'The Who’s Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry' takes stage Thursday at MSU Riley Center
For sheer fun, this is hard to beat. The HillBenders Present "The Who’s Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry" will be coming to the MSU Riley Center on Thursday [May 11] at 7:30 p.m.
The award-winning bluegrass quintet The HillBenders, from Springfield, Missouri, will play the famous rock opera “Tommy” in its entirety. “Pinball Wizard,” “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “See Me, Feel Me,” and all the other songs will get high-energy reinterpretations from five brilliant musicians.
The HillBenders have always incorporated elements of rock-and-roll, jazz, funk and other styles into their music while still winning respect from bluegrass purists for their instrumental skills, tight vocal harmonies and exuberant stage presence.
“A lot of people, even at the more traditional festivals, tell us, ‘You guys are so fun to listen to!’” said Dobro player Chad Graves.
Whatever they try, The HillBenders give it their all. “If the music isn’t played with intensity, you can tell,” said mandolin player Nolan Lawrence. “You have to play the music with that passion or it just isn’t going to sound right.”
For fans of: The Who, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Trampled by Turtles
Tickets are $22 and $16 at the MSU Riley Center Box Office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and an hour before showtime on the day of the show. Tickets can be purchased online at www.msurileycenter.com or by phone through the box office at (601) 696-2200.
