Hudson Wisconsin Nightlife

December, 2018Archive for

Christmas included not only fruitcake and cookies, but halved hot dogs and sloppy Joes as revelry comfort food, and also lots of holiday headgear from big and of course fuzzy antlers to a HUGE Cat In The Hat

Monday, December 31st, 2018

Holy Rollers! Maybe if not for long holiday hours, you’d have the full staff to get fixes as readily made as the instant hot spot food, and have even quicker hot dogs and their fixings to go with your feasting — and accompany the ham.
— The Freedom station had a late-night difficulty, as the front hot dog roller machine was out of order. That left only the back one operating. I quipped that the workers, who I should add fixed the problem in short order, could make up the difference by cutting the hot dogs in half and roasting part on each machine. Or, wait a minute, I’ve got that trickery backwards. (Then a staffer said she didn’t have the beef so much on her mind, as she’d worked many days in a row, as getting home for the holidays). My reversal was unlike when Kozy Korner next door opened with their bar at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day, then went on to close, with the kitchen shuttered all day. But don’t fret, there was a sloppy Joe special all day. But my idea was that for that fact of full hours, you’d get seriously less sandwiches, as they’d be spread out over 15 hours. Or is that the way that works?

— Many places that are primarily grill and bars had lesser hours on Christmas Day, or none at all, but as far as Starr’s Bar, which is primarily a tavern although by all accounts having great and unique food, is most notable for taking the day off on the 25th so workers could have Christmas with their families. First in line for the non-Grinch award.
— Bartender Sue at the Village Inn was working the late shift on Christmas Day, and was sporting a holiday outfit that was part Mrs. Santa dress and stocking cap, part ugly sweater and part German deirndle.
— Then there was worn a huge head topper, ala The Cat In The Hat, that was almost as wide as it was tall. Also, an associate was giving those cartoon antlers a workout, worn while putting in her time through virtually all of the Christmas holiday. Finally, with a day off almost a half-month providing service, would she be social with this opportunity? Rather, she said she’d get away from people entirely and curl up in bed with her PJs and watch Netflix. Two others who also worked the entirety of the holiday’s shifts, say they also have just been making the best of it.
— The holidays would be celebrated by one North Hudson woman by spending more than a day at relatives there, then trekking to another spot nearby in The Valley, then relaxing at Starr’s Bar in a talkative way late on Dec. 23. And where to go on the next two days? Iowa. Without Slipknot. She has my sympathies.

— This has got to be an ultimate Christmas present, for a bartender studying to further her art career, and from her grandfather no less, not her parents. And only in this day would such a gift be so prized. What is it? Tuition money!

— Should some of them be called lefty? Especially since the Vikings just lost to Chicago — now again called, and rightly so, Da Bears — and now are out of the playoff picture. To the point, there was a video rendition of one of Favre’s past Minnesota days, in which I saw it in a mirror and he was throwing left-handed! That’s how you pack it in. Along those lines, I ran into an old fan of the Vikes who said he had a bad feeling that his team was going to lose by about a touchdown. Close, or so he said. And despite all that, he still sported his purple Viking stocking cap late on the night before New Year’s Eve.
— There was one last rendition of that sweater song by Weezer right before New Year’s. It was said from one server to another, Ah, did you play this? Well, uh. That was at Buffalo Wild Wings, where earlier there were a lot more people in the place, and at time unlike near to closing, more patrons than staff. One of those patrons, from a time before, was squeezed in next to the bar rail, and had to position each of his butt cheeks on a separate but adjacent stool.
— Then it was, as befits the holiday season, the Badgers in a bowl bonanza. Maybe not. The luster might not have been there. This was the Pinstripe Bowl, and the sponsoring corporation, (there always seems to be one of them), was … ah … The Yankees? It was duly noted that this game could have been a rare bowl blowout, if not for mistakes by both teams that included a few interceptions and a pair of missed field goals by UW. Alas, the big mammal-mascot-crew prevailed quite easily toward the end.

Posted in Notes from the Beat | Comments Off on Christmas included not only fruitcake and cookies, but halved hot dogs and sloppy Joes as revelry comfort food, and also lots of holiday headgear from big and of course fuzzy antlers to a HUGE Cat In The Hat

Rio Loco — THE cantina and tequila bar — will ‘build’ a new design that hopefully will be as cool as that raft of neon TVs that filled the wall behind the long bar

Monday, December 31st, 2018

This is Plum Loco! Rio Loco that is. Black Gold, Texas Tea, swimming pools, movie stars. But no more margaritas, as the cantina is now closed to allow a redesign that the owners hope will have them come back bigger, stronger — and longer.

