This is a review of what happened at the Portage, Wisconsin show on June 2, 2001.
My friend Brian and I drove to Portage from Madison to see Loverboy and represent the station that I work at here in Madison, WIBA FM. The band was to play two sets, one at 4:30 and the other set at 10 p.m. I was to introduce the band on behalf of the station. Actually, I heard about the gig, our sales rep needed someone to be there, and I "graciously volunteered". Ha, I wanted to be there so bad it was amazing! A chance to introduce LOVERBOY on stage??? Hell yeah! Sign me up!
For the first set, the guys got there late and started about an hour after their originally scheduled time. Just prior to the show, the guys all came to the backstage area and were taking their places. I was introduced to Mike Reno and I was just dumbfounded. He asked, "Are you the one introducing us on stage?" I said, "yes"... and then he told me what he wanted me to do. He said "go to the center of the stage and use my mic." I said "Really? COOL!" He said he would tell me when to go up on stage to do it. I told him that I had lived in Vancouver for a couple years, and that Loverboy was one of my influential bands in music. I said I was nervous as hell, and I shouldn't be since I interviewed Joe Walsh last year! He laughed at me and said "He's really funny isn't he?" I'm like oh yeah! So I got on stage, and the other four were starting the first few bars of "Notorious", and I said, (I think! Because I was so nervous!) "How ya doin'! My name is Jan Spencer from 101.5 WIBA FM, are you ready to rock?! It is my HONOR to introduce to you LOVERBOY!" My heart was racing!! I turned around, saw Doug on the keyboards, and I made a fist and pushed it in the air and I yelled, "YEAH!" Doug just laughed at me.
We watched the show from the side of the stage, and it was only about an hour long. My friend and I made new friends and we were all dancing and singing. I held up my British Columbia license plate (from when I lived in Vancouver) and Paul saw it. He mouthed the words, "are you from there? I said, I lived there for two years!" They played the short set first, of course, which included "Prissy Prissy", "Teenage Overdose", and "Lady of the 80's".
So, after the show, we had some time to kill, and went and grabbed a bite to eat. I was in seventh heaven, never realizing that things could get even better. I was just so proud to have done that and the option to do it again was coming up at 10 p.m.
At 10 p.m., I was standing off the side of the stage, chatting with another person, when Matt came up, and just started talking with us. I told him about my experiences with Vancouver, and that I considered them a huge influence. Matt asked me my name, wanted to know if I was introducing them again, and I said yes. He grabbed my hand and said "Well, come on then!" and he pulls me on stage! In the spotlight! And he introduces ME to introduce THEM! I was dumbfounded. I said to the crowd "WOW! Matt Frenette just introduced me! I can't believe it!" So, I did it again, intro'd them, that is...This time I said (I think!) "Are you guys ready to rock?" The crowd went wild! I said "These guys came ALL the way from Vancouver Canada to Kick Your ASS! It is my honor and my privilege to introduce to you one of the best bands in the world...LOVERBOY!" Then I went and I stood off the side of the stage and was watching them. I was in an area where there was NOBODY. Basically it was right where the band came off the stage, and I had it ALL to MYSELF! This was heaven. I felt like it was my own private Loverboy show. I was out of sight to the crowd.
After the show, I got to meet everyone and we all talked at great length about different things.
I was just so very happy.
The show was awesome, Mike was right on with his vocals, Paul shredded like
usual, Spider impressed the hell out of me. That was one hell of a bass solo.
The guy is simply amazing. OH, Matt told me that Spider honors Scott's
memory by plaing Scott's old bass that Scott gave him about ten years ago.
Yes, a lump formed in my throat when he told me that.