Sometimes he goes by Jason C. Brewer, but when this talented East St. Louis native has a horn in his hand, just call him J Brew and understand he’s got a “movin’ groove with nothin’ to prove,” and that’s a fact. He blows the trumpet playing the entire field, including gospel, jazz, rock and R&B, […]
Music
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Falling fast music
As the weather cools and autumn falls upon us, the gigs are still coming in strong for a while longer. This weekend brings us some unusual collections of the usual caliber of finely formed music made right here in the capital city. Thursday evening at 7, Buzz Bomb Brewing Company presents another edition of Sirens […]
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Ghost Town Blues Band
These cats from Memphis just keep going along, getting better and better at their peculiar presentation of the music of the blues. 2019 was a banner year with a super-high ranking on Billboard’s Album Blues Charts, a BB King International Entertainer of the Year nomination from Canada’s Maple Leaf awards and a jam-packed, well-booked touring […]
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Mid-October music
Centuries ago we might say, “Welcome to the Ides of October,” but that seems a little confusing since we aren’t Romans. So since “ides” means basically the middle of the month, let’s stick with “mid” and find out what’s going on around here. I’m sure our on-the-ball readers remember a band based out of Springfield […]
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Carl Bopp
In a lifetime of music that started at age seven and began professionally during college, Carl Bopp indeed epitomizes the words “lifelong musician” and continues to live up to that moniker every day. Based out of Pekin, his Facebook page “about” section says it all: “I’m a musician/entertainer and a photographer performing at events and […]
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Brushville
From this group’s original explosion on the modern country scene in 2012 during the Back in the Saddle national band competition through early successes on country radio with a self-titled debut album in 2014 on into 2018’s release, Taking You Higher, Brushville brings it on, keeps it going and drives it home. With the quick-to-entertain […]
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Into the music
As we work our way into the music of October and wind down the outdoor gigs, let’s all be careful and safe as we enjoy the cool tunes in the crisp air of autumn, unless by the time you read this we’ve had a genuine fall heat wave, which looks very possible by weekend forecasts. […]
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Music-tober time
Welcome to October 2020 and all the fine, frivolous, fractious, fun, fantastic and phenomenal things it may or may not have to offer you and yours. But whatever the case, we’ve still got live music happening at outdoor venues as we await seasonal weather and the inevitable slowing down of music being made. On the […]
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Gabe Marshall
This Jacksonville native takes his music work seriously, whether writing songs, performing live, promoting his career or doing whatever it takes to make it in the business. Gabe Marshall composes material, plays guitar and sings, does solo and duo shows, plus brings out the full band when the time and place is right. He packed […]
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So long September
Yes, that’s meant to be a “so long, been good to know you” and a “it’s been so long of a September” double meaning to this week’s column headline as the ninth month with the seventh moniker has had its ups and downs. But here we are rolling on through 2020, working through the troubles, […]
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Avery Kern
This talented, ambitious, inspiring and aspiring singer, songwriter, musician and entertainer is doing what it takes to get things done in the business of music show business. From Avery’s recent appearance on the Hollywood version of American Idol (getting that far is a big deal) to attending the esteemed Belmont University in Nashville for business […]
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Unchained
Now if this bunch ever were chained, they’re now most definitely unchained, according to their band name and how they perform at live gigs. Based out of Rochester, music-making mates Ty Ellis (bass), Matthew Runions (percussion), Cooper Marx (guitar), Logan McKneelen (guitar), David Allen (vocals) and Lucas McCafferty (vocals) play, according to their website info, […]
