bedsitter23 | Entries tagged with best state fair in the state

There are ups and downs in a band’s career, and there probably isn’t a better barometer than the State Fair circuit. Yes, the grandstand features bands that have achieved a certain amount of success. Still, it’s the Iowa State Fair Free Stage where the real truth lies. Country acts that are on the rise (Jordan Hayes, Drew Baldridge, Runaway June) play here but on the Rock (and R&B) spectrum, it’s the other side. Bands that no longer can command the grand stage. As I have for the last couple of years, I tell their story.

Bands inevitably keep going until they no longer resemble the originals. I saw a band that called themselves the Byrds which had the bands original drummer but didn’t have McGuinn, Hillman or Crosby. That hardly seems fair, and Thin Lizzy tours constantly, despite you know, no Phil Lynott. In any case, nepotism seems to be the new rule of the day for some big bands (Van Halen, Eagles, Yes). The news earlier this year was the reunion of the Guess Who, though it featured neither Randy Bachman nor Burton Cummings. In which case, I suppose it’s truth in advertising to call them the Guess Who?

In any case, without further ado. No duplicates from 2016 or 2017 oddly enough. This year’s crop of Free Stage bands

Queensryche

I remember: The “thinking man’s” metal band. They were Pink Floyd for the late 80s/early 90s, although I the Floyd (Gilmour’s group) was technically still around. They weren’t my cup of tea, but they were popular. It’s a fine line between The Wall and Kilroy was here. “Silent Lucidity” was a monster hit- going Top 10. Not only was Empire a hit, they were still very successful into Y2K as glam metal was getting eaten up by grunge and then numetal. Oh, and the umlauts are always cool.

What they have been up to: They haven’t stopped and still seem to have a dedicated fanbase. To call them a ‘state fair’ band seems unfair. That said, it’s probably not surprising their biggest hit in the 21^st Century was Operation Mindcrime 2. Geoff Tate is gone as is guitarist Chris DeGarmo who wrote some of their biggest hits. In any case, for a band that is almost 40 years in business, I can’t make too much fun of them, they are still playing on a pretty high level.

Faster Pussycat

I remember: I was not particularly a glam rock fan, but to me, this was one of the better bands of their era. Their chart stats aren’t impressive, but I know for three albums at least, they were relevant. Singles “Poison Ivy” and the ballad ”House of Pain” are some of the best of the era. The groaningly named Taime Downe remade himself as a goth industrialist and showed up in Pigface of all things.

What they have been up to: The band broke up in 93, but reunited in 2001. The second break up sounded particularly harsh (MySpace bulletins and all of that kind of stuff) with two bands diverging- one with Downs and one with everyone else. At this point, Downs has kept his version of the band going- which is him and hired hands. The band hasn’t recorded much in the studio- save 2006’s painfully titled The Power and the Glory Hole.

Great White

I remember: Hey, is this an outdoor venue? Ok, I am probably going to hell for that, but I am surprised this band hasn’t called it a day since the Station nightclub fire. I never knew what I thought about Great White. “Once bitten, twice shy” is a great song, but of course, it is; it’s an Ian Hunter song. Otherwise, I probably should have paid more attention.

What they have been up to: The band had three big records before being gobbled up by grunge. That said, they have recorded eight albums since 1991’s Hooked so they’ve stayed busy. Great White though at this point is without Jack Russell (indeed it was Jack Russell’s similarly named band that played at the Rhode Island tragedy). Otherwise, the band is well tenured with a new singer Mitch Malloy who had pop success and also tried out for Van Halen. Bridging the gap from Russell to Malloy, the band was fronted by lead singer of those other glam also rans- XYZ Terry Illous.

Iron Maidens

I remember: An all-female Iron Maiden tribute? Well, you can’t beat the name (though there is an AC/DC tribute called Hell’s Belles)

What they have been up to: Nearly 20 years in, the band hides behind aliases like Steph Harris and Bruce Chickinson, but have a lot of great history. Drummer Linda McDonald played in Phantom Blue and the Ozzy tribute Little Dolls. Previous vocalist Jenny Warren is an all-female ACDC tribute called Whole Lotta Rosies (that’s pretty good). In any case, three albums are out there and plenty of high profile gigs.

Brian Howe

I remember: Although Paul Rogers had moved on and was playing with Jimmy Page, Bad Company was still a big deal in the late 80s and Brian Howe was their singer. Dangerous Age, Here Comes trouble and particularly Holy Water were big hits.

