THE LAST WIGS SHOW MILWAUKEE

THE WIGS

     So where do I start? 1980-81 I worked at this sound company. We rented out PA’s to touring bands. The biggest act in Milwaukee at the time, Yipes! Was signed on RCA records and their soundman quit to go out with Neil Sedaka. I got his job with Yipes! because I built the PA that the band was using. There was a band called The Wigs that opened for us and another band I worked for named Arroyo. When I moved to Los Angeles in 1985 I called The Wigs who moved there in 83. I ended up working for them as their lighting guy/roadie.

     There was this new guy Val McCallum who was their smoking hot guitarist. Marty and Jim from The Wigs proceeded to tell me that David McCallum, (The Man From Uncle) was his dad and Charles Bronson was his step dad. Fresh out from Milwaukee and knowing those 2 were jokers I replied “yeah right, and Chuck Norris is my uncle.”  Turns out they weren’t kidding. Val was the opposite of what I imagined actor’s kids were. He is honest, trustworthy, kind, great morals and values, AND can rip on guitar like no one I ever knew. He fit in perfectly with The Wigs. The chemistry was there. But I digress.

     The Wigs are this awesome power pop band that was a perfect act for the time. They HAD to get signed. They did all the music and were in this movie, My Chauffeur, so they were bound to reach national success. Jim and Marty wrote hit after hit but it seems that the songs never fell in to the right ears. These guys welcomed me into the organization like family. I became a band member whose picture wasn’t on the poster. I did show after show with them. They packed Madame Wong’s in Santa Monica every time they played there. Ester the club owner liked how much everyone drank. It seems like some nights 1/3 of the audience were Wisconsin transplants.

     After the movie release, they went back to play Summerfest in 87 or 88. The Wigs packed the rock stage. The festival people told us that was the biggest draw of any un-signed act in the history of that stage so far.

     Then Marty Ross got snagged away to be one of The New Monkee’s. They changed the band name to The 57 Braves. (Milwaukee World Series champions.) Did I mention that they played at my wedding in 88?

     Fast foreword to 2013. The Wigs want to do a final show in Milwaukee. I have worked for weeks putting this show together. I started my year with Rihanna, then Violent Femmes at Coachella, (first shows in 6 years) Yipes! Got inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry hall of fame, (first show in 30 years) and now The Wigs last show (first show in 5 years). Am I getting too old for this?
     The night before I left for this show I spoke with a friend who is here rehearsing with a huge act.. He told me that they needed a touring production assistant. I said, “I’m there.” He said you need to be at rehearsals tomorrow. That just figures. I told him I can’t because I’m tour managing an act and leave for a week tomorrow. He asked if I could get out of it and I said no way. I’m family to these guys and would never even consider cancelling. Not for a million dollars. I hope to work the rehearsals when I get back.

     So I go to Milwaukee to pull The Wigs show together. I hired the soundman, the guitar tech, booked the rehearsal space, etc… I had all of this pre production stuff to do, get the amps, return the ones they don’t want, build a small stage for 1 song, get bubble guns for our go-go dancers that will be on stage for the last 2 songs, and the list goes on. I have to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time. I had to make sure parking was available, feed the meters while in rehearsal, gas up the drummers truck, get food, FOUR trips to get working bubble guns, do the accounting, etc… This is more work than Rihanna! I’m not complaining because I thrive on the adrenalin rush I get doing this and it’s for my extended family.

     Show Day: Load out of the studio, load into the club, everyone showed up on time for sound check, a miracle!

Sound check done. Lights programmed and focused. Off to dinner.

     First act goes on for 15 minutes! The club owner approaches me and says put the next act on early. I'm thinking "What? I work for the Wigs not the other acts". Needless to say I don’t hesitate and go round up the second act. Thank God they’re all friends and people I’ve worked for years ago and they went on early for me. I ran lights for about ½ of their set. It was awesome seeing 5 guys on stage from 4 different bands I’ve worked for in my career. The guitarist got me into the biz by taking me under his arm in the first band that I ever worked for. Which reminds me we need an Arroyo and an Einstein’s Rice Boys reunion this year to make my year complete. But I digress again.

     When The Wigs took the stage I was blown away. I knew every word, every chord played and every drumbeat. (except 3 new songs) It was like 10 years ago and no one ever skipped a beat. This was awesome seeing another real band with no playback or “protools” guy. I guess you really have to know how to play if you’re from Milwaukee, and play they do.

     Millions of memories from a hundred past shows flooded my mind for the third time this year. (Violent Femmes and Yipes!) ½ way through the second set they played a song from the movie My Chauffer. Memories of scenes in that movie came to mind. Then I thought that this will be the last time that I see this song live. This now has become the saddest song of the night for me. I can’t believe this is ending, it’s like we are just starting up again. This show is in the top 5 if not the best Wigs show I’ve ever seen. I have probably seen them more than anyone, about 100 shows.
     I looked over at our sound engineer a few songs in and complimented him on the mix. His response was “It’s easy when you're mixing for a great band.” This means a lot coming from a guy that won producer of the year, (WAMI) mixes all the time for everyone, guitarist for Beatallica and in Violent Femmes he plays guitar, mandolin, sings, and plays bass on 1 song. He had Marty and Jim’s vocal effects perfect. Looks like I got the right guy.

     All of the special production things we had planned went to shit at the last moment. The “B” stage got shot down by the club owner, the special Elvis microphones that Marty bought looked better than they sounded so we didn't use them, and the “dancers” showed up late, one was very drunk and 1 had no ID. Thank God they didn’t let them in. 4 trips to get working bubble guns, down the drain. That’s rock and roll! I think this was a sign from a higher power proving that they don’t need any of this. They did a great job of rocking the place and putting on as, or more professional of a show than some of the national touring acts I work for. Between sets the band called me in to the dressing room and presented me with an engraved chrome cowbell. It reads worlds best roadie. It was awesome! It was the coolest thing any band ever gave me. This includes the Metallica baseball jersey and cigar ash trey. (they rule ya know!) I must have done something right.

     Almost all of the region’s top musicians were there. None of them were back at the bar during the show and everyone stayed for the second set. After the show the compliments flowed from them. It’s pretty cool when your peers like you especially in this ego driven business. It was a great night and an awesome show with a bit of a sad “last show” overtone. Now it’s just another memory. No one can take that from me. I guess it’s good to go out with a bang, and that they did!