Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Summer Concert Series
With the coming of summer comes outdoor concerts. These are supported by local businesses, radio stations and local merchants. They offer free or inexpensive music along with food and drinks. It is a time to forget all your troubles and relax or kick up your feet and dance the night away.
In the area we have Heid Music Summer Concert Series presented by Bud Light Lime, Mill Creek and Open Bug Communications. This concert series is every Thursday night from 5:30-8:30PM. The location is Houdini Plaza on the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street. The concerts will start June 9 and go until August 25.
New this year is Riverbeat Music Along the Fox. This free summer music series will follow the Farmers Market on Saturdays, 12:30-2:30PM, starting June 26- September 11. You can enjoy a variety of bands sponsored by the venues along the Riverfront.
Oshkosh has Waterfest at Riverside Park in the Leach Amphitheater. This year they start Thursday, June 3 and will continue every Thursday night until September 2. Check out their website for discounts and special promotions. They have food and beverages available. This is their 25th anniversary.
Oshkosh also hosts Country USA. Sponsored by Ford and Y100 it is a five day camping fest. This year Country USA will be from Tuesday, June 21- Saturday, June 25.
New this year after fifteen years of pleading there is going to be Rock USA. Their motto is, "Solid Rock. No Limit." Rock USA is three days, Thursday, July 14 through Saturday, July 16.
September 24th of this year is Octoberfest in Appleton. This is also a free day of music. With many artists to listen to. Stroll down the avenue and enjoy a sampling of them all along with food and beverages.
There is a lot of concerts to enjoy in the summer months and sponsored by many businesses. The ones with local musicians are usually free and the ones with nationally known musicians have a fee, but include some of your local bands. It is a good time to get together with friends or to take your kids out to experience live music. After all, they will be the next generation of music lovers.
Wouldn't it be nice if we had that kind of entertainment year round? Couldn't the sponsors find a venue large enough to have concert series during the winter months? Let your sponsors know that this is what we want. We do not want to wait all winter to hear our favorite bands. Thanks for your support.
In the area we have Heid Music Summer Concert Series presented by Bud Light Lime, Mill Creek and Open Bug Communications. This concert series is every Thursday night from 5:30-8:30PM. The location is Houdini Plaza on the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street. The concerts will start June 9 and go until August 25.
New this year is Riverbeat Music Along the Fox. This free summer music series will follow the Farmers Market on Saturdays, 12:30-2:30PM, starting June 26- September 11. You can enjoy a variety of bands sponsored by the venues along the Riverfront.
Oshkosh has Waterfest at Riverside Park in the Leach Amphitheater. This year they start Thursday, June 3 and will continue every Thursday night until September 2. Check out their website for discounts and special promotions. They have food and beverages available. This is their 25th anniversary.
Oshkosh also hosts Country USA. Sponsored by Ford and Y100 it is a five day camping fest. This year Country USA will be from Tuesday, June 21- Saturday, June 25.
New this year after fifteen years of pleading there is going to be Rock USA. Their motto is, "Solid Rock. No Limit." Rock USA is three days, Thursday, July 14 through Saturday, July 16.
September 24th of this year is Octoberfest in Appleton. This is also a free day of music. With many artists to listen to. Stroll down the avenue and enjoy a sampling of them all along with food and beverages.
There is a lot of concerts to enjoy in the summer months and sponsored by many businesses. The ones with local musicians are usually free and the ones with nationally known musicians have a fee, but include some of your local bands. It is a good time to get together with friends or to take your kids out to experience live music. After all, they will be the next generation of music lovers.
Wouldn't it be nice if we had that kind of entertainment year round? Couldn't the sponsors find a venue large enough to have concert series during the winter months? Let your sponsors know that this is what we want. We do not want to wait all winter to hear our favorite bands. Thanks for your support.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Our Youth
Thursday night I was sitting in Appleton North High School's auditorium waiting for the " Phantom of the Opera" to start, when it dawned on me that I was forgetting the most important part of supporting live bands. Our children. If it wasn't for music and band classes in our schools we wouldn't have the music we have today.
For those kids who enjoy music in grade school, they go on to join choir and band in middle school. Then for those who really enjoy it, they can go on in high school to join other music groups like orchestra, jazz band and jazz choir and musicals just to name a few. Some of these students want even more experience and take individual lessons and pick up other instruments that aren't offered in school.. Then some of these kids find others who enjoy the same kind of music and start a garage band. Case-in- point, Adam and Nick Liske in last weeks blog.
