Day 1: Monday, June 22
It’s understandable to think us ambitious to try to book six consecutive nights of shows in three Midwestern states with three acoustic acts, but we did it, we’re already half way through, and we couldn’t be having a better time. Me (Tricia Scully), local C-U musician Carl Hauck, and our friend from Greenville, IL Steph Plant started out this past Monday June 22nd on a weeklong tour across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.
The Wedge in St. Louis was our first stop. It was a little bar in a quieter part of the city, and when we arrived we were directed to the second floor where the stage was located. It almost felt like we were in Champaign’s own Mike n’ Molly’s. We did a little sound check, the system sounded great, and we waited. The tiny room filled up with friends and family we knew around the area and the show went surprisingly well. We played with St. Louis locals John Krane (the great storyteller) and Ellen the Felon (piano virtuoso with an attitude), who were both wonderful. John Krane so kindly put us up for the night, and we enjoyed his company and his music so much that we asked him to come play the next night with us in Greenville, Ill.
Day 2: Tuesday, June 23
Steph Plant went to college in Greenville, so she set up a house show for our little group of troubadours in the darling town. Her friend Morgan offered up her basement for the event and decorated it with rugs, pillows, Christmas lights, and other cute dangly light fixtures, which really gave the show a comfortable and homey feel. We bought some cookies and soda to share with everyone, and stared up the show.
I warmed up the crowd first, then Carl lulled us all with his soothing vocals and mesmerizing finger picking, John Krane enchanted us with his smoky vocals and captivating stories over his guitar, then Steph closed it out with her ridiculously amazing vocals, rhythmic guitars, and her dulcimer. We hung around in the basement for a while after the show to meet Steph’s friends, then went back to Steph’s and passed out on blow-up mattresses (which were quite luxurious if I do say so myself).
Day 3: Wednesday, June 24
It was pouring when we left Greenville. We got a little lost on the way to Peoria (I’m going to blame the rain, we couldn’t read signs), and ended up in Carlyle, Ill., but we consulted our atlases and found our way North.
We pulled into The Bean Coffeehouse parking lot just 15 minutes before we were supposed to start playing. We ran inside, picked out a coffee or tea beverage to enjoy for the evening, and took out the guitars. Carl and Steph knew a few people in the area, so there ended up being quite a substantial crowd, and they were all incredibly supportive. The PA turned out to be a little muddy, but we pushed through, and it sounded well enough for a few people to want to buy our music!
The coffeehouse itself was a cute café with comfy couches and chairs all over. They had great coffee (I just got a drip coffee) and great tea said Carl, and the girls that were working were extremely friendly. Apparently they have bands play there too because we were glancing at the posters they had hanging on their walls, and bands that we have all previously played with were going to be playing there in the near future. If you’re a musician and you’re planning on traveling to Peoria, definitely check this place out.
