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JOURNAL ENTRY #21

Sunday, August 20, 2000 "MattyGras '00" New Berlin, WI

Sound: Jay Theisen Operated by Rob Beck Lights: Pile Driver Operated by Jeff Schowalter

SET 1: Turn Up the Radio - Autograph Runaway - Bon Jovi Smokin' - Boston Youth Gone Wild - Skid Row Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue Looks That Kill - Motley Crue Fantasy - Aldo Nova Right Now - Van Halen Heaven - Warrant Little Suzy - Tesla Final Countdown - Europe Here I Go Again - Whitesnake Turn Me Loose - Loverboy Faithfully - Journey Jump - Van Halen My Sharona - The Knack Pour Some Sugar... - Def Leppard   PHOTOS:

SET 2: Nothin' But a Good Time - Poison Photograph - Def Leppard All She Wrote - Firehouse New Girl Now - Honeymoon Suite Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi Don't Treat Me Bad - Firehouse Love Song - Tesla Wait - White Lion Uncle Tom's Cabin - Warrant Monkey Business - Skid Row Calling Dr. Love - Kiss Sister Christian - Night Ranger Everything About You - UKJ Rebel Yell - Billy Idol Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister Round & Round - Ratt Still of the Night - Whitesnake

Band on Stage

More Band on Stage

Faces in the Crowd

This show took place in a huge tent set up behind Matty's Bar & Grille. We were the last of 6 bands that played over the course of the weekend. Unfortunatley, one result of this was that the stage was battered into a mess of uneven sections. We were told that Saturday night's headliners, The Boogiemen, invited dozens of dancers onto the stage where they jumped up and down fracturing the stage in several places. We adapted the best we could to the situation, wedging bricks and two-by-fours under Nick's drum riser to make in more-or-less level and stable. Another technical difficulty involved inadequate electrical voltage which frequently dipped into the 80s causing various guitar processors and PA effects to cut out. But, as has happened so many times before, the crowd really came through for us, causing us to forget our troubles within the first few minutes once the show got underway. Maribeth Luedtke came out again, this time bringing along her husband Paul and 5-year-old daughter Kierstin who were amongst the first to dance near the stage. Tom Birkenmeyer, Sheila Tate, Erika Kaegler, Colleen Evans, Vic Manchester, Susan Schudiske, Kathy Reuteler, Dawn Farris, Tammy Rehak, Dawn Busalacchi and Andi Brodsky were among many other familiar faces in the crowd of hundreds. John was able to coax some "skin" from some ladies who took the "Mardi Gras" theme of the event to heart. How appropriate for an 80s hair band. As the second set progressed the overall crowd thinned while the most hardcore rockers planted themselves at the front of the stage where they rocked our asses off. Sometimes a few folks went a bit too far, grabbing our guitars while we were trying to play them, but I suppose it goes with the territory. One of the most amazing parts of the show came during "Calling Dr. Love" when Shane did a fire-breathing stunt. I had heard him talk about wanting to do something like that during a show for a while, but this was the first time I actually saw it. It was spectacular. I have a feeling that he'll be doing it again soon. Fellow musicians in the crowd included Ed Batayias, Pete Syren of Panty Raid and John Hauser of the Love Monkeys who joined us on bass and vocals for a part of "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" (You know, John Hauser taught us all the 80s poses and moves that we know!). Unfortunately, since this was technically an outdoor show, organizers were very strict about ending the show on time. We mis-timed the set a little forcing us to drop a couple of our strongest tunes at the last second. We left the stage as dozens of people screamed for an encore which we would have loved to provide, but we were not allowed to do so. Sorry folks, you'll just have to come see us again sometime :-)    -Josh

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