SO LET IT BE WRITTEN…… Many months ago I was introduced to a spunky young lady who was sure she was a rock star! Just 3 yrs old and full of that Rock Star attitude! This young lady happened to be none other than Olivia Grace! If you haven’t figured it out by now, how could you not if you have seen my facebook wall any time in the last 2 months, Olivia Grace was the subject of Rock n Roll For Hope Tour II. Also know as Livi! You see, Livi was diagnosed on Oct 26, 2011 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). I did not know Livi at that time, it wasn’t until the spring of 2013 that our paths crossed. As my lifelong belief that we all SHOULD be our brother’s (or sister’s) keeper, I had a vision. There were colleagues of mine that put on a show on in Pittsburgh to benefit Livi and her family. The show was also to make Livi a rock star for the day! I thought about it and realized that “one does not simply become a rock star for one night and call it quits!” To be a rock star, one MUST go on tour!!! That said, there was but one thing to do….PUT LIVI ON TOUR! But to take it a step further, when a child is struck with an illness such as Leukemia, it affects the WHOLE family. So we wanted to include the whole family. Especially Livi’s sister Abby who is just two years older than Livi. Sometimes, children at that age just don’t understand all the time the family is devoting to the sibling, nor should they. So we decided that both the girls were going to be Rock Stars! At that point “Twizted Mystic Entertainment (TME)” was born! TME is nothing more than the fictional (for now) Entertainment and Management company assigned to the the World Renowned Rock Stars Livi and Abby! So the journey began! A small committee was formed and the work began. We wanted to bring every aspect and detail of being a rock star into play. From a personal security detail to personal demands of our little rock stars in the form of a backstage rider. The other aspect of the “Tour” was to raise some money to help Livi and her family out, to make a donation to The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation and to provide a day of Rock n Roll entertainment. Though our committee started out with just a few people, by the time the show rolled around there was an incredible response to the “Call to Arms” and Livi’s Army was established! There were so many people who were willing to contribute to the event, whether it was by talents they possess or in the form of donations. If it was not for all the wonderful people who were involved, this day would have never happened! There were so many wonderful people who I would like to thank for their involvement, but I always fear that I will inadvertently miss someone. Allow this to be a pre emptive apology should I miss anyone! I would like to thank the following : First of all my wonderful wife Momma Creech…She is my driving force! Our committee: Amy Graham, Jennifer Bandy, Chana Baker, Brittany Castello and Amy Berry. This group of Awesomeness made my job very easy! Go Getters one and all they are! Trauma, you sir, are the man! The bands: Distant Signals, Tres Hombres, Critical Condition, Old Buddy Jack, Avery Molek, Ed and Liz Molek, JFK and Soulbridge- All of you brought your “A” game!!!! Our volunteers: Andrew Berry, Kari McAfee, Big Bob Bom & Jess, Jackie McNabb, Roly Petrone, Shrek and Tiffany Nutter, Robbie and Crystal Henry, Marc LaQuatra, Clint Landis, Chris and Crystal Krueger, Austin Creech, Vic Manella, Phil McDaniel. Other awesome contributors: Julie Joseph and Posh Salon, The Wheeling Police Department, Valley Harley Davidson, Noah Litman, Scott Anderson, Joe Cohick and all the riders who gathered at Valley Harley to escort our Rock Stars. Carrie Anderson and Snap Shop Photo Booth Rentals (and crew), Steve Novotney and WKKX AM 1600, Shelley Hanson at The Wheeling News Register/Intelligencer (thanks again Jackie McNabb), Chris Roy (Manager, Guitar Center, Robinson Town Center, Pittsburgh) beautiful guitar for Livi! Nobel Energy Inc. and Katco Co. Mr. Mailman Jeremy Andrews for delivering Livi’s Fan mail. Chad Baker, Heather Donda-Bitzer, Jeff Stevens, Straub Automotive Group and its generous employees. Mike Price, A&B Kia. Our Sound engineers: Josh Blakemore, Tank and Crag Bozick- the sound was incredible! Matt and Mike McGovern and the McGovern’s Pub Staff. Mr. John (last name withheld per his request) I can’t even begin to explain what this man has done to make this show a success! Mark at Sharpsky Printing, wonderful job on all the tickets and event posters! All the Folks that sent “fan mail”….and I must say that was widespread! Mail from all over the globe to be exact! The list goes on and on! I hope I did not miss anybody! If I did, it was purely unintentional! Now allow me to tell you how the day went! Even if you were there that day, you could not have been witness to all that happened! Even our staff and I were unable to accomplish this task! One aspect that I wish I could have changed! So I will do my best to tell the story through the eyes of those who were at each step of the “Rock Star” process! Here Goes!!!!!!! On the morning of Aug 24th, 2013 the troops began to gather in Washington County, PA at Livi and Abby’s abode for the trip to the show, by all accounts (From Livi and Abby’s Momma, Christa) it was a little hectic getting the girls and their entourage together and loaded onto the Tour Bus (In this case a Dodge Caravan). Crystal Krueger and I representing Twizted Mystic Entertainment along with Shrek Nutter (the girls personal security detail - call sign: ROCKER 1), was waiting at a pre-determined rendezvous location. As always, the Rock Stars were fashionably late….its OK, that’s what rock stars do! When they arrived at the rendezvous point “ROCKER 1” assumed control of security over the rock stars (Livi and Abby) and Momma Christa. At this time Crystal began her “hostess” duties. And they climbed aboard their Limo (ok, ok it was a Dodge Ram…but then again…Rock Stars do things differently!) As I boarded the Tour bus (yes the Dodge Caravan) with the remainder