Wow, so this was it. The last day of the final insult. Hard to believe. I just want to get this out of the way. THANK YOU!!!!! to all those who have worked so hard to make this happen every year. I've been every year but the last one since 2007 and have had nothing but a blast. The line-ups have always been diverse and exciting with amazing first-timers and brilliant old-timers. It might (dare I say) be one of the reasons that I was willing to move myself cross country at all. So yes, thanks a ton. I can't imagine what it's like to put these things together. I can hardly get myself to take photos of everything let alone manage everything. Chris, Mitch, Dulcinea, Shannon and everyone else who had a hand in putting big old smiles across everybody's face for the last decade: "cheers to you!"
Now on to City Deluxe. Do any of you remember when the Black Crows first came out? They were the only contemporary band that was played on the local "vet rock" "classic rock" whatever you call it station. Maybe it was just a central Illinois thing but it made sense to me. Well, I don't think it will be too long before City Deluxe fits that same bill. Straight to the classics station. I don't really mean that in a retro band way, either, like '60s revival bands in outfits or anything like that. They just have that perfect late '70s, early '80s sound and pull it off amazingly. I mean, c'mon, JaMo fronts a Bob Seger cover band, for goodness sake. And how! If there's any front man alive that could pull it off it's him. I reckon they're the right band for this troubled time and maybe this year's break-out band.
Red Barons had the schtick and the licks of a '90s rock, garage, surf creep band. And at least one #1 fan who danced his friggin' face off the entire set! It was something to behold. I'm totally jealous of that dude and am tempted to find him and subscribe to his workout DVDs!
Who's the bigger party band, Mothballs or Okmoniks? Who knows but it's a knockout punch when put back to back. I hadn't seen the Mothballs since the first BR I attended in 2007. I was blown away then but somehow, even though they've been broken up, they've actually gotten better?! Crazy. Okmoniks shook the house down as always, even with the amazingly short set.
Midnite Snaxxx are the toughest sweetest band in town. Dulcinea has the sickest voice (next to JaMo) in town. From power pop sweetness to tough as nails howls. The Snaxxx are coming up!
By the time Harold Ray's Budget Rock revue came out I was about shot. It was some fun but also a shitload of chaos. More beer flying everywhere, dude that used to own the Purple Onion (which is before my Bay Area time) was on stage more than any band. It was getting a bit much. The covers were a bit of a mess but still a good time. It was almost like a drunken game of BR karaoke.
The Lateenos were the last band I could handle. It was good. They looked and sounded great. I managed to get a few good shots but had to head home.
Sorry to the Surfers and the Ledge but I guess I can see why 10 was enough. I couldn't even make it to the end myself.
