Fri 3/3 @ 8PM
It’s a little hard to know what to make of the band Ravenwood, fronted by Canton native Joe Vitale Jr., based on the promotion they put out. It trumpets “TRIUMPH. OVER. ADVERSITY” and says “For the past two decades, Joe has been clawing his way through the jungle-like terrain of the music scene—even if it means he has to crawl.”
His father is, of course, drummer Joe Vitale, a legendary sideman to the stars. In his 55-year career he’s played with all of Crosby, Still, Nash and Young, Joe Walsh, the Eagles, Peter Frampton, Dan Fogelberg, Boz Scaggs, Bill Wyman and on and on. And jr. counts among his credits work as a percussionist and engineer for Steve Stills Band, Crosby Stills & Nash and Joe Walsh, making him something of a “nepo baby” to use a trendy term. In any case, he had the rare chance to learn from the best before striking out on his own.
He’s put out three albums on his own over the years, 2008’s Dancing with Shadows, 2012’s The Virulent Stain and 2020’s Ravenous 2020. And the music is good, solid rock & roll with great chops that would have slipped in easily as openers for many 70s arena acts. The promotion says Ravenwood is a blend of alternative and industrial and “is posed to lead the aural revolution,” so maybe he’s changed his sound a lot on the new album the band will debut this weekend titled Unsympathtic Vibrations.
You can judge for yourself at Akron Civic Theatre’s Knight Stage. It should be a rockin’ night. Get tickets here.