BLOOMINGTON — In music, work and life in general, taking a rest can be a hard decision to make.
I’ve been acquainted with local musicians who maintain practice streaks for hundreds of days, fulfill a 100-day challenge to post short practice videos and otherwise push themselves beyond their perceived limits.
I look to them when I need inspiration to practice more music. However, knowing when and for how long to sideline a craft of creative passion is also a key skill. Last week, I watched a TikTok trombonist count through 88 entire measures of rest notes and challenge his TikTok viewers count that on their own. Talk about precision rhythm!
@trombonetimo Hardest Challenge EVER? #bandkid #orchestra #music ♬ original sound - TromboneTimo
This column is no different in needing a break. For several weeks, BloNo Beats will be paused while I make strategic changes to improve its workflow and revitalize its charge.
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Around two years ago, I started this column with a dream to highlight underrepresented local musicians. Over the years, I’ve heard many well-produced and performed songs and musical backstories that took root in Bloomington-Normal. I’ve fortified my appreciation of most genres of music, if not all. I experienced my own musical reawakening and continue to challenge myself in the region’s bagpipe competition field.
I also realized that the arts scene in the Twin Cities and greater Central Illinois area is marked by interdisciplinary multitudes. I’ve seen quality visual art made by musicians of merit. I learned how educators of music and theater deserve public appreciation and support. I eventually undertook new areas reporting on performing arts, covering impressive theater productions at Bloomington High School and Illinois State University.
So before this column returns, I’ll be seeking to diversify and fine-tune the scope of what an arts column should include and streamline how these pensive essays come to fruition.
While this music columnist is away for the coming weeks planning out these changes, pursuing leads on all journalistic beats and readying himself for the 2024 Scottish Festival & Highland Games season, there’s still lots for local music lovers to look forward to this month.
The Pantagraph is not pausing coverage of concert announcements, such as at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts, Grossinger Motors Arena, The Castle Theatre and more. Last week, the newspaper announced the free Saturdays on the Square concert series is extending into a fifth night this year with a special concert for a Route 66 festival.
But here’s a few items of note on the April calendar:
- Heaving., a Peoria-based rock group, is performing a 7:30 p.m. Saturday release show at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington for its new EP, “Just Take Everything.” One of the three openers is Harrison Gordon, who was featured January in this column; other openers are Grey Slush and Glittermouth. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door, available at thecastletheatre.com.
- pt.fwd., a Twin Cities arts nonprofit, is ending its wintertime break with a free show 7 p.m. April 23 by Josh Henderson at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington. Henderson is a multi-instrumentalist who will be joined by his ensemble from New York City to perform a piece inspired by "the day the music died."
- Inktrail is a Bloomington jazz-rock fusion with indulgent guitar parts and punk influences. After several years of performing at area venues, the trio plans to release a full-length album April 5. An album release show is planned April 20 at Jazz UpFront in Bloomington.
- Bruce Moon also plans to release a record this month. The Bloomington-based singer-songwriter plans to issue a new LP April 22 on most streaming platforms.
To local musicians and music fans, thank you for entrusting me to tell your stories, your raves and favorite songs. It’s been a treat that keeps a writer’s mind fresh, and helped an aspiring musician’s pipe dreams come true.