Meet the blogger: Epsom at The Pharmacy Saturday
Epsom in a rare pensive moment (l-r: Tim Harte, Scott Faingold, Steven Sgro). Photo by Kristopher Zander. Epsom is a minimalistic post-punk garage trio which I cofounded with my friends and musical brothers-in-arms Steven Sgro and Tim Harte (and Epsom emeritus member Gary Walnuts Swaggerty) but that’s another story). Our repertoire consists of songs we…
Torch Tuesday tonight: Birthday bash for Les Luger
Les Luger Tonight’s edition of the ongoing Torch Tuesday concert series might be the best chance yet to see the cream of Springfield hip-hop talent on one stage. In honor of the birthday of scene mainstay Les Luger – winner of Single of the Year at this past January’s Torch Tuesday Awards – a variety…
Tonight: The Legacy salutes a legend
The late Patsy Cline The word inimitable doesn’t seem far off the mark when talking about the huge, resonant force of nature that was Patsy Cline’s singing voice, but that isn’t stopping the Legacy Theatre and Roxy Productions from doing their damnedest to resurrect the sound and spirit of the down-home diva, who perished in…
Sunday afternoon: Latin Jazz from Decatur at LLCC
Millikin University Latin Jazz Project Operational since 1993, Millikin University’s Latin Jazz Project has been among the best-regarded of collegiate jazz groups. Tomorrow afternoon, they will be providing curious Springfield listeners a chance to hear the new influences they picked up during a recent trip to Havana, Cuba as they groove through a plethora of…
The way they weren’t
In noting the recent death of Rich Shereikis, I neglected to note what was perhaps his best work as a critic. In his review of Alan Ehrenhalt’s The Lost City, Rich exposed the nostalgia that so often masquerades as retrospective sociology. That book espoused what the author called “Forgotten Virtues of Community in the Chicago…
The 88 percent
It’s tax time, and as I write, last-minute filers across Springfield are huddled over dining tables, poring through store receipts and bank books looking for deductions that might reduce the cost of being a citizen. One of the most popular is the deduction of money paid in interest on one’s house mortgage. Back in 2009,…
Marina V’s magical music tour
What separates the dreamers and schemers of the world from the believers and achievers? Some say hard work and some say circumstance, but most would think it’s a fair amount of both that make the dreams of a lifetime come true. In the case of Marina V, a singer-songwriter-musician with ties to central Illinois, all…
Criminal charges possible
Sangamon County state’s attorney John Milhiser is considering criminal charges against Springfield workers who cut down a tree on property owned by a relative of one of the city employees. “Without seeing any reports on the facts of the case, I cannot comment on whether criminal charges are available or appropriate,” Milhiser said. “However, I…
Changing tunes on gay marriage
You can always tell when somebody is losing an argument because they are constantly backtracking and recalibrating. And it’s no different with gay marriage. Back in January, for instance, newly elected state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, freely admitted that gay marriage was at the heart of his desire to oust state GOP Chairman Pat…
The right combination of sensibilities
Richard Shereikis died in Evanston on March 29. He was 75. A spot on the staff of Illinois Times in its very early years was an entry-level position – anyone who walked up the steps and through the front door had a chance to become a contributor. One of the many people who took that…
Wall Street hogs still running wild
Wall Street is a beast. And proud of it! In fact, a pair of animals are the stock market’s longtime symbols: One is a snorting bull, the other is a bear. But I recently received a letter saying that we need a third animal to depict the true nature of the Wall Street beast: a…
north fifth street poem #17
north fifth street poem #17 seventy score and seven runners passedmy door this morning many in blue t-shirtsthe lincoln half-marathon: I’ve lived in lincolnland over 40 years now; one getsinoculated though I used to take classes tohis home on mary’s birthday give cake to passersby I’ve been slow to read team of rivalsfinished it last…
Clearing up the record on human origins
I write regarding the March 14 article written by Lavern McNeese, titled “Africans lived here first.” It was based upon a presentation entitled “The African-American Presence in the Mississippi Valley Before 1492,” given by Kaba Kamene at the SIU School of Medicine on Feb. 28 as a Black History program. I did not attend the…
Letters to the Editor 4/11/13
