Today on Black Sheep Radio: Stick People

Posted on September 15, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Today is Friday, so that means there is another episode of The Black Sheep Radio on the airwaves from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Today our special guests on the show are the band Stick People. Stick People will be playing the release show for their new CD Lips tomorrow at the Black Sheep 12 Year Anniversary Show. We will be talking to them and playing at least one track off of that release.

There are no shows going on at Black Sheep tonight, but there is a poetry open mic going on at William Vans downtown from 5:30 to 7:00 pm and also a show happening later at The Barrel Head!

You can tune in to the Black Sheep Radio Show from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm. Also stream it online at the same time at WQNA.net. For a list of a few of our downloadable episodes of the past, head over to our radio page.

Illinois Times: Best of Springfield 2017 Finalist Voting

Posted on September 14, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Today The Illinois Times have released their official ballot for this year’s 2017 Best of Springfield poll. The finalists were generated from nominees that were chosen from nominee voting that was open to the public a few weeks prior to this. You can vote for your favorite bands, musicians, artists, places, people, and events on the ballot. Find the voting for that online right here. Here are a few notable finalists that you can vote for!

The Black Sheep for Best Small Live Music Venue
The Black Sheep for Best Open Mic
Dumb Fest for Best Music Festival

We support all bands and people doing anything in this whole city and don’t like choosing favorite bands – but some of you might want to check out categories of “Best Hip Hop Performer”, “Best Original Music Band” or “Best Punk Band” to see a few names that regularly play Black Sheep.

The results for the Best Of’s will be released in The Illinois Times on Thursday, October 26th. We will once again launch our Best of Springfield Music poll on our site at the very end of the year.

The Buzz: “Bottom Bracket Goes Behind The Scenes Of Their New EP”

Posted on September 14, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Springfield twinkly twankle emo band Bottom Bracket were recently featured in Champaign-Urbana online publication Read Buzz. From the article:

Fresh from the Springfield punk scene, Bottom Bracket boasts a complex sound that falls into the crossover of emo and math rock subgenre. Comprised of Mario Cannamela, Carter Bibb and B.J. Pearce, Bottom Bracket will be self-releasing their first EP, “Dreamland,” on Sept. 16.

As if self-releasing their first record isn’t already impressive, Bottom Bracket’s members are multi-talented with strong ties to Springfield’s very own DIY scene — recording and releasing their first EP in true DIY fashion. Buzz caught up with Cannamela, Bibb and Pearce the night before their show in Champaign at Blips and Chitz to talk about “Dreamland.”

Check out that full article on readbuzz.com right here. Of course Bottom Bracket will be playing their release show for their new EP Dreamland at The Black Sheep 12 Year Anniversary show coming up this Saturday which will be made available online after that. Stick People will also be releasing their CD Lips, both of which were recorded right here at Southtown Sound. You can already listen to one of the Bottom Bracket tracks- “No Pressure” via New Noise Magazine right here.

Eric Marvel: “What A Disappointment” EP

Posted on September 12, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Today we bring you some more new Springfield music yet again, this time from solo electronic pop project Eric Marvel. Last week Eric released a new 7-song EP called What A Disappointment. Is this release truly a disappointment? Or is it a blessing? How about you have a listen on the player below so you can decide? Head over to Eric Marvel’s bandcamp page where you can pay to download the EP or check out more of Eric’s music.

Eric Marvel will be performing on Saturday, September 23rd at The Pharmacy along with boon, Jeff Williams, and Timothy Donavan Russell.

New Arrivals This Week At Dumb Records

Posted on September 12, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

It’s a new week at Springfield record store Dumb Records and we have a few new items coming in hot! We picked up some new items from Oakland, California- based punk label Digital Regress Records. Don’t forget the store also has tickets to Looming / Screaming Females on October 2nd at Black Sheep, better grab one while you still can! And put your name in that Band Lotto box while you are at it! Let’s take a look at the store’s operating hours for the week and then dive into what’s new:

Tuesday (today): noon – 8:00 pm
Wednesday: noon – 8:00 pm
Thursday: noon – 8:00 pm
Friday: noon – 8:00 pm
Saturday (show): 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Monday: noon – 8:00 pm

New LPs
Alpha Female – Mane
Cough Syrup Kids
Turquoiz Noiz – Sweat Lodge
Violence Creeps – The Gift Of Music

Used LPs
Al Hirt – Plays Bert Kaempfert
Billy May – Sorta-Dixie!
Billy Vaughnn & His Orchestra – More Billy Vaughnn
Eddy Arnold – Somebody Like Me
George Shearing Quintet – When Lights Are Low
Jackie Gleason – Music, Martinis, and Memories
Johnny Hamiln Quintet – Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Kimberly – You And Me Jesus
Knocky Parker – Piano Artistry
Lawrence Welk – Apples & Bananas
Lennon Sisters – What The World Needs Now Is Love
Living Strings – Play Country Favorites
Louis Armstrong – Ambassador Satch
Paul Smith – Cascades: New Liquid Sounds
Perry Como – Dreamer’s Holiday
Peter & Gordon – Lady Godiva
Roger Williams – Golden Hits (Volume II)
Side Ramin – Love Without Tears
Sounds of Hawaii – Red Sails In The Sunset
Tony Parenti’s All-Stars

New 7”s
Beta Boys – Worldwide Rock Group EP
Marbled Eye – Marbled Eye
Preening – Beeters
RUT – Attraction

