By T.J. Tranchell

George Thorogood looks almost exactly like the bulldog depicted in one of his band’s many logos. It is a fun yet slightly menacing look and he plays the part well. He may advocate against drinking and riding, but there is something in his face that makes one think he’d buy your little brother a beer and sleep with your girlfriend.

In other words, he could be the king of Sturgis and it would be hard to find someone to challenge him for the title.

Thorogood and his band the Destroyers (also known as the Delaware Destroyers) connected with the crowd in a way rarely seen at the average rock show. The bikers accept him as one of them and he gives back all he can, coming back for two encores.

Much like the biker audience (roughly four times as large as the audience for Saturday night’s performances by the Family Stone Project and the Classic Rock All-Stars), Thorogood is a throwback to another time. His brand of rock is bluesier than anything getting radio time. When his lyrics make a reference to John Lee Hooker or he dedicates a song to Johnny and June Carter Cash, it isn’t just fluff. Those are his roots.

The Cash dedication came in the form of the blues classic “Cocaine,” which Cash performed during his tours of prisons.  The rendition rang truer than if Thorogood had chosen a more obvious tribute such as “Walk the Line” or even “Folsom Prison Blues.” Thorogood could easily make “Cocaine” his song, but knows better.

The songs Thorogood does own are anthems to rebellion. The loudest reactions were to the Destroyer hits “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” (a John Lee Hooker original), “I Drink Alone,” “Get a Haircut and Get a Real Job,” and their biggest hit, “Bad to the Bone.” None of these songs made it to the first encore or even second. The way it looked, Thorogood might have played until dawn. He’s performed at the rally three years in a row now and with this kind of reception, don’t be surprised to see him here again.

Thorogood also promised to get arrested. Promise or not, arresting the king might not be a good idea.

By T.J. Tranchell

Who: The Family Stone Project, Classic Rock All-Stars

When: Saturday, Aug. 1

Where: Buffalo Chip

When a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer tells you to dance to the music, you best dance. The sparse crowd at the Buffalo Chip was already on their feet and moving before trumpeter Cynthia Robinson introduced “Dance to the Music” by imploring everyone to do so.

Robinson, along with fellow Hall of Famer and founding member of Sly and the Family Stone Jerry Martini, is the backbone of the Family Stone Project. The current group knows its roots, maintaining the diversity that contributed to the original band’s fame. The Family Stone Project has the right look but more importantly, they have the right sound. Lead vocalists Trina Johnson and Alex Davis sound modern and fresh while still reflecting the 1960s and ’70s sound they are supposed to be imitating. Their banter with the audience is also top-notch, keeping things fun while getting the “flower power” message of peace and harmony among all people out to anyone listening.

It is still about the music, though. After an entire song asking if we were ready, it seemed as though the crowd might turn on this group that no one even knew would be playing the Chip this time last week. Once things started flowing, any semblance of crowd hostility dissipated.

The audience was in a good mood already, thanks to the Classic Rock All-Stars. After an introduction including the statement that we would “know every word to every song,” the group went right into songs that were very familiar. Touching on songs from every members’ past, the highlights included blues versions of “I’m 18″ and “School’s Out,” thanks to guitarist Mike Pinera’s time with Alice Cooper and keyboardist Jerry Corbetta’s rendition of “Green-Eyed Lady” from his band Sugarloaf. Corbetta even broke out the keytar for a few songs.

The Classic Rock All-Stars capped off their set with an appropriately epic and solo-filled 13 minute version of Iron Butterfly’s “In A Gadda da Vida” and Rare Earth’s “I Just Wanna Celebrate.”

I also caught RoxSlyde at the Kinison Playground stage. This female-fronted band should be playing to crowds larger than the half-dozen listening at the same time I was. Vocalist Kaytee Roxx just might be the female Steven Tyler. Further listening and viewing is required.

By T.J. Tranchell

Take members of various 1970s arena-rock groups, mix together songs they played when they were on the radio for the first time, add fans who know all the same songs and what do you get? If you say a bunch of old people having a good time, you are only half right.

