We have a socialist majority ready to take power in our federal government after the first of the year.  Hopefully, those that enjoy freedom turn out in droves to shift this balance of power back to American values in two years as we vote on House and Senate members.  Hopefully, the damage that those soon to take power hope to inflict on the people of this country is not harmful to our nation as a whole.

 

There are two main political thoughts and they boil down to an old axiom. "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." You either believe in government to have the answers and provide for people or you believe in giving people their freedom to provide for themselves.

There are many in the U.S. electorate that don't understand those two sides of the coin and they tend to vote against the people perceived to be the problem just because they want to "feel better" in "throwing the bums out" instead of doing their research to find out what the problems really are.

While both of the main political parties have their problems, their core is either in believing in the government or believing in people.

When you hear a politician talk about taxes, does he believe that anyone in this country isn't paying enough? Does he use one economic class against another to make it seem ok to tax more or does he talk about everyone paying less? If the politican wants to tax anyone at a higher rate, then he believes that the government knows better how to spend your money than you do. If he talks tax cuts, he is talking about your economic freedom to take care of yourself with less government interference.

If a politician talks about abortion or gay marriage, does he think the federal government has the answer or does he think we should decide those things at a more local level?

The 3 main functions of the federal government are to protect our borders, take care of foreign affairs, and mediate between the states. That's all. We have had a department of education since the early 70's and what has the federal government accomplished? We have had a department of agriculture and now we have people getting paid not to farm and the government trying to use so much corn for ethanol that it has created shortages in food.

It doesn't matter what the world thinks of us. We are the most free nation in the world and we will not lower our standards to be like any other country. We value freedom most as a nation, I hope.

While it does matter where we place our troops in the world, we can't afford any more to decide federal elections on that one subject. The federal government has gotten too big and taken too much of our freedom and power away from "we the people".

I didn't like either candidate running for president, but I haven't ever really paid much attention to the candidates. I know that I will get most of what I'd like to see this country as when I vote a straight party ticket because they all tend to vote together. (Well, McCain has crossed party lines a ton...funny Obama hasn't...)

All we can get from candidates are the clues as to their core. I prefer those who allow me to keep more of what I earn, whether it's $500 or $5 billion. I prefer those who allow me to have more freedom in my state to decide on social issues like abortion and gay marriage. (What's right for me and my kids may actually be different than what's right for you and yours.) I prefer to have more freedom in my state to decide on educational matters for my kids instead of a federal government that believes one size fits all. I prefer to have more freedom in regards to how are state goes about helping those in need, instead of a system that allows many to game it selfishly. I prefer to take care of my own health care needs during my lifetime because I realize that a "right to good health" is not listed in the constitution and that one size doesn't fit all for the insurance we may or may not need.

I prefer freedom, not socialism. I prefer to take on these responsibilities for myself and my family instead of abdicating them to people half a nation a way who have never lived like I live or have never had real jobs. They don't know better than I do how to run my life, my finances, or raise my children. These are my responsibilities.

Individual freedom is ours. Do not keep giving it up in elections like the one we had yesterday.

I had a great talk with a friend of mine last night about the tattoo I have on my left shoulder. It's a court jester that a great tattoo artist named Damien helped design for me. Damien has since moved to Amsterdam, last I heard.

Anyway, the question was "why a court jester"? There are two reasons for my court jester and it's all about the attitude I hope to have taken in life.

When I first encountered seeing a court jester in an old black and white movie, I was enthralled at how talented this guy was and how he made his living. I grew up a preacher's kid and I came to a realization that as God is the King, I have to have a role in the Kingdom. As a guy who loves to sing and listen to and write music, the best role I could think of was the court jester. Court jesters, according to history, were entertainers for kings. They may have played music, danced, told jokes, juggled, or done all sorts of things to please and entertain their king. Granted, I can't juggle and I probably jiggle more than actually dance these days.

As I grew older and really started performing music and getting into bands as a young adult, I realized that I was still in the role of a court jester, just in a more direct way with people. Taking the stage and singing my songs and other people's songs was a blast for me, but I realized that it was really an escape for those listening just as music has always been an escape for me.

While it takes a certain ego or confidence to perform on a stage, I never thought of it as something that was more important than what people do in the every day jobs that make the world turn. I've never taken myself so seriously that I thought that being on stage entitled me to anything at all. I never thought that being on stage gave me position to change the world. I'm just a guy who loves music and loves to sing and entertain. Maybe that's why I don't listen to a lot of bands with "messages" as I never felt that self-importance in being a singer on a stage. Also, playing in bars and clubs isn't exactly the best place to preach any sort of message anyway. Nobody comes to a party to get depressed or be reminded of their doldrums that they deal with all week long. There is no reason I should be doing that to people who expect me to entertain them. I wasn't the evening news anchor. I was just a singer in a band.

The audience is the king. I'm just the court jester. As a former singer, I was just the guy paid to entertain the king. As a current promoter/booking agent/event coordinator, I'm just putting together shows for the king to be entertained.

I still look at things that way. I put together S&S Entertainment as a vehicle to entertain. While I'm much too old and out of shape to be out performing with any regularity, I still am turned on by music. If I can have a vehicle to put together shows I want to see, then I can still take part in something I'm passionate about.

Part of the reason I bring this up is that my friend said a lot of bands and musicians don't think that way. For many of the musicians he knows, it's all about stroking their own ego instead of that of their audience. These musicians he knows think they deserve some sort of guarantee as if performing is an equivalent to an hourly day job. They feel that even if only 5 people show up to their show that there should be a guarantee of payment like a real job. Entertainment doesn't provide electricity to someone's home. Entertainment doesn't raise crops for food. Entertainment doesn't save lives, feed people, or change the world. Even the Beatles and Elvis didn't change the world or the course countries have taken.

I think we have a great lineup booked for the Iowa Band Beach Jam and I haven't heard a "diva" word from any of them about playing for their audience.

The great thing about the Iowa Band Beach Jam is that all of the bands have agreed to play for a percentage of the show. This means that they really get to find out their worth and the value of promoting a show. It's like we were all taught as kids that "the more you put into something, the more you get out of it". There are no guarantees in life and with the music business being as saturated as it is, there are fewer guarantees than ever.

The Iowa music scene is fast becoming like that of the east and west coasts where bands have to guarantee a certain amount of tickets sold before they can take the stage. We aren't there, yet, but with the flooding, smoking ban, high gas prices, and the overall economy, club owners are getting stretched thin and most are going with strict door deals for bands. Some are even charging for their room and the sound guy and even taking a percentage for booking the show.
It's getting tough out there!

I know I've written about it before, but a local/regional band is really only worth what they can draw at $5 a head. Of course, if it's a national or international act, then you can price tickets higher, but that works for very few local and regional bands. Most local and regional acts don't have a big enough following to justify some of the guarantees they ask clubs to pony up.

The bands we have booked "get it". They know that you as the audience are king and they are the court jesters brought in to entertain you. They know they are fortunate to have your support and they value that support. They also hope you keep supporting them and purchase tickets to see them, support the clubs that book them, and purchase their merchandise. When they ask for guarantees, you know that they are working their backsides off to put people through the door of the clubs to justify those guarantees.

I hope you enjoy the Iowa Band Beach Jam and the other shows S&S Entertainment has booked. We are fortunate to work with great bands and great people! Thank you for the support you have shown and continue to show as S&S Entertainment tries to bring you the best shows possible simply for your entertainment. We are your court jesters. You are our king.

Saturday 6/21/08

 

The Black Mollys just returned from a successful tour of the UK a few weeks ago with Ireland's Million Dollar Reload (M$R).  I'd been anxious to see what the US leg of this tour was going to be like.  Seeing as I had booked them to play Shooter's Hideaway in Des Moines for June 22^nd, when I heard they were going to be in Waterloo on the 21^st, there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to see them at this additional stop.

 

The American Screamin' Eagle in Waterloo was hopping Saturday night!  People were just flowing in constantly.  This is a great club in a great location and they had to be at their maximum capacity much of the evening.  The Black Mollys were on their home turf as this marked a return for their hometown musician hero, Tory.

 

My buddy Brad joined me for the trip to Waterloo.  We pulled in and saw the tour bus out front, parked, and went up and knocked on the door.  We were let in and got to see Randi, Tory, and be introduced to a few of the guys in Million Dollar Reload.  Everyone was in great spirits and humor.  It really seemed like The Black Mollys picked a great band to tour with and everyone was getting along as if they'd toured together for much longer.  The jokes, one-liners, and cracks were flying back and forth.  This was the third night of the tour and everyone was excited to be playing for Tory's friends and family.

 

When M$R found out I was promoting the show the next day in Des Moines, the joke was that I'd come out to see them just in case I needed to pull the plug on the show the next day.  I told them my expectations were high so they'd better have come out to play!

 

By the time we got inside, the show had already started.

 

Reverie kicked things off.  This power trio from Chicago was rocking out a tight set as I heard only the last couple of songs.  They sure sounded a bit different from their My Space site and I was pleasantly surprised and anxious to hear the full set when they hit Des Moines the next day.

 

I have to be honest that the band I was looking forward to seeing the most was M$R.  While I'm into a lot of different music, the stuff that really reaches into me is in the vein of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns N Roses, and about every other hard rockin' type of band with hooks that uses a Gibson guitar and a raspy vocal.  M$R fit that bill in the 5 songs they have on their My Space site.

 

In spite of having lofty expectations, Million Dollar Reload blew me away!  Kicking things off with Fire Your Guns and then immediately going right into Goodnight New York not only got me excited and singing along, but turned the heads of everyone in the place!  It was great turning around and seeing faces light up and people turning to each other pointing at the band and giving the thumbs up.

 

Million Dollar Reload rocked through GNR's It's So Easy part way through their set and finished up with Aerosmith's Draw The Line.  It was great hearing their influences played as their own songs reflect these.  M$R had no trouble getting people to connect with their humor and their music.

 

Phil, with his thick Irish accent, teased the crowd and told them Tory must be full of it because this crowd wasn't as loud as he said.  Of course, this got everyone even rowdier.  Phil teased them and they responded with a huge roar of approval for these Irish lads asking M$R to play one more song.

