MOVE - ISSUE 3

MOVE 09.07.12 VOLUME 11 ISSUE 03

THE KEY TO YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

+ HUDDLE UP ARTSY LOCALS GIVE PRE GAME A NEW MEANING GET FRESH SUNDAY'S EARLY BIRDS SNAG DELISH PRODUCE — AND WORMS!

one step at a time ABBIE WENTHE on avoiding the Mizzou 22

You are what you eat Chocolate croissants from Panera, burritos from Chipotle, red velvet cupcakes and cookie dough ice cream: these are a few of my favorite things … (cue “Sound of Music”) I absolutely love fruits and vegetables and overall healthy eating, but I also really, really love sweets and other foods that wouldn’t typically be considered “good” for you. I feel like I’m not alone when I say I swoon over a piece of chocolate cake and the thought of the calories that accompany it. However, I always try and push that thought aside with an “Oh I worked out today, so it’s fine” rationale and enjoy the cake for all it’s worth. But then the guilt settles over me, and I immediately regret my decisions.

I am still working on being able to avoid the tasty treats altogether, but until then, I am trying to stick with the idea of portion control. The most effective way to enjoy food to the fullest (pun intended) and still fit in those jeans is keeping watch over how high food is piled on the plate. Instead of eating two scoops of everything at the dining hall, cut it down to one.

I know, I know, you’re just so hungry though! Trust me, having all that food just waiting to be eaten makes the brain want more and more and is the cause of those extra trips to the grill. Feeling hungry after eating means there is not an adequate amount of nutrients and vitamins in the food. Unfortunately, those chicken tenders and pizza have barely any nutrients, so they cause overeating and the “full” feeling to go away sooner than necessary.

The body needs energy to fuel all the different processes, and the right fuel is not going to come from fried foods. This is a crazy idea, but try eating from the salad bar or incorporating more fruits, vegetables and protein into meals; these foods are nutrient-dense and provide the body with energy and will give you that full feeling. This way, the Mizzou 22 can be avoided, and no one is that person constantly going back for more food.

I always take a trip to the salad bar and grab some carrots, cucumbers or other vegetables to brighten up my plate and make it look pretty. Take a journey back to elementary school art class: experiment with colors! Just imagine the vegetables are actually finger paint and that the masterpiece will be hung on the fridge at home.

So portion control is great and everything, but what about those desserts?

My philosophy that I am constantly trying to remind myself that desserts are special and should be saved for special occasions or a reward of some sort. I have lately slipped into the habit of keeping a stash of chocolate by my desk for emergencies, which just so happen to come up all the time …

But slipping into this habit has made it seem like these sweet treats are okay to enjoy all the time, and it takes the reward out of them. By choosing one day on the weekend to enjoy Sparky’s or a pastry from Panera, it will be a reward from the week of healthy eating and exercise that make each bite even more savory and delicious.

Only online at move.themaneater.com

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Pop culture: Glee's season premiere promises Rachel, Rachel and...more Rachel.

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Movies: Josh Sipp gives the brutal "Lawless" 4 freshly broken collarbones out of 5.

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Fashion: Khakis and ankle boots for fall? Claire Boston promises you won't regret either.

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Music: Jackson Farley dissects Two Door Cinema's somewhat triumph over the sophomore slump.

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Blogs on music, movies, pop culture and way freaking more.

/cover photoS/jill VONDY, MELISSA FOGARTY design/Savannah kannberg, NICK EHRHARD EDITOR/DELIA CAI 2 MOV E • 09.07.12

NORTH VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT »

The Bridge sheds light on local artists in the Columbia area.

The Bridge is exactly what its name implies. This community-oriented venue offers beginners a launching pad to exhibit their musical talents to a live audience, some for the first time.

Offering open mic and open jam nights, The Bridge shows Columbia how much music really contributes to the city. Defying the limits of any certain genre, The Bridge welcomes artists from an array of backgrounds.

From country to jazz to classical, The Bridge is all ears as long as you’re not obnoxious or, as Wes Wingate, proprietor of the venue and its neighbor, the Columbia Academy of Music, says, “yelling like Cookie Monster.”

Though The Bridge has been contacted by several national touring acts, Wingate says the venue would rather give the stage to unknown local artists and students of Columbia Academy of Music to give them a shot at fame, even if it is for a short period of time.

