One Hell of a Time! (Chaos for a Cause II Review)

One Hell of a Time! (Chaos for a Cause II Review)

One Hell of a Time! (Chaos for a Cause II Review)

 

Posted on October 28, 2022 at 12:00 AM by The Biker Lawyers

I celebrated Halloween early, and in style!

Well it finally happened, the show I have been talking about for a few blogs now. That, of course, is the Chaos for a Cause Part Two show in Waterloo, Iowa at Electric Park Ballroom!

The show happened this past Saturday and the bill was loaded with all sorts of amazing bands from right here in Iowa, and not just Waterloo. We had bands from Des Moines, Waterloo, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids…talk about hitting all the heavy-hitting cities right there.

Little did I know that Chaos for a Cause has been going on a for a few years now, but in the past year, it really started to gain some ground as the radio station jumped on it along with sponsors too!

Putting the cause in Chaos for a Cause…

The show is headed by the band Grave Corps, as it’s their big going all-out show right around Halloween time where they ask bands to gather, donate their time to perform, and help a great cause. Which cause, you may ask?

This year the show was raising money for the Iowa Giving Crew, which works hard to provide full Thanksgiving meals to families in need right here in Iowa. It includes the turkey, fixings, sides, you name it…it’s all there for those families, and I think Chaos for a Cause REALLY helped.

Carli Foxx goes acoustic

The night started out with Carli Foxx of The Rumours performing acoustically to kick off the show, I have mentioned them before in a previous blog if I remember right and of course, she was fantastic as always.

Switchblade Saturdays: highly recommended

The next band up was the first full band of the night, and that was Switchblade Saturdays. I have been told by a friend how much I need to see them, and maaaaaan she wasn’t wrong! They impressed me and kept me entertained the entire time with a stellar light show all the way from Des Moines. They are a band that I will be sure NOT to miss next time!

Guilty of Treason offers some seriously solid metal

Following up, the metal was REALLY brought with Guilty of Treason, if you are looking for some super solid metal to mosh too? Look no further than Guilty of Treason! These guys will smash your face in with hard-driving riffs, and they even have a new album too!

NonGrata is always a blast- they did not disappoint!

Following up the night was Iowa City’s NonGrata and these guys are always a blast to watch and have been played on Rock 108 plenty of times before, so it was cool to see them live again.

Grave Corps organizes the Chaos!

The night was then brought to one of the main events (all of them were main events obviously…) Grave Corps! These guys and gals just have it down man, the show, makeup, sound, they have been doing this for years and you can tell there is something super special here. You could also tell that people came to this show to SEE this band as they likely brought in the biggest crowd of the night… like KISS, you just see them live and you are immediately drawn to them.

Hell, there was a moment when I even joined them onstage for their cover of ‘School’s Out,’ which is always fun.

Destrophy summons the God of War

Rounding out the night was Destrophy, a band I had heard a lot about but had NEVER seen! These guys at one point were signed to a record label and even recently got back together to perform again. You know when you heard that band that just has their shit together? That’s Destrophy in a nutshell. Lead singer Ari was painted up as Kratos of God of War and that band didn’t miss a beat. I look forward to what is next from those dudes.

Chaos for a Cause was clearly a resounding success and I look forward to year 3.

About The Biker’s Ambassador of Rock

If you live in the Cedar Valley in Iowa, you probably know Ned. If not, you surely know his voice! Ned, the Music Director at Rock 108, is known for his energetic personality, wild spirit, and love for all things Live rock. In an epic collaboration with Rock 108, Ned will be presenting excellent inside experiences to our motorcycle riding community exclusively here so subscribe to the blog and check back every week to see what Ned’s up to next!

“Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” – Jayden, Midwest Shooting

Obviously, Jayden gave me a fairly good education on why compensators help control recoil and Rick let us know how he did while on Midwest’s range practicing with the compensator.

Rick sent me a picture of his target, and, to my still relatively untrained eye, it looked fantastic… but it turns out, that was from his shots WITHOUT the compensator.

So the verdict: to each their own.

