Bucky's Family Reunions 2017

Hello everyone,
Just getting back to blogging after another busy month. June is almost over, and it was one I'll never forget, full of highs and lows. The best parts for me were the quality times I spent with family - my blood relatives on both sides of the family and part of my rock and roll family.

May ended on a sour note, with the news of a beloved aunt's passing. Her memorial service was on June 1st in St. Paul. I attended the service with my parents and brother, and it was really more of a celebration of life than a somber gathering. It was great seeing my aunts, uncles and cousins that I hadn't seen in person in years. Several memory boards were set up inside the church, and it was great to see all the amazing pictures and to be able to reflect back on so many great times. My aunt was one of my first inspirations, and her children were close to me in age, so we spent a lot of quality time in my youth both in St. Paul and on the lake in Cold Spring. Toward the end of the service, a singing group led us in song to celebrate the good things we liked about my aunt. It was a wonderfully positive note to end the service on. I know everyone who attended left the church with a smile on their face.

I spent Father's Day weekend travelling west, en route to my godparents' 50th wedding anniversary in Idaho Falls, Idaho. I flew from Minneapolis to Phoenix and then to Salt Lake City, Utah. From there, I rented a car and drove three hours north to my hotel, arriving at my hotel on a rainy evening. The next afternoon, I drove around Idaho Falls for a while before meeting my family at my godparents' senior living apartment complex. I smiled widely as I greeted my cousins who I hadn't seen in person in over a decade. My aunt has Alzheimer's, but I know she enjoyed seeing me. Her husband is also doing quite well for his age (he's still driving his Corvette), and it was a nice service with plenty of time for photo opportunities.

Later that evening, I joined my cousins at my godparents' house in town. Sitting out on the patio sharing stories and catching up, I noticed my cousin's kids swinging on the same swing set that we played on when my family and I made our first trip to Idaho almost 40 years ago. I was glad to get some quality time with my relatives and catch up before calling it a night.

I returned to the senior apartments the next afternoon for brunch, sitting next to my uncle and his eldest daughter and their family, catching up with them and letting them know about my next trip the following weekend. I made the 3-hour drive back to Salt Lake City that afternoon to catch my connecting flight to Phoenix and then back to Minneapolis on another gorgeous day.

I got home early Monday morning, and had time after work to admire the hundreds of family photos that one of my cousins had scanned onto a flash drive for me. The next day, I started preparing for my next trip: attending one of Sevendust's 20th anniversary concerts at the Palladium in Worcester, MA.

I worked the late shift on Friday and didn't get a lot of sleep, as I caught my shuttle bus from St. Cloud at 3 a.m. on Saturday. My flight to Boston was leaving in a few hours, and I made sure I was there in plenty of time. I got into Logan International Airport on a rainy afternoon and after a wait at the car rental booth, I was soon driving past Fenway Park and the Boston Bruins home, Warrior Ice Arena, on my way to my less than quality hotel reservation in Worcester. I didn't complain, though, because I wasn't going to be staying in the hotel very long.

My friends from Rhode Island picked me up at the hotel and we sat down to a nice dinner, full of good food and a lot of laughs as we spent time finally getting to know each other in person. My friends then drove me to Newport, Rhode Island, a nice town right on the Atlantic Ocean. We navigated our way down the crowded streets, and stopped into a small tavern to enjoy live music for a little while before calling it a night.

I slept as much as I could, but I was too eager for the concert to get much rest. I drove 10 minutes from my hotel to the Palladium, to get there in enough time to meet my friends before the pre-show soundcheck and meet and greet with Sevendust. I stopped at a nearby record store to window shop, and when I headed back to the Palladium to meet my friends, one of the first people I met was my friend, Sevendust rhythm guitarist John Connolly. Close behind him were my Sevendust friends.

We decided to head down the hill to a Mexican restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating. Looking out for passing showers, we placed our lunch orders and as we were talking, we noticed Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose and some of the road crew headed our way. They greeted us before they entered the restaurant, and Morgan soon stopped by to talk to all of us. We were stunned by the kind gesture, but it just goes to show how cool all of the guys in the band are.

