Vox Magazine September/October 2021 Issue by Vox Magazine

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 • THE VOICE OF COLUMBIA

WHO RULES ROOTS N BLUES? GIRLS! PAGE 12

VEGAN FOOD ON THE GO GO PAGE 25

HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER PAGE 27

FORGE AHEAD Missouri blacksmiths tend the fires of an ancient craft. PAGE 18

FROM THE EDITOR

FINALLY, AN ENCORE

E DI T OR -I N -CHI E F COURTNEY PERRETT M AN AGI N G E D IT O RS EMMY LUCAS, REBECCA NOEL DI GI TAL M AN AGI N G E D IT O R GRACE COOPER

saw my first concert at the botanical gardens in my hometown of Durban, South Africa. I was in the 10th grade, and I was enthralled by the enigma of the deep, indie sound emanating from the musician’s guitar coupled with the energy of the crowd. Until the early days of 2020, I didn’t realize the privilege that was gathering for a Passenger concert with my friends. As COVID-19 spread swiftly among continents, artists suffered the consequences of events being canceled. When the first wave of the pandemic hit the U.S., I was traveling to Columbia to visit MU to decide where to attend graduate school. Soon after arriving, I remember grabbing a copy of Vox from a newsstand on Ninth Street. The cover read “All eyes on True/False,” one of the festivals I later learned this town prides itself on hosting. Last year, when Missouri’s case numbers skyrocketed, Columbia’s preeminent musical festival, Roots N Blues, was postponed. Fortunately now, more than 18 months into this pandemic, the festival — and arts scene in general — is making a grand comeback.

Immerse yourself in the Roots N Blues Festival’s musical landscape when you dig into our coverage, which features stories on how Black women are redefining country music (pg. 14), Molly Healey’s band (pg. 15) and the festival’s inclusive alcohol-free space (pg. 16). This month at Vox, we’re embracing our community’s creativity. Read our blacksmiths feature for a vivid account of how Missouri’s blacksmiths are reviving this ancient art (pg. 18). This issue, we also peek into the world of a henna artist (pg. 11), a Renaissance Fair (pg. 7) and a local PlantTuber — yes, you read the right — who is nourishing a growing YouTube channel dedicated entirely to plants (pg. 5). As summer cools into fall, whether you’d like to get outdoors and explore Columbia’s most unique gardens (pg. 27), or pair a hearty meal with a bold wine that blends with the season (pg. 26), Vox has you covered. This issue pays tribute to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Columbia’s artists who have finally been able to resurrect their crafts. This fall season, I wish you feelings of comfort and joy, some of which I hope we could evoke within these pages.

ON L I N E E DI T O R KATE TRABALKA ART DI R E CT OR S MAKALAH HARDY, MOY ZHONG PHOT O E DI T O R MADI WINFIELD M ULT I M E DI A E D IT O R ALEX FULTON AS S I S TA NT E D IT O RS CULT UR E HANNAH GALLANT, TONY MADDEN, EVAN MUSIL E AT + DR I N K VIVIAN KOLKS, MADDY RYLEY CI T Y L I F E SAVANNAH BENNETT, JARED GENDRON, COLIN WILLARD DI GI TAL E DI T O RS TIA ALPHONSE, PHILIP GARRETT, SASHA GUMENIUK, ALEXANDRA HUNT, SHULEI JIANG, HANA KELLENBERGER, KATELYNN MCILWAIN, ZOIA MORROW, JULIAN NAZAR, ANNA ORTEGA, RASHI SHRIVASTAVA, NIKOL SLATINSKA, CEY’NA SMITH CON T R I B UT I N G WRIT E RS LAUREN BLUE, ANGELINA EDWARDS, ISABELLA FERRENTINO, ATHENA FOSTER-BRAZIL, ANNA KOCHMAN, CHLOE KONRAD, JANAE MCKENZIE, CELA MIGAN, ELISE MULLIGAN, MIA RUGAI, DANNY RYERSON, ANNA SAGO, STEPHI SMITH, SOPHIE STEPHENS M ULT I M E DI A E D IT O RS ERIK GALICIA, AUZZIE GONZALEZ, CARA WAGNER E DI T OR I AL DI R E CT O R HEATHER ISHERWOOD DI GI TAL DI R E CT O R SARA SHIPLEY HILES E XE CUT I V E E D IT O R LAURA HECK OF F I CE M AN A G E R KIM TOWNLAIN

Courtney Perrett Editor-in-Chief

Behind the issue I love Dungeons & Dragons and Lord of the Rings — both of which feature fictional portrayals of blacksmiths. I was curious about the truth of this craft and excited to watch a blacksmith at work, sparks flying with each hammer strike. This story took the most driving (separate solo trips to St. Louis and Sedalia) and the most learning (hours spent understanding the tools of the trade and watching the process) of any I’ve ever written. I hope I did the craft and its artisans justice. I want to inspire readers to consider what “lost arts” are still very much alive. —Janae McKenzie

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MAGAZINE Learn more about the art and tools of blacksmithing, pg.18.

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Cover Design: Moy Zhong Cover Photo: Owen Ziliak Photography by Owen Ziliak and courtesy of Courtney Perrett

FEATURES

12 12

Back to blues Roots N Blues focuses on female representation and sustainability. BY VOX STAFF

Fanning the flames Modern blacksmiths are revitalizing the art of their trade. BY JANAE McKENZIE

SHELTER PET & LIFE OF THE PARTY

Amazing stories start in shelters and rescues. Adopt today to start yours. HAMILTON 75K+ Instagram Followers

Diverse programming you can’t find anywhere else. It’s community radio!

KOPN

89.5 FM live streaming at kopn.org Illustrations by Makalah Hardy

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IN THE LOOP

Green screen A plant enthusiast sprouted into a YouTube sensation by sharing how to care for and heal from greenery.

Lore of the Red Boar Travel back to the most excellent medieval times at the Central Missouri Renaissance Festival.

Vox Picks

EAT + DRINK

Want a bagel, book — or a dog?

Foodies, order up

CULTURE

Gina’s Vegan A Go Go is the new truck to satisfy your “meaty” vegan cravings.

Scrolling the digital runway

One day, your social media avatar might be better dressed than you.

Sip of the season Two local experts dish about what’s poppin’ in wine pairings this fall.

Henna artist makes her multicultural mark

CITY LIFE

Siham Nour’s art has varied roots.

27 26

Leaf your worry behind These three scenic spots showcase nature in its full autumnal glory.

To-do list Check out the must-sees and have-to-dos around town.

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Illustrations by Moy Zhong, photography by Cleo Norman, Lily Dozier and courtesy of Taya Reeder and Siham Nour

FIGHTS AT THE FESTIVAL P. 7

ALL ‘ROUND COMO P. 8

Green screen Becca De La Paz discusses her budding YouTube channel and how she plants seeds for success. BY JOZIE CROUCH

Becca De La Paz cares for her growing collection of about 150 plants.

Photography by Cleo Norman

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

IN TH E LOOP HOME & GARDEN

In Becca De La Paz’s sunroom, vibrant foliage spills over every surface and basks in the light that pours through the windows. In the middle of this micro-jungle is a camera and De La Paz, her cheerful demeanor just as lively as the plants that surround her. De La Paz is a plant enthusiast-turned-professional YouTuber who makes plant-focused content and calls herself a PlantTuber. She moved to Columbia almost a year ago from Tucson, Arizona, with her husband and her growing collection of over 100 houseplants. She started it in college as a way to connect with her parents and grandparents, who are seasoned gardeners. Her YouTube channel, Becca De La Plants, began as a New Year’s resolution on Jan. 1, 2019. It has now amassed over 57,000 followers and 5 million views.

