Operation: Great America 2021

Okay folks, hopefully this article will be quick and painless because the cramps in my legs are killing me due to the terrible excitement that I was chasing at Great America. Yes, living for the moment as a thrill seeker did not come easy traveling several bike paths and going the distance with an 80 mile round trip adventure. The Skokie Valley Bike Path, North Shore Trail and Robert McClory where used and after reaching Green Bay Road and Grand Av. I spotted a red roller coaster that stood like a Chicago skyscraper beyond the hilly horizon. 

After my unfortunate encounter battling the blazing Sun and the wind in my face, the time had come to pick up credentials at guest services. I recall going there with my friends John Ciganek and Dave Bavido to scam exit passes to skip the long lines. These old tricks will not work anymore and for that reason I needed to get a Flash Pass to cover this story in a timely manner. On Monday, Great America enforced reservations for all Flash Pass users. If you have no reservations, you will be shit outta luck and the Flash Pass will not be issued for any reason. Oh, you might want to bring an extra $70.00  as a deposit for that cheep orange wrist watch. There are no mask mandates at the park. However, I noticed an obese woman wearing flowery blouse and a fucking mask concerned for her safety and well being. Let's move on, okay?    

On other fronts there are rides such as Wizard (Wizzad), X-Flight and the Bat Man roller coaster . But today was more than just feeding my adrenaline and eating lousy food. This was a mental health day and being on a Corona virus lock down weighed heavy and this was my only escape. After examining the Wizard, it felt like riding a Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle. Sitting by myself was uncomfortable and I missed my female companions that I once took on this ride so many years ago. 

Next up was X- Flight, and this 3,000 foot long piece of machinery made of steel and twisted metal will have anyone feel like a "Top Gun" pilot.   The black and red colors of this structure has a vertical incline of 120 feet and nose dives like an F/A Super Hornet aircraft built by the US Navy. After a sharp left turn and reaching a top speed of 55 MPH my engineering equation looks some like this: d = 120 + 3,000 = 1:45 of travel time. And who said you'll never use math? Trust no one.    

Located at Yankee Harbor is the Bat Man roller coaster that can reach speed up to 50 MPH that will flip you, dip you and turn your world upside down. This ride is pretty wicked as you reach the top of a 105 foot upgrade with 2,693 feet of track, this ride will make you feel as if you the Dark Knight himself.  In total, this ride is only 1:40 of heart pounding excitement on each turn around ever corner. This is a great roller coaster for those crime fighters and the only crime I see are those outrageous prices for $25.00 parking and $70.00 Flash Pass. Those rotten Motherfuckers!

Greed runs deep in this park and paying seven dollars for a soft drink and $15.00 for some Chicken Tenders is just plan extortion if you as me. You can do the math on this equation and you'll find out that you'll a small bank loan should bring the whole family. If you enjoy long lines like the DMV and bratty kids running around like wild animals with no self control, then this is the place for you. I suggest to get their early and to bring plenty of money because these owners of Great America are savages trying to pick pocket the American Dream. 
 

The Stingers: Bombs Away at the Beach!

Mike Faure' (Saxophone) 

Last Sunday was a monster for bike riding along Chicago's beautiful shoreline which definitely needed the action after a fifteenth month shutdown. Grinding gears up hill, stopping and going. Turning and diving quickly to avoid a high speed impact and shouting words like, "ON YER LEFT"! is just good cycling etiquette, zooming past folks as if they were standing still on this congested thoroughfare. Yes sir,! The Too Much Club is open for business and the Lincoln Park Zoo had much to offer with the monkeys, lions and a lonely Polar Bear that was wishing for winter on this hot summer afternoon. Not much to report at the free zoo. So I flip-flopped back north toward Foster Beach.

Becoming thirsty, I noticed The Dock at Montrose beach, walked on deck and ordered a cold brew and some fish tacos. The outdoor seating was perfect as gentle breeze blew off Lake Michigan where I was maybe forty feet from the small wooden stage. I recall my friends at TNT Chicago playing here a few summers ago before the invisible war and the many suicidal casualties  lost on the front lines. However, the wonderful world of music will always been plagued with rock stars with lost hopes and dreams of becoming rich and famous. And today was no different.

Since 2011, The Stingers have been preforming live shows all over Chicago, Rockford and Blue Island. But that's all a big fat lie. Their docket stated that The Stingers have played in the surrounding area and that could suggest places like Niles, Jefferson Park and The Penny Road Pub. I may have Facebook fact check this and have my attorney review my article before it's published. Fuck all that nonsense!  There's no time for all that and we need to get moving on this show review. 

