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The best word I can use to describe Owatonna native Mark Cameron's album "Life of Illusion" is this:
Solid.
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First of all, let me address the vocals. As the lead vocalist, Cameron's voice is clear and spot on. Though he may reach towards the top, he never goes over it, which I appreciate. The back-up vocals that support his voice mingle nicely, creating a nice choral effect without over harmonizing.
Musically, the instruments are all played well, with mastery on the harmonica and organ/piano. The guitars are perfect, and the drumming never falters. This album is also not "over produced," meaning it stands on its own feet without the life being mixed and compressed out of it. There is a nice feeling of live recording, particularly on the song "Boxcar Blues."
The style of music is not one that I particularly care for, however, I am sure that it has commercial appeal to people who enjoy a nice bluesy-mixed-with-80's-kitch sort of sound. It reminds me a bit of "Texas Flood" mixed with "Money for Nothing." Does that make any sense?
Anyhow, my biggest issue is the songwriting itself. There is nothing particularly interesting about the arrangements, and perhaps that can be forgiven because of the blues 12 bar aspect, but even the guitar solos feel a little too familiar. I can only listen to three chords over and over again without getting bored for so long. While listening to the album I kept expecting a song to hook me in, but it never really happened. None of the songs made me want to move around, and none of them made me want to learn the lyrics and sing along.
The lyrics are also problematic. I know that music and poetry are not exactly the same, but there is too much "telling" and not enough "showing." The words take themselves a bit too seriously, and they feel forced, like they're trying too hard to be relevant. For example, from the song "Sometimes":
Love is a light that shines in a place you'll never be/ love is a picture in colors you know you cannot see/ love is a wandering soul that knows it will never find a home/ love is a crowd of people, every one of them is all alone.
Apart from the fact that none of these sentiments are very original, I am incredibly tired of being told what "Love" is.
But despite my qualms, I could never call "Life of Illusion" a bad album. It is a bit too down beat for my taste, but I can see how the relaxed or brooding individual would appreciate adding this to their collection. I get the impression that Mark Cameron is best served on the live stage, and you can see him at Katie O'Leary's on Saturday, February 27th, according to my information.
If you see the live show and like what you hear, then definitely pick up "Life of Illusion" to relive the experience.
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I am a sucker for themes, especially those where I get to dress up, so let me just say that I am incredibly excited over 80's Night at PJ's Tavern on Friday, January 29th. Anything that involves a costume contest is worth attending, in my opinion. Here are some things that I know about the 80's:
Madonna. Enough said.
On the day I was born, Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" was number 1 on the music charts. I neither take that as a good thing or a bad thing.
Some of the best movies were made in the 80's, such as Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, and The Goonies.
Fashion was big hair, gigantic shirts with shoulder pads, and leggings for the girls, zubaz for the boys. (Ok, zubaz didn't hit big until the 90's, but they were created in 1988 by two Minnesotans named Dan Stock and Bob Truax as a comfortable clothing item to wear while weight lifting. I also realize they were popular with both genders. My zubaz were pink, black, and gold.) And since fashion was so ridiculous, it makes for a good costume contest.
Speaking of hair, sideways ponytails and "crimping" were pretty popular.
Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari rocked wigs and dresses in Bosom Buddies.
In 1985 The Nintendo Entertainment System was introduces to the US, along with Super Mario Brothers, which launched a home video game revolution.
Since the 80's ended when I was six years old, I don't remember all that much. What 80's trivia do you know?
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Hey everyone, how was your New Year's Eve? I had an awesome time and caught the first set of The Schmoejoes over at Barden's Bar. More about that later. I just hope everyone stayed safe and had a great time. How many of you used the free taxi service? I actually did not, because alcohol is expensive, but the entertainment was free, so I just caught the show and moved on.
This Saturday, January 9th, Arrows at Dawn are playing at Club 57 at 9:30p.m. They've been working on an album that should be out any day now, so keep your eye on them! They're a rocking local act that perform original music, and they've been quickly establishing themselves in the southern Minnesota music scene. Check them out if you can!
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Also, has anyone been over to PJ's Tavern lately? I saw that they've got their new sign up, and the renovations seem to be coming along nicely. I'll have to get over there sometime soon and see what other changes have been made. They're going to have DJs on Friday, January 8th and Saturday, January 9th. Apparently they also have a new wine selection, and if they have Mamertino, I may have to investigate that as well.
Up at Gilligan's Bar and Grill in Waterville, Kozy Lil' Duo is playing on Friday, January 8th from 6-10p.m. They play mostly covers from the 60's onward, but they do also offer up some originals.
I'm sure something's going on this weekend at Katie O'Leary's, but I have not had time this week to check out their posters to see who's playing. Did anyone catch The Blue Ringers when they played out at Katie's last month?
Well, that's all I've got for this weekend. Be sure to check out wasecaentertainmentreview.blogspot.com where you can find my New Year's Eve review of Barden's Bar, as well as a little bit of audio from The Schmoejoes (which isn't the best quality, so it's best to listen to at a lower volume).
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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I'm sure by now everyone has probably already planned out where they're going and who they're going with as far as New Year's Eve celebrations go, but just in case you haven't, here's some of the entertainment you can catch in town on Thursday, December 31st.
At Barden's Bar, the Schmoejoes will be playing their annual New Year's Eve Bash, beginning at 9:00p.m. In case you're wondering who they are and what they're about, please reference my past blogs, particularly the Jon Lucca interviews.
PJ's Tavern is having their own New Year's Bash with DJ Screammin' Productions from 9:00p.m. - close. If you're just looking to move around and have a good time, this may be the event for you.
Over at Club 57, they'll be kicking off the festivities at 9:30p.m. with the band Unhinged. This is a cover band that leans toward the heavy metal/hard rock persuasion. They cover a lot of Metallica, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and TOOL.
The local band Frankie's Boys will be playing over at Katie O'Leary's from 9:00p.m. until close. This band is a local favorite and a standby, so if you have time to check them out, I'd recommend popping in to see them.
Please remember that the taxi service is free in Waseca that night, so if you have a few drinks, don't feel pressured to drive yourself home. If you can, though, I'd recommend getting a designated driver. There are only two taxis, and they can only do so much at a time. Should you choose to utilize their service, be a good sport and tip generously, because they're contributing to your good time.
I also wanted to take this time to announce Waseca Entertainment Review's additional website, which you can visit at wasecaentertainmentreview.blogspot.com . Here you will find archived blogs, read added content, and listen to streamed audio of my podcast. Podcasts will include full, uncut interviews with local musicians and business owners, so you'll want to check back often!
Have a Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers!
