Maybe you’ve never been to Summerfest in Milwaukee?  Today is the final day of the eleven day festival on the Lake Front.  I’ve attended Summerfest for many years.  The event is comprised of thousands of fellow Americans. Americans from a kaleidoscope of ethnic backgrounds, ways of life, and taste in music.  For the price of $20 admission, a cornucopia of music is offered.  Enjoyment is offered for hours along a lake front with the Milwaukee skyline on one hand, and the deep blue of Lake Michigan on the other.  Also an ample supply of beer supports the life-is-good vibe, delight of being with others, right here, right now.

I look forward to the festival with high expectations.  Almost without fail I have been more than entertained.  I feel and hear in the tune and lyrics of certain songs the heart beat of the earth, and the aspiration that we can figure out how to be human, to take care of one another and of this magnificent earth that is our mother.

Yesterday once again, I was taken by surprise.  Walking leisurely along the back way, by  the lake, we came upon a band ferociously working at the Rebel stage.  The three piece metal band was nothing but heart.  I am not a metal music fan, but was compelled to watch for a while.   The band was called the Dirty Martinis.  They delivered a version of Amazing Grace that took my breath away; drummer laying down a tight back beat, bass guitar filling in as the front man-vocalist, guitar chords shredding away, sang those venerable lyrics.  Amazing Grace, written by slave-trader John Newton is deeply rooted into our culture.  Most of us know it and have sung it many times.  I felt like crying.  I, an older guy without tattoos, or ear plugs felt kinship with these guys and their metal music fans.

The purpose of our visit yesterday was to hear Dennis Deyoung perform the music of Styx.  Deyoung along with some friends, at the age of 14 began make music and has never let up though he is 70 now.  We were very lucky to find seats.  Styx is one of the most storied Rock bands of the time, reaching their heyday in the 80s.  They routinely played venues accommodating 40 thousand people at the height of their fame.  Here is a photo shot of the stage last night, that does not come close to doing justice to the stage craft, the visuals.  Yes the stage craft,–multi-color LED stage lights and the fog machine effects were over the top.  I guess St. Peters is over the top too.  Interesting effects, but I was there for the music.  The passion within Deyoung’s lyrics and the meaning which points to hope is enough for me.

I could go on about the concert.  It was a “high mass” of sorts, a choreographed ritual, with no element unpolished, ill fitted to the intent of the artist.  But you had to be there so I’ll not do a poor job to describe what one has to experience.

His tune “Come Sail Away” was saved for the final number.  From my memory of Southern revival meetings, this was the altar call, “come to Jesus” song.   The lyric touches upon the fact that we all are journeying in this life, moving into the unknown and unknowable.  The singer, in the role of captain invites us aboard his vessel, admitting that he offers no guarantees.  Yet, it is well that we travel together with our memories, our stories.

Our memories are stories of dreams and of loss.  It is the soaring keyboard melody and harmonies that make this tune a triumphant anthem of hope.  Is not life worth the risky journey, because we are not alone?  And thus is delivered the ultimate appeal, one that I need to hear often.

The final two verses are delightfully weird.  The palpable feeling of hope is captured by a “vision” of circling angels, inviting us to sail away.  The angels turn out to be aliens from another world who are boarding their starship.  The layers of imagination add to the songs impact.

Found this amazing rendition of Deyoung performing the song.   Enjoy!