A few weeks ago I was listing to my library of Guster music and mourning the idea that I was going to miss Summerfest again this year. And now, here I am, having just finished a second night of this year's Big Gig.
With Guster.
I ventured back to Milwaukee on my own this afternoon, driving the two hours across the state to get here. Once again, Orrin and Kelli provided me with a ticket to tonight's festivities and a place to rest my head before I head back to The Farm tomorrow morning.
It was good. ... It's been wonderful being back here again, and so many of the memories of our glorious 2011 summer vacation in the Third Ward have come back.
As I approached the Summerfest gates this afternoon I heard a band playing Chicago's "Make Me Smile" -- one of my all time favorite songs -- blasting from the Miller Lite Oasis, horns and all. Immediately, I thought, That's where I'm heading.
I walked up to the stage to find a classic rock cover band, aptly called The Tons O' Fun Band. They followed "Make Me Smile" with another Chicago hit, "Beginnings." Other than the brass section murdering the classic instrumental section that makes the song's finale, this band's sound was pretty decent.
Compare Chicago's original, to this ...
I walked the rest of the grounds to see what else I might be missing and soon returned to hear Tons of Fun dole out "Superstition," "Play That Funky Music White Boy" and "Power of Love." Eventually, the band ended its set with "25 or 6 to 4." Turns out the band includes Terry Luttrell, the original lead singer for REO Speedwagon.
When I began walking the grounds again, JoJo's Martini Lounge caught my attention. There, a simple outfit called Jesse's First Time was doing more classics. I heard them do "Suite Judy Blue Eyes," "Mrs. Robinson" and "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'."
After grabbing a cheeseburger at Miss Katie's Diner, I stumbled on the Comedy Sportz tent and caught a couple sketches. In one, the comics selected a little girl from the audience -- she was maybe 4 or 5 years old -- to supply the sound effects for their skit. She was adorable and the crowd loved her no matter what sounds came out of her mouth.
Then I settled into my spot at Guster.
Matt Pond was on the stage. A bunch of douches smoking cheap cigars moved in around me. When Matt Pond finished and his groupies moved out, I promptly moved to a better spot. Closer to the stage. At the center of the seating area.
It barely hit me that it was the Fourth of July until I took notice of the people sporting red white and blue around me. There were a lot of T-shirts with slogans like Team USA and 'Merica, bandanas and hats. The Rush T-shirts also were out in full force with that certain band playing at the Marcus tonight. I wore my blue Milwaukee Air Guard T-shirt and my red baseball cap with a "G" that on this particular night stood for Guster.
They say Summerfest has something for everyone. I've seen so much over the years that the outrageous fashions and people watching hardly fazes me anymore.
ZZ Ward opened for Guster as a co-headliner. I hadn't heard of her before tonight, but clearly she had fans in the crowd, especially the ladies who seemed to know every word.
Her souful rock sound, fused with R&B and hip hop elements, reminded me of Toby Lightman. But her non-stop wide smile and long blonde hair, capped with a fedora, reminded me only of Taylor Swift. Not to mention her multiple songs about breakups.
She led the crowd in a sing-along on "Home," and she played a mean harmonica on "If I Could Be Her." She had the crowd thoroughly rocking on her last song, before an encore of "Blue Eyes Blind." I really enjoyed hearing and watching her perform.
Next up, Guster ...
There was a disappointedly small crowd. Which sort of makes me wish I had tried to see Barenaked Ladies at the BMO Pavilion at 8. But I've seen BNL twice, and by not seeing them a third time, I got to see a new artist in ZZ Ward, so it's all good. (Check out this entertaining backstage interview with Barenaked Ladies at Summerfest.)
Guster's performance did seem to start a little slow tonight, but that's forgivable. They're touring this summer with Ben Folds Five and Barenaked Ladies -- oh, how I'd love to see one of those package deals -- and lead singer Ryan Miller made light of the fact they're used to playing 40 minutes each day, making it "the easiest tour ever." After Guster performs, he told the crowd, he goes backstage and eats cheeseballs. Tonight, they had to play "a real concert."
And those of us who showed up were thankful for that.
Here's one of my favorite Guster tunes, "Manifest Destiny."
Soon enough, the Guster boys were buzzing through their songs, three minutes at a time and cutting across most of their albums from "Goldfly" to the most recent "Easy Wonderful," chipping fan favorites from each. By the time they rolled into "Do You Love Me," the show had turned into a good 'ol Summerfest party with beach balls being bopped above the crowd, dancing on benches and smiley people singing everywhere you looked.
Brian Rosenworcel was the usual dynamo on the percussion, while Miller, Adam Gardner and Luke Reynolds took their turns on guitars and keyboards. Miller put on a harmonica for "One Man Wrecking Machine."
Gardner pleased the crowd with his trumpet solos on "What You Call Love" and the epic "Ruby Falls" -- also one of my favorite Guster tunes. ...
And "Happier" gives me chills every time I hear a live version of it and the crowd sings along.
It was classic Guster.
For the encore, Miller started it off by giving the crowd a choice: "Parachute" or "I Spy." Judging the crowd's noise level on each choice, they went with "I Spy."
Saving the best -- sort of -- for last, Miller yelled "We're going to play this once, and you will never hear it again!" Then Rosenworcel stepped to the center mic at the front of the stage and belted out Katy Perry's "Firework." His vocals were atrocious, but no one cared because it was the Fourth of July and Guster was doing its thing.
The setlist
1. What You Wish For
2. Manifest Destiny
3. Architects & Engineers
4. Homecoming King (Capped with a quick take on the theme from "Chariots of Fire.")
5. Demons
6. One Man Wrecking Machine
7. What You Call Love
8. Come Downstairs and Say Hello
9. Do You Love Me
10. Happier
11. Ruby Falls
12. Ramona
13. The Captain
14. Barrel of a Gun
15. Hang On
16. Amsterdam
17. USA Rap/This Could All Be Yours
Encore
18. I Spy
19. Satellite
20. Airport Song
21. Firework
Showing posts with label Guster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guster. Show all posts
7.05.2013
1.21.2012
Musical highs and lows
This was my music discovery of the week …
Sara Bareilles is brilliant.
Speaking of brilliant …
Hello.
Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.
Those are the highs.
The lows?
It was announced this week that Death Cab for Cutie is touring this spring. With an orchestra.
They'll be hitting Chicago. Milwaukee. ... Kansas City? No.
I know I've said I wasn't impressed when I saw Death Cab in Milwaukee a few years ago. ... But I'd like a do-over. And they're playing with an orchestra!
Guster recently announced they're heading back to Milwaukee, too. They've played there three, maybe four times since our move. But no Kansas City.
I'm beginning to think Kansas City is a black hole for good rock bands. What gives?
Sara Bareilles is brilliant.
Speaking of brilliant …
Hello.
Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.
Those are the highs.
The lows?
It was announced this week that Death Cab for Cutie is touring this spring. With an orchestra.
They'll be hitting Chicago. Milwaukee. ... Kansas City? No.
I know I've said I wasn't impressed when I saw Death Cab in Milwaukee a few years ago. ... But I'd like a do-over. And they're playing with an orchestra!
Guster recently announced they're heading back to Milwaukee, too. They've played there three, maybe four times since our move. But no Kansas City.
I'm beginning to think Kansas City is a black hole for good rock bands. What gives?
7.03.2009
Guster 'nother night at Summerfest
I closed out my tour of Summerfest ’09 tonight, and I’m thinking I made the right decision by going to see Guster ...
Best. Guster show. yet.
Rather than fill their set with unfamiliar songs from their upcoming album, the Guster boys loaded the show with old tunes and fan favorites. A fun-loving crowd exploded in cheers at the opening of every song, danced on the benches and drowned out the band at times with their singing.
And Brian Rosenworcel – wow. The guy went so freakishly wild on his drum kit and bongos tonight, I was surprised we didn’t see parts of his fingers flying into the crowd. Check out this clip from Guster's performance of “Come Downstairs And Say Hello,” which unfortunately doesn't do it justice ...
I arrived at the grounds in time to catch the last few songs of Mt. Olive’s set, which proved to be a perfect warm-up for the night. They provided my cover band fix for this year's Summerfest and I got to hear crowd-raising renditions of “Blister in the Sun,” “Closer to Free” and, best of all, “Sweet Caroline.”
Also, I'm submitting my nomination for Most Amusing Summerfest Dancer '09. I saw this guy and it brought back visions of the guy I saw last year, who, by the way, I spotted at one point tonight ...