(And for you holiday buffs who can’t seem to let Christmas go, you can read all about it, and how it played out at local nightspots, in a retrospective filed under Notes From The Beat. And for a primer on where to go on New Year’s Eve, and what to see, eat and drink while there, look up Picks Of The Week).

— Another downtown night spot didn’t make it, as Rio Loco put up a sign saying that they are retooling. It thanked patrons for their support, again with those words, and it said the owners are coming back by building a new design concept that can be enjoyed soon. Too bad. The huge wall of bright neon-ish televisions, (often with very pink hues), above the very long bar rail made the cantina and its Jimmy Buffett-like theme something other than Hudson has seen, although for the workers the fact that the kitchen was down a back flight of stairs, a facet made necessary because of the building’s layout, often made things dicey. The joint that formerly was Ellie’s on Main was always hopping early, but by midnight there was always hardly anyone in the place. By way of comparison, the Negret wine company also lasted only a few short months, but the former auto dealership and bank building, now serving as a bar venue, also came back, in the form of Hop ‘N Barrel craft brewery, which also has had occasional bands in back. However,  the same rejuvenation cannot be said of Stonetap, which did at least make it a few years.
— With that said, Shiner’s in Lakeland also will no longer show, as it closed weeks ago, even though the sign out front, a multi-purpose marquee, still has the name there, in big letters.
— The debris is being thrown out the back patio door to the former Dibbo’s, into a full-size dumpster, to get that back area ship shape for new uses. While the place was known as Stonetap, the spacious back room that once was a concert hall sat in disarray. There were longterm plans to bring it around, to be part of the restaurant model for Stonetap, its owners said, but they never came to fruition, possibly because of money matters. That usage could now become a reality under a new owner, as a part of the overall renovation project. To wit, there stands a sign higher and to the left of the dumpster, that stumps for the new place, when it will also house condos as the main part of the mix.
— Taco Johns was a main dropoff site for Toys for Tots, so you could help out a child in need while getting a late night munch for yourself. Word had it that Pres Donald Trump himself might stop by and make a donation, as Wisconsin as a Red State is one of his faves, next to Arizona and New Mexico, but more to that point, he apparently balked when finding out that some of those underprivileged tots might belong to parents from that country that’s Down There. On a happier and sillier note, Dick’s had a clothing donation space where you could “Drop Your Drawers.”
— A guy who looked like Simon Cowell was watching a bowl game at Buffalo Wild Wings, and commented on various QBs about their ability as “throwers,” as should be fitting because it made him out to be a judge of that position. He and a bartender then shared opinions on the livability of the game’s host city, in Hawaii, and the bartender was a sort of a judge too, as he had lived there.
— There were hugs all around between a Green Mill bartender and her best regulars, who were down to each and every person at the bar, on the night before Christmas.There also were happenings on the night of Christmas Eve day. A man who looked like Captain Picard was giving instructions to his Number One at Dick’s. An older guy sitting by the old jukebox also was a TV show lookalike, back from the Golden Days of that medium. (One of my old advertising profs, Irv Grossman, used to be incensed that the only actual meaning for that term was as a psychic. As he used to start his laments to his not-so-eager students, who had heard it all before: “People …”)

Posted in The Headliner | Comments Off on Rio Loco — THE cantina and tequila bar — will ‘build’ a new design that hopefully will be as cool as that raft of neon TVs that filled the wall behind the long bar

Zounds! A new venue called Ziggy’s has bands both for and aft on NYE, and they start upstairs by being Heartless. And there’s much more, music and munchies and otherwise, as we ring in 2019 at various fantastic venues

Sunday, December 30th, 2018

I zig and you zag, and we both get to see bands, as they can be found on both the upper and lower levels of Ziggy’s on NYE, on either end of the ornate staircase:

— The new Ziggy’s in Hudson promises to take Hudson by storm as the primo music club and has not one but two bands playing on New Year’s Eve — simultaneously. Heartless takes the stage upstairs and a second act downstairs at the downtown’s newest venue, which until recently was Pudge’s Bar. On Saturday night it was another tribute band, Tumbling Dice, and the six-man-band looks the part of looking like the Stones. On Friday, the band was FiveMinuteMajor, and you could say the same of the looks of their locks, although a bit younger in appearance with some Springsteen mixed in. Both Bruce and this area version of Mick are backed by a sax player. On Thursday it was longtime country stalwart Tim Sigler.

