What A Finale for Summerfest 2021!
This is where I hit the reality that this is the final long weekend for Summerfest 2021. I am not yet ready to say goodbye until Summerfest 2022 while I am also enjoying the moments of every show I see.
Save The 2022 Dates: 06/23 – 25, 06/30 – 07/02, and 07/07 – 07/09!
https://www.summerfest.com/2022-lineup/
Thursday (09/16/21)
I started the day with Stephen Cooper & The Nobody Famous, a local rhythm and blues band with soul. Stephen Cooper is a 2021 Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Nominee for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category featuring several of Wisconsin’s great male vocalists, and his band is also nominated in the Horn/Big Band Artist WAMI category. Stephen is a great entertainer and his singing did not disappoint!
https://stephencooperandnobodyfamous.com/
The next stop was across the way to Klement’s Sausage and Beer Garden to see The Stephen Hull Experience and I have to confess I have been looking forward to this from the moment Stephen Hull told me he was booked! Stephen Hull is Wisconsin’s blues legacy of the late Lee Gates. I first learned about him a few years ago when Stephen was still in high school while being mentored by Lee Gates (first cousin of Albert Collins). Lee Gates made it his business to check out any new blues guitarist in southeast Wisconsin as he would decide who was worthy of his time and mentorship. He would often tell aspiring blues musicians to stop playing, but not Stephen Hull. Lee was most excited about Stephen Hull, who literally is the last real bluesman Lee mentored before his final stroke. Stephen Hull has made his name known in both Wisconsin and on the Chicago blues scene. I really enjoy watching Stephen as his confidence and musicianship continue to develop. His Summerfest performance was on the same day as the late B.B. King’s birthday and that made the show even more meaningful. The Klement’s Sausage and Beer Garden had a great crowd for this early afternoon show, and it was obvious they enjoyed this show.
https://www.facebook.com/StephenHullExperience
I also had to head over to see The Grass Roots perform on Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. I could not help but notice the large crowd of fans who were singing along with the classics including “Midnight Confessions” and “Temptation Eyes.” I was blown away with Dusty Hanvey’s guitar shredding and the crowd gave him great applause following his solo. This band sounds just as good today as they did decades ago on my radio, and by the smiles on the faces of fans, they agree! This really reinforced why it is so important for festivals to book the popular bands of yesterday because they bring such a great and contagious vibe while provoking memories of the audience.
http://www.the-grassroots.com/
I had to catch “Soul with a Capital S” by the great Tower of Power, who performed on the BMO Harris Pavilion stage. Tower of Power came out hot, without any need to warm up, and it was obvious for me to see how much they enjoyed playing together and to the audience. Tower of Power, a great, horn-driven Soul band from Oakland, began in 1968. Here we are in 2021 with two original founding members, both sax players, Emilio Castillo (tenor sax) and Stephen “Doc” Kupka (baritone sax), along with many other great musicians. Simply an amazing performance and I had to tear myself away to get to the next show. I will confess I ordered their 50 Years of Funk and Soul on vinyl to tide me over until they return to Milwaukee. https://towerofpower.com/
I walked the mile to Uline Warehouse fast because the timing was tight and I was so excited to see a band I have been a fan of since 1991, the Spin Doctors! Pocket Full of Kryptonite remains my favorite of all of their albums and I still smile whenever I listen to it. This was my first time seeing them live and I had a never-ending grin on my face during my time with them including when they performed my former anthem, “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” I had no idea how animated Chris Barron (lead vocals) was live which made this show even more fun for fans. I am not sure why Mark White (bass) wasn’t with them. The big Summerfest news of the day was this turned into the first of two shows for Spin Doctors, as they became the headliner later that night on Johnson Controls World Stage replacing the last-minute cancelation of Natasha Bedingfield (we wish her an uneventful recovery from COVID).
