Come along as we trek through the weekly jaunt of Springfield music-making moments. Take the time to notice the hard work and terrific talents of those involved in the process.
Thursday evening at The Alamo (From 6 to 9, with food available), James Armstrong Presents gives us the gift of Sam Crain and his jazz guitar stylings. Joined by a band simply called “Friends,” which is indeed one the best bands a fellow can have, Sam will run through blues and jazz tunes with integrity and ingenuity, delivering a delightful mix of music. The Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation presents a “lyrical and satirical concert featuring the masterful skewer-in-chief” Roy Zimmerman on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The weekend music-doings bring on a whole slew of local groups, mostly playing at our many conveniently designed outdoor venues that feel like indoor spaces. Once known as “beer gardens” and not always kept in the best of shape, these places are now some of our finest live performance spots, created with good sound and lights plus plenty of stage area for a band to spread out. An interesting circumstance caused by these “outdoor” venues puts the live music performances starting earlier than usual because of sound ordinances requiring outside noise to be done by 10 p.m. This is definitely a side benefit for the clubs, since it seems most music-going folks these days prefer to get out, get in and get on with it. Some then might just stay for a DJ or jukebox (gotta have the music) on the inside, giving the watering hole another chance to sell some suds. Being done by 10 is not such a bad thing for most musicians as well. That gives us time to do a full night but still be packed up and home by midnight, if one (just one, probably) so desired.
Big Daddy Jasper takes the cake for a town tour of these outdoor stages starting with Weebles on Friday, then heading across town on Saturday to the Curve Inn, and ending at the Blue Grouch on Sunday at a benefit for the local Toys for Tots chapter with Captain Geech and Off The Wall. Skip’s playground at The Curve hosts the first fulllength show by Springfield’s hottest new cool group The Loops on Thursday and then those mighty Stone Giants hit the stage on Friday. Weebles brings in The Hitmen to finish off Saturday then has Double Shot on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Grouch is on board for the weekend with Take 10 on Friday and Lick Creek on Saturday. There is more of this variety listed in our Pub Crawl.
Let’s give a big round of applause to Conrad’s Saloon in Riverton as they celebrate a fourth anniversary on Saturday. There’s a lot more to the story than these last four years, so when you get inside this storied bar, read up on the history of one of the area’s coolest and oldest taverns. The Erdle family deserves a hearty thank you for keeping it all going and for throwing you a party with New City Road and other fun happenings all day on Saturday.
In another celebration, Penny Lane hosts its 22nd annual customer appreciation day with a concert and party at Douglas Park on Sunday from noon to nine. Honoring Jerry (Garcia) and Joe (Utterback) with music by Perfunctory This Band, Sunshine Daydream, Tom Irwin’s Hayburners, Sarah Schneider, Rhythmspirit and Franklin’s Tower plus dancing, fellowship, hula hoops, bubbles and lots of tie-dye attire, this is always a wonderful day to revel and remember.
Look out next week; here we come.
Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].
