You need three hands to count the combined musical acts that show up at two venues during an early-started weekend that carries over to the wee hours before the New Year:
— Avanna, a fresh new face, leads off four straight nights of music that switches over to stalwarts at Urban Olive and Vine, starting Thursday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. On the next three nights its Quinn and Meyer, Flamenco with Tony Hauser, and Kate Malanaphy. And there’s three more bands to come on the following long holiday weekend.
— This is not the only string of events that is worthy of pointing out. At Dick’s Bar and Grill, there is an ugly sweater contest on Saturday, Dec. 22, that differs by offering a free drink to all participants, be they individuals, couples or trios (OK we’re teasing about that last one). Then there is the obligatory set of New Year’s Eve activities, from fine dining with two especially prominent featured entrees with the option of re-ordering, to a band, Joel Kachel, who starts at 6 p.m. followed by deejay music and dancing afterward. The Dick’s DJ is also on duty the Friday and Saturday prior, right before Christmas, and also the Friday and Saturday between the two holidays. And don’t forget the pajama party on The First during the midday — good timing considering the potential lateness of the hour on the previous night — complete with prizes and drinks.

— One of my favorite River Falls bartenders says that yes, at Broz where she works, the drink and eat specials are creative with a capital C — and there are adventuresome patrons who line up to give them a try — and these drinks that are advertised on their walls with flyers can indeed be off the wall. But nothing compares to their December monthly burger special, just in time to take a bite out of the stress of the holidays. It boasts Hararti cheese (do you know how hard it is to verify that spelling on the internet, and this just goes to show how exotic that cheese is), applewood smoked bacon, both slathered on, get this, a bourbon maple glazed doughnut, and topped with roasted pecans and then more bacon. This may contribute another trip to the gym or two once your post-holiday diet gets underway.
— Another holiday special, and thusly you’ll need to get it now, is the Nutcracker-themed vodka displayed right at the front counter at Village Liquor in North Hudson, just on top of the liquor-laced ice cream.
— HudsonWiNightlife doesn’t always get into dinner theater, but considering the season, we just couldn’t pass on this one, termed Sorry! Wrong chimney! (Well placed exclamation points). It shows Santa going in head-first to go down below and getting hopelessly stuck. And what does this offering, at the Hudson House Grand Motel, have to do with nightlife? Read on, quoting their bio: “A lighthearted Christmas tale full of mistaken identities and zany foulups, with a smattering of slapstick.” Add lipstick and it sounds like what you might find at the bar! And as far as the slapstick coming forward, does Chad, my favorite bartender/quipster, know that he’s being challenged? And who’s better? You have until Jan. 5, as in the 12 days of Christmas, to take in both of these “shows” and decide.

It never hurts to have a knowlegable karaoke-meister, or open mic host, like at the Beach Bar the other night(s). She was all over the fact that the classic heavy metal song Heaven and Hell was the subject of a legal battle for rights between the two main lineups of Black Sabbath over the years, the one led by Ozzy Osbourne and the one fronted by the late Ronnie James Dio. To honor the memory of the latter singer, and his soaring vocals, I decided to do instead Rebel Yell karaoke by Billy Idol, and emulate HIS soaring vocals, which pick up tempo as you plunge through. The crowd really reacted, as was also the case the last time I did this song, in this instance during open mic at the old Dibbo’s many years ago. It turned into a duet going high and low with the former lead singer Brandon of Deviant Distraction, and its bassist Tall Paul said the result impressed him greatly. This praise coming from a six-foot-eight giant. Sadly, the duet was never revived, as the singer was very territorial about his version of this classic. The point? This kind of possessiveness of a particular song wouldn’t happen at the Beach Bar; all for one and one for all, let’s go sing some songs! And it can be a version that’s not necessarily the one you are most used to — one of the guys there poured through a rendition of a ditty by none other than Kris Kristofferson!
Another experienced singer stalked the stage noticably, well into the intro to his song, but in his own particular way, but hey there’s no right or wrong way to sing a song at the Beach Bar. Not everyone is as playful/menacing with their strut as say Ozzy and Rob Halford. That segues into the nights of not karaoke, but open mic, when the house band was all over the top of alt-country type stuff, to name one genre, and rip through the likes of Neil Young — not too all-out loud guitar, but not too acoustic either, and still having great solos, especially to close out a particular jam and wrap up a tune.
Want in? To sing? To listen? Or during open mic, even to play? Every Wednesday at the Beach Bar there is open mic, starting fairly early, and every Friday night there is karaoke. (That’s double trouble, just like a name associated with another musician covered who died way too young, Stevie Ray Vaughn). And we don’t shut down during the holidays, as not everyone wants to peacefully reflect — although there’s nothing wrong with that — some of us also want to rock!

