Good friends can make for good bands and Daddy’$ Money does just that. Bill and Lori McKenzie, Troy Roark, Jack White and Chas Blythe all first met at the Jimmy’s Sub Shoppe open mic about 16 years ago while Angela Starr ran into the bunch at another open mic. They’ve remained comrades-in-music throughout the years, […]
Music
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Beyond the bars
Looking over recent Now Playings I noticed we’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time in the bars and at booze-related venues lately. It’s true our libation-selling nightclubs consistently host live music on a nearly nightly basis, but perhaps we should review a few other music-producing institutions outside of the tavern scene, if for nothing […]
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Groove Daddies
Getting a photo into the Best of Springfield issue surely grants the Groove Daddies a special award as the best band in Springfield to never win a category. The venerable group formed in 1990 with lead vocalist Gary Bloom as the heart and guitarist Jeff Kornfeld as the soul of the band. Add in Brian […]
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Halloween happenings
With the holiday landing on Saturday this year, Halloween parties at the bars abound, with private parties happening too. Even public parties at private facilities are shaking, like the scary Sangamo Surf Club out on lonely Lake Springfield hosting the revolting Roxschool. I hardly know where to start to cover them all, but since we […]
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Online IT, open mics and other stuff
Next week the Best of Springfield issue hits the streets and as always is highly anticipated, especially among the entertainment field participants. Let’s just remember we’re all winners here, but then again, it sure is nice to be number one. But I brought up that popular part of Illinois Times to mention a shining new […]
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Ragged Jack
Lyman Ellerman, a Riverton area native, moved to Nashville, Tenn., several years ago to pursue songwriting as a career. Though the persistent and vibrant songster has yet to score a major cut, the intense workout of songwriting on a daily basis honed his already sharp composing skills and increased his song output immensely. A natural […]
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Angels n’ Outlaws
For a band that formed just 15 months ago, Angels n’ Outlaws are making a mark soon and sudden on the central Illinois scene. Band members Perry Prior (lead vocals and guitar), Dan Cartwright (vocals and lead guitar), Justin Tansky (guitar), Rob Coleman (drums) and Todd Ambuehl (bass) attribute the success to a good chemistry […]
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Stereo Deluxe
Hailing from our eastern, state capital neighbor, Stereo Deluxe is a genuine, indie-rock band from Indianapolis. The power-pop quartet, composed of Jay Elliott (vocals, guitar), Ben Tatum (guitar, vocals), Luke Schneider (bass, vocals), and Matt Hogan (drums), have been friends since childhood, musically and otherwise, growing up together on the south side of Indy. They […]
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Backyard Tire Fire gets hot
Backyard Tire Fire, the little trio that could from Bloomington, Ill., is smoking its way across the musical landscape of America, blazing a trail and firing up good solid music the entire way. Highlights for the group in the last year include opening dates for Cracker and receiving a most-favored listening status from Cracker guitarist […]
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Vernon Harrington and the Atomic Blues Band
Vernon Harrington grew up on Chicago’s West Side surrounded by blues music and other facts of life in the area. His father, a preacher by trade, also ran a blues and gospel record label, allowing young Vernon a direct window into the world of musicians and music of the 1950s and ’60s. After an encounter […]
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Bedrock 66 and a political statement
October starts on a high note and crescendos over the next few weeks with some righteously happening entertainment. Not that September was off key, but things are sounding sweet for good music in October. Kicking off the month on Friday, Oct. 2 is a stellar Bedrock 66 concert series show at the Hoogland Center for […]
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The Hitmen
The Hitmen sure got their name right. These guys play the hits and nothing but the hits. Together since the summer of 2001 and recently reunited with original singer/guitarist Greg Bickers, fellow Hitmen Stan Kupish (keyboards), Ty Wiedenkeller (drums) and Tom Butts (bass) specialize in popular tunes of the 60s, 70s and 80s. A typical […]
