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A lot has happened since the last time I posted. That is probably because it was a LONG time ago. I have been taking full advantage of the few weekends the band has been off and have been even lazier than usual. It is good to be back at it, especially since so much is going on in the music world right now with some of my favorite artists.

Van Dyke

First of all, the Rolling Stones are back on tour. They have been at it more than 50 years now. I first got into the Stones when I discovered the album “Got Live If You Want It” in my parents’ record collection. While it is far from their best work, it does give you an idea of what they are capable of. I played it a few times here and there, but I would not say it was a favorite at the time. I was much more into the Beatles and Kiss back then. I rediscovered them in the ‘80s when they had a big hit with “Start Me Up.” So, for me, when the music world was young, they were already old. Here we are more than 30 years later and they are still here. Amazing. I bet when Keith Richards drops his guitar, four or five songs fall out of it. I think they are playing three dates in Chicago if anyone is feeling generous.

Black Sabbath has reunited. Well, most of it, anyway. It would be nice if Bill Ward were involved, but he isn’t. They recorded a new album with the drummer from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and are going to be touring the U.S. later this year. I heard the single off the album and it is pretty good. It is nice to hear Geezer Butler tearing it up again on the bass. Sabbath was a band that I discovered late. I mean I was listening to Ozzy for a few years before I got into them. It was the “Speak of the Devil” album that made me check out all the old Black Sabbath stuff. That album had some shredding guitar work by Brad Gillis on it. But, when I heard the original guitar work by Tony Iommi, I was totally blown away. He had so many devastating riffs that nearly crushed you. Is there anything heavier than the riffs from “Into the Void”? Again, any ticket donations are appreciated. Don’t you think the Local Q needs a concert reviewer? I can be bought.

I was truly sorry to learn of the passing of George Jones. I have been a fan since I heard the song “She Thinks I Still Care” on Gem Country 105 back in the ‘70s. Shortly after that he had a No. 1 hit with one of the best songs I have ever heard, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” George’s impact on country music is immeasurable in its enormity. He is the voice of country music. Just listen to another artist’s version of one of his songs compared to his. He was one of those who made it look easy. It was effortless. If you are a fan of country music and do not have a good supply of George’s music, you have a lot of work to do. Luckily, his music will live on.

On the polar opposite end of music was Jeff Hanneman from Slayer. This band had a huge impact on the genre of heavy metal music. Any heavy metal band since the early ‘80s was influenced by them. They had songs about death, satanism and any other thing that people actually found frightening before “CSI” and “Criminal Minds” were around. Jeff Hanneman wrote some of the most intense, fast, loud, and downright gross songs I have ever heard. Jeff became ill a few years ago and just never quite recovered. I still break out my “Decade of Aggression” album once in a while to help blow off steam. I may crank it up over at 18th and Broadway as a tribute to someone else we lost way too soon.

Squeeze every moment for all you can get. We only get one shot at this, so make it count. Get to know your neighbors, be involved and participate. A good way to do this is to go to one of the many local hotspots for local music mentioned here on the Local Q. Until next time, put your shopping carts back where they go if you don’t want to be embarrassed by a 40+ year old doofus…

Don Van Dyke

Seven Days Fuller
(pop/folk)
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: One Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

Kathy Brink & Mike Coultas
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Collver Family Winery, Barry

Cheeks McGee
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Ridge View Winery, Mount Sterling

Mike Coultas & Kathy Brink
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cellar 21, 121 N. Fourth

Pimpkatz
(classic rock)
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: One Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

Hwy. 99
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ridge View Winery, Mount Sterling

JWCC
Concert Choir
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: St. John’s Church,
700 Hampshire

Diamonds in the Rough
(dinner and dancing)
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: ONE Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

McKay Bros.
(acoustic set)
When: 8:30 pm Friday, April 26
Where: One Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

Esther Moore
When: 9:30 pm Friday, April 26
Where: State Street Bar & Grill

Logan Kammerer (acoustic)
When: 8-11 p.m. Friday
Where: Cellar 21, 121 N. Fourth

McShack (Acoustic)
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: North End Tavern, 24th and Cedar

Raised
on Radio
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: ONE Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

Keith Franx
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where:Spirit Knob Winery, Ursa, Ill.

Quanada Benefit
Wild game cook-off with music by Captain Creech and Shrimp Shack Shooters
When: 6-11 pm Saturday
Where: Ridge View Winery, Mount Sterling, Ill.

Kathy Brink
When: 7-10p.m. Saturday
Where: The Old Stone House Inn, Palmyra, Mo. Dinner served.

