Friday, December 18, 2015

In The Darkest Hours



UW students are cramming. The Essen Haus regulars are holding up the bar (God bless ‘em). Some nice young folks are passing boots and enjoying each others company. We are four nights away from the longest night of the year.

While setting up the gear, the Trio (me, Rick, and Randy Kiel filling in for ailing Gary Hendrickson) catches each other up on how we knew our two recently passed friends and compadres—Steve Kasprzak and Bill Beckman. Death can put a serious damper on the joyousness of the season. We tune up and soldier on with our conjoined repertoire of mostly well-worn sixties hits, country, polkas, and Christmas tunes.

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a dude who looks and sounds like the elusive Don Vallarta (aka Chico LaBamba). It is! WTF indeed! Back for a rare holiday visit to our fair state, and in company with brother Rick and his lovely wife Jody, Don needs only the faintest whiff of cajoling to join in and take us for a spin through Two More Bottles of Wine, Good Hearted Woman, Third Rate Romance, Route 66, etc. Musical merriment!

Wait, there’s more. My old pal from Capital City Distribution, Mike McCloskey, shows up with his friends and they collectively light up the dance floor with smoove moves. Not surprisingly, Mike has a joke to share, but amazingly, this one is GOOD! Our small but stalwart audience gives us more appreciation than we deserve. In case I forgot to make it clear upon last midnight, we love you for that. Give and receive thanks! The days will soon be getting longer. More light.

Coming up!
Dec. 18, The Birddog Blues Band at Smokey’s in Monroe, WI. Special guest, on the mighty B3, John Cammilleri.
Dec. 25, Peace on Earth, People!
Dec. 31, wringing in the New Year with The Cash Box Kings at the Crystal Corner.
Jan. 7, BWT3 at ye olde Essen Haus.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

The show must go on, but...



I went on FB this morning intending to post a quick notice for BWT3’s recurring Essen Haus gig. What I saw right away was a double dose of bad news. Two bass playing friends, gone—Steve Kasprzak, orchestral bassist and longtime musical mainstay of the Christy Larson Honky Tonk Trio, and Bill Beckman, master carpenter and longtime bass man for Shari Davis and othersboth wonderful guys, both gone too soon.

I suspect that my reaction was similar to that of others, not just a fast fall into a pit of sadness, but frustration that I might have missed a chance to say or do something that could have helped them, or at least helped them understand how much I respected them and valued their friendship. BEFORE it was too late.

But the show must go on. Tonight’s gig is for Steve and Bill, my fellow laborers in the low end. Thanks for all you gave us.

Coming up!
Dec. 17, Big Wes Turner’s Trio, last pre-Christmas Thursday at The Essen Haus. Special guest Randy Kiel on guitar.
Dec. 18, The Birddog Blues Band at Smokey’s in Monroe, WI.
Dec. 25, Peace on Earth, People!
Dec. 31, wringing in the New Year with The Cash Box Kings at the Crystal Corner.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

McMusical Weekend



Tis this Saturday night! (Dec. 12) Wintersong presents an impressive array of Madison’s young musical talent (including Paul Otteson's Faux Fawn), and puts a fresh spin on seasonal entertainment, all for the sake of Second Harvest. The Barrymore Theater is close to sold out, so wait no longer!

Later that evening, the token AARP member on the Barrymore stage will be making a hasty exit to get two blocks down Atwood Avenue to The Harmony Bar & Grill for an evening of Chicago blues with The Cash Box Kings. Grooves will be got on!

Coming Up:
Dec. 17, Big Wes Turner’s Trio plays their last pre-Christmas Thursday at The Essen Haus. Come for the beer boots, kraut unt schnitzel, and rockin’ Holiday tunes.
Dec. 18, The Birddog Blues Band at Smokey’s Bar in Monroe, WI.
Dec. 25, Peace on Earth, People!
Dec. 31, wringing in the New Year with The Cash Box Kings at the Crystal Corner.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Tis The Season



Tomorrow night Big Wes Turner’s Trio plays the first of two post-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas Thursdays at The Essen Haus (Dec.3 and 17). That means as many Holiday tunes as we can squeeze out, or squeeze in (depends on your perspective).

Coming up:
Dec. 12, Faux Fawn participates in the Wintersong (fundraiser for Second Harvest) at the Barrymore. A worthy and wonderful event.
Dec. 17, the above-mentioned BWT3 Essen Haus holiday extravaganza.
Dec. 31, wringing in the NY with The Cash Box Kings at the Crystal Corner.