After lunch, those of us partaking in the pre-show meet & greets got in line for the experience. I made my way to the front of the stage, making sure I gave lead singer Lajon Witherspoon the Star Wars T-shirt I had brought him from Minnesota. We hung out to hear the soundcheck jams "Shine" and "Too Close to Hate" before getting in lines for our photo ops with the band and then chatting with them a bit to get our posters signed.

Afterwards, we had time to get back to our cars and stop by another restaurant for a bit before the show, looking for a few more of our friends to arrive. We didn't have long to wait, though, because early entry was at 6:30. We got back in line just as lead guitarist Clint Lowery was walking by to get something to eat. He stopped to talk to us and pose for a few photos.

My Sevendust friends and I made our way to the front of the barricades, and I entrenched myself in my spot. People started crowd surfing from the first song by the first opening band, local rockers Fantom Farewell. I liked their energy, and made a mental note to check their music out online later.

I wasn't impressed by the next opener, Never My Zero, but they had the crowd rocking steady throughout their set. I liked the energy and rhythms of the next act, He Is Legend. They played about ten originals and teased a Soundgarden cover before ending their set. They had a kind of Rob Zombie feel to them with some good melodic tracks.

As soon as the first note to Sevendust's hit song "Black" started playing at 10 pm, the crowd went nuts! The energy from the band and their fans continued throughout their set and never really let up until the end of their encore. I was proud of our group for keeping everyone safe, making sure everyone was ok, they were hydrated, were able to take breaks when needed, and allowed space for our friends who arrived a little later.

It was great hearing the first album classics "Black," "Bitch," "Terminator" and "Too Close to Hate" and geting to hear deeper tracks "Wired," "Speak," "Face" and the very first pre-Sevendust song "My Ruin" live for the first time. Sevendust never lost their energy or composure, and seeing Lajon kneel and pray during the song "Prayer" was one of those moments that will forever remain stuck in my mind.

After the final encore song "Thank You," my friends and I finally had time to regroup, smile at each other, pose for a few photos and reflect on what we had just experienced. There was no air conditioning in the venue, and the packed house made for a hot, sweaty night for all of us. The security staff at the Palladium did a great job of keeping people safe and hydrated. I was even able to get one of them to give me one of Clint's guitar picks that I saw in front of me on the other side of the barricade. It was fun to see a few of them rockin' out to Sevendust's set, too.

Shortly after the show, I bought my customary concert T-shirt and spent more time with my friends before the post-show bus hang. This wasn't my first Sevendust bus hang but it was the first time I got to see the entire inside of their tour bus. We went to the back of the bus to chat for a bit, before I ended up talking major league baseball again with Morgan and posing for a photo.

Before long, I headed to the back for more chats with Morgan, Lajon, John, Clint and bass guitarist Vinny "The Boss" Hornsby before posing for a photo and making my way back to join my friends. One of my friends wasn't feeling well, and some friends took her in to the emergency room, so we said our goodbyes with smiles on our faces. It really was an amazing, unforgettable experience with a lot of incredible people.

I didn't get much sleep that night, still feeding off the energy and the excitement of the evening. Before long, I had to shower, change, grab a quick breakfast before checking out of the hotel and drive back to Boston for my flight home. I caught the connecting flight to O'Hare Airport in Chicago with one of my friends and we reflected a little more about the week (he and another friend attended all 5 Sevendust anniversary shows) before I had to head back to Minneapolis.

I'm still on cloud 9 from that show. The last 2 weekends were wonderful! It was great spending quality time with so many great family members and friends who are always going to be family to me. Can't wait to see them again at another show!

Well, folks, that's all for now. My next show will be getting to see Sevendust for the 22nd time at Rockfest in Cadott, WI along with many other great local and national rock bands my birthday weekend. Until then, have a very happy and safe holiday weekend!

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!

Cold Kingdom EP Release show at the Fine Line

Drove home last night in the rain after a great show of all Midwest metal at the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis. The show was headlined by my friends in the band Cold Kingdom, who were celebrating the release of their new self-titled EP and their upcoming tour dates with national rock artists Shinedown. It's been about four years since I first saw Cold Kingdom open for Nonpoint at the same venue, and I'm proud of the progress they've achieved in that time.

