sholowicki
This user hasn't shared any biographical information
Posts by sholowicki
HOLOWICKI: English Rockers “Purple Melon” Review
Feb 2nd
Purple Melon
Holowicki
London rockers Purple Melon is an unsigned hard rock group that are the self proclaimed quintessential rockers of British Rock. Their influences range from the Kinks to the Faces. I would have made more of a comparison to the likes of Aerosmith, the Eagles and Kansas. The band has been featured on MTV, AOL, KTLA and Hit Music Central. They have played at the Roxy Theater and other music venues around the world. They are scheduled to begin a USA tour of 140 different venues starting at the beginning of March to promote their new demo called Henry’s Rocket which was produced by Paul Stacey who has worked with the Black Crowes, Oasis, Chris Robinson and the Lemon Trees.
They crafted their style in the form of a US/UK style of rock that made a resurgence a few years ago with the likes of Jet and the White Stripes before the indie hype began. They record entirely on analog equipment so it may not sound as polished as digital but is totally acceptable. Watch for their tour dates on their website at http://www.myspace.com/purplemelonspace.
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: Nostalgia and Buddy Holly
Jan 27th
A recent photo of the site of the plane crash about five miles north of the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. (Photo credit: http://coast2coastchronicles.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ski1835.jpg)
I feel a bit nostalgic for a moment.
Holowicki
A few days ago I posted some information on Facebook that I recently discovered on Buddy Holly. I felt this was an appropriate time to discuss this at this time of the year. I was a kid listening to my mom’s old records decades ago and among them were “At the hop,” by Danny & the Juniors and “Not Fade Away,” by the Crickets. That was Buddy Holly’s former band.
On Feb. 3, it will be the 53rd anniversary of the death of three rising music stars whose lives ended suddenly. They are Charles “Buddy” Holly, Ricardo Valenzuela “Ritchie Valens” and JP Richardson aka the “Big Bopper.”
They had just finished a gig in Clear Lake, Iowa, at the winter dance party tour and a few minutes later their lives would be taken in a plane crash about five miles north of clear Lake Iowa en route to their next show in Fargo, North Dakota.
Buddy Holly’s band at that point had released about six singles and had sold 4-5 million records, Ritchie Valens was just 17 and had also released a handful of singles, he was too sick to board a tour bus, which had a broken heating system. The Big Bopper also was recovering from flu-like symptoms and requested a seat on the plane.
WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SWIaJ5Ili4
Ritchie Valens, for those too young to remember — most of us were long from being born yet — was just starting out and had only a few hits in just about eight months with Donna, “Common Lets Go” and “La Bamba.”
WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hto-UMuYkwk&feature=related
JP Richardson was considered the main act at the time and excited the crowds with “Chantilly Lace,” his biggest hit.
WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b-by5e4saI
Years later, Don Mclean would record “Miss American Pie,” in memorial partly to the tragic event remembering “the day the music
(Photo credit: http://www.cityofclearlake.com/files/images/Surf_Ballroom_08-31-2011_101358.jpg)
died.” Contrary to popular belief, the single engine 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza that the singers flew in was not nicknamed Miss American Pie and most of the song is not about the legendary trio, only part of it is.
The Surf Ballroom’s annual commemorative event honoring the musical legacies of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson began in 1979.
This Feb. 2-4, 2012, the Surf ballroom will host an all new Winter Dance Party in anniversary of the bitter sweet events that happened back in 1959.
The sold-out event this year will feature Pat Boone, Jason D. Williams, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Marshall Lytle of the Original Comets, Tommy Allsup (Buddy’s guitarist), The Flamingos, Danny & the Juniors, The Bobbettes, John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party and Sid King & The Five Strings!
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012
Doors open at 7 p.m. Nightly
Ticket Price: $ 110.00 Adv / $ 125.00 Door
(Again, sold out)
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: Spotlight on Keith Franx
Jan 24th
Keith Franx in 2008 at the 15th annual Bluesfest in Quincy.
As promised, I’m writing about two out of the many area musicians. The first is Keith Franx, native of Minneapolis who came to Quincy to live with his family in 1994. Keith remembers a time in the land of 10,000 lakes when Prince, Soul Asylum and the Replacements were just starting out. “Oh man, Soul Asylum was TERRIBLE back in those early days,” he says.
