Summerfest Day 11

All good things must come to an end, even Milwaukee's Summerfest. But it won't go out with a whimper.

• The Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows play a double bill at the Marcus Amphitheater starting at 7:30.

• Wisconsin native and former Genesis and Phil Collins touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer will be at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 5:00.

• 80s all-girl band The Bangles walk like an Egyptian at the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage at 8:30.

• Jackyl will probably have a chainsaw accompany their rock and roll on the Mountain Dew Rock Stage at 10:00.

• Feel your inner New Orleans soul with Buckwheat Zydeco at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage at 10:00.

Summerfest Day 10

We're into the last weekend of Milwaukee's 11-day music festival. Two more days of food, drink, music, and fun.

• Alan Jackson will perform at the Marcus Amphitheater at 8:00 with American Idol Carrie Underwood opening.

• I found tribute bands: Perple Rain plays the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 6:30; and Think Floyd-USA plays the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage at 8:00.

• Wisconsin folk rocker Willy Porter performs at the Miller Lite Oasis at 8:00.

• Pink does her thing at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 10:00.

• Pop-punkers Panic! At The Disco will keep the kids up late at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage starting at 10:00.

• Toto will give fans their 80s fix with songs like "Rosanna" and "I'll Be Over You." They'll play the M&I Bank Classic Rock at 10:00.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #9

The Gufs on YouTube

Some Gufs fan recorded their performance of "Smile" at this year's Summerfest. It's like you're there--there being you've dropped some LSD and the San Andreas Fault moved underneath Milwaukee.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #8

Summerfest Day 9

• Steely Dan and Michael McDonald make Baby Boomers happy at the Marcus Ampitheater starting at 8:00.

• U2 Zoo covers the Irish greats on the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage at 5:30.

• Rock Kills Kid plays the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 6:45.

• P.O.D. plays its rap-rock on the Mountain Dew Rock Stage at 10:00.

• To hear a violin with your pop-punk check out Yellowcard on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 10:00.

• Cheap Trick will want you to want them at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 10:00.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #7

Summerfest Day 8

Don't tell Eugene Kane but there's hip-hop and R&B at Summerfest: Digital Underground, Floetry, Mix Master Mike, and Anthony Hamilton all on one night.

• It's jam band fest at the Marcus Amphitheater with String Cheese Incident, Bob Weir & RatDog, and Keller Williams. The show starts at 5:00.

• Colette and DJ Heather, two female masters of the wheels of steel will be spinning dance music at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 5:00.

• Digital Underground will show us how to the "Humpty Dance" at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse starting at 8:00.

• Floetry will offer some neo-soul at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage at 9:00.

• At 10:00 on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage The Fray play some piano pop rock that doesn't sound like Coldplay.

• Mix Master Mike shows off his skills at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 10:00.

• Also at 10:00 Anthony Hamilton performs at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

Summerfest Day 7

• Nickelback with Hoobastank, Three Days Grace, and Hinder will rock the Marcus Amphitheater starting at 7:30.

• There will be some Deadhead sightings at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage. Mickey Hart and Friends will play there at 8:30.

• Jam band fans will enjoy Medeski Martin & Wood playing the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 8:30.

• Foreigner will satisfy the classic rockers at 8:30 on the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage.

• Alt-country act Wilco takes to the Miller Lite Oasis at 9:30.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #6

Summerfest Day 6

If you don't have a picnic or fireworks show to go to head to Milwaukee's lakefront for some great music. Here are some featured acts:

• Kenny Chesney headlines the Marcus Amphitheater at 7:30.

• Beatles tribute band The Britins play at the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage at 5:30.

• Creedence Clearwater Revisited perform at the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage at 8:30.

• The Psychedelic Furs offer up some retro of their own at the Miller Lite Oasis at 9:30.

• Ryan Cabrera will make the teen girls swoon at U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 10:00.

