Galva had its priorities straight on Friday night: the high school boys were playing the regional championship game, and the Wildcats were in it. That was great news for the town… and it meant the first two hours of our show at Crescent City Tap felt more like a private concert than a typical Friday night.
A slow start, four people, and a lot of freedom
When we kicked off at 6:00, there were maybe four people in the room. We’ve seen Crescent City Tap packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and we’ve seen it like this. Either way, we’re grateful to plug in (or in our case, plug mostly in) and play for whoever shows up.
The quiet start gave us room to stretch out and dust off some songs that hadn’t seen the light of day in a while. We pulled out “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” and “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Some of them were a little rough around the edges, but that was part of the fun.
We also leaned into some slower tunes that fit the low-key vibe: “And I Love Her,” “Wildfire,” and a very tender “This Guy’s in Love With You.” It felt more like we were playing in a living room than doing a typical live acoustic duo performance at a bar.
Guest sax, sticky keys, and a John Denver request
We were a trio for this one, with Paul Weddle on saxophone. His horn was basically singing all night. “Ophelia” by The Band was a standout — that tune already has a built-in looseness, and with sax lines weaving around the guitar and piano, it turned into this joyful little circus of sound.
Earlier in the day, though, Greg had a mishap and spilled some wine on his keys. Oops! Throughout the night, a few notes would suddenly jump out louder than they should, and some chords just… weren’t the chords they were supposed to be. We joked about it on the mic, because what else can you do? No problems, that’s just music served with a side of real life.
We got a request for “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which is always a treat to play — John Denver is one of Tom’s heroes — so we were happy to lean into that one. Later on, someone called out “Careless Whisper.” With Paul there, it was tempting, but we knew we didn’t have that one ready. Instead, we pivoted to “Faith.” It worked, but it had been a while, making it jokingly seem like some of the tunes were being held together with duct tape and optimism. Everyone laughed and rolled with it.
Take the Long Way Home and the crowd finally arrives
One of the musical highlights for us was “Take the Long Way Home.” With Paul on sax and Tom on harmonica, we stretched the middle out into a call-and-response section that went a few extra measures longer than usual. It felt like we were just entertaining ourselves for a minute there, and the folks who were in the room were right there with us.
Then the basketball game ended.
All of a sudden, the door started opening more often, and the last hour turned into the kind of Crescent City Tap entertainment we’re used to: tables filling up, conversations getting louder, and people clapping loudly between songs. We got to ride that wave for the final stretch of the night, and it felt good to land some of those last tunes with a fuller room.
Family in the room and a post-show slot machine “encore”
On top of everything else, Greg’s dad came out for the show, and his daughter happened to be in town too. Having them both there was a rare moment that made it feel quietly important. But if sticky keys isn’t an icebreaker, then what is?
After we packed up the gear, the three of us (plus family) wandered over to the slots. Greg tossed in $20 and said, “If I win, I’m splitting it with everybody.” The machine was hot — little wins kept popping up — and it felt like it was just about to really hit if we fed it another $20. But the night already felt like a win, so we cashed out and called it.
Meanwhile, the cautious optimism continues for the keyboard. A lot of times, liquid residue dries out and things go back to normal. Since the weird notes were only happening sometimes, we’re hoping there wasn’t an electrical short. We have Hidden Hills Winery in Galesburg on the calendar for Sunday, so fingers crossed that the keys decided to behave.
Thanks, Galva
To everyone who chose live music over or after the basketball game, and to everyone who came in after the final buzzer — thanks for listening, requesting songs, and laughing with us when the gear didn’t quite cooperate. Nights like this are why we keep coming back to Crescent City Tap.
If you’re looking for live music in Galva (or anywhere nearby) and want a piano–guitar acoustic duo with the option of some saxophone on top, we’d love to talk. You can reach us about your own event here: https://www.bellandfieldmusic.com/book-acoustic-duo/.
About Bell & Field:
Bell & Field captivate audiences with their seamless harmonies and a collection of classic hits from the ’60s to the ’90s. Their acoustic performances foster a close-knit vibe, perfect for enjoying both the music and the exquisite wine selection available.
Bell & Field will be joined by renowned saxophonist Paul Weddle for select events. You won’t want to miss it!