First off, let’s all bow our heads and say a heartfelt good-bye to the Man in Black, the great Johnny Cash, who left this world last week. He’s been a staple in music for 40-plus years and will continue to influence and entertain long after his passing.
Now on with the live music portion of our show:
On Friday at the Underground City Tavern, our friend from Chicago, Robbie Fulks, rolls into town for another fun-filled musical adventure. Fulks–who has rocked, countried, and guffawed his way into the hearts and minds of listeners around the world–is presently working on a CD of Michael Jackson covers, done in Fulksilian fashion. Our very own Moonlite Rhythm Rangers open the show at 9 p.m.
For early evening Friday fun and frolic, try the Alamo beer garden. The Suns of Circumstance will play an extended happy hour from 6 to 10 p.m. for an “End of Summer Celebration” to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield. It’ll do you good to party while you do good by the youth of our fair city.
Marly’s Pub celebrates three years in the bar business this weekend. Stop in and say hi on Friday, while listening to the contemporary rock sounds of Big Fur. Saturday night Push 180 takes the corner stage to entertain and delight the celebratory crowd. Congratulations to our only downtown Irish pub for hanging in there with plenty of live music and jolly good times.
If you’ve always wanted to go to a bowling alley but don’t care for bowling, there’s a great opportunity for you this weekend. Spillway Lanes on Outer Park Drive, next to the Town & Country Shopping Center, is having an entertainment-filled weekend. On Friday night in the Spillway Lounge, check out City Limits, one of the best local country bands around. Then cruise in on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. for the Bowling Alley Big Band. The band that changes names to match its venue (they were once the Broadway Big Band) doesn’t change their sound. They still specialize in the great classics and standards from one of the coolest times in modern music history. They’ll be swinging, baby, horns and all.
Give a hearty welcome back to the bar on Second and Carpenter now under new management and called Ollie’s. Once known as the Alley–a consistent champion of diverse live music–the old place with a new name is once again a live music venue. They have the band Jambone on Thursday night and an open mic on Sunday from 8 to midnight. Long live live music!
If you prefer your tunes in an airplane hangar, be sure to attend the Hangar Parties this weekend from 7 to midnight at Capital Airport after the Air Rendezvous. Area 51 hovers in on Friday, and Hot Property and F 5 cover Saturday night.
“I’d let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away”
This article appears in Sep 18-24, 2003.