Chester French followed Mt. Olive, and while there appeared to be a handful of fans in the crowd wearing T-shirts and singing to their songs, most people hardly seemed pleased with their act. The band was fronted by some smart allecky kid with curly carrot-top hair and wearing a pink suit coat; he was loud, obnoxious and their lyrics were barely coherent … When the front man interrupted their last song to ask the crowd how many people thought they should be a headliner at next year’s Summerfest, I rolled my eyes and gladly remained silent with my arms folded. I couldn’t help noticing the guys next to me doing the same. Then, when the last notes finally played out I caught the girl in front of me wiping her forehead and mouthing the words, “It’s about time.”
Wild Sweet Orange, the final band to play before Guster, was a much more crowd-pleasing and appropriate choice as a lead-in for Guster. Interestingly, it was the second time I’d seen Wild Sweet Orange, having seen them with Counting Crows last year. Tonight, they were even more fantastic and entertaining than I remembered … Check ‘em out.
Guster wasted no time appeasing fans with “The Captain” and “One Man Wrecking Machine.” Then turned the crowd's energy up another notch by capping “Red Oyster Cult” with the infamous cowbell and harmony riff of Blue Oyster Cult's “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.”
In one of the other great highlights of the night, lead singer Adam Gardner noted how many music options Summerfest goers had to choose from and thanked the crowd for choosing to spend the night with them. Then, as a way of saying thanks, Gardner said, the band wanted to present the crowd with some of “the best of Summerfest,” and they proceeded to reel off a rockin' medley that included Whitesnake's “Here I Go Again,” No Doubt's “Don't Speak,” Kiss's “Rock 'n' Roll All Night” and a Matisyahu song on which Gardner jumbled some Hebrew lyrics.
The band had played so many of their best and most memorable songs that by the time they started in on “Satellite” for their encore, I thought for a moment, Didn't they play this one already? ... The only song I really missed hearing was “Careful.”
Guster didn't throw out a new song -- which is called something like "Swallowed Me Whole" -- until their second-to-last number of the night. To introduce it, Gardner apologized to the crowd for missing Summerfest last year and reasoned the band had to take some time off to "have sex with their wives and have babies."
Whatever works. Here's hoping they're back again next year.
Here's Guster's set list ... Links go to videos I shot of the performances.
1. “The Captain”
2. “One Man Wrecking Machine”
3. “Red Oyster Cult” / “Don’t Fear the Reaper”
4. “Demons”
5. “Center of Attention”
6. “Hang On”
7. “Come Downstairs And Say Hello”
8. “G Major”
9. “Barrel of a Gun”
10. “Ruby Falls”
11. “C’mon”
12. “Best of Summerfest Medley”
13. “Manifest Destiny”
14. “Airport Song” (I should note, the crowd tossed ping pong balls onto the stage during this one and it was perhaps Rosenworcel's most entertaining work of the night.)
15. “Amsterdam”
16. “Fa Fa”
Encore
1. “Satellite”
2. (New song)
3. “Happier”
Best. Guster show. yet.
Rather than fill their set with unfamiliar songs from their upcoming album, the Guster boys loaded the show with old tunes and fan favorites. A fun-loving crowd exploded in cheers at the opening of every song, danced on the benches and drowned out the band at times with their singing.
And Brian Rosenworcel – wow. The guy went so freakishly wild on his drum kit and bongos tonight, I was surprised we didn’t see parts of his fingers flying into the crowd. Check out this clip from Guster's performance of “Come Downstairs And Say Hello,” which unfortunately doesn't do it justice ...
I arrived at the grounds in time to catch the last few songs of Mt. Olive’s set, which proved to be a perfect warm-up for the night. They provided my cover band fix for this year's Summerfest and I got to hear crowd-raising renditions of “Blister in the Sun,” “Closer to Free” and, best of all, “Sweet Caroline.”
Also, I'm submitting my nomination for Most Amusing Summerfest Dancer '09. I saw this guy and it brought back visions of the guy I saw last year, who, by the way, I spotted at one point tonight ...
Chester French followed Mt. Olive, and while there appeared to be a handful of fans in the crowd wearing T-shirts and singing to their songs, most people hardly seemed pleased with their act. The band was fronted by some smart allecky kid with curly carrot-top hair and wearing a pink suit coat; he was loud, obnoxious and their lyrics were barely coherent … When the front man interrupted their last song to ask the crowd how many people thought they should be a headliner at next year’s Summerfest, I rolled my eyes and gladly remained silent with my arms folded. I couldn’t help noticing the guys next to me doing the same. Then, when the last notes finally played out I caught the girl in front of me wiping her forehead and mouthing the words, “It’s about time.”
Wild Sweet Orange, the final band to play before Guster, was a much more crowd-pleasing and appropriate choice as a lead-in for Guster. Interestingly, it was the second time I’d seen Wild Sweet Orange, having seen them with Counting Crows last year. Tonight, they were even more fantastic and entertaining than I remembered … Check ‘em out.
Guster wasted no time appeasing fans with “The Captain” and “One Man Wrecking Machine.” Then turned the crowd's energy up another notch by capping “Red Oyster Cult” with the infamous cowbell and harmony riff of Blue Oyster Cult's “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.”
In one of the other great highlights of the night, lead singer Adam Gardner noted how many music options Summerfest goers had to choose from and thanked the crowd for choosing to spend the night with them. Then, as a way of saying thanks, Gardner said, the band wanted to present the crowd with some of “the best of Summerfest,” and they proceeded to reel off a rockin' medley that included Whitesnake's “Here I Go Again,” No Doubt's “Don't Speak,” Kiss's “Rock 'n' Roll All Night” and a Matisyahu song on which Gardner jumbled some Hebrew lyrics.
The band had played so many of their best and most memorable songs that by the time they started in on “Satellite” for their encore, I thought for a moment, Didn't they play this one already? ... The only song I really missed hearing was “Careful.”
Guster didn't throw out a new song -- which is called something like "Swallowed Me Whole" -- until their second-to-last number of the night. To introduce it, Gardner apologized to the crowd for missing Summerfest last year and reasoned the band had to take some time off to "have sex with their wives and have babies."
Whatever works. Here's hoping they're back again next year.
Here's Guster's set list ... Links go to videos I shot of the performances.
1. “The Captain”
2. “One Man Wrecking Machine”
3. “Red Oyster Cult” / “Don’t Fear the Reaper”
4. “Demons”
5. “Center of Attention”
6. “Hang On”
7. “Come Downstairs And Say Hello”
8. “G Major”
9. “Barrel of a Gun”
10. “Ruby Falls”
11. “C’mon”
12. “Best of Summerfest Medley”
13. “Manifest Destiny”
14. “Airport Song” (I should note, the crowd tossed ping pong balls onto the stage during this one and it was perhaps Rosenworcel's most entertaining work of the night.)
15. “Amsterdam”
16. “Fa Fa”
Encore
1. “Satellite”
2. (New song)
3. “Happier”
6.24.2009
Summer means fun
It’s that time of year again, folks.What did I call it last year? Oh yes, “The Good Times Tour.”
It’s that glorious 10-day span of every summer where the weather is perfect — not to hot, not too cold (I say that as we reached a record-high 91 degrees yesterday and we're experiencing another scorcher today). The colors in our yard are bursting. I celebrate a birthday. We gather with friends and family for Fourth of July festivities. And of course — cue the angel chorus — there's Summerfest.
The Big Gig begins tomorrow, baby. My tickets and enough parking passes — so that this year I don’t have to endure any boisterous, drunken, post-concert shuttle rides with the teenie-bopper/frat boy crowd — are in hand.
But then again, I’m feeling the least excited about this year’s Summerfest that I’ve felt in my entire Summerfest-going history.
Maybe it’s me getting older, becoming a father, having more responsibilities at home and not feeling as connected with the said teenie-bopper/frat boy crowd as I once used to. Maybe it’s the stress and crazy hours of my work-life these days. Maybe it’s just that the whole shine of Summerfest isn’t what it used to be for me ...
I really hope, though, that my lacking excitement has to do with this year’s less-than-stellar lineup ...
There’s only a couple bands I’d go to see — hands-down, no re-thinking needed — Guster and Shiny Toy Guns, who happen to be playing on the same night.
Now, I’ve been wanting/trying to see Shiny Toy Guns for two or three years, but every time they’ve come around they’re playing at the same time as another band I’m more interested in seeing, or their show is canceled ...
But Guster, over the last few years, has become one of my favorite bands in the world. I’ve seen them three times (2 1/2 times if you consider the night I decided to bug out because I wasn’t having any fun) and they remain super entertaining in my eyes. I also adore their music, packed with their sunbathed harmonies, singable melodies and Brian Rosenworcel’s percussion-playing.
