TheFourFour

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 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, 12/8: Imagine all the people…

Posted on08. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Tonight is a very special night for local music, a night where a local tradition is resurrected to the delight of those who witnessed it before and the opportunity for younger music fans to see it for the first time. One year before the 25th anniversary of its first edition, Imagine: A Tribute to John Lennon will see stage lights go on for it at the Gillioz Theatre. Tonight’s tribute show, which benefits Women In Need of the Ozarks, begins at 7 p.m. (doors at 6) and features a list of local music’s leading lights to interpret Lennon’s songs. We’ll give you that list, as well as the rich history behind the event, after the break.

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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, 12/2: They’re baaaaaack

Posted on02. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

It’s not easy having something–anything–on a weekly basis and then reducing it to once a month. Seriously, name something you would prefer monthly rather than weekly. If something is worth having on a regular basis, it can only be wanted more regularly. Come on. I dare you.
How about bills, DeRosh? Would you rather have those [...]

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Pssssst… Wanna play in the first FourFour showcase @ Lindberg’s? Spot open!

Posted on01. Dec, 2009 by thederosh.

Ah, scheduling. It’s all plug-and-go… until it isn’t. We’ve had some juggling to do with this Thursday’s first of monthly FourFour showcase shows at Lindberg’s, and it works out that there is one open spot left. Bands, do you want to join in the fun? Find out how after the break.

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