She creates videos not only to offer up plant care tips and general advice but also to share her own life journey. Her husband, Daniel Calhoun, has watched De La Paz grow alongside her plants both on and off screen. “She’s the same as she is to the audience,” Calhoun says. “She’s not fake. She is who she is.” Vox spoke with De La Paz about sharing her plant passion. What household plants would you recommend for beginners? Monstera deliciosa — very easy, and so beautiful. They start off with tiny little leaves, and then you can see them get really big, very quickly. And pothos. Both of those are very achievable plants. If they die, they die. You can just pop out to the store and get a new one. You can trail them, and you can grow them

De La Paz says she’s most proud of videos in which she shares anecdotes about her life.

INSIDER TIPS FOR INDOOR PLANTS If you’re down a green thumb or two, worry not. Here are De La Paz’s top tips: • Listen to your intuition, even if you’re inexperienced. Observing plants is one of the best ways to learn about them. • Understand the lighting in your home. Know which directions your windows face, then buy plants that will thrive in that lighting. • Don’t water on a schedule. Instead of adhering to a strict routine, stick your finger in the soil to see if it’s dry.

Plants such as these succulents taught De La Paz she can’t control everything. “You can’t tell a plant what to do,” she says.

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

up on a pole. And they’ll live in pretty much any condition. What makes your channel unique? I feel like I had a unique take on caring for plants and what they meant to me because it was much more than just buying plants. It’s very emotional and healing for me. I’m a feeler, big feeler. I cry about everything. I used to be kind of embarrassed by that, but now I’m like, “Yeah, I like to feel things.” I think what’s unique about my channel is I’m constantly encouraging people to go back to that place of feeling and just spending time with your plants. What was your first meaningful plant? It was a basil plant. Mostly, it was because I wanted to remember a trip I took to Italy because we ate a lot of basil. I bought a little herb plant from the grocery store, and I grew it to be around two feet. I was always taking cuttings off of it, cooking with it and propagating it. It was really the first plant that I ever had long term and learned all these plant things with. What drives your creative process? The goal that I set in the very beginning was to share what I knew and learn more. So definitely, that happened. I had this far-off, distant, didn’t-wantto-vocalize-it goal of this being my job. And that happened, which is so cool. But other than that, I just wanted to share love and appreciation of plants in a new perspective. And I feel like I did that, too. Photography by Cleo Norman

I N T HE LO O P FESTIVALS

Ye olde lore of the Red Boar A live-combat group immerses the audience in history with medieval reenactments at the Central Missouri Renaissance Festival. BY STEPHI SMITH

n the coast between where the waters of Carlingford Lough cut into the country and where the Slieve Foye mountain juts into the sky, is the small village of Carlingford, Ireland. In October, Columbia residents can travel to this coastal village known for its medieval history and culture in less than 30 minutes. Carlingford will make its way toward Kingdom City for the 16th season of the annual Central Missouri Renaissance Festival on Oct. 23 and 24. The year will be A.D. 1550, and there will be queens and pirates dancing to the music of bagpipes and drums alongside live entertainment and food vendors. Vikings and mariners with flintlock pistols and cannons will all be part of this year’s immersive recreation of the northeastern Irish village. The festival will be held just off the Hatton exit of Interstate 70 on about 20 acres of farmland that was purchased by CMRF in 2019.

A highlight of the festival will be the armored combat shows from The Order of the Red Boar, a Medieval reenactment, live-skill combat group. Clint Unruh has been a member of the Order since it was founded in 2018 by Jeffrey Andrews, who moved to Missouri from Belgium and created the U.S. version of the Order in Springfield. Unruh met Andrews at the White Hart Renaissance Faire in Hartsville. Unruh, who loves history, jokingly described the Order as a less-strict version of the Knights Templar. “Sorry, that may just be for history buffs,” he says. The Order has between 35 and 40 members, but Unruh says more people show interest in joining each time the group practices at the Finley River Park in Ozark. “You really feel like you’re with your fellow brothers and sisters,” Unruh says about the group’s family atmosphere. The Order’s performances at CMRF usually gather crowds from across the festival grounds as people are drawn to

It was customary for both men and women to wear hats in medieval times to cover up hair lice, Order member Clint Unruh says.

GOING TO THE FESTIVAL 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 23 and 24; 4274 County Road 220, Kingdom City; $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 12

the sounds of live combat. Along with the combat shows, the Order will also have a mercenary encampment with squires, weapon smiths, armor smiths and cooks using cast-iron skillets. “You step into our camp, and you step back into history,” Unruh says. The festival’s several entertainment and musical guests will include the Musical Blades, a renaissance-rock band from Kansas City. Food at the festival will range from turkey legs and vegan tacos to hotdogs, hamburgers and pasties from London Calling, a Springfield food truck that’s so well-loved that people sometimes purchase tickets to the festival just for its food, Stephen Eickhorst, president of the CMRF, says. A portion of the proceeds from the festival’s ticket sales will go toward a food drive for the Fulton Soup Kitchen. Discounted tickets will be available to those who bring a nonperishable food item that can be donated to the Fulton Soup Kitchen. Eickhorst describes the festival as an event that evokes magic and gives people “a break from reality.” “It’s a place where you can just come and have fun,” he says. “There’s no judgment. There’s never anyone that’s going to be looked down upon.”

Order members Throthgar and Sergeant Spider reenact a final blow in combat. Photography courtesy of STL PhotoVisions

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

IN TH E LOOP VOX PICKS

Look out...

Vox Picks for

For the Great Pumpkin or just the perfect jack-o’-lantern at Eschenbrenner Farms’ pumpkin patch. Beginning the last weekend of September, the farm is open to visitors every weekend until the gourds are gone. And if you’re in search for more than pumpkins, Strawberry Hill Farms is open this season with pumpkins, mums and gourds. If you’re more maize-minded, explore the Shyrocks Callaway Farms’ Corn Maze, which is open every weekend through Halloween. The entry fee is $11 for adults, $10 for kids ages 5 to 12 and free for those under 5. Eschenbrenner Farms, 55728 E. Splice Creek Road, Wooldridge, 849-2372; Strawberry Hill Farms, 3770 E. Highway 163, 449-1631; Shyrocks Callaway Farms, 2927 County Road 253, 592-0191

SEPT/OCT Each month, Vox curates a list of can’t-miss shops, eats, reads and experiences. We find the new, trending, or underrated to help you enjoy the best our city has to offer. BY VIVIAN KOLKS

Bring home...

A new furry family member this month! October is National Adopt-a-Dog Month, which means it’s time to cuddle up with a new best friend. Central Missouri Humane Society is offering “benchwarmers,” or dogs who have been with them for more than a month, for an adoption fee of $25. Central Missouri Humane Society, 616 Big Bear Blvd.; Mon.–Fri., noon–6 p.m.; Sat.–Sun., noon–5 p.m., 443-7387

Nosh...

At some eateries that are making moves. Bagel spot Goldie’s is moving from its home base at Pizza Tree into the empty storefront on Ninth Street, which was vacated by Strollway Market. Meanwhile, the creators behind Strollway are working on a pop-up restaurant called Sandbox. On the west side of town, Toasty Goat Coffee Co. is opening its first location after selling carefully sourced beans out of Donut D-Lite. Goldie’s Bagels, 114 S. Ninth St., ordergoldies.com, 874-9925; Sandbox, eatasandbox.com, Instagram @eatasandbox, 999-3889; Toasty Goat Coffee Co., 515 S. Scott Blvd., toastygoatcoffee.com, info@toastygoatcoffee.com

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Laugh at...

