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This Past Weekend in OH & MI: Skunks, Skinks & More!
Mon., Mar. 6. 2006 5:11pm EST
You want March Madness? Our concerts this past weekend in Toledo OH, Greenville MI, and Akron OH, included guest appearances by a skunk, a skink, an Elvis impersonator, and an American Idol semi-finalist.
 After J. gave the message Friday in Toledo, Karl came on stage cradling a blanketed bundle that appeared to be a baby. Inside instead was a skunk named Malari. Malari belongs to ApologetiX fan Therese Van Heuveln of Elyria OH, who also owns a blue-tongued skink, and, yes, Malari is de-scented, so if anyone tells you our show in Toledo stunk, don't blame it on the skunk. 
Actually, we've already received an encouraging email regarding that concert from a fan named Caroline Rood:
We had a blast ... I am so thankful that the kids have such a great band to look up to that teaches them about Jesus and the Bible. It is really great to get to meet you guys after the concerts. I haven't been to lots of concerts in my life but almost half of them have been ApologetiX. We will see you guys the next time you are in Toledo and try to bring more friends.
Our opening act for Saturday night's concert in Greenville was singer Joanna Martino, a former American Idol contestant who made it past the infamous Simon Cowell and on to Hollywood the second season -- the year Ruben won and Clay was runner up). Joanna is a Michigan-native who is now based out of Nashville. She has opened up for us a number of times over the years and recently released her first national CD. Her website is http://joannamartino.com/
The church had an awesome sound and light system and quite a stage crew. The crowd was one of our largest this year thus far. Later in the show, after we performed "Found God" (our parody of "Hound Dog"), a hulking figure in sunglasses approached the stage and had a few words with the band. It appeared to be an Elvis impersonator ... or was it? If memory serves us correctly, those first supposed sightings of Elvis back in '89 or '90 were at a Michigan Burger King. Coincidence? We don't think so.
Here's a nice email from a Natasha Golder, a longtime fan who attended the Greenville concert:
I had SO much fun at the concert!!! It was fun going up on stage again and singing, and it was really great talking to u you guys afterward for a long time. But what I forgot to tell u at the concert was how AWESOME it was that u played Baa We're Lambs!!!!!!!!!!! That's the song that originally made Erin and me interested in u guys. We didn't know u guys played it in concert, though, and when we started hearing baaing, Erin and I just looked at each other in shock and started screaming. It was great!
Thanks again for the great concert. U guys always make our day so awesome. Erin and I are the luckiest people in the world to know a band like u guys.
P.S. Can't wait to see u again in Midland!
Sunday's show was surprisingly sane as we wrapped up the weekend in Akron. Beth Davis became the first ApologetiX fan to attend 60 concerts, aside from our family members and roadies who have travelled with us. Beth has seen us in 15 states, but Akron was actually pretty close to her home. Beth's dad, Larry, remains one concert behind her, at 59. It's the closest race to 61 since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris!
After the show, Therese Van Heuveln made another appearance, this time with the aforementioned blue-tongued skink, Cha Cha ... bedecked in an ApologetiX bow complete with triquetra! For a look at both the skunk and the skink, check out the photos on the website.
Here's a great email we received from a pastor who attended the Akron concert:
Great concert last night at Springfield High in Akron! I've been following your ministry for a number of years, lift weights to your albums, and continue to pray for you and the band. Thanks for continuing to do what you do. I'm a singer too (classical music with the symphony orchestra chorus), so I know that what you do gets harder with each passing day.
I could see that some of you were not feeling very well last night, yet you kept right on going. That takes real commitment. And I was praying ... Thanks for making the message so clear to the kids. In a world very unfriendly to the Gospel, you draw them in with your music and your message. Rock on!
Pastor Roland
Millersburg OH
P.S. At age 53, I love all your music! That was me out there last night howling at the songs and singing along at the top of my voice ... I keep spreading the news of your music among my fellow pastors. If an old grey-hair like me can enjoy "Enter Samson," so can they ;o)
Special thanks to:
our concert coordinators: Marla Folkerts (Toledo), Chris Hansen (Greenville), and Bruce Lyman (Akron).
Thanks also to:
our merchandise table coordinators: Marla, Jennifer, and Karen (Toledo); Mike, Heidi P., Kory, and Jeremy (Greenville); and Heidi M., Marie, Jean, Cheryl, and Daniel
our roadies: Beth and Larry (Toledo and Akron), and Greg (Akron).
our stage manager: John (Greenville).
our soundmen: Larry (Toledo), Brad (Greenville), and Greg (Akron).
the local radio stations that supported the shows: Vonda and Todd at YES-FM (Toledo).
We'll be back in both states later this month (Kingsville OH on March 19, and Ypsilanti MI, Schoolcraft MI, and Trenton MI on March 31-April 2), so we hope to see you there!
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