St. Patrick’s Day will be a party that includes bands, blowout basketball, beer and bloodys.
— Although it may be true that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, there is no substitute locally for “being the only truly Irish bar in River Falls,” say the folks at Johnnie’s. Their traditional St. Patrick’s celebration includes five different drink specials and live Irish music by The Pan Alley Cats, (our pick of the many bands this weekend), starting early, at 4 p.m., and going strong for who knows how long. At Johnnie’s, locally owned and operated at 116 N. Main St., starting in 1946, Monday will bring $2 Irish whiskey, $3 Guinness pints, $2.50 Finnegans Irish Amber or Killian’s Irish Red, and $1.50 pints. There is always free popcorn and wireless service.
— The Badger boys basketball team sent Minnesota packing, back to the other side of the river, with Friday’s 83-57 blowout win over the Gophers, so next up is a 3 p.m. Saturday showdown. That will be against the winner of Michigan State Vs. Northwestern, Friday’s late game. The best place to watch Wisconsin, the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, is Kozy Korner in North Hudson, which was almost full for the Minnesota game, as playing during the dinner hour was a mixed blessing. Kozy promises to be even more full on Saturday afternoon, but there still will be a quality experience, wherever you sit. That’s because the back area has been repainted and redecorated, and there is a television close by for viewing no matter where you are in the place. Two new TVs were added last season to enhance that advantage.
— For the fifth straight year on St. Patrick’s Day, there will be the North Hudson pub crawl, beginning at Kozy Korner at 5 p.m., but that’s only the starting point. Participants can join in at any time or place along the route, which continues with a walk from Kozy to the Village Inn, then a ride to Season’s Tavern, and then another walk to Starr’s Bar and Mallalieu Inn. Only a night out where you have multiple designated drivers could provide this much flexability, but wait, there’s that too. At least three drivers will be on hand for his event, taking people to and fro as needed. There is no charge for the event, and while there are not any drink specials dedicated just to the pub crawl, it is St. Patrick’s Day after all, and all those great rates will apply anyway. Sponsors say that they even have met people from the Twin Cities who have come on over to do the crawl, most of them knowing someone who is local and had spread the word.
— There is a whole weekend festival for St. Patrick’s Day at the Green Mill, featuring an old style “garage party” with “our friend deejay Dug E Fresh,” beer pong and a best leprechaun contest on Saturday night, bloody Mary specials all day Sunday in case you’re feeling a little rough, and a combo bar game Trivingo on Monday at 7 p.m. Various places offer all kinds of food specials, but Green Mill gets our nod with Ruben soup.

