the Root Note experience with Dan Collins & A Piano

The Music; The List.

I know that the last few posts have been all about documenting my business' growth, but I want to do one more scrap bookish thing before I get back into writing. I am currently sounding (as I affectionately call running sound for musicians at tRN) for Whitney Mann. She has played here before, but recently, she opened for Willy Nelson right here in town. She is slowly climbing the ladder to potential greatness. This thought brings me to the idea of listing the musicians that have played here during their climb to greatness (as many as possible that is). So, in no particular order, here goes:


Ed Chicken, Jihad, Everyday Jones, Bottom of the Barrel String Band, Bryon Cherry, Nick Shattuck, Stephanie Nilles, Claire Taubenhaus, Jeff Mitchell, The Soviet Onion, All Good Things, The Orrico Brothers, Heller Mason, Kevin Koutnik, This Bright Apocalypse, The Scottsmen, Tom Miron, Yak Ballz, DJ Randy Random, Dub District, The Prizefighters, Jim Seem, Melissa Hyman, LaBarge, Brahman Shaman, The Brilliant Beast, Orangutan, The Chord & The Fawn, In Bed, The Ericksons, Josh Franke, Ben Krause, Nicholas Henderson, Beauford Firebeard, Nicholas Bjerke, Proto Melei, Grey to Blue, Tony Zobeck, Kenny Rosales, Igloo Martian, Boyle, Zobin, Byron Space Circus, Patchouli, Don D. Harvey, Ari Herstand, Will Hutchinson, Ben Treffer, Namoli Brennet, Tom Feldmann, Geri X, Canadian Customs, The Blackberry Bushes, Andy Berkhout, Harlon Mitchell, Ryan Conrad, Muddy Flat & The Hepcats, Ryan Kaczor, The New X Art Ensemble, Fayme Rochelle & The Waxwings, George Christianson, Casey Virock, Joe Dawson, Long Trip Home, Kent Johnson, Johnathan Steckleberg, Eric Sommer, Michael Elliott Smith, The City Arms, Like Trees, Nathaniel Seer, Bluff Country, Four Potatoes, Hypnopotamus, Tyler Lyle, Emily White, Jenn Bostic, Dan Collins, Derek Pritzl, ABRAHAM, Levitating Train Committee, Chris Koza, Northern Lights, The Fishhooks, Derek Ramnarace, Mike Droho, Whitney Mann, More Amore, Harmony Ink, Our American Cousin, Grand Picnic, Laura Meyer, Gypsy Lumberjacks, Greg "Cheech" Hall, Sig Lombardi, Taylor Donskey, Saints & Sailors, Garnet Rogers, Alex Toast, Jaci Miller, Dada Trash Collage, Trapper Schoepp & The Shades, Steven Plant, Desdamona, Jimmy Atto, The Uniphonics, Matt Ray & Those Damn Horses, Carnage, HighMay, The Beef Slough Boys, DefMek, Hyphon, Witness, Lost World Visionaries, The Ditchlillies, The StereoFidelics, Dustin Rosa, Corey Hart, Michelle Lynn, The New North String Band, T.U.G.G., Mouse Pocket, The Songs For, Henry & X4, Driftwood, Boo Bradley, West of East...

Well, I'm quite certain I missed more than a few, but this list will continue to grow. It's amazing to see in type just how many bands have come through here (most of them more than once). I knew that I had done hundreds of shows, but it's great to actually see some kind of list. This is the part of the business that brings me personal pride. I am responsible for bringing in most of the above music, sounding for it, and making sure things went well. Pretty good considering I've been teaching myself sound over the last year. From here: onwards and upwards!

Another recent article from Coulee Region Women - Beautifully written by Maura Henn

A Recent La Crosse Tribune Article About the Note

Cafe committed to putting local food on its menu

The Early Days - A Root Note Themed Second Supper. Oh How things have changed.

The Beginning?

I suppose it might be strange to start a blog about my business, the Root Note, a year and two months after it first opened it's doors. However, like any un-expecting parent, it has taken some time for me to get my ducks in order. I have gathered clips of first steps, articles from the paper, pictures of its childhood along with countless memories. Now, my business is a rebellious teen, finding it's own path, and challenging my expectations. As every parent does, I find myself thinking, "What happened to those happy, easy, pre-teen years? Why didn't I take more pictures, save more mementos? What will I do when my baby is all grown up and doesn't need me any more?". So, I'm gathering my thoughts here, so that I can at least capture the last few moments before my business, my baby, lets me move on.

You, the reader, may be wondering why I am so quick to consider myself the parent in this situation (making my 4 partners husbands and wives, mothers and fathers). As I was beginning my own venture into adulthood, college that is, our first assignment was to read Plato's Symposium and discuss it as a class. Though I loved the many theories on the meaning of "love" (esp. Aristophanes famous take on the matter), I found myself particularly moved by that of Socrates (by way of Diotima). In it, he states that humans desire only to be immortal. However, because we are not, immortality, in a sense, can only be achieved by way of producing a child. Most will choose to create the first type of child, one of flesh and blood, in order to achieve immortality. Through this child their name, lessons, and genes will be passed on for, potentially, eternity. Socrates goes on to state, however, that there is a second type of child that will aid one in achieving immortality. This "child" is a creative endeavor; a book, a song, a philosophical theory, art, etc. In this way, one's ideas, feelings, thoughts, and actions can be recorded and carried on through history.

For me, the Root Note is my child (the second type of course). Since it's inception, it has helped me to reach thousands of others in countless ways, and has helped them to connect with one another. Under its name, I have helped to better my community and bring it closer, open minds, teach others, and give birth to new ideas. The reality of my dream of parenthood in this way, has helped others to achieve their own dreams. Through my child, I am bettering the world around me, and it is bettering me. What parent could ever ask for more?

And so, this introductory post will end here, though I could go on an on, (as many proud parents do), and probably will in future posts. For now, however, I am confident that this gives you a good understanding of what Raising the Root is all about.