With New Year’s Eve being a celebratory night and falling on a Sunday in 2017, we have a solid, full weekend before the party to party and partake in live music. It seems some of our music folk have taken full advantage of the situation and booked mighty good stuff for this pre-2018 weekend. One […]
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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Devin Williams Band
Known for his easygoing blues music and hopped-up reggae beats, this young, singing guitarist brings on the music with a style and confidence that belies his age and experience. With Devin playing slide on his trusty acoustic guitar while fronting vocals, he’s joined by bandmates Casey Cantrall (guitar, vocals), Chuck Combs (bass), Justin Schmidt (drums) […]
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Remember December
Happy winter solstice, and merry whatever to you all. It’s that time of year, of course, and one of the best ways to enjoy the holidays is through music. Perhaps enough is enough of the holiday stuff, but getting out and about to see what local musicians have to offer is a real gift to […]
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James Armstrong
Known the world over (well, practically) as the “Ambassador of the Blues,” Springfield is proud to claim James Armstrong as a resident. With a jazz guitarist for a father and a blues singer for a mother, James was practically born to play music and started his first band in seventh grade. He took off with […]
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Music for goodness sake
As we approach the point of saturation and consternation of the Christmas excess surrounding and encompassing our lives at this time, perhaps it’s best to succumb to the magic of the moment, if not with glee, then at least with tolerance and acceptance, relying on the fact as stated in a famous holiday song that […]
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The Meerkat Mobsters
When the pumped up, high-rockin, rockabilly trio The Meerkat Mobsters, featuring Springfield resident Mark Mills (guitar, vocals), Ray Biagioni (drums) from Oglesby and Rick Topolski (stand-up bassist) from Streator, hits town for a show in support of Toys for Tots, expect a wild ride from this blistering rock ‘n’ roll band. Mark released an excellent […]
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Music is in season
Now that the weather outside is slowly approaching normal but nowhere near “frightening,” perhaps our holiday season may feel more Midwest than Southwest. Either way it goes (hot, cold, polar or solar), we have good live music happenings going on. On Friday at Craft Beer Bar, the friends, fans and family of John Brillhart gather […]
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Textbook
Based out of Chicago, this quartet of possible punks (the musical kind) formed in 1998 using “’90s alternative and ’80s punk with a dash of midwestern roots-rock” to create a modern, American rock band worthy of the title. Dave Lysien, who cut his teeth with infamous punk band Not Rebecca, fronts the band, and the […]
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Hot December music
This oddly warm week for the end of November is fitting to heat us up for a weekend of scorching good music on the roster. Be sure to check the community calendar for holiday music happenings along with the regular bar scene stuff. It’s that magical, mystical time of year where merry things appear at […]
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Christian Lopez
This West Virginia native now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and uses the Music City for a home base to bring his particular style of Americana music to the masses. Lopez recorded his debut album, Onward, with famed producer Dave Cobb of Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson success in 2015. His recent offering, Red Arrow, on […]
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Giving thanks for much
There are many things to be thankful for in this world, and I hope you take the time to address those pertaining to you and yours. I’m thankful to be able to write this column weekly and share my opinions on our live music scene. I sure hope you’re thankful that I do. Those old-fashioned, […]
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Remember November music
Well, to say this was a tough week is an understatement of large proportions. I’m sure I speak for the friends and family of John Brillhart in thanking everyone for condolences, music, stories and all that goes with processing grief. So now we are on to remember the passed ones and respect what they did […]
