MAY 28, 2011

Kansas City – MY Kansas City. Remember when Dorothy clicked her heels together three times? “There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home; there’s no place like home.” How about when Wilbert Harrison crooned those beloved Leiber and Stoller lyrics? “Kansas City here I come. They got a crazy way of loving there, and I’m gonna get me some.” I did get my love, and it still feels incredible. Besieged with smiling, familiar faces and open arms, I touch down in my hometown alongside a beyond-words supportive cast and crew of rockers.

Here we go!  I first arrive at the Music Hall; my energy and excitement are palpable. I take my first steps onto the stage alone, surrounded only by work-lights and the crimson wave of bare, anxious audience seats. I stand for a couple minutes in silence, allowing this treasured moment its due time. My thoughts are indescribable, my emotions unparalleled, and my smile absolute. It’s almost show time. I go through my usual transformation from Patrick to Lonny, completed by biker gloves and a sleaze-tastic mullet. The music launches; the crowd roars; the guitar screams; the door opens; the spotlight activates; my dream becomes reality. I’ve done it. Thanks to an incredible team of actors and crew members coupled with a loving group of family and friends, I’ve seen a dream come true. Yup – it’s gonna be a great week.

Friends and strangers alike, the audiences throughout the run were eager and ready to rock! So was the city. After preaching to the Rock of Ages Company about my pride in Kansas City Barbeque, it was finally put to the test. From Jack Stack to Oklahoma Joe’s and Arthur Bryant’s, the feelings remained unanimous – Kansas City Barbeque is awesome. I didn’t get to enjoy the delight of KC BBQ this trip… I was too busy having home cooked meals (Is there anything better?). I’ll get it soon though, so no worries. I am just thrilled everyone seems to rightfully think it so delicious.

The barbeque wasn’t the only great part of the downtown region. We enjoyed the recently revamped area, including the Power and Light District which stretches through the heart of downtown over a half million square feet. The area is great for shopping, dining and entertainment. Many company members also enjoyed the KC Live! Entertainment District, complete with nightly live music, great food and enough drinks to keep up with the Rock of Ages group – not an easy feat… trust me.

One of my greatest highlights of the stop occurred Thursday afternoon. Last year I sang the National Anthem at the Kansas City Royals’ Fourth of July game.  I didn’t think that could be topped… I was wrong. Although singing the anthem this time was fun, the really touching part was looking up into my suite after singing and seeing a group of forty encouraging Rock of Ages members screaming and cheering out the stadium window. It left me at a loss for words. How do you follow a day like that? Oh wait, I know…

Did somebody call for a Most Handsome Men in the World show?!  The Most Handsome Men performed at Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club Thursday night after Rock of Ages. I glowed with bliss the whole time. It was surreal to have so many old friends and family join my lifestyle for a night – and what a night it was! My mom and sister saw a Most Handsome Men show in Indianapolis, but it was the first time for my dad – the man who taught me to love Rock N’ Roll. To say the least, he had an amazing time… a really amazing time.

On our final day in Kansas City, I took a trip to my old Jayhawk stomping grounds while many others visited the Country Club Plaza. The Plaza is home to hundreds of big and small fountains, making Kansas City internationally known as “The City of Fountains.” Created by J.C. Nichols, the Plaza is architecturally based on Seville, Spain. It is comprised of restaurants, bars, offices and high-end retail businesses. Since I live in Kansas City, I am familiar with the Plaza, and though I do go often, I needed to party it up “college style.” I headed to Lawrence – home of the University of Kansas Jayhawks – for bowling, beers and all-around awesomeness with my hometown friends. What a great way to conclude a perfect week.  Now I’m looking forward to five weeks in the Lone Star State and starting off with one of the best cities ever, San Antonio. Until next time, cheers!

May 4, 2011

After jumping back into the Midwest with a great experience in Indianapolis, where better to go to than Iowa – home of our very own, Travis Walker.  For those who don’t know, Travis (Franz) hails from Dubuque and received his theater degree at the University of Northern Iowa.  He is one of the most talented, genuine people I’ve ever had the privilege to meet.  Watching him shine in front of his family, friends and hometown crowd was an absolute highlight of the tour.

Des Moines, the state capital and most populous city in Iowa, provided some of the best crowds we have experienced on the tour.  Two of the best known rock bands in all history, Kiss and Rush, played as many Midwestern cities as possible, due entirely to the crowds’ reaction.  Both bands were noted for their adoration of Midwestern people and their love for rock.  After playing the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, it isn’t hard to see why.  During intermission  at the Friday matinee, the crowd was singing and dancing to Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”  That is a pretty cool thing to see from the wings.

The nightlife in Des Moines is great, especially on the weekends.  For this writer, the High Life Lounge – a 70’s restaurant with beers and drinks from the “Lava Lamp Era” – is the best restaurant/bar in the city.  Complete with carpeted floors, “remote control-less” televisions, old fashioned arcade games and memorabilia galore, this themed establishment was the perfect place to go after a night of hard performing.  Overall, Des Moines was a great tour stop, and I would have been more than happy to stay there an extra week.

