Ted Wulfers preview

Ted Wulfers
Joe’s, Chicago
Thursday, April 17, 2008

While the CD release party for Ted Wulfers’ latest album gives us occasion to talk about the country-rock troubadour, it also gives Wulfers a chance to defend himself against something we wrote about him in “File” this month.

Our quip went: “As far as we know, Ted Wulfers is a local dude. We’ve featured him in Around Hear; you’ve probably happened across him playing in a variety of night spots. So why is he writing tunes for Dodger Stadium and singing at Brewers games? Search us. Maybe the answers are in the 24-song Drivin’ Barefoot.”

The answer, incidentally, is not contained within the two-disc effort. There’s ample time, mind you, however Wulfers would rather display his front-porch nature, an easy-going demeanor that chucks the Eagles, Robert Earl Keen, Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, Tom Petty, and Pat Green in the pot to slow cook. So what gives?

“I sent my song, ‘Blue Cubs Hat,’ to the Chicago Cubs three years in a row and did not receive a response,” he responds via e-mail. The best part (for us palehose-lovin’ folk at IE) is the White Sox took interest but declined because the tune was originally written for the Cubs. Long story short (too late), a Dodgers employee caught an extended Wulfers gig in Los Angeles and “it’s been a staple at Dodgers Stadium ever since.”

Say hello Juan Pierre for us.

Randy Rogers band and Julie Neumark also perform.

— Steve Forstneger

Click here to download “She Bought Me A Drink.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly