Rock, pop or country, you name the style of music, and its clear that the experience is very visual, and this is played out by a pair of bands that are once a month fixtures at Guv’s Place in Houlton.
The duo Wade and Ella are on every second Friday of the month, (including Nov. 14), and Trandy Blue performs every second Saturday of the month (also playing before a good-size crowd on Nov. 8).
Trandy Blue is shown in her promotional flyers at Guv’s wearing — you guessed it — bright blue blouse and jacket and even the same color of guitar propped on its same color speaker alongside her suade shoes.
Wade and Ella can be seen on YouTube playing on a full-size stage, even though they are only a duo, with a huge American flag as a backdrop for Wade playing harmonica when not on the vocals. The overall feel of the stage is not unlike the one at Guv’s. They play a lot of country, but also songs by Oasis, the Lumineers, Kings of Leon, 3rd Eye Blind, Matchbox 20, Steve Miller Band, CCR, Sublime and the Cranberries.
Dan Thompson said that he likes to be among the club owners — who are fewer in number these days — who actually are active hosts of local live music, and not make it a need to travel into the Twin Cities to hear it. Trandy Blue has told him that she, amongst others, are grateful for him taking that view. He adds that as the weather gets colder, people want to be inside and warmed by music, which can then carry on into the time of longer daylight hours.
Also on Saturday, Nov. 15, featuring a 7 p.m. start, is the locally based band Practical Goods, which plays the Hudson area frequently and has developed a following. The duo of Sarah and Eric VanValkenburg take the stage just after a benefit darts tournament, Chicago style, for Kyle Sanders, who has suffered a severe hand injury that’s required numerous surgeries and has been unable to work. There also was scheduled a silent auction, bake sale, blind bottle draw, 50-50 raffle and spaghetti dinner.
— Saturday is also the annual Lucky Dog party at Dick’s Bar and Grill, named after the house brand of beer and regular patrons say it will be special in many ways. In addition to special appetizers starting at 5:30 p.m. and “special treats” at midnight, there will be live music from trop rock artist Jambo Jones at 6 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by The New Skinny and deejay music to wrap up the night. This will be one of The New Skinny’s final performances and their SWan Song at Dick’s. The last show ever, anywhere, is set for New Year’s Eve, although drummer Brando said they might pick up a fill-in on occasion, and play with an altered lineup once or twice a year.