Most recent Issue
Prime Magazine Current Issue
subscribe button
Prime Magazine Back Issues
Shop the Prime Store
Be Featured In Prime
Facebook

After Dark


Wednesday night open mic a hit at TG’s

Image 1 2 3



Published:

Story by Steve Lund

Mark Paffrath knows what goes into a good “open mic” night. He’s been hosting one at TG’s in Kenosha for eight years, and he hosted open mics in other bars before that.

“A good night is when you have a lot of people in the audience, a lot of people playing and a lot of variety — a nice crowd and a nice mix of performers. There are some nights that everybody just sounds good.”

TG’s, 4120 Seventh Ave., is one of Kenosha’s better-known taverns. It was operated for years by the late Chet Matoska as Chet’s Sports Bar, and sports, entertainment and political celebrities have made appearances. John Kennedy stopped there when he was campaigning in the Wisconsin Primary in 1960.

Now the bar has a much bigger food menu. It is owned and operated by Sherry Revis and Theresa K. Revis, who are sisters-in-law.

The Wednesday night open mic begins about 8:30. Paffrath, 54, a well-known performer around Racine and Kenosha, always opens the show. He plays an acoustic guitar and sings a variety of songs, some original, some by other local songwriters and some by the Beatles or others.

Often the second act is Rusty Horse, a duo comprised of Jamie Fulton and Pete Mulligan. They’ve been playing together since they met at Northland College in the mid-1970s. They perform some songs from that era, especially ones made popular by Hot Tuna, but they also play their own versions of songs by Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead and even Led Zeppelin as well as old blues numbers.

Rusty Horse is an audience favorite at TG’s both because of their skillful guitar playing and because they are always working on new material. (Even if you only show up at open mic night once a month, people want to hear you do something new.)

On Rusty Horse’s final number, Paffrath usually joins in on the mandolin.

After that, the evenings are pretty unpredictable, although most of the performers play acoustic rather than electric guitars. Most acts are solos, but there are plenty of duos and trios, and sometimes someone who performed earlier will come up to help out a friend on one or two numbers.

It tends to be a baby boomer-friendly group of performers, either by the actual age of the people who participate or by the choice of music. Even the younger performers are likely to be playing songs made famous by Neil Young, Paul Simon, John Mellencamp or the Beatles.

“There’s some people who are there every week, some who are there maybe every other week, and some people you don’t see them for months. It’s the same with the audience,” Paffrath said.

“It’s never the same, but it’s always fun,” Paffrath said. “I’ve met so many people who are my good friends through it. It’s been a pretty rich experience. We’ve had some amazing Wednesday nights.”

TG’s is a long narrow building, and the performers are tucked into a corner in the front, but Paffrath, who brings in the lights and sound equipment, said it isn’t really a bad place to play. The bar also frequently hosts live music on Saturdays.

It is a little disconcerting for customers using the front door, however, when they find themselves right next to a performer as they walk in. The door from the parking lot on the north side of the building has fewer surprises.

TG’s has a wide-ranging menu of sandwiches, appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts, as well as dinner specials.

On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights the grill and kitchen are open until 10 p.m. On other nights, the full menu closes at 9 p.m. After the grill closes, hot beef sandwiches and chili are still available.