Message in a Bloggle at Stingfield.com » Springfield, Illinois

My First Concert Experience Revisited: The Tubes

Kathy — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:27:05 +0000

I was a sheltered fifteen-year-old in 1981 when The Tubes released their breakthrough album The Completion Backwards Principle. I absolutely adored “Talk to Ya Later”, “Don’t Want to Wait Anymore”, “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman”, “Mr. Hate” and the rest of the songs on the album, so much so that I wore out the vinyl LP on my turntable from playing it so often. When The Tubes announced a concert stop in Springfield, Illinois at the Prairie Capital Convention Center shortly thereafter, I just knew I had to be there and begged my mother to let me go. Finally relenting, she agreed to let me attend with my high school girlfriend Lacy, also a fan of the album. (See photo of Lacy and I reminiscing about the concert twenty-three years later at one of our high school reunions.)

The Tubes was my very first concert, and in hindsight my mother had reason to worry for allowing a concert virgin to see a band who previously penned the hit “White Punks on Dope”. The concert was perhaps a bit much with pot hanging heavily in the air for a crowd of only 900 and the scantily clad women singing and gyrating all over the stage. Lead singer Fee Waybill himself lost a great deal of his clothes for portions of the show also. But no matter, I was mesmerized and stung by the live performance bug. I loved the whole experience and began going to as many concerts as my mother would allow and the city of Springfield could attract (limited unfortunately) over the next several years.

This overwhelming need to experience live music at concerts culminated in my greatest desire being realized two years later at the age of seventeen. Requiring much groveling and dramatics with my overprotective mother, I was finally allowed to leave the city and drive to see a concert elsewhere: The Police on the Synchronicity Tour in Champaign, Illinois at the Assembly Hall on November 28, 1983. To this day I still love going to concerts, but it all started back in 1981 with The Tubes. And now I will finally have the chance to see The Tubes once again since it has just been announced they will be performing at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield along with April Wine on August 19, 2011.

Count me in; I’ll definitely be there to see The Tubes again after thirty long years. Needless to say, I “Don’t Want to Wait Anymore”.

Should an American Actor Portray Abraham Lincoln in Spielberg Movie?

Kathy — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:08:51 +0000

Springfield, Illinois is all abuzz today with the news that Daniel Day-Lewis has visited the city to research his recently announced role as Abraham Lincoln in a movie to be directed by Steven Spielberg. He is the second actor to be associated with this long-discussed Lincoln project after Liam Neeson, who visited the city several years ago. Day-Lewis is English, while Neeson is Irish. As a resident of Springfield, IL proud of our Lincoln heritage, I can’t help but wonder why an American actor was not considered to portray Abraham Lincoln. No disrespect intended to either of these fine actors, especially Day-Lewis whom I’ve liked since A Room with a View in 1985 and loved since The Last of the Mohicans in 1992, but perhaps an American would be a better choice to portray our nation’s greatest President? I’m curious, do any other Springfieldians, or Americans for that matter, think an English or Irish actor is the wrong choice for this Spielberg movie, or is it just me? Tell me what you think.

From One Police Fan to Another

Kathy — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:05:21 +0000

Just watched a fun video by a fellow Police fan and Springfieldian plugging Message in a Bloggle. It is always nice to hear that someone is enjoying the Sting and Police news I post here. Thanks so much to Troy Roark of SpringfieldILHomesForSale.com for his kind words. Watch this video and be amazed at Troy’s ability to multi-task while driving, talking and shooting a video all at once!

Man v Food in Springfield IL Airs Wednesday Oct 7 at 9 pm

Kathy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:52:07 +0000

Don’t even think about missing the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food episode on Wednesday evening, October 7 at 9 pm central time! Host Adam Richman is on a quest for indulgent Springfield, IL food and will be visiting some of Springfield’s finest restaurants, including the historic Route 66 Cozy Dog Drive-In for a corn dog, D’Arcy’s Pint for the local specialty horseshoe sandwich, and a record-setting five bowls of the Firebrand Chili at Joe Roger’s Chili Parlor.

The word is that Adam Richman’s name is now on the wall at Joe Roger’s Chili Parlor, but did he really manage to eat five bowls of the Firebrand Chili? Now that is truly an epic challenge worth watching! And does he pick the BEST horseshoe from D’Arcy’s – the buffalo chicken horseshoe? Let’s hope so for his sake! Until you find out the answers to these important questions, take a look at the sneak peek of the episode here:

Dag Gnat It!

