Thursday, October 31, 2019

Present Posting of Posts Past


This publication is a small publication. Even smaller than that, really. Minuscule is more like it. Perhaps smaller yet. Micron-microscope minusculity. But that’s good, in a way. Because we can say whatever we want. We can take liberties. We can purport to coin words like minusculity. We can get downright mouthy, and mean, and indulge in all manner of impetuousness and impropriety. Though we mostly don’t.

What we can’t do is say nothing. We are compelled to regale our imaginary readers with something or other. Having no time or little inclination are poor excuses. Post or perish, as it were.

This post marks the Nth anniversary of our first innocent McMusical meanderings. Our intent has never been more than to entice a few sociable souls out for an evening’s entertainment. If there were an appropriate pictogram to represent how much cash value these efforts have earned us over all this time it would bring to mind the words “diddly squat.”1 

Yet, we persist. Is anyone listening? We have little evidence to suggest so, so we fall back on Faith, and trust that the few, the proud, the fewer, are mildly entertained and only occasionally misinformed (as with our recent post that had BIG WES Turner’s Trio playing some right place at some wrong time). Whadaya gonna do? Our proofreader/fact-checker has been fired and rehired so many times that heads spin. What remains incontrovertibly true is that the sole means of supporting this publication is for you to attend one or more of the events listed below.

Footnotes:
1 Yes, I know about the poop emoji, but we’re here to tell, not show.

McMusical Calendar
Friday, November 8
BIG WES Turner’s Trio at The Club Tavern in Middleton. Note that start time is now moved up to accommodate early-to-bedders. 8 to midnight

Sunday, November 10
CANCELED:
The Madison Blues Society’s Bowling for Blues event at Schwoegler’s Park Towne Lanes has been canceled. It may be rescheduled for a later date.

Tuesday, November 12
The Sparks Band (with special guest Mel Ford!) plays a (private) party in Middleton. By invitation only. Contact The Sparks if you'd like an invitation. Music from 6:30 to 10 pm

Friday, November 15
The Cashbox Kings lay down Chess-era Blues at Tyranena Brewing in Lake Mills. Wisconsin’s premier beer and best blues band. 6 to 9 pm

Wednesday, November 20
BIG WES Turner’s Trio facilitates another “Harmony Hump Day,” food, fun, and music on the middle day of the middle week of the month at The Harmony Bar & Grill. 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Friday, November 22
BIG WES Turner’s Trio rocks out and R&B’s on at Chief’s Tavern on Cottage Grove Road (right across from Buck’s Pizza—they deliver). 6:30 to 9:30

Sunday, November 24
Faux Fawn (singer/songwriter Paul Otteson’s quintet) perform on a bill that includes Free Dirt and the inimitable Robby Schiller at (soon to be renamed) The Winnebago. Check back for show time.

Wednesday, November 27
The Birddog Blues Band plays Tofflers annual Thanksgiving eve customer appreciation celebration. Hang with this friendly New Glarus crowd and save the in-laws for later. Sounds start going down at 8 pm

Thursday, December 5
The Sparks Band rocks AND rolls at The Vintage Brewery in Sauk City. 7 to 9

Check back for additions and updates!

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Who, What, Wherefore Art Thou, Wes?

People ask us all the time: Which one is Wes? 

To which we answer: None of us. We're Big Wes Turner's Trio

Yes, it can be confusing. And things don't clear up much after answers to questions about who and where Big Wes is.

It begs the question: how does someone become both renowned and unknown?

Back when ALL bands were bar bands, Big Wes Turner somehow became both legend and wraith. Despite the swath he cut from Midwest beer joints to all points of the compass, no head shots or 8 x 10 glossies appear to have survived and, though some claim to have a candid, none that we have seen are clear enough to verify.

Even we, (his Trio), find that memories of our encounters with him conflict, as if he were the original six-string mesmerist who takes his bows, waves once, and somehow wipes clean all traces of himself.

Almost all traces. He IS out there. We'll get a call from halfway around the world, and it might break up or break off, but not before that unmistakable rumble of laughter comes over the line. I got a postcard last year, but, wouldn't you know, I can't find it now.

No matter. We remember the songs, a lot of them anyway, and do our best to keep the Big Wes legacy rolling (and rocking).

Check out Tom, Rick, and Gary (BigWesTurnersTrio) (the "biggest little band in Madland").