Gig diary from some of the F5 shows of 2003
January 8th '03-The Alamo
F5 started the new year right with a full house at The Alamo. It's our only January gig, we will be taking the rest of the month off.
February 1st '03-The Alamo
The bar was a madhouse all night...and everybody had a great time. We played lotsa new tunes.
February 19 '03-The Alamo
Another cool night at the Alamo, and on a Wed. We had a couple of guests (one was a free-style rapper, great job).
March 12 '03-The Alamo
OK, we do play other places...lol...it was a packed bar on a warm night.
March 15 '03-Oak Harbor Lake Club
What once was the Lake Marina is now a newly refurbished lake club with new owners. It's a big place, lots of room to move around, and there's still a huge balcony that overlooks the lake. The night was a success, a large crowd came out there. We will be playing there again for another event, July 4th...and it will be bigger, and outdoors. Thanks Mike!
March 29 '03-The Alamo
A full house all night for this Alamo gig...
April 12 '03-The Alamo
Freakin' mayhem.
April 18 '03-The Grandstand
The opening of the beer garden (and warm weather) helped out a lot, there was a little room to actually move around.
April 25, '03-Lincoln Palooza
First ever Lincoln Palooza at the Expo building on the fairgrounds was a unique event. We got to play on a national act-style stage. In was quite cold in there...but a lot of people came out anyway. Lotsa fun, special thanks to the work of WDBR and all the interviews, and to Stage Right Productions.
April 23, '03-Marley's Pub
Despite the long wait to get in the bar (it was filled to capacity all night), we hope that everybody that got in had a good time. Kudos to those that came early!
May 16 '03-The Alamo, Chatham
First time to the Chatham Alamo, had a great crowd all night until the last song. I forgot my camera, so no pics...whoops.
May 30 '03-Air Rendezvous Prevous Party
Tornado watches...severe storms to the North and South...AGAIN! But we were yet again left alone from the bad weather. A monster crowd showed up, the official numbers are 1,675 people! WDBR opened the show with free CD's and a great intro. Bassist Kenny Duffy works for the Gov's office, so he was in session all night. Former F5 bassist Chris Baldwin filled in great. Former drummer Stan Komperda played this gig with us as a guitarist/vocalist, and also did great. Scott from Lidlifter did a few extra songs this gig and drove the crowd wild. The F5 hip-hop dancers Laura and TJ also got a great reaction from the crowd (yes, that's right certain radio personality, that's hip-hop dancers...getting a great crowd response! And thanks for the free press!)
June 11 '03, Sangamon County Fair At 7:00, a funnel cloud was spotted (I saw it driving in off of Rt 36), and then there were reports of tornados touching down. The siren was going off, and the police shuffled the fair goers into the shelter, with the exception of the sound guys and us. Musicians and sound people are expendable I guess, lol...We did get to play though, and started just 20 minutes late. Despite a steady downpour until 10:30, and the tornados, we still managed to get a good crowd. Wacky.
June 13 '03, Farmersville Irish Days: The rain finally gave us a break this night, and Farmersville was rockin. A great festival to play! People in Farmersville know how to drink... Thanks as always to Eric and the rest of the staff there. MORE PICS
June 14 '03 Aqua Club: Perfect weather, huge turnout. Carbon Copy opened (Jeanie/Julie Kittlestad, Howie Freitag, Todd Bailey, Kenny and Tom from F5) with an '80's setlist and did a great job. Oakie Morris (aka John Bon Oakie) played drums for us for this gig and did a flawless job.
June 21 '03 Chatham Homecoming: Our first Chatham Homecoming, and it was a blast. Carbon Copy opened and did great again. Special thanks to the Chatham American Legion folks for taking care of us with more food and drinks that we could manage. MORE PICS
July 5 '03, Capital Street Celebration: MORE PICS The night began with a Star Search competition, eleven finalists from around Springfield. Janet and Tom were judges (among others). All of the contestants were talented. Afterwards, Jamey Garner, a winner of the Nashville Network's Star Search, and now a country recording artist in Nashville, performed a half hour set with his guitar player. They were awesome. A big highlight of the night was when Jamey and his guitarist came up and did "Sweet Home Alabama" with F5 (yes, you read that right).
