Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/13059
L ooks might not give it away, but the placid, blue waters and forested hills of Irvine Lake are slowly becoming the rock Mecca of Silverado Canyon. For the second year in a row, this revered fishing reservoir, tucked away in eastern Orange County, is home to the Legends of Rock, a concert commemorating the world's biggest rock gods with a line-up of sharply skilled tribute bands on July 10 from 2 PM. to 9 PM. From pitch-perfect guitar wails to sweaty live energy and spandex pants, the Legends of Rock brings you bands from across LA and OC as part of Irvine Lake's summer concert series. The line-up reads like a list of rock's most celebrated carbon copies: Atomic Punks (Van Halen Tribute), Aeromyth (Aerosmith Tribute), Christina Vierra (Janis Joplin Tribute), The Long Run (Eagles Tribute), Rolling the Stone (Rolling Stone Tribute) and Bon Fire (early AC/DC Ttribute). Though this is one of the Lake's newest summer events, the venerable bands that inspired the show are sure to make this event an instant classic with those who yearn for blaring, fist-pumping nostalgia at its finest. Rocking in front of a lush, forest backdrop headliner the Atomic Punks, are a popular return attraction from last year's festival. And trust us, there's a reason. With the frightening ability to fully engulf themselves in the wild and wooly decadence of the David Lee Roth era, the Punks have traversed the stages of LA and Orange County since their formation in 1994 and are frequently labeled the "best Van Halen cover band in the world." Normally, it's easy to be skeptical of any tribute band's claims of world domination. But in this case, it's hard to argue with the official stamp of approval from former members of VH, including bassist Mark Anthony, Sammy Hagar and Diamond Dave himself. Led by the electrifying antics of DLR impersonator Brian Geller, AP members Lance Turner (guitar), Joe Lester (bass), and Scott Patterson (drums) are sure to have you doing double takes during their renditions of classics like "Panama," "Runnin' with the Devil," complete with air splits, searing guitar and rumbling rhythms. For decades now, the OC remains a haven for local tribute band talent. Case and point, Huntington Beach's aptly named Aerosmith tribute band, Aeromyth. Offering a comprehensive set list of songs from Aerosmith's past and present, the Myth do their damnedest to satisfy true fans with the bold balladry, open shirt eye candy and yes, even the lips of Steven Tyler himself. Fronted by vocalist Chris VanDahl--a dead ringer for Tyler-- the band has traveled around the country playing everything from the casino circuit gigs to packed stadiums of 10,000 people as a supporting act for national headliners like Fuel, the Darkness, and Styx. The Legends of Rock also includes the aura of one of rock's unforgettable female forces- Janis Joplin. Inhabited by the rough, gravelly soul of the late, Texas- born legend, LA vocalist Christine Vierra (noted front woman of Joplin cover band Mama Pearl) brings a spine-tingling free spirit to classic Joplin tunes like "Cry Baby" and "Piece of My Heart" delivered with the same reckless abandon that drew original fans to Joplin during her ground breaking '60s hey day. Of course the entire show would be remiss without the inclusion of the Rolling Stones, or in this case, Rolling the Stone. Though the band has plenty of imitators, pulling off the supreme swagger of this British super power is no easy affair. Yet this humorous bunch have a well-honed sense of each member of the band they portray, right down to the hip shaking moves and funny surnames of vocalist Mick Jagged, guitarist Keith Riff-hard, drummer Charlie Swatts, bassist Bill Why-man, and guitarist Ronnie B. Goode. The Legends of Rock line-up is rounded off by the epic talents of Bon Fire, proud practitioners of the of early AC/DC during the time of their original vocalist, the late Bonn Scott as well as seasoned LA Eagles tribute band, The Long Run. As the summer season officially kicks off, the Legends of Rock Tour is the first exciting live music explosion at Irvine Lake that will also include the 5th Annual Woodstock '69 Concert and the 13th Annual Blues Festival. Legends of Rock at Irvine Lake July 10, 2010 By: Nate Jackson LIVEMAGS.NET JULY>>10 43