HUGE THANKS to our loyal team of volunteers, the Midwest peeps, the bags tournament players, Ryan Stasik and Mary Welch Fox for organizing and holding the Pony's Lid's for Kid's sale (a HUGE success - $900 raised!), Andy Farag for his AWESOME tasting chicken wings and for introducing the world to Andy's Rippin' Rub (sooooo good! Pick up a pouch at your next UM show; and thanks to Brett Coolidge for cooking), Nick Hartman for taking pies in his face for the kids (see video to the right), (and thanks go Pony and Steve Smitka for also volunteering to take some pies also), all the raffle ticket buyers (we gave away LOTS stuff....did YOU win anything??), the Summercamp staff.....Rachel Lowen, Don Richards, Vince Iwinski and of course ALL of Umphrey's McGee, their crew and their extended family.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for helping us help the kids, and for allowing us to have SO MUCH FUN while doing it...there are no words to describe how important every one of you is to USTORM...as Brendan likes to say, "Thank YOU for allowing us to do what we do."
USTORM 1st Birthday Party Concert
Wade's World: An Inside Look at USTORM by Wade Wilby
Sometimes you find yourself in a moment so sincere you have take a second to try and discredit its existence. Can this really be happening? A moment so resilient that it makes you remember why you chose the path you did. These moments, despite what the fans may think, truly come few and far between for the musicians and all of us behind the scene. You may find this hard to believe, but it is very hard work making the "magic" happen night in and night out.
The result: bands and their fanbases becoming jaded and fairly indifferent to the routine of it all. Sure your fans still love you and come out every night, but that spark of joy that we all start out with is hard to revisit. The moment that I found myself and many of the musicians in on Saturday night at the Park West made us feel a sense of community again, the very same sense of community that made us want to be a part of music to begin with. It was a feeling that I hadn't had in a while. Read More About The USTORM Benefit on HiddenTrack.com >
Reminiscing About Turning Oneby Brandon DeJaynes
Just by looking at the front foyer of the Park West you could tell it was going to be a party. The tiny merchandise booth had a Jim Pollock poster and a USTORM 1st Birthday t-shirt, both adorning the laundry list of guests. The party goers were handed complimentary party hats and key chains as they walked into the seating and floor area. It appeared the table was set for a great night; all the party needed was some music. Read More >
USTORM
1st Birthday Party Setlist
March 31, 2007, The Park West,
Chicago, IL
I: Always Up (JA, BB), #6, Susanah, That's the Way, Grave (Al, Ron, JA, BB, JC Drums) > Jam > Grave, Willin' (Aron, Ron, Al, JC), Ain't No Sunshine (Jen, JC, Ryan, KM), Fearless (Aron, Marc, JC, KM, BB), I've Just Seen A Face (Al, JA, BB), Backfire (JA, BB), It Makes No Difference (Jen, BB), Wish You Were Here, The Weight (Al, Jen, BB, Ryan, Jeff, Aron, KM)
II: In the Kitchen (Marc, Aron, BB, KM, Al, JC), Have a Cigar > Jam > Life During Wartime (Ron, JC Drums, Al, BB, Aron) > Dear Prudence (Ron, Al, BB, JC Drums, Aron, Josh, JA), Chameleon (Horns, Ryan, JC Drums, BB, Aron), Ophelia (JC, KM, Ryan, BB, Aron, Josh), I am the Walrus (Marc, Aron, BB, JC, KM) > Willie the Pimp (Ron, JC, KM, Al, BB, Barry) > Sax Solo > Karma Police (Ron, KM, Al, BB), Moth (Al, BB, Ryan, KM, Aron), Helter Skelter (Jen, Ron, Aron, Al, KM, BB), Debra, Home Again (Marc, Aron, KM, JC, Al, BB) > Brain Damage > Eclipse
Encore: Late in the Evening
(All)
Musician Legend: BB = Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey's McGee), Andy = Andy Farag (Umphrey's McGee), JC = Jake Cinninger (UM), Ryan = Ryan Stasik (UM), KM = Kris Myers (Umphrey's McGee), AL = Al Schnier (moe.), JA = Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band), Aron = Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Marc = Marc Brownstein (Disco Biscuits), Jen = Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Ron = Ron Johnson (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, New Monsoon), Josh = Josh Quinlan (Ray's Music Exchange), Barry = Barry Brown (Jack Straw)
