14/07/2025
On June 7, 2025, the Moonshine Bandits performed at Hawkins Amphitheater for The Great Shiner BBQ here in Reno, Nv. The night was all love and all light.
We mentioned the next day what incredible, soulful, salt of the earth people the Shiner family are and the Bandits were kind enough to share that post. In that post, we also told you about a moment y'all Shiners created that was bigger than life and far and away the most magical moment we've ever seen at 30 Silver Media after producing over 4,000 concert events across 44 cities.
For a little viewer context-
Our very dear friend, Patrice Luciano opened the show. Patrice opens for the Bandits every chance she gets and we've all become friends after years of doing it.
This time, however, it was different. This time, Patrice was aware that she may be making what could be the final performance of her life...
Let me back up...
See, many of us know Patrice for her singing. She's performed at Night in the Country, the Reno Rodeo, countless Aces games, and a slew of country music concert events in our area for over a decade. Some of us know her as the owner of the now shuttered Paddy and Irene's in Sparks for the last 20 years. Some of us know her because she served right alongside us in the military. Some of us know her because she is a genuinely warm person who simply loves and befriends everyone, no matter where they are at.
A few months ago, these total scumbags pretended they were going to buy Patrice's businesses. What they did instead was f*cked her over and caused her to lose her businesses. Not but a few weeks after that, she felt something wasn't right in her body and would go on to discover an aggressive, stage 3 / grade 3 cancer in both breasts. Just days later, she would have the surgery that removed them both. Many thousands of you have followed her blogs and storytelling since then.
Knowing that she needed a reason, she booked with us to open for the Moonshine Bandits at the inaugural GREAT SHINER BBQ here in Reno, Nv. Just weeks after surgery and only days after finding out that the cancer had spread with fury and would require an extremely extensive chemotherapy regiment, Patrice took that stage, wherein she delivered a very powerful performance. Determined not to let cancer take the spotlight, Patrice gave her all, song after song ignoring the circumstances in her life to just do what she loves.
Finally, just before Patrice and the band began their cover of Lady Gaga's, "Shallow," one of those beautiful Shiner fans following Patrice's story shouted across the entire audience, "TELL 'EM WHAT THE F*CK IS GOIN' ON!!" And so.....she did.
To a packed house, Patrice told the story of losing her business, losing her breasts, and the possibility of losing her life. As she spoke, one old, body broken, military vet shiner stood up and hobbled boldly down through the audience and brazenly right up to the stage. The man dropped a donation at her feet and hugged life into her.
Immediately after, the power of love compelled this audience to create a miracle.
In a day and age where events have been hijacked and corporatized, please watch that miracle and enjoy a little soul in your events again.
