My Ten Favorite Wausau Musical Moments.
Just so that we can get it out of the way, I am not going to include BB King or Aretha Franklin in this list. To say that Aretha and BB King are a tie for the best thing I have ever seen, well, that is like saying that the sky is full of clouds, and Nazis are bad. It just is true for me. The fact that the Grand Theatre was able to have something like that, then that is simply the sign that the Grand is an amazing place to be.
So, this list is not supposed to be your list. This is my list. I might have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time at a music venue, or work on a lot of shows, and maybe you have not seen some of this, or maybe I have not seen some of the things you think are better. I think that Wausau has a very significant musical history, and as a result, I wanted to share some of them with you.
- EC Scott. The third time she came to The Pub. The first two times I was there, the diva had been coming for years, and I was the new guy. I was too shy to really do anything other than be blown away by the legend. By the third time, we had become friends, and she was able to use me as a foil in the show, and I was able to at least know what was going on and not look like a fool. Her voice was so amazing, and the crowd at the pub was so big.
- The Lucky Stiffs at The Pub. I had retired from active duty, and I only went because Mohawk Matt had taken a financial risk getting this San Francisco band in while they were on tour. I stood there with my mouth open, and they rocked me so hard, I felt bad for every other band that ever played that stage. The show had no crowd, it felt like me and my friend Brady were having a private show with a great band.
- I Love Ghosts. Every time I have ever seen them. Very rarely did a band simply rise to everything I had hoped. But the brothers did, and they were perfect. They took the art of rock seriously, and did not step back at all. They often had a visual show, and they played amazing songs. This is probably one of the only bands that I thought would make it when they left town. They also had the prettiest girl fans ever.
- Rock and Roll High School. It is not fair to include this day, because I put the show on, but the lineup was unquestioned from top to bottom. STALL, SUNSPOT, Pocketbook Revolution, and Lower Class Citizens. All were amazing and on top of the world. It was a dark period in my life, and that night changed it. I had two of the best partners in the world for the show, and they are lifelong friends. STALL and SUNSPOT on the same stage — there is nothing better in Wisconsin music. True alternative rock in the traditional sense, true college rock, amazing rock.
- STALL #1. This was an amazing night. I did not book this show. The writer from the WDH, CE Hannifin, had seen them at the International Pop Overthrow in Chicago. She was the only person I knew in town who could quote Mark Eitzel to me, so I had no choice but to think she was onto something. They showed up and played hooky rock, and looked like rock guys, and I never wanted to not hear more, or book them more often. I think they are my favorite Wisconsin band ever.
- The Buggy Whip Break Up show. Tom Jordan, the guitar player in Buggy Whip, is my best friend. The whole band was unhappy, but honestly did not know how to end it. They were playing some gigs, getting a little money, and hating the way it was going. So, one night at Scott Street, we, as a therapeutic health center, got Tom plowed before the gig. The band played about 40 minutes, and then Tom pretty much went into an onstage coma. Unable to manage to tune his guitar, but also unable to move forward. He just sort of stood there on stage, not able to really do much. Like the statement goes, you’re not drunk if there is still a blade of grass to hold onto to stop from falling off the world. Well, Tom had fallen. The band just threw it in, packed it up and went home, never to be heard from again. We can all laugh about it now, but it was only hilarious to me at the time.
- The Violent Femmes at Marathon Park. This is probably up there with BB and Aretha for me, but rather than leave them off the list, I thought I would put them here. Every day for four years, my friend Jill and I would listen to two tapes in the car on the way to pick up Bill — either the Repo Man soundtrack or the first Femmes album. When I heard that Kirk Howard and the KinzieBenefits family were bringing them in, I was so excited. Literally the soundtrack of high school was there in my hometown. Me and Sullie and Kat and her husband, dancing like fools. Someone even got arrested at the show, to make it punk rock.
- Cuda at the wake. This one is a sort of blur. We had buried a friend of Chris’s. A man had passed, and we wanted to do something, or maybe we were trying to have a benefit before he passed, but I know he had passed. Cuda is arguably the most tasteful guitar player in town, and I respect him fully, but when he plays, he is often doing so with a smirk and a joke to let the audience out of the blues’ power. I never dug that part. But on this day Cuda just played and played and played and had very little to say. I stood in the back of the Pub, in the kitchen door really, and watched as he sort of played a song to his friend in a way most people missed. He never really joked; he just played the blues, and sang the songs, and maybe somewhere in that he felt a little better. I know that he looked really tired and ready to cry when it was done eight hours later. No one ever told the Brain to stop, not ever, and not to this day.
- Scott Holt #1. Scott would go onto become one of my best friends in the whole world, but at the time I had no idea who he was. It was a Thursday, and the Pub was packed to see Buddy Guy’s young guitar prodigy on his own. Scott had just left the band of the legend, and was on the road with Leo Lyons and Geno Haffner. I knew we would be friends when I went downstairs to get him for an encore, and he was doing jumping jacks. His was a real desire for greatness onstage, not just a check.
