The Green Mill

My friend Seth, knowing my love of Big Band, has been encouraging me to go to the Green Mill in Chicago, where they routinely have a swing band riling up the crowd. The problem is that's only on Thursday's. As Lisa had a string of Thursday's off - and because I am incapable of saying yes to fun until it is forced upon me - I delayed until I could no longer do so. 

So after work this Thursday we drove down to Illinois. We thought we had plenty of time to kill, so before the bar we stopped and got some pizza. 

At this point he suggested leaving the car in the great parking space he'd found, and walking to the venue. That distance? 1.8 miles each way. 

 I'm 20 years older and 200# heavier than him, and have a messed up hip. I did not want to spend the evening in a Chicago ambulance.  So, to the visible disgust of my young healthy friend, we did NOT wind up walking to the show. 

I was somewhat vindicated when we found a good parking spot a couple blocks from the bar and headed in.

There's a ten dollar cover charge. They checked Seth's ID at the door but even when I volunteered mine they shook me off. Grrrr.

It's an old bar, built in 1907, and during prohibition it was a speakeasy owned by an associate of Al Capone, and the booth that Al preferred is still there in use. When you first walk in there's a very small open space,. All the action is to the right of that, where a very long bar runs down towards a small stage, and between the bar and the people seated along the wall there isn't much room to walk, even if the place was almost empty - and that it was not. 

The place was packed, Getting down to the stage area was a game of human bumper cars, and it didn't get any better when we got in sight of the band. 

With that many people in that small an area, it was hot. Dripping sweat hot. This was, in part, due to wearing a sports jacket, as the unofficial dress code calls for a little class. 

These are not complaints, btw, merely observations. 

The band was great, with a fine clarinetist, and it was a great joy to see the regulars dance. 

We did not stay long, as it was truly crowded and hot, and standing room only, but it was great. On the way out a wonderful sight: a line of people waiting to get into the club. 

Afterwards we drove around Wrigley Field, then drove back to work to pick up my car. 

It was a lot of fun, and I do look forward to doing it again - only this time, with a seat!

Judson Brown Band

During our stay in Cedarburg last weekend we saw Judson Brown Band perform at the Lime Cantina, and Lisa bought a copy of their Christmas album. While the band featured vocals on all the tunes we saw this CD is instrumental. 

While I enjoyed the band in person, I give my 1000% recommendation to this CD, which served as the background music for our gift opening this year. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I'm glad Lisa picked it up. 

Check out the band's schedule on their website, and go see them yourself! 

80 Years Ago Today

80 years ago today the great Glenn Miller dissappeared over the English Channel during WWII. He was never found.

May he continue to RIP.

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson, the singer/songwriter/actor who  wrote hits like Me and Bobby McGee and starred in the '70's version of A Star is Born,  has died. He was 88.

I remember him most from my very early youth,  from way back on Windlake Ave, which puts it at pre-'79.  My parents had an 8-track of the soundtrack from A Star is Born. They must have had a Kristofferson 8-track too, because I remember Jesus Was a Capricorn. Anyway, what I remembered most about him was the repetition in his name, and being fascinated by it, like Dan Danielson. Weird what kids think about. 

I also remember him from the '80's miniseries Amerika, about a US occupied by Soviet forces. 

RIP