A few months ago I saw Lucero for the first time at the Magic Stick. The show was epic, the crowd loved them and Katie Fran even jumped on stage and tried to kiss singer Ben Nicolas (If you don't know Katie Fran look her up- I'm a Franatic!). I could not believe how wild the crowd went, the sing alongs and all the people jumping around and having the time of their lives. It made me a Lucero fan for life and guaranteed when they came back into town that I would not only attend, but I would try to get our readers out for what I know will be a good time. I just didn't know they would be back so soon and be doing something so neat which makes it a lot easier to tell you why you need to be there.
Lucero is playing this Sunday at Small's in Hamtramack and they are having a good old fashioned BBQ for all those that attend the show. Smalls is my favorite bar in Michigan and is the best place to see a band like this because they have a great team of sound guys over there that know what they are doing. The drinks are always stiff, the TV in the bar broadcasts what is happening on stage so you don't have to miss a beat and they always have lots of my favorite Hard Luck Rootbeer Vodka ready to pour on the rocks.
Mike and crew will be serving up all sorts of food including pulled pork, burgers, sausage, veggie burgers, coleslaw and chips. Tickets are only $20 for this event and can be purchased here. The show starts at 8 and all ages are welcome to join in on the fun. Jonny Corndawg is opening the show and the night promises to be one of punk, rock and roll and good old fashioned country mixed into one.
If you can't make it to this show or you live in the Grand Rapids area, you can also check them out two days earlier on August 17 at the The Intersection, my favorite venue on that side of the state. Click herefor details and to purchase tickets to that show.
Today the Midwest will be stuffing its fat faces with glee as we celebrate Paczki Day. There is no better place to celebrate than Hamtramck, center of Polish people, culture and food.
Paczki Day started in the middle ages and was created because people were forbidden to consume eggs, lard, sugar, and fruit during the Catholic holiday of Lent. So everyone had to make a treat that would use all of this food up that was in their houses.
Paczki are deep fried pieces of dough shaped into a flat sphere and filled with your choice of fruit or custard filling. They are different than a donut because a donut gets dipped on each side but a Paczki gets totally submerged when it is fried. They are also a little less sweet than a donut, more doughy and less cake like.
Today this holiday is celebrated in Poland and predominately in the Midwest due to our large Polish population. Notable celebrations are held in Boston, Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, and Wisconsin.
Six years ago, Small's Bar in Hamtramck started throwing a huge bash beginning at 10 a.m. and going until 2 a.m. on Fat Tuesday (Paczki Day). They open their doors to approximately 500 people for the day, serve drinks and give out free paczkis. But, the best part is that the mix masters there, including Mike, Rob, Natalie, Melody, and Remi, have figured out how to make a Paczki Bomb! A Paczki Bomb is a 2-3 bite size piece of a paczki packed with your choice of liquor. You can get fat and drunk at the same time! Literally the best idea ever! Mike says that his favorite is stuffed with the famous and amazing Hard Luck Root Beer Vodka, but they also have them made with Raspberry Vodka, Blueberry Vodka, Vanilla Vodka, Bailey's, Lemon Drop Vodka, Red Fish Vodka, Spiced Rum and for the first time this year, Orange Dream Vodka. They said they go through about 25 dozen paczki making the Paczki Bombs, so yes they are a huge hit.
This year they also have The Polka Floyd playing "The Wall" in its entirety beginning at 6 p.m. They will also feature a bar room sing along with "The Captains of the Head" during intermission. All this fun accompanies the other great festivites in the Hamtramck, including the parade that goes right by Small's.
Paczki Bombs are only $3 each! The bar will also be making Polish Sausage and will have souvenir t-shirts and posters for sale! Make sure you head down and join in on all of the fun!
