The Joe Cocker Experience was an idea that rushed into being after members of the group heard the now lead singer, Danny Bee, perform on stage one night a few years ago.
His voice and mannerisms are so much like Joe Cocker’s, they say, it made their heads spin. At that point it was a matter of building the band around him and after a serious vetting process, there are nine people on stage.
You can hear them on Saturday, March 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.
They have re-created the band that Cocker used on his last tour and more specifically the band he used in Cologne, Germany on April 22, 2013.
The music is all Cocker and sung only like Joe could. Songs like ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’, ‘Leave Your Hat On’, ‘The Letter’, to name a few anchor the show, and it also includes songs off his latest album Fire It Up — which shares the name of his last tour.
Tribute groups work hard to present the small details fans love to remember and the Joe Cocker Experience offers everything you would expect from a live performance from the great singer himself.
We’re talking a rhythm and blues spectacular here, so, in addition to bass, drums, and guitar, the band has a horn section, two keyboard players, and two female vocalists who are lead singers in their own right.
The result is an all-star band who’ve shared the stage with the likes of TIME - Pink Floyd Tribute, Big River - Johnny Cash Tribute, the Shagadelics, Wunderbread, Paul Laine and Darkhorse, Jerry Doucette, and Brian McLeod just to name a few.
The band is made up of Danny Bee on lead vocals, Daryl Marklinger on lead guitar, Ron McKee on bass guitar, Chantal Richard on backing and lead vocals, Kristi Kell on backing and lead vocals, Rick McDonough on piano/keyboards, Earle Gibson on Hammond organ, keyboards, and trombone, Steve Jones on sax, percussion, acoustic guitar, and vocals, and Gerry Pool on drums.
The Joe Cocker Experience will be at Cowichan Theatre on March 16. Find the band on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Joe-Cocker-Experience-Tribute-Band-1271512909525451/ and www.thejoecockerexperience.ca
Seats are $38.50 apiece. Get them online at https://ctcentre.bc.ca/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=2500 or call the Cowichan Ticket Centre at 250-748-7529 to reserve.
lexi.bainas@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
