TheFourFour

The Show Report, 12/25: Reunion Show Weekend begins

Posted on25. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Merry Christmas, indeed. The holidays always bring out-of-towners back to Springfield for some musical frolicking, meaning this is one of the peak times of year to catch a favorite band from yesteryear back onstage. There are several going on this weekend, starting with Fools Face at The Outland Ballroom, a group that led the way for local pop-rock in the early ’80s. Dale McCoy, Jimmy Frink, Jim Wirt (pictured above, having a rock ‘n’ roll moment), Brian Coffman and Tommy Dwyer (hopefully, in the last case; he didn’t make it last year) will be back onstage in Springfield for the first time since, well, Christmastime last year when they played at The High Life Live Martini Lounge. You’ll likely have a little more elbow room this year… though not much. It will be packed.

Also playing tonight:

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The Show Report, 12/19: Thanks be to Jah

Posted on19. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Who would have believed last spring that we would ever see Jah Roots play onstage again? Granted, it’s not the band’s lineup as we once knew it (singer Josh Heinrichs has moved on), but the fact that this concert is happening at all is a triumph in itself. To fill in for the departed Heinrichs, Aaron “I-Ron” Berger will take on more onstage duties than his usual dancehall raps and guest performers (rapper SincerelyYours among them) will help carry the load as well. This could be a fascinating rebirth for one of the city’s most popular acts.
Naturally, there’s a lot more to do, and show-hopping is encouraged. Pencil these into your itinerary:

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The Show Report, 12/18: The “Sex Mansion” is now open

Posted on18. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Yes, the album has actually been out for a while, but tonight is The First Teenager Ever’s CD release party at The Ugly Mug Live Music Tavern. Things are better when you have to wait for them, right? Think about it: You have to wait through dinner to get to dessert, you have to wait through the workday to get to happy hour and you have to wait through wait through most of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to get to the musical guests. Patience wins, basically, and TFTE is rewarding yours tonight with not only their show but those of Ghost Dance, White Atlantic and Kudzu. The show kicks off at 9 p.m. and is open to anyone 18 years or older. (Bring two more dollars than the standard $5 cover if you’re below drinking age.) For a 10-spot, you can see the show and get a copy of the (according to drummer Blake Walker, untitled, not self-titled) album. Sweet deal.

Naturally, there’s more:

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The Show Report, 12/17: A night for thrash ‘n’ ’stache

Posted on17. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

One can already feel the week starting to wind down, which, of course, means a corresponding spike upward in the number of shows taking place throughout the city. Aren’t reverse correlations wonderful things? The show card is full of regular weekly shows back to make you dance, rock or both, but a couple switch things up a bit. One is the return of prog-metal group Super String Theory, a band that plays infrequently enough to justify calling each of its shows “the return of Super String Theory.” The latest return is tonight at The Outland Ballroom, paired with openers Hessian Crucible, Gnash Rambler and Offset. If you have never seen SST before, you’ve missed some of the fastest, craziest guitar work in local music, not to mention the best mustache, all courtesy of Aaron Roten.

Wanting more? Come get it after the break.

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The Show Report, 12/11: Dia Muerto?

Posted on11. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Here at FourFour HQ, we find the phrase “Dead Day” to be a gross misrepresentation of what today actually is. Yeah, we get that local universities are heading into final exams and are allowing students a free day to devote to studying (cough), but today and tonight are by no means without life. As evidence, we submit Exhibit A: John Henry & The Engine comes to Springfield to release the vinyl pressings of its I Don’t Wanna Know EP, and brings Truett & The Traitors along for the ride. The boys will rock and the girls will swoon, you can count on that. The EP, a rootsier progression from the band’s previous album, Under the Yellow Moon, is already available for $2.97 on iTunes, but tonight is the first time you can pick up the physical copy. Vinyl lives!

Know what? That’s not even the only CD release party you can go to tonight. More–lots more–after the break.

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The Show Report, 12/10: Goodbye, Hello

Posted on10. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

One era ends for a popular local act tonight, with a new era beginning soon. First the goodbye: The Shotgun Brothers are playing their last show with their original bassist, Dustin “Duk” Rehagen (pictured far right), tonight at Patton Alley Pub. The band promises the hello–the debut of its new bassist–at its next show, also at Patton, on January 15, but in the meantime the rootsy bluegrass/rock/jam group is giving Duk a proper sendoff in front of fans and friends with opening act Andy Frasco.

