Adema Rocks Eau Claire

By Rachel Wick

In recent months, Eau Claire music fans have exhibited a thirst for the tasty morsels that national acts have to deliver. Despite the talent of our area's own talented musicians, residents are clamoring for bigger names to play gigs locally and are bars such as The House of Rock and The Stones Throw are responding. Through the years, some skeptics have voiced that Eau Claire isn't a big enough town to support such shows. I think that recent shows such as the October 29 Adema show at the House of Rock help to prove these naysayers wrong.


Adema tore it up at the House of Rock following abbreviated sets by local metals acts Orestus, Mors Mortis Machinatio and No Loving Place. Their stop in Eau Claire is a part of the band's tour for its latest release "Kill the Headlights. Rock fans turned out at the House of Rock in masses with the attendance ranging right around 300 people, an impressive feat especially for a Monday night (a Packer game night at that).

The packed crowd waited eagerly shoulder to shoulder for Adema to take to the stage and the band more than delivered following the Packer's victory.
Front man Bobby Reeves took to the stage shirtless (much to the enjoyment of the ladies in attendance) bursting with energy that soon had the crowd pumping their fists, forming a formidable mosh pit and several people crowd surfing their way across the sizeable crowd of strangers.


Throughout the performance, Reeves passed around a video camera to fans, stating that he was "videotaping this stuff for his parents." The band rocked out 14 songs total including their 2001 hit "Giving In," a spirited version of Guns and Roses' "Sweet Child O'Mine" and new song "Cold and Jaded." Following the performance; the band took out time to chat with fans, throw back some Jose Cuervo and sign various merchandise and body parts. Overall, the band appeared to be very down to earth, and was more than willing to interact with their fans. Later in the night, Reeves got inked with 99.9 The Carp's Debbie Monroe.


Adema returns to Eau Claire on Wednesday December 5, to play a gig at The Stones Throw. This time the band is bringing Texan hard rockers Drowning Pool along for the ride.
Drowning Pool formed back in 1996 and rapidly became a household name following the band's stint on Ozzfest with Ozzy Osbourne himself. Drowning is probably the most remembered by their 2001 hit "Bodies" and are active supporters of the troops. Drowning Pool is stopping in Eau Claire on the "This Is For Our Soliders Tour" in support of the recently released album "Full Circle."


Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. with the show slated to start at 8 p.m. Eau Claire's rock music staples No Loving Place and Orestus are also slated to perform. Tickets for the show are $18 dollars in advance and $20 at the show.