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Night Wing rocks Bishkek Museum Night event

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  A group of seven U.S. Air Forces Central Band members, on their first deployment, performed on the Kyrgyz State Museum of History stairs in front of an audience of more than 2,000 people in downtown Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 16.

"Night Wing," the current AFCENT Band assigned to Southwest Asia, is touring Kyrgyzstan for 10 days. The performance on Wednesday was held in Ala Too Square as part of the "Museum Night" event to celebrate May 18th -- International Museum Day.

"Thank you so much for joining our event and helping us have a very successful museum night," said Ms. Anarkul Isiralieva, the director of the Kyrgyz State Museum of History, as she spoke with the band after the concert.

According to the International Council of Museums, every year since 1977, museums around the world organize International Museum Day events around May 18, and it is a way to raise awareness about the important role museums play in developing our societies.

When Night Wing began setting up for the concert on the museum steps, the sky looked ominous with dark blue rain clouds. As U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela Spratlen arrived under an umbrella, the rain began to fall and the band got nervous.

"Me personally, I was saying some last minute prayers," said Airman 1st Class Lee Heerspink, Night Wing vocalist and guitar player. "I was afraid they were going to announce us and we were going to have to just run out there and put the tarp over everything."

When it comes to rain performances, the NCO in charge calls it.

"I'm an NCO in charge that waits until it's almost too late," said Master Sgt. Rick Baisden, guitar player for Night Wing. "What I'm looking for is for no one to get shocked, the main thing is safety."

Col. James Jacobson, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander at the Transit Center at Manas, made some opening comments.

"Last September we were here and your fellow citizens of Bishkek rocked this place, I hope to see you do the same tonight," Jacobson said. "The Band Night Wing being here is a way for us to continue to be a good neighbor with you as you are gracious enough to host the Transit Center at the Manas International Airport. We work together most days to make the world a safer place, let's work together tonight to unite the two cultures via music and have a great night," he said.

As the band took the stage the rain continued to fall at a steady rate, but the sun came out.

"Look at that rainbow!" exclaimed Airman 1st Class Melissa Rager to the crowd as rain pelted her microphone and hands.

A fully developed rainbow eclipsed the Eastern sky as Rager, a Night Wing vocalist, sang the Katy Perry song "Firework".

"After a hurricane comes a rainbow," Rager sang.

Before traveling to Kyrgyzstan, Night Wing had performed in many locations throughout the Central Command area of responsibility for various groups of people. In Ala Too Square, the crowd ranged from elders, to teenagers, to toddlers with their parents.

"Sometimes you'll see certain age groups respond to different songs, but there was a universal love of music here," Rager said. "That was what drew me in and made me want to interact with them. They were all singing along and were all interested in what we were doing."

Aiperi and her husband Talant helped their 14-month-old son Bakai clap his hands to the music. "We were here last year seeing an Air Force Band when Bakai was only 6-months-old," Aiperi said. "He was so tiny then!"

"He loves American music," smiled Talant, Bakai's dad.

The crowd was encouraged to play cow bells, dance and even sing with the band.

"This was the first dance circle that I've seen with this group," said Airman 1st Class Dave Wilson, sound engineer for Night Wing. "It made it wicked-hard for me to mix, but everyone enjoyed [the show]."

Aliman Temirbek, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing media relations specialist, was invited to sing the Adele song "Someone Like You" with Melissa Rager. The keyboard music was provided by Senior Airman Ryan Rager, Melissa's husband.

"It was very exciting to perform with a live band and I think it was a great example of U.S. and Kyrgyz partnership," Temirbek said. "We sang in English together and conveyed the same emotions in the song, and felt united for as long as the song lasted."

"Seeing people comfortable enough with us to participate and dance is awesome," Heerspink said.

The Night Wing performers have been together as a band for eight months and they hail from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The team is nearly finished with their 90-day deployment. They perform various rock, country, and some blues tunes and will even be performing Beatles' songs at a Beatles Festival this Saturday in Bishkek.