TheFourFour

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, 11/19: The return of Knife*Death

Posted on19. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

Pause for a moment today and ask yourself this question: When was the last time you saw a Knife*Death show? Not since the summer, and then only if you were really on top of things. After a period of regular performances–a handful paired with the similarly niche, but way more serious, Short Histories of Powerful Nations among the most notable–the local kitsch-metal group took a break for a while. Tonight marks the group’s return with a show at Nathan P. Murphy’s with The First Teenager Ever, My Politic and The Beltniks. Tongue-in-cheek metal rides again.

Oh, what? You want more? You’ve got it:

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The Show Report, 11/14: Bombs away!

Posted on14. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

Debut shows for new bands are typically low-key affairs spent opening for a more established act and working out the kinks while building a fanbase. Bomb the Bay’s debut show is a much-anticipated headlining set at The Outland Ballroom tonight with Uno, Benefit of a Doubt and As Of Now. Who spiked the Ballroom’s Kool-Aid, you ask? No one; the new band is a coming-together of members of some of the most popular mainstream-rock acts to come up in Springfield in recent years: A Day Away, Playing With Matches and Glass Bottom Boat Ride. It makes for an explosive combination, which, in turn, makes for bad punning. The show, by contrast, should be a ripping good time… but not the only one tonight. There’s also:

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The Show Report, 11/13: Yes, it’s THAT day

Posted on13. Nov, 2009 by thederosh.

Let’s not beat around the bush here: It’s Friday the 13th. Black clouds wait to gather, black cats bide their time for the chance to cross your path and somewhere there’s a ladder that will only open just in time for you to walk underneath it. Oh, and then there’s the Jason Voorhees thing. But don’t be afraid, showgoer. There is far to much incredible music available tonight for you to stay in hiding. A CD release show, the return of Han Trio, The Eric Weiler Band comes home… we’re just getting started. Quit cowering and read on already:

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The Show Report, 10/29: Local Music’s Frightfest, Part 1

Posted on29. Oct, 2009 by thederosh.

This whole week has been steadily building toward Halloween night, and tonight begins local music’s ramp-up in earnest to the big event, courtesy of two touring bands.

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Goodbye, Dalton

Posted on15. Sep, 2009 by thederosh.

Patrick Swayze died yesterday after a long, difficult battle. It’s a sad day for the Swayze family, for Patrick’s friends and for fans of ’80s movies everywhere. Most of the major news media have seized the opportunity to play clips from Dirty Dancing and read prepared statements from Whoopi Goldberg… bleh. We see it as [...]

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