Hudson Wisconsin Nightlife

February, 2017Archive for

Runnin’ with country, still, and that includes a cowpoke’s favorite ‘Outlaw’ chili

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017

All the different versions bring variety at various venues for this weekend’s entertainment:
– At The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, on Friday night, Feb. 24, Country Outlaws provide there own version of, well, outlaw country, and then on Saturday night, Still Runnin’ performs with inclusion on their song list Blues Suede shoes (all versions), La Bamba (Los Lobos version) and Summer Lovin’ (version from Grease).
– Even though the weather has not been chilly, there is a chili cookoff at Dick’ Bar and Grill this Sunday, just as there was one at Emma’s Bar in River Falls last Saturday. The Hudson variation states that your chili is on the wanted list and that there is an award, although the overall posse displaying their grub is filling up fast. So you might want to get out your six-shooter, dispatch the cowpoke in front of you and claim your home on the range. (OK, maybe not). But there are five different prizes given, kinda like a rodeo, and set-up is at 11 a.m. and judging at 1 p.m. There is a $5 fee for sampling all the different varieties.
– Jack Klatt, a fingerstyle guitar player and vocalist who says he walks the fine line between blues and country, has made a live recording at a 100-year-old church. He now brings his critically acclaimed act to Juniors in River Falls on Friday night, and is different in that he’s played about as much in central Wisconsin as in the metro area. Producing his first recording is Tom Herbers, known for his work with Low, Trampled by Turtles and the Jayhawks.
– As advertised at Broz in River Falls, a meeting of Texas and Wisconsin. Collect caps of Lone Star Beer, the official beer of Texas, for prizes that include free beer and/or Broz apparell. There is also the new Wisconsin version of half and half, fresh from the Dairy State, of Blue Moon Belgian White and River Falls’ own Nevermore Chocolate Oatmeal Stout from the Rush River brewery.

Just as a kiss can linger, so do Valentine’s Day remembrances, (just like KISS-themed pinball, without the Wizard)

Monday, February 20th, 2017

Valentine’s Day, there was this update on what would seem an appropriately named band, KISS, featured on a long-running pinball machine at Dick’s Bar and Grill, and taking another turn on this holiday of “I was made for lovin’ you baby.” (Almost makes you forget about one of the bartenders and his famous cyborg arm worn while gaming when off-duty).
On the machine, bassist Gene Simmons is shown typically spewing fire, but there is a problem. His non-guitar arm is displayed pointing to the crowd with Devil Horns — a signal that has been given many meanings and he helped popularize — which meant that there is no ignition device being held on his person. An explanation offered by my visiting nephew: Its Dragon’s Breath.
Nephew Ian then played a standard on the jukebox that was perfect for its Sick Of Love Songs theme, Paint it Black by the Stones. I then looked at the Simmons head displayed on the middle of the pinball machine and thought, yes indeed, he’s painted black (and white).
Ian, a Burnsville resident, by the way loves to check out Hudson, even though he has been steered to the dark side by his online friends. They have made it known that on the world-wide web, Hudson’s political climate has been singled out as decidedly “non-nightclub.”
At the Smilin’ Moose, there was a new way to treat your “dear,” or should I say “deer,” by blowing them up! No not seriously, but by virtue of a video game where zombies that included that Wisconsin rather than Minnesota antlered creature just kept on coming at the shooter, in greater and greater numbers. Ian’s adversary mentioned the obvious that God, what hunter wouldn’t love this!
V-Day also was spelled out on the signs of certain establishments, such as Dairy Queen, where that night there was a one-word slogan honoring the holiday with a single letter missing (think heart-y fare) and other such single letters scattered around the border (remind you of your date?) Also, there was RJ’s Meats, which advertised on their marquee a steak and seafood special for the day, then added at the bottom that they were looking for new hires, (was their V-Day traffic, with guys looking to be over-the-top, and cooking for their dates, that pronounced?)
Lastly, on a more timely and much more serious note, news traveled around the area later on Sunday about a mother’s murder in rural Hudson and the high-speed chase involving the shooter, who fired at police and later shot himself. The daughter of that woman works in the hospitality industry in the downtown and fellow servers from various venues (check the name on the Agave Kitchen sign) were among the many people out and about that night, bringing a more somber tone to the whole evening.

