Fri 4/11 @ 8PM
Keyboard player/composer/producer Erik Norlander is one of those musicians who has managed to put together successful career while flying under the pop music radar for the most part. His specialty is the much-maligned genre of progressive rock; his bio compares his style to Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, and Keith Emerson — not exactly trendy names.
But on a series of solo album and recordings with his band Rocket Scientists over the last two decades, he’s acquired a stellar reputation among fans of classically influenced, technically impressive keyboard and synth music. He raised his profile considerably when he joined a new lineup of Asia in 2007.
A few years ago, the L.A.-based musician tapped veteran Cleveland guitarist Ron Redfield to play in some tracks. That inspired Redfield to form his own Clevelamd-based band, Krypton Monkeys, playing ’80s style anthemic rock.
Now, Norlander is coming to Cleveland to headline the Winchester Music Hall with a project called the Galactic Collective — Nick LePar on drums, Mark Matthews on bass and Jeff Kollman on guitar.
Krypton Monkeys, of course, will be opening. Kevin Rian, who has performed with artists like Rick Derringer and Pat Travers, will be their guest bass player for the evening, joining Redfield, drummer Jim Dudash, vocalist Booby Husar, and keyboard player John McLaughlin.
Tickets are $15.