ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2014, Volume 3 | Page 16

Next on the roster was Jerry Robison Project of Flagstaff, Arizona. I had a few words with Robison (btw…love
the CD!) before he took the stage and found him to be very personable; as he excitedly spoke of some great
things happening in his career. And this dude knows his way around a guitar! Robison opened with a most
impressive instrumental number that “worked it out” with some fast fret gymnastics. I also particularly
appreciated the songs “Addicted” and “Believe”. Besides their originals, they additionally treated the crowd
to their own interpretation of MEGADETH’S “Holy Wars”. JRP is a three piece group with Robison on
vocals/guitar, DAVE DUKART on bass and LASSITER on drums. www.jerryrobison.com
From Tolleson, Arizona, Rock band Tricus next stormed the stage—just after premiering their deliciously dark
video “HHH”. The video is the tawdry tale of the devious and diabolical DR. HENRY HOWARD HOLMES
(convincingly played by SCOTT SMITH), the prolific serial killer in Chicago that did his “best work” during the
1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Our “hostess with the mostest”, Lorraine Keith, was definitely ready for her
close-up and stretched her acting muscles as the doomed damsel in this well-produced video (didn’t know
girlfriend had that in her!). HHH (Directed by DANIEL MILLER) was met with thunderous applause and
whoops and howls from the appreciative audience.
Tricus ripped up the stage with raucous RAWK, performing their original compositions. Although many
musical influences can be discerned, Tricus is also original in sound and style. Nothing “cookie-cutter”
about these music ninjas. Appearing in Tricus were: DAVID OLIVAREZ (vocals), George Contreras (guitar),
SEAN VALVERDE (bass) and NORMAN LUND (drums). But as awesome as Tricus was (ummm…GREAT!), what
was to follow really struck a “chord” with the audience and ION. www.tricusmusic.com
Keeping with the Epic Music Store mantra to
support the local music scene and promote the
arts, two of Contreras’s guitar students made
their world premieres on the Tempe Center for
the Arts stage. Both 12-year-old LIZETTE
BLANCAS (slinging her DAISY ROCK guitar) and
DENNIS ALONGI waited excitedly–and, I’m
sure, nervously--in the wings for their moments
to “find their light”!
There is an old saying, “Never work with children
or animals”. BOTH students performed
flawlessly and brilliantly and made their
teacher proud. However, it was Ms. Blancas
that stole this Editor’s heart!
Predictably, it
was Lizette that got the biggest applause of the
evening. But have no fear, Dennis Alongi--I did
not miss a note of your performance! But even
you had to admit, it was “rock princess
cuteness overload” with Ms. Blancas!
And also, a big congratulations to Alongi! I’m
sure it really topped off an already over-the-top
evening when he found he held the winning
ticket for the $700 Dean C550 CBK Guitar!