Here's hoping you've had a mighty fine time at the beginning of the new year. There are lots of doings in our burgeoning music scene on this first full weekend of 2024. First, how about some cleanup work from last year to acknowledge a couple of cool things done in our community?
Extraordinary hand drummer and all-around man about town on the skins, Dennis Maberry, released his latest book (the prolific percussionist has three others) called Practice Makes Perfect: Techniques and Practice Patterns for Hand Drummers, back in late 2023. Along with some 650 (wow!) rhythm practice patterns and other information, there's an accompanying online instructional video available with your purchase, which can easily be done at www.rhythmspirit.com, Maberry's fun and fact-filled website.
They've been busy out at the Backroom Listening Lounge in Riverton over the last few years, as Jeb Brown Productions has booked countless national touring acts from the outlaw world of country music, thereby building a solid reputation across the country as a cool and crucial place to play. Last November, Jeb, in tandem with Aiden Hohimer of Flatland Media, facilitated the making of a YouTube recording by singer-songwriter Mike Davis called Wise Man or a Fool: Live at the Backroom Lounge. Aiden did the post production, Barry Brown is credited with "the vision" and Paul Carver did the original house sound with Zach Thomas listed as video editor. Congratulations on the release, and here's to many more.
That leads us to announcing the 25th anniversary party for Jeb Brown Productions to be held at Boondocks on March 8, featuring the talents of Kendal Marvel Band, Dallas Moore Band and Branden Martin. Get your tickets now, my friends, while they last.
One more item is the GoFundMe for Regina Mahoney Lock, wife of our legendary local bluesman Springfield Shaky (Dennis Lock). Please go online and donate what you can to help. All the pertinent information and back story is there so get on it, folks.
As a New Year's resolution, plenty of people are thinking of curbing the drinking of alcohol and this time is popularly known as Dry January (a registered trademark by Alcohol Change UK in 2014). You can also call it Drynuary, Dryuary or Janopause, if you so desire, but it means (if you didn't know) abstaining from alcoholic libations for the month. It's otherwise known as drying out or being on the wagon. So, since most of our live music functions occur at places that serve alcohol, sticking to your resolution could be a bit sticky it seems. An answer might be at The Wakery, a downtown venue that serves all kinds of drinks lacking in alcohol, but possessing all kinds of wonderful flavors. For your music fix, check out Tom Beverly and Geoff Ryan playing a duo gig at the venue this Friday, then find out about the rest of the month-long events scheduled.
'Tis the season of Elvis Presley as his 89th birthday is Monday, and to commemorate the occasion Springfield offers you two, yes two, Elvis tributes this Saturday. Elvis Himselvis, long the local king of doing the King, hits at 3 p.m. at the Hoogland with a full band performing most of the classic 1973 Aloha show. Then at 7 p.m. the Legacy Theatre presents Joseph Hall, a well-known, national tribute artist for nearly a decade, doing his show called Elvis: Rock & Remember. Long live the king.
Please peruse our other listings for the many musical happenings going on this weekend and catch you next week in the still fairly new year.
