Let’s Celebrate: A Tribute to the Fillmore’s Women of Rock

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Kenny Lee Lewis brought the spirit of the Fillmore to Club Louie’s at the Westlake Village Inn with a soul-stirring celebration of the women whose voices helped define an era. Built around the theme “Women Who Played the Fillmore,” the show reached back to the music of Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and their contemporaries—not simply as nostalgia, but as songs that still invite an audience to feel, move, and let loose.

Deb Ryder set the tone with Joplin’s “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder),” a fitting opening for an evening driven by powerful voices. Tamara Champlin continued the Joplin tribute with “Piece of My Heart,” tapping into the emotional force that makes the song so enduring. Together, their performances evoked Joplin’s presence while allowing each singer’s own personality to shine.

Diane (“Lady Di”) Steinberg Lewis followed with Etta James’s “Tell Mama,” delivering the soul at the heart of the song. Lauri Reimer added her own spark with Aretha Franklin’s “Baby, I Love You.” These performances gave the evening its emotional center: women celebrating the women who had made rock, blues, and soul feel so fearless and alive.

The musicians behind them were far more than a supporting cast. Lewis, known for his work with the Steve Miller Band, led on guitar with spirited rock ’n’ roll licks and commanding solos. Jimmy Z brought extra flavor through his saxophone, blues harmonica, and vocals. Steve Bauman on keyboards and Larry Antonino on bass filled out the sound, while drummer Alvino Bennett kept the rhythm tight. With Reimer also contributing percussion, the ensemble gave the singers a strong foundation without overshadowing them.

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When Lewis sang the Steve Miller Band favorite “Fly Like an Eagle,” the performance felt like a warm embrace—a reminder of the shared musical memories that had brought the audience together. It connected his own musical history with the evening’s larger celebration.

Ultimately, “A Tribute to the Fillmore” succeeded because it offered more than a trip back in time. The singers brought conviction, the band brought fire, and the music brought back the feeling of nights spent dancing and rocking without reservation. At Club Louie’s, those memories felt alive again.