Urban Legend Show Review
The festivities began in earnest with a soulful set from local
R&B superstars, Urban Legend. Lead singer Lisa McDavid
had the room in the palm of her hand. Her ballsy rendition of
Aretha’s “Think” was just one of the highlights.”
Deborah Kennedy Whatzup Magazine 2.24.2011
Commenting on Urban Legends set at 2010 Whammy Awards Show
Fort Wayne Indiana- The above listed quote is just one of the highlights that the press has been sending out about the Fort Wayne band Urban Legend. Formed in the fall of 2007, singer Lisa McDavid, drummer Mike DuPuis, and bassist Mark Gevaart started work on the project to put together an old school Soul, R&B and Rock cover band that would ultimately work into an “Old School/New Skool” entertainment show. The band includes a solid rhythm section in Dupuis and Gevaart. They maintain the back beat while the exceptional talents of Matt Schory on Guitar and vocals and Mike Rogers on Keyboards and Organ sprinkle in on top. Fronted by three extremely talented singers in Lisa McDavid, Lisa Mertz and Paul “Shady” Grady, they could sing the assembly directions to a new bike, acappalla, and give you chills.
On February 19th we had the chance to see the band play at the “sold out” (2,400 seats) Embassy Theatre in downtown Fort Wayne. They shared the bill with 4 other bands and we must say every singer and musician that graced the historic Embassy stage that night was outstanding. But we came to see Urban Legend play this particular February night. They were truly placed in the right position on the bill that night, going third of the five groups. They were a flower between the rocks on the stage at Down The Line 5. The show was a fund raiser for The Embassy Theatre Foundation and the 2011 event met all its hype, in aces. The “rocks” we referred to were local bands that played a true rock style as they covered The Cure, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty and The Beatles. But this night Urban Legend chose to cover the infamous Earth Wind & Fire. “That was our idea from the outset, not to play it safe” stated singer Lisa McDavid. “We wanted to challenge ourselves, and beat the expectations of our fans, while generating new fans” she continued.
The band did not wait for a second and seized the moment by jumping into Shining Star without hesitation. People in our seating area started clapping along. Next they brought it down a notch, covering the ballad, That’s The Way of The World. That song has been a favorite of ours and many around us as the cheers showed. But we would be remiss if we did not mention the astute guitar work of the young Matt Schory. For a man in his 20’s he has command of the tone and needed guitar phrasing on these particular songs, this night. His guitar solo on That’s The Way of The World was spot on, “just like the record, man.” While the cheers hung in the air the rhythm section jumped into September. Now here is a true test, they did not have a horn section, but we have to say that Keyboard player Mike Rogers was a “killer” all night. He held true to the sound and filled in the gaps of a song with strings, horns, organ and piano in a way that enabled the band to seriously “pull it off” that night. Mike Rogers must have four hands. He was everywhere that night and proved a cover band can do the songs of a thirteen piece band, if Mike Rogers is playing “Keys.” September brought the people to their feet, for the first time that night, and people were dancing in the aisles. The harmonies on the two songs played by then had everyone enchanted. But by the time they launched into September they were ready to get up and move. It could be the wine and beer had kicked in too, but they got up to dance none-the less.
Next they played After The Love Has Gone, many focused on listening to the voices as they sang. The sweet male tenor of Paul “Shady” Grady was so nice in the song (all the songs for that matter) without being over the top. He adeptly swung through his parts and intertwined his voice with the strong sopranos of Lisa Mertz and Lisa McDavid. Lisa Mertz brings a bright and varied range of vocal talent and shined throughout the evening. The singers were obviously calm and comfortable with all of these songs and their layered vocal parts, the work they did in rehearsal prior to this show played well that night. Lisa McDavid took the second verse of the song to another level, delivering the song like no one had ever heard it done. She belted out her verse, “for a while, to love each other was all” she started her belt. A lady behind us swore; “holy s…” she said “that is it” she continued, with whoops and cheers from others around us. When they moved into the chorus the applause came in appreciation of the strong vocal solo they had just witnessed by McDavid. All three of those voices singing the chorus “and oh, after the love has gone, what used to be right is wrong, oh oh oh oh oh.” Oh my God, many of us in attendance were not ready for what we were hearing. We had heard this band, but not like this, not this beautiful.
Next they shot into Sing a Song and delivered it as only they could do it, flawlessly and with energy. That was followed by Serpentine Fire, which kept the hype of the set going. The front of house mix was very well done and the drums sounded great. When Dupuis on drums and Gevaart on bass held down the popping rhythm of Serpentine Fire, Schory and Rogers piled on heaping helpings of guitar and horns. Making a thick sauce the vocalists could wade through delivering a tasty version of a song few bands ever attempt to do.
They then dove headlong into Let’s Groove, the house erupted in applause and cheers when the mirror ball was lowered from the wings above the band, the house was lit up like no other time that night. The feel from the stage was matched by the “dance jam” the audience was feeling and they were becoming Urban Legend fans, the hook was set and the band was reeling the audience in. To close the show they covered the 1978 Grammy winner for Best Instrumental Arrangement, Got to Get You Into My Life, Earth Wind & Fires cover of the Beatles Classic. It was a vocal and guitar show down as they sang around the hot leads Schory played. A great hand clapping ending to the fastest half hour of entertainment we have ever seen.
Show Review written by the band, with help from our fans, old and new. (Yep, we wrote that. 3/2011)