Rockin’ back to school with Jawbone show at the Perot
It’s that time of the year again: Jawbone at the Perot Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 26, for a Back to School Concert that’s become the annual close to the Perot Theatre season.
Starting at 7:30 p.m., Jawbone will perform with Josh Lawrence, the Pleasant Grove Showstoppers and Pleasant Grove cheerleaders as special guest performers.
We caught up with Paul Whitt (keyboards, bass and vocals) and fellow band members Lisa Childress (vocals), Curt Richardson (bass, guitar and vocals), Meko Radomski (drums and vocals), Sean Womack (guitar and vocals) and Bret Craytor (sound and lights) through an email Q&A.
Here’s what they they had to say about the upcoming show:
1. Q: Jawbone at the Perot Theatre is becoming a regular late-summer party downtown. What do you have planned for this show specifically? Any changes from last year’s show?
A: This year we will still have Josh Lawrence on keyboards, piano and organ and the Pleasant Grove Showstoppers dance team. However, we will have three new additions this year, including an acoustic set, music videos projected over the band on stage and the Pleasant Grove cheerleaders. Sean and Curt are great on acoustic guitar and will get a chance to showcase their talents. We will have several videos that will really add to the excitement of the show and bring a bigger concert feel. And the award-winning Pleasant Grove cheerleaders are also new this year, and will bring a new element of visual and dance entertainment to some of the songs.
2. Q: Jawbone has been doing this
show for several years now. How does the band plan to keep it fresh and new this time around?
A: To keep our concert fresh, in addition to the new things for this year are the selection of songs. This year more than half of our tunes are different from our set list last year. We want our audience to come back each year and hear a few songs from before, but hear several new things that they have not heard from Jawbone in the past. Songs by Heart, U2, Phil Collins, Walk the Moon and Queen are all new for us this year. Of course, songs by Rush, Prince, Joan Jett, Elton John, Vanilla Ice and Bruno Mars are still on our list.
3. Q: The members of Jawbone are busy with each other and other assorted projects. What have you been doing as a band and separately these days?
A: This past year we have been as busy as ever, with several weddings, fundraisers, private parties and a high school prom. Since most of our shows are for private audiences, we really enjoy the Perot concert in order to play for the public that normally won’t get a chance to hear us. “Paul has a new electronica act called Sonic Robot, as well as 2Pianos with Josh Lawrence. I’m doing some acoustic shows as well as an 80s rock band, Strangelove,” said Richardson. “Several of us are involved in our church music programs. Between family, church, careers, and raising children, we have enjoyed the time we get to spend together rehearsing and performing as a band,” said Childress. “We always feel honored to be a part of a big event in someone’s life, like a wedding or high school prom,” said Whitt.
4. Q: How do you and the other band members feel about supporting TRAHC and both St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital? Is there any way these causes feel personal to you and the other Jawbone members?
A: For the past several years we have done this concert at the Perot, and not only is it a privilege to be able to play on such an historic stage, but also to be able to help support TRAHC, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. “Bret’s wife and my wife are both involved with Women for the Arts and TRAHC, and we get a chance to see what a tremendous work they do in supporting the arts in this local area,” said Whitt. All of the band members are parents and have children, and four of the members are involved in medicine and know the great work done by St. Jude’s and Arkansas Children’s. All of the band members, musicians, and dancers donate their time to this event, allowing all of the net proceeds to go to these three organizations.
5. Q: You have Josh Lawrence, one of your longtime collaborators, as a special guest. What does he have planned?
A: Josh Lawrence is such a talented musician and singer. He has been involved with Jawbone for several years including playing bass guitar and singing. His work as a keyboardist this year will feature him playing piano and synthesizer on several songs. As always, his very tasteful B-3 organ part on “Purple Rain” is a favorite. As a bonus for Josh, his daughter, who is a Pleasant Grove cheerleader, will be sharing the stage with him.
6. Q: Jawbone’s been together for many years now. What keeps the band together and having fun with each other?
A: “It’s family. There are a lot of talented musicians in town, but it is unique to find great musicians that are also your close friends,” said Radomski. The local community has always been so supportive of this concert each year, and we want to continue to raise the bar and offer something new and exciting to the audience. And the support of the staff and crew at the Perot and TRAHC are the behind-the-scenes heroes that make all of this possible. Often we hear about support local businesses. Well, this is a great cause and an opportunity to support local businesses, local musicians, the Texarkana downtown, local arts, TRAHC, St. Jude’s and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Tickets are available at the Perot Theatre ticket office. There are a limited number of VIP tickets available, which include preferential seating and a party after the concert at Pecan Point Brewery.
(Tickets: $16 general admission in advance, $21 the day of the concert. Tickets for the concert and the VIP After Concert Party at Pecan Point Brewery are $36. Buy tickets at TRAHC.org, visit the box office or call 903-7924992.)