Another fantastic night @ Crossroads Bar and Grill; ladies and gents and let me just say that this weekend was a total gas too!

The band of choice last night was a little group called Champagne Lil. We came into the evening full of energy and high expectations after last week’s wonderful experience with Bogart Jones. We had no idea what we were actually going to get as we are still green in this arena of local bands+local bars.

Champagne Lil hit the stage around 9:45 and had us on the edge of our seats with anticipation. With a female, Mashayla, on lead vocals whose voice is reminiscent of the likes of Janis Joplin, it was bound to be good!

I have to admit, their first set wasn’t very good. We were disappointed. On the up side, we were listening to live music and enjoying each other’s company and it was shaping up to be a cheap evening as we probably would have gone home early. Lead vocals weren’t anything to write home about, the drummer decided to go off in his own direction making up the song as he went along and it all just seemed a little bland. Except for the lead guitarist. He was into it, having a fantastic time as he played, and it showed through in his personality! I was wishing for more personality from the lead singer, as she spent most of her time looking behind her at her band mates while she sang rather than playing to the audience and bringing us all into their performance. For lack of better terms, the showmanship just wasn’t there.

Their second set, however, shook the house down!

They came back from their break a whole new group. Their music choices were more contemporary, their energy levels were high, they were putting on a great show!

The crowd started dancing and providing MUCH entertainment as well! Oooof. Champagne Lil really came into their own in that second set and changed our opinion right quick! I almost wonder if maybe their first set they just weren’t warmed up, weren’t sure of the crowd or themselves and were feeling their way through. The songs they chose in that second set really showed of Mashayla’s vocals well. What a range of music too! When you go from Stevie Nicks straight into White Strips (mighty impressive, mind you) it really shows your range! Loved it. Absolutely had a fantastic time. We sang and danced (in our seats) till our voices were raw and we were out of breath. Hey now, don’t judge. We aren’t spring chickens anymore yanno? Not to mention, if we had gotten onto the dance floor last night we would have taken the spotlight away from good ol’ turquoise and well, she really was worth staying in our seats for!

Guess ya had to be there.

By the time they started their third set, they had moved into the 80’s music. While it was good, it didn’t have the energy and the levels of awesome that the second set had. Not to mention we were about smashed by that time and it was late. We were ready to go home and finish the party there! So, we did just that!

I want to thank my new friend Sam (thanks for the ass-slap btw), Bill & his wife (owners and fun, fun people) and our new favorite place to hang out and have a great time,Crossroads, for another awesome evening!