MO Fest continues, highlighting Missouri funk, blues, metal and more – Columbia Daily Tribune
MO Fest — The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall’s annual January music showcase — rambles on, with more acts from Columbia and around the state loosely grouped by style.
After an opening weekend of country, bluegrass, punk and hip-hop, our attention turns to funk, indie-rock, blues-based music, metal and reggae. MO Fest spills past its typical second weekend, with one more showcase coming later in the month.
As with last weekend’s shows, we highlight one representative artist, though all should keep you out until the last chord resolves.
Friday: Missouri Funk Fest at The Blue Note
St. Louis’ Brother Francis and the Soultones can play just about anything in the realm of funk and jazz, but always play it cool, unspooling a silky sound that cajoles the listener with good feelings and romantic intentions.
Also playing: The Grooveliner (St. Louis), King Socks (Columbia), Mobile Funk Unit (Columbia), Ruby Lane (Columbia)
Time and tickets: 7:30 p.m.; $10-$20.
Friday: Missouri Indie Fest at Rose Music Hall
On their November release “White Cicada,” Columbia five-piece Laika pursues a sound that’s ethereal yet heavy, evoking a band like Smashing Pumpkins, but with the propulsive undercurrents of a TV on the Radio. These songs both lap and crash like waves, making you feel alive out in the breakers.
Also playing: Highway Demon (Columbia), Mold Gold (St. Louis), The Moose (Kansas City)
Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $8-$10.
Saturday: Missouri Blues Fest at The Blue Note
Few Missouri bands — in any genre — own the record of The Hooten Hallers,a Columbia institution built on swampy riffs, otherworldly high-low harmonies and stabs of saxophone. Somewhat like the color black, the trio manages to contain all shades of the blues while sounding like no other band.
Also playing: Amanda Fish (Kansas City), The Fried Crawdaddies (Columbia), Kingdom Brothers (St. Louis)
Time and ticks: 8 p.m.; $10-$20.
Saturday: Missouri Metal Fest at Rose Music Hall
Carving a distinct path through the Midwest metal scene, Columbia’s Hang Your Hate expresses nuances while exploding their sound; technical virtuosity and visceral power keep bowing to one another, offering the song — each moment, really — whatever it needs.
Also playing: Ex Cathedra (St. Louis), Hardhanded (St. Louis), Suffer the Masses (Columbia)
Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $8-$10.
Jan. 20: Missouri Reggae Fest at Rose Music Hall
Tree One Four, hailing from St. Louis, smash sounds together — hints of psychedelic rock, serious shredding and cavernous grooves — to create an appealing aesthetic that’s nothing less than reggae, but delivers something more.
Also playing: Austin Kolb Band (Columbia), Bobby Showers Band (Jefferson City)
Time and tickets: 8 p.m.; $8-$10.
To learn more about any of these shows, visit https://thebluenote.com/ or https://rosemusichall.com/.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] or by calling 573-815-1731. He’s on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.