With almost enough signed Wisconsin Badger jerseys abounding to form a whole basketball team, you’ll want to watch the Big Ten Tournament at Kozy Korner restaurant and bar in the Village of North Hudson this weekend.
There can be a few drawbacks, although they are worth a few yucks. A jersey reading “Nelson” and having been worn by the basketball forward from Hudson when she played for the Badgers a few years back, isn’t displayed dead-center in the restaurant and elsewhere because she’s part of the family who run Kozy, also named Nelson. So no, they’re not tooting their own horn in that way; they’ll reserve that for their ambiance as a true sports bar and pizzaria. It’s simply that with that many pieces of memorabilia abounding, most featuring athletes who either had played high school ball here or had strong local ties, there’s bound to be commonalities.
Also gracing the place’s walls are photos of UW hockey and football players, who don’t have the kind-of plastic personalities that eventually permeate the personas of the most highly paid pros. The cager Annie Nelson is shown in a photo that like many here, was brought in by local people, along with her husband Joe Thomas, himself an acclaimed pro football player but a nitty-gritty offensive lineman, not a quarterback or running back. Some of the other athletes who wore the jerseys spread out on the walls have also gone on to play professional sports.
The photo of the couple is good size, and also shows two other former Raider and Badger linemen, Kraig Urbik and Eric Vanden Heuvel, flanking their sides just like they were in an offensive formation. It’s placed on a wall equidistant from all spots along the bar-rail, and just like any number of jerseys, flags and other photos, is a hoop’s-height or less away. Some of the photos show iconic moments in Badger sports history, action and posed, and many of the areas have items with themes, such as a Lambeau Field wall. There is scant space on any wall that is wasted, it is covered tight with hundreds and hundreds of sports items.
The Big Ten Basketball Tournament starts on Thursday and runs through the weekend, and you can catch all the games at Kozy, UW or otherwise. The No. 13-ranked Badgers have a first-round bye and take the court first at 5:30 p.m. Friday (6:30 p.m. Eastern time), facing the winner of an initial Thursday contest, which was rival Minnesota. This quarterfinal game played at Indianapolis is on the Big Ten Network.
After this final Big Ten stint is complete for the Badgers, there is more March Madness, as the NCAA tourney play is shown at Kozy Korner. There is a field a 64 teams and plenty of opportunity for other Badgers to make their mark — and maybe get on the wall at Kozy. They hope to see you there.
— Elsewhere, new music acts were showcased recently that will likely be seen in these parts more often. Singer Amanda and her new band Jawsey got going with a middle-of-the-week gig at Dick’s Bar and Grill, and she said there were a couple of blunders, but despite that it was a good opener. On an actual weekend, the foursome Ruben played at Guv’s Place in Houlton, and their style was loud and jangley, with the only regular percussion being a conga. Their creativity was shown on a guitar solo where only the extreme lower-left corner of the strings was played — and violently shredded with fingers.

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For Valentine’s Day, it’s not just about food, stir the heart of your loved one with some music! It may not be Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but here’s what’s going on locally.

— At Dick’s Bar and Grill, the rockin’ starts early at 6:30 p.m. and the featured artist is Harvey Fields, and he’s just the drummer. The flavorful foursome’s full name is the Puzzle Piece and they are advertised as playing “tasty blues, jazz and R ‘n’ B.”

— At Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday night its a locally based group, the Rick’s, followed on Saturday night with Who Hash. Also featured is Zach Paxson, whose wide-ranging cross-country tour also included a private party in Houlton on Valentine’s Day.

— Guv’s Place in Houlton has another locally based band in Practical Goods on tap on Friday night, and on Saturday night its Ella and Ward.

— Also getting into the groove, last weekend, was Willie b Blues, a band that performing quite a bit locally of late, this time at a new joint that’s opened in Lakeland, Shiner’s. They were given rave reviews, much greater than you would normally hear, from an off-duty bouncer friend who had a rare night off from Ellie’s on Main.

