Summerfest ROCKS!

[ZodiacKiller]

Hey everyone:

I wanted to fill y'all in on what is probably the crown jewel in my cities' cap for music festivals: Summerfest! It is still on the record books as the world's largest outdoor music festival, and takes place usually the last week of June through the July 4th holiday here in Milwaukee (11 days, usually).

It is approx 11-12 stages, not including the big stage, the Marcus Ampitheater (which requires an extra admission/ticket). It is awsome! I've had the great opportunity to play several of the stages over the years, as well. The grounds are about a mile long with a Skyglider tram that goes from one end to the other. It opens everyday at 11:00 am and closes at midnite. There is so much music that it is a little hard to take it all in sometimes. And the food; my god, there is so much good food that sometimes we'll go not to see a specific band, but just to eat. There is a beer pavillion every 10 feet (or so it seems!).

But if you don't like crowds, it may not be for you: on the peak days (weekends), there are often 90 - 100,000 people on the grounds at one time. For all you single guys, there are so many hot girls there you'd have to be the elephant man not to score.

This year, some headliners already announced are NIN, Tom Petty, and Pearl Jam, with many more to be announced. The Rock Stage has a lot of good metal bands, and the Harley Davidson Roadhouse stage often has a great selection of retro ('70s-'80s) bands to see.

So I'd like to offer my services to any interested in attending as tour guide, adviser, procurement officer. Please PM me if interested, I've lived here all my life. Here a link to their site:

http://www.summerfest.com/

The whole city comes alive for this one. You'll have a good time, I guarantee it! Cheers!

Edit: check out the photo gallery on the website; lots of cool pics from last year to give you an idea of what it's like!

[katomic]

No way we had 250,000 at beach beutick (SP?) on brighton beach, peeps from all over europe

there are so many hot girls there you'd have to be the elephant man not to score.

sounds good tho! :D
have fun

[zombiewoof23]

I have never attended SummerFest, but since you mentioned it I have been keeping an eye on the lineup. I noticed that Medeski Martin & Wood is going to be playing at Summerfest on 7/5 on the Harley stage. IMO, MMW, Keller Williams, Bruce Hornsby and Widespread Panic are currently the best things touring. I am going to keep an eye on the lineup and consider checking this thing out if more bands that I am interested in start siging up, if I can arrange my schedule. My music taste covers A-Z. It seems like A-Z will be there....

[antony]

summerfest is the only good thing about milwaukee. and its the only thing that is better than chicago, and the taste of chicago. we get some great bands here. Midnight oil played their show on the 4th of july a couple years back.

[ZodiacKiller]

summerfest is the only good thing about milwaukee. and its the only thing that is better than chicago, and the taste of chicago. we get some great bands here. Midnight oil played their show on the 4th of july a couple years back.

I think I gotta take issue with this here statement there, pal. While Milwaukee may not be anywhere near as exciting as NY, LA, or even Chicago, Summerfest is cetainly not the only good thing about it.

I am very tired at the moment, but tomorrow plan on being verbally chastized some more. You're doggin' the place I call home, sonny-boy, and youse gonna get a spanking for it.

[antony]

I think I gotta take issue with this here statement there, pal. While Milwaukee may not be anywhere near as exciting as NY, LA, or even Chicago, Summerfest is cetainly not the only good thing about it.
I am very tired at the moment, but tomorrow plan on being verbally chastized some more. You're doggin' the place I call home, sonny-boy, and youse gonna get a spanking for it.

fair game, it just seems that EVERY TIME ive drived through, or stayed for college parties, itll be sunny and 70 at my house, and on the way up, it clouds over, temp drops to a miserable 55, and drizziles non stop. plus it stinks like a brewery.

but let me have it ZK, I completely understand, stick up for your home town.

its all based on personal experience.

[ZodiacKiller]

fair game, it just seems that EVERY TIME ive drived through, or stayed for college parties, itll be sunny and 70 at my house, and on the way up, it clouds over, temp drops to a miserable 55, and drizziles non stop. plus it stinks like a brewery.
but let me have it ZK, I completely understand, stick up for your home town.
its all based on personal experience.

Hah, well, I was basically half-joking---everyone's entitled to their opinion, and I guess I could see how someone could get the impression you've had, especially if you're just driving through. Heh, that brewery stink you speak of, well, there's this huge yeast factory right under the freeway at 27th street, and if you have your windows open, you will be blasted by the yeast stink. It's disgusting.

But actually, the scene here ain't that bad. There's some decent clubs for bands, shitloads of cozy corner taverns, we got a killer zoo, all the Harley Davidson dealers (who have huge parties at their dealerships all summer long), and of course, I live here. :rolleyes:

Actually, it's probably not much different than any other mid-sized city, but being someone who has toured and played just about about every shithole in just about every city in this country, I can tell you I have seen places a lot worse...

[shaunclo]

For all you single guys, there are so many hot girls there you'd have to be the elephant man not to score.

That had me cracking up a storm Z_K

[ZodiacKiller]

That had me cracking up a storm Z_K

But it's totally true!!