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Today I have on me an interview conducted electronically with Tom Little of the Waterville band, The Blue Ringers. I've seen his band in action, and they put on a fun show. Apart from playing gigs in different venues, they often have a big bash up at their house in the boonies/farmland of Waterville, which I am told is one of the best events of the year.
First of all, I asked Tom to describe The Blue Ringers, so people who are interested in seeing them would know what they're about.
"We play a variety of rock, mostly the 80s through today," he answered, "but we also do a few older rock tunes and a few country tunes.
We put on an energetic show with the focus on getting the crowd dancing and partying."
Tom felt pretty early on that he wanted to be a musician."I think I was 17, and my friends and I were all into 80s hard rock. As I would sit in class all day I would dream about being a rock star and performing in front of lots of fans. My best friend, John Peach, The Blue Ringers' drummer, told me I should play bass since he was a drummer and we had friends that played guitar. So I got myself a bass guitar. It wasn't until I was 19 that I got serious with it though."
And about Tom's big dream? "My dream to be a rock star did not exactly come true, but The Blue Ringers is close enough to that dream for me," he explains. "It allows me to pretend to be a rock star on some weekends and still have my normal life, which I love."
I asked Tom if there were any interesting stories that he could tell, and at first he was elusive.
"You do see some crazy things over the years, some that are better not to publish," he started, but then followed with a few print-friendly tidbits. "This one has probably happened to lots of bands. We had a gig in New Ulm and when we showed up there was another band there setting up. The gig had been double booked and we were not too happy about it. We called around and found someone that would pay us a little to play at a barn party so we went and did that. We did have two people meet at one of our shows and eventually they got married. That was cool, we still stay in touch with them."
When I asked Tom which venue in Waseca he loves to play, his direct answer was, "Katie O'Leary's. The atmosphere is perfect for us (we love the owner, bartenders and all the patrons there) and the building itself has great acoustical properties."
A lot of the other bands from Waseca that Tom likes tend to play at Katie's as well. I asked him who some of his favorite local bands are, and he answered, "For classic rock and blues, you have to love The Murphy Brothers. For a cool acoustic group there is a band called The Rain Kings who are simply great. If you like to rock a little harder than The Blue Ringers, then it is hard to beat IV Play." Just to clarify, that is a roman numeral, and the band's name is pronounced four-play.
The Blue Ringers will be playing at Katie O'Leary's on Friday, December 18th from 9pm - 1am. I highly recommend checking them out if you can, their covers are good and they like to work with the crowd.
That's all I have for this weekend. Next weekend will be blog-less, because I am taking the time to enjoy the holidays. I hope you all have a great weekend and happy holidays to you all!
Jenny Hughes can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com.
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I know it has been a while since I wrote one of these, and I sincerely apologize to my avid readers (if I have any), but with Thanksgiving and finals at college, I haven't had a whole lot of free time on my hands.
One thing I managed to do before Thanksgiving was to take a trip over to Club 57. My husband and I went over there Wednesday, November 25th to check out the AC/DC cover band, TNT.
The thing that always strikes me as odd about Club 57 is their total lack of flow. I don't know if this comes from remodeling an already set building, but anyhow, it just doesn't work. Two steps behind the bar is a wall, presumably to separate the "bar" crowd from the "sit-down" crowd. This wall causes amazing problems, however, should there be more than five people in the area. The people standing at the bar to order end up blocking the path to the bathrooms, forcing patrons to go around the wall and past the jukebox. Therein lies another problem, when regulars fill up the area on the other side of the wall. Now there is absolutely no way to reach the bathrooms, unless you feel like pushing your way through an established group, which is never comfortable.
The service is also incredibly lacking. You may get attention shortly after you walk in, but the people at the bar get absolute precedence. If you are at a table, forget getting served any time soon. You're better off stalking up to the bar, getting your drink, and bringing it back to your seat, to try to remember where the conversation left off with your friend(s).
In their favor I will say, I love the vintage poster decor. This gives it a classy feel that some of our other Waseca venues are lacking. This does not, however, make up for the lack of decent flow or service.
As for the stage, it is an okay size, but there is not much room for people who want to watch the show. Again you have an oddly shaped room, where if you get pushed into the wrong spot, you have no chance of seeing the performance.
And here I must say: What performance?
My husband and I got to Club 57 at 7:30, and waited (and drank rum and Coke) until 9:00, when TNT would presumably take the stage. They did, shortly after, and played a song. After being informed that the first song was a sound check, the band promptly disappeared.
We waited.
And waited.
Then we looked at each other and asked "Time to go home?" With a mutual nod, we left.
From the little bit I heard of TNT, they are a decent tribute band, and I would have liked to have heard more. But generally if a band says they are playing at 9:00, they should play within 15 minutes of that time. Unless they were having serious gear/sound issues, I felt like we were getting the brush-off. People visiting venues in the cities wouldn't have put up with that, and neither should we.
So needless to say, the night was a bit of a disappointment. I hope to get out again in the near future, however, and check out some bands. Maybe I can corner Marcus Penny for an interview.
Anyhow, onto the weekend, and into the week a bit.
Since I checked out Club 57, I'll start there. On Saturday, December 12th the band 69 Cents will be playing. Then at 10:00p.m. on Thursday, December 17th they'll have the a'capella band Heatbox. I browsed their myspace page and was at first repulsed by their droning, repetitive song about needing a Jack and Coke, but I was pulled back in by Pizza Funk. If you've been looking for something new and original, this would be a good act to see. They're like Rockapella, but more funky.
Next up is PJ's Tavern, the easiest to report since they are having a DJ on both Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th.
Finally there will be DJ Matt the Ratt at Katie O'Leary's on Friday night, and the band Urban Myth will be playing Katie's on Saturday. Urban Myth is a fun band, but the lead singer didn't thrill me, and their keyboard setting bordered on irksome. This is just the impression I got from one song, however, so there is potential that this band has more to offer. Their pictures led me to believe that they have an easy-going stage presence, and they look like they enjoy what they do.
That's it for this week. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and enjoy the snow!
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Well, I wish I had an awesome subject to interest everyone this time around, but my time's been drained for the most part, and I haven't had a chance to get out and do anything. This Wednesday I actually have some free time, so I am hoping to do a proper band review. I will also do more interviews in the future, because I got such a positive reaction with my piece on Jon Lucca. Is there any local act you'd like to hear more about? Feel free to comment or shoot me an e-mail.
This weekend at PJs Tavern, there isn't a whole lot of diversity, unfortunately. I'm not sure what is going on with them. Anyhow, they are having DJs mix up some dance favorites on Friday, November 20th, Saturday the 21st, and Wednesday the 25th.
