This is an excerpt from an email by Chris (O'Brian) Knauer who will MC the concert.
"I just thought I would let you know, Lee, that all of us here in Northwestern Illinois are extremely happy and proud of all you guys for what you did back then, and what you are doing now. When the NOMADDS broke up on that December nite in '65 at the Hanover town Hall, the NOMADDS really never left us; you just gave us a chance to catch our breath for this encore performance which we have so patiently waited for. On top of that we are so grateful that the NOMADDS decided to do this for the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce, specifically the (FDDF) Freeport Downtown Development Foundation. Its a huge shot in the arm for this committee to have your name stamped along side of theirs.
This has been a passion, a dream, and a goal of mine for better than 8 long years. And to have this all come together on Oct. 1 at 7:30 when the NOMADDS take the stage for one final time.............. my dream will have become reality. The emotions will be flowing, and will be indescribable. Not only from me, but more importantly from all your fans in the audience that have stayed with you guys for over 45 plus years. LONG LIVE THE NOMADDS!!!!!!"
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July 8th, 2010 was the first day of ticket sales. Here is a recap!!
This is downtown Freeport at 4:40am.
The only cars belonged to Bill Frakes who was first to arrive.
Tony and Tina Cannova, the next two arrivals.
Pretty quiet!
Bill and Tina waiting for the doors to open at 9:00am.
By 7:00am the line had grown and Tony arrived with donuts!
Joe Best & Joel Spielman supplied the coffee.
It was a fun morning. We shared memories of the '60s, dances at the Masonic, Freeport's music scene and the upcoming concert.
Sherry Maves wrote the following note to the Freeport Class of 1965.
Good morning from beautiful downtown Freeport, where it is so muggy that the sky is about to fall.
This is your roving reporter who just returned from the corner of Stephenson and Van Buren where a congregation of middle aged groupies in lawn chairs, munching donuts, are blocking the entrance of the downtown development office. One of the downtown office members emerged from the door, glad to find out they were a peaceful bunch and not a protest group. What precipitates such madness in this small mid-western town? One phrase sums it up...Nomadds reunion concert!
Tony Cannova, Nomadd drummer, has been in line since 4:30 this morning. Yes, folks, even the stars of the show could not get tickets early. Let's give it to the downtown development center for fairness. His wife, Tina, and Georgia Bokemeier Herman were on the scene at 6 a.m. Melinda Hoelscher was also one of the die hards who claimed her place early on. Others spotted included Joe Best, Cheri Robertson, Diane Sorn, Joe Spielman, and some whose names this reporter could not pull in.
Koki Griffen was the topic of conversation, how much he would have loved this, and how he would be smiling down on the whole event. Tony said Koki even took some of their old posters to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Although rain threatened, spirits were high, and Tina Cannova noted that today's events would be put on her face book page as they unfold.
This is your disgruntled roving reporter who had to leave the frivolity and get back to work (unlike some people who are already retired!)
Rock on!
Sherry M
More Photos from Sherry
Sherry Maves wrote the following note to the Freeport Class of 1965.
Good morning from beautiful downtown Freeport, where it is so muggy that the sky is about to fall.
This is your roving reporter who just returned from the corner of Stephenson and Van Buren where a congregation of middle aged groupies in lawn chairs, munching donuts, are blocking the entrance of the downtown development office. One of the downtown office members emerged from the door, glad to find out they were a peaceful bunch and not a protest group. What precipitates such madness in this small mid-western town? One phrase sums it up...Nomadds reunion concert!
Tony Cannova, Nomadd drummer, has been in line since 4:30 this morning. Yes, folks, even the stars of the show could not get tickets early. Let's give it to the downtown development center for fairness. His wife, Tina, and Georgia Bokemeier Herman were on the scene at 6 a.m. Melinda Hoelscher was also one of the die hards who claimed her place early on. Others spotted included Joe Best, Cheri Robertson, Diane Sorn, Joe Spielman, and some whose names this reporter could not pull in.
Koki Griffen was the topic of conversation, how much he would have loved this, and how he would be smiling down on the whole event. Tony said Koki even took some of their old posters to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Although rain threatened, spirits were high, and Tina Cannova noted that today's events would be put on her face book page as they unfold.
This is your disgruntled roving reporter who had to leave the frivolity and get back to work (unlike some people who are already retired!)
Rock on!
Sherry M
More Photos from Sherry
This concert is going to be Freeport's largest party! Can't wait to see everyone and rock to the tunes! Remember...ticket holders can purchase a $3 ticket to the Meet&Greet immediately following the concert. T-shirts and posters will be on sale.
ReplyDeleteWhere/when do you pay for the $3.00 meet & greet tickets?
ReplyDeleteMeet & Greet tickets will be available to purchase immediately following the concert in the lobby. Event will be held in the Crystal Room adjacent to the auditorium.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful performance! From the first note, I couldn't sit still - I was dancing in my seat. You've still got it guys!
ReplyDeleteI had the best time ever last night! Thank you NOMADD'S God Bless you and your families. Last night was a mixed blessing for me; It was melancholy because it brought to mind all the friends that I have lost since that time, and it was bittersweet, because it reminded me that I am getting older and how did that 45 years go by so fast? And it brought back the memories of innocence and joy from that era! I didn't know whether to to cry or cheer so I did both and I danced in my seat and I sang along to every song. It is funny that I can't remember what I had for lunch, but I can remember the lyrics to "Love Potion No. 9" and every other song they performed from 45 years ago! Go figure! Did the guys have any idea how deeply they had touched the lives and hearts of their fans from all those years ago? Did they see or know about all the standing ovations they received? Did they see the tears of joy in the eyes of the fans fortunate enough to be there last night? All the hard work they and you as family members have put up with for the last few months was much, much, much appreciated! Those memories will live in my mind and heart for all the rest of my days. They say you can't go home again, well after last night I say they are wrong! THANKS AGAIN. Love you guys, Jeanette Vietmeyer, Dakota High School class of 1966 jpivot@aol.com
ReplyDeleteTo all The Nomadd Fans.