Find out what fuels Bones Gang and others this weekend, even if it means straying from the main drag

Thursday, February 16th, 2017

You might want to “bone up” on what’s going on this Friday and Saturday:
– The band Bones Gang, which plays at The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday night, Feb. 18, doesn’t make any bones about it. They participate in: “Drinking, writing music, fighting with each other, drinking some more….” And we’ll hope you’ll agree that the end result is some great rock! After all, it all comes from this (musical?) influence they’ve listed, namely: “being under the influence.” These guys look the part, too, long-haired rockers, not unlike partial namesakes The James Gang, although a bit silver-haired on the edges.
– To start the weekend earlier than those events offered above and below, head up to The Willow on Friday night and take in these longtime locally-based stalwarts, the party-rock band and truly beyond, The Zebra Mussels.
– If you want to take a road trip, although a mini-road trip, a ways “up north” to listen to some music and shake your thing at the same time, you might consider trekking to a few miles north of Somerset and the venue aptly named Not Justa a Bar, and take in the band Shakin on Saturday night.
– Earlier on Saturday, there is something that while a couple of “events” short of a heptathalon, is still an extravaganza of athleticism that’s been coming around each year, not just every four years. Yes, that’s the Bar Olympics in Hudson/North Hudson, starting at around noon and featured these four venues — Kozy Korner in North Hudson, Dick’s Bar and Grill in downtown Hudson, The Hudson Bowling Center up on The Hill, and Mike’s Em Pour E Yum in the town of Hudson. Sign up with your bartender/mentor/coach/personal trainer.
– You also needed to sign up with your bartender at Dick’s for the Valentine’s Dart tournament. And a similar call had to be made to find my Valentine her favorite gift, based on the Minion movies — which now are biting the dust behind a new such flick, The Trolls. Which gets me to a perfect joke for this holiday. She enjoys teasing me about the size of my “Minion” when I’m wearing the themed shorts SHE got me, and a “short” while back I shared this story with a couple of newfound female friends. One of them, a blonde, yucked it up, while another, a brunette, said she didn’t get it. I thought this was role reversal, where the blonde was the astute one!

If your V-Day is being a bust, hear to cheer you are close encounters with rock stars who are Romeos, hey at least for the most part

Tuesday, February 14th, 2017

Now with the Valentine’s Day holiday fading, it’s time to reference some encounters with rock star heartthrobs heard while on the beat.
The friend of one of the stalwarts from Guv’s Place in North Hudson got serenaded at a Pearl Jam concert in the region awhile back. Star lead singer Eddie Vedder sang him a happy birthday on-screen, then invited him up on stage for a few moments. That was certainly a few seconds “of what was everything …”
With the following celebs, it’s the return of No More Mr. Nice Guy. Local people who have worked with them as arena support members say that Van Morrison is actually kind of a jerk, and that the entourage will give you grief if you get in the way of Elton John’s nap in the next room, as happened backstage at the Xcel Energy Center. On the plus side, frontmen David Grohl and Billy Jo Armstrong were very nice when seated next to a man who is now a local bar manager, as was Donald Fagen, who can really warm up to people and even joked about wanting to take a local bartender, Michele, who was working with a touring catering firm to the stars, on tour via packing her in his suitcase. She also said The Boss would always come by and say hello when he was backstage, even though the catering job kept her working virtually around the clock — in many cases running down the precise list of snacking items that some rock stars say they literally could not get on stage without. Among the noteworthy of these picky acts having played in Hudson, is the occasional swing made through the region to play at Dibbo’s by Foghat. The staff had to jump through hoops to meet the fickle needs of bands such as these — did they become a Fool For This City? — and their efforts included running down the street a few blocks last-minute to get some special kinds of snacks.
Another local patron works mainly for such a company that helps book bands for festivals and orchestrate their shows all over the country, but if that isn’t enough, she was looking for another parttime gig. This job has largely stayed under the radar, but has notoriety in its own genre. And also, it is work with fits and spurts — like my freelance writing, I told her.

