Ozark native Lucas Harrell is back in the big leagues, and he had a great 2012 debut on Saturday.

Riding high after his dominating start against the Colorado Rockies — 7 shutout innings — Ozark native and Houston Astros pitcher Lucas Harrell joined TAG sports editor Allen Vaughan for a special High Road extra podcast, live at the new TAG HQ in downtown SGF (334 E. Walnut).

Lucas and Allen discuss his first start, his second-start expectations, the near-300 text messages he received — before the game was over – his ever-expanding cooking acumen.

Sponsored by Bud Light, Harbell’s Grill and Sports Bar, Millwood Golf and Racquet Club, Laurel Bryant, Murney Realtors and the Bank of Urbana.

MONDAY, APRIL 9

Shinedown at Shrine Mosque
Heavy rock favorite has sold more than 10 million copies of its four albums. They play an early week show at the Shrine with Adelita’s Way and New Medicine.

Midland Rockhounds at Springfield Cardinals (7:08 p.m. & Tuesday 12:08 p.m.)
Top 10 draft pick Michael Choice, centerfield, and the Oakland A’s affiliate wrap up a 3-game series with the scorching-hot bat of Kolten Wong and the SGF Cards.

TUESDAY, APRIL 10

St. Dallas & The Sinners at Lindbergs with Cherry Bomb Burlesque
High-voltage rockabilly punk joined by the ladies of Cherry Bomb Burlesque.

Parkview at Glendale Baseball
City teams clash at the home of the Falcons.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

Title Fight at Outland Ballroom
Underground power punk heavyweight from Pennsylvania.

Kansas State at Missouri State Baseball
Hammons Field is the site for the Bears taking on the Big 12′s Wildcats.

THURSDAY, APRIL 12

Wiz Khalifa at JQH Arena
Don’t mind the smoke, it’s not often SGF hosts a mainstream artist with a current top 10 song on Billboard (not labeled “country”).

Cabaret at Coger Theatre (Continues thru Sunday)
Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre & Dance presents a one-weekend only production of the American stage classic.

TAG Thursday at Outland: Truett & The Traitors, Skyler Smith Band
Weekly live music party at 326 South Ave comes with TAG Team and Bud/Bud Light/Bud Select bottle specials.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13

Into The Woods at Landers Theatre (Continues thru Sunday)
It’s opening weekend at Historic Landers Theatre featuring Kim Crosby in the Tony Award winning musical.

Illinois State at Missouri State Baseball (Series continues thru Sunday)
A three-game set between Missouri Valley Conference kicks off at Hammons Field.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14

Nameless Jam 2012
Springfield Skate Park hosts a Project 405 hip hop culture event with live art competitions, bboy/popping/styles/cyphers, live music performances, skateboarding demonstrations and more.

Ghost Dance at Lindbergs
Good, ol’ fashion rock’n roll at SGF’s “oldest tavern”.

William Jewell at Drury Baseball Saturday-Sunday weekend series
The Panthers host Jewell at Meador Park.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15

Willie Nelson at Juanita K Hammons Hall — Ten-time Grammy Award winner and American music icon Willie Nelson returns to MSU campus.

Blue October at Gillioz Theatre — Platinum-selling rock band best known for 2006 single “Hate Me” joined by Girl in a Coma.

The Bud Light TAG Radio Block
You pick the location to enjoy specialized SGF programming, but tune in to KBFL 99.9 FM (1060 AM) or watch live on TAGsgf.com for live musical performances, local interviews and entertainment.

• Beer Buzz – 4 p.m.
• The High Road – 5 p.m., live at Harbell’s
• SGF Local Live – 6 p.m.: featuring The Seed
• SGF 10 – 7 p.m. (local music as voted by listeners, vote at facebook.com/tagsgf)
• SGF Local Live – 8 p.m.:
• M.E.O. Radio – 9 p.m.: featuring Brief, Loogey, Addie
• M.E.O. Podcast – 10:15 p.m. (on TAGsgf.com)

It’s democratic radio and a way for us to know what SGF wants to listen to. We put the power in your hands (for 10 songs a week) by letting you vote for your favorite SGF music. The SGF 10 airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. during the Bud Light TAG Radio Block (KBFL 99.9 FM/1060 AM/tagsgf.com). To vote, find TAG’s  on Facebook (facebook.com/tagsgf).

SGF 10

4/8/12 — 595 votes (previous rank)

1. P-Win ft. Too Much “Jump In” 137 (NR)
2. Strange People, “Too Filthy” 103 (3)
3. Too Much “Have To Be Free” 101 (1)
4. Far From It, “Float Away” 44 (4)
5. Josh Heinrichs, “So Far From Home” 32 (10)
6. The Give Up, “Peal” 22 (5)
7. The Gardenheads, “Highway 65 Blues” 21 (9)
8. Strangefellas, “Trouble in Black” 21 (NR)
9. Lance Sitton ft. SkillinJah, Josh Heinrichs, “Good Love” 19 (NR)
10. SkillinJah, “Skilla Dan Dem” 16 (NR)

Next Four: Angry Panda, “Moving Target” 15; Canto 17 ft. Jeremy Larson, “The Facade” 13; Brief, “Miss Popular” 9; Truett & The Traitors, “Rest” 6

Dropped Out: P-Win ft. Chuck D, Will A. “Champion” (1); Angry Panda, “Moving Target” (6); Subject To Loss, “No Strings Attached” (7); Truett & The Traitors, “Rest” (8)

Remember those braids? Shavies was the man, back in the day. Photo: Courtesy MSU Athletics

Anthony Shavies is a former Missouri State basketball player (2004-05) who is currently playing overseas for the Furstenfeld Panthers (Austria). Aside from being a fan favorite during his days at SMS (check the photo, he’s old school), he’s also a TAG Media favorite. As the regular season winds down, Shavies has agreed to take us behind the scenes in Austria and show us what it’s like for overseas ballers.

Hoops Diary #4

Hoops Diary #4

I was unsure if I would play in our recent All-Star game, because I have a couple of small nagging injuries (sore wrist, swelling in my knee, etc).  But I decided I would participate anyway.  I had an absolute amazing time.

It’s always fun to hang out with all the other American players in the league, especially when we’re not playing against each other.

It’s not surprising that the guys I “clicked” with the most were Jeremy Fears (Bradley University) and Ali Farokhmanesh (University of Northern Iowa).  Both of which were starters in the All-Star game, and playing very well for their respective teams.  Jeremy and I even had a conversation about how he was close to committing to Missouri State back in the day.

Former MSU guard Anthony Shavies balling out in an all-star game for his league in Austria.

Here’s how the All-Star game works in the Austrian Basketball League. The Austrian All-Stars (basically the Austrian national team) play against the International All-Stars (players not from Austria).  The best thing that can happen during an All-Star game is the score stays close throughout the game, keeping teams competitive.  So with the game tied at the end of regulation the Austrians had the ball.  Taking the last shot for team Austria was Stejpan Stazic (averages 28 points per game), one of the most offensively talented players I’ve ever seen (I’ve seen him score 50 in a game, twice!).  Guarding him was one of the most defensively talented players he’s ever seen, Anthony Isaac Shavies (I recently held Stazic to just seven points, in our last match up).  I forced Stazic into a really tough 3-point attempt which hit nothing, and we went to overtime.

We were able to hold off the Austrians for a 105-103 overtime win.  Scoring 19 points and stopping the Austrians best offensive weapon was all I had to do earn MVP.  It’s my first All-Star MVP award so I felt extremely honored.  It also entitled me to a picture with the “Dragon Ladies” a very popular cheer leading squad in Europe!

There are pictures on my Facebook fan page, and here is a link to the highlights of the game.

Shavies won the MVP of his Austrian League's All Star game, and as a reward, he gets a picture with the Dragon Ladies.

As far as the Furstenfeld Panthers, it’s money time now as we started the quarterfinals this past Sunday.  Despite an embarrassingly off shooting (3-for-14) night by me, we stole the first game of the series on the road.  I was able to contribute in ways besides scoring. I played great defense and led our team with 13 rebounds and 11 assists.  We’re now up 1-0 in the five game series against the Klosterneuburg Dukes.  And although they are second seeded team and we are the seventh, we really like our chances in this series.  Game two is Thursday, and it should be really interesting. Sunday night’s game was not a friendly one, tempers flared up numerous times.  I’m sure they’ll be eager to even up the series, but I’m confident we will be ready to take full control of the series.

