Birds of a Feather is a new American indie family superduo consisting of two kids music luminaries – Brooklyn’s, longtime children’s music pioneer, Suzi Shelton and Filipina-American Little Miss Ann of Chicago. Individually, Suzi and Ann have each maintained a strong presence in the national kids music scene, performing with their own bands across the country and producing many award-winning albums on their own. For over a decade, these longtime friends have also been inspired to perform together regularly at esteemed venues including the Kids stage at Lollapalooza (Chicago), The Overture Center (Madison), Jewish Museum (NYC), and Wolftrap (DC) to name a few. Birds of a Feather released their hit Debut Album “Rock Together” in June and are loving performing for audiences throughout the country – including here at the Cabot!
Tusk has been criss-crossing the country since 2008 as The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute.
But of all the Fleetwood Mac tributes playing around the United States today, what exactly sets Tusk apart?
Is it more than five skilled professionals turned masters of their trade through decades of individual musical study, live performance, creative risk, and devotion to the art?
Is it more than their affection and respect for the Fleetwood Mac experience, an entity that continues to endure over 50 years of musical and cultural evolution?
Is it more than vocal similarities, common physical traits, or good costumes?
To be sure, one does not fare well in the tribute scene without displaying some or all of these characteristics. So what qualities does Tusk possess that can’t be learned, bought, or created simply from a desire to have them?
Chemistry. Synergy. Intuition.
The relationship among the five founding members of Tusk has a rich history that goes back more than four decades. Two met while playing Little League baseball. Two others met in middle school band and marched in lockstep through high school. All five have been playing music with one another over the years in various configurations of original bands, jam bands, singer-songwriter circles, and alternative rock groups. Time, trust, and close friendship have cultivated an intimate familiarity with each other’s musical nuances, shaping each performance with such precision that even the slightest variation, virtually imperceptible to all but the five musicians sharing the stage, is met with a wink and a nod, and usually an inside joke. Tusk is more than a band; they are a family.
Experience the wonder of a Tusk show for yourself.
With his signature beard and African headgear, Billy F Gibbons is instantly recognizable and best known as the centerpiece of ZZ Top.
BFG is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest guitarists working in the blues-rock idiom. The sound originates from the uncanny knack to squeeze unheard of sounds out of the electric guitar with the blues, pop, r&b, country, gospel, western, hillbilly and West Africa. That BFG down ‘n dirty growl is unmistakable heard on such hits as “La Grange,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Cheap Sunglasses”.
Billy F Gibbons is much more than an iconic guitar slinger with a monumental length of chin whiskers… He’s an internationally recognized collector of guitars and cars, noted in the best-selling book, Rock + Roll Gearhead.
Special Disconnected Set (all acoustic w/ drums)
It’s a matter of time. 50 years to be exact. And in that time Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work, a legacy of greatness. The numbers are staggering: 100+ gigs a year for five decades running, crossing millions of miles to rock millions of fans. And that’s just at the live shows. In between they’ve recorded 17 studio albums, 7 live LPs, 3 compilations, 2 EPs, 2 DVDs, and contributed 40+ guest appearances on their friends’ recordings — all garnering 5 Grammys, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Richie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognitions, plus countless “Keys to the City” and “Los Lobos Day” celebrations.
It’s Bagpipes. It’s Rock. It’s Bagrock. AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns. Where rock anthems sit comfortably alongside the great tunes from the glens and the mountains of Scotland.
It’s The Red Hot Chilli Pipers – an internationally renowned ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers — who have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing to Melbourne and everywhere in between with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless. The band has four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bagpiping.