Eli Young Band visits Ramstein, performs for KMC

Brig. Gen. Jon T. Thomas, 86th Airlift Wing commander (left), and Chief Master Sgt. John Storms, 86 AW command chief, talk to the audience of the Eli Young Band concert July 16 on Ramstein. The concert was put on after Ramstein Pizza Hut placed first in the “Wing-A-Palooza” challenge, beating all other overseas military installations’ Pizza Huts for most wings served.
Brig. Gen. Jon T. Thomas, 86th Airlift Wing commander (left), and Chief Master Sgt. John Storms, 86 AW command chief, talk to the audience of the Eli Young Band concert July 16 on Ramstein. The concert was put on after Ramstein Pizza Hut placed first in the “Wing-A-Palooza” challenge, beating all other overseas military installations’ Pizza Huts for most wings served.

The Eli Young Band visited the KMC July 15 and 16.

The band visited after Ramstein Pizza Hut and the KMC won the “Wing-A-Palooza” challenge, a challenge for all overseas military installations’ Pizza Huts to produce the most wings amongst its peers.
According to Mike Eli, the band’s lead singer, transitioning into the community has been easy.

“You all have been very accommodating,” Eli said. “We just flew in the night before, and being able to meet so many friendly faces waiting to greet us is humbling.”

The band toured the KMC, including Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the flight simulator on Ramstein. After their tour, the band put on a show for KMC members July 16.
According to Airman 1st Class Alex Carson, 86th Security Forces Squadron member, the band was riveting.

“I had the time of my life out here,” Carson said. “The band was so lively onstage. I felt like they really were just playing their hearts out. The fact that they were also visiting my base felt so surreal.”
The experience was also greatly aided by the setup provided by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the 86th Force Support Squadron.

“I really appreciate the gig here,” Carson said. “There are a lot of moving parts to these shows, so making the concert feel like an actual music show and being able to pull it off without a hiccup must be tiring.”

The Eli Young Band continues the tradition of music stars visiting the KMC to show their appreciation for all that service members and families do and demonstrate that the outreach of the community’s hard work extends beyond the local communities to around the world.