Guess I'm WAY Out of the Loop in Music These Days: About That Current and Country Music

Well, we have that giant music festival going on in Chicago this weekend called Lollapalooza and a couple weeks ago we had a big country festival near here in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin called Country Thunder.

I went to Country Thunder once quite a while ago, back in my much younger days.  But, as I get older, huge crowds just isn't something I want to experience.  It did used to bother me, but now its sure does.

Anyway, I go a schedule for Country Thunder (and I still am a big country music fan and often listen to WBRF, 98.1 FM out of Galax, Virginia over the internet.  They play what they call Classic Country.  The older stuff.)

Out of four headliners July 15-18, I only recognized two:  Eric Church and Blake Shelton.  Out of the other 18 performers, I only recognize three:  Clay Walker, Tanya Tucker and Neal McCoy.

Out of 170+ bands, this was real sad, I only recognized seven: Miley Cyrus, Black Pumas, Limp Bizkit, Journey, Mt. Joy, Post Malone and Foo Fighters.

Like I said, Guess I'm Out of the Loop Now.  --RoadHopeless?

Last Weekend Not Quite As Planned, But Good Anyway-- Part 1: Trivia, Beers, Bars, No Festival or Band, Fish Fry and a View

This past weekend did not go as I had originally planned, but I'm always ready to change with the flow as necessary.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14

As usual, met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and played Smartass Trivia with MC Jeff and enjoyed the half price drinks.

THURSDAY, JULY 15

Original plans were for a trip to Antioch, Illinois' Taste of Summer Festival and a band out by the stage, but a rain threat stopped that.

FRIDAY, JULY 16

Met Kevin, Kelly, Glenn and Barb at Kelly's Tap in Trevor, Wisconsin, for their fish fry.  Then went to Lake View on Grasslake and enjoyed the sweeping view and $1 Miller draft pints.

--RoadDog

Woodstock at Fifty-- Part 3: "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"

These were songs on the radio and being played at Woodstock fifty years ago on August 18, 1969, as played on Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.

*  --  From the Woodstock Soundtrack.

VOLUNTEERS *  --  Jefferson Airplane
SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES *  --  Crosby, Stills & Nash
LAY LADY LAY--  Bob Dylan

DID YOU SEE HER EYES--  Illusion
THE WEIGHT *  --  Band
TRY *  --  Janis Joplin

IZABELLA *  --  Jimi Hendrix
I'M GOING HOME *  --  Ten Years After

HONKY TONK WOMAN--  Rolling Stones
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS  *  --  Joe Cocker

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Pulled Into Nazareth, Was Feelin' Bout Half Past Dead."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"The Weight"

50th Anniversary of Woodstock-- Part 2: And There Won't Be A Woodstock 50

From the August 7, 2019, Chicago Tribune "The 'bizarre trip' that was almost Woodstock 50" by Mesfin Fekadu, AP.

That's what the original Woodstock organizer Michael Lang had to say about his efforts to have another one on the 50th anniversary of the original.  "It's been a really bizarre trip."

Lang, now 74 was going to have No. 50 with all-star acts like Jay-Z, Dead & Company and the Killers and it was to be in Watkins Glen, some 115 miles northwest of where the original was held.  It just didn't work out.   His financial backing pulled out.

Melanie, known as the first lady of Woodstock, was scheduled to perform for Woodstock 50, but figured things were going bad when she couldn't get in touch with Lang.

However, she will be performing at WE 2019 in North Carolina over two August weekends.  Some of the others appearing there will be Canned Heat, Jefferson Starship, Ten Years After, Jon Sebastion,  Vanilla Fudge and Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York, on the site of the original Woodstock, will be having a celebration during the anniversary August 15-18, featuring performances by Ringo Star, Santana and John Fogerty (CCR).

Getting Your Woodstock On.  --WoodDog

TRIVIA TEASER:  Babies:  What was the name of the baby who joined the MacPherson family at the start of the comic strip "Baby Blues?"  What are the names of the two babies since then?  Answer below.