I got downtown a little early following a meeting for one of my volunteer groups, and I had time to have a bite to eat at the Loon Cafe and watch some of the local college and high school playoff games before sauntering over to the arena. I got in line in time to catch up with some friends, and I was glad to meet a few friends that I hadn't seen since last year.

Shortly after 8 pm,  the first opener, Eris, took the stage. I didn't know much about the band, but I enjoyed their songs and stage presence. I also enjoyed catching up with their drummer after the show, making sure I thanked him for the experience.

The second band, Omaha-based Arson City, was one I'd heard a lot of good things about on social media from friends, but had missed their first MN tour date a while back. They kept the crowd going with their onstage antics and driving beats throughout their set. I made a mental note to check out more of their music online later.

The final openers, local favorites Throw the Fight, were a band I hadn't seen since their headlining date at  the now-closed Park in Fridley last fall. They ran through a quick dozen songs of orginal and cover music, and by the time they stepped off stage, every one was eagerly awaiting Cold Kingdom.

When I walked into the Fine Line, I bought a handful of copies for myself and a few other friends who couldn't make it to the show. Their shows are not to be missed, chock-full of energy, electricity and great music!

I happened to be second row front and center by the time Throw the Fight took the stage, and by the time Cold Kingdom kicked off their set with one of their hits, I was happy to see more familiar friendly faces of friends surrounding me in the audience. The new songs are tight, produced by Eric Bass of Shinedown. I highly recommend seeing them with Shinedown if their tour is in a city near you! Get there early, you won't be disappointed!

Well, that's probably my last show in March-weekday shows are kinda hard for me to attend since I'm working full-time again. Until the next show, have a great week, everyone!

Bucky's March Madness

To me, March Madness isn't about the college basketball tournament or any of the high school state tournaments. March is usually a pretty hectic month for me with work, volunteer commitments and of course, great music!

Last weekend, I went to my first rock show in a couple of months featuring my friends in Matrekis at Lee's Liquor Lounge in downtown Minneapolis. I didn't get to stick around long enough to hear headliners Maiden Minneapolis, but it was great seeing some old friends and meeting my friend Tamaris from Indianapolis for the first time in person.

On Friday night, I decided to avoid the busy St. Patrick's Day evening crowds and go to a show closer to home, an Ace Frehley tribute show headlined by my buddy Izzy, who flew in from Los Angeles for the show. This was my first time catching his show, and I was impressed! Great long set of songs, and a few surprise guests from the audience thrown in for good measure.

It was great to hear some popular and deeper cuts from Ace and Kiss' catalog, and a few popular covers thrown in from Izzy and his band and the opening Ronnie James Dio tribute band. It was also great to catch up with Izzy after the show.

Last night, I decided to attend my friends in Blue Felix's first-ever acoustic show. The evening began with a few acoustic originals and covers from Blayne Soyvia with a little help from his former Fifth Hour bandmate Mike on a couple of songs.

Soon after, it was time for Blue Felix to take to the stage for a historic all-ages show. It was great hearing some classics reworked acoustically and a few popular cover songs.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to the merch table afterwards, but I'm glad I got to congratulate a few of the band members on a successful show, and get a few autographs from the show poster I nabbed from one of the walls at Niesen's in Savage to add to my rock & roll wall of fame. 

It was great to see so many familiar faces out on a nice Saturday night to support live music in Minnesota, and spend time catching up with old friends.

Sorry this post is more focused on photos than words, but to me, spending time with quality friends is what enjoying live music is really all about.

Got a few more great shows lined up for the first full month of spring. Until then, have a great week, everyone!

Communication

Sorry to disappoint you gang, but I didn't go to a show this weekend.

