A new bar and a new good time! This is one of our favorite sentences to say when it comes to our shows. Yes, we LOVE our regular scheduled shows, but there is something exciting about playing a new venue. This time was no exception. We were contacted some months ago by Rhonda and Russ to book their Grand Opening event at their newly acquired bar. For those of you familiar with the Wisconsin Rapids area, this is the old Joker's Bar on the northwest end of town on Hwy 13. Tell ya what, Rhonda and Russ have big dreams for this place and they are well on their way to making those dreams happen. They shut down for a period of time to build a new outdoor stage, fixed and graded the parking lot, put in a garage door in the back of the building out to the new HUGE patio where they will eventually put in a full service outdoor bar AND MORE! Baby steps, right?!
What a beautiful property and that STAGE! Outdoor venues take note… make sure your stage is as awesome as R&R's outdoor stage. They built a more than ample sized stage about 4' off the ground, with a ramp that you can back a trailer up to and unload your gear directly onto the stage. First of all, kudos on the size of the stage and load in option. Secondly, the stage is COVERED which guarantees the band can play rain or shine. That right there is worth the investment as a majority of bands will not play a stage that isn't covered if there is even a whiff of rain in the forecast. And who wants to still pay a band when they can't play because of the rain?!
Well guess what, IT RAINED. It downright poured for the hour leading up to our show. Luckily we had our gear up on the stage and protected and the show would be on no matter what. While waiting the storm out, it got pretty violent. So violent that we could hear the tornado sirens going off in Wisconsin Rapids. Now what? Well by the time we debated whether to take cover or not, the storm hooked to the south and north of us and dropped all of its golfball sized hail and straight line winds on those sides of town. It literally split and spared the new stage from the hail and high winds. Cue a beautiful double rainbow that showed its splendor post storm.
The people poured back in as plentiful as the rain that just came down and before we knew it, the show started. We played to an enthusiastic and full crowd. We couldn't be happier for Rhonda and Russ for their Grand Opening. It was a great day! So great that it looks like we will be back for their one year anniversary on May 17, 2025. Can't wait to see what the place looks like a year from now.
There is really nothing left to say except THANKS for coming out and supporting live music and live music venues!
FACEBOOK PHOTOS OF THE SHOW:
Sound/Production: Breezy Point Sound & Light Co.
Photography/Videography: Amanda Trash
Merchandise: Amanda Trash & Karen Boudry
Stage Techs: Marty
SETLIST:
- Turn Up The Radio - Autograph
- It's My Life - Bon Jovi
- Unskinny Bop - Poison
- Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
- Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
- Dude Looks Like A Lady - Aerosmith
- Your Love - The Outfield
- My Kind Of Lover - Billy Squire
- Money Talks - AC/DC
- Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
- Dance The Night Away - Van Halen
- Hysteria - Def Leppard
- Fallen Angel - Poison
- Round & Round - Ratt
- Sister Christian - Night Ranger
- Fat Bottom Girls - Queen
- Wildside - Motley Crue
- Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
- Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue
- To Be With You - Mr. Big
- Take It On The Run - REO Speedwagon
- Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
- Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
- Separate Ways - Journey
- Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
- Don't Stop Believing - Journey
- Jump - Van Halen
- No More Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper
- Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions
- Photograph - Def Leppard
- Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
- Nothing But A Good Time - Poison
- Metallica Medley - Metallica