Bucky's First Spring Break

When I was younger, spring break was a foreign concept. It didn't exist when I was in grade school or high school. There were spring and other semester breaks in college, but I was usually busy working at the time. Last week, I had the opportunity to take my first spring break and escape the wintry confines to visit my friends in Florida. It turned out to be one of the best vacations I've ever had!

I flew to Tampa last Monday night, where my friend Scott was kind enough to pick me up from the airport. From there, we went to a nice little Italian restaurant in Saint Petersburg where my hosts Michelle and Joe (aka "Uncle Rudy") were dining. It was nice to finally meet them and see our mutual friend Christina who had just come off of the ShipRocked cruise.

We went back to my friends' place to talk and get settled in before the first fun event: an outdoor concert featuring our friends in Sevendust on Tuesday night! I was happy to be there, and that I was able to enjoy the warm weather. I was finally going to wear shorts in winter for the first time!

On Tuesday morning, a few of us went to the local Waffle House for breakfast and started to decompress before the Sevendust show. Another Sevendust friend Misty was making her way to St. Pete after having been in Fort Lauderdale the night before for Sevendust's show. Once she arrived, we made our way to downtown St. Pete for the show.

We had to arrive at the venue early for the pre-show meet and greet with Sevendust. Joe and Michelle brought her 84 year old father to the meet and greet. While we waited in line, lead guitarist Clint Lowery walked by after the guitar clinic, so some of us got to stop and say hi and pose for a few pics.

Before too long, we were allowed into the venue for the meet and greet. We were treated to a two-song soundcheck. The songs "Dead Set" and "Reconnect" were played by the band before we were able to get a group photo with the band and a signed commemorative poster. When it was my turn for the photo, the first thing that bassist Vinny "The Boss" Hornsby said to me was, "what the heck are you doing here?" He was used to seeing me at their shows in the Upper Midwest.

Afterwards, a bunch of us gathered at a nice Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the venue. It was good to catch up with other social media friends that I got to meet in person for the first time. It was a beautiful night for an outdoor show.

Shortly after 6 pm, my friends and I returned to the venue. On our way, we ran into the infamous "Mosh Pit Jesus" and Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose. We stopped to talk with Morgan for a bit and of course pose for photos before the show.

Once we got in, I made my way with my traveling companions to the venue entrance for the suite that was reserved for us. It was in the back of the concert hall, and gave us a prime viewing area for all the action. It was also very well-stocked with food and beverages for the night. We had plenty of time to chat and connect during the sets by opening acts Kirra, Lullwater and Cane Hill.

I went to the suite balcony with my friends to watch Tremonti's performance. This was my third time seeing the Alter Bridge lead guitarist's solo band live, and they put on another impressive performance. Most of his set featured songs from his latest album, A Dying Machine.

Shortly after 9:30 pm, it was time for Sevendust to arrive! They started their set with another awesome performance of the hit "Black." Although they only played one song ("Dirty") from their latest release All I See Is War, my friends and I agreed that it was a great set full of just some of the many songs we've all grown to love. I was also kind of glad that I wasn't in the pit for this one, as a fight broke out during the song "Angel's Son." Afterwards, frontman Lajon Witherspoon commented that he'd never seen that happen during that song before.

Sevendust finished their set with the encore songs "Splinter" and fan favorite "Face to Face." Venue staff didn't let us linger too long, but we were able to buy a few souvenirs and catch up with some friends before heading back to my friends' place. There we got to relax and share our favorite moments of the show.

The next day, I returned to the Waffle House with my friends for breakfast before we went to bring Christina to the airport. We had such a fun time, it was hard saying goodbye. After a few hours chilling at my friends' home, our remaining group headed to Madeira Beach in St. Pete for the afternoon. I ended up getting some sunburn, but it was worth it. It was a magnificent weather day, perfect for walking in the water from the Gulf of Mexico and a great opportunity to collect a few sea shells and soak up some rays. After a while, we retreated to a nice seafood restaurant. We ate outside with a perfect view of the water.

Later that evening, we returned to Michelle and Joe's house before bidding our friend Misty goodbye, as she was heading back to Fort Lauderdale to make her return flight home on Thursday morning. I ended up relaxing with my friends and their dogs, eating pizza and watching NHL hockey on TV in anticipation of attending my first hockey game with them in Tampa the next day.

