It’s almost November and I hear we are about to get some snow.  That can only mean one thing.  It’s time to raise some money for rescue dogs.  I have partnered with Secondhand Mutts in Tremont for the last 3 years to raise money and awareness to this awesome local shelter.  I am such a sucker for a homeless pup.  I almost lost my dog Bean last year to some crazy Pancreatitis.  Lucky for me she pulled through.  I am not sure how, as she was at deaths door for a week, but Bean is still with us today thanks to the amazing care she got at River Square Animal Clinic and mostly my dear friend Christy.  A special note to you dog lovers, lay off the fatty animal products, especially Turkey skin with Thanksgiving around the corner because you might not be so lucky.  While some might dispute this fact the attack was brought on by table scraps, I am pretty confident this was the cause.

Bean is a rock and roll kind of dog and she is very jealous of the line up I have for my 3rd annual rock and roll freak show at The Happy Dog Friday November 30th.  While she can’t join us, because she drinks too much and gets in fights, all bipeds are welcome for the low low price of $5.00.  There will be raffle prizes and rock and roll, what more could you ask for?  I have gift cards from Chef Jeffrey Jarrett at AMP 150, Chef Matthew Harlan of Lolita, B-Spot and Bar Symon fame, Chef Anna Harouvis at Good To Go and gift items from Larry Collins of City Buddha, Ashley Ross of Crochet Til Death, Local Artist and girl around town Kathy Patton, local artist and stylist Pam Smillie and Pam Alerine of Style Mutt Dog Boutique thus far.  I am sure I will be able to drum up some other goodies closer to show time.  But the music…oh my the music.

First off The Happy Dog in Ohio City is so generous to put up the stage for this benefit.  Without them there would be no show.  They are an area business that truly does give back to the community they thrive in.  The owners have been nothing but generous to me and my crazy demands in the green room.  Kidding, there is no green room.  However when I think of eating out in the area what is more Cleveland than a hot dog and a side of tots?  It seriously is up there with the traditional Polish Boy.  It’s just one of those things that truly works in our city.  ”You want me to go where to eat what?” my out of town friends say.  To which I reply “I want you go to the Happy Dog and eat a goddamn hot dog.  They have 50 toppings and they are out of this world.”  They normally listen to me trying it out after hitting one of Symon’s joints and are impressed and call me a fucking genius.  Then I tell them about Momocho’s smoked trout guac and their fucking heads explode.

It’s usually easy for me to meet people under any circumstances and that’s how I first bumped into Nicky English and David Mahoney.  We were just sitting out on the patio of the Barking Spider at a celebration of the life and legacy of our mutual friend John Kuegeler who sadly passed away this year.  After a few minutes they were both sharing stories about our mutual friend and road travels.  Quite honestly two of the coolest folks I have met this year in my travels (that I don’t blog nearly enough about).  So they play in this band together called Nicky English of all things!  I always feel weird about a band named after someone is it a band or is it a person.  Who cares?  It’s Nicky English and honestly they are amazing.

Scoliosis Jones, my perennial favorite and long time supporter of this blog (when I write shit that isn’t about shoes) is also on the bill.  I think it was two years ago when Tox, Heidi, Ty and AC Jones invited me on stage to do a very drunken rendition of the Johnny Cash classic Cocaine Blues that I butchered beyond belief.  Hopefully there will be none of that shit this year.  What there will be is balls out rockabilly though.  They are a blue collar band with long planted Cleveland roots.  I am pretty sure Tox Jones streaked the field at the old Municipal Stadium back in the early 80′s high on airplane model glue.  He won’t admit it, and he also won’t admit they are the best rockabilly band going in the Cleveland area, but I will.  I am not one of those huge rockabilly freak fans, but I know good music and this is just balls in your face high octane live without a net rock and roll.

Last but not least, and how I managed to get this one man walking freakin’ rock and roll show is beyond me, is Steven R Trent.  I have not seen anyone able to pull off a one man show, besides maybe Bob Log III, that can do it any better than Trent.  Trent is an amazing player, and singer.  It’s just pure entertainment plain and simple.  You look down for a second, hear a band playing and look up and see one guy sitting on a stool with a guitar singing and kicking a bunch of shit with his feet.  You can’t help but be amazed by the talent this guy has.  He is coming up from Akron to take part of this rock and roll circus.  And all the bands are doing it for a couple drink tickets and maybe a hot dog or something.  So a huge thank you to all the local folks that are donating a Friday night to play for free for the dogs, at the dog.  I hope to see you there.