August 2019 Issue of Activator Available Now

Posted on August 4, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

It’s a brand new month so we’ve got a brand new issue of Activator Magazine! The local / Central Illinois D.I.Y. Music-focused magazine has been going over one year strong at this point. Who has collected every issue?

On this month’s cover is local acoustic singer/songwriter Ben Bedford. Ben put out a new album The Hermit’s Spyglass at some point last year. His featured interview in Activator this month was actually conducted by Tom Irwin himself, another long time local musician.

You can also find album reviews, another interview with Vincent Sebastian, who also just put out a new album called Interference earlier this summer. In addition to all of this there is an interview with Pierre Berry – who has started “The Music Program Academy” teaching kids how to record and create music at the Salvation Army here in town. As usual, there is a writeup on the 217 hip hop scene put together by Ken No of “Hip Hop Hump Day” on 88.3 WQNA. Aaron Uncanny Phillips interviews local recording engineer at HISO Music, Shawn P. Christine Pallon of the bands Spandrels and Carly Beth out of Champaign/Urbana does a write-up on the recent “Girls Rock! 2019” event. There is a photospread from Audiofeed Music Festival which took place in Urbana last month, and as always Central Illinois and St. Louis live music calendars.

You can pick up you copy of Activator Magazine for free at Dumb Records and various other locations around town. Also check out the Activator Magazine Patreon page if you want to be a contributor to support what they are doing!

State Journal-Register: “Y-Block Passes Audition As Concert Series Ends”

Posted on August 2, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

Screen Shot 2019-08-02 at 11.09.51 AM.png With the final of ten concerts happening just last night, here is an article in today’s newspaper The State Journal-Register about the overall success of the series and what might be next for the “Y-Block” downtown not too far from our store. From the article:

One of the goals of the concert series was to test the possibilities of the block. While a building is eventually expected to rise on the end of the block along Capitol Avenue, the half closest to the Governor’s Mansion will have to remain open due to the presence of sewer pipes underneath.

The bustling scene – people armed with their lawn chairs and blankets as they mingled in lines for beer, food, and activities for kids while taking in another unique musical guest – is an example of what can be in the vacant block, according to event organizers and community leaders.

You can check out that full article on the SJ-R site online right here, or pick up your local paper at various places around town for two dollars like we did.

From our understanding our city is likely to apply for this same grant and concert series to take place next summer as well (something that doesn’t look like it has been officially announced just yet). We’ll be sure to keep you all updated with any updates or advancements in upcoming concert series or with the Y-Block. You can also follow the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series facebook page for more updates.

August 16th at Black Sheep:Nasty Boys, Final Order, GRINN

Posted on August 2, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

Oh, what’s this? We have a show happening coming up on Friday, August 16th to tell you about in exactly two weeks at our space. It’s just a three band show, and will surely get over by ALL of our bedtimes. We got a band called “Nasty Boys” from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Looks like it’s a duo of two guys. What makes them so nasty??? Come to the show to find out. And stream their music on the player below. Also on this show is Springfield hardcore band Final Order. Opening things up looks like dug up from the grave is GRINN… a band we have not seen or heard or anything since… Dumb Fest #5 back in 2017? Well we’ll be darned. Looks like they are playing at Buzzbomb Brewery tonight as well.

This show starts at 7:00 pm and admission will be $5. Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page to take a look at what else is going on at our space in the near future!

Today On The Dumb Records Radio Show: Totally Nicholas

Posted on August 2, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

We sure have been having a fun time with getting more in the routine of getting guests on our radio program and recording episodes lately. We recently got a Mix Cloud page up for the Dumb Records Radio Show, and now have the past four episodes recorded and streaming there. It’s Friday so that means another episode of The Dumb Records Radio Show airs on 88.3 WQNA from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Today we have young local content creator “Totally Nicholas” coming in to hang out as guest. Totally Nicholas doesn’t have a whole lot to do with local music, but we’re glad to have him as a guest anyways. We’ll be sure to be plenty of local music and stuff from bands coming to town.

Again, The Dumb Records Radio Show airs today and every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA FM. It streams online at the same time on wqnaradio.org. Check out our radio page right here for more info and to listen to some past episodes streaming.

Last Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series Concert tonight: John Moreland

Posted on August 1, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

Holy cow would you believe it but it’s August and the summer is just about over. Tonight is the last of the ten part concert series that has been going on at downtown Springfield’s Y-Block most of this summer since the end of May. From The Skatalites, to the Dirty Dozen Brass band and much more, it’s been quite the series of free concerts for everyone to enjoy. Tonight the main act coming in from Tulsa, Oklahoma is solo Americana act John Moreland. From the Levitt AMP site:

Today, Moreland’s understated melodies and uncanny knack for storytelling have left an unmistakable mark on the Americana music scene. The troubadour has received coverage from outlets including No Depression, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal among others. He has released four studio albums, with his latest, 2017’s Big Bad Luv, hailed as one of the best Americana/folk releases of the year by fans and critics alike, earning glowing write-ups in Rolling Stone and The New Yorker among others. He has enchanted the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s in-studio audience, is a regular opener for Jason Isbell and has had three songs featured on FX’s hit show Sons of Anarchy. Along with Miranda Lambert, Moreland has a super fan in the form of MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, who tweeted “If the American music business made any sense, guys like John Moreland would be household names.”