Thursday began with a walk with my friend Michelle to the park near their house. It was great exercise and a wonderful way to start another glorious day in Florida. We even saw an alligator in the water on our way around the park trail. Later on, we went with Joe to Clearwater, Florida. We stopped at his job site for a bit before finding a nice outdoor restaurant to eat at.

A few hours later, we were on our way to Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa to see the hometown Tampa Bay Lightning take on the visiting Saint Louis Blues. Joe had attended Tuesday's game, a tough shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and had brought back a T-shirt for me to wear.

After going through security, we made our way to the second floor's gourmet buffet. There Michelle, Joe, Scott and I feasted on steak, crab legs, turkey, mushroom-stuffed pasta, fresh fruits and veggies and many more delectable selections. They even had a dessert bar full of tempting treats and ice cream made with nitrogen.

I was introduced to some more of Joe and Michelle's friends along the way before the 7:30 pm tipoff. The game was a defensive battle, and the teams matched up against each other rather well. During the first period intermission, I headed downstairs to guest services where I received a complimentary pin and certificate for attending my first Lightning game.

Following another scoreless period, I met up with my friends for a photo op. I've followed hockey for a while, but attending my first game really helped me appreciate the sportsmanship and work ethic of the players on the ice. It also helped me root against the refs when a penalty was called against the home team.

Although the Lightning eventually lost on a lone goal with a minute left in overtime, I still had a great time at the game. Many of the home team fans were disappointed, but the Lightning is one of the best teams in the league. They have a ton of talent, and just need to work on finding more opportunities and playing the game the way that's allowed them to excel. We returned to my friends' home and got to chat for a bit more before calling it a night.

On Friday, I got to spend some time at my friends' home watching their dogs scamper about before I went back to downtown St. Pete with Michelle and Scott. We hung out at the Canopy, which is a very nice bar/restaurant that overlooks the water and the city. Joe joined us later, and we got to enjoy another spectacular day in Florida before it was my turn to fly home.

I arrived home from the airport and airport shuttle in the wee hours this morning. After weather in the 70's and 80's, coming home to below zero temps and a bunch of snow on my car was quite an adjustment. I had a great time in Florida. I got to enjoy some fun activities, eat some great food and enjoy amazing weather. The thing I enjoyed the most was how nice everyone was. All the people I met were very friendly. I got to make new friends, meet some social media friends in person for the first time and get to know some friends a lot better.

This was my first spring break, and if all goes well, it may even be an annual occurrence. There's so much to see and do in Florida. I've barely scratched the surface. It was easily one of the most enjoyable and memorable trips I've ever had in my entire life. Can't wait to do it again sometime soon!

That's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!

Bucky's Best Moments of 2018

Hi everyone!

With just a few more hours left in 2018, it's time for me to reflect on some of the better days of 2018. The year had its ups and downs, just like any other year. It was busy, but a lot less stressful than the year before. Here are some of my favorite memories of 2018:

1. Spending time with my friends from Holland at a Prince DJ tribute show at the legendary First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis in June. My friends Andy and Lynn were making a two-week tour of selected cities in the U.S. They spent time visiting Paisley Park, and I was honored to finally get to meet them. I made my way to their hotel and had just sat down to hear the sounds of Prince's hit song "When Doves Cry" over the bar speakers when I met my friends. We spent several hours catching up, laughing and listening to music. Definitely one of my favorite moments of the last several years. Guess this means I have to visit them in Holland some time!

2. Attending Rock USA for the first time in Oshkosh, WI this summer was eventful. I shared a hotel room with a good friend, and we got to see a lot of good bands. I got to see bands like Godsmack and Shaman's Harvest, and catch great performances by Trivium, Bush, Shinedown, Gemini Syndrome, Nonpoint, 10 Years and my favorite band Sevendust, to name just a few. I was front row center for Sevendust's six-song set on the main stage. Bassist Vince Hornsby threw me a pick that landed right at my feet! Lead singer Lajon Witherspoon spotted me right away, and asked me how I was doing. I was fortunate to catch up with him later on after a radio interview. He made a beeline for my friend and I right away, and it was good catching up with him for a while.