In continuing with our Midwest venture, we headed to Milwaukee for a weekend of pure Rock n’ Roll.  The Milwaukee Theater is simply beautiful.  Unfortunately for us, our time in Milwaukee was very short – three days, five performances.  Therefore, getting around the city was limited to nightlife, although we still managed to have a great time.  I took a look inside the Milwaukee Bucks’ stadium, the Bradley Center.  I am so envious of cities with an NBA team.  I have such a love for college basketball, but because Kansas City doesn’t have a professional basketball team, I find it more difficult to follow the NBA (until the playoffs, of course).  Anyway…

Milwaukee has one of the greatest restaurants in the entire country – The Safe House.  Including a magician bartender, a “birthday throne” rising from the floor, hidden passageways and a beloved Burt Reynolds photo with a twist, it’s no wonder our cast had one of the best nights on tour here.  Elicia MacKenzie, who plays Sherrie, celebrated her birthday on our final night in Milwaukee.  It’s fair to say she enjoyed the bar most of all!  To top off a great night, the Rock of Ages cast and crew will always remember the capture of Osama Bin Laden while we celebrated in Milwaukee.  Up next… my hometown – Kansas City!  Let’s get ready to rock!

April 20, 2011

Home to back-to-back national title contenders – the Butler Bulldogs – Indianapolis has a lot more to take shots to than just stellar NCAA Basketball.  With such rich sports history, notably the Indianapolis Colts, Butler Bulldogs and, of course, the Indy 500, coupled with a significant amount of nationally-known monuments, it’s no wonder Indianapolis is the second largest city in the Midwest according to the 2010 Census Bureau.  Indianapolis served as a perfect transition from the West coast to the Midwest.

We performed at Clowes Hall (pronounced “Clues” Hall), located on the Butler campus.  What a killer venue!  The place is frickin’ huge.  Fortunately for us, Indianapolis loves Rock of Ages, so we filled that place up pretty damn well.  I know there were a couple seats filled with two of my biggest fans, Mom and my sister, Molly, who came to visit for the week.  We had a blast in the city, often times favorably comparing it to our hometown, Overland Park, Kansas.  There were also a lot of people who travelled from different locations to see the show, which we absolutely love.  My friends, Johnny and Jenna (pictured above with the family and me), were among them.  Adding so many out-of-town rockers to the already kick-ass people of Indianapolis just made the crowds even more solid.

While Clowes Hall is amazing in many respects, there is one stand out aspect I MUST mention.  When I was a little boy, I idolized Ken Griffey, Jr.  Not only is he one of the greatest baseball players of all time, earning ten golden gloves and thirteen all-star appearances, but he is an upstanding man who didn’t cheat during the infamous steroid era.  Real stars need not cheat for greatness.  At age nine, my first investment was a Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie baseball card, previously sold/valued at $135.  Imagine the absolute joy on my face when I saw a Ken Griffey, Jr. headlining a Pepsi Machine – utter, unspeakable euphoria.  It is, without question, the greatest Pepsi I’ve ever had.  I digress… back to Indianapolis.

One of the better local restaurants my family and I visited was Moe and Johnny’s, located just outside the Butler campus.  The place is known for its Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.  I must admit, I’ve never been a huge pork tenderloin fan.  That said, there is a reason this dish is known statewide.  Truly!  If you get a chance to visit, be sure to order it immediately.  It’s so good… … and now I’m starving.  Less local but still worth mentioning is Weber Grill, located in the heart of Indianapolis.  The prices are reasonable, the food is awesome and the Indianapolis establishment is gorgeous.  Also, I have an announcement.  I am officially the first and only person to ever order the Smokey Joe’s TRIPLE bar burger at the Indianapolis location– SO GIGANTIC… AND SO TASTY!

With relation to bars, I became a huge fan of the Slippery Noodle Inn, one of Indiana’s oldest bars.  Established in 1850, the SNI is home to nightly Blues music, although The Most Handsome Men in the World, built from the musicians, singers and even crew members of ROA’s First National Tour, had no problem bringing the room to its feet with classic rock tunes on Thirsty Thursday (virtually every drink is half price).  Awesome night… tough morning.

All in all, Indianapolis was a great stay.  The area was green with trees, flowers, and grass and rich with history and entertainment.  Remember, it is a misconception that the Midwest is passive.  It gets pretty wild, and you can always find things to do.  Some of the best things in the world come from the Midwest… Wink!  Catch you soon, rockers!

April 13, 2011

Home to the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, known by many as Frisco, Fog City, The City by the Bay, and now, Rock of Ages’ longest tour stop to date, has more things to offer than I could find time for.  I was able to do quite a bit, but we’ll get to that shortly.

First and foremost, I find it only appropriate to give a proper farewell to two Rock of Ages family members.  First,  Justin Sargent, who stepped in after Joey’s departure to Broadway, joined the touring cast as Joey Primo for a month.  We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors but wish so badly his energetic, fun personality was here to stay with us.  Second, Lindsay Janisse, our beloved dance captain, lifelong friend and one of the hottest girls I have ever met, concluded her six-month journey with the tour.  We wish her and her new husband all the happiness and support as they begin THEIR new journey.  All our love to you both.  We welcome new cast members, Michael Backes and Julie “Jaws” Nelson.

