ALAN K. STOUT

(press bio)

Alan K. Stout is the Executive Director of the Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Luzerne County), a Destination Marketing Organization located in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He is also a longtime rock music journalist and radio host, based out of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and has written extensively for the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader and The Weekender, a popular arts and entertainment newspaper in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was voted Northeastern Pennsylvania's "Favorite Newspaper Columnist" seven times and was awarded a "Keystone Press Award for Excellence in Journalism" for his music coverage. In 2011, he was presented with the "Best Special Event/Achievement Award" by the United Way of The Wyoming Valley for his charitable work with the annual "Concert For A Cause." In 2014, he was presented with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Steamtown Music Awards, which are a part of the Electric City Music Conference. The award was presented in recognition for his lifetime of work in music journalism, radio, and producing live events. He has interviewed more than 40 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2025, he was inducted into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Music journalist and radio host Alan K. Stout

Stout began covering music for The Times Leader in 1992 and his weekly column, "Music On The Menu," appeared in The Times Leader from 1994-2005. In 2000, he was named music editor at The Times Leader. In 2005, "Music On The Menu" moved to The Weekender, where he served as editor until 2007 and where the column appeared until 2011.

Stout's focus in the Northeast Pennsylvania region has often been on the local music scene, which has produced national recording artists such as The Badlees (1995) and Breaking Benjamin (2002). He was among the first writers to profile those bands. In 2004, Stout launched his own weekly radio show, "Music On The Menu," on 102.3-FM, The Mountain. In 2013, the program moved to 105 The River (104.9-FM), and as his column did for nearly 18 years, it continues to showcase local talent. From 2004-2013, Stout hosted of the monthly "Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series," a live radio broadcast which allowed local musicians to showcase their songs to a wide audience. In 2014, Stout began to host a new original music series, "Music On The Menu Live," which was broadcast live on 105 The River from Mohegan Sun Pocono. In 2017, Stout, in cooperation with SSPTV and the Bold Gold Media Group, launched a monthly television version of  "Music On The Menu"  which aired on Comcast and Service Electric Cable TV throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Stout is also known for his concert coverage and reviews. He frequently reviewed shows at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, The F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre and the Montage Mountain Amphitheater in Scranton. He also sometimes covers major concert tours that visit Philadelphia and has reviewed shows by The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Plant/Page, Sting, Eric Clapton, The Who, Dave Matthews Band, KISS and Billy Joel. In addition to appearing in the Wilkes-Barre newspapers, Stout's reviews have also appeared on the national entertainment newspaper wires, in papers from coast-to-coast, and - if favorable - on the websites of the artists he covers.

Stout's interviews include conversations with Billy Joel, Steven Tyler, David Bowie, Eddie Van Halen, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Jon Bon Jovi, Ray Charles, B.B. King and Don Henley.  Many of his interviews also ran on national newspaper wires and appeared in various newspapers across the United States. Many can now be found on YouTube.

In 1997, Stout broke a news story regarding the Lackawanna County Commissioners office and its decision to possibly end its relationship with the Metropolitan Entertainment Group. Metropolitan had promoted concerts at the Montage Mountain Amphitheater in Scranton, had run the facility, and had brought some of the biggest names in music to Northeastern Pennsylvania. The county, however, had concerns about the facility, particularly what it deemed as Metropolitan’s poor management of concert traffic. Stout’s news coverage of the situation led to a mass movement by the public to save the concerts at Montage. Radio stations organized petition drives, elected officials were lobbied, and eventually, a new agreement/contract was made between Metropolitan and Lackawanna County, with Metropolitan committing to make improvements, including, in 2000, constructing a new and improved multi-million dollar amphitheater. Stout’s ongoing coverage of the situation, which was deemed fair and balanced by both parties - combined with his commentaries/editorials, concert reviews, album reviews and coverage of the local band and club scene – resulted in his receiving a Keystone Press Award for Excellence in Journalism for his music coverage. 

In the mid-'90s, in addition to his newspaper work, Stout served as a contributing writer and associate editor at Sound Check magazine, a monthly publication which focused on the music scene of Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

Alan K. Stout speaks at his induction into the
 Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame

In 1999, Stout worked with the band Mötley Crüe when the group released digitally re-mastered versions of its entire CD catalog. Titled "Crucial Crue," the series featured all new liner-notes for each album, written by Stout with the band. He is credited on each album.

