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Review by Janel Spiegel
Wheatus
With Mr. No Name
November 22, 2024
Musikfest Café
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, Pa
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania… The Christmas city, home to Musikfest, a great place. ArtsQuest, and Musikfest Café had ONE HELL OF AN EXPERIENCE. WHEATUS. W H E A T U S, my friends. A never-ending catalog of music but most of us will forever be “Dirtbags,” waiting to hear “Lemonade” and “Valentine.” It takes you back. People were thrilled. I don’t think I’ve seen people this happy in a long time, and I was just at the Bumpin Uglies concert. THEY WERE THRILLED.
Mr. No Name opened for Wheatus. Mr. No Name is from Southeast Pennsylvania. That is quite a feat to accomplish. They did an incredible job. It was made clear by many of us that the drummer has AMAZING HAIR! They rocked out, hyped the crowd for Wheatus, and in classic, Wheatus awesomeness they walked onstage and just started playing. It was beautiful. Brendan Brown had a medical emergency before coming to Bethlehem, and wound up in the hospital but he drove the band to the Musikfest Café in true 80s kids’ fashion, played music, and kicked ass. We greatly appreciate YOU, and you are not allowed to die. The 25th Anniversary is next year. We cannot wait for Wheatus to come back.
Also, I may start the petition for them to play on the ice-skating rink. The did notice it. Let’s discuss Wheatus for a moment. The amazing catalog of songs… Everything from, “Wannabe Gangster,” “A Little Respect,” “Christmas Dirtbag,” (YES, THEY DID PLAY PART OF IT! WAS IT MAGICAL? YES, IT WAS.), “Pretty Girl,” “The London Son,” “Fourteen,” and so many more. Wheatus was formed by Brendan B. Brown in 1995. Which was a good year for music. Brendan plays guitar and is a songwriter. The members have changed over the years, and “Dirtbag” made quite a comeback thanks to social media. However, it was a little sad because Wheatus has such an extensive music catalog, and people always think of “Dirtbag.”
They chatted about schools, and Scranton, and of course football. YES, yes there was an EAGLE’S chant. Was it necessary? No… but it will happen anyway.
Tonight, WHEATUS just shook the building, rocked the house. Musikfest Café was in such a beautiful mode. It is decorated for the holidays, and people were feeling the nostalgia. It was so much more than though. Growing up, music has ALWAYS been part of my life. It has been a savior for me, and Wheatus was one of the bands in life that was on repeat. There were people from all walks of life tonight. It was amazing to see the newer generation right up front with our headbanging generation who will probably be going to concerts till the end of time, and beyond.
The members of Wheatus are: Brendan B. Brown, Matthew Milligan who had the keyboard player in hysterics most of the night. Brandon Ticer, Gabrielle Sterbenz who took Brendan to the Emergency room. THANKS FOR DOING THAT!!! and Joey Slater. They have had past members, and Dusty Murphy is the new drummer. He absolutely slaughtered the whole show. He did an incredible job.
Brendan joked, and laughed with crowd. He played, and had the crowd yell out requests. It was nice to hear some songs that are not songs people instantly think about. But… It was nice to see “Dirtbag” come back but people should also give them credit, and understand that they have such an amazing catalog of music.
Sometimes you need to feel everything, and listening to these songs meant a lot. So, thank you as always to the Musikfest Café staff, and the AMAZING VOLUNTEERS, the Bethlehem police, and everyone that works hard every day. The ice-skating rink is open, and Christkindlmarket Bethlehem is open. You will see the beautiful giant present. Parking is available.
If you have never seen WHEATUS live, GO SEE THEM! And no dying on us, the 25th Anniversary is coming. We got you Brendan, and will send you all the healing vibes. Love from a “Dirtbag” who wonders about my “Valentine,” and thinks about, “Something Good” in all the wild moments of life.
GO SEE WHEATUS LIVE, and go VISIT THE MUSIKFEST CAFÉ! It is the BEST!
Also, Saint Nick of Bethlehem will be playing at the Frank Banco Theater.
https://www.steelstacks.org/about/venues-at-steelstacks/musikfest-cafe/
https://www.instagram.com/mrnonamemusic/