The only downside to the festival were the Friday rains that delayed and cancelled a few performances. The next day was better, despite the muddy grounds. My friend and I roadtripped to Belvidere, IL on my birthday that Sunday, to catch live music from Fozzy, Wayland, Powerman 5000, Vyces and 10 Years. I received a signed photo as a birthday gift from my friends in Vyces and had a nice chat with 10 Years frontman Jesse Hasek after seeing them perform for the second day in a row.

3. Catching up with my friends in Scarlet Canary. I was able to watch my friends in the Denver band Scarlet Canary twice in 2018, at the Standing Alliance CD release show at Route 47 Pub & Grub in Fridley in June and again at the Sword Metal Festival at Niesens in Savage in August. I was really surprised that the band drove 12 hours from Colorado and back for the Sword Metal Festival, but since they didn't have to bring all of their gear, I guess it was a good way for them to get more exposure. Unfortunately, the band is calling it quits after tonight, but I'm happy for the friendships that I've made with the band members. Watching them play live and standing around outside Niesen's talking with them and Stef from the band City of the Weak this summer are highlights of this year's concert season.

4. Sevendust arrived in Minnesota! I got to see my friends in Sevendust for the 23rd time when they started their tour opening for Clutch at the Myth in Maplewood, MN in September. This was the first day of the tour, and I could tell the band was pumped. I attended the VIP meet and greet before the show, and we were treated to acoustic performances of the classic songs "Trust" and "Angel's Son." After the last song, lead guitarist Clint Lowery tossed the guitar pick he was using towards us. It bounced off of my baseball cap and landed right in my lap! I enjoyed chatting with drummer Morgan Rose later on about the upcoming Headbangers convention in Portland, Oregon and with rhythm guitarist John Connolly about his triathlon training. The band played a tight set, and I stayed around in the front row to hear Clutch for the first time with some good friends from the Cities.

5. Meeting Mark Tremonti was another highlight of the year. I bought the VIP meet and greet session so I was back at the Myth early for their October show. We were ushered in for soundcheck, and were able to get autographs and photos with the band. Mark is one of the nicest dudes I've ever met. His drummer Ryan is a big Vikings fan, and we talked sports for a bit. Tremonti's solo band were opening for Seether, and they put on another solid performance. I stood back in the crowd with my friends during Seether's set, because this was my fifth time seeing them live. Besides, I wanted to get a selfie with Mark. He was nice enough to take the photo-mission accomplished!

These are just some of the many great concert moments I was able to experience this year. I didn't get to a lot of shows, but the ones I did attend were all very memorable. I'm already looking forward to 2019's concert slate. I don't know for sure yet what my first concert will be, but I know one of them will be somewhere I've never been before-you'll just have to stay tuned for that!

Until next time, Happy New Year, everyone!

Another Sevendust Family Reunion

On a recent concert DVD, Sevendust frontman Lajon Witherspoon says that the band doesn't really have concerts, they have "family reunions." That sentiment is very true! I have now been to 23 Sevendust shows in six states (Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts), and every time I run across friends who are also avid Sevendust fans. A lot of us have become close enough to be considered family. I have friends around the world because of Sevendust, and I have to step back at times and admire the connection that we have made because of these five humble musicians.

My most recent Sevendust show was this past Tuesday at the Myth Nightclub in Maplewood, MN. I bought the pre-show VIP meet and greet pass with the band, and arrived at the venue shortly before 3 pm. No sooner did I arrive when I ran into a couple of Sevendust friends of mine. The dozen or so of us participating in the VIP session were rounded up by support staff and led upstairs to the second floor of the concert venue. There waiting for us were the guys in Sevendust! They greeted us all with hugs and wide smiles. This was the first night of the tour, and it was obvious that the guys were ready to get back onstage again.

We soon sat down and listened to the band perform acoustic versions of the songs "Trust" and "Angel's Son." It was great to seeing the guys have a lot of fun, as they were laughing and joking between songs. At the end of "Angel's Son," lead guitarist Clint Lowery tossed the guitar pick he was using up into the air. It bounced off the top of the baseball cap I was wearing, and landed gently in my lap. Another concert souvenir, before the real concert had even started! Each of us VIP session attendees later lined up for a photo with the band, and I got to have a few brief chats with drummer Morgan Rose and rhythm guitarist John Connolly before it was time to go grab a signed poster and head downstairs to buy merch before the doors would officially open for the show in a few hours.