— Besides music, Dick’s Bar and Grill adds in wild-harvested snow crab legs and filet mignon as its dinner featured offering, with the option of a reload for only a Perfect Ten Dollars. Reservations are required for dinner. In the next room, music will be supplied by Joel Kachel from 6-9 p.m., followed by deejay tunes until what would normally be bar time and passed. Then consider catching some sleep and being back the next morning for the annual pajama party, with first, second and couples prizes offered in the early afternoon for the best duds. A free drink for the duded up and of course, only $2.25 for Bloody Mary’s and minosas. The advertising flyer shows two women who are beautiful in a nostalgic way despite having lots of big rollers in their hair.

— At Season’s Tavern in North Hudson, the draw may feature drawn butter. They again have their time-honored, and honed over time, specials with your choice of two dinners that are two-fold, steak and lobster, and steak and their ongoing specialty of succulent walleye that has become well revered over years of building a reputation. And that walleye can come prepared in a number of different and creative ways. There of course are multiple side dishes that go with this set of entrees, fitting in all the main food groups and more, with more than one choice for dessert. And the house band Thirsty Camel is taking a rare holiday-party break, since after two sets of four-days-straight holiday observance, that camel indeed is thirsty and is electing to just be at the bar, or at work to serve you in a different way other than guitar solos. All this opens the door for what you want to play on the jukebox. This is better than Jack FM. Reservations are recommended for the dinner.

— Unlike most such things, this Ponzi Scheme promises to be worth the price — which is zero! The band by that name that plays the Village Inn in North Hudson with no cover on New Year’s Eve, known from their area appearances to offer a wide range of older classic rock, via around a hundred covers that can even include a full set by Chicago.

— At the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland, there is the tried and true crooning ideal for New Year’s Eve of Gary LaRue, backed by a host of featured wines for the evening — Allure Bubbly, Pink Moscato, Little Black Dress Moscato (perfect motif for New Year’s Eve), and a trio of Kendall Jackson juices, Vintage Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet and Sanvignon. And there are scores of seasonal drinks, boasting as many as six primary ingredients, as more is better. Another place to catch LaRue is every other Thursday at the Postmark Inn, in the former Hudson Post Office, with regular recurring gigs.

— Not all parties are for New Year’s Eve. At Cheap Andy’s Saloon in Hammond they are giving you a holiday alternative, stuck smack dab between Christmas and New Years, and offering a length of partying hours that rivals both those holidays. On Dec. 29, it is their Christmas and customer appreciation party, with food and drink specials that are not limited to a happy hour, but go on all day, and add to that games, prizes and giveaways that have similar longevity of hours. This is their second annual such observance, with a sponsor in Miller Lite — On Wisconsin! — as their 16 ounce taps are one of the drink specials, for only $2.50. And then on New Year’s Eve, its the interesting twist of lasagna rolls, to accompany what promises to be an extended happy hour for “New Year’s drinks,” a staffer said.

— Some area venues are offering great dining specials on New Year’s Eve, for the especially delectable, by steering away from the usual fare they would offer, but not too far. Meister’s in Boardman has several steak themed dinner entrees, with a newer-than-the-norm take on steak, one of them being Steak ala Oscar. Mallard’s resort on the St. Croix, in Bayport, is having some great stuffed stuff for additional meaty entrees, with a thick sauce based on bleu cheese stuck right in the middle. And Paddy Ryan’s in the town of Hudson, which all year takes traditional Irish fare and gives it their own modern-leaning twist, they’ll tweak it a little further for meaty effect (think prime rib, as is noteworthy for being not just the usual corned beef, although Paddy’s does go way beyond that for the Irish delicacies).

— Indeed, some now opt for other options than music on New Years, and may be focusing on The Day rather than The Eve. A full buffet is offered on New Year’s Day at Pier 500, with its schedule falling a bit on the later side to accommodate people who were up all night.

— Also accommodating partiers is the West Wind Supper Club in River Falls, but in a different way as far as timing, as their varied and hearty buffet is early, from 4:30-9:30 p.m., on Dec. 31. This is billed as their biggest buffet of the year, and that’s saying something for this place that offers various such eating options throughout the course of every week, not just holidays, although its then that they do it biggest. The NYE buffet features seafood (various kinds) and prime rib (the one and only), and thus reservations are encouraged. So start your holiday with a bang of a brunch, before checking out the rest of the town and its revelry and music (we recommend Johnnie’s and the band Blue Moon Drive). This West Wind event comes on the heels of a Christmas buffet where the staff donate their time and make possible a primo charitable event to benefit the Pierce-St. Croix Free Clinic.

