Just a quick update to keep our loyal J Ryan Trio newsletter subscribers in the loop. Happy Halloween to you all, and do stop out and say hello. J Ryan Trio schedule available anytime at www.jryantrio.com
The Cheel
105 S Main St, Thiensville, WI 53092
-262-236-9463
www.thecheel.com
Saturday Nov 3
9pm to late
The Cheel was voted among the top 5 new restaurants in Milwaukee – and with good reason. Their handcrafted dishes deliver authentic flavors from quality ingredients. Enjoy the full bar – heck enjoy the music why dontcha.
Caroline’s Jazz Club
401 S 2nd Street
414-221-9444
www.facebook.com/CarolinesJazzClub
Thursday Nov 8
8:30pm – 11:30pm
Jazz and blues and a few surprises – with Cadillac Jimmy on bass – check it out. It’s a true jazz club and Milwaukee landmark.
Bugsy’s Backalley Speakeasy
218 N Water St, Milwaukee
(but enter via the alley off Chicago Ave)
414-221-6565
www.bugsysbackalleysaloon.com
Saturday Nov 17
9pm – 1am
No shame in reserving a table to get a good seat – simply call ’em up and they’ll put you within hecklin’ distance. Bugsy’s is always undiluted straight up fun.
I usually work to create a marginally uplifting newsletter infused with positivity. However, in the spirit of Halloween, I’ll allow this month’s edition to trend just a smidge darker. All in good fun – enjoy.
Halloween ranks behind Arbor Day and Broccoli Appreciation Day as my least favorite holiday. I’ve never been a fan of the ‘pop-in’ style of unannounced visit, and wee tykes in costumes are no exception. Although paying off the children with candy such that they don’t mess with the house is a refreshingly honest transaction.
Here’s a list of candy I don’t like:
Candy Corn – What flavor is it supposed to be? If brainstorming new candy ideas, best to start with something good and make it better – make it candy-er. Corn is not a starting point. Any vegetable really, no-one wants candy asparagus or candy spinach either. Plus they seem perfectly shaped to choke on – was that intentional?- Laffy Taffy – tastes pretty good but it sticks on my teeth and I find myself chomping and slobbering it into submission like a dog trying to eat a pill wrapped in cheese. More hassle than it’s worth.
- Black Licorice – How tough must life have been when this candy was invented? This flavor could only be considered passable in a world yet to invent TV, the internet or indoor plumbing. Does it taste horrible? Sure, but back in the day it took your mind off of tuberculosis.
- Little boxes of Raisins – don’t give out little boxes of raisins – kids don’t want that. Nobody wants that. Just, just don’t do it.
- Anything with Nougat – I don’t know what nougat is and I don’t trust it. I don’t even like the word – it’s phonetically icky and seems a better moniker for an industrial lubricant than a candy.
- Anything with Coconut – Coconut insists upon itself. It has no business ruining perfectly good chocolate but inserts itself into the party like an unwelcome guest.
- Hey we’re getting together Saturday for dinner, feel like stopping by?
- Oh yeah, sounds good – hey can Coconut come along? He just went through a rough patch and could use a night out – is that okay?
- Uuuuuumm, well – yeah sure I guess that’s fine – he’s not bringing nougat, is he?
- Leftover Valentine’s Day Candy Hearts – If you still have these sitting in the front-room candy jar mixed in with three sticks of Freedent and the keys to an ‘09 Scirocco, it is not OK to unload these expired candies on the trick-or-treaters. Save them for care packages you send to folks out-of-state. What are they gonna do about it? They’re outta state!
- Pennies – pennies are not candy.
Alright – have a good Halloween and if you find a bowl of candy on the porch of life, be a stand-up individual and take only one piece.
OK
Moving that gear. Keyboards – big ones. And drums – lots of ’em. And stairs. It’s excellent resistance training – with cardio. I save on gym membership; you’d think I’d be in better shape after all that hauling, and I’da thought toting a keyboard down the sidewalk would raise my coolness quotient. Not the case. I’m uncool for, um… other reasons. Many… many other reasons. It’s even changed the way I enjoy watching other live bands. I watch folks play and mentally tally up the gross tonnage of gear on stage – then smile knowing I don’t have to load it out once the set wraps. heeeee he.
Musicians. The musicians themselves. They (and me included) are an absolutely interesting bunch of cats. Yup. Interesting, that’s the adjective we’re going with. Sharing music is a great way to learn the real ins and outs of the people who play it. I’m blessed to share music with some fantastic people, and to have grown to know them so well is one of life’s best treasures.
Our very own Kristi and family returned recently from touring the venerable RCA Studio B in Nashville – part of the Country Music Hall of Fame. I can only imagine what tunes she’ll be adding to our set list.
A reminder to check all drum cases before the gig.
credit: The Onion
I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Owners Paul (as in the Paul Spencer Band) and Caroline (as in the Caroline) are national treasures and the staff is the best you’ll find. It’s comfy, casual, classy and cocktail delicious. Stop in to hear the J Ryan Trio’ s musical jambalaya on Thursday and have a truly remarkable experience supporting a truly remarkable venue. For a peek behind the scenes, I don’t have video of the JRT at Carolines (yet) but I do have a clip of ole Ryan messin’ round with Paul’s crew – 
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum hosts the original trio – Mike, Andy and little-ole-me – laying down instrumental morning jazz in the best Tuscan courtyard garden this side of Florence. Make it a summer morning of art and sound. Interestingly Mike, Andy and I convened the first ever live JRT session at the fabulous Tusa Italian restaurant on April 28, 2012. Vocalists were shorter back then.
With snow to shovel and holes in my glove – what to do? Almost too obvious, this slathering of duct tape is for the beginner ‘fix-ished’ aficionado. More advanced learners will graduate to caulk, bailing wire and eventually JB Weld.
A musical entry – this keyboard pedal suffered a broken housing due to, um… unbridled enthusiasm during a Stevie Wonder song. The giant washer and Herman Munster looking bolt have held this hot mess together for several years now.
Aaaah – an automotive entry. My beloved ride is 20 years young – far too tender an age to consider recycling into soup cans. Concerned that crafty thieves might steel groceries from the trunk through the holes in the fenders (and having lost a case of Dr Pepper through the same rusty egress) a meticulously crafted patch-panel was unceremoniously caulked and screwed to the vehicle. Both classy AND functional? Yes you can have it all once embracing the “Fix-ished” lifestyle.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin – a great cause to add to our charity mission – completely impressed with what they do and how they do it.
Alissa and Mike at Shank Hall – JRT opening for the sweet rockin sounds of Jasmine Cain.
Every time we play equipment is moved from vehicular stowage to full setup and back again. Some join a gym and honestly I just don’t get it. If you’d like to be in great shape and save $50 a month, call me and let’s talk about being a roadie. We’ll make sure you work the abs, glutes and Rolands.
We witnessed on Dec 23 the end of an era – last solo public appearance for the venerable and fabulous Mr. Joe Hite. He will in 2018 pilot the Joe Hite Orchestra through the heady airspace of weddings and corporate events – depriving us proletariat of slack-jawed stupefied amazement of his work on mic and keys. He is as stellar an individual as he is a musician.
And this is a picture of some cats… because no photo album is complete without beloved family pets. You know I will include for you, dear reader, whatever shameless schlock I think will keep you from hitting ‘unsubscribe’. Just look at those faces… I mean, c’mon.
JRT – sinatra crossword puzzle