MU grad and stand-up comedian Greg Warren as he regales the audience with stories from his time as a peanut butter salesman at Proctor & Gamble. Warren’s Sept. 24 show at The Blue Note will mark the first comedy show held at the venue since the beginning of the pandemic. What is Warren’s funniest memory of MU? Let’s just say it involves an angry wrestler, the 1980 Olympics and one thorough ass-kicking. Read more from our Q&A with Warren on our website. Sept. 24, 7 p.m., $20, The Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St., thebluenote.com, 573-874-1944

Read...

A copy of The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel. The 2015 book follows the story of a North Vietnamese spy around the time of the Vietnam War. Nguyen was recently announced as Unbound Book Festival’s 2021 keynote speaker, which will kick off the festival’s first in-person event since 2019. The festival takes place in late April, which means there’s plenty of time to get caught up on Nguyen’s catalog of novels, short stories and nonfiction. April 21-24, unboundbookfestival.com Photography courtesy of Unbound Book Festival and Unsplash

TEMPORARY TATTOOS P. 11

Scrolling the digital runway Digital clothing is the latest trend in the fashion industry. BY SASHA GUMENIUK

Taya Reeder makes digital fashion designs that don’t physically exist. This design is from his “Subconscious” line.

Photography courtesy of Taya Reeder

Imagine being a fashion trendsetter while sitting at home in your pajamas. With 3D technology, brands are introducing virtual clothes that your avatar can try on, purchase and wear online with a single click. People customize their online presence with virtual clothing, whether it’s a video game skin or a new top on social media. Additionally, many fashion brands such as Moschino, Tommy Hilfiger

CULTURE FASHION

and Dior have organized virtual shows and produced virtual garments to keep the fashion industry accessible to consumers during the pandemic. Virtual fashion also frees designers from limitations due to creative potential or physical materials. If this trend continues, it could mean no more models walking the runway and no more extravagantly dressed guests observing the latest trends. However, the innovations have their drawbacks. Human models are at risk of losing their jobs to digital avatars, and the electric atmosphere of fashion shows gets lost through screens.

KEEPING UP WITH DIGITAL FASHION

Fashion outlet FNL Network held its first International Digital Fashion Week last fall. Videos showing designs for this fall’s International Digital Fashion Week will be available on the FNL app beginning Oct. 2.

Implementing digital fashion Some businesses solely focus on the production of virtual clothing, including the Los Angeles-based company DressX, founded in 2020. It uses an app to allow customers to buy and wear digital clothes by uploading a photo. The app then places the purchased clothes over the photo. Digital fashion designer and

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

MU graduate Taya Reeder says DressX is an example of digital clothes providing more accessibility to people who want to express themselves with expensive garments. “If some people cannot afford a Louis Vuitton bag, this is a great alternative,” Reeder says. Virtual fashion technology such as Magic Mirror, which allows shoppers to use a mirror’s touchscreen to try on 3D digital apparel, has already entered fashion retail. In 2017, The Gap Inc. launched a virtual reality app called The DressingRoom where users can create outfits and see how items fit without stepping into a changing room. Clothes are not the only digital aspects of the fashion industry. Virtual models earn money for their creators by walking runways and posing for shoots. Visual artist Cameron-James Wilson created The Diigitals, an all-digital modeling agency. Cheyenne Smith, a textile and apparel management professor at MU, embraces the changes to fashion

because of the jobs created, including 3D technical designers. “Some researchers call it the fourth industrial revolution,” Smith says. Making fashion sustainable The transition to digital fashion has reduced the pollution generated by the industry by creating fewer physical samples. “Instead of having to mail physical garment samples back and forth from the factory overseas to the design headquarters in the U.S., we can send a 3D model in a click of the email button and save materials, time and costs,” Smith says. Stephens College fashion student Madilyn Kell says that by encouraging virtual fashion, social media influencers help the environment. “Having influencers turn towards digital clothing instead of buying a new outfit every week and never wearing it again will save a lot of waste.” By eliminating fabric, digital fashion ensures that today’s threads won’t crowd tomorrow’s landfills.

C U LT U RE ART Henna ink comes from a plant native to North Africa and South Asia called Lawsonia inermis. For thousands of years, people from Africa, South Asia and the Middle East have turned its leaves into paste used to paint on each other’s skin.

Henna artist makes her multicultural mark Siham Nour’s hand-inked designs incorporate Somali and Indian influences. BY CELA MIGAN

uring the week, Siham Nour is a clinical laboratory assistant at MU’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital. But on the weekend, she runs her henna tattoo business. Nour started her official business over two years ago, which she named Simsima’s Henna, after the nickname her mother gave her. But the 26-year-old has been doing henna since 2011 for friends and family events. For Nour, henna is a relaxing artistic outlet and source of comfort. “I remember when I was an undergrad, weekends where I would be stressed from assignments or exams or stuff like that,” Nour says. “Henna was my way of escaping all that and doing what I really want and enjoy.” Henna is the millennia-old tradition of decorative tattooing using paste made from a henna plant. Artists focus on creating intricate designs, including geometric shapes, mandalas, animals and plants, typically drawn on the hands and feet. A finished tattoo dyes the skin reddish-brown and lasts about two weeks. Nour and her family moved to Columbia in 2007 for better job and education opportunities. Raised in a household with Somali and American influences, Photography courtesy of Siham Nour

the tattoo artist says she feels attached to her cultural roots, despite spending most of her life in Columbia. Nevertheless, she conveys her African background through her henna work. The decorative ink art is traditionally done for weddings and holidays. One of Nour’s most involved henna projects, a piece done for a bride, took three hours. Once it was finished, the design stretched

WHERE TO GET INK

See more of Siham Nour’s art or schedule an appointment at simsimas-henna. square.site or her Facebook, Simsima’s Henna.

from the client’s feet to her knees, hands to shoulders and back and chest. “I wouldn’t say it’s the traditional way of doing it, but it’s the bride’s choice,” Nour says. Nour has met many friends through her decorative design work, including Wing Deng, a student from University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Deng got her first henna tattoo from Nour when the two attended a wedding in April. “It turned out really awesome,” Deng says. “She was super nice, and we were chatting throughout.” The Tennessee student also recalls Nour’s unique henna style, which varies from traditional Indian to Somali influences. “Henna is a form of art in a lot of cultures and a sign of beauty,” Nour says. “Every culture has different colors, different styles that they do. I’ve maintained and learned how to do different styles for different cultures.” For example, Indian tattooists typically design intricate patterns with red ink. Meanwhile, Somali artists lean toward floral designs using black ink. In Columbia, there aren’t many people who have Nour’s varied background, so she enjoys getting to share her culture with new clients through her art. Her younger sister, Sumaya Nour, agrees. “It’s nice to see that in the Western society, we have a part of our culture here and also within our home,” she says. Sumaya says she’s proud of her sister for taking a leap of faith and starting her own business. “I’ve always been her helper,” she says. “So I remember my sister starting out her henna tables during Earth Day, and it’s really nice to see how big she’s becoming. She’s a great person to look up to when it comes to having your passions and trying to show everyone what you can do.”

