By Ben Cox
The July 4 weekend is a busy one music-wise in Jacksonville, so let’s get to it. As promised from last week’s episode, I said I would talk a little bit about Shinyribs. They are a 9-piece band from Austin that is pretty hard to put into a genre box. They can do a little of everything very, very well. If you had to peg them, “roots” is usually what the critics come up with. Shinyribs began in 2007 as a solo side project of singer/guitar player Kevin Russell and Keith Langford, better known for their work in The Gourds. If you’ve ever heard the bluegrass cover of the hip-hop song “Gin & Juice,” you’ve heard The Gourds. The band has released 9+ full-length albums since 2010 and have two “Best Austin Band” awards in their hat. They cover songs you’ll know from the radio that you wouldn’t expect someone to cover. They are fun. They are lively. They have horns and backup singers. They have a great local, opening band for them. The self-described “Funky Bluesy Gritty Rock n’ Grassy Folky Jazzy Country” of Square of the Roots based out of the Rochester area start the show around 4 p.m., with Shinyribs to follow. Tickets for this show on July 4 at Twisted Tree Music Hall start at $22. It would be a great party before the fireworks.
If weird, funky, rootsy music is not your bag, though, and you want something with a harder edge, Jacksonville dispensary Kush21 is having a punk rock explosion starting at 5 p.m. on July 4. Jacksonville punk band Scratching the Surface will provide the dynamite.
There is also a special performance at Nichols Park before the fireworks display. The free concert will take place in the pavilion with performers of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra playing all of your patriotic favorites. Many members of the orchestra have donated their time to come back and perform the concert this summer. It’s been a work of logistical magic to get them back to do it as both a way to pay tribute to the music of our country and to also celebrate the City of Jacksonville’s 200th anniversary. I believe there is also a third motivation — bringing music back to Nichols Park, a tradition of yesteryear. Let freedom ring!
The fifth of July is going to help with your Independence Day hangover. Pawnee singer-songwriter Avery Kern is playing a private event in town. Big Heads Gifts is celebrating their 1-year anniversary on July 5 with music and such. I don’t have a lineup on the entertainment, but things get rolling at noon at their South Main Street location.
Brooklyn hardcore legends Shutdown are rolling into town as the headliner of an East Coast hardcore legends show at Pizza Records on July 5. The band has released their first bout of new music in over two decades, and they’re rolling through to promote it on a bill filled with other great hardcore bands. They will be joined by Miami-based Power Play, Maine natives Burning Times and Richmond, Virginia group Keep. Cover is $20 and the show starts at 7 p.m. This is a can’t miss show if you are into hardcore, punk or alternative rock. All of these bands are veterans who tour or have toured on the East Coast prolifically.
I also got some sad news this week. Greg “Lucky” Patterson, the faithful leader of local favorites The Wolf Crick Boys, passed away last week. Greg’s reach in the Springfield-area music scene goes beyond the words that I can put together. I know there are several planned tributes to Lucky in the next few weeks.
Last but not least, our next episode won’t come out until July 10 — so be sure to check out all of the great performers lined up at the Morgan County Fair. July 10 has Silver Lake in the pavilion at 6 p.m. Then, on July 11, it’s Nashville taking over the grandstand with Dustin Lynch and special guest opener Noah Hicks. The Feudin’ Hillbillies are in the pavilion after the concert. July 12 has the popular Warren Zeiders with special guest Kolby Cooper, followed by local friends The Longmeyer Band in the pavilion. The entertainment wraps up on July 13 with the Community Summer Band with an afternoon concert. Don’t worry! I’ll remind you about all of these shows again next week! Until then, stay cool, rock on and don’t leave your local music venues empty!
If you have a show in the Jacksonville area or are a Jacksonville artist/band that would like to be featured here, email Ben Cox with your live music schedule or information at elmcityradio@gmail.com.