What do you think? Have you ever used a compensator? Does it do all the things the Almighty Google claims or is it just a cool way to customize your piece?


About Russ: The biker community’s Ambassador of Ammo

Known as a professional Radio Gypsy, Russ is the voice of “crazy stories and bad behavior” on Rock 108 every weekday from 10 AM – 2 PM (CST). After a shooting expedition with friends, Russ found a new passion for firearms and is now searching to find the perfect fit to match his needs. Join him as he tests and reviews various guns and targets, learns gun safety, and occasionally blows stuff up every week right here!

Make sure to subscribe to this blog for email updates when Russ posts a new experience!


This blog is brought to you by

The Biker Lawyers, PC Personal Injury Lawfirm. Injured?

This blog is brought to you by The Biker Lawyers, P.C. Personal Injury Law firm.

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How Slipknot Convinced Me to Move to Iowa

How Slipknot Convinced Me to Move to Iowa

How Slipknot Convinced Me to Move to Iowa

Posted on October 17, 2022 at 10:44 AM by The Biker Lawyers

An Iowan’s Perspective

When a rock fan looks at the state of Iowa, one band usually comes to mind: the 9 masked members of one of rock’s biggest bands in modern history, Slipknot.

I remember when I moved to Iowa nearly 6 years ago and the first thing I thought about was, ‘Well, Slipknot is from Iowa, so the area clearly knows what awesome music is.’ And you know what? Past Ned was not wrong!

Anyone in the rock world knows who Slipknot is, and here in Iowa, many rock fans have a story of how they discovered the band hailing from Des Moines. For me, a Midwesternerner native to Michigan, it took a bit to hear about this band coming from Iowa in masks.

I first heard of Slipknot back in the early 2000s, probably 2002 to be exact. I was late in my Freshman year in high school and I didn’t go anywhere without my trusty portable CD player. This was also during the time that fellow students would bring their massive CD folder with them everywhere, or even better, pay a friend to burn a CD of songs from their computer and make a mix CD for a small fee.

During this time, pop-punk was all the rage with bands like Sum 41, Good Charlotte, Blink-182, you name it…it was pop-punk fun and people wearing skinny ties, like me.

One day a friend of mine had me put on his headphones as we were between classes of Phys Ed and History class, he said ‘You gotta hear this.’ I popped on his gross headphones and I heard the lyrics…

“You are all f***ed and overrated I think I’m gonna be sick and it’s your fault.”

I took off the headphones and thought, what the hell was this? I thought it was hilarious…I actually laughed out loud (before LOL was a thing)!

Just a taste to spawn an addiction

 

Little did I know at the time, this was my first taste of this Iowa band named Slipknot, off their newest album ‘Iowa’ and the song named ‘Everything Ends.’

I popped the headphones back on then an onslaught of sound took over my head…it was angry, violent, and unlike anything, I had heard at the time. I liked some metal at the time, but this was different, this was something I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be part of! There were plenty of kids in school that loved music like this and they were usually the goth outcasts-looking kids, and I just didn’t entirely run that route.

The day went on, and I asked my friend at the end of the school day…’ Dude can you burn me that CD?’ I guess that was the first time that I really was diving into this dangerous heavy metal world that my little pop-punk mind wasn’t quite sure about. I got the CD, brought it home, and songs like People = Shit, Left Behind would play on repeat…but it wasn’t until I heard ‘The Heretic Anthem’ that solidified it, I was then and forever a stone-cold Slipknot fan.

Just look up the video for Heretic Anthem from the Disasterpieces DVD and you’ll see why this band is unlike anything else out there… and they came from Iowa.

The Death of Pop-Punk

Pop-punk life kinda faded away over time, sure I listen to those old CDs from time to time, but it was Slipknot that kept going.

Bands like Disturbed, MudvayneBreaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Nonpoint, and Sevendust, all started painting a clearer picture of lastability in music for me, and it all started with a burned CD of a guy telling me that I’m f*** overrated and it’s my fault from Iowa.