Here are some other sports takes on my mind:

• The Bears suffered a HUGE loss when Coach Steve Woodberry accepted an assistant coaching position with Tulsa University.  Most Bears fans are unaware of how important Coach Woodberry is to Bears basketball.  I know he’s going to do a great job for the Golden Hurricanes, and wish him the best of luck.
• Congratulations to Barry Hinson and Southern Illinois University!  Coach Hinson is a great person and I’m sure he’ll do well for the Salukis.  It’s a good hire for SIU, and great opportunity for Coach Hinson to prove he can take a program to the tournament.
• Bobby Petrino should not be fired by Arkansas.  He shouldn’t even be in trouble with the school. Mrs. Petrino should be ticked off, and he deserves some punishment there.  But I don’t believe personal matters such as infidelity should cost you your job.  If he was a janitor I highly doubt it would matter.  The fact that Petrino just hired Jessica Dorrell to work within in his football program is a little sketchy.  But I still do not think this incident should cost him position as head football coach at the University of Arkansas.

There’s probably like five people that read this blog, but I really appreciate the opportunity to write this.  For me it’s amazing to think that people actually read the stuff I write.  So I just want to say thank you to all the readers, I appreciate it.

Shavies Out!

Here is your lineup for Sunday’s TAG Radio block brought to you by the official beer of TAG Media, Bud Light. More announcements throughout the week. If you miss any of the live programming on KBFL 99.9 FM/1060 AM/tagsgf.com, you can find the podcasts here at TAG or on iTunes.

Beer Buzz with Ben Stange, 4 p.m.
Facebook / Email: sgfbeerbuzz@gmail.com

The High Road with Allen Vaughan, 5 p.m.
Live from Harbell’s Grill & Sports Bar (315 Park Central West)
Facebook / Email: thehighroadshow@gmail.com

SGF Local Live, 6 p.m. — The Seed
SGF 10, 7 p.m. (top ten local song countdown, vote by email: sgflocallive@gmail.com)
SGF Local Live, 8 p.m. — Jah Roots Band
Facebook / Email: sgflocallive@gmail.com

M.E.O. Radio, 9 p.m.
Facebook / Email: meopodcast@gmail.com

Before Victor Wooten — your favorite bass player’s favorite bass player, and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones played Missouri State last Wednesday, he performed a bass demonstration and Q&A at Springfield Music.

Shawn, Ryan, Reed and Marcus of Speakeasy joined Sunday’s episode of SGF Local Live to talk about the band’s longevity, roadtrips and new album Trainwreck.

SGF Local Live is live every Sunday at 8 p.m. on KBFL 99.9 FM (1060 AM) and on TAG TV (TAGsgf.com) during the Bud Light TAG Radio Block.

Podcasts also available on iTunes.

A big thanks to our sponsors, please patronize these businesses, and tell them you heard from SGF Local Live. Contact SGFLocalLive@gmail.com or Brett@TAGsgf.com for sponsorship opportunities.

SGF Local Live sponsors

• Bud Light
• Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
• Nonna’s Italian Café
• 1 Love Custom Weddings
• Laurel Bryant, Murney Associates Realtors
• The Tipsy Turtle Pub
• The Gravel Bar

The best part of living in a city that has Double-A baseball is how the Springfield Cardinals are in the middle of everything in the St. Louis Cardinals universe.

Think an injury to the big-league club doesn’t mean much? If there’s a promotion from Triple-A to St. Louis, the ripple is felt here, generally leading to a roster move. Same goes for someone who is sent down from St. Louis to Triple-A Memphis. Either way you cut it, Springfield is always in the center of it.

And that’s not counting the breakout stars that few see coming each year, or the top-notch prospects we get to see. In all, there are 10 former Springfield Cardinals that have graduated to this year’s St Louis Cardinals roster, and a few others who have made injury rehab cameos like Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse and David Freese.

Here are capsule breakdowns for this year’s Springfield Cardinals opening-day roster. The Cardinals open the season at home Thursday against the Frisco RoughRiders.

Here are the players listed by position.

Outfield

OF

Oscar Taveres Born: 06/19/1992 Birthplace: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 180 Bats: L Throws: L

Taveres is the wunderkind you’ve been waiting for. People freaked out when Shelby Miller reached SGF at age 20, so what’s going to happen when Taveres starts to rake at just 19? He led the Low-A Midwest League with a .386 batting average (!) and OPSed over 1.000 with only 8 home runs. Scouts say he’s an on-base machine with the ability to hit in the middle of an order, and like Matt Adams last season, Taveres is skipping High-A. The best thing? We’ll likely get him for the entire 2012 season. He’s the best offensive prospect to reach SGF since Colby Rasmus.

OF

Tommy Pham Born: 03/08/1988 Birthplace: Las Vegas, NV Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 175 Bats: R Throws: R

Pham was off to another great start at Double-A before he got injured — again. Now, he’s still banged up with a shoulder injury which will limit him to DH duty before it’s fully healed. He had eye surgery in the offseason and still has all the raw tools he had as a 16th round pick in the 2006 draft. But now he’s 24 and needs to show he can stay healthy.

OF

Adam Melker Born: 01/31/1988 Birthplace: Claremont, CA College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 180 Bats: L Throws: L

Every once in a while, a low-round pick will emerge at SGF and surprise. At every level, Melker has hit and the organization forgets about his 44th round draft status. He hit a speed bump at Palm Beach with little extra-base power, but has had a nice spring and will provide depth. He’s running out of time as he’s already 24, but he’ll get a crack at Double-A.

OF

Jake Shaffer Born: 08/16/1987 Birthplace: Walton, KY College: Northern Kentucky Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 190 Bats: L Throws: L

Recently added to the roster after being a late cut out of Seattle Mariners camp, Shaffer was quickly signed by the Cardinals and assigned to SGF. His numbers seem to support his 15th round draft status in 2008, but he’ll be 25 in August, so time is running out. Drury fans will recognize Northern Kentucky as a Great Lakes Valley Conference team, and yes, he’s a Division II guy.

Infield

1B

Xavier Scruggs Born: 09/23/1987 Birthplace: Poway, CA Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 210 Bats: R Throws: R

Scruggs finished 2010 at SGF, but was quickly sent back to Palm Beach to start 2011 — mostly because he was blocked by Matt Adams, the eventual Texas League Player of the Year. Now, he’s SGF’s starting first baseman and could put up prodigious power numbers. He belted 21 bombs at spacious Palm Beach and is a home run-or-nothing guy. A 19th rounder in 2008 out of UNLV, he’ll be 25 in September.

2B

Kolten Wong Born: 10/10/1990 Birthplace: Hilo, HI College: Hawaii Height: 5′ 9″ Weight: 190 Bats: L Throws: R

St. Louis’ first-round pick just last year (22nd overall) tore up the Midwest League last season and is already at Double-A. If not for Taveres, he’d be the marquee player this summer. He’s considered fast-tracked to St. Louis, which hasn’t had a steady second baseman since Fernando Vina. Wong is expected to be that guy, equipped with a short, powerful stroke and good knowledge of the strike zone. He might not be long for SGF, either.

2B/ SS

Jose Garcia Born: 02/11/1988 Birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 170 Bats: R Throws: R

Garcia isn’t considered an elite prospect, and he’s back for a third stint in SGF after being called up to Memphis to finish 2011. He’s a versatile infielder and hit above .320 at both levels last season. He’ll be a part of a timeshare at SS, but his bat could sneak into the lineup all over the infield this season.

2B/ SS

Greg Garcia Born: 08/08/1989 Birthplace: El Cajon, CA College: Hawaii Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 175 Bats: L Throws: R

A seventh round pick in the 2010 draft, Garcia was a college teammate of Kolten Wong and they’ll team up for the Cardinals’ double-play combo many times this season. His bat isn’t anything special, but he did explode at Palm Beach with an on-base percentage of .400 in 210 ABs. He’ll start off splitting time at shortstop with Jose Garcia.

3B

Niko Vasquez Born: 02/26/1989 Birthplace: Oxnard, CA Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 170 Bats: R Throws: R

Niko started in SGF last season, but was quickly rooted out by Zack Cox — and and a lack of production. It didn’t get better in Palm Beach, either, as he hasn’t hit since he blistered Johnson City after being a third round pick in 2008 right out of high school. Stranger things have happened than 23-year-olds out of HS figuring it out at Double-A, and Niko has a ton of power potential. He’ll start out as SGF’s starting third baseman this season.