I've been taking some time the last few months to make some changes in my life, and I've been noticing how important one thing really is: communication. Here's some tips I've learned for effective communication:

1. Say what you need to say. This can be difficult at times, especially if the conversation is about something unpleasant, but I'd rather be honest and speak the truth then feel like I have to lie or hold things in. I've found that can only make things worse. People respect honesty, and words that come from the heart. Don't let anyone intimidate you, either: I figure, if I can talk to rockstars, I can talk to anyone! After all, we're all human beings made of the same genetic material occupying the same planet. No one is any better or any worse than anyone else.

2. Follow up. This has beneficial to me when I've been looking for new jobs, and it has gotten me a few interviews. It keeps you in the interviewers' minds and lets them know that you take them seriously. Make sure to say "thank you" as well, especially after an interview, meeting or when someone has done something nice for you. People need to know that their efforts are appreciated.

3. Make time, not excuses. I know life is busy, but making a brief phone call or sending a text, even if it's just to say hello, takes just a few seconds. No matter if it's once an hour, once a week, once a month or once a year, taking a little time to say "hello" to a family member or friend might just be the highlight of their day!

4. Keep the communication lines open. This can be difficult when life is pulling you in more directions than a Stretch Armstrong toy, or when you're trying to talk to people who don't always respond or might not feel like talking at the time. Communication is so important in any relationship: romantic, family, friendships, classmates, coworkers, group affiliations, etc. All of these relationships require regular two-way communication to be successful.

5. Listen. This is a key component of any conversation. Picking up on a person's tone, inflection, the words they say and even the pauses between sentences can be very important. Devote the time that you're not speaking in a conversation to actively listening to what the other person says and how they say it, so that you can respond appropriately. Empathize and apologize when you need to.

Well, that's all I have for now - thank you for listening. Be back bloggin' at ya in February! Until then, have a great week, everyone!

You Know You're at a Flipp Show when...

1. You see four guys on stage dressed in crazy clothes.
2. These same guys are bouncing around on stage as soon as the music starts.
3. You find yourself fancying a lightning bolt-shaped guitar.
4. You see some familiar faces in a tiny bar.
5. You look down on the floor to find it covered in cereal.

I had all of these experiences and more last Saturday night at the Red Carpet Nightclub in downtown St. Cloud for the fourth Flipp reunion show. I ran into some old friends and spent some quality time with new friends who like a lot of the same bands that I do. Never a dull moment at a Flipp show! I was surprised when the band came out for the encore dressed in pajamas, but I've been to enough of their concerts to expect the unexpected, and to always have a great time.

Next show for me will be at O'Gara's in St. Paul to close out January. Until then, keep on rockin', folks!

Winter Metal Meltdown

This past Saturday, I attended my first rock show of 2017: an all-local heavy metal fest at the Amsterdam Bar in downtown St. Paul, MN. Even though there weren't a lot of people there on a frigid January evening, I still had a fun time with old and new friends.

After stopping by a local watering hole for a bite to eat, I parked a couple of blocks from the venue, and braved the sub-zero wind chill to find the corner bar. I got there in time to see the masked metalers Rooin play live for the first time in almost a year. The Slipknot and Mushroomhead influences were evident in both their songs and their stage outfits.

After a quick set change, it was time for me to see the Kings of Tyrus live for the first time. A little more melodic metal, I enjoyed their set and chatting with a few band members afterwards.

Soon, it was time for the return of local favorites Karma Sutra. Their thundering songs and stage antics kept the crowd huddled together near the front of the stage (although that could have also been for warmth on this cold night, too). I made a point to grab a set list afterwards and check out more of their music online later.

Finally, it was time for headliners Mithya to take the stage. It was good to see the St. Paul natives rock a stage in their home state for the first time in a while. I had fun enjoying their set from the front row, while avoiding the craziness of the mosh pit behind me and keeping a watchful eye on my friends. Everyone was safe and had fun, and I ended up buying a Mithya T-shirt after the show.

I didn't get to see all of the opening acts, but it was still good to get out in familiar surroundings with good people again - cabin fever was starting to set in with the chilly temperatures.

Next rock show will be my first time seeing glam rockers Flipp play at their old stomping grounds at the Red Carpet Nightclub in downtown St. Cloud, MN in almost 15 years. Until then, have a great week, everyone! Don't forget to get out and support your favorite local bands!