About The Biker’s Ambassador of Rock

If you live in the Cedar Valley in Iowa, you probably know Ned. If not, you surely know his voice! Ned, the Music Director at Rock 108, is known for his energetic personality, wild spirit, and love for all things Live rock. In an epic collaboration with Rock 108, Ned will be presenting excellent inside experiences to our motorcycle riding community exclusively here so subscribe to the blog and check back every week to see what Ned’s up to next!

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How Wayland the band speaks to your soul

How Wayland the band speaks to your soul

How Wayland the band speaks to your soul

Posted on October 11, 2022 at 8:00 AM by The Biker Lawyers

Iowa: More than a “flyover state”

It seems pretty rare when here in Iowa, we get to see a band on a weekend right?

Iowa is considered by bands as a ‘flyover’ state as the big bands are on their way to Madison, WI, Chicago, IL, or Minneapolis, MN. So when a band is on tour and set to hit the big cities, they may as well make a stop in Iowa while they are at it and sell a few shirts.

But then there are those bands that have created a following in the area, and they make sure that they make a stop in Iowa cause they have to cater to those fans, and if we are lucky? We’ll get them on a Saturday!

Wayland: country-infused rock at its finest

If you listen to Rock 108, you’ve likely heard about a band named Wayland. Wayland is a 4 piece country-infused rock band hailing from Wayland, MI.

They are the composers of such songs that you’ve probably heard like ‘Ghost’ and ‘Get a Little,’ which is hailed as the weekend kick-off song on Rock 108 every single Friday at 5 pm. The station has been playing it for some time now and it’s created its own following.

As you can imagine, Wayland has gained a bit of a following here and in Iowa, and they made their way to Chrome Horse Saloon in Cedar Rapids….ON A WEEKEND!!! That is a rare occasion!!!

Going way back with Wayland

A little backstory, the guys in Wayland are personal friends of mine. When I was starting in radio in 2007 in Michigan, my boss at the time was starting to discover this band named Wayland and their song ‘Shopping for a Savior.’ He started spinning the song on radio and it quickly caught fire, and Wayland was off to the races! As a REALLY young radio guy, I wanted to get to know the rock stars of course, and as the years when on, guitarist Phil Vilenski and vocalist Mitch Arnold have become really good friends over the years, even outside of the radio world…it’s been a friendship that has been going on for over 10 years now.

Wayland rocks The Chrome Horse

It was a chilly night in Cedar Rapids, so the show was moved indoors and the few times that I have been able to see Wayland in Iowa, there are a few people that show up… I’d say maybe 50 to 60… but this night at Chrome Horse on weekend? There were around 170 to 200 people there! It was amazing!

The band started up the night with a set loaded with their classics like Bloody Sunrise, Ghost, Through the Fire, On My Knees, and Nobody’s Perfect, and yes, I was singing along to all of them!

They also showcased a lot of their new stuff like Lake House, Holy Shift, and some really new stuff that I haven’t heard before! There was one moment too that Mitch sang one of my favorite songs named ‘Indiana Jones.’ The song is about growing up in the 80s and 90s with things like playing Super Mario Bros, renting movies from Blockbuster, not texting, and never letting go of those memories. I’m going to be honest. That song hits me EVERY… SINGLE… TIME! I love that song and really brings this connection that yea, at one point, we were all just kids dropping the needle on the record, and that was ALL we worried about, in our Reebok shoes.

A reminder of what it’s all about

There is something about seeing a Wayland show, it really brings me back to those early days in radio when I would do everything I could just to be part of the action. I love doing my daily radio show every day, but it’s the things like this that REALLY make it all feel worth it to me.

Seeing people having a good time, singing along to their favorite songs, and forgetting about whatever troubles that people have every day, Wayland was able to provide the soundtrack to that. While you may not be head bang screaming and moshing to a Wayland show, there is just something incredibly personal to a Wayland show, especially to me. It’s like looking back on all those years of supporting live music and playing their music on the radio actually meant something to them, the fans, and me… and that night at Chrome Horse in Cedar Rapids? It sure did.