If you're looking for some live entertainment, Katie O'Leary's is having the band Rush Hour on Friday night, and I Got Issues (IGI) on Saturday. I couldn't find any information on Rush Hour. I hear that IGI is pretty decent, but beyond that I still don't know much about them either.
Then at Club 57 they'll be showing UFC 106, the big fight between Oritz and Griffin. This event starts at 8:00p.m., not the usual 9:00, so if you want to go see a couple of guys beat each other up in glorious high definition, here's your opportunity. On Wednesday the 25th, TNT will be playing at Club 57. TNT is an AC/DC tribute band. I gave them a listen and I must admit that I appreciate the lead singer's effort. He does a better job than a lot of tribute vocalists I've heard, and they are not easy vocals to replicate.
And I know this may sound cheesy, but I am looking forward to the Christmas Train. I hear they'll have some live music and theatrics for the public to enjoy.
Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving everyone!
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Welcome back to my second-hand interview with Jon Lucca from The Schmoejoes! The remainder of the interview has to do mostly with Waseca’s music scene. Since this was all recorded during the end of the interview, and a few drinks had been consumed, I had to sift from a lot of half-thoughts to get some full answers. I think you’ll enjoy what I have here, and I’ll follow it up with what’s going on this weekend, including a book exchange on Sunday at the request of the constant Waseca County News website commenter, onevoice. You’re welcome, onevoice!
So, to continue. My next question to Jon Lucca was to describe the fan base of The Schmoejoes, and their ideal fan base.
“The people who apparently best connect with us are teenage girls, and over 50 year old guys. That's kind of, really odd,” he laughed. He attributed their successful appeal to a variety of people by the fact that they don’t write songs that fit a single genre, but span their songs in a variety of styles. “The ideal fan base would be anyone who is tired of hearing the same old stuff all of the time,” Jon replied.
I asked him (my husband actually asked on my behalf, as I was sick, if you’ll recall) about what sort of feedback or criticism The Schmoejoes have gotten.
“People have not really criticized us that much. Oddly enough, it is my old band mates from The Lovejoys that are the first to dive on me about anything. That is actually why that band broke up, because we were three songwriters, three guys that could support a single band. My friend Pat is probably the most honest music-wise,” explained Jon intently. He continued, “I listen to every criticism. My wife — there are a few songs that she doesn’t like. I take her opinion very seriously. I always listen to her, but do I do what she tells me to do? No, not all the time.”
Then the topic turned to Southern Minnesota, and Waseca specifically. I wanted to know the difficulties that are presented to local acts, particularly those that write and play original music. My next question was about how local bands can go about promoting their music, and what The Schmoejoes do for promotion.
“As far as promo goes, I'm pretty lazy. I do as much internet promotion as possible. Twitter actually is probably the most useful one as far as the far-reaching promo,” he admitted. He went into how difficult band promotion is, with, “I’m not going to poster the town. There’s not that many places to put posters. Putting up fliers is exhausting, and there’s ordinances that prevent you from legally doing it. Doing promotion in Southern Minnesota is pretty terrible. There’s the Buzz, and they put the ads in, but as far as finding out what to do around town, there’s nothing.”
I wasn’t sure if I should resent that statement, but since my blog is rarely complete as far as covering everything that is going on, I decided that I couldn’t really take it as an insult.
The interview finally wrapped up with a question on how Waseca can help its local musicians.
“I feel like I’m part of the Waseca underground, and the Waseca overground are a bunch of people from out of town,” Jon lamented. “There’s a ton of music down here, but it’s so under appreciated.”
He described a powerful, musical bonding experience, saying, “I went over to Jerome Braten's house and payed an impromptu family jam, and it was the most beautiful thing that I've done musically in my life. I wanted to share it with everybody. There should be an outlet for that. But bar owners know that bands are not going to sell alcohol. Sometimes bar owners need to just look at what's in front of them and see what's here in town. Not all of it’s good, but some of it’s awesome.”
Jon finished with a moment of pride for his band, and their inherent originality and appeal.
“I’d put The Schmoejoes up against any cover band. I believe in the power of the ‘joes!”
So that’s it for Jon Lucca and our third-party interview. I hope you enjoyed it! Now, on to the weekend.
PJ’s Tavern is having a DJ both Friday, November 13th and Saturday the 14th. There will also be a dart tournament at PJ’s on Saturday, with sign-up at noon. The cost is $10 to join. At Club 57, Arrows at Dawn will be playing Friday night. Arrows at Dawn is an all-original band from Blooming Prairie. A quick listen brought me to the conclusion that they have a nice late 90’s sound, but little diversity in their chord progressions. Also at Club 57, Billy and the Bangers will play on Saturday. The most information I could find about them is that they play “classic blues with an edge.” Finally, on Saturday, The Fabulous Love Handles are going to play at Katie O’Leary’s. This band is gigantic (guitar, keyboard, saxophone, several harmony vocals, plus more) and they play covers from the 60’s onward. On their songlist there were not a whole lot of songs that I recognized, but I’d be interested to hear their version of “Whiter Shade of Pale.”
And to conclude, I am hosting a book exchange in the meeting room at Crossings Inn and Suites on Sunday, November 15th from 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. If you’ve never been to one before, they are a lot of fun. All you have to do is bring in books that you no longer want to keep, and trade them for books that interest you. I have a big box that I’ll be contributing personally, so you’ll be sure to find something. As I had to cover the ad in the Buzz on my own, I am not able to provide refreshments this time around, beyond the already-available coffee. Still, this is a great opportunity to get to know other book lovers in town and to recycle books, because if you’re like me, you can’t bring yourself to throw them away. All ages are welcome, and I’ll be bringing in a few children’s books. Tell your friends! I look forward to seeing you!
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First off, I have to give a little insight into how I got this story. I
have been sick for the last week - so sick that I'm now taking vampire
antibiotics (as in, stay out of prolonged sunlight while taking these
pills). This, in turn, put a lot of pressure on my husband to take care of
the family. To relieve some of that pressure, he wanted to go out and
spend some time with his friend, and leader of The Schmoejoes, Jon Lucca.
So, in order to have something interesting for my blog, I sent some
questions with my husband so he could interview Lucca, which he did, and
recorded with his amazing iPhone. He brought me back approximately two
hours of conversation.
So what you're reading today is an incredibly stripped down, weeded
out version of that conversation, with the expletives either changed or
deleted. I wish I could sell copies of this on CD or something, because it
was a lot of fun to listen to. I actually have so much material, that I've
decided to cut this blog into two parts. So this is part one of the Jon
Lucca/Schmoejoes interview.