Also in 1999, Stout helped found "Concert For Karen/Concert For A Cause," an annual charity event held in Northeast Pennsylvania that united the region's entire musical and media community. The annual event, held each April, featured dozens of local bands, plus full sponsorship from the local print, television and radio media. A rock auction featured autographed items from John Mellencamp, KISS, Mötley Crüe, Dave Matthews, Elton John and Bob Weir. Since 2002, the event also included a limited edition companion CD for which Stout often contributed a track. His recordings for the "Concert For A Cause" albums included covers of The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, KISS, John Mellencamp, Elvis Presley and U2. In 2008, the "Concert For A Cause 6" CD spent five weeks at No. 1 on the NEPA album chart. In 2009, "Concert For a Cause 7" also spent several weeks at No. 1 and in 2011, "Concert For A Cause 9: The Final Show," also hit No. 1. In 2009, to note its 10th anniversary, the Mayor of the City of Wilkes-Barre declared April 22 "Concert For A Cause Day." As of 2011, the concert and the CDs had raised more than $204,000 for regional charities.

In 2003, one of Stout's original songs, "Summer Days," received critical acclaim from others in the NEPA media and the Billboard Magazine Songwriting Panel. Featuring members of The Badlees, as do all of his recordings, it received airplay on 14 radio stations, hit the Top-5 on the NEPA singles chart and also appeared on the "Concert For A Cause II" album.

In 2005, Stout organized "We All Shine On: A Tribute to John Lennon." The sold-out show was held on December 8 on the 25th anniversary of Lennon's death. It took place at one of Wilkes-Barre's most popular music venues and featured an all-star lineup of NEPA artists performing Lennon's songs from both his time with The Beatles and his solo career. It was also broadcast live on the radio. Proceeds benefited The John Lennon Scholarship Fund.

In 2020, during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Stout hosted the “Music On The Menu Podcast Series,” for which he conducted phone interviews with members of the Northeastern Pennsylvania music community. Working musicians, live music venue managers, concert event organizers, record producers, record store owners and sound and lighting companies all weighed in on how they were navigating their way through the first few months of the crisis. The interviews were shared on YouTube and were later donated to the Luzerne County Historical Society.

Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment
Hall of Fame induction, 2025

In Northeastern Pennsylvania, Stout often serves as emcee for live events. He has done so at The F.M. Kirby Center, Mohegan Sun Arena, Scranton Cultural Center, Montage Mountain Amphitheater, Harveys Lake Amphitheater, Briggs Farm Blues Festival, Wilkes-Barre's Public Square, Wilkes-Barre's River Common, The Woodlands, The River Street Jazz Cafe and Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Stout's stories have appeared in the Boston Globe, San Jose Mercury News, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Daily News, San Diego Tribune, Dallas Morning News and Miami Herald. He still occasionally serves as a music correspondent for The Weekender and The Times Leader. Through that work, and through his weekly radio show and music blogs, he continues to provide insight into the musical climate of Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

In addition to his freelance work in music journalism and radio show, Stout serves, full-time, as the Executive Director of the Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Luzerne County), which oversees the annual "Rockin' The River" summer concert series in Wilkes-Barre. In 2022, he served as executive producer, writer and narrator of "Agnes," a critically-acclaimed documentary film that featured music by The Badlees. In 2023, he was presented with a  "Community Champion Award" from The Luzerne Foundation and a "Change-Maker Award" from the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the steering committees of the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz and the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame. 

In 2025, the Rockin' The River music series was voted "Best Fine Art Event" in the Times Leader's "Best of The Best" readers' poll. On April 22, 2025, Luzerne County Management and Luzerne County Council proclaimed "Alan Stout Day" in Luzerne County in recognition of his lifetime of work in arts and entertainment and his upcoming induction into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame on October 4, 2025.    

     (This bio was first written and published by The Times Leader)

Alan K. Stout's induction speech (Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame) can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/3c7Pzo-y78Y

Alan K. Stout is inducted into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame, 2025

Bands, solo artists and musicians interested in submitting music to the Music On The Menu Radio Show can find info here: 

https://musiconthemenu.blogspot.com/2016/05/dear-artist-thank-you-for-your_17.html  

Paul McCartney’s ‘Egypt Station’ is at No. 1

And that says, and means, much more than just a spot on the charts 

REVIEW

By ALAN K. STOUT

MUSIC ON THE MENU

As I write this, Paul McCartney has the No. 1 album in America. It’s certainly not new territory for the former Beatle. The Fab Four had topped the charts a record-holding 19 times. McCartney’s incredibly successful post-Beatles project, Wings, also hit No. 1 on five occasions. And his solo albums had previously grabbed the top spot twice. But until “Egypt Station” jetted straight to No. 1 earlier this week, it had been 36 years since Sir Paul had sat atop of the Billboard 200.

