Stocked with a bevy of classy, veteran Springfield musicians, Royal Pain stakes a claim as the classic rock band “THAT ROCKS!” With Sam Draper (guitar, vocals) from Freak of Nature, Elephants Gerald and Spy vs. Spy, Gary Davis (guitar, vocals) from Hurricane Ruth, Out on Bail, Little Big Band and Muni Opera Orchestra, Steve Marvel […]
Tom Irwin
Tom Irwin, a sixth-generation Sangamon County resident, has played his songs and music for nearly 40 years in the central Illinois area with occasional forays across the country. He's contributed to Illinois Times since 2000 by writing Now Playing, a weekly music column, as well as features stories and other articles. He resides on the Irwin family farm in rural Pleasant Plains.
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Free to play at WQNA
The phone chirps incessantly. Loud and fast heavy metal music blares from the speakers. Amid the cacophony a red light flashes on, and up to the DJ microphone steps Chris Hupp, transforming into Metal Chris as he takes a slug of Mountain Dew. “Good evening and welcome to another edition of Monday Night Metal on […]
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Iron Orchard
Hailing from somewhere between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers not far from Macomb, singer-songwriter-guitarist Bill Harroun leads his group of heartland rockers through a terrain of proudly alt-country, no-nonsense tunes as honest and true as the day is long and the night is too. Featuring lead guitar and pedal steel wiz John Gorlewski, bassist Larry […]
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The Challenge of the Blues
Here comes February and all groundhog sightings aside, those involved in live music know this month as the occasion of the world famous International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., hosted by the Blues Foundation. For those unaware of this monumental gathering of blues bands and musicians from the world over (at least the world familiar […]
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The Timmys
Around since 1997, the Timmys still play fast and furious fun songs in punkster fashion. Led by that fine figure of a man, Robbie Kording, on vocals, the rest of the band (as of this moment) is Brandon Carnes (bass), Tyler Orton (guitar), Wes Selinger (drums) and Ian Kelley (guitar). After a relatively quiet spell […]
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Billy’s bright blues
On Dec. 31, 2010, we lost a much-appreciated and well-respected singer and musician with the passing of Billy Waldmire. I didn’t know him very well, but after spending some time last Sunday with his family at the Cardinal Hill home of Bill and Arlene Waldmire near Rochester, I walked away wishing I had known him […]
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Joe Cooke Band
From a stint at Berklee College of Music, where he hung with fellow student and future legendary guitarist Al DiMeola, to years as Springfield’s reigning rock guitarist in the ’70s, and from a run as sideman to blues-rocker Jerry Doucette of “Mama Let Him Play” fame, to his Nashville years with St. Louis native Greg […]
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Wacked out Waco Brothers
By any estimation the Waco Brothers are considered one of the finest purveyors of punk and country, folk and rock, tradition and innovation, performing on the American scene today. Many critics and fans alike rave and rail about the band as “the best live rock band on the planet” and “a force to behold live” […]
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Third Thursday phenomenon
Close to a year ago area artist Mike Mayosky extended his longtime outreach of art to the public by inviting other artists to display works in a free-for-all party of sorts that functioned as a downtown art show/music concert event. As one might imagine, it went over quite well and Mayosky had another and another, […]
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Pete Sander
Here’s the idea: take four singer-songwriters, set them on stage then let them sing their songs and talk about the inspiration behind the tunes. Springfield songwriter Pete Sander participated in a Chicago round robin song swap before creating his Homegrown Folk Show. The first public viewing last month was a smashing success and for January […]
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If you don’t have the blues, get some
Once upon a time the blues as a music art form, considered a depraved and morose way of expression by many in the mainstream, didn’t receive the universal respect it now holds. Through the 20th century this traditionally African-American based style of musical lamentation became the foundation for a good percentage of our modern popular […]
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Cabin Fever
With a heartfelt love of music and a strong desire to entertain, Cabin Fever boasts an enthusiastic lineup of extraordinary musicians. Formed in 2006, the band plays regularly at local nightclubs and in the music festival market making it two years in a row at Springfest in Indianapolis and three years running at SOHO Fest […]
