Four bands make plans to tear up weekend CapeScene

A quadruple billing Saturday at The Camp promises to be a good night for fans of alternative rock and original music in Cape Girardeau.

CapeScene.com is holding its second party show, with Anam Cara, Squad Car, Fists of Phoenix and Tradeo bringing a diverse array of original rock. CapeScene was formed in December 2003 with the goal of networking cultural events in the area, partially through organizing shows like the one this weekend.

"Basically it was just kind of my attempt to sort of network the community and show what's going on around town," said CapeScene organizer Scott Ryan. "It's not limited to bands -- we've had poetry readings listed, art gallery shows, stuff like that -- but most of the time it ends up being bands."

This weekend's show at The Camp is only the second party CapeScene has had. Its one-year anniversary party in December went over so well that Ryan felt it should happen more often, and now such shows will be scheduled on a quarterly basis, he hopes.

"A lot of people that typically visit the forums on CapeScene came out and just all got a chance to hang out with each other," Ryan said. "It's sort of a way for the members to come out and hang out together, even though it's not just for that, it's for anyone who wants to come out."

This weekend's show features headliner Anam Cara, which has a laid-back style most similar to Incubus, said Ryan. Another band is Cape Girardeau's favorite punk band, Squad Car.

"Every time I've ever seen them, they just put on a phenomenal show," Ryan said. "They're always super-tight, and they've never let me down once."

Whereas the headliner is more laid back, Squad Car's aggressive punk riffs are in-your-face and enegetic, leaving plenty of room for mosh pits and headbanging.

"Anam Cara and Squad Car both have a pretty big crowd, a good local following," Ryan said. "And I'm pretty privileged to be able to put on this show."

Also featured will be two bands new to the scene, Fists of Phoenix and Tradeo. Fists of Phoenix is a Cape Girardeau band whose style is that of modern rock, delivering the kind of tunes one hears out of current alt-rock radio giants. Their stage presence is like that of The Hives, with suits and ties.

Tradeo is a group from Springfield, Mo., that specializes in hard rock with a prog twist. This will be the group's first show in Cape Girardeau, and they'll open the night at 9 p.m.

The goal of the party is to have a variety of music, showing off the talent of up-and-coming local bands.

"I just want to show off the scene and give everyone a feel for what's out there in Cape right now," Ryan said.

There has been a move in Cape Girardeau toward more original music, even though cover bands are the popular thing at most local venues, Ryan said.

"There's still good cover bands that I like to see to, but on the forum, they all want to see originals," Ryan said.

Ryan says anyone who listens to modern rock like the type played on the college station 103.7 will love this weekend's show.

"If you can turn on the rock station and listen to that ... you're going to have a good time at this show," he said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182