The 40 Fingers Band | Star Spirit Adventures

Summer is here and what’s not to love? You have your sandbars, your outdoor music, great grilled foods, cold beverages, camping, and laughing it up with family and good friends. This past weekend I went camping with family at Six Lakes Campground in Chetek, WI. We chose this particular spot because it was a mere four blocks from Gilligan’s, which is the bar my father’s band, 40 Fingers, was playing at this past Saturday.

Gilligan’s is a great time for anyone who loves being outdoors and listening to good music. The bar staff is attentive and they will check up on you to see if you would like to place an order for their wonderful food, or if you need your drink refilled. If you prefer to get your own beverages, the tiki bar is quite large and located out back by the music, for your convenience. The bar features brightly colored bar stools and on a nice day you can sit in the sun and watch the boats come and go on the lake, while taking in some live music.

The food at Gilligan’s is pretty great. This time around we ordered pork nachos and gourmet cheddar cheese curds. The cheddar curds are the size of golf balls, and they are delicious. I feel the need to indulge in them any time I visit Gilligan’s; I’m a Wisconsin girl all the way.

The drinks at Gilligan’s can be ordered in a keepsake drink mug, if you like that sort of thing, which I personally do. The mugs come in a variety of bright and fun colors. Mine is hot pink, but you can also get blue, neon green, purple, etc. I bring my mug with me to refill, each time I visit. This bar also has a variety of specialty summer drinks. I recommend trying them out if you are adventurous and open to new flavors.

Gilligan’s has music on weekends. My father’s band, 40 Fingers, will be at Gilligan’s again this coming Saturday, if anyone is wishing they hadn’t missed this past week’s performance at this particular location. This upcoming weekend features the Bear Creek Band, on June 28^th, Your Mom, on June 30^th, and 40 Fingers, on July 1^st.

The venue has two bars, one indoor and the tiki bar, out back. The bands play outside just off the lake in the tiki hut. There is a dance floor, but the floor is all sand, so it can be difficult to dance. The majority of the sitting area is hard floor and my family and friends tend to hang out up top near the tiki bar and dance on the more solid ground.

Gilligan’s is the place to be for good food, good music, and relaxing lakeside. For more information, please visit: http://gilliganschetek.com/

This upcoming weekend is Father’s Day, and while I love my Dad, unfortunately I have another engagement to attend, so I cannot be with him to celebrate. As a tribute to how cool my father is, I have decided to tell the world a little more about one of his favorite pass times. My Dad has been in a band since he was a boy, he is a self-taught drummer, and his ambition never ceases to amaze me. Today, my dad still remains a kick ass drummer and singer, which if you notice, is a commodity, because many drummers do not sing due to the concentration and multi-tasking required to maintain the beat.

If you are in the Eau Claire area on a Saturday night, or possibly the surrounding area, chances are you will be able to find my father’s band, 40 Fingers, playing somewhere. The band consists of four members: Dave Ambers (drummer), Laura Reali (Keys, Alto Sax.), Hal Ahlers (Bass), and Cory Miller (Guitar). All of the members of the band are wonderful singers.

If you love to dance and you enjoy a variety of music, this band would be perfect for you. They play a wide selection of music from old to new and country to rock. Laura does a great job belting out Ex’s and Oh’s, while Cory has the perfect voice for “Love Shack.” My dad, Dave, does a great job with the song “Temptation Eyes,” and Hal is awesome with “No Matter What,” and no matter what they are playing, every member of the band has a great sense of humor and they have fun all through each gig.

While I am definitely partial to 40 Fingers, I can genuinely say that very few bands meet my expectations, because of how solid my father’s band sounds. Even though they play in some smaller towns, they have a big sound and they draw in several regulars, everywhere they go. If you haven’t heard 40 Fingers, I encourage you to check them out. I love to wander around and listen to what the audience has to say about the band; it’s always positive and people always comment on how much fun they are having.

40 Fingers does have a few regular locations that they play at, which are as follows: Jake’s Tiki Bar (Menomonie), Gilligan’s Tiki Bar (Chetek), Sammy’s Pizza (Eau Claire), Big Swedes (Holcomb), VFW on Starr (Eau Claire), VFW on Folsom (Eau Claire). To find out where 40 Fingers will be playing next, please visit: http://40fingersband.com/index.html

For more information on the 40 Fingers band, please check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/40-Fingers-817262014961407/

Adventure is wherever the desire takes you.