Local music schedule

by Bryan Parker

LIGHTEN UP!

Fun! Webster's dictionary defines it as something that provides mirth or amusement; enjoyment; playfulness; as a joke, not seriously. Put to practical use, fun can be defined in different ways by different people.

In my family, fun is experienced in a variety of ways. Some enjoy spending many hours in a boat on Kentucky Lake fishing. Some love calling me up at 7am on Saturdays to rummage the garage sales. Others enjoy helping out with the Food Pantry and other activities at church, while others like just kicking back and watching the Cardinals beat the Cubbies....again. When asked why she spends all her free time out in the summer heat working in the yard, my mother merely smiled and said, "It's fun....besides, it beats walking the dog."

I was lucky enough to golf with my brother at his league match last summer while visiting his family. I was amazed at how different golfers reacted to the result of their shots. Some just laughed and joked. Truly enjoying there time outside and with the "gentleman's" sport. Others found it necessary to scream, cuss, jump up and down, and make a public spectacle of themselves. I honestly hope I didn't offend anybody.

Like many people involved in the arts, I gain a great source of my fun and enjoyment from performing and merely being around music and the theatre. Coincidentally, I have also experienced an equal amount of stress from these activities as well. However, I try to live up to a personal motto: In order to truly enjoy the good in anything, many times you must go through the bad.

This motto can be attributed to many aspects of life, beyond fun. I somehow feel that life wasn't meant to be focused specifically to the negative. Yes, sometimes bad things happen to us or to our loved ones. Yes, sometimes we tend to dwell on things that we cannot possibly control. Yes, sometimes dwelling makes us bitter; and yes, bitterness jades us from noticing a great deal of good that exists in the world.

Consider the Chinese Yo-Yo. To the serious adult, this object appears to merely be a long thin shaped piece of paper tightly rolled up and connected to a stick. However, it is truly amazing how a child can spend hours upon hours shooting the paper out and in, out and in, out and in; having a great time. Yes, they have fun. I realize that we, as mature, bill paying citizens have many responsibilities. I realize that children can make a toy out of anything; and, they do have a lot to learn about the world. But, the world could possibly stand to learn a little about the child. Children simplify ideas and cut to what is very important...and have fun.

Here are some great opportunities to regain some fun for the month of July:

Wed July 14th

DAN WIETHOP & FRIEND - CALIFORNIA JUICE BAR 8pm

Thur July 15th

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

Fri July 16th

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - BROUSSARD'S 9pm

RIVER CITY PLAYERS "STAR SPANGLED GIRL" - PORT CAPE-6:30pm - reservations (573)334-0954

Sat July 17th

WOODEN SHIPS - BEL AIR 8pm-12

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - BROUSSARD'S 9pm

RIVER CITY PLAYERS "STAR SPANGLED GIRL" - PORT CAPE-6:30pm reservations (573)334-0954

TAKEN FOR GRANTID - CRONIE'S IN SIKESTON 9pm

THE BENDERS - CHEERS IN SIKESTON 9pm

Sun July 18th

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

Wed July 21

LINDSAY BOWERMAN - CALIFORNIA JUICE BAR 8pm

Thur July 22

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

RIVER CITY PLAYERS "STAR SPANGLED GIRL" - PORT CAPE 8pm (show only)

Fri July 23

SOUTH PAW - BROUSSARD'S 9pm

RIVER CITY PLAYERS "STAR SPANGLED GIRL" - PORT CAPE 6:30pm - reservations (573)334-0954

TBA at RUDE DOG

Sat July 24

SALSA DES CARGA - BEL AIR 7:30-11:30pm

SOUTH PAW - BROUSSARD'S 9pm

BROTHER BOOTH - CRONIE'S IN SIKESTON 9pm

TAKEN FOR GRANTID - CHEERS IN SIKESTON 9pm

RIVER CITY PLAYERS "STAR SPANGLED GIRL" - PORT CAPE 6:30pm - reservations (573)334-0954

TBA at RUDE DOG

Sun July 25

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

Wed July 28

DOUG REESE & FRIENDS - CALIFORNIA JUICE BAR 8pm

Thur July 29

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 9pm

Fri July 30

WOODEN SHIPS - BROUSSARD'S 9pm

ARKAMO RANGE - CRONIE'S IN SIKESTON 9pm

TBA at RUDE DOG

Sat July 31

WOODEN SHIPS - BROUSSARD'S 9pm

TBA at RUDE DOG

Sun Aug 1

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

Wed Aug 4

DAN WIETHOP & FRIENDS - CALIFORNIA JUICE BAR 8pm

Thur Aug 5

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

Sun Aug 8

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN & THE WATER STREET BLUES BAND - PORT CAPE 8pm

Wed Aug 11

DOUG REESE & FRIENDS - CALIFORNIA JUICE BAR 8pm

Fri & Sat Aug 13 & 14

STACEY KELLEY - BROUSSARD'S 9pm