CoMusic: New Tongues Announce Release of We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For

February 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

There are new things in store for COMO’s own New Tongues. Featuring the Collective’s own Shane Johnson, New Tongues is a relatively new band of veteran rockers scorching the Middle-Missouri landscape with… Well, let me quote their promotional materials for an accurate account:

New Tongues are from Columbia Missouri, United States of America. Their debut record is called We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For. They have been a band for a little over a year.

We Are… consists of 8 songs, clocking in at 40 minutes and was recorded after playing only 4 live shows. It was recorded with Daniel Ruder (Jack Buck, etc.) at Webster University in St. Louis and was mastered at Saff Mastering. The album will be available in both vinyl and digital formats and is scheduled for a release date of March 23, 2013.

Drenched in reverb, propulsive rhythms, and a 90′s midwestern aesthetic, New Tongues pays homage to their noise and post-hardcore ancestors.

New Tongues are Justin Nardy (Bass, Vocals, etc.), Mike Quinn (Drums), and Shane Johnson (Guitar, Vocals, etc.)

I bring up New Tongues album release because news has leaked that the band received a shipment of rather fetching vinyl in paper packaging, ready for that March 23rd release. Of course, if you (like me) were one of the lucky pre-order-ers, your copies will be delivered once Shane scores some gas money.

For those who can’t wait for March 23rd, check out New Tongues at their Bandcamp site, Tumblr, or Facebook. As of now, the band has no plans to launch a MySpace page.

For those who can wait, March 23rd is the date for the record’s official release. Join New Tongues, Coward, and Dark Blue Dark Green at Mojo’s for what should be a loud, raucous occasion. I’ll be there, spinning records between bands, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Either way, you should find a way to support this and other local bands. Hairhole has recently announced its closing, making it harder for bands like New Tongues to practice or even store their equipment. If you haven’t yet supported local music in COMO, start now by buying We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For and coming out in March for their record release shindig.

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CoMusic Preview: One Night, Two Choices

May 15, 2012 By 1 Comment

The students are gone and it’s now safe to go out again. Why not take in some live music? Here are two ways in which you can spend your evening…

Option 1:
Daymoths at The Bridge (1020 East Walnut Street)
8pm / all ages / FREE

It’s hard to beat free, but let me make the case for going out to see Daymoths at The Bridge tonight. The St. Paul indie-pop duo have spent much of 2012 on the road in support of their debut album Back In Time joined by their two dogs and many tubs of hand-crafted soaps that can be purchased at their merch table (along with albums and t-shirts). Guitarist Dustin Kiel joins the original duo of Emily Dantuma (keyboards, piano, organ, & vocals) and Ollie Dodge (drums, vocals) for this round of touring. In the meantime, Back In Time is receiving a decent amount of airplay across the country. Think Low, Portishead, St. Vincent, Blonde Redhead, and Kate Bush when you consider seeing Daymoths this evening. The second single from the Daymoths released – “Light Til Dark” is now available to download (or just listen here):

Option 2:
Kopecky Family Band (w/Richard the Lionhearted) at Mojo’s
Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm / $8

Also sliding into town with an indie-pop aesthetic is Nashville’s Kopecky Family Band. Although they are asking eight more dollars than Daymoths to see them play (still, it’s only $8), the Kopecky’s are coming off a stint at SXSW before they play Lollapalooza later in the summer. So, come see them while you can still say you saw Kopecky Family Band for only 8 bucks. That and they sound like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj6O0pNJ1aM&feature=player_embedded

Which will it be? Do you want the atmospheric and morose Daymoths for nothing at The Bridge or the peppy, dance-able Kopecky Family Band?

Either way, you should go out. It’s been a long winter, but the sun is out. Plus, the students are gone which means A) no one else will be there and B) the students are gone.

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CoMo Weekend: 4/20-22

April 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

I bet you thought we forgot about you, didn’t you? We could never quit you, CoMo. Let’s do something this weekend, just the two of us. What do you say?

Friday the 20th

House of Vansickle Spring Show at The Catacombs in the North Village Arts District; 7:00 PM (Free) – This imaginative fashion show featuring the designs of Suzanne VanSickle will include performance art and fiber installations. Come out and see Vansickles’ spring line. You can check out her work at the House of VanSickle website or her Etsy page. The aforementioned fiber installation is by Easily Distracted. Modeling and performance art by Moon Belly. For more information call us at 573-442-1859 or email at houseofvansickle@gmail.com.