• At the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse Bowling for Soup will satisfy the pop-punk fans at 10:00.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #5

Summerfest Day 5

Today, 07.03 is the one day I least recommend going to Summerfest. Tonight, is when U.S. Bank will be sponsoring Milwaukee's Independence Day fireworks display. (They let the suburbs shoot theirs off tomorrow night.) Upwards of 500,000 people will be along the lakeshore to catch the brilliant explosions; many of them will be at Summerfest. I don't mean to scare you off. If you can tolerate the crowds there are some good acts hitting the stages:

• Mary J. Blige with opening act Ne-Yo will grace the Marcus Amphitheater at 8:00. Expect her to do her version of U2's "One."

• Beatallica plays at the Mountain Dew Rock Stage at 6:30. They're a twisted, yet very cool mash-up of the Beatles and Metallica.

• If you want to laugh instead of groove to the music Lewis Black will be performing at 9:00 and 11:00 on the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage.

• Jam band fans should enjoy Rusted Root at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 10:00.

• Alice Cooper takes the stage at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 10:00.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #4

Summerfest Babe of the Day #3

Summerfest Day 4

MKE has found a great food deal. Go to The Venice Club and get yourself half of a 12-inch pizza for only $5. Pizza goes great with beer and with the cash you're saving you can drink more of it. Now, let's see who's playing the Big Gig tonight.

• Get all dark and moody. Trent Reznor leads Nine Inch Nails into the Marcus Amphitheater tonight with 80s Gothers Bauhaus opening at 7:30.

• Soul Asylum plays on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 8:00.

• Dierks Bentley performs not only for the Summerfest crowds but for the Country Music Television audience at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 10:00.

• Canada's The Tragically Hip play at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 10:00.
  

Summerfest Babe of the Day #2

Believe me, this is tough work. But someone has to do it.

Wait! There's more!

Summerfest Day 3

A weekend with nice, hot weather should mean big crowds and lots of beer sales at the lakefront. Don't be surprised to hear 100,000+ get into Summerfest today. I don't want to scare off those of you who worry about crowds. Even with that many people there are still places to move around and hear some great music. Here are some highlighted performers:

• Paul Simon takes to the Marcus Amphitheater at 7:30. If the reports from other shows are any indication Simon has added some surprises to his portfolio.

• At the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard The Go-Go's turn the clock back to the 80s at 10:00.

• The All-American Rejects will capture the teen alt-rock audience at 10:00 on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage.

• Hank Williams, Jr. at a beer-soaked place like Summerfest sounds like trouble. See what he does at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 10:00.

• David Lee Roth has time on his hands since he was fired from his morning radio show earlier this year. He might play a few bluegrass versions of Van Halen songs from the new tribute album Strumin' with the Devil. He'll be at the Miller Lite Oasis at 10:00.

• Milwaukee favorites The Gufs are reunited at their long-time haunt Summerfest. They play the Mountain Dew Rock at 10:00.

Summerfest Babe of the Day #1

Thank you US Cellular for giving me plenty of photographic material to cover Summerfest like I was there. Throughout the 11-day festival I'll be posting a Babe of the Day.

Behold, our first winner:

Summerfest Day 2

I wonder how many took off today to start their weekend early and running off to Summerfest? If you're wondering if you should go tonight here are some of who's playing:

• Tom Petty and Pearl Jam play the Marcus Amphitheater for a second-straight night.

• DB Bryant Band plays the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 7:00. It's a hard rocking, blues-oriented band. They opened for Robert Randolph last year and didn't disappoint. It's one of those bands that's a nice discovery.

• For laughs and fun Milwaukee mainstay Pat McCurdy will play the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 8:30.

• Blue October offers up a mash of emo and metal on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 10:00.

• Feel free to scream "FREEBIRD!" at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse because Lynyrd Skynyrd will be playing at 10:00.

Summerfest Day 1

Summerfest, the world's biggest outdoor music festival is underway along Milwaukee's Lake Michgan shore. What's on tap tonight?

• Tom Petty and Pearl Jam headline the Marcus Amphitheater in the first of their two-night run.

• Milwaukee favorites The Love Monkeys play the Miller Lite Oasis at 6:00.

• Elvis Costello & the Imposters featuring Allen Toussaint will be at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 8:30 in support of their album The River in Reverse.

• For classic rock fans REO Speedwagon plays the M&I Bank Classic Rock at 9:00.

