If the names Mark McGrath, Kevin Griffin and Emerson Hart don’t ring a bell, how about the names of the bands they led: Sugar Ray, Better than Ezra and Tonic?
If you’re still coming up empty, check out the long list of alt-pop hits these acts released in the late 1990s. Sugar Ray might have had the biggest impact of this trio, with bouncy stuff like “Fly,” “Every Morning,” “Someday” and “When It’s Over.”
Better than Ezra was a tad moodier, especially with the stuff on its excellent “Deluxe” album like “In the Blood,” “Good” and “This Time of Year.”
Tonic became best known for “If You Could Only See” but had many others.
Combined, they had 18 No. 1 singles.
All of this is a reminder that McGrath, Griffin and Hart have formed a sort of supergroup, dubbed Ezra Ray Hart, and they will perform at Packard Music Hall at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The 90s Hits and Xmas Riffs tour will feature songs by all three bands and some Christmas favorites.
The acts put a total of 18 songs at the top of the chart, so this retro act package will be a hit parade that brings back memories.
If you want to hear the three artists explain what they’re up to, go to EzraRayHart.com and click on the video.
For tickets to the concert, click HERE.
Warren Zeiders
The latest example of Covelli Centre booking a country artist just before he becomes a breakout star is Warren Zeiders, who will play the Youngstown arena Friday.
Zeiders was originally scheduled to open for Tim McGraw at Wean Park in 2024, but that Y-Live concert was postponed until September of this year.
Warren Zeiders will come to Covelli Centre on Friday.
And because Zeiders had already booked his own solo tour, he had to bow out. Which is even better, because now we will get to see him do an unabbreviated concert as the headliner.
After Friday’s concert, the Hershey, Pa., native will wrap up his current tour Saturday in his hometown. Then, he’ll launch a new one in the spring that will be followed by another jaunt to Europe in October.
Chayce Beckham will open for Zeiders at Covelli. A limited number of seats are still available. Click HERE.
The 26-year-old Zeiders won the 2024 CMT Award for Breakthrough Male Music Video of the Year for “Pretty Little Poison,” which was also his first No. 1 single.
He released the 21-track album “Relapse, Lies & Betrayal” earlier this year.
The man from chocolate town also expanded his artistry with a string of faith-inspired releases, including a stirring rendition of the classic hymn “How Great Thou Art” and his original single, “Only Bible.”
Also on Tap
Birdfish Brewing Co. of Columbiana is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It will screen a new film that tells its story at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Nov. 20) at Columbiana Arts Theater. Admission is free. For information, click HERE.
Anthony LaMarca of The War on Drugs, who is also a Valley resident, will play songs from his new solo album, “Weapon,” at 8 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Also on the bill are Lee Boyle of Third Class and Gutter Sparrow. Learn more HERE.
For a complete look at everything going on in the Mahoning Valley, check out The List.
Pictured at top: Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Kevin Griffin of Better than Ezra and Emerson Hart of Tonic have teamed up for a tour that will play Packard Music Hall on Saturday.
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