What they have been up to: Bad Company continued on without Howe in 94, but that was the end of their chart run. The current Bad Company does feature Rogers and the original drummer, and until recently, Mick Ralphs as well. Howe who sang on Ted Nugent’s Penetrator album prior to joining Bad Company, has released three solo albums

Autograph

I remember: I loved “Turn up the Radio” which is one of the underappreciated big rock anthems from the days of Twisted Sister and Quiet Riot. I never understood why Autograph didn’t get even bigger, but I think I remember something about it being a “too much too soon” story with contract issues and the usual. Of course, Guns N Roses and Motley Crue changed the game, before Nirvana changed it for good, so everyone had moved on. Though a friend of mine who had the album said they also probably didn’t have the tunes.

What they have been up to: “Turn up the Radio” was their only Top 40 hit, though they were able to put three albums into the Top 200. The band broke up but in 1997, released what was supposed to be the follow up album. They reunited in 2003 to record a new album and after that breakup, they reunited in 2013, though this time without frontman Steve Plunkett.

Paradise Kitty

I remember: An all-female Guns N Roses tribute? It has to be. It could only be better if they were themed and played songs like “Welcome to the Litterbox”, “Mr. Meow-stone” and “Sweet Mouse of Mine”. Though apparently they aren’t.

What they have been up to: They don’t have a Wikipedia entry, but it seems plenty self-explanatory. Also bonus if their singer shows up to play concerts on time. Plus their lead singer is named Jenna Syde, that’s a pretty badda$$ nickname.

DMC

I remember: Run DMC changed everything. Of course, history tends to emphasize “Walk this Way”, but let’s not forget “It’s Tricky”, “Rock Box” “It’s Like That” “King of Rock” “My Addidas” “Mary Mary” and “Runs House” which brought rap to rock ears and took the genre to the mainstream. Raising Hell went triple platinum and legitimized rap. Of course, trends come and go , and so Public Enemy and BDP and then NWA pushed things onward. No one was going to match Raising Hell ever again, but the band had one last great single in 1993’s Down with the King

What they have been up to: In 1998, Jason Nevins took a remix of “It’s Tricky” to the top of the charts everywhere but the US. 2001’s Crown Royal looked to bring them a level of success as forefathers of nu-metal with guests from Kid Rock, Fred Durst, Mark McGrath, Everlast and Method Man, but it was a bit of a bust. Jam Master Jay was shot and killed the next year. Joseph “Run” Simmons is now best known as Rev Run and has spent the last decade or so as a reality star. DMC similarly has had VH1 moments and has published his own comics. Although he has continued to do some interesting things, it seems like DMC still is largely unheralded in comparison to his contribution to pop music.

The Gap Experience

I remember: I grew up in The Gap Band’s Heyday. Disco was dying and so funk bands picked up guitars and rocked. Some of my favorite music is from this time, and the Gap Band was among the best. I don’t remember all the hits but remember they were important, and of course, “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” has remained in constant rotation on nostalgia stations. The one I remember though was “Oops upside your head”. Of course, “Uncle Charlie” Wilson has had a revived career thanks to the likes of Snoop Dog and Kanye West and is as relevant as ever

What they have been up to: Well, as you know like George Clinton and Ronald Isley, Charlie Wilson has solidified his icon status by making hits into the 21^st Century. The Gap band were centered around three brothers and Robert passed away in 2005. The band charted all through the end of the 80s (eight albums in the Top 200 in 10 years) and recorded three albums in the 90s. The Gap Experience isn’t the Gap Band, per se, but are members who backed the Wilsons on record and on tour. Jimi Macon, the guitarist behind some of the band’s biggest hits passed away last year, but there is also trombonist/horn player Oliver Scott and drummer Raymond Calhoun who were there for all the essential hits, while Billy Young was on many of the 80s records. Roman Johnson played and cowrote on 88’s Straight from the Heart and with Terry Scott part of the 90s Gap Band. These five all have a solid pedigree as Gap Band members and so I consider the Gap Experience a legitimate continuation of the Band. Oh, and the reason Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk” was so catchy was because it was really “Oops Upside your Head”, so hopefully everyone got a nice paycheck.

Blessid Union of Souls

I remember: I hated the misspelling but thought this was a talented bunch. They will go down as “one hit wonders” but they really had two gigantic hits. “I Believe” was earnest pop that took them Top 10. They probably should have been even bigger, and maybe would have been if they had just come a year or two later, when the charts were dominated by Hootie, Tonic, and Gin Blossoms. Instead, they kind of got lost in the shuffle. “I Believe” is an incredible song and one of the best of its era. Unlikely enough, they hit again with “Hey Leonardo” which is the opposite end of the spectrum- jokey and sarcastic. It totally smells like Bill Clinton, Friends and Benetton. It’s clever though. Admit that you like it.

What they have been up to: They really haven’t stopped recording, though in 2011, the record The Mission Field was their first geared towards the Contemporary Christian market.

Biz Markie

I remember: The Biz never sleeps. “Just a Friend” went top ten in 1989 and is still constantly played on classic hip hop stations. It will probably out live us all.

