River City Music Festival acts span genres from bluegrass to rock and everything in between

Put down everything you have at 6 p.m. Friday. No work, no chores, just music and fun at the River City Music Festival in downtown Cape Girardeau. If you want to take part in the playing, a Guitar Hero competition will be in the Best Buy tent at Water Street. For those who want to see up and coming talent, the River City's Got Talent competition will be at 2 p.m. Saturday on the Themis Stage. And a wild, avante garde Rock the Runway Fashion Show will be at 3 p.m. Saturday. The City of Roses Music Heritage Association has planned your weekend until the wee hours of Sunday morning. The volunteers associated with the festival have booked 30 bands on four stages for two days. All you have to do is decide who you want to see.

Band profiles compiled by Chris Harris and Richard Cason

FRIDAY

Small Town Boyz

The winners of the 2008 Jackson Homecomers Talent Show, these five boys from Southeast Missouri have already started playing gigs. They appeared with Jackson singer/songwriter Doug Rees at Stooges and played at the SEMO District Fair. Collin Barret, Taylor Barret, Anthony Busey, Kaleb Huggins and Nick Scarpaci are quickly becoming the new young, hot things.

They play: 6:15 p.m. Friday, Broadway stage

Tiffany Christopher

This Arkansas singer/songwriter makes for the perfect sunset show. Her crying and soulful voice sings out about love and then does an about face to bebop and skat along to a plucking guitar. She lists influences like Ella Fitzgerald and Elvis Presley in the same line as Ani DiFranco, Deathcab and Lenny Kravitz. She dropped her first solo album in 1998 and now mainly performs with her band, the Tiffany Christopher Band, but for the festival she's flying her own plane and taking you with her on soaring vocals and perfect fall fairy tales she tells in her songs.

They play: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Broadway stage

ALMOST ALWAYS

Almost Always is a homegrown punk band consisting of Eric Voorhees at vocals, Brent Blanchard on guitar, Chad Slaten with bass and Andrew DeField on drums. Voorhees's vocals are listener/fan friendly, which would insure mainstream airplay on Top 40 radio, but it's the sonic attack behind Voorhees that makes Almost Always a little different. Its sound lies somewhere between the Foo Fighters and the Killers and songs such as "Affection," "The Cure" and "Forever Ends Tonight" will conjure up comparisons to both of those bands. Almost Always will also throw in your favorite '80s songs, putting its own spin on a tune. Suffice it say, they're not Blink 182.

They play: 8:45 p.m. Friday, Broadway stage

FAT POCKET

When you go to this band's MySpace page, a cover of Kool and the Gang's "Hollywood Swingin'" fires automatically and the first lines explain just who they are: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are Fat Pocket. St. Louis' premier funk band. And we're here to bring the funk to you like no other group can." This 10-piece funk ensemble from the Gateway City is rooted in the sounds of Parliament Funkadelic and James Brown with a little Doobie Brothers and the Commodores thrown in. These cats will get you moving for sure as they funk up such classics as "Jungle Boogie," "Shinin' Star" and "Brick House."

They play: 10 p.m. Friday, Broadway stage

THE LEVEL

These Cape Girardeau reggae rockers have a funbeat show with words you can sing along to. They don't just put on a show, they put on a party. Jeremy Burford sings, Jason Blanchard plays lead guitar and backs up Burford along with Scott Ryan who also plays the bass while Keller Ford has drum charge. They have songs, but no album yet and cite 311, OAR and Reel Big Fish as big influences.

They play: 11:15 p.m. Friday, Broadway stage.

THE UNGROUNDED

The power pop trio Ungrounded will be unleashed in Cape Girardeau. According to the band's MySpace page, these alternative/power poppers "is a culmination of the ideas of Matt Irwin (formerly of Mika Evans Project, Corporate Mustache, Roadside Memory), Travis Carrol, and Jeremy Walter (formerly of Centerpoint). A diverse group of musicians with a common interest, rocking your socks off, but not by just destroying your ears with gut wrenching cries of wailing rock guitars." They say they sound like Collective Soul, Daughtry, Gavin Degraw and Seether, none of whom really sound alike, so have fun with your music stew.

