First things first, its the summer of Loven Live back to Boardman, and then there’s always Booster Days to give a (rare these days?) boost to live rock and country:
— July First not only brings a harbinger to the Fourth, four days later, but also the return of one-man-bander Jeff Loven to the near-the-cornfield stage at Meister’s Bar and Grill in Boardman. This top Minnesota (and Minnesconsin) act is sure to be joined for a few numbers by Dave, the proprietor, complete with his Elvis suit and songs — but we won’t comment on his hips. And the two each summer, with Sunday in the late afternoon marking the renewing the duo, manage to come up with something different for each individual audience, to the point of having Dave arrive at the cornfield/stage by plane! The show starts in the late afternoon, but get their early to enjoy their food and drink specials.
— But of course, this is the weekend of Hudson Booster Days, and over half of the bands on the fest’s list are new, and in most cases relatively new to the area. That is something the Boosters have been striving for in the past two years, just ask my source Holly Schultz, who also happens to be one of the grand marshals this year at the Saturday morning parade through the downtown. This is a listing of these acts, which usually start late in the afternoon and go through a bit past midnight: (Friday), the country strains of North of Dixie followed by the band Branded; (Saturday), Long Time Gone followed by Yam Haus, (Sunday) The Chubs, then Bigly, then the traditional choice to close Booster Days, Uncle Chunk.
— Yam Haus was the featured band when Hop & Barrel had their “public event” midweek, under a great big Bigtop in their parking lot. A fan who has been a regular on the downtown scene for a few years described The Yams as being “local,” but that means a bit into western Wisconsin. Whatever, they will be In The Haus at Booster Days.
— Speaking about “into western Wisconsin,” there is a bit over year old, wholly happening Honky Tonk in the heart of Hammond, with the signature Schuggies. They had one of their featured bands, Drop Tailgate, last Saturday, and one of the things that made them noteworthy was the female singers totally animated nature, shown mostly visibly when ripping through Gunpowder and Lead. The rhythm guitarist then added in on vocals, with a similar upbeat style, and they often played off each other. You can catch this band again on Saturday night at Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse just north of Hudson, and then earlier on Friday night, for an as advertised “duo,” there is local country and pop strains (did I use that word again?), of singer and songwriter Chaunte Shayne, (who also covers Gunpowder and Lead).
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June, 2018Archive for
As The Fourth nears, its time to First — on that very day, and even a bit beforehand — acknowledge the bands that lay it down as summer continues
Friday, June 29th, 2018Swinging Bridge swings into action as a record-setting Community Based Brewery, with special memberships underscoring the point
Saturday, June 23rd, 2018(Also, as far as belting down beer, we broach the subject of whether Booster Days will be a bust like Friday, or a continued bonanza like Saturday, in our Notes of the Week Department).
A River Falls brewery is setting the standard, as far as sheer numbers, in response to their landmark Community Based Brewery and Mug Club memberships offered, and the fact that community is kept at the forefront of all they do, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re located at the heart of that community served, said Dustin Dodge, owner of one of the newest craft breweries in the area.
Swinging Bridge Brewery recently celebrated their first year in business, and this was a time that those groundbreaking and loyal patrons turned out to renew those memberships, and more seized the chance to get on board in what’s an ongoing opportunity. All this Interest amounts to something that probably has not been seen before in Western Wisconsin, and that after only one year, not the decades you might expect.
In their century-old building on the southern end of the main drag, with brick atop of the facade, you can essentially buy your beer for a whole year — even though the building has been around for 100 years of time — but the time of this new offering has certainly come, say owner, staff and patrons alike, even if they’re just people coming in off the street from the downtown, and for reasons cited having one of their best brewery experiences in the area. This is aided of course by the fact that the big front window reveals several of the big fermenters used to make their creations.