VOX MAGAZINE •SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

After being canceled in 2020, Roots N Blues Festival returns with a commitment to inclusivity, sustainability and COVID-19 safety. Design by Makalah Hardy

Giving women the spotlight The festival’s female-forward approach extends to singers, musicians, production and security personnel. BY SOPHIE STEPHENS

oots N Blues Festival is full of performances, but new owners Trio Presents are not about performative allyship. From the moment the owners took over the festival in December 2019, they knew they wanted to “ethically put our money where our mouth is,” festival co-producer Shay Jasper says. As a two-thirds women-owned event, the festival is giving women the spotlight on the stage. This year’s event will have 100% female representation on stage in every show of the weekend, whether it be lead singers, guitarists or oth-

er band members. “Artistry and the level of talent doesn’t in any way decrease by having women featured,” Jasper says. “It’s being well received by the community, and we’re proud of it.” Roots N Blues will not be female-only every year, but Trio Presents plans to continue being intentional with providing space on their stage for everyone for future events. The female-forward approach has also been extended to production and security positions. This year’s festival comes on the heels of an unusual year for Roots N Blues. Due to the pandem-

ic, Trio Presents decided in June 2020 to cancel that year’s event. Now the festival is back with a few changes and a continuing commitment to safety. Attendees will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to attend this year’s festivities. A negative test needs to be obtained less than 72 hours before entry. The festival also recommends that all attendees, regardless of vaccination status, receive a negative test for extra security. Vox has crafted the following guide so you can enjoy the music safely and soundly.

Mickey Guyton is making a name for herself as a prominent Black voice in country music.

Black women reclaim country MU music professor Stephanie Shonekan explains how country music is rooted in Black culture as Black women rule this year’s festival lineup. BY ANGELINA EDWARDS

his year’s Roots N Blues Festival showcases the breadth of diversity within country music. Black female country singers such as Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer will perform. For some Black women, becoming well known in the genre has been difficult. Rissi Palmer, country musician and host of the podcast Color Me Country, says racism and gatekeeping are still alive and well in the genre. She faced multiple rejections from record labels and was even told that it would be difficult to find songs for “someone like her.” “I was always trying to find a reason,” Palmer says. “I can always be a better guitar player. I can always be a better songwriter. I can always be a better singer … I can’t change that I’m a woman. I can’t change that I’m a Black woman.” Although current country music is mostly dominated by white men, the genre has a rich history that is filled with influential Black women. For a broader understanding of the role of Black women

IF YOU GO... Brittney Spencer, a musical storyteller by heart, takes the EquipmentShare Stage on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Mickey Guyton, a rising Black voice in country music, performs on the EquipmentShare Stage on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 7 to 8 p.m.

Photography courtesy of Amy Harris/AP

in country music, Vox spoke with Stephanie Shonekan, a professor of music at MU. Has countr y music always been white-dominated, or have Black women been erased from its history? It is definitely a white male-dominated genre and culture, but it hasn’t always been that way. I think if you ask a certain generation of African Americans, they will talk about how they love country music because if you really trace back the roots of country music, it is rooted in Southern culture, right? I always think of the blues, Americana music, roots music, country music and soul music — they all come from the South end of the Mason-Dixon line. I think the industry, media and popular culture have done a really great job of separating the audiences and creating borders and boundaries around all genres of American popular music. I think country music is a little bit different in the sense that as it’s evolved, it has really maintained those boundaries judiciously.

Why has country music been whitewashed by white artists and audiences? That can probably be explained through the evolution of American history and politics and the fractures in American identity. I think that more than any other genre, the country music establishment — and by establishment, I mean the critics, the DJs, the people that keep the gates — have become entrenched in the political notions of who Americans are and who they need to be. Those are very powerful positions when it comes to opening the doors to making sure that all the artists are heard. I think that’s part of the reason why we don’t see as many Black country artists. Why do you think more Black artists — specifically women — are identifying with country music? Black artists have always told stories in their music. I think what we’re seeing is part of the push for open definitions of what freedom is. In this day and age, Black artists want to do everything under the sun. Rissi Palmer, Mickey Guyton — all of these artists are pulling from the richness of American music. I think in the 2020s, Black artists are saying: ‘It’s all mine. It all comes from me anyway.’ A lot of what we see in pop country is aesthetics from African American culture. If you listen to Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood — the way they belt, the way they carry themselves — that arguably comes from African American culture. When we look at what artists like Mickey Guyton are doing, they’re just going back to their own roots.

The string theory of Molly Healey With an orchestra in her pocket, her String Project backing band will bring both intimate vocal performances and a looping wall of sound. BY DANNY RYERSON

ulti-instrumentalist Molly Healey has released three albums in five years of orchestral looping. She started her musical career with bluegrass group Back into the Left, picking up the violin again for the first time since high school. “I would sing, and I would play fiddle, and that was the extent of what I did,” Healey says. Sixteen years later, the Springfield, Missouri, artist discovered her inspiration: looping, or recording clips of an instrument on the fly and layering them to create a unique live performance.

Looping opened up a new dimension in Healey’s music. She started in 2015 with just a loop station, with which she wrote her first LP, Nightbirds. “I had written maybe two songs in my entire life before that,” Healey says. “Once I got the loop station, I had an album’s worth of material.” Now, Healey and her band, the Molly Healey String Project, use effects to their fullest extent. She can loop and slow her cello to create a dreamy atmosphere, weave in her violin to complement guitarist Zach Harrison’s rockin’

solos and be a one-woman string section. “When we all drop out and leave this 10-piece orchestra playing all the string parts, everyone’s like, ‘Whaaat!’” Harrison says. The band will feature its full orchestral sound with mostly original material, a few covers and a guest appearance from Healey’s daughter, Annabelle Moore. “It’s going to be unlike anything that you hear on a normal basis,” Healey says. The band performs on Sept. 25 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the MU Health Care Stage.

Flor de Toloache The all-female ensemble will bring mariachi music to Roots N Blues for the first time. BY ELISE MULLIGAN

Molly Healey plays the violin, cello and guitar all at once by recording clips and then looping and layering them together. She’s backed by band members (from left) Danny Carroll, Kyle Day and Zach Harrison.

Photography courtesy of Molly Healey String Project

ew York’s all-female Flor de Toloache is strumming its way to Roots N Blues as the first mariachi band in the festival’s lineup. Flor de Toloache, Spanish for a type of nightshade, has bloomed since its founding in 2008. The group secured a 2020 Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for Indestructible. The mariachi band pairs the high-energy sounds of the Mexican vihuela, a higher-pitched guitar, with a crisp violin melody and striking trumpet tones. Intertwined with the strong voices of “Las Flores,” Flor de Toloache invigorates the music of Mexico with its own flowery touch. The band performs on Sept. 25 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the MU Health Care Stage. Photography by Photographer Name

15 15

Bringing green to the blues Attendees are encouraged to think sustainably as they groove at the festival. BY LAUREN BLUE

No hops, just bops Roots N Blues offers an inclusive and supportive space for people seeking an alcohol-free festival experience. BY ANNA KOCHMAN

ustainability is a vital part of the Roots N Blues Festival. Volunteers and staff promote sustainability and communicate its importance to the attendees. The festival grounds at Stephens Lake Park will be filled with signs reminding everyone to recycle, and there will be a water station to encourage the use of refillable water bottles. This sustainability planning is a year-long process for the organizers, says Festival Sustainability Director Scout Merry. “Sustainability is woven into every decision they make.” Every aspect of the festival, from arrival to the cleanup process, is planned with green practices in mind.

