Thursday, June 1st, marked the beginning of the summer fun. The heat was on but it was not going to stop me from attending the kick-off to the Summer concert series down at Jones Park. With two amazing bands set to bring the stage to life, Avenue 55 and Boxkar making a comeback after a 7-year hiatus, it was an event not to be missed.

I parked my car at the city ramp, and as I walked across the street and descended the Jones Park hillside stairs, the distant rumbling of the bass greeted my ears. The temperature was cranked up, and by the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, I was already perspiring. I headed towards the tent to get my proof of ID wristband, and I got my drink tickets at $5 per drink. Not a bad deal, considering they even threw in a can koozie for each ticket purchased.  I eagerly made my way toward the stage.

To my delight, I immediately bumped into several friends. The social aspect is always a highlight of these events, and this evening was no exception. As I joined the crowd, Avenue 55 was on stage, visibly drenched in sweat but giving it their all. How they managed to stay on the stage without slipping from sweat puddles, I have no idea! I was sporting a tank top while taking photos and was too hot, so they had to be ready to start on fire. These guys didn't miss a beat and had the crowd jamming out with their intense energy. People danced, while others lounged on the grass, enjoying the music and the atmosphere.

I ran around, capturing pictures and even recorded a video for you guys. Then, it was time for a quick break, so I made my way back to the food trucks to grab a cold beer. Between sips, I engaged in more conversations with fellow concert-goers and grabbed more snapshots. Before I knew it, Avenue 55 stepped off the stage, and in a short period of time, Boxkar emerged onto the stage from their 7-year hiatus, ready to rock the crowd.

They jumped onto the stage, launching into their first song as if they had never taken a break. Boxkar is a band that exudes pure fun and performs songs they have poured their hearts and souls into. It's an exciting and captivating journey with them. Chris, the lead singer, has a knack for providing insights into the songs, encouraging the audience to truly listen to the stories and messages they convey. I always say that it's the passion of a band and its lead singer that makes music truly great. Chris is a stellar performer, effortlessly exuding passion and delivering a heartfelt performance. His enthusiasm is so infectious that he jumps around like a kid, and in the next song he is dropped to his knees on stage, pouring his heart into every lyric.

The show was an absolute blast, with several standout moments that Boxkar shared with the crowd. They brought out Chris's child, dedicated a song to the drummer's son, and even introduced original band members, recounting how they helped shape the band into what it is today. It was clear that the band enjoyed performing just as much as the crowd love listening.

I've captured loads of photos for you to check out and share, along with a rather lengthy video. I apologize in advance for the sound quality, as the show had top-notch sound with subwoofers that completely kicked the shit out of my camera's microphone. Nevertheless, the experience was one for the books, filled with sweat, dance moves, and epic rock performances that left us all craving more.

I have over 250 pictures for you to check out as well as a video slideshow of all the photos or you can see all the pictures on the Wiparty Boating Photo Gallery.