What they have been up to: Biz’s follow up changed pop music forever, though not necessarily the way Biz wanted it to. Album closer “Alone Again” drew heavily from Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally) and Gil sued and won, forcing rap artists to get clearance before using samples that moment forward. Biz probably would have always been known for his one hit, but it really slowed his momentum. He hasn’t sleeped though certainly he’s more B-list- MTVs play on Hollywood (Hip Hop)Squares, Yo Gabba Gabba, Sharknado 2, and various tv appearances (Black-ish and Empire) and lest we forget Celebrity Fit Club.

Current Music: Candice Gordon- Garden of Beasts
Crossposts: https://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1125614.html

You know, I meant to write about the food at the 2017 Iowa State Fair. Guess, I will hit both years now.

44 Foods were introduced in 2017 and the winner was the Pork Almighty.

Pork almighty starts with of all things, a 32 ounce Soft Drink and ads a"lid" which is a bowl of twisty fries and pulled pork topped with queso sauce, Barbecue sauce, diced onions and green peppers and shredded cheese.

Which makes it about 4 pounds and 1800 calories.

Iowa takes pride in his State Fair. There are a few states that can compete for the title as the State Fair- Texas, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin- but Iowa is in the top five.

2018 brings us the delicious sounding Apple Egg Roll.

The Des Moines Register describes it as: Apple Egg Rolls are two crispy egg roll wrappers filled with apples and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with caramel sauce for dipping.

It beat out the pretty self-explanatory Brown Sugar Pork Belly on a Stick and the half pound Belly Up Burger.

The State Fair takes pride in that offers at least 80 things on a stick. To pick a few: Honey on a Stick, Cheddar Bacon Cheese on a Stick, Chocolate covered Key Lime Dream Bar, Coconut Mountain, Deep Fried Pineapple, Chocolate covered Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and caramel cocoa crispy crunch.

Innovation!

Current Music: David Bowie- Man who sold the World
Crossposts: https://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1124558.html

Although I did not make it to the Iowa State Fair this year (and I am also seemingly behind on blogging), it's a great source of entertainment for me.

Here were some of the competitive contests this year (via the Des Moines Register, pic via the Fairfield Register):

(All Ages unless specified)
Twin and Triplet contest
Turkey Calling
Duck Calling
Rooster Crowing (5-16)
Youth Fiddlers (under 17)
Guitar
Mandolin
Mr Legs
Banjo
Piano Playing
Harmonica
Accordion
Pedal Tractor Pull (under 11)
Cow Chip Throwing
Womens Rubber Chicken Throwing (16 and up)

Bubble Gum Blowing
Pie eating
Children singing (12 and under)
Yodeling (5 and up)
Whistling (5 and up)
Youth Checkers (7-17)
Decorating diaper and Diaper Derby (2 and under)
Mutton Bustin (under 8 and under 70 pounds)
Mom Calling (5-15)
Joke Telling (5-9)
Hog Calling (5 and up)
Bags
Mother and Daughter Lookalike
Pigtail, Ponytail, Braid, Mullet and Mohawk

Current Music: Foxygen- Hang
Crossposts: https://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1123535.html

There are a lot of unique things at the Iowa State fair, and I have pretty much been able to blog them all. Still, I am sure I miss something.

In any case, I know that i have not mentioned Parlor Rollers.

Parlor Rollers are a type of domesticated pigeon that involuntarily rolls across the ground.

The story is that royalty over the years have bred and raced these flightless birds. These continue to be competitions.

Sure, it is easy to mock this Sport of Kings when you have full seasons of Game of Thrones available on your phone, but it was not always that way.

Behold!

Watch on YouTube

Current Music: Roky Erickson- All that May Do My Rhyme
Crossposts: https://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1094435.html

So each year I post about the Butter Sculpture at the Iowa State Fair.

It's sort of been a who's who of culture and history - Butter Elvis, Star Trek, the Last Supper, Tiger Woods, the moon landing, Snow White, Dr Seuss, John Wayne, Superman and many others.

I didn't see much of anything written about ths year's Butter Sculpture. Perhaps in the Facebook/Reddit age, things truly have to be bizzare to go viral.

In any case, while it's good to see a salute to literature, Butter Laura Ingalls Wilder doesn't have the same buzz as Butter Spock.

I looked up Wilder, and my initial thought was the Dakotas. Indeed, you can travel her home and museum in South Dakota.

Wilder did live in Iowa, though not on the Western side, as you might expect, but on the East. She was born in Wisconsin and she taught on the other side f the Iowa/Wisconsin border. She also spent a large amount of her life in Missouri, which could stake a claim to her, and as far as I can tell- Kansas, Minnesota, and New York too.

In any case, not a year passes that i don't post something about the butter sculpture, so mark this one in the books.

