Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 20,2010

A quarter century of Elvis Himselvis

The concept of Elvis Presley impersonation now seems a given in our list of cultural entertainment choices, but at the time Rick Dunham began his pretender adventure in 1985 the King of Rock ’n&

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, May 6,2010

May’s amalgam of offerings

By Tom Irwin

Coming up on the first full weekend in May and I can only say there is so much going on, no one subject trumped another. Therefore I will proceed with an amalgam of offerings at various venues and upo

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 29,2010

The Haymarket Festival, weighty and fun

By Tom Irwin

What with all the wonderful weather how could anyone concentrate on entertainment and the like? The time has come for heading outdoors to hear live music.The first official outdoor music event (correc

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 22,2010

April assortment

By Tom Irwin

We’ll start this round off with a salute to the Rock the House Blues Bash that happened Wednesday, April 21. Yeah it already blew by and I hope you didn’t miss it. With a great lineup from

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 15,2010

The record of independents

By Tom Irwin

Without whining too much about the state of the music business and how it’s controlled by an industry-wide conspiracy that only allows a select few company artists access to the billions of doll

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 8,2010

Irresistible resistance

By Tom Irwin

Once upon a time, folksingers and musicians everywhere used voices and music to righteously rail and necessarily knock unfair and overbearing public and private wrongs. Believe it or not, people liste

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, April 1,2010

April Tomfoolery

By Tom Irwin

If you’re reading this on Thursday, April 1, I’m very proud and happy for you: if it happens to be on another day, just pretend it’s April Fool’s Day. Either way, always rememb

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 25,2010

Goodbye to Jerry

By Tom Irwin

Last Thursday a dear friend and fellow musician passed away. The loss is nearly incomprehensible, completely shocking and devastating. As easy as it is to say people die every day, and they do, when a

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 18,2010

Kristin Lems is back

By Tom Irwin

During the 1970s when Illinois became a battleground as a pivotal state in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, many women and men spent a great deal of time and energy at the Capitol attempting

Music - Tom Irwin | Thursday, March 11,2010

March marches on

By Tom Irwin

Here comes the middle of March with the most famous Ides of all, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and other assorted diversions, the best of all being a feeling of spring in the air. As an astute