They come all the way from Chicago, although not necessarily as far as the south side, and that’s no bull, although there will be a bull to ride. This group from the Windy City that provides something completely different — odes to Gwen Stefani and Spiderman among others in their online bio’s photo — the Sushi Roll band is pop from Chicago, a high-energy dance music and rock ‘n roll swagger unit topped off with memorable stage costumes, inspired by Cosplay, Anime and Super Heroes. They will play at Cheap Andy’s for Heartland Days in Hammond this weekend. Founded by music industry vets and fronted by two of the most mesmerizing young lead singers in all of Chicago, Sushi Roll is, again, made up of driving rock, light-hearted pop, and over-the-top theatrical verve. They easily transition between revved-up versions of your favorite pop and rock hits by artists like Bruno Mars, Rick Springfield, Lady Gaga, Nelly, AC/DC, P!nk, Neon Trees and the Jackson 5, a mix that sets them apart from other such costumed tribute bands in the two-state area. Think land of the rising fun! They will take the stage at 8 p.m. Friday and will be part of the street dance and mechanical bull in the sport court.
— This is a “Rich” one. You can win an autographed guitar by John Rich of the country group Big and Rich with purchase of his Redneck Riveria whiskey, at Emma’s in River Falls and other such places. It is advertised as an American Blend, which makes sense because The Man is shown on flyers with an American flag as a backdrop. And I must note that he looks just like the older version of Rob Halford of Judas Priest (sorry about again, another heavy metal reference).
— The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt at times brings in new blood, but not always two such bands in the same weekend, and not just Lennon and Zeppelin. There will be Led Foot Larry on Friday night and The Classics on Saturday.

Try to zig and zag with your walking effectively, by the time the bar crawl hits Ziggy’s:
— Ziggy’s in Hudson goes back to the longtime local roots with Kyle Kohila playing early and the HeBeGeB’s late on Saturday, Aug. 2, to host the second annual Hudson bar crawl. (And you can be sure that Hop Barrel brewing, just up, the block is in on it too). Take that, North Hudson and your also popular annual bar crawl!
— Call it the K, (college basketball’s Coach K?), rather than the typical C, as spelling goes. The Kronick Trio, you read that right, is on Saturday evening at Urban Olive and Vine and will play jazz in the bop, swing, and funk traditions. With decades of experience among them, the group delivers power, subtlety, heart — and soul, via the namesake Richard Kronick on bass and vocals, Scott Ives on guitar, and Bruce Wintervold on (cool!) vibraphone and percussion.
— You gotta love these newly playing names, especially the first one, if you are into Hair Band memories: On deck on the patio for the Smilin’ Moose are Jason Ploof on Friday evening, Russell Dufrense on Saturday evening, and Kurt Ronquist on Sunday afternoon.

Just an hour after kickstands-up, its a hearty lunch at Cheap Andy’s, smack dab in the middle of rides also stopping at venues in Colfax, Beldenville and Rock Elm:
— Sometimes during an all-day motorcycle rally across the highways and byways of scenic western Wisconsin, the middle-day portion of the ride can be among the most important.
Like the stop for a hearty lunch at Cheap Andy’s in Hammond during the one this Saturday, July 27.
This event is called the May Memorial Run in honor of “Tyler and Justin,” hosted by Kevin May and Jody Lamson, on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kickstands are up and motors running at 11 a.m. sharp and there will be a bike and car show, people’s choice trophy for the best ride and a Rev To Heaven trophy.
The event begins and ends with partying on the patio at Elk Point Resort — consisting of music and outdoor bar, and at the end a stint of camping offered. Then its off to the Cheap Andy’s stop around noon, and over in a scenic way to Clyde’s Corner Bar and Grill in Beldenville and Waverly Full Throttle Saloon in Rock Elm.
For camping reservations, contact Sarah or Nikki at (715) 962-3055 at the Elk Point Resort at N8535 618th Street in Colfax. There is no registration fee for this Memorial Ride as They’re Never Forgotten, a version of which has been held around the country many times, and all vehicles are welcome. The event is held rain or shine.
— The North Hudson Pepper Festival could not be put on and be a success without the support of the community, a prime example being Satuday’s PepperFest for the park celebration at the Village Inn.
There will be all the summer foods you revel in, some of them along the same line as at the fest itself — such as hamburgers and brats, and Italian delicacies, with all the trimmings. There’s also live music, silent auction, raffles and prize give-aways. The event has typically been held in the winter, but this time around its only about three weeks before the shindig itself, which will prompt it to stick at the forefront of people’s minds and enjoy the summer activities this time of year has to offer.
Funds raised go toward the maintenance of the park and sprucing it up, as well as other facets for which the organizers need to cover costs, officials said. The event at The Village runs from 4-9 p.m. The band is Lady Luck, the perfect combo of woman-and-men lineup, heavy of songs like that of Pat Benatar. They will be playing under the four-fold or five-fold bigtop-style tent.