C

Audry Perez Born: 12/23/1988 Birthplace: Sabana Grande, Dominican Republic Height: 5′ 9″ Weight: 180 Bats: R Throws: R

Perez showed flashes of greatness last season as a early-season addition to SGF, especially on defense. Offensively, he showed he has ability, but he refuses to walk. In 316 ABs last year, Perez walked only 7 times. He’ll be the Cards’ starting catcher.

C

Nick Derba Born: 09/09/1985 Birthplace: College Point, NY College: Manhattan Height: 5′ 10″ Weight: 190 Bats: R Throws: R

Nick Derba has maintained a minor-league career because solid defensive catchers are hard to find. That’s what makes the greats so hard to discover, because while Derba can maintain a pitching staff, he can’t hit. Over 5 minor league seasons, while Derba has reached Triple-A, he’s hit below .200 5 times. He starts the season as the backup catcher.

C

Kleininger Teran Born: 07/23/1989 Birthplace: Maracay, Venezuela Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 168 Bats: L Throws: R

A big surprise to make the Springfield team, apparently the Cards are carrying 3 catchers. Teran has had all of 5 at-bats of A ball and opened last season at Johnson City, the lower level of rookie ball. He’s one of 4 SGF Cards that jumped High-A Palm Beach altogether.

Pitchers

RHP

Trevor Rosenthal Born: 05/29/1990 Birthplace: Lee’s Summit, MO College: Cowley County CC, KS Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 190 Bats: R Throws: R

Trevor Rosenthal is this year’s SGF ace atop the starting rotation. Guys like Rosenthal give all baseball players hope. A junior college kid out of Lee’s Summit West, Rosenthal was a 21st round pick in the 2009 draft and shown he has what it makes to makes scouts dream. While his numbers at Low-A Quad Cities weren’t overly dreamy, the Cardinals front office is having him skip High-A and go to the top of the SGF rotation. He’s just a year older than Shelby Miller was when arriving to Double-A, as Rosenthal will be 22 in late May.

LHP

John Gast Born: 02/16/1989 Birthplace: Altamonte Springs, FL College: Florida State Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 195 Bats: L Throws: L

Gast came to SGF midway through last season to much fanfare. A sixth round pick in 2010, making Double-A in Year 2, much was expected for the starter. The results? Meh. He showed rare flashes of wildness and overall inconsistency. Still, he has the ability to throw the gem and keep hitters off balance with a four-pitch arsenal. He knows he has an opportunity in a system that lacks southpaw depth, too.

RHP

Michael Blazek Born: 03/16/1989 Birthplace: Las Vegas, NV Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 180 Bats: R Throws: R

A 35th round pick out a Las Vegas high school in 2007, Blazek is still just 23 and has caught the eye of Cardinals management. After 24 starts in SGF, which produced 11 wins and 128 Ks in 133 2/3 innings, as well as a 5.45 ERA and 25 home runs allowed, Blazek made two solid starts at Memphis. It goes to prove that sometimes the numbers are what you believe. They want him to stick in the rotation, but his swing and miss stuff would play very well in the bullpen, if not. He’ll be a starter here in SGF with the ability to move up to Memphis in case of injury.

RHP

Scott Gorgen Born: 01/27/1987 Birthplace: Concord, CA College: UC Irvine Height: 5′ 10″ Weight: 190 Bats: R Throws: R

Two years ago, Gorgen was a burgeoning starting pitcher prospect who many thought was too short to become a big league starter. Then, over 12 starts in 2010, he was virtually unhittable, striking out 46 in 50 innings and holding batters to a .188 average. His sinker was working, as well as a wipe-out breaking ball. The only thing that could stop him was Tommy John surgery, which cost him the rest of 2010 and all of 2011. Now, he’s back and we will see if his stuff is where it left off — or, maybe better.

LHP

Tyler Lyons Born: 02/21/1988 Birthplace: Lubbock, TX College: Oklahoma State Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 195 Bats: S Throws: L

A ninth-round pick in 2010 out of Oklahoma State, Lyons didn’t pitch in 2010, but put together a strong pro debut at High-A Palm Beach last season. His peripherals aren’t overly impressive, but he did throw the first no-hitter in PB history last season, a 7-inning domination of Fort Myers. He will start for SGF in the Cards/Cards exhibition Monday.

LHP

Sam Freeman Born: 06/24/1987 Birthplace: Houston, TX College: Kansas Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 170 Bats: R Throws: L

Sam Freeman is on the 40-man roster and honestly represents all most of St. Louis’ lefthanded relief pitching organizational depth. He missed all of 2010 with Tommy John surgery, but worked his way back to SGF last season, making 52 appearances. He’s not a traditional lefty specialist, which is why he might be in the mix for saves this season as the team searches for a closer. If he excels, expect him to quickly move to Memphis. He’ll turn 25 in June.

LHP

Nick Greenwood Born: 09/28/1987 Birthplace: Southington, CT College: Rhode Island Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 180 Bats: R Throws: L

Pitching at 3 levels in a minor league season is always a good thing, even if 59 of his 62 2011 appearances were made at Double-A. Greenwood was up-and-down for SGF — like all of its bullpen — but as with Freeman, this organization is slim on lefties. He’ll get a chance to pitch his way in and out of a job all season, especially since he was part of the Jake Westbrook-Ryan Ludwick trade two seasons ago.

RHP

Eric Fornataro Born: 01/02/1988 Birthplace: Houston, TX College: Miami Dade CC South Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 195 Bats: R Throws: R

Fornataro pitched into some bad luck last year, spending all season as a starter at Palm Beach. But, at 24, it’s time to advance to Double-A, and with a stacked rotation, he’ll begin at SGF as a long reliever. He was a sixth-round pick out of Miami Dade CC in 2008. Win-loss record is normally an overblown stat, but as a starter over the last two seasons, he’s 14-28. That’s hard to ignore.

RHP

Deryk Hooker Born: 06/21/1989 Birthplace: San Diego, CA Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 185 Bats: R Throws: R

Hooker pitched at three levels last seaason, but only made 14 appearances — all starts. He’s only 22, so there’s time and the Cardinals believe in his big frame. But, he needs to be healthy to see return on their investment in a 7th round pick in 2007. He’ll pitch out of the bullpen and hope there are rotation opportunities soon.

RHP

Kevin Thomas Born: 07/08/1986 Birthplace: Lufkin, TX College: Stephen F Austin State Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 215 Bats: R Throws: R

The Cardinals thought they had a steal in Thomas, a 33rd round pick in 2008 out of Stephen F. Austin State, especially after a 2.27 ERA in 14 Palm Beach starts in 2010. He was SGF’s Opening Day starter last season and never found his footing. A sinkerballer, he got pounded, even though he had a 2.56 ground out/fly out ratio. After 16 starts and a plus-6 ERA, he ended up in the bullpen. That’s where he’ll start this season. If he struggles, his career might be over.

RHP

Keith Butler Born: 01/30/1989 Birthplace: Morgantown, KY College: Wabash Valley Col Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 180 Bats: R Throws: R

A 24th round pick out of Wabash Valley College, Butler has turned into a solid pro reliever. Now in Double-A at 23 years old, don’t be surprised if Butler emerges as the closer. His stuff isn’t anything special, but he gets outs at a high rate. Between both A levels last season, opposing batters hit less than 150 against him and his ERA was sub 1.25. Crazy, and he gets swings and misses, too.

RHP

Scott Schneider Born: 06/07/1988 Birthplace: Fallbrook, CA College: St Marys Col Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 175 Bats: R Throws: R

Thought to be someone the rotation could depend on, Schneider had a rough year, barely keeping his ERA under 6. He was removed from the rotation after 20 starts and provided some long relief. He’s back, trying to find a way to keep his job.

RHP

Jorge Rondon Born: 09/16/1988 Birthplace: Calabozo, Venezuela Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 175 Bats: R Throws: R

Don’t look at Rondon’s stats. (I said, don’t!) Yes, his ERA was nearly 10 last season and opponents might have qualified for batting titles if he regularly pitched. Reports out of Jupiter say his controll is better, which was the genesis of his struggles. He walked more batters (33) than he struck out (30), too. Yikes.

Starting season on DL

RHP Jordan Swagerty, who finished as last year’s closer, but was expected to join rotation. He’s out for the entire season and will have Tommy John surgery.

