Westside Steve plays on Island Time
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Westside Steve plays on Island Time
Rock ’n’ roll should be made by truck drivers from Tupelo, Mississippi, not studio musicians with an album commitment to fulfill.
– Southside Johnny
Westside Steve is now one of my heroes.
He’s not quite up there with John Wayne, Ted Williams, Audie Murphy and Bill Lange. But he’s in the hunt.
Not to be confused with the real Southside Johnny, Westside Steve is a musician in his own right. He’s even shared a few of the same stages with Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny (the musician, not the local HCP blogger by the same name).
Jon Bon Jovi credits Southside Johnny as his reason for singing. Westside Steve says he just “thanks God every day I’m alive to do this.’’
Westside Steve is more famous in northern Ohio than in southern Ohio. He might even change his name to Northside Steve. He’s among the most popular
entertainers at the party capital of Ohio, South Bass Island, also known as Put-in-Bay.
Several years ago, we listened to Westside’s alternative lyrics to the Jimmy Buffett classic “Margaritaville” at the Crescent Tavern patio and immediately appreciated his music and his sense of humor.
This past weekend, we helped stimulate Ohio’s struggling economy by spending a few days in Port Clinton, Sandusky, Cleveland and, of course,
South Bass Island, whose motto is: “What happens on the island either stays on the island or the Youngstown mob will make you an offer you can’t
refuse.”
The island, which is accessible only by boat or small aircraft, is well prepared to maintain its own pursuit of happiness. It has a winery and a
brewery — just in case the ships don’t sail and the planes can’t fly.
Day One for us began at Cedar Point, the roller-coaster capital of the world. Ten or 11 years ago, my oldest daughter and I rode the old wooden
Gemini coaster for the first time. My cell phone rang as we were about to climb aboard. As we reached the top of the coaster’s highest and steepest
hill, I tossed the cell phone – and the annoyance on the other end – in the general vicinity of Lake Erie. Haven’t owned a cell phone since. No kidding.
On this year’s trip, four of us rode the Gemini three times in 15 minutes. After the third ride, my brains were scrambled and my cage was rattled. We moved on to something less jarring. Like another coaster.
By my count, I rode 15 rides and then sat down in the shade and let the younger folks have their fun. Cedar Point remains my favorite Ohio amusement
park and I thank Robin Innes and the CP crew for their hospitality.
After watching the morning TV news (Fox) and seeing Hillsboro’s Sara Ledger, now a Miami University student, helping out with the news on
national television, Day Two found us at South Bass Island before most of the bars, restaurants and gift shops opened. We had a nice walking tour of
the local parks and all the boats that were docked in the island harbor. (You know you’re getting old when you begin to enjoy walking and looking,
instead of running and doing!)
On past trips, I’ve stimulated the island economy at the Roundhouse, a 130-year-old red circular bar, where a painting by Southern State’s Skip
Werline has hung for years. I’ve also added to the cash flow of the Beer Barrel Saloon, home of the world’s longest bar (405 feet). This year, we
noticed The Salt Rim, just down the street. It bills itself as the world’s smallest Margarita bar. Seating for two.
Nearby is a new tiki bar with swinging bar stools. I took a pass.
Instead, I tried the playground swings at DeRivera Park with a Dairy Queen chocolate milk shake. Good call...
The best view of South Bass Island is from atop the Perry Victory and International Peace Memorial. Perry’s monument was established to honor
those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812, and to celebrate the long-lasting peace between Great Britain, Canada and the United States. The memorial is a Doric column (whatever that is), rising 352 feet over Lake Erie, and it is located five miles from the longest undefended border in the world. (With Canada, eh?)
Unfortunately, the Perry Memorial is in the remodeling stages right now and is off limits to the likes of this guy. We did use the parking lot,
though, and left our van, down by the lake, under an old pine tree.
Day Two progressed into Night Two and the beginning of Day Three when we met up with friends outside Progressive Field (aka The Jake) in downtown
Cleveland. The Tribe hosted the Twins and I honestly could not have cared less. Until suddenly, I did.
American League baseball is, to borrow a phrase from Hunter Thompson, like watching a bunch of Old Men arguing over money on the front porch. Only
longer. This Thursday night lovefest must have included 247 timeouts, 119 conferences on the pitcher’s mound, and the longest manager-umpire argument
in history without an ejection. And, like Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, I still think Jim Thome’s blast to left-center field was a Twins’ home run.
