The Seed (Photo by Christian Gideon)

SGF good vibe reggae trio Lance Sitton and The Seed are set to release their new album Spread The Word on April 22. In anticipation of the album, SGF indie reggae label, Ganjah Records dropped the video for the LP’s lead single at midnight. The song, “Good Love”, features the same feel fans have grown accustomed to, with feature performances by Josh Heinrichs and SkillinJah.

It’s just a few days until downtown SGF feels the Rumble. The positions for Friday’s TAG Rumble for Rock’n Ribs, presented by Guitar Center, were drawn live on SGF Local Live. The Rumble is March 23 on both stages of the Outland Complex (326 South Ave. — The Outland downstairs, and Outland Ballroom upstairs). Eight bands battle to benefit the children’s charities of the Springfield Rotary Clubs. Your entry fee includes entry to both venues and your first vote. Additional votes may be purchased for $2. I suggest you bring an extra $16 and vote for every band once, just a thought — it’s for the kids. The top four bands will win prize packages and slots at the Rock’n Ribs main event (April 20-21 at the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.

The Lineup

The Outland (downstairs)
9 p.m. — Canto 17
10 p.m. — EWag3
11 p.m. — The Endless Summer
Midnight — The Give Up

Outland Ballroom (upstairs)
9:15 p.m. — Cole Porter Band
10:15 p.m. — Honky Suckle
11:15 p.m. — Black Bonnet Ballyhoo
12:15 a.m. — Call Me Beta

Barak Hill beat four other finalists to win the American Songwriter Santa Cruz Guitar Giveaway. Hill’s acoustic video for “Building The Tin Man” received the majority of the online vote, bring yet another musical award to SGF. The Springfield singer-songwriter wins a Santa Cruz 1929-00 acoustic guitar and is featured on American Songwriter’s website.

Hill performing “Building The Tin Man” on SGF Local Live

Godsmack will play SGF on May 5 at the Shrine Mosque.

Tickets ($35 GA, $40 at the door, $45 reserved) go on sale Friday, March 16 at 10 a.m. and will be available at the Shrine box office, Kaleidoscope, Stick It In Your Ear and online.

Springfield rock favorites Speakeasy announced its new album Trainwreck will be available during Friday’s show at Patton Alley Pub. It will be the first chance for Speakeasy fans to grab a copy. Though much of the 10-song album was recorded with Lou Whitney at The Studio in downtown SGF, four of the songs were laid down at Ardent Studios with Pete Matthews in Memphis — as was the band’s entire previous release “All Your New Favorite Songs”. Avoiding click tracks and auto-tune, the band wanted to “be as analog and organic as possible,” lead guitarist and vocalist Shawn Eckels says. A few of the songs were written just weeks before the mics were turned on. “It made the recording process feel more alive and breathing than an over-rehearsed, over-produced situation and made it sound more like we are, a live band,” lead guitarist and vocalist Shawn Eckels says. The release party is Friday (Mar. 16) at Patton Alley Pub with support from Lily Bee & The Johnson 3.

Listen to Trainwreck‘s lead single, “Love Can Save Your Life” below.

SGF songwriter Barak Hill‘s “Building The Tin Man” was selected as one of five finalists for American Songwriter Magazine‘s guitar giveaway contest. You can help Hill win a “guitar he can’t afford”, a beautiful Santa Cruz 1929-00 (retails around $4k).

Vote for Barak Hill’s “Building the Tin Man”

The “swamp blues” muddied Gillioz Theatre back in August (“muddied” in a good way) and are ready to do it again. JJ Grey & Mofro return to Gillioz, Wednesday April 18. SGF’s Speakeasy will once again warm it up. This same billing carried a ton of hype last summer and left with a ton of buzz. It’s safe to say you might want to grab tickets early if you want to stomp around in a few weeks. Tickets ($20) go on sale Friday (March 9) at noon. As TAG’s Editor Emeritus Chris DeRosier said of Grey in August, “Man can sang.”

See for yourself.

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

Eight bands enter, some will land slots on the bill for one of SGF’s largest annual stages, and one will be crowned champion. The TAG Rumble for Rock’n Ribs presented by Guitar Center is Friday March 23 at The Outland and Outland Ballroom. Your vote(s) will decide who wins $1,000s in prize packages from Guitar Center, TAG, BakedFreshDaily.com and more. One cover charge gets you access to both stages at 326 South Ave. All proceeds go to Rotary children’s charities. Band order for the Rumble will be decided by blind draw on SGF Local Live Sunday, March 11. Rock’n Ribs is April 20-21 at the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.

