Images by Johnnie Crow
Words by Jaggar Vrana

The inaugural Salute the Troops Music and Comedy Festival took over downtown Pomona, California for the weekend of March 22-24, 2019. Headlining artists performed at the iconic Fox Theater Pomona, as well as the Glass House. Over a dozen local establishments participated in the proceedings, offering discounts and specials to festival goers.

The event was aimed at raising awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress and the epidemic suicide rates among returning soldiers and veterans. A diverse, multi-genre lineup of musicians and comedians performed at this festival honoring troops and veterans. For each ticket sold, a free ticket was provided to active service men and women. Veterans received discounted ticket prices.

The event was founded by Nate Parienti and John Wertz (USMC) of Semper Fi Productions, with the goal to reach service members, veterans and the general public in underserved markets and bring world class entertainment to them. With a heavy emphasis on helping to alleviate the conditions of PTS (Post Traumatic Stress), as well as addressing the epidemic suicide rates among our returning soldiers and veterans.

According to a department of veterans affairs study each day over 20 veterans take their own lives. It takes a community to heal a warrior. Join Mission 22 to let our vets know that they have an army behind them. Your donation dollars assist us in getting veterans treatment when they need it the most, right now.

Special Operations Warrior Foundation pledges to ensure full college funding to every surviving child of a special operator who loses their life in the line of duty.

Veterans Yoga Project is on a mission to support recovery and resilience among our veterans, families, and communities. We envision a future where veterans, their families and our communities have access to a full range of mind-body practices to facilitate recovery and resilience.

Saturday’s lineup featured music and comedy at the Glass House, inside the Fox Theater and on the rooftop of the Fox Theater. The Dan Band offered comedic stylings with a mash up/remix type collection of popular songs, along with choreography that you wouldn’t expect from three somewhat out of shape middle aged men. Walker Hays and Madison Malloy performed together for the first time, trading jokes, making some stuff up on the spot, to go with some previously written material. They were more vulgar than they said they usually are, and very entertaining.

Method Man and Redman slayed at The Glass House on Saturday night. They were in a great spirits, laughing and joking throughout the set. They dapped up a lot of the crowd, who was very excited to be there. They gave their all, showing what it took to be a top MC in the 90’s, and they are still two of the best performers you can see today. They brought out “I Need Money” from “How High”. Method Man did some cool smoking tricks and he and Redman did plenty of the classic call and response you’d expect from two true MC’s who are not afraid to look individuals in the eyes and make sure each and everyone was entertained.

On the rooftop deck of the Fox Theater, local band The Grinns played a cool indie rock set, with graphics projected on the outside walls. Inside, Cold War Kids got the crowd amped up with their rocking tunes.

A video from X Factor was played, highlighting a singer who was left for dead in a shoebox as a baby in an Iraqi park. He was raised by nuns in a foster home, and eventually adopted by an Australian family. The video cut out, and Emmanuel Kelly himself walked on stage and sang “Imagine”, “All of Me” and an original song “EDIS – Never Alone”. He has an amazing voice and is truly an inspiration.

Finally the main event arrived, and did not disappoint. Snoop Dogg sounded very good, with smooth clear rhymes. He had a few backup rappers, two main dancers behind him and two stripper dancers on poles. “Nasty Dog” threw Snoop $100 bills, “smoked” a giant blunt, swung his thing around. Snoop told him to “put that away, the troops don’t wanna see that”. Snoop shot $100 Snoop Dogg bills out of money guns to the crowd. A couple of video screens surrounded his DJ, and the hits just kept on coming. There was an extended tribute to fallen rappers, with Snoop singing songs by Eazy-E, Nate Dogg, Biggie and Tupac. Snoop is a living legend, but he doesn’t rest on his laurels, he puts on an amazing show, while giving plenty of love to the troops who make everything possible.

For more information including full lineup and links, check out https://www.salutethetroops.com/.

Salute The Troops 19

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Salute The Troops Festival Entertains Pomona, California first appeared on Game On Media.