TheFourFour

The Show Report, 1/2: New year, new albums… and release parties

Posted on02. Jan, 2010 by thederosh.

We’re not even 48 hours into 2010 and already bands are rolling out fresh albums for your purchasing pleasure. In the world of the live show, of course, that often means another thing: It’s time for the CD release parties. There are two tonight: The Verbs (Redux) doin’ tha thang at Lindberg’s, while White Atlantic posts up at The Outland Ballroom with assists from The First Teenager Ever, Tyler Pitchford and Rocky Death Patrol. Talk about starting the new year off on the right foot.

Much, much more on tonight’s docket, too:

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The Show Report, 1/1: It’s a nice day to…. start agaaaaaaaiiiiin….

Posted on01. Jan, 2010 by thederosh.

It might even be a nice day for a white wedding. We’re not experts in such things; you might check with Billy Idol about that. Regardless, the first day of 2010 brings with it one band’s revival, a fresh start of sorts. Fearless Before Persecution is back tonight at The Outland Ballroom for its first show in a year and a half, matched up with When Words Become Flesh, The Murlesque and The Allen Array. The show also marks the return of Vance Productions, which stopped booking shows in the fall. Here’s to new opportunities in the new year. Tickets for tonight’s show are $10 at the door, and the doors open at 8 p.m.

Elsewhere in The Springfield Music Scene:

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The Show Report, 12/31: Ditch Ryan Seacrest. Now.

Posted on31. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

With due apologies to Al Gore, we’ve heard plenty of “inconvenient truths” over time–his as well as others–so let’s begin the last day of a surprisingly bullish year in local music with a very convenient truth instead: New Year’s Rockin’ Eve… is never that rockin’. It was an institution when Dick Clark hosted it, but now the television countdown program is hosted primarily by the cold bowl of oatmeal known as Ryan Seacrest. Really, ABC? You replace the vanguard of American Bandstand’s movement–multiple movements, when you think about it–with a guy who didn’t even hold down hosting American Idol on his own to start out?

Why is this convenient? Because television isn’t the place for a party tonight anyway. There is far to much to experience live, in 3-D and surround sound. The TAG Team (yes, we just took it there) will be posting up for the night in the Outland complex, bouncing between The Detectives at The Outland, Members Only at The High Life Live Martini Lounge and the VideoVamp/Snozzberry/One Violet Green/Break the Barrier show at The Outland Ballroom. Drop in, do a shot with us and say hey to the new home of TheFourFour.

More partying! More, we say! After the break!

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Heinrichs and more to wish Bob Marley a very happy birthday… in concert

Posted on30. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

We’re already looking ahead to shows in January and February, and one that will surely garner attention in the weeks ahead is the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash on February 6. Yes, Bob Marley was born in February. (He would be 65 in 2010.) Not a very tropical time of year, but then, he was born in Jamaica, and is it ever not tropical there? It likely won’t feel tropical in Springfield that night, but several local (and even some non-local) bands inspired by Marley’s music will gather at The Ugly Mug Live Music Tavern for an all-ages show celebrating the birth of the man whose tunes gave birth to a movement. Get the lineup of bands after the break.

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The 2009 Year In Music: The Web Exclusives

Posted on29. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

You’ve gotta love The Internets. In a year full of full-album releases and newly pressed singles and their corresponding parties and concerts, The Springfield Music Scene still found time to throw web-surfing fans the occasional bone. Whether you wanted a single song, a crazy cover or a whole album, bands provided examples of each on their MySpace pages and websites for your perusal and download. Some couldn’t be found anywhere else, either, making them web exclusives, an idea near and dear to our hearts since we’re a sort of web exclusive ourselves. Game recognizes game. You’ll find some of 2009’s most memorable songs released only on the Internet after the break.

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The Show Report, 12/29: Adios, Dead Aheads

Posted on29. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Goodbyes are rarely fun, but tonight’s going-away show for local punk rock group The Dead Aheads at Lindberg’s is a likely exception. Drummer Patrick Fallwell is moving to St. Louis in less than two weeks, and rather than carry on with a new drummer the band decided to give its current one a proper sendoff in proper punk style:

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The Planning Fallacy says hello again, just in time to say goodbye again

Posted on29. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Say this for hardcore group The Planning Fallacy: It’s true to its name. The planning fallacy is defined as people’s tendency to underestimate the amount of time it will take them to finish something. For most people, this means a basement dressed only in drywall or a room without cleaning. For the band The Planning Fallacy, it means breaking up more than two years ago, only to get back together a few weeks from now… for a farewell show. It took The Planning Fallacy a lot longer than they thought to officially finish as a group, but it’s you who stands to benefit from their underestimation. Find out how after the break.

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Pssssst… Wanna be in a music video?

Posted on28. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Who doesn’t want the chance to be immortalized in a music video? It gave Courtney Cox a career. It gaves countless rap-video extras some added, um, notoriety in certain circles. Even if it doesn’t make you famous, it can be a ridiculous good time. Speaking of a good time, Nocturnal Nation–not ones for the low-key, quiet kind of rock experience–will be shooting a video of their own… and you can be in it.

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VIDEO: Fools Face performs “American Girl”

Posted on26. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

So you missed the epic Fools Face reunion concert last night at The Outland Ballroom, eh? Darn that food coma.While you were napping, or perhaps watching basketball on television, the band whipped out numerous old favorites, not to mention a handful of covers. Luckily, local friend of the music scene and videographer extraordinaire Blondie was [...]

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The Show Report, 12/26: Reunion Show Weekend, Part Deux

Posted on26. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

On yesterday’s episode of The Show Report…

Blaine: How dare you insult me like that, Forrest?! I am not a fool! I’m just a man trying to keep this family together while his wife receives treatment for her brain tumor. I sir, am not a fool, and there is nothing wrong with my face!

Forrest: No, Blaine, I said Fools Face, and I wasn’t talking about you. They were a really big band in Springfield years back, and they reunited last night. There are lots more bands reuniting tonight, too. Sort of a “To Be Continued…” in a way.

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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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