Aberdeen Daily World

Friday July 31, 2009

David Haerle

Quinalt Beach Resort Casino (July 25, 2009) - For those fortunate/smart enough to be part of the standing-room-only crowd at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino for Whiskey Creek last Saturday, a good time was had by all. The Seattle-based Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band put on a stellar, energetic 90-minute show that had the audience dancing in the aisles.

For $25 a couple, hundreds of satisfied customers got a southern-style taste of the 1970s. Particularly impressive was the guitar work of John Passarelli and Scott Collier - they never missed a riff. Keyboard player Joe Turnbull was practically channeling the late, great Billy Powell, and the backup harmony from "Honkettes" Doreen Charnell and Tara Kelly was smokin' hot on the classic hit "That Smell," and the lesser-known Skynyrd ditty "Double Trouble."

Porkpie Hats off, also, to Terry Allen who does a solid job in the role of Ronnie Van Zandt. But his is an unenviable position. Trying to mimic one of the greatest lead singers of all time is no simple task, but he puts in a yeoman's effort.

If you missed the show and would like to see Whiskey Creek in the near future, they play regularly at Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. You can also check out the band's Web site at www.whiskeycreek.net.