— Mallory’s is closed for annual maintenance from Jan. 1-4, so their niche is NYE, but you have to get there early because about the time that the bands at other places start in, Mallory’s shuts down so their employees can do some of their own celebrating, whether it be those music acts and/or God Knows What.

— Guv’s Place in North Hudson has a large-scale dart tournament on New Year’s Day, starting in the morning. Ouch. And it was unclear whether Kyle Kohila would be playing as usual, though he’s been a virtually lock for the place at such times over the last few years. People, it was said by one of the bartenders, come for a different kind of place over New Year’s, to just have a few drinks, hang out, and just be there, in a way you will understand if you’re there.

— Billed at Buffalo Wild Wings as the perfect holiday drink is Stella Ambrose premium, which you can get for a Five on the Head, (that being the head of Old Abe, and of that ol’ beer froth).

— Now I segue into the one last set of stuff that simply sizzles all night long, and its at the Smilin’ Moose, which has so much going on that it’s beyond description, you just have to smile about it.

Posted in Picks of the Week | Comments Off on Zounds! A new venue called Ziggy’s has bands both for and aft on NYE, and they start upstairs by being Heartless. And there’s much more, music and munchies and otherwise, as we ring in 2019 at various fantastic venues

The only flaw is that The Flaws have not been here before — and that you can’t read the extra Xmas insight until just prior to New Year’s. but that will be a present, when it becomes present

Friday, December 28th, 2018

On this, the last weekend of 2018, there is one band that stands out in the Hudson scene before the coming of the real party of the period on New Years Eve. That is the three-word rock ‘n roll party machine, with R&B and rap, that is lovingly known as The Flaws. They started as a two-piece drums and keyboard outfit that with the persistence of adding instruments and members allowed them to branch out and expand the party. They play the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night, for their first time there to be seen, and they’re a sight, hence the plug

Music can’t come before holiday shopping, and allow me to share this experience. I was getting my couple of last things, but my gift card was not swiping, and the clerk could not fix it, so the woman behind me offered her help as far as buttons to punch, and swoop, there it was. I said this could get her a trouble-shooting consulting gig at the North Pole, with only one (long) shift a year, but great vacation benefits. She thanked me for the compliment, but wasn’t too sure. I said that based on my experience of a moment ago, I would give her a great reference, being nice not naughty. “I think I’ll pass,” she said, although smiling. Want more stories like that, plus the latest on new clubs closing (that’s not nice)? A primer will come on this site before the new year, as a retrospective, with more of the same to follow on 2019 when, well, its 2019.

Posted in Picks of the Week | Comments Off on The only flaw is that The Flaws have not been here before — and that you can’t read the extra Xmas insight until just prior to New Year’s. but that will be a present, when it becomes present

To get Christmas done right, don’t get egg on your face. Get going to Season’s Tavern for a special Christmas Eve breakfast

Monday, December 24th, 2018

This might be the best activity next to sugar plums dancing in your head, as an alternative Christmas pasttime.
Seasons Tavern in North Hudson is serving “Christmas Eve breakfast,” following forward in a tradition they’ve long established of having this most important meal of the day available every Friday and Sunday, all throughout the year or even on holiday weekends. It typically, as in basically yearlong, goes from 9 a.m. and runs into lunchtime. So if you get tired of REALLY last-minute holiday shopping …
Have all those dishes you like in the morning made fresh for you, and yes Virginia, it is far more diversified for having all those things on your brain than just the sugarplums. To wit, there is also the option of a Bloody Mary, and as has become a trend in the area Seasons really stacks it, so its worth your money, to wash down things like breakfast sausage. Seasons is more than just its well-known walleye.
Don’t want to egg you on any more, but see you there.

Posted in Picks of the Week | Comments Off on To get Christmas done right, don’t get egg on your face. Get going to Season’s Tavern for a special Christmas Eve breakfast

Four is the number scored by the bands at Urban Olive and Vine on consecutive nights, then count-in Kachel and DJ

