No matter where they were in the area, these bands had similarities:

– A band put together by Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductees in 2007, singer-songwriter John Garden and guitarist John Northrup, named the Rhythm Roosters, also is teaming with other Hall of Fame members who specialize in R & B — even those on the horns. Unlike many other bands who come here, the Rhythm Roosters on their web site list themselves as hailing from western Wisconsin, as well as the Twin Cities. So, they will play the Village Inn in North Hudson on Saturday night, Feb. 16. They’ve also graced the stages of places such as the Bayport Blues Festival, and even former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura’s 25th wedding anniversary! The various members of the band, some of whom are award winning, have been on the same concert bill as 3 Dog Night, Tommy James and the Shondells, and Johnny Rivers.

– The Corner Bar in River Falls also has Saturday music, from the Ben Johnson Band, that the bartender described as “simply amaaazing!” Their style is much like that of Eric Church, Josh Thompson and Dierks Bentley.

– The Chimney Fish will play Shooters Pub in River Falls on Saturday, using techniques that range from self-described “slap acoustic,” and also power strumming guitar which has flurries of high-note picking and even use of tapping on the guitar board. They are not afraid to apply this style to groups like the Beastie Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even Jet. The Chimney Fish, which are also a staple at Guv’s Place in Houlton, get their name from “smoking like a chimney and drinking like a fish,” a name that they say took them all of 30 seconds to concoct. (Gee, do they write songs that fast?) One other item of interest: Their logo is of the Statue of Liberty, complete with goatee.

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