ReplyDeleteThank You!!
We all felt like it was one big family reunion. On stage we could only see the first 2 rows of people. At the break Greg and I decided we wanted the "House Lights" to go on so that we could see the rest of the fans. I went to the Lighting Engineer and asked him to be ready to light up the room when Greg asked him to. We were ALL surprised to see the "Full House" of Nomadd Fans. You made us feel so welcome.
Again Thank You for a very Special evening.
Tony Cannova
The Nomadds Drummer
P.S. Thanks to everyone who bought me a beer!
What a night! What an amazingly wonderful night!
ReplyDeleteYou guys may be a little older, your hair a little grayer (or whiter in some cases), but you still got it goin' on? You still make audiences scream with delight! Wow! Talk about Dejavu! The Masonic Temple was rockin'once again with the unforgettable sounds of the Nomadds! It was electric! It was amazing! It was by far, the most fun we've had at a concert ever! We danced in our seats, we tapped our feet and clapped with the beat and sang every word of every song with you! It was so much fun to listen not only to the band playing and singing all of these familiar Nomadd favorites, but hearing all the voices around me singing along with you and enjoying you as much as I was.
How do 45 years go so fast? The memories revisited with this musical walk back in time were delightful. We were all very fortunate to have spent our high school years with the best band around! We loved you then, we love you now! You were and still our Nomadds!
Thank you Dennis, thank you Dean, thank you Greg, thank you Tony and thank you Lee. I'm proud to say I graduated high school with Tony and Lee! YOU ARE THE BEST!
Best wishes to all of you whatever you choose to do with the rest of your lives. We will always remember this 45th Reunion Concert of our own Nomadds. Thanks again,
Diane Dixon Sorn, FHS Class of 66
The anticipation before the concert was amazing, but the actual event was "wicked awesome", not a phrase used in 1965 but totally appropriate for October 1,2010!!! You totally ROCKED the house!! Loved it!!! Thanks so much for letting us relive some wonderful memories. Hope it isn't too much to ask...please do it again... soon...
ReplyDeleteI think it's all been said in the previous posts, but it was an AWESOME concert! Thank you so much, Nomadds, for such a special event.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough to sit in the last row on the main floor with Cindy and Bill Carroll. We got up and jammed! We just forgot to bring our bics!
Thanks, guys, for all the happy memories and the chance to dance and hang out with pals. I live in Vermont and work at a Deaf school, so had I been in town, I would have been signing (and singing) up a storm!
ReplyDeleteBeatles AND Nomadds forever!!
WOW……WOW…..and…… WOW!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI really can’t come up with the descriptive words to express my thoughts and feelings about the just completed NOMADD REUNION CONCERT. ALL of the previous posted comments have really summed up the evening very well. I can also read between the lines of those posted comments that they are true feelings, and emotions, that are coming straight from the heart.
How can I, who has performed and MC-ed before larger crowds still be nervous for something like this? Let me tell you why! Because these “boys” are “special” and a “treasure” of ours that we never want to let go of! So much so, that we want them to perform again and again!!!!!
I have been numb ever since I walked into the Masonic Temple Friday afternoon at 1:20 for their rehearsal. It wasn’t until Friday night Oct. 1, 2010 at 7:30p.m. at the Freeport Masonic Temple Auditorium when the curtain went up, and all five of them stood there in their dark suites, white shirts, and narrow ties and I heard that first song….back-stage I said to myself “oh my god, they sound just like I heard them the very first time”. It was like time had never moved on. I got those memorable “first-feeling” goose bumps, (and we ALL know how FIRSTS can be), and had those unbelievable 60’s flashbacks like all of YOU!
For them to ask me to MC their REUNION CONCERT, and be on the same stage with them I consider it a high honor and compliment. I don’t know what else to say, except “THANK YOU” Greg, Dean, Tony, Lee, and Dennis.
To their families, THANK YOU for allowing your fans a few hours of innocent, harmful, pure enjoyment, that we have longed for; for over 45 years.
THANK YOU to the FDDF committee for all your hard work in putting this altogether and for making it a reality.
AND, THANK YOU NOMADD FANS!!!! To sell this concert out in 2 and one-half days……UNBELIEVABLE!!! I don’t think any concert held at the Masonic has EVER been sold out that quickly. The NOMADD fans are the most devoted fans I have ever been around, and you truly are THE BEST!
THANK YOU ALL for a magical, memory-filled evening of music, and friendship that I personally will never ever forget!
My best to everyone……..Chris “O’Brian” Knauer
If I had known about this event last year, I would definitely have made the journey back (in time?) to Freeport. I first heard the Nomadds at the Stephenson County fair (year?). I believe they played in a tent. I was probably only 11 or 12 and was an instant fan. This was not the church or band music I was familiar with. In the 7th grade I had a crush (do people use this word anymore?) on Lee. Later on, when I was old enough to be allowed to go to the Masonic dances, I believe I never missed one featuring the Nomadds.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you all and thank you for the music,
Marilyn Green