Hi there, folks!
Well, we have had a fantastic time with you for another week and can’t wait to do it all over again this week. As a matter of fact, I have such a good time talking with all of you that I completely lose track of time and don’t do my emails on time. So, it’s a bit late again. I’ll try to get better.
I want to say a couple things about a couple of things. First, last week was pretty heavy in a lot of ways. Two friends lost their lives in a boat fire, a friend’s friend lost his life in a motorcycle accident, one customer lost her father, my dad had to put his dog Lucy down, and my grandmother passed away. Some of these things were avoidable, some were not. The point is, love the people around you really hard. You just never know.
And one way that all of us can show love to one of those people who have impacted many of our lives with a long list of musical projects, including the Gallus Brothers and Jill Brazil, is to come to the Frog on Monday the 9th and support Mr. Lucas Hicks. Lucas has been battling a rare form of cancer in his shoulder for nearly a decade and just recently has found a specialist that thinks there might be some hope in getting the tumor to recede. As with most musicians, health care is nonexistent, so we’d like to help out with getting some of that paid for.
So we are having a benefit for Lucas on Monday to raise some of the money to get him to New York City and get that damned tumor frozen! If you cannot make it, but would like to contribute anyway, you can do so through the Green Frog PayPal button. I will make sure that all of the funds get into his hands. It is the worthiest of causes.
Tonight we will be welcoming Joel Vandenbrink to the Green Frog for Two Beers Brewing Brewer’s Night! We’re trying to get these things rolling on a regular basis again and Joel is making some fantastic beer, so of course it’s a good place to start. For tonight we will feature Heart of Darkness CDA, Mango Infused Evolution IPA, Belma Hop Experimental IPA, Sodo Brown Ale, and Immersion Amber Ale. Joel can also tell you about a brand new brewery that he is involved with, Churchkey Can Co. It’s pretty cool. Like always the pints will be $3 and fun will be had by all!
Also, all month long we will be featuring Grilled Cheese specials as April has been crowned National Grilled Cheese Month! So far we have had a dessert offering (baguette with brie, strawberry and honey) and Buffalo Blue (slow cooked pulled chicken tossed in Frank’s wing sauce, blue cheese, monterey jack, on sourdough). Tonight’s special is the Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese (roasted jalapeno, cream cheese, pepper jack, crushed tortilla chips on sourdough). I think it is going to be amazing. Coming up this week, two un-named offerings: a slow cooked short rib, brie, pickled onion on country french bread sandwich and a pepperoni, pepperoncini, black olive, sun dried tomato and shiitake mushrooms with mozzarella on sourdough. Oh the options…
Ok, so now that I’m extremely hungry, let’s get on to the music.
Thursday, April 5: Jebs. 9:30. Free! (but tips gladly accepted)
It has been quite awhile since these fellas have graced the stage of the Green Frog, in either location. But I can tell you one thing for certain: they are really fun. You will recognize them from other bands, beer events, or just being around town. I hope that we can get them in on a fairly regular basis because I am going to miss this one (will be attending the funeral of my aforementioned grandma) but I also hope that you all will make up for my absence! It will take a fair amount of you to make up for my volume level, so at least one drove should make their way down. This is good ol rock and roll, how can you go wrong?
Friday, April 6: Sweetheart of the Rodeo. 9:30. $5.
They’re back. It has been a long, long time, but Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Bellingham’s country gem of yesteryear, is reuniting right here at the Green Frog. I’ve heard tell that it will be a lineup that nearly mimics the original that used to play the Grand every week for years. This one is for the folks who like a little bit of rock mixed with their country. They do that very well. This is going to be a really fun show, even with Stell Newsome as frontman. I would come prepared to dance if I were you. Just sayin’.
Saturday, April 7: HOSS!!. 9:30. $5.
What? TWO local country bands in one weekend? Why yes, that is exactly what is holding it down! If you haven’t heard HOSS!! before, it is really a shame, but lucky for you we have a remedy to that sad state of affairs. HOSS!! keeps it real with old school country tunes from way back. And they do it with a genuine love for the music that comes out beautifully in the performance. I’m not saying that you should hold back on Friday so as to not wear out your dancing shoes, but I suggest two pairs this weekend. I’m really looking forward to the next few days!
Sunday, April 8: Slow Jam. 4:00. Free.
The Slow Jam is beginning to get larger with more people coming out to share some good times and tunes with other players. It’s cool to see that it is taking off under the careful tutelage of the Mayor of Geezerville Jim LaHatt and his trusty dulcimeric sidekick and wife Nancy. (And yes, I’m fully aware that until about 5 seconds ago there was no “dulcimeric” in any lexicon. But I’m an innovator, people. An innovator.)
Sunday, April 8: Open Mic with host, Misty Flowers. 8:00. Free.
I’ve been to a lot of open mics. I’ve been to some that were pretty good. But with open mics you just never know what you are going to get, so sometimes I worry. But this last Sunday, on the very first open mic at the new Green Frog, there was something truly magical happening. The musicians were ALL really, really good. The crowd listened intently. The musicians didn’t talk over other musicians sets! It turned out, with no way to foresee the outcome, the best open mic I have ever witnessed. For those of you who played, thank you. I hope you continue to make it out on Sunday nights and set the bar for the Green Frog Open Mic. We want exactly what happened last Sunday to happen every Sunday. I just thought it would take longer to build it up. Come check it out, it’s pretty dang cool.
Monday, April 9: Lucas Hicks “Cold Shoulder” Benefit featuring Yogoman Burning Band, Gallus Brothers, and Reeb Wilms and Caleb Klauder! (with circus performances throughout the evening by members of Bellingham Circus Guild) 8:30. $5 suggested donation.
Yep, that’s right, folks. This one is a barnburner. It has to be for someone like Lucas Hicks. Not only is he a fine musician, but one of the finest humans I have had the pleasure of knowing. Whether playing ragtime tunes with Brother Mud in Gallus Brothers, accordion in Rattletrap Ruckus, saxaphone in Jill Brazil, or banjo is bands like the Brent Coalminers, Lucas gives everything he has to music and the music community. And this tumor has the potential to take all of that away from him. It is extremely important that we help our brother out and make sure that he is able to play and teach future generations to play for as long as he wants, on his terms.
So come on out and help give Lucas the Cold Shoulder! Cancer sucks. Our community doesn’t. Unite!!
Well, there you have it. A fine week indeed! I can’t tell you how much I enjoy the new room and being able to connect with all of you fine people again. I had way too much time off of the job I love and the people I love to be around. Thank you so much for the fine welcome we have received thus far. Nate and I could not be happier. We could be wealthier, but not happier. It’s all because of the love of you people. You’re pretty.
Cheers!
James