Kathy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:42:11 +0000

Dag gnat it! Have you noticed the swarm of gnats that have descended upon Springfield, IL in the last couple of weeks? My jogging and bicycling in the magnificent weather has been spoiled by the clouds of gnats I must try to dodge in Washington Park. I have to keep my head down and my mouth closed for fear of breathing or eating these little buggers that lightly bounce off my body continuously. And when I look down at my t-shirt, covered in the tiny pests stuck there, I suddenly remember the bug scenes from several Indiana Jones movies with terror and start to panic as I swipe the gnats quickly away. When the bright sunlight exposes these pesky little insects, it looks almost like snowfall! What is the deal with the gnats? Surely others have noticed this problem? Is this gnat situation confined only to Springfield, or Illinois, or the midwest, or the country, or the whole world?

Custom Built Playhouse Raffle Springfield IL

Kathy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:22:45 +0000

Raffle tickets are currently being sold for a chance to win an adorable custom-built playhouse to be given away to one lucky winner during the Blessed Sacrament Auction on Saturday, September 26, 2009 in Springfield, Illinois. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at Blessed Sacrament up until the time of the drawing during the auction, and it is not necessary to be present at the drawing to win. Here is a photo and video of the playhouse, call Blessed Sacrament at 217-522-7534 for further information. The whimsically designed blue and white-trimmed playhouse with an inviting red door can currently be seen sitting on the corner of Laurel and Glenwood in Springfield and was built by Giacomini Homes with materials provided by Carter Bros. Lumber.

American English Performs in Springfield IL

Kathy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:30:50 +0000

It was a beautiful night in Springfield, IL for an outdoor concert, and the Beatles tribute band American English performed another entertaining concert downtown at the intersection of Sixth Street and Washington before an extremely large and appreciative crowd. American English is becoming a tradition in Springfield each year as the last act to perform in a series of free concerts for the community sponsored by AmerenCilco. I really enjoyed the music and the beautiful evening outdoors. Here is a quick look at American English from last night.

Heart and The Bangles Illinois State Fair August 22, 2009

Kathy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:37:50 +0000

The moment Heart hit the stage of the Illinois State Fair on August 22, 2009 with the first few notes of Barracuda, The Bangles faded from memory like a Hazy Shade of Winter. Heart put on an absolutely fantastic and energetic 90 minute set of hits and covers with surprisingly good sound for a grandstand concert. Ann Wilson’s voice was in perfect form as she sang songs as expertly as decades ago, and the entire audience felt the stab of each and every one of those high notes she hit with absolute precision. Nancy Wilson’s guitar prowess was showcased beautifully throughout, and she looked like she was having a great time dancing around the stage while playing. Her lead singing on an acoustic version of “These Dreams” was a highlight and one of several sweet diversons from an loud, pulsating, ears-ringing, get-out-of-your-seat-and-dance rockfest.

The Bangles 40 minute set was good, although the unknown songs thrown in between their few hits did drag their performance down a bit. Overall, it was an amazing concert experience on an unusually cool and clear summer night in Springfield. Here is the setlist for both Heart and The Bangles and a couple videos.

Heart Setlist Illinois State Fair August 22, 2009
Barracuda
Never
Kick It Out
Straight On
Love Alive
Mistral Wind
Imigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
Back to Avalon
These Dreams
What About Love
Alone
Love, Reign O’er Me (The Who)
Crazy on You
Encore:
Sand
Going to California (Led Zeppelin)
Magic Man

The Bangles Setlist Illinois State Fair August 22, 2009
Hazy Shade of Winter
Manic Monday
If She Knew What She Wants
Some Dreams Come True
September Gurls
Going Down to Liverpool
Eternal Flame
Ride the Ride
In Your Room
Walk Like an Eqyptian

Photo courtesy the State Journal Register, find newspaper review here: http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1373197806/Review-Heart-pounds-through-set-strong-as-it-ever-was

Zucchini on Steroids

Kathy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:39:16 +0000

Zucchini on steroids from Springfield, Illinois disqualified from world zucchini championship competition.

(Have you ever seen a bigger zucchini? Just wondering!)

Annie made the local newspaper!

Kathy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:15:12 +0000

My daughter Annie submitted a story for the local newspaper’s kids “weekly writing corner”. She has been watching and waiting, and her short story was published in yesterday’s State Journal Register. She is of course extremely thrilled, as am I at my budding young creative writer and her first published story!