Last week, if someone would’ve asked me what the Peoria music scene was like when I grew up, my answer would’ve been, “You had to have been there.”

Today, if someone asks me what the Peoria music scene was like when I grew up, my answer now is, “You have to see this quartet of books called, ‘Every Picture Tells A Story.’”

This is a brand new published collection of four books that are combined into one set and they tell, show and embody the music, the venues, the journalism and the bands and musicians that were the music scene in Peoria through the ’50’s into the ’80’s.

During our bar stop for this evening, we’re meeting, Janie Grier Kelley, who created, designed, compiled photos and gave birth to this quartet of books called, “Every Picture Tells A Story” tonight at Kouri’s Pub.

But first, we need to make one stop before we head over to Kouri’s Pub. Let’s start this journey right here and right now!

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Bar Number 170: Kouri’s Pub, Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Our first stop today is at Younger Than Yesterday Records. I always love to gaze at this store front which is the most colorful and unique store fronts in Peoria!

Okay, enough gazing, let’s go in and get our business done!

I love the inside of this store too! There’s a sea of records to check out and Little Golden Records hang overhead!

And here’s the owner of Younger Than Yesterday, Craig Moore holding the aforementioned book by our special guest star for the evening, Janie Grier Kelley!

Craig is featured in the book and he also contributed an article to the book!

Younger Than Yesterday is one of two retail outlets where you can purchase this limited edition book. The other retail outlet is the Peoria Riverfront Museum Store. (Note: The book will be available at the Museum Store starting tomorrow, July 24.)

Here’s the cover of this four volume set of books that are combined in a custom slipcase and this is a limited edtion publication. You can purchase them for 25 dollars and the profits go to Harmonize Peoria.

We’ll talk more about the book once we get to Kouri’s Pub and meet our special guest star who is responsible for the publication of this wonderful chunk of Peoria’s musical history!

And just like magic, here we are at the aforementinoned Kouri’s Pub on Sterling, right across from Northwoods Mall.

It’s nice of them to welcome us on the sign! Thanks, Kouri’s Pub!

They have a fabulous beer garden out front here and we’ll have to get a shot of this when we leave and that rotten sun has gone down!

Let’s go inside and see what’s happening in the main bar.

I was surprised to see the bar was empty and then I was told that they’re installing a new floor and this bar is closed for the evening. (It re-opens today, so feel free to stop by and check out the new floor in here!)

Luckily, there’s two bars in here, so the bar in the beer garden will be the 170th bar of this tour! Let’s go grab a seat at this bar!

Joe was the friendly bartender on duty out here and here he is delivering me an ice-cold bottle of Budweiser! Cheers!

Here’s another angle of the bar out here and the two beers on tap behind the bar.

And now here’s the special guest star of the evening holding her brand new book, “Every Picture Tells A Story,” Janie Grier Kelley!

Janie’s looking fabulous and it’s always great to see her!

Janie explains this book in the forward and here’s a few lines from that forward:

“This is not intended to be a comprehensive study of local bands in central Illinois during the 50s, 60s, 70s and early 80s. Rather it is a window into that world as I experienced it.

My hope is that this book brings back some good memories, introduces you to a few stories you may not have heard before and helps preserve a small piece of central Illinois music history.”

This is Mary, who was our friendly, pretty and attentive waitress for the evening!

Mary was curious about the book and here she is with Janie checking it out!

Here’s just a tiny collection of the many photos, musicians and posters in the book.

Mary was very impressed with the book and you will be too. This is a limited release, so I’d go and pick up a copy today!

I was thrilled to see that my magazine from the past, POP, was included in the book! Thanks Janie, this was a wonderful surprise!

Here’s the back covers to all four of the books.

The book is really a work of art and it was published locally at Royal Publishing.

As I mentioned before, this is a limited edition and once the books are sold, that’s it! So I would run to one of these two retail outlets and purchase the set of these four books right now! The books can be purchased at Younger Than Yesterday Records and The Peoria Riverfront Museum Store. (Note: The book will be available at the Museum Store starting tomorrow, July 24.)

This is the only archival book that encompasses Peoria’s musical environment from the ‘50’s to the early ‘80’s. Get your copies before this book becomes a part of that history itself! And all of the profits go to the non-profit organization, Harmonize Peoria.

Thanks to Janie for meeting up and being the special guest star and for putting this fantastic archival set of books together!