Fest draws music fans to Porkies

By STEVE SEYMOUR

The western Upper Peninsula's Porcupine Mountains were doubly spectacular this past weekend. That's because the area's breathtaking scenery, like Lake of the Clouds, was enhanced with a first-class music festival, as thousands of fans from around the Midwest transcended on Ontonagon County.

My wife Sue and I made plans months ago to attend the third annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival which takes place in Michigan's largest state park, featuring dozens of top touring acts on three stages. Our eagerness was reflected in our tickets, numbered 0003 and 0004, for opening day, Friday, Aug. 24.

We were particularly interested in seeing the festival's headlining act, Blues Caravan 2007, which includes three dynamic guitarists and singers in Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman and Roxanne Potvin. But there were other draws, too. Despite living in the U. P. all my life, I'd never seen Marquette's Conga Se Menne perform; and Copper Country native Lindsay Tomasic, enjoying much success in the Los Angeles music scene, was to appear on stage, as well.

You may not have heard of Tomasic, but you almost certainly know her music. Her songs and themes are widely heard on television and in the movies. Her work has appeared in the motion picture Wild Hogs, and on TV in Desperate Housewives and Malcolm in the Middle as well as Get This Party Started on UPN. During two sets, Tomasic played tracks from her three solo CD's, "Well Kept Secret," "Paradise Road" and the soon to be released "What in the World." The singer-songwriter then invited the audience to attend her performance the following evening at Lake Linden's Little Gem Theater, which would include legendary keyboardist Bill Payne, a founding member of Little Feat and now a U. P. resident.


Conga Se Menne

Also bolstering the U. P. was Conga Se Menne, founders of their own category of music, "Finnish Reggae." Frontman Derrell Syria led his band through many of their best-loved songs including "Living Inna Northern Paradise," "Born in the U. P. Ay," "Sauna Song," "U. P. Boy," "West U. P. Town," "Gainses' Rock" and others.

"The band has a new CD coming out," Syria said, teasing the audience from a stage under a ski lift, "in about a year and a half." Commenting on his tendency to procrastinate, he added: "We have five songs completed and only need four or five more." Some of the tracks will be about Les Ross, the band's co-founder, percussionist and long-time Marquette area musician, who died in 2003.

While local residents were well aware of the beauty of the Porkies, the festival location also impressed Blues Caravan star Sue Foley.

"Man, what a place to hold a festival. I didn't even know this town existed. I'm sorry. I'm from Canada, too. You'd think I'd know things like that. This is a damn long way to come, but I'm glad you're here. After the show, the ladies and I will be over there, sitting in the dark, signing CD's, hopefully. Maybe somebody could bring a flashlight and shine it on us."

But, with her trademark paisley Telecaster in hand, Foley and her band shone brightly without any help. They launched into their set with a blistering version of the instrumental "Time Bomb," from their Ruf Records CD released earlier this year.

The three guitar goddesses then took turns leading the band, which included bass, drums and keyboards, through an impressive list of mostly original material.

Potvin, born in Quebec just 23 years ago, played, sang and danced through "Hitting on Nothing," "Caught Up" and the John Hiatt-penned "A Love That's Simple."

The hard rockin' Coleman, meanwhile, played numbers such as "Talking Loud," stressing her jamming abilities. The 50-year-old Virginia native kicked it into high gear for "Bad Boy" and a no-holes-barred version of Buddy Miles' "Them Changes."


Sue Foley

The red-headed Foley, who has a dozen albums to her credit, then returned to the stage for "So Far," a tune she wrote for the new disc..

After telling the audience she was writing a book called "Guitar Women," Foley, 39, played "Down the Big Road Blues," by Mattie Delaney, an obscure blueswoman from the 30s. The song appears on a double CD Foley assembled to demonstrate the skills of the greatest contemporary and traditional blueswomen, including Debbie Davies, Joanna Connor, Bonnie Raitt, Rory Block and Memphis Minnie.

Bringing her set to a close, the Ottawa native demonstrated her considerable guitar prowess on "Doggie Treats," "Long Distance Lover" and "New Used Car."