— He has the looks of a folkie, but in his online bio is holding an electric guitar. Catch the combination at Urban Olive and Vine at high noon Sunday.

Uncle Mike’s is badder, but not necessarily bigger, and if you want big, maybe orchestra is your thing:
— I haven’t pumped Uncle Mike’s Em Pour E Yum for a while — the owner and I had a minor disagreement that was both our faults — but I was up there the other evening to pick up a friend, and I noticed the interior has been revamped quite a bit. Its maybe not quite as roomy, especially on the east wing where there are various pinball and gaming machines, but there now is a back bar that’s completely on the interior. (Less of a pool table presence). And the primo concert area does not have its usual flights that go up by a step at about ten foot intervals, but even more tables all around so you can listen, not just dance, if that is your preference. After that eve of observation, the next act that will play in that hall is going back to the Old School, if not just Old Hudson music options, namely Jason Barts, on Thursday night. And a few days later it is a group that is a coup to have, Chain Lightning, with an opening act that has one of those cool names that because of various ascenders and descenders to the letters is hard to read, much less pronounce, but still interesting. That’s what weekends are for …
— Also on Thursday night is the St. Croix Valley Symphony in the Lakefront Park band shell, as part of River Fest, the second of three offerings in the summer community music series that are either orchestra or big band also thrown into the mix.
— And you thought it was cool that Service Industry Night locally is offered at least twice each week; now you can make that seven days and nights. Between the Cajun Club in Houlton on Sundays, and Dick’s Bar and Grill and others on Monday nights, its definitely a party that finds workers at various clubs intermingling with their peers within the same block or two when their own place of employment shuts down for the evening, if before bar time. At Hudson Tap, the newest entry into the fray, the special night goes on practically all the time when open and is offered every day, and includes a free drink with the purchase of one, and $2 off entrees.
— Woody’s In Bayport boasts a bountiful bequeath, where when buying a brick-based brew as far as their theme, there is a donation to the local fire department and EMS. Namely $5 sent to their coffers when a keg is ordered, and a smaller discount when purchased by the glass.
— Schuler’s Music is offering a free lesson when a purchase of more than $50 of an instrument is made. The teachers, largely on guitar, are the decades-long mainstay of mainstays, Kyle Kohila, on everything from acoustic to classical, and also a man offering his tips who has been around there, but not that terribly long, and a newbie who just has been added, as well. Could this be a power trio?