Check out John Moreland’s music streaming on the player below. The opening act tonight is Edward David Anderson. That starts off at 6:00 pm out on the Y-Block next to the governor’s mansion downtown and goes until 8:30 pm. It’s free to the public. Check out a facebook event for the concert right here. Also don’t forget we are having a show tonight afterwards at 8:00 pm!

Tonight at Dumb Records: Greentop, Wyatt Moran, Bottom Bracket

Posted on August 1, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

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Tonight! We have another show going on! This one is starting a little bit later than usual – kicking off at 8:00 pm so that we don’t overlap too much with John Moreland performing at the last Levitt AMP Music Series concert at the Y-Block of this summer tonight. That one starts at 6:00 pm and goes until 8:30 pm, so you can make it to both shows! At our space it’s just a three band show tonight, highly recommended. We have two touring acts from Minnesota. The first of which is “Greentop” playing some indie/alternative music that you can find streaming on the player below. Greentop will be touring with solo act Wyatt Moran who is also from Rochester, Minnesota. Then of course there’s Bottom Bracket, who will be going either first or last on the lineup, we are not sure.

Again, this show starts at 8:00 pm that night 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 what else is coming up at Bread Sheep in the near future!!

August 10th at Dumb Records: Meezy Killafield, DreTheGuy, 4usten, WeBackSoon, Torch_Nation, A Da Real

Posted on July 31, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

This one may be a pretty last minute announcement from our end, but we’ve got a pretty stacked lineup for the next hip hop show happening at our space on Saturday, August 10th. There are six acts performing from the area. At the top of the bill is Meezy Killafield, who has been making a splash as a rapper from our area recently. He released an album – “The Killafield Chronicles” within this past year. Also on this show is DreTheGuy aka “DeAndre”, another hip hop artist who has performed at The Radon Lounge and also recently Rock N’ Roll Hardee’s. He just dropped an album called “Lapis Effect” just a few weeks ago. Then we got 4usten… what’s up with the “A” in this guy’s name being a “4”? Come to the show and find out. For some of his set he will be joined by Brayden Schmohe. Pictured on the flier and also playing from Decatur is the rap duo “WeBackSoon Music Group“. You can also find them streaming on the player below. Also is more of an R&B act called “Torch_Nation“, familiar to a number of the Dumb Records and Black Sheep open mics. Great to finally get him on a show! Opening things up is A Da Real, another young up and coming artist we are pretty sure from Springfield High School. Nice.

For this show we are saying doors are at 7:00 pm and we are starting things at 7:30 pm. Admission is $5. Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good list at what else is coming up at Dumb Bread in the near future.

New Arrivals This Week At Dumb Records

Posted on July 31, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

Oops! It’s Wednesday afternoon and here we are with a list of new arrivals in our record store for this week. It’s been a struggle to keep up with everything over here with some planning on some big events coming up. There are shows happening tonight and tomorrow night as well, come stop by and browse our wonderful selection! Again, we are located at 418 E Monroe Street downtown. Open 10am to 8pm every single day rain or shine. Let’s take a look at this week’s schedule and then dive into some new arrivals:

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

Used LPs
Average White Band – Benny And Us
Barbra Streisand – People
Bing Crosby – Merry Christmas
Canned Heat – Boogie With Canned Heat
Charlie Rich – Behind Closed Doors
The Chieftains – The Chieftains 2

Count Basie – Count Basie
Dean Martin – Young & Foolish
Doc Severinsen – Torch Songs For Trumpet
Eddie Ruleton’s Rompers – Unexpurgated Jazz
The Esquires – Get On Up And Get Away
The Firesign Theatre – In The Next World, You’re On Your Own
Foghat – Fool For The City
General Public – All The Rage
Gordon Lightfoot – Gord’s Gold
Grand Funk – We’re An American Band
Help Yourself – Beware The Shadow
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock N’ Roll
John Stewart – Dream Babies Go Hollywood
Josie Cotton – Johnny Are You Queer?
Kate Smith – At Carnegie Hall
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition – Greatest Hits
The Lovin’ Spoonful – Everything Playing
The Mothers Of Invention – Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band – On Tour
Paul Revere And The Raiders – Revolution
Pat Benatar – Precious Time
Phil Collins – Hello! I Must Be Going
Robin Williams – Reality… What A Concept
Roger Miller – Words And Music By Roger Miller
Sha Na Na – Silly Songs
Shocking Blue – The Shocking Blue
Sil Austin – Honey Sax
Sparks – Modesty Plays
Sonny James – You’re The Only World I Know
The Trilobites – I Can’t Wait For Summer To End
Various – The Best of Buddah (1969)
Various – Love Rock
Various – $64,000 Jazz
The Ventures – Walk, Don’t Run
Warner Mack – I’ll Still Be Missing You
Weather Report – Mysterious Traveler
Wrecks-N-Effect – Wrecks-N-Effect
10cc – Deceptive Bends

