"Bingo" tour brings Steve Miller back to OC

Tickets are still available for JACK FM's 5th Show on Saturday at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine.

Steve Miller Band headlines the radio concert, also featuring The Cult, The Fixx, Night Ranger, Skid Row, Modern English and Sweet. Prices are $35-$122.65 and available at livenation.com. The event begins at 2 p.m.

(To check out my OC Register concert review of Miller when he played Pacific Amphitheatre in August 2009, go to my blog archives and search for the date)

This past June, Miller released "Bingo!," his first all-new studio album in 17 years, on Space Cowboy/Roadrunner Records. It was co-produced by Miller and Andy Johns (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix) and was the initial of two albums recorded at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch.

The sessions introduced newest band member Sonny Charles, a veteran vocalist of the Checkmates who is also part of the touring band. The live show stage design was done by acclaimed Broadway director Rob Roth.

"Bingo!" evokes Miller's early days on the Chicago blues/rock scene and includes covers tunes by Jimmie Vaughn ("Don't Cha Know"), B.B. King ("Rock Me Baby"), Otis Rush ("All Your Love"), Lowell Fusion ("Tramp") and others.

Guitarist Joe Satriani (lately of Chickenfoot) does guest solos on "Rock Me Baby" and "Sweet Soul Vibe," a Vaughn/Nile Rodgers co-write.

The amazing album artwork should look familiar to classic - especially prog - rock fans, as it was created by the renown Storm Thorgerson, known for his work on album packages for Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

Bonus tracks on the deluxe version of "Bingo!" consists of tunes popularized by Jimmy Reed ("Ain't That Lovin' You Baby"), Bobby 'Blue' Bland ("Further On Up the Road"), Elmore James ("Look on Yonder Wall") and Junior Parker ("Driving Wheel").