https://www.spindoctors.com/band
I just could not pass up spending time watching and dancing to Fishbone on Johnson Controls World Stage. If you have never experienced Angelo Moore (lead singer and saxophonist) and the rest of Fishbone, then you are missing out, especially if you dig ska, rhythm and blues, funk, and punk! I am also a huge fan of Fishbone co-founder John Norwood Fisher (bass and vocals), due to his creativity as it is his playing that stands out to me the most. This was my first time seeing Fishbone with their new guitarist Mark Phillps and he did not disappoint. The crowd was digging what Fishbone was serving as I did not notice anyone sitting still while I looked around. One never knows what this band will do next during a performance, although fans know it will be fun, energetic, creative, and always ends too soon.
https://fishbone.net/
I wasn’t sure what to expect with daydream Masi as this was my first time seeing this young artist from Ohio. daydream Masi and his band blend genres of pop, soul, rhythm and blues, trance, and hip-hop. It was easy to see how genuine he is, especially when he expressed how happy he was that the crowd knew the lyrics to his songs from his EP Movie Scenes which was released earlier this year. Definitely check him out as you just might find his music is somewhat soothing. http://www.daydreamasi.com/
Headliners
Sometimes things work out when there are not any plans, which is exactly what happened after I ate dinner and went to check to see if there was a time change for the headliner on Uline Warehouse. Artikal Sound System was doing their soundcheck, a band I was totally unfamiliar with. I wasn’t really paying attention until I heard Logan Rex sing. She immediately had my full attention with her beautiful voice and I decided I might be able to catch their first song before heading to where I needed to be. I heard Caribbean sounds from the band while I remained delighted with Logan’s singing. She just might be able to sing the phonebook, although I am not sure but welcome the opportunity to cover this band when they route through Milwaukee again. https://artikalsoundsystem.com/
There was no way I was going to miss The Academy of Country Music’s 2021 New Male Artist of the Year winner, Jimmie Allen, perform on UScellular Connection Stage after watching him perform “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” with Charley Pride on the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards show. Sadly that was Charley’s final performance as we lost him a month later due to complications from COVID. Their performance together was so meaningful as Jimmie showed such care and respect for the great Charley Pride while they took turns singing the classic hit. Jimmie and his band put on a fantastic Summerfest show and he instantly raised the excitement level of the crowd by sharing the truth to the rumor he just may be on this coming season of Dancing with the Stars (with the first episode airing just four days later), as he joked about his jeans being tight. It was also great to join the crowd singing along with his latest “Big in a Small Town.” The excitement continued as Jimmie had Milwaukee Bucks players, Donte DiVincenzo and George Hill join him on stage during “Underdog!” Before we know it, Jimmie will be headlining the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, and we will remember shows like this when he played on the ground stage. https://www.jimmieallenmusic.com/
Back to the Uline Warehouse for my first time seeing Dirty Heads, a band from California that does a fantastic job blending rock, hip-hop, and sounds of reggae. I quickly learned this is a wildly popular band as it was hard to miss so many of their loyal fans wearing Dirty Heads shirts and hoodies in great colors and artwork. What a fun light show, including their changing backdrop, which really complimented the music they served us. The combination of lead singing by Jared “Dirty J” Watson and Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell, seems to be a near-perfect formula supported by a fun and talented band, including their keyboardist Shawn Hagood. A great place to start checking out their music is The Best of Dirty Heads, released in all but vinyl format earlier this year, and the vinyl release date is 12/03/21. https://www.dirtyheads.com/
Friday (09/17/21)
This was the day I would FINALLY see the Ohio Players Live, and I made sure my cameras were in great working order before I left the house! I grew up watching the Ohio Players on Soul Train, and while I know this current lineup isn’t the same, there are current members who have been with the band for decades. The three members who have been with this band the longest are: Billy Beck (keys and background vocals) joined in 1974, Clarence “Chet” Willis (lead guitar and background vocals) joined by 1972, and James “Diamond” Williams (drums, vocals, and manager) joined in 1974. I can also easily make the case for them to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, given the fact this band has been eligible for induction since 1992 and other bands covering their music have already been inducted. I did pretty well keeping things calm from a photographer’s perspective, until their final song, “Fire,” and let me tell you it was impossible to not get funky taking pictures of the Ohio Players performing “Fire!” I am already looking forward to their return to Milwaukee and to finish adding their vintage vinyl to my collection!