This is what separates The Bridge from many similar venues of the community: their appreciation for all music. The Bridge doesn’t limit the space to big shots -- its managers would much rather offer their time to letting people of the Columbia community see how much talent such a small college town truly has.

“Prior to opening these businesses, (Wingate) had been teaching out of his house, sharing his love for music with anyone who was interested in learning,” says Kara Miller, media relations director and general manager of both businesses.

Feeling as though he could do more, Wingate then set out to find a venue to expand his passion to the people of the community. In early 2011, he found what he said to be the “perfect place, at the perfect time”: a downtown building, perfect for both teaching and displaying the art of

The Bridge of opportunity MOVE FILE PHOTO

Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Russell Malone offered advice to a group of local musicians during a master class this spring at The Bridge. music. And so The Bridge and the Columbia Academy of Music came to be.

Opening with 30 students in March 2011, the Columbia Academy of Music has since grown to more than 170 students, learning to play or advancing their skills of just about any instrument you can think of. The academy offers classes to people of all ages.

“We’ll teach anyone from age 4 to 64,” academy instructor Bobby Schembre says.

The staff, ranging from graduate students to MU professors, works to create a diverse atmosphere focused on bringing together people of all lifestyles for the love of music, Schembre says.

Though the two businesses have grown greatly from their starting point, they’re always looking for ways to improve. Wingate says he is looking to expand his base and add another 200 students to Columbia Academy of Music within the next year as well as gain more recognition and support from people of the area.

“It all started with a vision,” Wingate says, “We’re really just trying to offer opportunity.” ayanna poole | reporter

Eclectic scene at Rock Bottom

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Rock Bottom Comics sells a variety of comic books and memorabilia from 1945 to present day at 1013 E. Walnut St.

Everything from the superhero neon signs in the front windows to the thousands of comics meticulously sorted into boxes and shelves may seem overwhelming to a first time customer. However, from the moment you step foot on the blue tiled floor, you’re just another fellow enthusiast to the staff at Rock Bottom Comics.

Glenn Brewer established Rock Bottom Comics in Columbia in 1973 and has changed locations seven times. The current North Village storefront has been catering to comic buffs for the past decade.

“Glenn co-owned a bookstore, Rock Bottom Books and Comics, with his sister,” social media director Drew Stuart says. “The name carried over from the previous business in Arkansas.”

Stuart, a long-time comic enthusiast, began working with Rock Bottom in February 2011. He felt that a regularly updated Facebook page was necessary for the store.

Through the various changes of location and advances in social media, one highly pertinent aspect of Rock Bottom has remained constant: their customer service.

“The must crucial part of customer service is knowledge base,” Stuart says. “On Amazon, you can’t ask what people liked and disliked about each book.”

Manager James Cagle is no stranger to the store. After first setting foot in Rock Bottom in 1979, he became an employee for the first time in 1987. He then began his second stint eight years ago.

“The people who work here have to know the books,” Cagle says. “And I’ve read a disturbing amount of books in this store.”

Cagle’s expertise with comics allows him to act as a guide for both new and returning customers.

“I love the people, and I love the product,” Cagle says. “I love both the interaction and just pulling a book off the wall. It’s like revisiting an old friend.”

Rock Bottom provides an open, yet intelligent space where enthusiasts can meet and discuss.

“It’s a louder place than most bookstores,” says a veteran Rock Bottom customer, who prefers not to be identified. “It’s the equivalent of an old barber shop or general store. People can come in and just talk or hang out. You come together as a community, bound together by the love of comics.”

The customers who shop Rock Bottom are as diverse as the decades worth of comics neatly tucked about the store.

“There’s a unique, eclectic clientele,” Brewer says. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a period where we haven’t had at least one doctor and one lawyer.”

Despite their extensive array of backgrounds, the Rock Bottom staff views all customers in equal light.

“You leave your title at the door,” Cagle says. “There’s no doctor and no dropout.”

Rock Bottom Comics’ success goes to show that as the decades progress, comics still have managed to maintain their relevance in popular culture. And although the people and places are bound to change, Brewer’s shop will continue to be a rock for Columbia’s comic community. joey ukrop | staff writer

JOEY UKROP | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

TOP: Manager James Cagle spent the past eight years creating an environment suited for open discussion. “People come in and are made to feel welcome,” Cagle says.

