PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A 18+ AGE RESTRICTION FOR THIS SHOW.

Renowned comedian Ron White, affectionately known as "Tater Salad," catapulted into the limelight as the cigar-wielding, scotch-savoring humorist who stole the spotlight within the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon. Yet, his trajectory has evolved into an extraordinary journey, one where he has risen to chart-topping Grammy-nominated comic and a captivating feature film actor.

At his core, Ron White remains an exemplar of timeless storytelling. His narratives weave the fabric of his existence, spanning from his upbringing in a Texan hamlet to the reflections of his everyday encounters, ultimately culminating in his ascension as one of America's most celebrated comedians. The unrivaled resonance of his humor is evident in the fact that all four of his comedy albums not only scaled the Billboard Comedy Charts but also claimed the coveted #1 position.

The echoes of his comedic prowess started resonating in 1986, when Ron White embarked on his comedy journey, rapidly establishing himself as an opening act for comedic legends like Sam Kinison and Jeff Foxworthy. As his brilliance matured, he seized the stage as a headliner in comedy clubs, leading to an invitation in 2000 that would define an era: to join the ranks of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Larry the Cable Guy. For over three years, this ensemble embarked on a triumphant odyssey, captivating audiences across 270 cities and amassing over $35 million in ticket sales. The crowning glory was the cinematic rendition, "Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie," which premiered as the most-watched Comedy Central film, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture.

In 2003, Ron White unleashed his breakthrough comedy opus, "Drunk In Public," soon followed by his inaugural one-hour television special, aptly titled "They Call Me Tater Salad." This comedic masterpiece not only shattered viewership records but also solidified its place in history as Comedy Central's most-watched Sunday program. Subsequently, the evolution continued with "You Can’t Fix Stupid," which commanded an audience of 4.5 million viewers, rendering it the third most-watched show in Comedy Central's history. The accompanying CD soared to the #1 rank on the Billboard Comedy Charts and initiated Ron White's journey to Grammy recognition.

Diversifying his creative output, Ron White penned his debut literary endeavor, "Ron 'Tater Salad' White: I Had the Right to Remain Silent…But I Didn’t Have the Ability," swiftly ascending to the New York Times Best Seller List.

Ron’s contributions aren’t confined to comedy alone; the world sees his remarkable generosity as he has championed the US military troops for more than two decades, founding the cherished annual charity event, "Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops." This heartwarming endeavor funneled proceeds to the Armed Forces Foundation, a testament to Ron White's unwavering dedication.

Transitioning seamlessly into the realm of cinema, Ron White gave unforgettable performances in films like "Horrible Bosses," "Sex and the City 2," and the acclaimed "Jayne Mansfield’s Car," in which his charismatic presence emanated. Moreover, his role as a co-Executive Producer in the lauded documentary "Bridegroom" showcased his commitment to meaningful storytelling that resonates beyond laughter. His resolute commitment to the craft brought him to the small screen, as he embarked on a remarkable journey in Cameron Crowe's Showtime series, "Roadies," delivering a standout portrayal that resonated with both audiences and critics alike.

In a symphony of achievements, Ron White's trajectory from humble beginnings to the echelons of comedy and entertainment is nothing short of awe-inspiring. His narratives have not only tickled the world's funny bone but have also etched a profound legacy that transcends stages, screens, and generations.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A 16+ AGE RESTRICTION FOR THIS SHOW.

The Goofy Guy Tour

MORGAN JAY is a musician and comedian based in Los Angeles, Morgan has made appearances on MTV’s Wild’n’Out, NBC, and Comedy Central and was a 2023 Just For Laughs New Face. First generation American - he takes his musical influences from his Brazilian and Italian background and 90’s upbringing. He got his start in New York where he attended the Tisch School of the Arts while at the same time doing stand up in the backrooms and bars of the alternative New York comedy scene. As an actor, Morgan just wrapped production on Joey Power’s upcoming feature, LOVE LANGUAGE, alongside Chloe Grace Moretz & Anthony Ramos and can be seen in STICK opposite Owen Wilson & Marc Maron for Apple TV+ and NBC’s ST DENIS MEDICAL. Morgan is also the star of J Pinder’s action-comedy COTTON CANDY BUBBLE GUM, which will premiere at SXSW 2025 in the Narrative Spotlight section.

Over the course of a career spanning 30 years, actor/comedian Cedric “The Entertainer” has solidified his status as one of the world’s premier performers on the stage, in film and on television.

