Dan Sperry Joins the Illusionists at PPAC,Slipknot and Korn At

Alt-Nation: Metalachi — This Week!

Have you ever listened to 94 WHJY during the day and wondered what would be like if their staid playlist was performed by a mariachi band? Me neither. That said, Metalachi, known as the greatest heavy metal mariachi band ever to roam the earth, does sound like a hoot! Metalachi recreates classic rock staples and heavy metal anthems as mariachi ditties and it is downright awesome! On their debut album, Uno, Metalachi tackle 8 classics by the likes of Guns ‘N’ Roses, Scorpions, Bon Jovi and more! Check out their version of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_5y5KrBoO8 and don’t miss Metalachi this Wednesday at Firehouse 13!

Metalachi and Lame Genie rock Firehouse 13 on Jan 14.

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Mystery, Wonder and Awe, “O” My! Just over the Massachusetts state border in Fall River, 20 or so highly skilled and dedicated classical singers gather weekly to rehearse the complex and beautiful vocal music of various composers. This group calls itself “Sine Nomine,” which translates to “Without a Name.” Founded in 1993 by early music specialist Glenn Giuttari, Sine Nomine has been in existence for over 20 years.

Joseph Fort, Sine Nomine’s new music director, is currently a PhD candidate in music theory at Harvard University. He is a graduate of Cambridge University and also has studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. A mild-mannered man full of musical integrity, Fort has been involved in choral music his entire professional life, both as a director and as an accompanist. In addition to his duties at Sine Nomine, Fort conducts the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, and is the music director at Grace Church in Newton, Mass.

Being a chamber choir, Sine Nomine differs from a traditional choir in a couple of ways, most notably by its small size. With fewer vocalists per part, each individual singer carries more responsibility. “What’s great about this group is that between all the rehearsals, [the singers] go and prepare for the next rehearsal on their own,” says Fort. “When we actually rehearse together, we don’t have to worry about crashing thru the notes. We can actually work on crafting the piece of music. That’s what really makes this group stand out. Also, in comparison to a church choir, we’re not affiliated with any particular church service. We are able to focus exclusively on preparing the music for our concerts, and we’re able to broaden our choice of repertoire.”

Sine Nomine will perform its first concert of 2015 on Jan 17 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Bristol, RI. A second performance happens on Sun, Jan 18 at Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford.

Tag-lined with the single-letter Latin word ‘O’, the program features both classic and modern settings of influential texts that begin with O.

Fort explains this concept:

“We looked for inspirational settings of text that begin with this word. Usually they are trying to express wonder, mystery, distress or some other powerful emotion. There are so many brilliant settings of texts like ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ and ‘O Sacrum Convivium.’ Originally they were performed for one Sunday of the year in the church. In this sense, they actually get very few performances.”

A key concept behind this concert program is the juxtaposition of old and new settings of the same text, in many cases written centuries apart. “For example,” continues Fort, “we’ll be performing the William Byrd setting of ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ (written in the early 1600s) as well as the Morten Lauridsen setting of the same text written in 1997. It’s quite interesting when you take the same texts set by different composers and discover how they each approach it. They’re after the same thing, but they use very different techniques.”

On Sat, May 16, Sine Nomine will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ‘Vespers’ at Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Woonsocket, RI. The year 2015 marks the 100 year anniversary of this work, which has been labeled by many scholars as Rachmaninoff’s finest achievement. Even more poignant is the context in which it will be performed in Rhode Island.

“Saint Michael’s is a Ukranian orthodox church that recently burned down. They’re just finishing their restoration and rebuilding of the church. We’ll be performing ‘Vespers’ as part of their celebratory church service, so we’re doing a liturgical form of it. This should be interesting, as it’s almost always performed as a concert piece.”

“Vespers” will also be performed in its full concert version on Fri, May 15 at St. Lawrence Martyr in New Bedford, Mass.

