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The Year In Regional Music * 2004

By Scott Baker

        If you made it to one Tri-cities based musical event this year, you know well that the music scene, from local to national, is on the up and up.

"Saginaw Onstage was awesome," said Dan Erben, guitarist for Classical Graffitti, out of Saginaw. "Events like these renew my faith in the Saginaw music scene."
 So where were you in 2004 and what were you listening to?

I'm sure we all have crossed paths at one point or another throughout the year at one of the many musical events that the area and our surroundings had to offer.
The first major event of the year (other than watching/discussing Janet Jackson on the boob tube during the Super Bowl in January) was the Saginaw-Bay Area Blues Society's Leap Year Blues Bash held at the Captain's Cove on Sunday, Feb. 29. Around that time, the Midland Theatre Guild took on The Who's Tommy with the help of Saginaw's rock legend Dick Wagner leading the music score.

After bar/band hopping around St. Patrick's Day and getting ready for spring, the 18th Annual Review Music Awards created mixed waves with its dual stages at Shooters during the last week of April.

Local CDs of all different styles were released throughout the year, from Bryan Rombalski's world jazz sound on The Awakened Heart to the 'wicked rap' of Project: Deadman, or even the punk adventures of The Natalie Fight to the power pop crush of Radio Therapy's A Solution To TV Boredom.

The summer hit its stride offering the Bay City River Roar and Pig Gig, Frankenmuth's Oldiespalooza, as well as the 4th of July Fireworks showcase in Bay City and Saginaw. Big concerts from The Doobie Brothers at Vet's Park in Bay City to Alice Cooper playing softball at Vet's Park with a subsequent gig the next day at Ojibway Island in Saginaw. Former Allman Brother Dickey Betts headlining one night and Kim Wilson with the Fabulous Thunderbirds the next at Frankenmuth's First Annual Blues Bash on the Cass. There was also a quick gig from David Allen Coe in Bay City thrown in for good measure.

"The Cooper show on Ojibway Island was great,' added Erben. "It proved that there is a demand in Saginaw for these kinds (of) shows. We have great venues like the Temple Theater, the Dow, and Ojibway.  We should be exploiting them."

There were the Westown gigs in Bay City. Taking a handful of ideas from DTE and Flint's Machine Shop and bringing in everything from recent country music stars to '90s alternative groups Sponge (Detroit's own) and Seven Mary Three, to a slew of '80s vocalists such as Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Jani Lane of Warrant, and the biggie, Bret Michaels of Poison.

"I only attended a few of the concerts at Westown, but I think bringing back the old 80's bands is great!," said music fan Kristi Arnold of Bay City.  "Especially seeing the bigger names in such a small place versus the DTE, etc.  I think that makes it a lot more fun, less chaotic and everyone has the availability to meet the bands.  I'm looking forward to seeing more great classics play next year."

The festivals ranged from Birch Run's Dirt Fest to Saginaw's Altered Skin Fest. The tribute and benefit shows, from Bob Grundner's goodbye jam at Tommy K's, the Nick Andros Scholarship Concert at the Temple, to the Benefit for Al Limberg and the American Heart Association just a few weekends back.
     

Local musicians and groups like The Mongrels, Laurie Middlebrook, The Sinclairs, Astray, Maybe August, Matt Besey, Larry McCray, Jedi Mind Trip, Sprout & The Orange, Groove Circle, Dave Kellan, Stamp'd, Billy & The Beertones, Burnaround, Serving Chaos, The Robert Lee Band, Silverspork, Krogman-Miller & Van, Colieda, Chris Roach Band, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, The Verve Pipe, Count & The Change, Dick Wagner Band, Jen Cass, Swiv's Big Organ Band, and Jim Perkins together gathered mucho ink in the press all year long.

Coming and going this year included a goodbye to Lila Rasa, the change of guard for TNT Blues Band, the sparse playing of Muddy Gumbo, the debut of The Saginaw Jazz Quartet, and even the return of The Banana Convention.

"I really enjoyed the Doobie Brothers show at Vet's Park in Bay City," said music teacher/fan Gary Johnson of Essexville. "I also liked seeing Mary Wilson at the Pig Gig.  The only downers were the people from the audience she brought up on stage during her show. I like what is going on at Washington Lanes under its new ownership. Groups like the Robert Lee Band in Pinsetters Bar and Rock and Roll Trivia in the LaRoz Room have been great. I would have liked to see Matt Besey at the State Theater."

"The Doobie Brothers in Bay City's Vet's Park was awesome,"  said music fan Dave Case of Saginaw. "It was) A show I had to attend as they were one of the hottest bands during the '70s. The State Theater is a gem--I was surprised more people didn't turn out to hear Pat Cronley's performance with the Heavy Hitters."

"Alice Cooper on Ojibway Island for Wheelzstock!" added Lynn Roberts, of Z93.3 FM, WKQZ. “What an incredible day. Also, I would say The Verve Pipe reunion show (at The Temple Theater). They are such incredible musicians."

"I thought the Review Music Awards seemed a bit crazy with the layout at Shooters," said John Cashman, drummer for Radio Therapy.  "I would like to see that done in a more ceremonial type venue like The State Theater or The Temple Theater."
       

"I definitely would put Wheelzstock with Alice Cooper at the top followed by The Nick Andros benefit concert with Verve Pipe and then The Altered Skin Revolution!" stated Mark Wayne, music fan from Saginaw. "Don't laugh, but I actually thought the WIOG Winter Wonderjam  '90s strike back show with Tone Loc was very cool! And Kenny Wayne Shepard at Clio (Amphitheatre) which was the same night as Altered Skin and St. Stan's (Fest) —I couldn't make it.... what a great musician!"

See you out and about next year!

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