This week is chockfull of the blues. The cerulean
goings-on start around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8 — yes, that’s
tonight, if you picked up the paper when you’re supposed to —
as local blues gurus Black Magic Johnson bring it all home through a mix of
standards and originals at Thirsty’s Playground (1975 W. Wabash,
217-787-7273). Acclaimed blues chanteuse Candye Kane starts a night
of azure musical wonderment at 9 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at the Underground
City Tavern (Hilton Springfield, 700 E. Adams, 217-789-1530). Kane is an
acclaimed performer who has traveled the world, entertaining legions of
music lovers who believe that bawdy is beautiful — and is it ever.
After she’s finished with you, catch your breath and hang around for
the Springfield debut of Duwayne Burnside, son of the late R.L Burnside,
known to aficionados of the cobalt-colored music as the “reverend of
the blues.” Burnside the younger, a former member of the North
Mississippi Allstars, plays real down-home, honest-to-goodness,
tell-it-like-it-is blues in the vein of his famous father. Speaking of famous fathers, John Lee Hooker Jr.
performs next Wednesday, June 14, also at the UCT. Hooker Jr., after
performing off and on during his teenage years with his blues-legend dad,
spent most of his adult life struggling with substance abuse, romantic
entanglements, and the authorities. In 2004 he got his act together and
released his debut CD, Blues with a Vengeance; was promptly nominated for a Grammy; and won the W.C.
Handy New Artist award. Hooker, now signed with Telarc Records, will
release a CD of fresh material, titled Cold as
Ice, on June 27. There’s a new hangout in town. Located above
the Capitol Steakhouse, at 620 S. First St., it’s called the Loft,
and it features blues and jazz on weekend nights. The club, which is
voluntarily smoke-free, presents bluesman Michael Taylor, 9:30 p.m.-12:30
am. Friday, June 9. Call 217-744-3333 for further information. No relaying of the blues in Springfield would be
complete without listing Blue Monday at the Alamo (115 N. Fifth St.,
217-523-1455). This week, the KMC Blues Band hosts the long-running
get-together, which is sponsored by the Illinois Central Blues Club. My cup o’ blues runneth over.
This article appears in Jun 8-14, 2006.