They play: 7 p.m. Friday, Themis stage

WESTWARD SONS

Talk about a band with an identity crisis: This St. Louis-based four piece plays everything from Southern Rock to Irish tunes. Its first CD, "Rock 'n' Roll Outfit," is rumored to include tracks "of every kind of kick ass music you can name." Their music starts as hard rock, then melts into southern rock, picks it up a little with bluegrass, then gets you jumping with Irish ditties and swing tunes. According to them, "Throw in four parts blues, one part bluegrass, five parts rock n' roll, one part metal, and a dash of outlaw country and you might be close. Westward Sons rocks all night with a wide mixture of covers and originals!"

They play: 8:15 p.m. Friday, Themis Stage; 9 p.m. and midnight Saturday, Breakaway's stage

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CANADIAN CUSTOMS

This five-piece indie rock band from Illinois fits right into that genre of music you can't really fit anywhere. They pull influences from Bob Dylan, The White Stripes, The Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Neil Young and more. Their virgin album "The Unconquered Son" is in stores, but their live show is available Friday.

They play: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Themis stage

DRIVIN' RAIN

Cape Girardeau's veteran rockers, Drivin' Rain will be playing late on the first night of the River City Music Festival. The foursome has been together since 1994 (with a lineup change in 2007) and has toured extensively throughout Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and other states. Led by the charismatic frontman Timexx Nasty, Drivin' Rain also features Skully Shemwell on bass, G.P. Clark on drums and new guitar player Michael Stewart, who replaced the late Tommy DeWolf. These local guys have opened for some of music's biggest names including Skid Row, Nazareth and Eddie Money. So if '80s metal and swagger is your thing, Drivin' Rain will be right up your alley.

They play: 10:45 p.m. Friday, Themis stage

FASHIONABLE ELATE

They play: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ragsdale's stage

FISTS OF PHOENIX

Cape Girardeau's resident progressive rockers, no one can accuse them sounding like Top 40 pop. With songs like "Audio Waves," "The Data Worm," "When the Sun Comes" and "Circuitry on Fire," the band's sound is decidedly un-mainstream, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Fists of Phoenix has two albums under its belt: "Save the Swans" is the latest effort, which came out in May 2007. Before that, the band released "In the Events of 1961." As the Southeast Missourian's Matt Sanders put it "Imagine The Mars Volta conceiving a child with the Deftones and Incubus from the days of 'S.C.I.E.N.C.E.', and you have something close to the bastard child known as Fists of Phoenix."

They play: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Ragsdale's stage

THE GLOAMING

While most bands spread the love and describe themselves as alt-rock/southern rock/indie, or some combination of the genre list, The Gloaming calls themselves "rock/rock/rock," and that's just what you'll do. This classic five-piece rock band writes and rocks their own stuff. If you stop jumping to the high-energy beat long enough, you'll hear lyrics telling stories about life, love and war. These All-American Midwestern boys are on their second album and seem to be unstoppable on the rock scene.

They play: 11:30 p.m. Friday, Ragsdale's stage

TIPPING HOLLY

One of SE Live's "Three bands to watch in 2008," Tipping Holly is a four-piece folk rock band from Cape Girardeau. Featuring acoustic guitar, mandolin, upright bass and an assortment of vintage department store instruments, they play a variety of "new-grassy" originals and put their own unique spin on a handful of covers. Folk, bluegrass, progressive folk — you be the judge when this energetic group takes the stage and starts in with Brandi Burns' calling vocals and the rock rhythm and bluegrass sounds of the background. They practice in alleys and back porches to the wee hours of the night to bring you mostly original tunes. But when they break out their covers, don't get up for a drink. You'll have to try to recognize Britney, Presidents of the United States of America and Semisonic.

They play: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Breakaway's stage

THE FALSE AFFAIR

After a long and sad absence, The False Affair has hit the schedules once again. Their act is a four-piece alt/pop rock band with front man Lance Lamunion, guitarist Jon Smith, Brandon Gregory on bass and new drummer Stephen Schroeppel. With several original songs and new gigs, the new members and the old members have found a sound to call their own.

