We don’t play a lot of museums, so getting asked to be part of the Kewanee Historical Society’s 50th birthday party already felt a little different in the best way. Instead of a stage or a corner of a bar, we were set up on the mezzanine, looking down over the main floor while people came in, grabbed food, and found old friends.
Playing from the mezzanine “kitchen”
The spot they put us in usually holds a recreated early-1900s kitchen, so our piano, guitar, and PA ended up right where the stove and table usually live. From up there, we could see the whole room—people being greeted at the door, laughing at the first display that caught their eye, lining up for food. It felt like we were half band, half extra set of eyes on the party.
Tom’s been to the museum a bunch with his family, but this was my (Greg’s) first real wander through. There’s a lot to take in—old storefront signs, photos, tools, and a bunch of 70s-era stuff that made us both say, “Wait, we had that exact thing!”
The orange couch and the Hawaiian painting
The star of our setup area, though, was this bright orange vintage sofa under a painting of a Hawaiian woman who is… let’s just say, not overdressed. The painting used to hang at the old Waunee Farms restaurant, and once we saw it, we knew there was no way we were getting through the night without a photo or two.
Tom immediately went into Seinfeld mode and started telling the story about the episode where Elaine accidentally sends out Christmas cards with a nip slip. He’s halfway down the stairs re-enacting it when we both realize everyone on the main floor has gone quiet and is listening, so he kind of trails off mid-sentence. We told them we were talking about a Seinfeld episode but didn’t have the courage to speak of it aloud, and we all had a laugh.
The funny part: a few minutes after we come back up with more gear, we hear people downstairs talking about Seinfeld. So in a way, Seinfeld ended up being the unofficial third member of Bell & Field for the night. Greg even tried his best George Costanza pose on that orange couch under the painting. Not sure he nailed it, but the intention was there.
Music for a museum birthday
From a music standpoint, this was one of those “background, but not really background” shows. People were eating, talking, and checking out exhibits, but we could feel a lot of ears tuned in. Every time we finished a song, we’d catch clapping from different pockets of the room.
Tom’s voice was a little tight for the first 20–30 minutes, but it loosened up as we went and from there it was smooth sailing.
We leaned into the storytelling side of our set list—songs that feel like they belong in a room full of photos and old documents. Our take on “Borderline” keeps evolving every time we play it, and this one felt especially dialed in. The big standout for both of us, though, was “Slip Slidin’ Away.” As soon as we hit the last chord, we looked at each other and said the same thing: “That’s the best we’ve ever played that one.” It’s a good feeling when you both know it without having to say anything first.
Giveaways, history nerds, and a tip jar downstairs
Throughout the night, Mike—who was juggling host, MC, and museum ambassador duties—would hop on the mic between a couple of songs to announce raffle winners. So the flow kind of became: two or three tunes from us, a cheer from the crowd, then someone heading up to grab a prize. It kept things loose and made it feel very much like a community birthday party, not just a concert dropped into a museum.
The board members and volunteers—Mike, Marci, LeeAnn, Marianne, and others—could not have been more welcoming. The food table stayed busy, people lingered at the displays, and we got to talk to a few folks who clearly love Kewanee history as much as Tom does. (He’s actually certified to teach social studies, so this kind of gig is right in his wheelhouse.)
At one point Mike also reminded everyone that there was a tip jar downstairs for the “live acoustic duo performance” happening above their heads, which was very kind of him. From our balcony perch, we could see people wander over, drop something in, and then tilt their heads up to see where the music was coming from.
Why this one stuck with us
We say this a lot, but it’s true: no two Bell & Field gigs are the same. This one really played to what we do best—mixing familiar covers and a few deeper cuts that reward people who are really listening. Being up on that mezzanine, surrounded by old kitchenware, an orange couch, and that infamous painting, made it feel like we were part of the exhibit for a night.
For Tom, it was also a reminder to get back to the museum more often just as a visitor. The place is packed with the kind of hands-on details that help you understand what it was like to live in Kewanee decades ago, and it was cool to be the soundtrack for people reconnecting with those stories.
Huge thanks again to everyone at the Kewanee Historical Society for having us, feeding us, and trusting us not to knock anything over with a guitar case or piano shell. If you’re looking for Kewanee Historical Society entertainment ideas or just want live music in Kewanee that can fit around conversations and celebrations like this, we’d love to chat about it.
Curious what Bell & Field could bring to your event, party, or gathering? You can reach us through this page.