That’s not to say that a few of his records since 1982’s “Tug Of War” didn’t deserve it. I’m particularly fond of 1989’s “Flowers In The Dirt.”  Tracks such as “My Brave Face,” “We Got Married,” “Put It There” and “This One” are on par with some of McCartney’s best work.  And “Off The Ground,” from 1993, is another really good record. (Check out “Hope of Deliverance,” “Biker Like An Icon” and “Winedark Open Sea.”)  I also liked 2002’s “Driving Rain.” But, for whatever reasons, “Egypt Station” seemed to have gotten a bigger pre-release buzz than any other McCartney album in quite some time. His wonderful “Carpool Karaoke” TV bit with James Corden became a viral sensation – and rightly so – and in the days leading up to its release, it was fun to see Jimmy Fallon wilt into such a total fan-boy when Sir Paul sat with him on the “Tonight Show.” Howard Stern also gave us an insightful McCartney interview, and perhaps we should have known - just by observing what seemed like a confident twinkle in the 76 year-old musician’s eyes - that he had something special up his sleeve.

It was, of course, “Egypt Station.”

If McCartney felt he was about to drop a really cool album, he was right. “Egypt Station” is ambitious. It’s contemporary. It’s engaging. It’s thoughtful. And, quite often, it's just plain fun.

“I Don’t Know,” accented by rich piano, kicks off the record in a refreshingly introspective manner and, in some ways, is unlike anything we’ve heard from McCartney before. Penned during an albeit brief time when McCartney says he was feeling down, it’s interesting, and comforting, to know that even one of most successful men of our time has had moments of self-doubt and a sense of failure. Such moments in life, which are a part of life, spare no one. It’s a song we can all relate to.  

Things shift gears quickly, however, with the rousing “Come On To Me,” a flirty and sexy romping track about that moment when you spot someone across the room and feel a magnetic attraction, but you’re waiting for them to make the first move. Beefed up by a classic rock riff, rhythmic and grooving drums, horns, piano, a clever breakout section, and marvelous pop sensibilities (didn’t McCartney invent them?), “Come On To Me” is an instant Macca classic and one that will hopefully have a regular place in the set-list on his 2019 American tour. It will sound good in stadiums.

On “Happy With You” McCartney sings of how his marriage has inspired him to ditch some of his former habits  - getting wasted and stoned -  simply because, in his life with her, he doesn’t need it. With her, he sings, there is no sadness and no anger. With her, the world is beautiful and in perfect focus and, simply stated, there are “lots of good things to do.” It’s a chirpy gem.

With the pounding “Who Cares,” McCartney offers an inspiring anti-bullying message which is dismissive of those that come with hurtful words, and with “People Want Peace,” he revisits a theme famously first visited by his late songwriting partner, John Lennon. “Hand In Hand” comes with more romanticism and celebrates the happiness of such unions and “Dominos” touches on the concept of how one simple action or small gesture can trigger something that can become much bigger. 

  

What’s perhaps most interesting about “Egypt Station” is its musicality and contemporariness.  The production is crisp and booming. “Back In Brazil” sounds as if it could only have been recorded in 2018 and the sizzling, recently released accompanying music video is as hot as anything PG-rated that you’ll see this year. “Caesar Rock” is equally fresh, and with “Despite Repeated Warnings” McCartney takes on the perceived ambivalence of Donald Trump towards global warming. But it’s not your typical chanty-protest song. It’s a melodic, seven-minute, cleverly arranged bulls-eye aimed straight at the President of United States. Lennon would have loved it.

Despite the diverse themes found on “Egypt Station,” it’s the fun songs that serve as its highlights. And, like “Come On To Me,” the track “Fuh You” is one of them. It’s comes with an insanely melodic pre-chorus and an amusing chorus about, well, feeling a special connection with someone and just wanting to … um …  get right to it. It’s breezy and catchy and it could inspire even the most reluctant homebody to get out there and look for love (or, at least sex). There’s something to be said for an artist that’s been around for as long as McCartney truly surprising you with a song, and with “Fuh You,” he’s done just that. It’s fabulous. And it’s easy to imagine a local cover band of 23 year-olds playing this one at your favorite club.

Today, Paul McCartney’s “Egypt Station” is the No. 1 album in America. And that’s a good thing. And not just because it is worthy, but because of who he is and what that says. I’ve been saying this for years now: we are lucky to be living in these times, with such artists. The contemporaries of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven – and perhaps even those artists themselves - might not have realized that we’d still be listening to their music long after they were gone. But we do know, right now, that people will still be listening to Paul McCartney long after he and the rest of us are gone. And they’ll look back at his entire body of work, and they’ll study it, and they’ll wonder how the music that came much later in his life was received at the time. And, at 76 years old, they will see a No. 1 album.

They will see that his contemporaries got it. We knew what we had. And we embraced it and cherished it.

I spent most of the ‘90s and a good part of the following decade covering concerts. For 15 straight years, it was a huge part of my life. And then, about 10 years ago, when my children came along, I pulled back quite a bit.  But eventually, I felt a little pull to get back at it from time to time. And so, over the past few years, I covered some shows by people like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Sting, U2 and Rod Stewart. I’d seen them all before, but I was becoming more aware of the fact that those artists aren’t just the greatest of our time, but they will long be considered the greatest of all-time. I realized we’re all fortunate to be here, right now, enjoying this music, from such artists, and that when an artist of that caliber continues to record or perform, we need to be paying attention.

