Twice The Rock!

Medina's Rally in the Alley now starts at 5 p.m. with hot opening bands.

By: Mitch Allen
Date: 05/18/2008
Scroll Down for the Complete Rally Schedule

Growing up in the deep south of Phenix City, Alabama in the 1970s, I was a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. Ronnie Van Zant could have run for governor from beyond the grave (and won) and the name “Neil Young” was practically synonymous with “William Tecumseh Sherman.”

Living in Northeast Ohio for 17 years has helped change my social consciousness, but not my taste in music.

I still love Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Last year I saw them at Blossom. I paid way too much for tickets and listened to what amounted to a delayed broadcast as I stood on the lawn waiting to hear my favorite songs. They didn’t come. The performance felt rushed, and when it was over I sincerely thought it was intermission. It was that short.

Then I went to see Vicious Cycle (a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band) at Medina’s Rally in the Alley. Not only were the tickets free, but this band rocked! The performance was raw, genuine, and—long. In fact, these guys played Freebird (the Dixie national anthem)—twice.

It was my first Rally. My wife had a business function that night so I went alone. I made a dozen new friends, swayed softly in the mosh pit to Simple Man and (as I was later told) let out at least one authentic Rebel yell.

“That’s exactly what the Rally is all about,” exclaims Rally in the Alley founder Gary Quesada when he hears my story. “Remembering the music, getting in touch with the real sound before corporate conglomerates got involved.”

Today’s popular bands are tempted to present the same homogenous performance time and again across the nation—at ticket prices so high you have to be rolling in the dough if you wanna rock and roll.

But Gary, a champion of rock, reggae and blues, rejects “corporate-style concerts” in favor of natural, raw, high energy rock and roll you can find in only one place: Medina’s weekly Friday night Rally in the Alley.
Because the event is free and open to the public, the crowd is incredibly eclectic. Dad brings the kids. Mom brings her girlfriends. You’ll see twenty- and thirty-somethings and their grandparents. “The music transcends generations,” adds Gary.

And this year, you’ll get twice the rock and roll for your free admission. That’s because the Rally will open at 4:30 p.m. and an opening band will begin playing at 5:00. The headliner takes the stage for the first time from 7:30 to 8:30. Then there’s a break so you can enjoy the community band concert on the square.

Also different this year is the addition of food tents, including delicious smoked barbeque, and new merchandise tents featuring t-shirts, caps, mugs, bandannas, and other Rally gear. There are also plenty of sponsor giveaways, like t-shirts, jackets and sweatshirts.

According to Gary, who is also the owner of the popular Main Street Café which presents the weekly event, there are three reasons for the Rally in the Alley—to invite people to come experience Medina Square, to raise money for local non-profits, and to “keep the music alive.”

The free Friday night concerts are held in the alley behind Main Street Café just off Medina’s historic square. There’s so much food, drink and fellowship that some have said it’s like a class reunion.

But the key to the Rally is the quality of the music. “Some of these bands regularly perform at very high ticket prices at venues like The House of Blues.” Gary says. “And the tribute bands are so good you’ll think the original bands are actually on the stage.”

For a complete list of headliners, see the sidebar on this page. Better yet, cut it out and stick it on your refrigerator. Last year I wanted to see the Fleetwood Mac tribute band Rumours, but I forgot.
That won’t happen to me this year.

The proceeds from each Rally go to support a different local non-profit group—from high school boosters to civic clubs. Because concertgoers park for free and are admitted into the Rally at no charge, proceeds come from the sale of beer, soft drinks, pizza, barbeque and more.

“We’ve raised thousands of dollars since the Rally began back in 2001,” says Gary proudly, “And it keeps growing. These funds are very important to area non-profits.”

“One of the best things about the Rally is its spontaneity,” Gary concludes. “You don’t have to buy a ticket weeks in advance and do a lot of planning. You just show up.”

And speaking of spontaneity. may I add...

Freebird!

The Rally in the Alley is held in the alley behind Main Street Café at 17 Public Square in Medina. Just look for the cigar Indian out front. If you want to dine in the restaurant prior to the event, you’ll need reservations. The phone number is 330-722-2729. For more information about the Rally visit www.TheMainStreetCafe.com.

2008
MUSIC SCHEDULE

Here is a listing of top bands and performance dates you’ll find at this year’s Rally in the Alley:

FRIDAY CONCERTS
5/23 BUFFALO ROSE
5/30 FILTHY ANIMALS
6/6 VINYL APPROACH with
CLASS REUNION
6/13 OBLIVION
6/20 COLIN DUSSAULT
6/27 MOJO RISEN (Doors Tribute)
7/4 CARLOS JONES (Bob Marley Tribute)
7/11 CLASSIC ROCK ALL STARS
7/18 DIAMOND DOGS (David Bowie Tribute)
7/25 MAJESTIC (Journey Tribute)
8/1 STONE PONY BAND (Bruce Springsteen Tribute)
8/8 VICIOUS CYCLE (Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute)
8/15 MID-LIFE CHRYSLERS (with Michael Stanley)
8/22 GYPSIES IN THE PALACE (Jimmy Buffett Tribute)
8/29 RUMOURS (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)

SPECIAL WEEKEND CONCERTS
8/30 Saturday ZOSO (Led Zepplin Tribute)
8/31 Sunday WISH YOU WERE HERE (Pink Floyd Tribute)

THE RALLY FINALE!
9/12 STYLEE WILD

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