Hello in there. How’s it going? Wonderful. What’s new and exciting in the Springfield nightlife? Let’s take a look.
The Underground City Tavern proves why it was voted the best live music venue in town, as Brian and the crew come up with another impressive lineup this week. On Thursday, the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash ride the wave of their late daddy (not really, but he did approve of the name) and come crashing in, crunching and crooning their way through some cool country tunes. Then on Friday Redd Skyy returns with a new CD, Naked in Memphis. The hometown boys are still making music and are moving to Nashville in November, to try and knock down doors in Music City, U.S.A. On Saturday, it’s Earl, St. Louis’s most popular alt-country group, continuing in the roots-rock UCT tradition. Finally on Sunday, Slobberbone, one of novelist Stephen King’s favorite bands, takes the corner stage by storm. Don’t be grossed out by the group’s name. It came about innocently enough: members were discussing band names while watching a pet dog chewing on a bone. Possibly under the influence of something more powerful than imagination, one of them said, “That’s it! Slobberbone!” And there you have it.
On Friday the Sangamon Valley Roots Revival teams up with the Illinois Central Blues Club to bring Mike Barfield to Jazz Central Station. Barfield formed and fronted the Hollisters, a groundbreaking alt-country group in the ’90s. He’s now leaning on his blues and soul roots to write and perform some very expressive and impressive music.
Saturday night the good old Curve Inn rings in the new month with “Roctoberfest,” featuring the Screaming Vatos. The Vatos do their screaming with Latin percussion and standard rock instruments, tearing it up on Santana, Bob Marley, and other groove-oriented tunes.
The Illinois Central Blues Club strikes up the band Monday at the Alamo with their weekly Blues Jam, bringing in Canada’s Nigel Mack and the Blues Attack. Mack is a potent vocalist and a righteous harmonica player who knows a good song and how to play it. Get there early and fight for a spot–you’ll be glad you did. Mack and the Attack will tear the old playhouse down and build it back again.
Every Tuesday for the last month the Trading Post on Durkin Drive has been featuring the Dan Rivero Trio from 7 to 10 p.m. This group grooves at a conversation level, and the Post is a fine spot to enjoy an after-work drink and hear actual live music performed with precision and finesse. Ask Wayne to knock out some Lou Rawls for me. We’ll all appreciate it.
You asked for it. And there it is, on a silver platter.
This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2003.