Artrageous Friday; 6pm-9pm (Free) – Wander downtown and through the North Village Arts District for this quarterly event. This edition features something a little different: “In an effort to liven and beautify the space between our Artrageous Members/Venues, Artrageous Fridays will coordinate and promote the budding concept of ‘guerrilla art’.  These spontaneous, organic, creative & temporary art installations will enhance the excitement and appeal of Artragoeus Fridays allowing community members to display their works in parking lots & alleyways, on buildings & sidewalks, and even places in between.” Be on the lookout for these installations and performances as you enjoy the nice weather. More information can be found at Artrageous Friday’s website.

Saturday the 21st

Cursive at Mojo’s; doors 8PM, show 9PM ($14) – Cursive has been around so long, that they were pre-emo and post-emo before Conor Oberst had a driver’s license. Still, they sound as fresh and as energetic as they did rapping on the 2001 EP Burst and Bloom. Plus, Tim Kasher has never sounded more tortured than he did on 2000′s Domestica. The Omaha natives make yet another pit stop in CoMo this weekend to present new material from yet another concept album, I Am Gemini. The excellent Cymbals Eat Guitar and fellow Omahaians Conduits open. Check Mojo’s for more details.

80′s New Wave Dance Party at the Blue Note… Check Susan’s write-up.

Adventures in Graduate Education in Jesse Hall;  10AM-2PM (Free) The popular Mizzou event for families is back! Explore roughly 30 different activities in science, art, music, engineering, computers, and animals. There’s something for everyone, especially elementary-age kids. http://gradschool.missouri.edu/adventures

CoMO Derby Dames vs. Mid-Iowa Rollers at Sk8 Zone in Jefferson City; doors 4:30, bout 5:00 (children <10 free, $10 at the door; advance tickets are available for $8 at Maude Vintage) – Drive on down to Jeff City to see our CoMo Derby Dames take down the Mid-Iowa (Isn’t all of Iowa Mid-Iowa?) Rollers this Saturday. It’s violent lady fun for the whole family. Check the Dames’ website for further details.

Sunday the 22nd

Columbia Earth Day is held throughout downtown; noon-7PM (Free) – Music, food, booths, and generally Earthly goodness happens all afternoon in beautiful downtown Columbia. Celebrate our global home by meandering through the many exhibits, enjoying the good weather. More details are available here, including a rain date just in case.

Mid-MO Pridefest is downtown; noon-??? (Free) - Pridefest will be selling one inch wide silicone wristbands, courtesy of 360Bandz.com. All proceeds will help support the costs that go into putting together Pridefest and help keep the event free. Additionally, Pridefest hopes to raise money for their August celebration. See Mid-Missouri Pridefest for more details.

Dubb Nubb at Sparky’s;  8PM (Free) – Actually, Nicholas Naioti, Henry Daggs, Seth Moore (“Three sweet ass dudes from TN”) and Soul Mama (Justin Hickersquashed) are also playing Sparky’s, but it’s CoMo’s own Dubb Nubb you’re coming to see. Check it.

Lunafest at the Blue Note;  4PM ($20, $15 w/student ID) – If it rains or you need a break from all the patchouli downtown, head over to the Note for a fundraiser featuring an assortment of short films made by women. There’s plenty more to know about Lunafest at their website.

Filed Under: CoMo Arts and Music, CoMo Events, CoMo Family, CoMo Fashion, CoMo Weekend, CoMusic, Kids Activities, What's Going On in CoMo Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

CoMusic Review: Photos from Mission of Burma at Mojo’s

April 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mission of Burma brought their post-punk act to Columbia last night with a stop at Mojo’s. The Riverfront Times music blog indicates that prior to this tour, Mission of Burma’s sole Missouri performance was at Mizzou’s Springfest in 2004. That’s a rather unflattering statistic for our state since the band has trekked across the states on a number of tours over the three and a half decades of its existence (granted, the band was on hiatus for 20 years). I expected a large crowd to come out for such a widely respected group, but there was actually plenty of breathing room inside Mojo’s. Perhaps that should be expected when a late 70s-era punk band plays a college town. After all, Mizzou freshman were only 9 years old when Mission of Burma reached their second peak in popularity after their reformation in 2002.

 

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True/False Diary: Day 2 (Thursday)

March 3, 2012 By 3 Comments

Thursday is the new Friday, or something like that. I was able to fit in a #BOATS panel, three films, and a showcase. Remember when nothing happened on Thursday? Good thing I’m taking a day off today. Anyway, here’s the rundown.