The trio concluded with "In The Basement," each vocalist singing one verse of the song before leaving the stage. But, the crowd demanded an encore. The band returned with a saucy rendition of the Irma Thomas classic "You Can Have My Husband (But Please Don't Mess With My Man)" before ending with a protest number, "No War, No More" as the crowd cheered.

Following their set, a bearded man mentioned to Foley that he thought "three hot chicks with Telecaster guitars" matched a fantasy some guys had. "That's what I've been told," Foley said, matter-of-factly.

To cap off the day, my wife Sue took a snapshot of me and Sue, the blueswoman. We headed back to our motel room while Foley got ready to travel to Red Lake, MN for the Last Ride Blues Festival the following day.

Satisfied with a great festival at a gorgeous location, we're already looking forward to next year.

Fans celebrate Beatles' longevity

The Quarrymen

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Visiting Chicago's annual Fest for Beatles Fans is both a trip to the past and evidence the British group's influence continues unabated today.

Fans have converged on the Windy City annually since 1977, first at the Palmer Hotel, then at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare when the thousands of music enthusiasts could no longer be accommodated at the original location.

While my wife Sue and I didn't attend the confab earlier this month, we were reminded of our Aug. 14-16, 1998 trip when we witnessed a performance by John Lennon's 1950s era skiffle band, the Quarrymen.

The group included Pete Shotton, washboard and guitar; Eric Griffiths, guitar; Len Garry, tea chest bass and guitar; Colin Hanton, drums; and Rod Davis, banjo and guitar.

Recreating songs from their 50s repertoire, the group performed hits by Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent, with vocals by Garry. Shotton, meanwhile, stepped up to the microphone to cover material by British skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan. Between songs, they reminisced.

Historically, the Quarrymen, with Lennon on guitar and vocals, played together for just four months beginning in July, 1957. Still, as a precursor to the Beatles, they rank as an important group in the annals of rock 'n' roll. That's because Paul McCartney met 16-year-old Lennon at a Quarrymen show, and as they say, the rest is history.

Lennon, who transformed the Quarrymen into the Beatles in succeeding years, also lent his support to the first fan convention, which presaged the Quarrymen's appearance in Chicago.

The idea for annual get-togethers for Beatles fans originated with Mark Lapidos, who sought to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the group's arrival in America. The assistant manager of a record store, Lapidos approached Lennon with his notion in the spring of 1974, telling him he envisioned a convention "with films, special guests, live concerts, art museum and art contest, flea market, discussions, look-alike and sound-alike contests, auctions and a charity raffle."

John Lennon

Lapidos quoted Lennon as saying, "I'm all for it. I'm a Beatles fan, too." In fact, Lennon and the other ex-Beatles cemented their support by donating items for the charity raffle.

The first convention was held in New York City in 1974, just months after Lapidos met with Lennon. Chicago was added to the schedule in 1977, becoming the biggest such convention, attracting up to 10,000 fans. Other shows have been held in Las Vegas, San Franciso, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Boston and Philadelphia.

With friends Bob and Carol Nygaard of Sault Ste. Marie, Sue and I have been fortunate enough to attend three or four of the Illinois fests, which have always been entertaining and impressive.

For three days fans attend continuous activities in 14 ballrooms and areas throughout the hotel.

One of the biggest draws is the Beatles marketplace where over 100 dealers from the United States, Canada and Britain sell rare records and memorabilia. One of the largest dealers is Lapidos himself who sells more than 1,000 licensed items including compact discs, DVDs, books and t-shirts. If you need a Flip Your Wig Game, pins, posters or a set of bubble gum cards, this is the place to get it.

Another popular attraction is Jeff Ausburger's world famous collection of Beatles memorabilia. Video fans can congregate in a special room showing the group's movies and promotional films. Other rooms include a Beatles trivia game contest, laser karaoke show and even a demonstration with puppeteer Bob Abdou pulling the strings of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Live entertainment is a highlight. "Liverpool," named after the Beatles' hometown, amazes audiences with their faithful recreations of Fab Four songs in concert performances which often include authentic costumes. Dozens of solo musicians and duos also perform their renditions of Beatles songs in various contests. One evening includes a "Battle of the Beatles Bands," with 30 competing groups. Rabid fans also gather informally to sing Beatles songs under the stairwells in the hotel through the night.

