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Thick Shoe at The Snout Saloon PDF Print E-mail
Written by John Abbott   
Thursday, 08 December 2011 04:26

Thick Shoe at the Snout Saloon, December 2011

The bar was really fairly full considering the weather. Winter has finally arrived, and the most beautiful fall I can ever remember is past us. I think I put more miles on the Harley this fall than I did all summer. It was amazing. But, those days are officially gone now. Saturday night not long before the start of the Chippewa Falls winter parade, the snowflakes started coming down. By the time we arrived at the Snout, there was a wet four inches on the ground. So really, to see the bar fairly full was impressive. On stage, Thick Shoe along with, the rumored about for a week, special guest, Howard "Guitar" Luedtke. It was a good night.


Aaahhh, and it just a week ago that I was complaining you could set your watch by the songs in a Howard Luedtke set. And then here I am. In the next picture, and I see Howie playing almost exclusively songs I had ever heard him play before. It was pretty much one of those whiplash inducing moments. I had heard some rumors earlier in the week that he would join the band. But, I don't really go by that much any more. If my bar tab was covered as often as I have heard the phrase, "…And I think Howard is going to be showing up later to play", I would indeed be a happy guy. It wasn't until I got a Facebook status update from Magic Deb Klossner at the Snout itself that I became a believer.

Jason Big Jay Introwitz on stage with Thick Shoe at The Snout Saloon, Chippewa Falls
Jason Big Jay Introwitz on stage with Thick Shoe at The Snout Saloon, Chippewa Falls
It had been a couple of years since I had seen the Shoe. When I last saw them, they were doing lite blues with a bit of jazz overtone to many of the songs. I wasn't as much of a fan as I really wanted to tbe. And I did really want to be. Thick Shoe is an offshoot band of Mojo Lemon. -- Of which I am a huge fan along with every other blues listener in the valley. But Thick Shoe has Jason Big Jay Introwitz on guitar and most vocals, Mojo Terry Demars on bass, Willie Chopper on keys. Thick Shoe picks up {Tony Baisley} on Drums and usually Mike Schlenker on guitar. Howard was manning Mike's spot this night.

I don't know if it was luck of the draw, better night, or a musical change but I thought the playlist on Saturday night was pretty great. There were a good number of blues songs. Some well Thicken'd rock covers and no flavor of jazz at all. I was a happy guy.

My musical highpoint was quite easy to remember, Thick Shoe performed Counting Blue Cars by the one hit wonder band, Dishwalla. It was an outstanding cover.  Howard had a couple of nice solos, I caught most of it on video, after some initial camera troubles. The vocals were an outstanding performance by Jason. It was a great cover of a song I had all but forgotten about.

Magic Deb on bass and vocals along with her husband Howard on stage joining Thick Shoe.
Magic Deb on bass and vocals along with her husband Howard on stage joining Thick Shoe.
It was a happy occasion at the snout also because Magic Deb, Howard's wife and usual bass player for his band Blue Max, was celebrating her second year of being cancer free. A happy event indeed and one that I hope we can celebrate for years to come.  Bass player, Terry Demars, surrendered his bass for a couple songs. Despite Deb's protests of having had too much to drink to play, she did a great job.  I am not sure I would have let her behind the wheel though!

 

There was at one point a classically amusing band mistake.  Where Jason just finished a short intro solo, stepped up to the mic and announced "Willie Chopper on keys!".  The music paused.  We all looked.  But the keyboards were un-manned.  Willie was answering nature's call, not Jasons.    Howard stepped up to bat.

viewVideo

 

Magic Deb on stage with Howard Luedtke and the band Thick Shoe performing Back Door Man
Jason Introwitz and the band Thick Shoe performing a cover of Counting Blue Cars
A Howard Luedtke solo leads into the blues staple, I know a Little
Everygreen Grass Band at the James Sheeley House.

 


Friday night I caught a set of the Evergreen Grass Band at the Sheeley House. I got a tip off Facebook that they were breaking in a new mandolin player, Adam Seland, and the show wasn't to be missed. I was satisfied. I think there will be a bit of transition time as the band really starts to come together. It isn't like someone new is going to walk onstage and instantly replace someone that has been there for a long time. So I think the technical glitches will work out of the show after a few stagings. Evergreen puts on a high energy bluegrass show fairly often at the Sheeley, and they are a great experience one hundred percent of the time. Not to be missed.

This Saturday night, December 10th, funky, rocking, blues fans are going to be able to see a great show here in Chippewa Falls. My personal favorite band, and winner of the coveted Geeky Award for best band of 2010, Left Wing Bourbon, is going to be playing at the Snout Saloon. It should be what I feel is the perfect band in the perfect venue. If the weather holds, I predict a big turnout.

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