Thursday, December 20th, 2018

You need three hands to count the combined musical acts that show up at two venues during an early-started weekend that carries over to the wee hours before the New Year:
— Avanna, a fresh new face, leads off four straight nights of music that switches over to stalwarts at Urban Olive and Vine, starting Thursday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. On the next three nights its Quinn and Meyer, Flamenco with Tony Hauser, and Kate Malanaphy. And there’s three more bands to come on the following long holiday weekend.
— This is not the only string of events that is worthy of pointing out. At Dick’s Bar and Grill, there is an ugly sweater contest on Saturday, Dec. 22, that differs by offering a free drink to all participants, be they individuals, couples or trios (OK we’re teasing about that last one). Then there is the obligatory set of New Year’s Eve activities, from fine dining with two especially prominent featured entrees with the option of re-ordering, to a band, Joel Kachel, who starts at 6 p.m. followed by deejay music and dancing afterward. The Dick’s DJ is also on duty the Friday and Saturday prior, right before Christmas, and also the Friday and Saturday between the two holidays. And don’t forget the pajama party on The First during the midday — good timing considering the potential lateness of the hour on the previous night — complete with prizes and drinks.

— One of my favorite River Falls bartenders says that yes, at Broz where she works, the drink and eat specials are creative with a capital C — and there are adventuresome patrons who line up to give them a try — and these drinks that are advertised on their walls with flyers can indeed be off the wall. But nothing compares to their December monthly burger special, just in time to take a bite out of the stress of the holidays. It boasts Hararti cheese (do you know how hard it is to verify that spelling on the internet, and this just goes to show how exotic that cheese is), applewood smoked bacon, both slathered on, get this, a bourbon maple glazed doughnut, and topped with roasted pecans and then more bacon. This may contribute another trip to the gym or two once your post-holiday diet gets underway.
— Another holiday special, and thusly you’ll need to get it now, is the Nutcracker-themed vodka displayed right at the front counter at Village Liquor in North Hudson, just on top of the liquor-laced ice cream.
— HudsonWiNightlife doesn’t always get into dinner theater, but considering the season, we just couldn’t pass on this one, termed Sorry! Wrong chimney! (Well placed exclamation points). It shows Santa going in head-first to go down below and getting hopelessly stuck. And what does this offering, at the Hudson House Grand Motel, have to do with nightlife? Read on, quoting their bio: “A lighthearted Christmas tale full of mistaken identities and zany foulups, with a smattering of slapstick.” Add lipstick and it sounds like what you might find at the bar! And as far as the slapstick coming forward, does Chad, my favorite bartender/quipster, know that he’s being challenged? And who’s better? You have until Jan. 5, as in the 12 days of Christmas, to take in both of these “shows” and decide.

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Ask that in-the-know karaoke-meister at the Beach Bar about all the ins and outs of the legalese of who owns songs, and then go forward with some Neil Young or even Kris Kristofferson. It’s all good … and yes, there’s open mic too

Tuesday, December 18th, 2018

It never hurts to have a knowlegable karaoke-meister, or open mic host, like at the Beach Bar the other night(s). She was all over the fact that the classic heavy metal song Heaven and Hell was the subject of a legal battle for rights between the two main lineups of Black Sabbath over the years, the one led by Ozzy Osbourne and the one fronted by the late Ronnie James Dio. To honor the memory of the latter singer, and his soaring vocals, I decided to do instead Rebel Yell karaoke by Billy Idol, and emulate HIS soaring vocals, which pick up tempo as you plunge through. The crowd really reacted, as was also the case the last time I did this song, in this instance during open mic at the old Dibbo’s many years ago. It turned into a duet going high and low with the former lead singer Brandon of Deviant Distraction, and its bassist Tall Paul said the result impressed him greatly. This praise coming from a six-foot-eight giant. Sadly, the duet was never revived, as the singer was very territorial about his version of this classic. The point? This kind of possessiveness of a particular song wouldn’t happen at the Beach Bar; all for one and one for all, let’s go sing some songs! And it can be a version that’s not necessarily the one you are most used to — one of the guys there poured through a rendition of a ditty by none other than Kris Kristofferson!
Another experienced singer stalked the stage noticably, well into the intro to his song, but in his own particular way, but hey there’s no right or wrong way to sing a song at the Beach Bar. Not everyone is as playful/menacing with their strut as say Ozzy and Rob Halford. That segues into the nights of not karaoke, but open mic, when the house band was all over the top of alt-country type stuff, to name one genre, and rip through the likes of Neil Young — not too all-out loud guitar, but not too acoustic either, and still having great solos, especially to close out a particular jam and wrap up a tune.
Want in? To sing? To listen? Or during open mic, even to play? Every Wednesday at the Beach Bar there is open mic, starting fairly early, and every Friday night there is karaoke. (That’s double trouble, just like a name associated with another musician covered who died way too young, Stevie Ray Vaughn). And we don’t shut down during the holidays, as not everyone wants to peacefully reflect — although there’s nothing wrong with that — some of us also want to rock!