Currently, Cedric is starring in and executive producing the CBS Television hit comedy “The Neighborhood,” hosting and executive producing “The Greatest #AtHome Videos,” executive producing the dramedy “Johnson” for Bounce TV, and recently executive produced and hosted the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. He also appears co-starring in “The Last O.G.,” opposite Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish, and is reprising his role as Uncle Bobby in Disney+’s “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” – the long-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking animated series “The Proud Family.” Cedric also won a 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for “The Neighborhood.”

He was recently seen in a dramatic role portraying legendary civil rights activist and leader, Ralph Abernathy, in the feature film, “Son Of The South”, executive produced by Spike Lee and directed by Lee’s long-time editor, Barry Alexander Brown; “The Opening Act,” about a group of comedians trying to breakthrough in the stand-up comedy world; and will soon begin production of the sequel to his hit “Johnson Family Vacation,” that he will again star in and produce.

Cedric’s other noteworthy television credits include the comedy series “The Soul Man,” which he co-created and executive produced through A Bird And A Bear Entertainment; “The Steve Harvey Show”, which he won four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy; the sketch comedy series “Cedric The Entertainer Presents”, which he starred in and executive produced and was honored the AFTRA Award of Excellence for; served as host of season 12 of the hit game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”; and was featured as the voice of Bobby Proud in the Disney animated series “The Proud Family”, that he also received an NAACP Image Award for.

His versatile film work spans genres from memorable performances in comedies such as the hit “Barbershop” franchise, “Johnson Family Vacation,” “The Original Kings of Comedy” concert film which chronicled his record breaking Kings of Comedy Tour with fellow comedians Steve Harvey, D.L Hughley and the late Bernie Mac; to dramas like Paul Schrader’s critically acclaimed Oscar nominated drama “First Reformed,” co-starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried; and his signature baritone voice in animated hits such as Disney’s “Madagascar” and “Planes” franchises, “Ice Age 2” and “Dr. Dolittle 2,” among many others.

In addition to his achievements in television and film, Cedric is also an accomplished author. His first book, Flipping Boxcars, was released in 2023. Cedric has also ventured into entrepreneurship, launching a wine brand named “Setta” in honor of his late mother, Rosetta B. Kyles. Furthermore, he introduced a premium barbecue brand called AC Barbeque in collaboration with his longtime friend, Anthony Anderson.

That they are still roaring and soaring should be no surprise. That’s just how they are built. TESLA may have been born in the mid 80s, but their bluesy, soulful sound is strongly embedded in the roots of organic, authentic, 1970s rock and roll. The same roots that produced bands like The Allman Brothers, Grand Funk Railroad, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Aerosmith. The ground started shaking in Sacramento, CA, in 1984; gold country that would soon be producing some platinum. They started out as City Kidd, until a suggested name change to TESLA, honoring the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla who pioneered all things electrical. Their 1986 platinum debut album, Mechanical Resonance, included Top 40 hits “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.” 1989’sdouble-platinumThe Great Radio Controversy included hits “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” and “Love Song”. Suddenly, TESLA, who had been touring with bands such as Def Leppard and David Lee Roth, earned headlining status. In 1990, TESLA helped reshape the face of modern rock music by stripping down to the Five Man Acoustical Jam, an informal collection of their biggest hits peppered with rock and roll classics by the Beatles, Stones, and others. This album produced their biggest hit single to date, a cover of Five Man Electrical Band’s “Signs.” Other 90s albums from Tesla include platinum selling Psychotic Supper and Bust a Nut. The band continues to record and release material including 9new albums since 2000 and recently debuted their new single, “Time To Rock!” TESLA has endured many of the same taste-changing challenges that affected many in the post-grunge world, but through it all, their blue-collar work ethic and dedication to the faithful fan base has helped them not just survive, but thrive. TESLA’s legacy is alive and well as they continue to record and sellout venues all over the world. As comfortable, rugged, and dependable as your favorite pair of boots, they endure. TESLA is a celebration of the greatest spirits of rock and roll.

Loverboy

For more than 40 years, LOVERBOY has been “Working for the Weekend” (and on weekends), delighting audiences around the world since forming in 1978, when vocalist Mike Reno was introduced to guitar hot shot Paul Dean – both veterans of several bands on the Canadian scene – at Calgary’s Refinery Night Club.

​After being rejected by all the major U.S. record companies, LOVERBOY signed with Columbia Records Canada, entering the studio with producer Bruce Fairbairn and engineer Bob Rock to record their self-titled debut album, which went on to sell more than 700k records in Canada. Columbia U.S. released the album in Nov. 1980, which went on to sell more than 2 million albums in the States and four million worldwide.

