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Credit:
Submitted photo
Kathy and Mike Gallenberger flank Mike Aspan,
center, who will join them Friday at Friday Night
Live in Waukesha. |
WAUKESHA
- Mike and Kathy Gallenberger will be in full casual
wear this Friday night.
However, on the inside, the Merton couple will be
feeling “full gown and black tie” for opening night
of Friday Night Live.
“To
me, Friday Night Live is the Carnegie Hall of
Waukesha,” said Mike Gallenberger, who, along with his
wife, will perform this Friday as Friday Night Live
kicks off another season in downtown Waukesha. “The
reason Friday Night Live gets some of the best local
musicians is the reputation the event has received over
the years. This is a gig that just about every musician
wants to do because it means you’ve made it in the
Waukesha music arena.”
The
popular live music series, organized by the Waukesha
Downtown Business Association, runs Fridays from 6:30 to
9 p.m. with local talent at several stages, including
Main Street and Gaspar, where the Gallenbergers will
play.
In a
way, Friday Night Live rejuvenated the Gallenbergers’
musical career. As owners of Gman Music at Barstow and
South streets, opportunity came right through their
door.
“About
15 years ago, Norm Bruce (owner of Martha Merrell’s
Books) came into my music store saying he needed someone
to sing that coming Friday,” Mike Gallenberger said.
“I told him I would get him someone. Well, nobody
could do it. Kathy and I had quit playing out about two
years before. So I asked her and she said no. I told
Norm that I would do it myself. At the last minute,
Kathy said OK. We were rusty but we had a lot of fun.
Since then, we have done about 100 Friday Night
Lives.”
They’ve
kicked off the annual series many times.
“Friday
Night Live has had a big impact on our lives as it gave
us a chance to start playing out again after calling it
quits,” Mike Gallenberger said. “It allows me to
play with who I want to play with and play whatever I
want.”
The
Gallenbergers play a variety of ‘50s, ‘60s and
‘70s music from the likes of John Denver, Patsy Klein,
Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, and
Peter, Paul and Mary.
Kathy Gallenberger’s rendition of “Somewhere
Over the Rainbow” has become a FNL favorite.
“The
best part of playing there is the people,” Mike
Gallenberger said. “We see great family crowds out for
a night of fun and music.”
They
enjoy the experience so much that they asked the
organizers to book them once a month. In addition, they
now bring along some of their music friends.
“Now,
we only play about twice a month and we keep it to songs
we really enjoy,” Mike Gallenberger said. “Playing
too much can take the fun out of it.”
For
more information, visit waukeshafridaynightlive.com.
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