REO Speedwagon at Wal-Mart?

Now I have seen concerts in some interesting places over the years. The Summer Fest grounds in Milwaukee sits under an expressway and just last Summer I saw a couple fine acts perform on stages that double as major roads in Chicago. I think this has been topped by seeing members of REO Speedwagon perform at my local Wal-Mart between the music section and where I usually pick up my cleaning supplies. You know what - they pulled it off and that department store was rocking.

Kevin Cronin and Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon performed some of their classics and than greeted the fans and signed their fine new album. It was a bit surreal seeing REO perform 157 Riverside Avenue in the middle of the local Wal-Mart having grown up with two brothers who listened to REO constantly in the same town. I have added a gallery of these pictures and a FLASH slideshow of the event.

Winter Concerts

I saw some real good concerts this past Winter and into this Spring. I saw a couple of my favorites - Natalie MacMaster and Leahy a couple times. It was nice seeing Natalie and not being rained on as we were last Summer at Celtic Fest. I really enjoyed seeing Leahy perform with the near perfect acoustics at the historical Chicago Auditorium Theater.

I had the opportunity to see the French Canadian band Grand Derangement at the McAninch Art Center on the campus of the College of DuPage. Grand Derangement is from the Saint Mary's Bay area of Southwestern Nova Scotia. They are a combination of folk, Celtic and rock music combined with apects of traditional Acadian culture. I hope they appear in this area again soon at a festival where I can get some pictures of them in concert. My good friend's Jim, Karen and I were fortunate to get a few pictures at the meet and greet after the show.

Be sure to check out the Blog section for reviews of the shows.

Concert List Database

I have created a database of all the concerts I have been fortunate to attend over the years - and even some I was unfortunate enough to attend. This database is searchable by artist or band name, festival and by year. You can even view a list of all the shows I have attended. Did you know I have been to three John Mellencamp and three Bruce Springsteen shows. Do you know which band I have seen the most? There is a hint to the left. Click here to check it out.

Links Page Updated

I have categorized and updated the links page to include links to all the bands I have seen in concert and all the festivals I have attended. I also have some radio and photography links. Please send me any links I might have missed. Click here to visit the links page.

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