Paul McCartney sits at the very top of that list, and today, in September of 2018 – with a wonderful new album, he is right where he belongs.

Right on top.

We get it.

And that twinkle in his eye was well-deserved. 

(Alan K. Stout has seen Paul McCartney live three times and has covered rock and pop music since 1992. His weekly radio show, “Music On The Menu,” airs every Sunday from 9-10 p.m. on The River. Reach him at musiconthemenu@comcast.net)

King Edward, where are you?

If Eddie Van Halen wants to record new music, he should consider working outside the band

COMMENTARY

By ALAN K. STOUT

Bold Gold Media Group

About two years ago, I went to see Van Halen in concert. It was the sixth time I’d seen the band live. In the ‘80s, I saw them with David Lee Roth. In the ‘90s, I saw them with both Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone. And, two years ago, Diamond Dave was back. Sometimes, I went to the show as a journalist, covering the event for newspapers. Sometimes, I was there as fan. (Well, OK ... working or not, I was always there as a fan.) I saw them at venues in New Jersey, at The Meadowlands, and in Philadelphia, at The Spectrum.  I saw them in New York, at Bethel Woods, near Woodstock. And I saw them twice in my home region of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, at Montage Mountain. I’ve also seen Hagar, solo, a few times, including a few stops on the 2002 tour that he did with David  Lee Roth. I was also able to interview Hagar on one occasion, and on two occasions, I interviewed the great Eddie Van Halen, who I affectionately call “King Edward.”

If you grew up in the ‘80s, Eddie Van Halen was the king of rock guitarists. He literally changed the way, for many, the instrument was played. (In high school, I wore a "VH" necklace, just like Eddie's.) And honestly, when I went to see Van Halen in concert two years ago - (and wore that same necklace) - he was the main reason I went. I love the band, and songs such as “Mean Street” and “Dreams” will always resonate with me. But the last time I went to see them, I was simply in the mood to see Eddie Van Halen play the guitar. It had been a while. And I wanted to see King Edward.

Somehow, Van Halen recently came up in conversation with a friend, and I was talking about what I’d like to see the guitarist do next. Hagar has stated he’d be OK with doing one last tour with the band, and even went as far as saying that, for the sake of the fans, he’d also like Roth to be a part of it, too. And, he'd want original and longtime bassist Michael Anthony there as well. That would be cool. But that probably won’t happen. Maybe they’ll do another tour with just Roth on vocals and Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, on bass. That would be OK, but as a fan, that doesn’t really excite me too much. Another studio album with Roth? Not too exciting either. The last one, 2012’s “A Different Kind of Truth,” was alright, though most of the tracks were re-worked songs that had been demoed in the late 1970s/early 1980s. And what that tells us is that there is no longer any creative spark between Roth and the Van Halen brothers. The fact that it was the first new Van Halen studio album in 13 years, and the fact that they haven’t done another one since, also tells us that there is no prolific songwriting happening in the Van Halen camp. And there hasn’t been in a very long time.

So, what is King Edward to do?

I’ll tell you what I’d like to see him do. 

I’d like to see him pull a Santana.

Flashback to 1999. Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana releases “Supernatural,” an ambitious collaborative album that featured an all-star roster of other musicians, some of whom were among the most popular young artists at the time. Dave Matthews appeared on the album, and its biggest single, “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, became one of the biggest singles of all-time. It spent 12 weeks at No. 1 and won three Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. The album hit No. 1  in 10 countries, including 12 weeks at No. 1 in the United States. It went 15 times platinum and, in total, won eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. During the summer of 1999, it seemed that you literally could not walk down the street without hearing “Smooth.”  The brainchild of Clive Davis, “Supernatural” was a remarkable career move for Santana and introduced his guitar work to an entire new generation of fans.

Four years later, in 2002, Santana released “Shaman” and again collaborated with young artists. It too hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart and featured the hit single "The Game of Love," with Michelle Branch. It, like “Smooth,” was simply a really great song featuring one of the most beloved guitarists of our time. And I - as a fan - would like to see Eddie Van Halen borrow a few pages from that playbook.  He should release an album like “Supernatural.” And if he did, I think it could be one of the most exciting things he’s ever done, both for himself, creatively, and for his fans.

The possibilities of whom Van Halen might collaborate with on such a record are fun to even just think about. Bruno Mars. Adam Levine. Adele. Pink. John Mayer. Blake Shelton. Lady GaGa. Justin Timberlake. Taylor Swift. Beyoncé. Dave Grohl. Trust me, Eddie Van Halen could probably choose whoever he wanted to be on such an album and they’d be lining up to do it. He is, after all, Eddie (expletive) Van Halen. Don’t think he'd have his picking? Who did Michael Jackson call to play on “Beat It” all of those years ago? That time, however, the song was pretty much already done. Eddie just dropped in the guitar solo. This would be different. For this project, perhaps he could write with some of these artists, and hash out some of the arrangements together. And he’d be playing the guitar for the entire song, on every song.  

