rose music hall

I’m Taylor, and I’m the Sports Sales Manager at the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau. I came to Columbia in 2009 to attend Mizzou. I love to travel, hike, watch/play basketball and golf, and listen to music. Fortunately, Columbia has options for all that and more, which is why I love this place. Music is a huge passion of mine and every month I’ll be sharing my favorites from each month of shows and upcoming ones you shouldn’t miss.

The month of April was filled with quite the array of music. Genres ranging from alternate rock and country to tribute bands honoring some of the greats like Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd, and the Beastie Boys.  Attending concerts at opens in a new windowThe Blue Note and opens in a new windowRose Music Hall has become a monthly priority for myself and many others. Experiencing live music from local artists, national artists, or even tribute bands is entirely different than listening to them on your device. The atmosphere created during a live concert between the musicians and the audience is electric, no matter what the genre.

Interstellar Overdrive (credit: Scott Peterson “That Guy with the Camera”)

While I was only able to attend two of the fifteen concerts at The Blue Note in the month of April, the lineup of artists was amazing. The Los Angeles-based alternative-rock band, Local Natives kicked off the month, bringing their Sunlit Youth tour to Columbia. Following them were two recognizable country concerts, the Josh Abbott Band and a sold out show for Chase Rice. A Salute to Chuck Berry, and Interstellar Overdrive kept the middle of the month rocking with phenomenal tributes to two of rock and roll’s best artists. Closing out the month was yet another tribute to a legendary band. My Posse In Effect honored legendary New York hip-hop group the Beastie Boys. If you closed your eyes and just listened you would have thought it was the real thing! Established country artist, Chris Stapleton, also filled Mizzou Arena to close out a great month of music.

Chase Rice and his sold out trophy (credit: The Blue Note)

Columbia is known for bringing in artists of all genres and decades. One thing that has become a constant lately has been the infatuation with old school hip-hop from the 80s and 90s. Coming up on Saturday, May 13th is the third installment of this type of event at The Blue Note. 80s vs. 90s Old School  Hip-Hop Edition will feature two of Columbia’s finest DJs, taking you on a musical journey through the greatest decades of hip-hop. You don’t want to miss this battle of hip-hop music!

Other highlights for May:

• opens in a new window80s vs. 90s Old School Hip-Hop Edition will get you groovin’ on May 13th
• opens in a new windowBonobo will bring his Los Angeles DJ talent to the stage on May 15th
• Swedish heavy metal band opens in a new windowAmon Amarth is sure get you moving with their arsenal of heroic hymns and building song structure on May 19th
• Closing out the month, on May 30th, is Kansas City rapper, opens in a new windowTech N9ne. Tech N9ne has been around since the mid-90s and has formed rap’s number one independent music label, Strange Music, thanks to his innovation, amazingly fast lyricism, and a high standard for excellence for himself and those on his label.  Make sure to come out, grab a KC Tea, and take in some midwest hip-hop!

Happy Friday! I’m Taylor, and I’m the Sports Sales Manager at the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau. I came to Columbia in 2009 to attend Mizzou. I love to travel, hike, watch/play basketball and golf, and listen to music. Fortunately, Columbia has options for all that and more, which is why I love this place. Music is a huge passion of mine and every month I’ll be sharing my favorites from each month of shows and upcoming ones you shouldn’t miss.

Picking up where January left off, there was no shortage of fireworks from the Columbia music scene in February. The second month of 2017 provided amazing talent ranging from locally-established bands and DJs to nationally known artists – from underground hip-hop all the way to Ben Folds and his piano and everything in between. The Blue Note alone sold out six shows.

Ben Folds & piano at opens in a new windowThe Blue Note

Mega-artist, Florida Georgia Line, kicked off this month by rocking the crowd at Mizzou Arena. Back-to-back sold out shows at The Blue Note from producer/DJ Datsik and country artist, Dylan Scott, started a trend of peak attendance shows in the middle of the month. Boston-based rapper, Sammy Adams, capped off an amazing month of music with his Senioritis Tour, which had the crowd bobbing up and down like they had just gotten off a cruise ship.  

Atmosphere at opens in a new windowThe Blue Note – opens in a new windowFreddie Cabrera Photography

I was able to attend four performances in Columbia this month, hearing four different types of music. My month of live music started off by witnessing my personal favorite artist, Atmosphere, at The Blue Note. This hip-hop duo, who hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota, have brought their tours to Columbia nearly every year since their formation 20+ years ago. They tour with artists from their self-created, independent record label, Rhymesayers, spreading positive and relatable lyrics and creating an energetic atmosphere that has the crowd engaged from the opening acts. Next up was a band I had never heard of but has a loyal following since forming in Portland in 2008. STRFKR is an alternative rock/dance band known for their energetic live performances, putting meaning behind dance beats.

Turning to the local scene, Rose Music Hall hosted three of Columbia’s best artists. Don’t Mind Dying, Decadent Nation, and The Royal Furs put on an amazing performance of rock and blues, and the entrance fee was only $5! With the well established talent in Columbia, that price is hard to beat anywhere. Capping off my month of February music, The Blue Note took us back to the original emcees of the hip-hop scene. DJ Requiem hosted a great show, playing 80s and 90s hip-hop from the pioneers who helped build the genre.

opens in a new windowDecadent Nation

Here are some highlights for next month:

• Kicking off the month, on March 1st, is some soulful, indie, alternative rock by Lotus.
• On March 2-5, The Blue Note will host a number of films during the True/False Film Fest. I’ll be attending the festival for the first time and have heard nothing but greatness from those who have been before.
• Fans of 80s rock ‘n’ roll, including Journey, Def Leppard, Blondie, and more, will enjoy The Cherry Pistols, Missouri’s premier 80s tribute band, on March 10th.
• The Revivalists will bring their New Orleans funk to town on March 14th.
• Louis the Child, an electronic duo who make music that makes people happy, will grace the stage on March 16th.
• Maybe the biggest band to come to Columbia on March 17th is an alternative rock band, the Cold War Kids, whose hit single “First” was #1 for eight weeks on the Alternative radio charts.  
• On March 31st, four Missouri bands (in parentheses) will perform a tribute to four of Seattle’s best rock bands, Alice in Chains (The Hipnecks), Soundgarden (The Many Colored Death), Pearl Jam (Decadent Nation), and Nirvana (Madora/Down Side Up). Seattle Royal III, returning for the third time as the name implies, is sure to rock the house to close out a great month of shows.

Check out opens in a new windowThe Blue Note’s website, opens in a new windowRose Music Hall’s website, or Visit Columbia MO for all your upcoming music needs!