George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Heather Pierson Duo and Lita Ford
The Top 3 Lehigh Valley-area concerts this week offer up some serious talent from an array of artists representing their own distinctive sounds. First is a legendary group known for breathing new life into blues classics but even better known for being “Bad to the Bone.” Next, a duo who has been known to take the Charlie Brown Christmas special on the road (musically of course!) bring original songs that tie together the sounds of jazz, folk, blues, and Americana. Last, an award-winning artist who got her start in The Runaways brining her hits and top-notch guitar-playing to town.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Wind Creek Event Center, 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem
How much: $40.50-$80.50
Tickets: ticketmaster.com 610-297-7414
Musical style: Blues rock, classic rock, hard rock
Known for hits like: “Bad to the Bone,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Who do you Love?” “Move it on Over,” and, “I Drink Alone.”
Honors: Initially a minor
league baseball player, George Thorogood switched gears in 1970 becoming a musician, and three years later he put together his band The Destroyers. They released
their first record in 1977, and their follow up “Move it on Over” the following year – with the single receiving heavy play on the radio, and moving the album into the Top 40. In 1982 they released their major label debut, “Bad to the Bone,” with title track in heavy rotation on MTV. The album spent close to a year on the charts, and along with the next three follow-up records, went gold.
Check them out if you like:
Foghat, Bad Company, The J. Geils Band, Ted Nugent, ZZ Top, Steppenwolf, 38 Special
Heather Pierson Duo
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem
How much: $19.50-$24.50
Tickets: godfreydaniels. org/ 610-867-2390
Musical style: Jazz, blues, folk
Known for hits like: “Jasper County,” “Wisdom in my Bones,” “The Toilet Paper Song,” “Marble in my Pocket,” and, “Lines and Spaces.”
Meet the band: Heather Pierson is a pianist, singer/ songwriter, and performer
known for her blending of New Orleans jazz, blues, folk, and Americana with her partner bassist Shawn Nadeau. The songs are written from the heart embracing true singersongwriter qualities and
performed expressively with sincerity, soul, and wit. To date Pierson’s released 14 albums and numerous singles, and is constantly honing her skills as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
Check them out if you like: Joni Mitchell, Bessie Smith, Vince Guaraldi, The Beatles, Sweet Emma Barrett
Lita Ford When:
8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Penn’s Peak, 325 Maury Rd., Jim Thorpe
How much: $38-$43
Tickets: www.pennspeak. com/ 866-605-7325
Musical style: Glam rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Known for hits like: “Close my Eyes Forever,” “Kiss me Deadly,” “Playin’ with Fire,” “Shot of Poison,” “and,
“Lisa.”
Honors: Lita Ford got her start as the lead guitarist for The Runaways alongside Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. She’s been the recipient of numerous awards including the Guitar Player Lifetime Achievement Award at the Whiskey A Go-Go in 2014,
Guitar Player Magazine’s Guitar Player Certified Legend Award, She Rocks’ Icon Award, and was dubbed, The First Lady of Rock Guitar by Marshall and Guitar Player Magazine. Her single, “Close My Eyes Forever,” a duet with Ozzy Osbourne, went to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989, and in 2016 she released her memoir, “Living Like a Runaway.”
Check her out if you like:
Ozzy Osbourne, Vixen, The Runaways, Alice Cooper, Warrant, Britny Fox, Motley Crue