Barely Ballyhooed (pre)Halloween Extravaganza

This just in from the Department of Repetitious Redundancies:
Beer! Live music!
Consume both tonight (Oct. 29) with Big Wes Turner’s Trio at the Essen Haus. (Isthmus always we start says 9, but we always start at 8:30, thus accommodating the early-to-bed crowd.)

Big Wes T’s drummer Rick Becker continues to recuperate from a carpentry accident. Go-to preeminent percussionist Rich Larson fills in. Becker will be back on stage on Nov. 5, but guitarist Gary Hendrickson will be on the road. Fear not! Grammy-winner Billy Flynn steps in. Don’t miss it!

Up next:
Nov.  5, Big Wes Turner’s Trio at the Essen Haus, Madison, WI. (8:30)
Nov. 14, The Jim Liban/Joel Paterson Band at the Grand Opening of the WMRC studio (Williamson Magnetic RecordingCompany), Williamson St., Madison, WI.

Live Beer and Music

Beer + live music! Doesn’t that sound good? (Yes. It does.) 

Indulge in both this Thursday (Oct. 15) at the Essen Haus, and still get home in time to tuck yourself in like the sensible adult you are (the Isthmus listing always says we start at 9, but we have always started at 8:30). Or show up late and stay late (we play 'til 12:30).

Breaking news! Big Wes Turner’s Rick Becker suffered a carpentry accident that requires recuperation. Go-to drummer-about-town Rich Larson fills in this Thursday. Becker to be back for our Essen Haus pre-Halloween extravaganza on Oct. 29.

Up next:
Oct. 24, Birddog Blues Band at The Club Tavern, Middleton, WI.
Oct. 29, Big Wes Turner’s Trio at the Essen Haus, Madison, WI. (8:30)
Nov.  5, Big Wes Turner’s Trio at the Essen Haus, Madison, WI. (8:30)
Nov. 14, The Jim Liban/Joel Paterson Band at the Grand Opening of the WMRC studio (Williamson Magnetic Recording Company), Williamson St., Madison, WI.

Tests and Tweaks

Will anyone out there notice that a new name has been added to the list?

The Maintainers have already played one gig, and it could have been a flash in the pan, had it not been so darned much fun. Another gig has been booked (same venue as last, more on that later), and that darned near makes it official. Official enough to add to the list.

Madison's Blues Tradition Resurgents! Is that last a word? I don't care. I like the sound. Of the word and the band. Stay tuned.

Rauckin' the Haus

Things got a bit raucous at Ye Olde Essen Haus last night. Thanks to the annual Dairy Expo, a host of out-of-towners were gnoshing schnitzel and wurst and imbibing brews whilst Big Wes Turner’s Trio mashed the Americana.
 
“Greg,” a cool dude of substantial presence, was out with his comrades to pass boots in preparation for his upcoming Saturday nuptials. Hale fellows all, and well met. Big Wes’s best wishes go out to the happy couple.

Sarah and Jim, longstanding friends of the Midwesterners Trio and new friends of Big Wes Turner’s Trio, were there to keep dust from gathering on the dance floor, and when Sarah wants to hear Wagon Wheel, we happily comply.*

Other requests required some deep digging in the memory vaults—King of The Road, Jambalaya, Yellow Submarine, Amarillo By Morning—it got a little crazy.

Up next: The Birddog Band invades Illinois to play The Great Pumpkin Fest in Highwood on Friday, Oct. 9, and Timothy O’Toole’s on Saturday, Oct. 10.

*Regarding Wagon Wheel. The landscape of American popular song is marked with successes that go on to suffer for it (when was the last time you really listened to Wilson Pickett’s Mustang Sally?). They reach a tipping point, they become too universally recognized, they lose all exclusivity, they get covered to death, and then they feel a backlash. To paraphrase the pattering of estimable singer/songwriter Blake Thomas at a recent Isthmus Sessions show, “Hey, it’s not a bad song! It’s not hurting anyone!” Hear, hear! The infectious Dylan-inspired chorus has caught on for a reason. It’s catchy. In the best sense. Come on people! Save your hate for more worthy targets.

Q & A

Was it just last Saturday that Big Wes Turner’s Trio braved the descending thermometer to keep that Tofflers patio vibe alive a little bit longer?

Yes. Summer was extended into Wisconsin’s cool September evenings. We do what we can. Thanks to Angie for the hot coffee. Thanks to Steve and his lovely wife and all the other hardcore hangers-on.

Is it to soon to mention that BWT3 will soon be back on stage at Essen Haus? Or that we promised at least the first two verses of Monster Mash?

Not really. Behold!

During The Deluge

Last night was a wet one in downtown Madtown. It came down hard and heavy and Madison’s problems with storm water drainage were once again made apparent. Indoors, the only mildly bedraggled “Big Wes T's Three” made merry for a select and appreciative group of imbibers at the Essen Haus.

As is not infrequently the case, a train of not inconsiderable length (I lost count, and I’ve never seen Trainspotting—is it good?) passed through the intersection of Blair/Doty/Willy/John Nolen, and whenever that happens we drop what we’re doing and play Folsom Prison Blues. It’s become a compulsion. Other than that it was an evening of mostly Blues and good old Rock and Roll. Kudos to Rick and Gary.

Sorry you missed it? Well, you’re in luck. October has five Thursdays and “Big Wes T's Trio” will be at the Essen Haus on the first, third, and fifth of them. By the 29^th we will have worked our way up to all five verses and one bridge of Monster Mash. Now that's ART.

OR, if you’re in the vicinity of New Glarus this Saturday night, come see/hear Big Wes Turner’s Trio at Tofflers.