Current Music: Bruce Springsteen - The River
Crossposts: https://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1094200.html

The Iowa State Fair has come and gone. I have a few things to add to my archive of the fair's unique moments. But first, my annual review of the Free Stage.

The Fair Free Stage is a barometer of a band's career. If you are a country act like LANco, you are on the ascent. If you play rock music, your career is likely on the descent.

This year, some of the artists that likely would be relegated to the Free Stage, have bonded together for the I Love 90s Tour. Tone Loc, Young MC, Coolio, Color Me Badd, Salt N Pepa and Vanilla Ice.

So who's playing for free in 2017.

Tiffany

I remember: Before I knew what "selling out" was and complaining that REM signed to Warners, I was a kid and I thought if you played malls, maybe you weren't a serious artist. There were no bigger songs in Summer 1987 than "I think we're alone now" and Billy Idols' "Mony Mony", which meant that the voice of my parents generation might be Dylan or Lennon, but the voice of mine was Tommy James.

What have you been up to: Tiffany had two monster albums, until she was eclipsed by the next pop thing, which happened to be the New Kids on the Block. A bid for serious artistry evaded her. She tried country music, 2000s Color of Silence boasted Alannis-style angst and distorted guitars , 2005s Dust Off and Dance was a bid for the electronica market, and by 2011's Rose Tattoo, she was back to country music with a Bonnie Raitt/Stevie Ray Vaughn blues side.

Club Noveau

I remember: there weren't many bigger hits in '87 than the band's cover of "Lean on Me". The band was formed from another one hit wonder "Timex Social Club". New jack swing was new and vocal melodies always go over big. The band's "Why You Treat Me So Bad" is a timeless hit that has birthed numerous hits.

What have you been up to: "Lean on Me" sounds like its time, but harmony bands remain huge from En Vogue and Boyz II Men to Pentatonix and Fifth Harmony. The band was a one hit wonder, but remained relevant on the R&B charts for at least four albums in. It's been 20 years since their last album, but the current band features three of the original five members, so hopefully everyone is in a good mood. Puff Daddy and R Kelly took a "So Bad" sample for "Satisfy You" for a #1 R&B hit and a grammy, while the standout hiphop track by Luniz "I Got Five on it" gets played on "throwback" stations daily, so hopefully, the band is making pretty good residual checks.

Dokken

I remember: Dokken is probably a victim of their time. They certainly had some talent for hard rock. If they had hit their prime a few years earlier, they might have got to the level of a Van Halen, Motley Crue or Judas Priest. Instead, their height of their popularity coincided with the rise of Nirvana and Metallica. The band's downfall usually attributed to their opening act status for Metallica, and surely if they had been born a bit later would have been able to avoid the cheesy videos and other trappings of their time.

What have you been up to: The band actually weathered the 'decline of glam metal' better than you realize. Dan Dokken and George Lynch split up but had successful solo records and as late as 1995's Dysfunctional, the band would still sell close to half-million copies. Of course, the general consensus is Dokken and Lynch never ever liked each other, so a split was inevitable. With the decline of this particular genre, it was inevitable that the band would record for the CMC record label. and released two studio and two live records there. They have continued to tour and release albums. Their most recent records on our Frontiers Records (a CMC type label for the new century). In a most Spinal Tap-ish move, Dokken's lawyer was playing guitar for the band for a time. Wikipedia says Lynch is back with the band, though I could not confirm that.

Kix

I remember: Kix were clearly a second tier glam band. I do remember seeing a quite a few of their shirts though and "Blow My Fuse" being some kind of hit. The band's one big hit "Don't Close Your Eyes" has stood fairly well, and is probably one of the better ballads of those years.

What have you been up to: Kix's origin predated much of their glam brethren which probably were why they were a bit better. The band had all the usual events of the bands of their day- declining sales and being dropped from a major label. A record for CMC, split up, reunion and some bit of recent relative success while signed to Frontiers Records. The current line up appears to be all four original members.

Bang Tango

I remember: If Kix were B-level, well Bang Tango was c-level with the like of Sleez Beez, XYZ and Babylon AD. As happened at the time, I ended up with a copy of their "Aint No Jive...Live" on cassette, which was either given to me or I got in exchange for gas money or something.

What have you been up to: Given a shift of years, Bang Tango might have been classified alt-rock like The Cult, but instead was looped in with the glam scene. They were more talented than their contemporaries, but timing meant their success was limited. They have conitnued to record for marginal record labels 9though Cleopatra did release a couple of their discs). The current band is lead singer and a cast of others, while the rest of the original band performs as Bang Tango Redux. The Spinal Tap moment of this band is the wikipedia which list 35+ one-time members of the band, and claims to be a partial list.

Slaughter

I remember: "Up All Night" was a huge anthemic hit. It put everyone on notice that this band might be redefining rock. The band had real rock credentials as they came from the Vinnie Vincent Invasion.

