It was fun hearing Mike Perry. It always is. Singer/songwriter of the honest Wisconsin life. But, I will be quite honest with you, I was there to see QuinnElizabeth for the first time. Over the past months I have seen their name show up on more and more show bills. But, never anything on a night that would work out for me. Tonight I made it. And, I am so very glad I did.

It was a novel idea for a venue. Get everyone on stage at the state theater, and make us feel like we were stage hands, watching final dress rehearsal. I know that's how I felt anyway. I had played that role before, in a company of players staging an Irish Feaste. Then, it was a fine Irish band. Now though, I attend so much live music in bars, coffee shops and restaurants where the musicians are stuck off in the dark echoey corners. To be someplace where the lighting is perfect, the sound is perfect, well, it throws me for a bit. Believe me though, I recovered quickly and happily. 

• Check out the rest of the Backstage review (and what else happened that night) over at the Freaks & Geeks blog, originating from somewhere in Chippewa Falls, Wis.