Things of Interest

Safe to say, it's been an interesting year thus far. That said, "interesting" isn't always a good thing. Maybe a little more "balance" would be in order. If we don't want things to get too far out of whack, maybe ease up on the whacking? And the wackos? (You know who you are.)

Just some food for thought. You're welcome. Commence mastication. And while you're at it, peruse the updated event lineup below.

The McMusical Calendar

In addition to the BirdDogBlues summer gigs listed below, Mr. McMusic will be participating in several other noteworthy performances. 

Saturday, July 26
The Gentlemen 60th Reunion. Back when The Beatles and other British Invasion bands were rewiring young brains across our fair land, nobody recreated those sounds better than The Gentlemen. Comprised of UW Madison students Dave and Bob Kenison, Chuck Scalia, and Brewster Shaw, the band rocked the Midwest hard during the last half of the 60s. After graduation they went their separate ways, but also made a tradition of regrouping in Madison for an annual reunion. Don't miss this one. The Bur Oak on Winnebago St. in Madison. 7 to 10 pm.

Sunday, July 27
Gerry Does Jerry at Toffler's in New Glarus. Gerry Burns is longtime musical resident of Austin, TX, but he returns to Wisconsin for an annual visit with family and friends, and brings along his ongoing celebration of the music of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. Along with Gerry on guitar, musical friends include Jimmy Voegeli (The Jimmys) on keys, Gary Hendrickson on guitar, Tom McCarty on bass, and drummers (Yes! two drummers!) Mauro Magellan (of The Georgia Satellites, etc.) and Bun E. Carlos (of Cheap Trick, etc.) Tie-dye me down! It WILL BE a BLAST. 2:30 pm 'til whenever, Man.

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

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 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 nifty backyard setting. 6 to 8.

Up and At 'em

Spring has sprung, as we like to say here in Wisconsin. April showers? We've had a few. Plus clouds of pollen (gesundheit!). Buds are budding and before you know it ticks and skeeters will be out for blood. 

Do not be deterred. Summer fun awaits all. Check the schedule below for musical performances by the BirdDogBlues band. And there's more!

Purveyors of 60s sounds the Sparks Band will bring their energetic, and barely geriatric, rock and roll repertoire to Vintage Brewing (in Sauk City) on June 5 (6 to 8 pm). Catch them again at the Dirty Dog Tap House in New Glarus on August 10, and again at Chief's Bar & Grill in Madison on September 10.

Celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Gentlemen, the band that put British Invasion music on the Wisconsin map back in the late 60s. This rare event takes place at The Bur Oak in Madison on July 26.

Scratch My Back

Slim Harpo (the Great) never made the top of the pop charts, but in 1966 he hit Number One on the R&B charts with Baby Scratch My Back. It lives on as a standard of the Blues/Rhythm & Blues repertoire (and you're likely to hear it performed when the BirdDogBlues band plays: see below).

Slim's big hit also lives on as good advice. Make someone happy and give 'em a little back scratch. If it's a canine friend, a belly rub might be good, too.

The McMusical Calendar

Saturday, March 15
BirdDogBlues plays swinging tunes at Loxley, a new event space on Madison's west side where once stood the hoppin' Dry Bean Saloon. (5364 Verona Road). Doors open at 6 pm. Music starts at 8 pm. Dancers welcome.

Check back soon as we fill in more dates for spring and summer music.

Here's What to Do, When the Year turns New

Ready or not, the Holidays are upon. Get those presents wrapped, bake those cookies, do whatever you have to do to make the Yuletide bright. Then get ready to leap into 2025.

Wait! You don't know where to go? That's what the calendar below is for. Read it and leap!

(Hint: It's a swinging joint on the east side of Madison.)

The McMusical Calendar

Tuesday, December 31/Wednesday, January 1
The Red Rooster presents Blue Year's Eve Bash. Madison's premiere Blues venue presents the incomparable James Earl Tate and The 008 Band. Tate gets the party rolling and tumbling from 6 to 8 pm.
At 9:30 MAMA (Madison Area Music Awards) winners BirdDogBlues (with 2023 Blues Performer of the year Mel Ford on guitar and vocals, Ken "Birddog" Olufs on harmonica and vocals, Tom McCarty on bass and vocals, and Madison patron-saint-of-percussion Brian Howard filling in for out-of-town Joel Brantmeier on drums). The band will crank it up and take it to the midnight countdown and on into the new year.
The Red Rooster pours champagne at midnight and has great food, and drink specials all night long. Word to the wise: Get your tickets in advance!

Check back here for 2025 gig updates.

Oh My! Look at the Time!

Clocks changed.
Milestones passed.
We try to keep our eyes on the road ahead, but we best not forget about where we've come from.
And where we come from... is the Past.

When the Ronettes had their huge hit way back when, I wasn't sure about what I thought about it. Or them. The big hair. The outfits. The "bad girl" mystique.

Many years later I happened upon Be My Baby again, and was gobsmacked by the feral genius of Ronnie Spector's performance. Awareness and appreciation? Better late than never. 

It's always a good idea to keep our eyes and ears open, but sometimes, it just takes time. 

Know what I mean?

If so, let me know. Meantime...

The McMusical Calendar

Wednesday, November 27
Pre-Thanksgiving Bash with BirdDogBlues at Toffler's Pub & Grill in New Glarus. 7:30 to 10:30 pm

Friday, December 13
Blues in a barn? Yes, but not just any barn. BirdDogBlues will cast their fates at Four Winds Farms in Fitchburg. 6 to 8:30 pm (ticketed event)

Tuesday, December 31
BirdDogBlues rings in 2025 at the Red Rooster, Madison's premier blues club. 7 to late

The Past will still be around in 2025, so keep your eyes and your minds open and check back often and frequently.

October 26 Canceled!

We repeat. October 26 canceled. 

Enjoy the beautiful Fall weather.

Countdown

August? It was a busy month. September? Not so much, as a peek at the McMusical Calendar (below) will show. Sometimes, that just the way it goes.

There's a time to kick up some dust, and a time to kick back and relax. There's also times when you have to put your shoulder to the wheel, metaphorically speaking, 'cause some jobs you just have to do yourself.

Like voting. Come this November, Americans need to participate in the work of self-governance. Don't leave it up to somebody else to make what may be the most important choice us citizens of this fair land have ever made. Get informed. Get registered. Get ready. Then VOTE.

In the meantime, here's The McMuscial Calendar.  

Sunday, September 15
BirdDogBlues plays an early afternoon set to help raise funds for the Madison Blues Society Showcase at the East Side Club.\The BA Band plays from noon to 1. Then BirdDogBlues boys from 1:20 to 3. Then Chicago's own Donna Herula and her band from 3 to 5. Food, Drink, and 50/50 Raffle on the shores of beautiful Lake Monona.

Saturday, October 5
BirdDogBlues plays the Fharmacy, Tyranena Brewing's welcoming indoor venue in downtown Lake Mills. 7 to 10

Saturday, October 26
BirdDogBlues makes music at The Mill on the banks of the Sugar River in Paoli (weather permitting). 5 to 8

Check back early and often for corrections, additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions.