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Friday, November 29, 2019

The Heard

Jeff Nolan and an all-star Orlando roster paid loving tribute to Ric Ocasek

Posted By Bao Le-Huu on Fri, Nov 29, 2019 at 4:05 PM

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"Since You're Gone" - A Tribute to the Cars - JEN CRAY

Jen Cray
"Since You're Gone" - A Tribute to the Cars

THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND
“Since You’re Gone” – A Tribute to the Cars, Will’s Pub, Nov. 27

The music world reeled back on Sept. 15, when it lost new-wave god Ric Ocasek. And what this recent heartfelt tribute event proved is that love for the iconic voice and face of the Cars is deep and wide here in Orlando.

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Jen Cray
Jeff Nolan at Will's Pub

Even though it was the night before Thanksgiving (a.k.a., the last opportunity to get some rest for at least the next 48 hours straight), there was enough turnout to pack the house. And onstage, more than a dozen noted Orlando musicians – enough to form four different bands – organized behind the charge of Ludes frontman Jeff Nolan for an entire night in salute to the late great.

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Jen Cray
"Since You're Gone" - A Tribute to the Cars

In front of projected archival video footage of the Cars, an impressive army of local artists brought their songs to life, a credentialed cast that included the aforementioned Nolan, Kaleigh Baker, Brian Chodorcoff, Shadow Pearson, Phil Longo, Steve Garron, Matt Walker, Chris LeBrane, Justin Martin, Michael Rizzo, Chris Bishop, Bruce Hayes, Jason Powell, David Minshew, Jay Camphire and Paul Mauceri (plus DJ the MisfitKid).

click to enlarge

Jen Cray
"Since You're Gone" - A Tribute to the Cars

click to enlarge

Jen Cray
"Since You're Gone" - A Tribute to the Cars

Right before the first live set, the night was launched with a great personal video of Cars guitarist Elliot Easton introducing the Orlando event. Then Kaleigh Baker opened with a solo performance that was crowned by an absolutely smoldering rendition of “Drive.”

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Jen Cray
Kaleigh Baker at Will's Pub

But the night wouldn’t, couldn’t, be in official effect until someone dropped some sweet, sweet synth. And it began next with the first full band, which was essentially Bithlo Rising with Gargamel’s Servo Beonic Man as the guest keyboardist.

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Servo Beonic Man at Will's Pub - JEN CRAY

Jen Cray
Servo Beonic Man at Will's Pub

Besides those immaculate synthesizers, the other absolutely defining aspect of the Cars sound is, of course, the singing of Ric Ocasek. And on that count, Steve Garron – probably the most vocally elastic of the bunch – best conjured the rubber and sheen of Ocasek’s voice this night.

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Jen Cray
Steve Garron at Will's Pub

But the common denominator across all the bands that performed was love for the Cars. And testament to the depth of the Cars’ catalog was that it was a whole night of hits across four different sets without a single repeat song.

click to enlarge

Jen Cray
"Since You're Gone" - A Tribute to the Cars

Follow Bao on Twitter (@baolehuu)
Email Bao: baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com

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Tags: ric ocasek, the cars, cars tribute, jeff nolan, Kaleigh Baker, Brian Chodorcoff, Shadow Pearson, Phil Longo, Steve Garron, Matt Walker, Chris LeBrane, Justin Martin, Michael Rizzo, Chris Bishop, Bruce Hayes, Jason Powell, David Minshew, Jay Camphire, Paul Mauceri, the MisfitKid, daniel fuller, servo beonic man, this little underground, the heard, orlando music news, orlando concerts, orlando shows, orlando music, bao le-huu, jen cray, Image

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