Rock on

PEORIA -- From a news release:

Fine Kettle Of Fish, Peoria’s “amazingly eclectic cover band,” will kick off their 2009 World Tour from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Venue Wine & Art, 112 N. Main St., on the square in Washington.

The group, whose six members range from ages 17 to 69, will offer its usual bouillabaisse of music ranging from Beatles, Motown, R.E.M., and BoDeans to swing jazz, Chicago blues, vintage country, and comic originals like “Blagojevich Farewell.”

Former Journal Star critic David Moll, who penned the description above, praised their creative mix of songs from Richard Thompson to the Rolling Stones. Other writers have cited their improvised medleys: one recent gig saw them blend “Born on the Bayou,” “Smokestack Lightning,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Bang a Gong,” and “Little Queenie” together.

Fine Kettle of Fish grew out of pioneering early ‘60s local rock bands the Tempests and the Heard.

The current sextet includes Mike “Kingfish” Boyer, Tony Glass, and Evan Crebo (lead guitars), Jim Hennessey (bass), Brooks McDaniel (drums), and Mike Foster (12-string guitar).

For more information, call 678-8779 or 222-2480.

This sounds like fun, especially the "Blago Farewell."

No word yet on where this world tour will be going next. Iraq? Afganistan? Mississippi?

Don't touch that dial...