First ‘Thunder Nite’ of season leaves Newton ‘Thunderstruck’

Although the unique motorcycles typically headline Thunder Nites in town square, one boy from Newton stole the show of the city’s first bike night of the season as he joined the electric AC/DC cover band, Rolling Thunder on stage Friday night.

“It was awesome,” Mason Nienenga’s caretaker, Kendall Morgan said. “He really likes music, I know that. He likes to dance.”

After being gifted a drumstick from Rolling Thunder vocalist, Mike Swanson, Mason fearlessly joined the band on stage to tap on the cymbal of drummer, Mark Dekalb before being removed by his caretaker and nicely asked by band staff to enjoy the music from the audience.

Although Mason and his guardian understood the safety implications of joining the band on stage, they both thought it was pretty cool that the future rocker showed off his drumming skills in front of a handful of spectators.

“It was cool seeing him on stage,” Morgan said. “He likes a lot of different types of music. He watches a lot of movies, but rock seems to kind of get him going. We listen to a lot of AC/DC at home ... My favorite is probably ‘Highway to Hell’.”

Since its conception in 2011, Thunder Nites have gathered more than 1,000 people from around central Iowa to showcase their motorcycles, enjoy good music and have a fun time. In typical fashion, the first Thunder Nite of the season was well attended, as everyone from music lovers, like Mason, to longtime bikers to large families filled the courthouse lawn.

“It brings a lot of different people together, to tell you the truth. It keeps good camaraderie between bikers,” biker Daniel Kern said. “I just love getting my family out around (the motorcycle community) ... I want (my children) to be acceptable of all people.”

Kern, accompanied with his family and his dog, Dozer, were among the hundreds of people who came out to enjoy the festivities Friday evening. His 7-year-old daughter, Alannah said she enjoys coming out to these family-oriented bike nights and getting a taste of the motorcycle community.

“I like the motorcycles,” she said. “I like riding with my dad. We just went on one. My dad goes really fast.”

According to Thunder Nites executive director, Lance Hawley, these events aim to promote Newton while combining several cultures and communities together in the name of rock-and-roll.

“We figured this is a good way to recognize Newton and have Newton grow,” he said. “There is a lot of negative atmosphere around bike groups. I personally would like everyone to see we are not a bad group. There are some groups that might look rugged and rough, but they have the biggest hearts.”

The director said, one of the unique aspects these bike nights offer is it allows clothing and motorcycle accessory vendors to set up shop at the event. This gives attendees a chance to get unique gear and share their love for motorcycles, rock music and the city in proper fashion.

“We just moved here a year ago,” Kern’s wife, Terran said. “We love all the vendors and there are so many bikes here. We used to go to the one on Second Avenue, but there wasn’t vendors and a lot of excitement like there is here.”

Friday night, many of the patrons also treated themselves to hamburgers, sandwiches, burritos and beer offered by local vendors and town square businesses.

“I like snow cones. I like blue,” 6-year-old Leland Shaber. “I also like cotton candy. It is so good. I also like (Jimmy John’s) roast beef sandwiches.”

There will be five Thunder Nites held in Newton this summer. According to the executive director of the events, the bike nights will continue to bring many talented musicians into town to share their passion for music.

“We have a great lineup this year,” Hawley said. “We started off with a bang with Rolling Thunder ... We try and stay with the rock-and-roll theme. We will have After Shock, (Richard Arndt &) The Brew and (the Standing Hampton). Sushi Roll is from the Illinois, Chicago-area. They are a pretty good band.”

The next Thunder Nites event, which will be held at 6 p.m. June 9, will feature the local 80’s tribute band, After Shock. This bike night will be a part of the Newton Fest activities.

The bike night festivities will host live music on the courthouse lawn the second Friday of the month throughout the summer. The last Thunder Nites event of the season is scheduled for Sept. 8.

For more information, find Thunder Nites in Newton (bike night) on Facebook.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@newtondailynews.com.