The Lonely Ones rock the Newport Music Hall with the help of Sunflower Dead and CO-OP!!!

Putting 2020 behind us is becoming easier. The fact that concerts are slowly coming back is helping many of us.  Despite having to get the COVID vaccine to most likely gain access to indoor venues, it was on my to do list. I, like many folks, figured that it was going to be needed to see live music. As it turned out the vaccine was indeed needed. You could have also garnered entry with a simple negative test.

Such was the case for The Lonely Ones show at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus last Saturday night. But the band made the double poke in the arm well worth it. The quartet turned in an outstanding performance in the renowned venue that left myself and many more, begging for more.

Formed when Bobaflex original member, Shawn McCoy, decided it was time to stop touring and spending more time with his daughter. As a tribute, the remaining foursome decided to go on and changed their name to The Lonely Ones. Marty McCoy (guitar, vocals), Tommy Johnson (drums), Jymmy Toland (bass, vocals) and Jake Earley (guitar, vocals) agreed that it wouldn’t be right to carry on with the name without Shawn.

Saturday’s show was every bit as entertaining as any Bobaflex show I have ever attended. I was a little worried that the band would miss Shawn’s energy. However, as it turned out, that would not be the case at all. Energy was at a high level from not only the band but the crowd as well.

That energy seemed to substantially rise when they played their latest single “Change The Station” and their rendition of Queen’s “Flash”. The entire set was simply amazing and has me excited about finding another show near me.

All I can say is, if you see The Lonely Ones on a marquee near you, do yourself a favor at get a ticket. And don’t forget the vaccination or at least get that test if need be.

Two bands that I was seeing for the first time opened the evening’s festivities. CO-OP, out of the Phoenix, Arizona area and Orange County, California’s Sunflower Dead made at least one new fan. Both bands got the fans revved up for the headliner.

Both veteran bands have been touring for years and have shared the stage

with a who’s who of rock. Each turned in a set that was powerful and had the walls of the Newport shaking. They both grabbed the audience’s attention with their sound and held it with their classic showmanship.

It was a great night of rock-n-roll that took me away from the reality of the times. Until next time. This is Big L saying ‘keep those horns up and rock on’!! \

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