What A First Weekend of Summerfest 2022! 

Summerfest 2022 started at noon on 6/23 and I had to be there to see two Milwaukee bands that play completely different genres. My first stop was to see The Lloyd Stephens Band, a wildly popular old-school R&B cover band, who were serving up their classics while their audience was gathering for what is always the toughest time slot to have at this festival because gates open at the same time they start performing.
https://thelloydstephensband.com/

Next was hard-rocking Conniption, who has most recently been busy working on their new album at Cherry Pit Studios. What I really enjoy about this band is the level of combined passionate talent they have, with two guitarists and a drummer who keeps them together along with their new bassist. I wish I could share more about their new album other than they released the song “Sweet Vengeance” in March, which is enough to leave fans wanting the new album to drop soon!
https://www.facebook.com/conniption.us

I kept it rockin’ all of the way to crossover thrash

This was my first time checking out Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts and I quickly understood why they have such a great following of loyal fans. Miles has such a cool and unique voice, combined with original music performed by the Rusted Hearts, making the experience one where you can easily enjoy several songs in a row without anything sounding similar. This band had an impressive crowd for a mid-afternoon show on the opening day of Summerfest. 
https://www.milesnielsen.com/

Holy Moly did Pop Evil make it known we were at a rock concert with their energetic and magnetic show! There is a lot going on here from a photojournalist’s perspective, making it incredibly fun to photograph as I found each member worthy to focus on, while they keep it rocking to a wildly appreciative audience. This was the most entertaining show of the day, and they kept their crowd going with screaming cheers and flashing the rock’n’roll hand signs. Drummer Hayley Cramer is ridiculously fantastic to watch as she makes it known why she is highly respected for her masterful skills. Definitely, a band to see on their current Vortex tour!
https://popevil.com/

If “Thrash Snob” is a thing then that is me because I only very rarely venture here, and when I do, it is for Municipal Waste, from Richmond, VA, because their blazing melodic guitars make everything for me. Hardcore fans were hopeful to get to hear songs from the upcoming 7th album, Electrified Brain, which drops 07/01/22 on Nuclear Blast Records, while the entire audience was busy banging their heads to the delicious trash served. Their backdrop was a huge wall banner featuring the detailed Electrified Brain album cover artwork by James Bousema, which I think I need on a blue T-shirt!
https://www.municipalwaste.net/welcome

Switching to Americana, NOLA, and ending the night with Indie Rock

Another band I was really looking forward to seeing live was The Wild Feathers, from Nashville. I really was blown away by how this band has multiple vocalists that really sing in beautiful harmony. I only stumbled across them because they were the opener for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. The Wild Feathers sound just as great live as they do in their recordings. There is just a sweet easiness with this band that makes people feel good, as I noticed many smiles on the faces of those in the audience. Definitely check out their music and catch them on tour.
https://www.thewildfeathers.com/

Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs brought their fusion consisting of funky New Orleans jazz and blues, sprinkled with hip-hop, to a packed crowd on the Johnson Controls stage, as he opened for Dirty Dozen Brass Band. There is something so uplifting and contagious about Shamarr Allen and his performance, as he quickly had plenty of people swaying with giant grins of joy on their faces, and I even saw people dancing between the stadium-style seating. Absolutely beautiful trumpet playing. What really stood out was how he was genuinely happy to be performing to a crowd that shared the vibe he was serving.  

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit was one of two ground stage headliners on the first day of Summerfest. I have been enjoying his Georgia Blue album on vinyl, which I had to pick up on Record Store Day last fall, and I wondered what we would hear during his show. I was only able to stay for the first three songs, photojournalist rules, and all that. Those first three songs, in order: “What’ve Done to Help,” “Hope the High Road,” and “It Gets Easier,” and all I could think was how wonderful and soothing it is to have Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit back at Summerfest. I noticed those with special ticket seating were on their feet during these three songs. Merchandise sales must be great, as I scanned the audience I also noticed plenty of his t-shirts and hats.
https://www.jasonisbell.com/

The last headliner for the night was Modest Mouse, a band I have been super curious to see live because they are so unique. I was delighted to see the drum kit was moved up on the Uline stage, positioned where we usually see a bassist or guitarist perform, and that made everything so much easier to watch. They performed at least four songs from their latest album, The Golden Casket: “We Are Between,” “Fuck Your Acid Trip,” “Wooden Soldiers,” and “Never Fuck A Spider On The Fly.” Of course, they also performed their classics “The World At Large,” “Dashboard,” and “Float On.” The crowd were definitely Modest Mouse fans and many of them sang along with the band.
https://www.modestmouse.com/

Making 80’s Rock Great Again!