But back to Dodge. Even after a wide-ranging “world tour” of sorts as far as career, which included serving in the U.S. Air Force, and then taking up brewing as a hobby, Dodge knew that brewing beer while utilizing community support was in his blood. Soon to come were a 50-seat taproom, cozier than most, complete with menu of all those things you love to eat at a bar and more, including — and this is where we kick in that community aspect — that they strive to use and reuse local ingredients, as shown by the fact that the extra grain goes to a university lab. Swinging Bridge worked with the university and students to develop the business plan and logo, as well. That logo illustrates a great big bridge with a great big middle span, and great big waterfalls underneath, all under the headings in the corners that spell out “River Falls.” After all, places like The Kinni are just a block or two away.
That fact underscores the point of keeping the community in mind, as all phases would unfold.
This is a quick, followup Q and A with Dodge:
— Why should people either jump on board, or continue with, your one of a kind in the state, membership clubs? “The biggest reason to get a membership is to save you money. The discounts will pay for the membership itself even if you only visit a few times a year,” Dodge said. “The second and possibly even more compelling reason is that you are supporting your local brewery. Your support is the only way we can continue to do what we do for the community … I felt River Falls was in need of a business that would better the community and provide a service that there was a demand for.”
— Just how unusual is this, to what is offered elsewhere in the state, or around the country? And how much of that difference comes from the number of people in the membership clubs, or other indicators that would show the large scope of their size, or how quickly the clubs came into being?
“We are now the only Community Supported Brewery in Wisconsin. Our clubs are the primary way we fund additional projects like our up and coming barrel aging program and bottle releases. Memberships give us the ability to innovate and provide more than the standard fare to our customers. We began with 100 CSB memberships and 200 Mug Club memberships we now have expanded Mug Club to 280 members and our CSB sits with less than 25 open spots. The brewery was built around serving our community and our memberships are our way of giving back by providing a great savings to those who support us with the upfront contribution.”
— Can you tell me something about your brews, and what makes them different then everything else that is out there in the beer world? How is your company different than what is in the Twin Cities, or elsewhere in western Wisconsin?
“We have a small system and with that we have the ability to rotate styles more often and produce specialty one offs that would not be economical on a larger scale. We also have a high attention to quality and execution. Our beer is of a high standard on par with any of the big name craft breweries of the Twin Cities. The difference you will see is a more personal experience in a small town setting. (So try this out Minnesotans). One of the things that sets us apart from other western Wisconsin breweries is our quality, small-menu food offerings that give you something great to pair with your local beer. All this in addition to making beers that are original in their ingredients and are downright tasty.”
— Lastly, how valuable has your location been, right in the city? Has it helped to be right on the beaten path, as far as traffic coming in?
“We felt is was important to be at the heart of the city. River Falls is an amazing town and we want to be part of the overall experience and being downtown is key. We see a lot of people pleasantly stumbling upon us as they walk the street. People also travel to come see us and we want them to get a feel for the whole town on their trip.”
The brewery has another attribute in being on the south end of the large downtown, only blocks from UW-River Falls and the starting area of one of the main residential areas in River Falls, as well as specialty stores and those for dining. And, if you wish to have a big full-size meal, over and above the quality small-plates offered at Swinging Bridge, why not complete the deal and trek a short distance over to Swinging Bridge itself, then have a great beer or two to round out your dinner experience? Or use this local brewery to cap off your trip to things such as antique shops?
Perhaps the largest liquor store in Hudson, Chicone’s up on the hill on the south end of the County Market complex, has Swinging Bridge featured among those offered at a special price on placards and signs as you come in the door. This could be seen as quite an endorsement, as it was selected for such advertisement over the many hundreds of beers out there that take into their scope not only the big U.S. brands, but also local, regional, national and worldwide favorites.
Here’s a roundup of the raft of stuff you can receive with Swinging Bridge member clubs:
This beer membership program lets you “share” in a wealth of products and drinks under the community support concept.
At Swinging Bridge, the CBS Membership, backing up efforts of community support, refers to its brewery program that is loosely based on a community backed agriculture model. Traditionally, the farm CBAs sell produce shares in exchange for customers receiving a box of fresh produce each week, at a price lower than market rate. But under this beer-based model practiced in River Falls, members receive beer shares, taproom discounts, merchandise and invitations to member-only events. A half share gets you one fill per month, T-shirt, 10 percent off food and merchandise, 64-ounce growler, pint glass, that aforementioned special-event invitation each year and totals up to 25 percent off retail prices. Such privileges can be gained for $135 for 12 months with $115 renewal.