Thus, Guster gets the nod over Shiny Toy Guns ... Sounds stupid, I know. Why go for a band I’ve seen multiple times when I could see a band I’ve been wanting to see for years? I guess it’s the comfort of being pretty sure I’m going to enjoy Guster, I'm pretty sure I'll get my money's worth, and Guster, over the last few years, has become one of my favorite bands in the world.
Few others on this year’s Summerfest lineup caught my eyes ...
... Barenaked Ladies ... But they haven’t had a hit in years. And with Steven Page departed, there appears to be a huge hole in their lineup ...
... Sister Hazel or Blues Traveler ... If this was 2000, I’d be all over it. But I’ve seen both a couple times and don’t have an urge to see them any time soon.
... Erin McCarley / Brett Dennen / Mat Kearney ... An intriguing list of up-and-comers playing back-to-back-to-back. But I've seen Brett and Mat, and the combo isn't enough to give up a couple extra hours of sleep and still get up by 4 the next morning.
... Train ... Kates and I thought about hitting them up again. But neither of us wanted to run the risk of devaluing their show a couple year ago — which we still regard as one of the best we’ve ever seen.
And the Marcus Lineup ... Last year’s lineup was stacked with greats; this year, eh. Bon Jovi — though I wouldn’t mind seeing him once — seems to come every year. Counting Crows, I’ve seen them. The Fray, seen them twice, not a fan. Bob Dylan — can’t stand his singing — with Willie Nelson, not interested. Stevie Wonder, saw him last year and I'm afraid of trying to top that. No Doubt, glad their reunited but they’ve never sounded good to me live, plus it's the same night as Guster. And Kiss, thanks but not a bit interested.
Ah, who am I kidding? I’m going to Summerfest and I'll have a ton of fun hearing music and taking in the scenery. Just like I do every summer ...
7.08.2007
Summerfest '07: The End
All of my Summerfest '07 posts...
a Day 1
a Day 2
a Day 3
a Day 4
a Day 5
... No Summerfest tonight.
... Kates and I were up at 6:30 this morning and on the road by 7:30, trekking to join my extended family for 'lil Owen's baptism ... Wonderful service. Owen was cute and did well. We celebrated at the house afterward. Caught up on life. And it was good ...
We were on our way home by 2 ... and thoughts of sneaking in one more night of Summerfest were filling my mind ...
I still had a couple tickets left over, and I thought it would be cool to be there once more on closing night. Blue October was playing at the U.S. Cellular stage at 10 and I was interested in seeing them ...
I think more than anything I just wanted one more giant Summerfest cup of Mountain Dew and the perfect amount of ice ...
On the other side, it was really hot. And having to drive up to the Park N' Ride and catch yet another bus to Summerfest didn't really excite me. Same for the crowds and for the notion of another night of minimal sleep ...
(I am really dragging after all. I tried driving home this afternoon, but a third of the way into the drive I had to pull over and switch with Kates out of fear I was going to crash the car. She took over driving and I slept the rest of the ride home ...)
... I was still trying to decide whether I wanted to go right up until 7 p.m., and for a time Kates was going to go with me ... but we stepped back to reality and decided to stay home instead, cooking a pizza and watching Friends DVDs, thus easing the soul with some good laughs ...
And so it ends. Summerfest 2007, the 40th Anniversary celebration turns into a memory now. And a fine memory it will be ...
So too ends, the best 11 days I've had in a long, long, long time. Easily the best 11 days to start a new year of birth ... Lots of Summerfest, with Nostalgia Fest, a good night of baseball and Fourth of July on the beach mixed in -- nice.
My mourning period will last a few days. But don't worry I'll be OK ...
... This year, I made it to five of the 11 nights and saw a total of 17 bands -- give or take one or two, it was hard to keep track ... and from Headlights last Friday night to Scythian on Saturday, there hasn't been a year where I've had such a good time seeing the no-name/up-and-coming/pre-headliner bands ... Every night was better than the one before ...
... Above all, if you asked me to name my top four bands/musicians right now -- I’d give you Ben Folds, The Shins, Fleetwood Mac and Guster. And here I sit, having seen three of them (Lindsey Buckingham, of course, representing the Fleetwood Mac aspect) in a week's span -- I think that’s pretty darn special …
(For the record, I tried to come up with an even five for my top bands, but among the next bands I thought of -- Beach Boys, Chicago, Matchbox Twenty, Mute Math -- it was too hard to pick just one, and even then, none of them have garnered the consistent play over the last several months as my top four … )
... Actually the reminiscing began a few days ago already as I started searching YouTube for some videos from this year's Summerfest ... So here I give you some of my findings, representing a few of my favorite moments from this year's Summerfest ...
The first is a video of Lindsey Buckingham performing "Big Love" last Saturday night. The visual on it sucks, but the audio does the job ...
This one, although not from Summerfest, is of Lindsey doing "Never Going Back Again." According to the tag, this video was actually shot a few months ago in New York. But his performance at Summerfest was almost identical to this one, so here you go ...
Here's a short clip of Ben Folds doing the "Such Great Heights" cover ... man, I wish the whole thing was here! ...
... And here's a clip of the A-MAZ-ing synthesizer solo that he played at the end of "Such Great Heights" ...
Thankfully, there's a lot more of John Mayer's show. Like my favorite of the night, "Waiting On The World To Change" ...
... "Bigger Than My Body."
And "Your Body Is A Wonderland" (yeah, the crowd was this loud almost all night ...)
And of course, it wouldn't be worth remembering Summerfest without people dancing on picnic tables. This video apparently was taken last night as me and a few hundred others were waiting to see Guster ...
Summerfest reads ... cleaning out my Google alerts about all things Summerfest ...
a Heat doesn't stop the beat
a Keeping a clean smile
a Milwaukee Talks: Summerfest Chairman Howard Schnoll
a Trains, planes and guided missiles at the lake
a Summerfest grounds may get makeover
a Is this Summerfest or Oktoberfest?
a Carlin's naughty words still ring in officer's ears
a Roads traveled: 40 years of Summerfest
a Summerfest TV documentary blends history with reminiscences ... I watched this documentary. I didn't think it was that good; it didn't tell me a whole lot I didn't already know and the production quality was lacking, if not cheesy ...
a Festival shook off dust, mud to put smile on summer
a jsonline's Summerfest page
a Day 1
a Day 2
a Day 3
a Day 4
a Day 5
... No Summerfest tonight.
... Kates and I were up at 6:30 this morning and on the road by 7:30, trekking to join my extended family for 'lil Owen's baptism ... Wonderful service. Owen was cute and did well. We celebrated at the house afterward. Caught up on life. And it was good ...
We were on our way home by 2 ... and thoughts of sneaking in one more night of Summerfest were filling my mind ...
I still had a couple tickets left over, and I thought it would be cool to be there once more on closing night. Blue October was playing at the U.S. Cellular stage at 10 and I was interested in seeing them ...
I think more than anything I just wanted one more giant Summerfest cup of Mountain Dew and the perfect amount of ice ...
On the other side, it was really hot. And having to drive up to the Park N' Ride and catch yet another bus to Summerfest didn't really excite me. Same for the crowds and for the notion of another night of minimal sleep ...
(I am really dragging after all. I tried driving home this afternoon, but a third of the way into the drive I had to pull over and switch with Kates out of fear I was going to crash the car. She took over driving and I slept the rest of the ride home ...)
... I was still trying to decide whether I wanted to go right up until 7 p.m., and for a time Kates was going to go with me ... but we stepped back to reality and decided to stay home instead, cooking a pizza and watching Friends DVDs, thus easing the soul with some good laughs ...
And so it ends. Summerfest 2007, the 40th Anniversary celebration turns into a memory now. And a fine memory it will be ...
So too ends, the best 11 days I've had in a long, long, long time. Easily the best 11 days to start a new year of birth ... Lots of Summerfest, with Nostalgia Fest, a good night of baseball and Fourth of July on the beach mixed in -- nice.
My mourning period will last a few days. But don't worry I'll be OK ...
... This year, I made it to five of the 11 nights and saw a total of 17 bands -- give or take one or two, it was hard to keep track ... and from Headlights last Friday night to Scythian on Saturday, there hasn't been a year where I've had such a good time seeing the no-name/up-and-coming/pre-headliner bands ... Every night was better than the one before ...
