Brandon Carnes: “You’re My Best Friend” Queen Cover + Fundraiser for Gypsy the Dog Vet Bills

Posted on July 15, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

We don’t normally share these types of things on our site but this one has touched all of our hearts and also has a little bit of music involved so here it goes! Our friend and former studio operator, Brandon Carnes has launched an online fundraiser campaign to help cover his dog – Gyspy Rose’s vet costs – along with a new recorded song of the Queen hit “You’re My Best Friend.” Many of you may know Gypsy as Brandon’s dog who has spent quite a good bit of time around Black Sheep and Southtown in her years as a dog. Check out the song streaming at the bottom of this post. Find the campaign to donate right here. From the Gofundme page:

If you know me, you know my Gypsy Rose. She’s been my best friend, roommate, and co-pilot since the day we crossed paths seven and a half years ago. She’s been the center of attention while countless people have stayed at my house on tour, she’s offered a second opinion on more recording sessions than I can count. And she’s been by my side, always with her trademark smile and easy-going attitude, day in and day out.
This year, a tumor appeared on her leg that has proven to be a mast cell tumor, AKA skin cancer. We’ve had a few vet visits and we know that the cancer has not spread **phew**. She’s been prescribed steroids, which have reduced the size of her growth considerably.

I’m nearing $2000 into into her treatment, but there’s still more to be done. Theres a chance she’ll need chemo to reduce her tumor more before operating, and we know she will need a surgery to remove the mass completely.

Brandon will be back in town in just less than two weeks playing here at Black Sheep with Looming on Thursday, July 27th and also Downhome Music Festival with Park and Looming on Saturday, July 29th.

Today on Black Sheep Radio: Holy Pinto

Posted on July 14, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

It’s Friday, so don’t forget in just a few hours The Black Sheep Radio Show will be live(!) on air(!) at our usual time from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm. Today our special guest is the touring act from the UK, Holy Pinto who will be performing tonight at Dumb Records! We think the band is just performing as a duo this time around? They also played in Southtown Studio a few years back. We’ll be chatting it up with them on the radio today real good.

Again the Black Sheep Radio Show is on every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm. Tune in online during that same time at wqna.net. Check out our radio show page right here for a few downloadable episodes of the past.

Tonight at Dumb Records: Holy Pinto, Bernie Flesch, Isaac Arms, Marble Teeth, Kate Ridge

Posted on July 14, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Hey there is a show going on at Dumb Records tonight! It’s the only show we have lined up for this chill weekend too so let’s just come out and groove. That one is going to be mostly acoustic acts. For this one we have a group returning from the UK called “Holy Pinto” – they had performed up in Southtown Studio when that was active under Brandon Carnes a few years back. Stream some Holy Pinto beans on the player embedded below. Up before that is our good friend Isaac Arms of Heirship Records performing some tunes. Also on deck is Bernie Flesch, our other good friend from Bar None. Hi Bernie! We also have an act lined up called “Marble Teeth” from Decatur. Who’s that? Is that the guy from the band Spooky Poo? Who knows! Opening things up looks like we have Kate Ridge, who recently recorded some material up in Southtown Sound on the way soon.

This show starts in the record store at 7:00 pm that night. Admission we are asking $5-7 to go towards the touring act. Find a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at what else is coming up in Southtown this summer.

Thank You Gordon Chang

Posted on July 12, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

We would like to take one minute on our site tonight to thank someone very special to our music community. That is Gordon Chang, who departed from Illinois today to live in California somewhere for the next nine months or so. For those of you who do not know, Gordon has been a very active person in documenting many different sets from over the past year or so at Black Sheep. He has taken countless videos of full sets of bands that have played all of our festivals, annual events, and just normal week night shows.

Check out Gordon’s youtube channel right here.

For much of Gordon’s dedicated time spent attending and documenting shows here at Black Sheep, he was even living in Macomb and commuting close to two hours away to come to each show before moving here in the fall. He volunteered at Dumb Records and also even set up shows for Springfield bands in Macomb, one being a very memorable one at an indoor skating rink.

Thank you Gordon for everything you have done and the commitment you have shown to supporting and contributing towards everything we have going here in Southtown, you will be missed by all of us and we wish you the best of luck out West!