Now, let’s talk about San Francisco – So much to see, so little time!  The theater was beautiful, and the crowds were frickin’ awesome.  In fact, we had quite a few audience members come back for a third, fourth, and even fifth time!  They couldn’t seem to get enough Rock of Ages, and we love that about them!  I asked a lot of people at the stage door about the best things to do in San Fran and I pursued quite a few of them.

When my two friends, Jeremy and James, visited, we checked out Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the top places I’ve been on tour.  I like it so much I returned over six times.  The food is amazing – including fresh crab and delicious clam chowder bowls.  There is also a really awesome Antique Coin Operated Arcade there called Musée Mécanique with lots of old-fashioned arcade games from the early 1900’s.  Plus, you can PLAY the games, which is even cooler.  I love those old fashioned baseball games.

Another highlight of San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge.  My best friend, Paul, came to town to experience San Francisco, and, of course, see Rock of Ages a couple times (huge fan of the show).  We hopped on a boat tour that dropped right by the Golden Gate Bridge (which we also walked across and I biked across later).  Let me tell ya, that thing is GIGANTIC!  We also boated by Alcatraz (which I would also enter later).  I would encourage people to do a quick boat tour simply for the stories you’ll hear.  It was very cool!

The final week of San Francisco was the big one.  My beautiful girlfriend, Stephanie, came to visit and rock out with us at the Curran Theater.  She got to see the anticipated Midnight Show we had on our final Friday night.  Needless to say, the crowd was wild… and so were we.  It was a blast, although the matinee the next afternoon was one of the harder shows we’ve had to do.  Thankfully, we had a good audience then, too.  Four shows in under twenty-seven hours.  I think we earned a drink… or five.

Stephanie and I hit a lot of sights in San Francisco, including biking from Fisherman’s Wharf across the Golden Gate Bridge and back.  Quite a few miles to ride before doing a show!  It was a pretty day, and the pictures I took while riding (yes, you read that correctly… WHILE riding) turned out very well.  The Golden Gate is obviously a must-see in Frisco.  Alcatraz, which I mentioned earlier, is another fun adventure.  We took an audio tour, which included interviews with prison guards and inmates from the past.  We were on the island a bit over three hours and never got bored!  I was expecting it to be a cool experience, but I had no idea what I was in for – it ROCKED!  For someone who isn’t much of a history buff, I certainly liked the historical knowledge I gained there.  I would love to go back there sometime.

Now, onward to my favorite part – Muir Woods.  Roughly thirty minutes outside the city, Muir Woods offers some of the most stunning sights in the San Francisco Bay Area.  This National Monument is home to 240 acres of Coast Redwood forests – such absolute beauty.  A piece of advice:  Go to Muir Woods as early in the morning as possible.  You want to see everything when the crowds are minimal.  This way, you can hear the sounds of nature and take tons of great photographs.  I would go back to San Francisco for Muir Woods alone.  Put it at the top of your bucket-list, rockers.  That sight is a requirement for life.

The Golden City has so much to offer.  Even after one month, I know there are things I missed.  We now head to the Midwestern leg of the tour, including Indianapolis, Des Moines, Milwaukee and my hometown, Kansas City!  I love the Midwest, so this will be a blast for me.  Thanks for the great memories San Francisco.  Cheers until next time.

06 March 2011

MiG said it best in his final “On-the-Road” post – Los Angeles was awesome!  So many amazing, enthusiastic fans who have followed this show since day one greeted us with open arms and made the experience unforgettable.  As previously stated, the celebrity count seemed infinite.  For me, having Stephen Tyler in our audience was a dream come true.  When I was about eight years old, I told my dad I wanted a Rock n’ Roll album.  We went out and he pointed to an Aerosmith album, “Hey Patrick, those guys are pretty good.  Give them a shot.”  I purchased my first classic rock album – Toys in the Attic.  It was life-changing.  “The bad boys from Boston” are the reason I learned to love classic rock, so meeting Stephen Tyler was surreal for me.  All around, Los Angeles was everything and more than I wanted it to be.

Now that I’ve told you a bit about my rock roots, let me introduce myself.  I’m Patrick Lewallen.  I was born and raised in Kansas City, and I play Lonny, the Narrator.  My favorite band is Queen, I’m a severe Pepsi addict, and I’m all about sports.  To me, this tour is focused on enjoying the journey.  I will be sure to keep you updated with our happenings as we travel city to city, starting now!

Welcome to beautiful Costa Mesa.  If I could pick any city to follow Los Angeles, it would be Costa Mesa – such tranquility in such a gorgeous area.  The shows are incredible, largely due to the crowds. We’ve received excellent feedback from the O.C.  With relaxation and happiness, unfortunately, comes a great deal of sorrow.  Rebecca Faulkenberry (Sherrie) and MiG Ayesa (Stacee Jaxx) conclude their tour run Sunday night in Costa Mesa.  They head off to join the Rock of Ages Broadway cast as their respective roles.  We could not be happier for them, but they will be missed so much each and every day.  We look forward to hearing how much New York loves you two.  Remember, you will always be part of our family.  Back in our production, we welcome the very talented Elicia MacKenzie and Peter Deiwick from the Toronto production.  It will be fun to get to know a couple new rockers.  Off we journey to San Francisco… where I hope to find my heart.  Apparently, I left it there.  Cheers until next time.

