Kix Club is listed on Indie On the Move
Sep 27th
Martin-Cate
Quincy’s Kix Club, 509 S. Ninth, has put Quincy on the Illinois map of top indie music venues on the website Indie On the Move.
Kurt Jansen, who books shows at the Kix Club, says it takes “a little work and a little luck” to book local to international bands at the small venue (the rest of the interview is here).
I previously wrote about another area venue, Music @ the Mall in Keokuk, being recognized as the number #1 indie music venue in Iowa.
The Kix Club, which is described as specializing in heavy rock and punk (AWESOME), has yet to be rated on the site, but as people continue to tout the indie hub, it can only help to bring even more acts to the area.
P.S. Thanks to Danny Mabie, Quincy drummer, for letting me know Kix Club was listed, yay for the local scene!
Jessica Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
LIVE BLOG: Royal Bliss at Backwaters now
Sep 25th
VIP winners from The Local Q!
The Local Q team is at Backwaters outside now, giving away gift certificates and the grand prize of a VIP booth will be given away shortly. The winner will get to meet Utah’s Royal Bliss. I will be keeping you updated all night here, so check back!
7:27 p.m. Antidote is sound checking and fans are lining up around the block, we can’t wait to rock!
7:47 p.m. Jason Launer, the acoustic opener, is currently sound checking, we are getting close to start! Chris Cornwell just called me his biggest critic, he is the sound engineer for the show. I told him, it is hard to review music when the sound is bad, but he’s doing a great job at Backwaters.
8:35 p.m. Royal Bliss, Antidote and Jason Launer just did the meet and greet with The Local Q VIP booth winners, don’t you wish you were the winners?
8:39 p.m. I just talked with Neal Middleton from Royal Bliss and he said they are so excited about the new label deal, where they make their own decisions on music!
8:47 p.m. Jason Launer just took the stage and is playing rock music with his acoustic guitar. Play some super happy music Launer!
8:54 p.m. The third floor is already filling up, the fans are showing up in droves for the Royal Bliss show and cheers are going up as Launer starts up a Matchbox 20 song.
9:04 p.m. The acoustic music is flowing, but it is a bit slow, let’s rock it up a bit!
9:08 p.m. Jason Launer just left the stage, Antidote is up next!
9:20 p.m. Antidote is taking the stage now!
9:46 p.m. Antidote is still playing, a bit low stuff, but it will pick up.
9:30 p.m. The crowd is kind of hanging out and chilling during Antidote!
10:06 p.m. Antidote is performing their signature ballad and the crowd is holding up lighters and cell phones, “the best I can be….”
10:12 p.m. Antidote switches to covers with some Seether and the crowd goes crazy for the “Remedy.”
10:15 p.m. Neal Middleton from Royal Bliss just said they are going on at 10:30 p.m. ish, YES!
10:17 p.m. Antidote said this is their last song and they are rocking out!
10:26 p.m. I just barely lost a push up battle on the second floor balcony at Backwaters, Local Q rocks!
10:28 p.m. Lisa is way cooler than Gavin, mostly because she has heard of The Local Q, we love her!
10:32 p.m. Royal Bliss is preparing to take the stage, yay!
10:35 p.m. Gavin is a bit sad now that he wasn’t initially in our club with knowing who we are, but you know what we will take him anyway!
10:42 p.m. Waiting for Royal Bliss to start!
10:46 p.m. Royal Bliss just took the stage and the crowd is going wild! “What’s up Quincy?” Middleton said.
10:50 p.m. The Local Q VIP winners are loving their great view of Royal Bliss and Royal Bliss is already putting on a great show!
10:55 p.m. “This is the first time our new bass player has ever been in Quincy and it won’t be his last, I can tell you that,” Middleton said.
11:08 p.m. Royal Bliss said they were going to premiere new songs and they just did, the crowd ate it up!