What have you been up to: For me, I was less impressed with the other singles, though they certainly were successful. Outside of the Kiss-like chorus, "Up All Night" doesn't stand up to the test of time. It is easy to point to the band's decline to the rise of grunge which made the band look like out of style, but the truth might be closer to the band's "Behind the Music" story of drug abuse, litigation, and fatal and near- fatal car and motorcycle accidents. The band released three records for CMC international and haven't recorded since 1999, but have toured since. The current band includes Mark Slaughter and Dana Strum.

Nelson

I remember: Nelson were huge, and the timing meant they were classified as 'metal" where if they had come out a decade later, may have been a boy band. As much as I hate their music, they do seem to be generally good guys, and their pedigree (Ricky Nelson, Ozzie and Harriet) is undeniable.

What have you been up to: "Love and Affection" was such a great hit, that in retrospect, it's hard to imagine that the band wouldn't have had at least some success with a follow-up (even with the advent of grunge). Instead, Geffen and the band were in odds over the follow up, forcing a hiatus of five years. "Because We Can" (and its album cover) is one of the great tongue-in-cheek titles of all time. The band has tried a few reinventions- sometimes as the Nelson, sometimes as Matthew& Gunnar Nelson. They have made a country record as well as the inevitable Rick Nelson covers record. They recently record for the Frontiers record label.

Steve Augeri

I remember: Steve (former lead singer of lateday glam metal and CMC signees Tyketto) replaced Steve Perry in Journey, to be lost in history to the viral success of Arnel Pinada, a Filipino Perry sound-alike. Still, Augeri is hardly the "Gary Cherone" of Journey or that guy who replaced Phil Collins in Genesis. The albums he appeared on Arrival and Generations kept the band in the spotlight, and there's no shame in anything there.

What have you been up to: As with Perry, Journey and Augeri went their "separate ways" (i had, to right) because of vocal issues. Augeri has apparently recovered and been busy. When he is not performing alone, he plays in a band with Europe, Yngwie Malmsteen band and Planet X alumni.

Saliva

I remember: As glam begat Nu Metal, it doesn't get much bigger than Saliva. 2004's Survival of the Sickest, and that 2002 Spiderman song with Nickleback. I probably couldnt tell you the difference between Saliva and Seether.

What have you been up to: Looking at the charts, Saliva appear to still be relevant but they no longer have vocalist Josey Scott. What looks to be their last major single "Redneck Freakshow" came in 2013.

Green River Ordinance

I remember: They had a couple of songs that got radio play. I can't remember if they were rock, pop or country, and after reading their wikipedia page, i am still not sure.

What have you been up to: Still releasing albums and critically acclaimed as last album came out last year

Current Music: Mount Eerie- A Crow Looked at Me
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1092231.html

It occurred to me that I forgot to mention that I saw Joan Jett throw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game.

Image result for joan jett cubs

(obviously not my photo)

If you are looking for a payoff on this sotry, there isn't one, except I can say I saw Joan Jett throw the first pitch at a Cubs game. I thought maybe she would sing the National Anthem, or more likely, at least sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the Seventh inning stretch - a Cubs tradition- though apparently that has stopped after years of butchering by the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Romo, Jim Belushi, Denise Richards, David Cross, drunk Eddie Vedder, Mr T, William Hung and countless others.

Joan just played the Main Stage at the Iowa State Fair as part of the Hall Three- three acts that are in the Rock Hall of Fame- Cheap Trick, Heart, and all.

Jett's career usually gets downplayed, likely because she is known for one huge hit which is a cover. Though to be fair, so are Soft Cell, Naked Eyes, Toni Basil, Alien Ant Farm, Pseudo Echo, Quiet Riot, Bow Wow Wow, the Ataris, and I suppose if you are splitting hairs (no pun intended) Sinead O' Connor.

Still, I do suppose it has to do with a career where her other most famous songs were covers of Tommy James, Gary Glitter, AC/DC, Sly Stone, and Jonathan Richman.

So let's not forget that she wrote or co-wrote "Cherry Bomb", "Bad Reputation" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You"- all evergreens. She produced the Germs GI album- a punk classic, and though it no longer seems revolutionary (and this is in part of her) she fronted a rock band and played guitar- things that were considered much un-ladylike a mere 35 years ago.

Speaking of the Iowa State Fair, it's time for my annual recap of the bands on the Free Stage.

I am not saying that playing on the Iowa State Fair Free Stage means you are no longer relevant and you're washed up, but... it certainly may imply that.

Besides, if you can make money by making music and not working a "real" job, more power to you.

Here goes:

Stryper - You might be expecting me to make fun of this band, but to be honest, they are one of the most successful Christian Rock bands of all time, They also seem to have ditched the yellow and black for a serious look, which looks somewhat silly but I also can't suggest anything better. Cityview, the local entertainment paper doesn't say, but I believe it's the original lineup, and with the end of his campaign, Ted Cruz may be available.