- Patrick

27 February 2011

CITY OF ANGELS (ROCK OF PantAGES!)  Where do I begin about our time here in Los Angeles?! It has been an amazing trip from the word go. Every night has been filled with celebrities, stars, actors, rockstars…it’s all about HOLLYWOOD! We took ROCK OF AGES home and the homecoming party has been out of this world. Opening night was awesome. We were so buzzed, we probably were a little too enthusiastic in our delivery, I think we literally busted our guts delivering this baby. We had so many guests every night, but I just have to mention what an amazing thing to meet the new Stacee Jaxx in the upcoming ROCK OF AGES feature film, Tom Cruise. He and his beautiful wife Katie Holmes could not have been nicer or more gracious, taking photos with all of us on stage, and being such a great sport as I sprawled over the seats in front of him. I know he will be an amazing Stacee Jaxx. It’s like looking in a mirror… in my MIND! The next day, we were all blown away by the graciousness of Matt Damon, his wife Lucy, Emily Blunt and her husband John Krasinski, who could not have been cooler, meeting us all backstage and allowing us to take photos with them. I apologize if we were all clambering for a photo, but we were all peaking that these people came to see our little show. Don’t even let me start about Steven Tyler…Wow. I’m sounding like a crazed fan but I have to admit, I was starstruck by all these amazing talents coming to see us. I’ll post some of those pics on my ‘MiG & Friends’ Gallery, so check them out on my site. Don’t mean to name drop but… Hey! I hope you can excuse me for being like this. This is Hollywood after all. On a personal level, it was such an overwhelming return to a city that was my home for two years. It brought back so many memories of ROCKSTAR:INXS, and the excitement of arriving in a new city, a new country and a new life here in the USA. Although New York is my home now, LA will always hold a place in my heart. I am actually exhausted catching up with friends, and I don’t think I’ve even covered a quarter of the people I wanted to see. So many friends, so much traffic, so little time… I am sorry to those I missed out on this time. The good news is that we are in Costa Mesa next week. It’s just a short drive from LA. In other news, we lost a dear member of the company in Joey Calveri who is joining the Broadway cast of WONDERLAND. He is missed much, but I will see him in New York when I join the ROA Broadway company (!!). The good news is we welcomed an awesome member of the old Broadway ROA company, Justin Sargent. Can’t believe that we’ll be performing tomorrow on the same street, and just a stone throw away from the Oscars tomorrow. It’s going to be chaos, but the excitement will be amped to 11! Thank you LA LA Land. It’s been nothing but a good time, and it don’t get better than this!

14 February 2011

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE  I am not sure if it’s the change in time zones, jet lag, different magnetic pulls of the polar caps, the bed in my hotel or the excitement of being in this amazing city, but I just could not get my sleeping patterns right this week at all. I literally was ‘sleepless in Seattle’. Damn you Tom and Meg! Having said that, can I say how beautiful Seattle is? I can say it is one of my favourite, if not THE favourite city of the tour thus far! I know it’s a big call, but I have just fallen in love with it. Not sure what I expected, but this was a wonderful major surprise. Immaculate streets, funky neighborhoods, spectacular scenery, actually great coffee, beautiful architecture and such warm people…what’s not to love? Even our Paramount Theater was gorgeous. This was also the epicenter of music through the 90′s with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden as well as the city that gave us Jimi Hendrix. The locals say they try to keep it a secret, but truly, I’m definitely coming back. They tell us we are so lucky with the weather we’ve had, so maybe my vision is tinted, but I’m no stranger to rainy cities. We got to do a little sightseeing but not enough. One week is not enough for Seattle. But we find ourselves getting ready to board a plane for LA. This could be the climax of the whole tour. We are taking ROCK OF AGES back home, to where it is set, and to where it all began. The journey has come full circle…and timing could not be any better with the green light a few days ago for the film to go into production. Tom Cruise as ‘Stacce Jaxx’! I can’t wait to see him. I know he’s going to make it amazing!! Think Lestat without the fangs, but we know he still bites. If he can kill it as Grossman in TROPIC THUNDER, he will hit ‘Stacee’ out of the park! Can’t wait to see my friends in LA. My wife and dog are flying over to be with me there for the 2 weeks. Bliss!! Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep…..