• After the Speedwagon you can go to the Mountain Dew Rock Stage for Blue Oyster Cult at 11:00.

• Despite what Eugene Kane thinks there is hip-hop at Summerfest. Common plays the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 11:00.

• The Big Bang fireworks display will boom over the festival grounds at 10:30.

Haute Cuisine

Another Fitting Summerfest Pic

If you don't drink at least you can mock those who think consuming a week's worth of beer is fun.

They Don't Call it "Brew City" For Nothing

Many think Summerfest is just an excuse to drink lots of beer. Well...they're right.

It Can Get Ugly

Mandy Jenkins, a Milwaukee new-comer, gets the Summerfest vibe in all its frivolity and ugliness:

I continued to wander the festival, seeing many more bikini tops instead of shirts. Personally, I don’t really think anyone should substitute swimwear for actual clothing outside of a beach no matter how attractive they are (or think they are)….but that desire goes triply for women who are exceptionally pale, overweight or just too old. In those cases, it becomes more of a public health crisis than a fashion statement. (One woman near the martini bar could hardly keep her top up because it seems she, er, shrank since the last time it fit her 15 years ago. Yipes.)

"Best of the Fest: Day 1"

Fashion Sense

The NY Post mocks New Yorkers who are wearing things they shouldn't be. It reminds me of the downside to Summerfest. The music, food, and beer are great. It's just seeing a 50-year-old man's beer gut or a 55-year-old woman in a leather Harley-Davidson bra that gives me the willies.

If you got it, flaunt it. If you don't, you better know better. Your picture might make into the newspaper.

"Butt Seriously" [via Michelle Malkin]

That's Just Mean

Look at the line up for day two of The Encore. Who do I see, Jimmy Eat World, The Gufs, or Robert Randolph? Why could these bands have been to the Big Gig instead of Summerfest, Jr?

The Encore

The Encore, an end-of-summer bash from the Summerfest crew, has already announced some of the acts for the three-day "little gig."

Confirmed artists include: Jimmy Eat World, The Temptations, Local H, Los Lonely Boys and Blue County.

Summerfest

This weekend marks the start of Summerfest, Milwaukee's annual Summer Get Together. Yet, our benefactor is in An Undisclosed Location.

Today's lineup features Kenny Chesney (with Uncle Kracker), Live, Tantric, O.A.R, and Sister Hazel.

If I had to pick a night to go, it would be Wednesday, June 30. Nickelback with 3 Doors Down, Styx (Domo Arigato!), The Fixx, Tesla and Loverboy.

Britney Drops Summerfest

With her knee injury Britney Spears cancelled her 07.01 show along with the rest of her "Onyx Hotel" summer tour. Summerfest bookers are scrambling to find a replacement. I'd say if all else failed and they couldn't even get the BoDeans to play they could have one of the headliners on the other stages play in the Marcus Amphitheater. Unfortunately, looking at that day's lineup I don't see anyone who would have enough strength to fill the place.

"Spears Cancels Summerfest Date"

Summerfest, Jr.

Not that SE Wisconsities needed a reason to drink beer and listen to live music, plans are in the works for a lakeshore festival to wrap up the summer. Summerfest people will be holding a press conference today to talk about Encore.

"New Fest Planned for Sept."

Christina Cancels

With Christina Aguilera canceling her summer tour dates (bad vocal cords), Summerfest bookers are looking for a replacement. The Journal Sentinel eyes Evanescence (who cares, but the youngster rockers would like it), Avril Lavigne (ho, hum to anyone over 16), Mary J. Blige (does she have enough star power to fill the Marcus Amphitheater?), Aerosmith (they'll need a lot of money; most seats at their show in Green Bay were $80!), Yes (with no Trevor Rabin, I could care less), and Pink (that could be good; she's fresh and seems to have an audience slightly beyond teenyboppers).

"Who Will Take Christina's Place?"

Summerfest Day 11 Reviews

The Summerfest's attendence was down 11% from last year. This year's attendence of 905,135 was the lowest since 1996. Summerfest executive director, Bo Black, blamed the economy. "I thought people who come maybe four times might come one or two times this year," she said. If family issues and work wouldn't have conflicted, I would have been down at the lakefront more than once. Having fewer people attend was nice for those that came. They didn't feel like sardines in a can. A little more space let's people enjoy the music.