FRACKING STINKS I am writing to argue for a moratorium against fracking in Illinois (SB 1418). Chicago environmentalists argue that “fracking is going to happen anyway.” That is a total capitulation to the industry. The bill that the environmentalists endorse (HB2615) is amazing in the things it does not prevent. It does not force the…
Springfield groups push for immigration reform
On April 4 and 5, two Springfield organizations took to the streets and the Springfield offices of members of Congress to generate support for federal immigration reform. More than 11 million people may be living in this country without immigration documents. Families are separated, people are deported and the government invests millions of dollars into…
Drum Fest 2013
Back in 2010 for the debut of Drum Fest, I started out with a few typical drummer jokes such as “What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians? A drummer.” And a beauty like this slammer, “How can you tell if there is a drummer at your door? The knocking speeds up or,…
James Armstrong
Some people play the blues and some people listen to the blues, but James Armstrong just is the blues. From starting his first band in seventh grade to traveling the country playing major festivals and shows, Armstrong made music his life’s work and coincidently, Springfield his home. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., as a young…
Notable rhymester
Mary Jo Bang, poet and English professor at Washington University in St. Louis, will speak in Brookens Auditorium at the University of Illinois Springfield. Bang has authored six books of poems, including Elegy (2007) that received the National Book Critics Circle Award. Also speaking at the UIS Student Arts and Research Symposium is Dr. Ryan Ewing,…
DEMOCRACY IN JEROME
The Springfield School Board is an exercise in chaos. The Springfield Park District is without an executive director or solid finances. You wouldn’t know it from turnout at this week’s election, when fewer than 20 percent of registered voters bothered to cast ballots. After all, who cares about parks or schools? But bad roads and…
Friends forever
Roxy Theatricals presents the Always … Patsy Cline, April 12-14, 18-21, at The Legacy Theatre. The musical is based on the true story of Cline’s friendship with Houston fan Louise Seger. After meeting in a Texas bar in 1961, Seger and Cline continued to correspond until Cline’s death in a plane crash in 1963. The title…
Vibrant virtuosos
Boundary breaking violinist Nicolas Kendall of Time for Three, ensemble-in-residence with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, plays with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, April 13 at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. With theatrical lighting, the concert begins with the world premiere of “The Arc Inspired,” written by composer Steve Hackman. Also on tap, Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto” and Strauss’ “Death…
Spring in betweens
This time of year it can be hot or cold – or anywhere in between. It’s amazing to look at our yard and think of our daughter Ashley’s wedding there last year. Everything was green and blooming, and there were wildflowers everywhere; guests were amazed at the lush stand of ferns we inherited from the…
GARDEN RUN
In 1936, Harriet Knudson of Springfield helped create a sanctuary on the then-new Springfield Lake for plants native to Abe Lincoln’s home states of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Today, that scenic 100-acre woodland known as the Lincoln Memorial Garden holds six miles of trails and footbridges that make it an inviting place to run. Next…
Memory traces
Springfield’s oldest home, Elijah Iles House, has a new exhibit about Camp Butler that includes artifacts from soldiers who were at the camp. A few of the items on display are photographs, uniforms, medical gear, cartes de visite, sword and gun display, and an original mourner’s badge from Lincoln’s funeral. April 13 from 6-9 p.m.,…
Violent Dead for true horror fans only
The poster for the reboot of Sam Raimi’s cult horror movie The Evil Dead (1981) promises that it is “the most terrifying film you will ever experience.” Of course, there’s more than a bit of hyperbole at play here but there’s no doubt that it’s likely the goriest film you’ll ever see as first-time director…
When you wish upon a sleazebucket
I was seeing a guy for four months – a guy I liked better than I’ve ever liked anyone. Two months in, he was calling me his girlfriend, putting me on the phone with his mom, and saying that I shouldn’t look to be dating other people. Yet, I noticed that he remained on the…
Seeking a transformation
Around age six, Emma Todd of Springfield began to feel like something wasn’t right. Born genetically male, Emma says she wasn’t comfortable growing up with her assigned sex. “I just felt different, and it took me a while to figure it out for myself,” Todd said. Now, at age 18, Todd says she feels more…