7 February 2011

KENTUCKY FRIED ROCK  Louisville Kentucky was an awesome unexpected surprise. The scene at the end of Main Street was very cool indeed. The chic pink penguined adorned 21C HOTEL with adjoining PROOF Bar/Restaurant could proudly stand amongst the coolest Manhattan has to offer, and its art gallery had me intrigued every time I visited. Growing up Australian, I never really knew too much about baseball, but I did know that the Louisville “Slugger” was the official bat. So no visit was complete without a tour of the factory. My nephews are going to love their mini personally engraved sluggers. I just hope they use them to hit balls, not each other! LYNN’S PARADISE CAFE was a kooky, crazy dining experience that was even quirkier because the outside wonderland was covered in fresh Kentucky snow. However, it was a pity that almost everything on the menu was a no-no for my Stacee diet. Speaking of which, I even had to resist eating KFC…but I did get a photo with the Colonel. Thank you to every one at the KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. You are all amazing and I miss you already! We had a very busy week, what with TV appearances, publicity calls and an acoustic gig at the HARD ROCK CAFE. We definitely welcomed the week off. I just had the BEST week in New York, spending quality time with my girls and catching up with friends, breathing in NY and loving being home like a normal person. One of the highlights was going to the JAZZ AT THE LINCOLN CENTER and experiencing the wonderful Anika Noni Rose perform songs from The American Songbook. She captivated her audience for the entire time she was on, singing 18 songs with perfection despite her admission that asthma was kicking her ass. Watching her sing with her amazing band with the backdrop of Columbus Circle and Manhattan behind the huge glass windows beyond her was an unforgettable and romantic experience. We had to pinch ourselves, how did we ever get so lucky to be here? But I am writing this as we are hurtling through the sky towards Seattle, Washington in an awesome JetBlue Airbus 320. This is my first visit to this city and we know it’s going to rock…being the home of grunge, GREY’S ANATOMY and Starbucks, what’s not to love? I can just tell it’s going to be as finger lickin’ good…

27 January 2011

FLORIDA  It’s been a couple of weeks since my last journal. Physically I’ve been in the wars. Just as I felt my voice getting back to normal from my laryngitis and feeling my spirits rise as we head towards sunny Clearwater, I get a cold! WHAT?! So I spend all day trying to keep myself well and healthy. I’ve got to say though, for a few days between illnesses, it was so amazing to be in the warm winter of Florida! I had a few amazing jogs around the waterways, and even got to spend a day at the gorgeous Clearwater Beach. Florida is such a beautiful and diverse state and our time there has been amazing. The crowds have been so receptive and wonderful and as warm as the weather. Florida rocks, full stop! Next destination, we find ourselves in the home of the Slugger (and am not just talking about the heavy-weight slugger, Muhammed Ali): Louisville, Kentucky. It’s been snowing since we’ve been here.  A far cry from Florida, but still a fascinating city. I haven’t ventured out too far as I would hate to get myself sick again. Am playing it safe for a while. Sleeping as much as I can and feeling my voice get back to 100% slowly. The whole cast have been hit by this sickness and we have gone down one by one, which has allowed the swings and understudies to really shine the last few weeks. Sean Jenness playing ‘Hertz’ one night, and then ‘Lonny’ the next; Josh Sassanella playing ‘Franz’ one show and then ‘Drew’ the next; Holly Laurent playing ‘Sherri’ one night and then ‘Constance Sacks’ the next…it never ceases to amaze me how talented our company is. The show goes on no matter what, and we all pull together to get through and we get closer as a team and as a family. Thus it was so hard to say goodbye to our leader, our stage manager and best big brother Ken Davis as he joins ‘The Lion King’. Hakuna Matada to you our dear friend. You are dearly missed, but we are thrilled to welcome Michael Danek who has just been a stellar replacement. We are back as a full unit, people are recovering from this plague that has beset upon us, and we rise stronger, more resilient and more powerful than ever before. Look out Kentucky! We’re not going to take it anymore…!!!

12 January 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (cough!) FROM FLORIDA  It’s been a pretty crazy couple of weeks since I last wrote. Yes, we flew in on a private lear jet and like rockstars we did the show and all went as to plan. Fort Lauderdale was so beautiful. The Broward Center right by the Riverwalk was a top-notch facility and for such a relaxed town, the crowds really rocked it out. Even the FOH staff rocked out. We just got to Orlando and opened last night but I found myself yesterday with a horribly sore throat. It turns out I’ve got laryngitis. And a lot of the cast are going to Universal Studios and Disney World, and I am in bed. And it’s my birthday. Booooooooo! Go Joey Calveri! Hope to be back soon…

28 December 2010

WHITE CHRISTMAS (or at least the day after!)  I am stuck. Snowed under in New York City! The massive snow blizzard yesterday was spectacular! I have never seen so much snow fall in one day. I love the snow as it changes the whole world around you so dramatically and I find nothing more beautiful than fresh snow over trees, and over EVERYTHING! One problem though…kinda big one. All flights are cancelled today. We were supposed to fly to Fort Lauderdale this morning. Not going to happen. We are still waiting to find out how we are going to make it to tomorrow night’s show. I know they are working on it, but for now, I am stealing more unexpected sofa time with my girls. My bags are packed, ready to go by the door, but they are a mere symbol of extreme optimism. Love having this extra time at home, but this uncertainty about getting to Florida is getting me a little anxious. This is way beyond our control, so am going to Central Park to slide down a hill on my bum. The past 2 weeks at home have been blissful and eventful! Went to the world premieres of TRUE GRIT and LITTLE FOCKERS, hob-nobbing with A-listers and wannabes. I suddenly had to fill in for a sick performer for 2 performances of HANDEL’S MESSIAH ROCKS in Schenectady NY, and Hershey PA (learning 3 new songs in the car on the way there, holding lyric sheets seconds before stepping onto stage!). But my favourite things have been spending quality time with my wife and dog and family, doing very festive things, attending parties, building furniture, playing house and actually being a present husband. I have spent so much time away, any chance of me being home is priceless. New just in… us stranded in NYC are flying on a private jet to Florida! Now THAT’S the only way to fly. Rockstars!! Ha! Stacee is back…. See you in Fort Lauderdale. Hey Mr. Lear Jet, “Can you take me high enough…?”

