Hailing from the river town of Quincy, this blues, country, Southern rock and classic rock quintet takes on songs familiar to average Midwest music lovers, then gives the tunes a slight twist to make ‘em their own with tight vocal harmonies and experienced music-making. Popular acts cited as influences by bandmates Todd Rost (vocals), Eric McKay (vocals, lead guitar), Beau Becraft (vocals, guitar), Steve Hufford (drums, percussion, vocals) and Don Van Dyke (bass) include Waylon Jennings, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Garth Brooks, Alabama, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doobie Brothers and Thin Lizzy, whose songs infuse the set list of Blacktop South. The hard-working and hard-rocking group generally gigs in what’s known over in their parts as the “tri-state area,” which includes midwestern Illinois, northeastern Missouri and southeastern Iowa, with occasional forays into the big cities of St. Louis and Kansas City. The show Friday at Crows Mill Pub marks the first of what the band hopes will be many more performances in central Illinois.