Remember those braids? Shavies was the man, back in the day. Photo: Courtesy MSU Athletics

Anthony Shavies is a former Missouri State basketball player (2004-05) who is currently playing overseas for the Furstenfeld Panthers (Austria). Aside from being a fan favorite during his days at SMS (check the photo, he’s old school), he’s also a TAG Media favorite. As the regular season winds down, Shavies has agreed to take us behind the scenes in Austria and show us what it’s like for overseas ballers.

Hoops Diary #3

“I’ve been holding this in for a while now, so I’m just going to say it.  Something NEEDS to be done about the referee’s in Austria.  They have really struggled this season.  The players aren’t going to make every shot and the officials aren’t going to get every call right.  But they need to do a better job, and if they are not capable then the league needs to find  officials that are capable of doing a better job.”

• Ohio State vs. Kansas – I think the athleticism of Thomas Robinson and length of Jeff Withey will give Jared Sullinger trouble.  But the difference will be Aaron Craft completely shutting down Tyshawn Taylor.  Ohio State wins by seven.
• Kentucky vs. Louisville – Smart money says the magic is over for the Cardinals.  Very rarely do you see a team from a power conference become the Cinderella of the tournament.  However, Louisville is a team without a “for sure” NBA player which makes them a Cinderella in my opinion. But, I have a feeling that Louisville’s zone will give Kentucky trouble and keep the game close.  Then with less than a minute to play Kyle Kuric hits a huge three, giving the Cardinals the lead and eventually the win.
• Ohio State goes on to beat Louisville in a very uninteresting championship game.

• New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton, deserves a suspension but not a whole season
• Duke University guard Austin Rivers is not ready for the NBA. He plays both guard positions but is not great at either
• New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, demand a trade cause your days are numbered
• New Orleans Hornet Jason Smith should be suspended at least three games after an extremely dangerous and dirty foul on Blake Griffin
• Tiger Woods wins his 7th Bay Hill title! That’s awesome, hope it’s a preview of things to come

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Other Recent Party Pic Galleries

• First Friday Art Walk March 2012
• TAG Thursday at The Outland (Migraine Head, Modern Epic, Comedian Merr)
• Mardi Gras Pub Crawl Downtown
• Quincy Magoo’s and The Roost (2/22)
• Endurocross at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
• Midnight Rodeo (2/16)
• Electric Cowboy, Shred Your Ex Night
• Drury basketball double-header against William Jewell
• Bud Light Platinum Release Party
• Sunday Football Crawl: Quincy Magoo’s/Buffalo Wild Wings/Skybox
• Skinny Improv at Nonna’s Attic
• Bryan Adams at Gillioz Theatre
• Ultra Hour
• Party Pics at Electric Cowboy (1/18/12)
• Paper Anchors, Mirrors Facing Mirrors release at Outland Ballroom
• Party Pics at Midnight Rodeo
• Party Pics at Big Whiskey’s
• Arenacross at Ozark Empire Fairground
• The Give Up Debut, party pics at Outland/Tropical Liqueurs
• Party Pics at The Roost (1/4/12)
• New Year’s Eve
• Party Pics at the Give Up debut/Trops/Outland
• Party Pics at Blue Bull/ICON
• Sunday Football Crawl (Ebbet’s Field South/Fox & Hound/Hooter’s)
• College Crawl (Boogie/Bubbles/Zan)
• December Laughing Stock at Outland
• Hinder at Gillioz Theatre
• Springfield Downtown Christmas Parade
• UnCivil War III at Clarion
• G.O.B.A. Bartender’s Ball
• Party Pics at Boomer’s (12/3/11)
• December First Friday Art Walk
• Party Pics at Midnight Rodeo (12/1/11)
• Complete Archive

#417BeerSpot

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Other Recent Party Pic Galleries

• First Friday Art Walk March 2012
• TAG Thursday at The Outland (Migraine Head, Modern Epic, Comedian Merr)
• Mardi Gras Pub Crawl Downtown
• Quincy Magoo’s and The Roost (2/22)
• Endurocross at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
• Midnight Rodeo (2/16)
• Electric Cowboy, Shred Your Ex Night
• Drury basketball double-header against William Jewell
• Bud Light Platinum Release Party
• Sunday Football Crawl: Quincy Magoo’s/Buffalo Wild Wings/Skybox
• Skinny Improv at Nonna’s Attic
• Bryan Adams at Gillioz Theatre
• Ultra Hour
• Party Pics at Electric Cowboy (1/18/12)
• Paper Anchors, Mirrors Facing Mirrors release at Outland Ballroom
• Party Pics at Midnight Rodeo
• Party Pics at Big Whiskey’s
• Arenacross at Ozark Empire Fairground
• The Give Up Debut, party pics at Outland/Tropical Liqueurs
• Party Pics at The Roost (1/4/12)
• New Year’s Eve
• Party Pics at the Give Up debut/Trops/Outland
• Party Pics at Blue Bull/ICON
• Sunday Football Crawl (Ebbet’s Field South/Fox & Hound/Hooter’s)
• College Crawl (Boogie/Bubbles/Zan)
• December Laughing Stock at Outland
• Hinder at Gillioz Theatre
• Springfield Downtown Christmas Parade
• UnCivil War III at Clarion
• G.O.B.A. Bartender’s Ball
• Party Pics at Boomer’s (12/3/11)
• December First Friday Art Walk
• Party Pics at Midnight Rodeo (12/1/11)
• Complete Archive

#417BeerSpot

[[Show as slideshow]]

Other Recent Party Pic Galleries

• First Friday Art Walk March 2012
• TAG Thursday at The Outland (Migraine Head, Modern Epic, Comedian Merr)
• Mardi Gras Pub Crawl Downtown
• Quincy Magoo’s and The Roost (2/22)
• Endurocross at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
• Midnight Rodeo (2/16)
• Electric Cowboy, Shred Your Ex Night
• Drury basketball double-header against William Jewell
• Bud Light Platinum Release Party
• Sunday Football Crawl: Quincy Magoo’s/Buffalo Wild Wings/Skybox
• Skinny Improv at Nonna’s Attic
• Bryan Adams at Gillioz Theatre
• Ultra Hour
• Party Pics at Electric Cowboy (1/18/12)
• Paper Anchors, Mirrors Facing Mirrors release at Outland Ballroom
• Party Pics at Midnight Rodeo
• Party Pics at Big Whiskey’s
• Arenacross at Ozark Empire Fairground
• The Give Up Debut, party pics at Outland/Tropical Liqueurs
• Party Pics at The Roost (1/4/12)
• New Year’s Eve
• Party Pics at the Give Up debut/Trops/Outland
• Party Pics at Blue Bull/ICON
• Sunday Football Crawl (Ebbet’s Field South/Fox & Hound/Hooter’s)
• College Crawl (Boogie/Bubbles/Zan)
• December Laughing Stock at Outland
• Hinder at Gillioz Theatre
• Springfield Downtown Christmas Parade
• UnCivil War III at Clarion
• G.O.B.A. Bartender’s Ball
• Party Pics at Boomer’s (12/3/11)
• December First Friday Art Walk
• Party Pics at Midnight Rodeo (12/1/11)
• Complete Archive

#417BeerSpot

Iconic bassist and frontman Les Claypool leads Grammy-winning Primus to SGF’s Gillioz Theatre Friday, June 1, confirmed by Michael Owens, managing director of the Gillioz. Tickets go on sale this Friday (March 9) at 10 a.m. and are listed at $39.50. Primus has nine full-length releases, including 2011′s Green Naugahyde which came 12 years after its prior release Antipop. The band which can be defined by no genre is led by the quirky (and genius) Claypool, whose name enters starts most “greatest bass player” conversations. Primus found wild popularity with back-to-back platinum-selling albums in the early 1990s — Sailing the Seas of Cheese and Pork Soda, released in 1991 and 1993, respectively, and won a Grammy in 1994.

Primus at Gillioz Theatre, Friday, June 1, 8 p.m.
Tickets on sale: Friday, March 9 at 10 a.m. at Gillioz Box Office or by calling 863-9491 or online

Coach Paul Lusk called off the dogs with 32 seconds to play and the Missouri State basketball Bears fell once again to the Evansville Aces, 72-64, Friday night in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. So much for that whole “tough to lose to the same team three times” school of thought. Missouri State ended its season with a five game skid — the Bears’ third loss to the Purple Aces. While an invite to a lower postseason tourney is possible, even a CIT or CBI berth seems like a pretty big stretch for the sixth-best team in the Valley. TAG was at Scottrade Center in St. Louis for the Bears one-and-done appearance at Arch Madness.

