A night for live music in Decatur to shine

Harlem Hayfield's album release show featured three acts from the Dirty D!

Harlem Hayfield performing at Lock, Stock & Barrel in Decatur as part of their Banter, Tales & Tricks album release show.

Decatur, Illinois, has some cool music venues, but in my 17-plus years in the city, I hadn’t seen many notable local acts.

But there are great musicians playing in every town — big and small. You just have to look!

And while I love chasing my favorite musical acts all over the Decatur Triangle, it’s nice to stay close to home for a change and give some local musicians a try.

Harlem Hayfield is a six-piece band based in Decatur that features, on keyboards and backup vocals, my friend and former co-worker Hugh Sullivan. I worked with Hugh for years and hung out with him on several occasions before ever actually witnessing his musical chops — it was at Lincoln Lounge karaoke, and Hugh brought the house down with “Big Shot” by Billy Joel and a Heart song (maybe “Straight On”). My jaw was on the floor — he told me he played with his family, but I had no idea he was actually good!

On Saturday (March 1), Harlem Hayfield had an album release show at Lock, Stock & Barrel in Decatur for their new album, Banter, Tales & Tricks. The show also featured Decatur acts Devin C. Williams and the Matt Carter Band.

This was my fifth time seeing Harlem Hayfield live. They call their music “rustbelt soul” — Hugh described it as a hybrid of blues and rock, but also funk and soul — which feels right. Banter, Tales & Tricks will be released on Bandcamp in the coming days.

The night was about Harlem Hayfield, but it was great to see them sharing it with two other local acts that I’m glad I was able to check out (They’re doing a similar album release show in Chicago on March 29 at Phyllis’ Musical Inn).

Here’s a quick rundown of each act from the March 1 show:

Devin C. Williams performing at LSB.

Devin C. Williams

A solo guitarist with just a kick bass drum, Williams plays Delta blues with a mix of covers and original material. He has a powerful voice and upbeat style — I complain sometimes about the “lone guitar” opener, but Williams brings too much excitement and intensity for it to get sleepy, and the kick drum adds a much-needed layer of sound.

Williams plays often and all over Central Illinois. If you see his name coming to a venue near you, he’s the real deal.

Matt Carter Band performing at LSB.

Matt Carter Band

In my early years in Decatur — in days I wasn’t spending my spare time looking for live music — Matt Carter was the one significant name I remember from the local scene and thinking, “I should get out and check this guy out.”

But in 2018, Carter suffered some major health problems that caused him to need a kidney transplant and nearly cost him his life. The issues also nearly caused him to lose his ability to play music.

Carter had to relearn how to play the guitar and has hearing damage, too.

He tried coming back in 2021 but wasn’t ready. But he started playing out again in 2022 and, along with his band, sounds great in 2025. That’s good for Decatur.

Carter plays mostly originals but mixed in a sweet cover of Ian Moore’s “Muddy Jesus.” Looking forward to seeing them again when they open for Sunshine Daydream (a Grateful Dead tribute) at the Lincoln Theater on March 22.

Harlem Hayfield performs at LSB.

Harlem Hayfield

Knowing Hugh and getting to know some others musicians in the past year, the recording industry is … complicated.

But Hugh and the other members of Harlem Hayfield — Mikey Schoneman on lead vocals, Keenan Wilcott on bass, Chris Lourash and Brandon Pilger on guitars, and Graham Wene on drums — have been patient, and it appears to be paying off.

Banter, Tells & Tricks was recorded at White Lake Studios in New York, and I can remember Hugh telling me about the recording sessions when I saw the band in 2023. Before the album’s release, they put out four singles, including “Holding On to Heaven,” featuring Jocelyn & Chris Arndt.

A lot went into the night and the members of the band looked stressed and exhausted before the show, but were able to let all that go once they took the stage. The highlight of the night was “Holding On to Heaven,” with Wene’s sister Emma Snearly of the Imagine That Band in attendance giving an inspired performance.

I also got to see some friends there, as well as Hugh’s awesome mom and dad. I’ve met them a few times, but feel like I know them better than I do because of Hugh’s stories about them through the years. They both got Harlem Hayfield tattoos for the occasion — how great is that? The Decatur Herald & Review did a nice story on it.

Big news for State of Amorica

If you’re a reader of this Substack, you know my affinity for and connections to State of Amorica — a podcast dedicated to the Black Crowes and their universe.

The podcast is in its sixth year — I’m in my fourth year listening to it — and it’s been incredible to see it grow bit by bit, with bigger and bigger interviews. They’d interviewed pretty much every significant member of the Black Crowes … except Chris and Rich Robinson — until this week!

It finally happened! Rich Robinson appeared on the State of Amorica podcast. You can listen to it here on Soundcloud or here on Apple Podcasts.

You know you have a great podcast that is connecting with its community when you land a big guest and your listeners feel like THEY got to do the interview, which is exactly how I felt after listening.

And, the thing was, it sounded like Rich wanted to be there. Anyone remotely familiar with Rich knows this isn’t always the case, and I was nervous he’d be a stiff interview. But he was the opposite of that. I think he was excited to nerd out about his music.

Coming up

The ice is finally melting … on my concert schedule!

After just two total shows in three months between December and February, the Harlem Hayfield album release show is the first of (at least) six shows I have planned between now and my 51st birthday on May 18.

I also booked a big one this week — my mom and I are headed to Chicago to see Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago!

Here’s a full list of shows I have booked and a partial list of some others I’m considering or planning to buy the tickets for soon:

TICKETS SECURED

• Blackberry Smoke (Friday, March 7, Peoria Civic Center)

• Sunshine Daydream: Grateful Dead tribute (Saturday, March 22, Lincoln Square Theater, Decatur)

• Charley Crockett (Saturday, May 3, UIS Auditorium, Springfield)

• Sturgill Simpson (Friday, May 9, Allstate Arena, Rosemont)

• Little Feat (Friday, May 16, Capitol Theater, Davenport)

• Larkin Poe (Saturday, May 17, The Vic Theater, Chicago)

• Billy Strings (Sunday, June 6-7, Allstate Arena, Rosemont)

• Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts (Wednesday, Aug. 27, Huntington Bank Pavilion, Chicago)

• Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule (Tuesday, September 9, Huntington Bank Pavilion, Chicago)

CONSIDERING

• Rumours ATL: Fleetwood Mac tribute (Sunday, March 16, Castle Theater, Bloomington)

• Allman Betts and Record Company (Thursday, June 12, Ravinia Festival, Highland Park)

• JJ Grey & Mofro and Trombone Shorty (Saturday, July 12, Salt Shed, Chicago)

• Earth, Wind & Fire (Tuesday, July 22, Saint Louis Music Park, St. Louis)

• Sheryl Crow (Thursday, Aug. 12, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield)

• Rod Stewart (Friday, Aug. 15, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, St. Louis)

• Oasis (Thursday, Aug. 28, Soldier Field, Chicago)

Video clips

Here were some video clips from the Harlem Hayfield album release show at LSB:

“Coming Home” by Harlem Hayfield

“Right Back to You” by Harlem Hayfield

“Charlie” by Harlem Hayfield

“Holding On to Heaven” by Harlem Hayfield with Jocelyn Arndt.

Matt Carter Band

Devin C. Williams