Socially Serendipitous

(Check the McMusical calendar below for a late, last-minute addition!)

Be careful. Domestic bliss and modern creature comforts are conspiring to keep you basking in the glow of LCD screens and confined to the contours of a recliner. Don’t risk the disconnect from the real, live, face-to-face social networking opportunities in your community. (And you can dance, if you want to.)

To further paraphrase and plagiarize: Get up! Get up!! Get out of (wherever you are)!!! You won’t know if you don’t go.

Just such efforts were rewarded last night when the only Little Vito (Stacatto) himself, AND two of the (original) Torpedoes, somewhat spontaneously assembled at Chief’s Tavern to take in some suds and the sounds of Big Wes Turner’s Trio. An unplanned but welcome mini-reunion. Not to mention the appearance of friends-of-Big-Wes Jim and Sarah, band photographers Jen and Rochelle, and random raucous revelers.

But that was just the beginning. A quick nick over to the nearby Knuckle Down Saloon where The Bad Companions (featuring former members of Phil Gnarly & the Tough Guys) were jamming into the wee hours found not only the regular denizens of the venerable eastside Blues venue, but longstanding Madison songwriter of note Robert J, plus former Essen Haus BFF of Big Wes Mitch F., and next-door neighbor, Mark B.

Hey! Us humans are social animals. Let’s not let our humanity wither away by passing up opportunities to meet, greet, and put our social graces into practice. (This advice courtesy of Hermit Crab McCrankypants.)

Naturally, the best spots for socializing are those where you find LIVE music being performed. Such as...

McMusical Calendar

Saturday, November 3

The Cashbox Kings (Joe Nosek and Oscar Wilson) hold court in Chi-Town at The California Clipper. Back-up Blues groovers will include our own bassplayist, Tom McCarty.

***Just Added!***
Saturday, November 10

Big Wes Turner’s Trio (featuring fabulous fill-in guitarist, Billy Flynn) plays for party people at The Athens Grill (on Highway M, just down from Skipper Bud’s) for a tag team tap-takeover event featuring two amazing threes—we’re talkin’ ThreeSheeps Brewing Co. (of Sheboygan) and ThreeFloyds Brewing Co. (of Munster, IN). Taps open at 6pm. Music starts at 7:30.

Wednesday, November 14
Would it tequila-ya to come hear The SparksBand at Me & Julio on Fish Hatchery Road? Of course not. 6 to 9 pm.

Thursday, November 15

The Sparks Band heats up an Autumn evening on the shores of the Wisconsin River at TheVintage Brewery in Sauk City. Eat, drink, and rock out to 60s sounds.

Wednesday, November 21

When in Wisconsin’s Little Switzerland (aka, New Glarus), where better to party hearty to swingin’ sounds than at Toffler’sBar & Grill. Enjoy their pre-Thanksgiving customer appreciation bash along with The Birddog Blues Band.

November 23
Hey Kids! The Cashbox Kings plays kid-friendly Blues (seriously) before and after lunchtime at The Overture Center. Bring the family. Feed the wild blues musicians in their unnatural habitat.

November 30

The Sparks Band returns to The Atwood (formerly Mr. Roberts) on Atwood Avenue with the most rockingest of their 60s repertoire.

Check back soon for December dates in McMusical news.

Note: Big Wes Turner’s Newsletter has an amazing new option: POSTCARDS! Whaaaaa? Yeah, you heard right. Most well-informed Turnerites receive their sporadic action updates via email, but now they can alternately (or additionally) get a scrap of cheap cardboard with information scribbled thereupon... FOR FREE!!! Just ask.

'Nother Note: BWTN postcards are redeemable for a drink wherever Big Wes Turner’s Trio is found.