Posted in Picks of the Week | Comments Off on Ask that in-the-know karaoke-meister at the Beach Bar about all the ins and outs of the legalese of who owns songs, and then go forward with some Neil Young or even Kris Kristofferson. It’s all good … and yes, there’s open mic too

The elections of course gave a lot more fodder, much to the chagrin of the Founding Fathers, to the turkey comparisons and lame NFL teams, not including the Brady Bunch

Saturday, December 15th, 2018

Of King Football, and its no turkey, and something we still care far less about, regional elections, (or was this time around an exception?):

— Just hours before game time, on sports bar TV, the Mighty Minnesota Vikings, as they were called, got ready to face the New England Patriots in the NFL game of the week. It should be noted, to show the prominence of the contest, that the head ref was in his 16th year as an official, and even more importance was soon gained, especially around time the Viking game started, that the Packers had lost in the last moments. (Even as I am here at my computer, I can hear the moans from the Village Inn). Of course, there was possibly a different reaction at the more Viking friendly venues that are the first over the river into Hudson. But that didn’t last, as Minnesota soon dropped to a 10-0 deficit against Tom Brady, et. al. There was the brief reprieve of a Thielen TD, but the margin of eventual victory was so gleeful that Brady, who has strong Twin Cities roots, was seen out and about that night in the metro singing karaoke (OK we made that up). His supermodel wife is more the person you would want to see anyway, as the aging Thomas is looking a bit haggard at press conferences.
— Colors were shown well before halftime during the Vikings less-than-frigid contest at Seattle, leaving just a (rainy?) purple skin tone on the players, which is only halfway to the numb blue that the thermometer was indicating back in this area. Meanwhile, the glowing lime colored jerseys for Seattle stood out, at least for a time, as that pattern shown on a sports bar fan locally, who pointed initially to his less-then-neon green sweatshirt, then to his bold shoes (especially the laces). Alas, there was no green plus gold to be seen anywhere
— The Village Inn has taken their marquee to a whole new level, not just words but graphics, too. So was it any surprise that there was an actual photo of the fired Mike McCarthy displayed early this week, along with the Incubus-style words, (yes there was still them), “Nice to know you.” But by comparison, what about the fired viking offensive coordinator, who apparently became very offensive — OK that was an easy joke. And over the-long-forgotten-at-this-point Thanksgiving holiday, and replicated later, there was portrayed not a turkey, but a dancing cartoon chicken to bolster their food special of the day. And I can tell you from taking in that “winner, winner chicken dinner,” this special is no turkey.
— During the recent (does that reference still pass muster?) election buildup, the sheriff’s race just over the river was even inflicted on us western Wisconsin people this side of the river, as the ads in the various newspapers and TV stations from Minnesota had a crossover effect to us here. Like we care who wins the Washington County sheriff’s race. (The only concern we as Cheeseheads would have is putting somebody in office who would tone down the hyper-aggressive, late-night driver enforcement — what you’ve never seen the swarming Under The Bridge?) One of the past heads of that department was just a total pill anyway.
— And one last reference that just might get me in trouble, (SERIOUSLY FOLKS, WE’RE JOKING), is when one of my open-mic band associates ran me up on stage at moment’s notice during the intro to sing an Eric Clapton song, and since I didn’t know all the words, I ad libbed as such: “I shot the sheriff, of St. Croix County, and on my head, he has put a bounty.” Again, we’re just joking. What we are not joking about is calling some of the drummers and guitarists “associates.” What is this Wal-Mart? And their Muzac? (Sorry to dredge up yet another ’80s reference).
— One other “associate” has blatantly taken credit for getting actual western Wisconsin political candidates and, gasp!, getting them to advertise in TV ads that originate in the metro, but have spillover effect almost to Eau Claire. She wrote to Tammy Baldwin to suggest this, and then bingo, (a Wisconsin reference), there was such a plug on a major network out of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Then Gov. Walker got on board and ran his own spiel in the same manner, although a lot of these ads were in the a.m. hours. Hey, could this all be part of the Border Battle economic development wars started up under former Gov. Thompson? And yes, when it comes to the pretense of bringing businesses from Minnesota to the Hudson area, we are well aware of his, uhm, “side action.”
— A last political note stems from the sign that was seen a long time at the Holiday Station downtown. It said, seriously: Guatemalan. 99 cents. (Has immigrant labor gotten that cheap?) Almost like the wages paid to bartenders in those next few blocks, and hoping they are getting tips better than that previously mentioned Guatemalan rate!
— On the online news, the Motley Fool CEO made what was called a bold double (down) — Frank Zappa-ish dancing fool as well — to spur the effectiveness of his business. To quote the “late, great,” to use the term of one of my favorite karoake-meisters, Ronnie James Dio: “Fool, fool, you got to bleed for the dancer, fool, fool, look for the answer.

