Big Mystery

The where and when of Big Wes Turner can sometimes be hard to pin down (not to mention the who, what, and why). It doesn’t help when your primary correspondent is hijacked and locked away in a sweltering Central American hell hole (see photo). All I can safely tell you about that experience is this. I escaped.

Rest easy. I am fine. No cuts, bruises, no discomforting intenstinal disorders, no buried bodies. The only noticeable damage was to my bank account. Nuff said.

Now that we’re back and on track, it can be told. Big Wes Turner’s Trio missed their regular Thursday night at the Essen Haus. Not once, but twice! First on the first Thursday of March (due to illness), and again due to Saint Patrick. (Yup, March 17 fell on the third Thursday, but not having more than a handful of Irish dittys in our repertoire, the Trio was passed over for trad Irish entertainment that evening.) Slainte!

After my own sojourn to the North (see Coming Up! below), Big Wes Turner's Trio is back at the Essen Haus on Thursday, March 31 AND Thursday, April 7. Come on down. Guitarist Gary Hendrickson is still out nursing a knee, but Chicago guitar stalwart (and Grammy winner!) Billy Flynn fills in.

Blues? Oh yeah! But that’s not all Billy has in his trick bag. He loves to pull out surf-style guitar instrumentals and even some kitschy takes on 60s Pop standards. All that, and BEER!

Gary Hendrickson returns (Hooray!) on Friday, April 8 at the Rockdale Bar & Grill. Come for the fish fry, stay for the music and dancing.

Coming Up!

Wednesday, March 30, Tom plays Wags Wednesdays at The Wheelhouse in Waupaca with Tony Wagner, Joe Fittante and Jim Prideaux of Otis and The Alligators, and Steve Cooper of WiFEE and the HUZzband. 8 pm
Thursday, March 31, Big Wes Turner’s Trio (with Billy Flynn) at The Essen Haus. 8:30 pm
Thursday, April 7, Big Wes Turner’s Trio (with Billy Flynn) at The Essen Haus. 8:30 pm

Friday, April 8, Big Wes Turner’s Trio (Welcome back, Gary!) at The Rockdale Bar & Grill. 7 pm