Back Stage Pass

OCTOBER '08

Harder Beat Magazine Online

Y&T at Rock the Bayou

By Andy Laudano

Y&T’s Dave Meniketti

I had an awesome time at the Rock the Bayou festival in Houston. I saw some great bands, hung out with some old friends and met some interesting people, including one really big Y&T fan. Long before the first band took the stage, this guy was standing by the backstage entrance, holding a framed copy of the first Yesterday & Today (Y&T’s original full name) album. It was hotter than Hell that day, and he was standing right in the sun. Even though Y&T were the fifth band scheduled to play, he was determined to wait there, even if it meant missing the other bands — just for the chance of getting his album signed.

I knew right away I had to help this guy out. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that I WAS “that guy.”

Once you went past the backstage entrance, the stage was to the left and the media tent was to the right. Throughout the weekend, many artists would go there meet the press, pose for photos and do radio interviews. Once I found out Y&T was scheduled to come over after their set, I went to the man in charge backstage, Mark Klein, and told him about the fan. I asked if we could sneak him in during Y&T’s press conference, and he said it would be all right.

It turns out I wasn’t the only person wanting to help this guy out. Once Y&T came onstage, I went to take photos and there was the fan standing with the guys from Dirty Penny, holding up his album and watching the show from the side of the stage! After the set finished, we led him to the media tent, where he finally got to meet the band and get his album signed. Thanks again to Mark Klein for all his help throughout the weekend and for helping to make one Y&T fan’s dream come true.