 

As M$R walked off the stage, I told them the Des Moines show was still on!  These guys were awesome!

 

Since all 3 bands were using the same backline, it wasn't long before The Black Mollys hit the stage.

 

Kicking things off with Every Other Day, The Black Mollys had a large part of the crowd push toward the stage.  Tory used the night to put on a more intimate show by using naming friends and family and even helping to celebrate a friend's marriage from that day.  Most everyone knew the lyrics to Erica, I Don't Think So, Complaining, and all the rest.  It was really a great site to be able to look around and see so many people singing along, not just to the choruses, but to the verses and they even knew where the breaks in the songs were.  Tory was having a blast, Stephen was feeding off of that energy as he was rocking out all night.  Randi pounded the skins with precision and was grinning while tossing sticks out to people down front.  Tory was giving away a lot of Jager items.

 

During Rock Whore, they broke things down to the two chord rhythm and started singing other songs for a few bars.  Amy Winehouse, Loverboy, and others were thrown in for familiar measure.  They pulled up Dan from LyinHeart to play the beat for a bit in this breakdown and then pulled up the groom to play for a bit.  Tory turned over his guitar to a couple of friends during this breakdown as he had everyone singing along to the Rock Whore chorus.

 

The Black Mollys finished up with the classic Sweet Caroline.  Everyone was standing and singing along clear to the back of the club.  This was not the end, though.

 

Tory called up M$R to join him on stage.  Four of the members of M$R jumped up with Tory to rock through Whole Lotta Rosie.  The place went nuts!  Singing, shouting, and just grooving along to this interband jam.  Phil's voice really has that AC/DC raspy sound and I think a lot of people were just waiting to hear him belt out an AC/DC song.  Tory played the leads and they all rocked it out.

 

Brad and I got to hang with the band on the bus and outside the bus as the night air felt great.  Seeing the off stage interaction between the members of M$R and The Black Mollys was hilarious!  These guys get along great.  Brian, of M$R, does impressions of them all and of Steven Adler.  I found out that these guys played for Steven Adler on one of his UK tours.  Phil and Brian were digging on each other outside the bus and at one point Phil jumped up on Brian and this scene cracked us all up.

 

As the night wore on, Randi and Phil were going to be sleeping on the bus so I was asked to play the part of tour manager for a moment and get everyone off the bus.  That was actually kind of fun in a weird way.  It was about 3:15am when Brad and I finally headed back to Des Moines.

 

I was excited, impressed, and could hardly wait to see who turned up in Des Moines to catch this show!  I can't wait until the fall tour in October!

 

Sunday 6/22/08

 

I was a complete nervous wreck.  I'd gotten about 4 hours of sleep at the most and was running on an empty stomach.  I had a house to clean up in case I had a guest stay over.  I had some number crunching to do for ticket sales.  I was freaking out mostly because my money was on the line for booking The Black Mollys and Million Dollar Reload on their Illegal Immigrant tour stop at Shooter's Hideaway.

 

I arrived at Shooter's just a couple minutes after 3pm.  I felt bad because I'd hoped to show up at least 15 minutes early, but I wasn't the only one running late.  Paul, the owner of Shooter's was stepping out of his house when I called him so I didn't feel so bad.  The bands were hanging around outside the club visiting and having some fun on this beautiful day.

 

I asked a friend from work to assist as help to the bands and introduced him to them.  I let them know he was there to work for them that day and they were grateful to have any extra set of hands they could get.

 

Paul showed up and we started getting equipment loaded in.  We were working with a total of 2 backlines and 3 drum kits, so the changeovers between bands weren't supposed to be too long.  It was a great setup.

 

I was nervous and checking out ticket sales constantly as my partner in S&S Entertainment took care of the door.  These bands are so good and I really wanted a good turnout.  Being a Sunday and having friends and bands say they were going to show up, but not buying advance tickets doesn't exactly make a person quit sweating when their dollars are on the line.  The Howling Sons had sold several tickets and that helped.  They had a list of several that were coming.  I'd sold several myself and had a list of some that were coming.  I was crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

 

Reverie kicked things off about 5:30pm.  We were running 30 minutes behind, but trying to provide time for more people to show up and it seemed to start off kind of scarce.  Reverie put on a rousing set.  They are doing this tour for fun and to get their name out a bit more.  These guys are great, they play a tight set or original songs and it was great to hear them throw in some Jimi Hendrix!

 

The Howling Sons are from Des Moines and were really excited about playing this show.  The bassist, Phil, has been friends with Tory of The Black Mollys since 1990.  I was pleasantly surprised by The Howling Sons.  Phil plays in a local band called MotoGrind and he had described them as pretty heavy, but had told me The Howling Sons were more along the lines of The Black Mollys.  The aggressive rhythm guitar in some of the songs had more of a punk vibe and just a good solid rock sound.  The melodies on some of the songs were instantly catchy.  This was only their second performance, but these guys are going to be playing Des Moines and getting better known very soon.

 

By the time Million Dollar Reload was about to go on, I was much more relaxed.  While a lot of friends and bands had said they'd come out and didn't, there were a lot of people that did and some that surprised me.  We were at a very comfortable place with all the numbers and I could finally relax.  I had told the guys in the bands that I didn't really expect more than about 50-60 people to come out on a Sunday to a club that's usually closed.  We actually exceeded my expectations!  Our counter had 92 people on it and I'm sure we missed a small few and there were more that came in during The Black Mollys set after we stopped taking money at the door.

 

All evening, I was playing MC just to introduce the bands.  I could hardly wait to introduce my new friends in M$R!

 

Million Dollar Reload kicked it off with the same songs as the night before, Fire Your Guns and my personal favorite, Goodnight New York.  I had chided M$R the night before about the missing falsetto lines at the end of Goodnight New York and teased that I'd jump up on stage and do it myself.  They told me I was more than welcome, so at the end of the song, I did the three lines "Good night tonight New York" and couldn't stop grinning after I hopped off the stage!  I GOT TO SEE BACKGROUND VOCALS ON THE STAGE WITH M$R!!  What a rush!

 

M$R extended their set because I told them they could play as long as they like and even suggested hearing You Can't Stop Me From Flying, the first song I'd ever heard by them when I first visited their My Space.  WOW!!  These guys rocked the dynamics of that song live like they do on the CD!  Dynamics really show where the band is at on a professional level and these guys blew me away!  They even said they were doing the song because I asked them to.  I have to point that out because it just feels great to have made some cool new friends.

 

With the extended playing time, M$R also pulled out a cover of The Cult's She Sells Sanctuary.  My friend Richard is a huge fan and that made his entire week just hearing someone cover that song.

 

Right before they kicked into their last song, Phil said, "We have one more song for you."  I said, "Two"?  And he just grinned, pointed at me and said, "No, just one."  These guys have a great sense of humor and love the interplay with their audience.  They left everyone satisfied with their brand of swagger and rock n roll.

 

The Black Mollys have played Shooter's Hideaway before and this was a bigger audience for them than they had last time around and they are a better live, in my opinion, than last time.  This is due to having Stephen Allen a part of the band.  Musically, the band has always been tight, but I think Stephen's energy and passion for playing really add a great dimension for them live as the level of excitement just seems several steps higher.

 

The set was similar to the list the night before, kicking off with Every Other Day.  These guys are so spot on with their timing, the rhythms, and their banter with the audience.  Tory is a brilliant and under-credited guitar player.  While the songs don't call for Tory to really show his playing off that often, when he does you get a hint of what he is truly capable of.  For Tory, though, it's all about the songs.  I can't tell you how many times at their shows, and several times again last night, that people commented on how catchy the songs are and how easy it is to find yourself singing along by the time the second chorus comes around.  The lyrics are full of irony and wit and wonderfully crafted to keep your attention throughout.

 

I'm a real fan of the little rhythm breaks that add nuance to the songs.  You can hear the impeccable timing of each of them as Randi keeps the beat.  Randi is a powerful player and spot on with the rhythms.  Watching him interact with Stephen and Tory, as they know every square inch of the songs, you see them wordlessly connect on every stop/start moment and every break and breakdown.  Randi is the heartbeat of the songs, while Tory is the soul, and Stephen is the connection between the two as he keeps the rhythms and adds to the melodies of the music.

 

Brian James, KGGO's program director, was out for both M$R and The Black Mollys.  When The Black Mollys took the stage, it didn't take long for Brian and his friends to move up to the front of the stage.  Brian became a huge fan of the band last night so I introduced him to everyone and they made sure he got a copy of their music.  It would be great to have KGGO involved next time The Black Mollys come around!

 

The Black Mollys ended the set with Rock "Hoore" (think Irish pronunciation), and had everyone singing along as they threw in bits of Amy Winehouse during the breakdown, followed by everyone's favorite sing-a-long, Sweet Caroline.  It was really cool seeing everyone down front getting into the performances and singing along.  Even the few that were still in their seats were singing along, too.

 

With about a hundred people rocking out, singing along, and really having a great time with the show that S&S Entertainment was fortunate enough to bring into Des Moines, I gotta say it was a great feeling!  I can't express my thanks enough to everyone that came out and rocked out with Reverie, The Howling Sons, Million Dollar Reload, and The Black Mollys.  It's great to see people supporting the work that S&S Entertainment is trying to do to bring together local and national (even international!) acts in Des Moines, IA.

 

I hung out with the bands until about 4am laughing and even talking politics!  Everyone was so cool, comfortable in their own skin, had a great sense of humor, and really seemed to bond well together.  It's great to see The Black Mollys with such great support in their special guests, Million Dollar Reload.

 

Check out both of these bands on My Space and get ahold of their music!  That's what it's all about, isn't it?

 Stay tuned for more S&S Entertainment shows coming soon!

I just had a great conversation with a friend who has a great business mind and knows this area better than me. He brought up a couple of things that just sounded downright hilarious, but the guy is probably right and I'm sure there are people that actually think this way.

Recently, one of Des Moines' best area bands played a club that charged a measely $3 cover charge. I heard this club rarely charges a cover but has started to in order to keep the riff raff out. That's not a bad thing. Sometimes you have to find ways to raise your clientelle so that you can attract people who will spend more money in your business. It's all about the bottom line.

