With these cold days upon us, what could be more appealing than checking out some hot music tunes for a thaw from this week of chilling weather? I recently received a warming message from Marina V, our ever-moving and ever-loving music friend, that began with, “Hello from Moscow!” Current temps in the Russian capital are […]
Now Playing
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Fun with Greg Fundis
Most frequently in this column, the musicians I interview are either in Springfield or from another place. This week I was very fortunate to speak with drummer Greg Fundis, a hometown hero now residing in Chicago, working on a very successful and balanced career in the business of making music. Greg grew up in Springfield […]
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Re-solutions recommended
Certain commitments known as New Year’s resolutions are commonly concocted around the beginning of a calendar year and generally concern a makeover of the self, often dealing with all kinds of ways to feel, act, look and be better. The word resolution, broken down, says to me, “re-solution,” as in finding a solution again or […]
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Another year passed
Me, oh my how the time does fly! Looks like we are into another year of life on Earth for those of us fortunate to be participating. As far as milestones for 2012, I think the best for me was seeing my Mom turn 80 years old. We asked her to celebrate with a community […]
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New Year’s news
As I titled this end-of-the-year column I had no idea that the last two years I had come up with the same catchy words to name my final “Now Playing” of the year. I guess I started a tradition, and I’m sticking with it from here on out. The 2012 music scene in Springfield grew […]
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End of the world or end of the world ending?
With nothing else worth discussing this week other than the much purported and often promulgated “end of the world” coming on Dec. 21, 2012, here we go. I reasoned that spending, as Bob Dylan called “my precious time” on the subject, makes sense because, if the world does end on that date, then I missed […]
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Hip-hop heroes
I must admit to being rather ignorant of rap and hip-hop music styles. I’ve heard certain artists and felt the influence of the genre in contemporary music, but overall I’ve not listened deep into the catalogue of this fairly new variety of music. All through the history of popular music the improvisation and musicality of […]
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December blues
For whatever reason, Springfield likes having the blues, at least when it comes to seeing bands that play the genre. And this month, just in time to thwart any possible pre-holiday, lowdown blue feelings, bands are in demand and plentiful. Our friends out at Boondocks, the new happening club on Dirksen Parkway (where Rockin’ Robin […]
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UIS music at UIS
Most of the live music shows held at the University of Illinois Springfield, our still growing, four-year institution of higher learning on the southern outskirts of Springfield’s civilized world, come from beyond the college’s borders. Part of the reason for this apparent lack of college-based music making comes from the absence of an extensive formal […]
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Thanks for Thanksgiving Eve
As reported in this column for the past several years, for those of you who care, the night before Thanksgiving is known as the biggest party of the calendar year for the live music/bar scene. Even lacking a proper name like St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve – the other big participants in the […]
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Various November varieties
Every once in a while it’s fascinating to take a look at all the music out there in the big picture rather than focusing in on one subject. With all the happenings this weekend, plus the upcoming Thanksgiving feast of music next week, that once in a while is now. First, what’s up with all […]
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The Roys arrive
When thinking of bluegrass festivals nature and outdoor settings generally come to my mind, but one of the finest bluegrass fests in the country happens right here in Springfield at the Crowne Plaza. Called the Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival, this weekend marks the 26th year of the three-day event that hosts some of the […]
