TBT: Tickle Me Pink

For my first Throw Back Thursday post, I picked Tickle Me Pink's performance from 2008.  I chose this because it was one of the most touching performances I have ever seen at Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest.  This show was a little over a month after the death of bassist Johnny Schou (below on the far left). As most of us remember, he passed away on the day that the band released their album Madeline on a national label.  The label release party at the Aggie Theatre that night tragically turned into a private memorial for Johnny.   

The group decided to move forward with their national tour, so they added guitarist Joey Barba from the Brotherhood of Dae Han and moved lead singer Sean Kennedy into the bassist role.  A few days after the funeral, they set out on a cross country tour.  Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest was their first show back home in Fort Collins and the crowd packed Mountain Ave stage to show their support.  Although a storm had rolled through the festival grounds earlier that morning, the skies cleared for Tickle Me Pink's set. When the band got to their single Madeline (which is about the death of a friend), you could hear Kennedy's voice crack with emotion and just at the climax of the chorus, a huge gust of wind ripped the back drop cloth from the stage.  It literally took the crowd's breath away and as cheesy as it may sound, I felt like it was super powerful to see our friends and fellow musicians push through the pain as they stood their ground and let the music take over.  That show was so special to me and that's why it's one of my very favorite Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest performances.

That harsh reality showed me that life sucks and life is wonderful all at the same time.  And ultimately life goes on.  Tickle Me Pink may not be a band anymore, but the members of the group are still making music in Colorado and beyond.  Sean Kennedy writes music non stop and after a string of groups around town, he recently formed power house band Magician in the Machine.  Steven Beck has also played in a string of local and national bands.  Both Sean and Steven are now daddies to 2 of the cutest kids I have ever seen! Joey Barba is a well respected studio producer and tours internationally with Tyler Ward.  Stefan Runstrom is most definitely an animal on his drumset and although he plays with so many bands that I can't even name them all, you can see him at this year's Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest with Wiredogs on Sunday August 17th at 2:15 PM.  Because it's #TBT (can you hashtag a blog?!?), check out Tickle Me Pink's video for Madeline below.  Here's to life!