What for Valentine’s Day, as part of our party-ish roundup? Maybe ‘Wild game’ or ‘Raley good’ pizza and now curds, with rockin’ tunes to boot

Sunday, February 12th, 2017

Lets get Wild over V-Day, and riled over the Super Bowl, before all good parties must come to an end:
– It’s Valentine’s Day coming up and the ads that we see all over celebrate all things pink in color. That as a counterpoint, could mean referencing the Pink Moose boutique in Stillwater, which needless to say has girly specials that are very much unlike those at the Smilin’ Moose in Hudson. But some of the frilly stuff brought here from across the river could be what puts the smile on that moose’s face.
– Take in two types of transportation while traipsing when out on the town. You can see the Fat Tire-style bike in a step-up doorway along Second Street near the Agave Kitchen, as well as a taxi that’s dubbed the favorite of Wisconsin’s own Miller Lite Beer, at least from the sign attached to the side door of the cab, when parked next to the much-Minnesotan Smilin’ Moose.
– The reigning Hudson Pizza King/hard rock screamer, Rich Raley of Dick’s late night fame, is now going after the cheese curds crown, hoping to dethrone Ellsworth. He was seen at a local non-Big-Box grocery store scouting out quality ingredients for discount prices. One must ask, was there an elevator music ripoff of an AC/DC or G’N'R song by him drowning out the cash register’s clicking?
– Did your team win in the Super Bowl? That was my question for my favorite red-headed bar patron right after the game. Her response? “Tom Brady f—– us over.” And as you could presume from his supermodel wife Giselle’s request afterward that he “retire,” that wasn’t the only action Brady was getting that evening. Which brings me to the point of a woman who in an advertisement on sports bar TV, also named Giselle, said she was very happy with her new dating site. If you have those kind of credentials, who needs a dating site?
– And then, back to the redhead. She was out late after having been to a Minnesota Wild game, and said an interesting and fulfilling path led her to St. Paul. She had planned to stay home and do laundry, and homework, when a roommate called in sick (don’t want to be around the cold ice if that is your status), and wanted to part with her FREE TICKETS. So the redhead took the freebie, and was treated to a victory in dramatic fashion, via a shootout, no less. Now that raises the stakes quite readily for a redhead, rather than reading about it as part of your routine homework!
– Chiming in to sing the national anthem at an informal downtown concert on Super Bowl night, as she’s done many times before locally, was Andrea, a longtime bartender at Agave Kitchen, who also has been flown to pro sporting events over a several-state area to do the ditty. This has been a gig of hers for years, and unlike Luke Bryan at the Big Game itself, Andrea has absolutely no nervousness about belting out her version of the anthem before a crowd.
– Nothing really rattles, either, the Dick’s stalwarts named Matt, whether one be serving behind the bar during the NFL’s biggest showcase, on TV because of his status as Falcons star quarterback, or just a former sometimes-rowdy regular who had been back on the scene for a while and would make a good defender who gets under your skin. All three share the same or largely similar last name, that being Ryan.
– Regional performers of all types took part in a metro event celebrating the music of Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Bob Dylan, and others. Local gamer Dennis 4 Tennis took in the event, and said he was able to grab a seat next to the parents of one of the dancers, pictured prominently, who had come all the way from Florida. He gave me one of his two autographed copies of the program.
– This also sounds like a party. A birthday bash throw for, and by, some Dick’s regulars, began with a wine party at their house, then moved to Dick’s just in time for two-for-ones. There’s a little tipsiness in the house!