But that’s only the start of Dead Day Eve. Oh, yes, it is. Click for an anniversary, some racy performances, some local faves back onstage and more.

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The Show Report, 12/3: Showcase time!

Posted on03. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Tonight is an important night for a few reasons, but we’ll start with one close to our hearts. We’re holding the first of what will now be monthly showcase shows at Lindberg’s, and the first one is classic FourFour fare. We start with The Dark Alleys, the darkly retro (dare we say rock noir?) band back from hiatus since summer and tearing it up on stage. After that, brand-new pop-rock-meets-post-grunge (how’s that for an adjective?) group Golden Giant, sporting The FourFour’s own Scott P. on drums, plays a short introductory set. Next up will be garage-pop group Sunrise Cassette, belting out hooks than the now-upcoming Mayweather/Pacquiao superfight. Lastly, because we can’t send you off to bed or afterbars without a little zany tongue-in-cheek metal, we close the night with the recently reclusive but presently trim, tight and still-crazy Knife*Death, complete with new material, we hear. Does it all make sense together? Of course not… and that might be the most exciting thing about it. Watch for lots more goodies at future showcases, too. Let’s just say we have some stuff percolating that we think you’re going to like.

Man, who is ready to party? Here are your other options going down tonight:

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The Show Report, 11/27: The Ugly Mug is OPEN

Posted on27. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

Tonight is a win for Springfield. After a year and a half of dormancy, the room once known as The Snorty Horse Saloon is back and better than ever. The Ugly Mug Live Music Tavern opens tonight with a revamped room, all-new sound system and local blues powerhouse Tripwire on the stage. When things get rolling at 8 p.m., it will drown out the noise of months of speculation and hard work with a resounding shout from the speakers and the clinking of glasses among the crowd. Cheers and on with the show.

Also playing tonight:

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The Show Report, 11/25: Don’t print the name. Write it in…

Posted on25. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

It’s Wild Turkey Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving and an excuse for many people back in town for the holiday to get loud and boisterous before settling in for quality family time tomorrow. Hmmm, what band could one pair with such a raucous evening… loud, boisterous, generally manic… how about Omaha indie-rock group Cursive? Wish granted, and fellow Nebraska-based bands Capgun Coup and Tie These Hands join the fray at The Outland Ballroom, as well. Enjoy your turkey in liquid form, without stuffing, and check out what is likely to be one of the year’s best indie-rock shows. Tickets are $15 at the door, which opens at 7 p.m.

There’s more:

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The Show Report, 11/21: The 21st, in more ways than one

Posted on21. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

Tonight local music gives back to one of its no-questions-asked supporters, someone who has fliered for shows, given up her place for touring bands to crash and more. Missouri State University student Katie Annis fought through the rain as a volunteer at FourFourFest 2009 and is in the crowd (usually front row) for more all-ages shows downtown than anyone save the people behind the website you’re reading. Tonight is Annis’s 21st birthday, and her one request gets fulfilled: to have a collection of bands play a show at her request. Her selections are Formant, Six Shots Till Dawn, Shinebriter and the Columbia group Ghost in the Machine, all coming together at her most frequent hangout spot, The Outland Ballroom. We’re betting there will be a few shots involved.

Want more? Elsewhere in the scene you’ll find a fundraiser for a friend of the scene in need, a killer country show, an intriguing (FREE) early show and lots more:

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The Show Report, 11/20: Dead or Canadian?

Posted on20. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

We dedicate this edition of The Show Report to Ken Ober, the host of MTV’s iconic game show Remote Control, who passed away earlier this week at age 52. Remote Control was the first original programming on MTV not to involve music, which by itself would be a damning historical precedent; no one wants to say he or she opened the door to make The Hills possible years later. Its legacy instead is far better: It made copious pop culture knowledge acceptable and even cool, it gave Adam Sandler, Kari Wuhrer and Colin Quinn their first major TV gigs–oh, and it was damn funny. Many people hold a special not-talked-about-much place in their hearts for the impact Remote Control had on their youth (Mystery Science Theater 3000 is similar in this regard), so we’re giving a shoutout to 72 Whooping Cough Ln., which never hosted a show but is likely remembered by many playing the following shows tonight:

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