This photo gallery is massive and unlabeled, but in order so you can watch Friday’s story from anticipation to disappointment.

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photos by Brett Johnston

Here is your lineup for Sunday’s TAG Radio block brought to you by the official beer of TAG Media, Bud Light. More announcements throughout the week. If you miss any of the live programming on KBFL 99.9 FM/1060 AM/tagsgf.com, you can find the podcasts here at TAG or on iTunes.

Beer Buzz with Ben Stange, 4 p.m.
Facebook / Email: sgfbeerbuzz@gmail.com
862-9977 / (800) 375-0056

The High Road with Allen Vaughan, 5 p.m.
Live from Harbell’s Grill & Sports Bar (315 Park Central West)
Guest: Former Missouri State Bear and current NBA D-League baller Will Creekmore
Facebook / Email: thehighroadshow@gmail.com
862-9977 / (800) 375-0056

SGF Music Rotation, 6 p.m.
SGF 10, 7 p.m. (top ten local song countdown, vote by email: sgflocallive@gmail.com)
SGF Local Live, 8 p.m.
Guests: Tah Mii Pee (The Spacetones), Tyler Snodgrass
Facebook / Email: sgflocallive@gmail.com
862-9977 / (800) 375-0056

M.E.O. Radio, 9 p.m.
Facebook / Email: meopodcast@gmail.com
862-9977 / (800) 375-0056

Missouri State University announced that Atlantic Records artist Wiz Khalifa will play JQH Arena Thursday, April 12. Wiz found prominence with his Billboard No. 1 single “Black and Yellow” which was nominated for two Grammy’s in 2011 (Best Rap Song & Best Rap Performance. Wiz won Best New Artist from American Music Awards and BET. Khalifa has three full-length albums with the fourth, O.N.I.F.C., due out this year. His last album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard with nearly 200,000 copies stateside in the first week. His new single with Snoop Dogg, “Young, Wild and Free”, already has more than 42 million views and is dominating the pop radio airwaves (currently No. 8 on Billboard).

It continues what has been a strong couple of months for SGF hip hop fans. First, Wu Tang‘s Cappadonna was announced (March 6 at Outland Ballroom). Then Grammy nominee J Cole was announced (April 23 at Drury’s O’Reilly Family Event Center). Details as to who will be coming with Khalifa to the Q haven’t been released. He is currently touring with Big Sean and went on the road with Snoop Dogg last year, but expect a light opener with a name like Khalifa (read: don’t get greedy).

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. (Wednesday, Feb. 29) and run $37 ($25 for MSU students) and will be available at the JQH box office, by phone (836-7678 or 1-888-476-7849), or online.

You probably shouldn’t watch Wiz Khalifa videos at work

Comedian Merr (photo by BakedFreshDaily.com)

Funny.

When you sit down with a person who does comedy it’s not about the funny. Well, it is, but not in the way that you would think.

We (The-Typically-Not-As-Funny-As-We-Think-We-Are) wake up in the morning, chug a pot of coffee while we’re getting ready for work, or class, or whatever. Scarf down breakfast and head out the door. Some of us may have one of those jobs where we’re challenged (or sort-of challenged, you know what I mean), but usually the stress is manageable (it’s a job, meh, you gotta do what you gotta do). Typically, you have the time to chat it up in the office/shop/breakroom and hover the quintessential “water cooler” or whatnot about mid morning. Eventually you wander back to your desk/workspace/cubicle and update Facebook, (“Dragonfart Super Buffet Inn III with my fav werk buds! Om nom nom!”) Lunch comes and goes. You spend the afternoon in meetings, or answering emails or phones, or getting your hands a little dirty (all the while quietly regretting that second helping of Cashew Chicken at the Dragonfart Buffet and wishing you would’ve passed on the what-looked-like-potstickers). Finally, towards the end of your day/shift, you check Facebook one last time before you head out (24 Likes on the lunchtime status update…really?), then go home. Perhaps on lighter note you’re a student still studying for one of these presumed top-of-the-line, 21st century, university educated professions—which means between CIS 101 and MTH 180 you occupy a cushioned lounger at the student union while you devour Funyuns and chug sugar-free Red Bull and half study between text messages and Reddit posts, then eventually wander to class.

Comedian Merr has helped revitalize SGF stand up with Laughing Stock.

Now, pretend your job is to make people laugh; the mundane mentioned above suddenly needs to be chronicled, categorized, and made interesting…or the mundane needs to be stripped away and made relevant, fantastic, and hilarious. Those who operate in comedy laugh at us and our monotony. They don’t see a person preparing for their day and living it, they see the funny aspect of us trying to get through that day and the adventures that each hour of the continual twenty-four has to offer our feeble human minds. Sometimes, it’s because they are the same people as us, and they walk the same paths that we do, munch on the same Funyuns and What-Look-Like-Potstickers, and ultimately live this hilarity along with us. There are others that have made the time to sit next to the path and just observe our journey, watching hilarity ensue as we meander by.

Our city has one that not only walks along our path, but paves it for others. His name is Mark Achmanbeault. Or, as he is more commonly known around Springvegas, “Merr.”

Again, when you sit down with a comedian, it’s not always about the funny, and it really shouldn’t be to an extent. Comedy is one of the more difficult of the performing arts. In comedy, (in for-real-life, stand-up-performance-comedy) you can literally die out there, folks. And quite honestly once you’re dead, there’s usually no resurrection. In dramas, love stories, or works of a thoughtful or provoking nature you can maybe bounce back from a bad run, pull at some heart strings, make a few people cry, yadda yadda yadda…but in the ha-ha-funny biz, once you’re dead, you’re usually just d e a d; and unfortunately people tend not to think twice about it the loss of another comedian to those cruel, guffawing Gods.

Hence, Merr is about business, to the extent that Merr is about business—if you know what I mean. He asked me to meet him at his place after his it-pays-the-bills-for-right-now day job. Also, it’s winter. So it’s cold tonight, and too misty and rainy for him to ride his scooter all over town to meet elsewhere. A point A to point B sort of night for the Merr…and yeah, you read that right, he’s on his scooter.

Side note: Since we’re on the topic, I will admit that I’ve always wanted a scooter; am I a little jealous? Perhaps. I think to myself, “how incredibly economic, unconventional, and fun.” Especially since I have a sedan that burns fuel like it’s running on eighteen wheels. At the same time I’m also thinking, “how freaking funny is it, that a comedian, whose sole purpose is to make people laugh, uses one of the more hilarious forms of transportation as his primary means of conveyance.” Nyuck nyuck nyuck. I study the irony in my head, and decide that on a night like this I am not so jealous, and I laugh a little to my own presumably hilarious self. I am among the typically aforementioned, unfunny.

On my way up the maze of open stairways, breezeways, and hallways I’m getting drenched. Tonight was definitely not a scooter night. I knock on the door and a muffled “Come in!” is yelled, so I let myself in into Merr’s apartment, a.k.a. the M.E.O. Studio, a.k.a. the original home of the M.EO. Podcast with Eric and Merr. Eric, Merr’s roommate, is deep into first person shoot ‘em up on the PS3. Friends, it must be mentioned that on more than one occasion I have seen this living room filled with not just Eric, but some of Springfield’s finest musicians, DJs, performing artists, visual artists, and athletes. If you think of anybody that’s had anything to do with SGF entertainment they’ve probably walked through this same door. Really, it’s kinda’ epic to think about…if you think about it. The M.E.O. Podcast with Eric and Merr is the last show on the Sunday night TAG Radio block on 99.9, following very popular SGF Local Live. The 9’oclock M.E.O broadcast is a shock jock-esque show for TAG, but afterwards, TAG Radio producer Brett Johnston locks the studio up for the night and they move the entire party (guests included) over to Eric and Merr’s for the old-school podcast throw down. A place where anything goes, you say-what-you-want, and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Tonight it’s just Eric and Merr…and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. In an effort to focus on the task at hand, and to save myself from own recurring ADD I suggest we move this interview to another spot, away from the giant TV and greatest first person shooter ever made. I’ve got an itchy trigger finger and the PS3 controller is very familiar in my hands. Walking through the apartment itself, it is hard not to notice how it is a hodge podge of two very different yet very similar personalities, it’s the quintessential roommate explosion of décor. Merr, the comic book enthusiast, has numerous still packaged action figures everywhere; Eric has several guns in a gun rack. If you’re questioning how those two are similar based on what I’ve just mentioned, don’t, because they are somehow…think Marvel’s Deadpool. If Eric and Merr were to mutate into one being, or one entity, it would be Deadpool. And maybe without all the severe emotional fantasy trauma…and unlike Deadpool, fighting for the good guys more often than not because these two individuals are just that, good freaking people. Good guys.

