Cheese Pizza was a pretty big deal back in the day. I'm not talking about the food, I'm talking about the band. They're known as "The most outrageous retro show on the Planet." I've seen them, it an accurate statement.

I was fortunate to promote the band a few times over the years. I remember paying them $5,000 to play a show on July 4th. The concert was behind Muddy Waters in Cedar Rapids. We had the best view of the fireworks, but still, how many "local bands" are getting that kind of cash to play behind a bar next to the river? Not very many, but Cheese Pizza was worth it. People came from all over to see the show. We had a great crowd that night and everybody had an awesome time.

Cheese Pizza had fans. That's the reason they made the kind of cash they did. Young and old, people flocked to see them perform live. I'm not sure if it was the music, the costumes, or the cheesy stage act, but people around here loved them. They did very well in Eastern Iowa for over a decade. The band seemed to fit it, and we all had a lot of fun supporting this group of misfits from the Quad Cities.

Bar owners were lining up to promote them. People drank their faces off at a Cheese Pizza show. Even if the venue lost money at the door, the recouped it all back in beer and shots of Jagermeister. It was a party, and it was fun.

Times have changed and the crowds have gotten smaller. The band doesn't come around here that often anymore. It's not their fault, we've all gotten older and the local music scene has changed drastically. Venues have closed and people are on to new hobbies and interests.

If you want to take a trip down the retro highway, you can do it this weekend. Cheese Pizza will be live in concert this Friday, October 13th, at the First Avenue Club in Iowa City. Tickets are just $10.00 and can be purchased via this link.

The guys have all gotten a little older, but I'm sure it's still a killer show. Comment below on a Cheese Pizza memory from back in the day. All this talk about pizza is making me hungry. If you need me, I'll be at Sam's Pizza.

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