Zoe, Hammie, Wren

2019 Route 66 Trip to Lebanon-- Part 3: Hardee's, Museum, Wrink's and Munger-Moss

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Drove over to Hardee's for breakfast then went to Wal-Mart and bought CDs.

Back to the room for awhile and then to the LaClede County Route 66 Museum and enjoyed the Willem Bohr miniatures and other artifacts and momentos of the road.  This is a really good museum.  I also went into the library which takes up the rest of the old K-Mart building and spent some time researching.

Stopped at Wrink's, now Vintage Cowgirl at Wrink's and they are doing a very good lunch business.  I tried one of their fried bologna sandwiches, chips and drink for $5.  I'd never had one before and it is a good one.

Liz and I went to the American Legion on the west end of town and had a few brews then back to the Munger-Moss where we encountered problems getting in with all those old cars out front.  A local Springfield TV station was broadcasting live out there.  This was the block party celebration for the Lebanon Route 66 Festival.  A band was playing at Wrink's

One of the vendor booths was the Route 66 Association of Missouri and I had a nice talk with Bob Gehl, membership chairman and I reupped my dues for four more years.  Great organization.

--Road66

Keeping Busy-- Part 3: A Farewell to New Odyssey At Parish Fest

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12

Did the usual FP (Front Porch) and OD  (On deck) and listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV. 93.1 FM from 7-10 a.m. and recorded Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT, 93.1 FM.

Liz and I went up early to get a table at St. John's Parish fest in Johnsburg, Illinois.  An elementary school friend of Liz's plays guitar and many other instruments in the the group New Odyssey which was playing today and had for the last ten or so years.  They bill themselves as "Three Guys, 30 Instruments" because they play 30 different instruments during the course of a show.

The do a ten-song Beatles medley and play all 30 of them in the ten-twelve minutes.  Quite a show.  They also play Beatles songs in one medley where the drummer wears a Sgt. Pepper's drum coat and plays that.  Quite impressive.

Sadly, after 40 years, this is their last year performing together.

Of course, there is all kinds of great food at the Parish Fest and we took advantage of much of it.  Plus, plenty of ice-cold beer.  I got a free beer when one of the people serving saw me in my Stan Mijita shirt.

Sure Going to Miss New Odyssey.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE BECOMING A GEEK WHEN:  You become physically ill at the mention of RIAA, and visibly excited at the mention of object-oriented programming.  (Now ask me if I have any idea what this was/is all about.)

Yesterday Was a Drinking Day As It Turned Out-- Part 1: $2 Draft Imports and Crafts

Yesterday, August 2, 2018, was one of those days with way too much going on and not enough time to be in two places at the same time at once as it were.

I had originally planned to go to Antioch for their It's Thursday where they had the band Class of 1968 playing, you guessed it, 60s songs and a classic car show as well.  I also had thoughts of the Thursday night concert in McHenry's veterans Park if that didn't pan out.

But, I had talked with friends Kevin and Kelly about going to Bulldog Ale House in McHenry on Illinois Highway 31 south of town.  On Thursdays, they have all of their draft beers at $2 a pint.  And, not just domestic, but all their import and craft beers.  And, they have 40 drafts on tap!!  I like import and craft beers, but don't like paying $4 to $6 for them, so this is a REAL GOOD deal.

I had four beers, including a sunset wheat, Modello, Pilsner Urquel and a Heinekin.  We also had 89 cent chicken tenders

--RoadDog

Way Too Many Things To Do-- Part 1: Four Major Festivals, One Weekend

This past weekend had a large number of things to do withing a thirty mile radius of Spring Grove, Illinois.

Kenosha, Wisconsin, turned Simmons Island on the Lake Michigan waterfront into Tribute Island and had fifty tribute bands playing.  Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, featured some of the biggest performers in country music like Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Little Texas, Mark Chesnutt, Sawyer Brown and many more.

Then, McHenry, Illinois, had their Fiesta Days and Antioch had their Taste of Summer.  All of these places had outside music.  And, of course, we had all the bands playing outside on the Chain of Lakes.

So much fun and not enough time to do it.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog

WHAT I THINK:  I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report.  And, I am sure I didn't make any changes.