Sing us a song, as its Valentine’s Day (or weekend), sing us a song tonight …

Monday, February 6th, 2017

Whether it be a singing valentine, a Sinatra-style crooner, or old school country-rock band, there are options for you in the coming days, as its all about the music:

– If you want something truly unique for Valentine’s Day, the St. Croix Valley Croix Chordsmen Chorus is there to charmingly sing what who knows, you otherwise might have a touch of difficulty saying.
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Croix Chordsmen will send a Barbershop Quartet, appropriately and specially attired, to sing for your Valentine at a home, office, classroom, restaurant, or almost anywhere else, searching out and serenading your spouse, sweetheart, family member, child, grandparent, friend or other loved one, also bearing three added things: A rose, box of candy, and card for the occasion.
All this, which will help you rule the day for your sweetness, for only $40.
The singing valentines leave only this to imagine: From out of the blue, four men bearing flowers appear to serenade your sweetheart at the location of your choice, saying something like: “Suzanne, Raymond has something special he’d like to tell you…” Then out pours a sweet, tender love song, in gentle close harmony. Throughout North America, hundreds of barbershop quartets stand ready to provide a Valentine’s Day gift that will be remembered forever. Locally, all just by following a few easy online prompts that really personalize the experience.
These Valentines Day gifts are terrific for, not just your wife or girlfriend, but also husband or boyfriend, and don’t forget mom, or that certain someone who doesn’t know about their secret admirer…
Go online at www.stcroixvalleychapter.com, or contact Tyler Smith at (651) 439-4527, or Dick Kelm at (715) 425-2793, to make arrangements.
The St. Croix Valley Croix Chordsmen Chorus is located at 611 South Holcombe St. in Stillwater.
– Gary LaRue, who will perform at The Bungalow Inn in Lakeland on Valentine’s Day, specializes in singing and crooning and playing the popular songs of the Rat Pack era, made famous by legends such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Bobby Darin and Jack Jones. His smooth vocal style has been described as a cross between Mel Torme and Chet Baker, and considered quite a compliment. And as it fitting for Valentine’s Day, which is Tuesday, Feb. 14, all the while he smooshes with the ladies. He says he also can accomodate almost any request. If you want a vocalist to sing background music “off to the side,” or instead to be the “main attraction,” he adds he can perform that way. Despite being Rat Pack at heart, LaRue’s style is called hard to categorize. But while listening, you and your sweetie can indulge in a steak or seafood dinner.
– The Blind Dog band, while not masters of grammar, are none-the-less — and maybe because of — entertaining. They will play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday night, Feb. 11. They include on their play list Lynard Skynard, that being their (halfways with the y’s) spelling not mine, and a tune made famous by a man with Hudson ties, Tommy Tutone and Jenny 8675309, although their version with its lack of punctuation is that done by Blink 182. The two Skynyrd songs (with spelling unlike that invoked by my late colleague Willis Miller in a fan’s Hudson Star-Observer obit, where he opted for the standard English version), are Gimme Three Steps (to which I first cut my teeth on an open mic night at the old Sandbar, and soon ran out of verses due to the house band’s extended guitar solos), and Sweet Home Alabama.
– New to the local scene, but gaining traction regionally, is Free Fallin, a Tom Petty tribute band with other like-minded songs, that is becoming very popular around the metro. They play the Smilin’ Moose for perhaps the first time on Friday night.

Things getting super intense this weekend, because of late-smokin’ Hot Air and four facets to celebrate the Big Game

Saturday, February 4th, 2017

While the trend seems to be most people watching “The Big Game,” as it is now referred to for legal reasons, at house parties, there is at least one noteable exception. At the newly opened Next Stop bar in Houlton, there is a trifecta and more of super offerings. You get to designate your team of choice, and every time their score changes, get a free jello shot. In addition, patrons can guess the score at the end of each quarter, and the one who comes closest gets a free T-shirt. There are happy hour prices all through the game, which is becoming a theme at Next Stop, and another special is four domestic beers for $10 in a bucket, and in a new twist to an old game, you get to keep the bucket! There is pot luck food, to boot.
While most people are, again, watching the big game at house parties, one local sports bar in celebrating in-house. At Kozy Korner in North Hudson, they are closing at 4 p.m. Sunday for their company Christmas party. And the return to deep freeze we’ve had in past days shouldn’t mean that attendance (if only workers) is as effected by ranging temperatures throughout the day as was the recent outdoor bean bag tournament.
The Big Game is not the only game in town. Local bars said they were filled to capacity because of the Hot Air Affair being all this weekend, and things were just crazy, so much that workers cut first were known to stay after for a drink (or two …). This was to the point where venues were shouting last call in advance of usual because there were so many people to be prodded to vacate the premises. But that wasn’t the only super-late-night twist. DJ Ben Michaels at Dick’s Bar and Grill announced that there was an unofficial after-hours party that was to be found elsewhere by going in the back way and announcing the password “Midget.” (Gotta love that super partying choice of wording). Kinda like Tom Cruise in that really out-there “password” flick with Nicole Kidman, who by the way has a look-alike in the Hudson bar scene. Among those people who did head to the door at Dick’s in a timely fashion, were the music duo Ella and Wade, in a rare off-the-stage presence downtown after their gig at Mallory’s.
Anyway, if you were not out Friday night, there is more of the same to be had tonight, that being Saturday, as we do it all over again with the ballooning pilots and their entourage.

