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Press Release ..... Kymberli Hagelberg & Wayne Miller

Subject: “A reunion of the legendary Easy Street Band”

The band that helped define the phrase 'Cleveland Rocks'  is scheduled to play again at Tangier in Akron, Ohio on November 13th, 2010.  This will be the band’s 10th appearance at Tangier. They have sold out all their previous concerts in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and 2009.  In 2002, the band headlined the opening night of the Crooked River Festival at the Riverfront Mall in Cuyahoga Falls in front of 6,000 people. In June of ‘05 the band also co-headlined a multi-band show at the Cleveland Agora.

Here's the (condensed) band history:

  • From the band’s inception in 1976 and continuing into the mid 80’s Easy Street was a top draw at local rock clubs and on tours of Canada and US cities that included: Dallas, Houston, El Paso, Denver, Miami, Daytona Beach, Tampa, Little Rock and Atlanta.

  •  Easy Street quickly became synonymous with the term ``pride of Cleveland'' at a time when the city was the center of the known radio world. The band's self-titled 1982 album ranked among WMMS' top 25 releases, sandwiched between Robert Plant and Bruce Springsteen. MSB’s Michael Stanley and Kevin Raleigh made guest appearances on this record as back-up vocalists.

  •  Easy Street shared the stage with Meatloaf, Tom Petty, Southside Johnny, .38 Special, Pat Travers, Beach Boy Carl Wilson and Joe Ely.

  • Easy Street regularly packed the house at Akron's Flying Machine and Filthy McNasty's in Kent as well as clubs from Columbus to Lorain. Nearly 2,000 kids crammed into the original Cleveland Agora every week for the band's regular Thursday spot - the attendance record remains unmatched. Easy Street held that coveted Thursday night slot for nearly 6 straight years.

  • Easy Street is still so closely identified with the glory days of local rock and roll that band's self-titled album, bumper sticker and hat were a part of the set on ABC TV's Drew Carey Show. Drew, as always has an open invitation (and an open microphone waiting) to join the band at its reunion shows.

  • Easy Street was recently featured in a 2005 KSU documentary about the original Cleveland Agora.

  • Easy Street released a CD in 2002 that featured all the songs from their original 1982 vinyl EP and 10 songs that were never before recorded.

    Show details:
    The band will be broken up into two groups for the upcoming show. The first version of the band will open the night by playing the old favorites from the “early years”. That group will consist of: Westside Steve Simmons & Gary Krizo (lead vocals), Bob Martin (bass), Robin Harris (guitar), Bob Wallace (drums), John Marsek (guitar), Andy Henkel (sax) and Tim Longfellow (keyboards).

    They will be followed by the “album band” that will perform all of Easy Street’s original material as well as a number of well-known signature tunes. That group will consist of: Westside Steve Simmons & Gary Krizo (lead vocals), Bob Martin (bass), Russ Hagler (guitar and vocals), Tim Longfellow (keyboards), Bones Bonam (guitar) and Ronnie Gillard (drums). We will also be featuring a horn section consisting of Norm Tischler, Andy Henkel & Eddie Vidmar on sax, Jim Pica on trumpet and Dr. David Bowe* on trombone.
     

....KH & WM.....