Rock Island Fest 2024: Reigniting the Legends and Chart-topping Jams

Strap on your headbands and prep your air guitars—Smax here taking you on a sonic journey through Rock Island Fest 2024, where the rock gods of yesteryear and today collided in an unforgettable explosion of sound and spirit. With legends like Kip Winger, Night Ranger, and Mr. Big tearing up the stage, and a special appearance from Wigwam's Age Sten Nilsen, this podcast episode is your all-access pass to the heart of rock's pulsating core. Experience the front row frenzy, backstage banter, and those electrifying moments where music history was made. Our Instagram's got the pics, but your ears get the main event.

Turn up the dial for a recap that hits harder than a power chord at a sold-out stadium. From Tom Keifer's Cinderella-era magic to Brett Michaels proving he's still got the fiery rock mojo, we're reliving every riff and soul-stirring sing-along. Jefferson Starship's anthems sail through the airwaves, while LA Guns and Don Felder showcase their undying allure. And for those who remember cranking up "Dirty White Boy," get ready to ride the wave of nostalgia straight back to the festival's crescendo—because we're not just recounting rock history; we're echoing its call to the faithful.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Hello and welcome to the Haircuts. Strap in and get ready as we take you on a hard, rockin' trip through the decades. Through the decades Streaming around the world and beyond. The Haircuts is your show for all eras of hard and heavy rock. And bringin' it all to you, your host, Smax.

Speaker 2: 0:30

Greetings, fellow rockers. This is Smax, your host, and you are listening to the Haircuts man. Am I excited to be back with you, my friends? It's our first episode of 2024. So let me start out by saying happy new year to all of our friends out there. No, it's a little late, but hey, you know, better late than never. Now, for those of you who are just discovering our show, I want to give you a quick overview of what we're all about.

Speaker 2: 0:57

The Haircuts is a podcast that touches on the 80s hair metal scene and way beyond. Yours truly brings rockin' songs from not only the glitz of the sunset strip, but also hard rockin' bands that came before and after this era of music. So we're talkin' all hard and heavy hitting rock. The show also features a segment we call our Artist in the Chair. This spotlight's a band or artist for that particular episode. We discussed the band's beginnings as well as where they are today. So if you like what you're hearing so far, I encourage you to go back and give a listen to our past episodes. We covered a lot of good stuff, played a lot of good hard, rockin' tunes, and our plan is to continue doing a lot more of the same in 2024.

Speaker 2: 1:43

Alright, let's get down to it. Today's episode is gonna be nothing but 80s heavy metal, or hair metal, if you prefer. Why? Because I want to talk about the event that the Haircuts just attended a few weeks back on the island of Key West. It was the third annual Rock Island Fest, and it could not have been better. We were invited down as part of the media, so we got front row seating backstage and even got to speak to some of the bands and artists that we all know and love. We've been posting some of the picks from this awesome event up on our Instagram page. You can find us at the Haircuts and of course, that's Haircuts with a Z Chip from Enough's Enough and a few of the other rockers that we're performing that week have been showing our page a lot of love. Even the great Don Felder from the Eagles mentioned our post. So if you're not following us, head on over, check out the page and give us a shout out.

Speaker 2: 2:37

So the event itself was five days of rock and roll madness down in the southernmost point of the United States. For those of you who have never been to Key West, it's our country's Caribbean, beautiful waters and just a cool island town with a ton of history, including great pirate lore. It's just freaking awesome. The venue itself was a small, intimate amphitheater right off the water, so we couldn't be in a better place in freaking January. And the group that put this event together two thumbs up Kim, kyle, alexis and Stephanie, and the VIP tent the whole team made this five day event go off without a hitch. True professionals all of them. So we wanted to say a big thanks to them for the hospitality and that we'll be seeing you guys next year.

Speaker 2: 3:23

Alright, so on to the music. Tuesday night was a little welcome shindig where you could pick up your credentials, hang out and see Kip Winger doing acoustic set. That was really a cool way to get things started. They also featured a few up and coming bands that we thought were pretty awesome as well. So the first night was a lot of fun. Wednesday night actually kicked off the festival and let me tell you something, the fans were just freaking insane. I mean, there were so many of us rockers down there in this little town. It was just freaking awesome to see it.

