Webers Deck

3177 Cty Rd 3 NW

Annandale, MN .

Put some bands on the deck, invite people to come out on a Sunday afternoon, bring the kids, the lawn chairs, the coolers and listen to some music. After leaving I had a chance to think a bit more about what Webers Deck is about, or at least what I liked so much about it after my initial thought forementioned.

It seems that most people will only venture out to see their favorite bands, or their friends band, etc., gone it seems are the days when people just go to a spot they like regardless of who's playing. Obviously there are still a few spots like that left but a lot of music venues have become destination venues, i.e. the place is empty unless you bring the people.

This is what struck me about Webers Deck. I think people would come out and sit on their lawn chairs with their coolers even if there was no music. The music is the draw but no one band in particular, at least on this occasion. Who's playing? Who cares! Let’s get together and have a nice day. I like that.

I got to talking with a guy and he said he was just driving by, saw the cars/motorcycles and heard some music so he pulled in to see what was going on. That's Webers Deck.

Lastly I'll say the other thing I liked from a band perspective is that it's hard to be competitive or have an ego when your sitting on a deck playing some tunes. You get into some clubs and the bands are all "we've done this and we've done that"...sizing you up. I laugh at that because I used to be like and it's silly.

I realized a long time ago that no matter how big the show is, I still have to go home and mow the lawn and take the garbage out...which I did after our set at Webers Deck. But none of the performers were like that at Webers and I think the atmosphere has everything to do with that.

Right In My Face

I will say first and foremost. Molly's Rude Awakening is a gem. Key characteristics of a gem as given by Wikepedia: precious and rare.

I can't say how many times I've taken exit 115 to the Holiday gas station in Black River Falls, WI. So I've passed Molly's many a time. But I never even glanced at the place, never even cared to notice what was right in my face.

Well, you might understand why from the outside.

In the past year I've been booking shows site unseen, which proves to be really the only "adventure" for the traveling musician.  There is a reason why every bands story begins with, "Oh, we played this one place..." 

The venue is the adventure because it is the destination.

This is something I lost playing with the band. Not because of them personnaly but because with a band you have to find places that can pay or I paid. No risks, no let's take a chance, no adventure. Truth be told I hated that.  Again, it wasn't the guys but with no adventure it was just long boring hwy miles.

So I threw myself back into the old me, the only part of the old me worth going back into, and I booked a ton of shows at places I'd never been.  I saw some like-minded musicians playing certain places and I took a risk.

Molly's is one such place.  It has a coffee cart for the drive thru folks and a little storefront with hippie things for sale, odd in itself cause I didn't figure Blk River Falls, WI had that type...but I digress.

Molly purchased the adjoining auto garage from her uncle and turned it into a music venue/hang out. Open the garage doors, set up some tables and listen to some music...yup, makes sense to me!

I played with my good friend Josh Harty and I was glad he was there because all these site unseen small town places have been a real shot in my arm.  They've rejuvenated my hope for live music and the people who attend and I want him to get in on that as well.

We play around the city, amongst 1,000's of other bands and you’re just the next guy in that night, who cares. We get treated like crap most of the time...seriously.

So going to these small town places has eliminated this completely. Yes I have to drive 2hrs or more to play a show. But I'd drive 10hrs to play for people like Molly and the awesome folks of Black River Falls.

I'm not sure what Molly's rude awakening was or is but for me it is such a wonderful place. Like I said, a gem.

I'll be back at Molly's Rude Awakening on Friday, September 10.  It's a pot luck so bring some friends and your appetite!