As far as thing to do this weekend, it’s grid and guitar:
— The Kyle Koliha one-man and “Two Chord Truth” show is on tap for Guv’s Place on Saturday. Kyle says his sets are well rehearsed and he works the guitar vigorously to play rock, folk, blues and old country, as well as many original songs. As far as specific songs, he will change up his set list and not rely heavily on the same standards.
— Also at Guv’s, the wrangle of equipment that can be needed and burdensome rules and restrictions, have all been transcended to bring Raider varsity football to the big screen on Saturday via Fox Sports Net. Starting at 4 p.m., unbeaten Hudson takes on the No. 1 team from the Fox Valley for the right to go to the state title game.
— The rockers Arena will play Dibbo’s on Saturday. I remember one of the last times they were here, using manic guitar flourishes to rip through an extended version of Breaking the Law by Judas Priest, as well as other rock classics.
— The New Skinny is featured elsewhere on this web page, and they will play two local shows in coming days: At Uncle Mike’s on Friday, Nov. 16, and Dick’s Bar and Grill on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Three’s a crowd, so here are the top two things to do while parting in Hudson this coming week.
— If you’be been at Dick’s Bar at all in recent months, you’ve probably met Amanda, one of the bartenders. You have a chance to see her again, in a different capacity, on Wednesday when her new band, Smirk Worthy, plays its first gig. Amanda says they can’t be pigeon-holed into any one genre, but that their play list is much like that of The New Skinny, songs that you have not heard for a while, but soon recognize as your toes start tapping. Despite that, don’t think for a moment that they’ve forgotten about the classics. Amanda says that as its lead vocalist, she wants to put a more female twist on many songs that usually are sung by men. That’s worth a smirk. Music starts at Dick’s at 9:30 p.m.
— The band Mock Star gets all dressed up in their rock musician personas and plays Dibbo’s on Saturday night, Nov. 3, in another return engagement that will no doubt feature their unique approach. While they are heavy into “Dibbo’s style” hard rock from its heyday, they know just about anything you can ask to be played and encourages such requests, while at the same time isn’t shy about bringing people on stage. Their theme says it all: “You aren’t just with the band … you’re in the band.”

Here is a listing of some of the best Halloween partying to be done in Hudson and the surrounding area:

— Why enter the Halloween costume contest, or just watch the fun, at Ellie’s on Main on Saturday night? Owner Gregg Ellstrom says there are no shenanigans, and people say they like the bouncers and how they conduct themselves in what is a fun and friendly atmosphere. The big patio, complete with roof and bar, doesn’t hurt either.
Prizes for costumes get into triple digits: $100 cash for first, $100 bar tab for second, and $25 cash for third. The deejay again will determine the winners, based on crowd reaction, near the end of the evening.
Last year, there were 25 to 30 contestants, and the place was very near capacity all night, as people checked out the costumes. Check with the deejay to register.
— In the party at Guv’s Place, which gives the option of a Friday night contest, about 90 percent of the people typically show up in costume and its packed.
The band Off the Record will play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and prizes are given by categories such as best costume or most creepy attire; the exact types of categories differ each year and are finalized on the night of the party.
Prizes are in cash or bar tabs, some are given out to patrons selected at random, and there are drink specials.

— Manager Chuck McGee said Halloween parties at Dibbo’s, for $400 in prizes, are fun because people are very bold and often sexy in how they dress up, and can be quite creative — or downright weird, in a good way. It’s obvious that they put time and energy into making the costumes. We both remembered the guy at a Dibbo’s party who dressed up as a “shower,” complete with a curtain hung by rings encircling his head and a faucet right next to his nose. And there always seems to be someone dressed as a member of KISS, and they do it well because they already have the gear, or as a Playboy Bunny.
The band Gel will play all during the Saturday night party. They are veterans at Dibbo’s, having been booked regularly for years, and play a wide variety of ’90s and current rock, without relying too much on the overplayed standards. Think Fuel, Weezer, Bush, Candlebox, Disturbed, Nine Inch Nails and Green Day. They always bring a crowd.
Dibbo’s encourages people to put that effort into making costumes with prizes that include $250 for best costume, $100 for second and $50 for third. There is no cover charge and there of course are Halloween Horror drink specials.

