Just as noon rolled around, the crowds began trickling into the Big Gig on Thursday. That was good news and bad for the noon performers.

Bands, a word of advice. If you're playing at noon, start with your weakest material. That way the fans will be there to hear the best stuff.

At noon, when there were bands slated for a couple stages, most were still soundchecking. Ronnie Nyles and Tallulah Who kicked off their set of covers by the likes of Bob Seger and Melissa Etheridge on the sparkling new Harley-Davidson Roadhouse stage at about 12:15. There were about 20 people there for the first few songs.

A little further north, at the Miller Lite Oasis, Nick Pipitone -- who just released the CD "Esque" with his studio project The Rip Off Artists -- got underway with his Nick Pipitone Band about 10 minutes later with maybe two dozen folks waiting.

The crowds seem to be coming from the north and Mid-Gate entrances, though, so as these bands' sets continued more patrons arrived. Both bands sounded tight and working hard on this toasty, sun-drenched Summerfest kick off afternoon.

Meanwhile, The Invaders were keeping things lively with some ska-laced rock and roll next to the fountain and inside the Potawatomi/OnMilwaukee.com stage/tent bingo was outdrawing all the bands.

Chester Bay was slated to play at 12:30 on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage and at 12:35 the band was still getting ready. There were perhaps three dozen people clustered together in the front rows at centerstage. They were chatting and mingling, which tells me they're friends and family of the band here to show their support.