Two years ago, while vacationing in Wisconsin (and secretly plotting a move here), we unwittingly stumbled upon Summerfest in Milwaukee. We didn’t even know what it was, just that there were a ton of people crowding Lake Michigan and we were swept up in the mass of humanity.
What it was – what it is – is the world’s largest music festival. Summerfest, an annual tradition since 1968, features 12 stages of live music and immersive experiences over three consecutive weekends. This year, there are over 600 artists spanning all genres – and on Saturday, we saw two of them.
Hold Steady, this may take awhile…
Back in October 2011, after 38 excruciating days apart – Tara still lived in Ely at the time and we were dating long-distance – she flew into Portland and we were reunited for the first time since agreeing to pursue a relationship. I get butterflies even now, all these years later, thinking how giddy we both were to be together again. In person, instead of chatting over the phone for three hours every night.
The highlight of Tara’s visit was a trip to Seattle for City Arts Fest, a three-day music festival at different venues throughout the Emerald City. After being on the go nonstop for two straight days – not just at the music festival, but all over Seattle – we were so wiped out, we decided on a change of plans. Recapping the trip on my blog, I wrote,
After two nights of rock ‘n roll and too many encounters with traffic and crazy people, I suggested we skip the final night’s concert and hang out at home instead.
I don’t blame 2011 me. That was an exhausting weekend! But I might have had a change of heart had I known it would take 13 years for us to finally see the band we missed that night: The Hold Steady, one of my very favorites.
(You should totally click on that post if you want to see a very sappy Mark.)
Getting high in Milwaukee
Fast-forward to 2024. We’d already been eyeing Summerfest, because we both love music and concerts so much. Now you know why: between City Arts Fest and the mix CDs we mailed each other (how quaint!), music represents the very fabric of our courtship. When I saw The Hold Steady were on the bill, I wasted no time in buying tickets.
(They’re only $28 for general admission, by the way, which is a steal. That gets you into any and all shows, other than the big name headliners, on any day you choose.)
Saturday was the day. Summerfest is wildly popular, so I splurged on parking in the festival lot. This cost more than the actual ticket to get in, but saved us miles of walking in the hot sun, so it was totally worth it.
We got there around 3:00 and wandered around the grounds for a while, just to get the lay of the land. Much to my surprise, Tara suggested we take a ride on the Sky Glider for a birds-eye view. She doesn’t like heights and is prone to vertigo, so I didn’t expect her to want to do this. Immediately after take-off, she regretted that decision…
…but after a few minutes, she calmed down and was able to enjoy the ride.
As we were gliding above the festival grounds, we spotted DanDan. Top Chef fans that we are, we were eager to try Milwaukee native and finalist Dan Jacobs’ cuisine, so we backtracked there for a quick bite to eat after disembarking. This obviously isn’t his actual restaurant so the menu was very limited, but the pork and chive dumplings were amazing, and the egg roll was one of the best we’ve ever had. If that’s what we can expect from the actual DanDan, I can’t wait to try a full meal.
In bar light she looked alright, in daylight she looked desperate
We made our way to the Miller Lite Oasis (hey, this is Brew City, don’tcha know) next, which fortunately was partially shaded, ’cause that sun was brutal. The Hold Steady were playing at 6:30, but immediately before them, The Dandy Warhols were taking the stage at 4:30. This felt like a bonus concert, and because they’re a Portland band, sort of a homecoming, too. If you know any of their songs, you know “Bohemian Like You.”
But we were there for The Hold Steady, and by the time they took the stage, I’d scooted up to the front row.
Frontman and vocalist Craig Finn may be the most unassuming rock star on the planet. He looks like a 1960s sitcom dad, with his thick glasses and receding hairline, but the dude is full of energy and enthusiasm. He is very animated onstage, and you can tell he has a true passion for performing. I swear, he’s one of the few artists who is totally dedicated to being a rock ‘n roll star, full of appreciation for his fans. Being onstage is a pure joy for him; it’s where he belongs.
The Hold Steady are sort of a modern-day bar band, playing raucous and upbeat indie and alternative rock; their narrative-based songs are built around clever and dense lyrics that touch on themes like drug addiction, religion, and redemption, and often focus on recurring characters. Craig’s songwriting reminds me of the storytelling style of early Dylan and Springsteen. What can I say? I dig words, man.
Hard-core fans know to bring confetti. I forgot to add it to that week’s grocery list, but enjoyed the performance nonetheless.
The only drawback to the Summerfest lineup? Shows are limited to one hour. That was barely enough to whet my appetite, but The Hold Steady still played 15 songs – a pretty solid set for 60 minutes. It may have taken 13 years to see them, but I promise I won’t let another 13 years go by before seeing them again.
After the show we wandered around some more, stopping into some of the shops and grabbing a drink. It was cooler after sunset, but also, a lot more crowded. By that point we were peopled out.
It was nearing 10 p.m. by the time we left, and Milwaukee’s an hour from home, so needless to say it made for a late night.
I already can’t wait to see who’s playing at Summerfest in 2025!
Mark My Words 
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