• Got a craving for that crazy Dixieland sound, but finding a
trip to New Orleans a bit difficult right now? Rest easy, my friend, and slip
down to Robbie’s (4 Old State Capitol Plaza, 528-1901) on Friday evening as
the Big Easy comes to you. Riverboat 5 +1 sports all the trappings of a classic
Dixieland band with a clarinet, trombone, and other instruments banned from
MTV. And the “plus one” is none other than one of Springfield’s favorite solo
musicians, vocalist and pianist, Jane Hartman. Ah one, ah two . . .
• There’s still time to act as though your vote matters. And even
if you think it doesn’t, you can still catch a good concert when “Vote for Change”
comes to the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Tickets for next week’s Pearl Jam, Death
Cab for Cutie, and Gob Roberts show are sold out, but seats remain for the James
Taylor and Dixie Chicks concert on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The multi-city, multi-artist
tour was organized by entertainers and presented by MoveOn political action
committee. All concert proceeds go to aid the workings of America Coming Together.
Tickets are available at 314-534-1111 or on-line at www.metrotix.com.
Get information on the concept of the concerts at www.moveonpac.org.
• When does contemporary music stop becoming an instrument of
the devil and begin working for the other side? Answer is: When you change the
lyrics. To prove this point MosaicFest 2004 hosts over 30 artists performing
numerous styles of otherwise nasty music saved with Christian lyrics from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the
Snows in Belleville. Entertainers include former St. Louis Cardinal all-star
pitcher Kent Bottenfield, Grammy and Dove Award winning Christian Contemporary
artist Clay Crosse, and others doing rap, hip-hop, country, rock, and folk,
in a Christian way, plus some honest-to-goodness gospel. For more good news
call 314-481-7337 or go to the Web site at www.mosaicfest.com.
• You can check out a couple of this year’s Illinois Times
“Best of Springfield” winners while helping Buster’s Sports Bar and Grill (1120
Sangamon Ave., 522-0552) celebrate its grand opening this weekend. F5, our voters’
choice for best band, rules the roost on Friday, and Rod Grant, your pick for
best local singer, fronts Late Arrival, the Saturday night combo. The multi-faceted
restaurant/sports bar/entertainment spot tavern occupies the space formerly
held by the Grandstand Sports Bar, kitty-corner from the main gate of the Illinois
State Fairgrounds. Celebration plans include door prizes all weekend and free
hot dogs and chili on Saturday night.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2004.
