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Carl's blog for Wicker Park and the Rock n Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon You couldn't have had better weather or a more picturesque location for a concert on Thursday, July 29th,2010, the night M&R RUSH, "ROCKED" Wicker Park in Highland Indiana. The temperature was in the low 70's with a nice breeze and not a rain cloud in the sky. We set up our gear in the gazebo, which is located in back of the social center. There is a slope back there where people can set up their own lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of music. It was a challenge to fit everybody in the gazebo since it was built to hold a wedding party, but we did it! As with most of our shows, many of our friends and family and friends we haven't seen in a long time were there. Thanks to everyone who was there. You are the ones that make it possible for us to play out so much in the summer! It was great to see Jim MacDonald, Bob Groszak, Frank Stec, Bill & Debbie Kozuch, Steve Enger and Bob O'Connor. Even Jed, the morning man on WJOB1230 was there. But the biggest surprise was seeing Sandy and Cindy Ruffalo who we met years ago at Holy Ghost After Dark in South Holland, Illinois back in the early years of M&R RUSH. Once again we managed to have a lot of fun and try a couple of new things! Thanks again to everyone who came and to the Wicker Park Staff who were great to work with. I was suppose to stop here, but I feel compelled to continue and tell you about our show at the ROCK N ROLL CHICAGO 1/2 MARATHON on Sunday, August 1st. You see M&R RUSH had a ROCK & ROLL WEEKEND!! We had to be at 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive by 5:00AM to set up for the show. I saw some of the BON JOVI semi trucks leaving Solder Field as I was arriving at around 4:00AM. It felt really cool setting up and getting ready to play between Soldier Field and McCormick Place. We had to wait for the first runner to appear before we could start to play and since we were at about midpoint of the race that happened around 7:00AM. But once we started there was wave after wave of hundreds of people running past us, showing their appreciation of us trying to pump them up, with a thumbs up, a wave of the hand, a fist in the air, a wink of the eye or a great big smile! Paul and John both left the stage at times to get real close to the runners and drew positive reactions from the runners. Paul also showed off his comedic wit throughout our show with his comments to the racers. At one point he yelled to a group of young runners, "You better hurry up, a 60 year old man went by 10 minutes ago!" But the highlight for me was when Marty called an audible and changed the next song to "ROCK & ROLL CHICAGO." You could just see the positive reactions and smiles of all the runners as they ran by the stage. We played for about an hour and twenty minutes. Then it was time for another band to take the stage. I was so pumped up that I stood at the side of the ramp and cheered on the runners for another 1/2 hour. This was an incredibly uplifting experience and it left me on an emotional high that lasted into Monday. They announced later that day that this was the 4th largest race ever in North America and the 7th largest in the world. The race benefited the American Cancer Society. Carl John's blog from "115 Bourbon Street" show 7.23.10 It was our first time at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park. Wow, what a great venue. Three stages - lots of bars - no shortage of cocktails. Thanks to all who showed up. It was great to see all our friends from Roseland and reminiscing about Mendel H.S., the Cal Park Rec Center, Fenger H.S., Nansen and Gompers. Thanks to all our families who showed up. My wife, my daughter, my sister, my nieces and nephew... Marty and Roger's families... and friends from the old neighborhood. Thanks to the management for the great hospitality. Looking forward to returning soon for the Roseland Reunion Revisited!! See you there!! Keep On Rockin!!! John Jeff's blog from "Homewood Days" show 7.9.10 Homewood Days was the best ever!!! What a great site to see at least 1,000 + rock n roll fans standing 2 blocks deep for the concert. They were so ready to rock and roll, once we started they of course danced partied and joined in singing with the band up on stage during the song Stealin! WOW what a night!!! I will never forget the energy in the air it was so electric. Rock N Roll does live forever!!!! Homewood knows that. Thanks yall for a hootin time! Jeff Paul's blog from "Cedar Lake Fest" show 7.4.10 What would a 4th of July celebration be without good food, good beer, and of course good friends? Sounds perfect. Now add in a laser light show and lots of rock & roll and you must have been at Cedar Lake Fest partying with M&R Rush. If you were not, shame on you. Here's what you missed. When I arrived, the crowd was enjoying the music from our good friends The Bones. They rocked the place as they always do. As I began to walk around the crowd, it was great to see lots of familiar faces. Some old friends like Mike Pakan and Dennis Wood, along with members of Kevin Mardirosian's band Fresh Hops. I even ran into several friends of mine from the Blue Chip Casino including Disco Pete and his family. Once The Bones had finished their set, we set up our gear and checked to make sure all was working. Then came the laser light show. What an awesome display of lights and sound with laser lights shooting through the night only inches above the heads of the audience. The finale was the fitting song 'Proud to be an American'. M&R Rush immediately took the stage and we began to knock out a 2 hour plus set of music. Everything from your favorite copies to M&R Rush music that you have always loved and some new songs as well. The show could not go on without the help of Russ and Rory on sound, Stretch and his crew on lights, and Doug and Jim helping out with everything else in between. I also can't forget to thank Kim who is always there to sell merchandise. You see, there is a lot that goes into every show, and the band is very appreciative to all who help make it work. The biggest "Thank You" goes out to all our fans who continue to attend our shows and support us. Thanks to Gordan and his staff at Cedar Lake Fest for throwing a great Independence Day party with lots of good friends, good music, and good fun. Don't miss the next M&R Rush show on Friday, July 9th at Homewood Days in Homewood IL. Showtime is 7pm. Paul Roger's blog from "This Must Be The Place" show 6.26.10 Saturday's show was awesome! Responsive crowd made it a fun night for me & the boys. The meet & greet was very cool - Dan & Bill the owners of "This Must Be The Place" showered us and the winners with buckets of cold Old Style, hot wings, tomato bread,chips & dip. What a blast!!! It was nice seeing old friends and reminiscing with John Lahoota, Bill Ferm, Dave & Cathy McCutcheon in attendance. Especially having Bill Ferm command the keyboard again. Bill & I were in a band together in the 70's called Lacy Monroe & the Southside Main (don't ask, it was the 70's) Seeing Bill on the keys again was a great vision. Brought me back to the early 70's being on stage with him again. He was appreciative & thrilled to get up on stage with us. What a great guy. Jammin to Foghat's "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" Thanks to all who attended and hopefully you can make one of upcoming shows on the 4th of July (Cedar Lake Fest) or on Friday July 9th at Homewood Days. KOR Roger Marty's blog from Northwood's Summerfest show 6.12.10 Well what can I say - It felt so good to be playing music with my best Friends and Rockin on stage after a two year mini- vacation.....Thanks goes out to all our friends who came out and Rocked with us at our Northwood's Summer fest on June 12th. To be honest - the weather scared us a little bit at our sound check at about 5:00PM - the winds picked up (70 MPH) and it POURED!!!! To the tune of about 2 inches of rain in the tent. The sky cleared up and you came out and you filled the place. We played for about 2 ½ hours straight....Just like fine wine....getting better with age... Thanks goes out to Jeff Fryzel --- you know how to through a great Party and thanks for taking care of us.... Fresh Hops - My son Kevin's band played great before us....They even brought me up to jam with them on a Jeff Beck tune - Freeway Jam..... All of us were so excited to play music again....The thing we love...MUSIC, FRIENDS & FAMILY.....We even got Mrs. M (my Mom) on stage to rock with us...She still can bring it at 83 years young.....love you Mom.... Well - every show we will be having one of us write a little ditty about the show.... Hope to see you at the next show in Lemont at "This Must Be The Place". Keep On Rockin!!! Marty |
