Sometimes you pull into a town, start unloading gear, and you can just tell it’s going to be a good one. That’s how it felt rolling into Monmouth for our Market Alley Wines show on July 11.
Getting there, getting shaded, getting ready
The drive down was its own little road trip comedy. By the time we hit Monmouth’s square, we were already in a good mood. Jeff met us out back and helped us wrestle a canopy into place so we wouldn’t bake in the late-day sun. It did the job, but a few strong gusts of wind had Tom convinced it was going to take off mid-song. We told ourselves, if it happened, at least we’d have a great viral video! We recorded the whole show, so the evidence exists.
Market Alley itself looks fantastic. There has clearly been a lot of work into that space, and you’d never guess an early summer storm had torn things up not long ago. While we were running cables and checking levels, people were already claiming tables, ordering wine, and settling in like they knew exactly how their Saturday was going to go.
When the songs start to cook
Once we kicked off the first set, it felt like the whole alley kind of clicked into place. There was that low hum of conversation, glasses clinking, and then this slow shift as people started actually listening. By the time we hit “I Feel Fine,” Greg was sneaking in some extra piano runs and Tom just looked over and grinned. Those are the little moments that make a live acoustic duo performance fun for us.
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” turned into this easy groove that people locked onto right away. Heads were bobbing, a few people singing along under their breath. “Walk of Life” even pulled a couple folks up to dance in the alley, which always makes it feel less like background music and more like a little street party.
Tom’s family came out for this one too, which always adds a different kind of nerves. Afterward, his dad said he could tell we were really having fun up there. He was right. This is exactly why we do this—because when we’re actually enjoying ourselves, the playing usually follows.
Sarah, the tip jar, and a full alley
As the evening went on, the alley stayed full. Sarah jumped on our mic midway through the show and very kindly reminded everyone about the tip jar. She has a way of doing that that doesn’t feel awkward at all, just supportive. And people responded. We’re always grateful for that, especially at a place like Market Alley where the owners already go out of their way to make musicians comfortable.
From our end, it felt like one of those shows where we managed to hit the sweet spot between playing tight and not taking ourselves too seriously. I’ll be honest: we don’t always get both. Sometimes you play well but it feels stiff, other times it’s loose and fun but a little sloppy. This one landed in that rare “we’re having fun and not train-wrecking the songs” category.
After the last chord
We wrapped up, packed the gear, and then hung out a bit with Sarah and Jeff to catch up. They’re the kind of venue owners that make Market Alley Wines entertainment feel like a collaboration instead of just a booking. Monmouth’s got a good thing going with them anchoring that alley.
Post-show, we shifted gears completely: Taco Bell run with Tom’s wife, Malissa. At some point Tom unbuttoned his shirt and slipped into full Matthew McConaughey mode, purely for the bit. We joked about him getting kicked out for being “too rockstar” for a fast-food joint.
On the drive home, we cranked “Cherry Pie” by Warrant and laughed our way through the lyrics. It’s ridiculous and somehow still a blast to listen to. That pretty much summed up the night—good music, a little absurdity, and a lot of laughing.
Rolling into a short break
We’ve got a rare weekend off after this one—Tom’s heading out on vacation, and Greg’s got family time and a Japanese festival on deck. Having a break feels nice, but nights like Market Alley Wines make it hard to stay away from the stage for long. Live music in Monmouth doesn’t get much better than a packed alley, a helpful breeze, and a crowd that actually listens.
If you’re putting together something of your own and want this kind of duo setup—piano, guitar, and two guys trying not to let the canopy blow away—you can reach out to us here: Bell & Field booking.
About Bell & Field:
Bell & Field are renowned for their smooth harmonies and a classic repertoire from the ’60s to the ’90s. Their acoustic sets foster a warm, intimate atmosphere, ideal for enjoying great music alongside exquisite wines.
