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Monday, June 20, 2016
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Kevin Miller, lead vocalist and guitarist for Back Country Roads, sings to the crowd at MVP Sports Bar’s Block Party Saturday. The bar, 122 S. California St., closed off the street around 3 p.m. to prepare for the block party.
MVP’s annual block party sees sunny skies, first in many years Jay Ibarra Scene Editor
Sycamore | MVP’s Sports Bar kicked off the summer by hosting its annual summer block party Saturday where they featured live music and dancing in great weather. The bar, 122 S. California St., blocked off the street around 3 p.m. to prepare for the block party and residents flooded the streets to mingle with friends and family before the featured bands took the stage. At about 5:30 p.m., Rock Barn Band began its set of uplifting, light rock hits. Families ate outside and kids ran around while the band played its set. While the band sang songs from Steve Miller Band’s “Take the Money and Run” to John Mellencamp’s “Ain’t that America,” the crowd nodded to the more familiar hits of the set as they ate and chatted with friends. Back Country Roads took the stage shortly after 8 p.m., and that’s when attendance started to pick up. “I love country music, I’m here for [Back Country Roads] and this is my birthday gift,” said Marie Lilly, 55 of Geneva. Kyle Miller, lead vocalist and guitarist for Back Country Roads, said this is the band’s fourth year playing at the MVP Block Party and that his favorite song to sing for fans is “Jackson” by Johnny Cash.
“We don’t sit in one sort of era, we do old, we do new, we do 90’s,” Miller said. In the past two years Sycamore has experienced rain on the day of the block party, Miller said. “I’m excited for all of the people coming out because we finally have good weather,” Miller said. “I’m hoping this one totally makes up for those last two bogus years.”
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I’m excited for all of the people coming out because we finally have good weather. I’m hoping this one totally makes up for those last two bogus years.” Kyle Miller Back Country Roads lead vocalists
Back Country Roads played fan favorites like songs from Florida Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Eric Church and Little Big Town. There were friends line dancing and couples slow dancing throughout the night. They even threw in a couple of original songs, singing lyrics about “summer in a small town” and announced a CD that will be released in a few weeks. Near the end of the night, Back Country Roads paid homage to the ones that lost their lives in the
Summer events
• Kirkland 68th annual 4th of July weekend from July 1 to July 4 on 290 South St. in Kirkland. • Age of Ulton at 8 p.m. on July 8 at Dekalb Park District on 303 South 9th St. • Ragtops at 7 p.m. on June 30 at Sycamore Park District on 940 East State St.
Orlando nightclub shooting on June 12 by having the crowd raise its drinks while they played the song “Drink a Beer” by Luke Bryan. For the entire song, the crowd raised a glass to the fallen, before getting back to the bands set list. The band ended its set with “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses while the audience incited an encore. The encore had to be approved by the Sycamore police due to time limits. To which, the police gave a physical thumbs up to another song. “I have a feeling Sycamore is full of a bunch of rednecks,” Miller said. The crowed went wild with appreciation and ignited audience interaction as the band played the song “Redneck” by Blake Shelton. The song picked up mid-chorus, and the evening ended with “Kerosene” by Miranda Lambert.
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