I returned to the Myth shortly after 5 pm, and was fortunate enough to hear the guys in Sevendust performing the new song "Unforgiven" and a bit of the hit "Waffle" during soundcheck. They were loud enough for me to hear outside the building! I ran into a few more friends while waiting in line, and quickly made a beeline for the front rail once the doors opened for the public a little before 7 pm.

At 7:30 p.m. the first opening band, Nashville natives Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, started the show. I didn't know much about this twenty-something quartet, but they did a good job of rocking their original songs to keep the growing crowd entertained. They had a kind of classic/blues rock feel to their sound that made me take a mental note to check out more about them online later on. 

About an hour later, it was time for Sevendust to arrive! The band kicked off their eight-song set with the hit single "Pieces," and the Sevendust family in attendance were ready to rock out! Although there was a strict no crowd surfing policy posted on the doors of the Myth before the show, that restriction didn't stop my friends and I from enjoying the show. Sevendust's fourth song was the new song "Unforgiven," and it was an unforgettable performance! The guys were feeding off of the energy from the crowd and themselves. They were also having fun onstage. At one point, Lajon mockingly complained about the size of Morgan's drum kit, saying that Morgan had toned it down by eliminating "one cymbal and a tom." By the time Sevendust finished their set with the fan favorite "Thank You," the crowded house was eager for more!

Shortly before 10 pm, it was time for headliners Clutch to hit the stage. While I didn't know much about the band except for the songs from their new album Book of Bad Decisions (which I received a CD copy of in the mail free with my concert ticket purchase) and the song "Electric Worry," I found myself singing and swaying along to their songs throughout their 90-minute set. I was surprised to see the crowd in the pit a lot more active and animated than they were during Sevendust's set, but I realized that a lot of people were there to see the headliner. This was my first time seeing Clutch live, and I assure you it won't be the last. I grew to admire their bluesy alternative rock sound. I still find it hard to believe that both Clutch and Sevendust were tour openers for Limp Bizkit 20 years ago!

The show ended shortly after 11 pm, and I made my way to the Clutch merch table with a few friends who had also been hanging out along the front rail. I made my way home in a light rain a half-hour later. While I didn't get to spend a lot of time with my friends, and there were a few friends there that I didn't even get to see, I felt good in knowing that everyone who did attend had a great experience. It was another fantastic Sevendust family reunion!

Bucky's Cat Tales

Growing up in the country on a lake in Central Minnesota was very peaceful. We didn't have a lot of traffic noise, and I enjoyed being able to go out and play outside or fish or spend time with family, neighbors and friends.

My family moved from a rented home in my hometown to an acre lot on a lake a few miles away when I was three years old. The house had a nice view of the lake. It also came with four cats.

Several of the cats were known to the lake neighbors. One of them would sit on the dock when my grandpa would come over to fish, and the locals knew they could toss a sunfish or crappie onto our dock, where the cat would gleefully catch and eat it. I don't remember much about them because I was so young, but then I don't remember a lot about the black lab we had from when I was three to six, either.

Most of the cats we had when I was growing up were outdoor cats. They were free to roam about when we were at work or school, and lived a pretty contented life. Sometimes we would come home to find dead squirrels or birds that they either left us as gifts, or they had caught and had become tired of playing with after a while.

One summer day when I was 10 years old, my dad asked me to turn off the Saturday morning cartoons and help him find where our mother cat had hid her new kittens. He could hear them outside, but couldn't see them. We quickly found that she had hidden them in the rafters of the garage, because she wanted to put them in a safe place. We were concerned, because that garage was awfully hot in August, and because the mother cat had no back teeth, and my parents were worried that she'd drop them at some point. It wasn't unusual for our female cats to hide their kittens in the garage or in the various woodpiles my dad had at the top of the hill to protect them from predators.