A full share gets you two fills a month and a pair of growler, the possibility of getting a hat, not just that T-shirt, pint glass set, again that social experience, and up to 35 percent off retail, all for $250 for 12 months and $225 renewal.
Likewise, there is a mug club at the taproom that offers discounts and serves as a social club. (The most loyal of such patrons drink out of a mug). Upon entering, the club member’s mug is filled with fresh beer, and the array of benefits includes food discounts, four extra ounces of beer in every fill (thus to the hilt), merchandise discounts, and don’t forget the social opportunities. The staff at Swinging Bridge suggests a toast to the best community that they say a brewery could ask for.
Numbered mugs come with the annually renewed and CSB add-on option, and the lifetime option is also available. All three varieties of member get a first free fill, 10 percent off food and merchandise, free birthday fill, vinyl decal, and an invite to the annual member event. The annual version is $60 with a $30 yearly renewal opportunity, the lifetime option $199 as a single, but includes a hat, and the CSB add-on is $30 annually.
The UW-River Falls Small Business Development Center helped sort out business planning and structure, financing, cash flow projections and staffing for Swinging Bridge, and like many investors, a few family and friends chimed in by getting behind the aspect of enhancing the local community desirability by investing.
Queensryche was king long before hip-hop, and their originality shown through when starting the trend of summer-solstice stagings — now followed through locally
Saturday, June 23rd, 2018The summer solstice is a time to party with rockers, even if you are not a Druid:
— I remember that back a few years, before hip-hop was truly king, the groundbreaking heavy metal band Queensryche added yet another innovation with a special cable concert themed totally after the summer solstice. Well, apparently that caught on, as when the solstice shone this year, on Thursday, there were all kinds of acts around the metro area who used that as a reason to perform a special gig. And that musical options included karaoke and even open mic nights. One of them was at Dick’s Bar and Grill, who conducted such a jam on the night of, and you could catch them doing it again every Thursday, such as the one coming up, and maybe get an after-the-fact bit of that summer-has-truly-arrived feel. The same is true with the open mic at the Beach Bar across the St. Croix River, only they do it every Wednesday evening — which meant they missed out on any solstice observation by one day, so go there this coming week to check out the newly arrived length of days, meaning more time to sing and play.
— Also as far as summer now here, you might want to go to Broz in River Falls and order an Eberon, a stripped bare version of drink when it comes to its ingredients, making the most of what’s there, but on its flyers showing an ancient sun complete with rays, getting back to the basics and tickling the senses like a summer breeze, they say. Also on that theme, is the mango blonde ale offered locally by the courtesy of Lift Bridge, and also sporting an interesting, if often used, logo of a Tiki head doll. And you can certainly find that blonde, in the name of summer, in that sun bleached variety.
— As far as Lift Bridge, their synergy in this area with radio’s 93-X goes beyond the Brotherhood Beer brewed for the rock station in conjunction with the Stillwater company, and touted by a sexy voiced woman in their ads. If you want both beer and babes, we suggest the annual Booze Cruise on the St. Croix River, coming up next weekend. (You can only get tickets by listening to call-in offers on their station). But they do have one bit in their ads that is over-the-top humorous, saying they’ll have a certain percentage more of various drinks — and capping it off by saying the river has 100 percent more bridges, referring of the course to the St. Croix Crossing near Stillwater that will have to be negotiated for the first time by the Booze Cruise. Nice.
