* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area

I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch. ~ George Burns

Before Arthur Rubinstein’s American appearance, he decided to wander about the packed concert hall. When an usher told him to leave because the performance was sold out, Rubinstein snapped back, “Because I am performing, may I sit at the piano?” (joannemarie.parba.net/)

Charlie Roth @ CCW, January 2019

Anthony & Jim Miltich @ CCW, February 2019

Elsa Lee @ CCW, February 2019

Tuesday Night Club @ Garden Bar, February 2019

Anthony & Jim Miltich @ CCW, March 2019

Elsa Lee @ CCW, March 2019

Dan Mahar @ Garden Bar, April 2019

Mel Lamar Trio @ Garden Bar, April 2019

CCW, May 2019

Elsa Lee @ CCW, May 2019

Patchouli @ Central Square Cultural & Civic Center, May 2019

Salty Dogs @ CCW, May 2019

Sam Miltich & family & friends @ Evansville Arts Center, May 2019

AAHS Alumni @ Discovery Middle School, June 2019

Anthony Miltich @ Lure Lakebar, June 2019

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2019

Julie Patchouli @ CCW, June 2019

Patchouli @ CCW, June 2019

Erik Schultz & Paul Trumm @ Garden Bar, July 2019

Erik Schultz @ CCW, July 2019

Josie Nelson @ CCW, July 2019

Anthony Miltich @ Lure Lakebar, August 2019

Charlie Roth @ CCW, August 2019

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2019

Tuesday Night Club @ Garden Bar, August 2019

Anthony Miltich @ Evansville Arts Center, September 2019

Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra @ Broadway Ballroom, September 2019

Lindy Pederson @ CCW, September 2019

Greg Donahue, Rachael Ianiro & Erik Schultz @ CCW, September 2019

Elsa Lee @ CCW, December 2019

The long and winding road . . .

Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, except, possibly two. ~ Frederic Chopin

Up Next: Finishing at 2020

November 3

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area

Now and then, an innocent man is sent to the legislature. ~ Kin Hubbard (c. 1900)

“Researchers found that those who played an instrument for two years showed a stronger “neurophysiological distinction” between certain sounds than children who didn’t get the instrumental training. For instance, the music-makers more easily could tell the difference between the words “bill” and “pill,” a key skill in learning to read” (nammfoundation.org/articles). Anecdotal evidence to the contrary, I played trumpet in the 5th and 6th grades, and to this day, when I’m not feeling well, I take two ‘bills’ and call the doctor in the morning . . .

Sound Idea @ Garden Bar (Tim Cochran & Bruce Tatge), January 2018

Salty Dogs @ CCW, April 2018

Cheese Bots @ CCW, April 2018

Don Shelby as Mark Twain @ AAHS, April 2018

(w/ fans)

Lisa Lynn @ Copper Trails Brewery, April 2018

Charlie Roth @ CCW, May 2018

Robb Justice @ CCW, May 2018

Anthony & Jim Miltich @ Evansville Arts Center, July 2018

Anthony Miltich @ Methodist Church, July 2018

Cloud Cult @ TLHD, July 2018

George Mulder (w/ fan) @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2018

Cheese Bots @ Garden Bar, August 2018

Lisa Lynn @ Copper Trails Brewery, August 2018

Patchouli @ CCW, August 2018

Salty Dogs @ Courthouse Lawn, August 2018

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2018

Josie Nelson @ CCW, September 2018

Salty Dogs @ CCW, September 2018

Alli Prestby & Anthony Miltich @ December 2018

Erik Schultz @ Garden Bar, December 2018

“Whatever gets you through the night”

Texas was the only place where they didn’t look at me like I was crazy. ~ Jerry Jeff Walker (born Ronald Clyde Crosby in Oneonta, New York)

Up Next: 2019

November 17

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area

There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman? ~ Woody Allen

Are you getting the idea I’m running out of music quotes? “He’s one of those who knows that life Is just a leap of faith Spread your arms and hold your breath Always trust your cape” ~ Guy Clark

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, August 2017

CCW, August 2017

CCW, August 2017

CCW, August 2017

Erik Schultz @ Garden Bar, August 2017

Jeff James @ CCW, August 2017

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2016

Paul Drinkwine @ CCW, August 2017

Salty Dogs @ CCW, August 2017

(w/ a fan)

BAT @ CCW, September 2017

Charlie Roth @ September 2017

Cheese Bots (Lindy Pederson, Jim LaRoque & Marty Sarlette) @ Garden Bar, September 2017

