BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
During the last 18 months, The Nightcaps, a vocal-centric rock, pop, blues, and jazz group in Champaign-Urbana, has come a long way.
Continuing through their long C-U music careers, Dody Cosmedy, Joni Dreyer, and Michele Osterbur-Smith were asked to perform with a dozen other C-U female vocalists at the Champaign City Center in early 2018.
“We had a great time and those of us who didn’t know each other quickly became great friends,” Cosmedy said.
What happened on stage with the focus of female vocalists struck a chord with Cosmedy, Dreyer and Osterbur-Smith. They got together later that year, in the evening over drinks, to talk about the possibility of squeezing one more band into their lives.
The Nightcaps were formed that evening.
The women have not given up their other roles in the C-U Music scene. Cosmedy continues to work with No Secret and Deyer is still with Groove Avenue.
Osterbur-Smith, who sang with local country music legend Marvin Lee and had a career singing commercial jingles, brought along Matt Stewart, who Cosmedy describes as “the area’s best guitarist.”
“He has a long history in CU, most notably as lead guitarist with Starcastle, who had some commercial success back in the 70’s and 80’s,” Cosmedy said.
It didn’t take long for The Nightcaps to start rehearsing.
“We did our first gig at Huber’s in Champaign in late April, and have been gigging steadily ever since,” Cosmedy said.
Dave Garcia has joined the band on percussion and Brad Hendricks plays harmonica on several numbers.
“We play as often as possible, strictly out of love for the music and the fun of playing for people who enjoy listening,” Cosmedy said. “We each bring unique musical styles to the group, allowing us to perform covers of rock, pop, blues, and jazz.”
In the same way they started, The Nightcaps are still working to bring attention to and support causes that affect everyone.
The group will spend three hours, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in St. Joseph on Saturday, Oct. 26 as they help to raise money for the Murelle Plotner Scholarship fund during “A Haunted Halloween.”
