John Legend show at F.M. Kirby Center, Party on the Patio at Mohegan Pennsylvania were highlights
John Legend sparkled on stage at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre last week as he sang and told stories about his life.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
Singer and songwriter John Legend reminisced about growing up in Springfield, Ohio, and his family, which included his music-loving parents and grandmother. Legend enchanted the crowd with his romantic, soulful ballads and piano playing.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
John Legend reflected on his career and life milestones, which included marrying model Chrissy Teigen and starting a family in 2013, during his sold-out performance at the F.M. Kirby Center.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
Dubbed ‘An Evening with John Legend,’ the show at the F.M. Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre was sold out.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
The Chicken Fantasia, a tasty chicken dish with champagne sauce, was on the menu at Diamond City Vault Bar & Grill.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
Haus of Monsters, a Lady Gaga tribute band, had the crowd jumping and dancing at Mohegan Pennsylvania during the first show of this year’s Party on the Patio season.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
Despite some cool temperatures, it was packed at Mohegan Pennsylvania last week for the first show in this year’s Party on the Patio outdoor concert season.
Courtesy of Mike McGinley
Before last Sunday, I knew the song “All of Me,” but didn’t know the inspiration behind it.
It was written for John Legend’s now-wife, model Chrissy Teigen, while the two were engaged more than a decade ago.
That was just one of many anecdotes Legend shared about his life and career during a sold-out performance dubbed “An Evening with John Legend” at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre last week.
In between his soulful, piano-driven ballads, Legend reminisced about life growing up in Springfield, Ohio, where he started playing piano at age four and sang in the church choir directed by his mother. His grandmother was the organist, and both were major influences on his musical pursuits.
Legend is known for his smooth, R&B ballads and heartfelt songwriting, which he brought to a sold-out F.M. Kirby Center last week.
Legend has a connection to Northeastern Pennsylvania, too. He served as the choir director at Bethel AME Church in downtown Scranton, and people who remember him from that time were in the crowd.
It was exciting to spend a whole night in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Restaurants were full, friends were socializing, and the front of the F.M. Kirby Center was electric to walk into.
Legend took the stage a few minutes after 8 p,m. and wrapped up a bit after 10.
Prior to the show, Oscar, my mom, my sister, and I went to Diamond City Vault Bar & Grill for dinner.
The restaurant is spacious, with a huge bar and more than enough seating to accommodate crowds. We chatted with many folks who were also heading to the show.
Between us, we had three chicken dishes and salmon.
Our chicken selections ranged from Chicken Francaise and Chicken Marsala to Chicken Fantasia, a chicken breast with champagne sauce that I wasn’t familiar with before.
Mom had the Golden Crust Salmon, served in a lemon beurre blanc sauce with vegetables.
The staff couldn’t have been more accommodating from the minute we walked in to have a drink at the bar before taking our seats for dinner.
More music was in store on Thursday night, too, when we stopped at Party on the Patio at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Route 315 in Plains Township.
It was the first night of the 19-week outdoor music series.
The kickoff show featured Haus of Monsters, a Lady Gaga tribute, which brought a huge crowd despite cool temperatures.
We danced to “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” and rejoiced about the upcoming weekend.
These free shows run until Thursday, Sept. 10, and the next one is a Luke Bryan tribute on Thursday, May 14.
I hope to see you at Party on the Patio or some other musical event this summer.
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Mike McGinley is a Times Leader columnist who is often called a man about town. Email him your thoughts at mikejmcginley@gmail.com.