... Above all, if you asked me to name my top four bands/musicians right now -- I’d give you Ben Folds, The Shins, Fleetwood Mac and Guster. And here I sit, having seen three of them (Lindsey Buckingham, of course, representing the Fleetwood Mac aspect) in a week's span -- I think that’s pretty darn special …
(For the record, I tried to come up with an even five for my top bands, but among the next bands I thought of -- Beach Boys, Chicago, Matchbox Twenty, Mute Math -- it was too hard to pick just one, and even then, none of them have garnered the consistent play over the last several months as my top four … )
... Actually the reminiscing began a few days ago already as I started searching YouTube for some videos from this year's Summerfest ... So here I give you some of my findings, representing a few of my favorite moments from this year's Summerfest ...
The first is a video of Lindsey Buckingham performing "Big Love" last Saturday night. The visual on it sucks, but the audio does the job ...
This one, although not from Summerfest, is of Lindsey doing "Never Going Back Again." According to the tag, this video was actually shot a few months ago in New York. But his performance at Summerfest was almost identical to this one, so here you go ...
Here's a short clip of Ben Folds doing the "Such Great Heights" cover ... man, I wish the whole thing was here! ...
... And here's a clip of the A-MAZ-ing synthesizer solo that he played at the end of "Such Great Heights" ...
Thankfully, there's a lot more of John Mayer's show. Like my favorite of the night, "Waiting On The World To Change" ...
... "Bigger Than My Body."
And "Your Body Is A Wonderland" (yeah, the crowd was this loud almost all night ...)
And of course, it wouldn't be worth remembering Summerfest without people dancing on picnic tables. This video apparently was taken last night as me and a few hundred others were waiting to see Guster ...
Summerfest reads ... cleaning out my Google alerts about all things Summerfest ...
a Heat doesn't stop the beat
a Keeping a clean smile
a Milwaukee Talks: Summerfest Chairman Howard Schnoll
a Trains, planes and guided missiles at the lake
a Summerfest grounds may get makeover
a Is this Summerfest or Oktoberfest?
a Carlin's naughty words still ring in officer's ears
a Roads traveled: 40 years of Summerfest
a Summerfest TV documentary blends history with reminiscences ... I watched this documentary. I didn't think it was that good; it didn't tell me a whole lot I didn't already know and the production quality was lacking, if not cheesy ...
a Festival shook off dust, mud to put smile on summer
a jsonline's Summerfest page
Summerfest '07: Day 5
… Keeping with my routine this week, I wasn’t in bed until after 2 last night, and I was back up at 7 to finish some work I’d left undone … By 9 I was at the batting cages for an hour of practice and then I went off to buy some new shoes (I still had my gift certificate from winning the Corporate Cup … and I exchanged it for a new pair of Teva sandals and some sweet retro tennis shoes -- all for 25 bucks on clearance -- and $25 cash back …).
… And after that, I was meeting Cubs great Billy Williams ... He was about 10 minutes late getting to the signing, but his jovial personality lit up the room when he passed through the door. “Hey everybody!” he said as he made is way to a table at the front of the shop. “I want everybody pulling for Lily to get a win today …”
Then, as myself and a few other guys got closer to Williams in the line, the longtime Cub says, “So tell me what do you want me to take back and tell some of the guys.” The questions started coming …
“What’s going on with Felix Pie,” a man asked. “
Williams answered, “Well, I think he’s got his hands up to high. He needs to lower them. He’s hitting everything to right.”
“What’s wrong with Derek Lee’s power? Do you think his wrists are still bothering him?” another man asked.
Williams answered, “Nah. I think it’s just pitchers are pitching him outside. And then Aramis Ramirez being out of the lineup. They just aren’t giving him anything to hit.”
When it was my turn to meet and greet Williams, he signed a photo for me. We shook hands and he says, “Hey, you look like Al Shapiro! Anybody ever told you that?”
“No,” I said.
“He plays third base for L.A. You look just like him.”
I've never heard of the guy and an Internet search didn't turn up anything ... But sure thing, Billy. Whatever you say.
* * *
… By 5, I was off to catch the Freeway Flyer for another night of Summerfest …
… The heat in Kenosha was retched, but somehow the weather was cooler further north at the Park N’ Ride lot, and there was a cool breeze sweeping through …Perhaps the heat might have deterred some people from going to the Fest; there were a surprising amount of empty parking spaces left in the lot. Even on the bus, Saturday night was the first night I’d taken the bus with no one standing in the aisles …
I arrived at the grounds about 6 p.m., and promptly headed for the Briggs & Stratton stage. Tonight’s plan was to see Guster, and I was not having a repeat of last year's Guster show (not getting a good spot, being surrounded by idiots, having a horrible time and being so disappointed I left the show …) …
I stopped at Major Goolsby’s to pick up a bacon cheeseburger (Seriously! BACON cheeseburger. There were pounds of bacon on this thing! After eating it, I was afraid I was going to have a heart attack before Guster had even taken the stage), and then found a spot on one of the last few benches lined up with the center of the stage. Cerfus Project was wrapping up their set, I had a good seat, and I was pleased.
I finished my burger and invited an older couple about my parents' age who had been looking for seats to fill the two spots I was holding to my right. To my left I had a charming group of high school-aged girls and boys (clearly Guster fans, four or five of the girls were wearing matching T-shirts) and in front of me I had a couple of girls who were my age that chatted with me and the other couple, in addition to exchanging high fives throughout the rest of the evening. It became one of those sweet nights at Summerfest when you and the strangers around you form your own little community and camaraderie …
By about 6:30 p.m., a band by the name of Scythian was coming on the stage. They had already got my attention when I watched their stagehands setting up violins and an accordion, in addition to drums and guitars …Then the guy who came on stage to introduce them mentioned the Washington Post has called them “one of Washington's most energetic and eclectic bands.”
Well, they played well all right … In fact, they were quite possibly the best non-headlining band I have ever seen at Summerfest.
Not one person was left sitting even one song into their set, and that’s a rarity for non-headlining bands. Without knowing the schedule or the bands, anyone walking past the Briggs stage while Scythian was playing could have easily mistaken them for tonight’s headliner given the crowd’s reaction.
Comprised of a couple guys on fiddles, a guitar player who doubles as the lead vocalist and the drummer, Scythian is a little bit country, a little bluegrass, a little bit rock, but mostly they were like “an Irish drinking band on speed.”
Vocalist Alex Fedoryka even introduced one song as “trashy Europe disco polka” and added “Everyone always asks what genre we play. But the truth is we don’t have a genre. We play music from all over the world.”
If “Fiddler on the Roof” were remade into a rock opera, these are the guys I’d want to have in the orchestra pit ... Then again, I’m not sure an orchestra pit would contain them. Aside from the drummer who was planted behind his set, the boys refused to stay in one place, constantly bopping around the stage. They repeatedly met each other around the center of the mic for jams. They played while squatting down; they played while jumping five feet in the air and doing the splits.
Seriously, did anyone have a video camera at the show!? I’m wanting the “Live from Summerfest” concert DVD. Scythian went on at 7:15 and led off their set with a quick jam and challenged the audience to get on their feet. Needless to say the crowd listened. The group mixed originals like with fiddle folk classics such as “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”
Midway through the show, the energy level was so high, the violinist shouted to the crowd, “You guys better pace yourself! Guster’s still coming out!”
To wrap up the show they actually did perform a jam that started with the main theme from “Fiddler,” and that led to the band members doing a kick line, which led to the audience joining in. In seconds, the entire crowd, from one side to the other was kicking in unison from their posts on the benches... The benches! At Summerfest! And anyone who's watched a show while standing on those rickety things, knows what I'm talking about.
By 8 p.m., the band was leaving the stage. Like air being let out of balloon, the crowd promptly took their seats on the benches again. But when Scythian reappeared on the stage to begin cleaning up their equipment and instruments, the crowd rose to its feet again and began chanting “One more song.”
Unfortunately for the crowd, the band was out of time and the next band was getting on... In the meantime, I just sat in awe, breathless and hoping they come back to Summerfest next year ...
* * *
The next band to take the stage was De Novo Dahl ...
Obviously they had a tough act to follow with Scynthia and they didn't reach near the energy level. But their loud, bouncy rock songs seemed to keep a decent section of the crowd entertained, including me. It also helped that the band -- which featured four guys and a girl who played keyboard and sang harmonies -- dressed in brightly colored outfits with sequins.
… And after that, I was meeting Cubs great Billy Williams ... He was about 10 minutes late getting to the signing, but his jovial personality lit up the room when he passed through the door. “Hey everybody!” he said as he made is way to a table at the front of the shop. “I want everybody pulling for Lily to get a win today …”Then, as myself and a few other guys got closer to Williams in the line, the longtime Cub says, “So tell me what do you want me to take back and tell some of the guys.” The questions started coming …
“What’s going on with Felix Pie,” a man asked. “
Williams answered, “Well, I think he’s got his hands up to high. He needs to lower them. He’s hitting everything to right.”
