Get Happy, Y'Hear?

The well wishes for the new year are barely out of our well-meaning mouths when the source of never ending crap dumps another load on the world's proverbial fan and the still-sane among us wonder what the hell we did to deserve this and what the hell we can do to stop Ol' Fish Lips from effing it ALL up.

Set that aside for a moment, and consider that a pop gem like this from one of the premiere pop singers gets even better when these brash Brits put it to a reggae beat. 

Thanks Jools. Thanks Paul. Cheers!

Over My Shoulder

Check back for an updated McMusical calendar.

And Another Thing

Can you believe these people who put up posts EVERY DAY?
Needless to say, we do NOT have that problem here. I mean, C'mon. We have lives! Right?

Also, there ain't a helluva lot going on (see Calendar below). But that can change in the wink of an eye, so check back early and often for updates, additions, and random chitter and chatter.

All that said, I personally appreciate some persistent posters like Heather Cox Richardson on Substack. An historian by trade, she has a knack for wrapping up the important events of the previous day succinctly and often with valuable historical perspective. Consistent and persistent. Brava!

Also, have your heard? From November 27 to Dec 1 many of us will be participating in a boycott of Amazon, Target, and Home Depot. Why? Because when mega-retailers see their sales drop they get worried and ask why, and the why in this case is their complicity with a certain goon-squad authoritarian agenda. (Actually, I have personally been boycotting Amazon for the last decade. Eff Jeff!)

The McMusical Calendar

Saturday, December 13
The Harmony Bar and Grill hosts a full stage of singers, pickers, and grinners for the benefit of the Goodman Community Center and in memory of Chuck Bayuk, singer, guitarist and departed friend, who anchored many past such benefits. Chris and Ann Plata open the show, and band members from Chuck's Band (The Drunken Sailors), plus the Acoustic Charlies, Bruised Orange, and the Chuckettes fill out the bill. Suggested donation is $15. 2 to 5 pm

Saturday, December 20
The BirdDogBlues band makes all of your Eve of Eve of Christmas Eve wishes come true (okay, maybe not ALL). But you can't beat good tunes and terrific Tyranena brews. Find it all at The Fharmacy in downtown Lake Mills. 7 to 10
What about 2026?

Friday, March 13
The BirdDogBlues band at the Blues Cafe in the Rothschild Pavilion. A host of Blues luminaries. BDB goes on at 6:30 pm.

Monday, May 25
The BirdDogBlues band celebrates Memorial Day at Club La Mark.
2 to 5 pm.

Friday, June 19
The Sparks Band plays hits and near-misses from 60s at the Dirty Dawg Taphaus in New Glarus. 6 to 9 pm 

Friday, July 24
The BirdDogBlues band plays the Harry's Place music event in Beloit. In the evening. When the sun's goin' down.

Saturday, August 1
The BirdDogBlues band at the Belleville Blues Festival.

Monday, September 7
The BirdDogBlues band celebrates Labor Day at Club La Mark.
Details? Coming.

Play Time

Yes, it's not too early to start planning for hibernation. But first, Thanksgiving. Turkey up. And note the unfortunate cancelation below, but all the more reason to one or all of the other musical events listed below. Music is good for the mind and dancing keeps the blood flowing, so come on out.

See you there.

The McMuscial Calendar

CANCELED Saturday, November 8
The Doug White Quartet with Austin Cebulske plays Cafe CODA, Madison's too cool jazz emporium on Willy Street. With dynamic young-man-with-a-horn saxophonist Cebulske, expect some hard honkin' and soulful takes on jazz and R&B standards, plus some powerhouse Doug White originals. Jim Huwe on drums and Tom McCarty on bass. 7 to 10 pm

Friday, November 14
The BirdDogBlues band is back at Four Winds Farm in Fitchburg for another Blues in the Barn event. A great space for listening or dancing. This ticketed event starts at 6 to 9 pm.

Thursday, November 20
The John Chimes Trio plays The North Street Cabaret, Madison's premiere listening room. Chimes brings home his piano-driven New Orleans Soul sound, but will also be introducing songs from his new recording featuring fingerstyle acoustic guitar versions of tunes gathered from favorite songwriters. Joining John are Al Falaschi on drums and vocals and Tom McCarty on bass. 7 to 10 pm

Saturday, December 20
You better be good, you better not pout, and you better get your ass out to hear the BirdDogBlues band at The Fharmacy in Lake Mills. Enjoy an evening Blues variety and Tyranena Brewing Company taps. A gem of a joint in old downtown Lake Mills. 7 to 10 pm.

Sounds and Pictures

Does Art imitate Life? Or is it the other way around? Let's just say that in theory AND in practice, either can do both.

Artist Lester D. did this quick impression of friend and keyboardist Doug White performing in front of his garage last week, along with drummer Jim Huwe and m'self. Doug entertains his neighbors once a week, weather permitting, solo, or with an early set and a revolving cast of sidemen. All are welcome. Bring your folding chair. 

