Bluebird Music Festival

the the voice of voice of columbia columbia VoxMagazine.com

VoxMagazine.com November 13, 2008 Vol.10 Issue 44 March 6, 2008 Vol.10 Issue 8

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bluebird music festival

80+ BANDS 11 VENUES 2 DAYS

AND ARTS

BIRDS OF A FEATHER ROCK TOGETHER IN THE DISTRICT

bluebird music festival

just moments from hatching, Bluebird Music and Arts Festival is the newest event vying for Columbia’s music spotlight. Centrally located in venues around The District, the inaugural edition of Bluebird will bring more than 80 acts to 11 downtown venues, including The Blue Note, Eastside Tavern and On the Rocks. With acts ranging from national headliners such as Atmosphere, Big Smith and

Ha Ha Tonka to local acts, including Bald Eagle, Alpaca Radio and John

and arts

Henry and0 the Engine, there’s something here to appeal to almost any musical taste. A mere $35 will get you a weekend pass to every venue while $20 will get you to Friday’s concerts and $25 will let you into Saturday’s, though some venues offer individual tickets.

So, before you make plans for this weekend, sit down with Vox’s

handy festival guide, and customize your perfect schedule. Check our editors’ picks, fire up your Internet browser, and prepare to discover a new flock of music.

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HA HA TONKA

editors’ picks these Vox-approved artists will be performing at Bluebird Music and Arts Festival

Gentleman Auction House

Ha Ha Tonka

Friday 9 p.m. at The Blue Note This Springfield product wears its Midwest pride right in its name. The oddball moniker is derived from the state park located near the band’s hometown in the Lake of the Ozarks. The band burst on the scene in 2007 with its debut album, Buckle in the Bible Belt, and shot to further fame this year with gigs at Lollapalooza and the Sundance Film Festival. Despite its hometown and album name, the group is anything but just the same old MidwestSouthern sound. They have a strong and extremely energetic rock vibe that when combined with its down-home lyrics, creates a quirky and slightly eerie juxtaposition.

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Gentleman Auction House

Friday 10:15 p.m. at Mojo’s St. Louis-based Gentleman Auction House’s upbeat and catchy songs “Call It Casual” and “The Book of Matches” hammer home the group’s self-classification of messy pop. The band’s quirky sound stems from its use of trumpet, flute and xylophone, instruments frequently left out of pop bands’ repertoires.

Gentleman Auction House signed with local label Emergency Umbrella Records and released its latest album, Alphabet Graveyard, this summer. A new album is already in the works.

king thiEf

King Thief

let lions

Friday 11 p.m. at Eastside Tavern King Thief, a five-piece rock band from St. Louis, will undoubtedly be one ensemble to bring out the headbangers at Bluebird. The song “Red Light Reflex,” off of their 2007 release The Inferno provides audiences with a sample of King Thief’s mature sound, proving that it has evolved from garage band status. The band has been making waves in St. Louis and has shared the stage with like-minded rockers Breaking Benjamin and Story of the Year.

collaboration and that is: I gotta be friends with the person I’m making music with. And I really just haven’t been able to strike up a friendship with Lloyd Banks yet. It’s like our paths haven’t crossed like that, and that’s pretty much all it is: a matter of path and nature.

slugged in the face q&a with Atmosphere’s Slug It takes a special kind of talent to headline Bluebird Music and Arts Festival without having any of your songs play on any Clear Channel station or consistent rotation on MTV. Atmosphere is exactly that. The Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo, consisting of emcee Slug and producer Ant, has dominated the underground hip-hop scene during the past decade. The group’s past two LP’s hit No. 2 and 1 respectively on Billboard’s Top Independent Album chart. Before Atmosphere hits the stage Saturday, Slug took some time to talk with Vox.

So, is there love between mainstream and underground?

— Andy Paschen Vox: If you were to listen to an older album like Lucy Ford and your newest album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, back-to-back, how would you describe the difference between Slug then and Slug now?