“What’s wrong with Derek Lee’s power? Do you think his wrists are still bothering him?” another man asked.
Williams answered, “Nah. I think it’s just pitchers are pitching him outside. And then Aramis Ramirez being out of the lineup. They just aren’t giving him anything to hit.”
When it was my turn to meet and greet Williams, he signed a photo for me. We shook hands and he says, “Hey, you look like Al Shapiro! Anybody ever told you that?”
“No,” I said.
“He plays third base for L.A. You look just like him.”
I've never heard of the guy and an Internet search didn't turn up anything ... But sure thing, Billy. Whatever you say.
* * *
… By 5, I was off to catch the Freeway Flyer for another night of Summerfest …
… The heat in Kenosha was retched, but somehow the weather was cooler further north at the Park N’ Ride lot, and there was a cool breeze sweeping through …Perhaps the heat might have deterred some people from going to the Fest; there were a surprising amount of empty parking spaces left in the lot. Even on the bus, Saturday night was the first night I’d taken the bus with no one standing in the aisles …
I arrived at the grounds about 6 p.m., and promptly headed for the Briggs & Stratton stage. Tonight’s plan was to see Guster, and I was not having a repeat of last year's Guster show (not getting a good spot, being surrounded by idiots, having a horrible time and being so disappointed I left the show …) …
I stopped at Major Goolsby’s to pick up a bacon cheeseburger (Seriously! BACON cheeseburger. There were pounds of bacon on this thing! After eating it, I was afraid I was going to have a heart attack before Guster had even taken the stage), and then found a spot on one of the last few benches lined up with the center of the stage. Cerfus Project was wrapping up their set, I had a good seat, and I was pleased.
I finished my burger and invited an older couple about my parents' age who had been looking for seats to fill the two spots I was holding to my right. To my left I had a charming group of high school-aged girls and boys (clearly Guster fans, four or five of the girls were wearing matching T-shirts) and in front of me I had a couple of girls who were my age that chatted with me and the other couple, in addition to exchanging high fives throughout the rest of the evening. It became one of those sweet nights at Summerfest when you and the strangers around you form your own little community and camaraderie …
By about 6:30 p.m., a band by the name of Scythian was coming on the stage. They had already got my attention when I watched their stagehands setting up violins and an accordion, in addition to drums and guitars …Then the guy who came on stage to introduce them mentioned the Washington Post has called them “one of Washington's most energetic and eclectic bands.”
Well, they played well all right … In fact, they were quite possibly the best non-headlining band I have ever seen at Summerfest.
Not one person was left sitting even one song into their set, and that’s a rarity for non-headlining bands. Without knowing the schedule or the bands, anyone walking past the Briggs stage while Scythian was playing could have easily mistaken them for tonight’s headliner given the crowd’s reaction.
Comprised of a couple guys on fiddles, a guitar player who doubles as the lead vocalist and the drummer, Scythian is a little bit country, a little bluegrass, a little bit rock, but mostly they were like “an Irish drinking band on speed.”Vocalist Alex Fedoryka even introduced one song as “trashy Europe disco polka” and added “Everyone always asks what genre we play. But the truth is we don’t have a genre. We play music from all over the world.”
If “Fiddler on the Roof” were remade into a rock opera, these are the guys I’d want to have in the orchestra pit ... Then again, I’m not sure an orchestra pit would contain them. Aside from the drummer who was planted behind his set, the boys refused to stay in one place, constantly bopping around the stage. They repeatedly met each other around the center of the mic for jams. They played while squatting down; they played while jumping five feet in the air and doing the splits.
Seriously, did anyone have a video camera at the show!? I’m wanting the “Live from Summerfest” concert DVD. Scythian went on at 7:15 and led off their set with a quick jam and challenged the audience to get on their feet. Needless to say the crowd listened. The group mixed originals like with fiddle folk classics such as “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”
Midway through the show, the energy level was so high, the violinist shouted to the crowd, “You guys better pace yourself! Guster’s still coming out!”
To wrap up the show they actually did perform a jam that started with the main theme from “Fiddler,” and that led to the band members doing a kick line, which led to the audience joining in. In seconds, the entire crowd, from one side to the other was kicking in unison from their posts on the benches... The benches! At Summerfest! And anyone who's watched a show while standing on those rickety things, knows what I'm talking about.
By 8 p.m., the band was leaving the stage. Like air being let out of balloon, the crowd promptly took their seats on the benches again. But when Scythian reappeared on the stage to begin cleaning up their equipment and instruments, the crowd rose to its feet again and began chanting “One more song.”
Unfortunately for the crowd, the band was out of time and the next band was getting on... In the meantime, I just sat in awe, breathless and hoping they come back to Summerfest next year ...
* * *
The next band to take the stage was De Novo Dahl ...
Obviously they had a tough act to follow with Scynthia and they didn't reach near the energy level. But their loud, bouncy rock songs seemed to keep a decent section of the crowd entertained, including me. It also helped that the band -- which featured four guys and a girl who played keyboard and sang harmonies -- dressed in brightly colored outfits with sequins.
With songs like "Shout" and their last song, "Be Your Man," (how can you not love a song with a catchy chorus of "uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, owww!") that made it hard to keep from singing along, I'll have to keep up with these guys ... as well as Scynthia, of course.
* * *
And finally, at 10 ...
(cue angel chorus)
Guster was taking the stage ...
I’m still wondering if this was planned or not (It was too good, I’d like to think it wasn’t planned... ), but typically, the recorded music that plays between the acts at each stage is turned off a few seconds before the oncoming band is about to appear. But tonight, just as Guster was stepping on to the stage, Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” began to play. The band took their positions on the stage and then they just stood there, gazing at the crowd, which had begun waving its arms in the air and serenading the band. Finally, lead singer Ryan Miller stepped into the mic and did his best Joe Cocker imitation, singing the falsetto “to me” that ends the song.
The crowd went wild and then the band burst into “What You Wish For,” which they followed with one of my favorites, “Manifest Destiny.”
Now, there’s a few things you can expect from a Guster show ...
A large, youth-oriented crowd. A solid pop-rock performance featuring the band’s catchy guitar licks and sunny harmonies. Some good laughs. And drummer Brian Rosenworcel practically beating his hands to pulp slapping bongos, cymbals and other percussive instruments ... All were there tonight.
Throughout the night, Guster mentioned more than once how much it enjoys playing Summerfest year after year -- which was music to my ears; I'd go see them again and again. They packed the Miller Lite Oasis last year and they very well could have done it again this year, but instead were cast off to the Briggs & Stratton stage while the alternative band Live had the Miller stage. And given the terrible acoustics at the Briggs stage, I was a little nervous about how Guster would sound, but it was OK ...
“We say it every time, but it’s so amazing to be playing here again,” Miller said early in the show. Later, he told the crowd the band already was planning a return for next year’s festival and promised some new surprises. Miller told the crowd Guster would play the ‘Fest every year if they’re invited.
Guster pleased the crowd with a flood of songs from their two most popular albums, 2003’s “Keep It Together” and “Ganging Up On the Sun,” which was arguably one of the best albums of last year ...
After “Manifest Destiny,” the set list went like this ...
“G Major”
“Amsterdam”
“Ramona”
“Satellite”
“The Beginning of the End”
“Come Downstairs And Say Hello”
“Demons”
“Barrel Of A Gun”
“Ruby Falls” (another one of my true faves, complete with Adam Gardner putting down his guitar to play the song’s muted trumpet section ... )
“C’mon”
“Careful”
Then, Miller told the crowd the next song would be the last before their encore and gave instructions to the crowd for how to act ... “We’ll walk off the stage and you guys pretend like you’re at a Toby Keith concert and cheer for more songs about patriotism,” he said. Then, after the group finished off “The Captain,” Miller shouted facetiously, “Thank you Milwaukee! We can’t wait for the next time we play here!” HA-larious!
... The crowd played along, and cheered at the top of their lungs. Then, came the chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” and Guster had been off the stage barely 10 seconds before they were coming back again. It was was easily the most scripted and amusing encores I’ve ever witnessed. To top it off, Miller returned to the mic, shouting “Thank you, America!”
The band filled the encore set with “Brazil,” “Happier” and then “Keep It Together” as their final number ...
There were a bundle of dedications throughout the show too. Miller dedicated one song to a guy in the front row with a cowbell (a memento he’d caught earlier tonight after Cerfus Project finished their set and tossed it from the stage). And before the last song, Miller thanked the Major Goolsby’s stand for having “the best corn dogs in the world.” Then he added “We want to thank the bands you didn’t get to see tonight. Live …” before doing his best Ed Kowalczyk imitation, with a line of “Lightning Crashes -- “the placenta falls to the floor” ... HA-larious!