Holowicki
I have seen Keith play locally a few times. Thursday night was the third. I showed up at a local watering establishment just to listen to Keith.
Keith plays a bluesy, soul type of one-man show guitar while at times playing the harmonica simultaneously. That takes a lot of talent. He is not a lead guitarist though. He‘s a strummer, so he is a in a different league than a BB King. Nevertheless, Keith has written and recorded hundreds of songs. From listening to him, his influences range from Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Tom Waits, Black Crows and a little bit of Barenaked Ladies — sorry man. Keith pauses between sets to tell a story of his fourth grade crush, his teacher. He was excited when he got to sit next to her a field trip she took them, too. Some movie I had never hear of, “Sounder.” But, most importantly, he told the story of rushing through the airport to have his picture taken with a guy named Taj Majal, who is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. At the time, he didn’t know who that was.
He also incorporates elements of world music into his music. No, I have not heard that much of him, but members of the audience certainly did. Keith admits that is his REAL influence. I’ll give him that. Keith’s next show is Feb. 3 at Johnny Bang Bang’s.
Next, I will be doing a CD review of a band named Purple Melon, an unsigned band that claims to represent the best of British rock.
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: Moving Pictures features films and more
Dec 28th
Holowicki
Just a few weeks ago, I reserved my spot at the first Moving Pictures Film Festival. Amidst holiday shopping, travel arrangements and a touch of the flu this took me awhile to digest.
Three hours of short films from film makers all over the world. They ranged from cartoons to political to sci-fi, to mainstream breakup love story to just plain bizarre.
Amongst those were a film about a past life cowboy named Stingray Sam, from the old city of Mars city of Durango-casinos and all. Three themes discuss the roles of the liar, the beggar, the judge, with biblical quotations from Psalm 44 and John 4:41.
“Pocus” is a silent sweet tale of a breakup that was preceded by the story of how an illusionist/mime and his girlfriend first met in a park, a sort of Eternal Sunshine Theme. A funny tale about how he then proceeds to rip up a picture only to have it accidentally or magically repair itself.
“The Wailing Room” is about two dueling air drummers who duke it out on a couch as if it their only way of communicating.
Double Back is Table 16’s short about a couple meandering about life set to oscillating scenes between sweet and innocent, pop culture and drugs, black and white to color: replete with guns and industrial music.
11 short films then intermission then more film. Free popcorn and snacks were really great too.
Two more films appeared that I felt were worth mentioning. “The Small Assassin” is an interesting story about a man who suspects his own baby is to blame for the attempted murder of the child’s mother in what appears to be ordinary household accidents. The man gets suspicious and admits to the wife these are no accidents.
“My Name is Lisa” is about a mother’s progressive mental degeneration exhibited onto her child as the child pleas and argues with the mother, all while burying herself in internet activity, frustrated by the mom’s dementia.
Stingray Sam appears again in a second episode to a bizarre finale about melding men together to make more men accompanied by a strange lyric at the end.
All in all, a great night of entertainment. Definitely not-so fine. The true test will come in February when the Big Dam Film Fest will hold its annual event. Being that the Moving Pictures event is from a completely different format may assist to determine if there is enough cultural diversity in Quincy and Hannibal to hold three annual film events.
Steve Holowicki
Holowicki: Chicago dogs, frozen custard and more, what’s not to like?
Nov 11th
Deters Dairy was around well over 100 years ago and their two shops at 12th and Broadway and 12th and State did a booming business. This was long before I was in Quincy.
I stopped in a few weeks ago after a friend told me that it was the only place in town to get a Chicago dog. I ordered one and it was delicious. I decided to go back.
Holowicki
So, I made a second trip, and this time I had the luxury of talking with Richard Deters, heir to the legacy of the famous custard business. While the dairy business no longer is owned by the family, Richard and his brother, Greg, decided to get back to their roots several years ago and try out their luck at the location on 36th street in what is now the Firehouse Pizza. That Deters location later closed. “It was too big!” Deters said.
Their current location is in an unlikely location. It stands near Staples with its front façade facing away from Busy Broadway at Broadway and 30th and opened in 2007. (They have two other locations in Weldon Springs, Mo., and St. Charles, Mo.) It is, no doubt, smaller. Menus and value meals adorn the yellow walls. The place is bright and cheery. What would you expect for a place that serves ice cream and hot dogs?