The Grass roots- Who i think are underrated- "Sooner or Later" or "Let's Live for Today" are surely playing on some radio somewhere right now. Also "Temptation Eyes" and "Midnight Confessions". All songs that your mom likes, but I also don't change the channel when they come on. Like The Association with guitar crunch.

Color Me Badd - One new member, still wants to sex you up.

Heffron Drive- I know that is the singer from Big Time Rush, and not so long ago, BTR were huge with a movie in theaters and stuff. I couldn't tell you a single song, but I know they had a TV show on Nickelodeon, so I am sure I would know more if I was in the appropriate age group. This is the serious guitars, tattoos, and facial hair years.

Deana Carter- One of many country acts that play here. I only bring her up as she has one of the greatest album titles ever "Did I shave my legs for this?" Okay, I will mention a few of the other country acts- Marty Stuart (who certainly has some bonafides with his connections to Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, and Jerry Lee Lewis), , Johnny Lee ("Lookin for Love(in all the wrong places)" was a huge hit when I was a kid in those Urban Cowboy years, and is still widely known) and Leroy Van Dyke (who brought auctioneering to pop music, which I thought was really cool when I was a kid).

Vixen- Per Cityview, no original members are still with the band, but it seems to be misleading as they are referencing the 1973 lineup. Everyone knows Vixen from the big hair and makeup days circa 1988-1990 and of the big hair and makeup acts, they were the only all-female act. Most of that lineup that people would identify is still intact.

Lynch Mob- Which is George Lynch and whoever else, which I suppose is fine

Ratt- Drummer Bobby Blotzer is the only original member

The Temptations- Only one original member of that legendary bands. Probably not unexpected. Also that member isn't Kendricks or Ruffin.

Brett Michaels- Because, of course

and finally

Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters- I would certainly never reference BBT as an actor with a band. Probably the most surprising thing about this band is that it featured Unknown Hinson (sans makeup) on bass.

Current Music: Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul For Rock N Roll
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1062538.html

So as you can tell, I was out of the state for most of the month, but I have a duty and it's to report on the Butter Cow from the Iowa State Fair and it's accompanying theme.

I assume here everyone who is reading this has some idea of the Butter Cow history, if only because there's like two people who read this journal, but if you need some history, i have blogged about it for years.

So 2016, is the year of....

Star Trek.

Fitting perhaps as Captain Kirk (and I mean Kirk, not William Shatner) was born in Iowa, and the town of Riverside celebrates the future birth of Captain Kirk.

Butter Spock. Butter Uhura. Butter Enterprise. All were there. All sculpted of butter.

Behold

Current Music: Dead Kennedys- Live at the Deaf Club
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/1062242.html

Inevitably, you saw my post on the Butter Cow being vandalized. A Vegan Rights Group member hid in the building where the butter cow is kept and poured red paint on the cow and graffiti-ed over the window.

So, what did we learn?

Well, first off paint doesn't really stick to butter. The butter sculptor was able to wash off the paint and have the Cow ready to go before fairgoers came in the next day.

We also learned you don't mess with the Butter Cow.

The Fair sold 3000 Butter Cow Security t-shirts in the last few days, and thousands more are ordered, and the maker plans to sell them online weeks after the Fair.

The Animal Liberation Front still says it was totally worth it, but clearly, the effect has generally been favorable towards the Butter Bovine.

Meanwhile, the butter cow at the Illinois State Fair hasn't seen added security after this incident, though, it does have its own 24/7 webcam.

As the Fair reaches it last day, it was also grist for Scott Brown (remember him? ex-Massachusetts senator?) who visited the fair today, clearly and unashamedly here for the first steps of a 2016 election run. Brown was on local news putting in a good word for the Cow.

Current Music: The Veils- Time Stays, We Go
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/940685.html

I mentioned the butter cow and the audience it gets every year.

Of course, it does but after 100 plus years, you need to break out different dairy art every year, don't you?

In the last few years, several people and things have been given their due in butter.

Living people have been probably not the best idea in retrospect- Tiger Woods, Iowan Brandon Routh's Superman- but you can always do well with icons- John Wayne, Elvis, and things - Snow White, Harley Davidson.

So, this year, after three weeks and 1000 lbs. of regular salted butter, it's Butter Lincoln.

Butter Lincoln is accompanied by a small Lincoln Highway Bridge- the 100 year road through Iowa that connects New York to San Francisco.

So as that road turns 100 and the Emancipation Proclamtion and Gettysburg Address turn 150 (and no doubt an Oscar nominated film last year).

Apologies for those that will be haunted by Butter Lincoln in tonight's dreams.

Current Music: Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/938869.html

I told you bout the Butter Cow.

