It shouldn't rain on Thursdays

WE WERE SUPPOSED to have our first Concert In The Plaza today. Obviously the weather isn't cooperating, so Ted Holt will not play and I'm stuck watching the rain splash down at Fifth and Maine.

The past three days have been perfect - sunny, 70 degrees, light breeze, low humidity. Of course it pours today. Of course.

Somewhere, a farmer asks God, "Dear Lord, we could really use some rain. Please bless us with your divine wetness and help us feed the people of this dear land." God has a lot of important stuff on his plate, including a request from the organizer of the Concerts In The Plaza for dry weather. So what does he do?

He makes it rain, right?

Look. God is in control, I understand all that. But I don't think He says, "The farmer has been going to church twice on Sundays and his soybeans are a bit dry, so I will bless him with rain." God says, "That front from the Rockies has a mind of its own and I couldn't do anything about screwing up your concert today, Rodney."

You just gotta learn to accept it and move on. Rain is just tears from heaven, and all that stuff. And if I can use a Youtube video about reign, er, rain, to illustrate my point, it helps mask the disappointment.

Next week Steve Rees is scheduled to play in the plaza. He probably has a hook with somebody up there, so we should be good. I think.

Concerts In The Plaza return

WE ARE EXCITED about bringing back the First Mid-Illinois Banker's Trust Concerts In The Plaza, starting in two weeks.

Playing in the plaza is a blast, as I found out last year.
(Photo/Bad Wolf Media)

The bank is the major sponsor and is letting us use the beautiful stage and green space on Maine Street, next to St. Boniface Church just west of Seventh. We've got a great lineup for four concerts, and food will be available. The concerts are every Thursday starting May 14, and each one is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Last year in the early summer we had great crowds and a lot of fun. The weather didn't cooperate so much in the fall, so we are not sure about doing it again later this year, but we'll see.

The concerts are being organized by The District and myself, and Frank Haxel is helping with production and PA setup/tear down. And, as always, the concerts are free.

Hope to see you in the plaza!

May 14 - Ted Holt
May 21 - Steve Rees
May 28 - Cori Lyssy
June 4 - Mike Shull

Talking Heads and the gift of music

OUR GOOD FRIEND Ted Holt gave me the best birthday present ever - Stop Making Sense, the 1984 live Talking Heads record. That's right, a record. You know - the round black thing that spins and uses a needle. I think our record player is in Hi Fi, too.

The gift of music is a beautiful thing. That's why I got Sheryl the Led Zeppelin DVD for her birthday. I'm really looking forward to watching it.

Sheryl is at a doctor's appointment so I'm blasting Stop Making Sense through the store and it's righteous. The Talking Heads were way ahead of their time and took music, art and theatrics to a new level. This is also a very different concert film. If want overindulgent guitar solos and explosions and crowd noise drowning out intros, this is not your movie.

Hold on a second ... I need to flip the record over.

There. I'm back. Anyway, this thing rocks and I'm going back to the 1980s, no hot tub time machine needed.

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around ....