A magical experience took over the Key Club on Wednesday night as the stage filled with stilt walkers, aerial performers, pole dancers, contortionists, hula hoop dancers, and unicyclists. The Cirque du Soleil-inspired evening, known as the Rock & Roll Freedom Show, celebrated the release of Misty Gonzales' new EP, Hummingbird. Gonzales, often referred to as the "hippie rock queen," choreographed the event with the assistance of her Freedom Child Entertainment company partner, Tom Wilson.
“I was really inspired by [Cirque du Soleil show] Beatles Love. How magical would it be if everything came to life right before your eyes—the lyrics, the visuals, the cirque act, the music—everything created right before you,” Gonzales said of her motivation for creating the event.
The Rock & Roll Freedom Show is a one-of-a-kind musical experience in which a variety of entertainers act out the story of Gonzales' music. “I believe the most powerful thing artists can use the stage for is to tell people's stories. Each act is special to me in some way; it’s either a personal story or a story someone has shared with me that I really felt passionate about.”
Wednesday’s show kicked off with 98.7 FM personality Dave Styles introducing a video that demonstrated highlights of the Wing and Prayer Foundation’s work on behalf of Haiti. Gonzales and Wilson thanked everyone for coming out, and opening artist Jory Glick (featured on Showtime’s Californication) initiated the show.
Gonzales and her band came out and performed while members of the Dream World Cirque provided the audience with an added dose of visual stimulation. As the band wowed the crowd, trapeze artists swung through the air, and girls spun around in curtains that draped from the ceiling. A unicyclist rode around and performed tricks such as jumping rope while on his bike. A table was brought out for a contortionist to stand upon and men on stilts did headstands on stage. Hula hoop artists twirled in glowing hoops and dancers bounced around on stage in front of psychedelic backdrops.
The band played a seamless set as Gonzales' vocals filled the room, revving up the audience as she interacted with the circus performers. Feisty guitar solos, peppy drum beats, and groovy baselines blended perfectly with Gonzales' bluesy rock vocals.
After the show, the Key Club’s Plush Lounge hosted an after party filled with Champagne, a red carpet, and a meet and greet with the cast. The performers chatted with members of the media and eager fans, some of whom came all the way from Cleveland to see the show.
Hummingbird is a three-song teaser for Gonzales' full-length album, Rock & Roll Freedom Show (produced by Warren Huart (The Fray, James Blunt, Daniel Powter), due out in April. A second Rock & Roll Freedom Show performance is scheduled at the Key Club for Feb. 23, and Gonzales has big plans for the show.
“I have plans to tour with just the band during the summer promoting my new album, which is also called the Rock & Roll Freedom Show. The stage show with full cirque cast will be in residency in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and London. Ideally I want to tour with the band during tour season and outside of tour season have the Rock & Roll Freedom Show as a residency in different cites so I’m performing year round,” Gonzales said.
Freedom Child Entertainment is a project that aims to bring people together through music and philanthropy. FCE recently teamed up with the Wing and a Prayer Foundation to support its efforts in providing materials, toys, computers and money to keep the Beathany Baptist Christian Church and School running in Jacmel, Haiti. Proceeds from The Rock & Roll Freedom Show are being sent to the Haiti relief charity.
Make sure to catch the next Rock & Roll Freedom Show performance at the Key Club. It's all ages and tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 with dinner reservations. Tickets are available for purchase online.
