August 2010

It’s 4:30 on a mid-summer Tuesday afternoon. A black pick-up pulling a white van trailer turns into the park and backs up to the bandshell. The production guy gets out and with his crew of a woman and a kid, barely more than a toddler, and start unloading sound equipment. As they begin setting up another guy pulls up and starts to help them. Soon after the band starts arriving. First the guitar player, then the drummer, the keyboards, the bass player and horns arrive together.

 It has begun to be a flurry of activity at the bandshell when more vehicles arrive, off loading Ez-ups for the Pay It Forward booth and the CVBS booth. A couple of the guys helping at the bandshell peel off to help set up the booths. Pay It Forward sets up their popcorn machine and wait for some power to get things poppin’. The CVBS booth starts to take shape with T-shirts & signs hanging, caps, CD’s and posters on the table. A sign goes up for “Water $1.00” A banner is hung at the back of the bandshell announcing “The Chippewa Valley Blues Society”, another at the front of the booth “cvblues.com”.

A couple people head out to the curb at 1^st Ave. as the 9 Degrees ice cream guy backs in with his trailer and unloads his ice cream wagon. He has both his wife and son helping him tonight and is advertising four different flavors of ice cream and two types of cones. The people at the curb hang signs, facing both north and south, proclaiming “Tuesday Night Blues”.

A guy pulls up on a sharp looking deep red Harley, parks, and opens up the electrical shed. Another guy rides up on a custom built electric chopper, dismounts and the pair of them start running out thick black power lines into the trees just as the girls from Famous Dave’s pull in under the trees with their very noticeable van. As the guys continue to roll out the heavy cable the girls set up their EZ-up and tables, laying out the buckets of forks, napkins, buns & menus and then the roasters for that, oh so tasty, barbecued pulled pork, just as the guys get the power out to get it all plugged in.

The sound guy has the band starting sound checks. He moves to the stage to make adjustments. Gets the drummer comfortable.

Now, as you look around, you notice a few people filtering into the seats. If you look farther out, past the edge of the park, to the side streets that feed in, you notice more, then more people parking, then moving in to the park. They start slow, only a few here and a few there. They come moving through the trees in twos and threes. Almost like phantoms.

Now more vehicles are pulling up, including “The Weenie Wagon”, with his mouth watering cargo of bratwurst and hot dogs, condiments of special hot sauces and of course ketchup & mustard. The girls selling jewelry are getting their booths set up as the guitar and bass are finishing their sound checks and the sound guy makes sure the monitors are balanced for each of the musicians.

Now more people are filtering in and the sound is set up and the sound guy starts a feed with some Sonny Boy Williamson to entertain the growing crowd until the show starts. The evening’s sponsored non profit shows up and sets up a donation and information table near the CVBS tent while some of the Tuesday Blues committee fan out and pass out this week’s Tuesday Bluesletter with info about the band. Tonight’s bio is about Howlin' Wolf, some info about next week’s band and some sponsor information. All the regulars make sure to get one.

As a new vendor, Turks Head Coffee Shop sets up his table with fresh made smoothies and gourmet ice coffees the Bluesmobile arrives from Durand, announcing all down Water Street “Live music at Owen Park tonight!”.

The crowd has grown to near 500 as the lead in is started introducing the sponsors, the Chippewa Valley Blues Society and tonight’s band. The atmosphere is absolutely festive as the crowd mills among the different booths and tables. Then the band kicks in and it is another Tuesday Night Blues in Owen Park. Everybody is rockin with the beat of blues, boogie, rock and funk. There might even be a reggae beat tossed in. The crowd responds with shouts and applause. What a great way to break up the week on a beautiful summer night with some  high quality music down by the river in Eau Claire. Come join us and experience this midweek music fest.

Hope to see you there!

July 2010

Memorial Day was gorgeous! The parade in Eau Claire was grand! The Bluesmobile brought a raucous response from the crowd and they snapped pictures as fast as they could. The trailer/float pulled behind it generated as much applause as for the marching bands as Left Wing Bourbon entertained the crowd with their blues and funk. The float advertised Tuesday Night Blues’ first concert and benefit for the Veteran’s Center at Klein Hall and the crowd responded approvingly.

The next day unfortunately rained most of the day and Tuesday Night Blues was forced inside the Grand Theater in Eau Claire for the first set of the 2010 season. Luckily we have a backup/rain venue, and we our grateful to the folk their for letting us use their facility. Left Wing Bourbon put on an excellent show June 1st and everyone their let them know how much they appreciated their efforts.

Unfortunately, Tuesday June8th rained as well. Forced back inside for the Pumps, augmented by Billy Angell on keys and Mike Ulwelling on harp, we still had a helluva good time. The crowd ate up the performance and showed their appreciation by purchasing The Pumps recently released CD. This was the CD release party.  Buck, Tom & Frank showed their appreciation for the crowd by kickin’ out the jams and rockin’ the house.

The following Sunday was Debfest at Poo’s On The Pond. The weather didn’t cooperate any better, but the crowds and the bands under the big tent didn’t pay it any mind. The music was excellent from start to finish with seven bands, beginning with Howard & Deb herself, accompanied by Jim Schuh on drums. Then with a whole bunch of guest musicians on stage they started the whole party off right. After their set was over they gave way to the many talented groups donating their time. But Deb and Howard weren’t done they spent most of the rest of the day making their way through the crowds and letting every one know how grateful they were for the generous support of our community. There were smiles and hugs wall to wall while this juke Joint practically jumped right in the pond. The food was plentiful and as tasty as you could want, the beverages flowed and everybody was letting the good times roll, all day long.