Anyway, there were actually people turning away from the door due to a freakin' $3 cover charge! Can you believe that? I was told that it is more important to some people to be able to afford that one extra beer than to pay for the entertainment the club is trying to bring to the place! HOLY FREAKIN' COW!!

Now, first of all, I'm not a drinker. I could care less about one extra beer. My life is actually a full one and getting drunk just gets in the way of that. Getting drunk isn't important in any way, shape or form to me. I'd rather have all of my faculties and I can't stand the idea of letting a drink inhibit me. Of course, that's just my opinion. I think the brain is much more important, I guess.

Secondly, I can't imagine for a moment shorting a club for bringing live entertainment! As a former band member, I'd think people with that mindset are idiots to leave my show.

My band was great and well worth the cover charge even if it was as much as five whole dollars! That was over a dozen years ago!

The band that played this particular club is a great band and very entertaining! When you have to pay just under $10 to see a 90 minute movie, what is a freakin' $3-$5 to pay for 4 hours of music and an entertaining show? Is it really that important to squeeze one or two more beers out for that amount? Are you going to have more fun sipping on a drink or listening and interacting with a band?

I've put liquids in my body before and it's never done for me what music has.

Just having one or two less beers is so freakin' important that you can't pay a small cover charge to support the local music scene?

Are things so bad in a person's life that an extra drink or two is somehow more important than live music? More important that supporting the live music scene?

I hope there aren't any band member that think like this. They'd be shooting themselves in the foot! I love it when I see band members at other band's shows.

That's support! That's some real solidarity and those are people you gotta love working with! Shoot, I've seen bar owners and managers in other people's clubs showing support for the live music scene!

I hope all of you are music fans that don't mind spending a few bucks on a band. I hope all of you have that as a priority over an extra beer or two.

I also hope you convince others to get their heads on straight.

It's more important to support the local music scene! Priorities, people! Otherwise, you're going to keep the scene from growing! Music is AWESOME! Live music is AWESOME!

Support the scene!

WOW!!

I'd been anticipating this CD ever since I heard all the tracks from the last CD.  I'd also been fortunate enough to hear some of the riffs and ideas Markus was working on this so I couldn't wait.  Here's my track by track review.

 

II - I love artists that hearken back to their previous work as they let you know they are building on the past, not forsaking it.  This keyboard and vocal intro sets the mood!

 

Mow - There are those fortunate enough to know this term of affection and what it means to Markus.  This song come kicking and screaming out of the gate to kick this CD into high gear.  Markus' guitar work has always been tight and rhythmic and very accurate.  I love the guitar riff and the dynamic changes he adds to this song.  It's a great rocker with heart as he questions "Do you still believe?"  We do, Markus.

 

The River - The pace is more mid-tempo on this rocker.  It's so heavy while marching in time.  Markus' use of his lower register makes for great dynamics and when the band joins in to harmonize, it gives the melody added kick.  The drumming on this song is very reminiscent of something I remember from hearing Chris' audition package last summer.  This guy hits like a sledge hammer!  There is so much power in some of the simplicity of the groove.  It takes a powerful drummer to pull that off.  Brandi and Chris are instrumental in making this song groove.  The tempo is slower and they never let it feel like it is plodding along.  They play crisply and sharply together.  This song truly shows this was recorded by a band.

 

Livin' Without You - I didn't expect that keyboard at the very beginning, but love how it gives you a beat to prepare for a razor sharp attack on guitar.  Markus' keeps all of his songs catchy and interesting.  The guitar break on this isn't really a solo so much as a great rhythm break that adds some melody to what is going on in the background.  The harmonies are Def Leppard huge as always.  The rhythm section of Brandi and Chris are tight and crisp here as well as everywhere else.  I can't wait to see this one live!

 

Don't Walk Away - Markus has that Tom Keifer sound down pat here!  His voice sounds even stronger here than on the last CD.  If anything, he seems to have added some more melodic touches in his range that add a lot of emotion.  This song bleeds emotion.  "I wish you were here..."

 

How Long Now? - This is currently my favorite track on the CD.  I remember Markus, Kim, and Kip in my basement working on this.  As Markus played the guitar for the others, the comments flowed that it sounded like it needed multiple time signatures.  Just like Van Halen's Finish What Ya Started, sometimes you just have to lay down the 4/4 and let Markus command the stage.  I am so glad to hear how this turned out.  It shows what a rhythmic genius Markus truly is.  The song is fast, relentless and forces you to answer his question.  The lead is trademark Markus squeals just like the girls do when he plays live.  When the song ends abruptly, you really want more!

 

When It's Over - This song has a classic Def Leppard feel.  Remember when the electric guitar helped propel the rhythm under the catchy melodies?  These days too many bands use acoustic guitars and simple strumming.  The guitar work here makes way for some great double bass and reminds the listener of the days when musicians played in bands.  The harmonies are big and tight.

 

Make You Mine - When I first heard this song in rough mix through M!SS CRAZY's My Space site, I thought it might sound like a cluster with the guitar and drum tracks racing along.  The melody and huge vocal chorus let me know this was a great song in the rough.  I'm glad to say that the final mix really defines the rhythm very well.  Yes, the instruments are racing along, but they are in a tight precision and still make you wonder which one is going to get to the finish line first.  The rhythms propel this song forward from start to finish.  The build on the chorus almost relinquishes in orgasm as the vocals all chime in on "mine".  This is a "top-turned-down-racing-on-the-highway" track.

 

Left Me Here To Die - When M!SS CRAZY slows things down a bit, the power and range of this band really shine through.  Brandi's melodic bass line underscores a brilliant melody as Markus emotes from the heart.  The guitar solo isn't a flashy flurry of notes, but a passionate crying out in confusion over being left alone.

 

Can't Sleep - The AM style intro of rhythm guitar gets you excited so that when the band cranks it up together you are ready to rock!  This is a fist pumping song, fast and furious.  "I'm getting loose..."  While the rhythms demand tight musicianship, it's a real player that can make this teeter close to the edge with a loose feeling.  Brandi's accents propel the beat and dynamics.  Chris' drums provide the upbeat groove.  While it feels like a 4 on the floor song, there are rhythmic parts that require more punch along the ride.  I love driving on the highway with this one going, too!  I just have to check my speed on occasion.

 

I Know What I Know - "I got a feelin' for ya."  Yes, Markus let's us know that the past isn't gone, but we have moved into the present with honest progression.  The drums provide a real swing under the rhythm and bass.  Chris has a very huge sound and he parlays it brilliantly here.  Markus shows his power and aggression in his vocals here.  As he did live last summer, he takes the occasional note and bends it upward for more passion.  The gang vocals and harmonies are again huge on this song.  I love how Brandi's voice seems to be heard among the guys.  I can see her in my mind just strutting across the stage on this one as Markus is laying it down.

 

I'm In The Mood - "You got the lotion..."  I think I remember hearing someone talking about words that sounded like motion...  I love that line, though!  The lyrics are brilliantly sexual in this one.  Think about it.  "I know you see it every sunrise..."  Are we talking morning wood?  It's almost deceptive as you get swept away in the melody and catchiness of this song.  The guitar solo really stands out on this one to me.  As with the others, the rhythms are tight and there is a real different drum feel for these tracks as compared with the last CD.  It's all about the feel.  Of course, it will put you in the mood.

 

Say You Will - BIG VOCAL INTRO!  I love accapella vocals that kick off songs.  Markus really gets the melody rolling on the voice and you can just picture him on the edge about to teeter over.  The melody and lyrics truly match up here as you can see Markus telling someone that they are on the edge and they better not blow it.  Of course, he won't take your...

 

My Shining Star - I did a double take the first time I heard this track on the CD.  I thought that another CD got put in while I wasn't paying attention.  Markus pulls out a very catchy melodic track here, but not in the typical M!SS CRAZY vein.  This one puts his voice into more of a softer falsetto territory.  The guitar work is more of a clean sound than the rock distortion M!SS CRAZY is more known for.  The rhythm and lead both have a clean sound.  The drums are crisp, the bass is melodic and punchy.  You will find yourself singing along and then have to stop and realize as I did that M!SS CRAZY is showing you some real range.

 

This CD is rich, full, and produced brilliantly by Ronnie Borchert once again.  I think it's his best production, yet.  The songs average a 3 minute run time and grip you from start to finish.  The tracks are listed in such a way that you get some real dynamics here as opposed to a brutal beating from start to finish.  This is truly a great second CD from M!SS CRAZY and a natural progression that takes everyone along for the ride.  M!SS CRAZY has it down pat!  I can't wait to hear more!

 

Speaking of more...

 

M!SS CRAZY just put up a free download of their cover of Def Leppard's Tear It Down.  Of all the Hysteria B-Sides, this was my favorite.  I love this song and I'm glad Markus chose it to cover.  Absolutely brilliant!  M!SS CRAZY makes this sound like one of their own while paying respect and tribute to one of the best.  It's also good to see that M!SS CRAZY is still recording as they prepare for their 2008 tour!

 

As with the last CD, this one is highly recommended.  There aren't many CD's I'd put in full on an iPod, but anything by M!SS CRAZY gets play!  Now go get yours at www.misscrazymusic.com and if you haven't got the first one, get it, too!

Sometimes you are just put in the right place at the right time.  My buddy Brad was that guy last night and he kicked off a series of events that led to Bret Michaels being able to make a 13 year old girl's dream come true.

 

I'd been debating on going to the Bret Michaels concerts this weekend in both Kansas City on Friday and Dubuque, IA, on Saturday.  I had hoped to make both shows, but knew I had to make at least one.  I don't like traveling alone so that figured into trying to make my decision.  I decided to stay in Friday night and see if someone wanted to go on Saturday.  Saturday morning I even started debating making the even longer drive to Dubuque, but then I received a text from Pete Evick asking if I was going to be at the show.  I just made up my mind for sure at that moment and said I'd be there so I started texting friends to see who was willing to go.  I enlisted my friend Brad and my friend and S&S Entertainment partner Dave.

 

We got to the show and found our seats inside.  At the inside end of our row was a very young girl who seemed to be there by herself.  Brad is the talkative and social type and the first question out of his mouth to this young girl was to ask what she seemed to be doing there alone.