My initial area of interest was in the creation of the band name.
"I did not come up with the band name," Lucca clarified. "My friend
kind of has this weird dyslexia thing where he mixes up two different
phrases, and, he was like, "Why don‚t we call ourselves Joe Schmoe and the
Schmoejoes?‚ and we were like, That‚s it!‚ That was eighteen years ago.
Years later I moved down here and was like 'What should I call my band
now?' I always liked Joe Schmoe and the Schmoejoes, except that was way
too long, so, it was The Schmoejoes."
Next I asked him what he likes about playing shows in Waseca.
"I love playing Waseca. I do. It's odd, because I don't think I'd feel
as comfortable playing some random bar in some random town, but because I
live here I can feel the ownership of it. This is my town. Driving home
five blocks from here, that just rocks," Lucca illuminated.
I asked Jon where he liked to play in Waseca, and why.
"Barden's is the bar that reminds me of Northeast Minneapolis where I
spent my normative years. Barden's is so low key compared to other places
in town. You come here to drink, or you come here to talk. Everybody here
knows everybody else, but if you're the new guy, it doesn't matter. It's
totally loose." declared Lucca admiringly.
When asked to describe their sound, he replied, "I used to describe us
as getting drunk with Tiny Tim at Jimmy Page's neighbor's house. We're
sort of tongue-in-cheek pop. We're kind of like a cover band that plays
originals. If you appeal to someone's sense of familiarity, that's half
the battle right there. If you can give them something familiar, but
something new, that's the best of both worlds."
As a wife of a local band member, I know that bands like to network
and check out other local musicians. I asked him to name a few local acts
that he likes or dislikes.
"There is of course Paraphasia, which I love," he began, partially as
a shout out to my husband's band, since he was the one presenting the
questions. "There's the Arrows at Dawn guys, they're almost like Green
Day, or Foo Fighters meets Green Day. There was a band from Owatonna that
I dug called The Movies. I really liked the Gin Daddy's when they were
still together. Jason Madson did a few songs live with us at Lakefest.
Marcus Penny's band - I love them! Marcus is a good, down to earth guy. I
think he's phenomenally talented." And as for bands he doesn't like, he
continued, "I actually heard one song by the White Iron Band, which is a
terrible band name. It's kind of like a Toby Keith song, but it's about
Minnesota. It sounds like somebody singing about Tennessee, but it was
about Minnesota." He also described the song as "red-necky."
I should note (and Luca does in the interview) that all of the bands
he mentioned are mainly original artists. Stop by next week to see what
Jon Lucca of the Schmoejoes had to say about cover bands, other local
venues, and the lack of promotional opportunities. I may have to do a part
3, just to showcase the really bittersweet story behind their song
"Firefly."
With that, I'll continue on to the weekend. PJs Tavern is taking it
easy with a DJ both Friday, November 6th and Saturday, November 7th.
At Club 57, The Mason Dixons will be playing Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. The
Mason Dixons describe themselves as "country-rock that shakes the rafters
and then lets the dust settle with moving dancehall numbers." They play
"high energy country favorites and amazing originals."
Then at Katie O' Leary's, they're having 70's night on Friday. I'm told this is a fun theme
night, and since your only other option is a DJ, this looks like the event
to participate in. On Saturday they'll host The Murphy Brothers Band who will provide high energy rock. They're influenced by classic rock artists like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and if their videos are an indicator, they put on an awesome live show.
Thanks for reading, and look in next week as I continue with more
input from Jon Lucca of the Schmoejoes!
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I'm actually rather envious of a lot of you this upcoming Halloween. There
is so much going on in town, so many reasons to dress up and go have fun,
and instead of being able to enjoy this time with all of you, I'll be at a
friend's wedding. Still fun, but I'll miss being able to wear a proper
costume.
Katie O'Leary's is going to start the party early, and will have the band
Side F/X playing on Friday, October 30th. There will be a costume party
with prizes, so be sure to wear your most creative costume! They're the
only place in town that will be having costume contests on Friday and
Saturday, so if you're going trick-or-treating with the kids on Halloween,
you still have an opportunity to go out with your friends. Also on Friday,
PJs Tavern is going to have their "DJ at PJs" night, and the band Dr.
Salty will be playing at Club 57. Dr. Salty touts themselves as an
"American Rock & Roll Band" and they actually play (mostly) original
songs. The vocalist is clear and pleasant, and the music has a good beat.
They have a classic, maybe Aerosmith-esque sound.
On to Saturday, October 31st, which we all affectionately know as
Halloween. Frankie's Boys will be playing at Katie O'Leary's, and they
will be having another costume contest, with prizes! I hear that Frankie's
Boys play bluegrass/blues, and are a local favorite. I have yet to hear
them, but I'm interested. Also on Saturday is PJs Halloween Bash at PJs
Tavern with DJ Screammin' Productions and a costume contest with CASH
PRIZES, their website declares. Finally Club 57 will be hosting their
Halloween party (Costumes? Prizes? Their website doesn't say, but I'd
assume as much) and the band 6 Wheel Drive will be playing. They describe
themselves as "modern country rock," which to me does not sound all that
promising. Then seeing that they cover artists like Keith Urban and Little
Big Town made me lose interest completely. Still, I thought I would take a
listen to some of their tunes, and clicked on their myspace link.
Unfortunately, there were no tracks uploaded. So you'll have to use your
best judgment and imagination on that one.
Also on Saturday, the Schmoejoes will be playing at Barden's Bar. Their
website claims that they will be having "Spooky Shot specials, and
Terrifying Tap beer." Barden's has a costume contest as well, and they say
that their prizes are the best in town, but without knowing what those
are, how can we tell? I guess we just have to take their word for it.
Still, it's good to support the Schmoejoe's as they are an exciting,
local, original band. They have a great stage presence, and their banter
with the crowd is witty and original.
Thanks to everyone who has given me feedback and kept in contact with me,
so I can keep my updates as info-filled and accurate as possible!
One last question for you: What costume will you be wearing this weekend?
If I were able to, I'd be dressed as Alice from the game Shadow Hearts. If
you don't know what that is, feel free to do a google "image" search and
you'll see what I mean. So what/who will you be for Halloween?
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I wonder if there are any venues in Waseca, or in Waseca County for that
matter, that would be willing to have an open mic night. Would you attend?
Would you have something to offer? What if it started, say, 7:00p.m. and
went to 10:00p.m., with a half-hour time limit for each person who signs
up. That's a limit of six people per night, doing what they love to do,
with plenty of time afterward for drinks and chatter. Just an idea - feel
free to post your ideas in the handy comment box below.