After five years, Stone Tap is ‘permanently’ closed, and after many more than that, Slayer is hanging up their loud guitars
Sunday, June 17th, 2018The just-closed Stone Tap is now stone cold, along with the sexy names it gave some of its taphouse brews:
— After five years that because of their patrons they say were great, although it more likely was up and down, the owners of Stone Tap in downtown Hudson have closed it “permanently” after five years, while indeed thanking those people for their support. The announcement was made last Monday after a final weekend — via signs on all three doors that front on Second Street — as first reported in as I have said, that bastion of information (as long as it isn’t about music) on entertainment, the Pioneer Press, although they invoked that overused phrase “chef-driven,” and what eatery isn’t, in their report. One thing that sticks in my mind is that among the 50-or-so craft beers that had been offered, often on a rotating basis and also displayed on their door(s), some were given a slightly naughty by nature name, said a bartender there who I had met a number of months ago and agreed to visit and thus check it out. Now I guess I won’t have that chance, and so I guess as far as patronage, I was part of the problem, (although I doubt that naughty brews had anything to do with the closing). That former server added that the racy names caused some parents to order merely by pointing to the items on the menu; hopefully the kiddies couldn’t read yet. But all in good fun, we’ll miss the “Stone,” and thus give it this written “headstone.”
— Along those lines when it comes to having “doors,” on Saturday night, when I was going to check out the karaoke I had heard was offered at Shiner’s in Lakeland, it was only 11:45 p.m. and they were closed. So on to the Beach Bar I went, with a much opposite result. A band named The Bad Habits was taking a practice run through at the end of their last set, and ripped through an extended guitar version of Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix. Near the end of the song, the drummer didn’t something you don’t often see, motioning upward with his sticks, not down, to strike the skins.
— By all accounts, the Slayer farewell tour appearance that rolled through the Twin Cities showed they are going out at the top of their game, rather than being old warhorses that simply faded away. If only my bartender friend Matt could have seen it, he lamented, but he had to work that evening. I caught up with him a few days later and asked him if Slayer was now indeed dead or alive, (when this question is posed about a band leaning toward death metal, it depends on your perspective, I assurred him to appease his concern). They will remain alive in his memory, for sure.
— This is a matter of gas or gash, at least to the head. In less than a full weekend, there was a patron downtown who bartenders said got on a venue roof and ripped out gas lines, and then another who fell to the ground in a way that it looked like he hit his head on a curb. In at least one of the cases, there was a drug such as heroin involved, they said. That being the case, how did the one guy ever get up on the roof?
— A sign at Season’s Tavern touted their Pepper Festival root beer social, since This Is Largely The Tavern Of Pepperfest, based on its location and ongoing and related special activities that peak in late summer. The flip-side of the sign suggested another event, Watch Finding Nemo at Pepperfest Park. I’ll bet that come August you’ll be finding Nemo angling for contest-winning hot peppers. The updated sign at Season’s last Friday invoked the old tongue-in-cheek adage, “Free Beer Tomorrow.” (You’ll often see this referenced up the way at the Village Inn, as well). But since I saw the Season’s sign still up shortly after midnight, does it mean “tomorrow” is Saturday, or rather Sunday?
— Another sign, also in North Hudson, at Kozy Korner, said that pizza, etc. or especially, equates to happiness. I assume they were talking about their own. Is that Kozy Korner Karma?
— And a third sign, at the Agave Kitchen, gave praise to a fisherman near and dear to the owner, honoring Charlie “Seabass” Rode. Hey, that’s a lot more impressive than trout on the Kinni or walleye on the St. Croix. And to get to that level, you need to be simply awesome, which was a job description characteristic that has been listed just down the street at Dick’s, and on the hill at the 24-hour Kwik Trip. Actually they used the term “awesomeness.” I don’t know if that is an actual word, or something written by someone who had spent too much time on the late shift.
— Lastly as far as signs, the Village Liquor store asks this question, “chalice” rather than “glass?” Would that be the Holy Grail, or just a beer?
— So why was there a tall cherry-picker in the south lot of The Phipps on a recent weekend? Maybe its because they were having a performance, and wanted to be at the same height as the upper patio of The Smilin’ Moose! After all, both start with the word “the,” with a capital T.
— Overheard near last call at Starr’s Bar in North Hudson, and timely too. “… so I thought I should ask my dad …” He would have been proud of his daughter.
— Despite checkered success with actual fishing on the St. Croix, Christopher Onken saw the sign when with two sons last Father’s Day and was hooked. He ended up making plans to buy Beanie’s Resort in Lakeland, and also getting taught a thing or two about bait, as in minnows, (possibly bought at the Hudson convenience and/or liquor stores that specialize in these sales over the summer.)