 

Turns out Elaina M. is a 13 year old girl who has a very rare form of cancer.  Doctors told her that she is only the 8th person they know of documented to have the form of cancer she has.  While she seemed to be a very normal and healthy young girl with a great spirit, she had recently been very sick under chemotherapy and doctors are unable to tell her if she is in remission.  Apparently, the others with this cancer have died within 5 years of being diagnosed with it.  She wore a knit cap to cover her head and made comments to Brad about how beautiful another girl's hair was and that she missed having hers.  Elaina's favorite program to watch on TV during her lengthy time in the hospital was Bret Michael's Rock Of Love.  While she had been quite ill, she turned in an application to the Make A Wish Foundation in the hopes of some day meeting Bret Michaels.  She was able to get a ticket to this show, but had to come by herself due to what seemed like her family's ability to be able to afford to get her the one ticket.  Elaina was very excited to be at the show and hoped she might be able to find some way to meet Bret.

 

Brad heard this story and soon turned to me to relate it.  I have been very fortunate since Bret played Waterstock in Des Moines a few years ago to have kept in touch with Pete Evick.  I knew I had to find a way to let Pete know this girl's story and see if there was a way to make this girl's wish come true.

 

I found a young woman who was assisting at the merch table and I'd seen her talking to Pete earlier and with her access she'd be able to get the word to Pete if I didn't catch him first.  I brought Elaina out to meet this young woman and she said she'd do her best to get word to Bret.

 

I happened to catch Big John and related Elaina's story briefly to him as well.  I knew Big John is a father and I had a bit of trouble holding it together as I told him about Elaina because I have two daughters myself.  Big John said he'd see what he could do for Elaina, too, and asked that I bring her to the front curtain at the end of the show.

 

Everyone I could find in Bret's group I had to stop briefly just to let them know about Elaina's wish.  I introduced her to Lucky Chuck as he passed through the crowd and finally found Pete to relate the story to him.

 

The compassion and honest emotion was evident with each of the people I stopped and I knew they would each find a way to let Bret know about Elaina.

 

This evening became more than just a night out with a couple of buddies to see a concert.  It became a mission to make Elaina's wish come true.  My 9 year old daughter happened to call before Bret went on stage and I related the story to her, too.  She said she really hoped that Elaina's wish would come true, too.  She was proud of her old man for trying.

 

Bret put on a fun show as he always does.  Evick is the perfect band to be the Bret Michaels Band.  These guys are tight, fun, and always great to watch and interact with.  Bret made a great choice not only musically, but it seems to be a great decision on a personal level to have these guys in his band.  I will separately write about the show itself.

 

After the concert, my friends and I had to look around for Elaina.  She had initially followed Brad to the front of the stage as the seating really didn't matter at this show.  I was in row J and yet was crushed front and center for the entire show against the barrier.  Elaina had gotten separated and while she really seemed like she could handle herself just fine, my buddies and I still felt a little responsible for her safety and really wanted to make sure that she had the opportunity to meet Bret.

 

We found her and as Bob (Bret's cousin), Pete, and Big John tried to get things wrapped up we waited by the merch table.  Bob had made a promise to Elaina that she'd meet Bret.  It sounded like she really was going to have this dream come true.  I asked Elaina if she had brought a camera and all she had was her RAZR to take pictures.  I offered to take pics with my camera for her if they would allow that and gave her my card so she could contact me and I could get the pictures to her.

 

After the merch area had been taken down and packed away and carted off, Bob asked Elaina and me to follow him.  Big John and a friend of his came with us and we made our way out to Bret's tour bus.

 

Bret was the perfect host as we walked on.  Elaina immediately got a hug and Bret struck up conversation with her.  He asked her if she had anything to sign, which she did.  She even asked him to sign her phone.  He signed a huge cardboard Rock Of Love tour piece from a previous show with "Something To Believe In".  He signed a notebook she had once for her and once for a friend she wanted to give it to.  I used my camera and took a couple of pictures of her with Bret and was able to get a picture with them both while one of the crew took the picture.  Bret is coming back to Iowa next month and asked if Elaina was going to be there.  She hesitated and you could see Bret's heart start to sink as she wasn't sure.  She certainly hopes to and it was hard to tell if her hesitation was due to her health or due to other circumstances.  Bret was honest in his desire to see her at that show next month.

 

Elaina has a great sense of honesty and humor about her.  I mentioned that Bret certainly made the right choice by picking Ambre on his TV show Rock Of Love.  When I said that, Elaina agreed and then added that Daisy "looks like a whore".  This brought laughter from everyone on the bus as Bret certainly disagrees in that he believes Daisy is "hot", but he was laughing because Elaina certainly has a knack for honesty and hearing this type of talk from a 13 year old girl was almost shocking.    Bret let Elaina have as much time as she wanted and as she was ready to leave, he gave her another hug.  As she turned to go, she took a step away and then turned right back around again for another hug from Bret.  You could see the raw honest emotion on Bret's face as she did this.  It's certainly not easy seeing someone so young and so full of energy and life in that moment knowing that she has been through so much and her future is very uncertain.

 

I thanked Bret myself for making this Elaina's dream come true.  I had never met this girl before this night and just by making Bret's band and friends aware, Bret was able to make this moment happen for Elaina.  I thanked everyone in Bret's bus, Bob, Big John, Rob, Ray, Pete, Doyle, Whitey, and the wonderful young lady who helped make everyone of Bret's crew aware of Elaina.  These people are incredible and they each have a huge heart.

 

My friends and I waited until Elaina's family showed up to pick her up.  Elaina couldn't wait to tell them and their expressions were pure amazement as she quickly told them she met Bret and we put her cardboard poster in their SUV.  They were very thankful and anxious to hear more as they took her home.

 

I've been to tons of concerts.  I've had a lot of great times and even what some might term "religious experiences" as there are just moments in life that hearing certain songs performed live can touch you deeply.  I've pretty much been able to attend most concerts in a more selfish manner as I get lost in the music.  Last night while I still get lost in the performances, meant so much more as the honesty of Bret's lyrics was followed up in the honesty of Bret's actions after the stage was dark and the crowd had left.

 

Elaina and her experience touched a lot of people last night, none more so than her.  She is in a lot of people's prayers and if her energy and spirit are any indication, she may just surprise her doctors, too.

While Naked Beggars were in fine form Friday night, Saturday night was even better!  The set list was the same as the night before except they didn't attempt Aerosmith's Draw The Line.  The setting was similar as Captain Kirk's is a small club, albeit with a higher ceiling, and it was packed!  The crowd was enthusiastic and people were still trickling in during The Gibbs Brothers opening set.

 

The Gibbs Brothers seemed to be more in sync this night.  Their timing and groove through their songs and jams were tighter and there seemed to be a bit more room for them to really shine in their performance.

 

Naked Beggars had this tightly packed crowd in their hand from the beginning.  Eric and Dustin were teaming up again with their spot on groove.  Kris seemed even more passionate in his playing and jumped up on a wooden box they had down front while he was soloing.  Inga was on that same box, up on the drum riser, and while the crowd stood on the same floor as her, she was truly larger than life in her performance.

 

Inga is a very passionate singer.  She shows off her range, her feel, and throws in her rebel attitude when needed.  Her range is not just the notes she hits, but the dynamics and use of her voice as an instrument.

 

The band's dynamics were on full display as they ranged from their rocker's Spit It Out and Never Runaway to the sensitive and powerful Can't Breathe to the softer acoustic set highlighting some Tesla, Fleetwood Mac, and Black Crowes.

 

The audience was just as raucous and excited as the previous night and Inga had them all singing and shouting clear through the last song of the night, 3 Shot Floor.  This packed crowd loved the band's songs and their sense of humor and passed the drinks on up to the band, including a half bottle of Jager that Eric and Dustin shared.  Of course, Dustin shared it with his "little guy", too, as he seemed to need a tighter belt to keep his pants up.

 

It turns out that this weekend represented Dustin's 4th and 5th shows since being back in the family.  You couldn't tell it as the band really seems to be tight and locked in with each other.

 

It was a great road trip heading to Davenport Friday night and then driving to Ft. Madison on Saturday.  This is definitely a band worth seeing, supporting, and telling all your friends about.  Great band.  Great music!

 

 

Nothin' But Trouble

Spit It Out

Bitch

Get Down

Go Where You're Wanted

Love Song

Can't Breathe

Naked N Beggin'

Landslide

What You Give

She Talks To Angels

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Dream On

Never Runaway

Get It On

Pretty Boy

Ain't Your Mama

3 Shot Floor

I got off work at 5:45pm Friday knowing I had to rush to Davenport if I was going to be at Hawkeye Tap in time to see the Naked Beggars.  From what I'd read, they were going on at 9pm sharp!  With just barely over 3 hours to make this drive, I even put a message on the Naked Beggars My Space to stall until I got there!  My buddy that went with me made us so late I thought there was no way to make this show on time.  He had us getting out of town after6:30pm!

 

Thankfully, my little Toyota an actually do about 80 or so on the highway, so we actually made it 10 minutes early.  I don't recommend that sort of driving, of course, but the Naked Beggars are worth it to me!

 

We got to Hawkeye Tap and the lack of size surprised me.  It looked like a house that had been gutted to put in a club.  It's a hoppin' place, but I was really not sure how this room with low ceilings and an L-shaped stage in the corner was going to give Naked Beggars much room for their show.  The place was packed and the sound really did work in this room!  The bass thump was awesome!

 

Inga Brittingham was in good spirits while sitting at the merch table awaiting the arrival of the guys.  As I said my hellos and let her know just how fast I had to drive to make it on time, I felt a poke in the back and turned to see Eric Brittingham extending his hand to say hello.  I got a quick picture with them both.  Eric was in good spirits, too, but admitted he was a little tense from the drive they had to endure through some bad roads.  He seemed anxious to get on stage and get out some aggression.

 

Inga saw Dustin, their original drummer, arrive and took me to be introduced.  Dustin is as tall as Eric and was genuinely glad to know I brought the first Naked Beggars CD for him to sign.  He let me know that he was 15 years old and got out of school early to get the pictures taken for that CD.  He's only 22 now!

