Summer Of '99 and Beyond Festival

Summer Of ‘99 and Beyond

Festival

At

Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

Tinley Park, Illinois

On Sunday night the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre hosted the second day of the Summer Of ‘99 and Beyond Festival.  It was in the mid 80’s for the total show which started at 2 pm. In the afternoon.

I could hear the opening band playing some rock/grunge/punk music that drew me in to listen.   But a while before that my assistant and I drove through Indiana with bumper to bumper traffic. I reminisced about the shows I’ve been covering, Mayhem Fests, Soundguarden with Nine Inch Nails, Fall Out Boy with Paramore.

Shindown Dance Kid Dance Tour

Shinedown

The Dance Kid Dance Tour

with

Beartooth

and

Morgan Wade

At

Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids

Michigan

04-28-25

The Van Andel Arena, in Grand Rapids, Michigan played host to three great bands on April 28th.  Out of all three bands I was used to seeing live, only one of them was Shinedown.

Styx with John Waite

Styx

with

John Waite

At

Wings Event Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan

10/08/24 

It was a decent evening to go to a concert this past Tuesday night right after work.  It was comfortable standing in line.  I always talk to others about the bands that are playing and if anyone has been to their live shows.  

Just then I was thinking back in the early 80’s when my wife and I went to see John Waite at the Allegan Fair.  Ted Nugent was at the show as well, both bands back then made it unforgettable/epic.  Many people in line had stories to tell about seeing both bands.

What was interesting was seeing all different age groups showing up for the concert.  This shows the timelessness of the great music that is made.

Dogstar with Archer Oh at GLC Live, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dogstar

With

Archer Oh

At

GLC Live at 20 Monroe

Grand Rapids, Michigan

08/20/2024

On a warm pleasant day the band Dogstar takes over the GLC Live venue with a sold out crowd.  You couldn’t ask for a better day to stand out in line waiting to get in.  

Many people were there that have never been to the Dogstar  band show including me.  For this show my family bought me a meet and greet for my recent birthday turning 60.  I usually get press but didn’t and decided to take time out of my writing, a screenplay about a time traveling ninja, and write a concert report.

I thought back to the first time I heard of the band Dogstar and it was in between the movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and the legendary action movie The Matrix.  I was thinking back to when Keanu starred as a hockey goalie in the movie Youngblood.

Staind

Staind

“The Tailgate Tour”

With 

Seether

Saint Asonia

And 

Tim Montana

At The

Van Andel Arena

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Last Thursday night on a cold damp day Van Andel Arena was a warm host to Staind “The Tailgate Tour”, with Seether, Saint Asonia and Tim Montana.  Also fans had the same warm welcome like home away from home all here to experience a sonic roller coaster ride.  The experience I speak of is a mixture of great bands that draws you in sonically rock, hard rock, southern rock.  

Judas Priest with Sabaton

Judas Priest

With

Sabaton

At 

Wings Event Center 

Kalamazoo, Michigan

On this last Saturday night Wings Event Center hosted Judas Priest with Sabaton opening the show.  It was mid 70’s outside waiting in line to get in.  So it made for a comfortable wait.

But the enjoyable part of the wait beside the temperature was the people waiting to get in a sold out show.  One person that was interesting showed a cell photo of a Judas Priest ticket stub from 1984 at Wings Stadium back in the day.  A truly loyal metal fan indeed.  

Godsmack with Bastian da Cruz

Godsmack

With

Bastian da Cruz

At

The Hard Rock Casino

In 

Gary, Indiana

The Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana on Saturday made a cold day, warm and exciting with casino games and hosting a concert with Bastian da Cruz and Godsmack.  My assistant and I arrived early receiving a warm welcome.   We decided to explore the gaming floor and restaurants looking like two 4th graders on a field trip to an amusement park wanting to ride roller coasters.