Vanilla Ice, Yes and Rod Picott
The Top 3 Lehigh Valley area concerts this week are brimming with trendsetters, award-winners, and musicians that changed the face of popular music. We begin with the first hip-hop star to top the Billboard 100, who later dabbled in a few different musical styles, and ultimately landed a reality television series. Then we’ve got a progressive art-rock band that’s sold millions of records, been nominated for multiple Grammys, and took one home in 1985. And last, a singer-songwriter who worked his way up from being a busker on the streets of Boulder to having his songs featured in television and film.
Vanilla Ice
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday Where: PPL Center, 701 Hamilton St., Allentown How much: $29.50-$74.50 Tickets: pplcenter.com/ 610-224-4625
Musical style: Rap, Pop, Hip-Hop
Known for hits like: “Ice Ice Baby,” “Ninja Rap,” “Play That Funky Music,” “Stop That Train,” and, “Hooked.”
Honors: His debut album, “To the Extreme” was the fastest-selling hip-hop album of all time upon its
release. His single from the album, “Ice Ice Baby” was the first rap single to top the Billboard Hot 100 — although it was initially released as a B-side to “Play That Funky Music” before gaining popularity. He released a nu-metal version of “Ice Ice Baby” with the new title, “Too Cold” on his 1998 album, “Hard to Swallow.” He was also the host of “The Vanilla Ice Project” on the DIY Network.
Check him out if you like: MC Hammer, Kris Kross, Young MC, Digital Underground, C & C Music Factory, House of Pain, Tone-Loc
Yes
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Wind Creek Event Center, 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem
How much: $49-$79 Tickets: ticketmaster.com 610-297-7414
Musical style: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Symphonic Prog
Known for hits like:
”Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “Roundabout,” “Love
Will Find a Way,” “Leave It,” and, “Long Distance Runaround.”
Honors: They received five Grammy nominations between 1985 and 1992, winning Best Rock Instrumental Performance with their song “Cinema” in ‘85. They had a number-one hit with the single “Owner of a Lonely Heart” in 1983, and they hold the record for most performances at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in the ‘70s. They’ve released over 22 studio albums, with seven of them being certified platinum or multi-platinum, and four of them gold. In 2017 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Check them out if you like: ELO, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Goblin
Rod Picott
When: 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem
How much: $20.50-$22.50 Tickets: godfreydaniels. org/ 610-867-2390 Musical style: Singer-Songwriter, Pop Rock,
Alt-Country Known for hits like:
”Drunken Barber’s Hand,” “65 Falcon,” “Welding Burns,” “Gettin’ To Me,” and, “Angels and Acrobats.” Honors: After some time playing in bands, busking, and studying songwriting, in 2001 he released his debut solo album, “Tiger Tom Dixon’ and has released 13 others since then. His songs have appeared on the FX series
“Justified,” the PBS documentary “Circus,” and the Michael Douglas movie, “Solitary Man.”
Check him out if you like: David Olney, Kieran Kane, Diana Jones, Will Kimbrough, Jeffrey Foucault, Greg Trooper, Otis Gibbs
Jay Honstetter is a freelancer for The Morning Call. Follow him on Twitter @jayhonstetter