REVIEW: Misty Gonzales @ the Rock Hall 3/24/11

On Thu 3/24, the Rock Hall hosted a private performance by up-and-coming musical artist Misty Gonzales. Complete with valet parking, a pre-concert reception and the debut of her new video, “Freedom Child,” from the forthcoming album, Rock & Roll Freedom Show, the evening set an energetic tone for anyone lucky enough to have been invited to this event. The crowd – representing hardcore music lovers from Cleveland, Akron, Troy (MI), London (ON) and even L.A. – as well as the Museum President and CEO Terry Stewart, enjoyed the real benefit of being a local rock ‘n roll devotee: listening, live, to top notch, emerging talent at its creative tipping point.

Freedom Child Entertainment, a partnership between the singer and Cleveland’s own music man Tom Wilson, is taking Misty places. This specific performance, sponsored by Liberty Ford, was held in the newly renovated and intimate Foster Theater at the Rock Hall, where neither food nor drink is allowed and where one can sit back and enjoy everything from a killer concert to a 3D movie.

“We like to do new things here, (especially) performances like this, as well as bringing back the inductions,” Todd Mesek (Rock Hall, V.P., Marketing) shared with me during the reception. And the who’s who of Cleveland, most in their late 30’s to early 60’s, clearly value the progressive direction.

We all sat down in our seats, in great anticipation of the unknown. First, we watched the “Freedom Child” video, with its tribute to the U.S. Military: an impressive and high-production musical film short on the simultaneous strength and heartbreak of that one percent that protects the rest of us. The crowd loved it.

Then, shortly after, Misty made her appearance on stage. Gonzales looks like Penelope Cruz and her driving voice lands somewhere between Pat Benatar’s and Heart’s Ann Wilson’s. She delivered the perfect oasis for musicoholics tired of pre-packaged pop and sampled bass lines.

Misty’s band mates (Greg Pajer, guitar; Eliot Lorango, bass; Johnny Haro, drums), based on hair alone, looked as though they were stolen from Smashing Pumpkins, early Metallica and Mötley Crüe. Yet, on stage, the sound – unified, tight and vivid – kept the audience entertained and excited. By the time Misty covered Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” everyone wanted more of the same – it is when she slows things down that her vocal range truly shines and punctuates her range, both in octaves and in genre.

“Cleveland is amazing! Every time I come here, it’s a new experience!” the gorgeous and generous Misty shared with the audience. When she performed “Freedom Child” live, she did a shout out to all the soldiers and veterans in the room. During her last number, she also brought out a very happy teenager who was at the show as part of the Make a Wish Foundation. Not only did Misty sing the finale to this girl, but she also presented her with flowers and, afterward, made sure the entire family had plenty of photo opportunity time with the artist.

There’s an authenticity to Misty’s persona and she’s genuinely talented, ready to be unleashed in America and beyond. As her Rock & Roll Freedom Show, complete with pole dancers, acrobats and even a stilt walker, and inspired by LOVE, Cirque du Soleil’s celebration of The Beatles, makes its way throughout the country, her following and popularity will, no doubt, continue to crescendo.

In fact, if one was to play early Sheryl Crow tracks against Misty’s new songs, one would easily predict the latter to have the sustaining career path. Nothing against Sheryl, but her voice holds a feather to the brilliant and electrifying Melissa Etheridge and Akron’s own Chrissie Hynde, who, combined, form a very short list of female rock ‘n rollers out there today still recording new material. Misty may soon be added to this list as her vocal chops showcase a substantial intensity and potency that frequented late ’70s / early ’80s radio with ease – via Benatar, Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and even Bonnie Tyler. Today, most women go pop or country. There’s nothing wrong with either, there’s just not enough women in rock. And we miss it. Lucky for us, Misty’s bringing it back – raw, edgy and loud, the way rock ‘n roll was meant to be.

You can follow Misty Gonzales’ music, album launch and tour info on her website http://www.MistyFreeChild.com. You can follow events at the Rock Hall on its website http://RockHall.com and its Facebook page.

[Pictured: Top – Misty w/ Tom Wilson & Alex; Bottom – Guitarist Greg Pajer, wife Nicole Pajer & drummer Johnny Haro]

Alex Sukhoy, a globally-networked creative and business professional with nearly 20 years of corporate management experience, is founder and manager of Creative Cadence LLC, a growth planning, career development and original content agency. Alex teaches screenwriting at Tri-C and, in 2006, she was profiled in BusinessWeek.com.

Her novellas, Chatroom to Bedroom: Chicago and Chatroom to Bedroom: Rochester, New York, are currently available on Amazon. Alex is currently writing two new relationship books: The Dating GPS™, with childhood friend Anita Myers, and Diary of the Dumped™, a solo project.

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