Soon the band found themselves playing on mega tours with Journey, Bob Seger, Cheap Trick, ZZ Top, Kansas and Def Leppard, to name a few. They quickly became MTV darlings, being one of the first bands ever featured on the music channel.

With their trademark red leather pants, bandannas, big rock sound and high-energy live shows, LOVERBOY has sold more than 10 million albums, earning four multi-platinum plaques, including the four-million-selling Get Lucky, and a trio of double-platinum releases in their self-titled 1980 debut, 1983’s Keep It Up and 1985’s Lovin’ Every Minute of It. Their string of hits includes, in addition to the anthem “Working for the Weekend,” such arena rock staples as “Lovin’ Every Minute of It,” “This Could Be the Night,” “Hot Girls in Love,” “The Kid is Hot Tonite,” “Notorious”, “Turn Me Loose,” “When It’s Over,” “Heaven In Your Eyes” and “Queen of the Broken Hearts.”

​LOVERBOY went on to win a still-record six Juno awards in 1982, and until a three-year sabbatical in 1989, were one of the Top 5 grossing touring acts in the world, performing in over 100 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Their success made them the first Canadian group ever to earn Columbia Records’ exclusive Crystal Globe Award, celebrating the sale of over five million albums outside their native country. Since 1992, the band has maintained a steady road presence, with Sony/Legacy releasing a greatest hits compilation, LOVERBOY – CLASSICS, in 1993, which went gold five years later. In 2001, the band released a live greatest hits CD, Live, Loud & Loose, which captured the group doing what they do best, entertaining their legion of rabid fans.

​In 2005, LOVERBOY celebrated 25 years together by performing in selected cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. During the summer tour, the band introduced a couple of brand-new songs, which led to Just Getting Started, their first new studio album in a decade. In March 2009, the group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame at the Juno Awards show at GM Place in Vancouver, BC, where they joined the likes of Bryan Adams, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and David Foster.

​Along with Reno and Dean, LOVERBOY still includes original members Doug Johnson on keyboards and Matt Frenette on drums, with Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve (a former member of Dean and Frenette’s pre-LOVERBOY band Streetheart), replacing the late Scott Smith on bass, and continues a healthy touring schedule around the world.

“Being in a band is kind of like being on a team,” says Reno. “Everywhere we go, we try to make it look and sound good.”

​Their pop culture credibility was cemented by a recent 30 Rock episode in which Scott Adsit’s amateur musician Pete Hornberger amusingly revealed he was actually Loverboy’s original bassist, showing him inserted into vintage ‘80s footage of the band wailing away on “Working for the Weekend.” The song is also known as the soundtrack for a memorable Saturday Night Live skit in which Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze played Chippendales dancers who performed to it at an audition.

​Loverboy caught corporate America’s eye, first with Radio Shack’s Super Bowl commercial in which “The ‘80s called… they want their store back,” and some of that decade’s most popular groups take over the retailer, set over a soundtrack of Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend.” CNN praised the spot, calling it “pure commercial genius… a spot-on piece of creativity,” crediting it with “saving a lame” game.

Then there’s the widely-seen Taco Bell spot promoting their breakfast waffle taco, which features a prominent mention of a consumer, “Taking down his Loverboy poster” as part of an unabashed pitch to those who grew up in the ‘80s and are now smack in the middle of the desired advertising demo.

​Loverboy appeared in Enterprise’s National Car Rental commercial with Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld character, David Puddy) who jokingly admits his hardcore affinity for the band by stating that he was “President of the Loverboy-Lover’s Club – California Chapter.” The commercial was seen by millions when it kicked off Sunday Night Football for the NFL’s 2016-17 season.

​But it is LOVERBOY’s reputation as a live act which has always been its calling card, as the group continues to entertain fans of all ages, amazing even Mike Reno.

“Something’s in the water,” he says. “I go to these concerts expecting there to be 3,000 people, and there’s seven or eight thousand people! And most of them are young! Even kiddies, like 10 years old. They even know all the words. It’s freaking me out.”

​“I look at our concerts as a 100-minute experience,” says Dean, who laughingly still claims to be able to fit into the same pair of red leather pants he wore on the “Lucky Ones” video in 1982. “I’m a normal guy up until 10 minutes before we hit the stage. Then the heart rate goes up and I consciously step into the bubble. And I don’t come out of it until 30 minutes after that last cymbal smash and we walk off-stage. It’s a great stress release, even better than riding a Harley!”