of the girl’s entourage, off the Limo went in the other direction! The entourage was taken to the concert venue and was met by other Twizted Mystic Entertainment staff where they were escorted to the VIP area to relax until showtime! Meanwhile (and this is an account of Rocker 1 and Hostess Crystal), the Girls arrived at POSH Salon in Tridelphia, WV, where Stylist Julie stepped up and gave the girls a full on rock star makeover! Just as their makeovers were being completed the Police arrived! Not to worry….it was their escort! They were escorted, by the Wheeling Police Department, from POSH Salon to Valley Harley Davidson in Bethlehem where the Awesome staff and a group of bikes were awaiting their arrival. After a brief photo op, the thunder of Harley Davidsons took over the escort where the Wheeling PD left off! The parade of Bikes and the “Limo” filed down through Wheeling via the I-70 Tunnels. As the motorcade entered the tunnels, Rocker 1 said all the bikes let out a thunderous “rev up” simultaneously. He also stated that he looked in the rearview mirror to see both Livi and Abby with their hands over their mouths and saying “Wow!” I would say the message of “V-Twins” was delivered! …. Just sayin’! The motorcade proceeded through downtown then up the concert venue (McGovern’s Pub). As they arrived an excited crowd had gathered in the parking area to greet them. As the Limo pulled up the rest of their Security Detail (Clint Landis/Rocker 2, Big Bob Bom/Rocker 3 and Austin Creech/Rocker 4) surrounded them and escorted them to the backstage area! Chana from Hospitality met them and assured they were settled in and their “Rock Star comfort requirements” were met! As with all rock stars, there are certain backstage demands/requirements. This day was no exception! Prior to the event a backstage rider was acquired by Twizted Mystic Entertainment from the girl’s manager (Momma Christa). Well Van Halen demanded M&M’s with absolutely no brown ones. Lynyrd Skynyrd demands a pot of vegie soup. Rush demands 1 color TV with Cable service to include ESPN and 1 case of Miller Genuine Draft (really? You guys are Canadian….How ‘bout some Molson?) Any case here are some of Livi and Abby’s requirements: 2 cans Chicken and stars soup, Orange Circus peanuts , Pixie Stix (all flavors) and Swim Jims (yes…swim jims! That’s Slim Jims to the rest of us, but hey it’s their backstage, so deal with it!) Well, their demands were met! So after a brief stint in the backstage area a grand entrance was made to the stage, where the girls were met with a resounding applause! After all this, it just happened to be Livi’s birthday weekend. So, Soulbridge rocked the stage to start the day. And I must say they brought it! Shortly thereafter JKF took the stage and they too rocked! At the end of their set Livi was brought onto the stage, presented with not one, but two birthday cakes and JFK led the crowd in a heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday to You!” Then Livi was presented with an audio extravaganza of personal birthday wishes from the likes of Lady Gaga, John Moyer (Disturbed/Adrenaline Mob), Rihanna, Nick Catanese (Black Label Society), The Butcher Babies, Skillet, Heaven Below and many more! Well…..Then Old Buddy Jack took the stage! They rocked it until Novy got his workout in spewing vocals and beating the skins! In need of a breather, Novy relinquished his drum throne to none other than Avery Molek, the 6 yr old drumming prodigy! Let’s just say he Did Not disappoint! Avery Rocked out 6 songs with Old Buddy Jack to close out their set! As the day progressed it had become very evident that all the bands that had hit the stage thus far, had no doubt brought their “A” Game! Then Critical Condition made their presence known….quick, fast and in a hurry! Yup! Yet another “A” Game! Did I mention our Rock Stars appeared to be having a great time? Then there was yet another surprise! Critical Condition stepped up and made a donation to the rock star’s family! Just two days before this show Critical Condition did a show in PA where they raised some money just for this day! And before their set was over they made yet another presentation! A beautiful strat body guitar, autographed by the band and donated by Chris Roy, Manager at the Robinson Town Center Guitar Center in Pittsburgh! When the flames from Critical Condition’s performance were put out on the stage, it was Fan mail time! Mr. Jeremy the Mailman made his way to the stage with a bag of fan mail for Livi! There was mail from all over the globe and hidden amongst the mail was an autographed copy of “The Devil’s Rejects” DVD and Soundtrack by Livi’s favorite Rock Star himself….Mr. Rob Zombie! As the flames settled and the stage was still smoldering from Critical Condition’s performance, the trio from Pittsburgh, Tres Hombres took their place, front and center rockin’ the ZZ Top musical catalogue. From the Cheap Sunglasses to the Fuzzy Guitars. To inciting the urge to munch on a slab of Texas BBQ Brisket and down a bottle of Mezcal with a Corona chaser. This ZZ Top Tribute shared a common denominator with the first four bands….”A” Game! As the end of the day neared and the last band of the day, Distant Signals, descended upon the stage. It was clear that this day was magical in more ways than one! As Distant Signals is a Rush Tribute band, let me say this: all you had to do was close your eyes and Imagine! Yes I felt as if Geddy, Alex and Neil were there! Distant Signals gave everyone there 87 minutes of pure Rush bliss! And Yes I will say it one more time – “A” Game! I was totally honored to be a part of a great cause that was so much bigger than any single one of us! Overall our mission was accomplished….we had an exceptional musical line up, everybody in attendance had a great day and most importantly Livi, Abby and their family had a great day! Once again….for all who were involved in anyway making this day happen, I Thank you! ~Creature ………So let it be done!
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 01:35:19 +0000
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