What says it's spring, feels like summer, and could become winter in a day? Why, central Illinois weather, of course! Along with teaching us lessons in patience and understanding, this time of year also brings out the bounce and the balls, short-lived shorts, and a feeling of optimism about what is to come. It's also an excellent moment for a spring tonic in whatever form you care to imbibe. To fully enjoy the effects, try these exciting events on for size.
It has been a long, dry spell, but live music is back on the UIS campus in the PAC Studio Theater. The Student Activities Committee has booked a hard rocking, five-band show for this Friday night from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. With Jurassic Slapass, Prone, None Taken, Clone, and FaceLift knocking out the rock, a loud and raucous party is in order. The whole shebang is free for the listening to all consenting adults 18 or older. Look for upcoming UIS campus events--the new undergrads are jammin', man, to the cool sounds of whatever.
Saturday night Springfield welcomes three area bands of renown, from three diverse music genres, at three different live entertainment venues. Now that's excitement! The Twang Gang rides again at Billy's Stockyards on the east-end of Sangamon Avenue. Known for several years as one of the top country bands around, the T' Gangers are back to get your boots scootin' in proper new country form. Right down the road across from the fairgrounds' main gate, the Suns of Circumstance resurrect in the Grandstand Bar. Once a couple-times-a-week Springfield staple, when the Suns rise again the result is akin to a decent-sized religious experience. Last but not least, the Debbie Ross Band reunites for pleasure and profit at Marly's Pub. The undisputed capital city queen of soul now gigs out only every other month or so, but the pipes are still there, along with the crack band of top musicians to back her powerful and emotive voice. There it is--three for three on Saturday night. Why not rent a bus?
Back from Chicago to exercise their demons (they don't get rid of them--they keep them in good shape), Pop 1280 delivers its glowing (like plutonium) versions of love gone bad, love gone good, and love just gone songs at the Underground City Tavern on Saturday. Scott Faingold and Jim Schniepp--chief songwriters and architects of Backwards Day, a popularly loved and hated rock group of the early '90s--form the vortex of this fairly new group. Opening the show are the nicest angry young rockers you'll ever meet--Sea Power--featuring the raw and bleeding talents of Ocean Alexander on guitar and vocals. The hard-hitting trio is about to embark on a tour of immense proportions, traveling city to city across this great country of ours to expound upon the sound worthiness of Sea Power.
There, that's some tonic to put a little spring in your step and a smile on your face.
