Redemption. Wrestlers. This time it’s for real.

The Jim Rose Circus vs. Jake the Snake Roberts

Featuring SINn BohDi formerly Kizarney of WWE + special guests, coming to a Club near you starting this July

Ladies and Gents it is time once again for the infamous and wildly celebrated, our favorite ringleader, Jim Rose to take his delightful and dark yet comedic, mysteriously twisted show on the road. Jim Rose presents The Jim Rose Circus vs Iconic Wrestling legend, Jake the Snake Roberts. From out of the ring and into the clubs, this is the hottest mind bending thrill ride your money can buy this summer. A ticket is good for a seat, but you will only use the edge.  High-flying, bone-jarring excitement--not since Christians were fed to the lions has their been a show this funny. It feels like biblical times with miracles happening everywhere. You will need a swivel on your neck to catch it all. Done in a seedy atmosphere just like the movie The Wrestler.

Have you ever felt stunned laughter?  Besides amazing circus stunts and pretty girls everywhere, this is the most brutal comedy ever offered. These are the real men who don't need a ring. Their disputes will be settled live and raw on stage...using every dirty trick in the books. The intimacy of this epic battle will make you feel like you're living it.

This is a new  spellbound episode for the The Jim Rose Circus. This is not what you saw in the episode of the Simpsons where Homer runs away and joins the Jim Rose Circus as the human cannonball. And you didn't see anything this like this on Jims weekly Television Show, The Jim Rose Twisted Tour on the Travel Channel, nor on the X-Files in 1995, the much lauded  guest star role as the lead murder suspect in what was to become one of the most popular episodes. Indeed, this is not what you witnessed when Jim Rose was on tour with NIN and opening act Marilyn Manson in 1994 presenting some of the most raunchiest acts for its time. Unlike those, this show's content is a compelling one,  the theme is redemption... This is Jake The Snake Roberts living out his tragedy once and for all.

Painfully misunderstood and abused within by his torment, torn apart by being loved not hated. He was supposed to be the bad guy against Hulk Hogan in the 80s but he sold his character too well and  his charisma continued to woo his fans. When he walked into the arena to cheers Hulk would get boos. The promoters invested so much into marketing Hulk as the good guy that they had to discontinue Jake the Snake while he was selling out Madison Square Garden time after time.

He took it hard and had a rough patch. These tough times were exposed in the documentary "Beyond The Mat," the writer for the movie The Wrestler says that this documentary is what inspired him to write the script.

Steve Bergmann

The benefit was organized by a series of fine folks with three main drivers.  They were Steve Bergmann, founder and operator of School Kids Records for over 30 years, Steve Springer, current local guitarist and former band mate of Ferguson, and Fred Reis, agent, promoter, and producer for many years for School Kids Records.

It was great to see and hear so many local musicians get up and play for the cause.  Steve has so many friends in the business and it was inspirational to hear their stories.  Here is the list of participants for the evening.  Steve Springer, Randall Beek, The Kentucky Colonels, Steve Nardella, and George Bedard.  All these performers did short stints around the house band for the night, "The Carpenter Ants". 

The Carpentar Ants

Mike Rembor, Chairman and Treasurer of DBS - Photo by Julian Konwinski

It's membership is essentially blues fans, blues lovers, and blues musicians.  Through it's newsleter and website, The Society posts upcoming events, blues venues and band dates, and a message board for people to connect with and follow their favorite blues artists.  The membership contains scores of very interesting, talented, and purposeful people who cherish blues music and all that surrounds it.  If you are at all motivated by "the blues", I urge you to give "The Detroit Blues Society" a try.  You won't be disappointed.

The benefit ran from 6PM to midnight and featured six stellar area bands.  They were Howard Glazer and the EL-34's, Lester Blues, Muledriver, Broken Arrow Blues Band, The Christy Howard Band, and Robert Noll Blues Mission.  Each band played about 45 minutes and following a quick set change and instrument shuffle, the next act appeared.  It was blues for all reasons and seasons.  Tempos ranged from greasy to punchy to frenetic.  There were amazing displays of guitar and harp excellence, rhythm for all moods, and vocals to tempt the timid and tame the troubled.

Lester "Hambone" Brown - Photo by Julian Konwinski

If you missed out on this weekends Prodigy concert- then you missed out on one hellva party. High-energy, amazing vigor, liveliness and heart-pounding music all combined to create one intense feeling.

Photo by Paul Dugdale

From classics like “Slap My Bitch Up” and “Firestarter” to hits off their newest release Invaders Must Die such as “Omen”, the crowd couldn’t contain themselves as they rocked, moshed and crowd-surfed to the music.

“It was an intense feeling. They put on quite a show,” says Ben Klos, first timer at the Fillmore. “Crowd-surfing to their music was the best! They were ten times better live than they are on their CD, it helps that you can feel how passionate they are about their music.”

If you think you have ever rocked out to Prodigy, then you truly haven’t rocked out until you have seen them live. Check out http://www.theprodigy.com/ to watch for tour dates so you don’t miss out next time.

- Amber Lynn This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it