Summerfest can't grow every year. There just isn't enough room on the grounds. Around 950,000 feels like the right amount to target every year. With that many people, you can draw good acts while giving people room to have a good time.

Here are some reviews of last night's shows:

• Good Charlotte w/ Hoobastank (both bands get shredded)
  
• Dread Zeppelin (Awarded as Best Dressed)
  
• Evanescence
  
• The Jayhawks
  
• Alice Peacock
  
• Los Lobos
  
• The Thorns
  
• The Wallflowers
  

With the festival over the focus goes onto Bo Black's future. The Summerfest board has refused to give her a contract extension. I haven't read or heard anything about the board being disatisfied with Black. For almost 20 years, she's made Summerfest Milwaukee's main event every year. It's one of the best things about Milwaukee, and Black has consistently kept it succeeding. Losing Black would be great loss to Southeast Wisconsin.

"Attendance at Summerfest Drops"

Summerfest Day 11 Preview

If only I didn't have to work or else I'd be down at the lakeshore listening to a whole lot of good bands. This year's Summerfest is not ending with a whimper.

Headlining the Marcus Amphitheater is Good Charlotte with opening act Hoobastank starting at 7:30

At 6:00, Dread Zeppelin plays their weird combo of Leppelin, reggae, and Elvis at the Piggy Wiggly MusicMarket.

Local boy and ex-Genesis guitarist Daryl Stuermer plays at 7:30 on the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage.

Alice Peacock plays the North Shore Bank Landing at 8:00.

The Thorns (Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge, and Shawn Mullins) do a 21st Century version of Crosby, Stills, and Nash on the Piggy Wiggly MusicMarket at 8:00.

At 10:00, Los Lobos plays the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage.

At the North Shore Bank Landing at 10:00 Jakob Dylan and his Wallflowers perform.

For hard rock fans Saliva plays the Mountain Dew Rock Stage, while Evanescence plays the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. Both shows are at 10:00.

Finally, the Jayhawks play at the Piggy Wiggly MusicMarket at 10:00.

Two shows you should avoid are Mrs. Fun at the Cingular Wireless Gardens Stage and Dennis DeYoung at the Miller Lite Oasis. Mrs. Fun is a local band who's avant-garde clanging and cacophony sound as bad as their name. As for DeYoung, well, he is the ex-lead singer for Styx. Can you say "Mr. Roboto?" 'Nuff said.

On-the-Scene Summerfest Day 9 Review

Last night was hot but satisfying. But all good things have a downside. For me dancing from 8:00-11:00 means my legs will be really sore when I wake up to go to work.

The Summerfest grounds weren't crowded like I expected. Either the acts playing didn't draw listeners, people decided to go to local Fourth of July gatherings, or people thought the weather wasn't good (too hot or early morning power outages due to storms). Walking from one end of the grounds to the other was easy with no chance to bump into people or feel claustrophobic.

My wandering led me to Fab Feno & The Last Tranzaction Band. They were a bit rough with Fab untangling his way out of cords, but the band was playing funky blues that felt so right in the hot late-afternoon sun.

But my goal was dancing, and for that I had to go to the North Shore Bank Landing. All throughout the day DJs were spinning and people were grooving. When night arrived the bigs names came out, and by big, I mean big. BT and The Crystal Method are two of the biggest American acts in electronic dance music. (Throw in Moby and you have the three-headed American monster.)

BT plugged his notebook computer (a thin Power Mac) into the sound system and began with a remix of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Boy, did that get the crowd jumping. He went on to play his "Dreaming" for what seemed like 10+ minutes. He also "spun" a remix of his latest single "Somnambulist" and "Flaming June." While every song was playing, BT tweaked and manipulated the sounds. He tossed in climatic snare drums to throw us off of incredible peaks. At one point, he was remixing Coldplay's "Clocks" in real-time, and I heard three parts of the song playing simultaneously. Music geeks must have had orgasms listening to him work. I just pumped my hands in the air like I just didn't care.