Erik Schultz @ CCW, September 2017

Paul Drinkwine @ CCW, September 2017

Bill Staines @ Legacy of the Lakes Museum, October 2017

Cheese Bots @ CCW, October 2017

Deanna Paulzine & Charlie Roth @ CCW, October 2017

Erik Schultz @ CCW, October 2017

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, November 2017

Derelict Trio (Danielle Olson, Steve Hornstein & Mark Downing) @ Garden Bar, November 2017

Josie Nelson @ CCW, November 2017

AAHS Carolers @ Garden Bar, December 2017

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, December 2017

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, December 2017

Paul Drinkwine @ CCW, December 2017

As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot. ~ John Lennon

I hate reality but it’s still the best place to get a good steak. ~ Woody Allen

Up Next: Moving on to 2018

November 1

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area

We idolized the Beatles, except for those of us who idolized the Rolling Stones, who in those days still had many of their original teeth. ~ Dave Barry

There is a limited pot of education money but charter schools keep taking a bigger bite, usually with a lot less oversight than that applied to public schools.  Does it really make sense economically to find new buildings for, and new means of transportation for, students who for our nation’s entire history have always been educated quite nicely in our public schools. Well, it’s my venue. May as well take advantage of it. And now, 2017 . . .

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, February 2017

Charlie Roth & Paul Drinkwine @ CCW, February 2017

Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience w/ Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra @ AAHS, February 2017

Shaun Johnson w/ the Super

Josie Nelson @ AAHS, March 2017

Josie Nelson @ CCW, May 2017

Miltich Family @ CCW, May 2017

Anthony Miltich @ Arrowwood, June 2017

CCW, June 2017

Charlie Roth @ CCW, June 2017

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2017

Killer Vees @ CCW, June 2017

Salty Dogs @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, June 2017

Vinnie Rose @ CCW, June 2017

Adam Astrup & Tom Anderson’s son @ Gathered Oaks, July 2017

Anthony Miltich @ Arrowwood, July 2017

Anthony Miltich (w/ fans) @ CCW, July 2017

BAT @ Arrowwood, July 2017

BAT @ CCW, July 2017

CCW, July 2017

Cheese Bots @ Garden Bar, July 2017

Cheese Bots @ CCW, July 2017

Erik Schultz @ CCW, July 2017

Josie Nelson @ CCW, July 2017

Mel Lamar Trio & Mary Lou Thunselle @ CCW, July 2017

Salty Dogs @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, July 2017

“Which one are you?” Lennon’s answer: “I’m Eric.”

If you’re born with a gift, to behave like it’s an achievement is not right. ~ Woody Allen

Up Next: Finish 2017

November 1

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area

Money doesn’t talk, it swears. ~ Bob Dylan

You’ve seen a lot of photos of musicians performing at SAWA (Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale) through this blog run. This was the last year for our first favorite music venue – if it was Thursday night, it was SAWA. So many thanks again to DiAnn Ness for giving it a terrific 10-year run . . .

BAT @ SAWA, September 2016

BAT @ CCW, September 2016

Cheese Bots @ CCW, September 2016

Cheese Bots @ CCW, September 2016

Monroe Crossing @ CCW, September 2016

Anthony & Jim Miltich @ CCW, October 2016

CCW, October 2016 (Grand Opening 1999 signatures)

CCW, October 2016

Salty Dogs @ CCW, October 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, November 2016

(The ever popular bread in my jar schtick again!)

CCW, November 2016

(Wine pick up parties . . . )

AAHS Carolers @ SAWA, December 2016

AAHS Carolers @ CCW, December 2016

CCW, December 2016

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, December 2016

Jim & Anthony Miltich @ CCW, December 2016

Sami Steidl @ SAWA, December 2016

(With Jeff Montoya)

Waybacks @ SAWA, December 2016

SAWA, the last night, December 31st . . .

SAWA Farewell – a fitting parting photo by SAWA chef Janet Baker

It won’t be long yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah) . . .

If you’re listening to a rock star to get your information on who to vote for, you’re a bigger moron than they are. ~ Alice Cooper

Up Next: 2017

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

The musician is perhaps the most modest of animals, but he is also the proudest. It is he who invented the sublime art of ruining poetry. ~ Erik Satie

I’m now in the middle of 2016 and all I can come up with are some Woody Allen quotes: “Photons have mass? I didn’t even know they were Catholic.” “I don’t believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear.” “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” Thank you Mr. Allen – and now continuing 2016 . . .