The metro daily that first reported the story added these possible reading choices: Minnesota pheasant hunting season opens with numbers down, (so invoke former prime minister Tony Blair who sent a gift of the birds to a North Hudson man?), and Feds’ idea to allow trumpeter swan hunting has some crying foul (so invoke feeding the birds in winter at Lake Mallalieu and the St. Croix?) Also — this is a word of wisdom — the second pier in on the Wisconsin side the Interstate 94 bridge is where the crappies have been for over a hundred years, he was told. I know, as this was a favorite spot for me to capture fishermen, (no, not like a mythological siren), when I shot photo features for the opener when with the Hudson Star-Observer.
Can your World Cup watching, in Hudson — so you can scream at the screen like any good soccer fan — have your cup runneth over? See our Picks of the Week department
Friday, June 15th, 2018Also, before you get your kicks on fireworks forays that have largely the same timing as the soccer semis, you can visit Family Fresh and make the most of the graduation party season, as it still runneth on.
If you choose to rely on Family Fresh Market in Hudson for your graduation party needs, as the season for this will last at least through The Fourth, you will get a party planning checklist and ordering guide, as well as more than $25 in savings, along with the great food.
Just feted father or dad, and maybe even the grad, whether high school or college, would love that kind of practicality, all found in their Coulee Road store.
To wit, there is a serving guide for food, often trays of it, offered in-house at Family Fresh that features 11 kinds of delicacy categories that go beyond the usual fare, and also provide a serving guide based on the number of people you will have to serve.
On the next page is their one-stop-graduation-stop that lists a full 27 items that you will not want to forget. You will see advice on decorating, floral, greeting cards, lots of food and beverage, utensils and napkins, and ice.
Across the bottom of both pages are bakery cake and deli order forms.
On the back of the four-page leaflet are three Family Fresh coupons for $5 off each, one for $10 off, and one for $1 off.
Its all just Family Fresh’s way of inviting you to enjoy the summer, until fireworks take over.
Prove that SCTV, from back in the day, got it all wrong as far as soccer as a spectator sport being uncool. Show your true colors and watch the World Cup — we’ll tell you where
Friday, June 15th, 2018Do you want some World Cup soccer, as it can be viewed without wandering to the Cities? Or how but some (other) country? Hope this is music to your ears:
— Remember when watching soccer on TV was seen as boring and uncool? (For those of you my age, can you recall the media mogul on SCTV?) Well celebrate enlightenment at Buffalo Wild Wings in Hudson from June 14-July 15, when the biggest international soccer tournament there is hits the airwaves (is that the right term when it comes to cable and digital?) Party the whole month by getting five traditional wings for $5 during tourney action, this offered in addition to their “regular-season special” wings of wonder, and in this case World Cup worthy, (see the end of this paragraph), and with world-class seasonings from all over the globe among their dozens. Anyway, for some of the Cup games, which can start as early as 5 a.m. our time, you might have to resort to other metro-area venues, a few of which have altered their hours radically so people can get their kicks even if sleepy and in need of coffee as their beverage of choice. (BWW in most cases opens at 11 a.m.) A couple of the venues across the river, but not from closeby such as the near east metro, even will have meet-and-greets with actual, live pro soccer athletes from the Cities. But take it from that bastion of get-it-right entertainment and sports news, the Pioneer Press — they seemed obsessed with sheer number of TV screens, which is not the end-all, and they didn’t name any local specials, saying they hadn’t been announced yet, even though I have them. But they did list with several paragraphs the various BWW outlets as No. 2 in their best places to watch goals being scored (hopefully a lot of them, so its not, as SCTV so famously said, dull). That apparently was not a concern for a trio of guys on Monday night, who were talking up the merits of a halftime lead. Two were from Florida, where soccer is big, and the guy in the middle had a Hudson Soccer Association T-shirt.
