Published: August 21, 2008 10:37 am            

MUSIC: Money plays Falls this weekend

By Nick Mendola



Campaign season is kicking into high gear, and there's a third party trumpeting his resume as the electorate gathers to crown new royalty.

The new candidate is none other than “Easy” Eddie Money, and he wants no part of Washington. His aspirations lie just down the I-90 in Cleveland, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“I think there are two sides to Eddie Money,” the rocker said in advance of his free 5 p.m. Saturday show outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls. “There’s the side that wants to stay true to his craft and the side that wants to sell records. I think (the commercial side) is what’s keeping me out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Time hasn’t slowed the ambition or mouth of the New York City native, who celebrated his 60th birthday in March. In addition to performing hit songs like “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise,” Money used 2007 to put out an album of the songs he grew up playing in top 40 bars.

The aptly-titled “Wanna Go Back” features a slew of sing-alongs, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Build Me Up, Buttercup” and “Mockingbird.” The proceeds go to a pediatric AIDS foundation, a group dear to Money.

“These kids are born with HIV, and they never had promiscuous sex, or stuck a dirty needle in their arm,” he said.

The aim and the songs are all parts of a rock and roll revue Money bills as a family act, with his daughter singing backup, and his parents in his mind.

“I’m just Anne Mahoney’s son. There are a lot of rock stars that screw it all up. I make sure the guys don't swear on stage. I make sure the women keep their tops on. You got little kids at these shows. Once I became a father, I understood that.”

Whether the tops are flying off, or mercifully glued on, Ms. Mahoney’s son is pumped to play the area, describing Buffalo as “a great little rock and roll town,” and proferring similar sentiments in the Falls’ direction.

When you’re talking with Money, it’s all colorful, all the time, from the reason he passed on becoming a police officer like many in his family, even though he passed the test (“My hair was getting really good in the back”) to his time-tested catalogue (“Will Smith is a big fan of mine. It’s a real feather in my cap”), New York hasn't left him, and he's still hanging out here, too.

Money’s been everywhere, from “King of Queens” to “Grand Theft Auto.” His music’s in our jukeboxes, and outside the boxing ring.

“Oscar de la Hoya, he warms up to Eddie Money music,” Money said. “That’s a real treat. Imagine sitting down and having Keith Richards come singing one of your songs to you. It's amazing.”

It all comes back to the campaign for Money, and he talks a pretty good game. If Madonna, Mellencamp and The Righteous Brothers can toss their pop in a museum in Cleveland, why not a guy who toured with The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac, plying his craft on Saturday Night Live and The Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack?

Maybe he's just missing the scandalous stories?

“Whether Mick Jagger or Peter Townshend (of The Who), I got along with everyone,” Money said. “You go out with big acts, you learn something. Everybody’s got a bag of tricks —monkey see, monkey do. I was always very appreciative that I was on a show with these people.”

Come on, Eddie, there has to be something raucous in your past, right?

“We went with out with .38 Special and one of these guys’ wives said I was hitting on her, which I wasn’t,” Money said. “Next thing I know I got this guy in my face.”

Ever the politician, Money offers that the woman was truly a nice lady, and that should serve him well in the primaries.

After all, Cleveland, he just wants you to take him home, preferably tonight.



IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Eddie Money with John McLaughlin, John Peter Lewis, Agent Me and Wenzday Atemz

* WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday

* WHERE: Hard Rock Cafe, 333 Prospect St., Niagara Falls

* MORE INFORMATION: Call 282-0007 or visit www.hardrock.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.