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Armed with a babysitter on a rare Wednesday night out, Mr. Pungsnotded and I made the long journey Bloomington to Coconut Louie’s to see a Chicago Farmer. We were not disappointed. That is rare, where we live. For some reason Central Illinois likes to be a cultural void, for music. Maybe Central Illinois suffered some trauma back in the pioneer days that rendered it helpless against music that doesn’t suck and appropriate sound systems. I don’t know. Chicago Farmer takes care of the void. Apparently every Wednesday night, this winter.

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My sister had recommended I go see Chicago Farmer,aka Cody, last September. At the very least I was intrigued to hear someone whose first name was the same as my favorite city. I drug my friend Stacy with me to see him perform in the most-divey- meat- markety bar around, full of drunken college kids and draft beers. We walked in and were amazed by a John Prine cover of Muhlenberg County. I bought a Cd and was instantly hooked.

This performance was no less enjoyable and there were even a few of my favorite covers thrown in, “Good Night Irene” being one of them and I am sure Lead Belly was smiling upon us that night. There was even a cover of “California Stars” off of the Wilco/Billy Bragg’s Mermaid Ave. It ended up with some ad-libbed lyrics, which I might say was charming, depending on my mood. Hey, what is more fun that ad-libbing the milkman of human kindness anyway?

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Chicago Farmer, aka Cody hails from a small town in central Illinois called Delevan.Consequently, he is my people. There is something about  Midwesterners from small towns. It is a groove, a resolve, a comfort with a flat landscape, that defines the Midwest region. You see, people who have been drunk in a cornfield, they do not get bored. I cannot explain it exactly, but growing up without nightclubs and fancy department stores, for some, it leads to this thing called imagination. Cody, seems to have one.

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Folk music is often done irresponsibly and I am happy that while  Chicago Farmer, channels all the great ones, he does not emmulate them. He has his own voice, a great deep register and an expansive range vocally. He weaves stories out while he sings that keep the audience entertained and wanting more. He seems friendly but he also has a stage prescence that makes you believe he would be sitting on his couch singing the same songs the same way even if he were all alone. There is comfort in that.

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Times are strange and everyone wants to complain about money alot these days. As bored as I am with hearing about it, we do need to remember to take care of our musicians. Get out and see live music, and demand excellence. In other words, skip the cover bands, see original acts and for crying out loud BUY some cd’s. These people need us, we need them. I cannot imagine a day of my life without original music and Chicago Farmer provides that.

BUYBUYBUY SOME CDS:

http://www.chicagofarmer.com/market/

http://www.chicagofarmer.com/market/

http://www.chicagofarmer.com/market/

SEESEESEE LIVE: (pick me up along the way!)

Feb 25 2009 9:30P Wednesdays at Louie’s Bloomington, Illinois Feb 27 2009 9:30P THE FARMHOUSE (EP RELEASE) Delavan, Illinois Mar 20 2009 10:00P Coconut Louie’s (Weekend Show!) Bloomington, Illinois Mar 27 2009 9:00P The Horseshoe W/ Clifton Roy & Folkstringer Chicago, Illinois Mar 28 2009 9:00P Liquid Blues Woodstock, Illinois Apr 11 2009 9:00P Off Broadway W/ Pokey Lafarge & Backyard Tire Fire St. Louis, Missouri Apr 17 2009 9:00P The Mousetrap W/ 56 Hope Road!! Indianapolis, Indiana Apr 18 2009 10:00P The Uptowner Charleston, Illinois Apr 24 2009 9:00P Cafe’ Montmartre Madison, Wisconsin Apr 25 2009 10:00P The Store Chicago, Illinois Apr 30 2009 9:00P Redstone Room W/ Backyard Tire Fire Davenport, Iowa May 7 2009 10:00P Hangar 9 Carbondale, Illinois May 8 2009 9:00P The Basement w/ Bawn in The Mash