Traveled to the Northwoods of Wisconsin for another family Fourth at the cabin.
Lake Tomahawk, WI
Hot commodities of the Northwoods
The famous Lake Tomahawk Meat Market
This is how Wisco rolls
My dear friend Ben got married last weekend and once again I failed to bring my camera. Fortunately Alexis managed to snap a photo of my brother and me way late in the night. Even Drew Little had crashed at this point.
Happened to have my camera over at the Dow’s house so I snapped a few pics of the much-beloved music room.
We had a small going away party for Dan who’s headed west to Denver in a matter of days. I managed to snap a few memorable pics.
Dan with his boys
Patrick and Cleaver
Phoenix as night falls from my parents backyard
On a very short hike around the neighborhood
Mom prepping the Thanksgiving turkey.
Dad in his office just off the capital.
The Orpheum sign on State Street.
Back to back nights – The Walkmen and White Rabbits. While I love the intimacy and sound quality of Schubas, I will say Lincoln Hall is a better place to snap photos. At Schubas you can get close, but you can’t really get a whole lot else. That being said Lincoln Hall still seems to be working out some sound issues. From the floor there was a general agreement between Dan, Matt, Aaron and me that the sound was off. It didn’t help that The Walkmen were a bit more sauced than the previous night (or at least appeared so).
As with the night before, White Rabbits opened the show and again the people I was with thought they (White Rabbits) put on a better performance. I would argue against such sentiment. Both nights The Walkmen busted out a slew of new and unreleased tunes while White Rabbits played almost exclusively from their two existing albums. Not that they weren’t playing great – I just have a soft spot for The Walkmen even on a bad night.
White Rabbits from the balcony
White Rabbits with 2" shutter speed
White Rabbits and the crowd
Hamilton Leithauser belting out
The Walkmen and the horns playing Louisiana
From the balcony
We took a break from the music for a bit around the middle of The Walkmen set. Matt was on a rant (as he's prone to doing) against The Walkmen performance so far. No one said he was easy to please.
Aaron snapped a pic of the brothers
Matt, Dan and Aaron. Matt's mood has improved after getting a good 5 minute rant in.
Matt walking the Cal State-Chico Campus
I headed to Chico, CA to visit Matt in early October. While Chicago was already beginning its nasty descent into winter with temperatures below 40, it was 80+ and sunny the entire time in California. Cousin Max picked me up from the Sacramento airport on his way up from Berkeley.
Max and Matt at the Polio Pool West
Park in downtown Chico
Matt in downtown Chico
Matt at the Polio Pool West
A license plate we stumbled upon downtown. Matt was concerned someone might think it was him.
I turn 30 tomorrow. Shoot me now. Well at least I got to have party and you better believe Lep made his way in from the Brew. Not to mention my parents came in from Madison and even Josh and Nick from Neoteric made it out for the occasion. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long while. The end of the evening is a bit hazy but I know Lep and I ended it up on my roof at the wee hours of the night with an 18 pack.
Reisch managed to get the night off from his new gig at Bistro 110.
The fam minus Matt
A more composed pic of Lep and I
Reisch looking befuddled.
My brother who kindly planned the party
Lep and Mowris
The Northwoods of Wisconsin has become the annual Fourth of July destination for the fam, and the biennial destination for the Dowers as well. We spent the Fourth in a common midwest fashion: lousy fireworks, copious amounts of beer, a mini-golf outing (which served only to remind me of how much I dislike the whole idea), tubing (broke a rib), campfires, and heaps of red meat for dinner.
On the pier
Jimmy and Susan
I had to supply a photo that would give Jimmy and Patrick reason to make fun of me (yes – that’s sun tan lotion).
Mom goofing around
Jim, Susan and Patrick
Alexis carrying on a conversation in between tanning sessions
Dan waiting to go back to sleep
Matt on the fourth
Mom on the canoe
Night falls on the fourth of July
Sunset on Two Sisters Lake
One of the more successful fires of the vacation
Daisy-Dog