Everyone looks like they are definitely catching their breath this week. There’s no live music in town. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
The week in Jacksonville appears to be turned toward getting ready for Halloween. The Witches Walk takes place downtown on October 17. Hosted by businesses in downtown Jacksonville, most have extended evening hours and some spooky sales, tricks and treats. Witch costume not required. “You’ve got to pick up every stitch/Oh no, it must be the season of the witch,” Donovan once sang.
October 18 is the Jacksonville Main Street Pumpkin Festival. The only music you will be hearing is the sound of pumpkins being dropped off a building. The old Andre & Andre building sure looks fine these days.
So, if you want live music, you will have to head out of town. It’s not too far, though. Jamaica & the Wild Side, a Madison County-based rock cover band takes the stage down at Two Dogs Saloon in Roodhouse. Back in my day growing up in Greene County, the Two Dogs used to be your old neighborhood dive bar. They had a pretty good jukebox filled with classic country, but no bands. The ownership there has really transformed it into something special with an outdoor stage/beer garden but kept some of the down-home feel inside. It’s a nice spot, especially for folks who want to hop on their motorcycle and go for a ride. It’s at the four-way stop on the north side of town.
The other show I’ll tell you about is over at Danenberger Family Vineyards in New Berlin. The live music setup over there is really world class – and they’ve truly had some world class talent come through in the last few years. If you’ve not seen a show over there, you need to go. The show I want to tell you about is one of my old blues acquaintances. I’ve met many on my travels with the blues over the last two decades. Before my work for this publication and my return to Jacksonville, I spent the better part of 10 years writing for a blues magazine, playing the blues and briefly touring around the region. Since blues is such a niche market, you get to know a lot of great players and people. Chris O’Leary is certainly one of those people. I met Chris at The Alamo over in Springfield in 2011 after his band released the album, “Mr. Used To Be.” It won Best New Artist Debut from the Blues Blast Music Awards that year. Prior to that recording, Chris led Levon Helm’s band, The Barn Burners. Prior to his music career, he served as a U.S. Marine and worked as a federal police officer based out of upstate New York. After his time in The Barn Burners ended from touring all over the place, he started his own band and has drawn international attention and acclaim everywhere he’s gone. You wouldn’t know it if you met him one-on-one, though. His warm personality is as equally charming as his songwriting. He’s also a ferocious harp player. If you like some rockin’ Chicago-style blues, Chris has got it. This isn’t the sit-down-and-tap-your-feet stuff either. This stuff moves. He is out in support of his last album on the historic Alligator Records label, called “The Hard Line.” The show at Danenberger Family Vineyards outside of New Berlin starts at 2 p.m. Get your tickets on their website.
Hopefully, we will have a few more local shows to talk about next week. Keep checking your local listings. I may miss one or two. Remember, only you can prevent empty local music venues! Support live music today!
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.