After a too brief encore, BT turned it over to The Crystal Method. They started out with a remix of New Order's "Crystal." Then they continued their spinning (they used old-school vinyl) of break beat and big beat. This stuff was different from BT's trance because it was a little slower and the break beats cut things up. Think of this style as speeded up hip hop but without the rapping. It was still good, just a little harder for me to dance to. As a treat, TCM played a song from their upcoming album Legion of Boom. From a first listen, they've got a winner. It's more danceable and less rock oriented like the songs off Tweekend. They finished with Underworld's "Rez."

Someone who did care about BT's high tech wizardry was Scott Kirkland, one half of The Crystal Method. Near the end of TCM's set, he went off on how they used good old fashion records instead of a computer. "All we need are two turn tables, a mixer, and a crate of records," Kirkland told the audience. He also said some expletives about BT and computers. I couldn't catch what he said, but let's just say that a BT/TCM collaboration won't be happening anytime soon.

Kirkland's computer complaints are strange since TCM used computers on their last album. Why should he complain about computers used in the performance of music and not the creation of it?

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Here are some other reviews from last night:

• BT
  
• Collective Soul
  
• Arrested Development
  
• The Funk Brothers
  
• John Hiatt
  
• Santana
  

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Here's also a quick preview of Day 10:

Country is the big ticket with Kenny Chesney headlining the Marcus Amphitheater. Opening for him are Keith Urban and the lovely Deana Carter. That starts at 7:30.

80s nostalgia is a theme with David Lee Roth trying to hit the high notes of old Van Halen songs at the Miller Lite Oasis. Morris Day and the Time "do the bird" at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. Both shows are at 10:00.

Summerfest Day 8 Reviews

Summerfest may have started out slow attendance-wise, but as of yesterday, they're running ahead of last year's pace. They may top one million for the third straight year. Now, here are some reviews from last night's shows.

The BoDeans
Michelle Branch
Fountains of Wayne
Wilco
George Thorogood

John Hiatt Time Change

Hiatt wants more time to perform to his fans so he'll be starting at 9:30 instead of 10:00 at the Piggly Wiggly MusicMarket.

Summerfest Day 9 Preview

Today may be the best day of Summerfest. Why? Because I'll be going. I was planning on going last Friday, but a family event prevented that. So, here's what's happening on Day 9:

Santana is the at the Marcus Ampitheater with Angelique Kidjo opening at 7:30.

Arrested Development, led by Milwaukee-native Speech, performs at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 8:00. Following them are Black Eyed Peas at 10:00.

John Hiatt plays at the Piggly Wiggly MusicMarket at 10:00. For a taste, Hiatt has a bunch of live songs available as MP3s.

Washed-up hair metal band Quiet Riot plays at 10:00 on the Mountain Dew Rock Stage.

Collective Soul hit the Miller Lite Oasis at 10:00.

Last but not least on the North Shore Bank Landing will be THE place for dance music along the lake shore. The last few years there was an entire stage devoted to dance music, but with problems with kids acting up, that was changed. But while going down in quantity, Summerfest is making it up in quality. There will be DJs spinning all day, but it will get really exciting when trance god BT plugs his laptop into the soundsystem at 8:30. After him, it doesn't let up. The Crystal Method bring down the house with their breaks, electro hip-hop, and big beats.

Summerfest Day 8 Preview

Today may have the biggest attendance of all the days of Summerfest. Today is July 3 when Milwaukee has its fireworks display in celebration of Independence Day (not to be confused with the Big Bang which celebrates the start of Summerfest). Thousands are going down to the lakeshore to secure a good seat for the light show tonight. It will be packed up and down the shore. This isn't to disuade you from heading down to the fest because they're are plenty of good acts to see. It's just a warning that there will be lots of people there. Now, on to the preview.

Local folk/blues singer Melaniejane performs at the Cingular Wireless Gardens Stage at 3:30.

On the Marcus Amphitheater, Wisconsin's favorite band, the BoDeans make their annual Summerfest appearance. They have a "Best of" album out now with a new disk planned for this fall. Opening for them is Boston's Guster. Mark Saleski reviewed Keep It Together calling it "consistently interesting and well-constructed." The show starts at 7:30, but Guster will be signing CDs in the Virgin Tent at 4:00.