Defining quality over quantity, Sine Nomine performs only two programs each season. Both of these upcoming concerts promise to be unique listening experiences. For more information, visit sinenominechoir.org

Dan Sperry Joins The Illusionists at PPAC

Goth magician Dan Sperry is one of the performers in The Illusionists, a showcase for dazzling modern displays of mind-reading, levitation, disappearances and grand illusion. The show, which has been touring North America, will be at the Providence Performing Arts Center from Jan 16 through 18.

“In the most basic, straightforward sense it’s a magic show,” Sperry told Motif. “We got a great live band, stuff is projected on video screens, and we have a live camera stream so even if you’re in the back row, you get the feeling that you’re right there on stage and seeing this stuff up-close.”

The Illusionists has something for everyone, Sperry notes. Each of the seven magicians was selected for his own unique talent. Sperry is known as the Anti-Conjuror, who performs shock illusions. He has appeared in Las Vegas and in Hollywood at the Magic Castle. Sperry was featured on FOX’s “World Magic Awards” and TLC’s “Cake Boss.” He has also performed all over the world, including Australia, Asia and Europe.

“If someone doesn’t like serious magic, there are funny parts,” Sperry said. “There are heartwarming moments, scary moments, nail-biting moments — every emotion is ticked.”

Billing himself as an Anti-Conjuror “sounded cool,” Sperry explained. “It’s like saying magic or magician, but in a different way. It also expresses what I do with my style with shock illusions.”

Sperry grew up in Minnesota and became intrigued by the world of magic as a young boy when he saw a performance by David Copperfield, his idol. One of Copperfield’s tricks was to escape from a series of whirring buzzsaws. For Sperry, the act was a little too realistic. “You see this spinning buzzsaw fall and visibly cut (Copperfield) in half. It was this really cool visual but it freaked me out,” Sperry recalled. “I thought this dude just died and (the trick) actually went wrong. I started panicking and had a spastic episode. We had to leave and I never saw him get put back together.”

Not long after, Sperry obtained a batch of magic kits from a trip to the Twin Cities and began performing his own shows.

In 2010, Sperry was a contestant on “America’s Got Talent.” The video of his routine, which included a piece of dental floss and a Life Saver, later became a viral sensation on YouTube. Sperry wasn’t overly impressed with being on a variety show, knowing that the glut of variety shows would likely make his performance forgotten in a few days. “I was kind of leaning on that and just accepting that I’m going to go on and make the best of the few moments I’m on (television).”

Sperry has enjoyed fame as a magician, yet he doesn’t feel like a success. “I’m able to make my living doing something I’ve always wanted to do,” Sperry said. “I feel very lucky and blessed.”

Tickets at 401.421.2787 , or at the PPAC Box Office, 220 Weybosset St. Providence.

