Soapbox

    Thanksgiving is here and I would like to use this space to say thanks to
all who made our two special concert events last month come off without a
hitch.  
FREEDOM FESTS!
    But first, I have to inform you all of a major change in plans on what
was to have been our next big event. I announced last issue that we would be
having a Freedomfest II at the Star Plaza on Nov. 18.  Sadly, that event has
been postponed due to a variety of reasons, the least of which is scheduling
problems.
     It is my hope that we can find a date that works for all parties
involved sometime after the first of the year for that worthwhile event. 
Watch this space for updates on this matter.
      With that said, I would like to thank all the bands, fans and local
businesses who worked with us to produce – Freedom Fest – on Sept. 29 at the
Lake County Fairgrounds.  I would especially like to acknowledge the
following folks who went above and beyond in making Freedom Fest happen ––
Joe Rega (Joey Rega Tours), Joe Doerr (JJ Pyro & Lighting), The Lake County
Board of Commissioners (Gerry Scheub, Rudy Clay and Fran DuPey), Lake County
Fairgrounds Superintendent Jeff Popka, my wife Julie Lounges, our stage crew
(Mel Higgins, Al Molchan, Jeff Grams, Jeff Ehrhardt, and Peter Huerter) and
local businessman Joe McBride and his family.
     Although the public support and the overall turn out for this event was
far less than I had expected and hoped for considering that we were rocking
to raise money for the New York Disaster Relief Fund, we still managed to put
a few thousand dollars in the coffer to aid our East Coast countrymen.
    Our best wishes to the guys of Florida’s Hangtown who missed the show
when they had to return home unexpectedly when one of the band member’s
fathers took seriously ill. 
      While all of the artists who donated their time and talent at Freedom
Fest did a remarkable job, I must commend the Ides of March on delivering the
most powerful show I have ever seen them perform.  Decked out in matching
patriotic shirts, they opened the show acapella, doing a five-part harmony
delivery of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that was nothing short of
soul-stirring. 
     Another special thing took place just before the Ides took the stage. 
Those at our event were the very first people in America to hear the new
benefit single – “The Day America Cried” – written by Ides leader Jim
Peterik and Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd.   The single is the title
track to the latest Jim Peterk’s World Stage album, from which sale proceeds
will benefit the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11.
    Our photographer Beth Shandler captured a lot of the highlights of that
day-long all ages concert with her lens and those shots can be found on page
22 of this issue.
REGION RUMBLE 2001 A SUCCESS!
        While on the subject of cool local music events...  Our eight band –
“Region Rumble 2001” – went off smooth as silk on October 28 at the Star
Plaza Theatre!   ALL the bands did a truly remarkable and professional job. 
Thanks to everyone for keeping egos in check, working so well together and
making the atmosphere one of a musical community pulling together. 
     Again, a big thanks goes to my right hand man and production partner –
Joe Rega – with whom I could not have made this happen.  Thanks to my friends
Charles Blum and Mark Bishop of the Star Plaza executive team allowing us to
run amuck in your theatre again.  It’s always great to work with you guys! 
Thanks also to Jim Holly, Steve Kokos, Alex Evolga and Sharon Bennett of the
Star for their help in making things happen.  
     And kudos to Q101’s FREAK for coming down for the day and having fun on
stage with everyone.  Did anyone get the recipe for Freak’s “Yeast
Infection” concoction which he spoon fed to daring folks hungry to get some
free swag?   Please note that FREAK is now a monthly columnist for Midwest
BEAT Magazine.  The first installment of his “On The Front Lines...” appears
on page 13 of this issue.
     A big thanks to Mike and the staff of Maniac Records for taking the time
to jet in from New Orleans to check out our regional talent.   The Maniac A&R
folks stuck around most of the day and collected a BIG bag of demos from area
bands who stopped by their booth at the concert.
      I had such a great time at “Region Rumble 2001” that I can’t wait for
the next time we get to showcase our local talents at the Star Plaza... 
      And there will be a next time!