 

The Naked Beggars set was rock solid!  I've seen this band evolve over recent years and this has to be the best lineup so far.  Being so close to the band while they played, you could feel the kick in the seat that Dustin's drumming added to the sound and feel of the band.  Eric and Dustin made a lot of eye contact as they continuously stayed in the pocket and grooved through their songs.  Dustin is quite a heavy hitter, but has a natural feel for the dynamics of the music.

 

The band kicked off with Nothin' But Trouble, Spit It Out, and Bitch.  The set was heavy on the new songs, which was a great thing!  After Get Down and Go Where You're Wanted, the band launched into Tesla's Love Song and Aerosmith's Draw The Line.  The Tesla song is natural for Inga and the guys.  The Aerosmith tune, however, didn't fare so well.  Great guitar riff, but probably not the best choice of songs for showcasing Inga's dynamic voice.

 

When the band played Can't Breathe, this song really did take my breath away.  It's probably my favorite at the moment off of XXX, their new CD.  Kris Casamento's wall of sound on the guitar, Inga's passionate lyrics emoted with that beautiful voice, and Eric and Dustin getting the accents and dynamics in all the right places.  I would love to see this song blow up on radio!

 

After one more original, the band launched into a fun acoustic set kicked off by a beautiful rendition of Landslide by Fleetwood Mac.  Kris' acoustic sound combined with Inga's vocals make this a high point of this portion of the set.  Eric came back on stage for Tesla's What You Give and Dustin joined them for She Talks To Angels.  The look and the sound of Eric and Inga together when they harmonize shows strong passion.

 

The Gibbs Brothers are touring with Naked Beggars and Eric is doing double duty as their bass player currently.  The Gibbs Brothers were in a celebratory mood as their birthdays were coming up.  They joined Naked Beggars for You Can't Always Get What You Want.  It's fun to see the interaction with members from both bands as they genuinely enjoy each other.

 

Dream On was the last cover tune and the band kicked up dust on Never Runaway leading into Get It On and Pretty Boy.  Inga introduced Ain't Your Mama as being about their young drummer, Dustin.  Gee, I wonder just what she means by that!

 

Naked Beggars had the whole place rocking throughout and got everyone shouting along with 3 Shot Floor.  Inga hit the floor as the band finished the song and the lights went out.

 

I had the opportunity to talk to the band after their show and found out a few things.  Eric is aware of the talk for Cinderella to tour this summer as part of a 3 or 4 band lineup that may include a fully reunited Warrant.  He also mentioned that there is talk of them headlining a night at Rocklahoma.  Of course, nothing is set in stone at this juncture.  In talking to Dustin, I found out that he really has a lot of respect and admiration for Eric because Eric taught him what it takes to be a professional drummer.  I let him know that it is evident in his playing that he is really locking into the groove of each song with Eric.

 

Inga designs a lot of the band merchandise.  I asked her about starting up her own clothing line and you could tell she's given that some thought.  She's quite creative and the work shirts she designs for the band sell really well.  She isn't quite sure what the summer is going to bring for Naked Beggars, but hopes to stay on the road..

 

The Gibbs Brothers put on a good show after Naked Beggars, but it's tough act to follow.  The Gibbs Brothers do a lot of jamming through portions of great songs like Cat Scratch Fever, Tom Sawyer, and Thunderstruck, but are at their best when doing complete songs of their own.  I'm more of a song oriented guy so the jamming doesn't do a lot for me.  The guys are very talented, though, and are fun from start to finish.  Eric even commented at how well their set goes with them just feeling their way through so well.

 

My buddy and I helped the band carry a few things out after the show and both bands told us that we really should head to the next show in Ft. Madison.  We had been debating that and this sealed the deal.

 

Naked Beggars really do put on a great show and are a band that should be wholly supported.  Go see Naked Beggars and revel in the groove!

 

 

Nothin' But Trouble

Spit It Out

Bitch

Get Down

Go Where You're Wanted

Love Song

Draw The Line

Can't Breathe

Naked N Beggin'

Landslide

What You Give

She Talks To Angels

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Dream On

Never Runaway

Get It On

Pretty Boy

Ain't Your Mama

3 Shot Floor

Classic.  That word seems to get bandied about over a host of things.  Classic cars.  Instant classics.  Classic rock.  We try to assign it to great things that we think will live on or have lived on famously, but there are many times we misuse it.  No matter how you slice it, Van Halen is classic.

 

There was a lot of talk before the recent Van Halen reunion with David Lee Roth about the curiosity of any of them performing at the high standard they set for themselves and if the tour would last beyond a few shows.  After last night's show at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA, I'm here to tell you that I witnessed something classic that I believe will continue to meet and surpass expectations!

 

The show started with Eddie Van Halen playing a bit of an Eruption style solo in front of the huge black curtain that blocked the view of the stage.  It was a short solo and then the curtain dropped and the band launched into You Really Got Me.  The crowd went nuts!  David Lee Roth looks great and made his high kicks while Eddie proved why he is the guitar innovator that inspired millions to follow in his footsteps.

 

There was no time for a lot of stories or chit chat as the band has a lot of hits to play.  They performed Runnin' With The Devil, Somebody Get Me A Doctor, Beautiful Girls, Dance The Night Away and every other truly classic Van Halen song through to the 1984 album.  It was a true hit parade as Van Halen kept things short and simple, but added some time to jam out the instrumental parts in songs like Somebody Get Me A Doctor and So This Is Love.

 

Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's son, is the newest member of the band filling the bass slot formerly owned by Michael Anthony.  While Wolfgang stayed out of the spotlight for the most part, there were a few times he was able to grab it.  He knows this is his dad's band, but he was given a few chances to really shine.  His bass playing was tight, effortless, and he provided some great background vocals for Dave.  Dave even called him out the first time he needed some harmonies telling Wolfgang, "Ok, McLovin, you can sing along."

 

After rocking through Pretty Woman, Alex took over the stage with his drum solo.  He used a lot of great dynamics and rhythms to get people going.  He had us clapping along to parts and just dropping our jaws.  He finished up with some triggered horns backing him up with accents on his playing.

 

The band came right back out to Unchained.  They tore through The Cradle Will Rock, Hot For Teacher, and Jamie's Cryin' with others sprinkled in between leading up to the stage going black and light dropping from the ceiling.

 

When the lights came up, it was simply a ceiling light dangling above Dave, who sported an acoustic guitar.  I was actually amazed at Dave's command of the instrument as he played something with a flamenco flavor before walking to the front of the stage.  Once he hit the mic, Dave launched into the boogie that is Ice Cream Man.  After the first verse, the Van Halens joined in to accent this old blues standard.

 

The band ripped right into Panama once Dave handed off the acoustic guitar which was followed by Eddie's guitar solo.

 

Eddie's solo sprinkled bits and pieces of Eruption, but the highlight and focus were on a cool effect using the volume control and a bit of a delay.  This creates the sound of a keyboard as Eddie fingers the fret board.  Eddie's skills were completely on display with his speed, accuracy, and feel.  He then played some of his classic finger tapping and whammy techniques much to everyone's delight.

 

Eddie led the band right into Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love while Dave turned his mic to the crowd as we all sang along.  Dave did this several times through the night as he knows we all know the lyrics to these songs.

 

Dave worked the crowd like the ringmaster he is.  He changed jackets and even used a couple of top hats as he also performed his high kicks, mic stand twirling, karate moves, and dancing and entertaining.  He gave credit to the band, singled them out, and introduced them several times throughout.  My roommate commented that he'd "never seen anyone so happy to be on stage at a concert".  Dave grinned boyishly all evening as he worked his magic.

 

Dave knows where the heart of the band comes from and that's the Van Halens.  Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang laid the foundation down and built pure rock n roll on top of it.  Eddie was in fine form jumping and running around as he played and sang.  Wolfgang could be seen popping up in several places on the stage as he used the circular ramp that went up behind Alex.  Alex played with precision, control, and reckless abandon, if that combination is possible.

 

The band came out and took a bow after Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love and there was no way this crowd was going to let them leave without hearing the one song that permeated the airwaves in 1984 above all others.  It didn't take but a couple of minutes before they all returned to the stage with the keyboard strains behind them and Dave waving a huge red flag as they all began Jump.  This crowd roared their approval and if you listened, you could hear a chorus of over 6000 people singing every word.

 

I talked to a friend who had seen Van Halen a few months ago in Kansas City, MO, and he said that this was even better.  I talked to another friend who wasn't there last night and he wondered how the KD show could have been topped as he enjoyed that one immensely.  All I can say is that if you missed this show, you missed a true classic.  We all know how volatile the Van Halen world can seem, but I'm hopeful that these guys capture the energy and inter-cooperation they displayed last night and pour it into new music that can stand proudly alongside their classics.

 

Eruption

You Really Got Me

I'm The One

Runnin' With The Devil

Baby Please (w/ The Who's Magic Bus)

Somebody Get Me A Doctor (blues jam in the middle)

Beautiful Girls

Dance The Night Away

Atomic Punk

Everybody Wants Some

So This Is Love? (guitar jam in this one)

Mean Street

Pretty Woman

(Drum Solo)

Unchained

I'll Wait

And The Cradle Will Rock...

Hot For Teacher

Little Dreamer

Little Guitars

Jamie's Cryin'

Ice Cream Man

Panama

(Guitar Solo)

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

 

Jump

Dave from the Unofficial Waterstock site asked me to send him a short description of the Velvet Revolver concert at ValAir Ballroom in Des Moines.  I wrote back "Short?  SHORT?  Come on, you're tying my hands here!  HAHA!!"

 

The show was quite good.  Scott showed up a song and a half into the show, so he wasn't running too awful late.  Duff started the set off with a rockin' tune that wasn't familiar to me.  It was I Wanna Be Your Dog, a Stooges cover.  I'm going to have to check this tune out more!  Slash then started into a bluesy solo with the band and it was during this that Scott came on stage.  Scott started singing along with the blues thing, but couldn't be heard.

 

The band then kicked into the set list, which I got a copy of, by the way.  Let It Roll was the opener and they cruised through one great rocker after the other.  The band was on fire and Scott Weiland was all over the place.  His vocals were tough to hear out front during the verses, but when he had the band behind him it was clear what was being sung.  I was about 15-20 feet from the barrier in front of the stage and got closer as the night progressed.  While Scott's vocals could be heard, they were not mixed very well to hear the lyrics he was singing.