Based on a True Story Conference (1:30 – J-School)
Maybe the smartest thing the J-School has done (I said maybe) is align themselves with the fest. The panels are filled with filmmakers and film experts/journos/bloggers while an audience mostly made up of journalism academics grill them. It was friendlier than that, but only mildly.

Sometimes it’s hard to live in a town of so many journalists. Everyone’s looking for a particular kind of truth. So, during a panel on transparency, the journalists wanted more transparency while the film folk didn’t care for it. They didn’t run from transparency, but they also didn’t see the need for announcing that scenes were staged or the fact they, as filmmakers, were interfering with their subjects’ lives. I have to side with the filmmakers on this one. There are many truths, even some not taught in the J-School. When I watch a well-crafted nonfiction film, I’m not always concerned with the filmmaker’s manipulation to get a shot. If that shot is beautiful, let it play and just enjoy. These films are more art than newscast. Yes, they tell true stories and feature real subjects, but it’s art.

There were more intellectual discussions than that, but that’s another discussion for someone else’s book.

The Waiting Room (4:30pm – Forrest Theater)
What a way to start the fest. The Waiting Room is gut-wrenching watching people down on their luck spend a day in the ER waiting room. Each story is harder to watch than the last. I knew I was in for a tough watch as soon as the father worrying about his daughter was introduced within the first five minutes. The film shines a light on what a disservice our current (pre and post-Obamacare) system does for people’s well-being while simultaneously capturing the subjects’ humanity. Really, this was an excellent start to the fest.

Nature Walk were the buskers. I got a big Violent Femmes vibe as they ripped through their set, doing whatever they could to keep the crowd entertained. The video below shows them in a somewhat more somber tone, reminding of One Foot in the Grave-era Beck.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (7:00pm – The Blue Note)
I Tweeted this…

From my perspective, it seemed as if the filmmaker sort of stumbled upon a feature film, finding a great subject and being smart enough to let the camera roll. Ai Weiwei is maybe the most engaging subject I’ve seen at T/F. For what

1/2 Revolution (9:45pm – The Blue Note)
Maybe the most incredible footage I’ve ever seen took place in this film. I felt like I was in Cairo during the people’s uprising. However, the dude needs an editor. There’s no story and I can only watch so many minutes of dudes shouting f-bombs into their cell phones from their apartments. So, the whole experience was chaotic, even amazing, but I would have liked a story.

Busking in the Blue Note were the Toughcats. The ‘Cats are part of a contingent of Maine residents who make an annual pilgrimage to CoMo for the fest. Their drummer is the most energetic thing I’ve seen.

Mojo’s Showcase (Bassdrum of Death, Jerusalem and the Starbaskets, and Ming Donkey One-Man Band)

I missed the openers, but Jerusalem and Bassdrum were plenty to make the late night worth it. Jerusalem and the Starbaskets added a second guitarist that really filled out their sound. This was followed up by Bassdrum of Death and their punk rock dirge. I swear they were eighteen-year-olds from 1992 behind all that hair. They were pretty great, even if they did rip us a new collective…

Check Day 1 here and come back for day 3.

Photo credits: top photo is Rebecca Allen’s; screenshot of the Tweet is mine, and the rest belong to Benjamin Gross

Filed Under: CoMo Arts and Music, CoMo Film, CoMusic, True/False Tagged With: , , , , , ,

CoMusic Review: Photos from Twin Sister at Mojo’s

February 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Twin Sister often get thrown in with the “Chillwave” group, but their set last night at Mojo’s didn’t exactly add credence to that label. Their performance often strayed into ambient territory, including an extended jam at the end that lead singer Andrea Estella watched from the crowd with a Blue Moon in hand. Ava Luna was a real pleasure to hear. There a strong funk and soul influence running through their music. The crowd dug it. Neatly Knotted also opened.

Ava Luna

Photos by Benjamin Gross

Filed Under: CoMo Arts and Music, CoMusic, CoMusic Review Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

CoMusic Review: Believers at Mojo’s

February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Despite the chill in the air Friday night, Believers kept the fire roaring at Mojo’s with their raucous brand of danceable, indie afrobeat. It’s something to create tropic levels of heat and humidity from some amps and dueling drum kits, but believe me when I tell you that Believers burned that mother down. Clothes were lost. The hippies smelled worse than ever. Mojo’s is no longer standing*. Believers brought the heat and burned the place to the ground.

And it really was an inferno in that narrow hallway they call a rock venue. Hipsters removed their hands from their pockets and began to dance. Drinks were flowing. The band built the energy with their tribal beats and soothed us all to sleep with their sweet vocals. It’s Sunday night and the soft echoes of that fantastic set still linger.