Antidote
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Scooters, 4th and Oak. $5 cover charge, 21 and older. Limited seating available.

Bill Morrison Trio (jazz)
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cellar 21, 121 N. Fourth

Super Majik Robots
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: ONE Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

Irish Rag Tag Band
When: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday
Where: O’Griffs, 415 Hampshire

Mike Coultas (acoustic)
When: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday
Where: ONE Restaurant & Bar, 600 Hampshire

The McKay Brothers (acoustic rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Cellar 21, 121 N. Fourth, Quincy

Zeke Cernea (acoustic rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Cellar 21, 121 N. Fourth, Quincy

Overdraft (classic to 90s rock)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: One Restaurant and Bar, 600 Hampshire

Irish Rag Tag (celtic)
WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Spirit Knob Winery, Ursa

Cheeseburrgers (classic rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: One Restaurant and Bar, 600 Hampshire

Kathy Brink and Mike Coultas (acoustic)    WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Cellar 21, 121 N. Fourth, Quincy

Barrington Wildfire (country)
WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Ridge View Winery, Mount Sterling

Irish Rag Tag (celtic)
WHEN: 6 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: O’Griff’s, 415 Hampshire
Kathy Brink and Mike Coultas (acoustic)    WHEN: 6 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: One Restaurant and Bar, 600 Hampshire

More details on upcoming shows are available on the calendar page at www.thelocalq.com.

Submit details for upcoming shows at www.thelocalq.com/node/1767.

It has been a year since I began writing this blog, so I thought it would be a good time to update my bio. The first thing I need to update is my atrocious headshot. I really need to get a new one. I may hire a stand-in for that. Other than that, I just need to put in there that I play bass for the Cheeseburgers now and I have absolutely no idea how that happened. I have to admit it is pretty cool to have played with both of the McKay Brothers. There are actually three McKay brothers and I had a history class at QND with the oldest one, so I guess I have collaborated with all of them over the years. Anyway, I guess I should also add more information about my personality. I used to be normal. I was about 5 when that changed. I made the mistake of walking behind some swings that were shaped like horses and got laid out by one of them. It knocked out my front teeth and split my lip so I needed about 10 stitches. It was at this point that something was either opened or closed in my mind and I became a new person. I became fixated on two things: music and why people behave the way they do. From that day on, mainly because I was unable to move my mouth without intense pain for about a month, I became more of a listener and observer and less of a speaker or communicator. But enough with my sketchy past …

Van Dyke

There are two Queensryches now. Personally, I do not see the need for one. I was a fan of the band up until the album “Promised Land,” which was back in the ‘90s. I had no idea they were still together. I guess at some point, the singer turned into the illegitimate son of Anton LaVey and Ming the Merciless or maybe it was the genie in that Bugs Bunny cartoon. At any rate, he and the rest of the band got into a fight and they kicked him out and replaced him with another guy. Both parties are now working on albums and playing shows as Queensryche. Sad. Or is it? I guess everyone has the right to make a buck. For me, the saddest part is that both of these bands will be out there making it harder for new and local bands to get booked. As I looked around the Internet, there are several bands that have two ‘instances’ going around the country. L.A. Guns has two versions. I had to type that eight times because I was laughing so hard. L.A. Guns! I remember they had a couple of songs that were kind of popular. I guess they each took one! I think they were part of the late ‘80s guns rush where every band with guns in its name was signed immediately. Great White is another one. I just don’t get it. I saw this band twice back in their heyday and they were really good but they have done almost nothing for me since then. Again this was an issue between the singer and the rest of the band. I do not have too much to say about this one since a tragedy was involved that would have made most anyone lose their mind. I will say that Jack Russell is the better singer of the two and is WAY better at sharkin’ than the other guy.

Since this is happening, I have a hunch that bands will soon follow the lead of the movie industry and start doing only sequels and remakes. I mean, that seems to be all anyone wants anymore. At least that is what all the entertainment companies seem to think. It is already happening to some extent. Just turn on the country radio station and you can hear what I mean. I have mentioned that before, I know. Before long, those bands will start latching onto the classics and doing ‘reboots.’ I can only imagine the stuff we will be seeing. Five Finger Death Punch does Ziggy Stardust! Nickelback presents Exile on Main Street! Ke$ha doing Thriller! Ugh! I would go on, but I need to start tracking for my new album. It is a re-imagination of “The Wall” by Pink Floyd. I don’t want to give it away, but think Pink meets Tom Sawyer in Hannibal …

There is a great party with the Cheeseburgers celebrating Six String Heroes at Turner Hall this Saturday. Let me know if you need tickets.
— Don VanDyke