Slug: Slug on Lucy Ford was an amateur. The voice was thin, and there wasn’t a whole lot of confidence in there. I was still trying to prove to myself that this is what I’m supposed to be doing, and I can hear that. There’s a lot of off-beat stuff that I wish wasn’t on there. I didn’t know how to use stacks and overdubs. It’s very amateurish, but at the same time the words still meant a lot to me when I wrote them. Even though I might be

On his album, Lucy Ford, Slug said “We’re gonna be the biggest thing to hit these little kids.” Well, come Saturday at 8 p.m. he’ll be the biggest musical thing in Columbia.

embarrassed by a lot of the technical aspects of that record, I still stand next to those lyrics.

One of your recent songs, “Little Math You” is a testament to young rappers. Who did you write it for?

S: I wrote “Little Math You” for the kids that I meet at my shows who deal with the identity crisis that they are from the ’burbs. They do feel ostracized by certain genres of rap or certain identities in rap, but they feel comfortable coming to the Atmosphere show. I wrote that song to say:

Friday midnight at Eastside Tavern The group’s MySpace page says they sound like a haunted house. There might be no better way to describe Columbia’s own Let Lions, a band largely composed of current and former MU students. Amid contemporaries such as Underoath, Glassjaw and As Cities Burn, Let Lions combines its caustic sound with charismatic live performances. “If you come see us, you’re liable to see a head injury,” says Sam Hunt, Let Lions guitarist and vocalist.

You’ve collaborated with a ton of underground artists but never really with mainstream names. Is there any reason for that?

S: For the most part I try to stick to a basic rule of

The Bel Airs

Cindy Woolf

Let Lions

“You know what? I’m glad you feel comfortable coming to this show.” The song kind of champions that kid saying: “Look man if you feel what’s going on, then that’s all you gotta worry about. You ain’t gotta worry about who’s accepting you or who feels like you’re not real. You know, you’re here, and you’re feeling it, and that’s as real as it gets.”

Cindy Woolf

Saturday 8:30 p.m. at The Blue Fugue Cindy Woolf does not travel alone. Quite the contrary, she will arrive at Bluebird accompanied by a full band, complete with banjo in tow. Woolf calls her band’s music folk and folk-rock but admits, “We get called pretty much everything. I don’t know where we fit, exactly. We do tend to blur those lines between genres.” Regardless of genre, Woolf’s voice is imbued with a youthful Southern twang present in much of her music, staying true to her native Arkansas roots.

S: I think that there is a peaceful coexistence. I think only the fans separate it. But I do know that I think all of us say, “Yo, we’re rappers. Some of us are blue collar. Some of us are white collar. Some of us don’t even got a collar.”

When you hear an emcee separate himself or herself from mainstream underground, I always see that as an identity crisis. I myself had that identity crisis. I went through that in my first couple of records where it was like, Underground ’til death, and that’s how you make your claim. But once you hit a certain age you gotta be like, “You know what man, it’s music.” I’m not gonna sit out here and say your music sucks or mine is better because to me that’s a sign of insecurity.

When you finally pen your last lyric, what are you going to take away from all of your experiences?

S: Honestly man I’m just trying to make KRS-One proud. I’m just trying to make sure that I did for somebody what them cats did for me when I was 17 years old. If I can pass it on to a 17-year-old so that when he grows up and he’s doing it, he’s looking at it and saying, “Yo, I gotta do what Slug did for me,” then that’s all I look for.

bockman

The Bel Airs

Saturday 10:30 p.m. at Mojo’s Who says old men can’t rock? The Pruitt brothers of The Bel Airs have been playing music longer than a lot of the band members at Bluebird have been alive, having formed the band 27 years ago. In addition to Dick and Dave Pruitt on bass and electric guitar, respectively, Michael Cherry completes the trio on drums. The Columbia-based band has played the Roots ’N Blues ’N BBQ Festival both years. Their music tends to have the full sound and vibrancy typical of their genre. Dick Pruitt’s powerful lead vocals remind audiences of a bygone time, and his voice matches the Southern feel of their songs.

Bockman

Saturday 11 p.m. at The Blue Fugue This local band, which dropped the Euphio from its name, has been together for nine years and offers an unorthodox description of its sound. “We kind of play a blend of progressive pop and arena rock,” says guitarist Sean Canan. The band derived its name from a character in Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “The Euphio Question” and has a number of accomplishments to its name. Beyond playing at myriad festivals, including Wakarusa, 10000 Lakes and one they produced on their own, The Euphio Campout, Bockman has toured both coasts, been covered by Relix magazine and was nominated for a Jammy Award.