During the weekend events, fans also have the opportunity to meet numerous celebrities. One of the most popular has been Louise Harrison, the Beatle's sister.

Folks attending the Fest for Beatles Fans in Chicago earlier this month were treated to a repeat performance by the Quarrymen, the group we saw in 1998, although depleted with the 2005 death of Griffiths and the retirement of Shotton, one of John Lennon's closest friends.

That his 50s era band, reunited since 1997, is still touring half a century after it was founded would probably have amused Lennon, who died in 1980. That interest in the Quarrymen has continued all these years would probably have intrigued him, as well.

T-shirt collection proliferates

By STEVE SEYMOUR

When I get dressed in the morning I'm confronted by a dizzying array of concert t-shirts. I'm talking about a closet full of cotton and polyester tees, some of recent vintage and others showing their age.

The problem is of my own making. You see, my wife Sue and I have made a practice of buying t-shirts as concert mementos for years.

In case you're wondering, standard white t-shirts were first issued to U. S. servicemen in World War II and became a fashion staple for youth and rock 'n' rollers in the following years. Surely, you remember James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause?" The t-shirt made the man.

Without boring you with too much history, screen printing and tie-dying further popularized the shirts during the 60s, while the black concert t-shirt became popular a decade later.

Although we certainly bought music-related t-shirts during that time, the habit really took hold when we attended Grateful Dead shows in Wisconsin during the 80s and 90s. If you're not already aware of it, fans of the San Francisco group, or Deadheads as they're called, are not afraid to express themselves with colorful attire.

The Grateful Dead concerts featured an avalanche of psychedelic t-shirts worn by virtually every one of the tens of thousands of people who attended those shows. Many of the available tees were of the "official" variety sold through Grateful Dead Merchandising.

But the Dead's fans also produced their own versions, or "bootleg" t-shirts, not approved by the band. For these shirts, the seller kept all the money and didn't pay the band any royalties. Vendors would literally appear from behind the bushes as you left the concert, offering shirts, often of poor quality, for as little at $6.

Sue and I also collected some unique shirts when we attended Beatlefest, a fan convention held at Chicago's Hyatt Regency Hotel every August. During those get-togethers, we witnessed a kaleidoscope of designs as thousands of fans wore their devotion to the Fab Four on their chests. There were so many different t-shirts, you were hard pressed to see the same one twice.

That sea of shirts is especially impressive when you realize that as the group toured the United States in the mid-60s, there were no Beatles t-shirts. Today, counting group and solo product, hundreds of different licensed shirts are available for any fan of John, Paul, George and Ringo. We bought additional Beatles apparel when we attended various solo concerts by ex- Beatles McCartney and Starr.

Showing our closet no mercy, we added t-shirts from artists as musically diverse as hard rock legends Led Zeppelin and country superstar Toby Keith. Many of the shirts picture the musician or group on the front and tour dates on the back.

Our closet also holds a couple of Record Rack tees, dating back to the 80s. One shows a woman looking strangely like Rita Hayworth standing next to a Wurlitzer jukebox, while the other, designed by Jeff Simmons, depicts a young man singing along to a jukebox he's transporting in the back of his pick-up.

I also have the option of wearing a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt from far-away Singapore, although you can rest assured I've never been there. Sue and I, however, did attend the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1995 and for our efforts obtained shirts emblazoned with their modernistic "House That Rock Built" logo.

Selling t-shirts has become an important source of income for virtually every touring act. My brother-in-law James Hahn, who attended the July 20 Kiss show in Sault Ste. Marie, reported a mob in front of the t-shirt stand, with fans eager to pay $40 for something new to wear. Not only that, the Kiss attire quickly sold out, disappointing some concert-goers.

Local events have utilized the t-shirt as both a promotional tool and as merchandise. Fans attending the Jim "Smiley" Lewis Tribute at the Terrace on Oct. 21, 2006, were able to buy an appealing black tee which featured a "Blues Cat" logo in turquoise on the front and dog and cat tracks on the back. Proceeds benefited the Delta County Animal Shelter.

