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THE FIRST THREE MUSIC WITH FRIENDS HOUSTON PERFORMANCES REELED IN THREE BIG ACTS AND HUNDREDS OF BOLDFACED NAMES. UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MUSIC LEGENDS ANNE LEE PHILLIPS HITS THE HIGH NOTES. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON. RUMOR HAS IT THERE ARE STILL SEATS AVAILABLE. YOU'LL WANT TO COMMIT TO THE PARTY BEFORE MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, WHEN BOZ SCAGGS COMES TO ZILKHA HALL. FOR MORE PARTY COVERAGE, VISIT PAPERCITYMAG.COM. SEPTEMBER | PAGE 84 | 2015 W hen Susie and Sanford Criner (founders of the Fabulous Satellite Lounge, Rockefeller's and Club Hey Hey), along with daughter Annie Eifler, announced they were bringing Music with Friends to Houston, we knew it would be good. The concept was created by Larry Farber in Charlotte in 2006 with a handful of friends who were tired of the standard impersonal, overcrowded concert and desired the ultimate music lover's experience. Farber reached out to friends in other cities — Charleston and Nashville followed — and he finally convinced the Criners to get on board when she secured the Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall as the venue. Criner barely had to whisper the words to a few friends before hundreds had signed up. Early members could select their neighboring seatmates to enjoy the good vibrations with their nearest and dearest (the venue only seats 500). Here's the MWF set list: There's a very civilized cocktail hour before each show in the Grand Lobby of the Hobby Center. Pre-concert, sippy cups are distributed for music-loving oenophiles to take a roadie into the theater. An after-party follows at Artista, where members fuel up post-concert, rehash the show and socialize with friends over the downtown skyline. TONY BENNETT Talk about starting off with a bang: Grammy Award-winning superstar Tony Bennett took his charismatic act to the stage for the inaugural show. He shared stories and played hits such as "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Rags to Riches" and "Cold, Cold Heart." Dapper and debonair: Ann and Mathew Wolf, Sarah Farber, Adam Farber, Becky Robbins Mitchener, Missy Mullis Hoopingarner, Francey Pengra, Ed Allday, Jane Eifler, Claire Wilkins, Becca and David Quisenberry. BONNIE RAITT Blues singer and slide-guitar siren Bonnie Raitt rolled through as the third phenomenal performer. "Let's Give 'em Something to Talk About" roused the crowd and there was barely a dry eye in the house during her classic "I Can't Make You Love Me." Crazy for the chanteuse: Betty and Stephen Newton, Lindsay and Jeremy Radcliffe, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Caroline Brown, Tara McDonnell, Sydney and Robert Eifler, Campbell Eifler, and Nancy and Rich Kinder. LYLE LOVETT Beloved native Texan Lyle Lovett was up next. The tall drink of water was right at home crooning his homegrown hits and ballads to a crowd dressed in cowboy boots and fringe. Cowboy men and women: The Criners' daughter, Kate Bellin, in from NY; Lynn Wyatt; Milton Townsend; Terri and Andy DiRaddo; Soraya and Scott McClelland; Christine and Ty Hoffer; and Deborah and Russell Brown. Campbell Eifler Betty Newton Caroline Brown Sue Smith Lester Smith Martha Adger Graham Weigand Mark Strange Kim Strange Elise Reckling James Reckling Katherine Hawkins Jim Furr Jo Furr Will Brown Kelty Crane Francois de Menil Lyle Lovett Franci Neely Robert Eifler Steve Wyatt Joyce Echols Sydney Eifler Soraya McClelland Scott McClelland Jill Naponic Ty Hoffer Christine Hoffer Taylor Chapman Cathy Chapman David Daugherty Lisa Daugherty Carleton & Winifred Riser Elena & Jeff Peden Jock Naponic Stephen Newton Rich Kinder Nancy Kinder Susie Criner Annie Eifler Kate Bellin Mike Turner Terrie Hogan Turner Sanford Criner Tony Bennett