Opening up the show with an Amy Winehouse classic titled: "Rehab" with a nice steady tempo as the spectators sway to the snappy beat. Watching the bright orange wedge drip from a Blue Moon beer on the hot wooden table, my friend Mark Rainman shows up. "Dude, What's up?" he shouts with glee. "Take a seat Rainman," I said. This band sounds pretty good, but the chick on stage doesn't look like the girl I have on file." I was referring to the lovely female vocalist, Yvette Lee. Again, my sources are full of Miss Information and that can get a man killed during war time. 

The Stingers came out strong on stage, yet their audience was weak with that feel-good energy that most musicians crave. Mark Rainman came back with two double shot Margaritas for us as the band played songs such as "Walking on Sunshine" and "I Love Rock-n-Roll."  Mark was having buyers remorse paying $50.00 for only two drinks and the lead vocalist/ guitarist Rick Ricchiuto was taking request for The Stingers next set on stage.  I wrote out a request list with song such as "Fuck Like a Beast" (WASP) "Balls to the Wall" (Accept) and "Angel Fuck" (Misfits) gave the list to Mark to give to the band and management almost tossed him out again.  

Perhaps these song were too complex for these Frank Zappa fans and simpler chord progression would be in order for this family friendly concert event at The Dock. The most impressive band members are Mike Faure' (saxophone) and bassist Mitch Ferris. These two musicains created a dynamic force that Sunday evening and with that in mind, The Stingers get a satisfactory performance as they closed the their set with the blues hit titled: "Messing With The Kid" written by Junior Wells. You gotta love that smooth bass line and saxophone complementing each other under the blue and purple stage lights. I suggest coming down to The Dock for more summer fun before The Too Much Fun Club gets shuts down by the Mayor of Chicago. 
      

 

The Northside Band Beach Party Review.

Northside

Summer is right around the corner folks and dancing to the Latin beat, getting sunburn in the crazy heat, and all those memories shared, as children play and eat is just part of the American Dream. For myself, it's live music and cold beers and last week had been very busy. I spent most of my time on Lake Shore Drive bike riding to the Museum Campus and back to Uptown in Chicago. 

On Saturday, the traffic along the beach exits was pure madness and everyone driving like fuckers to get "There" first, where ever that may be located is just rude. Using my bike to breeze pass the Fuzz and right inside The Too Much Fun Club I noticed the place was packed so I booked a reservation for an hour later. I locked my bike smoked a blunt and could hear the music from the live band at approximately 50 yards away north as I sat under the shade of a small tree listing to "Hey Jude" written by the Beatles. 

The Dock at Montorse Beach was jammed packed and everyone here wanted to see The Northside Band. But let's not confuse them with the English alternative rock band from Manchester that was banned by the BBC. "Let's Take A Trip" had been released in 1998 with government restrictions with no airtime due to the song's suggestive drug content, still hit the top 50 Billboard Charts 

That's the problem here as I sit in the plush green grass and this heavy police presents harasses small families violating their Fifth Amendment Right. Next, a
team of firetrucks scream loud down the beach to rescue a drowned victim. As Air Mobile flies above, I checked out The Chicago Northside Band's docket and discovered each member live in Chicago,IL. Band members include, Rebecca Bolluyt (lead vocalist/keyboards) Louie Kritikos (lead guitar) George Skoubis (rhythm guitar) Bob Spoils (bass) and drummer, Chris Stamos make up this five piece ensemble of Rock-n-Roll Thunder! 

Arriving for Northside's second set, they opened with "Highway Tune"  and the blunt I smoked earlier kicked in with the Blue Moon once "White Rabbit" was preformed. The Dock was spinning, my brain happy swimming in dangerous chemicals. "Remember what the doctor" said, belted out Bolluyt, and I did as she order and feeding my head full of booze that whole night.  The food from the galley wisp with thick juicy aromas in the night summer sky outside. Other song included: "Boot Are Made For Walking" and "Proud Marry" had the crowd wanting more. I ran into an old friend that wanted to dance naked on the stage. He was so wasted and told me he was king around these parts. I should have let him dance up there in his birthday suit but said, "Don't fuck with those people. They're at work and they may not like that Mark. "Not a good idea," I explained.  

Northside Band closed out their set with classic tune by the Beastie Boys titled: "Sabotage" and mixed it up with a montage of "Rolling on the River" and smooth bass line by Spilios. Some rotten chicks at the table next to me left a dollar upside down in cup full of water on the table as a tip. "Look how shitty that is, I said to myself. It's time go home, People Suck! 

Northside Band did not suck. In fact, they rocked the night away and fill the Dock with good vibes and positive energy that Saturday night. Rumors are brewing about them playing Blarney Island next weekend. I suggest you set sail with some Capt. Morgan and check these groovy cats out before summer is gone this year.