2016 Memories

Hello all,
I know I promised my next column would be about my favorite rock and metal albums of 2016, but I'm going to put that on the back burner for a couple of days. As I was talking with friends online the other day, I was thinking of all the memorable moments from my concert adventures this year. These are some of the best moments that stick out in my head from this year:

1. Hanging out with friends after winning a brand new Peavey electric guitar at an all upper-Midwest bands show at the Skyway Theater in downtown Minneapolis the first weekend of the new year. I was stunned to have won-easily the biggest prize I've ever won. I was still in awe at the afterparty.

2. Spending time in the crowded Within Reason tour bus with a few friends talking to the band and listening to them play us a few acoustic songs after their show at the Park in Fridley, MN a few weeks later following the show they played supporting headliners Hinder. For a band I had never heard of before the show, I was surprised how genuine and friendly they were. Just one of many bands that I'm glad to have made friends with.

3. Sitting at Magers and Quinn Bookstore on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis in April with a good buddy listening to Slipknot & Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor talk following a great solo acoustic show at First Ave the night before. I got to ask Corey a question about who his dream artists to work with would be (surprisingly, Jay-Z, DMX and "Wierd" Al Yankovic were on the top of his list), and get a book signed and photo taken by his wife. I also had a nice chat about music afterwards with his Stone Sour bandmate and solo tour companion Christian Matrucci afterwards.

4. Seeing a couple of friends hug goodbye after a great Motograter/American Head Charge show at Hipps Pub in Eau Claire, WI. There were a lot of great moments that weekend: having fun enjoying music and taking silly selfies at the show, a good breakfast and good conversations with one of my best friends at the hotel the next morning and spending that Sunday rockin' out at Northern Invasion in Somerset with a good friend from out of town, but that moment stands out from that weekend. These particular friends hadn't getting along too well for a while before that, so I think that seeing them happy again made everyone smile.

5. Sitting outside Cheers Pub in Northglenn, Colorado the next week with a couple of good friends enjoying a few snacks and a lot of laughs. We were there to listen to some great Denver-area bands, but this was the first time the three of us had a chance to spend some quality time together. My four days in Denver went by fast, but I will go back again sometime soon when I can.

6. Birthday lunch with the folks at Red Lobster in St. Cloud, MN then driving four hours to Rockfest in Cadott, WI. I got there in time to sign the memory wall (and get a picture taken of me in front of it), meeting Breaking Benjamin frontman Ben Burnley on radio row before their set (and getting a selfie with him after he wished me a Happy Birthday), seeing 10 Years, Scott Stapp and his solo band, seeing Alice in Chains live for the first time, and ending the night with performances by my friends in 3 Pill Morning and Vaudeville all while catching up with some great friends and trying to read over 300 birthday messages on social media. It was great to spend my birthday enjoying live music in the company of good friends in person and online.

7. Hanging out on Sevendust's tour bus parked outside Mill City Nights in downtown Minneapolis in August, sitting right next to drummer Morgan Rose talking music and fantasy baseball. This was my 20th Sevendust show, and I've chatted with the guys enough that they recognize me in the front row at shows (and some of them even know me by name). Just one of those moments where I found myself thinking "I can't believe where I'm at and what I'm doing right now!"

8. Going to Iowa for the first time that I can remember in August for the first-ever Locofest music festival in Algona. There weren't a ton of people, but I enjoyed spending the day enjoying music by Shallow Side, Vaudeville, Elisium, Saul, Scattered Hamlet, Emperors and Elephants, my friends in Screaming for Silence and headliners Eve6, among others. It was a great day with great friends.

10. Taking unexpected roadtrips in October to see Mushroomhead, UnSaid Fate, Sunflower Dead and Raven Black at Opinion Brewing in Newport, MN and Another Lost Year and Saving Abel in Stevens Point, WI the next day with a great friend from out of state. I wasn't planning on going to any shows that week, but I had a great time at both shows and my friend and I both enjoyed getting to know each other better on the rock n' roll road trips.

11. The AoW MNU's food and toy drive at the Park in Fridley in November was the first big fundraiser event for our group, but it went rather well. We raised enough to buy almost 2700 meals through Second Harvest Heartland, and I was very proud of all the bands who donated their time, friends who came out to show their support and all of our group members who all worked very hard to make this effort a success!

12. Spending quality time enjoying live music from Backwater, VIA, My Zero and local favorites Blue Felix at the AntiChrist-mas show at Niesen's in Savage the weekend before Christmas. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, a lot of brave souls came out to enjoy live music and each other's company. A fitting end to my 2016 concert season.

Well, that's all for now - I will publish my 2016 album review article on Friday. Until then, have a great week, everyone!