Bringin' up the rear-end

Watching five different bands during a five-hour span is a pretty sweet accomplishment -- unless you happen to be tooling the grounds at Summerfest. 

We closed down the Big Gig last night, capturing what was left of Milwaukee's musical pride and joy: 700 bands sharing 11 stages over 11 days.  We promise to get off our asses sooner if you make plans to join us next year.

We did manage to catch a glimpse of Devo, which commanded one of the biggest crowds of the night.  We know, it's so Eighties! And while techno has never been our bag, we admit falling into a robotic trance as the aging men in jump suits sweated through a lively set at the Miller Lite Oasis (where else did you think you'd find us?)

This followed a wild date with Katzenjammer, which more than delivered on the Sanctuary's weekend pick to click. The maidens from Oslo do not in any way, shape or fashion resemble the sturdy conservative stock we were to born to. Sorry, Mom, but you never even tried to play an accordian, much less a balalika bass.  (But we're pretty sure you're better at the things in life that truly count, like lefse and sanbakkels.)

Wisconsin-based Chasin' Mason have a strong following, as evidenced by the healthy crowd that heard their country-fused rock at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.  Home boy Danny Gokey would be following on the same stage and as CM's lead singer joked, "You're not here to see our ugly asses!"  But you know what?  We were. And after watching Gokey open for an overflow crowd that stood on bleacher seats to catch a glimpse of "Milwaukee's American Idol," we wonder what the big fuss is about.  Carrie Underwood on the big stage at Marcus Ampitheater, that we understand.  But, hey, we're happy for Danny's success. To have fans like that, wow...

Note to Rick: Sorry, dude, but we didn't make it over to the M & I Classic Rock Stage to catch the Average White Band.  We know how they still get your motor going with "Pick Up the Pieces," and we're pretty sure they played their 1975 anthem at least twice.  Maybe next year...

When all is heard and done it's not a bad thing to ask: Who would we go back and see again?  Among the groups we watched, and we almost forgot Madison's Soul Collective, the nod would go to the amped up girls from Norway.  Now that was a show.

Mange tusen takk!