BOTTOM: Self-proclaimed “World’s weirdest hero”, Plastic Man made his first appearance in 1941. Other unique comics such as Uncle Scrooge, Nyoka the Jungle Girl, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and M.A.R.S. Patrol can be found at Rock Bottom.

NORTH VILLAGE Football fans AR TS DISTRICT get in touch Chicken soup with their for the inner Picasso Navigating the North gamer’s soul BITS AND BYTES

BRENDAN WRAY on comfort games

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Ash St.

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James Franklin and Picasso might not normally be the pair of best friends you picture hanging out on a Friday night, but this weekend, football and art will be united for a night of art, festivities and celebration of the new community in the SEC. Be it a football-tossing jock or paint-smeared artisan, everyone is invited to the free outdoor Pre-game Art Huddle from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday before the inaugural SEC game against Georgia.

The idea for the Pre-game Art Huddle came up when Tiger Town was first proposed. The Tiger Town planners encouraged other entities to organize something on Friday night to entertain visitors, says Jennifer Perlow, event organizer and owner of Perlow-Stevens Gallery.

The event will feature three live music stages located by Orr Street Studios, Artlandish Gallery and The Bridge. Artists will be showing and creating art all throughout the North Village Arts District from Walnut Street to Rogers Street and College Avenue to Ninth Street. Many of the galleries will be having showings as well as refreshments.

But behold! Busybodies fear not. You can come to this event and still go out for your Friday night shenanigans of streaking the quad, studying economics, or whatever it is that you crazy Tigers have planned. The event ends early, so people can catch a show at The Blue Note or at The Bridge afterward.

“We want guests from out of town to feel welcome here,” organizer and Artlandish gallery owner Lisa Bartlett says. “Every town has a mall, so they won't want to go there. Our shops are unique."

Many people will be traveling to Columbia for the first time this weekend for MU’s first game in the SEC, and most of them won’t know what there is to do in Columbia besides the game. The Art Huddle hopes to showcase the other part of our town besides the screaming fans at the stadium, our team’s dazzling new uniforms, the tops of tailgating tents and, of course, our boss football team.

“We are trying to bridge the gap between art and athletics and give the folks who come to town something unique and interesting,” Bartlett says.

Time to put away those foam fingers and pull out the paintbrushes. This event is for the inner modern artists in all of those starting quarterbacks

Hinkson Ave.

Ninth St.

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NVAD hosts the first ever Pre-game Art Huddle to showcase another side of Columbia before the Georgia game Saturday.

Feel like branching out from downtown and getting all adventurous and stuff? We’ve mapped out CoMo’s highly underrated North Village Arts District and pinpointed the locations where the North Village Pre-game Art Huddle will have live music.

Walnut St.

KEY:

North Village Arts District

Orr Street Studios 106 Orr St.

The Bridge 1020 E. Walnut St.

Artlandish Gallery 1019 E. Walnut St.

Sources: orrstreetstudios.com, artlandishgallery.com, thebridgecolumbia.com

or wannabe fans.

“It brings art to a group that doesn’t normally get art,” says MU sophomore Greg Lindsey, of The Maneater staff.

Fans of art and football alike can walk The District and enjoy art or bring the family and the lawn chairs to just sit and enjoy the free music at any of the stages set up. If that still doesn’t catch your fancy, limited free alcohol tastings will be provided in some of the areas. Because what’s a little football without a tailgate? mollie barnes | reporter

Where farm and art collide »

Bust out your inner hippie and hit up the North Village Farmers and Artisans Market before the season ends.

If you’re a hungry artist, or maybe just hungry, the North Village Farmers and Artisans Market is just the place for you.

Every Sunday this season until Oct. 28, join fellow vegetarians, vegans, carnivores and everyone else in between at the market behind the Historic Wabash Station. Where else can you buy local food, peer at art, enjoy live music and attend workshops about composting with worms?

“Our goal is to not just have a market where people can buy fresh produce and artisan goods but (one) that they could also come and hang out with their neighbors or meet people or learn something new,” market manager Loretta Kyle says.

All you environmentally-conscious consumers have only more reason to love the market, thanks to vendors like John Botts, owner of JSB Natural Farms, who says all his animals are quite happily pastured.

