October falls into line
NOW PLAYING | Tom Irwin
What’s shaping up in the fall music market? Let’s go see and hear what we can see and hear.
Up first on the list, let’s welcome our friends from Venice (the band, silly, not the city or the beach), as they return to Springfield for a show at the Legacy Theatre on Friday. Often, Venice shows sell out, as folks flock to see these fabulous cats from Southern California do their thing. Blessed with such a rich heritage of music, when this group of brothers and cousins takes a stage, they make making music look effortless and sound wonderful. A few years ago, some of Venice traveled the world with Roger Waters as his backup vocal ensemble, singing harmonies to the songs of Pink Floyd. Be sure to stop by Boondocks on Saturday to hear the Pine Mountain Logs, an alter ego, all cover band featuring the same guys from Venice. I hear from very reliable sources (thanks, Steve) that the PMLs create an uncanny reproduction of the original bands they cover. This show also benefits charity, specifically the Mary Bryant Home for the Blind. Who’s this Groove Daddies band opening the show? Just kidding, of course, since you and I know they are, drop-dead, one-of-the-best bands around, and have been for a long time.
Saturday night, drop by It’s All About Wine to say so long, it’s been good to know you, to The Old Fashioneds, as they play one final show. The duo consists, as stated on their Facebook page, of Ryan Bishop doing guitar, vocals, harmonica and vests, while Lorin Devine covers guitar, vocals, washboard and red boots. Brought together by a love for old time, country and folk, traditional music, Ryan and Lorin hit the area hard for awhile, a time back, and now, to pay their respects to fans and friends, are playing one last time, joined by fellow friend and musician Andy Krisak. So sad to let such a good thing go, but we are all looking forward to future musical endeavors by these two talented individuals. Thanks for all the good music in the past and for all that is yet to come. This would be a good time for a sad, country song full of longing and sorrow, dripping with heartbreak and sang with a twang.
Bloodshot Records recording artist and Ohio farm girl Lydia Loveless drops into Dr. Ugs on the square in Virginia, Illinois, this Sunday for an afternoon performance. Lydia’s been on the road showing the folks what she can do, and that’s plenty. Along with a set of pipes to sing to the stars with, she knows her way around a song pretty well, coming up with a couple of critically acclaimed records, while on her way to kicking up the dust all around the country with a rocking band. What more do you want, my friend? Our very own acclaimed singer-songwriter Micah Walk opens the show whipping out the songs at 1:30 p.m. Not so long ago, Mr. Walk released a wonderfully sounding record, produced by Grammy-nominated Jamie Candiloro out in beautiful Southern California. A record, mind you, you should have and be listening to over and over again.
The votes are all in for our Best of Springfield contest. Now we begin the task of tallying up the ballots to see who the top vote getters (I’m not fond of calling them winners) are. This is always an exciting time to see what readers, fans, friends, family, strangers and others decide to do with those precious votes. All I know is Sam Draper better win Best Salad this year or I know it’s all rigged.
Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.