The North Shore Bank Landing has a solid one-two punch tonight starting at 8:00 with the power pop of Fountains of Wayne. Bill Sherman reviews Welcome Interstate Managers. Then at 10:00 Wilco play Beatle-esque alt-country from their highly acclaimed Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Robert M. Centor reviews it for Blogcritics.

At 10:00 it could be tough to decide what to listen to, but the beauty of Summerfest is you can mix and match what music you listen to. It's a buffet for the ears. On the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, George Thorogood and The Destroyers will be playing classic rock. At the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Michelle Branch will show if she's a one-album-wonder or if she has staying power. (Her new album is Hotel Paper.) And at the Miller Lite Oasis, Jonny Lang will show off his white-boy blues licks.

Somehow, if all that music bores the fireworks will start after 10:00.

Summerfest Day 7 Reviews

Here are some reviews from last night's shows:

• Toby Keith gets lovey-dovey but kicks it in his encore.
  
• Ben Folds, the "post-punk Piano Man."
  
• The Reverend Horton Heat blazed away but the crowd was unmoved.
  

Summerfest Day 7

Today is a hot one. Perfect for listening to music by the lakeshore while drinking something cold. A lazy day at Summerfest would be in order. Too bad I have to work. Here's a preview for today.

Today, two local traveling bands will be performing. Local see both these bands at festivals all over the area each summer. Barry's Truckers will be at the North Shore Bank Landing at 4:00. Pork & the Havana Ducks will be at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 5:00.

Toby Keith headlines the Marcus Amphitheater. Opening for him is Blake Shelton. That show starts at 7:30.

At 10:00 Ben Folds rocks the suburbs at the Piggly Wiggly MusicMarket; Reel Big Fish play ska at the North Shore Bank Landing; Mudvayne look all weird at the Mountain Dew Rock Stage; and the Reverend Horton Heat plays the Miller Lite Oasis.

BT Interview

BT will be spinning on July 4. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel interviewed him. Here's my fave quote:

A friend will say he's some kind of electroclash, post-house progressive trance musician, and I just say, "Dude, get over yourself. You make electronic music, and so do I."

"Technology Captures Latest Stage in DJ's Life"

Summerfest Day 6 Reviews

Here are some reviews from Day 6:

• The Dead
  
• Buckwheat Zydeco
  
• Will Durst
  
• The Fabulous Thunderbirds
  
• India.Arie
  

Summerfest Day 6 Preview

This preview is late, so it might not be of much help for those who already left to go to the lakefront. Family matters and catching up on sleep were the priority. So, let me jump right into it.

The Dead come to the Marcus Amphitheater tonight. The big question will be if Deadheads will swamp the festival grounds, or has the (Grateful) Dead following disappated. Opening for The Dead is country legend, Willie Nelson. If I were going, I'd see Willie and leave, but that's just me. This concert starts at 5:30, not 7:30 as most shows at the amphitheater start.

Summerfest isn't all music. Commedian Will Durst comes to entertain at the Hyundai Big Easy Club. He'll perform at 7:00.

Every once in a while a local band will get a big recording contract. The latest is hard rockers The Buzzhorn. Their major label debut is Disconnected. They'll play on the Moutain Dew Rock stage at 8:00.

Buckwheat Zydeco brings his foot-stomping, body-moving roots music to the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage at 10:00.

India.Arie (what's with that period, a dot-com thing?) sings songs from her latest Voyage to India at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 10:00.

Also at 10:00 The Fabulous Thunderbirds play on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

Last but not least, Paul Cebar & The Milwaukeeans will be performing at 10:00 on the North Shore Bank Landing.

Supporting Bo Black

Charlie Sykes honors the years of service of Summerfest's head honcho, Bo Black. He, like myself, wonder why the festival's governing board wants her gone.

In the beginning, it was possible to dismiss Bo as Milwaukee’s version of Blonde Ambition, an attractive former Playboy cover model who had vamped her way into the job. There was gossip, sniping, and annual tut-tutting about her salary. But for 20 consecutive years, Black ran a Summerfest that got hotter and better.