12 December 2010

ANOTHER PLACE, WHERE THE FACES ARE SO COLD  If only it wasn’t so cold! Columbus is a great town with so much to offer. The capital of Ohio, it really is a marvelous place. From Short North, to German Village, to the Cosi across the river, it’s so beautiful and the people have been awesome. They have been so accepting and welcoming and warm. The crowds have been pumped, even the crowd for the Sunday matinee! It started to really snow heavily today, and it looks like the really, really cold snap is looming in. I hope our plane to New York will not be affected tomorrow morning! I cannot wait to get home to see my girls. I have been away so long. I LOVE my job, but it is nothing compared to being home with family. I’ll be coming home for Christmas, and I am counting the minutes!! One more show to go here in Columbus. The last show before we all separate and go home for 2 weeks. The next time most of us will meet will be Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after Christmas, where we can thaw out. What a perfect schedule!! Here we go again Columbus, it’s going to be a doozy!!!

7 December 2010

SO MUCH MORE TO BALTIMORE  Yet another unexpected surprise. Baltimore was such an amazing experience, but again I find us being in a new city for just one week, just not enough time! It takes us a few days to settle in, get the show on its feet, explore our area and know where we really want to hang. By that time, the weekend has landed, 5 shows in 48 hours, and then we pack up and have to go to the next city… I so wanted to stay in Baltimore a little longer, as I did in Pittsburgh. The cold turn in the weather turned us all into some kind of hermits, snuggling up in our plush robes beside our goldfish at the magnificent Monaco Hotel. We did manage to do a few things though, like play as THE MOST HANDSOME MEN IN THE WORLD (that is a very funny name….) at Angel’s Rock Bar at Power Plant Live on the Wednesday. That was so much fun and kicked us off into Baltimore with a bang! We had an excursion to the amazing National Aquarium. It’s such a beautiful complex which was impossible to see everything in just one afternoon. From the dolphins to the jellyfish, it was a fascinating journey of discovery. Fell’s Point is probably my favourite part of Baltimore, but really did not get the chance to explore it this time. Last time I was in Baltimore, I spent the whole day there with my wife, and kind of felt like I didn’t want to go back there without her. Nevertheless, we had a BALL in BALLtimore. Just too short. Not a fan of these one week tours. Thanks to all at the Hippodrome, at the Monaco, Angel’s Rock Bar and Alewife. Missing you already… mean it! I find myself a little bit with a cold as I sit and write this in my hotel room, a little afraid of bracing the -7ºC (19ºF) temperatures outside, sliding over the snow to find breakfast. We flew into Columbus yesterday, and I am yet to really go out there properly. This cold weather is brutal! I normally love the cold, but when you feel a little under the weather, it doesn’t seem that inviting. From what I saw out of the bus window, Columbus looks like a majestically beautiful city. Let me just get over this cold…

29 November 2010

OH MAMA I’M IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE  Pittsburgh. Loved it. What an amazing week. Why we were only there for one week, I don’t know. I could have done another week easy! From the moment our bus broke through the hills to enter the city, it felt special. Pittsburgh has been voted the most livable city in America and I can see why. It was such an unexpected joy! Our hotel, the William Penn was spectacular. The architecture, the staff, the facilities, the beds and probably in the lobby, the most beautiful Starbucks I have ever seen. The Benedum Centre was first class and gorgeous from its volunteer FOH staff to its band of professionals backstage, it was a joy to play. Thank you to the Cozza family who invited us orphaned gypsies to their beautiful home for a home-cooked Thanksgiving lunch. Unbelievable hospitality from such an incredible family. Your warmth (and turkey, and pecan pie, and pumpkin pie and cherry pie and apple pie and…) we will never forget!! Who knew that RENEGADE was the song of the Steelers?! On opening night as I sang that song, the audience were so enthusiastically clapping along I had to subdue them before I could continue. I just thought they were loving ME! Little did I know the Steelers had adopted the song as their own. So the next night I planned a little treat for them by sneaking on a ‘Terrible Towel’ for the number. I thought a few might be slightly amused by my prank. However when I stepped out with it after singing RENEGADE, the whole house erupted in a roar that blew us all away!! Either I thought I was going to be sacked from my job, or that I would be allowed this one indulgence. No one seemed to mind or stop me so… Go Steelers!! My brilliant week in Pittsburgh was cut even shorter by a day as I had been asked to sing the National Anthem for the naming ceremony of the largest cruise liner ever built, THE ALLURE OF THE SEAS. I was also asked to sing a few songs from ROA on board as the ship set sail on its maiden voyage. It was a publicity opportunity too fantastic to resist. I had never been on a cruise before but they invited my wife and I to be special guests on board for a charity overnight cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. I have never seen a ship like it. It’s truly like a motorized city on the sea. We got a cabin for the night (very lovely!) and ate and drank to our hearts content and were even lucky to catch the BLUE PLANET show which could rival any Cirque show around. It was truly a magical experience of which I will never forget and such an honor to be asked to be part of such an important ceremony of a totally awesome super structure!! Thank you Royal Carribean, for allowing me and ROA to launch your new leading lady. Very sexy indeed… Me being away for Sunday meant that Joey Calveri stepped up to be ‘Stacee Jaxx’ and from what I saw in rehearsals I’m sure he hit it out of the ball park!! Nice one dude! Had a chance to hire a car today and swim in the ocean off Miami’s South Beach with my wife before heading back to NY (am writing this on board a very turbulent US Airways flight to Laguardia!). We saw snow flakes fall on Saturday and sun baked on the beach today. Off to Baltimore tomorrow for what looks like another week of rock and mayhem. Good morning Baltimore…here we go again!

