Bucky's 2016 Rock n' Roll Year in Review

Well, it's almost time to bid adieu to another year. Personally and professionally, 2016 was a disappointment for me. Musically, it was great! I started the year by winning a brand new electric guitar, and ended the year by appearing in the official music video for the song "Fighter" by my friends in Seasons After (the video has already had over 5,000 views on YouTube). In between, I went to almost 40 concerts in 4 states (MN, WI, IA and CO), snagged some nifty concert souvenirs, and had some memorable times with old and new friends. Ready to roll through my concert year with me? Sit down, buckle in and hold on tight-here we go!

My first rock show of 2016 was a metal fest featuring all Upper Midwest rock bands in the 2nd stage area of the Skyway Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. It was great hearing local favorites Portraits of War, Immoralis and many others. During headliners' Immoralis' set, they announced winning numbers for the raffle that was being held. The first prize was a brand new $500 Peavey electric guitar. They called one number, but that ticket holder was absent. The next number they called was mine! I celebrated the win with friends afterwards, and took guitar lessons for a couple of months-I still play when I can. It was a heck of a way to start a new year!

The next show was a quartet of my friends bands: Antistar, VIA, Vaudeville and Emergent at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis on a chilly day. It was great seeing a lot of friends. My only regret was not feeling well enough to stay for the entire night of music. I didn't get to another show for a couple of weeks, until I went to see Skywind, Ages Apart, Within Reason, Sons of Texas and national recording artists Hinder at the Park in Fridley, MN. It was my first time seeing Hinder with their new singer (of course I snagged a guitar pick), and my first time seeing the opening acts live in concert. I had a great time with friends hanging out with the guys in Within Reason after the show and getting to meet the guys in Ages Apart after buying a couple of their albums.

A few days later, I made my first visit to the Cabooze in downtown Minneapolis on another chilly day to see the Tattooed Millionaires, masked metallers Rooin, the Rock & Roll Whores, Agony of Defeat, rap-rockers Nuisance and local favorites Blue Felix. This was my first time seeing Blue Felix since the Halloween Hellfest at Pov's a few months before, and they always put on an energetic show!

I started February with my first Red Carpet show of the year, to see Twin Cities rockers Arena and the Phil Lewis version of LA Guns (at the time, there were 2 versions of the band). It was my first time seeing LA Guns live in either incarnation, and had a great time hanging out with new friends.

A couple of days later, I returned to the Park in Fridley to see VIA, Late Night Fights, Eyes on Attraction, Through Fire (formerly known as Emphatic) and Adelitas Way. It was another great show, and my first time seeing Adelitas Way since the Carnival of Madness tour at the MN State Fair in 2011. I got to chat with 3/4 of the band after the show and snagged drumsticks from Eyes on Attraction and Through Fire during the show.

The next show was a few weeks later at the Park for Sunday fun day featuring local rockers Cold Kingdom and my friends in the Omaha-based band Screaming for Silence. Even though some of the guys weren't feeling the best, I could tell they enjoyed catching up with my friends and I at the show. It was my first time seeing them since Rockfest in Cadott last summer, and I'm glad I've gotten to be friends with these hard-working musicians.

The next night was the Tommy Donohue Sr. benefit show at the Doghouse Bar in Maplewood featuring my friends in the GoodBars, Aeous, Ashes from Stone and others. It was great seeing so many familiar faces showing their support for Tommy's family, as the fundraiser went towards medical bills following the late rock fan's courageous battle with cancer.

My only March concert was a pre-Easter extravaganza featuring Toothgrinder, Alaskan rockers 36 Crazyfists, Memphis May Fire and headliners Killswitch Engage in the main room of the Skyway. I met a few friends for dinner before the show, and we had another great night with the tribe.

April started off with Midwest Mayhem, new band My Zero, Gabriel and the Apocalypse and headliners Antistar for their CD release show at the Park. Another fun night with a couple dozen close personal friends!
A few weeks later, I made my first trip of the year to historic First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis for a solo acoustic show from Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor. That happened to be the day that local legend Prince passed away, and the night was filled with tributes to the music icon, from Corey's covers of "Purple Rain" and "Little Red Corvette" to a post-show dance party in the streets of downtown Minneapolis. Corey was having an author event at an independent bookstore on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis the next day, and I went there with a good friend to enjoy the discussion, ask him a question about who his dream artists to work with were (he mentioned Jay-Z and Wierd Al, surprisingly), get a book signed and a photo with one of the coolest people in the music industry.

I ended April with the "Road to Northern Invasion" battle of the bands concert at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis. While I and several others weren't pleased with the popular vote format, it was good to see my friends in Ashes from Stone, eventual competition winners Vaudeville, Antistar and Via with a lot of friends. May began with a birthday bash for my friend Joe Spannbauer (former sound director at Pov's) at the Park, featuring the GoodBars, Strate Jak It, Banehinge, B!, Skywind and even Joe himself on a few songs with a friend on accompaniment. It was great seeing Banehinge and B! for the first time-probably the best birthday concert I've ever been to.

The next weekend, I drove a few friends and myself to Hipps Pub in Eau Claire, WI to see Motograter and MN natives American Head Charge. It was my first trip to Wisconsin this year, and I had a great time enjoying the show and having some silly fun with some silly friends.

I drove us back to MN that night, as some of us were staying overnight in a hotel. After some well-needed rest, it was time for me to head back to Wisconsin for day 2 of Northern Invasion in Somerset. I got there in time to see my favorite band Sevendust for the 19th time, as they opened the day's music on the main stage. I stood right in front, rocked out, and got another John Connolly guitar pick! Afterwards, I met a friend from out of state and we ended up meeting the guys in Sixx A.M. at a meet and greet booth before wandering over to the second stage. We watched Red Sun Rising, Trivium, Hellyeah and Saint Asonia at the second stage-this was my first time seeing all four of these bands live in concert, and it was cool seeing Sevendust lead guitarist Clint Lowery join his brother, Saint Asonia bassist Corey Lowery, and his band onstage during their final song of their set. 

My friend and I went to the 3rd stage to see a bit of the Butcher Babies' set before heading back to the crowd near the floor of the main stage for Bring Me the Horizon and headliners Korn and Disturbed before calling it a night. 

A few weeks later, I left Minnesota on a jet plane for sunny Denver, Colorado. I went to see my friends in Screaming for Silence and a few local bands at Herman's Hideaway in Denver, but more importantly to meet some great friends in person for the first time. We also went to a great all-local rock show at Cheers in Northglenn, CO the night after the Herman's show. I was only there for four days, but the time went by fast! I definitely have to go back again sometime soon. We all had an awesome time!

The following week, I drove a couple of close friends to First Ave's 7th Street Entry for live music by Sleep Signals, Des Moines natives Green Death and our friends in Blue Felix. It was another great show with great people, and we of course had to get a photo by Prince's star on the wall of First Ave, now colored gold in his memory.

My only rock show in June was the Totally Fukn Awesome Fest at the Skyway downtown. I got there in time to see my friends in Immoralis and By the Thousands, as well as the MN return of national rockers Soil and hometown heroes American Head Charge, who were wrapping up their headlining tour in support of their new album Tango Umbrella. While there weren't as many people there as expected, it was still another enjoyable show with friends.

I started July by attending the first reunion show headlined by glam-rockers Flipp. They were a staple at the Red Carpet in St. Cloud back in their heyday, and I stood in the front row rockin' along to every song-their energy picked up right where they left off! It was great catching up with frontman Brynn Arens and his brother Kii ("Chia Karaoke") as we relived some of the glory days.

The next weekend, I took a little time to have fun with friends at the Coliseum in Hastings, MN enjoying laughs and live music from Favor the Fall and Sin City Escape. The following weekend, I roadtripped to Rockfest in Cadott, WI on my birthday. I got there in time to see Saint Asonia for the 2nd time this year, sign the memorial wall, and also meet Breaking Benjamin frontman Ben Burnley on radio row near the main stage. He was kind enough to stop for a picture and even wish me a Happy Birthday!

I hung around for their set, and then trekked up the hill to a side stage to see 10 Years. Despite having the PA cut out on them twice, they still put on a great set! I wandered stages the rest of the night to catch Scott Stapp and his solo band, headliners Alice in Chains and my friends in 3 Pill Morning and Vaudeville before calling it a night. I was busy enjoying live music and reading over 300 birthday wishes on social media from friends-another successful birthday in the books!

August rocked! It started with Sevendust's last show at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis (the venue is closing at the end of this year). I got there in time to catch up with the guys and hear a couple of songs at soundcheck. I also got a photo op and had them sign a new Kill the Flaw tour poster that is proudly on my bedroom wall.

Openers Red Tide Rising and retro rockers Crobot put on great sets, and Sevendust had another phenomenal show! I was lucky enough to grab the setlist for my rock n' roll wall of fame and another John Connolly guitar pick before getting to hang out with the guys on their tour bus after the show. I had a great time chatting with them all, especially sitting next to Morgan Rose on the bus talking music and fantasy baseball with him for a few minutes. These guys never disappoint, and I'm glad I've gotten to know them all as great friends through the years.

The following week, I made my first visit to Opinion Brewing in Newport, MN to see headliners Nonpoint for the 6th time. It was great rockin' out with a lot of friends to music by Sin City Escape, City of the Weak, Through Fire, Failure Anthem and Nonpoint in a new concert venue. After the show I had my new CDs signed by the members of Through Fire and Nonpoint, and got to chat with my new friends in Failure Anthem.

A few days later, I made my first journey to Iowa that I can remember for the first-ever Locofest in Algona. Held on the Kossuth County Fairgrounds, it was an interesting metal gathering featuring over 30 bands on 3 stages. As soon as I arrived I ran into a couple of great friends.

It was fun hearing new music by Shallow Side, Elisium, Scattered Hamlet, Saul, Emperors and Elephants and other bands as well as seeing friends in Screaming for Silence and headliners Eve6 before calling it a night. I didn't have much time to rest, though, because I drove back to Cambridge, MN the next day for a benefit concert featuring friends in Ashes from Stone, Splitdriven, Fixated, Sin7 and others. The show was a first for the nonprofit group my friends and I are a part of, but I think it went rather well, all things considered.

