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| The opening act. Photo courtesy Scott Paulus. |
Judging by the mere dozens of semi-interest fans on hand for the first (and only) Milwaukee Admirals game I attended this season, the city’s residents on the whole seem a bitter mixture of disinterested, pessimistic or just plain unaware of the minor league hockey team’s existence. Maybe it was the fact that I attended on a weeknight during one of the Ads’ first home games of the season; it could have been the unseasonably warm October night … or that maybe people aren’t personally invested in watching people they’ve never heard of playing a sport they don’t completely understand in a place that costs money to be admitted into. All I know is that attendance for the Admirals is far from admirable.
Fortunately, the franchise’s constant struggle to fill seats is a victory for the small-yet-devoted fan base. In addition to games featuring the likes of future NHL players, regular promotions put the icing on the cake. From events like Family Skates and Autograph Corner all the way to giveaways like Goalie Oven Mitt Night and Bob Uecker Bobblehead Night, there’s something extra added to almost every Admirals home game. The most unique and valuable of these giveaways come in the form of post-game concerts.
In all, there are five shows taking place during the team’s 2010-11 season – with something for almost everyone. To save you the legwork and (just maybe) to get your ass to an Admirals game at least once this year, Music Notes went ahead and made a handy Milwaukee Admirals Concert Guide. Feel free to use it.
Friday, Dec. 3: After our Admirals take on The Grand Rapids Griffins, a team named after a non-existent creature that’s based in a city nearly as non-existent in the economic sense – The Village People will take the ice. With all the intensity a 30-year-old band representing a no-longer-existent genre can bring to a minor league hockey post-game concert, the fabulous disco group will entertain remaining attendees by playing “Y.M.C.A”, “Macho Man,” “In the Navy” and (if they have them) other songs, too.
Wednesday, Dec. 29: On Potawatomi Bingo Casino promotional cowbell night, somehow popular Milwaukee crooner Pat McCurdy will present The Bradley Center with its second most appealing audio of the evening. The 40-something “musician” will pander to remaining Admirals enthusiasts with O.A.R.esque acoustic anthems like “Sex and Beer” and songs about more relevant Wisconsin sports franchises.
Friday, Feb. 4: The New Year brings a new theme to the Admirals concert series. Quality. Following an always-tense Ads matchup with neighboring AHL rival Rockford Ice Hogs, the University of Wisconsin Marching Band performs. The beloved Badgers band’s Fifth Quarter will, for one night only, become the Fourth Period. They’ll undoubtedly play “On Wisconsin” along with a bunch of other instrumental favorites regularly heard at Camp Randall and Lambeau Field.
Friday, Feb. 25: Currently in the AHL’s West Division cellar, the Chicago Wolves don’t presently promise much in the way of competition against the second place Admirals. Luckily, the post-game entertainment is worth the toll of a $16 ticket and lopsided hockey game. Continuing the show series’ power play, Boston-based Dropkick Murphys makes its second on-ice appearance at The Bradley Center in as many years. The popular Celtic punkers are bound to get butts in the seats to hear that one song they have. You know that one, it’s all…
Saturday, March 19: Saving the best for last (and I mean “the best,” like, best thing… maybe ever), Huey Lewis and the News will be “Cruisin’” into the hometown arena to show an often-bloodthirsty Admirals fanbase “The Power of Love.” The nine-piece brings with it 30 years worth of hits, 30 million record sales and its extensive knowledge of Sports. Having never seen them play live, I’ll gladly go see “The Heart of Rock & Roll” that is Huey play the post-game show “If This Is It” for Milwaukee shows this year. Am I missing any other pun opportunities? But seriously, this is going to be awesome.
So there you have it. For those who were either apprehensive to attend an Admirals game or simply unaware the team even existed, here are five – well, more like two and a half – additional reasons to pull your internal goalie and give one of Milwaukee’s longest-standing sports franchises a shot.
