Music – Tom Irwin

Happy winter solstice, and merry whatever to you all. It’s that time of year, of course, and one of the best ways to enjoy the holidays is through music. Perhaps enough is enough of the holiday stuff, but getting out and about to see what local musicians have to offer is a real gift to […]

As we approach the point of saturation and consternation of the Christmas excess surrounding and encompassing our lives at this time, perhaps it’s best to succumb to the magic of the moment, if not with glee, then at least with tolerance and acceptance, relying on the fact as stated in a famous holiday song that […]

Now that the weather outside is slowly approaching normal but nowhere near “frightening,” perhaps our holiday season may feel more Midwest than Southwest. Either way it goes (hot, cold, polar or solar), we have good live music happenings going on. On Friday at Craft Beer Bar, the friends, fans and family of John Brillhart gather […]

This oddly warm week for the end of November is fitting to heat us up for a weekend of scorching good music on the roster. Be sure to check the community calendar for holiday music happenings along with the regular bar scene stuff. It’s that magical, mystical time of year where merry things appear at […]

There are many things to be thankful for in this world, and I hope you take the time to address those pertaining to you and yours. I’m thankful to be able to write this column weekly and share my opinions on our live music scene. I sure hope you’re thankful that I do. Those old-fashioned, […]

Well, to say this was a tough week is an understatement of large proportions. I’m sure I speak for the friends and family of John Brillhart in thanking everyone for condolences, music, stories and all that goes with processing grief. So now we are on to remember the passed ones and respect what they did […]

Here we go into a nearly mid-November run with sad news, good gigs and contest results. For me personally, early-to-mid November is filled with memories of loved ones lost, including a grandmother, father, brother-in-law and best music-playing pal. Now we add the name of John Brillhart, a good, caring and longtime friend, an excellent singer-songwriter […]

Here we are rolling into November; getting ready to fall back an hour and plunge into near wintertime. What better excuse do you need (if you need one) to get out and see some live music? Last Saturday night was a special moment in Springfield culture and music history. At the Curve Inn, before the […]

A trippy trio from Columbia, Missouri, the Hooten Hallers are all about being different from your average Americana group. Using interesting instrumentation that includes John Randall (vocals, guitar), Andy Rehm (vocals, drums) and Kellie Everett (baritone, bass saxophones), they base their music on traditional American styles, yet add twists and turns from vociferous vocals to […]

This week we have sad news, happy times, good benefits, and, apparently, lovely weather to top off an odd and peculiar few weeks of early autumn. Our hearts go out to the family of guitarist Alex Borisov, who passed away unexpectedly last week. A kind soul and a soulful musician through the years, Alex has […]

Feel the crisp breeze, the touch of fall, the fall of leaves, the sounds of leaves falling, and, oh, what else is that I hear? Yes, it’s the sound of live music all over town. First, let’s congratulate the popular local, contemporary country band Lick Creek for winning the “NASH Next” contest for the Bloomington/Peoria […]