Slipknot and Korn at Mohegan Sun – Prepare for Hell Tour

On Dec 5, heavy metal titans Slipknot brought their “Prepare for Hell” tour to Uncasville, Conn., at the Mohegan Sun Arena with nu-metal veterans Korn. Slipknot has been around for 19 years (actively touring for 15) and Korn for 21 years. Two bands with that sort of longevity drew a packed arena full of a few diﬀerent generations of fans. Korn had just about a 50-minute set, packed mostly with their older hits like “Freak on a Leash,” “Shoots and Ladders,” “Got The Life,” and their first breakthrough single “Blind.” The crowd was electric from the moment the intro tape started rolling, and stayed that way until after Jonathan Davis thanked the crowd after the last song. Being around for a couple decades and maintaining almost as big of a following as your heyday is pretty awesome, and being a huge Korn fan myself, I was pretty excited to see these guys for the second time this year. They surely did not disappoint, and having Brian “Head” Welch back in the band after an almost 7-year absence was great to see. They seem a lot more like the old band from the early years, stepping back from the recent dubstep metal hybrid mumbo jumbo they put out during Head’s absence. If you missed them on this tour, be sure to keep an eye open for the next time they come around. Touring to promote their new album .5 : The Gray Chapter, Slipknot took to the stage at just about 9;30, with an overly anxious crowd waiting for the curtain to rise, flooding the arena with “SLIPKNOT!” chants. As the intro tape played (also the intro track “XIX” from the new album), the crowd shook the roof of the arena with cheers and singing along to the chant-like lyrics of the intro. Then “Sarcastrophe,” another new song, began with Jim Root playing a clean, almost mellow intro on guitar. Then some light tom rolls from the drummer, and the curtain began to rise. The song then exploded with Mick Thomson striking some seriously powerful chords to get the crowd going. As frontman Corey Taylor stepped to the front of the stage, I couldn’t tell what was louder — the music or the crowd. This band has some of the greatest set openings I have ever seen. This tour is also a proving ground for two new members on drums and bass, yet to be officially named, but believed to be Alessandro Venturella on bass, and Jay Weinberg (son of Max Weinberg of the Bruce Springsteen E-Street band) on drums. From what I saw, they definitely held their own, and there seems to be chemistry with the other guys on stage, which is a good sign. Slipknot played for well over an hour, and didn’t lose the crowd at any point in the show. The sound was on point, the members were on point, and they were entertaining as well. With a great stage setup, much like a carnival, and plenty of pyrotechnics, this was one of those full package concert experiences. With four songs from the new album and the rest being songs from every single other album in their catalog, there was something for every maggot (nickname for Slipknot fans), old and new. Corey Taylor was certainly impressed with the crowd that night, stating that he isn’t easily impressed, but we managed to do it. Truly grateful for the fans, Corey made that known as well. It’s great to see that kind of connection between musician and fan this day in age, where many other musicians in this and other genres seem to lose sight of who makes them who they are and supports them. For nine guys in weird or creepy masks, they’re pretty humble and appreciative.

I highly suggest giving Slipknot a look next time they come around and picking up their new album, which is a hybrid of their first three studio albums. It also debuted at number 1 on Billboard, and got them yet another Grammy nomination, so if those aren’t enough good reasons to buy it, then I don’t know what would be. Great band, great new album, and hopefully, more great shows to come. Five Fun Things to do in PVD on NYE

Get the champagne ready and go watch people make bad decisions — it’s New Year’s Eve! There’s a lot happening in the Providence area, so here are five fun events to keep in mind when planning what should be an epic night.

5.) Hit Up A Bar: A few local establishments are ringing in the new year with wonderful festivities. Nolan’s Corner Pub is going all out with a champagne toast, fondue and bacon. It’s always a solid bet you’ll have a good time at The Scurvy Dog, The Hot Club has Tank Jones on the 1s and 2s, Oscar Champagne is putting on a dance party in The Cutting Room at The Salon, and Dox Ellis and Music Please are DJing both the taproom and the speakeasy at Local 121. 4.) Daddie Long Legs @ The Spot: Providence funk rock act Daddie Long Legs will be throwing a party at The Spot with New Orleans acid-jazz act Naughty Professor, swampy blues funkers Sgt. Baker & The Clones, and the groovy tones of Blue Collar Samurai. It’s bound to be a time filled with righteous vibes. Tickets: paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=V7V5K4363F5LQ 3. 95.5 WBRU Homebru’d New Year’s Eve Bash @ The Met: Indie soul act Jetty and shoegazy post rockers Forest Fires have made waves in 2014 with their infectious songs, gathering new groups of fans wherever they go and leading a new wave of amazing bands to a scene already chock full of talent. WBRU is putting on a show at The Met with both acts along with Boston indie rock up-and-comers Morals. Should be a fun night over in Pawtucket for people who like to have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening locally. Tickets: etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?- performance_id=7669355&cobrand=themetri 2.) Smith & Weeden, Willy Mason, Tallahassee & Last Good Tooth @ The Columbus Theatre: For the twangy rock ‘n’ roller in all of us, The Columbus Theatre has a stacked bill with Smith & Weeden, Willy Mason, Tallahassee, and Last Good Tooth setting the upstairs stage ablaze. Grab a ticket before the show because it’s surely going to sell out. Tickets: columbusnye2014.- brownpapertickets.com/ 1.) Extinction Machine, Cannibal Ramblers, Gavage, and Von Donovan @ Dusk: This could very well be the best deal going for a good time on New Year’s Eve. Where else can you see four amazing rock acts for free, plus free food and a free champagne toast at midnight? Dusk has all of that happening with post-punk blues dynamos Von Donovan, jazzy punks Gavage, the dirty blues of Cannibal Ramblers, and metal punk lunatics Extinction Machine. Did I mention that it’s free? Honorable Mention: Tapestries, Way Out, Pyramid, Orion Rigel Dommisse, Dan Dodd & Hiwatts @ The News Cafe: For your New Year’s Eve nightcap, The News Cafe in Pawtucket will be open until 3am with Tapestries, Way Out, Pyramid, Orion Rigel Dommisse, Dan Dodd, and Hiwatts putting on what should be a wonderful show. And the cover won’t tear a hole in your wallet.