Fun, fun, fun rises from this annual Affair and its accompanying music, and that’s not just a bunch of blustery hot air.
The Hudson Hot Air Affair is all about revelry, and there are some music and nightlife activities lesser-known than the balloon launches that this year go far toward that end. So with the entertainment emphasis, it’s fitting that this year’s theme is “Silver Screen.” Here are some of the activities:
— The Hangar Taproom of the American Sky Brewery on Swasey Street, south of Fleet Farm, has bands that promise to make the trip through the industrial park worthwhile. On Friday from 6-9 p.m. are area favorites the Tommy Bentz Band, which specializes in, amongst other things, pop-meets-rock takes on Beatles songs that have won them acclaim. On Saturday from 5-8 p.m. is Joe Carey, who along with his band feature a unique guitar playing style that began forming in, literally, a garage when Joe was a preteen. He even plays virtually all the instruments on one of his CDs.
— Downtown, Urban Olive and Vine has Jazz Savvy on Friday evening and Quinn and Meyer on Saturday, starting early at 6:30 p.m. — at about the same time as the Friday torchlight parade set for downtown. Jazz Savvy gives a sound you might not expect to hear locally, steering away from the usual jazz standards to give the audience an experience that is different every time, its members say.
Quinn and Meyer, a male and female combo who have great range in their voices, mix in a little mandolin and harmonica with song selections that include old time and folk music and also go far from the usual, with some of their cover songs being lesser-heard versions of songs from other artists. One thing that makes them unique is that they frequently switch instruments back and forth, including all of the ones adorning their stage.
— The American Idol connection to Hudson, in its multiple forms, lives on. Idol finalist Reed Grimm, in addition to family members Jennifer and Trey, will perform an empty bowls and concert for charity at Hudson High School auditorium on Saturday. There will be an empty bowls homemade soup for goodwill donation from 5-7 p.m., with music from 7:30-9:30 p.m. with proceeds benefiting Youth Action Hudson and Hudson SAFE. Concert general admission tickets are available at County Market and Family Fresh Market.
— Rounding out the music options connected with the Hot Air Affair are deejay music at Dick’s Bar and Grill on Friday and Saturday starting at 10 p.m., which gives a chance to mingle with the pilots, and karaoke in an intimate setting at the bar at the Hudson Bowling Center on both nights, a venue not far from the Moonglow or Field of Fire that’s Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
— A Taste of the Flyway Silver Screen Edition, a sampling of spirits, wine and beer, along with decadent chocolates and artisan cheeses, is Saturday from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Hudson House Grand Hotel. Sponsors are 45th parallel Spirits, Villa Bellezza Winery and Pitchfork Brewing Co. All these are from the St. Croix and Mississippi River Valleys.
— Other noteworthy Hot Air Affair events are balloon launches at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and smoosh boarding at 1 p.m. Saturday. All are at the Rock Elementary School grounds.
— For a different visual and otherwise sensual experience, check out the sixth annual Sexy in the City Ladies Night Out at Woody’s in Bayport on Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. There are about a dozen vendors from area businesses such as boutiques, a deejay, drink specials, prize giveaways and sampling of wine and spirits.

Maybe Sunday is more “super” than the football regular season.
Super Bowl weekend is here, and an event at Ellie’s on Main allows you to score as much food and drink as Peyton Manning scores touchdowns. For $50, you get all you care to eat and drink for the duration of the evening game, which should go on longer than usual with two pass-happy teams. You can order anything off the menu, plus specially made chicken entries, both barbequed and regularly fried, now that we’re past the regular season. And then there is that regular, more-for-your-money Coors Light special, as well as $2 wild cherry bombs.
All this brings to mind some of the sublime moments from the pro football season that have occurred at area sports bars. One guy even came all the way from Brooklyn Park, Minn., to take in a Packer-Viking game at Guv’s Place in Houlton. Then late in the fourth quarter, two fans were sticking it to each other and debating if the Minnesota kicker could hit a pretty easy field goal in the late-season bad weather, or if it would be more of the same across-the-border, woe-is-me result. The rub is that both of them are Viking backers.
In the first of the two Black and Blue Division games, bartender Josie at Woody’s in Bayport was sporting a sweater with Viking colors. She said that being a Packer fan in a predominantly Viking bar gives her that privilege. For what reason? “I’m a girl, I can wear purple,” she told some patrons.
And speaking of Woody’s, if you have too much “spare” time during the game, why don’t you “frame” it with Super Bowling there? Warm-up and draws for partners starts at 1:30 p.m. The pairings are one high and one low average and all skill levels are welcome, so as they also say about the Big Game, anybody can be a winner on this given Sunday. There are drink specials, and snacks and appetizers for bowlers after they finish. Entry fee is $15.

They all have been around for a while, and will continue to do so …
— The five-piece, female fronted band Generation, which has been playing for at least two decades, will perform at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt for the first time in a while on Saturday night, Jan. 25. They describe the musical numbers in their play list with these numbers, “90 percent country, 10 percent classic rock.”
— The first in a series of frozen bean bag tournaments around the area will be held just in time for a mix of warm and cold weather, and even some snow, depending on exactly when in the weekend you’re talking about. This one is set for Kozy Korner in North Hudson on Saturday afternoon and is being held in conjuction with Hudson Rotary as a charitable benefit. For a nominal entry fee, you get to toss the bean bags in hopes of winning cash prizes and enjoy special drink prices.
— Bo’s N’ Mine in River Falls is marking the birthday of a couple of their longtime stalwarts, even though they aren’t that up there in years, with a night of music and specials, also on Saturday.