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

Wanna go for a ride? Check out the music and ballooning-related entertainment at the Hudson Hot Air Affair on the home page.

Now, now Taeja, now include Incubus lead singer after Tyler, Jackson, System of a Down …

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

First there was Jackson and Tyler, and now Incubus singer leads the way with a local connection:
– Hudson’s own Taeja, who is known for her California connections with some prominent musicians that include Jermaine Jackson and Steven Tyler, (via his throwing an item of clothing her way in-concert), was back in town after being a worker from the area where stars live, on a family business matter and was able to report there was another luminary on her list — yet another lead singer, this time from Incubus. She couldn’t quite rest on her laurels by just knowing the main screamer from System of a Down. Turns out Taeja had approached the Incubus guy with a gift in her pocket, but since couldn’t quite get up the courage to hand it over, settled for a selfie with him, which was shown to a few select people downtown. Got one hand in my pocket and the other’s (holding a camera) …
– And then there’s yet another Prince connection, this time via the airwaves. The group Still Runnin’ that again played the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, and is known for having Prince songs in its set list, had during its time on stage an alternate deliver method. I tuned into the radio during the timing of what was both their first and third sets, and each time the song playing was by The Purple One. Same station, but separate titles, just ones not as overplayed as Purple Rain. What are the chances …
– My former neighbor Mackenzie and a friend were chatting up a storm outside of Dick’s Bar and Grill, when she pointed out that a third woman was wearing a shirt praising New York girls, and that the word “new” had been inadvertently — I’m assuming — placed right between her breasts. Is that truth in advertising?
– More fun with words, where a copy editor is needed. The most recently honored Buzztime trivia player at Buffalo Wild Wings goes by the play name “Editer.” May I suggest that he now needs not only a publicist, but an actual editor. Between them, can their correct his spelling?
– North Hudson bar signs are having fun with the whole birthday thing. One at Kozy Korner has said that David Hohler should have a happy 70th. I bet it will be a howler. Earlier, very similar well wishes were given to the North Hudson Man of the Year runnerup for 2016, stating that maybe 2017 might be his year. Or probably not, it read with tongue in cheek. And back a door or two, on the big sign in front of Village Liquor, for what seems like weeks now it has said, from the north side, a happy birthday to Rachel. I’ve heard of a birthday week, or even birthday month, but this is ridiculous.