Stay tuned as more details are released.

The Bands:
Black Bonnet Ballyhoo
Call Me Beta
Canto17
Cole Porter Band
The Endless Summer
Ewag3
The Give Up
Honky Suckle

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

The secret is out for Saturday night’s show at Big Momma’s. The Collective announced this morning on Facebook that “Sic Amor” is actually Chris Drew, or Never Shout Never. It’s short notice for a small venue (capacity is 102) for Joplin’s viral sensation, especially considering tickets are only available at the door (and only $7).

Listen up, SGFers, one week from tonight marks the start of a weekly SGF party you won’t want to miss. TAG has teamed up with The Outland, Forever Endeavor Productions and Bud Light for TAG Thursdays. TAG Thursdays will feature the best local music, comedians and a ridiculous Bud Light bottle special. TAG Team will be there for party pics, and there might even be some prizes and giveaways. The first-ever event features the death of MC Migraine Head. It will be his final performance … ever. Modern Epic and comedian Merr are also on the opening bill.

March 1 — MC Migraine Head, Modern Epic, comedian Merr (18 & up)
March 8 — The Give Up, Canto17
March 15 — Loogey and friends
March 22 — Golden Giant, White Atlantic
March 29 — Do-it To-it, Chris Gnarly, The Wasted Ways (18 & up)
April 5 — The Captains Son, The Euphio Question, STOKED (18 & up)

Hellyeah

It’s not often that two rock bands of the magnitude of Clutch and Hellyeah will team up to co-headline a tour, but that’s what’s going on at the Gillioz Theatre on May 1. Tickets go on sale Friday and are $27.

According to reports, Clutch will play first and Hellyeah will play last, but both will act like headliners, “playing headliner sets” according to a press release. The bottom line is that metal and rock fans should be thrilled. Clutch’s sound is described as “Early salvos focused on sludgy, hardcore-fueled ferocity, but the band’s sound has evolved to embrace psych, blues, gritty funk, and Southern-rock swagger.” The band re-released Blast Tyrant in May of 2011 and it debuted at #26 on the Billboard Hard Rock Top 100, more than 7 years after the original version debuted at #15.

After originally starting as a side project by members of Mudvayne, Nothingface and Pantera, Hellyeah has turned into a consistent and popular force. It’s self-titled 2007 debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 9 and never looked back. The group is touring to supports its third studio album, Band of Brothers.

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.

Switchfoot is coming back to SGF.

The Grammy Award-winning San Diego band will return to SGF for a show on May 4. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 17 and will range for between $22.50 and $24.50.

The last time Switchfoot was here in SGF, they headlined a back-to-school bash at the Gillioz. This time, they’re out promoting the band’s recent record, Vice Verses, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts and was led by the lead single “Dark Horses.”

Switchfoot has been releasing records and touring since 2003, but its 2008 record Hello Hurricane won a Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album. Switchfoot has never denied its Christian background, but isn’t satisfied by the limitations of a “Christian band” label.

“For us, it’s a faith, not a genre,” says lead vocalist Jon Foreman. “We’ve always been very open and honest about where the songs are coming from. For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us ‘Christian rock’ tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them, and that’s not what we’re trying to do. Music has always opened my mind—and that’s what we want.”

Switchfoot’s roots can be traced back to the beaches of San Diego in the mid-’90s, when they connected as surfers. They decided to form a band and chose the name Switchfoot, a surfing term. After putting themselves through months of sweaty garage band workouts, they hit the road. After just 20 gigs, they signed a deal and released Legend of Chin in 1997, then released three more albums before making their major label debut in 2003.

With its play on words, Vice Verses, the title of Switchfoot’s newest album, coherently suggests the album’s theme: everything has two sides. “Every blessing comes with a set of curses,” singer-guitarist Jon Foreman sings on the title track, all the while wondering if “there’s a meaning to it all.” That theme runs through the album’s 12 songs and is even reflected in the album’s black and white cover.

Big Smith with Larry the Cable Guy

Larry heads to the deep Ozark woods to see how squirrel hunting created the original American sharpshooters.

The episode airs tonight (Feb. on The History Channel at 8 p.m.

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.

Fire, Rain and SGF?

