It’s not often that Midwestern indie-roots band Cornbelt Chorus unites to play a show these days, so when Zach, Todd, Jessie, Chris and Taylor get onstage it’s a bit of an occasion. They’re playing tonight at The Outland while Black Box Revue moves upstairs, and the show couldn’t come at a better time. The band is on the verge of releasing its long-awaited full-length album Monsters and the Color Red and is preparing to play more shows in support of the record. (If you missed it, Zach Reasoner and Todd Gummerman of Cornbelt talked at length about this and a whole lot more a few weeks ago. Check out the full Q&A here.) Sharing the bill is another local indie group on the comeback: experimental rock group Blackbird Cathedral, which has similarly made a serious effort to play shows again recently. In fact, they played last night at The Outland Ballroom in support of Treaty Of Paris. No rest for bands on the comeback trail.
Speaking of comebacks, let’s tell you about some of the other shows you can see tonight, too:
* Black Box Revue at The Outland Ballroom. This is BBR’s first show back after its trip to SXSW in Austin last week for its annual Lose Control party there, so expect a big bash to mark the occasion. It’s already off to a good start with its move to the Ballroom to accommodate the under-21 dancers who frequent Makeout at Tonic Ultralounge Tuesday nights but usually can’t get into the Friday gig.
* Fienix and Listener at The Front Porch. This show is the wild card of the night, a great matchup of songsmiths with very different approaches. The most intriguing is arguably the spoken-word-meets-band style of Listener, which I’ll just let you experience for yourself:
The show is free, although a $5 donation for the bands is suggested by the FroPo crew.
* Lucky Tubb & The Modern Day Troubadours at Lindberg’s. It’s a safe bet that if you cut Lucky Tubb he will bleed country music. Tubb is the great nephew of ’50s country legend Ernest Tubb, and his music is a snapshot straight from the same era. He also toured in support of Hank Williams III, which is fitting since HW3 keeps his music similarly retro in homage to his famous grandfather–through the first half of his set, anyway.
* The Shotgun Brothers at The High Life Live Martini Lounge
* Nigel & The Ghost and About Time at Nathan P. Murphy’s
* Cornmeal and Ben Miller Band at Patton Alley Pub
* The BoogeyMen, Go Baby Go! and The Bootheel at The Ugly Mug Live Music Tavern
* The Lowdown Fancy at The Daily Pub
* Trash Angels at Archie’s Lounge
* The Expectations at Springfield Brewing Company
* Kristi Meredith at Houlihans
* Farley Waffles & The Electric Wardrobe Extravaganza at The Tipsy Turtle Pub
* Lost Highway at Three 20′s Club
* Pearl at Cartoons
* Goodfoot at Roadhouse Saloon
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