The conversation started out when I asked about why the family closed the original 12th street locations. What prompted the question were the cool little retro photos hanging on the wall with the year and location of the dairy stands printed into the photos.
“What is the reason ANY business closes? Competition,” remarked Deters. “With McDonalds and Wendy’s opening up nearby, who could compete?”
Richard wandered away from the family business to pursue other ventures, but was eventually lured back. He understands the principals behind mass produced fast food. It can do really well. After all, what town have you ever visited of 5,000 people or more that did not have a McDonalds? He notes that in any city (big and small presumably) you see a Home Depot, McDonalds, Steak and Shake and so forth. Deters wanted to be different.
So I decided to make a third trip the next day for a frozen custard. Their menu reads “Our custard is a premium French style ice cream. It combines fresh cream and eggs to create an ‘Extra Smooth Frozen Treat.’ We have selected the very finest ingredients, flavors and toppings from all over the world!”
Deters spends more on vanilla and Belgian Cocoa than most places do. I won’t tell you how much. I almost fell over when I heard. He brings in two types of vanilla and for the most part, this fine confectionary is made in-house. “I could spend less if I wanted to. I have a hard time sacrificing the quality,” Deters professes.
If you stop by, you’ll notice the facility is small by comparison to a Steak N’ Shake or a Dairy Queen. My guess is that with the price of higher priced ingredients, volume is not in the cards. Quality is.
Think back to the soft serve craze of the seventies and frozen yogurt in the eighties. A lot of these trendy places are still around, but many more have died off. Custard is as timeless to Americans as hot dogs and Chevys. That kind of commitment to perfection is really hard to come by these days.
This is my recommendation if you haven’t been to Deters in a long time:
1. Check out their website: www.detersfrozencustard.com
2. Go get some custard or a Vienna Chicago dog before it gets to cold to leave the house. Tell them I sent you!
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: Mid Mod architecture
Nov 4th
Quincy is home to a pretty good collection of mid mod architecture, I have noticed.
To start with, the Bank of America building at Broadway and 24th and the other Blessing Hospital building at Broadway and 14th, and the old First Bankers Trust building, with its rust-red brick and massive brass trellis with the inscribed circles. Unfortunately, that is near complete total demolition.
There’s an entire neighborhood of Mid Mod homes roughly between State and Maine off of 24th to 30th streets.
Holowicki
Mid Mod is short for Mid-Century Modern architecture. It was made famous in the fifties and sixties by the likes of architects Eero Saarinen, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Minoru Yamasaki, who inspired some of the most prolific Danish Architecture styles of that period.
The World Trade Center designed by Yamasaki was one such example.
Earlier on in the late forties, Dutch Modern and mid mod furniture had evolved from the Deco Revival or Streamlined Moderne styles that were iconic of the late forties and very early fifties, the Zoe theater in Pittsfield being one such example.
This was an era when Frankie Laine, Mitch Miller, and Rosemary Clooney rules the airwaves. There weren’t more than a few thousand TV’s in homes yet.
As the decade proceeded, industrial designers and furniture designers used geometrical shapes and fused the streamlined design to create the Moderne style. Such examples included Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair and Howard Miller’s Ballclock. Herman Miller experimented with molded fiberglass to create a variety of shapes in home furnishings, following the trend.
Architects designed office buildings, houses, couches and coffee makers interchangeably.
By the seventies, mid mod,-not a nickname coined until much recently, was a mainstream style that was still fairly strong but waning as the newer modern style of tinted cylindrical buildings and boxey styles took over as the more preferred, simpler forms.
Today, as the “fifty years old” mandate for being officially recognized as historic by the National Trust for Historic Preservation comes into full swing, many architects and historians have been moving quickly to write nominations and tax credits to spare these buildings.
Yet, for the past twenty years, modern architects and corporate decision makers viewed these structures as ugly, as they were demolished in huge numbers. They are not. They are testament to a time when women wore pillbox hats and stylish, conical and cylindrical ashtrays were commonplace at the local bank or Triple-A office. There were no earth tones, or pseudo neoclassic styles. Lime Green and turquoise were en vogue as was blonde, tapered brassed-capped legged furniture.
