Sometimes there’s so much going on that the only way to properly discuss events comes from the shotgun approach of blasting away willy-nilly. Let us proceed with vain aim to hit all. I’ve been amiss lately in lauding the efforts of those running, organizing and hosting the Torch Tuesday hip-hop happening held at Bar None […]
Music – Tom Irwin
Posted inMusic
Happy blues birthday
Ronnie Baker Brooks plays the Illinois Central Blues Club Birthday Bash on Saturday, March 21, at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Meadowbrook and Iles. Let’s switch colors this week from green to blue as we move from the Irish into blues territory. Lots of other things are going on as usual, but we should […]
Posted inMusic
St. Pat’s party
Skibbereen plays Robbie’s, Friday evening, March 13, 5:30 to 7:30pm and Floyd’s Thirst Parlor, Saturday morning, March 14, 8 to 10am. Of all the designated drinking events on the American calendar, none contains the unabashed sanction of society more than the Irish celebration known as St. Patrick’s Day. Thanksgiving Eve may now be the official […]
Posted inMusic
Music givers
The PaperRoute plays upstairs at Arlington’s on March 7 for an American Cancer Society benefit concert. Pictured are Sean M. Butler and Shayla Logan, two members of the seven-piece band. So many times when benefits and fundraisers look for support in drawing attention to an event, live music is involved. Many times the musicians themselves […]
Posted inMusic
Weather the weather
ClusterPluck drifts up from St. Louis to play Homespun Republic (formerly called Donnie’s Homespun) on Thurs., Feb. 26. Definitely the hot topic last week was the coldness in the air. I know making the trek out into the mighty Midwest tundra seems unbearable, but for heaven’s sake, is it really all that bad? What could […]
Posted inMusic
Indelible Del
The Del McCoury Band performs Friday, Feb. 20, at the Sangamon Auditorium. In looking for a snappy headline about Del McCoury, I landed on “indelible” to describe the 76 year-old musician and entertainer. The definition of “making marks that cannot be removed” seemed fitting considering the accomplishments achieved by this grounded and ground-breaking artist in […]
Posted inMusic
Sweetheart shows
MamaDear play Boondocks on Fri., Feb. 13 with DJ Hish and Chase Bryant. Looks like we’re blessed with a veritable cornucopia of holidays this week, starting with Abe’s birthday today. Next comes Friday the 13th, Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day, heading straight into Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras. I’m happy to report live music shows […]
Posted inMusic
Homespun resolution
Jeff Austin (formerly of Yonder Mountain String Band) brings his touring band of fine musicians to Homespun Republic (formerly Donnie’s Homespun) on Wed., Feb. 11 with opening act Bones, Jugs N Harmony. Welcome to the first full weekend in February 2015, complete with an assortment of entities sure to entice you into indulging in a […]
Posted inMusic
Through January
Chris Vallillo performs Friday, Jan. 30 at the Paris-Belle House Concerts in Williamsville. Here we are at the end of the first month of 2015. I don’t know whether to celebrate, contemplate, circumnavigate, perpetrate, deflate or inflate, so let’s just investigate further. Start your week off with a crash, boom and bang by visiting the […]
Posted inMusic
Thawing time thoughts
Rest in Peace to Pat Bowe pictured here (third from left) with bandmates Dave Arnold, John Guvvens and Steve York as members of the Pat Bowe Band. There’s nothing like a balmy January break from freezing temps to encourage us to wander from our warm caves for a hot time listening to cool music. First, […]
Posted inMusic
Tennessee connection
Lyman Ellerman plays Guitars & Cadilllacs on Sat., Jan 17, joined by Chuck Werner, Jimmy Bonefeste, David Leach and Jessi James. Prepare yourself for plenty of local action as clubs are filled with area bands this weekend. But a deeper look shows a Tennessee tie to the local scene now and in recent weeks. Nashville […]
Posted inMusic
Very, very January
Blues Expressions perform at the Alamo on Mon., Jan. 12 and again on Thurs., Jan. 15 before they attend the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Jan. 21-25, representing the Illinois Central Blues Club in the band category. Hip, hip hooray, it’s now January and that means we’ve made it to another year. Let’s wish, believe […]