The most recent shirt in our collection commemorates Norton Fest which took place in Flat Rock on July 28. Held annually since 2002 at the home of Jeff and Theresa Norton, this incredibly well-organized event showcased performances from five bands. The line-up included Slipt from Marquette, a Ramones tribute band from Green Bay called Blitzkreig Rok, as well as local 70s rockers Hey Mikey Band. For veteran music fans, the evening featured the on-stage reunions of Neptune and Stormbringer.

From its war time origins, the t shirt has become an essential accessory for music fans. Popular with young and old alike, they may serve as a fashion statement, collectors' item, or merely a souvenir.

In any case, there are millions of music fans who love their t-shirts and that combination isn't likely to change any time soon.

Now, which t shirt should I wear today?

Ticket stubs trigger memories

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Most people throw away their ticket stubs after a concert. After all, what good are they when the show is over? But, I think they make great souvenirs, so I save 'em.

I don't do anything drastic, like paste them into a scrapbook. I just toss the bits of ephemera into a drawer.

Collecting those stubs hasn't brought me any great wealth, although some old concert tickets can be worth more than a few dollars.

My collection, however, has confirmed for me exactly which concerts I have attended, as well as the venue, date and price of admission.

Knowing those facts can be very helpful when attempting to recall the details of the dozens of concerts I've seen over the years.

Take Gordon Lightfoot, for instance. He's appeared at Chip-In's Island Resort and Casino on several occasions. But, by looking at my ticket stub, I know I saw the Canadian balladeer on Saturday, May 4, 2002. Those facts take me right back to that day.

My wife Sue and I sat near the back of the theater, only because we bought our tickets at the last moment. I don't know why we waited to commit to see Lightfoot, because he put on a memorable performance. You may remember the folk singer and guitarist for his masterpiece, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Lightfoot's account of the sinking of the ore carrier in Lake Superior during a storm on Nov. 10, 1975, was for me the highlight of the evening. He wrote and recorded the tune in the months following the tragedy and watched it reach number 2 on the Billboard singles chart.

Any Upper Peninsula resident feels an affinity toward the song. But, to hear Lightfoot sing, "The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down...," from a stage here in the U. P. was especially poignant.

Another ticket stub from my stash recalled the premiere of "Escanaba in Da Moonlight," on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2000. Besides its comedic appeal and local scenery, the movie features an outstanding soundtrack, assembled by Alto Reed, sax man in Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band.

Besides Reed's compositions, the disc includes songs by Ted Nugent, Glenn Frey of the Eagles and Detroit Wheels guitarist Jim McCarty, Michigan natives all. Certainly, downtrodden Reuben Soady's antics were enhanced by "Escanaba Mama," "Deer Track Blues," "One More River" and "Comin' Down Hard." Fans shouldn't be surprised that Uncle Ted would contribute a song to a project about deer hunting, and it rocks with the best of the Motor City Madman's material.

Thumbing through my stack of old tickets, it's easy to compile a top ten list of the best rock concerts my wife Sue and I have been fortunate enough to witness.

The most impressive show we've attended is the legendary Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held at Cleveland Stadium on Sept. 2, 1995, which showcased dozens of pop music's greatest stars. Along with 65,000 other fans, we saw Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Allman Brothers, Carole King, Heart, Eric Burdon, Little Richard, and many more.

Beyond that, my other favorite concerts include the Grateful Dead at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wis. on June 22, 1988; Ringo Starr at The Castle in Charlevoix on Aug. 20, 1989; Bob Dylan at Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, on Aug. 25, 1992; Pink Floyd at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on July 3, 1994; The Rolling Stones at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Sept. 9, 1994; John Fogerty at the House of Blues in Chicago on May 27, 1997; The Who at the Marcus Amiphitheater in Milwaukee on July 23, 1997; Paul McCartney at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Oct. 23, 2005; and Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, also at the Bradley Center, on Nov. 16, 2006.

Still, one of the coolest tickets in my collection was never used. The ducat would have admitted the bearer to a Led Zeppelin concert scheduled for Nov. 12, 1980, at Chicago Stadium.

In fact, a series of four November dates were announced by Led Zeppelin in an exclusive full page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune on Sept. 25, 1980. Tickets were to be offered only through mail order. At that point, the hard-rock quartet had not toured the United States in three years.