Skippin Stones (Tim Sunde, Elsa Lee & Russell Schmidt) @ CCW, June 2016

(Elsa would oft return as a solo act after this . . . )

Anthony Miltich @ Arrowwood, July 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, July 2016

CCW, July 2016

CCW, July 2016

Components @ SAWA, July 2016

Dan Mahar @ SAWA, July 2016

(w/ Terry Kennedy)

Mitch Sterling & the Superfriends of Soul @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2016

Paul Drinkwine @ SAWA, July 2016

Purdy River Band @ CCW, July 2016

Salty Dogs @ SAWA, July 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, August 2016

Harper’s Chord (Dave Lumley, new member on left) @ CCW, August 2016

(Micah Barrett w/ Jill)

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2016

MOTU @ SAWA, August 2016

Patchouli @ CCW, August 2016

Salty Dogs @ CCW, August 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2016

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. ~ John Lennon

I don’t know anything about music, In my line you don’t have to. ~ Elvis Presley

Up Next: Finishing 2016

October 31

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

There’s nothing like the eureka moment of knocking off a song that didn’t exist before – I won’t compare it to sex, but it lasts longer. ~ Paul McCartney

While it’s still a tad early to determine whether there were any notable births in 2016, musically we did lose Prince, Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, Bobby Vee, Leonard Cohen, and Leon Russell. We also lost Abe Vigoda who, as I recall, said he never got many jobs after “Barney Miller” because everyone thought he was dead. Now, 2016 locally . . .

Components @ SAWA, January 2016

Josie Nelson @ CCW, January 2016

CCW, February 2016

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, February 2016

Paul Drinkwine @ SAWA, February 2016

Josie Nelson @ AAHS, March 2016

Djangleville @ SAWA, March 2016

Salty Dogs @ SAWA, March 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, April 2016

Components @ SAWA, April 2016

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, April 2016

Mel Lamar Trio @ Interlachen, April 2016

(with Mary Lou Thunselle)

Paul Drinkwine @ SAWA, April 2016

Salty Dogs @ SAWA, April 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, May 2016

BAT @ SAWA, May 2016

BAT @ CCW, May 2016

BAT @ CCW, May 2016

CCW, May 2016

Josie Nelson @ CCW, May 2016

Salty Dogs @ CCW, May 2016

Salty Dogs w/ Father Steve @ SAWA, May 2016

SAWA, May 2016

Anthony Miltich @ Arrowwood, June 2016

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, June 2016

(When you have fans, and you’re at a winery . . . )

Anthony Miltich @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, June 2016

CCW, June 2016

CCW, June 2016

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, June 2016

Dan Mahar @ SAWA, June 2016

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2016

A Day in the Life

Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal. ~  Igor Stravinsky

Up Next: 2016, Part 2

October 31

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

I smash guitars because I like them. ~ Pete Townshend

It’s Halloween. It seems, therefore, somewhat incongruous that we’re leading off the last half of our 2015 presentation on this scary day with the countenance of Josie . . .

Josie Nelson @ City Park, July 2015

Josie Nelson @ CCW, July 2015

Michelle & Chuck Wencl @ City Park, July 2015

Patchouli @ City Park, July 2015

Reverend Raven & the Chain Smoking Altar Boys @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, July 2015

Duck Mobile @ SAWA, July 2015

Enterprise @ Courthouse, August 2015

Unknown @ CCW, August 2015 (need some help here, as far as I know their only appearance?)

Components @ SAWA, August 2015

Finestra (Wally Warhol, Arlyn Swenson & Jay Johnson) @ CCW, August 2015

Patchouli @ CCW, August 2015

Pistol Whippin Party Penguins @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, August 2015

Salty Dogs @ Ashby Park, August 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, August 2015

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2015

BAT @ SAWA, September 2015

BAT @ CCW, September 2015

CCW, September 2015

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, September 2015

Finestra @ CCW, September 2015

Josie Nelson (w/ Roadies) @ CCW, September 2015

CCW, October 2015

Lisa Lynn (w/ Jason) @ SAWA, October 2015

Patchouli @ CCW, October 2015

(w/ a young fan)

Erik Schultz @ SAWA, December 2015

Erik Schultz and Greg & Lesley Donahue @ SAWA, December 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, December 2015

SAWA, December 2015

Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door . . .

