polk's blog

Reading: My "AHA" Moment

2011-11-19T19:19:00.017-06:00

On November 18, 2011 I heard Michael Sullivan speak at the Schaumburg Public Library. While I am not a youth services librarian, I knew it would be worthwhile to hear his "Connecting Boys With Books

Why Boys' Lit Gets a Bad Wrap." I was right. Not only was it the best presentation I had heard in a long time, it may have been the best presentation I have ever heard. Professionally I will need to review the four pages of notes I took and write a report to share with everyone back at the library. What made this even better was that I was not expecting to learn about myself as well.

I often get asked how I became a librarian. I usually like to say I was an un-employable history major. I didn't want to teach and sure as heck wasn't going to law school. I also spent a lot of time studying and writing papers in the college library so when I graduated into a recession, it was only natural to pursue the MLS so I could become a librarian. That's all true but there really was more to it. I did not realize that however, until I heard Michael speak. At one point during the presentation he asked a young man in front what his "aha" moment was. When was he hooked as a reader. I thought about it, and thought about it, but couldn't not think of when I knew I got hooked on reading. It wasn't until later when Michael was pointing outthat 35% of incoming male freshman at UCLA when asked, stated they did not read. Of course that is not true. Boys read the box scores in the newspaper and they read baseball cards Michael pointed out, the problem is the young men questioned never considered that reading because it did not fit with what they thought, and had been taught, was real reading. Right there, "AHA," I had my moment. That was me. I never considered myself a reader in high school but I was memorizing the backs of baseball cards up until that summer after high school graduation. I could and still can tell you the year Cal Ripken and Kent Hrbek were born (1960) as well as other useless stats and trivia. I also poured over the box scores when my father came home with the newspaper (which he would read while watching the evening news, Barney Miller, Hills Street Blues, etc...) but like those freshman, I didn't consider that real reading. I also have every issue of Guitar for the Practicing Musician, later just Guitar, which came out in 1983 and ceased in 1999. I woud read the articles learning about all the blues players I didn't start listening to until a few years after college. Hello, I lived right outside of Chicago. In Creem Magazine I was reading about the punks and the Stones and in Circus, it was Judas Priest and Iron Maiden or just Priest and Maiden for you metalheads.

The picture above was of one of my favorite books from my home town library. I was lucky enough to purchase it when it was withdrawn some years later. It's about fire trucks. I loved the fire trucks but boy did I hate reading those stories we had to read in the fourth grade. I don't remember what they were about but I do remember I would rather look out the window than read one of them. They certainly were not about fire trucks, or any other kind of truck for that matter.

Who knew, I never realized it but I really was a reader even though I did not venture into the library much during the junior high/middle school and high school years. Thanks Michael, thanks for my "aha" moment.

"Merry Christmas to Me" by the Waco Brothers

2010-12-21T21:11:00.008-06:00

Book Release/Signing Party for Tony Fitzpatrick’s (aka Patrick FitzTony) “This Train,” 2 pm/free (2-5pm) [Literary] @ Fitzgerald's featuring the Waco Brothers on December 19, 2010.

Mighty Joe Young

2010-11-13T13:43:00.010-06:00

I had only seen Mighty Joe Young perform once. It was in the mid nineties at the Lyons Brewing Company. They were booking some good acts in those days, I caught Eddy Clearwater, Byther Smith, and Phil Guy there in addition to Joe. I remember taking my Big Book of Blues with me for Joe to sign. I was lead upstairs where he and his wife relaxed on a couch. He was the friendliest bluesman I ever met in my pursuit of autographs. He was delighted to sign my book and chat. I really don't remember what we talked about but it was his attitude that he would take the time to sign and chat with a fan that I remember to this day. A stark contrast to someone like Robert Jr. Lockwood.

When I saw Joe, he had already lost his ability to play the guitar. For those of you who know the story, it was a sad one and unfortunately it was the surgery which he underwent in hopes of restoring his ability to play that he died from. I never did get to see him play after that night at the Lyons Brewing Company.

I was aware that Joe was buried in Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery in Hillside, right down the road from me. Tyrone Davis and Howlin Wolf are buried next door and Darryl Stingley is nearby but I had never been able to find Mighty Joe's grave. I finally went into the office to find the location of his grave. After a brief search I was pointed in the right direction and was able to pay my respects to the kindest bluesman I ever met.