We sit down, far from any digital combat, and Merr lights up a Marlboro. I follow suit. It’s not very often that I smoke indoors anymore, and it’s comforting for some reason. I open the laptop and prepare to type feverishly…

Merr’s story demands attention, and I say that because it is about the seriousness of art and the seriousness of the love that he has for the community of artists that he supports. Merr is slowly becoming SGF’s comedy don by making a name for himself with edgy and smart comedy that this city has somehow kept hidden for quite some time. So, as with any origin story, it has to start somewhere. We, my friends, will start in this apartment, in a mundane world, in SGF…

TAG: Where are did you first start as a performer, or comedian?

Merr: I grew up in St. Louis and did a few productions in high school and became really interested in acting…but I’ve always been into comedy.

He leans back and exhales after he answers this question, smoke settling in the air between us.

TAG: (Not the right question…) Let me rephrase that: How did you become Merr?

Merr: (laughing) I was seventeen, and as I said I was into acting. I’d done maybe one play in my whole life…so obviously I didn’t have a whole lot of experience as a performer, but I see this ad in the Riverfront Times where they are having auditions for the Brand X Comedy Troupe, which is a professional Improv group in St. Louis. Again, I was seventeen and, again, I had only done like one real play in my life, but there’s this call for auditions flyer staring me in the face. As I was I kept thinking, “I watch Kids in the Hall, Whose Line Is it, Anyway? I see them doing awesome stuff all the time,” and I pay attention, and I know that I could do that.

TAG: And they say you can’t learn anything from television…

Merr: So I show up and there were all these like, I used to call them “old people,” there but they were around twenty-eight to thirty, anyway, I show up and they’re like, “What’s this kid doin’ here?” but to their (and my own) surprise I ended up actually doing a pretty good job and they invited me to join their cast. I ended up performing with them off and on until I graduated college.

TAG: Where’d you go to college?

Merr: That’s actually how I ended up in Springfield. I won a scholarship for theatre. My freshman year at SMS (Missouri State) I auditioned for a Mainstage show and was cast—I was the only freshmen to make it to make it into this particular production. I suppose I was happy but I only did one more show after that. It was during my second production as a theatre major where I noticed that I didn’t enjoy being a toy for some director, so to speak. I was frustrated because I wanted more control over the entire project…but really, I think I just I wanted to be part of the creative process from beginning to end. That next year I changed my major for the first time then changed it again several times (long sigh). After bouncing around to several different departments I finally settled on mass media production with a minor in communications, because I thought that I needed at least part of a “real” degree to get a “real” job. I liked film, and Mass Media seemed the natural fit. Even though I was no longer involved in theatre, I still did improv. My freshman year I started a group myself called No Laughing Matter. It’s funny actually, because No Laughing Matter, was really just a bunch of my friends who I would make go do improv with me at the Magic Bean. I later got involved with a group called Improvisationally Impaired an SMS performance group that did improv at the Student Union.

TAG: Did you also stay with these other groups all through college?

MERR: Like with Brand X it was off and on, so yeah, not really the whole time but enough to get some experience and meet some really cool people. Honestly, I was getting into the film thing at SMS, and I made a few shorts for media projects…and kind of moving away from just improv, I also joined a sketch comedy group called Jabberwocky with Johnny Mello and several other funny, talented actors who had done a lot of other stuff around town. I was with them for about a year. Yeah, regardless of what I was actually doing, I couldn’t stay away from performing.

TAG: You were a busy man.

MERR: You know, it’s not so much that I was busy, so much I was just involved in a lot of really fun stuff. It never felt like I was “busy” in the traditional sense. I was just doing what I wanted to be doing.

TAG: What about stand-up? When did that start for you?

MERR: My senior year, 2004, I saw a poster for an open mic stand-up competition in the PSU so I wrote up some stuff, and practiced it and practiced and practiced it, trying to get it committed to memory as best I could. Before the show I was so nervous, pacing, practicing, visualizing, and I got up there and totally bombed. When it was all over, I walked off stage and asked my girlfriend at the time how I did and she said, “Well, you looked really good up there.” But I thought of it like this, a lot of other people would be like, “I’m never going to do that again,” but I instead, I was like, “I know I can do this.” I started writing more, but I didn’t get real into the stand up thing right away because there was nowhere to do it. At that point I would just write some material, go to an open mic, try it out and see how it worked. As I kept doing that I ended up meeting Matt Allen who did an open mic set at the Outland one night. A friend of mine came and got me from the other room and said, “Mark, some dude is doing stand up!” At the time I was kinda’ the only one doing anything like stand-up (consistently, of course) so the first thing I wanted to do was meet him ‘cause he was really funny. After his set we started talking and coming up with ideas and really just learning the process together. Then, we put together the very first comedy show at the Outland ever, a tribute to Mitch Hedberg, this was like 2006, or so, about a year after he died.

TAG: Is that how your relationship with The Outland started?

MERR: Sort of, but not really. After the Mitch Hedberg thing we did a few more shows, and I guess I should mention Sir Gregory’s, because they were doing comedy, but we never went there because I didn’t realize there was an open mic part of it. I thought it was just regular performances. And I guess I should also admit that I was a little arrogant at the time. I didn’t want to just see regular people perform. I wanted to see the best, because I wanted to learn from the best. Instead of attending these local shows where I could actually talk to other people doing the same thing that I was doing, I would sit at home and watch David Cross, Bill Hicks, and Louis C.K., stuff like that. Then, one night Matt and I were invited out there and we thought we killed it, but right after they shut down. Sir Laugh-A-Lots and Sir Gregory’s was just, like, gone. It was like, “So much for that.” Anyway, immediately after Harpo’s started doing comedy and I approached the owner and was look, “I’ve been doing comedy for several years now and I’d love to have the opportunity to open, or host for you.” They sized me up and said, “Why don’t you go up and do five minutes tonight, so we can see what you got.” I went up there, and did five minutes. It was a pretty good set, really, but I was still so new, and arrogant, and not nearly as “learned,” but they still took a chance and offered me the job.

TAG: Cool, so you were getting paid to do comedy?

MERR: Ha! No. I was also DJing at Bugsy Malone’s, I would have to set up at Bugsy’s run to Harpo’s, perform five minutes, run back to Bugsy’s, do karaoke for fifteen minutes, then run back to Harpo’s and introduce the next comic. There were usually three comics. I would do things until they had all performed, then go back to Bugsy’s and finish the night. But Matt and I would switch weeks though, so it wasn’t as bad as it sounds.

TAG: %*&% man, still. Geez. How did you even pull that off?

MERR: I needed the money. I wasn’t getting paid for the Harpo’s thing, it was just experience. So, yeah. I made it work. Then Harpo’s closed so I was back to square one. But Matt Allen, he went on tour…went away for a couple of months, came back, and said that he was quitting. I tried to talk to him about it but he just didn’t want to do it anymore. The road ruined it for him, he said. After that I got pretty discouraged, because Matt was the only other guy doing this with me and I essentially had to start all over, so I laid off it for a while. A long while. Granted, I eventually got the bug again and started casually hitting the open mics around town but it didn’t feel the same. It wasn’t until I was introduced to Kenny DeForest I that I really got back into the game. The night we met, Kenny and I, we sat and talked about comedy for pretty much the entire evening and I told him that he had to come with me to the Outland the next time I went. We met up, he did his first set ever, had a bunch of friends there, got a bunch of laughs, and did a great job. I mean, Compared to what he does now…it was nothing, but for his first set ever it was damn good. After that, he was hooked. We kept doing the Outland thing, then started booking shows at the Snorty Horse Saloon, scheduling actual shows at the Outland (not just open mics), Billiard’s Blue Room, any of the places in town that would have a comic, we were in.

TAG: Nice, I’m assuming your reputation will precede you from here?

