Patch, Neighborhood Watch Turn Up the Volume for National Night Out

At the beginning of the year, Patch and the Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Watch teamed up to bring something new to the annual National Night Out event. The consensus from the Entertainment Committee was to add some rock n’ roll.

On August 7 The Heroes Lie will turn the volume up a notch in the Target parking lot for the National Night Out event from 5-9 p.m. The nationally acclaimed Falls Baptist Symphony and Choir will perform beforehand.  And – in what is now a village tradition - Menomonee Falls Police Chief Anna Ruzinski will open the ceremonies by singing the National Anthem – without a cheat sheet.

The Heroes Lie

The Heroes Lie will close the performances at Target with a set that Walmart shoppers in Germantown will likely hear. In just about three years, the Falls-based band has garnered a national reputation and is playing big gigs – literally – at a local level. The band is fresh off its July 6 Summerfest show, which has become an annual concert on the calendar.

Those who attend the show and sign up for a Patch newsletter, will receive a wristband for one free beer at after the show.

If you ask lead singer Eric LaBrosse what it’s like to hear his voice on television, you’ll get an answer. Not many people can say that, right?

The band’s biggest hit, “Here And Now, Or Never,” became the theme music for ESPN’s coverage of the NFL playoffs. World Wrestling Entertainment’s Mason Ryan used the band’s song for his walkout music. They’ve appeared on FOX 6, television sitcoms, and more.

“It’s definitely cool to see your songs appearing on WWE, because I remember watching the show as a kid,” LaBrosse said.

Some bands have a mindset that hitting the open road and touring for a month is the key to making it big. Instead, the band has had plenty of success working from LaBrosse’s home studio in Menomonee Falls and letting the music do all the driving. Seven of the 16 songs off their first album received national play.

“We don’t really tour for months on end, because it’s not cost efficient. We’re more successful with the royalty checks and recording for free, rather than running around broke putting gas in a van to travel,” LaBrosse said. He also records other bands at his studio, which is dubbed Cherry Pit Studios.

LaBrosse, Brett Dumstrey, Andrew Ballard, Paul and Chris Newlin were all in former bands prior to teaming up. The cost efficient approach to success was also something that made joining The Heroes Lie easy.

“I was just turning 30 at the time, and I was wondering if I should join a band or get a real job,” Dumstrey, who had been a car salesman, said. “Then I saw that we have a studio and a van. So I said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

The Heroes Lie refuses to fit into a certain mode for music stylistically. They’ll admit they are a rock group, but anything goes when these five songwriters get into the studio to experiment with new sounds.

“We don’t shoot down ideas that are outside the norm.” Dumstrey said. “We’re sending messages back and forth throughout the day too that would make for great lyrics.”

After the band plays at National Night Out, they’ll head down to Milwaukee to play the Harley Rally on September 1.

More From National Night Out

In addition to music on August 7, there will be plenty of equipment from the police and fire departments on display. The kids will enjoy a ride on “Chuggy the Train,” and many other exhibitors will be on hand. Trysting Place will provide the food for the famished at the event as well.

At dusk, there will be a lighted march by attendees led by police and fire personnel.

Many communities throughout the United States will hold similar celebrations on the same night. It’s a fun and relaxed way to meet people you neighbors and those that serve the community.