Now, now my frantic friends, let this week bring out the inner Halloweener in you. But first, we have some sad and serious news to report in a joyous way. This Sunday, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Robbie’s (thanks Archie!), musicians, family and friends gather to celebrate the life of John Henry Johnson. Born […]
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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Call me Black Magic Johnson
Reggie Britton is one of my best friends as well as one of the most admired and respected artists on my personal list. We met in the early ’90s when Reggie showed up at my Thursday night gig at Bedrock’s. He asked if he could play drums with us, and being a smart aleck, I […]
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Chicks with Picks
What do you get when three of the best female guitar-playing and singing songwriters in town come together on the same bill? Chicks with Picks is the correct answer. Josie Lowder, Monica Morris and Sarah Schneider man their guitars and muscle up the tunes for a night of song sharing and music making. Regardless of […]
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Mix ’n’ matching
First, let me thank Dan Usherwood of the Pleasant Plains Historical Society and all who helped make our first Clayville Folk Festival in 25 years a good beginning for many fests to come. Other than the chilly weather making viewing and performing a veritable challenge, the fest was a huge success. In a twist of […]
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Porkpie & the Northend Allstars
Born of a jam session as good bands often are, Porkpie & the Northend Allstars began when Hipbone Sam introduced Kirk Lonbom and Craig Wood at a last-Friday jam at Abe’s Southside Pub back in Sept. 2011 and suggested they play some songs with “drum junkie” Jeff Bechtel. Wood, a veteran of St. Louis blues […]
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Girl-a-Thon the third
For the third year in a row I can, with a true sense of joy, announce another Girl-a-Thon.Once again organizer Gwen Harris has put together an incredible lineup of musicians, guests and sponsors to support this fine fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Gwen proudly reports GAT made the top […]
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Suit & Tie Guy
This mysterious character lives in Chillicothe, Ill. quietly plotting intricate and intense electronic music while blithely being behind the mask of the ubiquitous suit and tie. Along with his personal recorded output (Sacred Earth 2012 is the latest on 1320 Records), Suit & Tie Guy also records other bands (Black Magic Johnson for one) and […]
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Eva Hunter Band
A Fancy Prairie native and Athens High School graduate, Eva got her start in show business with a family band, singing with her sisters. As the emotive vocalist developed into a rhythm guitar player and composer, her path veered toward that of the performing songwriter. Now several years later with five records independently released (the […]
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Blues ambassador James Armstrong
In this day and age of ubiquitous blues, finding a genuine and pertinent purveyor of the genre can be trying. Not to say all the variations of the I-IV-V performed in various instrumental configurations don’t have a place in the field, but experiencing a true-blue bluesman, as opposed to someone playing the blues, is like […]
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Feeling like fall
First I’d like to thank the folks at Penny Lane and all who helped organize the 18th annual Jerry Garcia Tribute at Douglas Park last Sunday. The Raouligans and I were honored to play along with Dennis Maberry’s Rhythm Spirit and Perfunctory This Band. For me, it was a great way to pay back Penny […]
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Mathien
Began in Carbondale and molded in Chicago, the hard driving, pop-rock, soul-funk band Mathien comes back to town on the opening weekend for Donnie’s Homespun nightclub in the Vinegar Hill Mall. With a grand stage and sound system, the large space begins anew as a venue on Friday with The Pimps and The Timmys, then […]
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The Hitmen and a Dame
These guys have been playing the popular hits for awhile or, as the promo coyly states, “deez guyz been playing da hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s since 2001,” booking everything from bar gigs to festivals, from political rallies (like for some Barack Obama guy, to mention one) to private functions, all with a […]
