Summer Concerts - Cold, Rainy and Cicadas (Not John)

This has been truly a great summer for concerts despite the elements. Between watching a show where cicadas out numbered the audience members, one during the coldest day in July during recent history, and one where there was more rain in Milwaukee than beer brewed this year, it was a good concert summer.

The first concert I attended this summer was Enter the Haggis at the Illinois Saint Andrew Society Highland Games and Scottish Festival. As always, the band from Toronto put on a great show. The festival was infested by cicadas. These harmless bugs bore out of hibernation once every 17 years to fulfill their life's mission of reproducing while jamming to good Celtic music and proceed to die.

I took my nephew on a nostalgic trip to see REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, the Stray Cats, the Pretenders and Joan Jett at a festival in July . It was great seeing a concert with my 15 year old nephew of all the music I listened to when I was his age. I think he enjoyed watching what he called "old timers with their 80's dance moves" as much as the concert.

Speaking of REO Speedwagon - I attended the Soundstage taping featuring these local boys at the WTTW studios. It was interesting and educational (as PBS should be) to see how a show is shot in HD and to be sitting feet away from all the action. I do not think I have ever heard a better sounding show.

I recently attended the Milwaukee Irish Fest and have never seen so much rain. It rained so much that they had to close some of the main stages. This was not all that disappointing since it allowed for the opportunity to see some new bands appearing on the smaller stages.

Concert Blog

If you can not wait between these fascinating E-Newsletters to arrive in your in-box you can always check out the Blog section of TheConcertStage.com. I usually post newly discovered music links, concert reviews and even some pictures of yours truly with some of my favorite performers. Click here to visit the Blog.

i-Tunes List

You might have been bored during the last newsletter when I discussed the interactive list of concerts I have attended. If this is the case - I have something even newer and less exciting. I have added a list of all the music I have in my i-Tunes. This list is searchable by album/CD or artist and by genre. Take a look and let me know what I might be missing so I can add it to my collection.

Flash Point

I have added a few Flash slideshows that highlight some of the shows I have attended. I have added new slide shows of Enter the Haggis and REO Speedwagon since the last E-Newsletter. Look for a slideshow of Milwaukee Irish Fest pictures in the near future from a guest photographer. Just click here and sit back and enjoy the show.

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