— Taylor Walker and Aaron Channon PHOTO: COURTESY OF RHYMesayers Entertainment, emergency umbrella, king thief, let lions, cindy woolf, ha ha tonka, the bel airs, totoba records

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also appearing

big smith

bald eagle

john henry and the engine

music Venues

The Blue Note

17 N. Ninth St. Bringing in the biggest acts of Bluebird, The Blue Note will host Springfield favorites such as Ha Ha Tonka and Big Smith. Headlining hip-hop duo Atmosphere will light up the stage with its clever lyrics and fire up the venue’s sound system with its lively beats.

local and international acts playing in venues as diverse as Cherry Street Artisan and

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Cherry Street Artisan

1011 E. Broadway Along with the regulars, Noah Suga here from California, and Musikant President-elect Barack Obama’s old Chicago. Both artists originally hail f and share a twangy, country-influenc that will be stuck in your head for da t.

Eastside Tavern, a two-day festival pass will guarantee one memorable weekend.

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flight yet, and it’s already shaping up to be quite the Columbian celebration. With

On the Rocks N

Eleven venues, 80-plus bands, two days. Bluebird Music and Arts Festival hasn’t taken

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20 S. Ninth St. Since its reopening last year, Happy Time Media has established itself as one of the best outlets for old-school vinyl and authentic rock ’n’ roll.

It only makes sense that gritty guitar acts Todd Kessler, Kasey Rausch and Joe Stickley are lined up to bring a little live music to the record store.

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111 S. Ninth St. The District’s basement coffee bar will be buzzing all weekend long with more than 10 musical acts. Not straying far from the easy-listening tunes you might find on a quiet Tuesday night, the Artisan’s highlights include Geoff Koch, Penny Marvel and Clifton Roy and Folkstringer, a colorful five-piece band from Naperville, Ill.

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207 S. Ninth St. For those with a more refined palate — for spirits and songs alike — Top Ten Wines is the place to go Saturday. With a nice glass of vino in hand, listeners can take in the smooth sounds of solo acts Noah Earle, Casey Reeves and Travis Linville at the bottle-lined wine shop.

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Harpo’s

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29 S. Tenth St. Harpo’s has had live music in the past, but this bar is trading its typical guy-and-his-guitar acts for funkinfused, instrument-heavy groups East Ash Street Band, Jam Room Band and Big Medicine. Hazard to Ya Booty, a Motown-inspired group whose sound lives up to its name, will turn the corner bar into a full-blown dance floor.

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120 S. Ninth St. Many of Columbia’s native bands started on the stage of this Ninth Street mainstay, so it’s only fitting that local names John Henry and the Engine, Ursus Arctos and Bockman return to dominate The Blue Fugue’s bill. No music fest would be complete without The Hipnecks, a favorite of Columbia natives and college students alike.

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The Blue Fugue

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the flight schedule FRIDAY

6:15 p.m.

Todd Kessler Happy Time Media

Mojo’s

7:15 p.m.

1013 Park Ave. As the area’s only roadhouse venue, Mojo’s snagged a bang-up roster. The bar will bring two of Emergency Umbrella Records’ biggest acts to the stage. Gentleman Auction House, a St. Louis band whose Christmas album will be released Nov. 18, will bring its energetic indie rock while Bald Eagle, a Mojo’s regular, will be playing its guitar-riff heavy singalongs.

Kasey Rausch Happy Time Media

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1025 E. Broadway Columbia’s only piano bar is giving its ivory ticklers the night off and enlisting crooners Mike Renick, Adam Stanley and Ryan Groff to take over the stage. There won’t be any piano men, but there will be plenty of diverse guitar strummers, drummers, singers and even a saxophonist. The Penguin will keep patrons on their feet, quickly trading Los Desterrados’ flamenco flavor for Curb Service’s hip-hop turntables. sh

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The Field House

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1107 E. Broadway The Field House’s jukebox occasionally busts out rap tunes, but the lineup of live DJs will be the ones spinning beats and making the walls shake this week. MU grad and local rapper Steddy P will take over the mic with his socially conscious, politically progressive rhymes.

Eastside Tavern

1016 E. Broadway The grittiest of Bluebird’s venues, Eastside Tavern hosts some of the more hardcore bands of the bunch.

Expect banging drums, downtrodden lyrics and lots of screaming from Ghost in the Machine, Decadent Nation and Let Lions.