MERR: To an extent. But there was a turning point for me in comedy, well, both Kenny and I. It was at the Billiard’s Blue Room in 2009, we were doing a show, and it was after his performance that he seriously considered moving to Chicago and doing comedy up there because he knew he was good. For me, that Blue Room show was the longest set I had ever done, it was a twenty to thirty minute set, and people laughed at everything I said. It was the highest high I had ever felt. That was the moment it clicked, when everything came together, the good shows, the bad shows, and the weird times in-between. It was that precise moment I felt like knew what I was doing…sort of. Because I had another epiphany later on but…But! It was that moment when felt like I maybe knew what I was doing. (laughing). Like I knew I was good. After that, Kenny moves to Chicago, I kept at it here in town, but again, there wasn’t really anything going on…but in January 2010 the owner of the Outland approached me and was like, “I’ve noticed more and more stand up lately, how would you like to host an open mic comedy night?” and I said, “That’s a great idea.” And he said, “Well, you’re the only person that I can think to even pull off something, or ask to do something like that.”

TAG: And Laughing Stock is born!

MERR: Wait for it…we decided on a night that wasn’t all that busy, Tuesday. The first Tuesday of every month, so it was easy to remember. I promoted it all over all the social networks, and it still happens to this very day thanks to our friends and fans. Every first Tuesday of every month at the Outland is Laughing Stock with Merr. And honestly, I can’t say enough good things about that venue. The Outland has been very supportive of both myself and the show and I owe them a lot, more than I can put into words. I can’t thank them enough.

TAG: So where do you want to go from here?

MERR: Right now, we’re working on supporting the existing comics. We’re also recruiting talent, evolving the show, getting people to it, participating in it, and sustaining it…and encouraging those same people to participate in it. Really, I want to just continue to build the scene. I have so much that I personally want to do and I feel like there’s no end in sight. It only gets bigger from here. With the individuals and talent that live in Springfield I really don’t have to limit myself to anything. This is a great place to grow as an artist or just as a creative personality in general. I have a great group of friends and people that I surround myself with, so I feel like there’s a lot that I still have left to accomplish. But, in the end, it’s still job. Comedy is a job. You have to try, and this is with any creative endeavor: if you’re under the impression that you have to wait for the right mood or feeling to make something, then you’re not going to create as much as you should. Just try, just do something, everyday. It may not be good, or the best, and you might not even be able to use it. But maybe years down the line, you can take what you’ve done and use experience to mold it, move it, and make it into something more useful. There are many days when I just sit in front of my computer and watch the cursor blink, but I will myself to write because I love it. Today, I’ll do this because I know that I can, tomorrow I’ll continue to do it, despite a whole different set of rules and possibilities, because of what I’ve already done.

Merr is recording his first live album at The Blue Room in Billiards (541 E Saint Louis St.) Thursday, Feb. 23. If you’re looking to be a part of what could be big things for SGF’s own then you’ll be there and put your laugh on his track.

Merr can also be found the first Tuesday of every month at the Outland hosting the Laughing Stock comedy showcase, he can also find him as co-host for the M.E.O. Podcast with Eric and Merr on TAG Radio, Sunday nights at 9:00 on 99.9 FM KBFL, tagsgf.com or meopodcast.com

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photos by Brett Johnston, TAGsgf.com

Tuesday, Feb. 21

The Hackensaw Boys and Lydia Loveless at Lindberg’s
International touring bluegrass act out of Virginia sometimes feels as much like punk as it does bluegrass … others it feels like Delmar O’Donnell might be in the corner getting baptized.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

Kyle Weems senior day – MSU hosts Indiana State
Every senior day is special, but it’s not often to send off a senior as beloved as Kyle Weems. Watch the defending MVC Player of the Year face Indiana State in what is probably his final game at JQH Arena. A win will help MSU stay in third in the conference, important for next week’s Valley Tournament. Tip is at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Merr: Live From The Corner at Billiard’s Blue Room
SGF standup veteran, Merr (host of Laughing Stock, co-host of M.E.O. Radio) records his debut album in front of a live audience with performances by Kenny DeForest, Matt Scheele and Tim Messersmith. It’s hosted by John Pinney, and your cover charge includes an album voucher.

Friday, Feb. 24

Class 5 District 11 HS basketball championship games
We don’t know who will play in these games yet, but the final four looks like this: Nixa, Kickapoo, Glendale and Parkview. That means it’s good basketball. The girls’ championship is at 6 p.m. with the boys at 7:30.

Doyle Hargrave’s Construction at Outland Ballroom
SGF’s Dwight Yoakam tribute band plays after Mustache brings back the magic of country music in the 1980s.

Saturday, Feb. 25

Mardi Gras Pub Crawl Downtown
A $10 wristband gets you into 14 downtown venues to celebrate your upcoming fast (wait a minute, Mardi Gras hasn’t become the party supply vendors’ Christmas, has it?). Live music, beads, and more for your entertainment (and a handful of crazies).

Class 4 District 11 HS basketball championship games
It’s likely that DGB and the Hillcrest Hornets get to this championship game. And if they do, it’s likely it will be against Republic, the team that upset Hillcrest in the Blue and Gold final. Girls’ title game at 1, with boy at 2:30 p.m.

Meltdown Mayhem at The Outland
Rap meets rock at this Q102 homegrown show featuring State of Mizery, Funkee Noosa and Far From Home.

Sunday, Feb. 26

Greater Ozarks Bartenders Association Bartender’s Bash at Shrine Mosque
More than 21 area bartenders compete for “Best Drink”, “Best Bar” and other awards to benefit the Shrine charities for children. The $10 cover includes food and drinks.

The Bud Light TAG Radio Block
You pick the location to enjoy specialized SGF programming, but tune in to KBFL 99.9 FM (1060 AM) or watch live on TAGsgf.com for live musical performances, local interviews and entertainment.

• Beer Buzz – 4 p.m.
• The High Road – 5 p.m., live at Harbell’s
• Local Music – 6 p.m.
• SGF 10 – 7 p.m. (local music as voted by listeners, email SGFLocalLive@gmail.com)
• SGF Local Live – 8 p.m.
• M.E.O. Radio – 9 p.m.
• M.E.O. Podcast – 10:45 p.m. (on TAGsgf.com)

Incubus will play SGF in May.

The band still has most of its original pieces with vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Elzinger and drummer Jose Pasillas. Ben Kenney replaced Alex Katunich on bass, and DJ Kilmore replaced DJ Lyfe.

Tickets start at $26 and will be available at the O’Reilly Center Box Office, by phone — (417) 873-6389, or online.

A beer for St. Valentine.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I felt it would be appropriate to write a little about beers for the occasion. Typically, you might think wine is a more romantic beverage, but there are some pretty amazing beers out there that can help set the romantic mood, as well.

Consider chocolate for a moment. Traditionally known as an aphrodisiac and as a traditional gift to give on Valentine’s Day, it is also a handy ingredient in several remarkable beers. Here is a quick rundown of several great beers which use chocolate as a featured ingredient:

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout – 5.2% ABV – A perennial favorite among chocolate fans, this beer is probably the best-known example of a great chocolate ale. When served only slightly chilled, this beer’s aroma is full of rich cocoa and sweet hints of milk chocolate. You may also detect a little coconut in the aroma. The flavor is dark chocolate and mocha coffee with a little bit of vanilla and oats. A nearly perfect dessert beer. If you’re having chocolate, tiramisu, or even a raspberry tart for dessert, this beer will go nicely with it.

Rogue Chocolate Stout – 6.3% ABV – This beer has a sweet chocolate aroma, but the flavor leans more towards the roasted stout flavors than the cocoa flavors found in some other chocolate stouts. The chocolate is definitely present in this beer, but they are a lot more subtle than in it’s big brother, Rogue Double Chocolate Stout.

Rogue Double Chocolate Stout – 8.7% ABV – OK, tell me you saw that coming. I mention the big brother, and then I have to talk about him, right? Right. This beer is the much bigger brother to the Rogue Chocolate Stout. Bigger in alcohol, bigger in flavor, and bigger in chocolate. The aroma has a lot of chocolate, but also some roasted marshmallow. Flavor is chocolate, cocoa, and more chocolate. It has a very creamy, full body and delicious finish.

Southern Tier Choklat – 11% ABV – Easily one of the best chocolate beers on the market. Southern Tier has a way with making amazingly bold flavors come through in their beer. This is no exception. It’s rich and bold all the way from the aroma to the finish, and the ABV isn’t messing around at 11% ABV, either. The alcohol doesn’t show in the flavor too much, though, which is pretty amazing. This beer is definitely one for sharing, as it is one strong ale.