Remarkably, there are still those who think that Summerfest’s success and Black’s tenure is merely a coincidence.

Because some of those folks sit on the Summerfest Board, this is almost certainly Black’s last year.
What’s weird about all this is that no one seems to know why Bo is being axed or who is behind it. The board has never provided a rationale of any sort, although there have been complaints about Bo’s outspokenness about the lease deal with the city and her own contract.

As for her enemies, Mayor Norquist is the lamest of lame ducks and former board chairman Frank Busalacchi, who is now Governor Doyle’s Transportation Secretary, is also gone.

So this is what we are left with: one of Milwaukee’s most winning executives – who runs our most spectacularly successful institution -- is about to be ousted by anonymous critics who would never be able to accomplish even a fraction of what Bo Black has done for this city.

Summerfest Day 5 Preview

Through four days attendance is less than 10% down from last year. That's not bad considering the bad weather Friday and Saturday. Fewer people also gives those that did come some much-needed breathing room. 90-100 thousand people crammed into Maier Festival Park can make for a less-than-great fest experience. Now, on to the preview for Monday.

At the Marcus Amphetheater, the Foo Fighters will play power pop from their latest One by One. Their current single "Times Like These" has a reference to Husker Du's New Day Rising. That's very cool! Opening for them will be the very, very good Pete Yorn who didn't suffer a sophomore jinx with his new album Day I Forgot.

The American Fleadh Festival takes part in the world's largest outdoor music festival. This is a traveling group of Irish musicians, dancers, and writers. Irish pub songs, dancing better than Riverdance, and prose and verse give the fest a real international flavor. Bands like Hothouse Flowers and the Saw Doctors will be performing at the Piggly Wiggly MusicMarket. Jim Schwab reviewed the Fleadh for Blogcritics.

The Love Monkeys are one of Milwaukee's favorite bands. They will be performing two sets at the Miller Lite Oasis at 8:45 and 10:45.

For oldies fans, Joe Cocker is at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse and the Moody Blues are at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. Both perform at 10:00.

Everyone will PARTY HARD with Andrew W.K. at the Mountain Dew Rock Stage at 10:00. I just hope he doesn't get all bloody like he did on the cover of his album.

If any of you are going to Summerfest or have already been there this year, I want to hear from you. Does the park feel as crowded as it has in the past few years? What do you think about the line-ups? Miss the midway? Leave a comment or send me an e-mail.

Summerfest Day 4

Here is a preview of Summerfest's fourth day:

One of the hottest summer tours comes to the festival. Fleetwood Mac is on tour supportin their new album, Say You Will. Stevie Nicks is still quite sexy, and Mick Fleetwood is still a freak. They'll be at the Marcus Amphitheater at 7:30.

Dark Star Orchestra is not your ordinary Grateful Dead tribute band. They don't just cover their songs, they cover entire concerts. As they put it:

When you're at a DSO show you may really be in the Providence Civic Center back in May of '81. Or you could even be at the 1973 Denver Coliseum show listening to Weather Report Suite. Who knows?

At 10:00, Blues Traveler dishes out the harmonica-laden jams at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. Their latest is a live album called Live: What You and I Have Been Through.

Powerman 5000 entertain on the Mountain Dew Rock stage. Their latest is Transform. Band leader Spider One talks about how they tossed a newly-recorded album just weeks before it was to be released. Their show is at 10:00.

Cheap Trick has been around forever and are long-time Summerfest veterans. They play at the North Shore Bank Landing at 10:00. Their new album, Special One, comes out July 22.

Eve 6 plays the Miller Lite Oasis at 10:00. The latest news with them is lead singer/bass player Max Collins was arrested for public nudity. They also have a new album coming out July 22.

Summerfest Day 2 Reviews

Here a some reviews from Day 2:

• Jack Johnson and Ben Harper
  
• LL Cool J
  
• Buddy Guy (really lame review from the Journal Sentinel)
  
• Steve Winwood (another lame review from JS)
  

Summerfest Day 3

So far, Summerfest's attendence is about 15% below last year. That's not a bad thing because being situated on a mile-long strip of lakeshore, there's only so many people that can pack into the place. One reason for the drop off may be re-focusing of musicians and events away from a younger crowd. But another is the competing Country USA festival in Oshkosh one-hour north. If it rains tomorrow, that would hold pack even more people from going to the lakefront. So, if you don't like being surrounded by 90,000 of your friends and you're willing to get wet, tomorrow just might be the day for you to go.

