Bar band jazzes up gallery

The three-piece band Fill can usually be seen playing its unconventional form of jazz-rock at downtown bars on the weekends. But tonight Fill will play to a vastly different crowd.

The band is turning into a two-piece (sans drummer Brandon Glenn) for a lighter gig tonight at the Edward Bernard Gallery. Bassist Wes Ables and guitarist Chris Stephens -- known to many local music fans as two-thirds of one of Cape Girardeau's best bands -- are looking forward to stripping down their set for the art gallery atmosphere.

"I'm pumped," Ables said. "This is like the stuff we haven't been able to do because people have just been drinking. It's more artsy."

Fill was awarded the gig through P-Mac Music owner Paul MacDougall, Ables' boss and gallery owner Peg MacDougall's husband.

Ables said the set won't include the rocking aspect of Fill's style, but be "strictly jazz," something band members have been hoping for.

"We're going to turn all our stuff into straight-up old-school jazz," Ables said.

Peg MacDougall said she wouldn't care if the band brought its nightlife style to the gallery.

"I don't care if they do rock it out here," Peg MacDougall said.

Other First Friday receptions include:

Buckner Brewing Co. Riverview Room, 132 N. Main St.

The new arts group Anson McGuiin will display its work in the Riverview Room from 5 to 10 p.m. Southeast Missouri State University art students who used to display at the now-closed Fountain Street Gallery -- Stu Hao, Carson Majors and Kyle Triplett. The show will feature current sculptural and ceramic works created during the students' undergraduate studies. For more information, call 334-4677.

Garden Gallery, 833 Broadway

The Garden Gallery will feature the work of five new jewelry artists -- Alice Bailey of Santa Fe, N.M.; Robin Satterhwaite of Douglas, Mich.; Sarah Sztykiel of Miami; Gabe Pyra of Central, S.C.; and Dee Dee DeFabio-Lake of Lake St. Louis, Mo. The gallery will be open from noon to 9 p.m. today. For more information, call 332-7123.

Cape Importers, 16 N. Spanish St.

Cape Importers will open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday featuring original oil paintings, charcoal drawings and stone and wood sculptures. For more information, call 339-1113.