Welcome.

 I began this blog 5 years ago after the May 8 derecho which shut down life in southern Illinois for almost five days. 

Now here it is 2014 and I want to use this blog as an avenue of self expression as well as to let everybody know what's hot and what's not in this beautiful region. 

I also hope to reexamine my roots as a music journalist.  Before I moved up here in 1998, I was a scribe among many other things.  My focus was the San Antonio hard rock and metal scene.   I was proud to serve at one time as a music columnist, a booking agent, a club DJ and a credible spokesperson. 

What brought me up here is a long story.  It involved a fortunate coincidence of career advancement and the opportunity to discover my roots on my father's side of the family.  A lot has changed since then. 

So, what can you, the reader, expect?  A lot of discussion about the southern Illinois music scene.  I'll begin by focusing on some of the people I've had the pleasure to meet and be involved in, especially over the last four years.  Some occasional salutes to old friends and acquaintances from San Antonio and Austin.   Some photos, but no cute kitty photos.  Well, maybe a few. 

I'll try not to get too much into politics as not to offend certain parties.  When it comes to certain issues. such as fracking and climate change, that's another story. 

Enjoy.