The PGA meets Hudson with servers who spanned the St. Croix to see the stars slice. That could perchance produce bogies in Blaine:
— You want to revel in all the great happenings that occurred at the historic PGA event in Blaine? Here’s where to go for such banter. But first, the back story. A hangout pal of mine (and yes, I finally have another wingman, or woman), got an invitation to bartend during that landmark tournament, at upwards of $25 an hour BEFORE tips, but couldn’t make it. But a friend of one of her siblings took the bait, and she shared this with another prime pourer, Chad, a primo bartender at Dick’s, who got set up with this secondary gig by a well-connected friend and added: Gee that’s amazing I got a similar offer and worked there. Might the two working grunts — OK much more than that term with the money of pro golf — have crossed paths? Well, she had a cool blonde hairdo. Well, OK, but there were ten essentially VIP tents. And she was wearing all black. Well, chances are not so much so, as that’s what just about everybody wore. For more of the story, ask Chad during one of his shifts — almost every late night at Dick’s until close — and also prompt him to regale you with his joke of the day, as he jokes about having a very small staff of very parttime online researchers, a skeleton staff we are sure. Did you hear the one about the two bony guys at the bar …
— Who needs American Idol? The sign on the door at Emma’s Bar in River Falls says it all about one of their favorite ongoing events, although it has had a good run, just not quite as long as AI: “The new season of trivia at Emma’s.” This year’s version, as always, is being held Monday’s starting at 7:30 p.m. Does Simon Cowell know about this?
— Its bookends at the Smilin’ Moose on their patio. Relative newcomers are another Chad, that being Dillerd, on Friday evening, and Steve Wietecki on late Sunday afternoon. Between them on Saturday is the fitting ultimate Scandinavian, as noted here before, Lars Carlson, flying in from Sweden on the red-eye (just kidding). He might have actually come here from a church choir performance in the Cities, at St. Bridget of Sweden in Lindstrom (OK, we’re even more kidding about that). Friday after a tad, Chad made his way over to Dick’s and set up shop, and stage equipment, to keep the party rolling long after migrating from the Moose.
— Youthful Roberts rockers Contraband hit Big Guys BBQ on Saturday night. They and the much different country act Sunday’s Regret were the ones taken in by a friend and her mom — ouch! — at Pea Soup Days in Somerset in June, and they even got their pictures taken with the band(s).
— And of course, this weekend is River Falls Days. What I am saying about this is scant, as after years taking out a raft of publicity on this site, the fest through the local Chamber of Commerce stood me up for the second year in a row, following suit with some, but not all, other local festivals who won’t spend a dime because of the uncertain economy, which now appears to be retrenching. When the cash register stops ringing, can they triple or more such an investment with me? Of course. But to again quote Iron Maiden, there is big time “Fear of the Dark.” The music is not that groundbreaking anyway, and the River Falls Days night blitz of drinking has always been more about quantity than quality. But there is one cool thing I’d like to note: RF joins Bayport in offering something that’s more entertaining, to close off the event on Sunday, than a guitar string breaking in the middle of a solo. That is the dawdling (rubber) ducky races on the Kinni.

— And the countdown is and was on, five, four, three .. That is the deadline scenario that Bo’s and Mine found themselves under when going down to the last minute and trying to be open and serving for River Falls Days, after a major two-month renovation that is said to have changed everything. That being much more important than the fact they missed hosting a few graduation parties while they were in the lurch. Ironically, Juniors nightclub just down the road found themselves facing the same situation last year, when it came to River Falls Days 2018.

And where are the best non-municipal and lesser-known little nooks and crannies to see the big stuff in Hudson at the Friday fireworks, getting away from the crowds and the parking hassles? (Check out your mobile device for this information while you are looking for a spot? Or you might miss the show completely?) The short but a bit decorative metal bridge/walkway that goes over a driveway for delivery trucks, between the parking lot just north of the municipal building and the strip of businesses along Locust Street. And you might even try the sidewalk at the intersection of Locust and Second streets, as the streetscape is lower (I got a great photo there one year for the local paper). We watch the fireworks in our yard on Cherry Circle North, that’s right as they can be seen all the way from North Hudson, at a vantage point near the cul de sac and above the block-away tree line where there are gaps, and we would think there are also other such opportunities around the area, taking in the flicker of the lights among the leaves and above them. And of course, if you can endure the short walk that might be needed and get right to the main party zone ahead of time, you can hit the rooftop bar at Mallory’s, or the high decks at the Smilin’ Moose and if you can get further into the downtown, two new places for this year, Hudson Tap and Ziggy’s, which has expanded its music offerings even more for the even longer than typical long holiday — going last Tuesday through Monday, six full days, in the afternoon or evening — which is something even for them!
— Here is a Blue Ribbon idea pitched by the people at Pabst; mostly the guys. They have opened their American Pinup Series on their cans, with a red-brown haired girl in blue shorts, a red and white striped top and bright red shoes. Red, White and Blue specials have followed at area bars, grills and liquor stores..
— Buffalo Wild Wings has done it again as far as World Cup soccer, offering specials on an American beer (Bud and Bud Light), around the times of an all-American holiday to cheer on an American soccer team, which will be televised in all their games at BW3, as my bud calls it, maybe because of having a few too many buds, but he had to hurry. The price of their tall cans is dropped to $3 when USA wins. Take that, American-style football.

