So, What's New...

The Hometown Team

From the Bar: 03/10/13

I went to the bar tired last night. Having it well staffed, I thought I would drop something off for the bartenders and head back to the homestead for a little catch up on sleep. However, when I walked through the door and heard the buttery smoothness of Manfort (feat. Ladykopp) coming from the stage, and then saw my old friends up there playing and smiling and singing, I had no choice but to pour myself a beer and settle in for a bit. I stopped and talked to Jim on the sound board, Steve showed off his new duds, Cole was sleeping on the ceiling, Pat was schmoozing at his art opening, Rich was in town with his band, and familiar friendly faces were in view in all directions.

This was one of the moments when I realize that I love my job and that the bar is Good.

Yes, we have amazingly talented acts that travel from all over the region to play here. Many of these folks have become my friends as well and have captured the admiration of our customers. However, there is a happiness and a pride that swells in me when I see our hometown folks doing their thing so well and having such a great time doing it. I don’t know if the bar has become what I necessarily envisioned it to be when I opened the doors 6 years ago, but it certainly has evolved into something better and more important than anything I could’ve dreamed up alone. And as I’ve watched this evolution I understood that the best thing for me to do was to open the door, sit back and facilitate and support local artists of all sorts. Let them loose. Put trust in our talented people.
We have a great line up of festivals and events throughout the year in Winona, and we bring in lots of great artists from all around, but our local artists are the blood in the beast. They live here, work here, are our friends and neighbors, we can see them throughout the year in various venues town. They deserve all the support we can muster up. They make our town unique and vibrant.

Take Mike Munson for example. From the first time I heard him play blues guitar, I knew I wanted to give him every opportunity I could to play at the pub. I had never attempted to book a weekly artist before, but soon Mike was playing every Sunday evening. The only complaint I ever have about his sets is that they come to an end. Mike (the man and the musician) exudes quality.

And then there’s Jim Trouten. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Jim is the most clutch player in the Winona arts world. He sits behind the scene and runs flawless sound and lights all over town. He teaches kids how to play music. When he gets on stage, his shows are pitch perfect and engaging. He’s a member of the Winona Fine Arts Commission, helping to advocate for artists get them grants. When you see Jim, buy him a beer and say thanks. The guy is a stalwart member of our arts community.

Winona has been fortunate to be home base to: Robert Armstrong. Jake Ilika. Mudcat, Pat, Bruce and the open mic crew. XArt. My Private Eye. Beet Root Stew. WSU Jazz. The Ultrasounds. Riflebird. Jaybone Bell and Restless Light. Wake Up Bedhead. Boats Vs. Manatees. Thumbelina and The Tangerine Fists of Justice. Moondawg. Deep Sea Summit. Oktober. The Bus Boys. The Beef Slough Boys. Dan and Dusty. Northwoods Band. Schwa. WEDGE. Paco. Fat Rudy. Funk Stew. Fast Annie. North Country Band. Etc. Etc. Etc. There have been more great local acts than I can remember that have taken the stage at the bar over the years, and beyond that, the bar is only small component of a long and rich tradition of Winona’s live music and arts culture, which is always bulging at the seams. Honestly, it is a huge reason why I’ve moved back here, not once but twice. It is a big part of why I make Winona my home.

Other Notes:
As many of you probably already know. The bar’s remodel is for the most part finished and we have had the new room open for a few weeks. Come on down to check it out. We can certainly use all the support we can get after this huge and expensive project.

We have been getting some stellar beers in as of late. It’s amazing that when I opened the bar, my choice of IPAs to pour on draught was about 3. Now there are dozens. Last night, I couldn’t decide what to pour for myself, it was all so good: Victory Headwaters Pale, Surly Cynic, Summit Saga, Summit Maibock, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye, New Belgium Fat Tire. We’ll also be tapping a Lucid IPA, Odell’s very rare Schott Through the Heart, Pyramid Apricot Ale, New Belgium’s Hoppy Bock and more in the upcoming weeks. (I’m also trying to lock down a firkin of Saga… shhhh…)

Although this post was about local artists, I can’t help but show some love to all the people who have come through recently and are coming through in the next few weeks. 4 on the Floor, Rogue Valley, North Country Bandits, Circle of Heat, Head for the Hills, Good Night Gold Dust, The Farewell Circuit, it was great to see you all. Prissy Clerks, Gospel Gossip, Porcupine, Greg Hall and the Neil Young folks, Tom Robinson, The Sex Rays, we look forward to your visit!