23 November 2010

JUST A CITY BOY  Detroit was such an unexpected blast. From the moment we landed, it was such a buzz. One of the coolest things we did was visit the set of the drama DETROIT 187, shot entirely in Detroit City. The warehouse sets were awesomely detailed and through the invitation of the very gorgeous Erin Cummings (Dr. Abbey Ward) we spent the day watching the talented cast film an episode.The cast and crew were super friendly and super excited as a lot of them had come to see our show the week before. So it was a mutual appreciation society for a while. Playing cops and bad guys must be as fun as playing rockstars. Thank you to all at DETROIT 187. If ever there is a part for a dark haired, Aussie/Filipino…let me know. I also got the chance to visit the Henry Ford Museum and geeked out all day at the amazing things in there. From the car in which JFK was killed, to the rocking chair on which Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, this place did not disappoint. But there was more to this place than dead presidents. Planes, trains, automobiles, houses, clothes, pop culture artifacts, including the exact bus in which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat which sparked a revolution. It was one of the most incredible museums I have visited in a long time. Bye bye Detroit! We will miss the amazing people at the Fisher Theatre, the Hyatt Dearborn and the audiences who rocked out hard with us! From the Majestic, to the Magic Bag, we will miss you! We just arrived in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and are excited to be staying right in the centre of town. We are only here for a week, so we have no time to waste. Be afraid Pittsburgh, be very afraid….

17 November 2010

MOTOWN  It’s been crazy here in Detroit. So much to see and do, and so much to explore! A lot of the cast and the band went to a very special record launch last Friday for a very dear friend of mine, and ROCKSTAR:INXS alumni, Brandon Calhoon at the Magic Bag. His new cd “Satisfied” is phenomenal and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a follow up to his AWESOME EP, “Detroit City”, available on iTunes. He is truly one of the most uniquely talented artists I have heard in a long time. Brandon then returned the favour by coming and seeing our show on Sunday and he was so overwhelmed by ROCK OF AGES, he swore he’d come again. Better still, Arsenal & Friends (aka “THE MOST HANDSOME MEN IN THE WORLD”) did an impromptu set at the Majestic on Monday night, and Brandon came and joined in for a bit, and the sheer awesomeness on stage was unbelievable! Everybody has fallen in love with Brandon Calhoon, and he has become a dear friend to us all… Josh Sassanella finally had his ROA cherry picked by hitting the stage as Joey Primo last Saturday. That marks the moment that everybody has had a chance to go on. The swings have swung. We were blessed with the presence of the ‘trés magnifique!’ Mr. Richard Maheux, who took over for Brandon Ethridge in the weekend. Your awesomeness still burns in our brains! We are visiting the set of DETROIT 187 tomorrow. I can’t wait. We met Erin Cummings, who plays Dr. Hailey Cork on the series, as she and many of the cast and crew came to see our show last week. She couldn’t stop gushing about the show, so invited us all to see her show. Hope to have some awesome pics about that soon! Must go to sleep now, it’s 3am. Time has become irrelevant these days…what day is it?….where am I….?

