Alameda County Fair Concert Preview

Live music lovers rejoice! The 2010 Alameda County Fair is open and featuring a gamut of musical talents representing the best of then and now.  

The lineup, with free shows at 6 and 8 p.m., promises unique daily performances and a wide range of family friendly shows for people of all ages.  

Simply previewing a concert event isn't enough for us at Patch.com, so we decided to jack in some headphones, crank the volume and find out a little more about the bands on the schedule.

Tonight

Tower of Power: Pure, unadulterated funk, in the vein of Funkadelic and James Brown. Horns and keyboards prominently compliment obscure and extremely catchy guitar patterns and snappy drum riffs. This is a jam band at its very core, taking any and all of the necessary time needed to let every musician flaunt their improvisational chops. Catchy, light, soulful and most importantly, fun as all hell. We guarantee they'll rock the stage, so if in the mood to bob your head and stomp your feet, you'll be there.

Sunday

Diana Reyes: Traditional Hispanic music spiced up with some really impressive vocal work, Diana Reyes has a voice almost as beautiful as she is. If you miss the likes of Selena and like the horn-infused tones of traditional Latin music, paying Diana Reyes a visit this Sunday may be worth your while.

Monday

Natalie Grant: Soul searching, romantic ballods make up the majority of Natalie Grant's song library; and she's damn good at what she does! Her voice is just a slight pitch below the norm, with a hint of raspy-ness that is actually quite endearing and sets her apart from your usual R&B affairs. She also looks shockingly like a younger Heather Locklear — no complaints here. 

Wednesday

Evolution: Don't stop believin' that bands won't emulate rock legends Journey until the end of time, but this particular group actually does a pretty good job--the lead singer hits a lot of those high notes made famous by Steve Perry, and the band doesn't skimp out on the solos or colorful musical ensembles either. And, for a lot of younger folk, this could be the first time experiencing Journey's music on a live stage.

July 1

Crystal Gale: Calm, lyrically positive, relaxing tunes accompanied by some pretty incredible vocals. If you're looking for an excuse to slow dance with your partner, (or you're just in bad mood and need a pick-me-up) expect some relaxation July 1.  

July 2

Little Feat: If you were to tell me, "This band Little Feat totally rocks," I'd respond, "What?" Puzzling name or not, these rock veterans have been slaying stages since the early '70s and don't sound like they've lost an ounce of steam yet. An amazingly catchy blend of the Allman Brothers and the Steve Miller band with a pinch of some Mississipi Delta Blues, Little Feat offers some truly fresh tracks tucked deeply away in the roots of good ol' fashioned rock 'n' roll. And, if you're anything like us, you'll find something sacred in seeing a band rock a stage live after more than 40 years in the business. Check 'em out. 

July 3

Confunkshun: Smooth, baby. Confunkshun brings the soul, offering some mellow tempo soul that'll zap you back to the '80s faster than you can say "Barry White." In contrast, Conkunshun has quite a few toe-tapping funk ballads that'll put you in the mood to bust-a-move. When the drums dim, a heavy Mo-Town influence keeps the tone popping regardless of the slowed tempo; if you've been looking to settle down with your special lady and have a few kids, this baby making music will aid you immensely.

July 4

Blues Festival: Every year the fair celebrates the Fourth with the help of the Bay Area Blues Society and an all-day lineup of the blues. From noon to 8 p.m., catch acts including B.B. King Tribute artist Big Daddy Cade (3 p.m.); Sonny Rhodes (6 p.m.), who has for four decades wowed the Blues world with his legendary Texas sound; and Bobby Rush (7 p.m.), who got his start in Chicago at age 13. Some of his well known releases include "Chicken Heads," "Lovin' A Big Fat Woman" and "ColdHearted Woman." 

July 5

Newsboys: This Grammy Award-nominated band is famous for its Christian pop rock sound. Founded in Australia in 1985 the Newsboys have released 14 studio albums and have been one of the most popular Christian music artists of the past two decades.

July 7

Beatlemajesty: A Beatles tribute band. 'Nuf said.

July 8

Grand Funk Railroad: This is what I'm talking about. Cuh-lassic rock, to its very core, heavily influenced by legends like Cream, Creedence and Hendrix. It ain't easy uttering those three names in a single sentence, especially when using them to describe a band's general sound, so see them. They rock. 

July 9

Tonic: Etched into the annals of '90s alternative music with the hit singles, "If You Could Only See" and "Open Up Your Eyes" (sick ass guitar solo in this one), Tonic offers an interesting blend of hard rock tones with some soulful bends and distorted riffs. If anything, they're an awesome reminder that no less than 15 years ago, good rock music could actually make it in the mainstream, before being knocked into oblivion by talentless idiots wearing eye shadow and women's jeans. Maybe we're just old fashioned, but we can bet they'll rock that stage on July 9, and hopefully remind the newer generation of musicgoers that rock wasn't always made for pansies.   

July 10

Lonestar: This country ensemble made a huge splash in 2007 with the smash hit, "Amazed," and it's still cranking out tunes for the country aficionados. They play well together and really lay the romance on hard, so if you've been planning a hot date, maybe this is your chance to show her your softer side. Bring flowers, Kleenex and a couple of lighters to wave whimsically in the air.

July 11

War: Oakland bred rock/funk/soul gods War will make a special appearance on the final day of the fair, to ensure that the event ends with some soulful funk that'll have you snapping your fingers hours after the concert is over. These guys rock hard.