It was a hot night at the Treasure Island Amphitheater for its Music by the Mississippi Festival Saturday.
The weather wasn’t all that was steamy. In a festival headlined by the BoDeans and the Gear Daddies, a slate of five bands lit up the stage.
In between sets from those bands, an inspiring GB Leighton performance and opening shows from Marcy Playground and The Cactus Blossoms, the day was indeed sweltering and not just from the 90-degree temperatures. Fans enjoyed plenty of Hastings’ Spiral Brewery’s Island Tropical IPA, perhaps in an attempt to hydrate. OK, I’ll admit it: It helped! There were also food trucks, and the event was dedicated to raising funds for Special Olympics Minnesota, the casino’s charity of the month.
I’ll admit that this reporter was mostly there for the BoDeans. As a Milwaukee college student, the BoDeans would often play the bar in the Marquette University union. They drew what were huge crowds for that venue. At the close of one concert, they announced it was their last time playing there, as they’d been signed to a recording contract.
I wanted a chance to circle back to them after four decades. They still have it. Led by front man Kurt Neumann, the BoDeans had way more energy than a 60-year-old reporter in the heat for six hours, that’s for sure. The Treasure Island Amphitheater is a great place to watch some of the biggest names pass through the area. It seats 16,000, and there’s not a bad seat in the house.
They played their timeless hits, namely “Fadeaway,” “If I Could Hold You Tonight,” “Good Things” and “Closer to Free” with an appreciative chorus of fans joining in.
They hit on some new material, but the crowd was clearly there for the works that defined the BoDeans.
Confession time: It was my first time experiencing the Gear Daddies and GB Leighton. They both put on great shows, with the legendary Gear Daddies even breaking out their rendition of Prince’s “Little Red Corvette,” as well as staples like “Stupid Boy,” “Color of Her Eyes,” and, of course, “Zamboni.”
Taking the early evening stage, GB Leighton had a loyal following, with plenty of fans dancing in their seats.
The Treasure Island Amphitheater knows how to put on a great show while doing great things for the community.