This page is
part of the Watertown Riverfest 2007 website
Johnny Wad
Saturday
August 4
The self-proclaimed "World's
Greatest Covers Band," Johnny Wad, headlines Riverfest
Saturday at
The band's four members bring
extensive musical experience and four different vocal styles to the stage.
This, according to guitarist Chris Dame, means the band can perform just about
any well-known pop song.
Johnny Wad, famous around the Green
Bay area for its high-energy shows, formed seven years ago. They are so popular
in the northern Fox Valley that they have been invited to play Titletown's huge Fourth of July festival the past six
years. They also tour in a four-state area, playing more than 120 shows
annually.
The Johnny Wad band members
certainly do not operate on a "less-is-more" philosophy. Dame said
the band likes to play long sets packed with familiar hits. He also said they
like to drink lots of tequila ‹ the band has earned a sponsorship with Jose Cuervo. He said that, when a nationally known band comes to
the area, they play perhaps only three hits in a night. Dame said Johnny Wad
gives the audience 33 popular tunes before leaving town.
"There are four guys in the
band and all can sing lead, so there's a wide variety of vocals and
harmonies," he said.
The band specializes in covering
bands ranging from Pink Floyd and Guns 'n' Roses, to J. Geils
and even Abba.
He said the band takes its somewhat
curious name from a character in the Bazooka Joe bubblegum comics.
"That's my story and I'm
sticking to it," he said with a laugh.
This is Johnny Wad's third time
performing at Riverfest.
"The people in Watertown are
great, it's a great stage and there's always very good production there. And we
love (event organizer) John Ertl," Dame said.
"He'll drink shots of tequila with us if we twist his arm."
Dame said there is no mission
driving the band other than to simply make people have a good time.
"We just want to entertain the
audience and it's about playing the songs they want to hear," he said.
"Every song is a hit and people will know every song we play. There is
something for everybody. We are the greatest covers band in the world."
Steve Sharp of the Watertown Daily Times staff