Music City USA? Must be Greencastle

Help me, Rhonda. Ever since attending the Beach Boys concert at White River State Park a couple of weeks back, it's like I've got the music in me.

It's been nothing but fun, fun, fun since then.

God only knows I've been picking up some good vibrations from the Louisville Crashers and others performing at the annual Greencastle Summer Music Fest to some pop-up cello music at Starbucks (there's always room for cello, right?), thanks to the DePauw University School of Music, to open mic at The Swizzle Stick and even a visit to Beef and Boards for the playfully melodic "Menopause: The Musical" Wednesday night.

And all that without the annual infusion of nostalgia from the annual reunion of the Average House Band this year, thanks to some booking issues. But that's already being planned for next year with Aug. 11-12 the dates to save for AHB followers.

But if my toes weren't already tapping enough, we are most assuredly about to embark on a music explosion right here in River City ... er, Greencastle, my friends.

For example, tonight at the monthly First Friday event downtown, there won't be just one band on the north side stage, two more will play the stage at the corner of Indiana and Walnut streets as First Friday and Taste of Putnam County merge for the first time.

The Jack Gibson Band will play the north side stage, beginning at 7 p.m., while Blues Side Up and Legend Puncher are on tap for the stage at the south end of things.

Meanwhile, Sunday brings one of my favorite events of the year -- the annual Crown Street Music Festival. With five groups performing from 1-6 p.m. in the cozy back yard of the Family and Youth Development Center at 605 S. Crown St., the sounds of groups like Convergence, War Radio, Blues Side Up and more will have folks up and dancing or just chilling in their seats as the music takes over their hearts and minds and their bodies follow in swaying to the beat.

To me, Crown Street has always been an exceptional event that has never quite reached its true potential. The place should be mobbed each September with the talent on display for a $10 ticket.

Labor Day weekend scheduling might have something to do with that since many folks have their own cookouts or family reunions to occupy their end-of-summer time. But try to find a little time for Crown Street. After all, it's even a fundraiser for the neighborhood center.

That's certainly a lot of music, but wait, there's more.

September is just swamped with musical possibilities.

Jazz at The Duck is already back and making music Thursday nights at the Inn at DePauw, as it will throughout much of the school year.

Meanwhile, the big event for which the DePauw School of Music has been planning for more than a year is finally about to unfold as the three-day national 21CMposium will convene on campus next weekend, Sept. 9-11.

Word is registration has surpassed all expectations, so some events are sold out. The good news, however, is tickets are still available to the Kronos Quartet's opening Green Guest Artist Concert in the 1,400-seat Kresge Auditorium. An innovative multi-media performance is promised, including a world premiere from the ensemble's "Fifty for the Future" project.

And we're still not done.

Today's email brings word that old buddies Dick Hardwick and Robin Hopkins have decided to make their musical (and comedic) return to their Greencastle hometown an annual gig with a 7 p.m. show Friday, Sept. 23 at the Greencastle VFW Post.

They'll be joined on the bill by the John Wood Trio, which will play during dinner. Tickets for the dinner and show are $20 (show only $15).

For reservations for Hardwick and Hopkins Back Home Again, persons may call 653-3018.

Now if all this doesn't put the music in you, nothing probably will.

By the end of the month, we shouldn't just have the music in us, it should be oozing out of us.

Wouldn't that be nice.