July 18 '03 Chatham Sweetcorn Festival: The rain ended early and gave us a break, the show was a blast. Paul Planters from KISS-FM (and crew) threw out t-shirts and got the crowd going in between sets. New dancer Shannon Boggs and Laura did a routine with Janet that went over great. Thanks to Godfather's pizza and all the pizzas we got...I lost track on how many were back stage. Thanks as always to the Jaycees, also Scott and Stan for sitting in. Plus, Ric Majors for a great mix. MORE PICS
July 26, '03 Marleys: A jammed packed house all night . Some giveaways from KISS-FM also, thanks KISS-FM crew. I'd say it's time Paul Planters from KISS to sit in with us on something (he plays drums)...
Aug 9, '03 Alamo: The most people we have ever seen in the Alamo. It's been packed before, but this was nuts all night. People stayed and partied all night (the bars are open until 3AM during the fair). Jeanie and Julie Kittlestad, and Todd Bailey of Carbon Copy sat in for a bunch of songs (to promote CC's Aug 12th Miller Tent Fair date).
Aug 12, '03, ISF Miller Tent: Rain, humidty and heat did not stop people from packing the Miller Tent, the biggest crowd yet for the tent this week, according to KISS-FM. It was wild all night in there. Paul Planters from KISS sat in on drums for one...so he can play...former F5'ers Stan Komperda and Chris Baldwin also sat in, and part-time F5 member Scott (from Lidlifter) also showed up for a few songs. MORE PICS
Aug 13, '03, ISF Miller Tent: Synopsis: Packed, heat/humid, beads, boobs, super soakers, bikini contest, dancers, guests...beer. Another huge night for the Miller Tent/KISS-FM/F5, biggest crowd for the tent this fair, also beating our Wednesday crowd size (a close 2nd). Guests: Chris Baldwin, Stan Komperda, Oakie Morris, Paul Planters. MORE PICS
Aug 30, '03, Edinburg Celebration: A total blast...a full capicity crowd for the event, complete with a concert-like encore at the end, plus multiple requests for t-shirt signings. Edinburg...you folks rock!! MORE PICS
SHOUT OUTS: Jennifer (today's your birthday...), Stacie (thanks for taking care of us)
Sep 20, '03, Springfield Air Rendezvous Hangar Party: The final festival of the season turned out fantastic, thanks to all the sponsors (WDBR, Papa Murphys) and to Julie Clark, and a special thanks to all the came out. MORE PICS
SHOUT OUTS: Shannon and Ashley, dance away girls...
Oct 10, '03 The Grandstand: ...You so crazy...SHOUT OUTS: Grandstand bar staff
Oct 11, '03 Backwaters, Quincy: A 3-level dance club in Quincy, our first time there, it went great. Huge stage and light show. Way cool club, you gotta see this place...nothing like it anywhere around Springfield. SHOUT OUTS: Brock and Erin
Oct 18, '03 The Alamo: Packed all night...good times... SHOUT OUTS: Paul Planters of WDBR
Oct 31, '03 The Alamo: A highly motivated and energetic crowd all night. A costume contest went great with WDBR announcing it (Dave & Dina). The bar had a 3:00 license, and because of SO MANY people there, they served in the beer garden . MORE PICS SHOUT OUTS: Dave, Dina, Jason, Paul, Kevin
Nov 15, '03 The Alamo: A huge crowd that packed the bar and danced all night. Paul Planters of WDBR sat in on drums for a few. SHOUT OUTS: Paul (in charge!)
Nov 22, '03 Marleys: How many people can you fit in Marleys? This fact was tested as it was just nuts all night, a huge, packed, party. Special guest Ben Lowder, publisher of Abe magazine subbed for Drew (who's on vacation). Ben also celebrated his 29th birthday. Scott did a few extra songs also, and both of the guys were fantastic. SHOUT OUTS: Jessica, the twins, and the rest of the bar staff, (this is one hard working bar staff), plus Oakie and Mike
Dec 12, '03 Grandstand: F5's 7 year anniversary party, a huge party... SHOUT OUTS: Andrea and Jessica, today's your birthday, Stan the Man Komperda
Dec 20, '03, Alamo: Packed all night, another great night at the 'Mo. SHOUT OUTS: Sit-in's John Fergusen of Big Fur, plus Carrie Creasey, and TJ Cunningham
Dec 27, '03 Marleys: A crazy night for our last 2003 gig. The sit-in's were John Fergusen of Big Fur, Carrie Creasey, Ben Lowder, and Crazy Ben (another Ben). Thanks to ALL that have come out to see us in '03, show after show. Cya in 2004!. SHOUT OUTS: F5 FANS!!!!!!!