To take it one step further, BWW says that even as posted in Hudson, that they are the Minnesota United FC viewing headquarters for the Gopher State (yes, the state vs. state thing is wrong again), and there are specials to go with their games as well. Namely, $1 off select tall draughts, a chance to play a “kick it” text game for prizes, and at the same time qualify for free socceer gear.
— Sure to make you smile, its Chaunte Shayne and her country strains (some pop too) at the Smilin’ Moose on Friday evening starting early. For purposes of this mini-review of a recent River Falls gig, given good length because she’s local, when Chaunte sang Miranda Lambert’s Gunpowder and Lead, with a manner that also sounded much like Shania Twain, her voice had just the right slight and understated twang, held long enough to slide into the venerable song’s next line. Then meanwhile, and working together with that tone, the position of her right hand holding the microphone freed up the left to do many gestures of caution, as if to say “don’t mess with me!” She has always appeared comfortable and confident while singing, but as time passes, these qualities are showing through more and more. This is especially true in engaging and directing the crowd for sing-alongs, something she does often and provides a vehicle to show her subtle charm. Her sense of clothing style onstage has expanded, from a great look that was often leggy and somewhat saucily scant, to a recent show where she sported a multi-piece shawl that draped over her waist in several downward directions, with different lengths, of which some had enough stringiness at the bottom to look like flapper garb. The whole thing evoked mental images of the wardrobes of her predecessors who were icons as female pop vocalists. (Think Stevie Nicks, to name one). Chaunte and bandmate Hardy on guitar are perfect counterpoints, as Hardy is animated and very active, and she moves a bit more slowly and deliberately, making every motion count, although still using plenty of hand gesturing, in a way that is all her own. But when it comes to the up-tempo parts of songs, by contrast, she can really go on a run.
— At DQ, you can buy any cake for Father’s Day and not be DQ’ed from getting a $5 gift card — even the triple hot fudge mocha supreme?? (As dad loves it over the top, unless his cholestrol is getting to him). And the Hudson Dairy Queen is open to 10 p.m. for a late gift, just in case there is role reversal and dad’s holiday is the one that’s forgotten.
— The Hammond Arts Alliance is sponsoring a tribute to Bruce Foster at, where else, the Foster Hall gallery in the downtown, on June 16 and 17. Featured is the prose of Scott Vetsch at 7 p.m. Saturday and the music of Geno LaFond and Amy Grillo from 8-11 p.m. at the nearby Ras’ venue. Contributors are Leslie Ann Batt-Lutz, Sharon Graham, Carol Freier, Heidi Freier and Rita Marrinan. See, HudsonWiNightlife.com gets way beyond just the western end of St. Croix County in its coverage.
— On Saturday, June 16, its the Pedal Pint ride sponsored by Casanova Historic Liquors, according to its marquee, and even one at Kozy Korner to accommodates it. And we wonder, what type of cycling does this involve? If any??
Eleven kinds of signature food categories, party planning checklist, ordering guides and coupons, all are at Hudson Family Fresh awaiting dad and grad
Thursday, June 14th, 2018If you choose to rely on Family Fresh Market in Hudson for your graduation party and Father’s Day needs, you will get a party planning checklist and ordering guide, as well as more than $25 in savings, along with the great food.
Dad, and maybe even the grad, whether high school or college, would love that kind of practicality, all found in their Coulee Road store.
To wit, there is a serving guide for food, often trays of it, offered in-house at Family Fresh that features 11 kinds of delicacy categories that go beyond the usual fare, and also provide a serving guide based on the number of people you will have to serve.
On the next page is their one-stop-graduation-stop that lists a full 27 items that you will not want to forget. You will see advice on decorating, floral, greeting cards, lots of food and beverage, utensils and napkins, and ice.
Across the bottom of both pages are bakery cake and deli order forms.
On the back of the four-page leaflet are three Family Fresh coupons for $5 off each, one for $10 off, and one for $1 off.
Its all just Family Fresh’s way of inviting you to enjoy the summer.