About The Biker’s Ambassador of Rock

If you live in the Cedar Valley in Iowa, you probably know Ned. If not, you surely know his voice! Ned, the Music Director at Rock 108, is known for his energetic personality, wild spirit, and love for all things Live rock. In an epic collaboration with Rock 108, Ned will be presenting excellent inside experiences to our motorcycle riding community exclusively here so subscribe to the blog and check back every week to see what Ned’s up to next!

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4 Fall Shows You Need to Know!

4 Fall Shows You Need to Know!

4 Fall Shows You Need to Know!

Posted on October 4, 2022 at 9:05 AM by The Biker Lawyers

Is the 2022 Rock Concert Season Over?

2022 is coming to a close and this year was loaded with all sorts of amazing rock festivals, concerts, and memories that will last a lifetime. Were you able to attend a few of them? Obviously, you can tell that I was able to make it to a few, but it’s only October, and if you think that the 2022 concert season is over, you are mistaken, my friend!

The Shows Must Go On…

 

Eastern Iowa still has a couple more shows up its sleeve for you to enjoy! Sure the time for an outdoor show is coming to a close, but if there is one thing that Iowa knows how to do, is get to get inside and keep the show going. So today, I’m gonna tell YOU where the party is still going on so that way you can plan out the rest of your 2022 and close it out rockin.’

Wayland Returns to Cedar Rapids on October 7th

The first one is coming up here pretty soon, and if you are looking to get in that last outdoor show of the year? This may be it!

Wayland is coming back to Cedar Rapids! These guys have been to the area quite a few times and have a couple hits on the radio like ‘Ghost’ and ‘Get a Little.’ What’s great about this band is that you aren’t going to get the heavy screaming music…no….you’re going to get a blend of country music and rock, country rock if you will! The show will take place on Oct. 7th and will be at the Chrome Horse in the New Bo area in Cedar Rapids. They always put on an amazing show, so I am looking forward to attending that one. $10 in advance or $20 on the day of the show.

Chaos for a Cause II

We’ve brought this one up before on a previous blog, but it’s good to mention again and that is Chaos for a Cause at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo! That show will take place on October 22nd and is LOADED with rock. Destrophy, Grave Corps, Guilty of Treason, Nongrata, Switchblade Saturdays, and Carli Foxx of the Rumours! The show will also be a benefit that helps out the Iowa Giving Crew, who provides full-fledged uncooked Thanksgiving dinners to Iowans in need this coming Holiday season. That one is gonna be fun cause you know, it’s just BEFORE Halloween so it doesn’t get in the way of like Trick or Treating with the kids and stuff! Plus it’s only $10 in Advance to get in the show!

2nd Annual Halloween Bash

Now if you’re into the heaviest of heavy metal, a local show that just got booked that is centered around Halloween time is the 2nd Annual Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 29th! This will take place at the National Cattle Congress Pavilion in Waterloo! This show will feature Phoenix Curse, Hardship, Jim Jones, Bleedchain, and Dark Agenda I’ve seen a few of these bands on this bill and if you are ready to mosh and scream at the top of your lungs, this show is for you. The amount of talent bleeding from this show is through the roof, so if you’re a metalhead? This is EASILY the show for you. Tickets are available at the door for that show for $15.

The Trinity of Terror Tour Part III

There are more shows coming, but the last one I wanna highlight is one coming to the Alliant Energy Powerhouse and these are some big touring acts. Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides, Ice Nine Kills, and Atreyu on November 11th! This is a sweeeeeeeet show- all of these bands are currently on top of their game especially Ice Nine Kills as I am a huge fan of them. I can’t wait to cover that show for you guys and it is nearly a month away, but in the meantime, look them all up…you won’t be disappointed! Tickets are available at CReventslive.com and if you want to be on the floor, roughly $55 per ticket.

There is A LOT happening here in Eastern Iowa, so I don’t want to hear… “Uhhhh there are no rock bands playing here!” when in fact there is, you just gotta look!

Good thing you’ve got The Ambassador of Rock as your hook-up!  

About The Biker’s Ambassador of Rock

If you live in the Cedar Valley in Iowa, you probably know Ned. If not, you surely know his voice! Ned, the Music Director at Rock 108, is known for his energetic personality, wild spirit, and love for all things Live rock. In an epic collaboration with Rock 108, Ned will be presenting excellent inside experiences to our motorcycle riding community exclusively here so subscribe to the blog and check back every week to see what Ned’s up to next!