I think the people at radio would get excited about such music because a lot of the people running radio stations these days grew up with Eddie Van Halen, and the idea of matching him up with some of today’s biggest stars could make for some really interesting songs. Bring some great songwriters onto the project. Find a great producer. And just let Eddie do his thing. Maybe he’ll stumble upon a “Smooth.” Maybe, without feeling the need to "shred" on every song, ala the band Van Halen, he’d show us a different scope of his playing. Maybe Eddie Van Halen would not only surprise us, but also himself.

How exciting is that?

Eddie Van Halen doesn’t have to do anything. His place in rock history is secure. He is one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all-time. And his band has released some of the best hard-rock music ever made. But if he’s looking to do something different and something special, and if he’s looking for a challenge, he just might want to think a little bit about Carlos Santana. I think it would be a very interesting move for a guy that, from what I saw just two years ago, can still play that red Fender better than anyone in the world.

I think it would be a great way to remind everyone that he is indeed King Edward.

(Alan K. Stout has covered rock and pop music in NEPA since 1992. His weekly radio show, “Music On The Menu” airs Sunday nights from 9-10 p.m. on 105 The River in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His commentaries on music and concert reviews are published by the Bold Gold Media Group.)

Sting transforms Bethel in a field of gold

Former chief of The Police offers perfect set

REVIEW

By ALAN K. STOUT

BOLD GOLD MEDIA GROUP

BETHEL, N.Y. – The fields that surround the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts are the most historic fields in the history of rock music. They are the fields where, in 1969, Woodstock took place. Sting was only 17 years old at that time and was living on the other side of the Atlantic, but when he performed at Bethel Woods on Friday – and the sounds of his music echoed over those same fields - he, too, created something special.

They became, for the receptive crowd of 8,000, fields of gold.        

The former leader of The Police and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer offered a remarkable set at Friday night’s show. So remarkable, in fact, that some of the gold records that line his walls were not represented at all, and yet somehow, one would have hardly noticed. It was an engaging mix of solo material and Police material. And it did not disappoint.

Sting opened the show with the rocking  “Synchronicity II”  and followed with an extended version of “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You,” which featured thumpy bass, a rhythmic jam and perfect vocals. A funk-fueled performance of “Spirits in The Material World” and a fun rendition of “Englishman In New York” followed. (The New York state crowd gave a loud cheer during the chorus, as if to warmly welcome its British guest. Sting smiled.) Next came a fabulous performance of “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.”  

“It’s great to be back in Bethel,” said Sting, prior introducing his tight and polished band. The unit featured his son, Joe Sumner, and members of the group The Last Bandoleros, both of which also served as opening acts on the bill. The musicians helped bring a fresh energy to songs such as  “She’s Too Good For Me” and a perfect touch to “Not The Shape Of My Heart,” both from 1993.       

In addition to retaining his fine vocals, Sting also remains an accomplished bassist and simply watching his fingers slide about the fret board is enjoyable. And, he has great wit. He introduced “Mad About You” as a song that was inspired by the Bible, King David and Bathsheba. “He fell in love with a married woman,” he said. “Problem was, she was married … It ended badly.”

“Petrol Head,” from Sting’s latest album, “57th & 9^th,” came with the same zing and swagger of early Police, and “50,000,” also from 2016 album, served as a tribute to fallen musicians such as Prince, David Bowie and Glenn Frey and offered a look at mortality through the eyes of a rock star. “Desert Rose,” from 1999, offered a glimpse at Sting’s interest in Middle-Eastern music and came with a tribal flare and a gorgeous performance of “Fields A Gold,” perfectly accented by some stirring instrumentation, served as one of the show’s highlights.

Still, for every soft moment, such as with “Fields of Gold,” Sting was also willing to celebrate his own pop/new wave roots, particularly with a torrid and driving rendition of “Message In A Bottle.” The guitars soared and the songwriter seemed delighted at how a song that he had written 40 years ago was still able to energize the crowd.

“Thank you!,” he said with a broad smile. “I love it when you sing. It makes me happy.”

The reggae influence on Sting also remains evident, and numbers such as The Police classic “Walking On The Moon” served as a nod and wink to that influence. “So Lonely,” from 1978 - with its burning guitars and pounding drums - sounded as fresh on Friday as it did when it first appeared on the band’s debut album. And with the set’s closing number, “Roxanne,” Sting showed that he can still hit the high notes and - by seamlessly segueing into a few verses of Bill Withers’  “Ain’t No Sunshine” – that he’s not afraid to tweak the arrangements of even some of his signature songs.   

