How many “r’s” in your “brrrr” this week? Well, it’s too cold to count them so let’s just be thrilled and chilled to the bone that the upcoming weekend and forthcoming week will be much, much warmer. While we’re waiting to thaw out, let’s see what’s on the books for live music.
Thursdays are still our go-to first night of the week and I spy a slew of open mics with hosts including Casey Cantrall at The Wakery, Mike Metz at The Bird Tavern and Kortney Leatherwood at the Blue Grouch. I’m a big fan of open mics for getting musicians together to trade music ideas and hear each other play. Plus, they’re a good place to try out new things, brush up on old stuff or for some to just get used to being plugged in and singing on a microphone in front of a crowd. And as an audience member, you don’t know what you’re going to get, and that can be fun in its own way. So please don’t disparage the open mics in town. You could even go a step further by participating through performing or listening, if it so works out.
After several weeks of giving Fridays the knowing nod, let’s let that night figure itself out (our listings show 20 shows, so you’ve got plenty to work with) and move straight on to Saturday. What once was “the” night of the weekend to go out still gets going good, though in the warmer months it’s not uncommon to have more Sunday afternoon gigs than Saturday nights, as the trends move on. With nearly 40 shows listed (karaoke, open mics, concerts and venues close to Springfield included) we’ve got a pile of stuff to get to and go through, while leaving some room for a musical dessert on Sunday Funday.
Let’s start early with the monthly open mic (see me sing the praises of open mics above) at Stella Coffee and Tea hosted by Rich Van Dorn from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. And while we’re here, let’s add one more thing to the good things about open mics and that is giving the venue bookers a chance to hear new talent. It’s no guarantee (what is?) of a gig, but it’s a good way of letting folks know what you’ve got to offer. I do know several musicians who’ve gotten regular shows by starting out at a place’s open mic.
Now to continue our Saturday romp, the talented Alex Pearce plays at Trails End in Curran (4-7). This one is his going-away party as he’s going to take off for Nashville and a stint in Music City, USA. Next up, I see the one and only Elvis Himselvis and band at Harvest Market, Bustin’ Loose at the Curve Inn, Mojo Universe at Mowie’s Cue, The Collective at Motorheads, Tater Soup Band at VFW Post 755, Broken Brogue at Buzz Bomb and Blue Note Quintet with Buddy Rogers at Lime Street Cafe to list bands playing inside the city limits with most of the remaining music being made out of town.
Sunday afternoon brings us nearly 20 shows in the area for you to peruse including Folsom Prison Five at The Stadium, Frank Parker’s Jambalaya Jam at Brewhaus Pub, OAT at It’s All About Wine and Kerry Lee at The Tipsy Toad.
Stay as warm as possible and see you next week for more live music.
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