Illinois Drifter Podcast

Illinois Drifter East Coast correspondent Jim Hennessy returns to compare notes after we both attended Marcus King shows on the same tour — Jim in Washington, D.C., and me near St. Louis. We discussed how King’s live show has evolved, the band’s current lineup, the heavy emphasis on Darling Blue and No Room for Blue, and how the same tour can produce very different moments from city to city. They...

No. 1 concert buddy Shawn Hillman joined me to recap a road trip to Cincinnati for The Black Crowes’ Southern Hospitality Tour, featuring Whiskey Myers and Southall at Riverbend Music Center. The conversation covers the venue, the crowd, first impressions of Whiskey Myers, and what may have been one of the strongest Black Crowes performances either has seen since the band’s reunion. Along the way,...

Steepwater Band guitarist Eric Saylors joined the Illinois Drifter Podcast for a conversation about his musical roots, years on the road and finding a long-term home in one of the Midwest’s great blues-rock bands. From growing up in small-town Indiana around bluegrass and country music to touring nationally with Healing Sixes and eventually joining Steepwater Band, Saylors reflects on nearly three...

I was back at the Castle Theatre in Bloomington to see James McMurtry and the Martial Law Review on Friday, April 24. I knew McMurtry’s music going in, but I didn’t really know what to expect live. In this solo episode of the podcast, I break down the night — from the venue, to the crowd, to the opener, BettySoo, who plays a unique dual role on this tour. I love that the band has been playing with...

I was trying to think of the name of the first song I ever heard by Gov’t Mule, then they opened the show with it — complete with someone in an Uncle Sam outfit holding signs. It was the kind of moment that makes going to see live music special, and why I don’t mind going to shows alone. It had been about six months since I’d been to a show by myself— this one felt worth breaking the streak for. L...

Singer-songwriter Edward David Anderson joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast ahead of a show at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn with Backyard Tire Fire and Steepwater Band. From his early days in Illinois to touring the country and eventually scaling back to focus on family and creative fulfillment, Anderson shares a candid look at 30 years as an independent musician. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that in...

Music writer and author Tim Cain joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast to talk about a recent Steely Dan tribute show at Danenberger Family Vineyards — the Brooklyn Charmers — and dive deep into Tim's books and his famous Beatles song rankings list, which will be the subject of his next book. Justin and Tim revisit their long history — from newsroom colleagues to shared music obsessives. We break dow...

Boone Froggett of the band Otis joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast to talk about building a blues-rock band from the ground up — from small venues in Kentucky to touring across the U.S. and Europe. After first connecting at the Backroom Listening Lounge in Riverton, Illinois , Justin and Boone dive into the band’s origins, influences and evolution, along with the realities of life as an independen...

Blues-rock guitarist Eric Johanson joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast after a standout performance at Danenberger Family Vineyards in New Berlin, Illinois — a unique venue tucked into Central Illinois farm country that delivers a surprisingly intimate live music experience. In this conversation, Eric talks about growing up in Louisiana surrounded by music, finding his voice across genres, and how...

Justin is joined by Shawn Hillman to recap an unforgettable two-night run with Blackberry Smoke across Illinois — Champaign and Rockford — complete with killer setlists, a surprise appearance from Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, and a white-knuckle drive home in a March blizzard. They break down the differences between both shows, venue vibes, standout songs, and why Blackberry Smoke continues to be o...

In this episode of the Illinois Drifter Podcast, Justin talks with Jim “Jimbo” Hennessy from Annapolis, Maryland about an extraordinary night of music at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, where the Toy Factory Project delivered a three-hour tribute to the music of the Marshall Tucker Band. The Toy Factory Project features an all-star lineup including Marcus King, Charlie Star...

Shawn Hillman returns to the Illinois Drifter Podcast to break down Joe Bonamassa’s recent stop at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater in Peoria. We talk Bonamassa’s band, the dynamic nature of his live show, setlist surprises, venue vibes, and why the band — not just the guitar hero — is the real secret sauce. We also touch on backup singers, crowd behavior, merch finds, and what’s ahead with upcom...

Fairbury native Kent Aberle joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast to talk about growing up in Central Illinois, building a career in Atlanta, and stepping into the drum seat for Blackberry Smoke following the passing of founding drummer Brit Turner. We discuss honoring Turner’s legacy without trying to replace him, earning trust night after night, the uniquely loyal culture of Blackberry Smoke fans,...

In this extended conversation, I sit down with keyboardist Chris Grove to talk about his musical roots, touring life and the road that took him from classical piano studies to Survivor and 12 years with Eddie Money. We also discuss teaching, the grind of early touring, Steepwater Band, Nomad Planets, and what it means to serve the song. ⏱ Time Stamps 00:00 – Intro & discovering Chris at Avenue 912...

🎙 Episode Show Notes Illinois Drifter Podcast: Sunshine Daydream (with Mike & Olivia Tash) In this episode, I sit down with Mike Tasch (keys) and Olivia Tasch (vocals) of Sunshine Daydream, a Central Illinois-based Grateful Dead tribute band that’s been building something special for over a decade. We talk about: 🎵 How the band formed and evolved 🎵 Their connection to the Grateful Dead 🎵 What i...

On this episode of the Illinois Drifter podcast, host Justin Conn is joined by concert buddy Shawn Hillman to break down JJ Grey & Mofro’s sold-out show at the Castle Theater in Bloomington. #ShawnConnery talks about: 🎵 Why the Castle might be one of the best small venues in Illinois 🎵 JJ opening with “Lochloosa” and why that struck a chord 🎵A full 10-piece band that sounded bigger than the roo...

On this episode of the Illinois Drifter Podcast, host Justin Conn sits down with members of Nomad Planets for an in-depth conversation about their long history, creative process, and commitment to original music. Justin first discovered Nomad Planets after seeing them open for the Steepwater Band, and what began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep appreciation for a band that rewards repeat li...

Illinois Drifter host Justin Conn launches the podcast edition of his long-running Substack, expanding his project celebrating live music, musicians, and the culture that surrounds them. In this debut episode, Justin is joined by Jeff Massey and Joe Winters of The Steepwater Band to discuss the first show he attended in 2026 — the band’s January 10 performance at Leroy’s Hot Stuff in Porter, India...