It has felt amazing to be at concerts where people are singing and dancing together. Where, after all this time and all the conflict, we’re just friends again, music lovers, community members, humans coming together. These shows have started the healing process in a lot of us who still have emotional wounds from the last 15 months.

The feeling I had walking into Kenny’s Westside Pub Friday night was something I didn’t expect, and also something I desperately needed: it was a break. It was like walking into the Summer of 2019.

This wasn’t about healing. This was about being able to pretend 2020 never happened. This show was the first one that felt truly NORMAL for the first time since March of 2020, and it was such a shock because I had forgotten how normal felt.

The band was fantastic, and the crowd was ready. As an advocate for earlier start times for live music in the area, I wasn’t initially thrilled when I saw the show started at 10pm. I honestly didn’t think I’d stay past midnight.

I was wrong.

As other bands finished their shows around town, they headed to Kenny’s to see it reopened to live music and hear Brainchild. I saw guys from Still Shine, Dirty Mics, and Butta’, filter in, just to name a few. It wasn’t long before I was in a room packed with friends, people who loved and missed jamming at Kenny’s.

Having only been a part of the Peoria music scene since 2017, I wasn’t familiar with any of the 'old school’ Brainchild that was being requested. But next time someone asks Roy for old school Brainchild, you’ll hear me yell, “Moon Party Dance Party!”

The band played their hearts out and before I knew it, it was almost 2:30am and they had to wrap up.

We headed back to Kenny’s Saturday night to see The Schwag. 2021 marks 30 years since Jimmy Tebeau first started The Schwag band, and they have played and continue to play all over the country, on a mission to “preserve and perpetuate the vibe and music made popular by the Grateful Dead.”

I think I’ve seen them three or four times at Kenny’s and they were a great choice for opening weekend.

Jimmy, Mike, Robert, and Dave kept everyone dancing for two hours straight before they took a short break. Then they followed it up with another two hours of their Grateful Dead tribute.

Time flew while we were there. We enjoyed some food, drinks, and of course, the music.

We missed Roy Ponce sitting with them, but look forward to seeing him and many other bands in the coming months including Easy Riders, Kuh Knives, and The Ghost of Paul Revere, with Still Shine opening!

Here are a few photos of The Schwag from Saturday.