Nora Collins, Milwaukee’s country artist who moved to Nashville, returned to Summerfest to perform on the UScellular Connection Stage, and I was so glad to be there! She released her new “Vegas” song just a few weeks before this show. It was clear to the audience that she and her band were happy to perform for us, as she told us how happy she was to be home to share her music with her fans. I have to say she continues to get even better compared to the last time I saw her, which was before she left Wisconsin for Nashville. I also hope her song “Vegas” is an indication she’s working on a new album. https://www.noracollins.com/
If you were/are a fan of 1960’s garage rock, and/or British Invasion bands, then you need to check out Velvet Starlings who are from California. Frontman Christian Gisborne (lead vocals, lead guitar, keys) is just filled with creative talent, so much so that I wondered how long before Quentin Tarantino hires him, and the rest of the band, to work on a movie soundtrack. The rest of this band includes brothers, Foster Poling (drums) and Hudson Poling (bass), and the newest member, Ashton Minnich (rhythm guitar and keys) because they are surreal. I am absolutely in love with knowing Velvet Starlings are inspired by the music I love and they are part of the neo-psychedelic garage rock scene I just learned existed. Velvet Starlings release their debut album, Technicolour Shakedown, on 09/29/21, and a future vinyl release is planned with a to-be-determined release date. https://www.velvetstarlings.com/
Headliners
I read about Ray Fulcher making a career change, from plans to teach and coach, which he was already doing as a grad assistant to the UGA football team, after attending an Eric Church concert. Erich Church is pretty inspiring to many people, and for Ray, he was inspired to learn to play guitar and write songs, before he moved to Nashville. Ray is also now on tour with Luke Combs and Ashley McBride. A tour so successful they play two nights in Chicago, Dallas, New York City, and Boston. I’m not kidding when I say we were really fortunate to have Ray Fulcher play on the UScellular Connection Stage at Summerfest. The beginning of Ray’s Summerfest show met with a microphone challenge which, thankfully, got corrected rather quickly. Ray also just released a five-song EP, Larkin Hill Mixes, which includes “Girl in It” and two other songs he released in June, along with two additional songs. The audience, including those unfamiliar with Ray, really enjoyed his performance. Hopefully, we see Ray return to Milwaukee in 2022, even if on tour with Luke Combs and Ashley McBride. https://www.rayfulchermusic.com/
The final show of the night was the spectacular Psychedelic Furs and the crowd remained on their feet for the entire show! Summerfest was the third stop of this US tour and fans were beyond delighted because this was the rescheduled tour from the Summerfest that did not happen in 2020, due to COVID, following the 07/31/2020 release of their Made of Rain album.
They performed most of the new album along with their classics “Love My Way,” “Heaven,” and “Pretty in Pink.” Richard Butler (lead singer) really appeared to be enjoying performing to the crowd just as much as the crowd enjoyed him. https://thepsychedelicfurs.com/
Saturday (09/18/21)
This is the day where so many people who worked during Summerfest try to find each other to say goodbye until Summerfest 2022. While the crowds did not ever reach a normal level, it was for us, a fantastic Summerfest because we shared the return of live music even with the COVID safety protocols. I was fully aware of how much my soul missed this festival during the 2020 shutdown because covering live music at Summerfest over the three long weekends left my soul feeling tremendously enriched.