Today in 2011, as the 50-year mark passes mid mod structures become eligible to be placed on the National Register, Quincy should be celebrating the abundance of Mid Century Modern architecture in addition to it’s vast collection of Italiante and Queen Anne homes throughout the city. Feel free to buy a book about Mies van der Rohe or Mid Century Modern architecture and celebrate it. Better yet, drive around Quincy and see if you can spot a Mid Mod. Maybe your mother or grandmother has a cool kitchen table and chairs from the fifties!
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: A review of Circa Survive’s “Blue Sky Noise”
Oct 20th
Circa Survive is a Philadelphia-based indie emo rock band that formed in 2004. Their third full-studio release is titled “Blue Sky Noise.” While it was released more than a year ago, it is still worth singing praises.
I first learned of Circa Survive through a friend of a friend on a MySpace page back in 2005. I sampled some of their songs on their webpage and was amazed. Late that summer I bought tickets to one of their shows and was blown away by their performance.
Holowicki
Their debut album, “Juturna” was released on April 9, 2005, by Equal Vision Records, and received mostly positive reviews. Their second album, “On Letting Go,” was released on May 29, 2007, and reaped widespread critical acclaim. Their third album, “Blue Sky Noise,” was released on April 20, 2010 on Atlantic Records and has received huge critical acclaim and mainstream success.
Circa Survive is characterized by dual lead guitarists, powerhouse offbeat drumming and an unusually high pitched soprano-like vox of frontman Anthony Green. Their interesting use of rhythm — like lead guitar riffs, frequent chord structure changes, vocal style and enigmatic lyrics — make them a truly amazing ensemble. This style has progressed and developed through the years since their first release and is acknowledged in the lyrics of their opening song “100 Steps.”
Two songs are particularly notable and are a change in the usual pattern of their sometimes mysterious lyrical meanings that Alternative Press once referred to, noting “hazy lyricism and reckless introspection were prerequisites for legitimacy and timelessness.”
Introspective indeed.
“I Felt Free” is an introspective change in the usual style of their songs which brings reference to a breakup in a supposed lie to get rid of the girl by her telling something that turns her off. It’s unclear what that something is.
“Glass Arrows” more than likely refers to someone that has ended up in an unlikely state of depression or alcoholism and defers to staying out of the public for a long period. The repetitive use of the lyric “Disappeared from public places — how long has it been?” gives emphasis to wasted time spent in a supposed introverted state as a result. Then again, that hazy lyricism is what makes the group interesting.
To summarize, “Blue Sky Noise, ” and Circa Survive for that matter, are somewhat reminiscent of the progressive rock era when deep conscious-based thought was blended into the music that was created. For some who are turned off by the drug-infused sound of Pink Floyd and ELP, this is a fresh new approach by an alternative rock band that has a much more straightforward, mainstream feel to it.
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: Comedy Night at Spirit Knob Winery Saturday
Oct 17th
This Saturday night is Comedy Night at Spirit Knob Winery.
Holowicki
Reservations are required for the 8 p.m. show. The cost is $20 per ticket for three comedians. Call (217) 964-2678 to reserve your seats.
The comedians are:
• Uncle Larry Reeb as seen on Showtime, Bob and Tom, BBO, NBC, Comedy Central and Las Vegas shows.
• Christine Stedman, who was voted Funniest Mom in America, and is a regular in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
• The Fryman (Emil Fry). A former Marine, he’s performed three military comedy tours overseas. He can be heard regularly on Sirrius and XM radio.
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: Eventful Weekend In Quincy
Oct 14th
This coming weekend is a big one for Quincy. There’s the Quincy Preserves home tour, the Tin Dusters antique car show event and an open house for the Washington Theater. More information is available at HQBD and tickets for the home tour will be available there as well.
Holowicki
• On Friday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tin Duster registration is at the Holiday Inn, 4821 Oak from and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Historic Quincy Business District, 128 N. Fifth St.
• The 36th annual Behind Closed Doors Tour is the name for the fall walking home tour that Quincy Preserves organizes each year. The architectural styles featured are of the Queen Anne, Bungalow, Neoclassical Revival, Prairie and vernacular Gothic Revival styles. The tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 and tickets are$8 in advance and $10 at the door. Quincy Preserves encourages owners of historically and architecturally significant buildings to restore and maintain them to their original condition.