Miller continued, “And Collective Soul. They’re playing over there,” he said, pointing to the north end of the grounds “and Panic! At the disco” (which was playing at the Marcus). “Someday we’re going to go on a big tour with those guys. Guster and Panic! At the Disco!” Miller said with enthusiasm -- which was hilarious in its irony because given the two bands’ styles and fan bases, it’s unlikely to happen.
At almost exactly 11:30, Guster was leaving the stage to a similar disappointment that enveloped the end of Scynthia’s exit earlier tonight. The crowd clearly had enjoyed the performance and they were desperate to hear more. Instead the recorded music immediately switched on and -- waddaya know -- the first song to come on was Queen’s “We Are The Champions.” Singing at the top of their lungs and pumping their fists to the chorus, the crowd didn’t budge, hoping for Guster to come out once more ... I caught a sound guy on the side of the stage smiling back at the crowd and shaking his head as if to say, “Sorry guys, they’re done.”
Eventually, “We Are the Champions” ended. The crowd did begin to filter away. And I headed for the buses once more ...
6.01.2007
Summerfest countdown!
Aw, the Summerfest schedule is set. 40th anniversary bash here we come!
Kates and I have long had our tickets for Ben Folds and John Mayer at the Marcus on July 3. It’ll be my ninth Ben Folds show (I think ... I'm beginning to lose count), my second for John Mayer, but a first for the Marcus …
Still the real fun, the essence of Summerfest is the ground stages, and I live for the days each spring when the schedules start seeping out. This year I found myself pulling for the Summerfest crew to reel in The Shins (whose album I'm still head over heels for ...), or Guster or Avril Lavigne (also still listening to a lot of her album ...) or even Mute Math. Some I got, others I didn't. Soon enough, the outlines began forming in my head. And eventually the picturer became clear ...
So without further ado my 2007 Summerfest to-do list…
I’m eyeing up O.A.R. on Friday, June 29 ... Saw them for the first time last year. Awesome! Fell in love with their sound and showmanship immediately. I’ve been dying to see them again. Passed on a chance to see them in Milwaukee last fall. But nothing should stop me from seeing them in a few weeks …
On Saturday, June 30, I’ll have to decide between Lindsey Buckingham or the Goo Goo Dolls. Given that I saw the Goo Goo Dolls last summer, and my fascination with Fleetwood Mac, I’ll probably end up at Lindsey Buckingham’s show …
I’ll have another decision to make on Sunday, July 1. Do I go to Summerfest and catch Sister Hazel, or do I stay closer to home and go to our city’s annual Independence Day celebration, where this year, Peter Noone and Barry Williams will be performing? That’s going to be a hard one -- I’ve already seen Sister Hazel twice, and though both shows were good, neither was so captivating that I’m yearning to see them again. Still, just being at Summerfest is enough of a pull for me … Then there’s Peter Noone, whom Kates and I had a blast seeing last February. Pack him with Barry Williams, aka Greg Brady (I’m a huge Brady Bunch fan …) performing at our lakefront park, and that might be enough to snag me … It might be a game-time decision …
I may take or leave Augustana on Friday, July 6. Same with Blue October on Sunday, July 8 …
The big one is going to be Saturday, July 7. Guster … Last year, you might remember, I also pegged Guster as my big one. And instead it was my big bomb. Things didn’t go off as planned that night, I spent much of it tying to locate a friend and by the time the Guster show started, I was so frustrated and fed up with the frat house crowd, I left for some of the other stages a few songs into Guster’s set …
Yet, in the past year, I’ve continued to adore their more recent albums. And in the months since last year‘s Summerfest, I’ve wanted so badly to be redeemed. I had an opportunity to see the Guster boys last fall when they hit Milwaukee again, but it didn’t work out for me to go. In the meantime, I held on to a flicker of hope that they’d be invited back to Summerfest, even while figuring it was a long shot. So, yeah, you can imagine my blissful excitement this spring when I discovered that Guster was indeed returning …
Yep. Summerfest. Bliss.
Kates and I have long had our tickets for Ben Folds and John Mayer at the Marcus on July 3. It’ll be my ninth Ben Folds show (I think ... I'm beginning to lose count), my second for John Mayer, but a first for the Marcus …
Still the real fun, the essence of Summerfest is the ground stages, and I live for the days each spring when the schedules start seeping out. This year I found myself pulling for the Summerfest crew to reel in The Shins (whose album I'm still head over heels for ...), or Guster or Avril Lavigne (also still listening to a lot of her album ...) or even Mute Math. Some I got, others I didn't. Soon enough, the outlines began forming in my head. And eventually the picturer became clear ...
So without further ado my 2007 Summerfest to-do list…
I’m eyeing up O.A.R. on Friday, June 29 ... Saw them for the first time last year. Awesome! Fell in love with their sound and showmanship immediately. I’ve been dying to see them again. Passed on a chance to see them in Milwaukee last fall. But nothing should stop me from seeing them in a few weeks …
On Saturday, June 30, I’ll have to decide between Lindsey Buckingham or the Goo Goo Dolls. Given that I saw the Goo Goo Dolls last summer, and my fascination with Fleetwood Mac, I’ll probably end up at Lindsey Buckingham’s show …
I’ll have another decision to make on Sunday, July 1. Do I go to Summerfest and catch Sister Hazel, or do I stay closer to home and go to our city’s annual Independence Day celebration, where this year, Peter Noone and Barry Williams will be performing? That’s going to be a hard one -- I’ve already seen Sister Hazel twice, and though both shows were good, neither was so captivating that I’m yearning to see them again. Still, just being at Summerfest is enough of a pull for me … Then there’s Peter Noone, whom Kates and I had a blast seeing last February. Pack him with Barry Williams, aka Greg Brady (I’m a huge Brady Bunch fan …) performing at our lakefront park, and that might be enough to snag me … It might be a game-time decision …
I may take or leave Augustana on Friday, July 6. Same with Blue October on Sunday, July 8 …
The big one is going to be Saturday, July 7. Guster … Last year, you might remember, I also pegged Guster as my big one. And instead it was my big bomb. Things didn’t go off as planned that night, I spent much of it tying to locate a friend and by the time the Guster show started, I was so frustrated and fed up with the frat house crowd, I left for some of the other stages a few songs into Guster’s set …
Yet, in the past year, I’ve continued to adore their more recent albums. And in the months since last year‘s Summerfest, I’ve wanted so badly to be redeemed. I had an opportunity to see the Guster boys last fall when they hit Milwaukee again, but it didn’t work out for me to go. In the meantime, I held on to a flicker of hope that they’d be invited back to Summerfest, even while figuring it was a long shot. So, yeah, you can imagine my blissful excitement this spring when I discovered that Guster was indeed returning …
Yep. Summerfest. Bliss.
7.09.2006
Summerfest. Day #4
In one preview for fest-goers earlier this week, I told readers 'If you’re still looking for a reason to go to Summerfest on Saturday, do it just to see Guster’s Brian Rosenworcel pounding instruments as the band’s one-man percussion section ...'
Going into this year's Summerfest, there was no show I was looking forward to more than Guster's appearance Saturday night. And my anxiety was only amped up further during an interview last week with Rosenworcel.
"The live show is still very much an abusive spectacle; No one should be disappointed," he assured me during the interview.
For those of you unfamiliar with Guster, Rosenworcel, aka "The Thundergod," is arguably one of the most winning aspects of the band’s unique sound, playing a combo of bongos, cymbals, snare drums and other percussion with his bare hands.
So it’s no surprise that when Guster released its fifth studio album, "Ganging Up On The Sun" just a couple weeks ago I found message boards lighting up with long time fans lamenting the evolution of Guster from a cool college-indie band with a bongo player to a polished pop-rock act.
But while Rosenworcel still pulls out the bongos for shows, he’s not sweating the negative vibes from members of the band’s devoted followers. In fact, the drummer himself would be the first to say the decision to weed out the bongos was a music-based one the band made to ensure its growth.
"I’m aware of it, but I don’t read it," he said of the Internet posts. "I’m also aware those people are the vocal minority and are passionate about having a band sound a certain way. That doesn’t really gel with our own ability to be artists."
Starting with 2003’s "Keep It Together," the Boston quartet ceased relying on a percussion kit and a couple acoustic guitars. The band has expanded its sound with more piano, more horns and banjo.
