Some gigs are more “interesting” than others. A recent one was quite the head-scratcher. Far be it from us here at this menial media outpost to name names or otherwise speak out of school, and, having been repeatedly admonished in my youth that, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all,” we are left with little to say.
I can say this: I talked to the guitar player from this other band on the bill, a friendly young guy who seems genuinely devoted to his music-making. I like that in a musician. He was quick to tell me that pedal steel was his first love even though he left it at home when on the road with this outfit. “Cool,” I said, or words to that effect.
Had my wits been a little less dull that day I would have asked him how he felt about Speedy West. I’ve heard at least one other “steeler” dismiss Mr. West as a pedaler (get it?) of musical buffoonery, but for my money, even if Speedy were guilty of that, it doesn’t detract from his greatness.
Consider the StratosphereBoogie CD (on the Razor & Tie label), on which Speedy and guitar wizard Jimmy Bryant offer up 16 examples of high-energy hillbilly jazz. It makes me happy. Great music doesn’t need to be presented with glitter and bombast and painfully high decibels; all it needs is musicians devoted to their music.
The McMusical Calendar
Friday,
July 1
The
Birddog
Blues Band
takes the stage at
Wisconsin Brewing (1079 American Parkway, Verona WI). Spacious indoor
and outdoor spaces for roaming around or imbibing brews. 6 to 9 pm
Saturday,
July
2
Birddog
Blues
Band
again, this time at Madison’s famous Club LaMark, on 51 just N of
East Wash.
Thursday,
July 7
Birddog Blues Band at Lone Girl Brewery,
Waunakee, WI. 6 to 9
Sunday,
July 10
Celebration and Commemoration for Ned Englehardt and
Lonnie Bjornstadt! Two performers beloved for their parts played with
Dr. Bop & The Headliners are fondly feted and
fare-thee-welled by friends The White Raven (aka Al Kraven), Ena Anka
(aka Ena), Troy Charmel (aka Bob Kenison), Cleveland St. James (aka
Larry ‘3rd Degree Byrne), and others. At the High Noon
Saloon from 2 to 6 pm.
Friday,
July 29
Birddog Blues Band at Tyranena Brewing,
Lake Mills, WI. 6 to 9 pm
Saturday,
August 6
Birddog Blues Band at Tofflers in New
Glarus, WI. 8 to 11 pm
Saturday,
August 16
Birddog Blues Band plays Blues at the
Waukesha Blues Fest (held in Hartland). Big bad Duke Robillard headlines.
Friday,
August 19
Birddog Blues Band warms up the stage for
some band called The Jimmys (?) at Mineral Point Blues and
Roots Fest. Enjoy the surroundings at “Orchard Lawn” and the
grounds of The Gundry House at Church and Pine in historic,
picturesque Mineral Point.
Thursday,
August 25
Birddog Blues Band at Lone Girl Brewery,
Waunakee, WI. 6 to 9 pm
Friday,
September 2
Birddog Blues Band at Wisconsin Brewing,
1079 American Parkway, Verona WI. Spacious indoor and outdoor spaces
for roaming around or imbibing brews. 6 to 9 pm
Check back for updates and future fun opportunities.
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