BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Suburban Mystics

Formed by friends interested in playing interesting music together, this local Springfield group includes members of such renowned area bands as The Aspect, Mr. Opporknockity, Winky and the Love Buddhas, Daddy$ Money, The LandSharks, The Emerald Underground, The Tongue Puppets and many more. Bandmates Lori McKenzie (vocals, percussion), Bill McKenzie (bass, vocals), Jeff Helton (guitars, vocals), Troy Roark (drums, vocals) and Roger Wainwright (keyboards, vocals) are mysterious about the origins of the band moniker but are forthcoming in proclaiming their mission of doing “interesting music without playing songs that are totally unidentifiable; just fun, interesting and groove-oriented album cuts and some radio hits from artists that most music lovers know.” A typical set list from the non-typical choices might include Steely Dan, Todd Rundgren, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Elvis Costello and Marshall Crenshaw along with Motown artists such as The O’Jays and Marvin Gaye. Selfdescribed as being “music for your third ear,” take a listen to TSM and see if you can hear it on your own.