First off, I can’t believe this was 13 years ago. I was 23 years old when this show happened and I’m 29 now, so something with that math seems off, but either way, it was quite a moment in annals of B93 history.
Let’s get in the DeLorean, gun it to 88mph and take you back to September of 2007.
Our Program Director at the time, Edgar Ybarra, and a young morning show host full of life and a thick head of hair, are discussing a potential concert in Sheboygan in January. The opportunity to bring in Halfway to Hazard for their second show in Sheboygan had presented itself, and a relatively new artist on the rise, Lee Brice, was also available. The target date was January 20th, a Sunday afternoon. As you do with any event that far in the future, you think about any potential conflicts. Things that might keep people from buying tickets to the show. Well, Sunday January 20th would be the date of the NFC Championship Game.
‘Should we be worried about a potential Packer conflict?’ Eddie, a sad Bears fan, asked. ‘HAHAHAHA,’ I replied. ‘I mean, I’d like to think that would be a conflict, but the reality is that Mike McCarthy is a buffoon and Teddy Ballgame hasn’t given our lord and savior Brett Favre any weapons in the twilight of his career. I still can’t believe they drafted a quarterback a few years ago. He looks terrible! Craig Nall will start a game before he does. What a dumb pick!’
So we scheduled the show for Sunday afternoon, January 20th.
Well, as luck would have it, it all came together for the Packers that year, just like I predicted. Favre looked revived, the offense was totally revamped, Donald Driver had a great year, Ryan Grant came out of nowhere to lead the running game, Greg Jennings and James Jones fit in perfectly. The Packers go 13-3, secure the #2 in the NFC, and get a first round bye.
Ruh roh. ‘Do you think people will still want to come to a 2pm Sunday afternoon concert if the Packers play in the NFC Championship game at 2:05pm?’
So, after the Packers won the Snow Globe game against the Seahawks, we adjusted. We pushed the concert back to 6pm, and started a Packer Viewing Party at 1pm at Lakeshore Lanes. Watch the game, Favre punches a ticket to his 3rd Super Bowl, head into Windjammer Hall and celebrate with a night of music. Perfect day! Halfway to Hazard even got tabbed to sing the National Anthem at Lambeau that day, then head down to Sheboygan at halftime.
Well, we all know what happened in that game. The Packers had the lead, they lost the lead, they got the lead back, then they were down again, then it was tied, then it was overtime, then Brett Favre threw one of the most horrific passes of his career, then it was over.
‘WHO’S READY TO PARTY!!’
It was a trail of Packer tears headed into Windjammer Hall in the aftermath of that game. I’m sure there have been artists that have played in less ideal circumstances than Lee Brice and Halfway to Hazard did that night, but they had an unenviable task to say the least. Luckily there was half an hour of open bar that segued into the concert portion of the evening. They eventually won the crowd over quickly, but that is a day that I won’t soon forget.
PS: I’m not sure if it’s a bad omen or not, but we’ve had some BAD NFC Championship game memories this week. Two days ago was a game that shall remain nameless in the great northwest in 2015, yesterday was a nightmare in San Francisco in 2020, today was the debacle in 2008. I’m choosing to believe these will serve as painful memories to be washed away in redemption on Sunday.
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