Well, that sure didn't take long to get through the month of April. I'm giving all the happening music events credit (plus that week of welcomed warm weather) to giving us a fly-by feeling for "the cruelest month," but however you cut it, this is the last weekend for any "Aprilian" experience. So shall we see what's out there to discover in the world of music?
It's so sad to report that the last day of business for Recycled Records is coming on April 29, this Saturday. Long a stalwart in support of local music through sponsoring events, hosting live music in the store, selling music gear and just being there to make our community that much cooler for having a place like that in town, there's going to be a big hole around here when the door is locked for the last time. But things happen, we move on, and so it goes. Thanks to Gary and the crew for keeping the show going as long as possible after the unexpected passing of Mark, and here's a mighty toast to the Kessler brothers for doing something very wonderful for an extraordinary long time in a retail business that fluctuates quite dramatically.
On Saturday, come on down to say so long. There will be live music of some sort starting around noon-ish and musicians are welcome to come pick and play a few tunes in the front part of the store the remainder of the last day. Gary says he'll stay open as long as there are customers shopping and musicians playing. After Saturday, there will be no more Recycled Records, except in our memories.
You know I like my Thursday night music, and I spy a couple of gigs shining in the sunlight when the Samba Llamas saunter into Pease's at BUNN Gourmet, Dallas Whitaker does Casey's Pub patio and Mary Jo Curry blues up the Curve Inn. All the while, open mics happen at Buzz Bomb with your hip host Joel Honey, and at the Blue Grouch as Kortney Leatherwood continues on with the original Sam and Kortney night of wonders.
Friday night lots of local regulars are playing all over such as the Cocktails hightailing it to Amber's Place, Off the Wall bouncing into the Curve, Acoustics with Robert Sampson sailing into Long Bridge, The Rick Mari Band rocking at Weebles, Tom Irwin (that's me) and Those Raouligans rolling into George Ranks, After Sunset closing in on Motorheads and the Tangents taking on Whiskey Jacks. We even have a few ticketed events when the Blue Grouch goes with shredders (hed) PE, CrazyTown, Adema and Tantric; Broadgauge in Petersburg hosts Nashville's The Smoking Flowers, supported by Emily How, and those Californians called Venice float on into the Legacy Theatre.
And there's more when you toss in Moonbaths kicking off the debut of the downstairs space in Terra Ferment (they're calling it the Subterranean Room) with openers Kate Laine and Alyssa Currie, Swamp Rats banjo-ing their way through Buzz Bomb and Andrew Binder's Little Trio jazzing things around at Boone's.
Saturday is just as cool and crazy with a couple of highlights including southern Illinois singer-songwriter Tim Crosby dropping into Buzz Bomb with his brand-spanking-new CD, Trouble is Coming, in hand, plus a Spring Fling concert at the Gin Mill featuring several of our best original music makers including Thornhill, Wolf Crick Boys, Wayward Motel, Micah Walk and the Lovelorn, all at one show.
Again, I've reached the end without getting close to covering all the other music happening out there. And I think that's just great, so be sure to check those listings!
