On Saturday, April 12, Sweet Revenge Band members returned to the Memorial Theater stage in Mount Vernon for their 33rd annual reunion concert, along with special guests, Kevin Mishey, formerly with Dark Horse, Blues Brothers, and the NOMADS; Ben Blackford and Rick Mavis, both formerly with Act IV and currently with Stronghold; and Lew Sleeman. Surprise musical guests included Jim Casco on harmonica and an acoustic group that included Tim Eyster, Tony Linger, Rob Stephenson, and Sweet Revenge Band member Randy Booke. Jenney Murray from WMVO hosted the event. The concert began with a skit reminiscent of the late 1950s, provided by Liz Vining and Ian Ernsberger. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the animals at the Knox County Humane Society.

For the fourth year in a row, Sweet Revenge has absolutely blown their audience away with their 33rd reunion concert. The concert gets better every year. The auditorium was packed and everyone had a wonderful time. In addition, we made lots of money for the Humane Society.

According to Mark Jordan, who reviewed the concert for the Mount Vernon News, "The concert…was almost three hours of nonstop, top-drawer music from some of the finest home-grown musicians this area has ever seen, and, to top it off, it was for a good cause." Click here to read the full article and see the web video.

Special thanks go out to everyone who made the evening so great!

The performers:

• Sweet Revenge Band: Spence Hoeflich, lead singer; Mark Thomas, rhythm guitar and vocals; Dale Stopher, bass; Chris Snyder, lead guitar and vocals; Bill Mahan, drums; Randy Booke, guitar, violin , and banjo; Ron Fraser, drums; Mike Snyder, lead guitar; and Kent Eastman, keyboard, flute, and sax. For more information about where Sweet Revenge will be next, go to www.sweetrevengeband.com.
• Special musical guests: Ben Blackford, Jim Casco, Tim Eyster, Tony Linger, Rick Mavis, Kevin Mishey, Lew Sleeman, and Rob Stephenson, as well as Ian Ernsberger and Liz Vining, who performed in the opening skit.
• Dale Stopher for coming in from Virginia, and Chris and Mike Snyder for flying in from Florida
• Jenney Murray for hosting the concert
• Greg Martinez of Snake Bite Sound for providing the sound.
• Ron Fraser, Sweet Revenge, for dreaming up the 30-year reunion concert three years ago, and making it an annual event.

Thanks to the following businesses and media for promotional support and ticket presales: R&M's Southside Diner, North Main Gallery, WMVO AM Radio, and Mount Vernon News, Danny's Auto.

Thanks to our sponsors. Their contributions defrayed the costs associated with putting on the concert, thereby ensuring that all of the proceeds went directly to the cats and dogs at the Knox County Humane Society. Please support these business and individuals: Alcove Restaurant, Richie Bastin, State Farm Insurance, Central Business Forms, Chris Currey from RE/MAX Stars, Flappers Bar & Grill, H&R Block, Jane Howard from RE/MAX Stars, Hines Family Pets: Sparky, Bianca, Oreo, and Monday, Impact Media Signs, Massa Family Dogs: Buddy, Lily, Ginger, and Cookie, The Parkside Restaurant, R&M's Southside Restaurant, Spearman's Restaurant, T-Shirt Express, and Town and Country Veterinary Clinic.

Thanks to Carol Bene for organizing this fantastic event!

Thanks to everyone who helped:
Bill Bene, Jerry Clayton, Jennifer and Terry Gibson, Jenny Gifford, Lauren Hauberg, Judy Hines, Kenyon University Music and Maintenance Departments, Gail and Bob Lyall, Joan Madzay, Riley and Tess Miller, Brenda and Paul Nixon, and Hallie and Larry Slivon.

Our Audience: Thank you for coming. Without you, there would be no concert!