Inaugural music festival draws nearly 3,000

Local band The Poor Boys led off the music with its traditional renditions of music popular in the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

Near the end of its set, many of those attending were on their feet dancing and singing.

Arch Allies, of the Twin Cities, showed their musical skills by performing songs made popular by Styx, REO Speedwagon and Journey.

With costume changes and wigs to provide a feel for the music popular in the 1980s, many in the crowd were waving and singing along with the band.

Loverboy performed many of the hit tunes that have made it a traditional favorite of outdoor music festivals. The International Falls performance was sandwiched between Emmetsburg, Iowa, on Friday and Indianapolis, Ind., Sunday.

“Awesome.” That’s how Tim “Chopper” McBride described the festival in between performances. “Totally awesome day.”

McBride, a Falls city councilor, serves as the president of the city’s Economic Development Authority, which owns the complex, including the amphitheater. He was in charge of much of the details in organizing the music fest.

“It’s a fantastic culmination of ideas that started in deer season,” he said. “The city has always wanted to do something like this and it works out. The crowd is growing by the minute.”

McBride said The Poor Boys “put on a great show, Arch Allies will blow the roof off it, and then Loverboy, wow, what a show.”

McBride said he suspects that the future will bring more performances at the amphitheater. “We’re going to do it again. I’m not going to do it, because I’ve aged eight years and lost eight pounds,” he said. “I’m going to sleep for four days after this.”

McBride said he was happy with the reaction of those attending the concerts.

“Look at the faces, people come down to see the band and it’s fantastic,” he said. “The weather, the groups, it’s just fantastic.”

Arch Allies lead guitarist Kevin Todd said he’s visited International Falls in earlier years and noted that the Broncos are well known for skilled hockey.

“I grew up playing hockey in South St. Paul,” he said. “I played Fort Frances before many years ago. It’s a great area and I’m glad to see the ice is off the lake.”

Todd said the band enjoys traveling to perform at big and small communities.

“We travel all over the United States and everybody really seems to enjoy it and we have a great time doing it,”

The band was in Clear Lake, Iowa, Thursday, and performed in Duluth Sunday. The following weekend it was in Robbinsdale and River Falls, Wis.

Known for its covers of hit songs, Todd said he works hard to make people attending feel like they’re watching the real thing.

“When you’re trying to imitate them, I do the best I can trying to hit some signature notes,” he said adding that he considers himself more of an entertainer than a performer.

“We’re here to give you a show, take you down memory lane and make you go ‘wow, I remember what I was doing when I first heard that song,’ and make you smile and feel good,” he said.

Todd said the band allows the group to earn a living while doing what it loves.

“We get a paycheck and it’s also a kick to get up and show your talent — to play rock and roll. When you’re growing up, you want to be a rock star and this is the closest we can get without writing your own music,” he said. “One step away from being a national band, so we’re a nationally touring cover band.”

Todd said the band enjoyed the idea of opening for Loverboy. “They’re great, we’ve worked with them many a time,” he said.

The band has also opened for Firehouse, Dokken, Warrant. “They better bring their A game when they’re working with us because we make sure the crowd is gong to get its money worth,” he said.

The band performs at outdoor venues in the summertime, often headlining for national acts, he said. The normally three-hour performance was condensed Saturday into 90 minutes.

The band, made up of 12 members and crew, lives in a bus during its tours, he said.

“This band wouldn’t be what it is without the crew,” he said. “It’s a team effort, it’s not just five guys playing.”

This touring project is going three years, he said, calling it the band’s most successful yet. “It’s going to go many years after this because the music is for people 10 to 80 that come to see us. And they enjoy Gabe Jacobs, a phenomenal vocalist.”

Other band members include John Wheeler on keyboard, Steve Soderstrom, percussion, and Tom Dario, bass guitar.

Danny Mihichuk, drummer with The Poor Boys, said the band had fun performing on the stage what would be taken over by Arch Allies and Loverboy.

Todd Summer of International Falls performed with the band Saturday after a break of several years. Other members of the band are Dave Ashworth and Craig “Woody” Wood.

A few technical difficulties caused a late start for the band’s performance, but Mihichuk said Arch Allies helped smooth things out allowing The Poor Boys to use some of its gear.

“It’s just fun to be here — local people and a good day for it.” he said. “Arch Allies does a great job and of course Loverboy, being I’m going to be 52, I grew up watching these guys. Great band. Saw them a couple years ago.”

The Canadian and American band connection made the event fun, he said.

“You can’t beat it — nothing finer,” he said of the festival.

For photos, pick up today's edition of The Journal.