Friday at Mesker, Doobie Brothers fans can 'Listen to the Music'

What: The Doobie Brothers

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Mesker Amphitheatre, Mesker Park Drive across from Helfrich Hills Golf Course

Tickets: $47.50, $37.50 and $20.50. All tickets are subject to Ticketmaster fees, handling charges and facility fees

Tickets can be purchased at the Roberts Stadium box office, The Centre box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling (800) 745-3000 or going online to

Rock 'n' roll bands are not usually known for their longevity. But for the Doobie Brothers, whose original members formed during the late '60s and early '70s, staying power is just part of their job.

On Friday night, they'll bring their brand of rock to Evansville for an 8 p.m. show at Mesker Amphitheatre.

Known mostly for their wall of sound presentation, the Doobie Brothers have an impressive touring lineup, including the original lead vocalist Tom Johnson, and many of the band members who joined during the '70s, including Pat Simmons (guitar and vocals, and Michael Hossack (drums). The current incarnation also includes John McFee (guitar/strings/vocals) who originally joined the lineup in 1978, making him what Simmons jokingly called "the new guy. Other current members of the Doobie Brothers include Guy Allison (keyboards), Skylark (bass) and Mark Russo (saxophone).

One of the trademarks of the band's stage show is having two drummers onstage: Ed Toth, formerly of Vertical Horizon, also drums for the Doobie Brothers. With so many different musicians and instruments onstage, it's not hard to imagine that, like Simmons said, "it's pretty rocking stuff."

Those looking forward to hearing their favorite Doobie Brothers hits can expect to see them performed. With songs like "Listen to the Music" and "Jesus is Just Alright," Simmons said, "it's always nice to have people respond, and it's what we've always wanted — to be able to connect with the audience. "It's such a reward to see people respond to the music."

Though some musicians grow tired of playing the hits after a couple of decades, Simmons doesn't see it that way.

"The best part (of being a Doobie Brother) is just playing, and we're lucky to be able to play a little bit from every era, and to mix it up a little."

With a dozen studio albums to their name, the Doobie Brothers have a wide catalog of songs to choose from.

Mixing it up is a Doobie Brothers trademark. It would be easy to listen to "Taking it to the Streets" and consider them a soul-infused rock band, or to listen to the country-tinged "Black Water" and think of them as an Americana act. But by having so many different styles and sounds, the Doobie Brothers are able to keep their songs fresh and exciting, even though they've been playing them for nearly 40 years, and have sold millions of records.

The Doobie Brothers aren't just coasting on their past success, though, and the audience can look forward to a new song to be included in their spring 2010 release, which will feature 13 new Doobie Brothers compositions.

They've been back in the studio with their original producer, Ted Templeman, who has been working with the band since its successful early albums such as "Toulouse Street."

Simmons said the album is "exploring new territories," and that by "getting back to the roots of the music," they're able to build upon some of the music they've already created.