The Lash, a self-proclaimed Celtic Americana
band from the Lansing, Mich., area, began as a simple St.
Patrick’s Day escapade. According to Rob Kladja, the only original
member still with the group, two separate local Lansing bands
decided to launch impromptu Irish groups on St. Patrick’s Day
in 1997. The two groups found other, joined forces, and became an
instant hit as the only eight-piece Celtic-influenced band around
with a 13-song repertoire. Soon the Lash began to live the large
life of a popular Celtic-rock band. By 1998 they had released Celtic Mayhem Live on
CD (available as a free download at www.thelash.com/cml.html) and
were playing more than 200 shows a year. As the touring time increased, group members
began dropping like flies and the lineup changed regularly. By the
time the smoke cleared, around 2004, the Lash had survived 14
membership changes, released a studio CD (Every Direction, 2003), and
played with everyone from Huey Lewis and the News to the Clancy
Brothers, and its members were just about worn out. After a
self-imposed hiatus from traveling for some much-deserved rest and
reflection, Kladja reports, the now-four-piece band has stabilized,
both in membership and direction. A new CD, Fire
Under Grace, is in the can, scheduled
for release on St. Patrick’s Day. The music on the disc, in
Kladja’s words, “has a definite Americana, even
alt-country, feel at times, although it’s still rooted in
Celtic rock.” Plans include pushing CD sales to several thousand copies, routinely filling 500- to
600-seat rooms during live performances, and making a sane living
playing music. We all know how important it is that Irish
bands imbibe to be a part of the grand tradition of blessed
drunkenness. Can the Lash still hold its liquor and put on a good
show? Kladja reports, “We’re not the hard-drinking band
we used to be — we once drank 14 rounds of Jameson’s
during a show. Age and common sense have prevailed, but I would say
I can still outdrink the rest of the band and still play, although
that’s in large part because I have such a brilliant band
supporting me.”
The Lash performs 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and
Saturday, Dec. 2 and 3, at Marly’s Pub, 9 W. Old State
Capitol Plaza, 217-522-2280.
It wasn’t so
very long ago that Springfield’s only Thursday nightlife
diversions were open mics, DJs, and karaoke, but several clubs have
begun featuring live music. The Oohs, the most recent Thursday
addition, play at Mojo’s (225 E. Monroe St., 217-544-3400) in
a very special acoustic version of their normally very electric
show. They call it Ac-OOHS-tic. Pretty clever, don’t you
think? Me, too. How about a big
Springfield welcome for Suzy and the Smokers, our newest local
blues band? Of course you won’t recognize the name of the
band, but followers of the area music scene will surely know most
of the players. Fabulous bluesman Bill Evans handles guitar;
Suzanne Carr, of JackFlash and recently of Mojo Jones, belts out
the vocals. John Turner is the drummer, Blake Everist plays bass,
and Rick Speers takes on the keyboard. Carr described the group as
a “swingy boogie-blues band,” and I’m taking her
word for it. They make their debut hosting Blue Monday, the
Illinois Central Blues Club’s long-running weekly
get-together, at the Alamo (115 N. Fifth St., 217-523-1455) on Dec.
5. If you have a craving
to contribute to the goodwill of the holiday season but would like
to party while doing so, maybe the Parrot Heads in Lincolnland
Christmas in the Caribbean shindig is just the thing for you. The
annual event at Casey’s Pub (Knights of Columbus Hall, 2200
S. Meadowbrook Rd., 217-241-7101), held this year on Saturday, Dec.
3, features central Illinois’ only known Jimmy Buffett
tribute band, the Boat Drunks. The $5 cover charge benefits Toys
for Tots and several other Springfield charities, and if you bring
a new, unwrapped $10 toy, you’ll receive a free 50/50 raffle
ticket. The show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit
www.philclub.org. Chantilly Lace (2660
S. Fifth St., 217-522-7447), the south-side hangout chosen by
readers of Illinois Times as the best place to dance in 2005, now
features local bands on some weekend nights. Check out the cool
sounds of Eldorado from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Hey,
Chantilly Lace might be the Best Live Music Venue for 2006.
This article appears in Dec 1-7, 2005.
