BY: RACHEL WUMKES
There is nothing quite like live music. The feel of the bass reverberating inside your chest. The beat of the drum. The lights. The chill of anticipation that runs down your spine as the band takes the stage.
It’s literally the best.
Ever.
The magic swirling inside the historic Surf Ballroom adds a little something special to any concert. The history embedded in the structure and on the stage runs deep throughout the many genres within the music industry. Some of the brightest stars of today made their way through Clear Lake on their rise to fame.
As America shut down in hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19, so many establishments felt the crunch of making ends meet. Businesses scrambled furiously, trying to come up with new, innovative ways to make ends meet.
The Surf Ballroom and Museum, unfortunately, is still feeling that crunch.
Being a facility that hosts thousands of people at one time, crammed onto the dance floor and booths, it’s just not feasible to re-open the concert scene quite yet. All those people, standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they sing along to the lyrics – it would be a petri dish of germs.
Thankfully, our friends at the Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club have decided to collaborate with the Surf Ballroom for an out-of-the-box live music event. After postponing their previously booked show, the Island Fever Showcase, which was supposed to take place over Labor Day weekend, they knew they had to do something.
Because in Clear Lake, the music never died.
It didn’t die that fateful night in February 1959, and it’s not going to now.
Thus, a collaboration written in the stars, forged in a time when ‘flying by the seat of your pants’ is the best way to make it through. The Surf Ballroom, along with the Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club, presents a new virtual concert experience. “Live From the Surf” will feature national touring act Drop Dead Dangerous performing a concert that will be live streamed through social media outlets on Saturday, August 1st at 7:30PM.
Best of all – viewers can watch free of charge!
Surf Ballroom Director, Laurie Leitz, is excited for the event. “We have really, really missed live music at the Surf over the last four months,” she stated. “While this isn’t our traditional concert format, live-streaming provides an opportunity for us to try something new, and give our fans an opportunity to support live music and the Surf once again.”
During the event, a virtual tip jar will be available. All proceeds collected will go to the Surf Ballroom to support the mission of the North Iowa Cultural Center during these tough times. To ensure you don’t miss this awesome collaboration. Be sure to give a LIKE to Drop Dead Dangerous and the Surf Ballroom. A link to the event, as well as the tip jar, will be located there.
These days, any little taste of normalcy feels like indulging in a seven-course meal. Pull up a seat and enjoy the feast as you appreciate the sounds of one of the best southern rock bands in the touring business today.
Rock on, friends!