I'm feeling grateful as the 2026 hundred-day season winds to a close. It's been a busy one as I finalized the videos for Minneapolis and Love You Like Chicken in the midst of the summer splendor and busyness. MANY thanks to everyone who participated and lent aid to my latest video project; you can see the stills used in the video (and a few that didn't make the final cut) in the Photos section of this website.

The final gig of the season proper will be next Monday (9/28) at Hoop's dockside IN Lake Superior. I hope you can join me at this fabulous venue. Most of the gigs for Fall and Winter have already been posted in the Shows section. There's a possibility that I add that Christmas (Saturday 12/26 date) but that will be about it for local live performances through January of 2027.

My attention now turns to writing and recording new material with time booked at Sweet Tease Studios in late November. If you're reading this, you should know that YOU are the reason I keep going. It's so great to see everyone and meet new friends (and relatives!) at all of my favorite venues throughout the Chequamegon Bay region. I can't wait to share what's next with y'all - LOVE YOU LIKE CHICKEN!

I’m pleased to introduce you to two new original songs that I recorded back in April at Sweet Tease Studios in the Twin Cities. 

The lead single “Minneapolis” (hear the audio on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/DEm9OdUvD8Q?si=EtB8wzbiK6qCoVjY) recounts the events that unfolded in the Twin Cities during Operation Metro Surge and the corresponding demonstrations against that deployment of federal troops in January and February of this year. All of this took place during our cross-country car trip that took us through the Twin Cities during this time, and the song is inspired by those events, as well as informed by my own experiences and those of some of the players on this recording who were tear gassed and had automatic weapons pointed in their faces for no legitimate reason. My heart goes out to all of those affected by the senseless violence. This song is dedicated to the memory of Renee Good and Alex Pretti who didn’t deserve to die.

On a WAY lighter note, “Love You Like Chicken” (YouTube audio here: https://youtu.be/7P0KZ2zYcHM?si=2iwwttYi9isvCIw5) is my ode of reciprocal love to the club owners and patrons who continue to come out and support local live music and musicians (especially this one). It is inspired by the positive feelings, good vibes and support that come my way each and every time I perform to a live audience and is meant to send that love right back to y’all!

Both songs are now available for digital download in the Music tab.

Production for both videos is currently underway, and I expect Minneapolis will be complete sometime within the next few weeks, with Chicken to follow. The video shoot at Farmer Bossy’s place on July 26 was hotter than the dickens but EPIC and I hope to have that project wrapped up by Apple Fest. This weekend I’m at The Battle Axe for their 20^th Anniversary Bash on Saturday (1-4 p.m.). Let’s keep this party going while we still can!

The 100-day season is rolling along, with shows this weekend at Timberrr Bar in Herbster on Friday from 4 to 7 and at Morty's on Saturday night from 7 to 10 p.m. I also plan to hustle over to Legendary Waters in Red Cliff after the Timberrr Bar gig to see Brother Jon at Legendary Waters, where I will also be playing next Friday night from 8 to 11 p.m. (next Saturday night at the Battle Axe for Blueberry Festival). 

Work on the new songs (Love You Like Chicken and Minneapolis) is nearly complete, and they are currently being mastered in advance of release and distribution on all major streaming platforms. I hope things will be wrapped up by no later than next week. So, soon you can get some more CHICKEN in your life and muse philosophical about the state of free speech in our Nation. I am currently working on a video for Minneapolis and plan to take a run at Chicken sometime in the Fall. A reminder that you can see all of my videos on my YouTube channel (@daveujke).

I've also ordered more copies of my children's book Bear the Cat so that I can make them available for purchase in local stores Unfortunately, this involved increasing the price to allow the merchants to make a modest profit and to allow me to avoid taking a loss. At $34.95 it's still a pretty good deal for the hardcover with all of that wonderful art. Copies ordered on the website will still sell for $29.95 plus shipping until the few remaining copies with that bar code are sold. I also have a promotional video in the works where I read the book to a musical score by Brother Jon and plans for a Spanish language version. Check back later this Fall for more details.

To all of you beautiful people reading this blog: keep on keeping on - hang in there, we're all in this together and it's only gonna get worse, so make sure to keep livin' till your dead and make some time for yourself on the beach with a cold cocktail!  - DMU  

I'm pleased to announce that the Prince Party that I've had every year at our home is now a public event! It will take place at Morty's Pub in Bayfield on Saturday, June 13 starting at 7:00 p.m. I'm excited expand the party and am hopeful that it will someday outgrow me. I've extended an invitation to all local area musicians to contact me about performing a Prince song at the party to supplement the live set that will be performed by The Strays (consisting of myself, Mark Rossow, possibly Ray Hanson and hopefully others). Come now all ye strays of the world, there's a place for you…

There will also be a killer DJ set to open the party. I've now handed all of my party decorations over to the good folks at Morty's who will be serving some Prince-themed (vegetarian) options, as well as Prince-themed drink specials. I hope that you can make it to the very first public iteration of what I hope to be a legacy-type event celebrating the life and music of the most profound artist of our generation.

