What to Expect

The Venue: Big Lug Canteen

Perfect, quintessential, awesome…what’s that descriptor I’m looking for to describe Big Lug Canteen’s outdoor music space? Or, how about they just have a great place to take in live music. I mean, if they’d let me bring in a hammock and string it up, I would, but…

Okay, jokes aside, on a great spring evening, it’s hard to beat that ambiance and experience.

Be kind. Drink beer. Eat good.

I wish I could claim that, but that’s them—and it is spot on. YOU have to deliver on the “be kind” part; they will deliver on the beer and food part. As you’re sitting watching your favorite local band play, their kitchen and brewery have your taste buds covered…literally.

Their beer list is extensive and diverse. Of course they have their award-winning Goat Ranch Helles Lager, but as an IPA guy, I appreciate their attention to detail and variety—they have several on tap. My favorite is their West Coast-style Honest Weight American IPA. Another fave is the Topanga Pale Ale…it’s citrusy, crisp, and very approachable.

Now…if you need an excuse to use that beer to wash down some food, they are golden. Hey look, it’s the Sahm’s—they KNOW food. They have something for everyone in your group…salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizza. BUT, if you go with me, I’ll be your wing man. No, really, your wingman…I love their wings! I don’t know exactly what they do to their Nashville Wings. It’s kinda like what Mike Myers said in the cult classic So I Married an Axe Murderer, “Because he puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes ya crave it fortnightly, smart arse!”

Full stop.

They do NOT put an addictive chemical in their chicken, but they put something in it that makes ME crave it fortnightly! The other sneaky-good, low-key great with beer and music is the Hoss Dip. It’s a heavenly seven-layer, dippish dip, served with the big-boy Fritos that is as much fun to eat as it is a delight to your palate.

So, let’s reiterate what they say at Big Lug…

Be kind. Drink beer. Eat Good.

The Band: Red-Tailed Hawk

When you see Red-Tailed Hawk, be prepared for a musical conversation. The heart and soul of the group, Steve Kennan, is a master musician, storyteller, and connector.

By the end of the show, he’ll know your name, your dog’s name, and whether you root for or against the Dodgers. That might be a slight exaggeration—but not much… he does know my dogs’ names ;)

Red-Tailed Hawk is a duo featuring Steve and the uber multi-talented Mark Berry. Steve handles vocals, acoustic and slide guitar, and harmonica. Mark gets more sound out of his cajón (a sit-on drum) than most people get out of a full kit, plays occasional bass, and adds strong vocal support.

They mix in a variety of covers you know with originals you’ll want to know. Whether it’s a cover or an original, you’ll feel Steve’s authenticity come through. He’s a California guy with an effortless way of bringing his life into his songs.

At a recent show, Steve reminded the audience how music connects all of us—and asked why we can’t carry that same joy into our lives outside the venue: “It’s not that hard to be kind to everyone.” Agreed, Steve… agreed.

But you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced a Steve Kennan “SOCIAL.” That’s Steve hoisting a beer, asking everyone to raise theirs and toast one another—“SOCIAL!” That, in a nutshell, is Red-Tailed Hawk