The Bottle Rockets

2010-01-04T22:48:00.005-06:00

,
originally uploaded by seanbirm.

@ Fitzgerald's, Berwyn, IL, November 27, 2009

Best show of 2009. They blew the roof off the place.

Disc One
01 Sunday Sports
02 Every Kind of Everything
03 I Wanna Come Home
04 Done it All
05 Hard Times
06 Queen of the World
07 Waitin' on a Train
08 Middle Man
09 Nothing But a Driver
10 Down River
11 Shame on Me
12 Slo Toms
13 Kit Kat Clock
14 Trailer Mama
15 Solitaire
16 Talking intro to Gravity Fails
17 Gravity Fails
18 Get on the Bus
19 Indianapolis
20 Love Like a Truck
21 Welfare Music

Disc Two
01 Long Way
02 Encore #01
03 Lucky Break
04 Radar Gun
05 Smokin' 100s Alone
06 Never Been to Spain
07 Encore #02
08 1000 Dollar Car
09 American Girl
10 Take Me to the Bank

2009-05-20T20:05:00.000-05:00

Summer of '98 by Mike Lupica

My review

I learned we were drinking the long ball kool-aid back in '98.

View all my reviews.

2008-09-30T23:10:00.000-05:00

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn

My review

View all my reviews.

Pine Valley Cosmonauts @ the Abbey, Chicago. May 17, 2008

2008-05-18T16:56:00.005-05:00

You may not agree w/his politics so I won't go there in this forum, but Jon Langford knows how to assemble a band/project and throw a hell of a party. It was either this show or the Bottle Rockets at the Beat Kitchen. I think I made the right choice.

by polksalad69

PVC was Jonboy, John Rice on guitar, Pat Brennan on keys, Tom Ray on bass, Dan Massey on drums, Dallas Good of the Sadies on guitar, and occasionally Travis Good, you guessed it, from the Sadies on fiddle. Joining PVC on vocals was Janet Bean, Sally Timms, Deano and Tracy Dear, Chris Ligon,Puerto Muerto, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Andre Williams, Robbie Fulks and Rosie Flores. Kelly Hogan must've been out of town and there was no drunk David Yow falling off the stage this time.

After a blistering opening set by the Sadies, PVC ran through classic murder ballads, and tunes by Cash, Bob Wills, Charlie Pride, Buck Owens, and even Tom Jones. Highlights of the night included "The Hangman's Song" by Puerto Muerto, "Jailbait" by Andre Williams and the Sadies, and an evening ending "Delilah" w/Rosie Flores.

SUPERSUCKERS @ THE BRAUERHOUSE

2008-01-28T23:28:00.000-06:00

January 24 & 25, 2008, Hillside, IL

When I heard the Supersuckers were playing Hillside I was stoked. I'd seen Sleepy LaBeef and the Last Vegas but a band as big as the SSK, holy smokers!!! We were in for some serious ass rocking.

I headed over around 7:30 since it's only five minutes from my house. Met up w/my sister and ex at the bar. Their bud Roger and his friend Matt were there too. Saw Madman Miller who I had not seen since the SSK played the Abbey back in '06 so caught up w/him too. Sat around and chatted for awhile before the opening band the Sleepers went on. Didn't really pay much attention to them though.

Eddie Spaghetti and Jordan Shapiro were on next so I went up front to get a good spot to take pictures. Here's their setlist.

They played a short set, Jordan switching between steel and electric guitar. Madman gave this guy $10 to get a few beers but the guy just pocketed the cash. Luckily for Madman, his buddy made good and brought over III Schlizts. It was now time for the "World's Greatest Rock n Roll Band."

They opened the show w/that rock n roll song that I've heard before but didn't care for but live, it was just right. The crowd was diggin it and throwin' the horns from the get go. They tore through old ones ("Caliente" and "Luck") and several new songs such as "What it Takes" and "Something Good For You." Here's about three minutes from "Bloody Mary Morning." The vid'sn ot that great but you get the idea, the Brauerhouse was rockin'.

Supersuckers partial II

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After the obligatory "fake encore" Eddie asked what they should play and someone yelled Thin Lizzy. We got "Jailbreak" into "Born w/a Tail."

