Joe Louis Walker, The Dude Ranch and Dokken
This week’s top three Lehigh Valley-area concerts provide a diverse mix of artists offering a getaway from the daily grind. First up is an electric blues artist who’s been known to mix things up with a little jazz, gospel and rock and roll. Then we have a trio of Blink-182 fanatics recreating the pop-punk sound that was all the hype in the late ’90s. And last, we have some legendary glam rockers who used to rub elbows with Freddy Krueger back in ‘86, ready to showcase just why they’ve sold over 10 million records worldwide and are still hitting the touring circuit.
Wxpn Presents: Joe Louis Walker 8 p.m. Friday
When:
Where: Sellersville Theater, 24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville
How much: $25-$40
Tickets: www.st94.com/ 215-257-5808
Musical style: Electric Blues, Blues, Modern Blues
Known for hits like: “Old Time Used to Be,” “Too Drunk to Drive Drunk,” “I Won’t Do That,” “Going to Canada,” and, “Don’t Walk Out That Door.”
Honors: Typically abbreviated to JLW, he began playing guitar at 8 years old, and appeared on a Grammy-winning Buddy Guy album, “Blues Summit” featuring a duet of a
JLW original. His television appearances have spanned a variety of shows
and networks, including Conan O’Brien, Imus, Jools Holland, the inauguration for George W. Bush, inducting B.B. King with President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton into the Kennedy Centre Honors, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s collaborated with Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Otis Rush, James Cotton, and Ike Turner. In 2013 he was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Check him out if you like:
B.B. King, Tommy Castro, Otis Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, James Armstrong, T-Bone Walker
The Dude Ranch
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Musikfest Cafe, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem
How much: $10-$18
Tickets: https://www. steelstacks.org/ 610-2977100
Musical style: Pop Punk, Skate Punk, Emo
Known For Hits Like:
Covers Of Blink-182 Songs Like, “All The Small Things,” “Dammit,” “What’s My Age Again?,” “Adam’s Song,” And, “Pathetic.”
Meet The Band: The Trio Of Gerard Canonico,
Zach Falkow, And Micah Cowher Recreate The Classic ’90S Pop-Punk Sound That Put Blink-182 On
The Musical Map. From Nyc, The Band Tours The Country And Has Graced The Stages Of The Firefly Festival And Musikfest. Canonico, When He’s
Not Doing His Best Tom Delonge Impersonation, Has Appeared In Broadway And Off-Broadway Musicals Including “Almost Famous The Musical,” “Be More Chill,” And, “American Idiot.” Cowher Has Performed As Part Of Stomp! The Band Recreates Note-For-Note Renditions Of Blink-182 Classics.
Check Them Out If You Like:
Blink 182, Box Car Racer, Angels & Airwaves, +44, Jimmy Eat World, Sum 41
Dokken
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Penn’s Peak, 325 Maury Rd., Jim Thorpe
How much: $41-$46
Tickets: www.pennspeak. com/ 866-605-7325
Musical style: Glam Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Known for hits like: “Alone Again,” “Breaking the Chains,” “It’s Not Love,” “In
My Dreams,” and, “Into the Fire.”
Honors: They’ve sold over 10 million records worldwide, and their live album “Beast from the East” was nominated for the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1989. They’ve had numerous hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and in 1986 recorded the song “Dream Warriors” for the soundtrack to “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.” In 1988, they toured as part of the Monsters of Rock Tour festival with acts like Van Halen, Scorpions, and Metallica. The band has gone through a few breakups and lineup changes, but have been releasing albums and touring regularly over the past few years.
Check them out if you like:
Warrant, Winger, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Cinderella, White Lion, Slaughter
Jay Honstetter is a freelance writer. Follow him on Twitter @jayhonstetter