Delco band set to open for Bon Jovi tonight
Philly doesn’t normally claim too much from New Jersey as our own — except when it comes to music. Bruce Springsteen is a favorite adopted son, as are the guys in Bon Jovi.
Friday night when Bon Jovi comes to the Wells Fargo Center as part of their “This House is Not for Sale” tour, there will be an additional local flavor, with Philadelphia’s Mach22 handling the opening act duties.
The rock and roll band features two Delco natives in Ric Haas and Sebastian LaBar — both on guitar. Labar’s name might sound familiar; his dad Jeff made his musical mark with the bluesy rockers Cinderella in the 80s and 90s. Haas, who turned 18 this week, is the newest member of Mach 22, and talk about a “trial by fire,” his first gig with the group was last summer at the Linc, opening for a reunited Guns ‘N Roses.
“It’s been amazing!” Haas said. “It’s one of those things that you can’t really explain; you have to be in the situation to really understand what it’s like. But this is only the beginning for Mach22 — big things are on the horizon.”
In addition to the GNR opening slot, Mach22 has also shared stages with Slash’s solo band, Steel Panther, Airbourne and performed twice at the annual Rocklahoma festival. Big or small stages, Haas still gets the jitters.
“I always tend to get nervous before gigs, it doesn’t matter if it’s Wells Fargo or Tom and Jerry’s,” the Glenolden native said. “I think it’s because I care so much and want to give everyone a show they will remember — forever! But once I strap on my guitar my nerves are gone and I’m ready to go.”
“I don’t really adjust,” he says of playing a venue the size of the WFC, “Besides being able to run around and do backflips — if I knew how to do one! — I just do what I always do.” Like any guitarist, one of the biggest irrational fears live he has is plugging in and having no sound come out, but when it comes to playing the show — especially one with a built-in fans like Bon Jovi — the goal is to win the audience over.
“[We] just get out there and play our set,” Haas said. “Music speaks loudly, and if people dig what you are doing they will want more. We are a rock band no doubt, but we have catchy songs that make us stand out from the others.”
Going forward, Mach 22 is looking to build on the momentum following high profile shows like the one Friday night and expose their music to as many people as they can. Fresh music is on the horizon as well.
“The plan is to keep pumping out new music and to keep booking gigs,” Haas said. “We want to get the name out to everyone around the world and stay consistent.”