Posted October 31
The "Spellbound" competitive season is complete, and of course the trip to New York looms. If you saw the show, you know the primary melody this fall was the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black". So it seems when looking back at the season we should set the highlights (and lowlights) of the Roadies to music ... sort of a soundtrack to the year. So consider this review of the season as a mix cd, or a playlist off the Roadie Ipod. The songs for this year would include:
Light My Fire (The Doors): The Roadies annual cookout at Marshall moved into a new era with TWO grills for food prep and Jeff Goddard's Shrimp Fire Kabobs far surpassing chips and dip on the menu
Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen): Ah, the timed event at Des Moines, where the Roadies get to hustle on and off the field ... of course beating the drumline again
Listen To What The Man Said (Paul McCartney & Wings): We can't print what was actually said in Vermillion (*&#!*), but it was colorful, first when Jeff discovered the hitch ball missing on the atv, and then moments later when the tongue of the ladder trailer slammed down on Tom Reed's hand.
The Long And Winding Road (the Beatles): That would be the path the pit had to take at Irondale ... long enough the band had a police escort this year.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (movie soundtrack): Chitty Chitty is the sound of the air compressor topping off pit equipment tires at Des Moines. Bang Bang of course were the two PA cart tires that exploded barely 10 minutes apart.
Bus Stop (the Hollies): Sunset bus stops at rest stop, but bus no go no mo. Spare bus and driver from SBI make the spontaneous trip to Valleyfest.
Night and Day (Cole Porter): The trip to Irondale and the return trip home through the night wore out everyone involved, especially the IronRoadies that piloted vehicles home immediately after the show ... and then unloaded the band at LHS.
Hurts So Good (John Couger): Well, it really probably didn't when Dean Versteeg's foot was run over by a trailer at Irondale. Or when Tom Reed was stung by a bee at Vermillion. Or pit kid Hailey whose hand was smashed between two marimba just before taking the field at Festival of Bands.
Runnin' On Empty (Jackson Browne): That's what we were doing with one ATV. There was barely enough gas to cover the bottom of the fuel tank at FOB before Jay Hardy sped off to fill 'er up.
Who'll Stop The Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival): That morning rehearsal at USF was held in the rain, but fortunately the showers moved on and the band did shows at USF's halftime and at Presidents' Bowl that evening.
Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis): Or maybe it should be "sparks of fire" as Jim & Tim welded the broken tymp handles in the PARKING LOT at Irondale.
Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder): The new Acme BFL Drum Major platform certainly put the DMs on higher ground and it took two Roadies to move it to the field (and knock branches out of trees) and three to put it on the trailer.
Bloody Well Right (Supertramp): Sort of a tradition of the Roadies, to test how many layers of skin are on one's knuckles prior to bleeding. Rookie Roadie Brad Roades discovered whatever it is, it was not enough
We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You (Queen): Sweepstakes winners at last, the Lincoln Band beats all competitors at Quad States in Vermillion.
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra). This one's a no-brainer what with that little parade coming up. But it sure seemed to fit!