The finale to buy fireworks in Hudson is coming near, and if you like the musician find yourself with Lo-Cash to spend, Venture Fireworks just off of Exit 4, only three miles into Wisconsin on Interstate 94, is the place for you — in multiple ways.
Patrons of Venture Fireworks can take a 5 percent discount for each of the following: (1) Paying in cash, (2) Buying if you are in the military or a veteran, and (3) Buying if you say you saw the content of the advertisement at an area venue, which might not always be right along the everyday beaten path and includes places like Woody’s in Bayport. You can find the information you need all over the vicinity.
But wait, there’s more, you can take all those discounts at once, if applicable, for essentially a total of 15 percent off. And all these amenities are easily handled at Venture because of their proper level of staffing, members of which are drawn straight from homegrown Wisconsin, so they can meet your needs quickly, knowledgably and with a smile. You don’t always get that at a big box store. And Venture Fireworks is open to 9 p.m., for when the sun sets.

Hop to it, and roll out the barrel, here there and everywhere:
— The Hop ‘N Barrel brewery brand name is everywhere you look, as they have cornered the local cross-marketing market, incorporating those not quite dozen letters into a read-out on drink coasters, and various types of signs on walls, and tap beer handles all over Hudson area bars and other venues bearing barrels. They even were the only local company to advertise far beyond the downtown via their stated main choice of publicity, social media, in a big City Pages special section on the top 40, not music, but metro region beers. (Just to note, Lift Bridge Brewing in Stillwater was mentioned twice, both near the middle of that CP ranking of 40, and Surly even more often with its most popular brand, Furious, fighting its way onto the list largely because of its versatility, as it can be ordered in various Hudson and River Falls taverns. So why all the fuss over, specifically for its brews, Hop ‘N Barrel, crafted in its Second Street building with a door filled with comic banter about its events that include periodic music, positioned close to the back, and a sign steering you that way where the front door should be? They may include the taste of something that might be considered a two-state Space Cowboy, not Furious but named Space Force and featuring an astronaut/alien looking straight outta not Compton but Iron Maiden, with mouth tenacles that remind one of Adult Swim? Or similar Eddie-like beasts in their Minnesconsin brand, on either side of a rendition of The River. Both beers are hawked on the big glass windows leftover from a time when this was an auto dealership, but don’t drink and drive (to other venues that hawk these colorful but gnarly Neon Knights). Maybe go in to Hop ‘N Barrel itself and take it and its brews by storm (troopers)?
— Not to be forgotten at Ziggy’s on Saturday night is another colorful creation of sound that is more than just the blues, Blue Dream. (Not to be confused with my St. Paul friend Debbie’s band, Blue Hue, with music that has as much variety as all colors of the rainbow, but more popular on The Continent). “Squeeze,” to name another band, into this mix, “Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday night’s all right,” the Rocket Man movie tribute to Elton John. And a more current tune, phrased “Oh, its Saturday night.” You just gotta see this flick mid-weekend, maybe in Debbie’s area, (she’s also a model/sometimes actress). Along with taking in the other events around the same timing in our local area.
— But also move beyond that whatchamacallit band name, Fiddlefarkenfoe, at Urban Olive and Vine again a Saturday ago, as there is a new such band taking the stage still tonight, that being Thursday, at the Hudson band shell a block away at Lakefront Park.They specialize in what they call high-energy bluegrass and, fittingly, are called Pickin’ Up Steam. Frankly, like another folksy favorite, Locomotive Breath?

Go on the road with your guitar, but don’t put on the dog, just be inventive:
— The Northwoods Blues Fest in Chippewa Falls that plays all weekend will hang its hat on Howard “Guitar” Luedtke, at least as far as Hudson is concerned. This area man with strong local ties is on stage near the end of Friday evening’s concert slate. Another recently occurring regional festival, in outstate Minnesota, features another local musician, Devin Worley. (We’re not giving it as prominent a billing as the Chippewa affair, because its a hike to get there, although that backroads and backwoods appeal might just be part of the draw).
— You can spray down your dog, rather than quaff down a water, because hopefully they’re lucky enough to be spayed, but before that down a Lucky Dog beer at Dick’s. The double liquid reference is for a dog wash on the other side of the street on June 23 that gets going around noon and goes to about 4 p.m. and benefits a number of services related to canine causes, especially to aid those who have been in the wild. And you can always engage a llama on the side.
— The Michael Handler Project is projecting its — their term — inventive acoustic music to the audience at Urban Olive and Vine as we speak. That would be inventive, plugging them as they take their first set break, rather than getting it all out in the time frame of a single solo.