One of our most famous (or infamous) mother cats was known as "Schwarz," which is German for the color black. This black cat became part of our family one cold February day. We were going to church, when we noticed something underneath one of the cars in the garage. We had kept one of the overhead garage doors open a bit for the other cats we had at the time to come and go as they pleased, so that's how this new cat got in to the garage. We were soon able to coax this new cat out from under the car, and found that it had its tail, mouth and arms duct taped, probably by a particularly cruel neighbor farm kid. My brother and I held the cat securely as Dad calmly cut the duct tape off. It ran away for a while, but later came back. My mom was so disgusted by the act that she wrote a letter to the editor of our local newspaper, where Schwarz became known as the "duct tape kitty."

Most of the cats we had were rather adventurous. They weren't afraid to carefully sneak up on the Canadian geese that would sometimes land on our shoreline, poke their paws at turtles who came by to lay their eggs, chase birds and even woodchucks, follow a cow in the farm neighbor's pasture (and later have to take a bath after standing underneath the cow who had to relieve herself), or try to snag a fish from my Uncle Felix's fish bucket. Felix kept everything he caught, but if I saw one of the cats successfully snag a small fish from his basket with their paws, I wasn't about to say anything. The way I saw it, they earned that catch!

Another favorite cat was affectionately known as "Cheeko," because it was a black and white cat with a black head and white cheeks. It was my brother's favorite cat growing up, and it went missing for several months. It came back one winter day while my brother was waiting for the school bus. He ran into the house to exclaim, "Cheeko's back!" He had to go back outside to catch his bus, but after school he made sure to give Cheeko a cat treat and later watched him paw at the frozen minnows in his minnow bucket that he kept in the basement, as he was saving them for a warmer day to go ice fishing. 

We had plenty of other fun cat moments, like the tabby who jumped on the metal barrel I was burning trash in one fall day and singed his whiskers enough to be nicknamed "Pierre;" watching them stalk birds, rodents and garden snakes; take their worm pills only when they were wrapped in a piece of cheese; and chase each other around the lakeshore property. Owning so many cats taught me the importance of caring for other animals and I think it helped me develop the kind nature that I have as an adult. We had a few rabbits, a goldfish and the aforementioned black lab "Oscar," but I think the cats taught me the most of all of our pets about responsibility. I haven't had a pet in many years, but if I do adopt another animal for my townhouse, it'll probably be a cat - someone to keep me company that can fend for himself while I'm at work or out at a concert on a weekend. 

Well, that's all for now, just felt the urge to write on a quiet weekend. Got a couple of shows to go to next weekend, so stay tuned. Until then, have a great week, everyone!

Bucky's Birthday Weekend Vaction Bash!

Hi everyone,
This blog is kind of like my Twitter and SnapChat accounts: I forget I have it sometimes. I've been busy with work and some other fiction writing in my spare time, but I felt like sharing my experiences last week out of state, so here goes!

A friend and I decided to attend the Rock USA festival in Oshkosh, Wisconsin last week for the first time. The festival started last Thursday with WWE wrestler Chris Jericho's band Fozzy on the main stage. This was my first time seeing them live, and I thought they did a good job of entertaining the crowd.

Next up were Australian rockers Like a Storm on the Militia stage. This was my first time seeing them in a few years, and they had the crowd rockin' along to their hits and new songs. I made a mental note to check out their new album Catacombs as soon as possible. 

The next band on that stage was Nonpoint. This was my eighth time seeing them live, and I enjoyed hearing a few classics along with the new songs "Dodge Your Destiny" and "Chaos and Earthquakes" from their upcoming album X. 

Later in the afternoon, we went back to the main stage to see Pop Evil. While I'm not a big fan of this band, I enjoyed being able to enjoy them with the rest of the crowd in the main stage pit. 

My friend and I then went back to the Militia stage to see punk/pop rockers Sum 41. Not our favorites, but they had the crowd enthralled and stuck in the 90's for a while with their songs and stage show. 

After a dinner break, it was time to return to the main stage to see Gavin Rossdale and the latest incarnation of his band Bush. They've changed a lot since I last saw them live in 2000, but they had the nostalgia factor working in their favor as the crowd was swaying along to hits like "Machinehead," "Greedy Fly," "Glycerine" and others.