Sue Shan was visiting her cousin at MU when she attended last week’s market.

“I like how everything is grown naturally,” Shan says. “It looks so different from the grocery store.”

And if these 20-30 food vendors — some of whom trek 150 miles to sell their tomatoes, peppers and apples — don’t impress your homespun tastes, the market’s artisan vendors sell all sorts of glassblown items, jewelry and carved soap — no tacky Cracker Barrel tags attached.

As far as the jams go, young musicians play until 11 a.m., when the acoustic and bluegrass sets take over. Fine and dandy as that is, it’s the workshops and activities that are the main players in bringing an adorable hipster feel to the market. During the season, workshops range from vertical gardening and Dutch oven cooking to raising chickens and tie dying, Kyle says.

As trends toward buying local and eating organic continue, Kyle and marketing director Haley Schwarz hope to see growth in the market’s ability to draw foot traffic and maintain a community presence. Sounds like they’re bent on making produce-loving believers out of all of us.

Take Yinan Yan, for example, who, as a Chinese exchange student, had never been to a farmer’s market until last Sunday.

“I bought a few peaches, tomatoes and eggplants — they look very fresh,” Yan says. “It was the highlight of my day.” audrey zigmond | reporter lauren rutherford | reporter

Thanks to the wonders of Missouri weather, I recently caught a cold after becoming drenched during last week’s monsoon of a Friday.

I had it all: the coughs, the sneezes, the general feeling of “I hate my life, so let me sleep.” So, while everyone was cheering on the team at Faurot Field, I was in my dorm room, wrapped in a blanket and cuddling with a box of tissues.

What’s the only benefit to being quarantined in a residence hall? Two words: comfort games.

Comfort games, at least in my eyes, are games that are fun distractions but don’t require much effort on the part of the disease-stricken college student. When I’m not feeling my best, I don’t want to be weighed down with a complex story or the stresses of being gunned down by enemy forces. I want a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Chief among the comfort games I play when I’m feeling under the weather is “Just Cause 2,” an open-world action game for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. What at first looks like “Grand Theft Auto” on a Pacific island, “Just Cause 2” becomes something much more free-spirited. I’ve played this game for hours, and I’ve barely touched the story missions.

Honestly, I can’t even remember the main character’s name, but that doesn’t matter when I am coughing up a lung. This game is all about zipping around the island, blowing stuff up, jumping a motorcycle across an overpass and free falling from the tops of skyscrapers.

The best way to enjoy the game is to adopt a “no rhyme or reason” attitude toward having fun. Never before has ignoring the actual missions proved to be the more enjoyable option when playing a game, but that is the case with “Just Cause 2.”

I can cause destruction on my own terms, and that’s why I find it the perfect comfort game. The game doesn’t ask me to invest my brain in a convoluted story about a corrupt government; it just asks me to look at a missile silo and say, “I want to blow that up.”

Now, console games don’t always get my mind off harboring diseases. Sometimes, I just want to lie in bed, which is when I reach for my iPhone and am thankful for apps. Like I said earlier, comfort games aren’t mentally taxing and neither are most games on the App Store. A quick bout of “Angry Birds” while wrapped in a warm blanket is just what my imaginary doctor would have prescribed. And instead of the old adage of “an apple a day,” a few rounds in “Fruit Ninja” should provide me enough vitamins to shoo away a cold.

However, during this particular bout against my cold, I found my fingers tapping along to a standby app that has stuck around on my phone no matter how many times I’ve synced it: I could go on and on about “Draw Something” and “Cut the Rope,” but the real meat of my iPhone app collection would have to be a game called “Cover Orange.” Not just because it is packed with vitamin-C, “Cover Orange” uses a simple concept that doesn’t require too much brainpower.

In each level, the player is tasked with protecting oranges from oncoming acid rain by creating cover by dropping obstacles from the sky. The levels are simple but numerous and always seem fair. Plus, every time an orange is saved, they hold up a banner that says “thank you,” which makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something other than sitting in a bed. In other words, the game seems almost made for sick days.

