Which Local Musical Artist Should You Listen To?

We’ve all heard it before. “There’s nothing to do in Kirksville. It’s a boring old town in the middle of nowhere. Why isn’t there more entertainment? Etc.” There’s admittedly some truth to these types of statements. Kirksville is located in the middle of nowhere, about 90 miles away from Columbia, the nearest metropolitan area. There aren’t any major clothing stores or good coffee shops and – regretfully for this author – zero comic book stores. Yet despite these factors, it’s still a place brimming with culture. There is an abundance of local restaurants like Maxwell’s and Pagliai’s Pizza, quaint businesses peppered all about main street, farmer’s markets held on Saturdays and a burgeoning local arts scene. Writers, painters and poets all reside in the Kirksville area and breathe life into what many see as a dull, gray splotch of a town. Perhaps most notable among this group are musicians – the singers, songwriters and instrumentalists. Though they might not be the brightest faces in the crowd, they’re here and kicking up a storm.

Why do I bring all this up? Because I know you’re looking for something new to listen to. Just as you’ve come to Truman to expand your horizons, you’ve come to this article to expand your musical palate. Understanding this, I – as a representative of KTRM-FM – offer up the following guide to best navigate the many talented artists that make up the Kirksville music scene. So, grab a pencil, keep a tally of your choices and try to enjoy yourself as you play along with this quaint little quiz.

 

Choose a color:

1. Pink
2. Green
3. Beige
4. Purple
5. Teal

 

What’s your favorite music genre?

1. Alt-Rock/Power Pop
2. Folk/Country
3. Indie/Garage Rock
4. Art Rock/Experimental
5. Jazz/Jazz Fusion

 

Choose an instrument:

1. Bass
2. Violin
3. Guitar
4. Drums
5. Piano

 

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

1. Panther
2. Vulture
3. Salamander
4. Goldfish
5. Peacock

 

Which item of clothing would you add to your typical attire/incorporate as part of your look?

1. Boots
2. Sweater vest
3. Flannel
4. Beanie
5. Comfy shorts

 

How old are the artists you generally listen to?

1. Same age as me (18-22)
2. Well into adulthood (30+)
3. A bit older than me (23-29)
4. However old they were when they released their music
5. Who cares about age?

 

If your friends could describe you in a series of three words, what would those words be?

1. Cheery, upbeat, outgoing
2. Passionate, charismatic, persuasive
3. Introspective, moody, unfiltered
4. Quirky, free-spirited, irreverent
5. Straight-laced, uptight, dedicated

 

You’re the lead singer of your band. What do you do while you perform on stage?

1. Dance
2. Keep still and let my voice steal the show
3. Headbang
4. Play another instrument
5. Lead singer? No thanks

 

Choose a set of song lyrics

1. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger / do you have to let it linger?”
2. “All we are saying, is give peace a chance”
3. “It’s scary out there and the world is a winter all of the year / a blizzard of expectations followed by frost bite of the mind / and cold breath in your hair”
4. “Nights like this, I know the house just shifts / Oh I know, there’s no breaking in, but I can feel them coming for me”
5. “Everybody dug that beat, Everybody stomped their feet / Everybody digs be-bop, An’ they’ll never stop”

 

Which is your favorite era of music?

1. The 1990’s
2. The 1960’s
3. The 2000’s
4. The 1980’s
5. The 1970’s

 

Choose a musical icon:

1. Joan Jett
2. Joan Baez
3. Jack White
4. Thom Yorke
5. Miles Davis

 

Let’s tally the results!

 

If your most frequent answer was 1), then the all-girl Pink Lemonade will delight you with their cover-laden repertoire and commitment to the alt-rock genre.

 

If your most common choice was 2), then the rootsy, folk stylings of the Kirksville String Band – featuring professor Christine Harker – might be your thing!

 

If the majority of your picks was 3), congratulations, you’ve settled on the blistering, indie rock stylings of American Basswood!

 

In the event that 4) was your most common response, then you’ll likely enjoy the idiosyncratic stylings of the rock trio known as LAME! 

 

And lastly, if you found yourself with a whole lot of 5), then 2% Jazz just might be the group for you!

 

Regardless of whatever band the quiz suggested for you, I encourage you to check out each of these bands. They’re all incredibly gifted musicians and well worth your support.