Future Song Foundation Benefit Featuring Myles Kennedy & Peter Rivera

Future Song's Mission: Ensuring all our young people achieve their full potential through the power of music and mentorship.

Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge and Slash & The Conspirators, arrived in his hometown of Spokane, WA to perform for The Future Song Foundation Benefit held at the historic Bing Crosby Theater, December 15, 2016. Myles just ended a 2 month European Tour with Alter Bridge and is back in Spokane to spend the holidays with his family before Alter Bridge's U.S. Last Hero Tour begins in January.

If you are wondering what The Future Song Foundation is all about it is a non-profit organization set up by Myles to help get musical instruments and music lessons to less fortunate kids and make it possible for them to excel in music that they might not otherwise have had the opportunity. Some might argue that the foundation isn't life and death? But it was for Myles, "Music is like oxyegen", and Myles wants everyone to have a chance to experience the healing power of music, that's what The Future Song Foundation is all about. I also took band in school and I was immediately drawn to the guitar. My dad picked me up a second hand guitar to get started until I saved up enough to buy a shiny new Yamaha acoustic. I'm sure glad I got the opportunity to play an instrument and that the programs were available at the school I attended as many schools have cut these programs. Future Song is designed to help keep these programs alive. Myles is hoping to make the Future Song Benefit an annual event.

There is a new song in the works written exclusively for the foundation which was performed at last night's benefit but we were all asked not to post it until the song is published. With any luck, you all will be hearing it soon. Myles was in rare form on this night he had the room laughing and other times it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Myles performed an acoustic set made up of songs he had not played for years, going back 20 years of his music career including a song from his former group The Mayfield Four, (Eden) and of course, tunes from Alter Bridge and Slash & The Conspirators, he even did a short rendition of, Jingle Bells, fitting for the season. Myles also dedicated the song, My Champion, from the new Last Hero release, to his mother who encouraged and supported him in his music, As the night went on Myles would tell stories of his time as a band geek in school and how he came to rock the famous 80's mullet. He also reminisced about his early days in the Mayfield Four and because of the bands hard partying, although Myles did not drink at the time, ended up getting banned from most of the grange halls in town. You can catch these interesting stories in the videos in this article.

The Mullet Experience: Myles Kennedy (Standing In The Sun & Starlight) From The Slash & The Conspirators Album.

Mayfield Four's Eden performed by Myles Kennedy.

Myles's college music instructor Joe Brasch told an interesting story of how Myles got his start singing. He was playing in a band where the lead singer got his tongue pierced and it got infected so he wasn't able to sing, that's when Myles stepped in and offered to sing in his place He ended up singing some Sammy Hagar and blew everyone away, that was the first time anyone had heard Myles sing and the rest is history, what a great story. You can check out the video below to hear the intro.

Before Tomorrow Comes, Myles Kennedy.

Myles Kennedy (Watch Over You) My fave, I listen to it on repeat, Myles's vocals are amazing.

Also performing at the benefit was former Rare Earth vocalist Peter Rivera. Peter is from Detroit and also had a rough start of things as a child wanting to play music, he practiced on an old beat up snare drum to songs on a record player until he could save up enough from his paper routes to buy his first drum kit. Songs performed.Born To Wonder, Big Brother, It Is What It Is, Losing You, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Get Ready, and I Just Want To Celebrate.

Peter Rivera (I Just Want To Celebrate) You can't help but love the lyrics to this song. Let's celebrate life.

Peter Rivera (Get Ready)

Peter Rivera (Ain't No Mountain High Enough)

I even have a funny story of the night standing in line outside the restroom during intermission before Myles took the stage. I was killing time shooting the breeze with a lady also waiting in line about how I had been trying to set up an interview with Myles for some time to get the scoop on The Future Song Foundation and of course, his other music projects. It just so happened that Myles's mother was standing in line ahead of me. Being the photojournalist that I am I wanted a picture but we weren't exactly in the greatest place to snap a selfie, needless to say, I passed on the picture. I did end up getting a short interview with Myles to catch up, that was all I needed, for now, go Panthers.

What a rocking show for such a great cause, with amazing talent and cool people, always makes for a good time, Myles is so down to earth and is very proud of this foundation,. This show was so much fun, Myles, jokingly making fun of himself and getting to witness all the great stories he told, it was like one big happy family. Such an incredible show, you could just feel the love and admirationg in the theater for Myles Kennedy. Myles, you look great maybe a little tired but after all the touring that is to be expected. It was great to talk to you last night and with any luck, Spokane will be seeing Alter Bridge on the Last Hero Tour. I don't see a date set for Spokane as of yet but it hasn't been from a lack of trying on my part, I would really like to make this happen. Rest up over the holidays if possible and take care of yourself, Spokane loves you.

In closing I would like to apologize to Myles Kennedy and Alter Bridge for the mishap of a video I posted to my youtube page, if you were at the benefit concert you will understand what I am talking about. It was not intentional by any means I have the utmost respect for Myles and the guys in Alter Bridge. My explanation is this, I always have my camera settings set to private when I download, until I have time to go into my account and edit them before making them public. It just so happens I recently got a new camera and this was the first show I tried it out. I didn't realize that the settings were automatically set to public? The video had probably only been up for about an hour, I was in disbelief to see it had already been viewed over 140 times with some very rude comments posted to it, before it was drawn to my attention. Once I realized it was public I immediately took it down. I take many pictures and sometimes video entire concerts I attend so I can go back and try and capture the best of the shows for my reviews but unfortunately this one video slipped through the cracks? I guess I have more followers paying attention than I realized. Once again I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. Until next time take it easy, and keep it real, continue to support live music.**Peace**js