This has been going on for decades. In the mid-sixties, hundreds of garage bands popped up all over the country. These bands were a raw, simpler form of their inspirations band. Being young they were amateurish, but that is what made them unique and exciting. Most of these bands were only popular locally or regionally and only a few went on nationally.
One of these garage bands was the "Kingsmen". The most popular song of these five guys from Portland, Oregon was "Louie Louie". This song was considered to be the "party anthem of the universe". VH-1 thought it to be the 11th best rock and roll song ever recorded. What an honor considering it was banned from most radio stations when it first came out. The lyrics were considered lewd and inappropriate.
These garage bands lead the way to punk rock and other forms of music. Our new generation of bands will put a spin on the music of today to make what is popular in music tomorrow. The cycle keeps going.
We can help encourage these new budding musicians by going to listen to them from the beginning. Go to the school concerts, both band and choir. Go to these garage bands performances. They might surprise you. You can also help out by donating money or time, if you can teach, to the kids who can't afford private lessons. This is one of the most important way we can support live music in our community.
For those kids who enjoy music in grade school, they go on to join choir and band in middle school. Then for those who really enjoy it, they can go on in high school to join other music groups like orchestra, jazz band and jazz choir and musicals just to name a few. Some of these students want even more experience and take individual lessons and pick up other instruments that aren't offered in school.. Then some of these kids find others who enjoy the same kind of music and start a garage band. Case-in- point, Adam and Nick Liske in last weeks blog.
This has been going on for decades. In the mid-sixties, hundreds of garage bands popped up all over the country. These bands were a raw, simpler form of their inspirations band. Being young they were amateurish, but that is what made them unique and exciting. Most of these bands were only popular locally or regionally and only a few went on nationally.
One of these garage bands was the "Kingsmen". The most popular song of these five guys from Portland, Oregon was "Louie Louie". This song was considered to be the "party anthem of the universe". VH-1 thought it to be the 11th best rock and roll song ever recorded. What an honor considering it was banned from most radio stations when it first came out. The lyrics were considered lewd and inappropriate.
These garage bands lead the way to punk rock and other forms of music. Our new generation of bands will put a spin on the music of today to make what is popular in music tomorrow. The cycle keeps going.
We can help encourage these new budding musicians by going to listen to them from the beginning. Go to the school concerts, both band and choir. Go to these garage bands performances. They might surprise you. You can also help out by donating money or time, if you can teach, to the kids who can't afford private lessons. This is one of the most important way we can support live music in our community.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Strawberry Jam Band
For this interview I thought I was going out of my comfort zone. At my age when you think of young musicians, you think of Rap, Heavy Metal or who knows what. . I was in for a pleasant surprse.
The oldest of the four young men is Tyler O. Shea, twenty-five years of age and plays guitar, harmonica, sings, and is a talented songwriter. Tyler started playing guitar at the age of twelve with Bob Dylan and The Allman Brothers as his influences. Tyler has played with grammy nominated Kennny Neal and The Ryders. Two of the songs Tyler has written are The Garden and Rambling Blues.
Next we have Andrew Booher who is twenty and plays drums and does vocals. When I first saw Andy I thought he looked very much like someone I knew. When I asked him how he got started playing drums at the age of thirteen, Andy gave me the biggest of smiles and said, "My Uncle plays with The Dave Steffen Band. My Uncle is cool." Right then I knew who he reminded me of...a younger version of his uncle, Craig Neuser. Andy's other influences are Doug "Cosmo" Clifford the drummer from CCR and Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones. When asked about his playing style Andy said, "I like to think I play simpler. I don't fill out the music as much. I add to the music, but don't over power it." Along with playing with The Dave Steffen Band, Andy also performed with Michael Murphy and the M.O.B., Darryl St. John and The Ryders.
Andy and Tyler met at a blues festival that Tyler's dad, Tom Shea, puts on yearly. Andy was playing for The Dave Steffen Band and Tyler went up to jam with them. "I gave my number to Andy," said Tyler, "and a couple of years later he called me and we started playing together." While playing with The Ryders, Andy and Tyler opened for Vic Ferrari, Pat McCurdy, The Dave Steffen Band and The Happy Schnapps Combo. After a lengthy stint with The Ryders Andy wanted to form his own band and convinced Tyler to join him. Through Craig Neuser they met our two youngest members, brothers Adam and Nick Liske. They became The Strawberry Jam Band.