I remember thinking Scott Churilla just wouldn't make me crap my pants as Eddie said when he joined the band. I thought Murderbuger was a vast improvement over Dancing Eagle and Dusty "mutherf*cking" Watson was phenomenal, but Churilla, well, I almost crapped my pants after hearing him live. What can I say, I'll eat it, he was oustanding in his Led Zeppelin shirt.

Had to work Friday and was wondering how the hell I'd make it another night. Needless to say, I made it. Got over there a little later and met up w/polksis, the ex, Christine and her friend. We sat through the Sleepers yet again and I headed for the stage for Eddie and Jordan's set. You can't miss Madman so I went right for him but was cut off by some woman who said she was fatter than me. I gave Madman a slap on the back and she said, "you know Kevin?" Well Madman had the posse w/him and they weren't budging so I hung back for the second set. Jordan played an SG but no steel this time. They changed the setlist up and did Priest's "Breaking the Law." Unfortunately the crowd just wasn't into it Friday night and the people around me just talked through the set. Too bad because it was a nice set list. After their set, Madman pulled me up close to take pictures but one of his friends said I was standing in her friend's spot. I just looked at her and backed up because she didn't care that I knew Kev. This is when things got ugly. Every time someone tried to move in, they threw up a wall w/their arms. Not cool since the Brauerhouse is way too small to begin with. Once the 'suckers hit the stage one feller got thrown out of the front by these women and their men. Bad vibes. I hung back behind Madman and didn't take any pictures since he's like seven feet tall.

They mixed it up from the night before and did oldies like "Coattail Rider" as well as the rock version of "Roadworn and Weary." We got to hear the new songs too but they didn't come close, nor did the crowd, to rocking as hard as they did the night before like on "Bloody Mary Morning." I blame it on the bad vibes and everyone up front. There was a dude filming up close so there wasn't the mayhem of the previous evening. We even got more Thin Lizzy after the fake encore, this time, "Cowboy Song" and of course that went into "Born w/a Tail."

It was nice to see them in such a small venue but damn, that bar is just too small. What are ya gonna do? They practically played in my back yard so I headed to the merch table and picked up one of them t-shirts w/the tour dates on the back, the kind they don't often print up and sell.

Ok, I lied, here's one from Friday of the woman who told me to move it.

American Music Festival 2007

2007-07-11T17:04:00.000-05:00

@ Fitzgerald's, Berwyn, IL - June 30, July 01, and July 03.

Sure I would have liked to have seen Guitar Shorty do summersaults on stage, the Lee Brothers and of course the Waco Brothers, but four days would have been a bit much, so I rested up on Friday night.

Headed over to get the early bird discount on Saturday. Took a book and sat read on the bleachers while the square dance band that Lawrence Peters plays in played in the tent.

Since I had a few hours to kill before Sleepy LaBeef's set(s) I headed over to my folks house in Stickney. Grabbed a couple of hotdogs, and read the newspaper before making the trek down Oak Park Avenue to Fitzgerald's.

I heard zydeco music as I crossed Roosevelt Road after parking in the People's Republic of Oak Park. Terrance Simien's Creole for Kids was cookin in the tent. Stopped to take a few photos before heading in the club for Sleepy LaBeef. Sleepy looked good for the big ol' dog he is. He doesn't shake the stage on "Mystery Train" like he had a few years ago, but he sounded just fine. He did the usual human jukebox thang. Spoke to a woman who was a huge Waylon Jennings fan. She even knew about Hank III's feud w/Scooter, I mean Shooter Jennings.

Stayed in the club for Nappy Brown's set. Nappy was backed by "Steady Rollin'" Bob Margolin, Mookie Brill, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Classic Chicago Blues. Nappy reminded me a bit of Andre Williams w/o all the raunch, although he did hit the deck to make love to the stage during, "Night Time, is the Right Time."

Finally the main event, Tony Joe White. Since I took my handle from his most famous song, I was really looking forward to seeing Tony. I had never seen him before and he did not disappoint. It was just Tony his guitar and harmonica. Sure his tone was a little distorted but I finally got to hear him sing "Polk Salad Annie."

ok, so I never finished this one, someday...