They play: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Breakaway's stage

DAZY KUTTER

Normally when Illinois is mentioned in the music world, it's to talk about the blues, but Dazy Kutter rocks that image to the core. The band plays songs you'll know, but adds its own edge to classic rock and new covers with a spin. Putting singer Amy Mize out front shows that woman can be just as good or better behind the microphone. Anything you can do they can do better.

They play: 11:30 p.m. Friday, Breakaway's stage

SATURDAY

ROCKFACE BARBAND

Rockface Barband is a four-piece alt-rock outfit playing uptempo, original rock. The group was formed in 2007 when longtime songwriting and performing partners Matt Sanders (bass) and Jeff Bell (guitar and vocals) joined with drummer Ben Grayson and guitarist Richard Jones. The band's songs range from fast, twang-infused rock to noise jams, drawing from diverse influences like Nirvana, Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Kings of Leon, Secret Machines, Stone Temple Pilots and others. Rockface Barband's live shows are characterized by the high-energy performances of Bell and Sanders augmented by Grayson's solid rhythms, Sanders' bouncing bass lines and Jones' and Bell's layered guitars.

They play: 5 p.m. Saturday, Broadway stage

DREW MANTIA

Drew Mantia sings, strums and strokes the keys to give an energetic show with every type of song from ballads to soul and funk. He lists John Meyer, Stevie Wonder, Timbaland and Timberlake as influences. He is currently recording with St. Louis-based 12 Bar Records for his debut album "Save Yourself," which should hit stores this fall. But you can hear him first this weekend.

They play: 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Broadway stage

GROOVE CONSPIRACY

You might just feel like bustin loose when this funky, powerpop powerhouse takes the Broadway stage. They put a Midwestern spin on the sounds of Rick James, the Commodores, Kool and the Gang and any other super-funk group you can think of.

They play: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Broadway stage

FILL

One of the most inventive bands on the Cape Girardeau music scene, Fill makes you dance, puts you at ease and has you hitting repeat all night long. The three piece progressive jazz fusion band has been together since March of 2006 and has one album on the table. They bleed from one song to another, barely letting you catch a thought, but you won't need any because the beat is all you have to think about.

They play: 8:45 p.m. Saturday, Broadway stage

ON TAP

Perryville, Mo.'s On Tap has a prime spot in the River City Music Festival lineup. The five rockers usually provide the party inside bars on Main Street at least one weekend a month, but they'll be banging out your favorite Southern Rock and '80s hits in the open air on the Broadway stage. You can catch these boys rocking downtown Cape like only On Tap can.

They play: 10 p.m. Saturday, Broadway stage

EMACIATION

One of the heavier acts for the music festival, their sound is a roaring thrash metal that doesn't normally get let out in conservative music markets. Emaciation is in-your-face rock with no alternative, no pop and no apologies. Like Anthrax and Mastodon before them, Emaciation's fast tempo and shredding guitar will shake you to the core. Lord Kirby Ray, D. W. Iron Aden and Magnum Brandor play music festivals more than regular venues so they know what to bring to send you home crying.

They play: 11:15 p.m. Saturday, Broadway stage

THE MELROYS

Favorites of those who patronize Broussard's, the Melroys will be bring their rockabilly stylings to this year's River City Music Festival. Former guitarist Randy Meiner, bassist Gregg Hopkins and drummer Mike Enderle have been friends since the British Invasion of the early 1960s. Currently, the Melroys are three piece band with Jordan Meiner on guitar and vocals. The Melroys are the perfect synthesis of country and rock. If you like a little of both without having to spread yourself too thin, the Melroys have you covered.

They play: 7 p.m. Saturday, Themis stage

BRUCE ZIMMERMAN

Bruce Zimmerman and the Water Street Band are mainstays on the Cape Girardeau music scene. Hearts rejoiced when they amped up their Sunday performances at Port Cape to two a month. Blues fans finally had two Sundays to get their music fix. You might recognize these guys from those house band gigs, or from the stage a few blocks away as some of them lend talents to other area bands. Their name may come from the fact that on any given day or night, the members are playing at different bars on the other side of Water Street. But when they come together as the Water Street Band, differences fade away. Zimmerman owns the guitar, Les Lindy sets up his harmonica case, Scott Bierschwal on keyboards, Ralph MacDonald with the saxophone, Ken Keller rocks the bass, Danny Rees on drums and Don Greenwood bangs out the percussion.

