I am not a music critic and I don’t pretend to be, but I will say that this show was damn good. I wasn’t familiar with Illinois John Fever before that night, but this Iowa City Americana singer is fun, lively and a great start to a foot-stomping evening at the Mill. If I knew how to two-step, I would have during his set. He was followed by one of my favorite local musicians, Brooks Strause (accompanied by Gory Details Brad Highnam, Skye Carrasco and Cole Highnam). I’ll spare the gushing, but I love just about anything this crew does on stage. The evening was capped off with the intense country blues of Reverend Peyton and his Big Damn Band. This was my second time seeing the Rev, and I was delighted that the show translated well from the massive venue where I saw them previously to the cozy atmosphere of our very own Mill Restaurant. Of course, I was right up against the stage snapping it all with my little camera.
Show Photos: Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Brooks Strause & the Gory Details, Illinois John Fever – 9/14