— Trips to Cancun, Hawaii and Vegas and big cash prizes are on tap at the annual Halloween Bash at Junior’s Bar and Restaurant in River Falls on Saturday, starting at 9 p.m. and hosted by radio station KDWB in a 21-and-over event. Fifteen dollars gets patrons all they can drink on rails and selected taps.
The sexiest costume wins the trip to Cancun, and the best costume a trip to Hawaii, with the second place finishers in each category also going to Vegas, and three winners chosen at random during the course of the evening getting trips to Vegas, as well. The best group gets a $500 bar tab.
Join Crisco and KDWB, and indulge in some of thousands of jello shots for $1 each. There is free “wop” when you walk in the door, while it lasts. Junior’s is at 414 S. Main St. in River Falls.
— The New Skinny, a rock band of Hudsonites, will play at the Halloween Party at Dick’s Bar on Saturday with a Superheros theme, and drummer Brando got in the act early last weekend by donning a flowing and flaming red cape with a Jagermeister logo. That should fly well and give Superhero status in St. Croix County, a place where more Jag is consumed per capital then anywhere else in the country. A costume party will be offered. Then next Wednesday on Halloween itself, music will be provided by Brian Naughton.
— An appearance by Live Mix 105 radio is a highlight of the free pumpkin party at Camp St. Croix on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There also are many other activities, including horse drawn wagon rides and pony rides, petting zoo, a magician and pumpkin decorating. At 11:30 a.m. there is a pet costume contest, and at noon the kids get their costume contest.

These are Joe Winter’s picks for fun things to do with Hudson-area nightlife in the coming week.

— Longtime crooner Dave applauds his friend Lori for adding more Josh Turner
and even Weird Al Yankovich to her karaoke play list. Her act can be seen at
Ellie’s on Wednesday nights, the Bungalow most Fridays and Shooter’s in River
Falls many Thursdays. Also check out Bo’s ‘n Mine in River Falls on Thursday
nights, for a very crisp and clean sound, the Corner Bar in River Falls on
Wednesday nights, for the noteworthy lighted list of singers that can be
regularly edited, and the Hudson Bowling Center, home of one of the longest-
running years of karaoke you’ll see.
— On weekends at Dick’s, dance mix is on tap. On Friday nights, the deejay is
Eric Bolden. (For a long time, I thought people were saying Burden, like the
singer for The Animals!) On Saturdays, the deejay is named Bob, and the word is
he’s really into funky Michael Jackson (think Thriller).
— Across the way at Ellie’s, there also is a weekend deejay, who spins a little
of everything and is good about requests.
On Thursdays at Ellie’s, there are acoustic guitar soloists and duos, who play
diverse styles of music that include more laid-back covers of rock songs that
originally were chock full of power cords.
— Epic 5 plays Dibbo’s on Saturday night, sporting a wide variety in its song
mix that includes dance-able rock. The group is billed as playing very tight and
with a lot of professionalism.
— At Uncle Mike’s, its B-Bourbon on Friday night and Alley Rats on Saturday,
and the following Tuesday features the return of an open “Mike” night that
includes some bluesy musicians in the house band who have done this for years. I
got my start in singing Hendrix with this crew way back around the turn of the
millennium. The open jam is every other Tuesday from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.
— On Friday at the Willow River Inn in Burkhardt, its the Bootlegg Brothers
band, and then on Saturday, it’s Blind Dog, a band that’s well-known regionally.
“They’re really fun,” said a bartender, adding they’re widely renowned for that.
— The Viking cheerleaders will hit Woody’s in Bayport from 6-7 p.m. on Friday,
to help you forget the current Purple Pain. Then, from 7-8 p.m., is a party

featuring Batch19, a rediscovered beer from pre-Prohibition days. The old recipe

was found in a brewery logbook, and it is described as “a hoppy yet surprisingly
balanced lager” from Coors Brewery Archives.
— Country will also hit River Falls on Friday night. The Corner Bar is
featuring the party country band Daisy and the Dukes, and at Shooters’s its the
black-hatted 2 Mile Final.
— Still the best place to watch the Packers, if you like the most TV screen for
your money, is the Village Inn and its 20-plus televisions when the Green and
Gold play again Sunday at noon.