Video games that take themselves seriously are easy to come across. More often than not, games want to take me down a planned storyline and deliver some good old punches of plot, which I am perfectly content with during my normally scheduled life. But, when life handed me that lemon of Missouri weather, the first thing I did was curl up in a blanket and head for a nice bowl of steaming comfort games.

magnificent market finds

JILL VONDY | PHOTOGRAPHER

TOP: Heather Gillich of the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture demonstrates the basics of worm composting.

BOTTOM: Many local Columbia farmers show off their locally grown produce at the North Village Farmers and Artisans Market.

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Bod’Tea: Drop one of these teabags full of herbs, flowers and leaves into the tub and soak up the health benefits, literally.

Popsicles: Flavors include watermelon basil, coconut papaya, roasted peach and spicy pineapple.

Worms: Landlord approved, these pets can eat 10 pounds of waste every week!

Pumpkins: There are 53 days until Halloween, but who’s counting?

Catnip: Tell your cat to sniff responsibly.

Vegetable Paint: Face your childhood fear of beets, spinach and carrots with juiced paint — what are you waiting for, Pinterest lovers?

09.07.12 • MOV E

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bookeater

What the stars have in store for Cosmonot »

JENNIFER BENNETT on tackling the 100 best books in the world.

andrea gonzales-paul | reporter

Challenge Accepted I’m crazy, and this proves it. Last spring, I decided that I should do something “useful” before I graduate from college.

Not something that’s actually useful to humanity and the world in general — I volunteer some, but that isn’t part of my new mission. It isn’t even something that’s really useful to me personally, except in a good-cocktail-party-story sort of way. I’m not learning a new language or trying to find a decent job. My mission is pure egocentric self-indulgence: I’m going to read all the books on the BBC Top 100 list by May 2014.

There are many lists out there that claim to enumerate the books everyone needs to read; I picked the BBC Top 100 simply because it was the first one I’d heard of. Are there books on the list I dislike? Yes. Are there books off the list that I can’t live without? Definitely yes. The List isn’t perfect, but it’s a great place for dedicated readers to start.

Lots of the books on the list are classics (“Pride and Prejudice” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”). Others are newer, but I’m sure they’ll become classics with time (the Harry Potter series and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books).

Some of them I’d read before, and some of them I’d never even heard of (am I really that weird for not knowing what “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists” is?).

I’m not going through the list in any particular order. I’m reading books I already own first, but I just select from that large subset at random. There are three Jane Austen books on the list. I read “Pride and Prejudice” last spring, but I have no idea when I’ll get to the others. So far, I’ve read 33 of the books on the list, leaving me 67 books to finish sometime in the next year and a half (reading four nonschool-related books a month during my junior and senior years is totally doable, right?).

Committing myself to this admittedly odd project has already broadened my literary horizons. There are classics that have been sitting on my bookshelves, unread, for five years, and now I’m actually getting around to reading them because they’re on The List. There are also books that I’ve never even considered picking up until I saw them on The List, but now I love them. One such book is “Bridget Jones’s Diary” by Helen Fielding. I saw the movie, thought Bridget was obnoxious and totally wrote off the book. But then I read it over the summer so that I could cross it off The List, and now it’s a new favorite.

Last spring, I plowed my way through all 585,000 (give or take a few thousand) words of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” Not exactly a book most people would pick as a beach read. It took me almost a month to finish it, and it would’ve taken even longer if I hadn’t devoted half of my spring break to it. Would I do it over again? In a heartbeat.

Even though it’s ancient and seemingly unintelligible at first, lessons from this book resonate with me in my hectic 21st century life: don’t trust everything a boy tells you, war doesn’t care how good of a person you are and “freedom fries” aren’t the first we-don’t-like-France-anymore change.

Up next? I’m making my way through George Eliot’s “Middlemarch” (my mom’s reaction: “Wait, you’re reading that on purpose?”). Like most 19th century novels, many of its ideas are outdated — the pursuit of a wedding ring isn’t the end-all and be-all of my existence. Despite some archaic themes, the story is still engrossing. The author might be dead, but the emotion the book evokes isn’t.

So set your own reading goal. Read something published before 1900. Read something that didn’t come from the teen paranormal romance section of the bookstore. Read something with an ugly cover and a ridiculous title.

This one-man band (and full-time MU student) balances it all.

COURTESY OF KATIE FAFINSKI

Alex Smith can make the Friday night waitress who’s tending to a restaurant full of hungry customers with a dozen meals on her tray and beverages in hand look like a slacker.