It's Been a Long Hot and Skeetery 4th of July

Not the best 4th of July ever, or not even close to it.

Since last Friday, June 29, it has been hot, hot and then more hot.  Unmerciful.  And then those skeeters!!  I've never seen them worse.  So, if the sun don't get you, the humidity will and that don't, then it's those doggone skeeters.

Last weekend, it was too hot to go see a parade, and the one in Fox Lake was cancelled because of the heat.  We didn't go see the one in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, either, for the same reason.  Then they had Libertyfest, bands and fireworks which we also didn't see.

Then, today, it was too blazing hot, humid and no breeze at all so we didn't see the Spring Grove, Illinois, parade or go to the festival.  We did go to a friend's home for a party but that heat just beat you down. We didn't stay as long as we wanted.  Nor go to Sunnyside afterwards.

A thunderstorm came through just recently so maybe we'll get a chance to see the Spring Grove fireworks from our front porch if the skeeters don't get us first.

If the Skeeters Don't Get You, the Hot Will.  --RoadbitandStroke

A Trip Back Kind of Weekend-- Part 1: Boating, Dog 'B Suds and Concert in the Park

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Took the boat out for a slow cruise around Mineola Bay in Fox Lake, then the west shore of Fox lake,through Kamikaze Alley and along the south shore of Nippersink Lake to Beer Can Bridge and then back.

Drove over to Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside and had those great Charcoburgers (2 for $3 and washed it down with a frosted glass mug of their great root beer and bought a couple Charcoburgers home to Liz.  Dog 'N Suds still has curb service, a real trip back.

We then drove into McHenry and went to the PLAV for a couple cocktails before walking over to Veterans Park to see the band Miles Over Mountains (bluegrass/folk music).  A really fine band to end the Concerts in the Park summer season.

Then back to the PLAV for a drink and then over to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg for the Bears-Packers party (Thursday Night Football).  The place was packed and the Bears were very very sad, and completely outclassed.  We came home.

--Roaddog

JSS: Back-to-School Creep Here-- Top Color-- Decisions

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  BACK-TO-SCHOOL CREEP--  We are deep into.  Every store is advertising back-to-school specials and they all have big displays.  I sure used to hate this, but back when I was a student and a teacher, it didn't start until August.

I knew that school was around the corner and sure didn't need to be reminded.

But now it starts right after (and a little before) the 4th of July.

I also have a weakness for these back-to-school sales and buy stuff I don't need.

2.  TOP COLOR--  The yard is right at peak color right now.  I can't look at it enough.  Color here, color there.  Color all over the place.  Like I said, I try to have color all season long.  This is as good as it gets!!

3.  DECISIONS, DECISIONS--  As I wrote in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog, these next several days will be ones of hard decisions to make between Antioch's Taste of Summer and McHenry's Fiesta Days.  Right now I am thinking Taste of Summer tonight and Fiesta Days Saturday and Sunday and Taste later Sunday afternoon.

But, We'll See.  --RoadDog

Got the Flags Up and Plans for the 4th

It seemed like forever, but the 4th of July is finally really here.

The front of the house has two large U.S. flags, two pennants, two small flags and one on the mailbox.

The deck has a large U.S. flag flying from it and bunting.

All my blogs today will deal with the 4th of July for last post on each.

In a little bit, I'm going over to the Spring Grove, Illinois, parade and then to the festival grounds for a bite to eat.  Then we will go A.J.'s Horsin' Around bar in Round Lake Park to see Terry Spizziri and his nephew put on a music show, then back to Sunnyside for cocktails and food.

A  band will be playing at Horse Fair Park in Spring Grove and then we will go back to the house to watch the Spring Grove fireworks from the front porch.

Gettin' Da 4th On.  --RoadDog

Another Good Weekend-- Part 2: The Shadows of Knight at Taste of Summer

JULY 16, SATURDAY

We went to Antioch, Illinois, for their Taste of Summer festival.  Jimmy Sohns and the Shadows of Knight were playing from noon to 2.  It was Jim's first time performing after suffering a bad stroke back in April.  Of course, they are best known for their 1966 song "Gloria" which went to #10 on Billboard.  It was a real trip back.