- Cheap Trick at State Park Speedway. I did not know it at the time, and I probably do not still get it, but seeing that legendary band at the height of their power, formed so much. It was my first rock concert by myself. It was awesome.
Some Honorable Mentions.
• Jim Carlson show number 13,001 — This was the first time Jim sang American Music by the Femmes. Before the Femmes show, I asked him to do it, and he did it. I stood back by the soup at the pub, and was knocked out.
• Joe Bonamassa after Big Bull. Joe showed up, got onstage with West Side Andy, and in less than 30 minutes, blew the whole band off the stage. It was awesome to watch the young guard take over.
• Jeff Gay and the Straights. Every time, but especially the naked show.
• SUNSPOT. The drunken show. I think we have an audiotape of this somewhere.
• Tony Brown and Natty Nation at The Pub, together. It was a sweat show in there.
• Led Devil at Ballyhoos. Just a few weeks ago. This band showed up to remind us all that they are better than your average local metal band.
• Little Blue Crunchy Things. Every time. Finally real rock stars showed up. And we could look like a rock town.
• The Wandering Sons. So good.
• Chico Banks surprises the town at Blues Café with Jimmy Johnson.
• Pachinko. This was just simply wrong. We all got dirty on our souls that weekend.
Especially the Naked show.
We have an amazing summer of stuff coming up. I look forward more and more each day to new bands coming out of more garages and showing us all that rock and roll never dies. It is blessing to listen to loud music live, in public. Something that never gets old.
Thanks. What about you?
Mohawk Matt said:
Well, I know this is your list, Dino, and although I haven’t been around long enough to have that many great shows under my belt, there are a few I would like to share.
1. The Pub’s last weekend. I don’t think any of the performers in a three-day span hit a wrong note. And for the crowd to move to a different venue and still say ‘long live the pub’ It was special.
2. The Lucky Stiffs show was one of the better bands that I had ever booked, and it was such a shame that more people couldn’t have witnessed a band playing their hearts out just because they loved playing.
3. The first time I saw Howard Luedtke I wanted to quit playing guitar altogether. That was the first real blues guy I had ever seen live. And I was jealous.
4. When the Corpse Show Creeps came to town, I’m positive it was the first time psychobilly had ever graced a stage in Wausau. Now it seems more people I talk to are interested in psychobilly/rockabilly, and it’s great that some diversity is working its way in to the blues-and-metal-soaked sponge of Wausau.
5. The Jeff Gay/Cool Hand/Sunspot show. Naked, Drunk, and Wild, the crowd got their money’s worth. It’s nice to see a room full of people just let go for a night and be happy about it. (Note: I’d explain the naked thing, but if you weren’t there, hooey on you)
June 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am #
rockerchick said:
This posting is in regard to the live local music scene here, not big names brought in to this area. Local musicians.
Anyway, I lost much respect for live local music when I saw this crappy four piece band with a four-letter name. I won’t mention their name, but the singer looked like he was going to burst veins all night long. He looked in agony, and he sounded even worse. It was painful and just wouldn’t end! This band made me question why I continue to choose to participate in the live music scene locally.
I saw Johnny Wad. Cool. Good sound.
My band rocks. That is my opinion. We put on some of the best performances in town or in any other town for that matter. We just play great music the way it was supposed to be played. Some do not view us as serious artists for certain reasons, but true musicians who come to our shows marvel at our musicality and accuracy. The entertainment part just comes naturally. We haven’t been discovered nor have we been recognized by media or sponsors in this town, and it’s actually cool seeing how far we have taken off despite the media hush.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:03 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
I do not know who your band is, and for a long time that website did not work. No one let me know you were playing a show, and its not like the phone number of the local media is a secret.
Barb at the City Pages will put you in the calendar, and Brian or that other dude who works there would like to write about your band. Have you contacted them?
I am guessing you were talking about Bevl, and Bevl is an acquired taste.
There are no sponsors in this town, those bands you see claiming Bud or whatever sponsorship, well that means that the local distributor is making there signs, nothing more.
Just call the papers. Keith Uhlig at the WDH needs stuff to write about.
No one is freezing you out.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:35 pm #
stephenie185 said:
I noticed the I Love Ghosts recognition in the list and wanted to mention the drummer from I Love Ghosts is now a part of an awesome band named STRAY. Check them out if you get the chance.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:22 pm #
erik said:
When did you start posting on CW Steph? Did I miss this entirely?
June 9th, 2008 at 5:56 pm #
Insert Name said:
Dino speaks the truth about the sponsorship thing. It is one of the few things that the bar business doesn’t utilize enough. These distributors will give you signs, banners, blah blah up the wazoo for free if you ask. It’s really quite simple. If you do book a local gig, make sure tell the bar owner to utilize his distributor, and you get all the signage you want. Of course, if you think their product blows, not so good.
I would be curious on hearing about the whole serious artist argument. Do you play bagpipes, or something? If that were the case I would have to re-examine this post.