100 City of Columbia recycling bins are stationed throughout the festival to encourage festgoers to think green.

If this year’s festival attendees fill up standard City of Columbia recycling bag with cups and cans, they will earn a free Festival Green Team T-shirt.

There will be free, secure bike parking station at the entrance to the festival.

Free festival shuttles will be offered from every parking garage in downtown Columbia. There are on Friday, on Saturday and on Sunday.

All vendors are encouraged to use compostable and recyclable containers and utensils. Vendors with greener practices are given marketing priority. Styrofoam is banned at the festival, so many vendors are turning to bamboo or wood alternatives.

usic festivals can create an environment conducive to drinking alcohol or consuming controlled substances. Shay Jasper, co-producer of Roots N Blues Festival, wants to provide an alternative. “You can have fun in a festival setting without drinking, and we definitely want to emphasize that,” she says. Roots N Blues offers a designated location for those who choose not to drink at the festival: the Alcohol-Free Zone, previously known as the Sober Party Tent. The area was renamed this year to be inclusive of all those in attendance, whether participants are living a completely alcohol-free life, taking a break from alcohol or anywhere in between. Located in the northeast area of the festival, the tent offers a safe space for non-drinkers with a view of the EquipmentShare Stage. The tent was created in 2017 and is now available annually. This year, the tent will also feature meditation, yoga and active conversations about living alcohol-free. “It is targeted for folks who might need support throughout the weekend,” Jasper says. According to a study from Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy, a peer-reviewed journal with research on substance abuse, 81% of attendees surveyed at a music festival in Sweden reported consuming alcohol. The festival was comparable to many in the U.S. With so many peers under the influence, festival attendees facing substance use disorder might be at higher risk of consuming alcohol.

“Concerts can be triggers for some people because there is alcohol, there’s marijuana, there’s drugs everywhere,” says Kiersten Montagna, who has been in recovery from a substance use disorder since she was 23. She now works with people with substance use disorders at the Reentry Opportunity Center. “The fact that (Roots N Blues is) trying to reduce those triggers is just ... I’m emotional right now. I have some tears in my eyes, because it’s just amazing that people are taking this seriously.” Although a music festival environment can surround attendees with triggers, Stephanie Parsons, a licensed clinical social worker and an owner of Counseling Associates, says those in recovery can still attend and have a good time. “Talk to your sponsor or your therapist (whoever supports you through your recovery process) … it is possible to attend an event like this successfully!” she told Vox in an email. Major U.S. music festivals such as Lollapalooza and Coachella have included similar spaces or limited alcohol consumption at their festivals, but it’s not a common feature. “It’s amazing that people are sitting here thinking, ‘This is an issue we have in our world,’” Montagna says. “I’ve never heard of (a festival) doing something like that.” The Alcohol-Free Zone is free if you already have a pass to enter the festival, and no sign-up is required. “There’s no barriers for anyone to come in and feel safe there,” Jasper says.

Vibe check With a festival lineup of varied styles and genres, there are artists for everyone. Vox assembled a matrix of musicians to help you find your Roots N Blues mood. BY HANNAH GALLANT, TONY MADDEN, EVAN MUSIL

• Larkin Poe

Folk-rock duo is Crosby, Stills & Nash meets The Burney Sisters.

• Sifa

High energy

Rwandan• American singer Amanda Fish views music Gritty lyrics infuse bluesy-rock. as means to empower. •Violet and the Undercurrents

•Flor de Toloache

• One Way Traffic

Her country hails from California, MO.

• Liza Anne

• Southern Avenue Memphis five-piece merges jazz and blues with country.

Rock and powerful pop spreads mental health awareness.

•

• Brandi Carlile

Tank and The Bangas It’s funk, rock, rap AND Disney-like magic.

Most nominated female artist — check. Memoir author — check.

•

Lily B Moonflower It’s outlaw country, but with more flowers.

Mickey Guyton One of country music’s newest voices, Guyton challenges traditional images of the genre.

• Rising Appalachia

Folk and global music join together.

• Mavis Staples

Rhythm & blues legend was key in ‘50s group The Staple Singers.

• Halle Kearns

•

Local glitter cowgirl writes catchy country songs.

Lennon Stella Her musical success started at 12 years old as part of TV duo Lennon and Maisy.

• The Burney Sisters

Shining harmonies run in the family for down-to-earth local singer-songwriters.

• Brittney Spencer

She received the “Queen of Blues” crown from legend Koko Taylor’s daughter.

Betty Who Who? She remade the theme song for Queer Eye. •Joseph Portland, Oregon, is home to this intricate three piece.

Living legends

Almost famous

It’s bluegrass all the way, baby.

• Shemekia Copeland

•

• Kassi Ashton

Rock orchestra + feminist lyrics = oh yes!

MIZ-music icon has won nine Grammy awards.

All-female mariachi force has collaborated with John Legend and Miguel.

The ambitious folksy sound of this Columbia quartet makes its second RNB appearance.

• Molly Healey String Project

• Sheryl Crow

With soft acoustics and a voice like honey, Spencer’s sound is reminiscent of classic backdoor country.

• Natalie Hemby

This Highwomen frontwoman makes her Roots N Blues return.

Chill vibes 17

F A N N A D Don Asbee hammers the handle of a spade in his Hartsburg studio.

STORY BY

Janae McKenzie PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Owen Ziliak DESIGN BY

Moy Zhong

N I N G Y I N G

FLAME Missouri blacksmiths keep a centuries-old art alive.

Asbee uses tongs to carry hot metal in his studio. Before specializing in sculptural and architectural pieces, he forged gates and fences.

ucked away in a Hartsburg metal studio, Don Asbee starts a fire. As his propane forge heats up, he lubricates a power hammer that runs on compressed air. Small wisps of smoke rise from the furnace as he dons his uniform: a mask with a valve that covers the nose and mouth, a tan apron and gloves with the fingertips stained black from years of working with steel. As Asbee draws a rectangular piece of steel from the forge, the glow from the heat reflects off the metal on the bridge of his mask. The power hammer makes quick, loud work of the metal. In about 30 minutes, he’ll have formed it into the shape of a leaf. The sound of iron meeting steel bounces off the walls of Asbee Metal Studio, which are lined with dozens of custom-made tongs. Works in progress cover the metal tables in the center of the space, and hammers hang from several tool stations. Lamps loom over three anvils located close to the forge and power hammer. “It’s such hard work that if you didn’t like it, you wouldn’t mess with it,” Asbee says. He has lived and breathed the craft for the past 49 years. Blacksmiths such as Asbee created a revival of the art of blacksmithing and formed a community in mid-Missouri around preserving and advancing the trade. Modern blacksmiths have helped propel blacksmithing from an archaic craft to an outlet for creative visionaries. Blacksmithing has existed for centuries, for as long as people have needed tools and metal. But it’s not the easiest art to practice.

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Blacksmithing can have a high barrier to entry if you don’t have access to an anvil, forge and hammers. After advancements in the metalworking industry, anvils began to collect dust in sheds and garages. Now, they’re some of the most expensive tools of the trade. “I can remember when people would pay you to get an anvil out of their barn,” says Santo Giuffrida, president of the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri. “Now, it goes for $5 a pound if it’s in decent shape.” With an average weight between 125 and 300 pounds, an anvil might cost anything from $625 to $1,500. The conditions of blacksmithing can be dangerous as well. The metal must be heated to 1,200 degrees Farenheit for it to be malleable enough to work with, and bladesmiths in particular deal with sharp edges. Blacksmith Justin Tattitch says he has seen a surge in the market for blacksmiths. Woodworkers and engravers are on the hunt for handcrafted tools, and chefs are looking for high-end sushi knives. He has also seen more public acknowledgment of the artistry of blacksmithing, which is Asbee’s area of choice.