Now, on to the weekend. On the night of Friday, October 23rd there's a DJ
playing at PJs Tavern, and Club 57 will be hosting the band Good for Gary.
A peek at their myspace page revealed another Twin Cities cover band. They
are pretty well organized, with a nice variety of tunes. One thing made me
particularly happy - the fact that they specifically posted "We don't do
Nickelback." But then, I was saddened again by the appearance of All
American Rejects in their song list. Oh well, you can't win them all. They
have an entertaining cover of "Pinball Number Count" on their myspace
page. You remember that song, don't you? From Sesame Street? Sing with me,
"One-two-three-FOUR FIVE, six-seven-eight-NINE TEN, ELEVEN TWELVE!" That
may just be enough reason for me to see this band, All American Rejects
covers aside.
Then on Saturday, October 24th, PJs and Club 57 switch off again. A DJ
will be mixing up some tunes at Club 57, and at PJ's Tavern you can go
listen to more live covers from The Foolish Mortals. They are not, as one
would assume from their band name, a strictly metal cover band. Their song
list includes a plethora of singles from the 50's onward, songs that we
all know the lyrics to, but I have to question some of the choices again.
My Sharona? Really? I listened to the sampler available on their myspace
page and wasn't too impressed with what they had to offer, but it could
just be that the recording quality wasn't very good. The lead vocalist
grated on me, I'm sorry to say.
That is all that I was able to find for this weekend. There is a live band
playing at Katie O'Leary's on Friday night, but their name is not posted
on the Katie's website, and I don't have time to run by and look at the
poster on the door before I submit this blog. I'll put it up in the
comments as soon as I can.
Cheers everyone! I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone has to offer
Halloween weekend! It should be a nice mix of music, contests, prizes, and
specials!
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Service with a smile.
While this seems like a fundamentally simple concept, apparently very few places in our little town are able to offer it. Apparently El Molino is a favorite, and I have to agree. It is nice to walk in, sit down, and immediately have complimentary chips and salsa placed on the table in front of you. Orders are filled quickly, the food is good, and drinks are refilled before you even have the chance to ask for it. The staff is friendly and efficient, and the mood is relaxed. So why do other venues seem to struggle in meeting these same standards?
My guess would be the economy. These difficult economic times have forced places to cut back on staff, on how long they're open and on what days, on paid training. The uneasiness of business owners have also cultivated an uneasiness in the staff, which is then passed on to the customer. The customers leave, the business owners panic and raise prices, and sometimes even charge staff for things that were once free (like coffee and doughnuts), and as a result, the talented staff leave, and the customers either have to deal with raised prices and poor staff, or, like so many of us do, go elsewhere. This is mostly speculation, but some of it I have seen first hand. It seems like Waseca businesses, particularly those that deal in entertainment, are spiraling downward.
There are things that I would like to see here in town, and I think they would be easy enough to pull off. I believe what we are lacking entertainment-wise is variety. I would like to see poetry readings, live musicians with something new to offer, and most of all, live theater. The
problem becomes finding a venue where different artists can perform. The community auditorium is too full of school activities for the odd community theater troop to compete, and the outdoor stages are only useful in the summer months. Waseca could really use its own specific place for members of the community to express themselves. Minnesota is one of the
highest arts-centered states in the country, with Minneapolis ranking in the top ten, so why do we have so little available for our own community?
Why should I have to drive to Mankato or Northfield to share my latest short story or poem? Why does my husband's band make $100 a night in Minneapolis, but can't find a place to play here? Why, when Waseca loves its marching classic and celebrates Leroy Shield at every opportunity?
Well, enough of that. I hope someone with the means to create a place that artists of all kinds can congregate will read this and think its a good idea, because this is what I'd like to see in our community.
So, on to the weekend. Since everything seems to start at 9:00p.m., I'm not going to clutter up my blog with stating when bands are playing anymore. Friday the 16th has a DJ at Katie O'Leary's, Bad Habits at PJs Tavern (I couldn't find any information on this band, sorry), and Dazy Head Mazy at Club 57. Dazy Head Mazy is a pop band with a lot of commercial and radio appeal. My husband said when I mentioned them "Hey, I know them - I've seen them in the City Pages since I was a teenager." They offer simple tunes with catchy lyrics,which are mostly acoustic. They remind me of Dave Matthews or Hootie and the Blowfish, and are definitely worth a listen if you like that early 90‚s, Cities 97 sound.
Then we've got Saturday, October 17th. The Tex Pistols Band are playing at Katie O'Leary's (not to be confused with Tex Pistols, which is a different band, as I discovered upon my Google search). They seem to have a pretty high ego, claiming that their "Fully Loaded" album as "one the most talked about recordings in the Twin Cities in years." Note - just because an album is "talked about" doesn't mean the talk is all good. A listen to some of the tracks showed the same tired country chords and slide guitar that you always hear when you turn on the radio, with nothing really new to offer.
I also find their "Come see the Tex Pistols, or the drummer gets it" picture childish and off-putting. Still, they seem to pull a bit of weight here in Waseca, but I can't imagine how they'd appeal to anyone under 50. My apologies to their faithful fans, and bless this band for
having a real website, not just a Myspace or Facebook page.
Also playing on Saturday is the band 69 Cents, and they'll be at Club 57. They are a cover/party band that are popular for playing a wide variety of genres, as well as requests from the audience. They were once voted "Favorite Local Band" in the Mankato Free Press Reader's Choice Awards. Pictures of them reveal an exciting, high-energy stage presence.
Finally, at PJs Tavern, DJ Kozy will be throwing out his hits Saturday night. If you don't know Kozy, then you haven't really been introduced to the Waseca music scene. He has a lot to say about all of it, and a lot to offer. Stop in at Waseca Music Company and chat with him if you have the time, he's an entertaining guy.
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Keep out of the rain and/or snow, and enjoy the last little bits of fall we have before we're engulfed in Minnesota winter.
Blogger Jenny Hughes can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com.
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I've decided to make a quick change for this week, just to do something
more fun and interactive. As much as I love to throw out my opinions and
impressions on the local "scene," thus far I haven't had much feedback on
what you, the readers, think about entertainment in Waseca. Feel free to
give me a general overview, or you can answer one or more of the following
questions. Please don't be afraid of being honest. Higher-ups may find
your input helpful. I'll give my own thoughts next week, just so you all
can compare. So here are a few questions you can think about:
What is your favorite venue in Waseca County to visit, and why?
What venue(s) do you generally avoid, and why?
What sort of live bands/DJs do you like most?
What other kinds of entertainment would best benefit this area?
Is there a venue or band that you would like me to further look into?
I look forward to reading your responses, and seeing how they compare with
my own.