Speaker 2: 3:55

The evening started out with wigwam. Now these guys are a Norwegian hard rockin' act that got things started off on a great note. They were tight, they brought high energy and the lead singer, axton Nilsson, was spot on with his vocals. I got to spend some time with Axton. In fact, he sat at our table one night and what a cool dude. As I was telling him about our show, he said he would love to come on the haircuts and give a big shout out to all our friends and fellow rockers. So stay tuned for that Should be a lot of fun. Another interesting note regarding Axton is he created and performs in a Freddie Mercury tribute show. It's pretty cool. He sings all the Queen Hits, but he also acts out Freddie's life on stage. The name of the act is the Show Must Go On and he's selling out venues all over Europe. You got to check him out on YouTube. You know if this guy is singing Freddie, he's bringing it.

Speaker 2: 4:49

The rest of the night was pretty cool. It was Winger, with a full band performance kippin'. The boys sounded great. The thing I love about Winger is that they're all the original members, all live, zero tracks, so pretty strong performance from those guys. Next up was Mr Big, who happens to be on their final tour. This was only their second show, but the band was extremely tight and it was just such a thrill to watch the great Billie Sheehan play bass. Night Ranger closed out the night, which our entire crew felt was the best performance of that evening. And what can you say about Night Ranger? I mean one of the longest standing and hardest working bands of that era. They were right on point and really having a good time on stage.

Speaker 2: 5:33

I've seen Night Ranger a number of times, but I have to say I love how they always give us something a little bit new. I mean, they obviously play all the hits, but they threw in a story about lead guitarist Brad Gillis. Now, I don't know if you know this, but Brad played back in the early 80s with Ozzy. He actually stepped in and took over the duties after the tragic death of Randy Rhodes, so he shared that story with the crowd about his time with Ozzy and then they ripped into Crazy Train. It was just freaking cool, such a great way to close out the night. I got a chance to spend a little bit of time with Brad that night and all I can say is he's another rock and roll class act. I mean just an awesome dude. I threw the pick of him and I up on our Insta page. This first tune that I have queued up for you guys is a bit of a deeper cut. It's a hard rock and kick ass tune from one of my new favorite performers and bands. This is WigWam.

Speaker 1: 6:59

You're in the peace. Now you're in peace. You're in the peace. Now you're in peace. You're harder than I know. I'm talking about you. I'm lost. Why? Why did you break it down? Can't take it anymore. Before you hit the ground. I'm a guy who's just a. I'm lost. I'm thinking about you this spring. You're in the peace. Now you're in peace. You're in the peace. Now you're in peace. You're in the peace. Now you're in peace. You're looking so bad. You're so weak. Why did you break it down? Can't take it anymore. Before you hit the ground. I'm a guy who's just a. Why did you break it down? Can't take it anymore. Before you hit the ground.

Speaker 2: 8:47

I'm a guy who's just a why did you break it down? Can't take it anymore. Can't take it anymore. Why did you break it down? Can't take it anymore. Before you hit the ground. I'm a guy who's just a why did you break it down? Can't take it anymore. Before you hit the ground. I'm a guy who's just a hey, welcome back. That was Wigwam and their song Uppercut Shazam. A nod from the haircuts for a great performance. Fellas, opening night at Rock Island Fest. So on to night.

Speaker 2: 10:32

Number two Another great lineup and enough Znuff kicked the evening off. Now let me just say this about Chip Znuff. That cat is cool. He was at the event the entire time. I noticed he watched most all the acts from the same stage, so he was there supporting his fellow artists from beginning to end, which I thought was really really cool to see. Chip got the nickname of the ambassador of Rock Island Fest because he was just so involved in the whole event. He was one of the artists that took some time out to talk with us, really personable and just a great guy.

Speaker 2: 11:08

Their set was super tight and they which I thought was interesting they covered some Beatles songs. Now, I know what you're thinking Beatles, but let me tell you something. They rocked them out and absolutely killed it. They have an album out called A Hard Rock Night, which was all Beatles covers that they put out a few years ago. Check it out and if you get a chance to see them live, I highly recommend it.

Speaker 2: 11:33

Okay, next up was LA Guns. Wow, this was the best performance I've seen by them. Their volume was turned up to 11 and they were on point and super, super tight. Tracy Gunn's guitar playing with Stellar that night and Phil Lewis's vocals were one of the most impressive of the night, maybe even the whole weekend. His voice was powerful. He seemed to be hitting all the notes from the LA Gunn's classic hits Really really impressive.

Speaker 2: 12:02

Next up after LA Gunn's was Don Felder. I was really excited to see Don, as he is a hair roots artist that has a ton of hits we all know and love. Don was a member of the Eagles and wrote a number of their songs, including the classic Hotel California. Now his songs are much more mellow than what we typically cover here on the haircuts, but a true legend all the same. I loved his set and the crowd at Rock Island showed him a lot of love.