I'll also be performing a live set on my front porch the next day as part of the inaugural Bayfield Porch Fest, so feel free to stop on by the next day from 1:00 until 2:00. If you need my address, send me a direct message or email.

PEACE, LOVE AND HUMPTINESS TO ALL!

Get your funk on! Check out my new video for Keep the Groove from my alum “Northern Songs” : 

I'm excited to be headed back to the studio with my good friend Brother Jon Rabideaux (www.brotherjonband.com) to record two new songs that I wrote. The first one is called “Love You Like Chicken” and is a shout out to all of you and to the clubs and venues that continue to keep this whole thing going by hiring me and letting me do what I love for all of you. It's just a big circle.

The second one is entitled “Minneapolis” and is my tribute to the good people of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, where I lived for three years while I studied law. It's borne of my experience driving through the metro during the ICE protests that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti. In it I sing "I never thought that I'd live to see such a wicked scene as this." It's not meant to be a political statement, but it is meant to convey my feelings about the entire situation, which I find absolutely abhorrent. Nobody had to die, and it's a crying shame that our government is terrorizing its own citizens.

All of that said, music is for everyone and I hope that it continues to bring people together, regardless of how they feel about what is happening in the world. I think it helps us understand each other. I hope that my music helps folks feel better and maybe a little bit more understood.

I'll be recording at Sweet Tease Studios (www.sweetteasestudios.com) this time in Minneapolis with Sam Licari (Sami Licari & the Sweet Tease, Irie Minds, Matt Schatza Trio, Red Eye Ruby, Trent Romens Band) who also recorded Brother Jon's most recent release Dark Side of the Room. By the way, check that record out if you haven't done so already - it's great!

As open water appears in the bay and the snow disappears, I'm excited about the upcoming 100-day (summer) season. The calendar is starting to fill in, and I hope to see you at a show!

The 100-day gig season in the northland was another memorable one. BIG thanks to all of the local establishments supporting the live music scene - both those that booked me and those who didn't! The Chequamegon Bay and surrounding area has an embarrassment of artistic riches for all to share. I'm awfully grateful to be a part of it.

Like now, the early part of last year (and most of them) was a time to work on and work out new material. April brought a return to Inner Groove Studios in Minneapolis to record “All I Want for Christmas is the Funk”. The new single was released on November 1 and the video release party followed at Morty's Pub, where we recorded some great footage that made it into the final video. It was also cool that it received some local press coverage.

My children's book “Bear the Cat” was released on October 20. It was first conceived circa 2000 or so and was copyrighted in 2002. After numerous attempts to find the right artist (and a small claim and offer to appear on Judge Joe Brown in between) the incomparable Holly Tourdot and I started to work on what is now the final hard cover book in earnest around 2019. We struggled through the covid pandemic, Holly suffered through major health issues, and we both battled to maintain our sanity all the way through to the end. I couldn't be more pleased with the way everything turned out. HUGE props to the wonderful Holly Tourdot - I truly couldn't have done it without her. I'm also working on a video of the book, narrated by yours truly and scored by Brother Jon Rabideaux, so keep your eye out for that…

I also started to play the new song “Love You Like Chicken” as part of my live set later in the season. It's meant to send back the feeling that I get from all of you when I play out, and that is its inspiration. I plan to record it this Spring so stay posted - I've got some fun ideas for the video!

I know that the craziness of the world is sometimes overwhelming and hope that my music provides solace and escape to you if you need that. Can't wait to see you at a show in 2026!

I'm now taking preorders for my book Bear the Cat, which is currently limited to 100 copies. You can find it in the store, and that link will be live as soon as the book arrives in hand next week. Shipment date should be not later than Tuesday, September 30. I hope you love it!

There's big news and big things coming! First, my children's book “Bear the Cat” is in production and will be available soon; the publication date is October 20.  Here's a sneak peek:

Next, the video for my next release “All I Want for Christmas Is the Funk” is now in production. I'm excited to share it with the world. As with the children's book, the release date for the video is now set for November 1. I can't wait to play it out live this winter. We will be having a video release party at Morty's Pub in Bayfield; details to follow.

Finally, I'm pleased to report that my new song “Love You Like Chicken” is complete and is now part of my live set. I'll be recording it in 2026 and hope you come see me play it live at a gig sometime soon!

I'll be posting more pics soon, but in the meantime, here's a little taste of Christmas charm:

Peace, Love and Humptiness FOREVER!

DMU

If you noticed that the Conelickers video disappeared, it's not a glitch in your wiring it was me. Because of a licensing with one of the participants issue I had to pull it down. The good news is I was never satisfied with the finished product, so I endeavored to find a videographer/editor to help me spruce it up and VOILA! Now you have the new and improved Conelickers video! See it here: