Bucky's April concerts

Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I've had time to write, so I thought I'd catch up with the shows I've seen this month.

My first show of April was at the Myth in Maplewood, MN. A buddy and I were looking forward to hanging out with our friends in Gemini Syndrome before the show for a pre-show VIP session, but that unfortunately was cancelled due to venue restrictions. We did get there in time to see them rattle off a quick six songs during their opening set.

I hadn't seen the next opener, Motionless in White, since 2015's Northern Invasion festival in Somerset, WI, and I appreciated their heavier new songs. I wasn't a fan of the next opener Avatar at first, but I liked how they drew the crowd's attention and energy.

This was also my first time seeing headliners In This Moment since the first Northern Invasion, and I'm always surprised how big of a draw they are at every show. They did a great job of keeping the packed house enthralled with their hits.

My buddy and I did get to catch up with Gemini Syndrome at their merch booth after the show, and I got a few pictures with singer Aaron Nordstrom and drummer Brian Steele Medina, great dudes that I've met a few times before.

The following Friday, I joined a good friend for another Flipp reunion show, this time at a VFW hall in uptown Minneapolis. It took a while to find a spot to park, but eventually I made it before the first opening band started. It was the 20th anniversary show for Flipp's debut album, so I made sure to buy a copy not long before my friend made it to the show. We had a good time catching up, and while we weren't exactly excited about the opening bands, we had fun rockin' out to Flipp classics and a few new recordings. A great way to end a busy week!

My last April show was last night at the Cabooze in Minneapolis to see my friends in Saving Abel for the first time since last fall. I got to the venue just in time to join the rest of the VIP crowd. I purchased my VIP package online months ago, and apparently there was a different VIP package available at the venue, where the people ahead of me got a quick meet & greet and photo op with a signed poster in the green room.

I figured they saved the best for last! When it was my turn, I got to chat with the guys in the green room for a bit, before they decided to play an acoustic version of their hit "Addicted" in their tour bus, so I followed them onto the bus for a private performance, a brief chat and a photo op. Very quick but fun VIP experience!

By the time I got back from my VIP experience and with my signed poster, I got to the stage area just as the first opener Trigger Armada was ending and the next opener 32 Headshots was about to take their turn onstage. Saving Abel's VIP coordinator also made sure I got another signed poster and signed lyric sheet for the song "Addicted" in a matter of minutes.

The third band, Names to Faces, was more of a pop-oriented group than the other two rock-driven acts before them, but I enjoyed their songs by the time I made my way to the front left-hand corner of the stage. The singer announced they had free CDs available at the merch table, so I made a point to pick one up before heading home.

The final opener, local favorites Strange Daze, had the ample crowd rockin' steadily throughout their set. The only disappointment was that there weren't more people out to enjoy live music on a nice Friday night, but I know there were also several shows going on at the same time.

Finally at 10:30, it was time for my buddies in Saving Abel (with special guest Scott Wilson from Tantric filling in on bass guitar) to take the stage. They kicked off their set with the hit "Contagious." I figured it must be hard for current frontman Scotty Austin to sing a lot of their hits that were made before he joined the band, but he seems to take everything in stride, and really does a great job of interacting with the audience.

I got fist-bumps from Austin and Wilson during the set, and I loved how they kept the fans grooving to their dozen songs from start to finish. I was lucky enough to receive one of their set lists from a member of their road crew, and snagged a red guitar pick from Strange Daze and a couple of Saving Abel picks for my collection before catching up with a few friends and calling it a night.

I don't have any concerts planned in May, but I am looking forward to some fun shows this summer-more info on that later. Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!