It's tempting to label the musical accomplishments of the Holmes Brothers as "unclassifiable," but that's not entirely accurate. Their sound is easily classifiable. As blues. And gospel. And rock.
Last year, the Mercury Brothers produced a CD, Whiskey Kisses, and won the Iowa Blues Challenge. Later this month, the quartet will compete in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge. Not bad for a band formed in February 2005.
Unless you're holed up in your bedroom poring over blogs and obscure magazines for the best music that isn't being hawked by the major labels, there's an excellent chance you're a bit lost in the current marketplace.
Curious about which local bands are playing in the area on New Year's Eve? Curious about where? And when? And whether you'll be able to toast 2006's arrival with some champagne? So were we. The following is an A through Z (or rather, B through W) listing of area venues that will ring in the new year with live music, the musicians they'll be featuring, what time their sets start, what cover charges to expect .
Davenport's Chordbuster Barbershop Chorus - the local chapter of the national Barbershop Harmony Society - has been performing concerts and benefit shows in the area for more than a half-century now, but chapter President Leo Schubert acknowledges that his organization is still flying under the radar.
Many youngsters were present at the Quad City Symphony concert on Saturday, December 3, but they weren’t the only ones encouraged to let the music lead their imaginations to faraway places. In a night of music written by artists who, as described by conductor Donald Schleicher, are “serious composers with imaginations,” the Quad City Symphony conjured an atmosphere that allowed words and music to stimulate our minds, and create worlds where elephants wear suits and angels are summoned.
It's ironic that a band that can't choose a name can develop a sophisticated, comprehensive system of musical cues that allows every member to change (or merely anticipate) what's happening on stage, from tempo to key.

Wicked Good

Among the special features on the Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls - Live at Circa '21 DVD - the release of which is being celebrated at Rookie's on Saturday, November 26 - is an early promotional video in which the band members describe their group's sound to an off-screen interviewer.
Like Michael Jordan's baseball career, the Grateful Dead's studio recordings were largely superfluous. The band gave the world legendary live performances, and that was more than enough. Those analogies might seem a little big for the Quad Cities' Strange Neighbors, which has been around since 1994 and is led by singer-songwriter-guitarist Dustin Cobb.
After a rambunctious, sacred, fun-loving, somber Holiday Pops concert filled with elements that make the holidays special, the Christmas season has finally officially begun. The Quad Symphony Orchestra Association and the Quad City Arts Festival of Trees presented an enchanting kickoff at The Mark of the Quad Cities on Saturday night, complete with instrumentalists, vocalists of all ages, and vivacious figure skaters.

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