However, the hot sun and warm temperatures beat us down so bad, we decided not to go to The Grove for the Blues Jam right after it.

Later that evening, we went to Sunnyside.

JULY 17, SUNDAY

After listening to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots, we went to Hickory Lodge in McCullom Lake for their great pizza and beer special.  Then, we went to Sunnyside.

Came home and I got to enjoy sitting out in the gazebo.

--RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  Success is when you look back at your life, and the memories make you smile.

Another Good Weekend-- Part 1: Antioch's Taste of Summer

THURSDAY, JULY 14

After yardwork, we went to Donovan's and then to Antioch's annual Taste of Summer Festival where we saw the Neverly Brothers, a popular regional act with three guys playing music from the 50s in the first set and 60s in the second.  They consist of an upright bass, lead guitar and stand-up drums.

FRIDAY, JULY 15

Worked on the arboretum and The Grove in Spring Grove and listened to Arthur Wolff playing a lot of great classic rock.  Met friends John and Sherry there.  We then went to the American Legion on Fox Lake for the 50-50 drawings.

Good Times in Our Own Backyard.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  At my age "getting lucky" means walking into a room and remembering what I went in there for.

Great Time Around Here Last Week-- Part 1

TUESDAY, JULY 5TH--  Did some shopping in McHenry and then watched our Fox Lake American Legion Baseball team defeat Lake Forest 14-4.  Our guys hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third and then the second guy came up and hit another one later in the inning where we scored 9 runs.  I came home and had a bonfire out on the Grand Strand.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6TH--  Met friends Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and had those great Wednesday special jumbo chicken wings for 40 cents.

THURSDAY, JULY 7TH--  Worked in the yard and then met Kevin and Kelly at Bootleggers and enjoyed the $1 draft pints and 50 cent wings.  Liz and I then went to It's Thursday in Antioch, Illinois, and met up with a lot of friends while watching an Irish musician and then Johnny Russell & the Beach Bumz Band playing all that good Beach music.

A Good Time Had By All.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  When i was a child I thought "Nap Time" was a punishment.  Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation.

Way Too Much Going On Around Here This Weekend

I really hate it when there are way more things to do than I can possibly attend.  that is the situation this weekend.

We plan to go to the Fox lake American legion picnic this afternoon and Sunday, Liz and I will go to the St. John Parish fest in Johnsburg, Illinois for the food and entertainment by the great New Odyssey Band.  I will leave early from that and go to the Keep the Spirit of '45 Alice ceremony in nearby McHenry, Illinois.

However, here is a partial list of other things going on withing twenty miles of us:

Captains Quarters has bands tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

LAKE VILLA DAYS  August 6-9, 82nd annual, Featured Modern day Romeos last night and Bella Cain tonight as well as the famed water fights.

LAKEMOOR FEST--  August 7-9  Started in 1993 and has grown into one of the area's biggest events.  Entertainment and what is regarded to be the county's biggest fireworks displays.  Draws some 30,000 people a year,.

FOX LAKE RALLY BY THE LAKE--  Sunday.  Several hundred classic cars and entertainment at Lake Park.

McHENRY COUNTY FAIR

CRYSTAL LAKE BEACH BASH--  Today, featuring food and entertainment headlined by local favorites Modern Day Romeos.

So Many places to Go, So Little Time.  --RoadDog

Weather Keeps Getting in the Way

As we go through yet another hot and muggy day.  The last several days were the same and led to some pretty bad storms.

Thursday, we had rain for most of our downriver trip.  That caused us to miss a good concert in Antioch's Taste of Summer Festival.  Then, Friday, a storm came up really fast, cancelling a boating trip.

Then, yesterday I finished cutting the grass and we went over to McHenry for their Fiesta Days Summer Festival only to not only get rained on, but also we had Tornado Warnings which closed everything down.  We had also planned to go out to Antioch to see the Shadows of Knight (the ones that sang "Gloria") and Hi-Infidelity, but the warnings and torrential rains washed that out as well.