It’s time for a Run and also Runnin’ with it.

— It may only be a block, but it promises to be cold, with a bit of snow to run thr0ugh. The annual One Block Run to benefit the fight against Cerebral Palsy will go off at noon Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Dike Road near downtown Hudson, and as has been the case in some past years, the glasses of water grabbed at the halfway point just may be frozen. But led by the llama mascots, dozens and dozens will again brave the elements, then return to sponsor Dick’s Bar and Grill for dozens and dozens of prize giveaways and what’s always quite the party.

— The band Still Runnin’ returns to the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday, playing often up-tempo country rock and related styles. Their show at the Willow during the Halloween party had this as a highlight in my book: An amped up version of Old Time Rock n’ Roll by Bob Seger featured an intro with chunky chords from a keyboard that sounded much like the lead-in to doo doo doo Heartbreaker by the Rolling Stones. So Runnin’ rolled out the Rolling Stones and ran with it. Good company.

There’s at least one good party option this weekend  to “spur” you on.

— Guv’s Place in Houlton is getting back into hosting bands more frequently — often in the form of duos and soloists — and this Saturday night, Jan. 11, continues that trend as pop-rocker Christy Sperling takes the stage for her first show there. Look for her to play additional shows at Guv’s in the next month or so.

— When he’s not giving lessons on various types of guitar picking, Kyle Kohila also plays Guv’s and other venues quite often, and a highlight for me of his most recent performance there was taking on a non-electric version of You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC, followed by a rocked up version of Folsom Prison Blues by Johnnie Cash, and then giving a slide guitar feel to Pink Floyd’s Mother. Koliha was at Guv’s at both the end of November and the end of December, and expect to see him more there during the New Year.

— A Hudson-based hip-hop manager says his shows have been drawing well in the New Richmond area — once even bringing so many people into an Amery venue that it effectively doubled that berg’s population number for a night. He also says to watch for shows in the immediate Hudson area, and adds that his crew already rapped at Uncle Mike’s for a night. While I was being told this, on the back patio of Ellie’s on Main, a couple of his stalwarts broke into a makeshift concert of a song or two, using their thumping voices.

Among all the noisemakers and party hats to choose from this New Year’s Eve, here are some of the more interesting options:
— With clothing-of-the-decade themes all the rage, but too often focusing just on the ’80s, Kozy Korner in North Hudson is having a ’70s vibe for costuming at its party, although some of the staffers were not sure exactly what such a theme entails.
— The band Thirsty Camel, a trio that is led on the drums by the owner of Season’s Tavern, will perform at the North Hudson venue on New Year’s Eve.
— Brian Naughton will bring his blues band to Dick’s Bar and Grill for an early evening show, followed by a night of deejay music. In all it’s about seven hours of tunes.
— When the whole last five days is taken into account, there is even a greater amount of music at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt. Pushing that figure over the top is the Mayer Brothers Band on New Year’s Eve, the third music act their in five days.
— Speaking of blues, Pudge’s Bar got a jump on things with an early evening show on Sunday, with Willie B. Blues, an act that is billed as “check out the frontman.” We hope you did.
— But some of the fun and games, are indeed games. A bartender at Village Inn in North Hudson said that she has the night off and is going to a Wild game. “My friend knows the dentist for the Wild,” she said. What, you mean hockey players need dentists? Meanwhile, one of her co-workers said that this was her last night — she’s jumping ship for Florida, and getting rid off a different kind of ice.
— Speaking of the Village, they will have the band Rewind on the 31st. Their flyers feature drawings of music notes that are twisted in shape to give a certain edginess.
— After all the fun the previous night, be certain to get up in time to stop by Kozy Korner prior to the noon kickoff wearing Wisconsin Badger Red attire (adding to the colorful, signed jerseys already adorning the walls) and get a free drink — one of the last chances for this great offer this football season. The Badgers are slim favorites on New Year’s Day in the Capital One Bowl at Orlando, Fla. They face South Carolina.