Now, I'm not sure if PJs Tavern and Club 57 talk, or if they just sort of
pay attention to one another, because they alternate their DJs and live
music almost flawlessly. Club 57 will host their DJ on Friday, October 9th
at 9:00p.m., and PJs has their DJ on Saturday, October 10th at 9:00p.m.
Coincidence?
Then there are the live musicians. First up at PJs Tavern the band
Flashback will play on Friday, October 9th at 9:00p.m. The only
information that I could find on them is that they cover hit songs from
the 50's onward. Then on Saturday, October 10th at 9:00p.m. (why does
everything start at 9:00p.m. in this town?) you've got a couple of
options. At Katie O'Leary's you could hear the I Got Issues Band (or IGI,
as I've seen it posted). A quick peek at their myspace page simply listed
their band members and their upcoming shows. They have six friends on
myspace, apparently. Your other option is Stand By, and they'll be playing
at Club 57. Their myspace page revealed a band of relative youngesters,
and a really long historical timeline of the band's creation and
accomplishments that I didn't feel like reading in its entirety. They're a
cover band that plays chart-topping singles from the 70's to the
present... you know, stand bys.
That's all I have for today. Look forward to a long, opinionated rant from
me next week, and until then enjoy your weekend!
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First of all, today is October 1st, and if you didn't read my blog last week, I'm going to remind everyone that today is Beer and Brats day in Waseca! If you haven't taken part in these festivities before, it is basically a day where every bar in town offers up cheap brats and beer, starting at 3:30p.m. until all of the brats are gone. I have been told that these brats are specially made for this occasion, so if you can get out of the house tonight, I would definately grab a few friends and check this out!
As for live entertainment this weekend, Friday night from 9p.m.-close PJs Tavern will be hosting the classic rock cover band High Adventure. Also Friday, at Club 57 you can check out the tunes of the 80's hair-metal cover band Sinister, also at 9p.m. I feel like I'm sensing a trend here with Club 57, and I'm starting to be tempted to say simply "Club 57 = 80's covers" and just get it over with. Anyhow, Sinister admits to being a "party band," though they take their music very seriously, and apparently they offer a stellar light show and sound system that should be pretty exciting.
Then Saturday PJs Tavern will have their live DJ session from 9p.m. - close, and Katie O'Leary's will have a live band called Main Street at 9p.m. as well, with drink specials in the hour preceeding. I tried to look up some info on the band, but as there are so many with the same name, I gave up trying. Finally, Club 57 will have yet another live band from 9p.m. to close called Free Fallin which is, you guessed it, a Tom Petty tribute band. I gave some of their covers a listen on their myspace page, and I gotta say, they sound pretty spot on. Even the lead singer seems to have embraced his inner "Petty-ness" in his appearance and wardrobe - long blonde hair, big black top hat, and round frame sunglasses. If I really liked Tom Petty songs (which I do like some, but not enough to sit through a whole night of them) this would be the show to check out this weekend.
I hope you all have a fantastic week, and as they say, eat, drink, and be merry!
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Well, I missed out on comedy night at PJs, which for me was quite a tragedy. I hope that they offer up some awesome stand-up again soon.
This weekend at PJs Tavern they'll have The Radio Band playing on Friday the 25th at 9:00p.m., no cover charge, and Saturday night at 9:00p.m. is DJ night. Club 57 will be hosting the band Sunset Strip on Saturday at 9:00p.m. I suppose if you wanted to, you could see a live band both nights, at alternating clubs! I checked into Sunset Strip and browsed their myspace page. The main picture is of a greasy, long-haired fellow in a cowbody hat that is screaming recklessly into a microphone. Their profile claims that they sound like "You getting jealous at your girlfriend wanting us." Musically, they're something in the way of an 80's rock, hair metal band. Aerosmith seems to be a contributing influence - at least, that's the impression I got upon listening to two of their three tracks available on myspace. I couldn't find any information about The Radio Band, so enjoy their live tunes at your own risk.
I say, forget this weekend and focus on next Thursday. You know what day that is, right? Oh, come on! It's beer and brats day, October 1st! I believe every bar, club, tavern, what-have-you participates in this festive fall occasion. Most places I looked into start the show around 3:00 in the afternoon. This is the ultimate excuse to go bar-hopping, and it starts early enough that you should be able to avoid being hung over at work Friday morning.
Keep enjoying the crisp, autumn air everyone!
Waseca Entertainment Review is written by Jenny Hughes. She can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com
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I didn't walk into Gilligan's Bar and Grill in Waterville with the intent to write a blog about it, but after witnessing the changes that have taken place there, I felt compelled to share what I'd experienced.
First of all, Gilligan's is NOT Lighthouse Bay, though it may look the same on the outside, and Gar still makes his fantastic ribs. All of the style and class of the previous incarnation has been sucked out to make way for a common, almost grubby looking bar. I understand that there are probably still improvements to be made, but goodness, the furniture looks like it came off of somebody's back porch, twenty years ago. I must say, the 80's hair bands that rocked over the jukebox was a rather welcome change to the country/rap mix that I've been hearing lately, so that was a bit of a bonus.
The biggest problem here was the service. I don't know why bars can't seem to accomodate anyone. The best service I've had so far was at PJ's Tavern, and even then, I was the only customer present.
When my husband and I seated ourselves at the booth, we were approached fairly quickly by the bartender, who asked for our drink order and handed us a cheap variation of what should have been a menu. Yellow paper in a wrinkled, plastic protector. But I understand that they've recently re-opened, so I suppose that can't be held against them.
Our drinks came quickly, and my husband and I checked out the drink menus on the table. We found the cute array of Gilligan's Island themed specialty drinks to be pretty charming, my favorite being the non-alcoholic Shirley Temple-esque "Mary Ann." Nearby people were standing at tables (yes, standing) and alternating between drinking beer and throwing darts. They seemed to be having a pretty good time.
Ten minutes later, and still no server in sight. Correction - she was in sight, but she didn't appear to see us. She rotated through the regulars, restocking their glass bottles as needed. Finally she glanced up and seemed surprised to see my husband and I seated in a booth. She went to the bartender and spoke something to him, while glancing and pointing at us. Honestly, had I not been comfortably conversing with my spouse, ten minutes would have been my limit. I would have gotten up and left, with a five dollar bill placed neatly on the table to cover my drink.
The server's sincere apologies nullified my frustration for a while, and she graciously took our order. The appetizer came out quickly, but it was cold, and though our meals were good (Gar still makes a mean set of ribs) they seemed over-priced. I think I could have gotten the same meal elsewhere for only half what I paid at Gilligan's.