Encores included “Next To You,” “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You” and “Every Breath You Take.” The show ended with “Fragile,” which Sting dedicated to the people of Houston.

Sting, as a solo artist and with The Police, has sold more than 100 million albums. That is indeed a lot of gold records. On Friday night in Bethel, he offered a set that didn’t even include any material from “Dream Of The Blue Turtles” (“If You Love Somebody Set Them Free”) or “Zenyatta Mondatta” (“Don’t Stand So Close To Me.”) The only way an any artist can do something like that is if they have so much quality material that it doesn’t matter. Sting is such an artist. And he did not disappoint.

Fields of gold, over Bethel.

(Alan K. Stout has covered rock and pop music in NEPA since 1992. His weekly radio show, “Music On The Menu” airs Sunday nights from 9-10 p.m. on 105 The River in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His commentaries on music and concert reviews are published by the Bold Gold Media Group.)

  

   

  

Elvis remains King

40 years after his death, his legacy reigns supreme 

By ALAN K. STOUT

BOLD GOLD MEDIA GROUP

He’s been gone now for almost as many years as he lived. Elvis Presley died 40 years ago today. He was only 42 years old. He spent about 20 of those years living a remarkable life in the public eye. He was the biggest superstar the world has ever seen.

Lots of things come to mind when I think of Elvis. Some of my first memories of my life are of sitting with my grandfather and listening to Elvis Presley records. By the time I was in the first grade, I was already a fan. I recall watching his legendary “Aloha from Hawaii” concert on television, which was the very first satellite concert of its kind and was reportedly watched by more than a billion people around the world. At age 6, I was one of them. And I remember, just a few years later, on August 16, 1977, when my mom had to tell me that Elvis had died. 

Seeing the public’s reaction to Elvis’s death, though I was just a kid, is something I’ve never forgotten. To this day, four decades later, I’ve never seen such shock and grief over the death of a celebrity. I recall, on the night that he died,  watching some of the extended news coverage on television and feeling a great sense of loss. And when I think back on that now, and about all of those people who were at the time, 20 or 30 years older than me, and had literally grown up with his music, I guess I can see why. He was their brightest star. He was the one that gave them rock and roll. He was still making hit records and touring the country. And suddenly, like the supernova that he was, he was gone.

Thankfully, however, his music was not. And since he has passed on, I’ve discovered so much more of it, and today I’ve got about 90 of his songs on my iPod.  At Sun Studio, he gave us “That's All Right" and "Mystery Train." When he first signed with RCA, he gave us "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Jailhouse Rock." Not long after that, at the height of his career, he got drafted and served in the United States Army.  And as soon as he got home, he gave us some his best work, including "His Latest Flame," “It’s Now Or Never” and "Are You Lonesome Tonight." He spent much of the ‘60s as a movie star, but towards the end of the decade - when he got back to making great music - he gave us "Kentucky Rain," “Suspicious Minds” and "If I Can Dream.” His stunning rendition of  "Bridge Over Troubled Water" just might be his finest vocal performance, and even just weeks before his death, he was still nailing challenging songs such as "My Way" in concert.

Elvis's health, due to his own vices, failed him.

His voice never did.

Let’s remember that. And let’s remember, on this 40^th anniversary of his death, that Elvis Presley was a good man. Let’s remember the man who, even after his burst of fame, still referred to people as "ma'am" and "sir." Remember the man who, while serving in the Army, asked for no special treatment and quickly befriended the men in his unit. Remember the man who loved to share his wealth - a man who would buy friends and even strangers automobiles, and, if you admired a piece of jewelry he was wearing, would often take it off and give it to you. Remember the man who was always quick to give credit to the unheralded black artists which influenced his early sound and led to the true birth of rock and roll.

John Lennon once said, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”  It’s a funny quote, because there was, of course, plenty of civilized societies long, long before Elvis. But I get what Lennon was saying. Some of the things that I love the most in this life – such as music – which resonates with me and speaks to me like nothing else ever has, would not be the same without Elvis. All of those years that I worked at a newspaper writing about bands and covering concerts and interviewing rock stars would not have happened – and I am quite certain of this – if it were not for Elvis. The radio station that I work at today would not exist if it were not for Elvis. So many things that so many of us enjoy every single day would not exist if it were not for Elvis. And the truth is, if you enjoy rock and pop music in any way at all, you should thank him. 

The words "changed the world' are grossly overused. They are used far too often when discussing people and events that surround pop culture. Very few things actually change the world. Elvis Presley did. And by offering everything from rock to pop, country, blues and gospel in his music, he showed that music, at its best, should have no boundaries.  

When Elvis first walked into Sun Studio, they asked him who he sounded like.

"I don't sound like nobody," was his answer.

He was right.

