Harlem Globetrotters a Milwaukee New Year's Eve Tradition

The Harlem Globetrotters have come to Milwaukee on New Year's Eve for as long as I can remember. The young ones might not know about the Globtrotters of the 1970's. Fred "Curly" Neal, Meadowlark Lemon, and Wilt Chamberlain all played for the Globetrotters when I was a child.

They claim to have a winning percentage of over 98. I didn't know that the team played actual exhibition games in addition to their shows. Those games are competitive, and usually won by the Globetrotters.

I found a picture on their website that shows them playing in a bullfighting ring in Spain. Their history goes back to the late 1920's. Milwaukee Bucks fans might like to see the Globetrotters play each other. That would be more entertaining than watching the Bucks play real opponents.

The Globetrotters play two shows this year. Tickets are still available as of this post.

Long Neglected Eau Claire for Rock

I don't often post about shows in Western Wisconsin, so I thought I would take a look out west. House of Rock is a nice venue for local and regional acts. They are home of the "world's best bloody Mary."

They have a couple of pool tables, darts and Foosball. This venue is home to local artwork as well. The place is spacious, and the stage is high enough for the bands to be seen with no problem. This is a clean and friendly club.

If I were to hit that club in December, I suggest going to the Crumpler show on the 19th. This band is not to be confused with the Milwaukee Crumpler. On New Year's Eve, they are going for one of those eight band nights. There will be lots of Chippewa Valley entertainment to choose from. It starts early that night, as the doors open at 7pm.

George Strait plays Summerfest 2009

It was as if Summerfest had read my dumb blog. George Strait is the first concert announcement for Summerfest 2009. This long lasting country artists will perform on June 29th. George hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards for three years, twenty years ago.
He came back as a host in the mid 1990's.

This entertainer literally has too many awards to mention. He has broken too many attendance records to list here. He's just one huge star in the country music scene. He has sold 58 million albums to back that up.

His sponsors are a mix of Resistol Hats, Wrangler, Justin Boots and Chevrolet.
Summerfest tickets have not been released yet, it's months from spring, and now we have something to look forward to.

Dead of winter, but Marcus Amphitheater bookings to start

Yes, it's November. There is a layer of light snow on the Summerfest grounds. Marcus Amphitheater tickets from shows in the past are stuck to my cork board. By March of 2009, we might have our first Summerfest concert announcement. Tom Petty stated that he likes to work his tour around the Summerfest show. Usually we get a flavor of the day band, a few classic bands, a couple country acts, and a surprise act for the Summerfest run.

The announcements are spaced out through the spring, and some come as late as May.

Leo Kottke, another local favorite

Leo Kottke performs at the Barrymore Theater on February 6th, in Madison Wisconsin. This wise performer is touring the south and west coasts during most of this coming winter. What a great plan. He's lived in many places, most notably Minnesota. We consider Leo to be a Midwestern man.

Kottke has the strange picking style, he fought off tendinitis, and he has worked with many of the greatest guitar players of the past fifty years. He's been around so long that he has started to rework his older recordings from the 1970's. With over thirty five recordings to his name, why not go back around and redo the oldies.

The Barrymore Theater is a perfect place to see Leo play his songs. I haven't been there in years. I wonder if the Barrymore still has the tiny lights in the ceiling. It looks like the stars come out when they turn the house lights down.