Overall, I found the experience extremely dissatisfying, so unless a band is playing that I'm just dying to see, I probably won't go back there again.
Luckily, we have some good stuff going on closer to home. The Mason Dixons will be back in town at Club 57 Friday, September 18th at 9:00p.m. Then on Saturday they're having their 4th annual classic car show from 9:00a.m. - 3:00p.m., and Arrows at Dawn are playing at 9:00p.m. Arrows at Dawn are coming to us from Blooming Prairie, and they play originals! How original! PJ's Tavern will be bringing you live music on Friday night with the Garage Orphans from 9:00p.m. - close, with no cover charge. Saturday night at 9:00p.m. they'll have their weekend DJ, and Sunday, September 20th brings the return of Comedy Night, which begins at 8:30p.m. I intend to check this out, so stay tuned next week for a full review.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone. I'll leave you with a fun, Gilligan's related fact: You can sing almost any Emily Dickinson poem to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme song. |
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At first the darkened windows of PJs Tavern cause me to hesitate. Are they actually open? I peek in and see only a few flashes of neon from some signs that decorate the interior. Slowly I open the door and step inside.
The biggest surprise upon entry, is the size of the place. The layout is wide due to the addition of the next door building, which now houses PJs's band stage and dance floor. The stage is a decent size, and there is more than enough room for fifty or more tightly packed dancing bodies. Everywhere high-definition televisions of various sizes are showing baseball games. The jukebox looks clean, new, and high-tech. Next to the bar is a large pool table and a dartboard.
It being a Wednesday night, and still relatively early, PJs is empty when I step inside. Literally. There is nobody behind the bar. As I take a seat, however, a smiling young man jogs out from the back room and greets me as though we've known each other for years. Immediately my esteem for this venue kicks up a notch or two.
Waseca Entertainment Review is written by Jenny Hughes. She can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com.
I discuss the nightlife here at PJs with the bartender, and he is only too happy to inform me of the latest happenings. Every weekend they alternate DJs and cover bands - DJs for the younger, dance-happy crowd, and live bands for those that still enjoy the experience of a live performance. He talks up their upcoming comedy nights, and I'm led to believe that they are mostly his idea, as he seems so proud of them. They'll be starting mid-September.
This week PJs will have a DJ on Friday, and Saturday the 12th will be live music by Foolish Mortals. I'm told they're a younger band with a lot of appeal - not a death metal band, which was my first impression due to their epic name. There will be some other entertainment going on Saturday - Katie O'Leary's will be hosting The Fried Band from 9:00p.m.-close, with a pre-band Happy Hour starting at 7:00p.m. The other biggest entertainment event is Boss Grant's Johnny Cash Revue. This will take place at Harguth's Barn. Doors open at 6:00p.m. with a small opening act before Boss takes in the spirit of Johnny Cash. Yes, there is a cover charge, and $20 seems steep, but at least you get a sandwich with your show. If you're broke (like me), I'd recommend giving Foolish Mortals a try.
PJs Tavern accommodates their bands nicely, which I like. They have their own PA and lighting system - a bonus for any out-of-town act. I learned this from the bartender, and my conversation with him slipped easily from their weekend entertainment to their pool and dart leagues to their future opening of a formal meeting space. He told me they hope to continue their improvements, and perhaps fix the signage outside, so the two buildings would tie together better.
As I further talked with the man behind the counter, I felt as though I was an incredibly entertaining individual. Not a single detail of what I had to say was missed. Instead, it was noted, agreed with, and added to, producing a continuous, lively conversation. I was even introduced to the owner, who seemed friendly in that "just you average kind of guy" sort of way. I noted too that, as I got ready to leave, another patron who sat at the bar was greeted in just as friendly a manner. It was obvious that the man who came in had been there before, and he and the bartender seemed to flawlessly pick up their conversation from wherever they had last left off.
My final impression of PJs Tavern is that the customer comes first, entertainment second, food last. I like their open, breathable layout, and I am more than impressed with their service. While possibly not a place to get an above average meal (pizza, mostly), PJs serves up a warm welcome and a pleasant atmosphere. I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how they progress in the upcoming months.
Waseca Entertainment Review is written by Jenny Hughes. She can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com.
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Happy Labor Day weekend, citizens of Waseca County!
As my family and I have been packing for a camping vacation elsewhere, I haven’t had much time to do my usual snooping about. This will be remedied next week, I assure you. I did faithfully promise, however, to bring you the weekend entertainment update, and so here goes:
Friday the 4th at 9:00p.m. a band called Wildfire is playing at Club 57. Since my search for “Wildfire” turned up a Boston dance band that is playing somewhere on the east coast, and then a bunch of news clips about wildfires in California, I have no clue if this band is worth seeing or not. If not, Club 57 will also have some fun DJ tunes going on Sunday evening.
Barden’s Bar is doing their usual Friday night Texas Hold-em Poker at 6:30p.m. Since this seems to be their routine, I probably won’t mention it again, but I’ll keep my eye on them in case anything changes.
PJ’s Tavern is having a pretty full Labor Day weekend, featuring Classic Rock with Road House Friday at 9:00p.m. (if I had to choose, I would probably see this instead of the elusive “Wildfire,” because it is pretty hard to go wrong with classic rock), Screammin Productions on Saturday the 5th at 9:00p.m., which I believe is a DJ, and on Sunday at 9:00p.m. they’ll have Kozy Lil’ Duo. Kozy and his fellow musician usually give a pretty decent set of classics from the 60’s onward, as well as a few originals.
Also fairly nearby The Johnny Holm Band will be playing up at Gilligan’s Bar & Grill in Waterville, Friday from 9:00p.m.-12:30a.m. A quick search found their music style self described as “Covers of country, classic rock, Elvis, Deon.” I didn’t see anything about originals, so for now I’m going to assume that they’re a strictly cover band. They appear have a pretty decent setup, so I’m going to say that this would be my act of choice if I were to actually be in the area this evening. Just be prepared to pay a $10 cover charge.
I wish everyone the best on this glorious upcoming weekend. The weather is supposed to be lovely from start to finish, so get out of the house and go do something fun! |
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The first thing I order when I go into Katie O'Leary's Beef and Brew is a glass of pink lemonade. It may seem strange to go into a pub and order something so light, but it is too early in the day for my usual rum-and-coke, and I don't drink beer. The waitress asks if I'd like to sit at a table, and gestures toward the round slabs of polished wood. I seat myself in a comfortable wooden chair that is luxuriously padded with leather, or something like it. CNN plays on the big screen TV in front of me, and coincidentally the anchorman is saying that beer prices are on the rise. He approximates that the price hike will equate to an extra 50 cents per 6 pack.