It gets a bit ugly, but that’s a good thing, whether it be a Brooklyn strike to go with an off-the-wall sweater, or a punk band whose music is deemed not quite respectable:
— The ugly sweater contest is one of the most ballyhooed bonanzas each year at the Hudson Bowling Center, and this holiday is no exception. The party on Saturday, Dec. 15, starts early, at 3 p.m., and you might want to squeeze in a few games of bowling also — if your outfit and its pinnings doesn’t make difficult the striving for strikes — or stay afterward for the karaoke, which is offered every Friday and Saturday night. There are prizes and other giveaways offered involving the aformentioned ugly sweaters, as the bowling center, which has been in business for decades, is striving to bring in some new blood and reach out to a broader area, while not forgetting about its core base.
— The Saturday night band at the Beach Bar in Lake St. Croix Beach is called The Disappointments, but we think they will be anything but, based on their hard-ass, tough rocker looks and their lineup of punk, alt-rock and pop songs to go with the mostly long hair. Where do they hail from? From in part Milwaukee, gotta love that, as the city is a force for this kind of music. (I saw one local newspaper article that championed the newfound and fancy, exotic and cocktail drink lineups at bars there, but we all still also behind the good ol’ beer swilling. To continue the metaphor, we go back to the band itself: “See the joke that it is,” they tongue-in-cheek suggest.
— Erin Livingston, often part of a trio, is a versatile and regionally well-recognized jazz, blues and R&B singer, and she will showcase all those genres when she plays Urban Olive and Vine on Friday, Nov. 14. She says her music can be enjoyed at venues all over “town,” in a broad sense.
— Hey Pedro: Its seventh heaven for the big chalk ads all over the sidewalk as you cross Second Street and wander upward most of a block to Pedro del Este. While like others who have followed the trend they leaded, there are small plates, but the multiple descriptive phrases written on the concrete as you go up a small incline are big and they tell a whopper of a tale.
— And then there are the $5 sandwiches and sauces available at Buffalo Wild Wings during the big game. It would be a $5 penalty not to indulge on things like double stacked burgers, especially when one is their namesake, with the First Half being a Buffalo chicken patty on top of Second Half straight beef.

— The Kates are great, the Kates are great, need I reiterate. With all the connections to the royalty in the Winter Carnival in St. Paul, right down to the owner, it’s worth repeating that the Klondike Kates (plural) will be at The Village Inn in North Hudson at 5 p.m. Saturday to lead karaoke. Oh yeah, there will be a meat raffle too.

The Winzer Stube German restaurant has had music all year, but especially now that 2018 is coming to a close. Making a presence on the stage of this, described as the fifth best such restaurant in the country, on Friday night, Dec. 8, is Eric Ray. And following suit — and not a red suit — the coming Friday is Mike Ortiz, as they showcase the markedly different solo styles that illustrate the diversity of the holidays.
— At Broz and Emma’s, their is another brew, Psuedo Sue, a pale ale. Could that be matching her skin tone. And since its made by a company taking their title from a turtle, could this turn Sue’s face green with the envy of another popular River Falls potion?
— That would be a poster showing a pair, but only those two, not a six-pack, of bottles angling together as one and calling their result Hot Sex. Maybe its makers dislike orgies, threesomes or a “69”?
— As a good guitarist goes jammin’ so does a great buffalo wing sauce. And who brings the heat better than the seasonal jammin’ jalapenos from Buffalo Wind Wings, back for just the right number of snaps as a lineman needs to rack up a few sacks. And add enough of a hint of tequila and lime to enable you to feel that rush longer.

Leading the entertainment options this week is a whole bunch of tangents leading to the celebration of all things blue, from the moon, to the snow on household rooftops lit by that full moon that will turn your butt blue from the cold, and the music in bands with that (blue) as part of their name. And that doesn’t even mention the (verbal) connection to Mallory’s Rooftop Bar, even though its not a house:
— They only come around once in a blue moon, but still, the opportunity is there on Dec. 1. That’s when Blue Moon Drive plays the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt. Their advertising flyers for their gigs and quasi-accompanying brands such as Blue Moon Ale, in places like Dick’s Bar and Grill, show that blue moon above the streetscape of blueish, glowing snow on the roofs of houses. That is where Santa might make an early showing to go down the chimney surrounded by that blue-hued snow, and adding to the drama is that there was a recent full (blueish) moon in the sky to be factored in, to push the matter further, as far as what’s doable. And one last tangent, (I promise), Santa’s buns (the kind in his underwear) just might turn blue if this recent cold snap continues, and an added victim of the cold might be the musicians with strong local ties in the band Blue Hue, which also got recent acclaim in Europe, (where temperatures are more moderate (?!?)
— This is a whopper of a way to get all the wings you want, at Woody’s in Bayport, and it will be worth the wait for Wednesday, since the special in question will not be again active until the next hump-day. You can get those wings, 24 ounces of them, for a total of only $6.50.
— And as long as we are on the theme of waiting until Wednesdays to get into your groove, you can go to Pedro Del Este on that evening, every week, and take in the serenades of an authentic Spanish themed singer and guitarist.

