LEWISTON – The Franco Center plans to host Runnin’ Down a Dream: The Tom Petty Tribute Band at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at 46 Cedar St.
This Maine-based band includes members Mike Boucher on lead vocals and guitar; Harry Coddington on lead guitar; Roger Howard on drums; Marty Mclellan on guitar and vocals; and Steve Brown on keyboard and vocals. For over 40 years, Tom Petty created timeless classics with the “Heartbreakers,” “Mudcrutch,” “The Traveling Wilburys,” and released solo albums until his unfortunate death in 2017.
When five veteran musicians from Maine, with local and national experience, play Petty’s music together, the feeling, meaning, and very soul of these songs are undeniable. “Our show faithfully replicates the style and feel of a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert, allowing the audience to experience the music of this extraordinary artist,” said Roger Howard, according to a news release from the Franco Center.
Mike Boucher started playing Tom Petty songs in his high school cover band. During the 1990s, Boucher began to focus his talents on song writing and has continued to sing and play his music for audiences on the East and West coasts.
In 2007, Boucher called on Harry Coddington to lend his versatile guitar-playing talents to the alt-country band The Gaffers. Most recently, Boucher has been performing around the Portland area with his roots rock band Jeezum Crow. B
Coddington started playing guitar shortly after seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964 when he was six years old. Initially, he was impressed by the bands of the 1960s and ’70s such as Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cream, The Hollies, The Zombies, The Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, Derek & The Dominos, and the Allman Brothers. He also loved country and instrumental bands such as Johnny Cash, The Ventures, Willy Nelson, The Hellecasters, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, The New Nashville Cats, and Johnny Hiland.
Marty Mclellan made his debut at a coffee house performing covers of Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Jim Croce and James Taylor at Hobart College in Geneva, New York in 1982. Following that gig, he was fortunate to hook up with a local musicians club and formed his first band, Xtra Stok.
Steve Brown’s music career began in the late 1970s when he joined the band White Water in Central Maine playing a beat-up old Wurlitzer electric piano. This led to a brief Holiday Inn tour with an Elvis Presley tribute show.
Tickets cost $30 in advance or $35 at the door day of show and can be purchased online at francocenter.org or by phone at 207-689-2000.
Tickets also can be purchased in person at the box office between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
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