August 24, 2003
Copyright (c) 2003. The Republican All Rights Reserved. Used by Factiva with Permission.

ART: PHOTO glenker@repub.com

With the sweltering weather the region has endured lately, it’s only fitting that this year’s transperformance is named "Southern Fried."

For the 13th consecutive year, local musicans and comedians will take the stage at Look Park’s Pines Theater impersonating their more-famous counterparts using a particular theme. This year, the South rises again, a theme that encompasses not just southern rock and country music, but also the wealth of soul, blues and even pop that has grown south of the Mason-Dixon line.

"We wanted very much to show an integrated South, a diverse South, because there have been so many great black performers and artists from diverse styles who’ve come from the region," said Bob Cilman, director of Northampton Arts Council.

The annual showcase runs Tuesday, 4-9:30 p.m. Rain date is Wednesday. The event serves as a fund-raiser to support arts enrichment in Northampton schools. Cilman stressed that with all the budget cutting in the state, this year’s show is more important than ever.

"It raises a lot of money," Cilman said. "The community has always been very supportive and this year I’m sure everyone knows how dire the situation is for schools right now."

Although many people attend to support school arts programs, many others probably just are there to have a good time. The show never seems to disappoint on that count. People still talk of certain Transperformance highlights of years past, such as Lord Russ and Aloha Steamtrain’s Iggy Pop impersonation from 2000 or The Drunk Stuntmen’s dead-on Beach Boys imitation from two years ago.

This year, The Drunk Stuntmen return as Lynyrd Skynyrd – a band they seem to resemble without trying. Another famed southern rock band, The Allman Brothers, will be portrayed by an all-star, ad hoc group calling itself The Growers. This unit includes guitar god J Mascis, along with Mark Mulcahey, Ken Maiuri, Scott Helland, Don McAulay and Kurt Fedora.

The South wouldn’t be the South without some country music legends. A new group, The Fawns, will give its take on the legendary Johhny Cash, while Ware River Club’s Matt Hebert will croon several Kenny Rogers tunes.

What may be one of this year’s highlights, however, is King Radio doing Glen Campbell. The band has recently been playing with a string section and will perform the gorgeous Jimmy Webb ballad "Witchita Lineman" which Campbell made famous.

For soul lovers, a faux Aretha Franklin will be on hand, courtesy of the Bobby Darling Band, and Al Green will be portrayed by Michael Gregory.

If a more-modern rock sound is your thing, then don’t miss School for the Dead’s send-up of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or the REM impersonation by members of Fountains of Wayne, The Maggies and Spanish for Hitchhiking.

The South also contribued to jazz, so Kim Zombik will evoke memories of the great Dinah Washington. And if you are there just to dance, Sugar Giant will lay down a southern-fried groove, calling themselves KFC and the Sunshine Band.

Last but not least, Mayor Mary Clare Higgins will portray maybe the most famous southerner in all music: Elvis Presley. In addition, several local comedians and radio personailties will serve as hosts for ths show, all in guises of comic favorites from the South. These include Kelsey Flynn as Barney Fife and Johnny Memphis as Tennessee Ernie Ford.

IF YOU GO

Event: "Transperformance 2003: Southern Fried"

When: Tuesday, 4-9:30 p.m.

Where: Pines Theater, Look Park, Northampton

Cost: $8; $5 seniors; $3 children under 12

For more info: Call (413) 587-1269

CUTLINE: (COLOR) Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins is slated to appear as The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, at the 13th annual Transperformance, titled "Southern Fried," Tuesday at Look Park’s Pines Theater.