The nightlife and entertainment starts this Wednesday night, then waddles into Thanksgiving Thursday, followed by the more energetic Black Friday, and then there are still scores of consistent musical options waiting in the wings for the entire weekend:
— Start early with deep $2 discounts on drinks and apps from 3-6 p.m. at Dick’s Bar and Grill. Soon after is something you rarely see, a relatively new second DJ to Dick’s — you need more than one for variety — Nasty Nate, who from 9-close provides his own type of sound influenced by life experience. His most prominent rough-edged look and (often worn) big red beard add to the appeal, and set him apart as style from the more frequent and long-term Dick’s DJ, Ben Michaels, master of mixes. You can also get more of that on Saturday night at the Smilin’ Moose.
— Many kitchens close for the Thursday holiday, but their bars remain mostly on their respective schedules, with just sometimes a late start. There are exceptions, and offerings that meet you halfway, such as Kozy Korner’s free sloppy Joes that will keep you from getting sloppy drunk, because you know there will be active police enforcement.

— There will be a strong holiday food and drink presence, even if it gets into swing earlier on Wednesday, at the Agave Kitchen/Bullpen Cantina. You could tell by the hashtag on their sign, TurkeyEve. The turkey in chalk drawn-up next to the door is as big as a full-size emu. Do they even consume that type of bird in its native land, like the pilgrims went nuts here over the turkey centuries ago?

— This Saturday evening band at Urban Olive and Vine has a name, likewise, that on one hand lets you know what they play, and on the other hand keeps you wondering. Take the stage Fiddlefarkenfoe! If you also are curious about them, check it out, “because there’s got to be a fiddle in the band.” But we’re guessing there is no such instrument to be found that night when the harder-edged band Overload hits the Beach Bar in Lakeland. Reminds me of the old Led Zeppelin tune, the Immigrant Song, and its lyric, “We are are your Overlords.” I’ve sung that song many times in open mic on both sides of the St. Croix, and invariably forget the words to that third and final verse.

— Also, the Packers play the Vikings not on the traditional Thanksgiving Day game, but at night on Sunday, with laid on the line between the two states, the long-fought-over ax, (involving the Gophers, no doubt, but the pro game determines the state of the states), which could help prepare the late-side turkey. And what better way to weigh the continuing holiday offerings than take a peak inside the various sports bars, and see if they are running their usual specials or really special specials, such as several that serve great food before the players crunch each other. You also can hang out with all those deer-hunter widows munching on the food draws that bring them in, sometimes constituting full-fledged buffets on the holiday itself. A chef at Season’s Tavern in North Hudson views it this way: We give great homage to being true to every last dish you could want in a Thanksgiving brunch, and doing these well, but nothing in addition, as that isn’t needed. (A side note for the lonely wives, the further you trek to clubs to the north, on average, even around the St. Croix-Polk County line, the more the deer hunt specials are in force).
— Black Friday can actually bring you some green, as especially early-on, Green Mill offers a “double-dipping” incentive that’s even more handsome then a turkey born without a waddle. You get a certificate for yourself, not $25 but $50, whenever you spend $100 on gift cards. Word has it that many regulars plan to dig deep into their wallets and load up on the offer many times over, even if they are the main recipients for whom they are buying, for purposes of this particular shopping list to Santa.

These are four or five different ways to showcase your open mic stuff:
— This is open mic with a twist, as not only can you sing and play an instrument and dance to the music, but the ground rules also include the option of reading poetry and performing in a broad sense. The free event is for all fall-loving people, not just members, and occurs in the early evening hours, Saturday, Nov. 17, at People’s Church in Bayport. There is also a spaghetti dinner and beverages, as this is in the midst of their church’s fall festival weekend. Free will offerings are accepted.
— Toast the season with a free bottle of house wine when ordering two pastas from Green Mill in a revisit of the special pasta menu. The items from which to pick include well-reviewed Butternut Squash Ravioli, and Spinach Tortelloni, Spicy Tomato Tortellini, Three Sausage Fettuccine and Parmigiano Spaghetti.

— Ever get funky behind the barn when you were young? Well you can relive those days, or come as a lover of music and the arts, when there is BARNS this weekend, presented by the Hammond Arts Alliance and listing a full dozen local names on its show list. It also features a band nextdoor at Ras’ from  8-11 p.m. with Howard Luedtke, Deb Klossner and Steven Kaminski. The event runs 5-9 p.m. on Saturday and 10-a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday at the Foster Hall.

