MILWAUKEE — Louie & The Flashbombs is new band, but the members are no stranger to the stage or Milwaukee’s Big Gig.
The band, which started in 2021, is making its second appearance at Summerfest this year at the UScellular Connection Stage on July 6.
Band leader Louie Lucchesi said between all the members, they have about 250 years of stage experience. The group is composed of Lucchesi on lead vocals, Mike Benign on guitar and vocals, Matt Meixner on keyboards and vocals, Al Hildenbrand on guitar, Paul Biemann on bass and vocals and Bo Conlon on drums.
Louie & The Flashbombs was born after Lucchesi had a brush with death.
“In September of 2020, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, and had a real difficult time and March of 2021, I kind of turned a corner and Mike and I started writing through it. Mike says I was writing for my life,” said Lucchesi.
Lucchesi said one of the songs he wrote when he was very ill was “I’m So Glad I Didn’t Go Away.” He said it helped him cope, but he didn’t realize until recently how much it inspired others.
“I got a text the other day from a woman, and she said, ‘your songs really inspire me and I’m waiting for a heart transplant, and I wasn’t going to do it, but your song, ‘I’m So Glad I Didn’t Go Away,’ inspired me to go through with the surgery,’” said Lucchesi.
Those songs continue to inspire Lucchesi too.
“I think the music saved my life, I really do, it just inspired me and writing about it really helped and then singing what I was writing about was a real emotional release for me and it still is. There are still times when I sing songs where I just really get choked up because I know what they are really about,” said Lucchesi.
Lucchesi said he is still fighting cancer, but the music helps him stay healthy and stable.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled multiple band members' names. This error has been corrected. (July 6, 2023)