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All blues fans and alt-country lovers should report
at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, to the Alamo (115 N. Fifth St.,
217-523-1455), where Clay McClinton will host the Illinois Central Blues
Club Blue Monday jam. McClinton, son of legendary harmonica-playing
bluesman Delbert McClinton, just released Son
of a Gun, a Nashville-produced CD that finds
the thirtysomething guitarist happily walking a tightrope between the blues
and country. Citing influences more befitting a singer/songwriter than a
bluesman, McClinton lists Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, and
Rodney Crowell before naming any blues inspirations. McClinton’s tour has gigs booked nearly every
day of the week now through March and continues on a relentless pace
throughout the summer. The day after his Alamo performance, McClinton plays
the world-famous Slippery Noodle, in Indianapolis, before looping back
through Illinois on his way to Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, and on to his home
state of Texas. Expect the Blue Monday show to exhibit a little more
country influence than the standard electric-blues bar-band fare —
but when Delbert McClinton is your father and mentor, how could the blues
ever be far away? • Nashville North, the venerable
country-music theater in Taylorville, came under new management back on the
first of February. Derrick Roy, a relatively young but experienced
entertainer in the central-Illinois country music scene, has leased the
business with plans to continue booking nationally known country touring
acts while adding more gospel and bluegrass bands, using area talent
whenever possible. On Saturday, Feb. 24, Nashville North welcomes popular
recording artist Neal McCoy, purveyor of the modern-country classic
“Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On,” with opening act
Feudin’ Hillbillys, featuring proprietor Roy as one of the
performers. For tickets or more information, call 217-287-2103 or visit
www.nvnusa.com. • The Springfield Classical Guitar Society
presents Sharon Wayne in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the First
Presbyterian Church (321 S. Seventh St.; for tickets, call 217-726-8991).
Wayne — a native of Southern California who now lives, performs, and
teaches in the Boston area — concentrates on contemporary guitar
pieces and is responsible for commissioning works from several modern
composers. Take the opportunity to enjoy the meditative effects of the
intensely beautiful music, outstanding acoustics, and a highly appreciative
audience. • And now for the rock & roll section
of our show: Please welcome the Junior Varsity! The Victory Records artists
perform in their native Springfield for the first time in more than two
years. The all-ages show, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Capital
City Bar and Grill (3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy., 217-529-8580), costs $7 and
includes exciting performances by dashing young groups The Graduate,
Sullivan, and The Struggle Against Silence.
Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2007.
