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Pre-Super Bowl Concert in Detroit - Winter Blast
N'rG’S FUNK RIOT IN DETROIT
Steelers Win Super Bowl / Winter Blast - February 2, 2006
Yeah, I know, saying; “RIOT” and “DETROIT” in the same sentence usually isn’t a good thing! However, this was the pre-party leading up to the Super Bowl.
The “Motor City’s” over haul did Michigan proud for sure! And, add a Mark Farner and N’rG fuel injection and we’ve got a combustion engine that would stop a Grand Trunk Western freight train in it’s tracks or de-rail a hostile corporation’s “railroading” attempt! Mark's band, N'rG (energy), has a HEMI in there! You betcha! Mark is gaining momentum!
At almost showtime I had to move fast and cut through the crowd to make it to the stage area…. I passed the ice sculptures and got to the stage were N’rG would be playing. Good thing they covered the ice sculptures. The heat coming off that stage could of turned them into a puddle of a memory. Anyway, I took a vacant spot next to the railing about ten minutes before the intro to “Are you Ready?” started.
As soon as Mark's soulful voice (formerly of Michigan's Grand Funk Railroad) filled the air, that did it! The multi-state travelers felt that familiar groove and started pouring in to the winter open sky outdoor area. I was screamin’ and trying to applaud (wearing gloves) for the longest time before I noticed that along with the people pouring in, so was the cold rain. And there for a moment it rained a little harder after Mark did that “Eagle Dancer” circle. Rain dance? That’s okay. We were dressed for winter’s adversity. It was Mark that removed his flannel shirt and performed in a white T-shirt in the rain. Oh, and you haven’t seen “everything” until you’ve seen Mark Farner sing with white vapor floating out of his mouth. Surreal! At one point Mark remarked: "Something in the milk ain't cream". Apparently guitar strings are temperamental when asked to stay in tune under cold weather conditions.
The fans that Mark draws to his shows are always a pleasure to stand next to because of their knowledge and love for the music. Another fan sang every word with me. The shows are always the real thing and real fun. This band of musicians is always well received and I heard many complements from the attending audience that danced in the rain to the real funk riot!
The set list was excellent with the older stuff balancing out the commercial stuff. It was that “Kickin’ Michigan Rock'n'ROLL”, seen in the heartland where it was born. Seeing it born again in other states really rocks hard too, this being my 5th show!
This show was a RIOT! These guy’s are the best and so are their fans!
Suez
RockN Ribfest - Mansfield, Ohio - July 15
MARK AND N'rG PUT THE ROCKIN' IN THE ROCKn'RIBFEST!!
My husband Greg and I put the Road Dog shoes on for this one, leaving our New Hampshire home at o'dark 30 to catch a plane out of Manchester for Cleveland and then the drive to Mansfield. And it was well worth the trip.
After seeing Mark and everyone at the hotel and exchanging warm greetings and hugs all around (honestly, it wasn't planned that way. We wanted to be as close to the place as we could), as well as bestowing the maple syrup "calling card" to everyone, we settled in, ate, and headed for the Ribfest. It was held on a college campus in Mansfield in a parking lot. The temperature in that parking lot had to get over 100 degrees. A "Texas heat" kind of day. We went back to the hotel to get some sunscreen and when we were returning to the Ribfest for the remaining soundcheck, we caught the beginning vocals of "Same Old Feeling." I can't explain it, but it went straight to my heart and soul. The rest of it was great - even heard parts of the song "8-6-7-5-3-0-9."
We stayed from this point on, and met up with Chris and his two friends, whom we had never met, and also Suez Thull, whom we had met in Youngstown a couple of years back. It's always great to travel to these shows and hook up with people you have corresponded with but never met, in some cases, or making this an annual event to hook up with old friends at a show somewhere outside of where we live, which we try to do once a year.
The opening band, Jimi Vincent and Stallion, was the best opening band we have ever seen open up for Mark. These guys could sing and play really well, and were a lot of fun to listen to. Greg made sure to get their CD, and Jimi signed it for him.
Then, just before 9:30, Mark and N'rG took the stage. The opening song was "Rock n' Roll Soul," and this crowd had it, that's for sure. There was a huge group of people right up front in front of the seating area, and they remained there throughout the show, much to the dismay of the security guys standing off to the side. Anyone who was up front had plenty of opportunity to dance to some great music all evening - "Nothing Is the Same", "Heartbreaker", "Into the Sun", "NaDeane", "Same Old Feeling", "We're an American Band", "For the People", and "T.N.U.C" in its entirety. When it came time for the "LocoMotion" Mark asked people to make a train, and of course, we had to get right in on that one!! We came up with a new name for it: the LocoMotion Conga Line.
Mark always amazes us with his playing and singing and how he moves around. He has more energy than people half his age! If he runs around at home the way he does at shows onstage, his kids and grandkids probably need roller skates to keep up with HIM!! He acknowledged that the humidity presented the need to retune his guitar, but hey - it was so hot, how all the instruments couldn't be affected is beyond me. Paul, Lawrence, Ricky, and Hubert, too - all of them gave it everything they had up there onstage. They are a tightly bound group, very well rehearsed, and it shows. And the more the audience showed their appreciation, the more they gave it back. The show was very enjoyable, and everyone was very well received.
Thank you to Mark, Ricky, Lawrence, Hubert, and Paul for a wonderful show. We are looking forward to seeing you in New Bedford. God bless you all.
Debbie & Greg Wunsch