02-01-18 Waterloo, NY

 

SOLD OUT!

WOW!  Another Sold Out show for Grand Funk Railroad in 2018.

Traveling to Syracuse, NY, for a great show at the Del Lago Casino Resort in Waterloo, GFR got in and out between two cold and snowy days with temperatures in the low teens. Luckily day of show was pleasant with a winter heat wave of 45.

 

Photo by DB

 

The Del Lago is only one year old and today was it's first birthday. Celebrating with a Rock & Roll show with Grand Funk Railroad, the incredible "Vine Theater" at the Del Lago was full to capacity. Grand Funk got the crowd of upstate New Yorkers on their feet and dancing as soon as they hit "Locomotion". From there it was an amazing evening of Grand Funk classic rock.

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Photo by Glenn Preston

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Another treat came as John Ellison, the writer of the most recorded song in history "Some Kinda' Wonderful", made an appearance at the front of the stage as Grand Funk finished playing his classic soul song. John, who splits his time between nearby Hamilton, Ontario, and Tampa, Florida, was in the area and heard Grand Funk was appearing at the Del Lago could not resist the opportunity to come to the show and meet the band that recorded the most well known version of "Some Kinda' Wonderful". Introducing John, the sold out crowd gave him a standing ovation.

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Post show, GFR and John had a chance to share stories of old and John told the guys how he wrote the song about a girl he was dating when he was playing with The Soul Brothers Six in the mid 60s.

What a terrific night in upstate New York. Some Kinda' Wonderful!

 

 

01-24-18 West Palm Beach, FL and 01-27-18 Effingham, IL

 

West Palm Beach, FL 1/24/18

 

SOLD OUT!

GFR got out of the cold and into nice warm West Palm Beach this week for their third appearance at the South Florida Fair. This is always a great play for the guys since the band was a huge success in South Florida in the early 70's and Don has been a local here for 38 years.

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Playing to a SOLD OUT pavilion at the Coca Cola stage, the boys once again rocked and the audience rolled along with them. It was great to light up the multi-generational crowd with Locomotion, Some Kinda Wonderful, Closer To Home and We're An American Band.

Great pics to share from sunny West Palm Beach!

 

Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer

 

Effingham, IL 1/27/18

 

Grand Funk flew back up north to St. Louis, Missouri, on Thursday...had a nice day off on Friday, and headed out to Illinois for a show at the Effingham Performing Arts Center. This is a great community theater that has become a regular tour stop for all the current touring Country and Classic Rock acts.

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Playing to a packed house on Saturday night, GFR laid down the groove and the crowd loved it.

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Stanley Sheldon, filling in for Mel, is doing an incredible job holding the band together with near perfect Grand Funk bass chops.

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Great to be back in the Heartland. Lovin' the USA!

 

 

01-19-18 Dover, DE and 01-20-18 Northfield, OH

 

GRAND FUNK 2018!   SOLD OUT!

 

Dover, Delaware 1/19/18

 

Who woulda thunk it!

Grand Funk kicked off another year with two back to back SOLD OUT shows. Starting out at the beautiful Dover Downs Casino Resort playing to a capacity Rollins Center crowd, GFR hit them with Rock & Roll Soul and Footstompin' Music and had them dancing in the aisles with Locomotion.

 

Photo by Don Baker

 

Brother Mel Schacher was unable to make these shows due to a sudden family emergency. Sitting in for Mel on bass guitar was classic rock bass icon Stanley Sheldon from Peter Frampton's band. Stan did a great job covering Mel's unique bass style and added some of his own signature bass groove. Thank You Stan!

The Delaware crowd rocked with the band the entire show.

What a way to kick off year 49 for The American Band!

 

 

SOLD OUT!

Northfield, Ohio 1/20/18

 

Catching a non-stop out of Philly to Grand Funk's old stompin' ground Cleveland, Ohio, the guys had just enough time for a soundcheck and a snack before getting ready for another SOLD OUT performance at the Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield, Ohio, located about 18 miles south of Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

 

 

As it happens, "Rock Royalty Promoter" Mike Belkin was doing a book signing at the casino for a new book about Mike's life in the Rock & Roll Biz. Don and Mike had a chance to reminisce about old times and Rock history. Mike and his brother Jules promoted many Grand Funk shows in the early 70's.

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

The over-capacity crowd of Ohians were primed and ready when GFR took the stage at the state of the art Rocksino concert venue. The band proceeded to rock like it was 1969. The audience was on board the entire show, on their feet and yelling through Don's drum solo, and cheering standing for "We're An American Band"!

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

Photo by Ralph Reichenbach

 

The American Band has still got it in 2018.

God Bless America!