How many of you saw the Eveready Brothers reunion show at The Tavern on 10th in downtown Mt. Vernon the day after Christmas?

That was fun, wasn’t it?

Seeing the Freezeman and Hack playing with such quality King City musicians as Dennis Ivers (bass), John Scrivner (drums) and Dr. David Walters (guitar).

But, the original Eveready Brothers had a much softer sound. Especially when they were keeping the crowd riveted with their two-voice, two-guitar performances at the Main Street Forum back in the day (mid 1980s).

You have an opportunity to relive some of those memories once again.

The original Eveready Brothers (Scotty Qualk and Del Herbert) will recreate that original energy on March 13 at the Genkota Winery on 44th Street in the King City. According to Kent Easton of Genkota, the show will start at 7 p.m. and will end “whenever they (The Eveready Brothers) get tired.” And Kent said that there wouldn’t be any cover-charge.

Wow! The Freezeman and Hack Harbor firing up a crowd while strumming acoustic guitars. For hours. For free?

This is one of those little indulgences in life that you might want to think about.

We are now 20+ years since The Eveready Brothers were entertaining Forum patrons on the day of the former Sweetcorn and Watermelon Festival Parade.

With all of the demands of everyday life, the possibilty of a show like this become more remote with each passing day. Circle it on your calendar. Saturday night, March 13, at the Genkota Winery.

Just a quick note on the side.

A couple of Thursdays ago, I was fortunate enough to actually have an evening where I didn’t have to do any radio or newspaper work for anyone.

Regular readers of the Mt. Vernon Register-News, the King City’s oldest newspaper, are aware that February is historically a very hectic sports month.

So, being the musical “gym-rat” that I am, I spent two hours watching WSIU-TV. Sounds pretty boring, huh? I know. I know. I need to get out more. But, it’s winter time. The choices are limited.

At 8 p.m., I began watching the “Hines Farm Blues Club.”

This program chronicled the history of the 40-acre Swanton, Ohio, farm that hosted performances by 1950s and ‘60s blues, jazz and R&B; entertainers, as well as Negro League baseball games and motorcycle races. Fifty-plus minutes of Smilin’ Jack Johnson, King Eddie and a VERY early B.B. King. Channel 8 rocks!

At 9 p.m., my viewing persistence was rewarded with another trip down memory lane.

At this point, the time frame was the early-to-mid 1970s. The band was one that had always held a special place in my heart.

I remember that I was working at a fine establishment in Nashville in 1977 when I first heard on the radio that the plane carrying the members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd had crashed. That was hard to swallow. Skynyrd was one of those bands that actually defined my musical tastes. Along with the Beatles, REO Speedwagon, Head East and, of course, Farm.

The different versions of Lynyrd Skynyrd that followed were just not the same.

I recall that I honestly tried to embrace the “Rossington-Collins Band,” which formed a year after the crash and featured survivors Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, but the energy just wasn’t the same.

Original Lynyrd Skynyrd lead-singer Ronnie Van Zant was more important to the generations to come than any of us knew 30-plus years ago.

Having said that, I must tell you that the 2009 version of Lynyrd Skynyrd is very entertaining.

Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s youngest brother, has the same personality.

That came across in the show, especially during the band’s performance of the classic, “Free Bird.”

OK, maybe that note wasn’t so quick.

Have a great week and thanks for reading.

Please be careful out there.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!

The Illinois State Police are counting on it.



Jack Clark is the host of Musically Speaking, a local radio program heard Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. on 102.1 WIBV.