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

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).