10:58 p.m. The crowd is singing along “we did nothing wrong…”
11:15 p.m. Neal Middleton of Royal Bliss just gave The Local Q a huge shout out for promoting the show, thanks Neal and we hope Local Q fans are out in droves!!!!!!
11:26 p.m. The new bass player just held his own on that song. Right now Royal Bliss is getting ready to play the song that was the 4:20 p.m. song of the day on KZZK, they are excited!
11:35 p.m. Middleton is talking about the last time they were here when his Gibson acoustic guitar was stolen and he was really sad about it, but he is cool now, even though they haven’t seen it since, he says they aren’t going to let anyone ruin for them, although he just said if they walk out there and their “motor home is gone, they will be pretty p*ssed!”
11:49 p.m. Royal Bliss just talked about the first time they performed in Quincy and how great Backwaters was to them, love it!
11:54 p.m. Middleton just had the entire crowd sing the Happy Birthday song to his mom, cause she is awesome!
11:59 p.m. Middleton just sang “where all the angels go” and then said this is our last song next.
12:02 p.m. Middleton is walking around while singing “I was drunk” and clinking drinks with everyone in the crowd on a wireless microphone. Great show!
12:05 p.m. In the immortal words of Neal Middleton, Royal Bliss lead-singer, “after 10,ooo beer and 28 years, I’ve finally figured it out, there’s plenty of time, to settle on down.” The crowd is chanting for an encore, will Royal Bliss give it to them?
12:07 p.m. Middleton is set to perform a rare acoustic song for an encore now.
12:12 p.m. Royal Bliss is planning to rock an extra encore now!
12:18 p.m. It all ends in a chug, rightfully so, great night!
Q&A: Royal Bliss guitarist talks label, management changes
Sep 23rd
Royal Bliss
Martin-Cate
Utah’s Royal Bliss is returning to Quincy Friday for a show at Backwaters with local act Antidote. The guys are putting the finishing touches on their next big studio album in Nashville, breaking in a new bass player and going through label and management changes. To find out more about the album and Friday’s show, click here. To find out more from the group’s guitarist Taylor Richards on the management and label changes, read below.
LABEL NEWS
“We have left Capitol Records, but have stayed with EMI, who owns Capitol, we have kind of skipped the middle man. They want us to stay in the family and distribute our record, what we basically have become with EMI is our own label with major label distribution. There’s still that option of reverting back to a record deal with them or staying independent.”
What this means is that Royal Bliss is in charge of its direction in terms of music.
Because of this, “this was the first record where we went in with the songs we felt comfortable with and recorded them. We are working on a kind of one big game plan for the new record. We want to make sure that when we come out we come out firing on all cylinders, we want to make sure the campaign behind it works.”
MANAGEMENT NEWS
“We are right in the middle of separation with our management. They were wanting us to do some things we didn’t want to do, and we decided it was best for us to part ways. We’ve been talking to a new management company, The Union Group, and they manage bands like Candlebox, Nickleback, Steven Tyler and more.”
RANDOM SIDE NOTE
Royal Bliss performed at Steamboat Days in June this summer with Buckcherry and local act TNT (read here), and Richards said that was the biggest crowd they have every performed in front of, which ended up being around 16,000 people. Richards couldn’t believe that out of all the cities they’ve performed in with big bands like Stone Temple Pilots and even large shows in their home state, that they couldn’t believe that the biggest show they have ever performed at was in Burlington, Iowa.
To listen to audio of an interview by Jessica Martin-Cate with Royal Bliss lead-singer Neal Middleton on previous label issues and how the band started, click here. To read the last Royal Bliss show blog, click here.
Jessica Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
Double Vision and promoter cancel St. Louis show
Sep 22nd
Double Vision
Quincy hip hop stars Double Vision was set to perform in St. Louis at Fubar Sept. 30, but the show was “mutually canceled” between the guys and the promoters.
Lack of ticket sales is said to be the cause.
Double Vision is currently signed to California-based label No Sleep Records and is planning another Midwest tour soon.