Believe me when I tell you that Believers are the best band in town. We may not have them around for long as lives and situations change. Few bands last in CoMo as young people have to make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. So, get out there and see them soon. Believers are set to play the Saturday showcase at True/False next month. Don’t miss out on a chance to see them before they’re gone.

It’s hard to find a band that continually builds great new material while maintaining what is a completely engaging set. Despite the heat in the building, fans were treated to a fantastically wild show. We were all hot messes, prepared to enter the cold of the night with the flames of Mojo’s to keep us warm. I can’t wait for True/False…

Kansans Spirit Is the Spirit played just before Believers, filling that echo void normally held down by the headliner. They paired well with the closers but brought something sounding more of pastoral plains, like they were from Kansas or something.

Fliight opened on the floor in front of the stage. Loads of feedback and echoes filled the hall as Fliight worked through what had plenty of blues and country inspiration set over sonic landscapes… It sounded like psychedelic horseshit to me. I don’t mean the Columbus, OH shitgaze band. I’m using the phrase as a term of endearment and as a descriptor. I look forward to hearing more (with less vocals).

 

Spirit is The Spirit

*Mojo’s did not actually burn down.

Photos by Benjamin Gross

Words by Zac Early

Filed Under: CoMo Arts and Music, CoMusic, CoMusic Review Tagged With: , , , ,

CoMo Weekend: 1/13-1/15

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Columbia

Photo by Chris Yunker. Click for source.

Friday the 13th

  • Coward, Jack Buck at Mojo’s; doors 8:30 PM ($5) – Two drum kits means twice the fun. Coward will beat you down until you repent. Be prepared. Take a look at the evidence below. Opener Jack Buck won’t let you off easy either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VsNqGxmKjG8#!
  • Dirty Disco at Eastside Tavern; 8 PM-1:30 AM (21+ Free, under 21 $5 before 10 PM, $7 after) – Come get your dance on dirty style at Eastside tonight. You know, before the kids get here.
Saturday the 14th
  • It’s a Gas Trade Show at Boone County Fairgrounds; 8AM – 5PM (Early entry is $25, otherwise it’s free) - Here’s an opportunity to browse gas station antiques and collectibles from the oil and auto industry at this annual oil and gas swap meet. Contain your excitement. We’re talking about historic artifacts, not dinosaur bones. Still, there’s plenty to collect at this petroleum-based flea market of sorts.
  • MU-Texas men’s basketball game with Cardinals Caravan at MU Arena; 12:00 (sold-out, but you can watch it on TV) – The Cardinals Caravan is also set to be in Moberly Saturday evening.
  • Clear 99′s Adult Prom at the Elk’s Lodge in Columbia; 7-11PM ($40 per person or $65 per couple) – Yes, you read that right. It’s an adult prom but not that kind of adult. It’s just a fun event for adults 21 and over to enjoy an evening out. Prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed Male and Female, Miss Congeniality, Best Hair, Best Dancer, Sassiest Shoes, Edward Cullen Sparkliest Dress, Hottest Couple and Prom King and Queen. All proceeds benefit Children’s Miracle Network and the Ronald McDonald House. So, spike the punch and accidentally impregnate your date for charity just like the old days!
Sunday the 15th
  • Nothing. Nothing is going on this Sunday. So, stay in with your family for a change.
Bonus: Martin Luther King Day Events
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight March and Memorial Celebration, 6:30 PM - The candlelight walk will begin at 6:30 pm at Douglass High School, which will proceed to the Memorial Celebration at St. Paul AMC, 501 Park, where a service will be held. The event is open to all and is free. Call Parks and Recreation at 874-7460 for more information.
What are you doing, Columbia before the students return?

Filed Under: CoMo Weekend, What's Going On in CoMo Tagged With: , ,

CoMo Weekend 1/6-8

January 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Image by Rebecca Allen

In case you missed the Globetrotters last night, there’s still plenty to do this weekend. At the Ragtag alone, one could fill an entire weekend and not see the same film twice. So, let the good times roll!