In addition to chocolate beers, you may be in the market for something with a little fruit with it. Here are some top-notch suggestions along that front:

Perennial Artisan Ales Strawberry Rhubarb Tart – 5% ABV – It’s definitely an unusual beer, but in an excellent way. Perennial is quickly developing a reputation for unapologetically making beers for beer geeks. This beer won’t be for everybody, but you should give it a try. It pours a hazy golden color and has a brilliant aroma of strawberry with a little bit of coriander and bread. The flavor is delicately sweet, with bread and yeast notes which are balanced by the strawberry. Overall, a light, refreshing beer.

Lindeman’s Framboise – 2.5% ABV – Raspberries, raspberries, raspberries. Oh, and bubbles. Lots of bubbles. That’s about what you need to know. Also, they also make one in cherry (Kriek), Apple (Pomme), Peach (Peche), and Black Currants (Cassis). These beers are all very powerfully flavored, but they definitely have their place. If you find them to be a bit too much for you, mix them with a good Saison or your favorite wheat beer. Doing this will impress your date.

Thomas Creek Banana Split Chocolate Stout – Yeah, you read that right. Fruit AND chocolate. The chocolate and roasted barley aroma is permeated with banana notes. The flavor is a bit roasty and maybe a little smokey, nut has a lot of chocolate and banana along with caramel and coffee. It’s a bit sweet, but not too sweet, and the banana is ever-present without being overpowering. Overall, a really unique beer.

Finally, I have one last recommendation for you. It doesn’t really fit into any of the above groups, so it’s down here all alone:

Ommegang Seduction – 6.8% ABV – I’m convinced Ommegang doesn’t make a bad beer. I’ve not tried them all, but they have a great selection. This is brewed specially for Valentine’s Day, and is only available for a very limited time. It’s a Belgian-style porter full of roasty notes blended with a little bit of Liefman’s Cuvee Brut. The Cuvee Brut is a cherry sour ale (a kriekbier) which adds some great cherry and sour notes to an already delicious porter. This beer is like a chocolate-covered-cherry, but tart instead of sweet. It’s cocoa and chocolate up front with a tart cherry finish that leaves you wanting more. A brilliantly crafted beer.

If you want to try the Seduction, Strawberry Rhubarb Tart, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, or Lindeman’s Kriek, just go by the Brown Derby Wine Center on Friday. These will be the featured beers at their complimentary tasting from 4-7 pm. While you’re there, have Eric mix the Double Chocolate Stout and Kriek for you. You’ll dig it.

Special thanks to Eric Carter at The Brown Derby International Wine Center for his help compiling this list.

It’s democratic radio and a way for us to know what SGF wants to listen to. We put the power in your hands (for 10 songs a week) by letting you vote for your favorite SGF music. The SGF 10 airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. during the Bud Light TAG Radio Block (KBFL 99.9 FM/1060 AM/tagsgf.com). To vote, simply email SGFLocalLive@gmail.com.

Sorry, the podcast is unavailable this week.

It’s a song chart so include the title of the track you want to hear. Vote as much as you’d like, but just one vote per artist (per email address).

SGF 10

2/5/12

1. The Give Up, “Midwest Traveler”
2. Brief, “Miss Popular”
3. Cornbelt Chorus, “Go Home”
4. Josh Heinrichs, “So Far From Home”
5. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, “Yellow Missing Signs”
6. Loogey, “Super Dad”
7. The LMNOPs, “PB&Dr. J”
8. The Cropdusters, “Quantrill”
9. J-None feat. Liz Carney, “Vixen”
10. Elevenpoint Outlaws, “Box Beside the Bed”

In the line of major concert news this week, Drury University announced that Grammy nominee emcee J Cole will bring the Campus Consciousness Tour to O’Reilly Family Event Center on April 23. J Cole made a name for himself in the mixtape circuits and bust onto the viral radar with Friday Night Lights, then became the first artist signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation. His first album Cole World: The Sideline Story debuted at No. 1 last fall on Billboard and landed him a nomination for the Grammy of Best New Artist. Other artists on the bill haven’t been confirmed by Drury yet, but a video promoting the tour announced rapper Big K.R.I.T. would be the opener for the tour. Tickets will be available mid-February. Additional details to come.

The Black Cloud Tour

The second listing on the bill is Pennsylvania’s underground lyrical heavyweight King Magnetic. King Mag’s 2011 single release “Watch Out” spent time near the top of the college charts, and his next full-length album, EAG III, drops a week after the SGF show.

It doesn’t end there, Brooklyn’s Block McCloud is also on the bill, whom you may know from appearances with Method Man, Kurupt, Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique and Jean Grae among others.

SGF will get its shine too, as local hip hop will warm up the stage. Mask & Glove (Brief and Nick Fury), DJ Platinum, Sylabol7 and Loogey are on the bill. Ticket details and more as the information comes. Until then, debrief yourself on the prime YouTube selections below.

Outland Ballroom (3/6/12)
Lineup:
Cappadonna
King Magnetic
Block McCloud
Mask & Glove
DJ Platinum
Sylabol7
Loogey

Earmuffs! Songs below are NSFW (or children)

Cappadonna, “’97 Mentality”

Cappadonna, “Milk The Cow”

Cappadonna, “Oh Donna”

Cappadonna, “Run”

Cappadonna, “Slang Editorial”

King Magnetic, “I Don’t Know You”

King Magnetic, “Watch Out

Block McCloud, “Crazy Man”

Mask & Glove

Sylabol7, “I Wanna”

Charlie Spoonhour

We at TAGsgf.com are very sad to hear of the passing of Charlie Spoonhour, the former great Missouri State men’s basketball coach from 1983-92.

Here are the details from a Missouri State press release:

Missouri State men’s basketball coaching legend Charlie Spoonhour passed away this morning at his family’s home in North Carolina, at age 72.

“The entire Missouri State University family is deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Spoonhour,” said MSU Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “His legacy is one of class, distinction and achievement, and he will be dearly missed by the many lives he touched in his many endeavors.”

Spoonhour received a lung transplant from Duke University Medical Center in 2010 after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His health had fluctuated since then with with a number of trips in and out of the hospital.

He coached the Bears from 1983-92 and compiled a 197-81 record while leading MSU to five NCAA Tournament appearances. He went on to coaching stops at Saint Louis University (1992-99) and UNLV (2001-04). He was 373-202 in 19 years overall as a Division I head coach.

Coach Spoonhour is survived by his wife, Vicki, and two sons, Jay and Stephen.

According to close family friend Bob Ramsey, Jay Spoonhour said his father died peacefully this morning surrounded by his family and was able to spend his final moments with them at the family’s condo near Raleigh-Durham, N.C. He had returned home from the hospital just a couple of days before.

Arrangements are pending. A moment of silence will be part of a pregame tribute to Spoonhour at tonight’s Missouri State men’s basketball game against Wichita State.

DGB chooses Mizzou on National Signing Day

Dorial Green-Beckham is going to play college football at Missouri, he announced this morning at a press conference at Hillcrest High School.

“I will be continuing my education this fall at……the University of Missouri,” he announced as he put on a flat-bill Mizzou hat and threw his hands in the air.

DGB, the Nation’s No. 1 wide receiver chose the Tigers over Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama (all of which came in second-place,” he said.). Why? Proximity and family.

“Just to be home, just to stay close to my friends and family, to have everyone come out here to support me (during) my high school career, (they can now) support me at the next level; in college football.”

Over the course of his high school career, he was earned numerous national high school athlete of the year awards, set the national record for receiving yards and rewrote the state record book. In four years, he had 297 catches for 6,367 yards and 73 TDs. DGB was the top uncommitted recruit in the country and many felt he might be leaning toward Arkansas. But much was made of a final trip to Columbia last weekend.

When asked when he made his decision, he said just recently.

“I slept on it Monday and felt good about it the next day, so I told them where I wanted to attend,” DGB said.

During the press conference, he said he didn’t alert any of the coaches, including Mizzou.

“I guess they know about it now,” he joked.

Other highlights from the press conference:

- He didn’t rule out the possibility of playing other sports in college, including track and field.

- An official M-I-Z-D-G-B chant

We will have more coverage throughout the day here at TAGsgf.com, including more video and photos.

More Coverage:

The Decision with video
When did he actually choose?
Hoops possible, track probable
Photo Gallery