(Live Review) MILWAUKEE SUMMERFEST (Day 2) - 6/20/25
- Mark McQueen
- 6 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Greetings friends fans and followers, it is your reviewers the Beard & Little Johnny and we are reporting from day two of the Milwaukee Summerfest opening weekend.
Yesterday, we got to look at six bands and a lot of wanna-be kids playing at rock stars. Here on day two, we have some early rain in the forecast, but it is expected to clear out by afternoon, and we have another five bands on our schedule.
First off we perused the early stages to see if day two of the School of Rock bands produced anything better than yesterday. The bar was not high as we witnessed only two decent guitar players and just one decent singer through six stages yesterday.
For a few individuals, steady work and practice might help, but for most of them being a rock star just isn’t going to happen. But, looking at Little Johnny, I told him, “Hope springs eternal right?” “It’s June 20th Beard. It’s actually the first day of Summer.” “That was a metaphor Johnny. A Metaphor.” “I don’t care what it was “for” Beard. I’m just saying it’s Summer now.”
And day two is starting off well. (Ed: Of course, you have Little Johnny in tow!)
The First School of Rock stage we checked out had kids trying to play “Sweet Little Lies” from Fleetwood Mac (which I did not think was very good), until they then tried "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes. Hearing that, my brain screamed NO and my ears shut off. They finished with Queen’s “Don’t stop me now,” which was the only one that I graded C-. We are off to a rocky day two start.
At the next stage, the School of Rock Illinois kids tried "Dazed and Confused". It was butchered, but I give credit for the bravery and effort. The kid on guitar actually tried doing a piece of Jimmy Page’s bow solo.
On the third stage, the kids band did a 1978 Patty Smith song. This one had B level vocals. Unfortunately, the next two did not. It goes to show everybody dreams, but only about 1/10,000 make true rock stardom.
We moved on to another couple stages and found one girl doing a decent version of "Silver Springs" by Fleetwood Mac. The band wasn’t good, but she had some Stevie Nicks sound to her voice. It was at this time that I realized Miss Kelly had lost Johnny. So off we went in search of him.
Turned out that Little Johnny had discovered the Johnsonville Brat tent, and in it were the five brat and sausage clad actors who always raced around the Milwaukee Brewers baseball Field during the seventh inning of Brewers games.
Johnny was challenging them to a lap around the summer fest grounds for a brat and a beer. Fortunately, Miss Kelly got there before security did and smoothed things over. As a bonus she even got a picture with all five sausages which was cute.
Given it was around 90 degrees, we went to sit in the shade for a bit (by the BMO stage), where Miss Kelly also put Johnny in a short time out. We did agree to end it early when a Mexican girl from the School of Rock tried to do “Kiss me Deadly” by Lita Ford , but then couldn’t remember all the words. Johnny just looked over at me and said, “Come on Beard.” So, Kelly lifted his time out as long as he agreed to act appropriately during the next band. Something to which he readily agreed.
At about 4:00pm, the first real band appeared. It was 1980’s pop rock band Wang Chung. Johnny shot me an “if looks could kill” glance, but ultimately decided not to cross Miss Kelly’s wrath and risk another time out.
By the end of their hour-long set, Wang Chung had pulled as big a crowd as any non-arena scheduled act so far. Given the heat and the scant shaded covering at this stage, THAT was impressive.
Still performing easy keyboard driven 80’s rock, Wang Chung apparently wrote songs for a lot of movies including, To Live & Die in L.A. and the Breakfast Club. I had heard these songs before but didn’t remember that Wang Chung had done them. The set was retro-fun although the crowd mainly popped on the last two numbers, "Dance Hall Days" and "Wang Chung". I am going with 83/100.
Miss Kelly enjoyed it and even Johnny admitted, “They didn’t totally suck Beard.”
Next up we checked out Substitute, a Who tribute band that was far better than expected. Sporting a strong Roger Daltry in singer Ricco Caliendo, (who had a big voice and an even bigger attitude), these guys pulled off a really good set of Who music. Caliendo did not shy away from the one that required a huge vocal push such as “Love Reign on Me” or “Won’t get Fooled Again.” Substitute was my surprise hit this Summerfest, and I gave them an 87/100 for overachievement.
FOGHAT
Now, it was time for the old warhorses Foghat. I had seen them many times over the years, and it is always kind of the same. A blues-based rock jam with three big name songs at the end. Even though Roger Earl (drums) is the only original member, guitarist Bryan Basset has been a member for 35 years, so I think that has to count.
Foghat, despite their newer members, is the jalopy that won’t quite die and when you see it, you still have fond memories of when it once drove really fast. A perfectly serviceable concert with a fair “Slow Ride.”
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS
Headliners for night two were almost as old and equally as much a road-tested warhorse, as George Thorogood & The Destroyers brought their blues rock act to Summerfest.
Thorogood is the Mick Jagger of the Blues rock circuit and has been doing his eight-bar blues show for over half a century. For Miss Kelly though, it was her first time seeing him, so I anticipated it would be fun.
Watching from the fifth row, I had to concede that if there is such a thing as reincarnation, George Thorogood is coming back as a peacock with one enormous plumage. At 75 years old, the cocksure Thorogood showed little sign of slowing down and no shortage of machismo. While he may have handed off at least some of the heavy lifting to fellow Destroyer’s guitarist Jim Suhler, it is never NOT the George Thorogood show. His songs are still popular. People still cheer his antics (which included going off stage and walking the crowd), and it was still meat and potatoes blues rock.
Some purists may take issue with Thorogood's simplicity in playing technique, but during his half-century career, Thorogood has never claimed to be Joe Bonamassa. His music is not for the fan who chases the latest craft beer or drinks the finest rye single barrel. George Thorogood fans drink Jack, Johnny & Bud, and, what’s more, they’re proud of it.
In the end George Thorogood & the Destroyers gave us 90 minutes of Friday night entertainment and that’s what being at Summerfest is all about. 90/100
After the set, we headed back across the festival grounds and past the many stages that were already crowded with teens and twenty somethings dancing to whatever the latest DJs were spinning. Even the much younger than us Little Johnny watched the moving masses gyrating to today’s techno garbage and said, “Beard, why does modern music suck so much?” “Because good taste is a dying art form Johnny. Now let’s get home and away from this crap.” “Agreed Beard. I see DJ Kenny, DJ Cassidey & DJ Pauley. At least one stage should have had DJ “make better life decisions.” We shared a head shaking laugh and then headed for home as Summerfest day two concluded.
As always, you can catch videos of all today’s bands on our TikTok site at thebeard0728. Catch all the metal news at our host site The Mighty Decibel and follow all the latest Beard & Little Johnny reviews on our many social media sites by following Mark McQueen.
Until next time, this is the Beard & Little Johnny saying, Live Life. Stay Heavy & Horns Up.