'Big Rain' rocks the house at Camp Liberty's MWR field house

Courtesy Photo | Bruce Wandmayer smoothly croons his melodic tunes on his saxophone along with Bruce Guynn, the lead vocalist and bass player for the band 'Big Rain, as they perform for the service members of Multi-National Division - Baghdad and 4th Infantry Division Soldiers at the morale, welfare and recreation field house here April 17. The band members said they were excited about the opportunity to play for the audience because it provides them the opportunity to give something back to the troops, who are sacrificing time with their families and risking their lives to bring freedom to the Iraqis. (U.S. Army photo/Spc. Aaron Rosencrans)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.25.2008

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

By the Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs Office

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Big Rain, the definitive working man's band, rocked the house for the Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division at the morale, welfare and recreation field house here April 17; the band also went about its rocking ways at the Tigerland MWR here the following night.

The members of the band said they were excited about the opportunity to play for the audience because it provides them the opportunity to give something back to the service members, who are sacrificing time with their families and risking their lives to bring freedom to the Iraqis.

Byron Bonham, the band's drummer, said he didn't want to just say he supported the Soldiers who are deployed all over the world – he wanted to come to Iraq personally and show his support by entertaining the troops.

"I wanted to give something back," said Bonham. "There are artists out there who say they support the troops, but when they are invited to come over, they turn down the offer. I wanted to put my money where my mouth is and say I support the troops and give them a little slice of home while they're out here."

As part of the show, Big Rain belted out "Sound of Freedom," which was written by Bruce Guynn, the band's lead singer and bassist.

Although the song was written in response to the Persian Gulf War, it is one that carries on and is pertinent to the current war in Iraq.

"I was looking at the world as a whole, saying we all need to be free," Guynn said. "It's not just my freedom, and it's just not your freedom – we all need to be free."

The song, he explained, relates to the work Soldiers are doing in Iraq because the troops are fighting to bring freedom to all Iraqis, And in doing so, they are sacrificing themselves, and perhaps even some of their beliefs, to ensure all Iraqis can taste the freedom everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy.

Due to a back injury, one of the band members was not able to make the trip to Iraq, so up stepped the 4th Infantry Division's own Spc. André Goncalves, a native of Wichita, Kan., who rocked the crowd with his new band-mates. You could say Goncalves was moonlighting with the band. His normal "gig" is as a guitar player with the 4th Inf. Div. Band.

Goncalves said shows were exhausting, but he relished the opportunity to jam with a nationally-recognized band.

"We didn't meet before the gig or anything," said Goncalves. "I just hooked up my guitar and we started playing."

The Big Rain "team" said they developed a bigger appreciation for the work Soldiers are doing in Iraq – and they can't wait to share those experiences when they get back home to the friendly confines of the U.S.A.

"You guys really have it rough out here," said Bruce Wandmayer, the band's saxophone player. "I wanted to talk to the Soldiers and see what you have to say. Back home, people really have no idea what it's really like out here. I can't wait to share my experiences with my friends and Family."

For more information about upcoming shows, such as the Toby Keith concert April 26 at the Camp Liberty PX, visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com.

• Date Taken: 04.25.2008
• Date Posted: 04.28.2008 12:35
• Story ID: 18846
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