Speaker 2: 12:30

The closing act of night number two was Tom Kieffer of the 80s hard rock band Cinderella. It was so great to see Tom and watch him perform all those Cinderella hits. We featured Cinderella as our artist in the chair back in episode four. The lovely Lisa absolutely loves Tom and we've been a fan since the 80s. I'd encourage you to go back and give that episode a listen. We have a great story about Tom and the band, so make sure to go back and check it out. So I'm going to cue up a song from what I think the best act of night. Number two was we're giving it to LA Guns, with Don Felder in a close second. This is LA Guns, and Never Enough.

Speaker 1: 13:44

All the words that we couldn't say. I don't know about talking to men I used to tell myself, couldn't say I feel lost, I must stay. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. Are you a girl? You're a heartbreaker. I'm so happy, so sad, so excited. I don't care about how I'm made. Why was I missing you? I've been wrong. I've been While I'm dead. I don't know.

Speaker 2: 15:47

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. Welcome back my fellow rockers. That was LA guns doing never enough. Okay, we are heading into night. Number three the first ax slotted was trickster. We all remember these guys from back in the day. Give it to me good. That was the hit that probably comes to mind.

Speaker 2: 17:26

They announced an acoustic set as their performance, which I thought was going to be an odd fit for this festival. So I was pretty anxious to see them perform. The lineup was, as classic members, pj Farley and the great guitar playing of Steve Brown. Steve handled all the vocals that evening as well. These boys came out with nothing short of a high energy and tight performance. This was not a couple of guys sitting on stool strumming acoustic guitars, no way. They stepped up. They had a solid drummer holding down the beat and they absolutely rocked it. It was like MTV unplugged on steroids An acoustic set like I've never heard. So I'm really glad I got to see them and had a chance to meet Steve Brown what a great guy, personable, and asked me to hit him up as he too would like to jump on the haircuts and talk about what they're currently up to. I dropped the pic of him and I on our insta page and look forward to catching up with Mr Brown down the road.

Speaker 2: 18:24

The next act up was a blast from the past and I can tell you what they did not disappoint. The original act goes back to Woodstock, that's right. Jefferson Starship did a solid set of their classic hits. Original and founding member David Freiburg was on stage performing, singing and looking the part at 85 years young. I just couldn't believe it. And Kathy Richardson absolutely crushed the songs made famous by Grace Slick. It was just phenomenal. So cool seeing this addition to the festival To close out the night.

Speaker 2: 19:00

It was Brett Michaels party-gross tour. To open this part of the show was a performance by the original voice of foreigner Lou Graham. He performed five or six numbers and just sounded phenomenal. Lou has had some health issues over the years, as we all know, and it showed a bit. But you could hear that familiar foreigner voice on all the numbers he did. And what I absolutely loved was the crowd showed him so much love. His voice was the soundtrack for so many of us back in the day, so we were so glad to see him perform. He did a great job.

Speaker 2: 19:33

After Lou came Brett Michaels to close out the night. And what a job he did. No-transcript, holy shit. He brought it From the first song to the very last. He was non-stop high energy rock and roll. He closed out his three songs with Highway to Hell and absolutely killed it. He mentioned that he hadn't performed in two years and man, he left nothing on the stage. You have to go CD. At 69 years old I couldn't believe the energy as much or more than some of the younger bands that are out there playing. Plus, his vocals sounded freaking great. Do yourself a favor and you have to go in CD. Alright, in honor of night number three, I'm going to queue up a classic one that brings back a lot of memories. This is Dirty White Boy by Lou Gramm and Forner I'm a good boy, you all day.

Speaker 1: 21:08

Are you worried what your friends will see? Will it ruin your reputation loving me? Cause I'm a dirty white boy? Yeah, a dirty white boy, a dirty white boy. Don't drop no big black car, don't like no Hollywood movie star. You want me to be true to you? Don't give a damn what I do to you. Dirty White Boy, dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty White Boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. I've been in trouble since. I don't know when. I'm in trouble now and I know somehow I'm in trouble again. I'm a loner. Good, I'm never alone. Every night I get one step closer to the dangerous road. I'm a dirty white boy, dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty White Boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. Dirty white boy. You are listening to the Hair Cuts with your host Smax.