A maker’s mark

Drive around Columbia, and you’ll find Asbee’s work all over. His maker’s mark, the smith’s version of an artist’s signature, is a triangle with a semicircle opening at the base. His mark is on the metal dove on the outside of the Unity Center of Columbia, the cross sculptures in front of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and on the locomotive at the Wabash Bus Station. Asbee also creates custom pieces for private homes and offices across the na-

tion, stretching from Missouri to Maryland and Georgia. The supplies for his projects often come from Ahrens Steel in Columbia or recycled scrap metal. In 1972, a19-year-old Asbee learned the rudiments of blacksmithing at a horseshoeing school in Montana, after dropping out of college in his sophomore year. He shod horses for about seven years before getting rid of his farrier equipment to work in a blacksmithing shop. Asbee moved to his Hartsburg studio in 1996. He built it himself from “a pile of salvage in a cow pasture,” and he designed every tool he uses there. Just through a small door in the back of the studio is Asbee’s living space. Cases of his art line the floor, and his sketching table sits in one corner. His kitchen is filled with cookware he forged, and a 1987 steel sculpture of king salmon, “Leap of Faith,” hangs from the ceiling. Most of his work is forged steel. His greatest inspiration is the natural world, such as the leaf he crafts as a test piece. “My work tends to be largely organic in nature,” Asbee says. “You know, trying to follow a form that is as far away from the cold rigidity of steel.” Asbee’s talent for blacksmithing has earned him recognition for his work. In 1988, Asbee was awarded a contract to make decorative signage for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. In 2003, the National Air and Space Museum held a contest for artists to submit kites. Asbee’s submission was one of 30 chosen for the resulting exhibition. He decided to test the limits of metal as a moving medium. His resulting steel sculpture looks as though it’s actively blowing in the wind, with a string made of steel and a copper tail.

One of Asbee’s homemade tools, which he calls the Smack-O-Matic, shapes a red-hot piece of metal.

Don Asbee’s art around Columbia

St. Andrews Lutheran Crosses, 1991 Forged steel and fabricated steel St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

Dove of Peace, 2005 Forged steel and stainless steel Unity Center of Columbia

Wabash 808, 2007 Forged steel Wabash Station

Don Asbee signs his work with this maker’s mark.

Photography courtesy of Don Asbee and Unsplash

A blacksmith’s toolkit

Strike while the iron’s hot

T ON G

A smith could have a dozen or more custom-made tongs to hold different kinds of metal.

FORGE The more traditional forge that uses coal to start the fire and emits more smoke

A newer style of forge, popularly used for blades and for its lack of smoke

OPANE FO

A special kind of Japanese forge, often used to create swords such as katanas

The strategic placement of the anvil, forge and hammer that maximizes time for hammering hot metal before it cools

The romance of smithing has seen an increase in recent years with the popularity of the TV series Forged in Fire. The show, which debuted on the History channel in June 2015, pits bladesmiths against one another and the clock to forge bladed weapons for a cash prize. Forged in Fire brings new students to Tattitch, who directs the metalworking program at Lake of the Ozarks Scout Reservation. He says that the program is at full enrollment, and the majority of his students are interested in making blades. As a blacksmithing teacher, Tattitch has some grievances with the show. “I hate to see the art form that I love so dearly be bastardized in this timed competition where speed is the most important thing,” Tattitch says. It takes a while to make a traditional samurai sword, such as a katana. The steel production alone takes three days. After that, it’s another two weeks to produce the blade and even longer to polish. On Forged in Fire, the debut episode challenged smiths to create a katana in only three hours. One of the show’s contestants, Colton Kiso, 21, from Nelson, Missouri, has been blacksmithing since he was 10 years old. His pieces can take him between 30 and 40 hours to create, but he tried his luck against the clock on Forged in Fire. Kiso’s episode aired on Jan. 8, 2020, but when he filmed it he had just graduated high school. “That was the most stressful position I had ever been in,” Kiso says. He’d never had to worry about paying bills or a mortgage before, and the stress affected his performance in the competition. He placed second. If he were to do it again, he says he’d be less stressed because he now has a couple more years of experience and is better prepared to do well.

CKSMIT LA IANG H’ LE R T

Photography courtesy of Unsplash

The large block of iron with a flattened top to strike hot metal against

E RG

L VI

Top: Don Asbee stamps his mark into a rivet. Asbee works roughly 25 to 30 hours per week in his studio. Bottom: He uses a blowtorch to heat the rivet.

A hammer, tongs and pieces of metal lie on a table in Asbee’s studio. “I’m having as much fun as I did when I was 20,” he says.

A centuries-old cra f t Blacksmithing used to be an essential part of every town because carpenters needed tools, and someone needed to know how to work with metal and make blades. Now, mass production of steel products has driven blacksmithing from a necessity to a novelty. “I don’t think it’s ever been a lost art,” Tattitch says. “I think it was lost in its necessity in modern society. There’s always been people hand-making really cool knives. Now, as it got more popular and people started to have a little more free time, they started finding these anvils and all of grandpa’s tools.” Blacksmithing methods used to be passed down exclusively from master to apprentice, and some masters would guard

special secrets. A blacksmith since 16, Tattitch says some smiths still try to maintain secrecy, which he calls ridiculous. Tattitch teaches young men and women the basics of blacksmithing, and he says he wants his students to know anyone can be a blacksmith. Tattitch also enjoys debunking stereotypes about blacksmithing. “When you see them swinging every blow like this” — he demonstrates a long wind-up with a heavy strike — “with this giant hammer? No, that’s how you get shoulder surgery,” Tattitch says. Asbee, Kiso and Tattitch are just three of many blacksmiths across the state of Missouri. To maintain their connection when miles apart, over 500 smiths have joined the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri. Asbee is a founding member

of the nonprofit, created in 1983 to encourage apprenticeship and keep the craft alive. One of the main benefits of the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri is the shared knowledge. At hammer-ins (group meetings where smiths work on projects together), association president Giuffrida and other members swap tips on forging. Typical meetings focus on demonstrations and association business, but hammer-ins foster participation. “I’ve never found a group that’s so willing to share whatever they know,” Giuffrida says. “There’s no secrets to be kept. Maybe because most of us aren’t making a living at it. The only secret out there comes with years of practice and finesse of the arm and the hand.”

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Right: A piece of metal heats in Asbee’s homemade furnace. Asbee built his coal and propane forges in 2017. Below: Asbee uses tongs to hold hot metal over his forge.

Back in Asbee’s studio, one can witness his years of experience while he’s at work, moving in tandem with each strike of the metal. With each blow to the metal, it cools, a bright amber fading to a dusty pink, then a subdued gray. He places it back in the forge, heating it to a malleable state once more. Heat, strike. Heat, strike. In blacksmithing, sequence and planning are everything. Once the metal cools, you can’t go back and change it without heating it up again. Too many mistakes run the risk of damaging the metal beyond recovery. The metal bends to Asbee’s will. He switches to a smaller hammer and slower tempo for the veins and grooves of the leaf. He’s shaped the unbending metal into a leaf that looks as though it were once quivering on the trees outside the studio.