JQH Arena has done it again, bringing in another Grammy-winning act, announcing James Taylor will play on Missouri State’s campus July 17. Taylor is a world-renowned singer/songwriter who has sold more than 50 million albums, earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and five Grammy awards.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 10 through MissouriStateTix.com. Charge by phone at (417) 836-7678, 888-476-7849. Ticket Prices are $79.50 and $49.50 plus handling fees.

Songs you might (probably) know: “Fire and Rain,” “Country Road,” “Something in the Way She Moves,” “Mexico,” “Shower the People,” “Your Smiling Face,” “Carolina In My Mind,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,” “You Can Close Your Eyes,” “Walking Man,” “Never Die Young,” “Shed a Little Light,”
“Copperline,” among others.

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”

Thomas (left) and Big Smith at the Show-Me Music Festival. Photo by Alex Stocksdale.

Announced performers:
Barak N Hill
Dallas Jones
Kasey Rausch
Brandon Moore
Cindy Woolf & The Foxxes
Mike Stevens
Brother Wiley
Members of Big Smith, Speakeasy, the Cropdusters and the Bootheel

SGF's Lando Beats

When Ryshon started his Brightest Nights, Darkest Days mixtape, I wanted him to describe the exact sound he was looking for out of me since I do sample free beats as well as sample beats. He said he wanted the tape to sound like “Sigur Ros meets Marvin Gaye”. I’d never heard of Sigur Ros, so I downloaded their discography and did some digging. Then I found a way to give the Ryshon what he wanted. I made Sigur Ros meet Marvin Gaye on the same beat… literally.

Check out the video to watch Lando Beats producing the instrumental for “Neo Renaissance”.

Ryshon’s whole mixtape is available for free download 2DopeBoyz.

Our 2010 chili neighbor Frank with the Swine Flu Chili. This year TAG will be booth'd up next to the Springfield Roller Girls.

Beer Garden Stage (Upstairs)

10:45 a.m. — Full Circle Band

Noon — The Airwalks

1:15 p.m. — The Jakebrakers
no video found
2:30 p.m. — Sock Monkey

3:45 p.m. — Cole Porter Band

Event Stage (Main floor)

11:30 a.m. — The HillBenders

1 p.m. — Big Smith

2:45 p.m. — Trash Angels

4 p.m. — Machine Gun Symphony

Thomas (left) and Big Smith at the Show-Me Music Festival. Photo by Alex Stocksdale.

Big Smith bassist Bill Thomas has returned from Fayetteville! In a statement released by the band, Thomas was discharged from the Arkansas hospital Tuesday following a stroke on Jan. 19. “This is only a step in the process, of course, as Bill is starting a new and challenging phase of his recovery. But at least he’ll be in familiar, comfortable surroundings, reunited with his children after these long five days.”

Big Smith is planning to play all of its currently scheduled concerts, with Reed Herron (Speakeasy) filling in. The band will take donations for the Thomas family at the shows, as well as by check and online.

We are currently making plans to allow Big Smith to fulfill our existing performance obligations. We can tell you that we will be performing this Saturday at Lil’ Dallas in Fair Grove as scheduled. Reed Herron from Speakeasy will nobly fill in for Bill. We will have a jar set up for those of you in attendance that would like to donate cash, and will continue to provide you that opportunity over the next few months.

Mail checks or money order made out to “Big Smith” with “Cousin Bill” on the memo line, to:

Cousin Bill donation fund
2020 N Douglas Ave
Springfield, MO 65803

The Avett Brothers are playing Drury’s O’Reilly Family Event Center March 10, and thanks to Dwight Glenn Promotions, TAG readers can join the Drury community and pre-order tickets today (Jan. 18) at 10 a.m. Tickets officially go on sale Friday, but you can make sure to reserve your spot in the O for one of American folk music’s biggest acts.

Hit Drury University Tickets online and enter the code “drury”.

Slapdash Science earned a spot on the Wakarusa music festival bill this summer by winning the fan vote at the Waka Winter Classic Saturday at the Outland Ballroom. Five SGF bands (Slapdash Science, SPiNRaD, Quantum Groove, Buddha’s Groove Shoes and Sunset to Burns) squared off on the loaded bill for a slot on Mulberry Mountain. An annual festival, Wakarusa is May 31 thru June 3 at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas. Other bands already listed to play include Primus, G. Love and Special Sauce, Umphrey’s McGee, Girl Talk, Keller Williams and dozens more (including former SGF rapper Les Izmore’s KC project Hearts of Darkness).

Slapdash Science (video not from Saturday’s show)