Hats off to Poo and his staff for putting on a fine party and Mojo Terry for recruiting all the superb door prizes that were raffled off. You folks that were involved did a truly awesome job!!!

June 15th did not see the weather improve, but Tuesday Night Blues had cabin fever and went outside anyway. The Blues Dogs chased the rain away long enough to create the wide-open ambience we remembered from most of last year. Steve Meyer, accompanied by Tom ”Buck” Murray and Frank Juodis burned the clouds right out of the sky, poking holes to let some sun shine in, even if only for a little while. They had such a great time they’d still be playin’ now if we hadn’t made them stop. Man it was good to be outside listening to some soul-searing guitar riffs and gut-wrenching bass runs. Famous Dave’s was there with their fine sandwiches and 9 degrees was satisfying everybody’s sweet tooth with monster ice cream cones. Pay It Forward made their initial appearance at Owen Park with TNB selling popcorn and cotton candy.

Looking ahead, we can’t wait for July 6th with Mojo Lemon to welcome the heart of summer with us. We decided to redo the Humane Society night on the 6th as they were hampered by the weather on June 15th.

July 13th is something to look forward to as TNB newcomers The Dave Lambert Band is coming to town from La Crosse to give us a taste of those southern (Wisconsin, that is) blues sounds. I’m definitely looking forward to that. We’ll be sponsoring the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic that night.

Deepwater Reunion is coming back for another shot at TNB on the 20th and will be putting on one of the best shows you have seen to benefit The Community Table that night. These guys hail from all over Wisconsin and will rock your socks off.

On the 27th of July we get another traveling show with The Nitecaps featuring Alexis Moyer on vocals. These guys can PLAY! Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/thenitecapsband .

Don’t forget Blues On The Chippewa on Aug. 7th & 8th. 15 bands, Art Fair (w/live music) and a Car Show. Best of all!!!! Everything I’m telling you about is F R E E !!!!!!!!!!    Is this a great place to be or what?!?!

Summer's just getting started and we plan on having plenty of good times and great nights at Tuesday Night Blues at Owen Park. Music starts at 6:30!

Looking forward to it. See ya there!!!

June 2010, Summer Blues Season is Here!

Terry DeMars of Mojo Lemon and others have been busy organizing a benefit for Magic Deb Klossner, Howard Luedtke’s bass player, and probably better half, who has been fighting a battle with breast cancer and can use both the moral support and financial help. June 13th at Poo’s On The Pond in Chippewa Falls. Six (6) bands, starts at 11 a.m. with Howard and Jim Schuh.  $5 gets you all day music, $10 music and a meal, $25 all you can eat & drink (beer) and all the music. There will be raffles and a lot more. Sounds like a great day!

June 1st is the opening of Tuesday Night Blues. We are back and ready to boogie. It’s gonna be Funk, Rock and plenty of Blues with Left Wing Bourbon out of, what is becoming the regional musical mecca, Durand, Wisconsin! LWB performed last summer at Tuesday Night Blues to a very responsive crowd.

This year’s opening night is also a benefit night for the Veteran’s Assistance Center at Klein Hall. The first of seven nights this season that we will be co-oping with area non-profits. We will be featuring The Eau Claire Humane Association on June 15th with The Blues Dogs something we like to call “Dogs for Dogs”. Feed My People Food Bank on June 29th  has Code Blue with Catya & Sue Orfield providing the soundtrack. On July 13th The Chippewa Valley Free Clinic will be benefited by the musical skills of Dave Lambert out of La Crosse. The Community Table is reunited with the dynamite musical revue Deep Water Reunion that comes from all over Wisconsin. These guys have been providing a good portion of the musical background for the Chippewa Valley Blues Society since our first event. If you haven’t had a chance to catch them you shouldn’t miss it. 

We begin August with our “Young Blues Night” on Aug. 3rd in conjunction with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. The Love Buzzards will be the back line band for the evening. We are looking for young players to step into the spotlight and show us their chops. A chance for individuals or bands to play a couple tunes for an appreciative audience. On August 17th Ellen Whyte will be returning to us from Oregon and will bless us with her fine vocals backed by the Sue Orfield Band and will be providing backdrop for our 1st Annual Bike Show to help  United Cerebral Palsy fight their grand fight. That will be our last benefit of the season for 2010, but not our last night of music.

Just because it is not a night to support your favorite worthy cause is no reason to skip seeing our other excellent bands with The Pumps on June 8th, Pete Neuman & The Real Deal on the 22nd of June. In July it will be the guys voted “Best Blues Band in the Chippewa Valley”, Mojo Lemon on the 6th to wind up the 4th of July weekend. And a very fine group out of the Wausau area The Nitecaps will wind up the month. Filling in the rest of August will be South Farwell, some guys gaining popularity and prominence in musical circles on the 10th.  Finishing out the month on the 24th will be the return of The Tommy Bentz Band out of River Falls and to bring the Tuesday Night Blues season to a resounding finish is the one and only Howard Luedtke and Blue Max.

We are back! We have a helluva line up. We will have food once again, with Joel’s Weenie Wagon, Famous Dave’s, 9 Degrees Ice Cream, a new popcorn vendor and maybe even more. Now all we need is butts in the seats. We are trying hard to be here for you, we sure hope you are here for us as often as you can.

Looking forward to it. See ya there!!!