Before Halestorm's set, we were able to catch a glimpse of Sixx A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba performing the National Anthem live on the main stage. One of the better performances of the song that I've seen in a while!

This was my second time seeing Halestorm, and they mixed in some familiar songs along with a few new songs from their upcoming studio album. 

My friend and I went back to another stage in the far corner of the festival grounds to see Gemini Syndrome. While my pictures didn't turn out the best, we did get our arms stamped by drummer Brian Steele Medina after their impressive set. Gemini Syndrome never disappoint!

Closing the first night of Rock USA were Godsmack. I don't know if I've ever seen them live before, but they had an impressive stage set, including a "drum-off" with Shannon Larkin and frontman Sully Erna. 

The next day was Friday the 13th and like most Friday the 13ths, it was good and bad. The music started on the main stage with Shaman's Harvest. This was my first time seeing them live, and I really dug their heavy Southern rock grooves!

I stayed front and center at the main stage because I wanted to see my favorite band Sevendust for the 22nd time. While they only played a six-song set, I really enjoyed seeing them for the first time in over a year. 

Toward the end of the set, bass guitarist Vinny Hornsby spotted me, and tossed me one of his guitar picks, which landed right at my feet - another cool piece for my collection!

The rain started to fall during Adelita's Way's set on the Militia stage. This was my first time seeing the band in a few years, and they did a good job keeping the crowd entertained despite the weather. 

After the set, I noticed one of the local radio stations had an interview scheduled with Sevendust! My friend and I waited to see frontman Lajon Witherspoon give a live interview. Afterwards, we hung out behind the radio booth. LJ spotted me, and came up to my friend and I to chat, take a picture and even wish me a Happy Birthday!

The rain started coming down heavier, and the event staff made everyone go to their cars. Unfortunately in the VIP parking area, the exits were blocked, so no one could leave if they wanted to. They later decided to let everyone in for Seether on the main stage at about 7:30 pm. 

All That Remains played immediately afterwards on the Militia stage, but I decided to sit that one out and watch from the VIP tent as the rain continued to come down. Eventually, the rest of the night's performances were cancelled due to weather. No chance to see Marilyn Manson, Soil or Rob Zombie that night.

I navigated us behind the band trailers in the muddy mess that night to our hotel. My friend decided to skip day 3 of Rock USA, but I decided to head in a little later after finding out what some of my other friends wanted to do.

The first band I saw that Saturday was Trivium. Another six-song set, but I always enjoy their live shows!

The next band I went to see was 10 Years. This was my first time seeing them in a couple of years, and I enjoyed hearing the new songs "Novocaine," "Burnout," and their cover of the Nirvana classic "Heart Shaped Box" mixed in with their classics. At the end of the set, I managed to catch a water bottle thrown by frontman Jesse Hasek.

After 10 Years' set, I noticed the radio booth was doing an interview with Trivium. The interview was with their bass guitarist Paolo Gregoletto, and I had the opportunity to chat with him briefly and take a selfie.

I wasn't pleased with the muddy conditions near the Militia stage and I'm not a big fan of Nothing More, so I decided to take a break and have a bite to eat and put my feet up for a while in the VIP tent, enjoying the music from afar until the Stone Temple Pilots took to the main stage. This was my first time seeing them since the death of original frontman Scott Weiland, but I thought that new singer Jeff Gutt really channeled the swagger and stage presence of their founding singer. 

After their set, I made a quick beeline to the stage nestled in the far corner of the festival grounds to see Saving Abel. They always put on a high-energy show!

Shinedown closed out Rock USA 2018 on the main stage. While I'm not a fan of the poppier sounds of their last couple of albums, they have a good stage show and I enjoyed getting to hear some of their classics live, ending in the early hours of my birthday morning.

I didn't get much sleep that night, but I woke up a little late that Sunday, seeing my phone flooded with birthday greetings. I took a while to relax in the hotel pool and hot tub, before driving to Belvidere, IL with my friend to see a show headlined by Fozzy and 10 Years.

A few minutes after we got to the venue, I spotted Powerman 5000 bass guitarist Murv Douglas walking around. I managed to chat with him for a bit, and he was nice enough to pose for a few photos with me.

