Jim Peterik & World Stage - Glen Ellyn, IL

01/17/2009
Jim Peterik & World Stage
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL

We look forward to the World Stage show each year because it is such a great collection of talent. This year was no exception! We were treated to performances by Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Don Barnes (38 Special), Rik Emmett (Triumph), David Pack (Ambrosia), Nick Colionne, Lisa McClowry, Ides of March, Lobster Newberg, and of course, Jim Peterik (Ides of March, Survivor). They were backed up by an incredible band, with as many as 20 people on the stage at one time!

Jim Peterik and Jimi Jamison

Jim Peterik and Rik Emmett

Jim Peterik and Nick Colionne

Jim Peterik and Kelly Keagy

Jim Peterik

Guitars, guitars, guitars...Jim Peterik, Mike Aquino, and Joel Hoekstra

Don Barnes

David Pack

Rick Springfield - Somewhere Exotic

11/14/2008
Rick Springfield
Carnival Destiny
Somewhere in the Caribbean...between Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico :)

We tagged along on this cruise. We were *so* glad that Rick played a show for everyone onboard the ship!!

We heard about this as we were waiting to get back onboard after Key West. We staked out a claim on the Lido Deck, and were treated to a very informal show. The guys were definitely having a blast (and so were we!) My friend Colleen, who went to her first Rick show in August, was right along side of me singing and dancing along :)

The pictures aren't the best. Although we did have a good spot, it was a bit out of range of the flash. Taking pics of the big screen worked best, but sometimes that gave fuzzy results.

Rick Springfield - St. Charles, IL

08/15/2008
Rick Springfield
Arcada Theater
St. Charles, IL

Opening band: None

It's been a long time since I have seen Rick...what is it now...12 days? Just kidding :) This was a much better show than the one in Indiana a couple of weeks ago, and we had a lot of fun!

I went with my friends Sabrina and Colleen. Most of the shows that I have been to have been with Sabrina. This was Colleen's first Rick show, and I don't know if she knew what she was getting in to :) Before the show, we had dinner at a restaurant a few blocks from the venue. We had received an e-mail advertising a special Rick menu, etc. so we decided to check it out. It took way too long for our food to come out, but the wait was well worth it when Rick strolled through the restaurant :)

Our tickets were in the 10th row in the middle, so we had a great spot. Rick came out wearing an awesome leather jacket, but it was super hot in the theater, so we knew that wouldn't stay on long.

Rick played several songs off of the new album, Venus in Overdrive, which is awesome! He also did Crossroads again. I really love it when he does a blues song, and wish that he would include that one on an album sometime (hint, hint!)

Rick came out into the audience twice. The first time was during "Don't Talk to Strangers". He usually makes people sing, most of them reluctantly. Usually there are also a few little kids who get up onstage with him and give it a try. Rick spotted one little boy who had no interest in singing or in coming up on stage. So, Rick made his way out to him and tried to persuade the kid to sing. He told him that girls really like boys who sing :) He also forgot where he was for a minute (he usually uses the name of the town during the part of the song that is "how's life in the big city". He messed it up and called it Port Charles.

The second time that he came out was near the end of the show. He stayed out for a long time, and wound up in the row in front of us. Colleen got to hold him up at one point :) The second pic was an attempt to get both of them in the picture, but they were too close!

Dave Matthews Band - East Troy, WI

08/09/2008
Dave Matthews Band
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
East Troy, WI

Opening Band: Black Crowes

This show was, by far, the best DMB show that we have ever seen! First of all, the Black Crowes were very good. We were a bit disappointed that they didn't play any of their bigger hits, but they were still very good.

Our seats for the show were pretty awesome! We could tell from the minute the band hit the stage that they were whipped up and ready to go. The selection of the first couple of songs really set the tone of the evening, and we knew that we were in for an awesome treat. The band played for right around 3 hours, and it was pretty intense the entire time. The encore was Two Step, which I have been hoping to see for quite a few shows now!

Set List:

Dancing Nancies *
Seek Up *
Proudest Monkey *
Satellite *
So Damn Lucky *
Bartender *
Corn Bread *
Spoon *
Eh Hee
Water Into Wine *
Burning Down The House *
Louisiana Bayou *
Anyone Seen The Bridge *
Too Much Intro *
Halloween *
Water Into Wine (Reprise)
Out Of My Hands +
Crush *
Money *
You Might Die Trying *
Ants Marching *

__________________

Don’t Drink the Water *
Two Step *

Show Notes:
* Jeff Coffin
+ No Horns, Dave on piano

*********************************************

Updated April 2009...this show will be released as Live Trax 15!