Places to Plunge 2014-15

New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge: The Newport Polar Bears invite anyone crazy enough to join them for a swim in the Frosty North Atlantic Ocean. All proceeds from the swim and at the after swim party go to A Wish Come True. Help raise money for a great charity. Noon, Easton’s Beach, Memorial Blvd, Newport. discovernewport.org Freezin’ for a Reason: Annual Penguin Plunge: I guess plunges aren’t just for polar bears anymore! Hot soup and t-shirts available for registered participants. Prizes for top fundraisers. Hoodies for fundraising over $250. Costumes welcome, water shoes strongly advised. Registration at 10:30am, plunge at noon. The Andrea on Misquamicut Beach, 89 Atlantic Ave, Westerly. warmcenter.org 39th Annual Penguin Plunge: Waddle to the water, winter warriors! Registration at 10am, plunge at noon. Roger Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett. specialolympicsri.org 5th Annual Memorial Polar Plunge for Pop-Pop Dick Buscher: To benefit SRIV’s Meals on Wheels. Hosted by the Narragansett Lions Club. All participants will receive a free SRIV “Polar Plunge for Pop- Pop” towel to warm up with after the plunge. Registration at 11am, plunge at noon. Narragansett Town Beach, Narragansett. southernrivol.org Block Island Plunge: Take the plunge and emerge victorious! 11am – 1pm, Hope Brown Center, Farnham Farm, Prudence Island. prudencebayislandstransport.com Jamestown 1st Day Plunge: To benefit the American Cancer Society as well as the local Jamestown PTO. Prior to the plunge, there will be a Penguin Paddle and stand-up paddle board race. Plus, community band, fire pits, music and Paco’s Tacos. 11am – 12:45pm, Conanicus Ave, Jamestown. jamestown1stdayplunge.com Frozen Clam Plunge: Join the RI Mentoring Partnership and Laid-Back Fitness to brave the icy cold waters and take a dip. Participants will receive a Frozen Clam tee-shirt (Who doesn’t want that?).The team with the most plungers will get the use of a heated tent at the event to change and dry off. 11am – 1pm, Goddard Park State Beach, 1095 Ives Rd, East Greenwich. mentorri.org Annual Polar Plunge: Locals and visitors jump in the ocean to benefit the Block Island Lion’s Club. Hot chocolate is provided. Noon at Fred Benson Town Beach, 7 Corn Neck Rd, New Shoreham. blockislandinfo.com 4th Annual Pit Bull Plunge: Hosted by The Little Rhodie Bully Breed Club, Inc. C’mon … if your dog can do it, so can you! 10am, Warwick City Park, Beach Area, Warwick. dynamicdogtraining.webs.com 3rd Annual Punk Rock Plunge: Benefiting A Wish Come True. Typically noon, Location TBD. punksforaprincess.com The RI CAN Polar Plunge: Jump (run, waddle, hop, roll, get dragged unwillingly) into the freezing waters of the Atlantic to benefit RI Center Assisting those in Need (RI CAN). After the plunge, celebrate at The Breachway Grill and warm up with pizza, cash bar and live music by Boat Cake. Registration at 11:30am, plunge at noon, Charlestown Town Beach, Charlestown. rhodeislandcan.org

Plunging into 2015

It’s the morning after your New Year’s Eve celebration. You just spent all night downing martinis and champagne, throwing back shots of who-knows-what and dancing on a confetti-covered floor. The countdown to midnight still echoes in your pounding head and there’s vomit in your handbag. Your crusty eyes open slowly, vision still swirling, and the first thought of the day pops into your head: “Time to jump into the freezing ocean half naked with a bunch of strangers!” No, really. This is what thousands of people do every year. Get ready for polar (or penguin) plunges!