Day two started with Quiet Riot and let me be perfectly clear, they immediately set the performance bar sky-high, blowing right past my expectations. It has been a few decades since I last saw guitarist Alex Grossi play a Milwaukee show with Bang Tango, and I was looking forward to seeing him in Quiet Riot. I follow Rudy Sarzo on social media because of our shared love for dogs, and I enjoy the iconic rock’n’roll photos he posts. The mere idea of my finally being able to photograph Rudy in Quiet Riot was beyond exciting, from both a historical perspective and due to his stage presence being entirely thrilling to try to capture. I also wanted to see precisely how good Jizzy Pearl was live, and his three books about his experiences on the Sunset Strip are on my reading list. Drummer Johnny Kelly was also new to me to see live. They had plenty of real Quiet Riot fans who seemed to know the lyrics to every song, not just the classics which included “Mama Weer All Crazee Now,” “Cum On Feel the Noize,” “Let’s Get Crazy,” and “Mental Health.” The extra treat was “Blackout In the Red Room” from Jizzy’s Love/Hate days. I left this show knowing I was now more of a Quiet Riot fan than I have ever been!  
https://www.quietriot.band/

Lita Ford was next and even though I have been a fan since her days with the Runaways, this was my first time photographing her. I knew this was going to be one heck of a show as soon as she walked out with her red B.C. Rich guitar and pink highlights in her hair, while the audience went completely bonkers. At this point, there were not any vacant places to sit in the massive rows of stadium seats. Lita, along with her band, made sure the audience felt welcomed as they performed. Her feminine toughness was really extraordinary to observe, as she owned the stage with her performance to an audience who just could not get enough of her.
http://litafordonline.com/

Braking for Indie &  Blues

This was Dayglow’s first time performing in Wisconsin and their fans screamed, practically nonstop,  like girls who had crushes on everyone in this band. Dayglow grew its fanbase by making the most from social media algorithms and quickly became sought after by record labels. This pop-sounding Indie band made their fun look easy, as they performed the song that made them famous, “Can I Call You Tonight?” Their music is as upbeat as their fans. Hopefully, they return to Milwaukee soon!
https://dayglowband.com/

Jimmie Vaughan and his band were up next, on the BMO Harris Pavilion stage, which is on the other end of the Summerfest grounds. Jimmie and his band received a warm greeting from the blues fans who showed up to see him. His band was tight, which is what I have come to expect from the prior times I have seen them. “It’s Been a Long Time” from his The Pleasures All Mine was a perfect way to greet his fans while also showcasing his talented guitar playing, and his fans responded by singing and swaying along. It seems like it has been way too long since we last saw Jimmie in Milwaukee, and by the smiles, on his face, it was clear people were very glad to see him.
https://www.jimmievaughan.com/

Back to the Rocking ’80s, ’90s, and beyond!

Oh my goodness, next was Warrant, and they rocked our faces off featuring many songs from their first wildly successful album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. They even had someone dressed like the dude from the album cover appear during the show! Talk about a band with songs that trigger great memories, while these men also showed zero signs of slowing down! This was another jam-packed performance by an audience who knew all of the lyrics to every song. Lead singer, Robert Mason, is very entertaining and has perfected talking the right amount of time between some songs without being dull. The crowd really dug his mention of gratitude for our freedom in the USA. Definitely, a band to see and they have quite the summer tour underway!
http://www.warrantrocks.com/

“I Remember You” has never sounded better to me than when Skid Row, with new vocalist Erik Gronwall, performed this during their headlining show! Fans dug Snake Sabo taking a break to toast Milwaukee, a known Brew Town, by chugging a Miller! What is also so hot about Skid Row is original guitarists Snake Sabo and Scotti Hill, along with bassist Rachel Bolan, have managed to bring fresh creativity to their retro sound for their new album, The Gang’s All Here, available 10/14/22, including on red vinyl. Even a week out from this show and people are still talking about how the future of Skid Row sounds fine! 