12 November 2010

DETROIT, ROCK (of Ages!) CITY  We finally find ourselves in Detroit. Home to so many things, like Ford and the American automotive industry, tecnho-music and of course, Motown. We had the privilege of visiting Berry Gordy’s original Motown studios as soon as we arrived. The building itself is a pretty modest house on Grand Boulevard, but what went on in there was nothing short of magical and legendary. Stepping into Studio A was like stepping into a portal not only transporting us back in time,  but to a place where a revolution of art and love was founded. This was a movement that not only changed the face of music forever, but was a voice of a people who wanted to be heard and whose echo reached the farthest corners of the earth. The story behind the birth of this phenomenon was inspirational enough, but what it created will forever move of us and define us. Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, just to name a few, all recorded here. No wonder that Detroit gave birth to so many amazing acts like The Stooges, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and Suzie Quatro, Eminem and The White Stripes. Much of the reason why I wanted to be a musician is because of what happened in that studio. I am still shaking… As far as the show, they don’t call this Rock City for nothing. The crowds have been phenomenal and the Fisher Theatre is exploding every night! This is going to be an awesome leg of the tour. I feel it already. I am excited to check out my old mate’s record launch in Detroit tonight after the show. Brandon Calhoon (another ROCKSTAR:INXS alumni) is releasing his new CD at THE MAGIC BAG in Woodward Ave, Ferndale tonight. His voice, his musicianship and his larger-than-anything-you-could-ever-possibly-imagine persona will rip your heart out and make you want to stomp your soul!! I will be on track with catching up with all my ‘ROCKER’ friends, and to see Brandon play anything is a feast! Still much exploring to do here. Went jogging yesterday and ran through Henry Ford’s estate. Wicked…!

8 November 2010

ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL  Well that’s it. We are just minutes away from the final show here at the Aronoff Center, Cincinnati. We’ve been here for two weeks and it’s been an experience for sure. Thank you to the people of Cincinnati and from North Kentucky. Thank you to all at Nicholson’s, Righteous Room and Madonna’s. To the amazing crew at the Aronoff Center… your hospitality and good humour made coming to work like coming home. We are actually taking a coach all the way to Detroit tomorrow. 4 and 1/2 hours on a bus with crazy rockers. May God have mercy on us all!! Look out Michigan… Here we go again..

4 November 2010

HALLOWEEN 2010  Still in Cincinnati and feeling the change in weather for sure. Snow predicted on Friday. Winter is coming! The show is doing great and the swings have certainly taken the spotlight of late. Sean Jenness filled in as ‘Lonny’ for the first week here and really made it his own. His voice is phenomenal and his natural comic timing was spot on. Holly Laurent went on as ‘Sherrie’ for a couple of shows on Sunday and was spectacular in every way. I am so in awe of the talent in our company. It never ceases to amaze me and thrill me. We had special visitors on Halloween with Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo who actually have a house here in Cincinnati. They were so cool and down to earth and seemed to really enjoy the show. Such a gorgeous, glamourous couple! Sorry about the Bengals… Halloween was a blast though. The head carpenter Keith Martin and I came as Sonny and Cher (I was Sonny). He needs help with his make-up… a lot.

30 October 2010

DOWN BY THE BANK OF THE OHIO  Ok, I’m sorry it’s been a while since my last diary entry but so much has happened since the last time I wrote. Minneapolis was awesome. It so surprised me. We had a ball there and met the coolest people who so took us in and made us feel so welcome. All the staff at The Orpheum just rocked! Can’t believe we were only there for a week. It’s almost like, “Did that really happen?”. I met this producer Tim Andersen on opening night and he invited me and Arsenal to come into this brand-spanking-new studio called Waterbury Studios to record a track. I have so many songs that I wanted to put down, so chose to record ONE SUNSET AT A TIME with the guys from ‘Arsenal’ (Dave Gibbs, Chris Cicchino, Alan Childs & Jon Skibic). We laid the track down in this amazing, 2 week old studio and got the track back in a day. It sounds great, and I will post it on this site as soon as I get the final mix. What a treat it was to do that, but it is just indicative of what Minneapolis was all about. Surprise after brilliant surprise. Thanks to Tim and Derek, and Eric and Todd for the opportunity. The studio is brilliant. You have to check it out… It was an emotional connection in Minneapolis for me too, as I got to connect with my beautiful friends, the Yared family and their friends. It was a very healing time for us all.  I love you guys like family. But the connections did not stop there. Meeting Tricia and Jeff Tollefson was an inspirational event in itself too. Such amazing people who have enriched my life in such a major way in such a  short time. Let’s just say, this is only the very beginning!! But here I am in Cincinnati for the first time ever. I am still exploring the place and today was a breakthrough for me. I was jogging past the football and baseball stadiums by the banks of the Ohio river, when I stumbled upon Cincinnati International Friendship Park. An awesome place to jog by the river and with the crisp air and fall coloured leaves, I could have ran for hours, until I stumbled upon a rainbow-painted piano which was kept under a stone bridge, open and ready for anyone to play it whomever wishes to. So I sat down and started to twinkle the multi-coloured ivories, when suddenly I realized I was surrounded by all these school kids who started to clap along and dance to my music, and then asked if they could play me some music too! So they all got on the piano and it was as though I was in some Hallmark movie. Kids singing and clapping and dancing to this rickety (yet surprisingly unvandalized and kinda in tune) piano. These kids were part of a theatre school group from Kentucky whose teacher then told me that she saw the opening night of ROCK OF AGES on the Tuesday before…Well! Then the cameras came out and it became a true love fest. This kind of thing only happens in the movies, but for me today, it was my reality and my reminder of how simple things can just blow you away. These awesome kids showed me what it was like to just enjoy the magic of music and the thrill of the spontaneous. I wish I had my camera with me, but it would never do justice to the magic of the moment. I just had to share it with you… It’s getting cold here.

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