Wednesday, July 12, 2000
Wednesday, July 12, 2000 |
| Actor/musician
returns to his roots By MICHAEL BOYLAN This week a local boy who is making good comes home. Steve Friday, a former Fayette County resident, returns to the Atlanta area as an actor in the touring company of “Buddy” and a singer/songwriter performing original material at CJ's Landing in Atlanta. Friday plays Joe Malden in the musical “Buddy,” based on The Buddy Holly Story. Malden was the bass player for The Crickets, Holly's backup band, and one of Holly's old friends from Lubbock, Texas. The cast is the orchestra in the show and, though Friday traditionally plays guitar, he plays the upright bass in the show. After Wednesday night's performance, Friday and members of the cast will go to C.J.'s Landing in Buckhead. Friday will perform original material, while some of the cast will round out his band. Friday equates his sound to the Counting Crows and Ben Folds Five. “It's what would be considered Top 40 rock `n' roll,” Friday explained. “I was also influenced by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Elvis Costello, stuff my older brother listened to.” Friday has been toying with music since he was a teenager but started taking it more seriously about six years ago. He released a CD last year and is planning on recording another one when he gets back to New York City after the tour. As for New York City, Friday still lives in Midtown Manhattan, as he has for eight years, and is very influenced by the city. “A lot of my songs are based on life experiences, New York situations,” Friday said. “Sometimes they're about love affairs gone awry and sometimes they're about political themes.” Friday plans to focus on his music career even more in the future. Though he won't swear off the stage forever (who could?) he believes that “Buddy” will be his last show for awhile. “At least until the bank account is low again,” said Friday. Friday is back in Fayette County for the week. He is staying with his family and taking a mini-vacation of sorts. “Buddy” began last night at the Fox Theater in Atlanta and will run through Sunday. Tickets are available at the Fox box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400. Friday's performance at CJ's Landing will begin at 11:15 p.m. CJ's Landing is at 270 Buckhead Ave. The cover charge is $3.
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