Dust off your moon-walking shoes and glide on in to Dorton Arena on Thursday, Oct. 24, for Who’s Bad, the Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band. Who’s Bad is the longest-running Michael Jackson tribute band and the only one to predate Jackson’s untimely passing in 2009.
Although I might date myself to admit this, as a child I had a white glove keychain and listened to the new Michael Jackson “Thriller” album over and over on my pink cassette player. I liked the catchy lyrics and awesome beat. Even as a child, I knew Michael Jackson was a legend.
I think that jazz performance major and saxophonist Vamsi Tadepalli knew this, too, when he spearheaded the tribute group Who’s Bad while finishing up his degree at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2003. Since then the group has played more than 700 shows worldwide. According to its website, Who’s Bad pays “studious attention to Michael’s Jackson every original groove and gravity-defying dance move.” And from the video below, you can see that the performance has the energy and electricity that would impress fans of the “King of Pop.”
The group has performed for crowds numbering into the thousands and has shared the stage with Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and The Four Tops. Who’s Bad will perform many of MJ’s greatest hits, including “Bad,” “Beat it,” “Billie Jean,” “Man in the Mirror,” “Wanna be Startin’ Something,” “P.Y.T.” and “Smooth Criminal.”
You can see Who’s Bad perform in Dorton Arena on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5. Thursday is also Food Lion Hunger Relief Day at the fair. Five cans of Food Lion brand food get you in the gate for free that day, and all donations benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
So, come out with your canned goods and concert tickets. You’ll get to see a high-energy show and help those less fortunate in our community. If you don’t have tickets yet, you can purchase them online at www.ncstatefair.org.
