Published: June 26, 2009 11:16 pm      

Local talents to take stage at Riverboat Days

By Samantha Pidde

Herald Staff Writer

CLINTON — Clinton Riverboat Days is fast approaching and will be filled with an array of main stage entertainment. Local bands will also be joining in with the celebration.

Every year the Riverboat Days Entertainment Committee lines up bands for the holiday event. Entertainment chairman and this year’s Vice Commodore, Don Tegeler, said choosing each year’s entertainment is a year-long process beginning in August. The committee, comprised of Tegeler, Terry Turner and Steve Napolitano, brainstorms and tries to choose national music groups to be the headliners for each night. This year’s lineup includes: Jimi Jamison, formerly of Survivor, on Thursday; Loverboy on Friday; Aaron Tippin, July 4; Caddle, July 5; and Lynn Allen, July 5.

Once a headliner is chosen for each night, the committee then looks for an opening act. Tegeler said they try to find opening acts whose style fits with that of the headliner. He said sometimes headliners will have an opening act with them as a package deal. However, when they have to find an opening act, Tegeler and Turner agree they prefer to turn to local talent.

“Whenever we need an opening act for a headliner, we always look locally, ” said Tegeler, adding, “As long as I’m in charge, that’s the way it’s always going to happen.”

Tegeler said he feels showcasing local artists is good for everybody. Turner said Riverboat Days is a great opportunity for local acts to play in front of a great deal of people. The local bands involved with Riverboat Days also donate all of their time for the event.

“All these opening bands, the musicians and the people who are associated with them, are pretty stout supporters of Riverboat Days, outside of the music circle,” said Tegeler.

Thursday night, the Barn Rockers, a local band, will be opening for Jimi Jamison. This band takes its name from a practice from the Great Depression area. Rural residents who couldn’t afford to go to dance halls would pick a barn and hire musicians for a barn dance. This local band has begun having barn dances again.

According to the band’s biography, The Barn Rockers have three principals they follow — to rock, have fun and play great original music as well as covers. The band plays a wide variety of covers by artists such as The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, the Blasters and the Traveling Wilbury’s. The band includes: Dave Schneider, on vocals and guitar; Kevin Kash, on lead guitar and bass; Dave “Bingo” Layton, on stand-up bass, saxophone, keyboards and harmonica; Ken Clarke, on vocals, guitar and bass; J.C. Monroe, on vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards; and Bud Benson, on drums.

Opening for Loverboy, the Bones, will be performing on Friday night. The Bones describe themselves in their biography as a hard rocking four-piece band that plays primarily 1980s rock with some ’70s and ’90s peppered in. The Bones have been playing in clubs in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois for five years and have shared the stage with a variety of world-renowned rock groups. The band warmed up for Asia at a Quad-Cities appearance and for Kansas at during Riverboat Days in 2007. The Bones also opened a series of shows for Enuff Z’Nuff, including ’80’s rock icon FireHouse at the Clinton Jaycees’ Flood Aid 2008 concert.

The Bones play a wide selection of covers from artists including: Loverboy, AC/DC, Brian Adams, Alice in Chains, Cheap Trick, John Cougar, The Cars, Duran Duran, fabulous Thunderbirds, Foreigner, Golden Earring, Grand Funk, J. Geils Band, Great White, Sammy Hagar, INXS, Greg Kihn, Billy Idol, Kiss, Modern English, Eddie Money, Tom Petty, Poison, Prince, Motley Crue, Queen, Ramones, Boz Scaggs, Simple Minds, Tommy Shaw, Rick Springfield, Styx, George Thorogood, U2, Twisted Sister, Van Halen and more. The band is comprised of Matt Finn, on drums, Napolitano, on guitar, Turner, on keyboards, and Mark Zude, on bass.

The Country Eagles Band will perform July 4 opening for Aaron Tippin. This local band was formed in 1978 by Scott Manon and his grandfather, Wayne Dersham. Dersham booked the 11-year-olds at fairs, festivals, wedding receptions and any night club or bar that would let the young members enter. In 1981, the band entered the International Battle of the Bands at Nashville North in Chicago and took second place. Two years later, the band returned to the competition and took first place.

The Country Eagles have opened for many country acts over the past 31 years. In 2000 and 2001, Manon ventured to Nashville, Tenn., to record a CD on AVM/Goldcrest label promoted by Troy Shondell. The CD was released to the European market and landed a spot in the Top 20. In 2002, the band went into semi-retirement, performing only for festivals, special events and benefits.

The band is comprised of Manon, on lead and rhythm guitar and lead vocals; Todd Manon, on bass guitar and back-up vocals; Mark Dann, on drums and back-up vocals; Bill “Bim” Trimble, on keyboards and back-up vocals; and part-time lead guitarist Brent Tenderholdt.

Music performances will begin around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The performances will begin earlier, closer to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, to allow for the fireworks display after the show. Tegeler and Turner agreed this year’s Riverboat Days entertainment will be great. Turner said having these local bands donate their time really makes the event even better.

“Riverboat Days as a whole really appreciates the effort they put forth,” said Tegeler.