Used 7”s
The Brokedowns – Sass Dragons
The Champs – Second 7”
Dad Punchers – These Times Weren’t Made For You
Daisycutter – Invertebrate
Daylight Robbery – Daylight Robbery
Dirty Marquee – Dirty Marquee
Little Big Leasue – Little Big Leasue
Population – Population
New Edition – If It Isn’t Love
REO Speedwagon – Here With Me
Steve Winwood – Back In The High Life Again
Stockpile – Stockpile
Xui Xui – Dear Science

Used Cassettes
The Association / Turtles – Greatest Hits Collection
Carpenters – A Kind of Hush
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – So Far
Eagles – The Long Run
George Strait – Livin’ It Up
Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion
John Berry – Saddle The Wind
John Berry – Things Are Not The Same
Judas Priest – Painkiller
Judas Priest – Jugulator
Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits
Mac Davis – Stop And Smell The Roses
Rolling Stones – Emotional Rescue
Rolling Stones – Steel Wings
Simon And Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Three Dog Night – The Best Of
WASP – Inside The Electric Circus
Whitney Houston – I’m Your Baby Tonight

Timothy Donavan Russell: “Windows”

Posted on September 11, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Hi what’s up, we do have that hot new Springfield music coming at you fresh tonight. Here’s a new release from the music-making ambient machine Timothy Donavan Russell. This release is called Windows which features ten tracks of “the history of Windows system sounds all on one album.” Take a listen on the player below if you don’t believe that description. Also head over to Timothy’s bandcamp page right here where you can download the album and also listen to his other many, many albums. Timothy will be performing live next at The Pharmacy here in town on September 23rd.

So much music coming out of Springfield this year we are having a hard time keeping up! We are trying to keep track on our Springfield album archive, go check that out!

September 29th at Black Sheep: Free Show with Livin’ Thing, Capitol Offense, Old Fox Road, Water Tower Water Terror

Posted on September 11, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Good evening! Welcome to another brand new week here at Black Sheep headquarters. Fall is approaching, and we want a nice good free show at Black Sheep before this month is over to welcome in this new school year and all of that. No money! No costs! This one features heavy rock and rollers Livin’ Thing the band. We also have Decatur soy bean hardcore band Capitol Offense on the bill. Stream some of their music on the player below. Before that is the Champaign-Urbana based duo of folk and pop punk – Old Fox Road. Opening things up is a newer Springfield acoustic project called “Water Tower, Water Terror”. What a nice well rounded show of all different types of genres. Thank you.

This one will be starting at Black Sheep at 7:00 pm, and admission of course is – free! All ages too, of course! Bring a friend from school! Check out a facebook event for the show right here. And also check out our shows page for a look at what else we have coming up at Black Sheep this fall.

Forest Saints: “Summer”

Posted on September 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Although Summer may be at its end for this year, today we bring you a brand new release from Springfield recording project Forest Saints called Summer. The album is a whole 17 tracks and you can find it streaming below. From the Forest Saints bandcamp:

You are invited on an epic journey through the lush, exotic, tribal, playful, and psychedelic world of Summer. This double disc set (featuring 17 tracks) comes in a clear jewel case, and features the artwork of Anna Salzmann & Mark Schwartz.

Head over to the Forest Saints bandcamp page to download the album, also check out the wide collection of albums previously released by Forest Saints.

Take The Pulse: “Prescience Tapes Set Out To Highlight The Springfield Punk Scene”

Posted on September 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Drew Kodrich, co-owner of Black Sheep and also manager for local small tape label “Prescience Tapes” was recently featured in a short interview put on by Central-Illinois based music site and podcast “Take The Pulse.” From the post:

Drew told me in an interview that it’s not a huge operation but something that he loves to do. He uses the label to help promote other local bands in the genre by making tapes for the bands to do whatever they want with them. To help promote, Drew takes copies on tour with him and works with local record stores to get his Prescience Tapes releases in their stores.

Check out the full article right here.

Prescience Tapes recently worked with Southtown recording studio Southtown Sound to release a 15 song compilation of Dumb Fest bands recorded this past June. Find that streaming online right here.

Black Sheep Band Lotto Round 4: Names Drawn September 16th, Show on November 18th

Posted on September 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Black Sheep Band Lotto is BACK! This will be the fourth year we have done this fun annual event, getting anyone who wants to be in a band involved. What’s is band lotto for those of you who do not know? Let’s go over the rules:

RULES: Anyone willing puts their own name into the Band Lotto Box, now set up inside Dumb Records (1107 S Grand Ave. E, open every day noon – 8pm). Names will be drawn the night of Saturday, September 16th after bands are done playing at the Black Sheep Cafe 12 Year Anniversary Show. Names are drawn in groups of fours and fives, and it is the responsibility of these new groups to get together and form a band to play one show on Saturday, November 18th!

WARNING: This is a commitment! Do not put your name in if you can’t commit to meeting with people you are drawn with once a week, spending every day practicing a new instrument, or if you live too far to drive to Springfield for band practices!! NO FLAKES!! Also do not put anyone else’s name in the box, you will ruin it for everybody!

For now the start time of the band lotto show is 7:00 pm and admission is $5 (may change depending on the number of bands to sign up). Find a facebook event for the show right here. Also check out our shows page for a look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep this summer.