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Daily
Egyptian, July 27, 2000 The party's over. The sun may have never set on the British empire, but the sun will set on the Sunset Concert Series, as Carbondalians must say farewell tonight to the 22-year-old festival collection until next year. In the late 1970s, area groups got together to create a program for the masses - something to fill in the hot, empty southern Illinois nights, said Donald Castle, University program coordinator who has helped organize Sunset Concerts for 13 years. "We know people count on it as a social activity," Castle said. "And I think the amount of participation - we have 2,000 to 3,000 people at each show - and the amount of fun people have is evidence of the series' success." Locals know the Sunset Concert Series for its fresh sounds and fun atmosphere, said Joe C., president of Sound Core Music, 122 S. Illinois Ave. "At Sunset, it's not just the same bar band, blah blah blah," Joe explained. Joe, who gives his last name only as "C," has been doing sound for the Sunset series off and on since its inception. "People come early and leave late - it's always a great festival atmosphere," he said. The concert series is also part of Carbondale's culture now, Joe said. "I call this place Disneyland. We get new customers every year. And we have the same rides: Hangar, Pinch, the boat regatta and Sunset," he said. "But it's always great." Nashville-based swing band Patton James and the Synchromatics will try to uphold the Sunset Series' "great" reputation tonight at 7 in Sunset Park. "Our style is like lounge music turned up loud and played like rock 'n' roll," James said. The Synchromatics started playing together four years ago at Henry's Coffee Shop in Nashville on Sunday afternoons. "The story is that everyone was drinking double espressos and so we ended up playing sped-up swing music," James said. James counts "old Vegas-era Sinatra" and Muddy Waters among his band's influences. The Synchromatics are a five-piece ensemble with a lone sax as their horn section. "We're not a Tonight Show band," James said. "We're more rock." The resurgence in swing music and dance has been a boon to the Synchromatics' success, James said. "Kids like to dance, and kids like to dress up," he said. "Girls have started wearing dresses again, so that's cool. And guys are wearing old suits too. But it'll be too hot for felt hats at the concert - we'll be in Hawaiian shirts." Swing aficionado and SUIC associate professor Pete Carroll plans to meet with his ballroom dance students to enjoy the last Sunset concert. Carroll fell in love with swing at age 15. Fifty years later he's still swinging and teaching others too, as part of the University's physical education department. "It's one of the best ways to enjoy yourself and get exercise, and it's quite popular among the young people," he said. "I never thought it was out of style, but I'm biased."
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