Otherwise, unless you really hate Miller or Budweiser there is sponsorship to be had, in any town.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
The drummer from iloveghosts was a monster. Both of them. I think I knew two drummers.
I Love Ghosts was so good.
So Butch Walker like.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm #
Barry Liss said:
I would have to differentiate between musical moments that I experienced as a spectator versus those that I’ve been an active player. The best spectatorship moment would probably be in Vegas - it was about 15 or so years ago when Carlos Santana was on stage with Jerry Garcia at a Dead show…
In terms of playing, there are too many to count… playing backup congas at the acoustic cafes at UWMC…swinging with the Hometown Harmony Club Stringband at last year’s Stoney Acres Bacchanal would be up there too…
SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!!!
Hometown Harmony Club Stringband (Charlie Hughes, Greg Venne, Matt Cypress, Charles Alden, and me) will be at Malarkey’s at the end of the month - Saturday the 28th…
Barry
June 10th, 2008 at 7:08 am #
rockerchick said:
Sorry, I must have come off as a grumpy gal! I did not mean to. The venues we play at are pretty good about putting us in the Big Guide when we play. I just mean we are not splashing our ads all over the place and not right up in people’s faces about how/when/where we play. As far as sponsors, I guess you are right. I doubt Baer’s Beverage is paying for drum sticks, XLR cords, etc. Good point!
Great guess, Dino! However, it’s not Bevl. I think those guys are cool for what they do. Their music is certainly not my cup of tea, but then again, I drink weird tea!!! I respect their musical view. It’s another four-letter band. Cruddy cover band that slops through their songs and plays every song every cover band in this area does. I swear, if you’ve heard one version of Kryptonite or American Idiot, you’ve heard them all…. How about some B- or C- sides? How about something different?
Anybody remember the Harmony Heroes?
June 10th, 2008 at 9:12 am #
Dino Corvino said:
Rocker,
I garauntee you I am far more grumpy about these sorts of things. I have been in the local music realm for far to long.
The artifice of sponsorship is often used to give many bands a way out from promoting themselves, as if the Bud Light bottle on the sign is some magic code to get people to attend.
I come from a time when Gordon handed out flyers before Femmes shows on Downer Avenue, when Wild Kingdom rented the Lake Park pavilllion and put on our own woodstock, when Mink Capital Terror played the Tombstone Warehouse.
You as a musicial control every person at your gig. You are responsible for getting everyone there. You have to advance your shows on your own. No one else does.
I spend time each week advancing my friends shows all over america. He is a grammy winning blues guy, and we work his tour harder than everyone. Every word in the paper is because we made it happen.
You go get your attention. Make someone look.
Could is be Pech?
June 10th, 2008 at 9:24 am #
Barry Liss said:
Rockerchick - what’s your band? What music do you play? Where can we check you out? As far as the local music scene goes I’d have to agree it’s hit and miss…but let’s agree that some of these cats around Wausau can really play…
Barry
June 10th, 2008 at 10:08 am #
Marcus Nelson said:
Curious, I saw so many solid perfomances at RockWater:
Train, Fono, Stavesacre
and Burlap to Cashmere come to mind.
Then there was Epic Hero, Pax217 & Five Iron Frenzy.
It was an amazing time.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
I did not see any of those. I remember American Death from Rockwater.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm #
Barry Liss said:
The UU Church…you’ll find some good music there.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:14 am #
Barry Liss said:
I would be remiss if I didn’t note the two free concerts last summer by the South Beach Chamber Ensemble:
http://www.sobechamberensemble.org/schedule.html
If you are a lover of music and creativity then I would strongly recommend attending the two free concerts this summer. It was the best nonperforming musical experience
I had last year.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:28 am #
rockerchick said:
Hi boys! Sorry so stinkin’ busy at work.
Nope, Dino, not Pech. I think they were decent, and rest in peace to Kurt. Keep guessing. What makes this slop cover band worse is that they are opening for some bigger names this summer. It’s a joke. Then again, if I were a national act, I’d want a sloppy band to play before me too so that I sound even better!!! Hee hee!!!
My band is lovin’ the 80s. All 80s. Only 80s. That’s what we do. Back when guitar solos shredded and guy-liner ran down faces… Hee hee! I’m a glutton for that ear punishment. I just love it! Check us out sometime. My band is The Sicks. I think we’re great and great fun! (if you’ve heard contrary, come form your own opinion!)
Yup, Barry. I agree! I’ve seen some great talent in this area, but it seems like they are never together in one band. The guitarist from Savoir Faire is amazing. The drummer from Get Bent is solid. Avalanche’s sound guy is decent. The bass player from The Sicks is the best I’ve heard in years (although that kid from the Brewins is good too). Singers that truly touch me are hard to come by. Hidden River is a good band. I like all of those guys as musicians.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:28 am #
Barry Liss said:
The band last night on the square ‘Saturday Morning’ was really good. Fine harmonies and a good rock sound.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:46 pm #