[handsome rob]

Yes it is, i've got more ass during those 10 days than the rest of the year combined.

[ZodiacKiller]

Yes it is, i've got more ass during those 10 days than the rest of the year combined.

Heh, me too, back when I was single. It's hard to convey to all the folks here from different parts of the country and world what an absolutely massive festival this actually is...


ZK

[karmacoma]

i have to agree with zk. i'm from milwaukee originally. i've been in los angeles for a long time now and it took a couple of years for me to appreciate what milwaukee was. i'm also familiar with chicago, but i prefer milwaukee.

i think what really makes summerfest great are the people. if you're from a big city i can guarantee you that you would be surprised at the friendliness of milwaukee. that doesn't sound quite right, because it's not like what you'd call hospitality or anything. it's just that milwaukee people really know how to have fun. you go to the clubs in LA and people are stiff, eyes searching the room for celebrities. people in chicago, in my opinion, are the most pretentious of any city i've been, with the possible exception of San Francisco. but milwaukee people don't give a fuck. if you're from chicago you might want to make an effort to get more familiar with milwaukee, because if you think summerfest is the best thing there you just haven't seen...

[ZodiacKiller]

you go to the clubs in LA and people are stiff, eyes searching the room for celebrities. people in chicago, in my opinion, are the most pretentious of any city i've been, with the possible exception of San Francisco.

I concur with you on this one, Karma. Having toured just about everywhere, I think Chicago audiences are just the worst. And no offense to you guys who are from there, because I think Chi-town is an exciting and vibrant city.

Being from Milwaukee, I've been there many, many times-- for shows, Cubs games (Wrigley Field is great!), shopping, and recently we took some visiting friends from England down to shop and go to the Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd's Aquarium.

The museum is one of the most amazing places in the world, IMO, and they have an entire WWII German U-boat (submarine), intact, on display. They've recently re-done the exhibit, and it is awe-inspiring, including a small movie theater with a film on how it was captured in the first place. You can take a guided tour inside the sub, complete with sound effects and the like.
Here's a link for more info: http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/index.html

HOWEVER (and back to my original reason for this post): We've played various clubs in Chicago for ages, and it always seems that the audience (even the ones wearing our shirts n' stuff) just stand there with their arms crossed, not nodding their heads or anything. After we finish a song: dead silence, then perhaps a smattering of applause. And while I wouldn't expect violent mosh-pits or people trying to get on the stage or anything, it'd be nice to hear some cheering at the very least. And the weirdest thing is that these same people will come up to us after the show and say stuff like "you guys were awesome, man.." or whatever. And I know we don't suck (well, I 'spose that's open for debate, haha), because I've heard other bands say the same thing. Just don't get it, me......

And I agree also about San Fran, they seem to be similar in their audience malaise or whatever you wanna call it, but we seem to have a good following all over Cali and I can honestly say it's nowhere near as bad as Chicago crowds. Sorry windy-city folks, I dig your town--just have a hard time getting into playing there. :(

BTW: Summerfest starts this Thursday! We gonna do some smack and go see Blue Oyster Cult on the Rock Stage, we are. Should be fun!!!

Cheers my junky bretheren!


ZK

[scikid]

I love Milwaukee... being from Rockford I've been there many times. I'm not a huge fan of the Marcus Amp. acoustic wise but the shows are always fun. I was just up there for the Ratdog/SCI show.

[ZodiacKiller]

yeah, Summerfest ended on Sunday. This year was little more laid-back for us, we went for the shopping and food more than the bands. But I did see Blue Oyster Cult, David Lee Roth, and a bunch of great local acts. I was gonna see Alice Cooper, but unfortunately he played on July 3rd and we had other plans. It was more fun when I was single and would go with a bunch of buddies and get drunk and chase skirt all day. And being single and playing there had its fleshy percs, too. But I'nm totally happily married now and will leave the drinking and fucking to the single guys...heheh.

ZK

[scikid]

Haha....

yeah I was the DD so I only had 2 beers. We ended up parking at the Loomis park and ride, which I think was the right decision (only 6 bucks).

Didn't realize we are so close, I read your blog btw. If your ever in Rockford PM and we can grab a beer or a coffee if you want.

[ZodiacKiller]

^ Cool, I get down that way every so often--I may take you up on that. Glad you had a good time--a lot of people say Miwaukee sucks, but it reallycomes alive during the summer months...Cheers!

ZK

[The_Highwayman]

Got my man, Dierks Bentley, I'm singing one of his songs Sunday for a Talent contest

[Mrs. Killer]

yeah, Summerfest ended on Sunday. This year was little more laid-back for us, we went for the shopping and food more than the bands. But I did see Blue Oyster Cult, David Lee Roth, and a bunch of great local acts. I was gonna see Alice Cooper, but unfortunately he played on July 3rd and we had other plans. It was more fun when I was single and would go with a bunch of buddies and get drunk and chase skirt all day. And being single and playing there had its fleshy percs, too. But I'nm totally happily married now and will leave the drinking and fucking to the single guys...heheh.
ZK

[ZodiacKiller]

^Uh-oh---does this mean I'm in trouble? I hope not.....

ZK