I began the day at Uline Warehouse to see Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound. I am trying to remember when I first saw Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound and I am pretty sure it was when they opened for Taj Mahal years ago. I also remember he sat in as Bonnie Raitt’s guest a few years later. I have come to know several great Milwaukee musicians who have turned me on to quite a bit of music I might never have heard of if not for them and Paul is definitely in that category. His knowledge of tasty obscure music is tremendous and it influences everything he does on stage. His performance at Summerfest was no exception as I watched the audience sway and tap their feet in response to what Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound was serving. http://paulcebar.com/
Another band I was really looking forward to enjoying was Poi Dog Pondering. I first became a fan in 1991, living in Chicagoland, when I first heard them on WXRT. This band has its own genre of music which I guess would fall under Americana, as they blend so many genres with songs that defy the test of time. Their song lyrics flow from deeply meaningful to light and playful, often even in the same song, and that is part of their magical genius and how they remain relevant. Maybe this show was extra special because we are healing from a pandemic, or maybe it was because Poi Dog Pondering is pro human kindness and spiritual healing which so many of us need in an otherwise divisive society. What a beautiful sunny day for their evening show. Plenty of fans drove up from Chicago to see Poi Dog Pondering play on the UScellular Connection Stage including friends I grew up with. Frank Orrall (vocals, guitar) hasn’t slowed down his performance after all of these years, as he continued to climb out on speakers and move about the stage like it was 1991 and the rest of the band shared their joy with us. I hope we see a vinyl reissue of their album Pomegranate and a vinyl release of Live at Metro Chicago, as special Record Store Day releases, in the near future, and just maybe we will see a new album from Poi Dog Pondering. I look forward to being able to cover them again, the sooner the better! http://www.platetectonicmusic.com/poidogpondering/home
Gabe Burdulis is forever an All-Star to me, no matter where Gabe lives and what he is working on. Gabe is originally from Madison, Wisconsin, and I first became aware of him a number of years ago when he played in the late Clyde Stubblefield’s “All-Star” band. Clyde Stubblefield was the “Funky Drummer” for James Brown. To be mentored by the late great funky drummer is a tremendous blessing for any musician and Gabe continues to impress me as much now as he did then with his creativity, talent, energy, and his professionalism as a musician. This was another one of those “not planned moments” when I ran into him earlier in the day and we worked out covering his Summerfest performance with the stage manager on the UScellular Connection Stage. Every time I cover Gabe he is doing something different, whether in his former Future Stuff band, opening for Doyle Bramhall II or Los Lobos, or showing up to perform in a tribute to his late mentor, Clyde Stubblefield. His Summerfest performance was a solo show, presenting himself as the singer and songwriter he is. The audience really enjoyed his original songs as much as they enjoyed his version of covers and based upon how he looked from my lens, he enjoyed playing live music to the audience. You can check out his music on his website.
https://gabeburdulismusic.com/
Headliners
Months ago I prepared my Summerfest wish list and presented it to Kris, the Shutter 16 editor-in-chief. I put a lot of time into checking out a variety of bands noted as ground stage headliners which were unfamiliar to me. This is how I came across The Moon City Masters, aka Jordan (bass) and Talor (guitar) Steinberg. Their artwork shows a variety of photographs of the twin brothers and somewhat throwback whimsical art around them. Their music has a 1970s rock vibe with fun lyrics, and for me, their hook is all about their harmony. Their music makes me feel good, and really, that’s a huge draw for me. The fact I hear what reminds me of Don Henley in some of their vocals is also a bonus. I did not have an opportunity to speak with Jordan or Talor, although I would have asked them about their songwriting process. There’s a level of happiness between them, which is even more evident when I watched them perform live, as they opened for Sheila E. on the Johnson Controls World Stage. Moon City Masters are definitely a band I am going to follow because I like them, and you may just like them too.
https://www.mooncitymasters.com/
Have you ever done Knockerball? I have not and I was very curious to see what it was all about, as a spectator. It isn’t being encapsulated inside a plastic ball to roll around the area, which was my first thought about what it was. It is literally a contact sport, where you knock your opponent off their feet by bouncing into them. It sure was fun watching people try to figure it out then take out their opponents. It seems like something that might be fun to play in a larger field, and a unique way to resolve any disagreements. Knockerball was set up near the BMO Harris Pavilion.
Are you familiar with Colemine Records, or Karma Chief, a division of Colemine, out of Loveland Ohio? You might just want to check them out if you enjoy old-school soul or new soul music. Colemine and Karma Chief continue to build really great rosters of artists, including Black Pumas, GA-20, and Neal Francis. Colemine Records also released vinyl Soul Slabs Volume 1, 2, and 3, on prior record store days, which are worth adding to any vinyl soul/rhythm and blues collection. If soul music is your thing, which is one of mine, then you may really want to check out the Colemine/Karma Chief recording artists by visiting the website: https://www.coleminerecords.com/.