Jessica Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
Chicago band has fourth number one album on Billboard
Sep 9th
Rock band and Chicago natives Disturbed just nabbed a fourth consecutive number one album on the Billboard 200 chart with the new album “Asylum,” which sold 179,000 copies last week. To read more about this and the other top five artist, click here.
According to radio DJ, Kidd Kraddick, the only other bands that have had four consecutive number one albums are Metallica and Dave Mathews Band. Whether you like Disturbed or not, you have to give them props for such a milestone.
Here is a video interview with Disturbed:
Below is a random, but interesting bit of music history:
MOST NUMBER ONE ALBUMS ON BILLBOARD:
- The Beatles (19)
- Jay-Z (11)
- Elvis Presley (10)
- Bruce Springsteen (9) (tie)
- The Rolling Stones (9) (tie)
- Barbra Streisand (9) (tie)
- Garth Brooks (8)
- Elton John (7) (tie)
- Led Zeppelin (7) (tie)
- Madonna (7) (tie)
- U2 (7) (tie)
Jessica M. Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
My lifelong guilty pleasure is still going strong
Sep 8th
Pop sensation Justin Bieber. (Photos from mtv.com)
What are your plans for the weekend?
One of mine is to tune into the MTV Video Music Awards at 8 p.m. Sunday. It is the only time all year long that I watch MTV on purpose.
Chelsea Handler
Since the onslaught of “Jersey Shore” and all the pregnant shows, I haven’t been a devoted viewer of the network, like I once was many, many years ago, but for one night, the self-proclaimed Music Television network, actually has music on it. Now whether you like that music or not is whole other issue, but who cares. Itt is like being outside watching the fish bowl full of pop tarts and punk and gangster wannabees and then every once in awhile, a true icon shows up and gives us hope for the future of music.
Plus Chelsea Handler (the host of “Chelsea Lately”) is hosting this year and you just never know what is going to come out of her mouth.
Also, does anyone else see Justin Bieber and think “how did this happen?” It is just about the oddest phenomenon yet, but hey people have a right to like what they like.
This past weekend, some friends and I, all of us parents, were watching Saturday Night Live when Bieber was the host and we all stared in awe with someone finally asking, “how is he that popular, what is like 12 years old?”
Others said he is the death of the music industry and some went so far as to feel sorry for him saying “he is going to be a mess when he grows up.”
Who knows what the fates have in store for the little tyke, but either way it will be interesting to see if he transitions into a Justin Timberlake or ends up hosting infomercials.
We can’t forget little miss Taylor Swift, who is up for Best Female Video again. Can anyone say SECURITY? Will Kanye West or someone else steal her thunder yet again? My bet is on the dirrrty Ke$ha, who will attempt a joke while intoxicated or just out of it. Truly though, I don’t know that she stands a chance against Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga and Beyonce, but her fans are fanatics, so we shall see.
Video of the Year has some really great nominees this year with Eminem’s “Not Afraid,” 30 Seconds to Mars with “Kings and Queens,” B.o.B. and Hayley Williams “Airplanes,” Florence + the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over,” and Lady Gaga up for two with “Bad Romance” and her collaboration with Beyonce in “Telephone.”
And don’t forget, you can still vote for Best New Artist nominees, Broken Bells, Drake, Justin Bieber, Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj, by clicking here.
Eminem, Katy Perry, center, and Taylor Swift. (Photos from mtv.com)
Check back for my tweets during the show Sunday!
Jessica M. Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
P.S. The video below is Will Smith’s 9-year-old daughter, Willow Smith, singing the pop song “Whip Your Hair.” Can anyone else see this craziness hitting the stage next year? I predict her as the opener for Bieber’s next tour.
GUEST BLOGGER REVIEW: The Graduate still has it
Sep 5th
The Graduate
On Friday, Quincy’s Turner Hall had a turnout of just shy of 200 kids that showed up to support the release of The Graduate’s second full-length album “Only Every Time,” officially released Aug. 31.
