Review of "Ghost Brothers" Preview

[walktall2010]

Atlanta Music Scene: Mellencamp’s ‘Ghost Brothers’ Songs Previewed At Event

The John Mellencamp-Stephen King collaboration, “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County,” doesn’t receive its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre until April 4.

But the show’s brass is getting a head start at getting the word out.

At a private function for media and theater types downtown at the Hard Rock Café Wednesday night, members of the cast – including stars Shuler Hensley, Justin Guarini, Jake La Botz and the easily-spotted Dale Watson (have you seen the awesome hair on this guy?) – mingled and chatted with the intimate crowd.

As director Susan Booth explained, the primary reason for the shindig was to unveil some of the music in the show – written by Mellencamp with an assist from musical director T Bone Burnett.

Guarini and Lucas Kavner took to the small stage first to growl out the brooding country-roots thumper “Brotherly Love.” If you’re a fan of Mellencamp’s darker, meatier work of recent years, you’ll love the intensity of this one, a song well-sold by the handsome young men who are the titular brothers in the musical.

La Botz will play the villain in the story, so it was appropriate that “Lounging Around in Heaven,” which La Botz performed solo, seated with his acoustic guitar, is a mockery of good and an embrace of evil.

A quartet of cast members, fronted by the angelically voiced Kate Ferber, rounded out the musical appetizer with “Home Again,” a sweet, melodic hum-along also in the country-rock vein.

While Mellencamp wasn’t on site, his guitarist, Andy York, was, and backed all but La Botz with his nimble playing.

Tickets are on sale now for the production, which will run through May 13.

So far, so (very) good.

http://sojohnmellencamp.com/celebritynews/atlanta-music-scene-mellencamp%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98ghost-brothers%E2%80%99-songs-previewed-event?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[jakesmom204]

I wish I was going to see this play! And great review!  Anxiously awaiting the songs too!

[Mellenfan71]

If you’re a fan of Mellencamp’s darker, meatier work of recent years, you’ll love the intensity of this one

 

[Mellenfan71]

Any word on how the preview went? I hear critics from RS and New York times were there

[TonyBClubManager]

Any word on how the preview went? I hear critics from RS and New York times were there

It went very very well from all reports and feedback on Facebook/twitter.

Since it is in "previews" for the first week the standard procedure is for media outlets to not review it until it opens (Wed the 11th) and to review it off those opening performances to give the actors/creators a little time to polish the production up.

[Mellenfan71]

Any word on how the preview went? I hear critics from RS and New York times were there

It went very very well from all reports and feedback on Facebook/twitter.

Since it is in "previews" for the first week the standard procedure is for media outlets to not review it until it opens (Wed the 11th) and to review it off those opening performances to give the actors/creators a little time to polish the production up.

Thank Tony, I'll check out Twitter