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

PAIR WITH PERFECTION P. 26

Foodies, order up Gina Overshiner brings vegan dishes to town with a new food truck, Gina’s Vegan A Go Go. BY CHLOE KONRAD

Esther’s Power Breakfast is made with whole grains, nuts, seeds, spices, dried fruit and topped with berry compote, banana and oat milk. Follow the truck on Instagram at @ginasveganagogo and visit ginasvegan-a-go-go. business.site to view the menu.

Photography by Madi Winfield

Inspired by her love of plant-based foods and Main Squeeze owner Leigh Lockhart, Gina Overshiner started serving up comforting vegan dishes from her food truck, Gina’s Vegan A Go Go. Veganism started for Overshiner as a nutrition experiment about seven years ago but blossomed into more. “I became more interested in the power of food to help people be healthier, help the environment and help the animals,” Overshiner says. After learning how to make vegan “meats” and “cheeses” from scratch using textured vegetable protein, lentils and cashews, Overshiner got serious about owning a truck. In 2020, she purchased one from its previous (vegan) owner and began finessing menu items. Her menu includes twists on favorites such as a Biscuits and Gravy Burrito and the Tuno Sandwich made with chickpeas. She operates the truck on weekends, serving Sunday brunch at Cooper’s Landing and working for Veterans United from home on weekdays. “She’s invested an impressive amount of time studying the nuances in plant-based cooking, which is why I think even carnivores love her ‘meaty’ dishes,” Lockhart says. “I realize with a food truck it’s a tiny little starting point, but at least it’s a start,” Overshiner says. “I’m just hoping to make people aware and help people see that you can eat plant-based foods and there are yummy things for you to try.” VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

IN TH E LOOP FOOD & WINE Daniel Bauer recommends a bold red wine with homemade pasta. Try out this A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, which is paired here with Addison’s diablo shrimp pasta and a side salad.

heartier wine, which is a lot of those big bold Italians or California Cabs. That’s what people are gonna start drinking more as they retire their rosé collection for the year.

Sip of the season Two local experts dish about what’s poppin’ in wine flavors this fall. BY CHLOE KONRAD

umpkin spice might be the star of the show in autumn, but there are plenty of other cozy taste profiles that deserve attention. As summer fades into fall, most people begin reaching for heavier, richer flavors. Two local foodies — Daniel Bauer, co-owner of Cherry Street Cellar, and Berrick Wahby, vice bar manager of Barred Owl Butcher and Table — gave their recommendations what to uncork during the crisper months. As the leaves change, how do people’s preferences for food and wine flavors transition? Daniel Bauer: As we shift into fall, we start looking at different types of squash and root vegetables and heartier greens. Where you might have a fish dish in the summer and make it really light and citrusy, in the fall you start to think about more hearty preparation like throwing a little cream in the sauce or tossing some roasted root vegetables in there. One of my favorite things is a homemade pasta with braised meat ragu and lots of fresh

tomato flavors, a salad on the side and a really nice bold red wine. Berrick Wahby: Our restaurant works extremely closely with farmers, so we’re working within the seasons. As things like watermelons and peaches stop coming through and we get more potatoes, carrots and onions, that’s when our menu starts to go more hearty. A lot of those big, rich, heat-forward dishes end up pairing better with bolder flavors like a bigger riesling or a large chardonnay, whereas the bright, acidic Spanish wines of the summer aren’t gonna hang on as well to the wintery food. What should we reach for in the wine aisle this season? DB: Wine is linked to the food, of course. So whenever you have different seasonal produce available and different styles of dishes with new temperatures, that affects what wines you would choose. Generally, bolder red or full-body white wines tend to pair really well with fall dishes. BW: In general, we are getting into the heartier season, so you’re going to see

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

STOCK YOUR PANTRY

Vox searched high and low for wine recommendations that fit the bill. High-acidity red wine: A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, HyVee, $21.99 Full-bodied white wine: Dark Horse Chardonnay, Walmart, $7.48 Spanish grenache: Las Rocas Garnacha, HyVee, $13.99 Bold California Cabernet: 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon, Target, $10.99

For those of us who are overwhelmed when pairing food and wine, what is your advice? DB: Food and wine like anything, if you obsess too much about it, can become not fun. Try something new, look at some wineries you haven’t explored before and see what kind of offerings they have. A good rule of thumb is to match the weight and texture of the food with the weight and texture of the wine. Don’t go too light with some of the fall dishes. Look for wines that have good acidity or wines that can cut through the richness in fall and winter dishes. BW: When you get those big spicy foods, you need something super bright, super refreshing to pair off all that heat that you’re eating. Come Thanksgiving, you’ve got your turkey and your stuffing, and you’re gonna need a couple bottles of wine on that table. So finding something a little less dish-specific for big gatherings like that, you’d bring in something we call a table wine. That’s where you get the Washington pinots or Spanish grenaches that sort of go with everything. I always start with finding a wine you like that’s not too specific and then from there, branching out. What if people don’t want to change their wine lineup in the fall? BW: To me, wine is all year round. There’s definitely a movement (to different flavors), but in my opinion, I’m drinking rosé all winter long. Photography by Lily Dozier

FILL UP YOUR FALL DATEBOOK P. 29

Leaf your worry behind

Explore three Columbia gardens for bewitching autumn trees, flowers and prairie grasses. BY ERIK GALICIA

Some local fall faves are New England aster (1), ginkgo (2), Japanese maple (3), sweet gum (4), goldenrod (5) and Autumn Joy sedum (6).

Illustrations by Moy Zhong and photography courtesy of Freepik, Pixabay and Unsplash

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” L.M. Montgomery wrote in Anne of Green Gables. In Columbia, the autumn scenery should make you glad for this season too. “It’s a wonderful time of year,” says Pete Millier, MU Botanical Garden director. “Fall is just as spectacular as spring here.” Vox rounded up three stunning spots where you might take a breather beneath a red-hued branch or next to a patch of fall flowers. “Go outside and just appreciate the beauty of what nature has provided us,” Millier says. MU BOTANIC GARDEN MU campus The 735-acre Mizzou Botanic Garden spans the entire campus. Quadrangles bursting with plant life and a park at its northern end make this landmark a must-see. Four fall standouts Sugar maple: It has outstanding fall color, Millier says. Watch this maple syrup machine’s notched, lobed leaves go from golden-yellow to scarlet in fall. They’re sure to catch your eye. Sweet gum: This is the other tree with a fall display Millier says is hard to beat. Catch an array of yellow, orange, red and purple on its star-shaped leaves. Beware the spiky gumballs this tree drops, though. Sturdy soles are a must. New England aster: Look for this flower’s blue, pink or purple petals wrapped VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

T c T m s a b s b g A

CITY LIFE GARDENS

around yellowish-orange centers. Asters also feed migrating monarch butterflies on their voyage to Mexico for winter. Ginkgo: The leaves resemble hand fans, which are several inches long and turn bright yellow in fall. SHELTER INSURANCE GARDENS 1817 W. Broadway Looking for a place for picture-perfect picnics or small weddings? Visit the 5-acre Shelter Insurance Gardens for over 300 types of trees and shrubs and 15,000 annuals and perennials. Four fall standouts Deciduous holly: This shrubby tree’s red berries are for the birds, not people. Northern mockingbirds will eat the berries while singing their whistle-like song. Autumn Brilliance serviceberry: This tree blooms white in spring and yields edible fruit fit for jam or pie in the summer. In fall, its oval, finely serrated leaves shine an orangish-red. Autumn Joy sedum: This shrub attracts butterflies with its domed, broccoli-like

blooms. Pink flowers bloom well into fall and turn a deep copper. Japanese maple: Different types of this maple have fall leaves that vary in hue, including orange, yellow, red and purple. Its leaves usually have five to seven notched lobes, which are arranged like an open hand. BONNIE VIEW NATURE SANCTUARY 3300 W. Rollins Road It’s not too late for one more picnic at the Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary. This park hosts native prairie grasses that go through beautiful changes in fall, says MU Food Science instructor Katherine Hagely. Four fall standouts Goldenrod: “A lot of people mistake it for ragweed,” Hagely says. But goldenrod simply is misunderstood. This native flower has bright golden-yellow blooms, while ragweed, a common allergen, has small greenish-yellow flowers. Indiangrass: This grass adds to Bonnie View’s golden autumn aesthetic. Indian-

The Japanese maple is a popular ornamental tree that grows 10 to 20 feet tall. Its fall leaves can be shades of red, purple, orange and yellow.