I finally made it down to Graceland a few years ago.  I toured Elvis’s  house and saw his stage outfits, his cars and his airplane. And I placed a flower on his grave. Today, they are expecting up to 100,000 people there. Just think about that for a moment. How many artists today, doing a live concert, could draw that many people? It’s a very short list. And yet today, that many people will gather simply to pay respect to a man who has not sung a song in 40 years.  And, by sharing some of my thoughts on him here today, that’s what I’m trying to do as well. Show him some respect.

He’s been gone now for almost as many years as he lived, and though Elvis Aaron Presley may have left us 40 years ago today, so much of what he was will never really die. He is with us now and forever in music. And he will always be our one and only King.

  

(Alan K. Stout has covered rock and pop music in NEPA since 1992. His weekly radio show, “Music On The Menu” airs Sunday nights from 9-10 p.m. on 105 The River in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His commentaries on music and concert reviews are published by the Bold Gold Media Group.)

Stewart wears it well at Bethel Woods

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer remains primed and polished  

REVIEW

By ALAN K. STOUT

BOLD GOLD MEDIA GROUP

BETHEL, N.Y. – If we could all make a deal with the devil to look as good as Rod Stewart still does at age 72, we’d probably consider it. The legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer still brings a youthful bravado to the concert stage. And when he brings his timeless songs with him – an endless stream of big hits going back some 45 years – it makes for a wonderful concert experience.

Stewart was in fine form on Friday night at the Bethel Woods Center for The Arts. His voice was strong, his band was tight and his stage show was glitzy yet tasteful. Dressed in a gold blazer, he opened the show with a zesty performance of “Infatuation” and followed with “Some Guys Have All The Luck,” both from 1984.

“Good evening my dear friends,” he said, following the second number. “Welcome!”

He then added how much he loved Friday nights, and that whatever those in the  crowd of 12,500 had to do to get to the show, such as arrange for a babysitter, it would be worth their while.  And he did not disappoint.

The show’s opening act, Cyndi Lauper, joined him on stage for a fun performance of “This Old Heart of Mine” and  Stewart then ditched the blazer and led the band through a terrific rendition of “Tonight’s The Night,” which had the entire crowd singing along. The band, which featured three female backing singers and several multi-instrumentalists, was another highlight of the show. Some songs offered triple-percussion, some came with fiddles, some with saxophone, some even came with harp. Whatever the case, the music shined.     

 “May you stay “Forever Young,’ ” said Stewart when introducing the song, from 1988, which has  become one of his staples.  He later dedicated “Rhythm of My Heart “ to those who have served in the armed forces. With wartime images gracing the large video screens behind the stage, Stewart noted that he himself was a “war baby,” and he thanked those that have served for giving him the opportunity to live the life that he has lived. The video also included images of Steward being knighted at Buckingham Palace – an honor he received for his contributions to both music and charity.

“Young Turks” kept the fun flow of the show rolling, and though Stewart introduced “Can’t Stop Me Now” – which he wrote about his late father – as a “ a song many of you might not know,”  it was a highlight of the set. Stewart, with his English accent intact, also frequently peppered the show with his great wit. When introducing a soaring, saxophone-fueled  performance of “Downtown Train,” he noted that songwriter Tom Waits has thanked him many times for covering the song, and that his version helped Waits “put a new roof on his house and build a new swimming pool.” He then noted, more seriously, that Waits is a “great, great songwriter.”

With Stewart and the band seated on stools near the front of the stage, the show then shifted gears, offering a few acoustic-based numbers. These included “The First Cut Is The Deepest,” "Ooh La La"  - from his days with The Faces – “Reason To Believe,” “You’re In My Heart” and “Have I Told You Lately,” which was delivered with emotion and sentiment. Things then got rocking again with a cover of CCR’s “Proud Mary,” which was performed by just the band, sans Stewart, then “Maggie May” and “Stay With Me.”  For the latter, Stewart – as is his custom – kicked soccer balls into the audience.  “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”  followed, during which Steward donned a cowboy hat. (And yes – judging from the reaction of the women in the audience - he looked good, or sexy, in it.) The show ended with “Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think).”

Though Stewart has aged gracefully and remains a vibrant performer, he also deserves credit for not trying to defy his years. His wardrobe changes throughout the show were funky yet impeccably Rod, and by allowing the members of his band moments to shine throughout the show, and adding the acoustic section, he’s able to pace himself remarkably well. Father time spares no one. We do not stay forever young. But music - or at least some music - is indeed timeless, and such is the case with the music of Rod Stewart. And though he’s not trying to fool anyone – he’s a proud war baby – he showcases all of his years in show biz with style and grace. Or ... to borrow from the title of another fine number performed on Friday night ... he wears them well.

(Alan K. Stout has covered rock and pop music in NEPA since 1992. His weekly radio show, “Music On The Menu” airs Sunday nights from 9-10 p.m. on 105 The River in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His concert reviews are published by the Bold Gold Media Group.)

