Hey, we’ve got a new guv, hotshots out of work, a war brewing, and snow on the ground. But what do we care? There is music and dancing, drinking and cavorting to be done. On with it!
What would you expect from a band called Southern Bitch? How about some Lynyrd Skynyrd licks, a Jason and the Scorchers take on country, and a love for the Rolling Stones and Neil Young. Then add a girl lead singer who struts like a rock star and her husband, the group leader, who claims the band’s name is about a female dog from Dixie. Sounds about right to me. The group hails from Athens (Greek pronunciation, please), Georgia, and recently spent a couple weeks on the road opening for Counting Crows. They’re now on a swing through the Midwest, with a date at the Underground City Tavern in the Hilton tonight (Thursday, the 16th) with local American band Mugshot.
Friday at Dempsey’s @ 225, Springfield’s premier Grateful Dead cover band takes the floor by the door. Perfunctory This Band has been truckin’ for almost ten years in various configurations, all influenced by the most famous jam band of all time. Ask for your favorite tunes and check out their originals too. A few blocks over on Fifth Street, the Debbie Ross Band returns to town for a night at Marly’s Pub. Dance, listen, and enjoy one of the finest entertainers in central Illinois. If you’re heading out of town and looking for a familiar blues-rock band (well, you could be), wander in to Slick Rick’s to see Greg Glick. Try saying that after a few margaritas. Glick and band will extensively cover the Stevie Ray Vaughn side of the blues at the Bloomington bar and it’s as close as they get to Springfield for awhile, so head north for blues by Glick.
If the Elvis contest last weekend has stirred your impersonation fantasies, strut over to Jimmez and Co. across from the Fairgrounds main gate on Saturday for more what-you-see-is-not-what-you-get excitement, when female impersonators put on that party dress. Mostly entertaining, often enlightening, always full of surprises, and never a drag, the show begins at 9 p.m. and lasts a lifetime.
It’s another stellar jazz-influenced weekend at Norb Andy’s with Sally Weisenburg Trio on Friday and the Jaigh Lowder Trio, plus Peggy and Josie, on Saturday. Be sure to ask Sally for a copy of Homemade and Hot (and pay for it), her recent release on 5 Cats Records. All the songs were written by her husband and partner, Don Berbaum, with the exception of a hot little number penned by Ms. Weisenburg herself called “Pedal It All Over Town.” The recording was done mostly in their old farmhouse hear Peoria and has the feel of a tempered work, allowing time to capture those wonderful moments of spontaneity that make a good record. Speaking of recording, Lowder has certainly done his share; in fact a good percentage of local recordings in the last several years were done by Jaigh in his studio by the fairgrounds. Since retired from behind the board and enjoying the good life, he makes an appearance now and then to entertain us with his fluent and expressive guitar playing. Joined by his wife and daughter and an experienced band, the music will be tasteful and grooving.
There now, let the troubles of the world fall from your shoulders and enjoy
the frivolities of the nightlife in the capital city.
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2003.