 

The band played their songs as well as a few STP and GNR songs.  They pulled the balladeer stuff with Patience, rocked out to Mr. Brownstone and Sex Type Thing (the latter 2 in the encore).  They played Interstate Love Song, Vaseline, and It's So Easy, too.  They even did Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here in the encore.

 

Scott was on top of the left speakers and even went over to the bar on that side and stood atop it.  He crowd surfed until they put him back over the barrier and then he came to the barrier out front and had people holding him up while he sang and talked to us.  Dave, Slash, Duff, and Scott all stood atop the monitors much of the time to get as close as they could to the huge crowd.

 

The crowd was totally into the band bouncing, jumping, and moving to every song.  The place was packed, but not sold out.  It was sardine-like for about the first 25-30 feet from the stage out and then thinned out a bit so people could move beyond that.  Granted, it was still packed, but not like it was toward the stage.

 

I went with Kip and Billy from Gimikk and we had a great time at the show.  We hung out afterwards and were fortunate enough to meet Slash and Duff.  Duff came out first and was very polite in signing everything and taking photos.  He wanted to get the signed stuff done first and then took photos.  The guy was just super cool.  Slash came out and then everybody just about left Duff standing there while they piled in toward Slash.  Slash was polite, but a bit short as people tended to get a bit close.  He made sure to sign everything people asked, but didn't have enough time to take photos with those that asked.  He wasn't rude, just kind of short and polite and made sure he at least got to everyone before he headed back to the bus.

 

Dave Kushner was excited to be in Des Moines.  His family is from this area so the small stage on the right side was set aside for only his family.  I'm not surprised that he didn't come out to sign things after the show as he probably wanted to use all the free time he might have for his family.  He did seem pretty excited to see so many familiar faces and I bet he made the most of his time here.

 

It looks like this could be the last Velvet Revolver tour.  Stone Temple Pilots is getting together for a summer tour and who knows what that might lead to.  I also noticed that when we arrived, two tour buses were out back.  When we left, there were three.  Our assumption is that Scott has his own bus and that's the one he arrived late in.  At least arriving late didn't slow the show down.  We got the full effect!

 

Great show.  Great band.  Great songs.  Great time!

 

I Wanna Be Your Dog (Duff singing)

(Slash blues solo with band)

Let It Roll

She Mine

Sucker Train Blues

Do It For The Kids

Superhuman

Big Machine

American Man

Vaseline

The Last Fight

Interstate Love Song

Patience

She Builds Quick Machines

Get Out The Door

Fall To Pieces

It's So Easy

Set Me Free

 

(Slash solo on double neck guitar)

Wish You Were Here

Mr. Brownstone

Sex Type Thing

Slither

I had a real rock star moment on December 28th, 2007.  I was in a Build-A-Bear in the West County Mall outside St. Louis, MO.  My daughters were milling about in the store with their 4 cousins, my brother and his wife, and my parents.  While helping my daughters pick out some clothes for their stuffed animals, I got a call from Pete Evick, Bret Michaels' guitar player, tour manager, and all around right hand man.  Considering my location at that moment, I was quite shocked!  Pete said he just had a minute, but wanted to call and see if I'd be at the concert in Boone, IA, the following night.  I told him that I just found out earlier that day that I was cutting my Missouri holiday weekend a day short and yes, I thought I would be at the show.  He asked if I had a ticket or if he needed to guest list me.  I told him that I had just planned on getting a ticket at the door and he said not to worry about it.  He said they'd put me on the guest list and they were looking forward to seeing me at the show.  WOW!  I was afraid the show might be sold out and knew tickets might be scarce so this was fantastic news!

 

How often does it happen that a guy playing in the band of one of your rock heroes calls you up to make sure you're going to be at the show in your area?  Well, it doesn't happen often to me, that's for sure, and this was an awesome surprise!  It says a lot when bands who play nationwide remember you and think enough of their fans to call personally.  Pete Evick is one of the most stand up guys I've had the good fortune of meeting and a great example for others.  It's rare to find someone as busy as Pete is who is conscious of the effect they have on their fans and takes the time to cultivate that relationship.  I will always support guys like that and specifically Pete's band Evick, Bret Michaels, and Poison.

 

Bret Michaels is one of those rare entertainers who knows how to read an audience and deliver the party.  Armed with a ton of hit songs, solo songs, and cover tunes, Bret mixes things up to bring the best flowing show to his crowds.  I always enjoy seeing him live and he always delivers so I was looking forward to the show in Boone, IA, at The Venue.

 

I rode up to The Venue with Gimikk's drummer, Kip, and his wife.  I asked Kip to bring some Gimikk T-shirts to give the Bret Michaels Band and told him I'd try to introduce him to the great people I'd been fortunate enough to meet.  Gimikk is one of my two favorite Iowa bands and I'll support those guys as best as I can, too!

 

When we arrived at The Venue, I was surprised that Bret Michaels was playing on the west side of the building.  The Venue has a much larger east side, but it was apparently in the middle of some remodeling.  They have had shows over there before such as Stephen Pearcy and Warrant at one event and Loverboy at another.  While the west side is large, the east side is much larger.

 

Bret Michaels is very popular in Iowa and the packed crowd reflected that popularity.  According to Clutch of KGGO, Bret Michaels had contacted him asking for a show in the Des Moines area and Clutch got in touch with The Venue to make this show happen.  Even in winter weather, this was the perfect marriage o artist to club.  I can't stress enough just how packed this place was!  From stage to rear wall, it was almost a sardine can!

 

As we walked in the door to The Venue, Lucky Chucky (Bret's drummer) met us at the door and made sure I and my friends got in ok.  It was great to see Chuck and we got a few minutes to visit.  Pete walked over to make sure we got in ok, too, and said the room was filling up so we'd better get in ASAP.  I thanked both of them and hit the merch table before heading in.

 

Bret has lots of great merch for sale at his shows and even has some personal items that people are buying like hats, bandanas, shoes, and jeans.  I found a remixed version of Letter From Death Row and the DVD version of The Making Of Bret Michaels and picked them up.  I'm a collector so it was great to get these items.

 

I turned around from the merch table to see several people I knew and visited a bit before going in taking my chances on getting a good spot to stand for the show.

 

We finally made it into the room and barely made it through the people to get up to the left speakers.  We couldn't see the stage from our vantage point even though we were down front because the speakers blocked our view.  There was a table that ran parallel to the front of the stage that separated us from the side stage area where Bret's guitars were sitting.  Pete's guitars were laying on a table back there and Rob, the keyboardist, was waiting to go on stage.  I walked over to a path to get behind the table and wa able to stand side stage behind the necessary area for Bret's things.  There were a few of us that stood a respectful distance so that we could watch the show from the side of the stage.  Rob even asked Kip to find a gentleman who he'd met in a wheel chair and bring him up to that area.  Kip found him and got him a prime spot.

 

Pete stepped onstage to get his guitar ready to roll and once he was finished he called me over to the stage.  He thanked me for supporting him and the band.  Again, an unexpected and awesome display by Pete.  I thanked him right back as I couldn't believe how gracious he was just pulling me aside to say thanks for the support.  Very cool and genuine.  No wonder Bret has kept this guy around and brought him into his circle.  Pete's one guy who knows who he is and is comfortable with that.

 

The lights went down and Bret Michaels Band played the familiar strains that Poison opens their shows with.  The place was going nuts and Bret bounded onto the stage kicking things off with Talk Dirty To Me.  Bret led the band into Look What The Cat Dragged in and the rock didn't slow down until about 5 songs in when he reached back to the first Poison CD with I Won't Forget You and then Knockin' On Heaven's Door.  Everyone was singing along to every word.  From the front of the stage to the back wall and as spread out on the sides as room would allow, everyone was singing swaying and trying to move to these songs in their packed area.

 

Bret had the club bring out some drinks for the crowd.  Instead of just some beer, the club was handing out shots!  A couple of waitresses came on stage with trays and started passing shots out to as many as they could.  This happened a couple of times during the night.  Bret even stepped off the stage just to let them get the drinks flowing.

 

After the two slower songs, Bret led the band right back to rocking with Your Mama Don't Dance before going into Something To Believe In.  He alternated the pace of the songs finishing out with Unskinny Bop, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, and Fallen Angel.  He was then called back for more with Nothin' But A Good Time.

 

Bret had an endless energy the entire set.  He danced, sang, played guitar, and led a true party.  He knew what everyone wanted to hear and provided.  He seemed to be in a great mood throughout and it showed in the performance.

 

Bret's band was as tight as I'd ever seen!  The addition of Rob on keyboards fleshed out the sound and added some great touches to the songs.  Chuck was the superb showman as he held down the backbeat and sang along.  It was hilarious watching the faces he'd make while playing.  He also had a great drum solo and he doesn't even like doing them!  Dirty Ray, or Ray Ray, or whatever you might want to call him that's complimentary, had the groove throughout.  He was flailing his hair, swinging the bass around, and just looked excited to be on that stage.  He and Chuck were in sync like they inhabited the same heartbeat of these songs.  Pete was in fine form as the rhythms and leads flowed as naturally as if he'd written these songs himself.  Pete was playing to every part of the stage, singing along, and encouraging everyone as the energy went back and forth.  I have never seen Bret's band sound so good.  These guys have been backing Bret for a while and the growth shows.  I couldn't believe how tight the breaks, the intros, the outros, and every single part of each song were.

 

I've seen Bret solo several times and this was the best!  There was talk after the show that Bret might hit the Des Moines area again in May and I hope that happens!

 

It was great hanging with Ray, Rob, and Chuck after the show and getting pictures with the guys.  It was also great being able to see Pete for a few minutes afterward as he had a lot of the business stuff to do.  Even in the freezing cold, he stopped to take a quick picture.  As he walked away, I heard him say...well, I better let him tell you when he's ready!