All across the coast, on New Year’s Day, hundreds of brave (and possibly insane) people rush into the near-freezing Atlantic. These winter warriors, fortified with courage (liquid or otherwise), don their most festive get-up and take the plunge for charity. Yes, it’s for a good cause! What other reason could people have for doing something so crazy? I find the thought unbearable (ba dum ch!). Seriously, though. Writing a check or handing over cash isn’t nearly as exciting as freezing your balls off. I mean, I’d definitely pay to watch certain people yelp and shiver furiously in the cold. Does that make me a bad person? Not if I’m giving to charity!

There are, allegedly, some notable health benefits involved. Plunges build the immune system by ‘scaring’ the body into producing more white blood cells, therefore increasing resistance to foreign organisms. The activity is also known to increase circulation, burn calories and lower stress levels. But don’t use that as an excuse to overdo it on the sweets. Men are not known to enter the icy waters only to emerge with a glorious, newly formed six-pack. You’re still gonna have to hit the gym if you want to get in shape. Stop whining.

And, contrary to everything you’ve heard about swimming in cold water (holy shrinkage!), icy plunges have also been linked to improved sex lives. In the case of a cold dip, your body releases endorphins to take the sting away from your skin. If you think that sounds alarmingly close to the pleasure/pain barrier, you’re right! The two other common causes of endorphin release are pain and orgasm.

But this isn’t all fun and games and orgasms, boys and girls! Before you and your friends rush off to the beach, know that the plunge carries some potential health hazards.

When a body is suddenly submerged in cold water, the “cold shock” response occurs, leaving you gasping for air and unable to hold your breath. To prevent heat loss, the blood vessels near your skin constrict and blood rushes from your appendages to your core. This leads to stiffness, poor coordination and loss of fine motor activity. That could make it quite difficult to keep yourself afloat or grab onto a rescue line. That’s all on top of being hungover. You’re likely to be dehydrated and metabolically, not at your best. Proceed with caution, plungers.

Fortunately, the weather has been relatively mild for the winter season. Perhaps Jan 1 will be a balmy 60 degrees as opposed to the 20 degrees of last year. Don’t worry — your endorphins are still sure to kick in.

Eager to participate in the madness? See our center spread for a list of plunges going on in RI. Most places even offer hot chocolate and warm towels after the icy swim! That’s still not enough to get me in the water, though. I’ll likely remain curled up under my blankets ‘til noon. Have fun, you kooks!

The classic tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is told in Camelot, which opened Dec 9 at Providence Performing Arts Center and runs through Dec 14. However, the production, which was directed by Michael McFadden, is plagued by a lack of energy and mostly forgettable songs by famed composers Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

The story begins when King Arthur (Adam Grabau) meets Guinevere (Mary McNulty) in the forest. They soon fall in love. But Arthur is unhappy. Triumphs in war bring him no comfort, and he loses his beloved confidante Merlyn (Mark Poppleton), who he relies on for sage advice. With the encouragement of Guinevere, Arthur creates the knights of the round table as a way to bring honor to his kingdom. Guenevere is soon smitten by the dashing Lancelot (Tim Rogan), who boasts of his physical perfection. What woman could possibly resist that? Before long, they are ensconced in a passionate love affair that serves to torment them both. The second act is enlivened considerably by the arrival of Mordred, who turns out to be Arthur’s illegitimate son. Mordred is an impish troublemaker and as played by Kasidy Devlin, he is quite a charming rogue.