Matt LaPorta ended the marathon by connecting off Matt Guerrier after the Twins had tied it in the top half of the ninth on a two-run single by Alexei Casilla off closer Chris Perez. My son predicted the walk-off blast.
Until LaPorta’s dinger in the bottom of the ninth, I was convinced that I’d just witnessed the most boring 3-hour-and-28-minute, non-extra-inning
baseball game in history. With one swing of the bat, that opinion quickly changed. And it really changed immediately after the game when my 15-year-old son, who had the benefit of sitting behind home plate while his Old Man was feeding peanuts to low-flying pigeons and seagulls in the right field cheap seats, told me, “I got a ball.”
No kidding.
Colin corralled a foul ball off the bat of Cleveland infielder Jason Donald. It’s a genuine Rawlings, signed by Commissioner Bud Selig. Fireworks
followed the game. We left Progressive Field on Cloud 9.
But American League baseball is still too slow for me. And that’s from a Yankees fan.
On Day Three, we drove over to Catawba Island and the Marblehead Lighthouse. There’s a terrific view of Cedar Point from maybe five or six
miles away. It’s probably an even better view at night. A day of swimming and relaxation completed the extended weekend.
Now, back to Westside Steve.
Simmons, 57, spends his summer playing music on South Bass Island and his winters playing music in Key West, Fla. How cool is that? From one
island to another, he’s got the best of both worlds.
His new album, “Limestone Cowboy,” is out and available online at www.westsidesteve.com. The CD includes “The Battle of Lake Erie,” a
recounting of the famous naval battle of the War of 1812. The victory secured control of the Great Lake and assured that the states of Ohio and
Michigan would remain the sovereign territory of the United States of America.
For a brief history lesson, this was the U.S.-Britain naval battle at the conclusion of which Commander Oliver Hazard Perry wrote to Gen. William Henry Harrison: “Dear General, We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
(More than 150 years later, Walt Kelly of “Pogo” fame would alter the Perry quote to ‘We have met the enemy and he is us.’)
Funny. America used to have war heroes who were unapologetic about claiming a well-earned and hard-fought victory. Times change. But my
opinions of Ohio’s side of Lake Erie haven’t. It’s still a great area for a getaway weekend – and maybe just a little attitude adjustment.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.
Rock ’n’ roll should be made by truck drivers from Tupelo, Mississippi, not studio musicians with an album commitment to fulfill.
– Southside Johnny
Westside Steve is now one of my heroes.
He’s not quite up there with John Wayne, Ted Williams, Audie Murphy and Bill Lange. But he’s in the hunt.
Not to be confused with the real Southside Johnny, Westside Steve is a musician in his own right. He’s even shared a few of the same stages with Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny (the musician, not the local HCP blogger by the same name).
Jon Bon Jovi credits Southside Johnny as his reason for singing. Westside Steve says he just “thanks God every day I’m alive to do this.’’
Westside Steve is more famous in northern Ohio than in southern Ohio. He might even change his name to Northside Steve. He’s among the most popular
entertainers at the party capital of Ohio, South Bass Island, also known as Put-in-Bay.
Several years ago, we listened to Westside’s alternative lyrics to the Jimmy Buffett classic “Margaritaville” at the Crescent Tavern patio and immediately appreciated his music and his sense of humor.
This past weekend, we helped stimulate Ohio’s struggling economy by spending a few days in Port Clinton, Sandusky, Cleveland and, of course,
South Bass Island, whose motto is: “What happens on the island either stays on the island or the Youngstown mob will make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
The island, which is accessible only by boat or small aircraft, is well prepared to maintain its own pursuit of happiness. It has a winery and a brewery — just in case the ships don’t sail and the planes can’t fly.
Day One for us began at Cedar Point, the roller-coaster capital of the world. Ten or 11 years ago, my oldest daughter and I rode the old wooden Gemini coaster for the first time. My cell phone rang as we were about to climb aboard. As we reached the top of the coaster’s highest and steepest hill, I tossed the cell phone – and the annoyance on the other end – in the general vicinity of Lake Erie. Haven’t owned a cell phone since. No kidding.
On this year’s trip, four of us rode the Gemini three times in 15 minutes. After the third ride, my brains were scrambled and my cage was rattled. We moved on to something less jarring. Like another coaster.