Amount, manner of music is ballooning at 28th annual Hudson Hot Air Affair

Wednesday, February 1st, 2017

There is even more music to accompany the ballooning at the 28th annual Hudson Hot Air Affair, which has the theme Gone With The Windz — and there might even be some woodwinds thrown in as instrumentation.
The event goes on from Feb. 3-5. Music acts, by venue, are: At Mallory’s, Ella and Wade on Friday night and Kyle Kohila on Saturday night; at the tasting event at the Hudson House Grand Hotel, Boondoogle on Saturday night; at Urban Olive and Vine, Jazz Savvy on Friday night and Mark Keating on Saturday night, (with those two taking the stage at 7 p.m.); at The Smilin’ Moose, Kick on Friday night; and also deejay dance music and karaoke on both nights of the weekend.
Mallory’s on the north end of the downtown is new to the local band scene. Acoustic rock and country duo Ella and Wade are often dressed in black, like Johnny Cash, and he is one of their influences, along with Brandi Carlile, Blake Shelton, Oasis, The Lumineers, Garth Brooks, Kings of Leon, Gretchen Wilson, Zack Brown Band, 3rd Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty, CCR, The Band Perry, Steve Miller Band, Sublime, The Cranberries, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Miranda Lambert.
Kyle Kohila usually goes it solo as an acoustic show, with strong and aggressive fingerpicking, and he also has a celebrity dress-alike. He and the late, great Michael Jackson have the similarity of wearing one glove. His sets may include, as an example, an acoustic version of Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC, as only he could do it, a rocking out take on Folsom Prison Blues by yes, Johnny Cash, and a tune that smacked of slide guitar in Mother by Pink Floyd.
The Roberts-based band Boondoggle will highlight the tasting event, Gone With The Windz edition, on Saturday from 7:30-10 p.m. Guests also can enjoy spirits, wine and beer tastings, and appetizers, along with a silent auction to benefit Operation Help. There is an admission charge for this activity.
Boondoggle is known for their imposing stage-presence, driven by the sheer height of some of the band members, which is even more impressive on a raised stage.
Boondoggle’s members say they have been “terrorizing” the region with loud rock ‘n’ roll and “badass” country music since 2002, playing their version of hundreds of popular songs, which include The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The rock power trio Kick returns to kickstart Friday proceedings at 9 p.m. at the Smilin’ Moose. Their bio and again, manner of dress, evokes memories of the mock interviews done by the band Spinal Tap … “Atop wailing riffs all but forgotten. Young, old, ancient and winking, they’re not stopping. It’s rock and roll.” Kick definitely looks the hair-band part, not too unlike Motley Crue, from which they may have in-part taken their name — but not as hard-core or as much leather, just the big and wavy locks shown in their signature online photo of a lead guitarist taking a scissors-legged leap while jamming between the other two musicians.
You’ll want to tap your toes and snap your fingers to start the weekend, but it’s still savvy, not your usual jazz band. With what’s called a fresh and innovative sound, Jazz Savvy is a unique trio with songs you might not expect to hear locally, even though they have built a following at a number of Twin Cities area venues. There’s no pabulum radio sound, no smooth jazz, or “canned” standard tunes, and every time Jazz Savvy gives a performance, they give the audience a new jazz experience, they say.
After playing a wide variety of instruments and styles in his youth, at age 29, Mark Keating began extensive study of fingerstyle guitar, drawing inspiration from Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Pierre Bensusan, as well as artists such as John Dowland and Turlough O’Carolan for their compositions in traditional and Celtic music. He also boasts styles from jazz to drudging rock, to folk style instrumentals.
Rounding out the music options connected with the Hot Air Affair are acts at two of the other participating sponsors. There is deejay dance music downtown at Dick’s Bar and Grill on Friday and Saturday starting at about 10 p.m., which gives a chance to mingle with the pilots, especially after the adjacent Torchlight Parade and following fireworks starting at 7 p.m. Friday. DJ Ben Michaels, who is relatively new to the scene, has been known to provide some interesting mixes with the songs he plays, not just typical retreads. Also, there is karaoke in an intimate setting at the bar at the Plaza Lounge/Hudson Bowling Center on both nights at 9 p.m., a venue not far from the Moonglow or Field of Fire that is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Other noteworthy Hot Air Affair events are balloon launches at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and at 3 p.m. on Saturday, all weather permitting, and smoosh boarding at 1 p.m. Saturday. All are at the Rock Elementary School grounds.
The Hot Air Affair is presented by the WESTconsin Credit Union.
Visit www.hudsonhotairaffair.com for more information.

– Also, calling all modern country, rock and pop music lovers to “fly” to Burkhardt and take in a “Shotgun Wedding,” the name of a band, not a train wreck, at the Willow River Saloon on Friday night. This is called a double or triple shot, musicwise, of a must-see female and male fronted band featuring some of the Twin Cities’ best musicians — not just national influences, although they play a range of popular, plus a few lesser-known artists — and hailing from local bands such as Under the Covers, The Bad Animals, Playback, Shane Wyatt, Shadowstone and The Hootenanny.

Recent Comments

Archives