Funky Choo-Choo

In the early 1970s, there was no bigger U.S. rock group than Grand Funk Railroad. Their combination of sly publicity, smokin' hot licks and a dreamy, shirtless, horseback-riding singer made them more popular than a bong at a tailgate party. Classic rock radio has ensured that their brand of good-time rock 'n' roll is seared into the brains of anyone who's ever driven their car across the state with the windows down and a roach in the ashtray. And they delivered the goods like crazy. In an era known for excess, with bands spending years in the studio, GFR released a whopping eight albums in just three years. From the epic "I'm Your Captain" to their theme song, "We're an American Band," they were always a hit with fans. In 1971 they even broke The Beatles' attendance record at Shea Stadium. After their initial breakup in 1976, lead vocalist Mark Farner left the group and is now a Christian rocker, but the rest of the boys (aided by former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick) are still doing "The Loco-Motion" all over the eardrums and rolling papers of fans worldwide. Catch them at Billy Bob's Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza Drive in Fort Worth at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Sat., Feb. 23, 10:30 p.m., 2008