Tally Ho Theater was built in 1931 in Leesburg, Virginia in the heart of “hunt country” (the name Tally Ho is a nod to the huntsman’s cry to the hounds on a sighting of a fox). It was originally built as a single screen theater; Tally Ho closed in 2000 when Regal Cinemas lost their lease. Renovations took place and two years later the theater opened as a twin movie house used for mainstream and art house movies. In 2013 the Tally Ho became a performing arts center presenting live performances and music. It’s a cool venue and the parking garage is next door, which makes it ultra convenient in the area.
I wandered into the Tally Ho Theater on May 25th to cover the “Songs and Stories” tour, an evening with Art Alexakis of Everclear, Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne, Max Collins of Eve 6, and John Wozniak of Marcy Playground. Prior to the kick off the evening, the guys had a special VIP meet and greet with fans on the upper balcony.
Alexakis, the charismatic multi-platinum front-man from Everclear, hosted a unique and intimate night filled with a one of a kind opportunity for concert goers. Hit songs were sung, special requests were done, Q&A as well as some good ole bantering with band mates as well as the audience. Art invited three of his friends to join him on stage: fellow platinum artists Collingwood, Collins, and Wozniak. Each of the front men performed stripped down versions of their band’s hits as well as new releases. Concert goers got to take a “look” inside a celebrity’s life on the road: they spoke candidly about the crazy nights of crashing hotels, playing a piano in a hotel lobby in a birthday suit, and bout the time that not one person noticed who they were when arriving at a hotel. This truly was an awesome part of the show, not many know what actually goes on “behind closed doors” and life on the road definitely has its ups as well as it downs.
Wozniak joined Collingwood on stage while Collingwood sang Stacy’s Mom, Wozniak danced and got the crowd singing. A few more notable favorites the crowd wanted to hear were “Father of Mine,” “Sex and Candy,” “Santa Monica,” and “I Will Buy you new Life.” During the show, Alexakis announced that he was going to release his first ever solo album, distributed by The End Records.
Alexakis will be donating $1 per ticket sold at each show to https://sweetrelief.org/
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while they face illness, disability or age related issues. Through “Healing Musicians in Need” you can bid on signed guitars from The Doobie Brothers and Hozier, ticket to an Eric Clapton show in Las Vegas, a meet and greet with Theory of a Deadman and more! Check out the site, we rely heavily on musicians in our time of need or wants, isn’t time we give back to these musicians?
