What a weekend this is with stuff happening everywhere, especially events reliving highlights of the past. But rest assured that the music will be firmly in the present and welldirected toward the future of the scene.
Let us first honor two local musicians we’ve lost too soon. John Brillhart, our singer-songwriter who passed last fall, played the Downhome Music & Beer Festival several times as a solo artist and with the Downhomies, a band he put together for the fest, so it is only fitting to host a tribute for Johnny B. during the event. Friends, family and fellow musicians gather from 3 to 3:30 on Saturday to honor John and his music with a few surprises in store. On Sunday the Wolf Crick Boys pay tribute to the late Scott Leach, founding member and bassist of the band, during their CD release party at Buckhart Tavern from 4:30-7:30 and at Downhome on Saturday evening at 6:15.
This weekend is shaping up to be a band-reunion time of sorts with four local groups getting together again one more time. Park, a part of the indie-rock, emo, poppunk movement of the 90s, roamed across the country playing gigs, releasing records and becoming quite popular from 1996 to 2007. Ladd Mitchell, chief songwriter and remaining member through band personnel changes, reunited the group in 2013 and did some studio recordings and live shows. That makes this more of a regular gig than a reunion show, but what’s important is that Park is playing live on Saturday night at Downhome as the closing band.
The Spoonbenders started in the early 90s when drummer Peter Romano and bassist Dan Dietrich joined forces with singer, songwriter and guitarist Larry Stevens. The trio added guitarist Mitch Marlow for a time and recorded a full-length album of quirky, cool rock songs that was never released. The band did a bunch of hip shows all over the place then disbanded in 2000. On Friday they play George Ranks before Condition 90 and on Saturday they open for Billy Bob Thornton at Boondocks with Brad Floreth joining the trio on guitar embellishments.
For the next two get-togethers you can heap either blame or lavish praise upon the shoulders of Springfield native John Walter. John went to SHS and participated in a program that allowed students to be musicians in rock bands. From there he got the music bug big time and is still going strong with his band, Walty. In 1985 John joined Condition 90, a new wave rock band that I had helped start in 1983, known originally as The Strand. After John joined in with Tom Persinos and Tony Berkman we played around the area, including some great times on our home turf at Crows Mill School. In 1986, now a trio, we promptly broke up just as we peaked with gigs and had a 45 single ready for release. We got together back in 2013 for a night, and this Friday we play George Ranks, acting like we’re in our 20s again. John was also responsible for the creation (along with Cowboy Bob Berning and Mike Burnett) of the Suns of Circumstance, one of the most popular and enduring bands in our community. The Suns, in varying configurations with Burnett always at the helm, have continually gigged out since forming nearly 30 years ago. Mike informed me the original three are getting together with other musicians at Frankie’s Brewhaus on Saturday to relive the old times and play some new songs.
So now you have lots to ponder, including all the regular gigs, the Downhome Music & Beer Festival (Seventh Street between Washington and Adams on Friday and Saturday) and a few other doodads as well. Have fun!
Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected]