“Elvis Lives” at The Kirby

Tribute show magnificently celebrates The King

By ALAN K. STOUT

MUSIC ON THE MENU

FEBRUARY 3, 2017

WILKES-BARRE – This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. It’s hard to believe The King has been gone for nearly four decades, especially when you consider what an incredible force he still remains within the confines of pop culture. I realized a few years ago that it’s still hard, even after all of these years, to go for more than just a few days without hearing his name. And what’s even more remarkable, when you really think about it, is that although Elvis has now been a household name for more than 60 years, he actually only lived about 20 years of his life in the public eye. He came into people’s lives on the radio, and on television, and on the big screen in a way that was both revolutionary and unique, and then, in a flash, he was gone.

But, as we all know, Elvis lives. He lives on through his music and his films and through the groundbreaking impact and influence that he had on rock and roll music. He lives on through the more than half a million people that visit his former home, Graceland, every year. And, thanks to “Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event,” he lives on in concert halls across America.

“Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event” visited the F.M. Kirby Center on Wednesday. And for fans of The King, it was a highly-entertaining musical and visual experience. The show featured Dean Z., Jay Dupuis and Bill Cherry, three of the best Elvis tribute artists in the world. And if for some reason the term “Elvis tribute artist” makes you think of an old pot-bellied guy with lamb-chop sideburns and wearing a way-too-tight jumpsuit fumbling through “All Shook Up” at your local karaoke bar, think again. These three men were each winners of The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, an annual event held in Memphis that is officially sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. Each singer performs with respect, charisma and a genuine flair for representing The King at his very best.

The show was broken into several segments and moved forward in the proper chronology of Elvis’s career.  It began with a video montage of his early years and his initial recording sessions at Sun Studio. Dean Z. then offered fabulous renditions of “That’s All Right” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” Later, wearing a shiny gold blazer, he tore through some of Presley’s early RCA hits, including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Love Me Tender.” His voice was about as Presley-like as Elvis himself, his dance moves were fabulous and even his laugh and smile seemed to channel The King. His performance, like most of the show, was also shown on a large video screen behind the stage, and even with such tight close-ups, it felt as if you were actually watching Elvis.

Next came a section that paid homage to Presley’s love for gospel music, with Jay Dupis offering passionate performances of “Peace In The Valley” and “Crying in The Chapel.” He then led the show through a section dedicated to Elvis’s film career. This included performances of “Return To Sender” “Bossa Nova Baby” and a few duets from “Viva Las Vegas” featuring the sultry Carol Maccri as Ann-Margaret.

Dean Z. then returned for an epic tribute to Presley’s most famous performance: his 1968 television show which is now known simply as the "’68 Comeback Special.”  With the vocalist dressed in black leather and with staging that offered an exact replica of the set used on the TV special, one once again felt as if you had been transported back in time to the very day that Presley reclaimed the throne of rock. “Heartbreak Hotel” grooved and “Hound Dog” rocked, while “Jailhouse Rock,” “One Night With You” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” also respectfully displayed some of Elvis’s best work. Dean Z.’s uncanny resemblance to Presley and his gift of completely mastering his mannerism only made it better.

The show ended with a tribute to Elvis’s performing career in Vegas, which he began to do regularly in 1969 and he continued until his death. It was also during those years, in 1973, when he performed live via satellite from Hawaii before an estimated billion people. And it was during those years that he also frequently toured across America. And make no mistake: Presley’s glitzy jumpsuit era also featured some great songs. And they were delivered flawlessly by Bill Cherry. These numbers included “Burning Love,” “Kentucky Rain” and “Suspicious Minds.” During the closing number, “American Trilogy,” Cherry, Dupis and Dean Z appeared on stage together for the first time. Whether there was symbolic intention or not was unclear, but it did seem fitting, as all three vocalists, through the course of the evening, perfectly represented Elvis’s own American trilogy. (The three major eras of his career.) And that in itself made the show special ...

Elvis’s own concerts usually only ran for about an hour. And because he always had an affinity for new songs that he heard on the radio or new songs that he had recorded, he never really gave a full two-hour-plus show packed with his own great hits. “Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event” did just that. 

I’ve seen all of Elvis’s concert films, I’ve got about 90 of his songs on my iPod and I have visited Graceland. I am a fan. But perhaps the best review of this show came from my 10 year-old daughter, who joined me at the event. I was the exact same age that she is now when The King passed away, and at one point, while she marveled at Dean Z. dazzling up the stage, she turned to me and said: “Wow. Elvis does live!”

Yes he does, darlin’.

Yes, he does.

(Alan K. Stout has covered rock and pop music in Northeastern Pennsylvania since 1992. His weekly radio show, “Music On The Menu,” airs every Sunday night from 9-10 p.m. on 105 The River. Reach him at musiconthemenu@comcast.net)