Mike Gent, the singer-guitarist for The Figgs, has visited Wisconsin many times over the years.
But, never without his clothes.
Gent, whose group kicked off a Wisconsin mini-tour with a show Saturday night at Linneman's Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust St., and will play through Tuesday night at Oneida Bingo Casino in Green Bay.
For Gent, the trip got off to a rocky start.
"The airline lost my luggage," he said. "I carried on my guitar, but I had my clothes in there, my house keys, my guitar gear. It sucks. I hope they find it."
Gent's bandmates Pete Donnelly (bass) and Pete Hayes (drums) checked their bags at the same time at JFK International Airport in New York. The other bags showed up in Chicago.
"Mine went to Miami," Gent said.
Gent didn't let the setback impact his performance. From the opening notes of "Simon Simone," it was evident that he and his bandmates haven't let a small thing like living in different cities impact their cohesiveness.
The songs "Breaking Through These Gates" and "Regional Hits" from the excellent and overlooked 2006 disc "Follow Jean Through the Sea," led into a pair of Kinks classics: "See My Friends" and "Father Christmas."
The Kinks were a huge influence on Gent and Donnelly, who have been playing together since their high school days in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Collaborations with Graham Parker and (The Replacements') Tommy Stinson informed the band's power pop sound, as well.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
