Palisades-News-July-8-2015

Page 4 Palisades News July 8, 2015Music, Fireworks Rock the FourthBy SARAH STOCKMANSpecial to the Palisades NewsPhotos by Tom HoferPaliHi sophomore Sophia Eberleincomposed and performed “Palisades.”Above: P.J. and Kalani Hildebrand, performwith the Palisades All-Stars. Below: One ofthe All-Stars musicians let concertgoersstrum his guitar at the family-friendly event.The smell of garlic wafted into theStadium by the Sea from the Cous -ins Lobster Truck positioned in theupper parking lot. It drifted past kids playingFrisbee on the track and parents picnickingon the football field to the mainstage where Palisades Charter High Schoolsophomore Sophia Eberlein performedan original song “Palisades.”“Where the mountains meet the sky/Iswhere I’d like to be/ In the Palisades withyou,” Eberlein sang.The crowd, gathered for the PalisadesRocks the Fourth Concert and fireworks,sang along with the chorus, which incorporatedthe Palisades’ motto, “Where themountains meet the sky.”The eighth annual concert event began at4 p.m. when 10 food trucks, ranging fromGreenz on Wheelz to India Jones, opened.As people wandered from truck to truckmunching on tacos and ice cream sandwiches,Dale Fisher and Lexie Rose serenadedthem on the upper stage. Whileparents sat at picnic tables and ate, kidsplayed in the bouncy house, receivedSponge Bob-shaped balloons from clownsand had flags painted onto their faces.At 5 p.m. the stadium was opened andpeople spilled onto the turf with blanketsand chairs to wait for the main stage concert.By the time headliners took the stagethe football field was packed from end zoneto end zone and the stadium bleachers werealso more than half full.Promptly at 6 p.m. Michael Libow sanga tenor version of the “Star Spangled Banner.”The Palisades Charter High ComplexConcert Band, led by Arwen Hernandez,followed. The band, made up of PalisadesElementary, Paul Revere and Pali High students(both present and alums), played fivePyro Spectaculars fireworks lit up the sky above Palisades High.pieces, including “When the Saints GoMarching In” where a majority of the bandsang along with tubas.Next on stage were the Palisades All-Stars. Amazing Music teacher and Ukes ofHazzard band member P.J. Hildebrand, Jr.organized the local musicians, who hadauditioned to perform for the show.One selected was Eberlein, who playedguitar and sang, accompanied by twoukuleles, one played by Alex Hildebrand,P.J.’s son. The All-Stars played four songs,including a cover of The Zutons’ “Valerie.”Louise Goffin, daughter of Carole Kingand Gerry Goffin, performed next, accompaniedby Greg Wells on keyboard and hertwo sons, who are 15 and 12 years old, onbass and drums. She performed four songs,including “We Belong Together” from heralbum, Songs from the Mine.The evening’s headliners, The WestsideTroubadours featuring Adam Topol andTom Freund, took the stage. The band performedrock and groove songs like PeteTownshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door.”Previous Palisades Rocks the Fourth performerRocky Dawuni joined the band towardsthe end of the set, performing BobMarley’s “Three Little Birds” and helpingsing “This Land Is Your Land.”The fireworks began as the last chorusrang out across the field. The fireworksshow, presented by Pyro Spectaculars, hada soundtrack that included songs fromTaylor Swift and George M. Cohan.The show ended in a kaleidoscope of red,white and blue, bringing another PacificPalisades Fourth of July to a spectacular end.International reggae star Rocky Dawuni and recording artist Louise Goffin joined Tom Freund and Adam Topol to close the concert.