Steel yourself for music on the patio, leading the way of music offerings during the Memorial Day entry-of-summer holiday:

– The Country Outlaws will play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday evening, May 27, showcasing songs going back as far as the ’60s. They have a female singer, so they can cover tunes sung by both genders. The band even has some of the stuff from back a time, such as the old Merle Haggard, and are heavy on steel guitar, which band member and Hudsonite Paul Gavic took the patience to make a mission of and learn starting about six years ago.
– There is also a new offering at the Smilin’ Moose, music on the patio that was added late last year, going all three days of the holiday. There’s Todd Douglas on May 27, Brian Dickenson (no Iron Maiden singer relation) on May 28 and (Hudson’s own) Chris Lawrence on May 29. The first two shows are from 5-8 p.m. and the final one from 2-5 p.m.
– It’s much the same at Mallard’s in Bayport over the holiday weekend, just going a bit longer: Tim Butler on May 27 and Tommy Bentz on May 28 from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and Marcus Lere on May 29 from 2-6 p.m. The latter two also have a strong Hudson-River Falls presence and also will perform on the deck.

– They may be local, but the married couple and musical duo of Sarah and Eric VanValkenburg sometimes trek a distance to play in the St. Croix Valley, such as their Thursday evening gig at Season’s Tavern in North Hudson that can help you get an early start to your Memorial Day weekend. The acoustic duo goes under the band name Practical Goods, and features original music written by Sarah. The Americana/country duo plays not only around the St. Croix River Valley, but also Minneapolis and St. Paul — and as far away as Austin, Texas. They play at a whole variety of wine bars, pubs, restaurants, fairs and festivals around the community. Their wide range of rock, country and songwriter genres makes for a fun evening, they say. They most enjoy playing old country, and ‘red dirt’ Texas, Americana style music. You might hear some Rolling Stones, (much like the house band Thirsty Camel), Elvis or Ray Wylie Hubbard and originals at their shows.

– You can spin a wheel as a countdown to Country Jam in Eau Claire at — wait a minute — Dick’s Bar and Grill on May 27 from 6-7:30 p.m. There will be prizes, and tickets to the concert on July 21-23.

If you definitely dig Dick’s, the coming days may be your deal.
– There is a Sunday euchre tournament at the bar and grill, but it’s a requirement that you have a partner. So one might ask, what about Bob (Uecker) as in Mr. Baseball himself, as it’s that time of year. (Although with the performance of the Brew Crew and Twins, you might reconsider). Be that as it may, the tourney is free, and you’re in the front row, no need for even cheap seats. It starts at 1 p.m. and is billed as having great prizes.
– On Friday evening its Good Time Willy playing at Dick’s. (Always makes me think of the former bartender there by that name). They a straight-ahead Chicago influenced blues band, which seems to be a trend regionally and locally. Willy and the boys are backed by a tight rhythm section, and the occasional special guests.
– The beer of the month at Dick’s is Schlitz, and as the sign says about the brew’s heyday, “Life wasn’t watered down then … Neither was the beer.” It touts the “Classic 1960s formula,” and the art work harkens back to that era, showing what looks like a vehicle out of Speed Racer, with a woman posing by it similarly attired, with plastic suit, short skirt and big boots. Is it just chance that the night I saw this proclaimed, I ran into a friend with a T-shirt that said “Speed Machine?’
– And again, with summer coming and Jambo playing his trop rock quite often at Dick’s, it is fitting that they should be selling Citradelic Tangerine IPA, (Tune In. Hop Out). It’s also fitting that the tonic comes from the New Belgium company. A flyer goes on for 83 words describing in stream-of-consciousness-style — you know, kind of like HudsonWiNightlife — all the accolades of the drink and how they play out. And the special offered is in bottles, don’t have to worry about the notorious Buffett-style pop top.

Hop on the stagecoach for fun this weekend, bearing beer, and even karaoke and the jukebox:
– The group Stagecoach will play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt for the first time in months on Friday night, May 13. Vintage art work to accompany the band’s gear includes stagecoaches and horses outside of old country billiard halls, full of skull imagery, often with a cowboy hat. Many of the songs fit into that decor: Harley, Son of the South, Iron Horse, Cherokee Princess, Outlaw Woman, Luchenbach Texas, Folsom Prison Blues and simply, The Ride.
– Karaoke is not dead in the area. The Village Inn in North Hudson is hosting it on the second Saturday evening of every month, and coming with it is a $2 Miller Lite special.
– And across the road at Kozy Korner, you can get the same beer via a slightly different special; they are calling there’s a Blue Yummy. And while there, cast your vote for the North Hudson Man of the Year, as the ongoing ballots that are tallied on weekends move toward the finals.
– Prince is gone, but his memory lives on via frequent jukebox airplay that remains. For example, the box at Buffalo Wild Wings recently pumped out four of five consecutive songs from The Purple One.

– The Northern Invasion heavy metal show in Somerset expands to two days, this Saturday and Sunday, and kicks off with a bonfire music party on Friday night. The sounds of the about 30 bands on the bill, from those at the north end main stage of the Northern Invasion, will spill hundreds of yards over the bowl-shaped natural amphitheater on Somerset’s west side. Headliners come from different ends of the musical spectrum: Rob Zombie and Shinedown on Saturday and Disturbed and Korn on Sunday. Tickets for the fest, which features both the nationally known and the somewhat obscure, are on-sale on the show’s web site.

The only thing small about Cinco de Mayo as served up locally is the price:
– Don’t take a siesta, but have a fiesta on May 5 with numerous dine-in food and drink specials at the Hudson Green Mill. The specials include Venice tacos and taco pizza and four different drinks that have Cinco de Mayo written all over them. And that don’t just run for a few hours, but are available all day — even during siesta — like their classic margarita for only $4 (rail pour only). For a buck less, just $3, get Corona and Corona Light and Modelo Especial.
All you have to do is be signed up to save some green at Green Mill during the holiday. Participants need to mention a publicized ad as well as be a rewards club member. Those currently not a rewards member can signup online at greenmill.com, otherwise at the restaurant.
As far as food, buy one pasta, get one free pasta of equal or lesser value, with purchase of two beverages. There also are half-priced Venice tacos, and taco pizza at $12.99 for medium and $16.99 for large (Pescara, classic and Old World only). Offers not valid with any other coupon, discount, Happy Hour offers, or reward certificate.
– Cinco de Mayo is all about somewhat exotic brews, so don’t go small. For example, you can get five Coronas for $12.95 at Dick’s Bar and Grill. However, to really do it up big, trek a little further, (north no less), and hit Acapulco restaurante Mexicano in Stillwater, which has things such as beer buddy shot with pint tap beer, tall Dos Equis XX and simply “the Cinco shot” from May 5-7. Not to be outdone, the true colors at the new Mexican restaurant at Ellie’s on Main are shown by a license plate on the wall that says “Corona,” that being the “Extra,” which is given a 2008 date, (I guess that means its well aged). Oh yeah, you can buy a 24 ounce Mexican beer for $3.50.
– It’s not your father’s root beer, nor would you want it to be, even though summer is fast approaching. At least three local bars have been making this sales pitch via their promotional signs, saying that added to the summery ale mix are alcohol (which is to be expected) and spices (not so much so). The drink is bottled by the Small Town Brewery.