By my count, I rode 15 rides and then sat down in the shade and let the younger folks have their fun. Cedar Point remains my favorite Ohio amusement
park and I thank Robin Innes and the CP crew for their hospitality.
After watching the morning TV news (Fox) and seeing Hillsboro’s Sara Ledger, now a Miami University student, helping out with the news on national television, Day Two found us at South Bass Island before most of the bars, restaurants and gift shops opened. We had a nice walking tour of the local parks and all the boats that were docked in the island harbor. (You know you’re getting old when you begin to enjoy walking and looking, instead of running and doing!)
On past trips, I’ve stimulated the island economy at the Roundhouse, a 130-year-old red circular bar, where a painting by Southern State’s Skip Werline has hung for years. I’ve also added to the cash flow of the Beer Barrel Saloon, home of the world’s longest bar (405 feet). This year, we noticed The Salt Rim, just down the street. It bills itself as the world’s smallest Margarita bar. Seating for two.
Nearby is a new tiki bar with swinging bar stools. I took a pass.
Instead, I tried the playground swings at DeRivera Park with a Dairy Queen chocolate milk shake. Good call...
The best view of South Bass Island is from atop the Perry Victory and International Peace Memorial. Perry’s monument was established to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812, and to celebrate the long-lasting peace between Great Britain, Canada and the United States. The memorial is a Doric column (whatever that is), rising 352 feet over Lake Erie, and it is located five miles from the longest undefended border in the world. (With Canada, eh?)
Unfortunately, the Perry Memorial is in the remodeling stages right now and is off limits to the likes of this guy. We did use the parking lot, though, and left our van, down by the lake, under an old pine tree.
Day Two progressed into Night Two and the beginning of Day Three when we met up with friends outside Progressive Field (aka The Jake) in downtown Cleveland. The Tribe hosted the Twins and I honestly could not have cared less. Until suddenly, I did.
American League baseball is, to borrow a phrase from Hunter Thompson, like watching a bunch of Old Men arguing over money on the front porch. Only longer. This Thursday night lovefest must have included 247 timeouts, 119 conferences on the pitcher’s mound, and the longest manager-umpire argument in history without an ejection. And, like Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, I still think Jim Thome’s blast to left-center field was a Twins’ home run.
Matt LaPorta ended the marathon by connecting off Matt Guerrier after the Twins had tied it in the top half of the ninth on a two-run single by Alexei Casilla off closer Chris Perez. My son predicted the walk-off blast.
Until LaPorta’s dinger in the bottom of the ninth, I was convinced that I’d just witnessed the most boring 3-hour-and-28-minute, non-extra-inning baseball game in history. With one swing of the bat, that opinion quickly changed. And it really changed immediately after the game when my 15-year-old son, who had the benefit of sitting behind home plate while his Old Man was feeding peanuts to low-flying pigeons and seagulls in the right field cheap seats, told me, “I got a ball.”
No kidding.
Colin corralled a foul ball off the bat of Cleveland infielder Jason Donald. It’s a genuine Rawlings, signed by Commissioner Bud Selig. Fireworks followed the game. We left Progressive Field on Cloud 9.
But American League baseball is still too slow for me. And that’s from a Yankees fan.
On Day Three, we drove over to Catawba Island and the Marblehead Lighthouse. There’s a terrific view of Cedar Point from maybe five or six
miles away. It’s probably an even better view at night. A day of swimming and relaxation completed the extended weekend.
Now, back to Westside Steve.
Simmons, 57, spends his summer playing music on South Bass Island and his winters playing music in Key West, Fla. How cool is that? From one island to another, he’s got the best of both worlds.
His new album, “Limestone Cowboy,” is out and available online at www.westsidesteve.com. The CD includes “The Battle of Lake Erie,” a
recounting of the famous naval battle of the War of 1812. The victory secured control of the Great Lake and assured that the states of Ohio and Michigan would remain the sovereign territory of the United States of America.
For a brief history lesson, this was the U.S.-Britain naval battle at the conclusion of which Commander Oliver Hazard Perry wrote to Gen. William Henry Harrison: “Dear General, We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
(More than 150 years later, Walt Kelly of “Pogo” fame would alter the Perry quote to ‘We have met the enemy and he is us.’)
Funny. America used to have war heroes who were unapologetic about claiming a well-earned and hard-fought victory. Times change. But my opinions of Ohio’s side of Lake Erie haven’t. It’s still a great area for a getaway weekend – and maybe just a little attitude adjustment.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.
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