Show fuses motorcycles, music

By Crystal Hohenthaner, Journal staff | Saturday, August 16, 2008

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Just as some are recovering from the rally-induced motorcycle mania, the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is gearing up for Motopsycho Mania, a live-action extreme motorcycle stunt show mixed with the high-energy rock ‘n’ roll of Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, Means to an End and Opiate for the Masses.

Tony Dwyer, lead singer of Means to an End, is the owner of Grindco Entertainment and the creator of Motopsycho Mania. Dwyer said he envisioned a show fusing stunts with music because it was the type of show he thought he would enjoy.

“On the motorcycle side, we’ve got three different elements: ramp-to-ramp jumping, street stunters doing all kinds of crazy high-speed tricks and the globe of death,” a spherical cage featuring three motorcycles at one point, Dwyer said.

Most of motorcycle stunts will be happening in between the bands’ sets, while equipment is being changed, he said.

Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, Means to an End and Opiate for the Masses will each play a set and “all the sports stuff gets sprinkled between each band,” Dwyer said. “So there will be no real down time during the show.”

Dwyer is excited about the energy of the motorcycle show and wanted to stress that it is something he wants people to be able to experience live.

“Television does it no justice until you see it live,” he said. “Anybody that has floor seats can get right up close to the stage. Those people will really get it – feeling the vibration, smelling the smoke from the bikes. The X Games on TV really doesn’t come across like it does when you see this live.”

Dwyer said he chose the musical acts for the show specifically to match the energy of the motorcycle stunts.

“We wanted to make sure the band that we brought in kept the same kind of energy,” hee said. “That’s part of what I was really striving for – fairly aggressive high-energy bands that are able to bring the same level of intensity as the live stunts. We have it lined up to be high-energy and really high-impact for the duration of the event. People who don’t like adrenaline won’t like this.”

Drowning Pool is one of the rock groups that will be performing at Motopsycho Mania. Its lead singer, Ryan McCombs said the group is looking forward to the event.

“We’ve done this kind of stuff in the past and I’ve always enjoyed it,” McCombs said. “It’s a gift to have this type of job.”

McCombs said gigs such as Motopsycho Mania help break of the monotony of touring.

“Touring can sometimes feel like being caught in the movie ‘Groundhog Day,’ so once in a while it’s great to have a show like this for a change of pace.”

He also said he’s looking forward to seeing members of the other bands that will be playing.

Dwyer is personally looking forward to seeing his vision realized.

“I can’t really say I have a favorite part of the show. I think probably the whole thing is my favorite,” Dwyer said. “It’s the gratification of seeing my vision fulfilled. I’ve had it in my head the last couple of years. The coolest thing is seeing the energy there the way I’ve wanted it to be there and how it impacts the crowd.”

For more information on the bands, go to:

Sevendust: http://www.sevendust.com/

Drowning Pool: http://www.drowningpool.com/

Nonpoint: http://www.myspace.com/nonpoint

Means to an End: http://www.myspace.com/meanstoanend

Opiate for the Masses: http://www.myspace.com/opiateforthemasses

If you go

What: Motopsycho Mania, a fusion of extreme motorcycle stunts and high-energy rock ‘n’ roll performances featuring Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, Means to an End and Opiate for the Masses.

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20

Where: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 the day of the show; available at the civic center box office, by phone at 1-800-GOT-MINE or online at www.jadepresents.com

Contact Crystal Hohenthaner at 394-8329 or crystal.hohenthaner@rapidcity journal.com.