The new album is under the label Razor & Tie, based out of New York, and is now available online or in a record store near you.
Members include, Jared Wuestenberg and Corey Warning, who are Quincy natives, and Max Sauer, Tim Moore and Matt Kennedy, who hail from Springfield, Ill. The group is kicking off a tour with headliners Ludo at the Metro in Chicago Sept. 9; also accompanied by There for Tomorrow, and Tommy and the High Pilots. The nationwide tour closes out back in the Midwest at the beautiful St. Louis venue The Pageant, Oc. 17.
What’s Fair played first followed by Fielder, who I must say even with a different drummer, sounded incredible. The Graduate opened with the superlative and energizing song, “Anhedonia,” off their last full-length album. Then the following song, “Siren,” really got the place dancing with Kennedy’s keyboard and Sauer’s guitar riffs that have flawless harmony.
After those two opening songs, it really is quite evident that these guys are extremely talented, and put on an amazing live performance. I’m a huge fan of live music, and when bands can sound just as good — if not better — live as they do on their recordings it’s quite impressive. These guys have such a creative and exciting live show that Quincy should feel proud to its contribution of 2/5ths of the band.
That creativity really peaks with the instrumental song, “Interlude 20.” Moore is an incredible drummer, who keeps an awesome head banging beat and Warning’s falsetto is quite remarkable with his ability to maintain and control the pitch. The whole band contributes enough talent to have an overall sound that is indie rock with a little melodic pop and undeniably unique.
I predict good things for this band on behalf that their new album is fantastic in its entirety. I very much look forward to seeing The Graduate again, but this time at The Pageant on Oct. 17.
Daniel Pritchett
Pritchett
BIO
Daniel “The Man” Thomas Pritchett is a sophomore at John Wood Community College and majoring in liberal arts. He hopes to transfer into journalism in the near future.
He was born in August of 1989 and says the 80s were a great decade to be a part of. He has lived in Quincy since January. He previously lived in St. Louis and before that in Boston, where he discovered the thrill of rock shows and that activity is now his passion.
Pritchett’s Random Music Stats
• He grew up on the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Mellencamp and too much country music.
• The first concert he attended was As I Lay Dying, Atreyu and Deftones.
• Best concert he has attended was Stevie Wonder opening for Jay-Z.
• He loves the chill that goes up his spine when he hears amazing music.
• If he was stranded on a island and could only bring one record with, it would be The Killers, “Sam’s Town.”
Only the best-of-the-best in live music for three days
Sep 3rd
Odd Order
Per a new weekly ritual, the following is a guide to live entertainment this weekend. You can find shows yourself our new entertainment site, The Local Q, but there are so many live music shows listed that it can be difficult to choose.
Here are my choices:
FRIDAY
The Graduate at Turner Hall in Quincy
• Pick up the new Graduate CD, “Only Every Time,” while also enjoying Quincy’s Fielder and What’s Fair. I suggest starting and ending your night at this display of pop meets indie. To read the story, click here.
SATURDAY
Odd Order at the Kix Club in Quincy
• Knoxville, Tenn., trio Odd Order is set to bring surf meets punk meets metal to Kix Club for all to enjoy. Their EP “Secret Crime,” which they are touring to support, is killer. You can buy it at the show. To read the story, click here.
SUNDAY
TNT at the Nauvoo Grape Festival in Nauvoo, Ill.
• This Classic rock cover band covers the hardest bands in rock and nails every song. Click here for my review.
Support local music and go to a show!
Jessica M. Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
Q&A: Kurt Jansen of the Kix Club in Quincy talks about booking shows
Sep 1st
Kix Club show organizer Kurt Jansen recently talked about the process of booking regional, national and even international music acts at his bar. This year alone he has booked bands from Germany, Israel, Kansas City, Mo., and more. Saturday’s show at the Kix Club features Knoxville, Tenn., artist Odd Order.