The Venue: Market Alley Wines & Monmouth Charm
Nestled on Monmouth’s picturesque Public Square, Market Alley Wines is more than just a wine shop; it’s a haven for wine lovers and community gatherings. Known for its exceptional selection of wines and its friendly, inviting vibe, it’s the perfect spot to unwind in Illinois’ charming Monmouth. The town’s rich history and vibrant local culture add to the ambiance, making every visit special.
Join Us for an Evening Like This
Gather your friends for a night where live acoustic music meets finely curated wines. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Bell & Field or eager to explore the wine offerings, events like this blend music, taste, and community in a way that’s hard to beat.
If you’re the kind of person who likes a low-key Saturday night where you can have dinner, catch up with friends, and still hear the words to the songs, this one is right in that lane.
Outdoor gigs in July are always a bit of a gamble. Heat, humidity, storms – usually at least one shows up. Our live acoustic duo performance for Valley View Club’s 60th anniversary in Cambridge managed to flirt with all three and still let us get through the show.
his whole night was about anniversaries – 250 years of America and 60 years of Valley View Club. The course has been there for about one-fifth of the country’s history, which is kind of wild when you think about it.
We wrapped the main part of the night with “Wild Night,” which is always a fun one to end on, and then closed things out with “America the Beautiful” on the eve of the 4th. Greg and Paul leaned into a version that stays close to the Ray Charles arrangement – soulful, patient, and not rushed. It felt like the right way to nod to both the country’s birthday and Valley View’s 60 years.
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.
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.
Our second Father’s Day at Tuggers in Port Byron looked pretty different from the first one. Last year it was all sunshine on the patio and people hanging out by the river. This year: nonstop rain, temps in the upper 50s, and us hauling gear inside instead of out to the deck. Still, by the time we finished playing, it felt like exactly the kind of Father’s Day we both needed.
This show had an extra layer for Tom: his whole family was there—parents, kids, significant others, Malissa—taking over a couple of tables and making it very clearly a Father’s Day thing. Somewhere in the middle of the set, Tom took a short break to open his gifts. From Greg’s vantage point, it looked like a mini living room scene right there in the bar, which fit the mood of the day perfectly.
This was Tom’s first gig since turning fifty the week before, and that milestone was definitely in the back of his mind, as he reflected on his appreciation for family, life, and music.
We’ll be at Coal Creek Brewing Company in Princeton on Tuesday, July 21, from 5–7 PM.
Rams Riverhouse is starting to feel like our own little experiment in how many tiny things can go sideways before a show and still add up to a really good night.
Kewanee has one of those downtowns where you can still picture what it looked like a few decades ago just by walking a block or two. The Historical Society sits right in the middle of that, with the murals and old storefronts close by and the museum quietly holding all the details the sidewalks don’t show anymore.
Some Saturday nights are for squeezing into a crowded room and shouting over the music. This one at Tiny Acres is the opposite. It’s a work thing, a corporate night out, where people will probably be trying to finish a conversation they started in a meeting three months ago.
The drive over set the tone. The forecast was calling for heavy rain and possible storms, so we were half-joking, half-serious about whether this was going to turn into an “adventure gig.” Somewhere along I-80, we passed a red pickup that Tom thought might be his parents. They took an off-ramp, we kept going, and we didn’t think much of it.
About half an hour in, the skies just opened up. It poured for what felt like an hour. You could see sheets of rain pounding the patio and, in a few spots, water started sneaking into the room. The Cedar Ridge staff hustled with squeegees and towels, pushing water back out the doors and toward the drains while we kept playing.
Tom’s parents made it to the show, along with his mom’s cousin and cousin’s husband from Cedar Rapids. It had been a long time since Tom had seen them, so having them in the crowd added another layer to the day. After the set, we caught up, and that’s when the full “red pickup / side-of-the-road pee / mystery honk” story came out. That spiraled into Greg telling the story about making his wife, Noriko, stop at every floor in a Japanese elevator years ago when she really needed a bathroom. “She did not think it was funny then,” Greg said, “but 20 years later it’s… kind of funny. Maybe.”