Is there a fly, or a bug, in my soup? Hey the music promises to be great anyway at both Baldwin and Somerset
Thursday, June 7th, 2018Pea Soup Days in Somerset and June Bug Days in Baldwin are going on simultaneously this weekend, just miles from each other, which is fitting as the bands are largely local:
— The bands at June Bug Days are the throwback to two acts that have been popular for years, pop-ish but with quite a bit of variety under the tent. Rhino is Friday evening and Good For Gary Saturday evening. The variety theme gets pushed even more at Pea Soup Days, starting with Paisan and the Family Brass on Friday night, bringing a whole different sound from Cumberland and after touring several states, with 10 musicians playing many different genres to back their dueling guitarists, then having the acts shifting to youthful and harder rockers Contraband at 8 p.m. Saturday, followed by Sunday’s Regret an hour later, known for their short set breaks, which means lots of music.
— Check out the Fulton Brewing special at Dick’s Bar and Grill, known simply as 300 IPA, and it costs only $4.25. That means that it costs just a bit over 1.33 cents for each one of those 300 (and just what exactly does that number stand for?)
Teachers usually don’t easily just Cruise into clubs after graduation, unless there is a server ala Cocktail to help
Thursday, June 7th, 2018Schools Out For The Summer, but not forever, as a few teachers bucked the trend and partied like its 1999:
— A female bartender was acting like Tom Cruise in Cocktail while shaking, then pouring, a set of drinks. I told her she was of the wrong gender for that. She added that she’d work on fixing that. I don’t recall exactly how she said she’d go about doing that, but I do recall a few nights later when a whole bunch of Hudson High School teachers came in after graduation and really partied down, maybe even more than their students, that it prompted the bartender to evoke Alice Cooper and sing the signature line from School’s Out For The Summer. Then across the way, a sign expressed “no school” summer well-wishes at the Agave, using a K not a C for the second letter (cool). All this is surprising, because many teachers feel compelled to toe the line and be on the straight and narrow all the time, even at bars for a night out, because of what the parents of their students might think. In particular, in my work-your-ass-off tenure for low pay with the Hudson Star-Observer, one who also coached and years ago I became good friends with — although like all sports reporters for their absurdly corporate chain I’ve known, had to simply work and sleep and basically not have a life, and I was not down for that — told me later that she wanted to come over and buy me a drink, but was afraid of Big Brother Parent. Something about this might get into print, she said she feared. Would I do that? I think I just did. And all these bartenders will tell you, at this time of year, that the teachers coming in to celebrate graduation have their reputation precede them even as walking in, in an unprecedented combo of mousy-ness and politeness about where the rest of their party was situated. But then there always are others …
— Green Mill suggests that they have the goods for everything you’d want in a graduation party/celebration, in an email message on May 22 as part of their rewards club. Uhm, I know parties to celebrate the occasion go on for much of the summer, but graduation itself was three days earlier, held at the Knowles Center at UW-River Falls because of ongoing construction at Hudson High School. Seems the Mill is a little “Green” on its timing. As could be two other places advertising themselves as the grad go-to venue, Buffalo Wild Wings and The Nova/Casanova Historic Liquors. Let’s cut them some slack, however, as these and other grad celebrations will likely go on well into the start of summer school.
— As of this writing, the news was that Trump was considering talked to Investigator Muller about alleged crimes, but that any questions about possible obstruction be off the table. What’s left? Maybe Trump could be asked to chime in on the age-old question of best metal double-guitar attack, Priest or Maiden. As clueless as the Pres is, he just might answer Air Supply.
— This is a flip side of former one-man band fodder. After the timing of the holidays around New Years, and Dick’s employee holiday party, Jeff Loven found himself with an unprecedented three Sundays off at that venue. Well now, a half-year later, Loven was very, very lively for a racheted up two Sundays in a row. Let me explain: On Memorial Day weekend, with people having Monday off, the attendance was virtually should to shoulder. It was almost that full the Sunday before, as Ink Factory Tattoos celebrated the last leg with Loven during their 20th anniversary party. It started at the shop, moved across the street to Hop & Barrel craft brewery, then back across the street again to Dick’s, where the party continued until bar time.