The McMuscial Calendar

Sunday, September 14
Driveway Serenade with Doug White, Austin C. on sax, Tom M. on bass, and Brian H. on drums. R&B and Jazz. On Marconi Street in Madison (it's only a block long). 6 to 7 pm

Thursday, September 18
Faux Fawn plays the historic McFarland House Cafe (in McFarland, duh!). Fun folkers Paul Otteson and company serve up a set of inspired acoustic originals in a bucolic backyard setting. 6 to 8.

Friday, November 14
Blues in the Barn with the BirdDogBlues band at Four Winds Farm event space in Fitchburg. Ticketed event. 6 to 8 

Saturday, December 20
The BirdDogBlues band plays the eve of the eve of the eve of Christmas Eve at The Fharmacy in Lake Mills. A great space with all of Tyranena Brewing's fine beers on tap. 7 to 10

Friday, March 13 (2026)
The BirdDogBlues band plays the 26th Annual Blues Cafe in Rothschild (just south of Wausau), part of a huge showcase of Blues talent from near and far, in the spacious Rothschild Pavilion 
(1104 Park St.) Sponsored by the Great Northern Blues Society.
6:30 to 8 pm.

Check back for additions and updates.

Correction!

It has been brought to our attention that Sunday's BIG GIG at The Smiling Moose will kick off at 3 pm, NOT at 2 pm as erroneously stated in the previous post.

Sorry about that.
Yours truly,
Mr. Perfect

...But No Wiser

When a friend calls, and asks if you can help out, and you can, then you say, Yes.

So it goes that the BirdDogBlues band will make their way from parts south and west to The Smiling Moose Tavern (in Newton, WI; see map) for an afternoon performance on Sunday, August 31. We hope for a lovely summer's-end kind of day, but even if it rains hounds and felines, the band will be banging out its brand of Blues from 2 to 5(ish) pm.

In other news:

The McMuscial Calendar

Friday, September 5
The Sparks Band plays that same old 60s schtick at Chief's Tavern in Madison (right across from Buck's Pizza). 7 to 10.

Thursday, September 18
Faux Fawn plays the historic McFarland House Cafe (in McFarland, duh!). Fun folkers Paul Otteson and company serve up a set of inspired acoustic originals in a bucolic backyard setting. 6 to 8.

Friday, March 13 (2026)
The BirdDogBlues band plays the 26th Annual Blues Cafe in Rothschild (just south of Wausau), part of a huge showcase of Blues talent from near and far, held in the spacious Rothschild Pavilion (1104 Park St.) Sponsored by the Great Northern Blues Society.
6:30 to 8 pm.

Check back for stuff that's bound to happen sometime and somewhere in between September and March.

Who's Old?

These days, in which so many of us are largely living online, a post more than a week old should be barely beneath notice. (What? You have nothing new to say? No whining opining? No admonitions to add?)
Well... the intent behind this tiny corner of the vast electronically powered hive mind has been to provide alerts and reports related to activities and events apropos things McMusical.

To that end I can currently report that the Calendar below has only subtracted those events that have occurred since posting last and added nothing new. Yet, by way of celebrating the birthday of Rick Becker, singer and drummer and fellow native of the Fox River valley, I hereby plop in a link to a past performance from Big Wes Turner's Trio, lo these eight years ago. 

We three were just off an extended hiatus and signed on for an unpaid set as part the summer solstice Make Music Madison thing. We needed to test our musical memory more than we lusted after remuneration. (It never happened again.) Skip around this hour of tunes, if you like. Some of them come off pretty well. Thanks again to Terry Talbot, and Happy Birthday Rick!

Big Wes Turner's Trio

The McMusical Calendar

Sunday, August 10
The Sparks Band plays the big hits and fun obscurities from the 60s at The Dirty Dog Taphaus (101 6th Ave., New Glarus). 2 to 5 pm

Sunday, August 31
CANCELED (due to unforseen circumstances)
The BirdDogBlues at Toffler's

Monday, September 1
CANCELED (due to unforseen circumstances)
The BirdDogBlues at Club LaMark

Friday, September 5
The Sparks Band plays the same 60s schtick at Chief's Tavern in Madison (right across from Buck's Pizza). 7 to 10pm

Thursday, September 18
Faux Fawn plays the historic McFarland House Cafe (in McFarland, duh!). Fun folkers Paul Otteson and company serve up a set of inspired acoustic originals in a bucolic backyard setting. 6 to 8pm

Next Year

Friday, March 13 (2026)
The BirdDogBlues band plays the 26th Annual Blues Cafe in Rothschild (just south of Wausau), part of a huge showcase of Blues talent from near and far, held in the spacious Rothschild Pavilion (1104 Park St.) Sponsored by the Great Northern Blues Society.
6:30 to 8 pm.