The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
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Continued from Page 16 “Ricky Nelson Remembered” started touring last year, the 25th anniversary of Ricky Nelson’s death in a plane crash. The tribute show isn’t simply a concert, but a multimedia ex- perience. Matthew and Gunnar will be telling family stories in addition to singing their dad’s hits. Video clips from “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” and interviews will also be projected onto a screen. “People get to go through a musical time- line,” Matthew said. “Even if you don’t know who he was or know who we are, you get this musical and sociological timeline of what was happening. We call it a musical tribute, but it’s more ... I think it’s relevant for the time we’re in now, because people really want to go to a place that’s sin- cere.” “Even if you don’t know who he was or know who we are, you get this musical and so- ciological timeline.”_ Matthew Nelson Matthew and Gunnar will perform one or two of their hits, “because our dad inspired us to be songwriters as well as entertainers.” Matthew and Gunnar have been making music together since the ’90s, performing as Nelson and touring with acts such as Peter Frampton and Styx. Matthew, who is based in LA while Gunnar lives in Nashville, said he has been working on an independent project, Red 37, with the same producer of Incubus, Hoobastank and The Presidents of the United States of America. “My musical sensibilities have evolved. But, just like with our dad, people tend to keep us in a box. There is a certain bias, and the only way to get through that is to let it go. We’re not ashamed of what we’ve done,” Matthew said of his history as part of an early ’90s hair band. “But we’re talking about doing something completely different _ a fresh start.” Ricky Nelson’s career spanned different stages, too. He was a teen idol with hits like “Travelin’ Man” and then went on to pioneer the country rock sound, performing songs like “Gar- den Party.” All of it will be covered in the tribute show. “Ricky Nelson Remembered” will round out the Oneonta Theatre’s second season opening weekend with a Sunday night show March 27. “It’s an interesting show because it covers so many decades,” said Jon Weiss, managing partner of the Oneonta Theatre and the person responsible for booking the show. “It serves a lot of different demographics ... the audience is going to be an interesting mix _ folks in their 60s who were teenagers in the ’60s, younger people who are retro fans, and fans of Nelson.” Weiss said he is a Ricky Nelson fan. “He’s right up there with Elvis back in his prime.” “I’m looking forward to (the show,)” he said. “The multi- media window into Ricky Nelson’s life is going to be fun and interesting ... the theater is outfitted for this kind of produc- tion. I’m sort of pysched.” FOR TICKET INFORMATION, visit oneontatheatre.com or call 643-4022. _ Cassandra Miller All photos were contributed Although the show is focused on the life of Ricky Nelson, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, who gained fame as rock duo Nelson, will present the tribute show to their dad, ‘Ricky Nelson Remembered,’ at 7:30 p.m. Sun- day, March 27, at the Oneonta Theatre. March 10, 2011 O-Town Scene 17