12” Singles
Ali – Love Letters Remix
Beatmonstas – Four Four / Class Division
Bowtie – Get Up
Christian Milian – Say I
Complexions – Gangsta Blues / I Wanna Get To Know You
Dead Prez – U R Ripping Us Appart!!!
Dooley O – Watch My Moves 1990
Eminem – Just Lose It
Eminem – Role Model / Cum On Everybody
Geto Boys – Yes, Yes, Y’all
Grandmaster Melle Mel and The Furious Five – We Don’t Work For Free
Kool G Rap – It’s A Shame
LL Cool J – Shut ‘Em Down
M.O.B. Music – The Slide Album
Rufftown Mob – Southside
Wrecks-N-Effect – Juicy
Various – Scratch Off Vol. 1
3 Grand – Buck Wild!

New CDs
Andreas Vollenweider – White Winds
Andreas Vollenweider – Behind The Gardens…
Andy Williams – Best of Country
Andy Williams – Days Of Wine And Roses
Charles Mingus – Mingus Dynasty
Charles Mingus – The Clown
Charlie Byrd – For Louis
Craig Chaquico – Once In A Blue Universe
Cyndi Lauper – 3 Pak
David Arkenston – Caravan Of Light
Dave Grustin – The Very Best of Dave Grusin
Enya – The Celts
Enya – Paint The Sky With Stars
Erich Kunzel – The Magical Music of Disney
Eydie Gorme – Best of Eydie Gorme
Ferry Corsten System F – Trance Nation Four
The Irish Rovers – The Best of the Irish Rovers
Jean Michel Jarre / Houston Lyon – En Concert
Jean Michel Jarre – Equinoxe
Jeff Ball – Prairie Runner
Jimmy Page / Robert Plant – No Quarter
Johnnie Ray – Greatest Songs
John Coltrane – The Major Works of John Coltrane
John Coltrane – Live At The Half Note
John Williams / Boston Pops – The Spielberg / Williams Collaboration
John Williams – Conducts Music From The Star Wars Saga
Kitaro – Tenku
Kitaro – Live In America
Led Zeppelin – BBC Sessions
Led Zeppelin – Presence
The Lettermen – All-Time Greatest Hits
Michael Feinstein – Isn’t It Romantic
Michael Franks – The Best of Michael Franks
Miles Davis – The Man With The Horn
Miles Davis – Miles Smiles
Perry Como – Como Swings
Perry Como – Saturday Night With Perry Como
Quarterflash – Quarterflash
Ricky Martin – La Historia
Robert Plant – A Visit To Dreamland
Rosario Giuliani Quartet – Luggage
Stan Getz – Cool Bebop
Stan Getz – Ultimate Stan Getz
Tangerine Dream – Encore: Tangerine Dream Live
Various – Trance Global Nation 2
Yes – Open Your Eyes
Yes – Yessongs

Tonight at Dumb Records: Crafter, Final Order, Soul Craft, Black Box

Posted on July 31, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

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We have two shows these next couple of nights going on at our space!! Don’t miss ’em! Tonight, for this show we have the band “Crafter” coming all the way from Massachusetts. Stream their music on the player below. Final Order from right here in Springfield will also be playing this show. ALSO on this show is a band called Soul Craft from St. Louis. Soul Craft features members of old Champaign/Urbana hardcore band Commodity that were around in the late 2000’s / early 2010’s that none of you probably remember. Opening things up is the new Springfield hardcore band everyone has been talking about, “Black Box.”

This one starts at 7:00 pm and only costs $5. You just can’t beat that. Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our Bread Sheep shows page to see what else is coming up at our spot this summer right here.

September 27th at The Radon Lounge, Homeless Gospel Choir, Mikey Erg, Jon Snodgrass, Looming

Posted on July 29, 2019 by blacksheepspringfield

Well look-ee here, what do have here. It looks like Springfield basement venue The Radon Lounge have announced the first show of the season for them on Friday, September 27th and it’s a big one. There’s a three-act touring package on this show, and it’s a big deal. On the top is “Homeless Gospel Choir.” That is a touring folk-punk act of some sort from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Right smack dab in the middle of that package is none other than Mickey Erg himself. Mickey Erg is a punk rock drummer who has played for a number of groups including The Ergs, and has just released his second solo album which is streaming on the player below. Then there is some third touring guy, Jon Snodgrass, who comes from St. Joseph, Missouri and also played in a bunch of other bands or something. Opening up this show is another rare performance for big time indie rock / punk band that we all know and love, Looming.

This show starts on that day at 7:00 pm, and admission is $12. Find a facebook event for the show right here. We can’t tell you where the Radon Lounge is, but you can go over to their website to further investigate and they might send you on a scavenger hunt around the city to find their little concert dungeon. Check out our Springfield shows page right here.