Okay, it sounds like a lyric from the Beatles' "Glass Onion", but every year about this time, I post about the cow sculpted out of butter.

Which is what it says- 600 pounds of butter shaped to look like a calf.

Well, i never thought of it, but it surely is prime real estate for animal activists.

No? Yeah, i didn't see it coming either, but there you go.

buttercow

What a Butter Cow behind a graffiti-ed glass looks like.

I was shocked that anybody would get to said cow, as my two State fair experiences consisted of a line of a couple of hundred people working their way towards it. (It's a cow sculpted out of butter. You can see why it's so popular)

I don't know how you would pull this off, unless you broke in late at night.

Which is apparently what happened.

Do we need 24/7 protection for the Butter Cow?

I didn't think so, but apparently.

Current Music: The Ramones- It's Alive
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/938739.html

As the Iowa State Fair ends, it seems time to make mention of the unusual food that was displayed this year.

There's always something to grab the headlines (Fried Butter was a favorite in recent years).

This year's big draw was the Double Bacon-Wrapped Corn Dog.

Behold!

Local tv interviewed one person who tried it,and he said that you really couldn't tell there was Bacon. i didn't have one, but my informal poll of two people I knew, was 1 to 1 like/dislike.

For me, red-velvet funnel cake sounded like the real winner.

Of course, maybe the next great food item wasn't something for sale at the fair, but something that was created at the Fair.

Eileen Gannon is flying to Seattle to compete as one of six finalists in a Seattle's Best Coffee contest with her brew. Gannon won a round at the Iowa State Fair and takes her Spiced/Caramelized Bacon/Pumpkin Coffee to the National Finals.

Current Music: Ultravox- The Collection
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/880595.html

Last year, the Iowa State fair was the place for politicians- taking place a week before the Ames Straw Poll- it was the place to be, and the Soapbox specifically was where you could meet the people.

It's those hopeless dreamers who have no chance who make the best Soapbox speakers. Usually, they look like this.

So, little wonder I was most looking forward to David Rosenfeld (pictured above), running for a Congress seat in a redrawn district that pits two incumbents against each other. The Des Moines Register breaks his speech down.

He gathered a crowd of two (an elderly man and an young boy). Of course, the State Fair is all about foot traffic, and the Register reports that one stopped to cheer him 9as he defended freedom of speech) and one stopped to yell obscenities at him.

Of course, Rosenfeld's stop was overshadowed by the Big Boys. There was Paul Ryan being shouted at, whether it was asking if he was going to cut medicare, or simply being called a 'f---ing disgrace'.

Even that wasn't the biggest Fair story.

That was Beergate.

Beer Tent owner and registered Republican Mike Cunningham claimed that Obama cost him $25,000 in beer sales.

I covered this in a previous post, but I feel it is deserving of some follow-up (as done by The Register's Kyle Munson), so here's some back story on the Obama "stealin' my $25,000" and some facts around the Shutting of Bud Tent 123.

-Cunningham's only complaints seem to come after the visit and Sen. Grassley's attention. Before meeting Obama, he greeted Barack with a "Save water, Drink Beer" t-shirt
-The Bud Tent was closed just over two hours.
-The nearbyJalapeno Pete's (another permanent beer-selling fixture at the Fair) aid he saw no effect in sales due to the President
-Cunningham was allowed to set up his own temporary beer stand near Hairball (think "Rock of Ages") to recoup some of his sales. Cunningham claims that the President's event coinciding with the wildly popular local Hairball was a big cause of his financial loss. The Fair also let him discount his beer to $4 from $6 on the next night of the fair.
-Beer sales are done by tickets, so $25,000 in beer sales comes out to 4,166 beers ( 1beer = 1 ticket) or a few thousand beers (2 tickets = 1 larger beer option)
-The Bud Tent hands over 17.5% of their profits to the Fair. Last year, they paid $105,875 for ten days including two weekends.

Of course, one expects those political stories from the candidates' visits. still, there was one more Fair story, and unexpectedly, it came from the Main Stage.

Hank Williams Jr. has slowly moved towards the deep end in the last few years, and may have capped that Blue Collar patriotism with this nugget. "We’ve got a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the US – and we hate him!"

I probably shouldn't be mad at Bocephus. He is the father and the son of two of my all-time favorite artists. Besides, country radio doesn't play anyone over 40 (let alone 60) so the job of "Right Wing Nutjob" is a fairly lucrative one all things considered.

Still, I can only imagine this plays to an audience that already thinks that stuff (Hates farming? Really?), and those disagree with Hank Jr aren't likely to change their mind, and those that agree probably don't think Mitt's a Christian either.

Current Music: Jawbreaker- Dear You
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/879932.html

I loved the Fair last year, as it was right before the Ames Straw Poll, and so it was filled with politicos and journalists. The Soapbox,. of course, being my favorite where front runners, people without a chance, and people who fall in both categories (Newt) stood and talked in front of the people, without a rope, if you will.

