LIHU‘E — Better lock in your tickets now. Last minute open seats for this monster of a show will likely be hard to come by.
The needs-no-introduction legendary Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and slide blues guitar master Roy Rogers kick off their four-piece ensemble’s Hawaiian tour Wednesday with a performance in Lihu‘e.
“It’s a kick-ass, hard-rockin’ evening of blues and Doors,” Manzarek said over the phone Jan. 27.
The Manzarek-Rogers Band begins at 7:30 p.m. at Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center in Puhi.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and a signed guitar will be auctioned off to benefit The American Cancer Society.
Manzarek and Rogers joined forces five years ago and released their first studio album “Translucent Blues” in 2011.
“We have the same booking agent and he put us together,” Manzarek said of first teaming up with Rogers. “It’s been great … We’re still together.”
Manzarek described MRB as “21st century blues” and assured fans that Wednesday’s performance will include “a couple of Doors songs,” along with tunes from the “Translucent Blues” album.
Although he wouldn’t discuss exactly which Doors songs the audience could expect to hear, Manzarek said his personal favorite has and continues to be “Light My Fire,” which, of course, features Manzarek’s famous and unforgettable organ introduction.
The iconic co-founder of The Doors and the master slide guitarist/producer are seemingly an odd pairing, the group admits on it’s online biography.
“The audience doesn’t know what to expect,” Manzarek told The Garden Island, “but by the end of the evening their minds are blown.”
An inductee of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Manzarek also continues to tour with Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, performing the music of The Doors and Jim Morrison.
Rogers has toured with his band, The Delta Rhythm Kings, for three decades and has been nominated as a songwriter, producer and performer for the Grammy’s eight times.
Together, Manzarek and Rogers have created something truly special, captivating audiences with their live performances.
“You can hear echoes of The Doors, traces of blues, flashes of jazz and touches of rock,” wrote the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of MRB’s first album. “It’s hard to put into words the magical music world they’ve created here, but it works.”
The group is currently working on its second studio album, titled “Twisted Tales,” scheduled for release this year.
Although he has traveled to Kaua‘i several times — first in 1969 — Wednesday will mark Manzarek’s first performance here. He said both he and Rogers are excited to play our “lovely island.”
Manzarek added that concertgoers Wednesday are in for a night of hard-hitting, rocking and intoxicating blues, but only “if they can take it.”
Tickets for this not-to-be-missed performance cost $35, $55 for premium seating, and can be purchased online at www.lazarbear.com or at select island retailers, including Kaua‘i Music & Sound (Kapa‘a), Papaya’s Natural Foods (Kapa‘a), Hanalei Strings & Things, Progressive Expressions (Koloa) and Scotty’s Music (Kalaheo).
For more information on the event access manzarek-rogersband.com or call 245-8352.