It’s true that the days of number one hits for the members of the Classic Rock All-Stars, the Family Stone Project, Creedence Clearwater Revisited and George Thorogood & the Destroyers are long in the past. Of these groups, Thorogood and his band are the only one with the same name.

We have to be honest about this kind of thing. We aren’t getting the Foghat line-up that recorded “Slow Ride” in 1975. Sly Stone isn’t likely to appear from the mist Saturday night during the Family Stone Project set. In many ways, these groups are not that different from the hundreds of tribute bands that play around the country and the dozen or so playing during the rally. The only real differences between Gun ‘n’ Roses (not appearing) and the two GnR tributes Appetite for Deception (playing the Loud American) and Paradise City (at the Broken Spoke Saloon) is that the real GnR still has Axl Rose and the tribute bands cost less to see.

Does any of that really matter? These new incarnations of classic rock groups still include musicians who were there, people who lived the dream and are holding on to what they can of it. The tribute bands are also trying to recreate something for fans who may never get the chance to see the real thing.

The bottom line is that fans still want to see their heroes. If the heroes can’t be there, seeing someone who played with their heroes or someone who looks and acts like their heroes is close enough.

By T.J. Tranchell

I’m a rocker at heart, so a week’s worth of rock ‘n’ roll gets me excited. There are a few performances that raise my temperature higher than others. Everbody has favorites. These are just the shows I’m looking forward to the most.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 10 p.m., Sunday @ Buffalo Chip.

I always sing when I hear Thorogood. B-b-b-bad to the bone. His cigarettes and whiskey voice is difficult to impersonate, despite “Bad to the Bone” being a karaoke staple. I can almost guarantee everyone else will be singing during that song, too. A few will even pipe up during “I Drink Alone.” The good news is that no one will be drinking alone during the show.

Lita Ford, 8:45 p.m., Monday @ Buffalo Chip.

I could go on forever about Lita Ford’s place in the pantheon of 1980s hair metal. Instead, I will let her speak for herself in this interview conducted by the Journal’s Deanna Darr.

Korn, 10:30 p.m., Monday @ Full Throttle.

Jonathan Davis,  “Munky” Shaffer and “Fieldy” Arvizu are still the core of Korn and that is good enough for me. A few days ago, I didn’t even know Korn would be playing during the rally. This is one of the few truly not-to-be-missed music events that isn’t at the Buffalo Chip this year. You will need a ticket, if there are any left. My only request is that Korn avoid doing anything acoustic.

Cheech & Chong, 9:25 p.m.,Tuesday @ Buffalo Chip.

I wasn’t around for the first wave of stoner humor from Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. I did see their movies, usually on cable, late at night, and eventually listened to their comedy albums. And, of course, I watched Chong when he appeared on “That ’70s Show.” I may have to bring my nose plugs for this one. I think you can get a contact high just from being within 500 yards of the duo.

Aerosmith, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday @ Buffalo Chip.

It’s Aerosmith. I shouldn’t have to say anymore. This should get you ready for the show.

That’s just a sample of all the music events taking place. There will be local acts and tribute bands of all sorts. So tell me, who do you want to see?

By Todd Williams
The question is this: If there is only one original member of a band left, is it really the same band?
Generally, the answer is no. The world is full of Bill Haley’s Comets, Creedence Clearwater Revisted and the such, and although I don’t mind taking them in on Deadwood Main Street during Wild Bill Hickok Days, Kool Deadwood Nites or something along those lines, the rock snob in me won’t let me acknowledge them.
But there may (or may not) be an exception.
Pre-orders began Wednesday for the so-long-anxiously-awaited-album-that-it’s-just-downright-ridiculous “Chinese Democracy” by Guns n’ Roses. It’s an album that Axl Rose and the gang started on in the mid-1990s and promised release virtually every year since 1997 or 1998. Of course, the “gang” is all gone. In fact, a handful of them got together and formed Velvet Revolver.
So the question is, if you want to hear a good ol’ fashioned Guns n’ Roses album, do you buy “Chinese Democracy” or do you simply wait for the next Velvet Revolver album to come out?