The Victory Theater, a historic landmark in the heart of downtown Rogers is proud to announce its grand reopening following a renovation that includes expanded seating and enhanced sound capabilities, making it a premier venue for a diverse range of entertainment. The inaugural season kicks off with an unforgettable performance by legendary guitarist and composer Pat Metheny on March 13th, 2024.
The Victory Theater has been a cherished fixture in the Rogers community for almost a hundred years, with a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1927. The recent renovation, partially funded through a Walton Family Foundation grant, preserves the theater's historic charm while introducing modern amenities that promise an exceptional experience for attendees.
“I am absolutely thrilled to see the completion of the renovation of our historic Victory Theater. The theater has been a cornerstone of our downtown community for close to a century. The addition of more seating and enhanced sound capabilities positions the Victory Theater as a premier venue for attracting world-class performers like Pat Metheny. His upcoming performance will be a special night in Rogers.”
- Greg Hines, Mayor City of Rogers
Beginning in September Metheny launched a fall tour in support of his new album, Dream Box, with destinations throughout the U.S. The Victory Theater is excited to welcome him to Rogers for a stop on March 13th, 2024.
Despite a catalog of 50 recordings that have won 20 Grammys in twelve different categories, Metheny’s “complex and restlessly curious musical sensibility” (The Guardian) continues to lead him in new directions. As Pat says in the liner notes:
“Dream Box is an unusual recording for me; a compilation of solo tracks recorded across a few years that I discovered while listening on tour. During the extensive touring period that made up most of 2022 for me, I found a forgotten folder on my drive. I often make quick recordings of things; a new tune, a new (or old) guitar, a standard tune, or just to try something out. I have a spot in my laptop where I stash these things. And truthfully; often never to be heard again.
Usually, the only time I get to listen to my own stuff is while on the road. I often say I live on output, with little or no time for input. That changes on tour, where suddenly there seems to be more free hours in the day, albeit on a bus or in some far-flung hotel room. Occasionally, those moments offer a chance to rummage around in the files to see if anything interesting may lie there.
This past year was a particularly busy travel year for me, with about 160 performances worldwide. In the course of all that travel, I found myself returning to that discovered folder lots of times, genuinely surprised at what I was finding in there.
From those listening sessions, I gradually sifted through everything to find this program emerging as a coherent whole. I found that I had unintentionally gotten to a destination I had not planned for, and I am excited to share what was buried in there.
These nine tracks were my favorites and added up to something unique for me. I never played any of these initial tracks included here more than that once. These are really moments in time, and in fact, I have almost no memory of having recorded most of them. They just kind of showed up.
Every track but one reflects a method of recording that began for me on the piece Unity Village way back on Bright Size Life; an initial harmonic part laid down with the chords followed by a second track of melodic and improvisational material.
The focus here is on electric guitar, but maybe more to the point; quiet electric guitar. It is an area of particular interest for me. A goal has always been to have a touch on the electric that might get me as close to the kind of phrase-by-phrase dynamics that can occur naturally with an acoustic instrument. In fact, using an electric in this way is quite a bit harder than what occurs naturally with an acoustic. There is one more step between the touch of the player and the listener that has to be accounted for.
Ballads. I write one a day it seems – more than I can keep track of, actually. Charlie Haden was the guy who encouraged me to not just write a lead sheet, but to document each thing I write by doing even just a simple recording of it. So, yet again, thanks, Charlie.
Regarding the title, box is musician slang for a hollow-body electric guitar. Using that vernacular, there are some super cool Dream Box instruments represented on this recording, including the prototype of new instrument I have been working with Ibanez on that reflects my interest in pre-war Charlie Christian style pick-ups.
But dreams in their broadest sense make up the vibe with this set. Music exists for me in an elusive state, often at its best when discovered apart from any particular intention.
I hope folks might find some dreams of their own in this music.”
- Pat Metheny, Legendary American Guitarist
Tickets for this show will go on sale on Monday, November 6th, 2023 at https://www.thevictorytheater.com;