The day the ad ran, giving so much excitement to fans, was also the day John Bonham, Led Zeppelin's iconic drummer, died. The band, heart-broken, cancelled the Chicago dates and never toured again.

Music fans can accumulate records, backstage passes, guitar picks or t-shirts, but tickets cost nothing to collect, beyond their initial price. They don't take up much room and remain colorful mementos of the music you've enjoyed as a concert-goer.

Why don't you do what I do? Just toss the stubs in a drawer until you need a quick reminder of all the great concerts you've seen.

Joan Jett influenced new fan

Joan Jett

By STEVE SEYMOUR

When was your first concert?

If you're Rylee Hughes of Gladstone, it was Saturday, April 5, 2003.

That's when Rylee witnessed a terrific show by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, famous for their number one hit "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," at Chip-In's Island Resort and Casino.

This first-time concert goer was just three and a half years old. She was accompanied to the show by her mom, Jackie Hughes, who also happens to be my niece. For good measure, Rylee also brought along her Uncle Steve (that's me); Aunt Sue, (the Mrs.); Aunt Karen (my sister), and Uncle Tim Germain; Uncle Kevin Seymour (my brother); and Aunt Marie Chenier.

Prior to the show, I made my great-niece a compact disc featuring Jett's greatest songs, all of which were hits before she was born. Playing it non-stop, Rylee grew familiar with smashes like "Crimson and Clover," "Everyday People," "Light of Day," "I Hate Myself for Loving You," "Little Liar," and "Love Is All Around," the theme song of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Like millions of other fans, Rylee was most enthusiastic about "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."

What turned out to be Jett's signature song spent an incredible 20 weeks on the Billboard Top Pop singles chart in early 1982, including seven weeks at number one.

Although "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is closely identified with Jett, she didn't write the song. The three-minute blast of punk rock was composed by Jake Hooker and Alan Merrill, who recorded the song as The Arrows. While touring England with her band The Runaways, Jett saw The Arrows perform the song on television, but couldn't convince her group to record it.

She later cut the track as a solo artist, but it drew little interest. Later, she made another attempt with producers Kenny Laguna and Ritchie Cordell at the controls and came up with the hit version, listed by Billboard as the 28th greatest song of all time.

When the family entourage filed into our third row seats, anticipation was quickly building inside the theater at the Harris casino. To mark the impending start of the show, Jett's staff blasted the Who's recording of "Won't Get Fooled Again" through the PA system, which startled young Rylee to tears. But she quickly recovered as the show started.

Looking fit and trim, with her short hair colored blond, Jett powered through a rousing set of her 1980s material, including crowd favorites "Fake Friends," AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds," and "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)." The audience was fired up for the entire performance, often singing along.

For a few songs, Rylee even sat on her mom's shoulders, so she could get the full rock 'n' roll experience. Jett expertly manipulated the strings of her Gibson Melody Maker guitar giving Rylee evidence why Rolling Stone magazine named her one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Needless to say the place went nuts when Jett launched into "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," the highlight of the evening.

When the hit-filled show ended, both Jett and the audience were literally exhausted. But Rylee wanted even more.

She had brought along a copy of Jett's cleverly titled "Album," which the singer released as the follow-up to "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," hoping to have it autographed.

However, after the show we learned that Jett had performed the show while ill, and wouldn't be signing anything that day. Rylee was disappointed, of course, but we explained to her that everybody still had a good time.

Rylee, who will be turning eight years old later this month, still talks excitedly about her first concert. Although she didn't get an autograph, she still prizes her two Joan Jett long-playing records. Mom Jackie thinks going to the show may have inspired Rylee to take a year's worth of guitar lessons. The youngster owns three guitars, two electric and one acoustic.

For her part, Jett, now 48, is still out there on the touring circuit. She has released 22 albums since her solo debut in 1980. The newest, "Sinner," on her own Blackheart Records label, has been well-received by fans and critics.

Rylee says Jett is still her favorite although she's looking forward to attending an upcoming concert by Martina McBride.

Certainly, attending that Joan Jett show has had a lasting impact on Rylee, whether she aspires to be a professional musician or merely learns to appreciate live music.

With those goals in mind, maybe you should contemplate taking a kid to a concert yourself.