The Pabst Theater was taking a chance booking a band like The Outfield, who arrived in Milwaukee Thursday night without a major release on their hands since the late the 1980s. The band played to a crowd that came close to filling the historic theater's lower level, and for many, it was like 1986 all over again.
They opened with a new song, but it was their second tune, "Closer to Me," that got the crowd singing. Hits like "61 Seconds," "Mystery Man," "Since You've Been Gone," "For You," "My Paradise" and of course, "Your Love" soon followed.
Lead singer Tony Lewis, sporting leather-fringed pants, belted out the lead vocals while plucking the bass. Lewis' high-pitched tone is, well, somewhat soothing and seems to say as he sings, "all is right in the world, the Outfield is still on tour. " To you non-fans, this makes no sense, but to those who still own "Play Deep" on vinyl you know what I'm talking about.
Lead guitarist John Spinks is the guy who never, ever will leave the band. He just drips, "band dude," and his #8 jersey and tight black pants with white painted spots, made him look like that guy in his upper 40s who couldn't wait to get back to high school. On "Voices of Babylon" from the group's 1988 release, he settled in and prepared himself for his mid-show solo of the Oasis hit, "Wonderwall." (The band ended the show with a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll.")
Rocking to "Winning It All," the tune that was used in several sports broadcasts, NBA videos and on the "Mighty Ducks" soundtrack, you saw why the band has staying power. Three guys, good songs and solid music.
They did play the new single, "It's all about Love," but judging from the singing and dancing on tunes like "All the Love in the World" and "Every Time You Cry" fans don't care how the new stuff goes over. Their debut 1985 release sold more than three million units and with hits like "Say It Isn't So" still way too easy to remember and sing along to, more sales are still coming.
If you missed the Milwaukee Outfield show, you missed a good one. No, it wasn't the best concert I've ever seen, but it was damn entertaining and with one echo of "Josie's on a vacation far away," I knew that all was well, at least for the time being.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