They play: 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Themis stage

MIKE RENICK BAND

The group formed in 2005 and plays what namesake Mike Renick calls "college rock." It's stuff you can sing to, dance to and take home for more. The band draws from the different musical backgrounds of each member, including jazz, blues, rock and acoustic pop. They've built a following of fans and friends and recently released a full-length CD, "Lucky One." Click here to listen to the title track from the album.

They play: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Themis stage

NINTH LIFE

Ninth Life is Chris Hopper on guitar and vocals, Jason Depro also on guitar and vocals, Mitch Davis with lead guitar, Richie Taylor with bass and Clay Slipis on drums. The five-piece plays straight American rock with no twists, no turns and no disappointments.

They play: 10:45 p.m. Saturday, Themis stage

IMPROV OF 7 DYING MEN

Borrowing musicians from local groups Fists of Phoenix, Slow Riot, Emaciation, Frogsweat and Bundle Theory, Improv of 7 Dying men started as a acoustic side project for Fists of Phoenix vocalist Daniel Seabaugh, who was just looking for a way to express himself outside of his band. He found friends Sam Carmack, J.J. Seabaugh and Gary Mize, they found anything that would make a sound and started making music. In one set you may hear structured, acoustic rock songs and then something "erie with a lot synth keys and droning guitars," according to D. Seabaugh.

They play: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Ragsdale's stage

OH FOUR AUDIO

Oh Four Audio is a younger Cape Girardeau band with a pretty grown-up sound. Although vocalist Ashley Taylor is not the only girl to front a Cape band, she is one of only a handful. She, along with Drew Koeppel- bass/vocals, Aaron Essner on drums and Keith Legrand keyboards join with brand new guitarist Ian Bolton to deliver a sound that sounds like Incubus, Bloc Party, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Radiohead, the Deftones, Weezer and the White Stripes all rolled into one — what a bargain! They also willingly admit to citing local group Fists of Phoenix as a major influence. Their originals "Better Than Well" and "Estrogen Magnetic" evoke the sound of Evanescence; softer songs such as "Vasnivy Roles" will remind 1980s pop fans of the Dream Academy and their one hit "Life in a Northern Town." The point is, they're young, they're good and they know it. Oh Four Audio just might change the way you look at music from Cape Girardeau.

They play: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Ragsdale's stage

CATATONIC

A band that's from here and has played in Cape Girardeau more than a few times, including the River City Music Festival, Catatonic has a late-night slot this year. Their list of influences includes Muse, Radiohead and The Mars Volta, and it's evident in their music. They recently released their first CD "Red Light in My Head." The members describe themselves as follows: "Jeff Prost, lead emostrumer skinny-stringed phase-shifter; Greg Bartosik, fat stringed death modulator; Gabriel Austin, Hide-pounding misanthropic beat-cruncher; and Lance Ferrell, the lost lead thought-exacting vibrotissue-wielding truth-sayer of love and loss."

They play: 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Ragsdale's stage

THUNDERTONES

The members of The Thundertones — vocalist Ryan Matlock, Julie Arnold on bass guitar, Dave Pruitt and Clay Thomas on guitar and temporary drummer Rob Cashon — have been in various bands for the past 20 years. They've popped up in Rude Awakening, Project 621, Turner Up and Squealer. They mainly plays classic rock and pop covers. These musicians have been around the block and have realized what music is really all about: the fun.

They play: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Breakaway's stage

LOST POSSUM

The Glastetter brothers keep rocking and rolling and will be reuniting with other members of Lost Possum for a special performance at this year's River City Music Festival. Starting in 2004, Lost Possum got together with one common goal: to write and play great, old-fashioned, in-your-face rock and roll! Brock Garrison, Bryan West, Bob and Steve Glastetter, and a special guest will be tearing through selections from their albums "Nowhere To Go" and "Juggernaut."

They play: 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Breakaway's stage