August 31, 2003

Hog Heaven

Tonight, Harley-Davidson's 100th birthday finished up with a free concert. Tens of thousands of people came to Milwaukee's Veteran's Park along the shore of Lake Michigan. The Doobie Brothers performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, but H-D kept the big names secret. All week, there were rumors of who would play the show. U2's name floated about. Bruce Springsteen was mentioned even though he's playing Giants Stadium tonight. Most people's hopes were for the Rolling Stones.

Around 7:30 MC Dan Akroyd introduced Tim McGraw as the first act. Near the end of his set, Kid Rock came out to sing with McGraw. Kid then did his own set. McGraw came out again to do some more songs. After this Wynonna sang her song "Freedom" while motorcycles flashed across giant video screens. The stage then went dark. A piano melody swept over the crowd that could only come from the British piano player himself, Elton John.

Some concert goers were disappointed with the line-up. After McGraw took the stage thousands of people left Veteran's Park. Some wanted to get an early start to where ever they call home. Some didn't like country music; and some just got angry with Tim McGraw's selection. A woman interviewed on the radio called McGraw the "antithesis" of the H-D lifestyle.

A line-up of Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, and Elton John isn't small potatoes; but given all the secrecy surrounding the show, it's a let down. You can't please all the people all the time. Nevertheless, announcing the acts beforehand wouldn't have stopped many people from showing up. What H-D unfortunately did was set really high expectations that would have been almost impossible to meet.

Out of an entire week of motorcycles rumbling all over southeast Wisconsin, tonight's concert let down was the only minor glich. This was a week where Milwaukee showed itself off to people from around the world. The city and its people were gracious and enthusiastic guests. We got to show off our community and feel a lot of pride for being blessed with H-D. Thousands of people will be going home knowing they had a good time, and that Milwaukee is a pretty cool place. Beer, cheese, the Packers, Harley-Davidson, and its people: these are the five things that make Wisconsin famous.

"Clad in Leather, a Harley Mainstream Rides"

"Heaven is a Harley-Davidson!"

"World Watches as Harley Parties"

"The Day Milwaukee Roared"