Illinois lawmakers’ band gears up to play Rauner inauguration

Three Illinois lawmakers who play in a band are gearing up to play at the inauguration of Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner next month.

The members of Boat Drink Caucus are Republican state Reps. Mike Tryon of Crystal Lake, Chad Hays of Catlin and Democratic Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park.

They’ll play the inauguration along with country singer Toby Keith and blues artist Buddy Guy on Jan. 12 in Springfield. The concert follows Rauner’s swearing in earlier in the day.

Hays says Rauner’s team was looking for something more casual than years past and liked the bipartisan nature of the group.

Rauner, who unseated Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, will be the state’s first Republican governor in more than a decade.