On the Town: Eagles, cats and dogs at the Starlight
Wrapping up a summer weekend with a picnic and an evening of entertainment at the Starlight Bowl has become a tradition for many Burbankers and visitors from throughout the area. While the other two concert amphitheaters in the area — the Greek Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl — are perhaps better-known venues, there is no way they can compete with the Starlight when it comes to value. With tickets offered in the $6 to $22 range, it’s hard to beat the Starlight for an evening of family fun and entertainment.
This past Sunday evening, concert-goers, including Vice Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy, enjoyed the music of one of the country’s preeminent bass guitarists, Ethan Farmer, and The Long Run, widely acknowledged as the premier Eagles tribute band. Farmer, who has played with hundreds of artists including Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Hootie and the Blowfish and Patti Labelle, is preparing to go on tour with New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. A Chicago native who has just released his first album, “Wine & Strings,” Farmer calls this offering “an odyssey that transports the listener to places in time that evoke feel-good emotions that I want to share with the universe.”
“People get caught up in trying to make the perfect record,” said Farmer. “For me, there is no perfect record when you’re growing because it can be perfect today but then you learn so much more tomorrow which means yesterday isn’t perfect anymore. So I just record what I feel in that moment and that is what ‘Wine & Strings’ is all about. I believe if you feel good and your music is good, then it’s going to make the people that support you feel good.”
Following Farmer, The Long Run took the stage and had the crowd soaring with faithful recreations of The Eagles’ chart-topping hits. Among those spotted enjoying the evening were Park, Recreation and Community Services Commissioner Barry Gussow and his wife, Karen, Glendale Community College Board President Tony Tartaglia, Barbara Howell of the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, Burbank Information Technologies Director Jennifer Wyatt, Brittany Vaughan of the Boys & Girls Club of the East San Fernando Valley, former City Treasurer Donna Anderson, Lucy Burghdorf, who serves as the community relations manager at the Bob Hope Airport, and Burbank Jaycees President Susie Augustine.
Others who wrapped up their week in Starlight style included Peggy Korecko, Colette Stroffolino, Christie Basteris, Rommil Fernandez, Gail and Irv Peters, Linda Barnes, Kristy Carnegie, Cynthia Wanger, Shane Hanson, Janice and Kelli Lowers, Troy and Stacy Peterson, Miryam and Uzi Haziza, Ruthie and Skooter Scudieri, Melisa and Steven Delgado and Michael Shabatian.
A very special guest, a 10-week old shih-tzu mix named Roxie, was brought to the Starlight stage and introduced by Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter representatives Mary Priest and Nancee Burrows. Roxie will be available for adoption this coming Friday. For more information on Roxie and the other great dogs and cats looking for homes, visit the shelter at 1150 North Victory Place or call (818) 238-3340.
DAVID LAURELL can be reached by e-mail dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
