Music

The main focus of this column is to present music performances related to local artists and venues. That generally entails either writing about area musicians playing beyond the Springfield scene or bands from outside this area playing around here. It’s an unusual twist when the bands are from out of town, but the spotlight shines […]

When we last checked in with Micky Shomidie and House of Nasty, it was July of 2008 and the band was off to Oklahoma to perform at Rocklahoma, the biggest hard rock/metal music festival in the country. Regular readers with excellent memories may remember Shomidie’s tale of redemption and resurrection, music industry style, told here […]

No doubt about it, with Y’allapalooza at the Prairie Capital Convention Center bringing in several country music stars (watch for touring bus traffic jams) and the Hilton hosting the annual Midwest Tribute to the King Competition (want to ride in an elevator with an Elvis imitator?) the area around the mighty Hiltonian and the PC-3 […]

Well it isn’t exactly the return of the Timmys because the Timmys never really left. But it’s been a good while since the fun-loving and well-loved local punk-mock rockers graced the stage or floor of a Springfield club. According to Robbie Kording, a founding Timmy, their main singer and all around instigator of goofy antics, […]

It’s been over three years since we last checked in with the Midnight Swinger, when the brash and blonde comedian headlined the sixth anniversary of Springfield’s Funny Bone Comedy Club back in September of 2005. Then he was peddling a new self-produced DVD, Swingin’ thru America that followed the comic on a trail across the […]

“Ruckus” is defined in my dictionary as a “noisy and unpleasant disturbance,” similar to a commotion, a rumpus or a hubbub. As used by local Celtic fusion/rock band The Emerald Underground in the title of their latest CD release, Ruckus at the Shamrock Hotel, the word takes on a somewhat different connotation. It pops up […]

I suppose you want to know what this headline means, as in, what is a Damwell Better and why are they coming in hot? It’s a perfectly acceptable question and one we’ll address in the words ahead. First off, the Damwell Betters are a real-live, all-original rock band from Springfield, Ill., who, interestingly enough, also […]

Here we go again with a hodge-podge of happenings. This time of year it’s “all good” as the kids say and apparently there is so much good going on, one subject does not get it all done. So bear with me as I wander through an assortment of goodies going on this week. Donn Stephens […]

Due to the lack of one totally encompassing subject this week in the music scene, we will focus on a few upcoming events that you may find worthy of participation. First on the block we have a first for Springfield. Kurt Gottschalk, a former capital city resident, plans to present an “Unsilent Night” performance in […]

Being thankful for things is a good strategy for happiness in life. A major component of established religions comes from praising a creator not just for being the big dog, but also for throwing us bones. How better to not be a Scrooge (for a holiday reference), than to be thankful and appreciative of bountiful […]

For those of you who have a tradition of slaving over a hot stove on the night before Thanksgiving preparing a fabulous feast for family and friends, perhaps you’ve not noticed the Wednesday night before National Feed Your Face Day has steadily climbed the party barometer to become the greatest, most popular and best-attended night […]