We ended up at Half-Times and Sunnyside Tavern instead.

I was really up for this weekend, but it got stormed out.

--RoadDog

Bands, Boating, Bars and Attack Bees

THURSDAY, JULY 9--  Yardwork.  Boating on Fox Lake and Nippersink Lake.  Stopped  at the Aquarium on Nippersink Lake by boat for Chain Crawl passport stamp.  Drove to Antioch, Illinois for It's Thursday.  Had wings at The Lodge of Antioch and saw Funk DuJour, an eleven-piece horn band at the bandshell.  Stopped at Chopper's on Il-173 by Channel Lake on the way home for another passport stamp.

FRIDAY, JULY 10--  More yardwork.  Went boating around Fox Lake.  To the Legion on Nippersink Lake and met several of our Usual Suspects and then over to Hello Folks where we saw Mitch Stevens performing.

SATURDAY, JULY 11--  More yardwork.  Watched the Sox-Cubs Crosstown game in Margaritaville in the basement.  Sox won 5-1!!  Went to a party at our neighbor's house to the west of us.

SUNDAY, JULY 12--  More yardwork and I was stung three times when I annoyed some ground bees at their nest.  It was the "Great Skedaddle" half-way across the yard.  In the afternoon, we went to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and saw the band Hooked On Sonics.  Then to Nauti-Knots on Bluff Lake for a sit out by their great Tiki Bar.  Last stop at Lakeview Place on Grasslake with the best view on the Chain.

And, next week it is McHenry's Fiesta Days and Antioch's Taste of Summer with lots of bands and fun.

Good Times 'Round Here.  --RoadDog

Festivals, Bands Last Weekend

JUNE 26TH, FRIDAY--  We met friends Kip and Susie at K.C.'s Cabin for breakfast and spent the rest of the day doing yardwork before meeting Kevin and Kelly at the Legion for 50-50.  Kelly's mother was there with her boyfriend Paul who was in World War II and an FBI agent afterwards.

JUNE 27TH, SATURDAY--  Enjoyed listening to Wendy Rice go back to 1989 on her WXRT show.  Drove to Round Lake Beach's Beach fest and saw the band Bad Medicine do Bon Jovi and Def Leppard songs.

Then drove over to Wauconda for Wauconda Fest, stopping along the way at Bonner Road Inn which has been there since the 1960s.  At the Fesr, we saw Piano Man do covers of Billy Joel and Elton John and then the Mason Rivers Band, which played country music.

Stopped at Sunnyside Tap on the way home.

JUNE 28THM SUNDAY--  Listened to Rock and Roll Roots and recorded Breakfast With the Bearles as usual.  Did some yardwork and then drove over to 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road and then to Captain's Quarters where we saw the band Hooked on Sonics.

Love Those Bands.  --RoadDog

Kicking Off the Summer Around Here

JUNE 5TH, FRIDAY  Our friends Kevin and Kelly had their annual "School's Out" party at their place on Fox Lake.  They have admirably continued with our annual "School's Out" parties since our last one in 2006 when we retired.  Many of our Usual Suspects in attendance as well, plus, we know a lot of their teachers.

JUNE 6TH, SATURDAY:  Listen to Wendy Rice's Saturday Morning Flashback to the year 1969 on WXRT from 8 to noon.  Great way to kick off a morning.

In the afternoon, we went to the Taste of Summer in downtown McHenry, Illinois, and wound up going to ten of the twenty places.

In the evening, the Usual Suspects gathered at Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg to watch the Hawks-Lightning game.  Sadly, we lost.

JUNE 7TH:  Listened to Bob Stroud's annual "Summer of" show where he plays songs from the summer of 40 years ago.  This year, of course, 1975.  See the last two posts.

Then, we went to Kevin and Kelly's for the annual "Day After" party to finish the keg.  (Well, Two-days After.)  Because of the off-and-on rain, we didn't sit out by the lake, but enjoyed their new basement bar.  We killed the keg.

It Must Be Summer.  --RoadDog