The following is an edition of Mac’s Tracks, The Mirror’s music column. All views, thoughts and opinions belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Drury Mirror. 

On Sept. 13, my roommate and I went to a concert at the Outland Ballroom, a music venue on South Ave just off the Springfield square. I’d been gushing over the day since late July and had my outfit planned for about as long. The show was for Bad Bad Hats, an indie rock band native to Minneapolis, Mn. that continue to climb in popularity across the nation. I was hooked on their music since hearing them for the first time in January.

Setting the stage

Although the tickets advertised that Cumulus would open, there were three bands preceding the headliner. I had never heard of any of them before that night. Blue False Indigo was up first, entrancing the room with their self-proclaimed “spooky folk” style. The three women were members of the Drury University choir department and, after graduating, kicked off their music venture.

The alternative rock group Daisypusher dominated their set with heavy guitar, intense drums and vocals rising just above the instruments to pull it all together. Cumulus rounded out the night with a cool, purposeful vibe and lighthearted commentary before welcoming Bad Bad Hats to the stage. We got back at one in the morning absolutely elated and with a few more musicians added to the Instagram pages we follow.

Why go?

Local shows boast affordable tickets, intimate venues and more personal interactions with the bands. There is a connection between the audience and performers, a recognition that neither can be there without the other. It feels just a bit more real to hear a band’s music when you’re a foot away from their set rather than behind a barrier.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to mix with the local scene and find your new favorite artist, who might be producing in their garage just a few blocks away. It also lets you give back to your community. While certain tunes might be all the rage, supporting local creatives keeps your city lively and fresh.

For many, concerts are a great chance to socialize and see what your town has to offer. Many concerts aren’t restricted to only those over 21, either. Almost all Outland shows are open to any age with a two-dollar charge for minors. Getting a group of friends together to go to a concert for a band you’ve never heard before is a unique experience and, even if the music isn’t your cup of tea, you may discover a soon-to-be staple hangout location.

In it for the music

Top 40 hits are hits for a reason; pop music is fun, accessible and appeals to a wide variety of people. Kerry Alexander, the lead singer for Bad Bad Hats herself pulls from pop tropes when writing songs for the band. The song “1-800” from their newest album was inspired by Drake’s “Hotline Bling.”

As she explained in a Rolling Stone interview this August, “I like that phrase, using 1-800 as a metaphor for how you’ve got nothing but junk in your life.” It might explain why they’re catching on to so many.

While the infamous declaration of “listening to a band before they were cool” is unlikely to die out, there is more to music than claims to fame or finding the next big artist. Local music and smaller bands aren’t necessarily seeking to top the charts. They’re creating what matters to them, bringing new approaches and twists to what gets played on the radio. These shifts away from traditional genres and sounds may leave you walking to a new beat.

For the truly local experience, Big Momma’s on Commercial Street hosts an open mic night every Monday, starting at 7 p.m. Artists from the Springfield area crowd in to share their music with other participants and the coffee-sipping customers along for the ride.

Bad Bad Hats, Blue False Indigo and Cumulus are available to stream on Spotify, while Daisypusher can be found on Bandcamp.

To listen to the music mentioned in this article, visit the playlist Mac’s Tracks on Spotify.

What local bands do you adore back home? Share them down below!

Article by Maclen Johnson.