Edgar Winter Band
Englert Theatre — Sunday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Vocalist, producer, songwriter, pianist, keyboardist, saxophonist, marimba, timbale and clavinet player, synthesizer slayer, guitarist, (sort of) inventor of the “keytar,” Scientologist, Miller-Lite enthusiast and possible long lost brother of George Hamilton, Edgar Winter, is rolling into Iowa City this Sunday, Oct. 18 to perform at the Englert Theatre (or “Englert’s” as it is listed on Winter’s official website).
Mixing Texas-fueled rock, jazz-fusion, trippy synthesizers and undeniable musicianship, Edgar Winter has been pushing limits on the stage and studio since the late ‘60’s. The band, which once featured Rick Derringer and the late Ronnie Montrose, is made up of studio and session vets who are bound to be “tour tight” with the Iowa City stop coming in at number 35 of 67 shows in 2015.
The admission cost would be worth it just to see the band crank out the seasonably appropriate nine minute epic #1 Hot 100 hit “Frankenstein,” but they will be sure to touch on tunes from their entire 40+ year career, including the Derringer produced hit “Free Ride.”
Winter’s appeal isn’t just for baby boomers and nü-hippies. His track “Dying to Live” (reworked as “Runnin’ (Dying to Live)”) is featured in the Tupac Shakur biography film “Tupac Resurrection” and it places Winter’s vocals directly alongside late rap legends Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac himself with production credits going to Eminem.
As absurd as Winter’s curriculum vitae may be, there is no doubt that his serious musical chops and enigmatic presence will have everyone up on their feet in front of the cozy seats at “Englert’s.”
