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Hey, after last week’s comment about the
Redneck-American booth at the Ethnic Festival, I suppose I should leave the
humor to the professionals. But surely you know I’d be the first in
line for my baloney and beer if they actually had a tent. I know, I know,
then suburbanites and yippies will want a turn, and just where does it all
end? I did forget to mention all the really great food and good music at
the Ethnic Festival year after year, but, then, I thought you already knew
that. Perhaps you don’t know, speaking of professional
comedians and things you already should know, the Funny Bone,
Springfield’s only comedy club, is celebrating nine years of bringing
the finest jokesters in the country to the capital city. Don
Bassford’s vision of owning a comedy club came to reality on Sept. 9,
1999, upstairs in the Vinegar Hill Mall. He moved operations to the
Breaktime Complex, on Springfield’s west side, in September 2001,
expanding to include a full-time bar space, pool tables, and the comedy
club. He’s made a success of it all, bringing in such
big names of contemporary comedy as Louie Anderson, Kevin Pollak, Bobcat
Goldthwait, Pauly Shore, and Dave Coulier. The Springfield Funny Bone is
one of just 16 clubs in the country to host tryouts for Nick at
Nite’s Search for the Funniest Mom in
America and was picked by Dustin Diamond as the
backdrop for a segment of VH1’s Where
Are They Now?
Bassford led the charge as an outspoken opponent of
the Springfield smoking ban, claiming that it would have an adverse effect
on his establishment and other nightclubs. Now known officially as Donnie
B’s, the Funny Bone is still going strong, although the smoking
ordinance hurt. Bassford is looking forward to shows by Caroline Rhea,
Michael Winslow, and a return visit by Pollak. The Midnight Swinger
performs on Sept. 7 and 8 as the featured artist during the club’s
anniversary celebration (2937 W. White Oaks Dr., 217-391-5653). · From 4 to 9
p.m., Sept. 8, on the quadrangle of the University of Illinois at
Springfield, Capcitill Promotions hosts “Hip Hop Started Out in the
Park,” a
celebration of the positive elements of hip-hop music and culture and the
effects of this genre on our society. Events include live DJ performances,
dance competitions, demonstrations, and rap and graffiti workshops, as well
as the 2007 MCAA MC competition. Call 217-816-9534 for more information or
to register for workshops and competitions.
· In the
“you heard it here first” department: Fusion, the dance bar at
the corner of Fifth and Adams streets, is now part of Catch 22 and is
featuring blues bands 8 p.m.-midnight Thursday-Saturday. The Mudbugs kick
off the series on Thursday, Sept. 6.
Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2007.
