It’s the name game in regards to weekend entertainment, whether it be flashy or on the rails:
— The band Flashpoint plays the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday night, Jan. 28, being basically new to that venue but having earlier been around Hudson a time or two in other places. But this is the first chance to see them in this area in quite awhile, so this might be an opportunity to take in their “flashy” performance style, just for something different.
— What’s in a name? If you’re like Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory, it could be all about boxcars.
The band High 48s, who play Juniors in River Falls on Friday, Jan. 27, take their name from railroad slang for the boxcars originally used to transport troops on the front lines in World War I that could carry 40 soldiers or eight horses, and were later used in the United States on fast-moving “hot shot” freight trains by train-hoppers looking for work during the Great Depression. In 2014, The High 48s honored their namesake by recording an album of train songs in Nashville with a Grammy-winning engineer and producer. The High 48s have the soulful sound of classic bluegrass with a modern attitude, original songs and a variety of influences far beyond Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers and Flatt and Scruggs, they say. The band members have played with Grammy-nominees Special Consensus and traditional bluegrass legend James King, since winning the RockyGrass Band Competition in 2008, which brought them national recognition.
— Casanova’s Historic Liquors is again unrolling one of its signature events, tastings involving the “wild beer cave” under the bluff toward the back of their parking area, or should I maybe say “caves” plural as the maze of them continues to be unraveled leading in the direction of the St. Croix River. The event is this Saturday. Tickets are on sale now.
— Its that time of year again for the Dick’s Bar and Grill customer appreciation party on Saturday, and the llama mascot announcing the event, wearing shades and a small tophat, looks very cool in resembling another mascot, Eddie of Iron Maiden. And oh yeah, there will be the band The Way Out playing from 6-9 p.m. and sample appetizers and pudding shots.
— Valentine’s Day may be here soon, but prior to that, there is something you can do involving this heartfelt day before February even arrives, judging by the little hearts that are drawn on the sign, with something that looks like lipstick, at the Village Inn in North Hudson. It’s their beer of the month for January, Michelob Ultra at a special price, and isn’t “ultra” what you want to be known as giving in regards to this holiday in the first place?