Notable Performances
Before I created my own show, Femmes of Rock, I performed in a lot of other fun shows!
Cheap Trick
Getting to perform with bands that I actually listen to is my favorite thing. I got to perform with Cheap Trick first in Las Vegas when they did their Sgt. Pepper residency, and a few years later, Femmes of Rock opened for Cheap Trick and Bad Company in Green Bay. When we got there, they actually remembered me from the Vegas residency. It’s a funny story, really- during the residency I got in trouble for wearing my checkerboard Vans to the gig by the local contractor (they matched Rick’s guitar)!- and just at that moment Rick walked by us backstage and said “I love your shoes!” And totally redeemed me. I can’t speak highly enough about just how cool these guys are. We did our opening set and they invited us onstage to join them during Dream Police. It was a dream for us, and the audience loved it.
David Foster
I was lucky enough to perform with David Foster for a number of concerts during his “David Foster and Friends” series. Many of these can be found on DVD. I performed both in the backing orchestra and as a featured soloist with a number of artists. For this particular show at the MGM arena, some filler music was needed as it was a TV taping, and Bella Electric Strings (my electric string quartet) was asked to provide the music for that segment. I found out at the last minute we would be performing with the band, so I found myself pulling an all-nighter writing rhythm charts that I would place in front of David Foster himself at the piano, John Robinson on drums, etc. Watching musicians of this caliber look at my charts and then perform with us was about as thrilling as it got for someone like myself just out of school at the time.
U.S. Presidents
I provided entertainment for 2 US presidents. The first was for President George W. Bush (but we didn’t get to take pictures), and the second was for President Obama. (This post isn’t political! It was a time when people didn’t fight as much and it was cool to play for a US president, no matter who they were)! For this particular show, I performed with The Killers as a trio (violin, cello, piano) and wrote the string arrangement that we played as well.
Deep Purple
The loudest concert of my life- I contracted strings for, and performed with Deep Purple for one of their symphonic shows at The Pearl Theatre in Las Vegas. I was seated directly behind Ian Paice, and had forgotten ear plugs. This show was an absolute blast. Again, getting to perform with bands I actually listen to is the best. Here I am having a beer with them after the show, and onstage.
Danny Seraphine
I got to perform a few times with original Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine. I am a huge fan, and 25 or 6 to 4 was one of the first solos I ever transcribed. In the second photo, I’m performing with him and other Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp instructors such as Kip Winger, Johnny A, Spike Edney, Joe Vitale, and the late Billy Hinsche, who was a great friend of mine.
Ruggiero Ricci
During our M Resort residency in Las Vegas, classical violin virtuoso Ruggiero Ricci came to see us play. I gave him my electric violin and he proceeded to play Scherzo Tarantelle by Wieniawski while I worked the Wah-wah. It was a blast. He came back the second night and brought me an autographed copy of his exercise book, and we gave him a CD. He was so full of joy for all kinds of music.
Kenny G
Meeting Kenny G at a David Foster event in Canada. Funny story- we had to share a dressing room. When Kenny went on stage, he left his jeans thrown over the couch. We were joking around that they might fit me, so I tried them on. Somewhere, there exists video footage of me prancing around in Kenny G’s pants. I think he knows about this by now, and luckily he’s got a sense of humor!
Vinnie Colaiuta, John Robinson, and Mo Pleasure
Perhaps the greatest thrills for me were the times I got to be in bands with the best session players of all time. Vinnie Colaiuta, John Robinson, and Mo Pleasure being just a few of those greats. There’s something about sound checking to “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” with the guy that laid that groove down on the record that just hits different.