— Pabst Blue Ribbon, the draft beer form, is on special at Buffalo Wild Wings for the pro sports drafts that are on tap. Do patrons and personnel directors imbibe before making their ch0ices, especially when they are part of fan draft parties at the place? Maybe that’s why the Brewers and Bucks have sometimes come up on the short end, when they see how their picks actually perform.

— HudsonWiNightlife does try to be healthy, in fact we’re all ears. So they perked up when hearing about the advantages of the services offered by Amdahl Hearing at 411 Stageline Road, which include improved cognitive functioning and overall health, better relationships at home and a stronger ability to maintain balance. Uhm, for our purposes and what we purvey, those would not be the same advantages of having a few beers. With a caveat. There can also be increased feelings of self-worth, but as far as the similarities with beer, have you ever seen a tipsy person who is not into themselves way too much? And maybe we then don’t want to hear them! The last strength is said to be increased satisfaction at work. If that work is as a bartender, that flies as a similarity also. (I must give the folks at Amdahl a shoutout for flowing with my attempt at satire). But one other joke that I hope is worth hearing, from an offer by another company, seen on a flyer at a bar. Its headline read: “Having trouble hearing voices?” Never had a problem with that one — even when the music is loud.

Answer the call, and the Riddle, by going to see The Riddle Brothers at The Village Inn, as this weekend’s ties stretch all the way to Baton Rouge and Chicago:

— Consider this Riddle: Which band you can see this Saturday includes “Riddlers” by the name of Charles, Mark and Michael. That would be, yes, The Riddle Brothers. It is the same bat channel as the only local venue this Minnesota crew has played in the past, that loyalty being to the Village Inn in North Hudson, which picks its acts with care and has had The Riddle Brothers. a couple of times before. With strong ties to their southern heritage, The Riddle Brothers play what they call an eclectic, acoustic blend of pure Americana, folk and original songs. Their musical roots originate from living in cities nestled along the shores of the Mississippi River, including Baton Rouge, Moline IL, (also referenced by folk-rocker Bob Segar in one of his songs), and closer to this area and further north than the rest, that of course that being Minneapolis-St. Paul. The music is on all evening of June 15. And if there is more star power by association needed, the Marshall Tucker Band has a drummer by the name of Riddle.
— The Red Line. Or a red stripe, as was being painted on the south side of not Chicago, but Kozy Korner in North Hudson. But there is another geographical reference, this time having to do with all things Eau Claire and Milwaukee, and this is blue (to be combined with the aformentioned red and also white, with July 4th coming). To more fully explain, Kozy is having $3 specials on EC-based Leinie’s during all Milwaukee Brewer games. So what’s so special about that? Like all things having to do with beer and brats and brews at Brewer games, go big or go home back to North Hudson, where you can live large anyway, through the fact that these Kozy and cheap Leinie’s are a full 22 ounces.
— Their flyer, unintentionally, shows some game boards that because of their lines of holes, and also having rounded corners, looks like Dr. Scholl’s insoles. But the event it is footing promises to be more interesting, although the jury is out on Old School vs. newbie players. Find out by doing the cribbage tournament at Dick’s Bar and Grill on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. And bring your old lady, because it is a doubles format. There is a $10 entry fee, but that cost is eased since a free drink is offered to players, and there are prizes.
— I often joke about this, when talking about the bands that are profiled on hudsonwinightlife, in which cases I steer toward those that are newer and less known, to get the word out. To extend the joke, at least they are not the Zebra Mussels for the umpteenth time. But to carry forward with that theme, it is duly noted that The Mussels will play both Friday and Saturday nights at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt. That two-fer is occurring there for one of the first times with bands. And to clear up any misunderstanding that could potentially have happened, concerning Blind Dog playing there last weekend, they are different then (1) the heavy metal band that has been around since the 1990s, (2) they are not necessarily the Blind Dog Blues Band, and (3) they aren’t the band Blind Dogs. With all these bands chiming in, there should be some bling coming in.