Posted in Notes from the Beat | Comments Off on The elections of course gave a lot more fodder, much to the chagrin of the Founding Fathers, to the turkey comparisons and lame NFL teams, not including the Brady Bunch

This is the Celebration Day song of bad sweaters, and fuzzy antlers, and Santa hats, all stemming from the now-holiday-ish classic Coyote Ugly

Saturday, December 15th, 2018

Say, the sweaters have come, and they along with fuzzy antlers and Santa hats are worn well while tipsy just prior to mid-month, dominating the local bar landscape:
— Psst., hey buddy, want to get your ugly sweater just in time for the holidays, and not spend so much money that it might negate the prize you’d hope to win! Too late. Manager Jolene at Treasures of the Heart in River Falls said the other day that concerning the several racks totally devoted to these kind of outfits by the big front windows, right past the cash register, when you first walk into their big store, they have been virtually out of such costumes almost since the beginning of the month. So how do you get really ugly? To the point of everyone’s distain, mark my words, you might go as the babes in Coyote Ugly, although they’ll get away with it much more easily than you will if a typical, once-a-year-out kind of guy doing the embarrassing Christmas party thing. For better results seeking that kind of attention with your sweater, make it sexy like the infamous Jolene in the Dolly Parton song.
— Yes, the apparently late, great George H W Bush has passed on and do you think you can get any other news, like how your sports team did the night before, while watching the big screen TV at your local haunt? Quite frankly, despite the cliche “one thousand points of light,” which was referenced in an open-mic cover song by Neil Young played mid-week, I found his presidency average at best, very vanilla. So what’s with all the fuss? Can’t wait until we see what they do with last-man-standing, Jimmy Carter, as far as a eulogy. I’d did later notice that the elder Bush was thought to be one of a pair of the last great statesmen. And these old presidents have showed up elsewhere too, such as on the Golf Channel taking their swing. Bill Clinton and the younger Bush were being given a soapbox to spout their views not on politics, but on which iron to choose, at the length in minutes matches the longest version, of many, to Stairway To Heaven.
— All this makes me recall being a photog of the day for the local paper at a Christian music fest in Lakefront Park, where a band that was making a feeble try at being true rockers was attempting the latest, newest, greatest guitar solo. It was said that God must of smiled on the performance, which was called being of blazing fingers, but in reality it was very boilerplate, like those thousands of ax-men who now can easily champion Jimi Hendrix, as if that was anything beyond the most basic in the 2000s. (And for Christian leaning music, check out the lyrics for All Along The Watchtower, one of the most popular by Hendrix by way of its frequent coming-about references to the two men who were crucified alongside of Christ).
— And I am well known for singing that song like no other when with Jeff Loven, holding the last note for the unheard of half-minute — to the point where right off the bat, he turned my mic off and instructed me not to sing over his guitar solo. I’m OK with that. But before I got shut off, just ask former band member Geno, who when first walking into the joint said,”who is that shreading it! Oh my God, its Joey.” He since has stopped playing and started working day employment, in part fueled by an invitation to perform up in North Dakota at the new-Old-West that has accompanied the lawlessness arriving with the massive oil riggings. (Even beyond Urban Cowboy.) Geno is a Christian and wanted to incorporate that into his music, but with not having substantial offerings, up and left for the main Hudson industrial park.
So what’s new about all this? An old friend who I have not seen for many years, put a note on my windshield that said, amongst other phrases, Hendrix4ever!” and asked me to call her for a drink and perhaps singing. I have tried several times, to no avail, so I am now listed this shout-out: Robin, get in touch with me!”
— What is with all the household pets, cats and dogs mostly but not totally, that are going missing and the request to help find them — even through the hours of the night, when many of us would be too bleery eyed to fully recognize them — is put on locally-based social media? The one that really surprised me is the all-call to locate a goldfish, which sadly ended then the remains were found in the St. Croix after having been lunch for a great big catfish. Just kidding about that last part. “Oh grow up,” as the late Joan Rivers would have said. Especially since new zoning provisions would limit residences to two cats or dogs.
— Lying in a snowbank on a downtown evening was a single pink glove, like one that presumably could have been worn by Michael Jackson, continuing his becoming-more-effeminent ways. But later that night there was seen a glove in the snow that could have been a match, only in a sort of different color. Add two items of clothing to the feet, and you might, at least temporarily, have the what fairy’s wear star of that old Black Sabbath song, “A Pair of Boots Dancing With a Glove.” And one other middle-aged guy out around the same time lost his remaining black glove, and yet another young girl her black glove. Could that help, months later, to yield a foul-smelling followup to Spinal Tap’s “Smell The Glove?”
— Bartenders can be out there with their dress and demeanor, but one would think this scenario would be a cause for more conservatism in behavior. One of the North Hudson servers is being invited to travel to the family dinner of a co-worker — its platonic — in the same line of work for the holidays. Would you, (1) think that someone who was in that profession would be the ideal choice to meet mom and dad, and (2) after the intro is done, maybe everybody could use a good, stiff drink.
— Ever feel that need to pee, and it was already way past last call, so you had to do what you had to do. Just face a fine for public urination. With that said, I saw a sign that made it clear, no public “dumping.” Well, we would hope not … All these things were underscored at home when all the water was turned off for a couple of days to allow a repair. New meaning to the value of “the woods.” Or the answer to all such things, the nearby Freedom Station and its restrooms.
— There was a car bumper sticker that turned SuperCaliFragileIsticExBealAdosis into a naughty paraphrase. And although it was made up of about seven words, it is not a limerick. Like to see the same to describe the two different Christmas trees tied together to the top of a midsize auto.

