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Reeling through the years, we go. Three top entertainment types between now and the end of January bring the combined experience of many decades, and are celebrating anniversaries to show it. Leading the list is the band Boondoggle at the intro event to the Hudson Hot Air Affair.

Today we will dig into anniversaries, of all types, part of the local history of rock and roll.
And wrestling too, as there is the Old School NWA stuff. Thus back to the roots of today’s entertainment for a ziggy zaggy barrel of fun. And we hope for the best with a possible boondoggle.
The local scene has abounded with marking the passing of things like 10 years in business, then 11 …
And since there are stats that these days, many grill and bars that start up only last a year or two, these anniversaries show significance. Five years can be a sign of longevity.
To summarize, on Thursday, Jan. 19, is a celebration of the fourth anniversary in business of Ziggy’s music club in Hudson. Nextdoor to that popular venue is Hop and Barrel, in the midst of its fifth anniversary slate. And looking ahead to the heyday of the Hudson Hot Air Affair, Jan. 28 features the intro event of this installment of the more than 30 years of flying high, with as its outro a Boondoggle of a band that’s been around for almost that long, part of an all-evening, five-hour blitz.

— And now there are no more Packers or even Vikings — except in Led Zeppelin folklore and also the hope for next year — so there is no more chance to take in a killer Kwik Trip special. In short, the number of points that the Packers came up with in each game during the season would give you a given amount off, for two days, your gas/pizza. (To munch on during the next weekend’s game?) So the downfall of Rodgers and Co. meant Kwik Trip saved a bunch of money. If this special ran a few years back, with Rodgers gunning for five touchdowns on any given Sunday, it just might have bankrupted the convenience store chain. —

Hop and Barrel, fittingly spelled like rock and roll with its, twice, use of the three-letter word in the three, has become known for regularly hosting comedy nights and the wrestling events, of course, so five years will likely get you ten on down the line.
The latest Hop and Barrel wrestling extravaganza, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, has NWA written all over it, and more than a dozen of its stars are on a promo poster that’s making its rounds at downtown establishments, yet again. The divas of course look great, but not quite at the same level as most Smackdown. So, it is billed as Beautiful Brutality. You will have to fork over a Benjamin to see them.
On Thursday at the music club that has an abutting patio, and also offers occasional comedy nights and other such events, the rub is that you can get select killer and cool/hot eats and libations for only three dollars. And on that day at Ziggy’s, there is a full six hours of music, from two different acts, the proverbial Piano Man and yes, a rock group. And after getting revved up at the wrestling two days later, you can go let it out here with another band, Flash Mob. The Mob Rules?

In the last weekend of the month, at the kickoff to the Hot Air Affair, there are tasting samples of myriad types from dozens of local vendors, food and drink galore. And then there’s the band. Boondoggle is a longtime locally-sourced rock and roll band. Since their style is not totally ramped up volume and tempo, they are a great fit for this event, allowing patrons the option to take a closer listen and/or share conversation over food and drink, and switch from one to the other when a favorite song kicks in — but even then be able to finish that story. The members of Boondoggle have played these types of gigs for a long time. Thus they have the experience to put on a show without drowning out the speaking of their listeners with one another, as they are solid with their musicianship and not simply loud. This event is the Taste of the Hot Air Affair, a bit up nort’ at White Eagle Golf Club, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

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