I barely looked at the schedule this year, noting all the state's biggest names were going to be there, but none provided much potential (outside of a Socialist Workers candidate running for a state house seat. that might have been fun).

Both Romney and Obama had booths in the Varied Industries Building, sat across from each other, and in amidst the tables of various colleges, 'As Seen on TV'-style kitchen appliances, hot tubs, and the rest.

At the GOP table, you could enter your name and info in to win a pair of tickets for Iowa's biggest sporting event, the Iowa vs Iowa State football game. At the Democratic tent, the contest was to win Obama gear. I considered this a victory for Obama (Romney having to go to great lengths to get supporters) though I wasn't sure. A friend who is a lifelong Democrat heard my story and said he might head back to the fair just for the chance to win the Iowa/ISU tickets, so I guess the advantage is Romney's.

We all know how Paul Ryan's speech on the soapbox went- heckled and leaving without talking to the media; but the President visited the fair next.

Well, come to find out, you can't just do anything when you are the President. For starters, Health-conscious Michelle forbade Barack from eating a deep-fried twinkie. Then the Fair barred Barry from the Bumper cars. Sure, he had rode on them four years before, but as President, the Fair just wasn't going to take any chances.

While Ryan's fair appearance was a misstep, Obama's looked to be successful as he had a Pork Chop and a Beer. Of course, Beer Tent owner Mike Cunningham criticized the President by saying the revenue he lost from having to close his shop for a couple of hours wasn't worth the trouble. Obama ended up buying the first ten people in the area a beer on him, and shooing business Cunningham's way.

Cunningham (a Republican) claims at the end of the day, he lost $25,000 because the Prez preferred a Busch to a Smoothie. Still, other tent owners in the area said the Presidential visit had no effect on their sales.

Still, if you need the talking point, here goes. Obama loathes free enterprise. He hates small businesses and small business owners. This was all an evil ploy to stick it to the little guy. Beergate. Now go and disperse.

Obama's next iowa appearance was less controversial, and Obama dished on the secret White House brewery.

The revelation came incidentally, when a man at the Knoxville coffee shop where Obama stopped today somehow got the president onto the subject of beer, and Obama noted that a sample of the White House’s home brew was just outside.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that Obama gave the man a full bottle of said beer, retrieved from the bus.

In a press gaggle a short time later, White House Spokesman Jay Carney took several questions about the beer, some which he could answer, others he could not.

The beer comes in two varieties, light and dark, Carney said. He has personally sampled the lighter brew, and declared it “refreshing.”

“It is superb,” he said. “It is quite good.”

Does the president himself drink the beer? Indeed he does, Carney said.

And why wasn’t the ultra-local ale served at the famed beer summit at the White House in 2009? Because that was before the brewing began he said.

So, nothing controversial, just an interesting tidbit. Except for maybe "President Compromises national Security; Reveals Heretofore Secret Brewery" or "President Takes Money From the Hands of American Microbrewers". Ok, you got it. Disperse.

Current Music: Fear- The Record
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/878229.html

Every year this time, I talk about the butter sculpture at the Iowa State Fair. Perhaps after 100-plus years, the Butter Cow is passe.

Behold! The Chocolate Moose.

Chocolate moose? Get it?

Hey-Oh!

Oddly, I missed the Moose when I visited the Fair, which gives a bit of the breadth of the Iowa State Fair (and also that a little Fair goes a long ways). The Moose was the work of Chocolaterie Stam and 4000 bars made up the 850 pound moose.

On a side note, i did not miss the latest ice cream technology. Ames's Liquid Nitrogen flash frozen ice cream Nitro Magic which was fantastic.

Also, speaking of Moose, now seems like the right time to post this from my Utah trip. While I was in the Wasatch Mountain Range, I was on the lookout for moose. I didn't see any, so I had to settle for this sign.

I am told there are Moose in this area (and the very rare Mountain Goat and very rare Bear), but only saw deer.

I am also told that if you are looking for a moose, they are harder to find than you think. I was told to look for black spots against the green countryside.

No moose though. Maybe next time.

Current Music: Billy Bragg - Live at Victoria University on 1987-03-07
Crossposts: http://bedsitter23.livejournal.com/878005.html

Longtime readers may know that every year around this time, the Butter Cow is revealed at the Iowa State Fair. It is literally that- a life-sized sculpture of a cow completely made of butter.

Additionally, another subject gets the butter treatment each year. It is such a long tradition (100 years +) that it goes back to a Butter President Coolidge and even further.

This year, it's Butter Snow White and the Butter 7 Dwarves. I saw it this weekend, and yes, well, it is made of butter. A fellow observer complained that it was a bit too anime-ish. Still, if you don't like it, you try to sculpture butter.

Behold!