Illustration: kristin kellogg; PHOTOs: Courtesy of Bald Eagle, Big Smith, John Henry and the Engine, The Hipnecks, Los Desterrados

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The Penguin piano bar

Big Smith The Blue Note Cheyenne Eastside Tavern The Pale Family Cherry Street Artisan Prof & Rahzwell, Kanser and MLPS Hip Hop The Field House

10:15 p.m.

Gentleman Auction House Mojo’s

Dave Angel The Blue Fugue DJ Mahf, Sku and Fundamentalist The Field House

10:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

11 p.m.

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7:30 p.m.

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Malone Mojo’s The Lasy Almanac Cherry Street Artisan

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los desterrados

the hipnecks

arman comes to will roll in from stomping ground from the South ced rock style ays.

7 p.m.

10 p.m.

Noah Earle The Blue Note Chris Koza Mojo’s Scouts Eastside Tavern In Thicket Cherry Street Artisan

8:15 p.m.

Joe Stickley and Sean Canon Happy Time Media

8:30 p.m.

Big Medicine Harpo’s Hooten Hallers The Blue Fugue

9 p.m.

Ha Ha Tonka The Blue Note Honest Engines Eastside Tavern The Monads Cherry Street Artisan

9:15 p.m.

Elsinore Mojo’s

9:30 p.m.

Noah Sugarman On the Rocks Ursus Arctos The Blue Fugue

9:45 p.m.

East Ash Street Band Harpo’s

The Effects The Blue Fugue The Upright Animals On the Rocks The Mike Renick Band Harpo’s King Thief Eastside Tavern

11:15 p.m.

Bald Eagle Mojo’s

11:30 p.m.

Earthworms Field House John Henry and the Engine The Blue Fugue Soulstace On the Rocks

MIDNIGHT

Let Lions Eastside Tavern Approach and DJ Sku The Field House

SATURDAY

NOON

Celandine Cherry Street Artisan

12:15 p.m.

Mike Renick The Penguin

1:15 p.m.

Clifton Roy and Folkstringer Cherry Street Artisan

1:45 p.m.

Adam Stanley The Penguin

2 p.m.

Alpaca Radio The Field House

2:45 p.m.

Ryan Groff The Penguin

3 p.m.

Splitface The Field House

3:30 p.m.

Mr. Tivis & Dr. Loomis The Field House

3:45 p.m.

J Bomb The Field House Curb Service The Penguin

4 p.m.

DJ Mahf with MF Dres The Field House

Caleb Travers Cherry Street Artisan Casey Reeves Top Ten Wines McGill Mojo’s Cindy Woolf (8:05 P.M.) The Blue Fugue

8:30 p.m.

Rutherford Harpo’s

8:45 p.m.

Musikanto On the Rocks

9 p.m.

Noah Earle Top Ten Wines Volunteers Cherry Street Artisan

9:15 p.m.

Splitface The Field House Los Desterrados The Penguin

Joe Stickley’s Blueprint The Blue Fugue The Megan Boyer Band Mojo’s Providence Eastside Tavern

5:15 p.m.

9:45 p.m.

Rhyme University The Field House

Jam Room Band Harpo’s

5:45 p.m.

10 p.m.

Steddy P The Field House Sal Retta Top Ten Wines

Geoff Koch Cherry Street Artisan The Goldbugs On the Rocks

6:15 p.m.

10:15 p.m.

Ptarmigan The Blue Fugue

Bockman The Blue Fugue

6:45 p.m.

10:30 p.m.

4:45 p.m.

Z.A.P. The Field House Travis Linville Top Ten Wines

7 p.m.

Penny Marvel Cherry Street Artisan

The Bel Airs Mojo’s

11 p.m.

Hazard to Ya Booty Harpo’s

11:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

Joe Pug The Blue Fugue

Decadent Nation Eastside Tavern The Monte Carlos On the Rocks

8 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

Showcase begins at 8 p.m. with Abstract Rude Blueprint DJ Rare Groove Atmosphere The Blue Note

The Hipnecks The Blue Fugue

12:15 a.m.

Ghost in the Machine Eastside Tavern

* Times subject to change

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