The Acoustics Instruments Group (“AIG” or “Acoustics”) has a history of spawning new musical groups. The most recent are “Just Friends,” under the leadership of Jim LaHood, and “Silver Linings,” with Mark Hutton serving here as spokesperson.
Just Friends
The band features music in the “swing jazz” and Latin styles. As Jim explains, “Swing jazz is simply the standard swing and pop songs with improvisation on the melody. For instance, we would play a song strictly as written once through, then one or all of us will take a solo with a variation on the melody. Then finish with the standard tune. Makes it fun and interesting.”
Their songs, a mix of instrumental and vocal arrangements, include great American standards such as Satin Doll, The Girl From Ipanema, Fly Me to the Moon, Autumn Leaves, Night and Day, and Misty. Vocals are handled primarily by Grand favorite Robin Weakland, with Kevin Hughes on keyboards and John Burton on bass. For more information, please contact Jim LaHood at 309-229-8002.
In Jim’s words: “Basically, my background is as a guitar player, for my own enjoyment, since the age of 19. I played soft-rock; played at church for several years, then wanted to branch out and learn the jazz guitar style. I took some very valuable instruction from two well-known guitarists in the Peoria, IL area (my home) and eventually formed a band to play swing jazz. Along the way, my main teacher, who was also a fine guitar maker, located one of his guitars that I was able to purchase.
“That was 40 years ago. My band included a close friend who played vibraphone like Lionel Hampton. When my friend had a stroke, he very generously gave me the “vibes” with orders to learn to play them. So, I try a little “vibes,” too. (A percussion instrument in the metallophone family of struck metal bars.)
“My wife Lynne and I moved here three years ago. Since I had regularly been attending jazz sessions in Illinois, I expected a strong music community like Grand would have one, too. Well, Just Friends has been formed to fill that musical void.”
Silver Linings
Per Mark Hutton, “The genesis for the band comes from a strong desire by the members to capture the rhythm and feeling from a wide variety of traditional and contemporary country western songs. The band plays music from Johnny Cash, Zac Brown, Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson and other favorites.”
“The band’s name,” he adds, “comes from our collective belief that each person has unique gifts and a ‘silver lining'."
Mark sings and plays guitar. Joining him are guitarist Mike Bastien and vocalist Kathy Boland. Actually, all three share in the vocals. Mark hails from a little town called Soldotna, just south of Anchorage on the Kenai River, where he performs several shows a year during the summer. Mark says he and a local female singer performed seven shows in Alaska this past summer.
Mike Bastien was one of the original members of Salty Dawgs, playing in and outside of Grand. He explains that his father initially taught him some basic chords and he then began playing at family and friends’ gatherings. He adds that “Over the past years and currently I play on our worship team at church. For fun I enjoy playing at some of the local music jams and festivals.”
Kathy Boland and her husband John moved to Grand from Chicago almost twelve years ago mainly for the golf. She finally hit the stage here as one of the Triplets babies in a 2022 Variety Show number, followed by Jean McCurdy’s Blues showcase and the January 2023 Speakeasy Showcase. “Now,” she says “There’s so much to do, we hardly ever play golf anymore.”
Kathy and Mark did a four-hour show nearby this past spring for the Alaska Club. Mark said they had over 250 in attendance! After that they started playing and practicing with Mike Bastien, and Silver Linings was formed.