Not only is this 20-year-old journalism student from Minnesota, but he also works at the Missourian, has a radio show at KCOU, started his own NFL website and is a full-time boyfriend. As if that’s not enough, Smith dances to the tune of his own jams. Literally.

On top of it all, his baby, Cosmonot, happens to be his one-man band. Too self-reliant to want to depend on other musicians, he decided to take on every role of the band himself and gave birth to Cosmonot the summer before enrolling at MU. Since then, he has honed his sound (think Jack Johnson meets The Strokes) and put out two demos and an album. But how exactly is that possible as an oh-so-busy college student?

“He’s really, really good at time management,” says Bridget Stone, Smith’s girlfriend. “He juggles a lot of stuff and is constantly working on projects.”

But the sun didn’t always shine for Smith’s music career. He had to

Get rid of those music blues (and greens)

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Ben and Jack Falby of Dark Blue Dark Green celebrate their record release with a show at Mojo’s on Sept. 8.

After a long first week of classes, the first weekend seemed like a shining beacon of hope: two full days where I could lie in my bed snuggling with a Pillow Pet and snacking on cookie dough bites from Emporium.

Instead, I found myself sitting on stage at a rock mini-concert, getting my eardrums blown out by deafening bass beats courtesy of the Dark Blue Dark Green at the First Annual CoMo Jams BBQ. Quite the turnaround, I know.

However, while taking in the alternate universe around me, the thing that caught my attention wasn’t a killer vocal riff or a guitar solo. Rather, it was the lead guitarist’s T-shirt that read, “Vinyl is killing the MP3 industry.”

And although I have no credibility to say whether that statement is true, Ben and Jack Falby sure do.

These two brothers and sole members of the band Dark Blue Dark Green have been making music together since they were nine, and after years of work (and a multitude of band names), they are releasing their first vinyl record this Saturday.

“People generally aren’t buying CDs anymore,” Ben Falby says. “In an age where music is free, we wanted whatever we made to feel like a real artifact. It needed to feel like it couldn’t be recreated.”

The brothers certainly had no trouble achieving that goal. The record includes nine songs that, when performed live, are a combination of previously recorded and live music, all weaved together by Ben onstage.

“It’s an electronic adventure,” Ben says.

His brother, Jack, who plays saxophone, bass and guitar, records almost every instrument beforehand so that the two can produce the sound of a full band. Ben provides vocals while operating a midi controller, which allows him to blend everything together.

“It’s electronic rock ‘n’ roll with a heavy dose of R&B,” Jack says.

Along with the nine original songs, the brothers of Dark Blue Dark

Q&A with Lord Huron

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On the verge of releasing their first album, these Michigan musicians return to the Midwest for a spell.

From a small town in Michigan to the bright lights of New York City and Los Angeles, Ben Schneider and his American folk/rock band, Lord Huron, have been on their fair share of adventures, with their next being a show Sept. 21 at Mojo’s.

Before he hits the stage, however, lead man Schneider shares insight on the band’s debut album, Lonesome Dreams, reflects on the tour and even throws an R. Kelly reference into the conversation.

MOVE: You’re only into your third date of the tour, but how has it been so far?

Ben Schneider: It’s been good, you know. I mean the couple of L.A. shows were kind of a warm-up for the rest of the tour, but it’s been nice being able to try out the new material.

M: You’re from Michigan — is it nice to come back to play to smaller midwestern cities, such as Columbia, as opposed to L.A.?

S: Definitely. Growing up in a small town in Michigan, we never really got any necessarily big acts to come through, so it’s something that hits home with me.

M: You’ve released music before (the Mighty EP), but what’s special about your first full-length album?

S: It’s our first chance to show a complete body of work.

4 MOV E • 09.07.12

record his second demo, Ignite Ignite, in the basement of Schurz Hall, which was a constant struggle.

“I couldn’t just do it whenever I wanted to,” Smith says. “If I wanted to go down to Schurz basement, there were usually people down there so that didn’t always work out. And if I wanted to do it in my room, I had to do it at certain times of the day or it’d be too loud, and someone would yell at me.”

