As we float on through the last weekend in June, headed downstream toward Independence Day, a whole bunch of good, live music floods the scene right here in the old hometown.
Plenty of local folks went to the recent Rolling Stones concerts in Chicago and I bet even more wanted to and couldn’t, or just didn’t. My buddy Hipbone Sam recommends that all you Stones fans, whether recent frequenters of Mick and Keith sightings or not, head out to the Curve Inn on Thursday for “a Stones fix” when Jack Flash graces the sound stage run by award-winning sound man Ric Major. Mr. Sam plays the part of Mick and the Jack Flash band tears into the Stones catalog just like they are the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band. And you’re in for a special treat if you get there on time, when The Rick Mari Band, featuring fantabulous guitarist and brilliant vocalist Rick Mari, opens the show at 6 with rock classics that will blow your mind.
There are music events all summer long at a space called the Village Park Amphitheater out near Sherman, including this Saturday night when A Shot of Country Summer Music Festival (6 to 11) hits the concrete stage with four acts including Poor Farm Road, NATU Band, Drew Cooper and Dave Fenley (Team Blake of “The Voice”). Mike Parrish, current president of the Springfield Jr. Blues Alumni Association, sent me a message explaining this show is the first of a planned annual fundraiser for the nonprofit hockey group. He also added a nice tidbit about Kyle Jennings and Marcel Chagnon, two former Jr. Blues players who after separately becoming successful in the modern country music business, used industry connections to help set up this festival fundraiser for their former team. Who knew, right?
Downtown music venues with breweries inside (and other things) continue to roll on as local hotbeds of cool out-of-town entertainment. Anvil & Forge hosts two acts this weekend for fans of acoustic music with a sharp edge, both at 5 p.m. and free to the public. Friday brings us the Wes Duffy Trio, a “high-energy, new grass group” from Peoria way and Saturday features The Family Gold, a traveling band covering several genres of classic acoustic country from America’s rich past of roots music. On Saturday night (8 to 11), Buzz Bomb presents a triple bill of Black Esther, Dexter Anodyne and The Randys, creating a stunning array of originality and diversity that is just awesome.
An assortment of venues and groups are rightfully and cleverly taking advantage of the Fourth of July holiday being on a Thursday and therefore making Wednesday, July 3, a free and open party night. A favorite spot of mine, the Lucky Moon Saloon, located off the frontage road north of Glenarm, gives us a fresh look at a trio from the past when Doc Hollow breaks in the new outdoor space at the friendly neighborhood bar. This original Hollow band features Antone DeRocchi, Mark LeVault and Tom Beverly as an all-acoustic trio that started out back in 2001 and kept at things until around 2009. When winds blew anew, the three friends, all accomplished musicians and seasoned performers, decided the time was ripe for picking again. Now here they are back in full bloom punching out classic rock tunes from the likes of CCR, Stevie Wonder and Santana, plus knocking around more acoustic-type material from Paul Simon, James Taylor and Bob Dylan. Welcome back to the scene, Doc Hollow.
Here come the “Jewel-eyes” a-staring back at you.