​​“When we do live shows these days, I notice the songs have come to a better place,” says Reno. “We’re playing them a little differently, but the catalyst is still the same. We live these songs—they’re part of our DNA, and they’re part of a lot of people’s DNA. They send us a lot of love and we end up loving them back, so it’s just a big love-fest, really.”

Perhaps the band’s most famous song is “Working for the Weekend,” which has fueled a generation’s dreams of toiling every day for the chance to celebrate come Friday night. Dean realizes it has taken on a whole new meaning these days.

​“You’re lucky if you can work for the weekend now,” he says. “We’re all fortunate to be doing that. My personal dream has always been to play guitar and entertain people,” he enthuses. “There’s no feeling like looking out in the audience and seeing them grinning ear to ear, everyone on the same wavelength. And once we start with the mega-hits, the place goes crazy. That’s why we do what we do and will continue.”

38 Special
50 years together. 20 million albums sold. More than 15 albums of guitar-driven southern rock, stacked high with hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You,” “If I’d Been The One,” “Back Where You Belong,” and “Second Chance.” 38 Special is proof that there’s strength in numbers.

Formed in 1974, the band toured tirelessly from the start, sharpening the explosive live show that's been 38 Special's calling card for a half-century. Along the way, the Florida natives fine-tuned their sound too: a blend of muscle and melody, filled with the arena-rock pop hooks that would soon become staples of FM radio. Years passed… trends changed… some band members retired from the rigors… but 38 Special remained, hitting the road year after year, flying the flag for an enduring form of classic rock & roll that never dies.

As 38 Special enters its sixth decade together, the music continues with Milestone. It's the band's first studio album in more than 20 years, and it showcases a group of road warriors with plenty of miles left in the tank. Fueled up on snarling guitars, anthemic melodies, and the desire to break new ground, they update their sound for the 2020s, bridging the gap between past and present without forgetting their rock & roll roots.

"After all this time, we wanted to create a more modern 38 Special album," says frontman and co-founder Don Barnes. "This is a fresh, updated approach to the sound we've been making together for so long. Why not make a big statement after all these years? When you're reintroducing yourself to the world, 'good enough' doesn't work anymore. If you're gonna do it, you might as well go big."

Go big, indeed. Milestone opens with the larger-than-life roar of Barnes' voice, delivering a line that might as well be the band's mission statement — "Don't wanna ever slow down!" — over amplified guitars and a booming backbeat. The song itself is called "So Much So Right," and it's a kinetic, riff-heavy anthem that splits the difference between Robert Palmer's aggressive stomp and modern rock's heavy swagger.

"We've had people say, 'Oh, those guys are still around?" Barnes says. "We still hit 100 cities every year and we bring a high-energy party to the people every time we're onstage. We don't phone it in. We don’t slack up, we stack up. That song is for anyone who thinks we're too old to keep doing this. It'll completely change their perspective."

The highlights don't stop there. On the jangling lead single "All I Haven't Said," 38 Special nods to the melody-driven bands that came before them. "That's my throwback to the '60s, inspired by bands like the Searchers," says Barnes. "I've always loved that jangling guitar sound and what's old is new again. We just inject more power guitars to it. About a year ago, I was playing some chords while my wife Christine was in the kitchen. She has a musical ear and out of the clear blue she said, 'That sounds like it should be called 'All I Haven't Said.' I was floored! The most perfect title matching what the chords were conveying. She helped craft some lyrics and a storyline and has a songwriting credit on it."

On "Slightly Controversial," Barnes splits vocal duties with Train frontman Pat Monahan, a longtime fan of the band, with his own cover of "Hold On Loosely" (recording alongside Joe Bonamassa to boot). Says Barnes, “I had reached out to Pat’s manager after hearing his rendition of ‘Hold On Loosely’ and invited him to sing with me on this real banger of a song. He was so gracious to accept, and we became quick friends. He brought a great vibe to the song and we plan on co-writing in the future. Funny how things work out like that.”

Randy Bachman, co-founder of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, shows up as a co-writer with Barnes on the socially-conscious track "Long Long Train.” 38’s drummer Gary Moffatt and lead guitarist Jerry Riggs help drive "The Main Thing" forward at highway speed. These songs were all recorded during brief breaks in 38 Special's touring schedule — an itinerary that's kept Barnes, Riggs, Moffatt, keyboardist Bobby Capps and bassist Barry Dunaway busy for decades — and you can hear the energy of those live shows bleed into the studio recordings themselves.