Speaker 2: 24:15

Hello friends, I see you made your way back. We are recapping Rock Island Fest that happened in Key West last month in January 2024. We came, we rocked and we survived. The last night was a bit of a different take. It was a night of 90s rock acts good rock acts, bands that I would include in our hair extensions. It was the night of brothers, and you'll know what I'm talking about in a minute, but the opening act was bowling for soup.

Speaker 2: 24:45

Now, these guys were flippin' hilarious. The lovely Lisa commented she didn't know if they were a comedy act or a rock band. Jarrett Redick, the lead singer, came out with one liner after one liner. I mean just very entertaining, and the music was really tight. I was not familiar with these guys, but their big hit was 1985, which I knew as soon as they started playing it, and they did a great job. The next band up was the first brother band of the night Lit Brothers, aj and Jeremy Popoff were solid in their set. They played all of their hits, including their most well-known my own worst anime. Another rockin' brother act that we met up with are hard rockin' twins that are grinding it out on the road, opening for acts like Alice Cooper, jackal, bullet Boys and Steven Pearcey, just to name a few. They just dropped a new single. Now that we both know that you can find on Spotify, we'll be playing that cut in an upcoming episode featuring the twins. Those boys rocked their asses off all week long as part of the pre-show party that took place at one of the local live music establishments in Key West.

Speaker 2: 25:55

Next act up on our last night was Buck Cherry, and I was stoked to see these guys because I've seen them before and I knew what Josh Todd would bring and did he ever? This guy is a frontman extraordinaire, so cool and his voice sounded absolutely on point. One of our producers, the awesome Amy, who was backstage with me, had no idea. I told her get ready, this is going to be one of the best performances of the night and by the end she was like yep, it was.

Speaker 2: 26:25

I know Buck Cherry picked up at least one new fan that night, and the closing act of the evening and the festival was STP Stone Temple Pilots. This brother act is made up of Dean and Robert De Leon. Of course, original frontman Scott Weiland died back in 2015. However, his replacement, jeff Goote, sounded eerily like Weiland as he was belting out all their classics. I was quite impressed with their sound and set, but I have to say the night belonged to Josh Todd and Buck Cherry. Josh is a master frontman that held the crowd from the beginning of their set to the very end. They're constantly touring, so I highly encourage you, my fellow rockers, to get out there and catch one of their shows. This last cut is Crazy Bitch by Josh Todd and Buck Cherry.

Speaker 1: 27:41

Maybe just a bottle. I'm skewing these Whoo for you All night. You're so down my bad, we keep on on. Take it all the paper and your game Jumping dead with fame. Another one, not paid in part. You're so fine, you won't be in the rocks Catching in the rocks Just to get you free. Hey, you're crazy bitch, but you're much so good on my top. I've been when I dream I'm doing you all night, Stacking so down my bad, we keep on on. Hey, you're crazy bitch, but you're much so good on my top. I've been. When I dream I'm doing you all night, stacking so down my bad. We keep on on. Get the video. Fuck you so good.

Speaker 1: 29:11

Crazy bitch, crazy bitch, crazy. Hey, you're crazy bitch, but you're much so good on my top. I've been when I dream I'm doing you all night Stacking so down my bad, we keep on on. Hey, you're crazy bitch, but you're much so good on my top. I've been when I dream I'm doing you all night, stacking so down my bad, we keep on on. You want it all, you feel so you'll have to go down. Take it off. Don't need to talk. You're crazy, but I lost the way you fucked me. Hey, you're so crazy bitch, but you're much so good on my top I've been.

Speaker 2: 30:04

When I dream I'm doing you all night, stacking so down my bad, we keep on on. Hey, you're crazy bitch, but you're much so good. On my top I've been, when I dream I'm doing you all night, stacking so down my bad, we keep on on, we keep on on. You're crazy, but I lost the way. You fucked me. Well, that's a wrap, my friends. We've completed another hard rockin' trip through the decades Right here on the Haircuts. We'll be posting some pics and content from Rock Island Fest on our Instagram page at the Haircuts and of course, that's Haircuts with a Z. I'd like to encourage you to share our show with your friends and fellow rockers. They can subscribe and stream on the same platform you're listening to, and make sure to send us your comments and questions at thehaircutsatgmailcom. As always, I'd like to thank you for riding shotgun here with me. This is Smack Sign and Off, encouraging you all to keep the volume up.

Speaker 1: 31:15

See ya. Thank you for tuning in to the Haircuts. Please remember to download, subscribe and like on the platform of your choice and remember sharing is caring, so tell your family and friends about the Haircuts podcast.