After all, "Ganging Up" debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard Album Sales charts and has won the affection of critics who like the new sound. The album also benefits from Pisapia, who previously had joined the band only on tour.
Said one reviewer for the Boston Herald: " ‘Ganging Up On The Sun’ aspires to classic pop. With the dorky bongos gone, it’s an album that fits on the shelf between Coldplay and The Shins (or even the Beatles and Elvis Costello). It seems their migration has made the boys a little more cosmopolitan."
The Guster boys have named ’60s rock bands like The Kinks, The Beatles and The Band among their influences, but the group’s signature vocal harmonies also have induced comparisons to The Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel.
"I think it’s just what happens when we get in a room as a quartet," Rosenworcel said. "... Everybody has sort of a direction they’re feeling and what ever happens happens.
"We never intended to create a seven-minute Pink Floyd epic song," he added, referring to the epic "Ruby Falls," the seventh track on "Ganging Up," which features lush harmonies and a muted trumpet. "But a chord progression happens. A lyric happens. A melody happens. There’s no pre-conceived process."
When I asked Rosenworcel what we could expect at the Summerfest show, he noted it would be just the band's second show promoting the new album (after two weeks of running around doing in-store gigs, Leno and other big-time performances) and the band still enjoys playing the songs on the new album.
"We might play some of the songs faster ’cause we’ll be excited," he said. "We’ll play a long set and give everybody what they want. There’s 12 songs on the record and I’m excited to play them live so something’s gonna have to give."
Added Rosenworcel, "I think Summerfest is one of my favorite things. I really, really, really rallied hard for us to do it … We have an incredible amount of support in Milwaukee. I don’t know where it came from, but Summerfest is like a giant celebration of that fact."
... So how could a show so anticipated, be such a let down? Let me explain ...
Coming off the Train show of the previous night and having officially dubbed it the best show I've seen at Summerfest -- I was back at the grounds at 5:30 Saturday night ... With my friend Eddie allegedly on his way to meet me, I roamed -- first stumbling across Good Luck Joes, a tight and talented little rock band inside the Pavilion. I then got over to the Miller Lite Oasis to catch a bit of Bobby Friss and survey the growing crowd for the Guster show. I had some time, I thought, so I grabbed a Chicago-style dog at Martino's and roamed some more ...
... I stopped for awhile and joined the crowd encircling a dude juggling bowling pins, knives and eventually torches while riding a unicycle ...
... and eventually got to the Big Backyard for one of the shows I had my eye on when the night started, a Prince tribute band called Perple Rain. The show started at 7, the benches in front of the stage were loaded with families and the band opened with 'Let's Go Crazy'. So I'm thinking, sweet! This is going to be a fun show ...
Think again ... it went downhill fast. I quickly remembered why I like some of Prince's music, but always hated watching his act ... and then some. To be honest, the guy playing Prince wasn't that great of a singer, although he had the getup and pant-suits down. Not only that, these guys weren't playing any of the Prince classics or hits. Aside from the opener and 'Rasberry Beret,' they played just about every song in the Prince catalog unfit for radio. Even worse -- especially for the families watching with little girls and boys, I'm sure -- the show was chock full with scantily-dressed women (we're talking women in thongs parading across the stage before each song to hand 'Prince' his guitar ...) dancing and appearing throughout the show ... Aye.
Going into this year's Summerfest, there was no show I was looking forward to more than Guster's appearance Saturday night. And my anxiety was only amped up further during an interview last week with Rosenworcel.
"The live show is still very much an abusive spectacle; No one should be disappointed," he assured me during the interview.
For those of you unfamiliar with Guster, Rosenworcel, aka "The Thundergod," is arguably one of the most winning aspects of the band’s unique sound, playing a combo of bongos, cymbals, snare drums and other percussion with his bare hands.
So it’s no surprise that when Guster released its fifth studio album, "Ganging Up On The Sun" just a couple weeks ago I found message boards lighting up with long time fans lamenting the evolution of Guster from a cool college-indie band with a bongo player to a polished pop-rock act.
But while Rosenworcel still pulls out the bongos for shows, he’s not sweating the negative vibes from members of the band’s devoted followers. In fact, the drummer himself would be the first to say the decision to weed out the bongos was a music-based one the band made to ensure its growth.
"I’m aware of it, but I don’t read it," he said of the Internet posts. "I’m also aware those people are the vocal minority and are passionate about having a band sound a certain way. That doesn’t really gel with our own ability to be artists."
Starting with 2003’s "Keep It Together," the Boston quartet ceased relying on a percussion kit and a couple acoustic guitars. The band has expanded its sound with more piano, more horns and banjo.
After all, "Ganging Up" debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard Album Sales charts and has won the affection of critics who like the new sound. The album also benefits from Pisapia, who previously had joined the band only on tour.
Said one reviewer for the Boston Herald: " ‘Ganging Up On The Sun’ aspires to classic pop. With the dorky bongos gone, it’s an album that fits on the shelf between Coldplay and The Shins (or even the Beatles and Elvis Costello). It seems their migration has made the boys a little more cosmopolitan."
The Guster boys have named ’60s rock bands like The Kinks, The Beatles and The Band among their influences, but the group’s signature vocal harmonies also have induced comparisons to The Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel.
"I think it’s just what happens when we get in a room as a quartet," Rosenworcel said. "... Everybody has sort of a direction they’re feeling and what ever happens happens.
"We never intended to create a seven-minute Pink Floyd epic song," he added, referring to the epic "Ruby Falls," the seventh track on "Ganging Up," which features lush harmonies and a muted trumpet. "But a chord progression happens. A lyric happens. A melody happens. There’s no pre-conceived process."
When I asked Rosenworcel what we could expect at the Summerfest show, he noted it would be just the band's second show promoting the new album (after two weeks of running around doing in-store gigs, Leno and other big-time performances) and the band still enjoys playing the songs on the new album.
"We might play some of the songs faster ’cause we’ll be excited," he said. "We’ll play a long set and give everybody what they want. There’s 12 songs on the record and I’m excited to play them live so something’s gonna have to give."
Added Rosenworcel, "I think Summerfest is one of my favorite things. I really, really, really rallied hard for us to do it … We have an incredible amount of support in Milwaukee. I don’t know where it came from, but Summerfest is like a giant celebration of that fact."
... So how could a show so anticipated, be such a let down? Let me explain ...
Coming off the Train show of the previous night and having officially dubbed it the best show I've seen at Summerfest -- I was back at the grounds at 5:30 Saturday night ... With my friend Eddie allegedly on his way to meet me, I roamed -- first stumbling across Good Luck Joes, a tight and talented little rock band inside the Pavilion. I then got over to the Miller Lite Oasis to catch a bit of Bobby Friss and survey the growing crowd for the Guster show. I had some time, I thought, so I grabbed a Chicago-style dog at Martino's and roamed some more ...
... I stopped for awhile and joined the crowd encircling a dude juggling bowling pins, knives and eventually torches while riding a unicycle ...
... and eventually got to the Big Backyard for one of the shows I had my eye on when the night started, a Prince tribute band called Perple Rain. The show started at 7, the benches in front of the stage were loaded with families and the band opened with 'Let's Go Crazy'. So I'm thinking, sweet! This is going to be a fun show ...
Think again ... it went downhill fast. I quickly remembered why I like some of Prince's music, but always hated watching his act ... and then some. To be honest, the guy playing Prince wasn't that great of a singer, although he had the getup and pant-suits down. Not only that, these guys weren't playing any of the Prince classics or hits. Aside from the opener and 'Rasberry Beret,' they played just about every song in the Prince catalog unfit for radio. Even worse -- especially for the families watching with little girls and boys, I'm sure -- the show was chock full with scantily-dressed women (we're talking women in thongs parading across the stage before each song to hand 'Prince' his guitar ...) dancing and appearing throughout the show ... Aye.
... I had also wanted to check out a Pink Floyd tribute -- Think Floyd USA -- playing at the Classic Rock stage (not to mention Pink and Toto were playing later in the night...) but decided to forego it when I took another gander at the swelling Guster crowd at the Miller Lite Oasis. So I took up a bench at the Oasis, much, much, much further from the stage than I'd hoped to be. And waited while the Willy Porter Band -- a grrrrreat little jam band (below) held the stage (One college-aged kid behind me was so enthralled with Willy Porter, he yelled 'These guys are so much better than Guster!' ... and later, 'Guster should open for YOU!)
