Do you want some World Cup soccer, as it can be viewed without wandering to the Cities? Or how but some (other) country? Hope this is music to your ears:
— Remember when watching soccer on TV was seen as boring and uncool? (For those of you my age, can you recall the media mogul on SCTV?) Well celebrate enlightenment at Buffalo Wild Wings in Hudson from June 14-July 15, when the biggest international soccer tournament there is hits the airwaves (is that the right term when it comes to cable and digital?) Party the whole month by getting five traditional wings for $5 during tourney action, this offered in addition to their “regular-season special” wings of wonder, and in this case World Cup worthy, (see the end of this paragraph), and with world-class seasonings from all over the globe among their dozens. Anyway, for some of the Cup games, which can start as early as 5 a.m. our time, you might have to resort to other metro-area venues, a few of which have altered their hours radically so people can get their kicks even if sleepy and in need of coffee as their beverage of choice. (BWW in most cases opens at 11 a.m.) A couple of the venues across the river, but not from closeby such as the near east metro, even will have meet-and-greets with actual, live pro soccer athletes from the Cities. But take it from that bastion of get-it-right entertainment and sports news, the Pioneer Press — they seemed obsessed with sheer number of TV screens, which is not the end-all, and they didn’t name any local specials, saying they hadn’t been announced yet, even though I have them. But they did list with several paragraphs the various BWW outlets as No. 2 in their best places to watch goals being scored (hopefully a lot of them, so its not, as SCTV so famously said, dull). That apparently was not a concern for a trio of guys on Monday night, who were talking up the merits of a halftime lead. Two were from Florida, where soccer is big, and the guy in the middle had a Hudson Soccer Association T-shirt.
To take it one step further, BWW says that even as posted in Hudson, that they are the Minnesota United FC viewing headquarters for the Gopher State (yes, the state vs. state thing is wrong again), and there are specials to go with their games as well. Namely, $1 off select tall draughts, a chance to play a “kick it” text game for prizes, and at the same time qualify for free socceer gear.
— Sure to make you smile, its Chaunte Shayne and her country strains (some pop too) at the Smilin’ Moose on Friday evening starting early. For purposes of this mini-review of a recent River Falls gig, given good length because she’s local, when Chaunte sang Miranda Lambert’s Gunpowder and Lead, with a manner that also sounded much like Shania Twain, her voice had just the right slight and understated twang, held long enough to slide into the venerable song’s next line. Then meanwhile, and working together with that tone, the position of her right hand holding the microphone freed up the left to do many gestures of caution, as if to say “don’t mess with me!” She has always appeared comfortable and confident while singing, but as time passes, these qualities are showing through more and more. This is especially true in engaging and directing the crowd for sing-alongs, something she does often and provides a vehicle to show her subtle charm. Her sense of clothing style onstage has expanded, from a great look that was often leggy and somewhat saucily scant, to a recent show where she sported a multi-piece shawl that draped over her waist in several downward directions, with different lengths, of which some had enough stringiness at the bottom to look like flapper garb. The whole thing evoked mental images of the wardrobes of her predecessors who were icons as female pop vocalists. (Think Stevie Nicks, to name one). Chaunte and bandmate Hardy on guitar are perfect counterpoints, as Hardy is animated and very active, and she moves a bit more slowly and deliberately, making every motion count, although still using plenty of hand gesturing, in a way that is all her own. But when it comes to the up-tempo parts of songs, by contrast, she can really go on a run.
— At DQ, you can buy any cake for Father’s Day and not be DQ’ed from getting a $5 gift card — even the triple hot fudge mocha supreme?? (As dad loves it over the top, unless his cholestrol is getting to him). And the Hudson Dairy Queen is open to 10 p.m. for a late gift, just in case there is role reversal and dad’s holiday is the one that’s forgotten.
— The Hammond Arts Alliance is sponsoring a tribute to Bruce Foster at, where else, the Foster Hall gallery in the downtown, on June 16 and 17. Featured is the prose of Scott Vetsch at 7 p.m. Saturday and the music of Geno LaFond and Amy Grillo from 8-11 p.m. at the nearby Ras’ venue. Contributors are Leslie Ann Batt-Lutz, Sharon Graham, Carol Freier, Heidi Freier and Rita Marrinan. See, HudsonWiNightlife.com gets way beyond just the western end of St. Croix County in its coverage.
— On Saturday, June 16, its the Pedal Pint ride sponsored by Casanova Historic Liquors, according to its marquee, and even one at Kozy Korner to accommodates it. And we wonder, what type of cycling does this involve? If any??