 

Talk Dirty To Me

Look What The Cat Dragged In

Bittersweet

Sweet Home Alabama

I Won't Forget You

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Your Mama Don't Dance

Something To Believe In

Unskinny Bop

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Fallen Angel

 

Nothin' But A Good Time

I have had a really good 2007!  I met one of the coolest people in Enuff Z'Nuff/Randy Stonehill/The Black Mollys drummer, Randi Scott.  He's been kind enough to keep in touch since we met at Rocklahoma and has let me know some of the fun stuff he's been up to.  He turned me onto The Black Mollys and it's been great hearing such fun songs through their My Space site.

 

I was really pleased to get a phone call from Randi asking if there was a good place to play in Des Moines as they had another Iowa show scheduled and wanted to make a weekend of it.  Of course, I contacted Paul at Shooter's Hideaway immediately.  Paul put them on an existing show that he had coming up just under 2 weeks away and we couldn't wait to see The Black Mollys live!

 

I pulled up to Shooter's Hideaway and saw the oft talked about tour bus that Randi owns parked in back.  Instead of going into Shooter's Hideaway, I knocked on the bus door.  Randi and the band welcomed me on the bus and introductions were made to the other two members of the band.  With some great "80's bands" playing in the background, we got to visit and the guys got ready for their show.  It was cool hearing them goofing off with songs by LA Guns (from Waking The Dead), Winger, and a host of others as background.  These guys know their stuff!

 

When it was time to head inside, we heard the first band onstage.  It wasn't exactly a match made in heaven for musical styles, but this was going to make The Black Mollys stand out even more and I couldn't wait to see the reaction.

 

When The Black Mollys hit the stage, I went straight to the front and was quickly joined by a few others and as the set progressed, even more were filling up the front of the stage.  The Black Mollys sound is very energetic guitar and rhythm based pop/rock/punk with some great lyrics that show a great sense of humor.  Randi and Patrick hold down the rhythm with some great breaks and stop/start combinations that really bring out the hooks in the songs.  Tory takes the lead vocals and the lead guitar.  Tory's leads are integral to the songs and he's not afraid to show he can play.  He's a master of the hook.  These songs are recognizable and singable right from the start.  You'll find yourself singing along with the chorus after hearing it just once.

 

The Black Mollys have a very energetic stage show.  Nobody stays in one place long and even through Randi has to stay behind the drum kit, he still puts on a show like the boys out front.  Jokes are made, there are brief moments telling about how a song may have been written, and some great interaction with the audience.  It even looked like there were some down front who drove some distance just to see The Black Mollys as they seemed to know every word.  Guitar solos are plentiful an fit the songs nicely as they flow.  There isn't anything that feels forced because these guys are relaxed onstage with who they are and what they bring to the show.

 

As much fun as The Black Mollys have on stage, it really is about the songs.  The songs are natural, honest, and feel fresh like the day they were written.  That attitude comes across in playing them.

 

I got to hang with the guys after the show until Shooter's Hideaway locked the doors.  They have the same fun attitude off stage as on and treated everyone they met with genuine sincerity.  I can't wait to see The Black Mollys again live and hope they connect with a major tour soon as the songs (and the band) truly deserve to be heard.

I've been fortunate enough to see Naked Beggars 4 times in the last two years and can't wait for more.  Each time is new and fresh.  I've seen them as a 6 piece band, a 5 piece band, and now a 4 piece and they make it work no matter how many of them are on stage.  Ever since I first saw Naked Beggars at Clear Lake's Surf Ballroom, I knew I'd be back for more every time possible.  The performance, the songs, and the emotion, baby.  That's what it's all about.

 

When I heard that Naked Beggars would be playing 3rd Street Live in Cedar Rapids, I was anxious to see them on another big stage.  I called and texted friend and there were 4 of us that ended up going in spite of the weather that was supposed to be hitting the area that night.  I let everyone know that is was going to be Naked Night in celebration of my birthday which was to follow a couple days later.  We planned on seeing Naked Beggars and then going out to The Lumberyard II after the show and hoping that at least one of the band members might join us if not all of them.

 

When we arrived, we saw Kris Casamento walking out behind the sound board and stopped him to say hello.  We chatted about the recent CharityFest and the current tour they are on with the Gibbs Brothers.  Kris is pretty laid back and it was great to hear what they have been up to.  He said that Lisa Rav should be around before long, too.

 

Kip, Iowa band Gimikk's drummer), Brad (a former co-worker), and Doug (Gimikk's sound master) were the rest of the 4-some and we ran into Dave (runs the unofficial Waterstock Rock site) and his wife and sat with them to visit.  Dave lives in that area so it was no surprise to see him at this show.  He loves Naked Beggars, too, and was anxious to see this live event.

 

I wandered up to the front of the floor to the stage and saw Lisa Rav putting the finishing touches on her drum kit and she noticed me and my crazy hair right away and said hello.  She was grateful that we made the trip up to see them and she said she'd be out later to visit.

 

I was kind of surprised to see Naked Beggars go on first.  I expected that since they are a larger band in a few ways that they would be headlining this stop.  Apparently, the Gibbs Brothers are a pretty large draw in this area so they swapped spots for the night.  That didn't bother me at all since I was ready to see Naked Beggars anyway.  The Gibbs Brothers are a good band for sure and I enjoy seeing them, but I have to admit that I'm a much bigger fan of Inga, Lisa, Kris, and Eric.  I have all the CD's and even a couple of T-shirts and have joined the NB Street Team.  There is just something that hits me about the songs and the way they are portrayed live.

 

When Naked Beggars hit the stage, it was clear they were at the top of their game.  Inga's passionate voice soared above the rough and ready sound of Kris' guitar and the rumble of the rhythms of Eric and Lisa.  Inga prowled, pranced, danced, shouted, laughed, and brought everything she had to her lyrics.  She doesn't walk through the songs.  She embodies them.  She breathes in the songs and brings her soul to them.  Even the fun songs have Inga's humor and attitude in them.

 

Kris has really come into his own as he has stepped out of the shadows of this formerly two guitar band.  Even though there used to be a keyboard and another guitar behind him in previous performances, Kris plays with a reckless abandon that doesn't need any assistance.  Kris seems moved by the chords and the melodies produced on his instrument and his tone and control of the guitar is masterful.  He can be sloppy when the song calls for it or pick a beautiful melody when that emotion is needed.  This is what rock n roll guitar playing is all about.

 

Eric has been a master of the bass for years.  He has arena presence that can't be taught and his command of the stage is impeccable.  While his years in Cinderella have given him a lifetime of experience, it seems that the joy in playing new songs in Naked Beggars has breathed new life into him.  He doesn't rest on past accolades, but treats his playing and his time on stage as something he still wants to prove.  Eric is a very laid back individual, but you can hear an edge in his playing that adds the occasional viciousness to the groove he is laying down.  Eric is very much a pocket player with attitude.  You can even tell the great compatibility with Inga as they harmonize together, too.  Eric isn't resting on his past, but banking on his future with Naked Beggars.

 

Lisa Rav rocks the foundation of the Naked Beggars sound.  While her drum playing is tight, she brings solidity to the groove of each song.  When the beat needs to swing, she lays it down.  When the song needs you to move your feet, she packs the right punch to make you move.  Her eye contact with Kris and Eric shows that she is an integral part of leading the direction that each song takes.

 

Naked Beggars rocked out of the gate with Nothin' But Trouble, Spit It Out, and Bitch.  This was a one-two-three punch designed to get the audience on their feet.  Get Down and Go Where You're Wanted led them into a cover of Love Song by Tesla followed by Guns N Roses' Night Train.  The middle of the set was an acoustic and casual set of songs that ran the gamut of Fleetwood Mac, Tesla, Black Crowes, and Rolling Stones.  They brought out the guys in the Gibbs Brothers to assist a bit and finished up with You Can't Always Get What You Want.

 

Aerosmith's Dream On led them into Never Runaway, Lies, Pretty Boy, and Ain't Your Mama.  They rocked the end of their set with everyone on their feet clapping and singing along.  They ended their set with Get It On and then had the audience fully participate in 3 Shot from their new CD, XXX.

 

The blend of their first two CD's with previews of the new XXX CD and a perfect selection of covers had everyone there at the front of the stage taking in the Naked Beggars sound, humor, emotion, and music.  It's all about the songs and how Naked Beggars put them across to make every note their own.

 

The Naked Beggars sound is timeless, classic, and fresh all at once.  You can hear the influences of the Stones, the Sunset Strip of the 80's, and even some of modern radio in their sound.  While you can hear the influences, it's chewed up and spit out in a sound only Naked Beggars produce.

 

Naked Beggars will be back in Iowa in February.  I strongly recommend you don't miss their shows!

 

Nothin' But Trouble

Spit It Out

Bitch

Get Down

Go Where You're Wanted

Love Song

Night Train

Can't Breathe

Naked N Beggin'

Landslide

What You Give

Too Late

She Talks To Angels

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Dream On

Never Runaway

Lies

Pretty Boy

Ain't Your Mama

Get It On

3 Shot

I'd never heard of Marashino until Paul McCollum, the owner of Shooter's Hideaway, handed me a CD of theirs.  He said they were from Milwaukee and were playing his club soon and I should check them out.  I'm always up for new bands and he said this one would be up my alley.

 

After I left the Ozzy show, I headed over to Shooter's Hideaway to see what Paul was up to.  He said Marashino had a cancelled show and arrived in town 2 nights before they were scheduled to play so he was going to let them play a few songs and I arrived just in time.

 

Marashino is a group of 5 high energy young guys playing some gut wrenching rock n roll in the two guitar format.  They write tight catchy songs that show influences of everything classic and new rolled up into their own sound.  They played 3 songs off their new CD as a primer for their show on Friday night and made quite an impression on an audience that wasn't told in advance that they'd get some time on stage.

 

Marashino's Friday night concert was very impressive!  These guys know how to work and command a stage.  Eric roams the stage with purpose using the room he is given to truly express the lyrics he is singing.  Tom and Henry work the guitars to a frenzy, but know when to raise and lower the dynamics as the song calls for it.  Nick has the bass rumbling and ready to spring and plays with an almost mad ferocity.  Joey keeps the rhythms tight and puts on an expressive show behind the low sitting kit.  Together, these guys create songs made to be listened to over and over and keep the show active throughout.