15 + 6 =

Tenacious D Destroys Cedar Rapids

Tenacious D Destroys Cedar Rapids

Tenacious D Destroys Cedar Rapids

Posted on September 26, 2022 at 12:00 AM by The Biker Lawyers

Jack Black and Kyle Gass Rock the River

The greatest band of all time was not in Cedar Rapids at the McGrath Amphitheatre…no, it was just a tribute!

If you know Tenacious D, you probably get that reference, but if you don’t, then you’ll have to read on and discover one of the greatest bands of all time!
First I must point out that indeed I saw another concert at the McGrath Amphitheater! That is 3 concerts in one year at a venue I have never been to ONCE in my 6 years of living in Iowa, how random is that? To their credit though, they have been booking concerts that I have really been into, so I am sure that helps immensely. It was a nice sweaty night, nearing the high 80s on a clear night’s sky and I was ready to see what Tenacious D was bringing to Cedar Rapids that night.

If you didn’t know, Tenacious D is a rock band featuring the two frontmen Kyle Gass and Jack Black. Yes, you heard that right, THE Jack Black, THE ACTOR! The guy you saw in School of Rock, Jumanji, Nacho Libre, and countless other movies. Even if you don’t know who Jack Black is, I am SURE you will have seen at least one movie of his somehow.

These 2 actors/musicians have been rocking the music scene as Tenacious D for a number of years. It is pretty rare when they actually tour, likely due to Jack’s film schedule. Heck, Tenacious D has its own movie if that tells you anything.

A Monstrous Crowd at a Sold Out Show

Now that you know who THE D is let’s talk about the show. The show that was ENTIRELY sold out months in advance. When I walked in I saw the longest line for merch I have ever seen! It was split up into 3 lines so long that they bled outside the concert area. I was lucky enough to snag a spot in line so I could get my wife a shirt which was pretty cool.

An Opening Act like No Other

The first act up though was a comedy DJ named DJ Douggpound. He was one of the oddest openers I have ever seen at a concert before. He showed his sweet mixes and then would stop the set to tell some bad jokes. He had the ‘awkward opening guy’ thing going on.

Plenty of people around me wondered what the hell we were watching, but it was so ridiculous that I found myself getting into it. I love a good strange thing to watch and DJ Douggpound was easily that. Since he was a DJ, there was very little tear down after his set, so we were able to get on to Tenacious D pretty quickly.

Tenacious D Takes the Stage

Then it happened, the lights went down and out walked Kyle Gass and Jack Black. It was very exciting. I have seen SO many rock stars in my life, but I rarely get to see an actor in the flesh. To top that off, I had NEVER seen Tenacious D before! It’s pretty rare when I get to see a band that I have never seen, so that was exciting for me!

They played a lot of new stuff that I had no idea about, but when they started playing stuff like Kickapoo, Dude I Totally Miss You, The Metal, and Tribute…it all came flooding back. It was a blast! They had the crowd engaged from the moment they walked on stage to their very last song, which of course, was ‘Fuck Her Gently’ where the WHOLE crowd sang along!

More Than Just Music

It was a fun evening and a rare one. As far as I know, the FIRST TIME that Tenacious D was in Cedar Rapids. The concert wasn’t just the music, it was a show that kept us wonderfully entertained from the first song to their last. Something tells me that the D will make their way back to the CR in the future.

About The Biker’s Ambassador of Rock

If you live in the Cedar Valley in Iowa, you probably know Ned. If not, you surely know his voice! Ned, the Music Director at Rock 108, is known for his energetic personality, wild spirit, and love for all things Live rock. In an epic collaboration with Rock 108, Ned will be presenting excellent inside experiences to our motorcycle riding community exclusively here so subscribe to the blog and check back every week to see what Ned’s up to next!