I ended August enjoying live music by Saul, Antistar, 9Electric and Gemini Syndrome at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis. While I wish there would have been more people supporting the low dough rock show, I had a great time with friends. I bought a couple of CDs from the guys in 9Electric and caught up with frontman Aaron Nordstrom and drummer Brian Steele Medina after buying Gemini Syndrome's latest CD Memento Mori.

My only September show was at the Skyway, featuring 3 Pill Morning, Adelitas Way and Alter Bridge. I hadn't seen Alter Bridge since that State Fair Carnival of Madness show, but they always put on an impressive show. The crowd was out in full force that night!

I didn't have another rock concert on my calendar for a few weeks, until my fifth Breaking Benjamin show in a little over a year, this time at the Myth in Maplewood. My friends in VIA were the only opening act, and I was front and center for the entire show. I made friends with one of the security guards before the show, and he made sure I got a Breaking Benjamin guitar pick during the show! Another fun night with fun people!

A few days later, I made a couple of unexpected rock & roll journeys. The first one was back to Opinion Brewing Co. in Newport to see Mushroomhead. My friend from out of state made the journey with me, and I ended up chatting with Unsaid Fate singer Jackie Laponza for the 2nd year in a row, and this time also getting to meet all the members of Mushroomhead before the show!

There weren't quite as many people here for a show on a rainy Tuesday night, but everyone had fun. It was great meeting the members of Sunflower Dead and California band Raven Black after the show too. I picked up more souvenirs and got a few fun photos before heading back home.

The next day, my friend and I made the four hour-plus drive to Stevens Point, WI to see Another Lost Year and Saving Abel at Live on Main. I got us a good deal on a hotel room, and we were able to enjoy great live music and talk with both bands after the show. I also got to meet my social media friend, Saving Abel lead guitarist Scott Bartlett after the show and had the band members sign a setlist from the show for me.

My friend and I were able to take our time and enjoy the trip back home the next day-we wouldn't have more music for a few more days, anyway. After a quick Thursday night show at the Park in Fridley featuring Nashville natives the Nearly Deads, locals Throw the Fight and LA rockers Valora, the next show for me was a benefit show back at the Park the next day, featuring my friends in Digital Homicide, Piranha and Sin7. It was our first benefit show at a local venue and we raised enough for about 2700 meals through Second Harvest Heartland, so I consider that a success!

The first weekend in November, my out of state friend and I made it to our last Mill City Nights show, to see Sin City Escape, Antistar, Smiling Politely, Black Flood Diesel and headliners Gabriel and the Apocalypse for their CD release show. There was a scary moment during their set when a friend took a nasty fall during a stagediving attempt, but otherwise everyone was fine and had a fun time.

I made my last concert roadtrip to Wisconsin of 2016 the last weekend in November, making my first trip to Every Buddy's Bar in Chippewa Falls, WI to see Cathercize, Truth before Treason, Beyond Threshold and my friends in Seasons After. Before the show, a good buddy and I hung out with the guys in Seasons After in their tour bus and were lucky enough to see ourselves in the rough cut for the official music video for the single "Fighter." I was honored to be asked to participate, and I'm glad to share my story with others. If it helps just one person, then my effort is worth it. I was front and center for their headlining set, of course, and while I was disappointed by the turnout (especially when half the crowd left before Seasons After's set, but I knew the crowd wasn't going to be big anyway after initial headliner Flaw cancelled), I still had a great time with one of my best buds.

I started this month with a couple of local shows. The first one was my first trip to Rollie's in Sauk Rapids to see a buddy's band IV Play. They played a good mix of rock, pop, funk and country cover songs, and they had the crowd and myself dancing along. I enjoyed catching up with my buddy in person for the first time in over a year, and dancing with a couple of new friends.

My last Red Carpet show of the year was the following weekend, as I navigated the snowy streets for a Sunday night rock show. While I didn't know most of the opening acts, I enjoyed their enthusiasm and energy, especially when the singer of Brainerd death metalers Kobaloi literally got into a few people's faces in the crowd singing their songs. I enjoyed the set by my friends in Sin7 with special guest Chad Hanks from American Head Charge on guitar, right before my first time seeing concept rockers September Mourning (they have a couple of CDs and a couple of comic books). I thought they did a good job, and made a point to buy a CD after the show. I also chatted with guitarist Kyle Ort and singer Emily Lazar, getting a photo with Emily after headliners Hed PE's powerful set.

I closed out my concert year last Saturday with the AntiChrist-mas show at Niesen's in Savage featuring Backwater, My Zero, VIA and the last MN show in a while from Blue Felix. I wish that more people would have braved the frosty temperatures to enjoy some great live local rock, but I had a lot of fun with some great friends-perfect way to end the concert season!

While 2016 didn't end up as planned, I did rid myself of some toxic people and situations, and had some wonderful concert experiences with new and old friends. I don't know what 2017 will bring, but I already see some great rock shows on my horizon!

I'll finish blogging for 2016 next week with my favorite albums of the year. Until then, Merry Christmas everyone!