If this is what ROCKTOBER is going to look like, we’re ready for more.
Sugar Buzz kicked off October with a weekend that took us from a packed nightclub dancefloor on Friday night to thousands of Vikings fans outside U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Two very different shows, two very different crowds — and both reminded us why we love being a Minnesota cover band.
Friday Night: Bogart’s Entertainment Center
We kicked off ROCKTOBER Friday night at Bogart’s Entertainment Center, and from the very first beat, people were ready to party.
The dancefloor stayed active from the first song all the way to the end of the night. There were smiling faces everywhere, and we absolutely love the nightclub vibe at Bogart’s. There’s something about that room that just feels like a night out — lights, music, people packed onto the dancefloor and everyone there to have a good time.
We also had a special guest in the crowd: our former bassist, Larry. It’s always great to see a former member come out to support the band, and having Larry there made the night even more fun.
And then there was Jimmy.
Jimmy was our fill-in sound engineer for the night, and he was exceptional. That is no small compliment when you consider what he had to work with. Sugar Buzz is not exactly the easiest band to mix. We’ve got two keyboards, a keytar, acoustic guitar, three electric guitars, bongos — and all six of us sing.
That’s a lot of moving parts.
Jimmy somehow made it all sound effortless, which is exactly what you want from the person behind the board. The band could concentrate on doing what we do, and the audience got a great-sounding show.
And judging by the dancefloor, they were definitely hearing what we were hearing.
Sunday: Sugar Buzz Takes Over the Plaza
Then Sunday brought something completely different — and something we never take for granted.
Sugar Buzz had the rare honor of performing on The Plaza in front of U.S. Bank Stadium before the Vikings took on the Dolphins. We played from noon to 3 p.m., and Mother Nature decided to cooperate beautifully. The weather was spectacular.
And the crowd?
WOW.
Thousands of Vikings fans came through the Plaza, and we had an amazing time getting them to stop, watch, sing, dance and participate with us before heading into the game.
But one of our favorite parts was seeing the Sugar Buzz faithful there specifically to see us.
That never gets old.
Sure, it’s pretty cool to look out and see thousands of people gathered in front of the stage. But spotting familiar faces who came down just because they knew Sugar Buzz was playing? That means a lot.
This was actually our fifth time playing the Plaza. Coming into the show, our Vikings record when we played there was 2–2.
So naturally, we were hoping the Vikings would take care of business.
They did.
Sugar Buzz is now 3–2 at the Plaza.
We’ll take it.
We even had some pretty spectacular entertainment during our short breaks. We stepped away for about two minutes while the Vikings Cheerleaders performed a routine in front of the stage, followed by another five-minute break featuring the SKOL Line drum corps.
The energy was already high. Somehow, they managed to crank it up another notch.
And That’s How ROCKTOBER Begins
Two shows. Two very different stages.
And if the rest of ROCKTOBER wants to keep up with that kind of energy, we’re ready.
Bring it on!
