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 […]
Music
Posted inMusic
One of a kind
For Big Al Downing, it all started with an upright piano salvaged from the trash heap. The piano had been carted home for firewood, but once his family discovered the instrument still worked they moved it indoors. At first the piano served only as a stand for their most prized possession: the radio. But eventually […]
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 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 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 6-19-03
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 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 6-12-03
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 inMusic
Now Playing 5-29-03
Listen my children and you shall hear of bands a-playing and bottles of beer. Music galore and good times a-plenty but you must be at least one and twenty. Hey here’s one place you can go for music and not be the magical 21: Hardee’s Jam Fest, on Saturday, May 31. The third annual music […]
