Friday, April 14, is hereby proclaimed
“Cool Gal Singer/Songwriter Night” in the city of
Springfield. By whose order? By order of the great architect of the
universe, the all-seeing I, and the hair on your great
grandmother’s chinny-chin-chin, that’s who. Erika Luckett kicks off Friday’s
estrogen extravaganza at 8 p.m. at Robbie’s (after the Craig
Russo’s Latin Jazz Project in the regularly scheduled Uptown
Friday Night slot). Luckett, an amazing singer and dynamic
performer, can really tell a tale and sell a song. Unexpected, her most
recent CD, is a wonderful work filled with passionate pieces of
longing and learning, interlaced with acoustic guitar pop and
Brazilian rhythms. Continuing on with the Night of Awesome
Women, Michelle Malone and Anne McCue sing in the round at the
Underground City Tavern, starting around 9 p.m. (Garrison Starr,
the third singer/songwriter scheduled to perform, got the call to
serve as an opening act on tour with Rhett Miller of the Old
97’s and could not pass up that wonderful opportunity. But
don’t despair — we’ll do just fine with Malone
and McCue covering the singer/songwriter duties.) The list of
venues they have played is a veritable catalog of the best clubs in the nation. Last weekend
they were at New York City’s Living Room and Boston’s
Paradise Lounge. This week they warm up for the UCT show at the Ark in
Ann Arbor, the Abbey Pub in Chicago, and Café Montmartre in
Madison. Then it’s off to St. Louis for a show at Blueberry Hill,
followed by more gigs at famed places in fabulous locations. In other
words, we are lucky, very lucky, to get these top-notch acts in our
town. So thank your Uncle Louie’s bald spot or the goddess of
your choice, count your blessings, and go see the show. The Oohs, performing power pop as only they
can, rock Mojo’s on Friday and the Black Dog Bar on Saturday,
sans their
special guest from last week. John Waite, that talented and
well-preserved ’80s pop-rocker, dropped in for the
Oohs’ gig at Buster’s last Saturday after his show at
the Hoogland and sat in with the band. How cool is that? Pictures
are on up the Oohs’ Web site. Congratulations to the Johnny 5 on a year of
living dangerously in the land of bands. Help the cool jazz cats
celebrate their one-year anniversary at Jazz Central Station on
Friday.
This article appears in Apr 13-19, 2006.