Nick Liske is seventeen years old and goes to Appleton East High School. In eighth grade he played the oboe and was given the chance to play bass. Nick said, "What the heck. I'll give it a try." He pretty much taught himself to play with a little help from Russ Reiser from Vic Ferrari and Stringbenders. When asked about his singing Nick replied, "At first I refused to sing, but after some prodding decided to give it a try. I personnaly think my brother is better than me with the songs we do."
The youngest member is Adam Liske. At the young age of fourteen, Adam seems to have an ear for music which allows him to add his own variation to songs. A student at Appleton East High School, Adam started playing guitar about three years ago. "The Beatles are definitely a big part of my musical influences, along with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Russ Reiser. Russ Reiser gave Adam guitar lessons and evertually voice lessons. "I really was nervous about singing at first. I'm getting more comfortable with it now." commented Adam.
Being under age, Adam and Nick need the support of their parents to be able to play at venues that serve alcohol. Nancy and Scott Liske have been there for them through out their young carreer. Nancy once told me, "I hope my boys realize how lucky they are. To have musicians like Russ (Reisers) and Ron (Kalista) take them under their wings is a privelage."
The Strawberry Jam Band has over one hundred songs to their repretoire and are adding more. With songs from Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Cream, Neil Young and John Fogerty just to name a few, my fear of what I was getting myself into was alleviated. Their musical talent is going to keep them busy for a long time.
You can follow The Strawberry Jam Band on Face book or at http://www.thesjb.com/ .
The oldest of the four young men is Tyler O. Shea, twenty-five years of age and plays guitar, harmonica, sings, and is a talented songwriter. Tyler started playing guitar at the age of twelve with Bob Dylan and The Allman Brothers as his influences. Tyler has played with grammy nominated Kennny Neal and The Ryders. Two of the songs Tyler has written are The Garden and Rambling Blues.
Next we have Andrew Booher who is twenty and plays drums and does vocals. When I first saw Andy I thought he looked very much like someone I knew. When I asked him how he got started playing drums at the age of thirteen, Andy gave me the biggest of smiles and said, "My Uncle plays with The Dave Steffen Band. My Uncle is cool." Right then I knew who he reminded me of...a younger version of his uncle, Craig Neuser. Andy's other influences are Doug "Cosmo" Clifford the drummer from CCR and Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones. When asked about his playing style Andy said, "I like to think I play simpler. I don't fill out the music as much. I add to the music, but don't over power it." Along with playing with The Dave Steffen Band, Andy also performed with Michael Murphy and the M.O.B., Darryl St. John and The Ryders.
Andy and Tyler met at a blues festival that Tyler's dad, Tom Shea, puts on yearly. Andy was playing for The Dave Steffen Band and Tyler went up to jam with them. "I gave my number to Andy," said Tyler, "and a couple of years later he called me and we started playing together." While playing with The Ryders, Andy and Tyler opened for Vic Ferrari, Pat McCurdy, The Dave Steffen Band and The Happy Schnapps Combo. After a lengthy stint with The Ryders Andy wanted to form his own band and convinced Tyler to join him. Through Craig Neuser they met our two youngest members, brothers Adam and Nick Liske. They became The Strawberry Jam Band.
Nick Liske is seventeen years old and goes to Appleton East High School. In eighth grade he played the oboe and was given the chance to play bass. Nick said, "What the heck. I'll give it a try." He pretty much taught himself to play with a little help from Russ Reiser from Vic Ferrari and Stringbenders. When asked about his singing Nick replied, "At first I refused to sing, but after some prodding decided to give it a try. I personnaly think my brother is better than me with the songs we do."
The youngest member is Adam Liske. At the young age of fourteen, Adam seems to have an ear for music which allows him to add his own variation to songs. A student at Appleton East High School, Adam started playing guitar about three years ago. "The Beatles are definitely a big part of my musical influences, along with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Russ Reiser. Russ Reiser gave Adam guitar lessons and evertually voice lessons. "I really was nervous about singing at first. I'm getting more comfortable with it now." commented Adam.
Being under age, Adam and Nick need the support of their parents to be able to play at venues that serve alcohol. Nancy and Scott Liske have been there for them through out their young carreer. Nancy once told me, "I hope my boys realize how lucky they are. To have musicians like Russ (Reisers) and Ron (Kalista) take them under their wings is a privelage."
The Strawberry Jam Band has over one hundred songs to their repretoire and are adding more. With songs from Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Cream, Neil Young and John Fogerty just to name a few, my fear of what I was getting myself into was alleviated. Their musical talent is going to keep them busy for a long time.
You can follow The Strawberry Jam Band on Face book or at http://www.thesjb.com/ .
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