Neal Francis opened for the Black Pumas on the BMO Harris Pavilion stage and my next photo assignment was the Black Pumas. I decided to get there early enough to watch Neal’s entire show, primarily because I was very curious to learn if he was like a modern-day Lee Michaels with a band. I read Neal used to play in Mud Morganfield’s band, although I really have no memory of this and I have covered Mud (son of Muddy Waters) for years. I also watched an interview where Neal talked about playing the piano since he was four years old, and he can play by ear as he would show his parents he could play what he heard on television. He also is a fan of Scott Joplin and Leon Russell, which checks my boxes as someone who quit piano lessons after being pushed away from the music of Scott Joplin to the classical pianists. Neal is also very open about his daily recovery from alcoholism, which is something I embrace. I really loved how free Neal is with his emotional performance on both piano and organ, and while he does remind me of a younger Lee Michaels with deeply meaningful compositions and lyrics, he also is much more intimate and his band adds the funk, which widens the difference from Lee Michaels. I am not about to retire my vintage Lee Michaels vinyl, while I most certainly will be adding Neal Francis vinyl. His sophomore album, In Plain Sight, drops 11/05/21 and can be ordered directly from Colemine Records in all formats, including a limited release of coke bottle clear vinyl ttps://www.coleminerecords.com/products/neal-francis-in-plain-sight
All formats (excluding the limited coke bottle clear vinyl), including a special autographed red vinyl, can be ordered directly from Neal’s website: https://www.nealfrancis.com/.
Onto the multi-Grammy Nominated Black Pumas, and of course, I really dig what they serve, as the final Summerfest 2021 show on BMO Harris Pavilion. One of the many things I respectfully admire about Black Pumas, Eric Burton (vocals, guitar), and Adrian Quesada (guitar, producer, mixing, and engineering), is their tenacity to not let the challenges COVID has brought to musicians and live music get in the way of their mission. I do not know if they realize how many new fans continue to suddenly find them, combined with loyal fans who got on board before the shutdown, all of which are happy Black Pumas are back as if the past year-plus lasted only seconds. Capitol Cuts Live from Studio A is their most recent LP, released on 07/16/21, recorded live with no overdubs, and is one to pick up for your collection.
I observed a very diverse audience who looked very happy for what was about to unfold on the stage before them. If you check out their live performances anywhere in the world, including Rockpalast 2020, you will see multiple standing ovations by the audience. Milwaukee’s Summerfest crowd was no different, following the first song of the show “Next to You.” I really hope Summerfest brings Black Pumas back for 2022, even if on a different stage. Meanwhile, Neal Francis opens for Black Pumas in Madison, Wisconsin @ The Sylvee on 10/15/21. https://www.theblackpumas.com/
The Flaming Lips were the final Summerfest 2021 show on the Generac Power Stage and my final assignment. Even if you think The Flaming Lips may not be your thing, it is worth checking out their live show for the over-the-top lights, backdrop, and other effects, which leave people in childlike wonder and amazement, including a little girl I spotted on the rail. I enjoyed watching her reaction to big bubbles, the decent-sized pieces of confetti, flowing streamers, and the breakup of letters from the “F*CK YEAH SUMMERFEST.” While the giant plastic bubble Wayne Coyne performed in for the first two songs is often routine (and a great challenge to try to photograph a clear shot of him), it certainly has become very trendy because of COVID. American Head is the most recent album released by The Flaming Lips (not counting their special 06/12/21 Record Store Day release of The Soft Bulletin) on 09/11/20, and they performed five songs from this album as part of their Summerfest setlist. Wayne apologized for having to be more reserved for this show, due to limitations from COVID, while also promising us they will be back and give us an even more amazing show once safe to do so. I cannot think of a better ending for Summerfest 2021 than The Flaming Lips. https://www.flaminglips.com/
While this is my third of three Summerfest coverage articles, I will have a wrap-up article, which will include my favorites, regrets, and fan photos.
