“It’s a Love Weekend.”
EAST PEORIA— Playing the music of Karen Carpenter, Lisa Rock and her 6-piece band packed Illinois Central College’s Performing Arts Center on Aug. 31 with fans of Carpenter’s love songs for the first show of the 2013-2014 guest artist series at ICC.
The night was filled with laughter and applause for both the band and for the couples in the audience celebrating their anniversaries. After finding three who were celebrating 40 or more years together, Rock announced, “It’s a love weekend.”
Of the three, Larry and Diane Criswell of Kickapoo, received tickets from their daughter, a former ICC student, who purchased the tickets for their 40th anniversary. Diane Criswell mentioned that they were big fans and had even played Carpenter’s “We’ve Only Just Begun” at their wedding in 1973.
Larry Criswell expressed that he thoroughly enjoyed the performance and noted about Rock that, “In her deeper voice [she] sounded just like Karen.”
The stage was donned with more instruments than there were players, showing the musical prowess of the band. All through the night, the audience was challenged to keep track of how many Dave Orlicsz played. The number reached 8, with the introduction of a harmonica, saxophone and a clarinet. For some songs, he juggled three instruments at once, all hanging from his neck (playing them at different times of course.)
Near the end of the show, most of the band members switched instruments and the rock guitar appeared on stage for the first time in the hands of Justin Boller who played a solo that provoked applause before he could finish.
“It’s still alive and I love what a beautiful song it is,” Rock said before playing their title song, “Close To You.”
After the show, Rock stood in the lobby and spoke with the audience members and explained that she loves what she does. “This is the goal. Find something you love and get paid to do it.”
Rock’s band will be touring all over the country to play Carpenter’s classics. You know it’s a classic “when you know something you didn’t know you knew.” The next stop: Austin, Texas.