The Lamp Theater, a non-profit venue in Irwin, PA just east of Pittsburgh, which hosts many tribute bands and national recording artists. The venue offers up movie-theater-style seating, an elevated stage, and professional sound and lighting, while keeping fans so close to the entertainment that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The mostly volunteer staff is always so gracious, and we were excited to return this weekend to see the classic rock trio Zebra headlining on the anniversary tour for their debut album. As an added bonus, one of our favorite rising artists was there in support, The Gavin Evick Band.
We’ve been watching Gavin’s career evolve since we met him, and now at the young age of twenty-two with bandmates as young as seventeen, we can see that he is really going places. The Gavin Evick Band kicked things off around 8pm and core band members Gavin Evick (lead vocals), Gavin Hades (guitar), and Logan Blake (guitar), where joined by substitute members on bass and drums for this performance. But, the new additions didn’t slow these guys down. In fact, they even borrowed a former bass player from the Bret Michaels band, where Gavin’s father Pete can still be found performing on lead guitar.
Coincidentally, the band opened with a cover of Poison’s “Look What the Cat Dragged In” and continued with a solid mix of covers and original tunes like the band’s new single “Young Wild & Free” (check out the video on YouTube here) and “Favorite Things.” They visited the audience before concluding their eight-song set with a kick-ass cover of Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild.”
Learn more about The Gavin Evick Band in our interview with Gavin from when he released “Favorite Things,” and check out our coverage of The Gavin Evick Band from Rokisland Festival back in January.
Zebra, featuring the trio of Randy Jackson on lead vocals and guitar, Felix Hanemann on bass and keyboards, and Guy Gelso on drums and vocals, is a band that has survived nearly half a century with all original members. The progressive rock ensemble was founded back in 1975 or thereabouts, giving them clout as pioneers in the genre.
Just over forty years ago, on March 21, 1983, the band released their highly acclaimed self-titled debut album, selling out shows everywhere becoming one of Atlantic Records fastest rising stars. With favorites ilke “Tell Me What You Want,” the record was quickly certified GOLD within a few short months.
Sounding as tight as ever, the band has been hitting the road in celebration of that 1983 release with tour dates nationwide. While they could be found performing the entire Zebra debut record from top to bottom, in order, along with other fan favorites and deep cuts from their entire catalog last year, they kind of threw the set list out the window this past weekend. We were told that the band performed “Little Things” from their No Tellin’ Lies for Free album live for the first time in fifty years on Friday in Virginia and Saturday in Pennsylvania. Additionally, we were treated to a bonus acoustic cut featuring just frontman Randy Jackson and an acoustic guitar early in the set after there were technical difficulties with drummer Guy Gelso’s vocals. We didn’t mind the diversion as it offered up an opportunity for the band to connect with the crowd and show their personalities.
Zebra had in some ways been returning to their early club days by giving fans the chance to hear several Led Zeppelin classics. Knowing that we weren’t the least bit surprised to hear them deliver a beautiful rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” last night before a fully expected encore.
Following the show it was such a pleasure to chat with the band. once again, and reminisce about the time we first saw Zebra live back at M3 Rock Festival in Baltimore on a very chilly May night in 2022. Zebra has dates scheduled into the fall and has been adding to the tour as they go. We congratulate them on such a momentous achievement as they are nearing the half century mark as a band!
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen on 9/8/2024. All event photos © Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
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You can also show your support by following us @ThePureRockShop on Facebook and Instagram (or simply follow us everywhere here!) for more local shows like Glenn Hughes, Trixter, and more this month! And, stay tuned for more Gavin Evick Band coverage from The Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, TN.
