Yesterday we had a little preview and primer post for the 50th anniversary show here in Peoria for the legendary garage band, GONN. If you missed it click here and read up. And now...it’s showtime!
The show is happening here at the Limelight Eventplex. This is a great venue to see shows and you can check out their website for upcoming shows here. As usual, I’m early and they’re just starting to set up for tonight’s show. I see a familiar face in the seats though and it’s GONN bandleader, Craig Moore! There he is with artist, Dave Moe, who did the cover and poster artwork for the new GONN 50th Anniversary album, Time Travel 50 Years Come and GONN. There’s the bar and hanging out near the bar is one of tonight’s opening bands, Super 88. They told me that they’re working on a new CD with the working title of, “It’s Better In The Can.” I can’t wait to hear that!
Okay, people are arriving for the show now. Everyone is hanging out near the merch area where there’s t-shirts and CD’s for sale. Some GONN fans are getting there albums signed by the members of GONN, who we’ll meet in a little bit. Be patient!
Okay, people have settled in to the seats at the tables and it looks like it’s about time for tonight’s show to start. The opening band tonight is Sin Thetic...and here they are!
Sin Thetic
Sin Thetic Members: Seth Morgan- Guitar, Vocals, Trevor Carr- Drums and Alli Ettinger- Bass.
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Sin Thetic played a great rocking set! Now the stage is being set up for the next band on tonight’s line-up and there’s Craig Moore on stage introducing them. Ladies and gentlemen...
Super 88
Super 88 Members: Jeff Hyde-vocals, Dave Moe-guitar, Chris Anderson-bass, Peter Curse-drums
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Bandcamp
Super 88 really tore it up onstage and they are definitely a high energy rocking band, check them out live when you can! After their set I wandered backstage and I wonder who’s behind this door over here? Well, let’s just go find out!
It’s GONN! I’ve known Craig Moore for years and had many adventures with him and now it’s an honor to meet the other members of his first band that’s still going strong 50 years later! From left: Gary Gabel, Craig Moore, Rex Garrett, Larry La Master and Dave Johnson. They’re all really nice guys and it was wonderful to meet the whole band after listening to their music for all of these years. Check out the GONN facecrack page here.
It was cool to hang out backstage with the band before the show. I had asked Craig Moore the other day if he ever gets stage fright and he said he didn’t, so I asked the other guys in GONN and they all said no, as well. However, there definitely was an energy and feeling of anticipation back here in their dressing room as they got their instruments ready and put the final touches on their stage clothing. Okay, it’s just about time to get Gonn!
I walked back out and the crowd was patiently waiting for the headliners of the evening to take the stage.
Speaking of the stage, the drum kit is lit up and now it’s time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for...
GONN
As soon as GONN hit the stage, they blew the roof right off the building! These guys played a thundering and blistering set that would leave a band half their age gasping for an oxygen tank! It was a non-stop set of glorious garage rock at it’s fuzzy finest and fun stage patter from Craig and GONN. At the end of the set, Craig thanked everyone for coming and said that this might just be the last time anyone would see the band altogether in Peoria. I really hope that’s not true, but if it is, I’m glad and thankful I got to see this show and GONN in all their garage-rock glory! It was a marvelous show from the world’s loudest and greatest garage-rock band ever!
The lights faded on the stage and just like teenaged lust, it was over too quickly but a memory I’ll always cherish! Thanks to Craig and GONN for letting me hang out backstage and to all three bands for a wonderful show! A splendid time was had by all!
Related Post: Going...Going...Going GONN! (The Loudest Band In Town...Live In Peoria, Tonight!)