— The Latino night at Pudge’s, usually held once a week, continues on, and when it happened to be observed on the same evening as Cinco De Mayo and the beach party at Dick’s, complete with a dance floor of sand, there was a certain synergy to be found. Or was there? A bouncer from Dick’s, who was off duty on this very evening, said his place was a bit hopping early, but when it slowed down, he made it over the Pudge’s — all of which meant he was dressed the part. Or was he? The guy added that was only dressed for the earlier affair, but there were those at Pudge’s where Dress Mex was intentional, and they showed it in the back room dedicated to that fact, more than a dozen strong and all of them dancing to the deejay. A lot of the people who were not Caucasian were up and down between the first and second floors, catching the best of the holiday music, even if it meant plugging the juke box.
— The sign at Dick’s Bar and Grill that was posted on the swinging gate that separates the bartenders from those they serve, said that on what I remember as being called Throwback Thursday was offering 99 cent Bloody Mary’s with purchase of anything such as breakfast. Sorry, I cannot verify since the sign is no longer there for the reason of (1) the special is no longer being offered, or (2) it was knocked off by a tipsy drunk, or both.
— And as an update, the bartender who worried aloud a short time ago that legalized betting all over might basically shut down Vegas because of all the wagering that the new hockey team there might bring as they go for an NHL title, no further worries. The wagers that ended up on tap were quite small, so the Sin City survives, he told a patron who’d asked earlier. Vegas? Small wagers?
Will she be Bridezilla? Possibly. But for luck even worse than a wedding gone amok, go ask Iron Maiden, and their hero/villain the Ancient Mariner, about that bitchy albatross
Saturday, June 2nd, 2018This was a meeting of marriage, Maiden and Mariner:
Is it just a coincidence that at a time I was finally, and a bit obsessively as far as time, getting into streaming the cautionary-tale-tune told in a wedding setting in Iron Maiden’s anthem Rime of the Ancient Mariner, that the latest woman became by marriage a princess in England’s royalty.
If you think wedding days can go very badly, check out the horrific plight of the mariner after he is cursed to ride the seas forever when killing an albatross. (Maybe this type of thing is why they are now extinct). The 13-minute song starts with him as a wedding guest and offering to regale his tale to the bride, then taking ten-minutes-or-so to go through it, the redemption of which leaves all at the wedding sadder but wiser. The song is vintage Maiden, taking a lengthy classic poem from about 300 years ago and rewriting it in shorter form.
This at a time when there are all things Maiden going on locally. To wit:
— A semi-trailer truck has been periodically parked and taking up four spaces in front of the Wells Fargo Bank, and the side of it gives a pitch for a Twin Cities restoration company along with art that suggest the huge stage backdrop of many a Maiden concert, conceived from the tombs of ancient civilizations such as those of the Egyptians and very recently, the Mayans.
— In a video for the Mariner number, there was rare footage of the drum kit taken from the arena ceiling, and even showing the foot pedals being played simultaneously. I’ve always thought one way to gauge the aptitude of a drummer is the size of his drum kit, and this one was just as large as the living rooms of their just-turning adult fans.
— I have first noticed that the longest tenured guitarist for the band, if you make him a bit younger and thinner, might as well be local rock guitarist Bob Schillinger. And another resemblance starts with the hero-villain in one of the videos for Hallowed be Thy Name by Maiden; there is an occasional patron at Dick’s who has much the same look, right down to the furrowed bridge of his nose. Dick’s, of course, is the venue where Bob and the boys for years hosted their open mic night. And then there was the guy from the other night who looks just like the Maiden drummer, (also slightly balding, like the guitarist).
— Also in Dick’s, this time tucked away in the back of the dining area, is an actual Iron Maiden, which is an interesting choice since you would think it might take away your appetite. This one has a poor, tortured soul, (from their latest CD Book of Souls?), trapped inside, and you know its from centuries ago because the guy is only five feet tall, a typical height in those days where you didn’t have to worry just about evil overlords, also the bad nutrition and lack of food that stunted your growth and took away inches of your height.
— But this is now, and one-man-bander Jeff Loven was just wearing one of his favorite Maiden T-shirts, promoting the 1981 album Killers. And how many royal weddings have there been since that time?