I've noticed lately that, among my baby boomer friends, there's a trend toward picking up that guitar, dusting off the drums, exercising the vocal chords and getting a band together.

"Oh, yeah, all of us growing up in the '60s and '70s wanted to be in a rock 'n' roll band," said Richard Struckhoff, who fronts Geezer, a prime example of a baby boomer-driven band that has attracted a loyal fan base.

Geezer will make its fifth Friends of the Library-sponsored appearance at the Library Center on Friday [September 5] at 7 p.m. on the patio. The band covers the sing-along (and dance-along) classic rock tunes enjoyed by nearly everyone, even the kids and grand-kids of the performers.

Typical of baby boomer bands, Geezer is a mixed group of different ages, family and friends. Drummer Daniel Pasquale, a Kickapoo High School student, and his sister, vocalist Sarah Pasquale, share the stage with their dad, Mark Pasquale, a friend of Struckhoff's. The elder Pasquale is a brother-in-law to Mark Ellman. New to the group is bass player Duane Lewis, who apparently isn't related to anyone.

Geezer musicians are great performers, but for those baby boomers who want to brush up on their musical skills or just get inspired to start playing again, Library Center Manager Lorraine Sandstrom recommends these books:

• "Hit Me With Music: How to Start, Manage, Record and Perform With Your Own Rock Band," by Stephanie Powell;
• "Home Studio Clinic: A Musician's Guide to Professional Recording," by Emile D. Menasche;
• "Drums for Dummies," by Jeff Strong;
• "How to Play Rock Guitar: the Basics and Beyond," by the editors of Guitar Player;
• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Band," by Mark Bliesener.

There are also music CDs, "American Idol Singer's Advantage," female and male versions, as well as a DVD, "Ultimate Voice Coach."

Check out these titles from any branch of the ten Springfield-Greene County Libraries, or reserve them online at coolcat.org.