Posted in The Headliner | Comments Off on This is the Celebration Day song of bad sweaters, and fuzzy antlers, and Santa hats, all stemming from the now-holiday-ish classic Coyote Ugly

This weekend is unlikely to be a Disappointment, as your sweater can be ugly down to the sleeves, and still party by championing the grunge look

Thursday, December 13th, 2018

It gets a bit ugly, but that’s a good thing, whether it be a Brooklyn strike to go with an off-the-wall sweater, or a punk band whose music is deemed not quite respectable:
— The ugly sweater contest is one of the most ballyhooed bonanzas each year at the Hudson Bowling Center, and this holiday is no exception. The party on Saturday, Dec. 15, starts early, at 3 p.m., and you might want to squeeze in a few games of bowling also — if your outfit and its pinnings doesn’t make difficult the striving for strikes — or stay afterward for the karaoke, which is offered every Friday and Saturday night. There are prizes and other giveaways offered involving the aformentioned ugly sweaters, as the bowling center, which has been in business for decades, is striving to bring in some new blood and reach out to a broader area, while not forgetting about its core base.
— The Saturday night band at the Beach Bar in Lake St. Croix Beach is called The Disappointments, but we think they will be anything but, based on their hard-ass, tough rocker looks and their lineup of punk, alt-rock and pop songs to go with the mostly long hair. Where do they hail from? From in part Milwaukee, gotta love that, as the city is a force for this kind of music. (I saw one local newspaper article that championed the newfound and fancy, exotic and cocktail drink lineups at bars there, but we all still also behind the good ol’ beer swilling. To continue the metaphor, we go back to the band itself: “See the joke that it is,” they tongue-in-cheek suggest.
— Erin Livingston, often part of a trio, is a versatile and regionally well-recognized jazz, blues and R&B singer, and she will showcase all those genres when she plays Urban Olive and Vine on Friday, Nov. 14. She says her music can be enjoyed at venues all over “town,” in a broad sense.
— Hey Pedro: Its seventh heaven for the big chalk ads all over the sidewalk as you cross Second Street and wander upward most of a block to Pedro del Este. While like others who have followed the trend they leaded, there are small plates, but the multiple descriptive phrases written on the concrete as you go up a small incline are big and they tell a whopper of a tale.
— And then there are the $5 sandwiches and sauces available at Buffalo Wild Wings during the big game. It would be a $5 penalty not to indulge on things like double stacked burgers, especially when one is their namesake, with the First Half being a Buffalo chicken patty on top of Second Half straight beef.

— The Kates are great, the Kates are great, need I reiterate. With all the connections to the royalty in the Winter Carnival in St. Paul, right down to the owner, it’s worth repeating that the Klondike Kates (plural) will be at The Village Inn in North Hudson at 5 p.m. Saturday to lead karaoke. Oh yeah, there will be a meat raffle too.

Posted in Picks of the Week | Comments Off on This weekend is unlikely to be a Disappointment, as your sweater can be ugly down to the sleeves, and still party by championing the grunge look

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