Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 25,2011

The Blues Expressions

Four years ago Adrian Muex knew he wanted to start a blues band. His previous live music experience entailed mostly church performances as a choir director and gospel singer influenced and inspired by

Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 18,2011

The Graduate

By Tom Irwin

After six years as an up and coming band on the national music scene, The Graduate is done. The 20-something band, featuring Corey Warning (vocals), Matt Kennedy (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Max Sauer

Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 11,2011

Screamin’ Vatos

By Tom Irwin

Originally conceived by Billy Bacon in 1993 as a Latin percussion-oriented group focusing mainly on material from Carlos Santana with a few cool covers by the band War, the Screamin’ Vatos have

Band Spotlight | Thursday, August 4,2011

Hot Bag O' Donuts and Catalyst

By Tom Irwin

Bourbon Street Rhythm & Ribs, better known to old-timers as Bruce’s Tavern, recently began hosting rock bands every Friday and Saturday night. This Friday becomes more than a wild, rocking s

Band Spotlight | Thursday, July 21,2011

Brooke Thomas and the Blue Suns

By Tom Irwin

Only a few years ago Brooke Thomas sang plenty, but without performing in a traveling band. Now in 2011, after fronting the Blue Suns for about a year, she is releasing a CD, Live from the Capital Cit

Band Spotlight | Thursday, July 14,2011

Area 51

By Tom Irwin

As area bands go, Area 51 just keeps going. Now in their second decade of performance as a unit, Jeff Loftus (drums, vocals), Larry Dupont (vocals, sax, bass), Larry Crowley (bass, acoustic guitar, vo

Band Spotlight | Thursday, July 7,2011

Mathien

By Tom Irwin

A guitarist and songwriter since his youth, Chris Mathien began playing as a solo act during his college years at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He hooked up with bassist Mike Schiff and dru

Band Spotlight | Thursday, June 30,2011

Deb Callahan

By Tom Irwin

The Illinois Central Blues Club features Philadelphia’s Deb Callahan on the Fourth of July for a Red, White and Blue Monday. The blues and soul-soaked singer and songwriter released Tell It Like

Band Spotlight | Thursday, June 23,2011

KFD

By Tom Irwin

Less than a year after forming, Kung Fu Dynamite is now firmly established as one of the top notch cover bands in central Illinois with an imposing list of big gigs lined up for this summer. Along wit

Band Spotlight | Thursday, June 16,2011

Prairie State Heartache

By Tom Irwin

Originally formed about a year and a half ago with music industry up-and-comer Jonathan Cour as singer-songwriter and front man, Prairie State Heartache garnered interest from major label producer Ric