Music & Art

YACHT ROCK GOLD EXPERIENCE

by Jeanni Ritchie

Now auditioning for the role of Tenille … Jeanni Ritchie!!!

That’s how I felt while hanging out with the silky-voiced Captain after Yacht Rock Gold Experience’s concert January 18 in the Mari Center at the Paragon Casino Resort. 

For nearly two hours I’d been transported in time to an era where teenagers would sit in their bedrooms, cassette recorders in hand, waiting for the radio to play their favorite songs so they could record them. 

We were the original Napsters!

With songs like Hall and Oates’ I Can’t Go For That and Rich Girl, audience members sang along in the seats or moved to the dance floor in front of the stage, reliving music from days gone by. 

Alternating lead singers, Yacht Rock Gold Experience also performed such hits as Ride Like the Wind, Horse With No Name, You Belong to Me, Say You Love Me, Stuck in the Middle, Somebody’s Baby, and my personal favorite, You’re No Good

One couldn’t help but have St. Elmo’s Fire flashbacks when Joe C. started playing Baker Street on the saxophone. Amazing!

Also blowing us away (or at least back to yesteryear) were vocalists Captain Rob and Chris, pulling double duty on the congas, and Denise and Kim, who effortlessly channeled powerful songstresses like Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks. They were backed up by stellar musicians, Amedeo (bass), Rich (keyboards), Matt (guitar), Rob (guitar), Chris (congas), the aforementioned sax player Joe C. (also on the flute/keyboards/percussion), and band leader Joe B. on drums. 

With a rotating set list on each tour stop, you’ll never see the same concert twice, though I have to imagine Steely Dan’s Reelin’ in the Years makes a regular appearance. We were all reelin’ in the years that night especially when they played Rondstadt’s Blue Bayou for the Bayou State crowd.

Performing for the last three years, the New Jersey-based band is making its way across the country playing the music we all know and love. 

I sang along to every word, forgetting I’d arrived alone to the Mari Center. Despite arena-worthy lighting and sound in the roomy showroom, it has an intimate feel that turns strangers into friends. 

Check out upcoming events at the Mari Center at paragoncasinoresort.com or look right here on 318Central.com.

The Paragon Casino Resort Mari Center is located at 711 Paragon Place, Marksville. 

yachtrockgold.com

Jeanni Ritchie is a music-loving contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com. View her video from the Paragon Casino Resort at https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2NCsp6f/

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