When the pumped up, high-rockin, rockabilly trio The Meerkat Mobsters, featuring Springfield resident Mark Mills (guitar, vocals), Ray Biagioni (drums) from Oglesby and Rick Topolski (stand-up bassist) from Streator, hits town for a show in support of Toys for Tots, expect a wild ride from this blistering rock ‘n’ roll band. Mark released an excellent […]
Music
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Music is in season
Now that the weather outside is slowly approaching normal but nowhere near “frightening,” perhaps our holiday season may feel more Midwest than Southwest. Either way it goes (hot, cold, polar or solar), we have good live music happenings going on. On Friday at Craft Beer Bar, the friends, fans and family of John Brillhart gather […]
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Textbook
Based out of Chicago, this quartet of possible punks (the musical kind) formed in 1998 using “’90s alternative and ’80s punk with a dash of midwestern roots-rock” to create a modern, American rock band worthy of the title. Dave Lysien, who cut his teeth with infamous punk band Not Rebecca, fronts the band, and the […]
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Hot December music
This oddly warm week for the end of November is fitting to heat us up for a weekend of scorching good music on the roster. Be sure to check the community calendar for holiday music happenings along with the regular bar scene stuff. It’s that magical, mystical time of year where merry things appear at […]
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Christian Lopez
This West Virginia native now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and uses the Music City for a home base to bring his particular style of Americana music to the masses. Lopez recorded his debut album, Onward, with famed producer Dave Cobb of Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson success in 2015. His recent offering, Red Arrow, on […]
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Giving thanks for much
There are many things to be thankful for in this world, and I hope you take the time to address those pertaining to you and yours. I’m thankful to be able to write this column weekly and share my opinions on our live music scene. I sure hope you’re thankful that I do. Those old-fashioned, […]
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Remember November music
Well, to say this was a tough week is an understatement of large proportions. I’m sure I speak for the friends and family of John Brillhart in thanking everyone for condolences, music, stories and all that goes with processing grief. So now we are on to remember the passed ones and respect what they did […]
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Craig Gerdes
Part of the burgeoning, modern, underground, outlaw, country music field, Craig Gerdes is makin’ tracks and on the move. His latest release, Smokin’, Drinkin’ & Gamblin’ (Sol records), is quickly gathering attention for a real honky-tonk, old-school, classic-country sound that embraces the heart and soul of contemporary outlaw country. Gerdes hails from rural central Illinois, […]
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Greek blues come to Springfield
Vocalist Pavlos Vasileiou has been performing in Athens, Greece, as leader of the band Rebitiki Istoria for 35 years. Practitioners of the musical genre known as rebetika, Vasileiou and company were joined about a decade ago by violinist and bouzouki player Yona Stamatis, who also happens to be a professor of ethnomusicology at University of […]
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November on the move
Here we go into a nearly mid-November run with sad news, good gigs and contest results. For me personally, early-to-mid November is filled with memories of loved ones lost, including a grandmother, father, brother-in-law and best music-playing pal. Now we add the name of John Brillhart, a good, caring and longtime friend, an excellent singer-songwriter […]
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Whatever Productions and open mics
Here we are rolling into November; getting ready to fall back an hour and plunge into near wintertime. What better excuse do you need (if you need one) to get out and see some live music? Last Saturday night was a special moment in Springfield culture and music history. At the Curve Inn, before the […]
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BAND SPOTLIGHT | Hooten Hallers
A trippy trio from Columbia, Missouri, the Hooten Hallers are all about being different from your average Americana group. Using interesting instrumentation that includes John Randall (vocals, guitar), Andy Rehm (vocals, drums) and Kellie Everett (baritone, bass saxophones), they base their music on traditional American styles, yet add twists and turns from vociferous vocals to […]
