This weekend’s music slate features two bands that hail from far afield and haven’t played the area much, both claiming to be high energy and each, oddly enough, having a group that doesn’t always get covered, the Violent Femmes, on their play list.
— Based out of Rice Lake, Sidekick Abbey “brings an energetic blend of your favorite country and rock hits,” according to their bio, to the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday night, Nov. 7. They feature the whaling vocals of Pam Dawn (winner across both states of numerous casino karaoke contests), Rob Storm (vocalist and guitarist from the popular cover bands Third Gear and My Device), veteran musician Ron the Riffster (Black Diamond, Quick Fire and No Refund), self-proclaimed as a talented bass geek Ryan Bocephus (Quick Fire), and Caveman on drums (Roadhouse and Wild Oats).
Interesting song choices of their play list are She Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd, Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes and I Think Were Alone Now by Tiffany. Also on the almost-60-song play list, as an example, are three songs by Little Big Town, and two each by Trick Pony, Billy Idol, Bryan Adams and Sheryl Crow. That means there are 50-plus artists represented on that list.
— Try to pigeonhole these guys! Tripwire from Fargo, a foursome of young guys who play the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night, have a post-grunge look about them but play virtually every genre and decade, with the possible exception of the really early rock and pop. Their instrumentation includes three musicians who play the kazoo, two who will pick up a trumpet, two who blow into a harmonica, and also fiddle, sax, mandolin, banjo and even melodica and beatbox. There 127-song play list goes right up to the present day.
— Halloween is past, but the drink specials live on, at least at Dick’s Bar and Grill, where its advertised that you can order Serpent’s Bite, which wouldn’t you know it includes not only whiskey, but also apple cider flavoring. The sign shows a snake with the fruit of knowledge in its mouth, (musta tricked Eve to parttake in this, since as Crosby, Stills and Nash sang, we’ve “gotta get ourselves back to the garden.”) If that weren’t enough, another sign at Dick’s, just a couple of feet away, is hawking Jim Beam Devil’s Cut.