Rock Feast

The Hooters celebrate 30 years with their Thanksgiving concert tradition.

When the Hooters (hootersmusic.com) do their annual Thanksgiving show on Nov. 26, it will be a 30-year celebration of their time as a band. This historical tradition actually dates to the mid-’80s (as far as anyone can remember!), when the Hooters and other area bands would play on Thanksgiving night at one of the cabarets as a charity fundraiser.

Since then, this show has also happened on the night before Thanksgiving and the weekend after at various venues, including the Borgata and The Tower (where the Hooters still hold the record for five consecutive nights of sold-out shows). This year, they’ll play the legendary Electric Factory in a one-time performance.

What should you expect with your ticket? All show-goers will receive the Hooters’ CD, Five by Five EP, which is a collection of five songs. Two of these are remakes: “One of Us” takes on a wistful melancholia reminiscent of a winding-down music box, and “Time After Time,” with its racing pulse revving up the pace of the original. “Silver Lining” delivers an “It’ll be OK” optimism, “Really Fine Wine” has a Cajun spiciness, and the German sing-along “Pissing in the Rhine” will have you raising your stein high.

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By the way, this EP was produced at Rob Hyman’s Elm Street Studios by former localite Nick Jameson of American Dream/Foghat (he’s now an actor extraordinaire). And Eric Bazilian says the show’s music will be a review of their 30-year songbook, “with a few surprises thrown in.”

And what have the Hooterboys been up to individually? Turns out, lots!

Bassist Fran Smith is gearing up for a new CD release and solo shows in Europe for 2011. You might also occasionally catch him in local productions of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Eric Bazilian had his song “One of Us” recently featured on the TV show, Glee, and has been working with Ricky Martin, among others. Martin recently performed the Hooters’ song, “The Best Thing About Me Is You,” on Oprah and at the Latin Grammys.

Guitarist John Lilley released a solo CD called Lucky Kind of Guy last year and has been giving guitar lessons and working with kids at a local music school.

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Singer/songwriter/keyboardist Rob Hyman recently resurrected a late-’70s/early-’80s project from his band, Wax. The recordings have been retooled and released, and it’s a time-travel traipse into the sounds of the era.

Drummer Dave Uosikkinen has kept busy with his In the Pocket: Essential Songs of Philadelphia project, which pulls songs with a Philly history for local musicians to redo. Plus, he recently took on a counselor stint with Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp.

The show’s opener is the always-entertaining Philly fave Beru Revue. These two longtime bands of friends present a brotherly love fest in the town that rocked the nation: PHILADELPHIA!

SHOW INFO:
When:
Nov. 26, 8:30-11 p.m.
Where: Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., Philadelphia
Tickets: $39.50. Visit electricfactory.info or call (215) 627-1332.
 

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