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HONKY-TONK MEN

Midland promises fans the best night of their lives

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski 82 in Sonoita, since 1977. He graduated Mark Wystrach has high expectations for his Phoenix and Tucson shows. He promises fans one of the best from UA. “I’m a Tucson, Southern Arizona guy, through and through,” he says. This “Arizona guy” is joined in Midland by lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson and bass player/vocalist nights of their lives — “without doing Cameron Duddy. They recently released anything illegal.” an EP, “The Last Resort.”

“As a live act, we’ve built quite a “I’m particularly proud of ‘The Last reputation that speaks for itself,” Resort,’” he says. “The collection shows Wystrach says. the band’s maturation. From the theme

“We put on a show that’s not only and subject matter to actual arrangement musical but it’s an amazing interaction and sonic production, it’s a nice between the audience and the band, evolution. I love all five of those songs. and within the band itself. We never To me, the ultimate indicator is how play the same setlist either. The show they play live. itself is completely live. Whatever spirit “I got a chance to play all five live and moves you, moves me in part. It helps the audiences have loved it, and they’re guide the show to a different coloring my five favorite songs to play live. They’re or level. It is joyful. I compare it to a pretty crafty songs.” honky-tonk.” The music continues Midland’s legacy;

Arizona is special to Wystrach, as it was named new vocal group of the he grew up in Sonoita. His family has year and was nominated for group of the owned The Steak House, near Highway year at the 2020 ACM Awards.

“I’m humbled by it,” he says about awards. “It’s just like a video game. You reach a certain level and celebrate it for a few moments, then you get back to work.

“I’m incredibly grateful. It was a long journey getting here. We went through a lot of (expletive) to get here. It’s something I don’t take for granted. What I’m impressed by is people know our music. I’m impressed by our fans and how dedicated and supportive they are. They show us a lot of love. They fill up my tank quite a bit. It’s really cool, to be honest with you.”

Fans have supported “The Last Resort,” which blends thick harmonies, sad melodies, tart lyrics and steel guitar. The lead track is “Sunrise Tells the Story.”

“Getting to make music is one of the greatest joys of my life,” he says. “We have fans globally — Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Germany, Amsterdam, you name it.

“Fans have reached out to me from Africa. That is really surreal to think the music is penetrating like that. I hear how integral the music was to lift them up. For me, that’s the ultimate compliment.”

Midland

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7 WHERE: Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $39.50 INFO: 602.379.2800, arizonafederaltheatre.com

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, October 8, and Saturday, October 9 WHERE: AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: casinodelsol.com

HOT TIMES

RagDolls are ready for the big time

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Masha McSorley, bassist Lex Wolfe, W hen the Aerosmith tribute act RagDolls hits the stage, the six musicians want the drummer Marisa Testa and keyboardist Julie Dolan. “We found what we feel are the best of the best musicians,” Major says about the group’s formation. “Our first gig was at the end of March 2020 at the Whisky, audience to focus on the music. then boom, COVID. Everything was

Never mind that RagDolls are an all- either canceled or was rescheduled. The female band. year 2020 was a complete wash.

“We want the audience to feel it and “We used it to our advantage. We got enjoy it,” founder/lead singer Susie down to practicing more and putting Major says. “Let’s get past that. We’re more time into details.” there to rock you and entertain you — For Major, an Aerosmith tribute band not for the audience to say, ‘Oh, look. was a logical step. She was told she There are girlies on stage.’” should cover Heart or Pat Benatar, but

RagDolls perform for the first time Major wanted to challenge herself. in Arizona on Friday, October 1, and “I want to do things that you wouldn’t Saturday, October 2, at Casino Arizona. feel a woman’s place would be,” she

The noteworthy RagDolls have played says. “Aerosmith is a lot tougher than it fewer than 10 gigs since forming in 2019, sounds or looks. There’s just so much to thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. do musically. It’s something I respect and But their musicianship defies that. The get fully behind.” chemistry is tangible between Major, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler inspired lead guitarist Ali Handal, guitarist Major to sing, after going through Partridge Family and Broadway phases. She “needed” to be Tyler mixed with guitarist Joe Perry.

“I took a wad of my hair and tried to dye it blond in junior high,” she says with a laugh, referencing Perry’s streak in his hair. “I used bleach that you use on your arms and lost a big chunk of it.”

Major is proud of what RagDolls have accomplished.

“It feels like if this band can do an honorable homage, we can do anything,” she says. “It’s actually freeing to know that these girls play the (expletive) out of Aerosmith songs. It blows my mind every time we play together. They are so good. I’ve never known musicians who can play note for note with their own spin.”

RagDolls: A Tribute to Aerosmith

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2 WHERE: Casino Arizona’s Showroom, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $10 INFO: 480.850.7777, casinoarizona.com

HAVING ‘FAITH’

Robert Bartko keeps George Michael’s vision alive

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Robert Bartko says his George Michael Reborn act is not a gimmick. The tribute did not choose him. In fact, it was the opposite.

“From the time I was in high school, I looked like George Michael when he began to emerge on the scene,” Bartko says. “I could grow a full beard at 17. I was a football jock and sang in the drama club. Usually, those are very polarized worlds in high school.”

But friends and family saw something special — his uncanny vocal resemblance to Michael. Bartko says he felt he found his musical home.

“In 1988, I went to his big show at the Orange Bowl in Miami. I thought I was going to lose my life that night,” Bartko says about the reaction to his look.

He spent the 1990s producing songs for rock acts like Korn (“A.D.I.D.A.S. Level X Mix,” “Wicked” and “All in the Family,” which featured Fred Durst) and dance artist Stevie B.

In 2018, he saw a resurgence of his dance career. When a booking agent called him to perform, however, he said, “Man, you look and sound just like George Michael. If you could put together a George Michael act, we could book it a lot more than we could book you on your own.”

Thus George Michael Reborn was off and running.

Now, he says, fans “lose their minds” at his shows, which includes a Saturday, October 9, gig at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino. Bartko’s act is a retrospective of Wham and Michael’s careers. He says he “nails” the whole “Faith” era and, at age 51, he “does not look a day over 32.”

“I’ve been really fortunate to be able to pull off a 22-year-old George doing ‘Faith,’” he says. “I touch upon all the hits from the ‘Fantastic’ album, ‘Edge of Heaven,’ ‘Faith’ and beyond that. I concentrate most on the ‘Faith’ era.”

“They love George Michael,” he says. “They put their claws in and don’t let go for 90 minutes. Their minds go back to high school.”

George Michael Reborn

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, October 9 WHERE: Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler COST: $25 INFO: playatgila.com