Cherry Pie Journal

Saturday, March 20, 2004
Brat Stop
12304 75th St
262-857-2011
Kenosha, WI
With Special Guests 7th Heaven

Sound: Go Audio
Operated by Chris Johnson
Lights: Effects Unlimited
Operated by Jeff Thompson
Assisted by Jeff Crews
Stage Tech: Dan Olsen

SET 1:
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
Unskinny Bop - Poison
Lay It Down - Ratt
Youth Gone Wild - Skid Row
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Working for the Weekend - Loverboy
I Can't Explain - Who/Scorpions
Turn Up the Radio - Autograph
Talk Dirty to Me - Poison
Alone Again - Dokken
Little Suzi - Tesla
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Still of the Night - Whitesnake
Tom Sawyer - Rush
Sister Christian - Night Ranger
Ah Leah - Donnie Iris
Photograph - Def Leppard
Round and Round - Ratt
Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard

PHOTOS:

SET 2:
Lay Your Hands on Me - Bon Jovi
Separate Ways - Journey
I Can't Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar
We're Not Gonna Take It - T. Sister
Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
Nothin' but a Good Time - Poison
Have a Drink on Me - AC/DC
Lick It Up - Kiss
Breaking the Chains - Dokken
Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Wait - White Lion
Uncle Tom's Cabin - Warrant
Hot for Teacher - Van Halen
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Girls Girls Girls - Motley Crue
Cult of Personality - Living Colour
Once Bitten Twice Shy - Great White

7th Heaven
on Stage

Cherry Pie
on Stage

Faces in
the Crowd

More
Faces

This was one of the most anticipated shows we've had in a while. We'd heard a lot of good things about this club and we knew that a lot of people were planning to come from all over Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In addition, the club added an opening act to the bill that has a very good reputation. Sometimes, during the days leading up to a big gig, I get very nervous about something going wrong such as illness/injury or car trouble or something else that might really mess things up. Fortunately, everything went off without a hitch and it all lived up to the high expectations. The Brat Stop is a great venue for live music, a wide room with a big stage high off the large dance floor and multiple levels of seating areas including a total surround balcony for a great view of the band from almost any vantage point. The opening band 7th Heaven came up from Chicago where they already enjoy a large following. They were very professional and put on a great show mixing together cool cover tunes with original songs. At one point they played a long medley which included short excerpts of many of the songs we play. When I saw how well these tidbits went over with the gathering crowd my anticipation grew even more. At 10:00 we took the stage in front of a full house. We made use of the large space we had the crowd got into it right from the start. It was one of those shows where everything seemed to be running on all cylinders. The show was not completely bug-free however. An air-compressor we used to charge the confetti cannons was accidentally left on and when it overloaded it created a terrible smell. Fortunately, Danny was quick to locate the problem and expedite the situation before it got really bad. Later, during "Tom Sawyer", John took some liberties with the lyrics. Instead of singing the line "Today's Tom Sawyer, He gets high on you, And the space he invades, He gets by on you" John sang "Dah du, uh, blah blah, he gets uh, bluh dah,... oh, damn I forgot the words!" Quite the clever twist on a classic. Not to say that I didn't make any mistakes, just that John's was funnier. People did indeed come from all over to attend this show, from as far away as Madison, Green Bay and Chicago. John acknowledged those who came up from Illinois. He thanked them for coming and then said "you are now officially Packer fans!" As usual, there were some birthdays being celebrated at the show including that of long time Pie enthusiast Lonnie. And as if that wasn't enough, we were also celebrating MY birthday. People were very nice to this aging rocker. I didn't get any birthday spankings but I did get a lot of birthday kisses (even better). I also got a lot of calories. Maribeth made me a cherry cheesecake, Colleen made me a chocolate cake with cherry frosting and Jewelz gave me a box of Cadbury Eggs. By the end of the night I was ready to have a bake sale. At the end of the show we left them wanting more. We ran a bit long so we were unable to play an encore although the crowd did their best to coax one out of us for several minutes. We certainly look forward to coming back to the Brat Stop sometime soon and giving these fine people what they want. As one friend told me, "I have a new favorite place to see Cherry Pie!" --Josh

VOICES FROM THE CROWD:
Were you at this show?
Would you like to comment on it?
Lonnie:
"I just want to say thanks to all my new and old friends. That made my 40th b-day one hell of a night.And to the band for having one hell of a set list, that kept me going all night long. Thank god I didn't have the wife pull over. I made it through breakfast."

Jewelz:
"Well glad to hear you had a terrific bday celebration Lonnie. Great show guys, I'd say you had one packed house - I had to park in the back 40 - 45 min prior to show time!!And boy were their some naughty girls in the house(kittykat and poison). And the highlight of my evening I FINALLY got a cp shirt, yipppeeee!!! Have a wonderful week everyone and see you guys at Rooters....can't wait my northern wi dance partners are coming!!!!! OH yah and Kittykat - thanks for the dance, I needed it."

Cathy:
"It was a great surprise to finally be able to see you guys. I follow a lot of 80s tribute bands in Illinois such as The Lounge Puppets,Wildside,Slippery When Wet,and HairBangers Ball. You guys are just as much fun as they are and that is a very good thing. I hope to see you at the Brat Stop again soon or maybe Milwaukee fest. I saw that you played there last year but I wasn't able to make it. I am glad that I was finally able to rock with all of you."

Michele:
"You guys kicked ass!! Enjoyed a great night dancing!!"

Kittykat:
"OMG!!!!!!! You guys blew the roof off the Brat Stop last night!!!awesome show and an awesome crowd!! Jewelz you were a hottie as usual, wish you could of been nawty with me but there's always next time. Lonnie and Christ you guys are too cool. Josh hope you enjoyed the cheezcake, John i met your wife....she's gorgeous and so sweet! Can't believe security had to come up front just cuz of little ole' me!!! hehehehehe :) see ya Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

dokkenchick:
"It was nice meeting you Kitty Kat. I had a great time. Im glad you had a great birthday celebration Lonnie. You and Chris are so cool. See you all next time."

Andrew:
"Hi Guys! This is Andrew from 7th Heaven. I just wanted to write a post to you and your awesome fans to say thanks for being so cool to us at the Brat Stop. We had a great time. John, I owe you a roll of Lifesavers! You guys Rock!!"

< Previous Entry

Master Index

Next Entry >