Some shows feel like gigs, and some feel like you just plugged in the PA at a family reunion. Tom’s parents’ 52nd anniversary at Cerno’s definitely landed in that second category.
Three Anniversaries, One Room at Cerno’s
This was our third time doing this anniversary party at Cerno’s in downtown Kewanee, and it’s officially a tradition now. Tom’s parents were celebrating 52 years, but they weren’t the only ones being toasted. Tom’s cousin Mark and his wife Maria were at 28 years, Tom’s sister Katie and her husband Dan were at 25, and Tom and Malissa hit 25 too. The dates don’t all line up on the calendar, but that’s where everyone stands, and it felt right to lump it all into one big “we’re still here” celebration.
Between Tom’s parents, Tom and Malissa’s six kids, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Howard, nephews Caleb and Andrew, and Annie’s boyfriend Garrett, the back room at Cerno’s felt like a living room with a Belgian back bar and 30 taps. There were sing-alongs, requests, and the kind of side conversations you only get when half the room shares a last name.
Why This One Hits Different
Tom here: I’ve been lucky to grow up with parents who have quietly modeled what love and support look like. Playing their 50th anniversary at Cerno’s a couple years back was a big deal for me. At the end of that night my mom half-joked, “We should just do this next year because you never know.” That line stuck. We really don’t know when life is going to shift, so coming back for 51 and now 52 has felt like saying, “We’re still together, let’s keep celebrating while we can.”
Greg here: I want to back up to something small but important. When I go to Tom and Malissa’s house to practice, their place is always moving. Kids in and out, friends dropping by, sometimes not even ringing the doorbell—just walking in with cookies or something for the table. There’s a strong sense of trust and inclusion that you can feel. I’m pretty sure a lot of that comes from Jim and Cheri. Over the years, they’ve pulled me into that circle, and honestly, the music almost feels like the side story to the relationships at this point.
First Dances, Old Songs, and New Additions
Of course, we had to play “The Wedding Song (There Is Love)” by Paul Noel Stookey. That was Jim and Cheri’s wedding song, and seeing them step out and dance to it again—52 years later—pretty much stopped the room. It’s one of those songs that’s simple on paper but heavy with history when you know what it means to the people in front of you.
We also used this night to finally roll out some songs that had been sitting on the practice list for too long. We opened with “Because” by The Dave Clark Five, then finally took “Run for the Roses” (Dan Fogelberg) out for its first real spin. We debuted “Walk of Life” (Dire Straits), “No Matter What” (Bad Company), and “Sundown” (Gordon Lightfoot). “Sundown” was especially fun.”
We also dusted off some tunes we hadn’t touched in a while: “Round Here” for Tom’s sister, who is a big Counting Crows fan, plus “Margaritaville,” “Take the Long Way Home,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” “Southern Nights” (Glen Campbell), and “Hungry Heart.”.
James on Keys and Panthers on the Screen
One of the best parts of this live acoustic duo performance was getting Tom’s son James to play some songs. He jumped on piano for “Sweet Home Chicago” and “Hey Jude,” playing and singing with Tom. James has always been strong with sheet music, but this time he wasn’t reading at all—just playing from memory and feel. Watching him lean into improvising more each year has been its own quiet subplot in these Cerno’s shows.
Then Simeon, another of Tom’s sons, decided to raise the bar on the tribute side of the night. He dug up game footage from Jim’s college football days with the UNI Panthers and got it playing for everyone. Suddenly the anniversary party turned into a Saturday night watch party, with the whole room locked in on the screen, cheering like the game was live. When the reel ended, we launched straight into “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” by Jim Croce. Given how tough Jim looked in those clips, nobody in the room was planning to mess with him, but the guy we know is the one who’ll tear up with gratitude when he talks about family.
Cerno’s Crew, Cerno’s Burgers, and a Detour from Taco Bell
We’ve got to give a special shoutout to Ciara at Cerno’s. She’s taken care of this party three years in a row now—food, drinks, the whole thing—and somewhere along the way we also found out she can really sing. As we were packing up, we heard her belting a tune and just looked at each other like, “Okay, that’s not fair.” We asked if she’d ever want to come by a practice and work up a song or two with us. She said she’d think about it. We’re hoping that “maybe” turns into a “yes.”
Greg’s post-show tradition is usually a quick Taco Bell stop on the short drive home from Kewanee. This time, he pulled up and realized the place was closed for renovations. So it turned into a Burger King run instead. The spicy chicken sandwich did the job, but eating it in the car left sauce all over his jeans. Not exactly glamorous [Kewanee entertainment] life, but that’s the real version.
Looking Ahead (Because You Never Know)
Somewhere in the middle of the night, that line from Tom’s mom—“we should just do this next year because you never know”—came back around in our heads. As long as Jim and Cheri keep wanting to gather everyone at Cerno’s, we’ll keep bringing the guitars, keys, and whatever new songs we’ve been kicking around in Tom’s living room.
If you’re putting together a family celebration or private party and want a live acoustic duo performance that can handle everything from “Hey Jude” sing-alongs to quiet first dances, you can reach us through this page. We’d be glad to be part of your story too.
My favorite party of the year💛