Now, on to the Day 3 highlights.

Headlining the Marcus Amphitheater is Tom Petty. Opening for him his rock/blues pioneer Bo Diddley. They start at 7:30. Ryan Irelan reviewed Petty's The Last DJ, his musical shot at Big Music.

Canadian punk/metal goofy guys, Sum 41 are at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse.

Dated alt-rockers Everclear perform at the Miller Lite Oasis. Bill Sherman reviewed Slow Motion Daydream.

Sevendust brings their nu-metal churning to the Mountain Dew Rock Stage.

For country fans, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band goes fishin' in the dark at the North Shore Bank Landing.

Finally, Little Richard flails away at his piano giving fans a good-old rock and roll show at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

The last five all start at 10:00 p.m.

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OnMilwaukee has posted a review of Peter Gabriel's Thursday night concert.

"Gabriel Kicks off Big Gig on an "Up" Note"

Summerfest Day 1 Reviews

Here are some concert reviews of Day 1:

• Weird Al Yankolvic
  
Blind Boys of Alabama

• Peter Gabriel which featured Segways
  

Also, here's video of last night's Big Bang.

Summerfest Day 2

I heard from a radio news report that the first day's attendence was down about 25% from last year. That surprised me since a lot of people from my store went to see Peter Gabriel.

Tonight's line-up includes Jack Johnson and Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals at the Marcus Amphitheater.

After listening to some clips, Jack Johnson comes off as a soft, acoustic bluesman. I wonder how that will carry in the 20,000+ amphitheater. Johnson't co-headliner, Ben Harper should have no trouble communicating with a large audience. He is all over the map infusing rock, funk, blues, and reggae into his music.

An interesting tidbit is Johnson and Harper performed together on Last Call to be aired tonight. I wouldn't be surprised to see them together at Summerfest.

Folk rock continues with Willy Porter on the Piggly Wiggly Stage. Willy's a local guy who can just fly his fingers all over a guitar. That's who I'll be seeing tonight.

Steve Winwood's career spanned a generation. He was a teenager with the Spencer Davis Group (how can you not love "Gimme Some Lovin'") in the 60s and had a successful solo career in the mid-80s ("Higher Love" and "Finer Things"). He has an album out, and he'll performing at the new North Shore Bank Landing.

LL Cool J will knock you out at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

Blues great, Buddy Guy is at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, and Default play the Miller Lite Oasis.

All the acts mentioned, except for Jack Johnson and Ben Harper, start at 10:00. Johnson and Harper start at 7:30. So if they end early enough you can still catch someone else. Being able to wander around and listen to a whole bunch of music makes Summerfest really special.

"Making Waves with Quiet Songs"

"New Winwood Release Echoes Traffic's Jams"

Big Gig's Prestige Isolated to Milwaukee

While Summerfest is Milwaukee's big party, outside the area it doesn't have the cachet locals think it should have. Also, the economic impact may not be a great as one would think.

"Big Kahuna Here, Small Potatoes Elsewhere"

The Big Gig

Today starts Milwaukee's biggest party, Summerfest 2003. It's 11 days of music, food, beer, and too many people wearing things they shouldn't be wearing. As a service to my readers, all through the festival I'll be posting news items and stuff about artists playing the Big Gig.

Tonight at the Marcus Amphitheater, Peter Gabriel will be performing. He's been around forever. He first became known as a member of Genesis, then he went solo making such memorable songs as "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," "Shock the Monkey," "In Your Eyes," and "Red Rain." His latest album is Up. Opening for Gabriel is Sevara Nazarkhan from Uzbekistan.

Some other notable acts include the Blind Boys of Alabama , Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Local H, and Weird Al Yankovic.

If the music wasn't enough sonic stimulation, the Big Bang fireworks display will make a whole lot of noise on the first night of Summerfest.