As the fireworks fade and the gritty reality of a half-gone summer looms large and loathsome, console yourself with an injection of live music at a fine purveyor of spirits near you. Take a drive downtown on a Thursday night and you may find your sweet self, astonished, annoyed, or pleased. But, really folks, there […]
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.
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 7-3-03
Hop aboard, fellow Americans. Get on your red, white, and blue, and let’s take a patriotic trip on a musical merry-go-round this Fourth of July weekend. Friday is the Fourth, and if you’re off work that gives Thursday night a built-in excuse for going out. Just for you, old buddies, Black Magic Johnson has graciously […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 1-09-03
What a week! Between the influx of Chicago political workers involved in the inaugural activities and 20 Elvis impersonators vying for the Midwest crown (plus the legions of fans to adore them), Springfield will be engorged with interesting characters. Let’s hope no one gets too confused and inaugurates an Elvis as governor, though from listening […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 1-16-03
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 […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 6-26-03
Could somebody please tell me where June went? It flew by like a hummingbird, noisy and fast. Maybe it was all the fine entertainment that helped the middle month slip by. But no more moaning, we’re a forward-looking bunch, planning a wonderful, exciting weekend for the end of June, rolling toward the big Fourth of […]
Posted inNews
All The King’s Men
The strains of “C.C. Rider” cut through the room, as the crowd screams and turns en masse to view the Elvis impersonator bounding into the room. On his way to the stage, Pratt waves at his fans, stops to kiss an excited middle-aged woman, and points to someone in the crowd and laughs, all under […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 1-23-03
It’s colder than a well digger’s–well, it’s colder than most anything a well digger has, but don’t let that stop you from finding some sizzling music to thaw the January freeze. Friday is shaping up as the hot spot of the weekend. Ozzy Train makes its farewell stop in Springfield at Marly’s Pub from 9 […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 6-19-03
What’s this, the beginning of summer? Come on and join your human ancestors: Praise the summer solstice this weekend! Why not start with a Thursday night visit to the Underground City Tavern in the Hilton? Mike Barfield, co-founder of the critically acclaimed roots-country group the Hollisters, brings in an all-star line-up to promote his new […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 6-12-03
Once is not enough, it takes two to tango. I’m seeing double, but two is better than one. Bands are double dipping all over the place this weekend. Moroccan Soul camps out at Norb Andy’s for a weekend stay, Friday and Saturday, filling the intimate underground bar with smooth groove tunes backed by a Latin […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 1-30-03
Hey it’s cold. Get used to it, get on with it, and get over it. And get out to see some music this week at one of our fine establishments serving the best in grooves, grub, and grain (fermented, that is). Reggae continues in the capital city unabated by the chilly temperatures. High atop the […]
Posted inMusic
Now Playing 6-5-03
Enter, if you dare, the often wonderful, somewhat terrifying, but usually satisfying world of Springfield nightlife. Austin’s Grand Champeen has truly experienced the exotic life of a traveling American band. The driven musicians willingly squeeze themselves–plus guitars, amps, drums, and other (ahem) necessities of rock ‘n’ roll–into an old conversion van and travel around the […]
Posted inNews
Little isn’t always small
No, the Little Theatre on the Square isn’t little. In fact, it’s quite big, and in its heyday it had quite a few big names in show biz performing there. That includes both Broadway and Hollywood stars: Eve Arden, Alan Alda, Leonard Nimoy, Dennis Weaver, Betty Grable, Kitty Carlisle, and Mickey Rooney all worked the […]