I love Wagner, but the music I prefer is that of a cat hung up by its tail outside a window and trying to stick to the panes of glass with its claws. ~  Charles-Pierre Baudelaire

Up Next: 2016

October 30

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

Art is the means we have for undoing the damage of haste. It’s what everything else isn’t. ~ Theodore Roethke

Today’s lead quote was learned yesterday during the last class of the Senior College Fall Season. The class, “Why We Need Poetry,” was taught by Joyce Sutphen from Gustavus Adolphus and is Minnesota’s Poet Laureate. And to think prior to class I was going to lead with: “Last night at Carnegie Hall, Jack Benny played Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn lost.” ~ Harold C. Schonberg

Anyway, here’s to 2015!

Paul Drinkwine @ CCW, January 2015

Josie Nelson @ CCW, February 2015

SAWA, February 2015

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, March 2015

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, March 2015

Dan Mahar @ SAWA, March 2015

Miko Cowdery & Friends @ Andria Theater, March 2015

SAWA, March 2015 (the Wall of Fame)

Andrew Walesch @ SAWA, April 2015

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, April 2015

CCW, April 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, April 2015

SAWA, April 2015

BAT @ Arrowwood, May 2015

BAT @ SAWA, May 2015

BAT @ CCW, May 2015

CCW, May 2015

Fabulous Armadillos @ Andria Theater, May 2015

MOTU @ SAWA, May 2015

[Dave Strom, Bill Engebretson & Wally Warhol]

Patchouli @ SAWA, May 2015

Harper’s Chord @ CCW, June 2015

(Micah Barrett on bass)

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2015

Josie Nelson @ CCW, June 2015

Lisa Lynn @ Jordie’s Trailside Cafe, Bowlus, June 2015

Patchouli @ CCW, June 2015

Salty Dogs @ CCW, June 2015

Anthony Miltich @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, July 2015

CCW, July 2015 (OK, not mine)

Components @ SAWA, July 2015

(Craig Peterson on bass)

Glen Everhart @ Arrowwood, July 2015

Jim & Anthony Miltich and Victor Facio @ CCW, July 2015

Things We Said Today . . .

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. ~  Friedrich Nietzsche

Up Next: Finish 2015

October 28

* In the greater Alexandria, Minnesota, standard metropolitan statistical area.

I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone. He asked me what I was wearing. ~ Not Jake

Another highlight of the year was eating at Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown, another first. Nevertheless, in spite of that landmark event, “many think of 1776 as the most defining year of American history, the year we became a nation devoted to the pursuit of happiness through self-government. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell argues that 1898 might be a year just as crucial to our nation’s identity, when, in an orgy of imperialism, the United States annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and invaded Cuba, and then the Philippines, becoming a meddling . . . (the first of a continuing string of unflattering adjectives as only Vowell can do) . . . superpower practically overnight.” ~ Book liner

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, June 2014

Patchouli @ CCW, June 2014

Salty Dogs @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, June 2014

Harper’s Chord @ SAWA, July 2014

High School Band Combo (Paul Meland, Kirby Karpin & ?) @ Bug-A-Boo Bay, July 2014

Katie Ray @ CCW, July 2014

Lisa Lynn @ SAWA, July 2014

Reverend Raven & the Chain Smoking Altar Boys @ Legacy of the Lakes Gardens, July 2014

Components (Dave Strom, Bill Engebretson, Marty Sarlette & Bryan Poyzer) @ SAWA, August 2014

Jim & Anthony Miltich, w/ Victor Facio @ CCW, August 2014

Josie Nelson @ CCW, August 2014

Anthony Miltich @ CCW, September 2014

BAT @ SAWA, September 2014

BAT @ CCW, September 2014

CCW, September 2014

Harper’s Chord @ CCW, September 2014

Patchouli @ CCW, September 2014

Salty Dogs @ CCW, September 2014

Tucker’d Out @ CCW, September 2014

W/ Annie O’Flynn

Anthony & Jim Miltich @ The Peak, October 2014

Anthony Miltich & Jay Seiling @ The Peak, October 2014

Cheese Bots @ SAWA, November 2014

Erik Schultz & Mary Lou Thunselle @ SAWA, November 2014

Salty Dogs @ CCW, November 2014

Yellow Submarines & Walruses . . .

This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house & told my cat. We laughed a lot. ~ Also Not Jake

Up Next: Moving on to 2015 . . .