Rick Springfield - Crown Point, IN

08/03/2008
Rick Springfield
Lake County Fair
Crown Point, IN

Opening band: None

My very first concert was 26 years ago tonight. It was Rick Springfield. A lot has changed since then, but it is still all good :) I have averaged one show per year over that time, although I didn't see him at all between 1982 and 1999. Who would have thought that 26 years later, I would be seeing him again? For the 27th time?

The show was a lot of fun, and Rick played a few songs from the new album in addition to the old favorites. He also pulled out an old Clapton song, Crossroads, which rocked! I just love it when he does a blues song or two.

Would you believe that this man is going to be 59 in a couple of weeks??!?! Look at those arms...he must eat a lot of spinach :)

Night Ranger - Ottawa, IL

07/30/2008
Night Ranger
Ottawa Riverfest
Ottawa, IL

Opening band: Air Supply

Woo-hoo! It has been a long time since the last time that I saw Night Ranger perform as a group...about 8 years ago! We have seen Kelly each year at World Stage, and Jack and Kelly last year in South Bend. But that was nothing like seeing them all together...these guys still ROCK! As a bonus, Christian Cullen and Joel Hoekstra, who we have enjoyed over the years at World Stage are touring with Night Ranger. It was an awesome show!

We had to endure Air Supply first. Let's face it...they were okay way back when. I had no clue they were still around, and they are ancient! Normally at concerts, they have the main act's equipment set up already and when the opening band is done they just have to get that out of the way. Not so here. It took almost an hour for them to get the equipment straightened out and get down to rocking! It was well worth the wait.

Note to self...you are not as young as you used to be, and doing things like this on a "school night" isn't as easy as it used to be :) Oh well...it was so worth it!

As an extra special bonus, I am now the proud owner of a Jack Blades guitar pick (thanks to my wonderful friend!) I have wanted one of these for so long :)

A few pics of Jack Blades...

Joel Hoekstra...

Brad Gillis...

Kelly Keagy...

Joel and Brad...

Brad, Jack, and Joel...

Dave Matthews Band - Noblesville, IN

07/26/2008
Dave Matthews Band
Verizon Wireless Music Center
Noblesville, IN

Opening Band: Ingrid Michaelson

The opening act was pretty boring...so what...she sang the song that was used in the Old Navy sweater ad last Christmas...zzzzzzz! We spent most of that time wandering through the vendor booths, and put our names in the hat to try to win a DMB guitar. Like that will ever happen, but that's the only one that we *need* to round out the collection :) We are definitely looking forward to the Black Crowes opening at Alpine :)

Our seats weren't exactly the best, but they weren't too bad. The band is still working the kinks out from Butch Taylor dropping out of the tour at the last minute, and then having LeRoi laid up from his recent ATV accident. But, Tim Reynolds was playing with them and the show was awesome!

We had a great time, and spent the weekend in Indy. It was a bit of a challenge getting out of the place after the show, even though we got a head start up the hill when the band took a break before the encore. Not to mention that it was a NASCAR weekend in town. Other than that, it was an awesome time!

Set list:

Seek Up *
One Sweet World *
Granny
Grey Street *
Old Dirt Hill *
Pantala Naga Pampa *
Rapunzel *
What Would You Say *
Rhyme And Reason *
Out Of My Hands +
Everyday *
Crash Into Me *
Lie In Our Graves *
Money *~
Money (Thats What I Want) *
Crush *
Anyone Seen The Bridge *
(Too Much) *
Ants Marching *

Encore:
Sister Ä
Gravedigger *
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) *

Special Guests:
Send good thoughts for LeRoi
* Jeff Coffin
+ No Horns, Dave on piano
~ Without Rashawn
Ä Dave, Tim, Carter and Rashawn

Poison - Peoria, IL

07/15/2008
Poison
Peoria Civic Center
Peoria, IL

Opening Band: Sebastian Bach

I needed to be in the area for a week, so what better time to schedule that than when there was something else going on? That's what I thought :)

I had an awesome seat. It was right near the stage in the lower bowl, 2nd row. Wow! I was so close that I could feel the heat when they set off the pyrotechnics. The show was a lot of fun. I had never seen Sebastian Bach before, but really loved Skid Row way back when. He put on a great set.

I wish that I would have had a better camera...the pics were taken with my phone.

Poison put on a fun show. They pretty much played all of their biggest hits, and that was great. It was like a trip back in the time when they had the original videos playing on the big screen during each of the songs. My, oh my! It sure was cool back then, but I am sure glad that big hair has gone out of fashion :) At the end of the show, Bret had Big John bring out a Corona for him (what happened to Bret's Brew?). He toasted the crowd and thanked everyone for 22 years. Has it been that long already?