The show started with local rockers Genotype and our friends in Vyces. This was my second time seeing them live, and they were nice enough to give me a signed poster after the show!

Next up were regional favorites Wayland. This was my first time seeing them live, and I felt they had a kind of Foo Fighters vibe to them. Simple but enjoyable rock!

The fourth band of the evening was Powerman 5000. This was my first time seeing them since they headlined the second day of last year's Taste of Madison on Labor Day weekend. They always put on a high-energy set!

The final opener was Fozzy, my second time seeting them that week. Chris Jericho is used to drawing attention to himself with his wrestling career, but I think this band was the real fan favorite of the evening.

I was surprised seeing the crowd dissipate a bit after Fozzy's set ended, but I always enjoy a good 10 Years set! Second time seeing them in as many days-they always put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into every show.

After the show, my friend and I chatted with 10 Years singer Jesse Hasek and posed for photos with him. I've chatted with him a few times before, and he's one of the most down to earth and humble musicians I've ever met.

I drove us back to our hotel in the wee hours of Monday morning, and got a few hours of sleep before driving back to Minnesota that afternoon. Tuesday I ran a few errands, had a birthday lunch with my folks and generally took it easy before returning to work on Wednesday. Not a perfect week, but I enjoyed the bands I heard and the friends that  I got to interact with that weekend.

That's all for now - not sure when my next article will be, because I don't have any concerts scheduled for another month at the earliest. Rest assured, I'll still be around, though! Until next time, have a great week, everyone!

Bucky's Most Memorable Moments of 2017

Happy Friday, folks!

Haven't blogged in a while, been busy with other priorities in life. 2017 was a challenging year for a lot of us. For me, I had to deal with a stressful job, the loss of a couple of favorite aunties, and some family health issues, among other things. There were also a lot of great times, too. I know I'm probably forgetting some, but here are some of my favorite moments of this year.

I didn't get to many shows early in the year, but one great show was the Cold Kingdom EP release show in March at the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis. I got to see locals Eris and Omaha, Nebraska natives Arson City play live for the first time, and  I got to catch up for the first time this year with some great friends.

It was nice to attend a Flipp reunion show in Uptown Minneapolis with a good friend. Despite a lack of close parking and a ton of traffic, I still had a good time rockin' out to Flipp classics and a few covers. The highlight of an otherwise disappointing week in late April.

The following weekend, I attended the Saving Abel show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, my first of several VIP experiences for the year. I got to meet the band and have a few items signed, and was treated to a private acoustic performance of their hit song "Addicted" on their tour bus before the show. A great way to wrap up a busy month!

It would be more than a month before I'd attend another show: life was busy giving me other priorities. I was saddened by the news of my Aunt Maryann's passing in late May, but her memorial service the following week was a fantastic celebration of life, and a great chance to catch up with relatives on Mom's side of the family for the first time in years.

A few weeks later, I flew out of the Minneapolis airport en route to Phoenix and then Salt Lake City, from where I drove three hours north on Father's Day weekend to my hotel for my godparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

It was great seeing my godparents in  person for the first time in over a decade! They had a very nice celebration at their assisted living complex. They also own their home in town, which is where I went with several of my cousins and their families afterwards. It was cool reminiscing and catching up, watching my cousins' kids play in the same backyard that we played in during my family's first visit to Idaho some 40 summers ago.

Most of us rejoined the next afternoon for a brunch with my godparents and spending a little more quality time together before saying our goodbyes. My godmother had Alzheimer's, but I know she was definitely glad to see everyone. Sadly, she passed away three months later. If I had known that would happen, I would have made more efforts to visit them, but I'm glad I had the chance to reconnect with everyone.

The following weekend, I went to my only Sevendust concert of 2017, flying out to Boston en route to the band's 20th anniversary show in Worcester, MA the next day. Soon after I got to my hotel, I went out to dinner and a nice night out in nearby Newport, RI with a couple of my Sevendust friends..

On the day of the concert, I got to the Palladium a little early. I browsed a local record store, and when I left the store and headed to the venue, I saw my friends and Sevendust rhythm guitarist John Connolly chatting! We said our hellos, and my group and I decided to have lunch at a cool little Mexican restaurant just down the hill. We sat outside on a beautiful June day, and as we were chatting, we noticed Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose enter the restaurant with some of the road crew. He nodded to us, and came out to talk with all of us a few minutes later, a very nice gesture on his part.

After lunch, most of our group went to the pre-show meet and greet and sound check. We said our hellos, got some photos, and went back in line, where I got another pic with Sevendust lead guitarist Clint Lowery.

We finally were able to enter the venue for the show soon afterwards. The Palladium was being renovated, so we were without the luxury of air conditioning. Despite that, I stood tough with my Sevendust family throughout one of the best and most intense shows I'd ever experienced.

I was so happy to have had a great night with friends from across the country! After hearing Sevendust's entire debut album and a few other favorites played live, some of us hung out with the band on their tour bus. I got my band photo that I wanted, and also spent close to half an hour talking baseball and music with Morgan. My 21st Sevendust show was a rousing success!

I flew back home the next morning with another friend, one of two friends in our group who attended all five Sevendust East Coast 20th anniversary shows in 5 days. I was supposed to see the band play again at Rockfest in Cadott, WI on my birthday in July. Unfortunately, the band had to cancel their appearance, but I still had a great weekend, nonetheless. I got to hang out with my friends in Seasons After, hear new music from the Rachel Lorin band, Scarlet Canary, He-Nis-Ra, Chicago rockers Veilside and witness great performances by Drowning Pool, Failure Anthem, Korn, Stone Sour, Emergent, Megadeth, Gemini Syndrome and Mushroomhead, among others. I also was able to meet Hardrive radio host Lou Brutus and the members of Hellyeah on my birthday, so I consider that a great weekend!

A few weeks later, I did the VIP experience with rock radio favorites Seether for the first time. Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery was on tour with the band for several runs this year, so it was nice to catch up with him again and score some cool autographed items.

On the the last Thursday in August, I went to the Minnesota State Fair for the first time in years to attend the Daughtry/Nickelback show in the grandstand with a good friend. I wasn't a huge fan of either artist, but I enjoyed their performances and I'm really glad we had a great time on a beautiful fall night in Minnesota. The next night we went to support our friends in local band Fixated at the Red Carpet Nightclub in downtown St. Cloud. While it was a good show, I felt bad that it was sparsely attended. We still had a great weekend enjoying live music!

On Labor Day weekend, I found myself driving four-plus hours to Madison, Wisconsin for the annual free Taste of Madison two-day music festival. The first night was headlined by Nonpoint, a band that a buddy of mine was drum teching for. I don't think I'd ever seen as many crowd surfers during one set before, but it was a great performance that was recorded on audio and video. I had a great time catching up with some of my Sevendust friends afterwards, along with brief chats with the lead singers of supporting acts Shallow Side and Stitched Up Heart.

The second day was headlined by Powerman 5000, and it was great seeing them live for the first time in a couple of years. They happened to play their new song "Sid Vicious in a Dress" just as a wedding was taking place on the steps of the state capitol behind us.

A month later, I fulfilled a bucket list goal by getting to meet Monty Python and Fawlty Towers co-creator John Cleese after a screening and Q&A session at Northrop Auditorium on the University of Minnesota's campus. I've been a fan since junior high, so it was an honor to meet a comedy legend!

This was my first event since my Mom's leukemia diagnosis, and I needed a fun night full of laughs in the worst way. She is now in remission, but it's something that really put things in focus for my family and I. I had to cancel some weekend plans later this fall to help my folks and take Mom to some of her appointments, but I didn't mind that at all, because family always comes first. I was able to attend a few more shows before the holidays, like the Skywind 20th anniversary show at the Doghouse in Maplewood in October, the Cold Kingdom free show at Route 47 Pub & Grub (formerly Pickle Park) in Fridley, MN in November, and the Fire Fight CD release show at the Coliseum in Hastings earlier this month. I didn't get many pictures with friends, but getting to spend quality time with friends enjoying live music and supporting the local music scene was enough for me to be happy.

I don't know where 2018 will take me, but I will be starting the new year with a new, less stressful job and will be looking forward to a new Sevendust album and tour to follow. Until my first show of 2018, Happy New Year, everyone!