POWER PLAY: CAPE GIRARDEAU NOT A HOTBED FOR LIVE MUSIC

I often wonder why Cape Girardeau isn't a bigger city for live music.

Here we are in a scenic riverfront town strategically located on the interstate between two other Mississippi River cities with fine musical reputations -- St. Louis and Memphis -- yet rarely do bands based in those locales play here.

I was reminded why live music is scarce last weekend when a top St. Louis band came to town. The reason: Hardly anyone showed up.

I managed to persuade a contingent of co-workers into accompanying me to see The Sun Sawed in 1/2 put on a great performance before a sparse crowd Friday at the River City Yacht Club. It was one of the rare occasions a good band from elsewhere played in Cape.

However, the so-called opening act composed of local boys nearly killed the whole experience. I have until now always thought the idea of using a spoon -- or to be precise, spoons -- in a musical fashion was simply the product of a deranged imagination. Sadly, that is not the case as this group boasted a (presumably) live and in the flesh spoons player.

My big question is can one use any kind of spoon for musical purposes or are specially tuned spoons required? I never noticed a utensil section at Shivelbine's.

Also, how does one become a spoons player? By eating cereal double fisted and in a rhythmic manner?

Until the main band came out, my companions kept flashing me looks to indicate they were developing serious doubts concerning my self-promoted reputation as Cape's new music authority.

Fortunately, The Sun Sawed in 1/2, eventually took the stage and proved why they are included among the top five unsigned bands in the nation.

The band's lead singer said the band's goal is to write songs that are the antithesis of Pirate Rock. That style he defines as any music in which you can substitute the normal lyrics with the word "arrrggghh" without anyone noticing.

They pull off an interesting blend of pop and rock that comes off as compelling rather than saccharine. I'm still walking around with their songs "Life" and "Janet Green" ringing in my head and I've had more than ample opportunity to sober up.

Unfortunately, few in Cape Girardeau got the chance to find that out. (That their music is good, not that I've sobered up.) The Sun Sawed in 1/2 is now off on an extended tour of the western United States to promote their new album, and may they enjoy more enthusiastic crowds.

I guess that people around here just aren't used to seeing live music -- especially bands which play their own stuff -- which is why there is so little of it around. With the exception of Broussard's, few places consistently book bands, and those that do book cover bands.

I like to hear a good cover tune, but I want some original stuff as well. Cape's reigning top act, Papa Aborigine, is great at what it does and in lead singer Billy Keys you'll never meet a nicer guy. However, listening to cover bands is too much like listening to the radio.

One positive note about Papa Aborigine: It shows excellent judgment by staying away from standard covers and playing an eclectic selection of songs rarely heard by bar bands. Every time I walk into a pub and hear a band play "Mony, Mony" or "Born to Be Wild" it makes me want to kill myself, or if I'm thinking clearly, kill them.

I don't expect Cape Girardeau to become the mecca for new music, but it would be nice to hear something different every now and then.

Marc Powers is a member of the Southeast Missourian staff.