NIGHTLIFE
Rainbow Connection Rock Auction
November 16, 2005
What a show!  The Emerald Theater was filled to capacity last night for the second annual Rainbow Connection Rock Auction.  I’m not sure if it had anything to do with the two headliners, Brett Michaels and STYX, or if everyone just wanted to party for a good cause.  The Rainbow Connection and 106.7 The Drive teamed up with The Emerald Theater for the second year in a row to bring some great artists together for a good cause.

Brett Michaels took the stage and had the crowd whipped into a frenzy as soon as the lights went out.  Who doesn’t want to rock out to some classic Poison hits?  Being as this guy is now in his forties, he can still rock like the young stud he was know as back in the 80’s and 90’s when Poison ruled the radio and had all the girls screaming their lungs out.  Brett sang a great rendition of ‘Every Rose Has it’s Thorn’, then signed the guitar and gave it to the Rainbow Connection to auction off. 

The ‘Rock Room’ at the Emerald Theater was loaded with goodies any music lover would kill to have hanging on their wall.  There were autographed guitars from Motley Crew and The Eagles, signed posters from Pat Benatar, framed posters of the Beatles and a monstrous neon sign of Ted Nugent’s signature.  There was stuff from Van Halen, Bob Seger, Journey, Billy Idol, Sammy Hagar and many more items to bid on.  If you like music, chances are there was something you would want in your collection.

STYX put on such a fabulous show that my hands are still numb from clapping so much.  You never really remember how many hits these guys have till you’re into the tenth song and sung every word so far.  Lawrence Gowan, the keyboardist had his keyboard on a pedestal that spun around for that WOW factor.  What better place to see a band this good than in a theater this small, if you’ve never seen a band in the Emerald Theater, don’t miss the chance.   

All proceeds from The Rock and Roll Auction II will benefit The Rainbow Connection, a non profit group that grants the wishes of terminally ill kids from Michigan.  Last year the first annual 106.7 The Drive’s Rock and Roll Auction raised over $25,000 for The Rainbow Connection, and hopes are to exceed that amount this year.

Thanks to Brenda Moore from the Rainbow Connection for allowing us to see this show and hopefully the 3rd year will be even bigger.

Full Photo Gallery Here

Scott Garner
scott@stldmag.com

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