Chicago Blues Fest 2007

2007-06-11T23:53:00.000-05:00

by polksalad69

So we headed over to the fest on Friday. After picking up a bunch of free stuff from the sponsors and eating a sandwich, we hit the Crossroads Stage for Carl Weathersby's set. Turns out it was the best set of the fest. Carl mixed it up w/some Marvin Gaye and a whole lot of Albert King. Very nice mixture of soul and blues on the notoriously guitar heavy "Gibson" Crossroads Stage. He even gave a shout out to my Mississippi State Bulldog's ("Bulldogs son...") baseball cap.

Next up was Lurrie Bell at the Front Porch stage. Was supposed to be Lurrie and Carey, but since Carey passed a few months ago, Matthew Skoller filled in. WOW!!! Star of the show he was. Simply amazing harp playing and even more impressive were his vocals. Caught Lurrie's set on the same stage two years ago and I'd have to say his playing was much more inspired this year. Considering all he's been through recently he looked very content and at home on stage. On top of that, brother, Steve joined the band and battled it out w/Matthew on harp. The only problem I had was with Lurrie's vocals. Put him in Skoller's band and watch out.

Did not plan on sticking around for the main stage acts on Friday so we checked out the Chicago Blues Jam on the Juke Joint Stage. Guy King (formerly of Willie Kent's Gents), Calvin Jones, and Willie Smith kicked things off.

They played covers but I can't get enough of Guy's playing. Unfortunately it became a revolving door w/Guy switching to bass and some other musicians of lesser caliber taking turns at worn out standards. Enough of that so we called it a day.

Made it back on Saturday for Alvin Youngblood Hart at the Juke Joint Stage. I'd only seen Alvin do his power trio thing (which I didn't care for the first time, but totally dug it the second) so I was really looking forward to his acoustic set. It was hot, we were in Mississippi after all, and Alvin was stuck in traffic, delayed by the space shuttle.

Alvin finally hit the stage about ten minutes late and did not disappoint.

He broke a string on one guitar but had two others and did not miss a beat. He was even sporting a t-shirt of the best band from Ireland, Thin Lizzy. Can't name the songs but he did some Skip James and his own "Big Mama's Door."

Saturday was the night to catch the acts on the Petrillo and it was a blast. Nellie "Tiger" Travis kicked things off and, well, Tom Marker was right, one will not be forgetting her anytime soon. Big Jay McNeely was up next and started his set off with a crowd walk. Did he really say he just turned 80?!?!? Damn, you'd never know it. Irma Thomas was up next, and she just is not my thing. They were good at what they did so it was time to get some crawfish. All in all a nice warm up for headliner, Magic Slim and the Teardrops.

Crawfish ^^^

Irma Thomas ^^^

What can I say, Slim was Slim. On the big stage he had the nastiest, dirtiest, tone. He was even playing a Les Paul, not his usual Jaguar or does he play a Jazzmaster? The drums sounded great. In the small club his drummer plays too hard but on the big stage it just right. He replaced Chris the white bass player w/a black guy. Jon McDonald on second guitar would always complain between sets that Chris missed this or missed that. He didn't know the subtleties of the blues. This feller was funky, not that Slim can hear it since Jon claims he's pretty deaf. Slim tore it up for about 55 minutes. A short set but what are you going to do?

Headed over to Harlem Ave Lounge to catch former Teardrop John Primer. Never saw Harlem Ave that crowded. Folks standing around the bar and dancing in front of the stage. Slim when introducing the band at the Fest called McDonald, John Primer. Got a laugh out of that one. Long night so we stayed for his first set and hit the White Castle next door.

Utah Trip 2007

2007-05-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

Trip to Salt Lake City and Moab, April 27 - May 5, 2007

by polksalad69

After reading Ed Abbey years ago, I finally made it to Utah.

REDD KROSS one off show @ the DOUBLE DOOR

2007-02-04T11:31:00.000-06:00

a little older and a little less hair, but still Redd Kross

REDD KROSS 03 February 2007

New Year's Eve

2007-01-14T08:23:00.001-06:00

THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS & SCOTT H BIRAM 31 December 2006

2006-12-31_100_3816
Originally uploaded by polksalad aka polkdog.

Legendary Shack Shakers & Scott H Biram, New Year's Eve 2006 @ Subterranean, Chicago, IL.

Biram @ the merch table. Better stay out of his merch muthaf*ker...

Biram's geetar.

Waco Brothers @ Schubas, December 28, 2006

2006-12-29T16:55:00.000-06:00

by polksalad69