Israel band Carusella performed at the Kix Club in March.
How do you continue to have out-of-town bands perform at your bar?
JANSEN: “A little work and a little luck. We get them a number of different ways. We work with local bands and promoters who are bringing bands in to play with them and we go looking for bands through various websites. I am always scouting for bands when I am out. That is how we were able to get The Samantha Fish Blues Band to play here in June. My wife and I were in Kansas City looking for blues music when we came across a barbecue place with live music and when we heard Samantha play the first song, I thought we have to get her to Quincy. That was quite a thrill as they have gone on to be named the top blues act in Kansas City.”
What else helps with booking?
JANSEN: “We are starting to build a bit of a reputation of hosting touring bands. It helps that we have a great and enthusiastic crowd and an intimate venue with good sound. We also try to treat the acts right. As a matter of fact, we just booked an Irish bluegrass/punk band for November, that got a hold of us after they were referred to us by another band we had booked.”
What shows are you working on currently?
JANSEN: “I am in talks with an act out of St. Louis and one out of Columbia that plays regularly in Columbia. We just need to settle on dates that work for everybody.”
What are your plans for the future with booking shows?
JANSEN: “We hope to keep doing more of the same. Our goal is to continue to provide great live entertainment. We have a great amount of respect for the wealth of talent that exists right here in the area and want to continue to provide a place for them to perform. We are going to continue to bring in the best acts we can get from around the region and around the world.”
Jessica M. Martin-Cate
jmartin@thelocalq.com
BAND SPOTLIGHT: The Balance talks about beginning and future
Aug 31st
Now that we have this huge list of bands on The Local Q, it might seem a bit overwhelming, so the plan is to spotlight different bands with an interview from time to time.
The first spotlight is with Josh Brueck of the fairly new Quincy band The Balance. His answers are below.
MEMBERS
Mark Kroner, vocals and percussion
Dan Phillips, electric and acoustic guitar
Steve Buckman, keyboards and vocals
Nick Steinkamp, drums and electronic drums
Josh Brueck, bass and vocals
HOMETOWN: Quincy, Ill.
THE BEGINNING
“Mark Kroner, the band’s lead-singer, and I played together 22 years ago in a band called Little Ronnie and the Impersonations. Mark is one of those rare singers that has a voice that can do just about anything. We got together a few years back and talked about how much fun we had playing together and that we should do it again. We both grew up loving 80s music and thought that would be a good niche to fill in this area. After months of trying out various members, we hooked up with Steve Buckman, a monster keyboard player, and an essential requirement for the group to succeed. You can’t really play 80s music without keyboards. I then talked to Nick Steinkamp, who I have had the pleasure of playing with over the years. He’s one solid and tasty drummer. Once we got Nick on board, he brought in Dan Phillips on guitar. Dan brings a level of professionalism to the band that makes us all want to do better. We all click well together and enjoy what we are doing.”
THE SOUND
“We play 70s and 80s rock, and our influences are all over the board, from rock to jazz to country. But we all agree that we enjoy playing music that pushes us both technically and stylistically, and we all love what we like to call arena rock!”
GOALS
“One goals of the band is to try and have new material every time you hear us.”
THE BALANCE LIVE
“We strive to make every show fun and entertaining, and we practice very hard to make every song the best it can be. We want people leaving the show saying, ‘That is one of the best cover bands I have heard.’ With the level of talent with the bands in this area, that’s hard to do.”
THE FUTURE
“This is the band’s first year out, and so far, it has been great. We have found that we have had wonderful response wherever we go and I believe it is mainly because of the music we play. Our hope for next year is to continue to do more of the same.”
The group’s next shows are Friday at Captain Kirk’s Marina in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Saturday at Adam’s Trading Post in Liberty.. For more show listings, click here.
For more information on the band, go to www.TheBalanceRocks.com.
Jessica M. Martin-Cate
jmartin@whig.com
