The boys are back in town!! Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2018 inductees Bon Jovi are once again arming up and amping themselves across the United States and Canada again with their This House Is Not for Sale Tour. Denver’s Pepsi Center, March 14th for what looks to be another successful tour.
Today we had the opportunity to take a walk through behind the scenes. You have no idea just how much goes into a production like this until you’ve been backstage. Trailer after trailer of equipment and gear. All the rigging stage-side. It’s surreal to know what kind of amazing action is going to grace the stage tomorrow evening for this debut. As the roadies check the lighting and sound while making sure everything is safe for the performance, I gaze around taking it all in, so bare without the crowd of attendees around me that my anticipation builds only making me more eager for tomorrow. People think their favorite artists just show up, play the show and it’s all done with a blink of an eye but many hours goes into setting up a stage of this size and many hours go into taking it down as well.
For this tour, the Jersey boys are once again doing something special this time out. Last year, Bon Jovi announced on Facebook Live that a competition for regional and local bands had a chance to grab a slice of the rock and roll pie and to share an evening of rock n roll with rock royalty. They have done this on two other occasions including their well received 2006 Have a Nice Day tour. Thousands of online auditions were submitted and Live Nation chose the top ten bands. After that, Bon Jovi’s management selected the winner from there.
Out of thousands of bands and audition videos, The Patti Fiasco were named the winners for that coveted Denver slot. The band initially were chosen in February of 2017 with the best three and a half minutes in their repertoire but had to wait till March of this year due to illnesses in Bon Jovi’s band. I would say well worth the wait to nail down an opening slot for such a prestigious headliner!
Patti Fiasco
The Patti Fiasco is a band out of Ft. Collins, Colorado. They have been playing together for over 9 years after the lead singer, Alysia Kraft and lead guitarist, Dee Tyler met at an open mic night in Wyoming. Drawing from the bands love of Joan Jett and Loretta Lynn, there is a great mixture of blues, rockabilly and a little bit of a liking to that of a young, rebellious Steve Earle! In the past, they have opened for Cracker, Ben Harper, Justin Townes Earle and Colorado’s own, Big Head Todd and the Monsters to name a few. When this reporter asked how they were told they were going to open for the rock icons Bon Jovi, Dee with a smile and a chuckle says, “Actually it was through an email!” With a bit more of a dent of an e-mail, check out their 2013 release, “Small Town Lights.” This gem was one of Colorado’s top ten most played records in 2013 and still garners attention to this day. Visit The Patti Fiasco on tour or on their Facebook page.
See them in person tomorrow night and check out their swagger yourself in the 5280, when The Patti Fiasco gets a cool 20 minute, well perfected set before Bon Jovi rips up the Pepsi Center and the crowd of adoring fans. I am quite sure they will rip this arena into a blaze of glory!
Stayed tuned and tuned into The Patti Fiasco. Thanks for checking out the article and make sure to subscribe to our page Xposer magazine…Where You Go To Be Scene!
Cheers!
Article by Sean Huntsman
Photos By Teddy G / Xposer Photography