All the while ... Eddie's finally arrived at the grounds. Actually finding each other would be a whole other task ... He calls my cell phone (how people ever survived at Summerfest without them now baffles many of us younger Fest-goers ...) but with the loud music and crowds, neither of us can make out anything the other is saying ... long, looooong story short: the two of us spent the next 90 minutes screaming into our phones with me trying to direct him to where I was standing (for the hundreth time, Eddie ... I'm on the benches, on the left side of the stage, just to the right of the bar, by the number 6 on the pole. I'm dressed in all red, you can't miss me! ... there was no way I was leaving, risking giving up the terrible but decent spot I had ...). We exchanged more text messages than either of us had sent in our cell phone careers, in between more ill-fated attempts to try speaking over the phones, which often resulted in hanging up on each other out of extreme frustration ...
By the time Guster stepped on the stage at 10 p.m., I was wiped ... not to mention, surrounded by disrespectful teenie-boppers and frat boys (my least-favorite crowd to be around ...) and a guy standing next to me who I swear had smoked about two-dozen packs of cigarettes, single-handedly putting me in the hospital with a lung cancer diagnosis for sure by next week ...
The band opened with a song off their new album 'The Captain,' and quickly began entertaining the crowd with their between-song banter. Said lead singer Ryan Miller, sporting a Kenney Chesney tour shirt, no less: "If you guys are unfamilar with us, we are Carrie underwood, season four American Idol winner. And we are doing everything to avoid the Ruben Studdard curse..."
From there, they went back a couple years to my favorite Guster album ('Keep it Together') and played a great 'Careful.' Then it was back to the new stuff, as they ran off 'One Man Wrecking Machine' and 'The New Underground' and then, off the Goldfly album, 'Airport Song.'
The band was just going into 'Hang On,' when I got yet another text from Eddie saying 'We're at Pink'
I wrote back. 'I'm coming over.'
Sorry, Guster ... They were amazing when Kates and I saw them a couple years ago. And they're albums are sooooooooooo good ... But -- given the rambuctious crowd, my terrible view (it wasn't even fun to watch the video boards) and the fact I was subconciously hoping to top that amazing Train show from the night before -- Guster just weren't doing it for me Saturday night ... And that's when you gotta suck it up and enjoy the fact that you're at the World's Largest Music Festival and you've got a dozen other top-notch acts to choose from ...
So -- as though I was giving into the world -- I sighed and stepped off my spot on the bench and began walking toward the Big Backyard stage to see Pink. ... I was met by another bulging, but much more manageable crowd. Still, Eddie was nowhere to be found, but I somehow managed to slither through and land atop a picnic table with a great view. ... And there was Pink, looking as beautiful as ever in her bleached blond hair and a long black skirt with blue trim; she was playful with the crowd and totally fun to watch ... (the picture here doesn't do the scene any justice ...)
A couple minutes later, she had the crowd rocking out to a dynamite 'Don't Let Me Get Me' (my personal Pink fave!). Then she pulled out one of the great, early hits I'd almost forgotten, an awesome 'There You Go' And she followed that with soaring, crowd-energizing, sing-a-long covers of 'What's Up' and 'Blister In the Sun' ... watching Pink dance around the stage, singing to her songs and getting a chuckle out of the two starstruck gay guys standing in front of me, a huge smile was spread across my face and it was easily the most fun 20 minutes I had all night ...
... seeing all I wanted, and knowing Toto was playing a a few strides away, I decided to keep with the bounce theme and leave Pink for yet another stage. ... I walked up to a modest crowd at the Classic Rock stage just as Toto was finishing up on Rosanna ... Doh! that's the one I really wanted to hear from them ... Nonethless I stuck around, sent a couple more voice mails and text message to Eddie who was till missing in action, and enjoyed the classic sounds of Toto ... I did get to hear 'I Won't Hold You Back' (ah, the memory of my mother's easy listening radio stations ... ) and then 'Africa' for the finale, which ended with the band hanging up their instruments one by one and the drums fading out just like the original recording. Pretty sweet!
... so now, with my night seemingly over, I started heading to the exits, but decide to take one last look at the Tiki stage for Eddie. The last I'd heard from him, 15 minutes earlier, that's where he was ... So I'm looking, I'm looking ... And there he is, sitting on a picnic table, nursing a beer and looking Ed-blivious. I walked up, stood smack in front of him, and stared back, not saying a word.
He laughs in his own Eddie way, throws up his arms in his own Eddie way and shouts 'Mark!' in his gravely Eddie-voice. And then gets off his picnic table and gives me a hug. Nice to see you too, Eddie -- finally!!
'Are you going to be here for awhile!?' I ask. He nods. 'Good!'
... I walked briskly back to the Miller Lite Oasis out of curiosity ... and to my delight, Guster was still playing. There last song, in fact, a lovely (if I remember right ...) 'Backyard.' ... the entire night had been such an utter frustration mixed with a small collection of surprisingly enjoyable moments, and suddenly here I was back where it all started. Finally being able to look back and enjoy it all ...
I did go back to the Tiki stage to meet Eddie ... Finally we could catch up. We closed the place down. I crawled in bed at nearly 3 a.m., and somehow dragged myself out of bed this morning to do all of it one more time.
Gosh, I love Summerfest.
ALSO SEE:
a My Summerfest preparation: 'It's here baby!!'
a Summerfest Day #1
a Summerfest Day #2
a Summerfest Day #3
6.25.2006
Sunday reads
Now this has been my kind of weekend.
... On Friday night, Kates and I attended a cohort's wedding at one of our city's most picturesque, historic sites, followed by a lively, entertaining outdoor reception on the lake. The night was made with wonderful scenery, great jazz music and fun conversation with friends and co-workers ...
... And on Saturday, we had more of it. Kates and I opened up our house to friends and family for a classic backyard barbecue ...
... As for today? We got some rain early this morning, but the sun rose and it appeared as though it would be a beautiful day for a ball game. .. No dice. As we started arriving at the field an hour before gametime, it was clear the field was not ready. ... Beyond frustrated -- this was the second rainout in as many weeks -- we tried calling around town to other ballparks, but found no better conditions ...
So. ...I've cleaned up our kitchen after last night. Watched the Cubs lose. Took a little nap. And now I'm giving you my reads of the week ...
a Guster expands sound, band on new album ... I downloaded the new CD in anticipation of seeing these guys next weekend at Summerfest. I've only listened to it once so my jury's still out ...
a Do-it-yourself music: Heap doesn’t need band for backup ... I was working the wires earlier this week and when I saw this one, I gasped in excitement. People are starting to notice Imogen Heap, and that makes me happy. (for my post on her concert a few weeks ago go here)
a Goodbye AIDS. Celebs Move on to New Causes ... Interesting story. good points.
a Life after cancer sweeter than ever for Sheryl Crow
a iTunes + MySpace x Music Geeks = Mog, A New Site For Music Obsessives ... sign me up! See the site here.
a How Millennium Park created a unique nexus of culture ... I came across this story last week while doing some research on the Silk Road event. Fascinating and so true ... I relish every day I get to go into the city and get to drive past Millennium Park for even a few seconds. It's truly a sight to see ...
... On Friday night, Kates and I attended a cohort's wedding at one of our city's most picturesque, historic sites, followed by a lively, entertaining outdoor reception on the lake. The night was made with wonderful scenery, great jazz music and fun conversation with friends and co-workers ...
... And on Saturday, we had more of it. Kates and I opened up our house to friends and family for a classic backyard barbecue ...
... As for today? We got some rain early this morning, but the sun rose and it appeared as though it would be a beautiful day for a ball game. .. No dice. As we started arriving at the field an hour before gametime, it was clear the field was not ready. ... Beyond frustrated -- this was the second rainout in as many weeks -- we tried calling around town to other ballparks, but found no better conditions ...
So. ...I've cleaned up our kitchen after last night. Watched the Cubs lose. Took a little nap. And now I'm giving you my reads of the week ...
a Guster expands sound, band on new album ... I downloaded the new CD in anticipation of seeing these guys next weekend at Summerfest. I've only listened to it once so my jury's still out ...
a Do-it-yourself music: Heap doesn’t need band for backup ... I was working the wires earlier this week and when I saw this one, I gasped in excitement. People are starting to notice Imogen Heap, and that makes me happy. (for my post on her concert a few weeks ago go here)
a Goodbye AIDS. Celebs Move on to New Causes ... Interesting story. good points.
a Life after cancer sweeter than ever for Sheryl Crow
a iTunes + MySpace x Music Geeks = Mog, A New Site For Music Obsessives ... sign me up! See the site here.
a How Millennium Park created a unique nexus of culture ... I came across this story last week while doing some research on the Silk Road event. Fascinating and so true ... I relish every day I get to go into the city and get to drive past Millennium Park for even a few seconds. It's truly a sight to see ...
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