There’s no faulting the performances by the lead actors. Grabau has a dynamic stage presence and looks great in the medieval costumes. Arthur has a lovely duet with Guinevere, “What Do the Simple Folk Do,” but otherwise is a self-obsessed bore. Guenevere, as played by McNulty, fares a bit better. She demonstrates real vulnerability as well as a sense of entitlement. Being a queen is her destiny. McNulty shines when she sings “Before I Gaze at You Again,” her plea to Lancelot at the end of Act One. Rogan is also a fantastic singer, who gives a powerful vocal on “If Ever I Would Leave You.” Poppleton, who also plays King Pellinore, has some genuinely funny line readings. His final appearance as Merlyn was imaginatively staged.

The scenic design by Kevin Depinet is mostly lackluster. A mammoth steel structure is meant to simulate a tree in the forest where Arthur takes refuge. It just looks tacky. Another scene features what resembles oversized rose petals jutting out of the sky.

Camelot debuted in 1960, just as the fabled presidency of John F. Kennedy was beginning. The optimism and sense of honor embodied by King Arthur became intertwined with Kennedy’s vision for America. However, Arthur’s nobility and insecurities don’t make for a compelling story, and Camelot takes itself far too seriously to be much fun.

Camelot runs through Dec 14 at Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St. For tickets, call 401.421.2787. Meet Me in St. Louis Delivers a Good Dose of Christmas Cheer

With holiday merriment abounding at local theaters, Ocean State Theatre Company chimes in with the musical Meet Me in St. Louis. And, while Christmas may not be the focal point, there is enough caroling, gift giving and illuminated trees to fill one with a good dose of Christmas cheer. Highlighted by several strong performances and fantastic ensemble numbers, it makes a jolly good addition to any holiday “to see” list.

Based on the 1944 MGM movie starring Judy Garlard, Meet Me follows a year in the life of the Smith family. This heartwarming – and extremely dated – classic details a much more innocent time where the family must ponder two marriage proposals and consider a move to NY before embarking on a much anticipated trip to the 1904 World’s Fair.

We first meet the Smiths during a spirited family dinner as Rose (Hannah Spacone) anxiously waits for a “long distance phone call” from her suitor Warren Sheffield (Roger Reed); It is believed good old Warren will propose marriage (spoiler alert, the phone call leaves Rose very disappointed).

During this dinner, we are also introduced to the irreverent maid Katie (Stacey Geer), the loving and protective Mrs. Smith (Rebecca Barko), the dour and ornery Mr. Smith (Ronald Brown), the eccentric, hat changing Grandpa (Mark S. Cartier) the son Lon (Michael Luongo) and the daughters, Rose, Esther (Sarah Pothier), Agnes (Lily McMahon) and the pint-sized fatalist Tootie (Bobbie Celine Doherty).

Though the presumed nuptials between Rose and Warren dominate the early scenes, it is the far more interesting budding romance between Esther and neighbor John Truitt (Joshua Stenseth), that propels much of the action. When a move to NY threatens both couples, the Smith women force Mr. Smith’s hand and, upon seeing how such a move may tear his family apart, the iron-willed master of the house relents: “We’re not going to NY. We’ll stay here [in St. Louis] until we rot.”

While OSTC’s production features some marvelous vocalists, it is the ensemble numbers, choreographed by director and choreographer Gary John La Rosa, that steal the show. He nicely incorporates the varied skill levels of the large cast while allowing the better dancers to really stretch their legs.

The first big ensemble piece is a pretty jiggy “Skip to My Lou” complete with square dancing, cartwheels, men and women flipping and three men doing the coffee grinder! “The Trolley Song,” another wonderful company number, closes Act I with more clever choreography and the very catchy “Clang, clang, clang went the trolley” chorus that many were singing or humming while filing out for intermission.

The action in Act I clicks along at a good pace, culminating with the clanking of “The Trolley Song,” the pace in Act II, however, seems to slow a bit, even though it features the denouement and the evening’s best dance number. “The Banjo” is by far the most dancey number, allowing Luongo to show off his very natural and easy style; he certainly emerges as the evening’s most versatile performer. While his singing pipes are OK, he turns out to be a pretty good hoofer.

