy Vivino, Edgar Winter on organ)
3. “Cheap Sunglasses” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Edgar Winter on sax/ lead vocals with Gibbons)
4. “Rough Boy” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, Orianthi, Matt Sorum)
5. “Waitin’ For The Bus” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan)
5. “Jesus Just Left Chicago” (ZZ Top) (w/Matt Sorum, Slash, Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons)
6. “La Grange” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Slash, Duff McKagan, Steve Lukather, Richie Sambora, Edgar Winter on organ)

Edgar Winter. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Edgar Winter. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Allman Brothers Band set:
1. “Trouble No More” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Jimmy Vivino, Butch Trucks)
2. “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’’ (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Franky Perez)
3. “Midnight Rider” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Richie Sambora, Orianthi)
4. “Stormy Monday” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Edgar Winter on vocals/sax, Jimmy Vivino, Slash)
5. “One Way Out” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Steve Lukather, Jimmy Vivino)
6. “Statesboro Blues” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Butch Trucks, Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, Matt Sorum)
7. “Whipping Post” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Butch Trucks, Matt Sorum, Slash, Richie Sambora and Billy Gibbons)

Matt Sorum, Billy Gibbons and Richie Sambora. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Matt Sorum, Billy Gibbons and Richie Sambora. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.


Bigelf- Into The Maelstrom


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Back over the years 2008 and 2009 prog oddballs Bigelf released the well received Cheat The Gallows (Custard Records) album, and subsequently became big news. High profile tours with the likes of Dream Theater and Opeth whilst being media darlings in the prog and metal worlds, Bigelf had their name on a rocket and were on course for the stars. Tragedy then struck and said rocket seemed to plummet as quickly as it ascended.

A massive gap of six years and Bigelf are back with a brand new album, boosted by the patronage (and studio presence) of prog’s Duracell bunny Mike Portnoy. Into The Maelstrom (Inside Out Music) thrusts you onto a journey space, alien frequencies and a sense of carnival splendour via a healthy dose of The Beatles, the more drug addled side of Black Sabbath and even the likes of Hawkwind. Damon Fox’s chilling, Ozzy like notes greet us on opener ‘Incredible Time Machine’ and its immediately clear that his twisted imagination is set on overdrive.

Simultaneously warped and catchy, this predominantly shows a Beatles influence with a ring leader like narrative which brings ELP’s Brain Salad Surgery to mind. Mike Portnoy’s performance is worthy of mention as well, providing a juggernaut of a display yet never overpowering or taking away from who is really the star of the show, Damon Fox.

It’s been a long wait, but finally Bigelf are back to recapture lost ground on the prog and metal realms. It’s clear that Damon has not lost his vivid and spectacular ideas; and that he is on something you definitely won’t get on the counter from your local pharmacy.

 

8.5/10

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CHRIS TIPPELL