The new year has arrived and there has never been a better time to celebrate. Midwestern indie rockers, The Go Rounds, from Kalamazoo, and Kansas Bible Company, from Nashville, will descend upon The Village Idiot in Maumee on Friday, January 8.
Featuring upbeat and celebratory sounds that promise to create a lively and fun-filled night of music, both bands have developed distinct takes on positive indie rock. Kansas Bible Company infuses their sound with a dynamic brass section, while The Go Rounds evoke a folksy, soul-influenced Americana style. When these bands collaborate, they create a unique and palpable chemistry.
Kansas Bible Company
Kansas Bible Company is all about the essence of rock and roll, while creating a rich tapestry of brass driven, psychedelic indie rock with influences like The Beatles, Chicago, Frank Zappa, The Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys.
The band started in 2008 when a group of musicians began collaborating in Goshen, Indiana. “We all met when we were going to school at Goshen College and we were playing music together there,” said frontman Jake Miller. The band has grown and developed significantly since its initial inception. “Our arrangements have become more interesting and developed, but we’re still a rock and roll band,” says Miller, who describes their performances as a “high energy, powerful live show.” Though this upbeat level of intensity is a trademark of the band, they put out a full spectrum of material. “We have written songs that are more orchestrated and more downtempo as well,” Miller added.
However, one of the fundamental elements of the KBC is their stirring brass section, which gives the group a powerful sound— as well as an impressive line up. “Brass itself leads to a certain energy, especially when you pair it with drums and electric guitars, it’s a pretty big sound,” remarked the frontman, continuing that, “at full capacity, we’re 12 members, but we’ve played shows with anywhere from 8 to 12 people. We kind of feed off each other, there’s a lot of interaction.”
The upbeat, celebratory vibe of the band also contributes to a fun-filled and active atmosphere. “One of my friends said that one of the coolest things about a KBC show is that people are always moving,” recalls Miller, who is excited to perform with longtime friends and collaborators, The Go Rounds. “We’re good friends with those guys. We’re doing about 7 or 8 gigs with them in the new year and we’re also going to record an EP together. They’re one of the tightest touring bands that I know of right now, they’re just fantastic.”
KBC’s new album, Paper Moon, is set to drop this upcoming April.
The Go Rounds
The Go Rounds – Shock n Awe from Symmetry Films on Vimeo.
Hailing from Kalamazoo, the The Go Rounds formed in 2009 from members of other local bands. “The idea was to draw from early styles of rock and roll that we really appreciated, 50s styles like rockabilly and stuff like that.” said frontman, Graham Parsons, adding that, “Our sound, we’ve definitely been honing it more recently and have been having more intent as to what we want to put out into the world, and right now, we definitely are focused on bringing an uplifting concert experience.”
The Go Rounds seek to be musical altruists who bestow the gift of musical bliss unto their audience. “We try to get people to dance as much as they can, to sweat and freak out as much as we do,” says Parsons. “We’re trying to exude, with our music, with our sound, and with our presence, good times, and not naive good times— it’s still full spectrum. We still understand that life is dark and hard and whatever, but at our concerts we’re trying to reach out and create a profound and healing experience.”
According to Parsons, the fan response has been phenomenal, “I’ve had so many people in the last two years just come up to me and grab me and say, ‘Thank you so much. I needed that so badly.’”
Parsons is looking forward to this upcoming show with their good friends and peers, KBC. The chemistry between the two groups has been magical and advantageous. “We became big fans of one another,” says Parsons, adding that, “It’s super fun, I’ve been getting up and leading some of the tunes with them. We definitely have similar tastes and similar vibes right now.” The Go Rounds just released a new album called Don’t Go Not Changin.
Be sure to catch this amazing coalescence of midwestern indie rock talent. The show promises to be fun, danceable, upbeat, and positive. When these two powerhouses of uplifting music come together, the result is guaranteed to be spectacular.
9pm Friday, January 8th | $10 each, 2 tickets for $15 | The Village Idiot, 309 Conant St., Maumee | facebook.com/events/1395054590538975/
