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Thursday Preview: Knox Hamilton and Sammy Hagar

CJS17578Day one is done! Taking us into Thursday is another slew of wonderful acts.

First, Jonnie Morgan Band will ease us into the day. We previously previewed the Florida grown band and had the splendid opportunity to interview them in 2013!

A new act I’m looking forward to seeing is Little Rock, Arkansas’ Knox Hamilton. The quartet of siblings and friends, Boots Copeland (bass, vocals), Cobo Copeland (drums), Bradley Pierce (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), and Drew Buffington (lead guitar), formed in 2010.

Knox Hamilton

What already has my attention? The band has said Phoenix, Foster the People, the Killers, and Keane all help influence their music. Do you know who loves all of those bands? Me, and probably you.

This band is a perfect mix of all the sounds I like. I am such a sucker for dancey indie rock with honey-coated lyrics that cling to the folds in your brain and zap pep into your step. Do your ears crave this too? Then Knox Hamilton is for you.

In a side note, in their Facebook bio, the band claims the following:

Boots Copeland – the boots

Cobo Copeland – the talent

Drew Buffington – the hair

Which leaves me with only one big gigantic lingering question: What is Bradley’s frivolous contribution? I must know!

Be sure to check KH out on the Ford Stage at 5:15 p.m.

Sammy Hagar and the Circle

Helping close Thursday will be the one, the only, Sammy Hagar and the Circle.

Sammy Hagar’s “Circle” consists a talented entourage of musicians: Van Halen’s original bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham, and guitarist Vic Johnson.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Hagar said, “We call ourselves the Circle because this band has kinda taken me full circle in my career. I can play from every era, from Montrose to Van Halen to solo, Chickenfoot and some Led Zeppelin.”

Let that be a preview of what you will hear tonight!

Sammy and his Circle will release a concert album, “At Your Service,” in just a few weeks on May 19, and is predicted to contain hits like, “There’s Only One Way to Rock”, “Rock Candy”, “Whola Lotta Love”, “Why Can’t This Be Love?” and “Sexy Little Thing.” Save the date!

The unstoppable singer-songwriter-Red Rocker has had a truly epic career blasting music for you (and your parents). Hagar is known for being a gifted musician and a powerful stage personality. He first tasted success with the rock band Montrose, and then commanded the spotlight as the front man of Van Halen. He just recently paused his multi-platinum group Chickenfoot (with Anthony, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, and guitarist Joe Satriani) to head “the Circle.”

It should be no surprise that the Red Rocker has won a Grammy Award and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Van Halen.

Hagar is a philanthropist, a New York Times best-selling author (go read “Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock”), and distills silver rum in Maui.

He is, without a shred of doubt, one of the most magnificent rock gods that has walked this planet.

Sammy Hagar will be tearing up the Tire Kingdom stage tonight at 8 p.m. I’ll see you there!