Friday the 6th

  • Cheap champagne! – Due to over stocking for the holidays, Hy-Vee Conley (by Sam’s Club) has an abundance of champagne inventory. Starting Friday, January 6th and running thru January 8th, the store is offering an additional 5 percent off your purchase of 6 bottles or more on selected varieties. Stock up for that party, wedding or Valentine’s Day that is just around the corner.
  • Mercer & Johnson, The Harrows at Mojo’s; doors 8:30/show 9:30 ($3) – Get your hillbilly on Friday night as a couple knee-slappin’, string-playin’, whiskey-drinkin’ bands take the stage at redneck rates ($3) and turn Mojo’s into the barn it wishes it were. [Link]
  • Members Only, Disengaged at The Blue Note; doors 8:30/show 9:30 ($6) – Dig up your Members Only jacket (or leave yours on, hipster) and moonwalk down to the Blue Note for some retromania. The band’s description tells you all you need to know:

Members Only is the nation’s premier 80′s cover band, playing your favorite hair and pop classics from the decade that gave us the Rubik’s Cube, Atari, and feathered bangs! Members Only has been playing regionally since the “Summer of 69″ (no wait, 2008) with experienced musicians Brent Thornton on lead vocals, Sam Adkins on bass guitar, Will “The Prodigy” Clark on the keys, Seth Jaeger and Zach McClease playing guitar, and Justin Gabossi keeping the beat on the drums. With a high energy show and songs you know and love, Members Only is guaranteed to get you dancing and singing along all night!

  • Sean Kent at Deja Vu Comedy Club; Fri.-9 PM/Sat. 8 & 10 PM ($8) – Sean Kent is a two-time cancer survivor. So, for that reason alone, you should give him a chance to make you laugh. That and he’s pretty funny. Check his Twitter feed for a sampling.
  • Ragtag (Adults $8, Seniors/Children $6.50, Member $5) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (3:15, 6:00, 8:45); My Week with Marilyn (5:00); Le Havre (7:15); Young Adult (9:30)
Saturday the 7th
  • Spindle Spinning 101 Workshop at Access Arts; 9 AM-noon ($20) – This three-hour workshop is open to anyone interested in learning how to spin on a hand spindle or wanting to improve their skills. The workshop will start simple and let attendees work through the basics. A variety of spindles and plenty of wool roving will be available for participants to try.  Enrollment is limited, so there will be lots of individual attention from instructors. The workshop fee is $20, which includes instruction, use of equipment and materials. For more information, visit schoolofservice.orgor call 875-0275.
  • Jack Grelle at Mojo’s; doors 9/show 10 ($2) – Get more beard per dollar Saturday night as Missouri boy Jack Grelle shares stories of the roads and people of the Show-Me State. [Link]
  • Ragtag (Adults $8, Seniors/Children $6.50, Member $5) - My Week with Marilyn (12:00, 7:15); Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (12:30, 3:15, 6:00, 8:45); Young Adult (2:30, 9:30); Le Havre (5:00)
Sunday the 8th
  • Brunch at Broadway Brewery; 10:30 AM-2 PM - Start your week off right with a rotating selection of seasonally delicious brunch options, and indulge with a custom cocktail from our Build-a-Bloody Buddy Bar. Of course, once you’re done eating, you make a day of it and drink some beer while listening to some Blue Grass into the evening.
  • Ragtag (Adults $8, Seniors/Children $6.50, Member $5) –  Young Adult (11:30am, 9:00); Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15); My Week with Marilyn (2:00, 6:45); Le Havre (4:30)

Filed Under: CoMo Arts and Music, CoMo Film, CoMo Weekend, Comody, CoMusic, Feed Me CoMo, Misc CoMo, What's Going On in CoMo Tagged With: , , , , , ,

CoMo Weekend 12/16-18

December 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Allen

Honestly, you’re all attending holiday parties this weekend, but if you’re not…there might be something else to do this weekend.

Friday the 16th

Saturday the 17th

  • University of Missouri Commencement Ceremonies on MU’s campus (various locations and times) – Many Mizzou seniors and graduate students will say a long farewell to CoMo this weekend as commencement ceremonies will take place all over campus and throughout the weekend. Check the commencement web page for more details.
  • The Wilders/Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three at Mojo’s; 8:30 PM ($12) – Rockabilly and roots music at its finest hit CoMo.

Sunday the 18th

  • Access Arts at 1724 McAlester Street; 1:00 PM-5:00 PM – This is a great opportunity to find handcrafted holiday gifts (for others or for yourself) of pottery, jewelry, woven items, and much more. All proceeds from the sale go to the scholarship fund and program support at Access Arts.
  • “A Symphony of Toys” at the Missouri Theater; 3:00 PM (GA: $15, Students & Children: $7 - Students and children who bring a new unwrapped toy to place under the symphony tree receive free admission.) – For more information or to order tickets, go to the MOSS website.
  • Eating Frito Pie… You wish you knew. ;)

Filed Under: CoMo Events, Misc CoMo, What's Going On in CoMo Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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