To revisit — and reimagine — the tightly-constructed sound that turned 38 Special into platinum-selling artists, the band turned to an old friend. Decades earlier, they'd struck up a partnership with Jim Peterik, founder of the band Survivor. Sitting around his kitchen table in 1980, Barnes and Peterik co-wrote "Hold On Loosely" with 38 Special's original guitarist Jeff Carlisi. One year later the same trio wrote "Caught Up In You." Those songs became defining songs not only of a decade, but of an entire genre, and Milestone gave the band a chance to work with Peterik once again.

"Jim is such a brilliant musician," Barnes says. "He wrote 'Eye Of The Tiger,’ 'Heavy Metal' for Sammy Hagar, and all of the Survivor hits. He literally wrote the book on songwriting; it's called Songwriting For Dummies. He’s been my co-writer brother for decades and is a lifelong friend.”

In April 2024, while finishing a handful of new songs in celebration of 38 Special's fiftieth anniversary, Barnes found himself riding an unexpected wave of inspiration. "The ideas just kept coming," he remembers. "I started flying up to Jim's house in Chicago, bringing him these half-finished songs that I'd sketched out. We'd finish them together, record a rough version on a micro-cassette and then I'd fly home to Atlanta for a few days. Then I'd go back on the road with the band. Trying to spread all of that work into a touring schedule of 100 cities was a daunting task. It's been 50 years, though, and we're still vibrant. We had a whole new stage set designed during that time as well. We continue to play sold-out shows everywhere and we still leave them breathless. It was tough going but given that this was a big anniversary for the band, I knew that I needed to meet the moment."

Between their cross-country tour dates, 38 Special began recording Milestone at the Atlanta-area studio of Will Turpin, longtime bassist for Collective Soul. They worked quickly, all five musicians playing together in real time, capturing each song in a series of live-in-the-studio performances. Overdubs took place at Peterik's home studio — "I'd be singing final harmonies in the vocal booth with a car and driver outside waiting to take me to the airport so I could fly to another show," Barnes remembers — and mixing was completed by Johnny K, the hard-rock legend behind albums by Disturbed, Plain White T's, and Megadeth.

Milestone's on-the-fly recording schedule was a new experience for 38 Special. "The process used to be you'd go into the recording studio, punch the clock, record songs for 12 hours, play some ping pong, then go back to the hotel around the corner," says Barnes. "You'd do that every day for a month or two, then the album would be finished and you'd go home.”

“This was a whole different experience because I had to plan it out in phases — probably 10 different phases of recording while roadwork continued all over the country. But as the process began to move along, we realized that we could really make a statement with this album and it grew more exciting, so we wanted to put in the work.”

Barnes has been putting in the work ever since he formed 38 Special in Jacksonville, Florida, joining forces with co-founder Donnie Van Zant — the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant — as well a talented vocalist who left 38 special's lineup in 2013 due to inner-ear nerve damage. The group had dedicated themselves to the long, steady climb from small clubs to big arenas. "We had rehearsals every night, working for four hours after our day jobs were done," he recalls. "We sacrificed everything: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. We felt like we had to be five steps ahead of ourselves. We were fiercely committed." Years later that dedicated spirit is alive and well on Milestone, but Barnes isn't looking to repeat himself. Instead, he's turning a page.

“I’ll always respect and revere the original guys in this band,” he says. “We went through hell together. We suffered, starved and ultimately triumphed. We risked it all, rolled the dice with nothing to fall back on and ended up rocking arenas around the world. Through the bleakest of times, all we had was each other. We were our own support group. Let me tell you, those guys are the finest people I could’ve gone through my youth with and we’re still friends. In my mind, they are legends and kings. We love each other and stay in touch. And we all can’t believe that it’s been 50 years!”

“Now, I have to say…some of the ‘new’ members have been here over 30 years and they are my brothers, too. We've built our mission out of sheer stamina and fortitude — and after all this time together, we've learned that if we're gonna do something, we should fiercely go at it and do it the best we possibly can. That's why we worked so hard on Milestone. It’s paying respect to that history. Every song is diverse. We have in-your-face rockers and introspective moments. We go back and forth, over and over. It's a great ride."

Can you blame 38 Special for taking a quick look behind them, reflecting upon 50 years of hits, highways, and battle-tested brotherhood? If anyone's earned the right to reflect, it's them. With Milestone, though, Barnes and company keep their eyes glued to the horizon ahead of them. The ride isn't over.