LEAF NO TRACE

No matter how tempted you are to take home a bouquet, don’t pick the flowers at these gardens.

grass is hard to miss as it reaches up to 7 feet tall. Deer are known to wander through it. Switchgrass: This 6-foot-tall grass stands out in a field with its sturdy clumps of thick, upright blades that become tan in fall following its bright green in summer. Big bluestem: This mighty grass grows up to 7 feet tall. Watch for seed heads that look like bird feet with two to three “toes.” It’ll take on a golden color in early fall but turn a reddish-copper after a frost.

U.S. ARMY CAREER CENTER 1305 Grindstone Pkwy #107 Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 303-7394 28

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Photography courtesy of Pixabay

C ALE N DAR

TO-DO LIST Your curated guide of what to do in Columbia this month.

ARTS

“Being Close and Staying Longer” Head over to Columbia College for the “Being Close and Staying Longer” exhibit on display at the Greg Hardwick and Sidney Larson galleries. The display features Bruce Davidson’s photographs, which focus on subjects isolated from mainstream society, and related work such as album covers, poems and a video interview with the artist. Aug.30–Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Brown Hall, Columbia College, 875-7517

Bruce Davidson photographed a Brooklyn gang at Coney Island in 1959. More of Davidson’s work is available to view at the “Being Close and Staying Longer” exhibit.

Show Me Series: 17 Blocks The documentary will be shown as part of Ragtag Cinema’s Show Me Series. 17 Blocks chronicles 20 years of struggle for a family living 17 blocks away from the U.S. Capitol building. Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Ragtag Cinema, Free, 441-8504 Ron White Have a laugh with stand-up comedian Ron White, a former member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, as he performs at Jesse Auditorium. Oct. 22, 8 p.m., Jesse Auditorium, $48247, 882-3781 “EMERGE” The Missouri Contemporary Ballet is opening its 16th season with

“EMERGE.” The performance, presented by the University Concert Series, will feature three brand-new performances and other works from the company’s previous shows. Oct. 29 and 30, 7 p.m., Missouri Theatre, 882-3781

CIVIC

Score Against Hunger Game The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri is partnering with the MU Tigers for this fundraiser. Donations can be made in person at the football game or online. The Tigers will play the University of Tennessee Volunteers. Oct. 2, Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, $30-138

September 28 at 7:00pm: Dogmaster Distillery featuring the Leme Ensemble String Quartet October 3 at 4:00pm: A-Frame at Les Bourgeois Vineyards featuring the Missouri Symphony Orchestra String Duet October 5 at 5:30pm: Günter Hans featuring the Mizzou Brass Quintet Sponsored by City of Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau

October 22: Trivia Night benefiting the Missouri Symphony Conservatory

November 6: Taste of the Holiday Home Tour Brunch and Style Show

For tickets or more information call (573) 875-0600 or visit us online at www.themosy.org Photography courtesy of Bruce Davidson/Columbia College

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

CALENDAR

MUSIC

Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life: he has a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper, he’s just become engaged, and he gets to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement. Mortimer always knew that his family had a bit of a mad gene but his world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years! When Mortimer’s maniacal brother, Jonathan (who strangely now resembles Boris Karloff) returns on the night that the aunts were planning to bury the newest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé -- all while trying to keep his own sanity as well.

October 14-17, 21-24 and 28-31, 2021 Adults Seniors & Students Thursdays

$14 $12 $10

1800 Nelwood Dr. Columbia MO| 573.474.3699 | www.cectheatre.org

2021 St. Louis

Improved Pirate Ship

Pirate Encampment Robin Hood with his Gang

SPORTS

*Tickets valid any one day of the 2021 season*

Weekends (Sat. & Sun.) + Lords and Ladies Shopping Day September 18 - October 24Oct. 11th • 10 AM - 6 PM • Rain or Shine Free Parking! (636) 639-5173 • STLRenFest.com Free Parking by: Discount Coupons at Select

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Colony House The indie-alternative pop group stops in Columbia on its Back Before You Know It Tour with special guest singer-songwriter Fleurie. The tour comes after the band’s Leave What’s Lost Behind Tour was cut short in 2020. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event is required to enter the venue. Oct. 1, 7 p.m. doors, The Blue Note, $16 in advance; $20 day of, thebluenote.com/events Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show If you have a taste for “Tennessee Whiskey,” tickets are still available for Chris Stapleton’s Columbia stop on his All-American Road Show tour. Postponed from 2020, the smooth-voiced country singer will perform with special guests The Marcus King Band and Yola. Oct. 14, 7 p.m., Mizzou Arena, $66.75-175, chrisstapleton.com/tour

Longbow Competition

Buy Tickets at: STLRenFest.com and at

Rose Music Hall’s Roots N Blues Afterparties If you still have some party left in you by the end of the night, Rose Music Hall’s Roots N Blues afterparties are the place to be. Rose’s post-festival lineup includes performances from Bruiser Queen, Opal Agafia, Volk, Rachel Ammons and Barroom Billies. The venue requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event. Sept. 24 and 25, 9:30 p.m. doors; Sept. 26, 8 p.m. doors, Rose Music Hall, Free with festival pass; $10 ticket; Free on Sunday, rosemusichall.com/events

Bear Creek Run Half Marathon Lace up your running shoes and head over to the Bear Creek trail to race in its annual half marathon. Participants receive a shirt, medal and food for registering for the 13.1-mile run/walk. Cash prizes and other awards will be given out at the 11 a.m. awards ceremony. Oct. 30, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., $55 entry, 874-7460

photo finish

Volks coming together PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCCABE At “Volks in the Valley,” enthusiasts bonded over their love of Volkswagens through cars, food and live music. This annual weekend-long camping event drew participants and their vehicles from around the nation to Serenity Valley Winery in Fulton Sept. 10-12. From left, Maxwell Marple, Betsy Pitchford and Lucille Stubblefield met up at the Fulton event after becoming friends during various Volkswagen gatherings across the country.

VOX MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

*Lineup is subject to changes

MuSiC | ArT | MiDwEsT CuIsInE & LiBaTiOnS Sept. 24-26, 2021 | Stephens Lake Park | Columbia, Missouri PrEsEnTeD By

ViOlEt AnD ThE UnDeRcUrReNtS

LiLy B MoOnFlOwEr

StAgEs SpOnSoReD By

rootsnbluesfestival.com |

passes on sale now

| @rootsnbluesfestival