• The Washington Theater Rehabilitation Commission has been very busy with two Saturday cleanups in the last month with the help of dozens of volunteers, including coordinated efforts with volunteers from the Big Dam Race. Ongoing efforts to save and restore the theater have included a rehabilitated sign and entry doors installation with the assistance of a HUD grant in 2009. The theater itself will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and information will be available if you are interested in joining the effort.
Steve Holowicki
HOLOWICKI: A weekend upstate
Oct 11th
Last time I blogged I was ranting and Raving about the Hannibal film fest.
This past week I traveled to Evanston for a conference and then made my way to Naperville. The annual Illinois planning conference was there and I had to take advantage of that as well as check out what was going on locally.
Evanston is a walkable, old historic suburb that has a lot of transit-oriented development. It’s definitely a college town and very pedestrian-friendly.
There’s a restaurant there called the Prairie Moon that is known for their sandwiches. It’s a festive and fun place located right behind the elevated purple line so you can enjoy a nice dinner with the ambience of trains coming in and out every seven minutes or so. The server recommended the fish tacos but I wasn’t about to pay $15 for them. I got the shrimp po-boy, which was seasoned with blackening spices and loaded onto a bed of lettuce and tomatoes.
The next day I was off to Chicago, where I have wanted to stop by Jim’s hot dog stand for years. Jim’s is at the southwest corner of Union and James Rochford Streets. They have been serving their original hot dogs for more than 70 years. I got a Jim’s original, which is just a hot dog and mustard loaded with their unique grilled onions. Not too bad for a few bucks.
I then took the Metra into Naperville. There I spent a few days checking out the scenery. There’s a restaurant there called Portillo’s which features Chicago dogs and Italian beef. It also has a drive-thru and serves beer. Think: the Olive Garden meets Wendy’s meets bar Louie. I had to check it out. Although I should’ve been the strong-willed person, the counter girl talked me into getting the Italian beef sandwich which was OK, although I’m not a huge fan of Italian beef. Total bill was around $7 including a pop (OK soda for you natives). Good salesmanship on the counter person’s part.
The next day I had breakfast at the Egg Harbor Cafe. After my stomach growled through the half hour wait, my friends and I were seated. I enjoyed the poached eggs and turkey sausage with a side of fruit. Most meals are served with an English muffin and if you order coffee, it’s served in a thermos that you keep at the table. They serve eggs Benedict in a multitude of ways as they do their scramblers. Quite possibly the best breakfast place I have ever eaten in.
That day was also the day of the fall festival held in Wheaton at the Cantigny Park. There, you can enjoy a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate from Bertie’s Coffee Cafe. This event features: arts and crafts show, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, scarecrow making, inflatables, music by the Salt Creek Boys, candy dive, face painting, lots of vendors and a barnyard petting zoo.
Dinner in Naperville has lots of Chicago style choices: Giordano’s, Lou Malnatti’s and Rosebud’s all have locations in Naperville.
The best part of Saturday night: There’s an acoustic band that visited from Carol Stream called the Antique Years. They are a quintet of late-teenage musicians that play guitar and harmonize like true professionals. The drummer plays a simple cardboard box. They stood under a pavilion and sang for an hour or more. The crowd had grown to more than 40 people as these young men and woman bravely played and sang a totally acoustic performance of covers and originals. Although I have not successfully been able to get a hold of them for an interview, they are truly remarkable and can be found on Facebook.
Sunday was my finale: Dick Tracey’s 80th birthday walk held on the riverfront plaza in Naperville and there is a 2-ton bronze sculpture commemorating him. See, Dick Locher was the artist who took over sketching Tracey when original cartoonist Chester Gould retired in 1977. Locher is from Naperville and recently retired. To celebrate, townfolks hosted a tribute along the water in front of the sculpture. Locher spoke for just a few minutes about his 30-plus years as the Pulitzer-prized winning artist who drew Dick Tracey for the Chicago Tribune. The tribute was followed by a speech from the mayor, a presentation of a framed collage of sketches in Luger’s honor and a birthday party at the nearby Naper Settlement. Also featured were yellow plastic Fedoras for all, different assorted confectionary treats as well as many classic Studebakers.
In short, Naperville is a downsized version of Chicago with fun stuff to do if you don’t mind the smaller-town appeal, packed with great restaurants a riverwalk and recreational attractions. Evanston is a vibrant college town with a strong historic feel, great shopping and dining and an ideal spot for the transit commuter.
Steve Holowicki