The exit polls are clear, if you leave these places having drink samples and a ringing in your ears from bands, you can indeed be Kozy with the Seasons.
— Coming up at Seasons Tavern in North Hudson, where sometimes less is more. In that vein, on Saturday, Nov. 10 there is a special where small plates — the latest big thing around town — are specialty offered, but wait there is more. There are Twin Cities-based Summit beer samples, (would that be Hudson west?), with a half-dozen or more such opportunities.
— Seen on the Kozy Korner sign in the village (I just have to reference it once again) even after the polls were well closed, on Wednesday, when the message was still there: If you voted, come in and get a free drink for doing your civic duty, but get on it. You could take that more than one way. And can you plead your case for a later, subsequent low-cost drinks if you did an absentee ballot?
— And then at Dick’s there is the house-brand, Lucky Dog based customer appreciation day (or night) on Saturday, where there are for-a-pittance-if-anything samples, or a buck or so off actual Lucky Dogs brews, as the mainstay of the drink specials, and solidified pudding-style shots to boot. And don’t forget to get there early, as from 6-9 p.m. you can be lucky enough to catch the musical strains of Jawsy, whose lead singer Amanda has long been a mainstay at this bar, both as a bartender and songstress.
— Not to go far afield — hey HudsonWiNightlife gets around, and not just western Wisconsin — but at the Mermaid in St. Paul, they have a long list of comprehensive Miller Beer from Milwaukee specials, even if the home-team Vikings are the team playing on a given day and time, not the home-grown Wisconsin brew. Think drink specials, contests, and even beer baskets.  And this goes ditto for the similar beer offerings in Bayport at Woody’s and Not Justa Bar in the next block over, as Miller takes the cake there too. After all they are on the right (or wrong depending on how you view it) side of the St. Croix River.

The big Halloween costume party weekend is past, but wait, there is one more such shindig to go to! After all, Wednesday is Halloween officially, and the Beach Bar just on the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River is having its costume party then, to give the adults an option other than just trick or treating, with prizes in cash or its equivalent, not just candy. And the costume contests aren’t the only chance to show off your skills, you just might get the chance to take the stage in song, too. So don’t put away that Halloween get-up just yet and see you there! — Another quality trio is set to take the stage at Urban Olive and Vine on Friday evening. Known for her ability to take over the stage live and capture her audience, it is said, Barbara Meyer engulfs the listener in spirals of deep and soulful lyrics, with her own songs having undertones of playful humor and intrinsic spirituality. Her extensive background in theater, (as theatrics befit the holiday), coupled with a Master’s degree in opera, has honed her vocals known for their genre-jumping ability, encompassing not only jazz, but roots rock, reggae, Broadway, gospel, folk and cabaret. It that weren’t enough, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch her hula-hooping shtick. — Youth is served, musically at least, so this is not your grandpa’s music. High school students from Hudson and beyond will be playing in various forms at Urban Olive and Vine from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. — This is dead-on the drink of this season that starts with Halloween. Featuring Espolon tequila, you can figuratively of course party with the walking dead, with the dead fiesta drink at Dick’s Bar and Grill. And if you’re really lucky, you just might get one of their over the top T-shirts boasting a skeleton riding a mule. Perfect. — This is a six-pack with more than usual financial punch. At Village Liquor in North Hudson, they have a fall special of a whopping $2 off six cans of of Sam Adams Oktoberfest brew. All you have to do is also buy some authentic village ravioli, in the style still made by the local old-school Italians. And wouldn’t that go well with a beer anyway? Also in the same vein at Village Liquor, is a going past Halloween — of course as supplies allow — their holiday special of buying a red or white sauce and getting free Italian breadsticks from the same local maker in the village. — And this as LATE BREAKING NEWS. Go on Halloween night, and you have all night, to Kozy Korner in the village and the kids get free candy, but even moreso is the adult equivalent of candy, a free jello shot.  Yummy for the people over age 21.

Their band bio is so cool, just like these players and the styles they hit, that I’m simply going to run it verbatim (allow I do reserve the right to use the omnipresent three dots):
“Quasimofo is Hudson’s own all original family friendly power jazz trio … Chris Ashwood (keys), Joseph Kreye (bass) and Paul Ashwood (percussion dad). Quasimofo plays … all styles of jazz including blues, R&B, gospel and classical along with a punk intensity of playing, influences Jacked up jazz, as they say.”
I will now break out of quote mode. The band is playing at a 220 Vine Street venue, near the intersection with Second Street downtown at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25.