July 30th at Black Sheep: Pleasures of the Flesh, Bottom Bracket, Krelboyne, Stick People

Posted on July 11, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

It’s hard to believe, but we actually may be at the end of all of the July show announcements we’ve been getting through every single day for the past week or two! So many shows happening here in July! This one is happening at the end of the month on Sunday, July 30th. You remember that band from Louisville, Kentucky called “The Foxery”? They played here a few times, but have changed their name or something like that to “Pleasures of the Flesh” and they are playing here for this show. Check out some of their music under that name on the player below. Also on this show we’ve got emo/indie band Bottom Bracket. We’ve also got our friends from over in Champaign/Urbana in the band Krelboyne coming over to rock for us. Opening things up is that hit Taylorville band that everyone has been raving about, Stick People.

This show starts at 7:00 pm and admission is $6. Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at everything else coming up at Black Sheep this summer.

Night Night Boy: “Demo”

Posted on July 11, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

We may be a little late on telling you about this one, and some might not technically count it as Springfield music since it was written and recorded outside of our city – but that photo on the demo’s cover sure was taken in Springfield so we are counting it worthy of putting it up on our site. Brandon Carnes (Looming, Diaper Rash, Big Storm, etc.) came out with a new project within the past month or so called “Night Night Boy” and released a new 5 song demo on bandcamp. Brandon has gotten a full band together for the project and they have already performed one show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Brandon currently lives. You can stream that 5-song Night Night Boy demo on the player below. Also head over to the Night Night Boy bandcamp page to download the release at your own price.

Night Night Boy may or may not be playing Black Sheep Fest here on Saturday, August 5th.

July 27th at Black Sheep: Looming, Aviator, Lume, Moondead

Posted on July 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Well hot dang looks like we haven’t made an official announcement post for this show which is happening in just a little over two weeks from now at Black Sheep! On Thursday, July 27th we will be blessed once again with another Looming performance – and the first since early March of this year. Looming will be performing at Black Sheep this night and then also two days later on the 29th as part of Downhome Music Festival. Check out their first single they dropped off their new upcoming album right here. Aside from Looming playing, this show lineup is already looking great on it’s own. We have the return of the band Aviator from Massachusetts for the first time in over two years. Check out some of their music streaming on the player below. We also have the band Lume from Chicago, who played here last later last year as part of one of Our Lady’s last shows. Opening things up we have a special treat and that is the local band Moondead… playing their final show? Come out to see them one last time!

This show starts at 7:00 pm and admission is $7. Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at everything else coming up at Black Sheep this summer!

New Band Pages: Stick People

Posted on July 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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Today we bring you another band page that is long overdue, and that is from the Taylorville-based 90’s but now rock group Stick People. Sure they are from Taylorville, but we love this band as if they are one of our own. We hope you do too. If you head over to the band’s newly created band page right here, you can stream their newest song “No Fun” and also find out a little more about the band. Stick People will be playing here next on July 22nd along with RASH and Undone, and they will also be playing Black Sheep Fest this year on August 5th!

Check out any of our 60+ current band pages right here. Do you perform in a Springfield band or are a solo musician who has not yet gotten a page set up with us? Send us an email to blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com and we will work with you in setting something up!

Tonight at Black Sheep: Pretend I’m Not There, Leche, Grady Drugg, Say Something

Posted on July 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

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This one is happening tonight, and completes a long streak of 5 shows we’ve had over here in Southtown in the past 6 days. Come out and say “hi”. Tonight we’ve got a couple of touring acts from Texas as well as a couple of locals. Pretend I’m Not There is headlining the bill tonight, B.J. Pearce’s solo ambient stuff. Then from Austin, Texas the touring band we’ve got lined up tonight is the band “Leche.” Stream two of their tracks on the player below. Leche will be touring with another solo act called “Grady Drugg” who will also be playing the show tonight. Opening things up tonight (or going second) is a rare performance by energetic punk band Say Something.

This show tonight starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is $5. Check out a facebook event for the show right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep this summer.

July 25th at Black Sheep: Outlier, Noesis, Abyss, Crown The Martyr

Posted on July 9, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Usually the summer brings plenty of metal at Black Sheep and we have this pretty big one coming up before the end of the month on Tuesday, July 25th! This will be happening a few days after another metal show we recently announced on Friday, July 21st. This one features heavy big time touring act Outlier from San Jose, California. We are happy to have them. You can stream some music from Outlier on the player embedded below. Also on this show is heavy hitting Central Illinois metalcore act Noesis. They are actually heading out on tour themselves pretty soon! We also got the hard rock act Abyss on board for this one. Opening things up looks like we’ve got Crown The Martyr from Peoria, Illinois.

This show will start right at 7:00 pm, admission is $8 for this big metal gig. Find a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check our shows page for a good look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep in the near future.