Yet, this being a musical, the songs must carry the show. As Esther, Pothier shines early with “The Boy Next Door,” possessing a strong, clear voice with nice range. Later she is joined by Stenseth in “Over the Bannister” and, while he can’t match her singing, the two project instant chemistry as she clumsily tries to get him to kiss her.

They unite once more for a touching “You Are for Loving,” but again Stenseth falls short, appearing uneasy, though he does pull it together. Pothier is at her best during “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” where she soars, hitting her full vocal range.

Spacone and Reed, the other couple, have one duet, “Ravishing Beauty.” Reed’s tone is a bit measured but Spacone effortlessly changes pitch. And since their union seems “prearranged,” it lacks the chemistry of Pothier and Stenseth’s.

The most powerful voice belongs to Brown as the family’s figurehead. His voice booms during “A Day in New York” but hits a comforting tone while singing “Wasn’t it Fun?” with his wife; Barko nicely complements his power with clarity and impressive range as well.

Other noteworthy performances include Geer’s saucy housekeeper who delivers a campy rendition of “A Touch of the Irish,” an audience favorite, and Doherty as the smart-alecky youngest sibling who draws frequent laughter and applause.

And, once again, OSTC set designers do their part with a striking life-sized moving trolley. For the Smith’s home, they create a simple but warm living/dining room area: a large table and couch are arranged around a large wooden staircase that winds its way past picture framed walls.

Finally, the five piece “orchestra” also deserves some praise. They are spot-on the entire evening, often sounding much larger.

OSTC’s Meet Me in St. Louis runs through December 28. For tickets or more information, visit OceanStateTheatre.org.

Halestorm Rocks The Palladium Halestorm recently came through New England and played the Worcester Palladium on Nov 29. The show was nothing short of amazing. Frontwoman Lzzy Hale was on fire with her incredible vocal range as well as her ability to lay down awesome guitar riffs with the forefathers of hard rock. Opening the set was their hard and heavy track, “Mz Hyde” off of their last studio album The Strange Case Of…. The crowd was eating it up from the moment Lzzy stepped out onto the stage. The night was full of their signature tracks, old and new, and with a few surprises thrown in the mix.

Known for their ability to do any songs they’ve covered justice, there were a couple curveballs in the night’s lineup of songs. First, was the classic Judas Priest song “Dissident Aggressor.” Being a huge Halestorm fan, this took me by surprise. A very pleasant surprise. To see this band rock such a killer song from one of the godfathers of heavy metal, and have Lzzy do Rob Halford such justice, was just something you had to see to believe. The other cover choice toward the end of their set was the Fleetwood Mac hit “Gold Dust Woman.” Stevie Nicks is a big influence for Lzzy’s more mellow vocals, and I can only assume that Stevie herself would be incredibly proud. The cover was absolutely flawless.

I think this is how Halestorm appeals to such a wide range of age groups. They have their own classic hard rock sound, but are tweaked to appeal to younger generations. It’s no surprise they won a Grammy by their second studio album.

Another highlight of the night showcases Lzzy’s love for her fans — one in particular tonight. A young fan named Becky had won over Lzzy’s heart and after hearing her story, she came out on stage alone with her guitar, and dedicated a solo performance of “Hate It When You See Me Cry” to this fan. The song hit home with her, and Lzzy had surprised her by doing an intimate performance of this song for her. A true, kind-hearted gesture by a woman who really does adore all of her fans. I can attest to this after meeting her after the show (in the freezing cold) around 2 am and she was such a sweetheart. She gives hugs, not handshakes. She doesn’t rush people. She talks to you like a friend.

A couple more surprises were two songs from an upcoming album to be released in early 2015. We got a taste of the tracks “Mayhem” and “I Like It Heavy.” After hearing them live in their most raw format, I feel it is an indicator of an extremely promising album.

I look forward to seeing them again when they tour in support of the new album, and I highly recommend that anyone take a night to go see them when they come around. If you have any sort of good taste in rock ‘n’ roll, you won’t be disappointed.