In spite of Smith’s less-than-ideal recording situation, he was able to make his music quality as high as possible. He had some help with his album, To The Sky, from his friend Evan Cottrell, who owns a recording studio. Smith met Cottrell serendipitously through an MU rec league soccer team.

“The last day of soccer, we decided to celebrate even though we lost our final match,” Cottrell says. “I ended up inviting the whole team to Shakespeare’s and offered Alex a ride. On our way, we started talking about music, and he mentioned he was going to record an album soon. I let him know that I produce and own a studio. After that it just kind of worked out.”

Cottrell wasn’t the only one who helped with To The Sky. Smith’s girlfriend, Stone, is featured in the track “All I Know,” which has a very “Juno” feel to it. “I felt honored that Alex asked me to be a part of it,” Stone says. “It’s something he really cares about, so it was a really great experience working with him.”

To The Sky was created over a span of 1 1/2 months.

“I basically had to kiss my weekends goodbye,” Smith says. “I would do it when I had a lot of free time. Working with Evan was a lot different because there were set times where we were going to do it.”

Although Smith started Cosmonot as a solo musician, he now welcomes the help.

“It was a lot more collaborative, and I didn’t have to have it rest all on my shoulder for the final product,” he says. “It was basically his baby too.”

In terms of the future, Smith forecasts a new song and maybe a show or two here. He hopes to record another album and start a take-off band with Cottrell and other friends. Smith says with a laugh, “The future is bright.”

This was our first time working with a label (IAMSOUND Records), and it has given us a lot more muscle when you consider being able to record in an actual studio, along with good band promotion.

M: Albums take a while to release. Is it hard for you to wait?

S: It definitely gets frustrating at times. It’s like, you’ve worked so hard and so long on a project and when you finally finish it, you want to show people what you’ve done. It’s exciting to see people’s reactions, good or bad.

M: What can we expect from Lonesome Dreams?

S: You can definitely expect a western sound to our songs — real traditional American folk music with our own twist.

M: Your music and lyrics seem to suggest a portrayal of travel and discovery. Is this what you go for when writing your music?

S: Absolutely. Traveling is an important theme in my life ...

I’ve actually been getting a little restless in L.A., so the touring helps.

M: Who are your biggest influences musically?

S: I’d have to say artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen have had the most impact on me. Even someone like Paul Simon. They aren’t just great musicians, they are storytellers, and that’s something I connect with.

When: 8:30 p.m. SATURDAY, Sept. 8 Where: Mojo’s

Green put together an unconventional, homemade casing for the vinyl. With help from friend and former MU student Mary Sandbothe, they were able to use yucca plants to create their own paper covers, a process that took COURTESY OF JACK FALBY more than a year to complete.

“It’s always exciting to check out merchandise that’s more personalized,” Ben Falby says in an email. “Whether it be the material that it’s made out of or the thought that has been put into the design. Having a backstory adds depth, and depth is where it’s at in a world that all too often feels overly superficial.”

Sticking with their theme of personalization, the brothers have decided to advertise the release by handing out scraps of pressed newspaper, handstamped with the date and location of the show. But don’t let this seemingly nonchalant approach fool you. These boys are definitely ready to rock.

“We’re prouder than ever of this newest incarnation of our collaboration,” Ben says. “Everything’s firing on all six cylinders.”

So get your guns out, MP3 industry. With help from the Falby brothers, it looks like vinyl really is ready to fight. madison feller | reporter

When: 10:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 Where: Mojo’s Roots ‘N’ Blues Afterparty peter colman | reporter

M: If you could create your own super band, who would be in it?

S: To be honest, I would have to pick all the guys that are with me right now (Mark Barry, Miguel Briseno, Brett Farkas and Tom Renaud). They are all great players, and we have great chemistry.

M: What’s something embarrassing that I would find perusing your iPod? S: (Laughs) Uh, you know I don’t really think there is anything embarrassing on my iPod. I’m pretty comfortable and open with the garbage I have.

M: Come on, everyone has something that’s even just a little bit embarrassing.

S: If I had to throw out an artist, I’d probably say, maybe, R. Kelly … although that’s not too bad. Lately I’ve been going through that phase of listening to all the crap you listened to in middle school.

M: Anything you want to say to your Mizzou fans that will be coming out to see you?

S: You know, just come ready to have a good time! I’m really looking forward to gettin’ down with y’all!