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The Ultimate Rock Festival Survival Guide

The Ultimate Rock Festival Survival Guide

The Ultimate Rock Festival Survival Guide

Posted on September 20, 2022 at 1:07 PM by The Biker Lawyers

So You Want To Attend A Rock Festival

Seeing your favorite band can be an exhilarating experience, trust me I know. You buy the ticket to your favorite venue, count down the days until the concert, and then you’re waiting on pins and needles wishing the show could just GO ON right?

Well, there is kind of a remedy to that. Where the show continues to go on after your favorite band took the stage. Then, right around the corner is yet ANOTHER band performing.

Yes, folks, I am talking about something you need to experience: attending a weekend rock festival.

As someone who has attended a rock festival EVERY YEAR since 2009, I have become an expert in the field of surviving these glorious weekends. After all these years I’ve learned how you can make the most out of your  festival weekend.

I have been fortunate enough to attend 2 and 3-day festivals in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and of course, all of them are rock festivals.

Not to brag but I’ve had the opportunity to see Slayer, Soundgarden, Slipknot, Linkin Park, Danzig, Ghost, P.O.D, Shinedown, Going to rock festivals has given me the chance to see hundreds of iconic bands, big and small.

 

Side note, if you dig Shinedown, click below to check this out…

Fortunately here in Iowa, we have a REALLY BIG one right next door. Just a stone’s throw away, in Cadott Wisconsin, is the annual Rock Fest. They have a full weekend loaded with multiple stages, tons of food, and even the option to camp on the grounds. How cool is that?

Rock Fest has welcomed bands to their stages in Cadott since the 90s. This jam has been going on for well over 20 years. Heck, the very first lineup they had at this thing was Cheap Trick, Foghat, Eddie Money, and REO Speedwagon! Compare that to 2022 when Disturbed, Lamb of God, Mudvayne, and Halestorm took the stage. You could say it has grown quite a bit.

How do you survive such an epic 4-day event like this one?

Five Tips for Making the Most of a Rock Festival

Follow these easy steps to make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime experience:

1. Buy Your Tickets ASAP

First I suggest buying your tickets right when they go on sale as many of these festivals do tier pricing where the longer you wait. The higher the ticket price is going to be, so SAVE SOME MONEY!

2. Choose Where You’ll Stay

Where will you sleep? Would you prefer camping or a hotel? While having an RV camper or popup would be ideal, you can always pitch a tent!

Camping Out

Camping at a Rock Festival can be a great time. While it is definitely a fun part of the rock n’ roll experience there can be setbacks. You’ll have to use public showers and bathrooms and go without cool air.

Finding a Hotel

All that being said, I am a BIG FAN of a hotel or motel. Its a time to get away from the chaos. There’s running water, a soft bed, and air conditioning.

After a HOT SWEATY DAY of rocking out, a comfy clean bed and shower are extremely rejuvenating.

3. Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time

This is where things can start eating at your wallet if you’re not prepared. Before you head into the festival, plan what you’ll do for food ahead of time. You could eat a big breakfast before you head in so you can focus on the tunes instead.

Be sure to budget for food. These festivals always have vendors with epic feasts available. Without a budget you can easily over indulge when surrounded by such good food.

4. Don’t Forget To Drink Water

Before you get shit-face wasted, remember: Water is your best friend. Beer is great, but water will keep you alive! Many festivals are now allowing you to bring in a clear water bottle. If they allow it, DO IT! Not to sound like a downer here, but dehydration is a real threat at these kinds of events!

5. Bring Your Own Bag

A good string backpack, if allowed, will do you good when you buy merchandise from your favorite bands. Without it, you’ll just have to stick that $50 shirt in your pocket and rock that big bulge.

If you follow all these steps, you’ll be sure to have an epic time and easily survive your next rock festival!

About The Biker’s Ambassador of Rock

If you live in the Cedar Valley in Iowa, you probably know Ned. If not, you surely know his voice! Ned, the Music Director at Rock 108, is known for his energetic personality, wild spirit, and love for all things Live rock. In an epic collaboration with Rock 108, Ned will be presenting excellent inside experiences to our motorcycle riding community exclusively here so subscribe to the blog and check back every week to see what Ned’s up to next!

 

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