There are many bands I remember seeing, but don't remember when.

America and The Buckinghams at Marriott's (now Six Flags) Great America amusement park. Probably 1986, give or take a year. They just happened to be playing when out Boy Scout troop went to the park. Phil and I caught the show.

America again in the early nineties. One of the big Summerfest sponsors was having their "Big Barbecue" later in the summer. Food, beer and bands. Steve, Keith and I went down to see America. The bassist played one of my all-time favorite bass solos. I wish I knew who that was.

Mo Tucker at the Cactus Club, late nineties. Victor DeLorenzo's Ash Can School opened for Tucker's garage rock show.

I know the Violent Femmes played at Miller Maritime Days, one night. This was Guy Hoffman's debut with the band, just after the release of New Times, which would make it late summer, 1994. Were those festivals on Labor Day weekend?

The Tea party, The Rave/Eagles Ballroom.

Did I see Collective Soul at Summerfest on 7-7-99?

Mrs. Fun at the Miramar Theater, for a CD release party (1998's Groove?). I didn't think I got there very early, but when I arrived, there were less than a dozen people in the lobby, and no one in the theater. I went in and sat down. After a while, the two musicians came in and tinkered with their kits. Connie sat down in the seats, and I wanted to say, "hi, my name is Kevin, and I'll be your audience for tonight." There ended up being a good crowd, though.

Emo Phillips at the Comedy Cafe, in early 2001, with Cyn.

Saw Gravity Kills at least three times, opening for someone or other. At least once at Summerfest. Once opening for the Sex Pistols (see entry).

Fifteen year old phenomenon, Shannon Curfman at Shank Hall. With Doug. Probably 1999.

Reptile Palace Orchestra at the Harmony Bar in Madison.

Guitar slinger Chris Duarte, Shank Hall. 6/13/02, 5/29/03, 11/20/04 or 8/25/05. He was totally hard rocking. So much that everything ran together and turned dull.

Buddy Guy at Racine Harbor Fest, early aughts.

Edgar Winter, Port Washington Fish Day. Plus some blues-type bands there, including local band Dave Steffen Band, possibly that same year.

Mighty Blue Kings at River Rhythms, Pere Marquette park.

Indigenous at Summerfest, early aughts.

Joe Bonamassa, several times. Possibly 1/15/05 and/or 3/5/06. Twice at Shank and once at Summerfest? First time, he opened for Savoy Brown. We saw Savoy Brown once after that, about a year later.

American Standard, previously named The Chris Aaron Band. Shank Hall, possibly 2/1/01. And then the return of American Standard, minus Chris Aaron and Corey Sterling, which all viewed in disbelief. That would have been Summerfest '03. This band was soon renamed Reversr, and dissolved after the release of their CD.

Michael Manring at a south side bar, with The Danglers opening.

The Tony Levin Band twice at Shank Hall. Once for Pieces of the Sun (Spring 2002) and once for Resonator, if I recall correctly.

I saw The Mighty Blue Kings with Cyn at Summerfest one afternoon.

Cyn and I went to Linneman's with a friend of hers, to see Sam Llanas do some solo work. this was around the time of his Absinthe project, but it didn't feature that band. Probably 2001. Seems like it was cold outside.

We also saw The Mosleys at Linneman's, probably mid-2000's.

Chapman Stick player Drew Rittgers opened up for some prog artist at Shank.
A couple of weeks after the last Femmes show, the Indian Ocean Tsunami happened. Since bassist Brian Ritchie's wife was from Sri Lanka, he felt compelled to help. The Violent Femmes put on a benefit show for Sri Lanka.

It was a great show. The theater was nice, the sound was good, our seats were decent. Totally made up for the last time. The sound was mixed pretty well. The bass was a bit loud, but at least it sounded good. The guitar was nice and loud in the mix, but only near the end of the show. And I could hear the keyboards well.

They opened with "Breaking Up" from New Times. Followed that with "Mother of a Girl" and "Please Do Not Go." Other songs included "I Want to See You Again," "I'm Nothing," "Waiting for the Bus" (which sounded great with added piano (Sigmund Snopek III) and sax (Bob Friedman)), "Blister in the Sun," "Kiss Off," "Please Do Not Go," "Add It Up," "Confessions," "Prove My Love," "Gone Daddy Gone," "Gimme the Car," "Black Girls," "I Held Her in My Arms," "Out the Window," "American Music." Both "Never Tell" and "Hallowed Ground."

Gordon sang a little a capella hymn leading into "Jesus Walking on the Water." For that one, he had his violin. He strummed it like a mandolin for the first part. In the bridge, Ritchie did a solo on his acoustic bass guitar that was very country. Woulda made Johnny Cash proud. Since Gordon had his fiddle, Jim Eanelli sat in on guitar and also took a solo. When he was done, Gordon did a dramatic entrance with his bow and fiddle, but missed the fact that it was not plugged in. Total embarrassment. It took him a couple of songs to get over it.

Victor was as goofy as ever.

Ritchie played his mariachi-looking Ernie Ball acoustic bass, electric bass, one-string bass, upright electric bass, "washtub" bass, xylophone and conch shell.

It was a nice, long show of more than two hours.

Sam Llanas opened. He sang songs from Absinthe, Bodeans and solo work. Near the end of his set, he sang a song off-mic, to highlight the great acoustics of the Pabst.

They raised over $30,000. Nobody took any money from it. Everyone donated their time - the band, its management, crew, stagehands, the theater, advertising, etc.

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