I must say, I'm impressed with the immediate atmosphere. The wood fixtures are polished to a shine, and the iron hanging lanterns gives the room an "old world" feel. The walls are covered with various Irish paraphenalia (except the tartan horseshoe and thistles strike me as more "Scottish" than Irish) and Guiness is conveniently on tap. The large streetside windows let in a lot of natural light, and through a glass door I can see a cozy patio with iron tables and chairs, closed in by an iron gate.
Lunch at Katie's is always good, though i don't understand why fries aren't included in the price of the meal. During this time of day, business men in suits bring their laptops to enjoy a noon-time nip and free wireless internet.
I just wish i could say the same for the nightlife. My last experience with Katie's evening crowd made me less than satisfied with their ability to control the more overtly drunk patrons, and somebody kept filling the jukebox with Coldplay. (By the way, i don't remember seeing this jukebox on my latest excursion. I believe it must have either been moved or completely replaced by pulltab machines.)
The bandstage is small, but I've seen smaller. Apparently, if you want to perform a show there, you have to provide your own PA setup. I asked the waitress about the bands that usually play there. She says a local band called Frankie's Boys play quite a bit, as well as Side FX, which will be playing their street dance this Saturday.
I've never been to a Katie O'Learys' "street dance", but i hear they're a lot of fun. All of 2nd Ave. NE is closed off for an outdoor fest of music, food, and strong beverages. This celebration is happening again on Saturday, August 29th from 8pm to midnight.
It also looks like there will be a few more events to compete for your Bar-time this weekend.
Barden's Bar is having Texas Hold-Em Poker on Friday the 28th at 6:30PM, and the band Bad Habits will be playing at P.J.'s Tavern at 9:00PM...this means that come Saturday night,
The spotlight is all on Katie O'Leary's.
Apart from these extravagent street shows, Katie's seems to offer little else by way of entertainment. There is a missing element of comradery between the owners, staff, and patrons that prevents the atmosphere from being as comfortable and fun as one would expect an Irish pub should be, and the lack of well advertised drink specials tend to drive customers elsewhere, particularly the younger, college-age crowd.
My bottom line is this: Katie O'Leary's Beef and Brew is a great place for lunch. Their burgers are top notch, and I am addicted to the Pink Lemonade.
The general nightlife, however, still leaves something to be desired. If Katie's can deflate itself and keep going in the direction that their street dances are leading them toward, then we may have something to look forward to.
Waseca Entertainment Review is written by Jenny Hughes. She can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com.
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When I talk to people who are new to Waseca, they always bring up a question that I dread. That question is: “What is there to do around here, anyway?”
I have a hard time answering this, because the water park, while fairly obvious, isn’t always suitable because of the weather, or the fact that people don’t want to spend a lot of money. I could direct them to the “entertainment” section of the visitor’s guide, but the only options it holds is a list of the various bars in town.
After a bit of searching and some phone calls, I have come up with a list of some of the various things that are going on in the area this weekend, so when the question comes up again, I can just hand people a copy of this article. I plan to do similar updates every week, so if there is something going on that I don’t know about, and you think it should be posted, feel free to send me an e-mail. The address is at the bottom of this page.
First off is the Steele County Free Fair, which will be held at the fairgrounds in Owatonna from August 18-23. Nothing entices me more on a summer day than the prospect of freshly made cheese curds. Their “Village of Yesteryear” is also extremely impressive. For more information you can visit their website at www.scff.org .
But that doesn’t really count as something going on in town, necessarily, so here are some other options, brought to you by our local taverns. PJ’s Tavern will be having live DJs for some upbeat dance sessions, Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd from 9p.m. to closing time. If you’re looking for something more low-key for Friday night, you may want to skip the music and visit Barden’s Bar for some Texas Hold-em Poker at 6:30p.m. Otherwise, on Saturday night, Club 57 will present “One” - Metallica Tribute Band at 9p.m.
If the bar scene isn’t up your alley, don’t give up just yet. We also have some live theater going on this weekend, as the Children’s Theatre presents Tom Sawyer at the CIS Auditorium. The first show will be Friday the 21st from 7p.m. to 8p.m., and the second show will be Saturday the 22nd from 2p.m. to 3p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults, and $5 for children, students, and seniors. Also, Event Horizon Hobbies will be having a Respawn Magic Tournament on Saturday, in addition to their usual Friday night Magic: The Gathering tournament.
The weather report (so far) claims that the weekend will be cloudy with some rain on Saturday, so here is my personal suggestion, if none of these other options appeal to you. This weekend would be perfect for doing something indoors for an hour or two, and what better way to use that time than to see a movie. Here are my picks for this weekend:
In theaters - District 9
Genre: Sci-fi
Rated R
New DVD release - Hannah Montana: The Movie
Genre: Family
Rated G
Classic movie - The Sting
Genre: Comedy
Rated PG
I hope everyone gets out this weekend and enjoys the last bit of summer, before we trip over Labor Day and land ourselves in the upcoming fall.
Waseca Entertainment Review is written by Jenny Hughes. She can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com.
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| Lucas Dimmel, Dan Ghring and Steve Ghring have an idea on how you can fill your empty afternoon. Their new store, Event Horizon Hobbies located at 102 S. State Street (The old Thrifty Exchange building) offers plenty of gaming options. At the moment, they’re hosting Magic: The Gathering tournaments every Friday afternoon at 5:00p.m. To join the game is only $6.00 per person, and gamers compete for prizes like card packs, store credit, and exclusive promo Magic: The Gathering cards.
Not a Magic fan? They also have video game consoles set up in the back room where anyone is welcome to relax and play. And if that’s not something you’re interested in, just wait a little while. Event Horizon Hobbies plans to have several other gaming events in the near future. Among those mentioned were Dungeons and Dragons, Risk, and possibly an online-hub Halo gaming session. Any game tournaments you want to bring into town can be hosted in their store, where they have set up rows of tables and chairs specifically for intense gaming encounters.
Event Horizon Hobbies is, ultimately, a store, so if you don’t have time to join in the games, at least you can buy one to bring home. They will be offering board games, card games, used video games, comics, manga, collectables, and gaming accessories such as trusty twelve-sided dice and protective sleeves for your favorite cards.
If you want to keep track of the tournaments going on, they hope to soon have a Facebook page up and a website with an event calendar available for your viewing pleasure. Until then, the best way to stay informed is to stop by in person and check out the whiteboard calendar behind the counter, which is updated frequently for your convenience.
Waseca Entertainment Review is written by Jenny Hughes. She can be reached at thejuniperjourney@hotmail.com. |
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