 

I will be seeing these guys any time they are in the area and recommend them highly.  Hope they hit Des Moines again soon!  It's good to see more and more bands carrying a true rock n roll torch!

 

SETLIST (From their set list.)

The Picture Of Us All

Red Lights

Never Be Alone

Hand

Nothing More

Dilemma

Time Will Burn

Second Story

Arms

Somewhere

Decisions

Left Behind

I've never seen Ozzy Osbourne before.  It seems like the only way you can go see him live is to go to Ozzfest.  I'm not a fan of most of the bands that tour on Ozzfest so I kept hoping that Ozzy would do a tour without that surrounding.  Fortunately, Ozzy came to town with Rob Zombie.

 

I didn't have a ticket for this show, but even the day of was still trying to find a way to go.  I got a call shortly after noon from Dave Corley, the singer from MoneyShot.  He said that he had an extra ticket and asked if I'd like to go.  Absolutely!  Turns out that Dave has some connections and John 5, Rob Zombie's guitar player and former member of Two and Marilyn Manson, had a pair set aside for him at the ticket window.  How awesome is that?

 

We had great seats just to the left of the stage and in the first level off the floor.  We could see everything perfectly.  There was even a huge video screen just to our left.

 

Rob Zombie came out and had the coolest stage setup to enhance his live experience.  The drums were raised high in the air above a set of double doors that Rob came running out of to start the show.  There were video screens on stage in front and at the rear that featured footage from his movies and more while giving the songs a great visual treatment.  He played all the hits and his band was tight.  Just a couple songs into the set, he warned us that his voice wasn't quite what he wanted it to be.  He then said that he saw a doctor just before the show and the steroids he took should be kicking in soon.  Of course, he also let us know that if he happened to kill the band in their sleep that night that it was only due to 'roid rage.  Rob had dancing girls and even a large robot looking character come out on the stage in various parts of the show.  The theatrics were great, but it was the songs that had the entire crowd moving.  Rob may not have been feeling well, but he was certainly on!

 

Ozzy's show started with some hilarious video of him in such movies and TV shows as Pirates Of The Caribbean and Entourage and The Office.  It was hilarious for him to return to Des Moines with this footage stating "I'm back!" and then biting the head off of what looked to be the parrot on his pirate shoulder.  Ozzy was joined by one of the greatest guitarists he's ever been associated with in Zakk Wylde.  The band was totally in sync with every rhythm and nuance of the songs.

 

Ozzy opened with I Don't Wanna Stop off the new CD and then rolled on with Crazy Train and Suicide Solution.  The theatrics were minimal, but there was use of the video screen and a huge cross that burned during Bark At The Moon.  The light show was incredible and Ozzy made great use of the foam hose.  He covered about the first 20 rows with foam as the crowd was on fire for Ozzy.

 

Zakk got the opportunity for a guitar solo and showed off some tasty licks before beginning I Don't Know.  The set ended with I Don't Want To Change The World and there was no way the crowd was going to let Ozzy go so soon.  He didn't disappoint and came back out to perform Mama I'm Coming Home and Paranoid.

 

There were so many songs Ozzy could have chosen, but the set he put together kept the crowd crazy throughout.  The setlist is as follows:

 

I Don't Wanna Stop

Crazy Train

Suicide Solution

Mr. Crowley

Not Going Away

Road To Nowhere

Fire In The Sky

Bark At The Moon

(Guitar Solo)

I Don't Know

Here For You

I Don't Want To Change The World

 

Mama I'm Coming Home

Paranoid

 

I'm glad I finally got to see what this legend is about live!  Thank you, Dave, for the free ticket!

WOW!  CharityFest 2007 was awesome!  What a great day for a great cause.  Aaron Hynes and his family all turned out for a while yesterday to see what kind of production we were putting on.  What an awesome boy!  He even got up on stage and helped us with giving away some door prizes.

 

There are a ton of people that I need to say THANK YOU to!

 

Paul McCollum provided his club, parking area, time, money, employees, family, friends, and every other resource he could to put on CharityFest.  Paul put so much of his advertising into CharityFest through KGGO radio.  He got others involved and on board.  This guy is such a giving person and awesome to know and have in the community.  He loves the music.  He loves the music scene and he will give everything he can to the place he lives.  We need a lot more people like Paul.  Thank you, Paul, for the opportunity to be involved in CharityFest in some small way.  I'm glad we are going to be working together more in the future!  Oh, and thanks for letting me talk to the Naked Beggars to confirm them for the show!  HAHA!!

 

Ray Wright sparked the entire idea for CharityFest.  This guy has a ton of resources available to make things happen.  He got so many things lined up for this event.  Even in the last week, he got the dunk tank.  He brought his wife, Joy, who ran the drinks outside all day.  He sang in the top local band, SordiD.  He ran the stage to make sure everything happened on time.  He kept us focused in the meetings leading up to the event.  He provided a ton of laughs!  Ray, thank you for everything!  The sense of humor, the opportunity, the SordiD CD, the airtime you got us on Lazer's Local Lick.  Ray, you rock and I can't wait to get started on the next great idea!

 

KGGO is my favorite local station.  Brian James, Clutch, Shawn T, and Doug Bailey have been great to get to know a bit this summer.  Brian is always interested in seeing what KGGO can do for this community and it was great of him to interview Eric Brittingham and Chip Z'Nuff to help advertise CharityFest.  He made sure that CharityFest was a priority in advertising.  Brian and Clutch even brought the van out for part of the day!  Thank you, KGGO!

 

Lazer 103.3 provided an hour of airtime to let us give some of the bands airplay!  THANK YOU!!

 

The Lumberyard provided several girls for our dunk booth.  They were fun and professional and great sports.  Thank you to Josh and each of the girls.  I had a great time dunking each of you!  Oh, and Jasmine, thanks for being such a good sport when I dunked you with all 5 balls purchased for your time on the seat!  :)

 

Thank you, Mel, for a great attitude, tons of hard work, and for lining up so many great sponsors to give away so many things to those that donated.  You put in so many phone calls, trips, and other hard work to make this possible.  I'm not sure what Paul would do without you!

 

All of the bands were great in giving their time Saturday.

 

Dave Corley came out with a last minute phone call to do an acoustic set to start off the festivities on the indoor stage.  It's awesome that you would do this on such short notice, Dave!  Check out his band MoneyShot when you can!

 

Rearview also provided a last minute set as one of the bands had to drop out.  Calling these guys in just before noon and having them turn up ready and willing to perform was such a life saver!  Check them out at a club near you!

 

Freaklabel weathered a broken down van and made it to the show anyway.  That's true determination!  I appreciate you guys travelling a couple of hours to do this show!

 

Derek Hiner, my roommate, was the one that took a part of his day both Saturday and Sunday to make sure the Freaklabel guys were able to attend and perform at CharityFest.  Thank you, Derek!

 

Totally Wrecked called me and volunteered their time and even went on at our only open slot; NOON!  These guys are full of great punk music and attitude and it was a pleasure seeing them live and getting to meet them.  Thank you so much for actively getting involved in such a worthy cause!

 

Standing Damaged did double duty this weekend.  Paul had them open for Naked Beggars the night before and they still came out to do a set for CharityFest.  You guys rock and I'm grateful you had no problem putting in so much time this weekend.

 

LyinHeart got moved from the indoor to the outdoor stage.  I'm so glad I was able to do that for them as they are my favorite Iowa original band.  You guys put on a solid show and I'm thankful you came all the way down from Cedar Falls to do this!  I can't wait to hear your new CD, too!

 

MindScheme came all the way from Chicago and made an extra day of the weekend just to be here for CharityFest!  They put on a great show at The Venue the night before and rocked out even though they got cut short about 10 minutes due to a cable problem that was out of their control.  Mario and the guys showed true patience and determination to help out with CharityFest.  They were ready to do everything asked of them and I'm just glad we were blessed with their music.  Thank you, MindScheme!  I hope to get you back to Des Moines soon for a full blown MindScheme rock n roll show!

 

M!SS CRAZY is my favorite band in the last two years.  I love this band and you all know it.  I'm so grateful to Markus an Kim for coming out to CharityFest and rocking all the fans they have made here in Iowa.  You two are great people and I appreciate you doing this for the Hynes family!  Oh, and thank you for the opportunity to sing background vocals!  That made my summer!

 

Naked Beggars simply ROCK!  You came all the way from Nashville in spite of having a better offer and in spite of some very expensive loss along the way.  Inga, you are an original.  You have such a huge heart for people and for music.  It's evident in everything.  Eric, you are a rock.  It was great visiting with you and most of all besting able to hear your band.  I'm grateful that you are still going strong.  Kris, there is no need for a second guitarist with you on stage.  You are a great performer and I'm glad you and Inga got Naked Beggars rocking!  Lisa, you are a real trooper!  In spite of your loss of equipment, the show went on!  You are rock solid and great to visit with.  Thank you to each of you most of all for coming all this way to help us raise money for Aaron Hynes.

 

Thank you to ALL of the bands for volunteering your time and bringing your friends to make this event a success.  I got to hear most of you and am impressed by the diversity and talent in this area!

 

All of the volunteers for the event really kept this day moving along smoothly!  The guys at the dunk booth, the security, the wonderful women who took care of tickets and drinks, the ladies working the bar, the man working the grill, the guys working the door, the ladies taking donations for the door prizes, the stage hands, the group working the sound equipment indoor and out, and everyone else that volunteered their time willingly kept order indoor and out.  You guys executed with very little direction and really came through all day long.  Thank you so much for helping raise awareness!

 

Lastly and most importantly, thank you to everyone who came out and spent their hard earned money to make sure that Aaron Hynes and his family have just a tad bit less of a financial burden.  You provided the family with a wonderful amount of money to go toward their needs.  It's you that made this worthwhile.  Witnessing your generosity first hand is an experience I will never forget.  It's great to see what this community is capable of.

 

This is only the first of many events I hope to be a part of in this community.  you have all made this a wonderful time and a worthwhile venture.  I've lived here since late 2000 and this is the first time I've been able to get this involved in the community and the local music scene.  I hope to be able to help in some small way in the future to help worthwhile causes and the local and national music scene in the Des Moines area.