Two Nights of Steve Miller Band Headlining

Steve Miller Band was originally scheduled to headline the first night of Summerfest on the BMO Harris Pavilion stage. That turned into adding a second night when Ann Wilson had to cancel due to some members of her band having COVID. Milwaukee is Steve Miller’s birth town, which is part of the reason so many of us locals support him whenever he’s in town. The other part of the reason is that we’re serious fans! Another significant connection to Wisconsin is Waukesha’s Les Paul was Steve Miller’s godfather. Steve shared the part of his life story, both nights, about how Les Paul taught him to play the first few chords on the guitar, while never giving Steve a Les Paul guitar. He told Steve he had to go out and earn his own Les Paul. Of course, Steve did, and he proudly showed us his Les Paul during the early part of his show.

Both of his shows were beyond packed, with fans spread out on the entrance hill of BMO Harris Pavilion. He started both nights with his cover of Elmore James’ “Stranger Blues,” followed by “Fly Like An Eagle/I Want To Make The World Turn Around,” “Jetliner” and I could hear “The Stake,” as I had to head out to cover other bands. While we wish a full recovery for those with Ann Wilson, we also could not think of a better band than Steve Miller Band, to play two consecutive nights of Summerfest!
https://www.stevemillerband.com/

Day Three and we are ⅓ of the way through Summerfest!

The Smithereens continue celebrating their 40th Anniversary with this tour, and frankly, I cannot think of anything better than bopping around the photo pit to this band, with Jim Babjak having fun on guitar and Dennis Diken on drums. Marshall Crenshaw was the lead vocalist, and that really suits The Smithereens as well as made their fans happy. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans as it continued to rain and then drizzle during most of this show, although the crowd picked up as the rain slowed down.  Of course, their setlist included “Blood and Roses” and “A Girl Like You.”
https://www.officialsmithereens.com/

Michael Sweet of Stryper, helped make the rain stop with their Christian Metal and testimony, as fans jammed into the seating area of the US Cellular Connection Stage, and spilled out around the area and even into the food court. Watching Michael Sweet shred his Sully guitar was a sight to behold! The band also tossed New Testaments into the audience in front of the stage, as he explained they have been handing them out for years but people did not seem to want them until after they were printed with “Stryper” on the cover.  
Stryper recently released their first single, “Rise to the Call,” self-titled from their upcoming album, Rise to the Call. While there is no release date for the album, you can easily enjoy this song on YouTube and other platforms.
https://michaelsweet.com/

Stephen Pearcy the voice of Ratt, along with his band, realized they were making their audience so happy that he had to comment about how much it meant to him to see so many smiling faces rocking back with him. It was not all too long ago when the world learned Stephen Pearcy had liver cancer, and by the way he looked and moved with high energy, it was too hard to believe he was ill. Stephen would check in with the audience after every few songs, asking us what we wanted to hear, which is a heck of a way to make sure you are keeping your audience satisfied. By the time he did “Round & Round,” The setlist included “Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job” and of course, everyone lost their minds with cheering when the band began playing the iconic “Round and Round.”
https://www.officialstephenpearcy.com/

Homecoming

Chris Vos returned home to Wisconsin to make his Summerfest appearance with The Record Company, and as always, this show was packed with quite the audience. The band began with “Life to Fix,” then at the beginning of “Baby I’m Broken,” his guitar amp decided it was done. The quick recovery by Chris and The Record Company resulted in improvisation while the amp was swapped out, then they started “Baby I’m Broken” from the beginning. This was also their time performing their recently released cover of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog,” and the fans went wild! As far as I know, this is the second time The Record Company has covered Big Mama Thornton, as they released their cover of her “Ball and Chain’ on their Side Project EP.
https://therecordcompany.net/

Final Headliner
A charismatic performance by the extraordinary Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes was the final headliner of the night for me. It seems like I have waited most of my life to see them live and they exceeded my expectations between their showmanship and fantastic talent. We could have easily enjoyed them for hours, as they really know how to entertain. I definitely recommend you check them out soon!   

https://www.southsidejohnny.com/

Click Here to View The Full Gallery of the Weekend!

If you happened to capture any shots of the festival, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see. 

That concludes the first part of Summerfest. Stay tuned for our coverage of the next three days.