Aorta performances bring life into local music

Three local Kirksville bands performed for the first time at a packed Aorta over Spring Break, with the overall show bringing life into the local music scene. I was able to sit close to these talented performers as they played music one can only hear in Kirksville, Mo. These bands took the stage in order of their age and experience, letting residents experience bands in three different stages of life perform in the same night.

 

Post Mortem 7/10

Starting off the show was the enjoyably youthful band Post Mortem. They were definitely the newest of the three bands that performed, but I personally enjoyed them the most. Their nervous energy (except Jet’s weirdly calm demeanor) was something I really appreciated. Lead singer Travis’ voice lended perfectly to the type of rock that they roll with, and lead guitarist Jet absolutely ripped when he got the chance. I loved the original songs from this band and they picked a few covers that matched that alt rock and grungy vibe. The best song of the night was “What,” as I still hum the hook despite my annoyance with the simple name. The song is melodramatic and focuses on an ex-lover, as the singer questions why she left, “what is wrong with me…”

It was definitely not polished, and I loved that because it didn’t need to be, something about that raw emotion from people who still feel things so deeply make a real impression on me. Wyatt’s back-up vocals are not on this song, which is a loss because his voice really helps amplify Travis, but given it was made by such young performers I doubt that bit was considered. 

 

Wax Paper Cranes 7/10

Mark Fishers’ WaxPaperCranes was something. He definitely seemed to be having the most fun and the crowd seemed to rally behind the solo performer. Fisher started the performance off with a cover of a Bob Dylan song before getting into the meat of his performance, which were songs from his most recent album “Evergreen” and his previous EP “Rumspringa.” Fisher’s “Cardboard Palace” took the cake with the unique beat and folky atmosphere. The song compares two living conditions with the singer’s life being like  cardboard. It’s not hard to see what he’s referring to, as he seems to be okay with his current conditions while also being envious of a better environment. Fisher stumbled in a few moments during the performance, but ultimately the Truman State University alumni gave a unique performance you can only find in Kirksville. He also did a fan favorite performance of “Shark Tale (2004)” that many would be upset if not mentioned.

 

Duck Fat 6/10

The final act of the night may have been my least favorite, but they were definitely the most well performed. The band walked out one at a time to a weirdly awkward hymn style performance of their original song “If Jesus had a Car” that wasn’t bad in any measure, just odd. The band featured two University professors with Amy Norgard on drums and Wayne Johnson on vocals and guitar. They, along with Ted Frushour also on vocals and guitar, Mike Patterson on bass, and Johnathon Veaker on a unique sound system, performed a clean set. Personally, I  couldn’t really get too into the vocals with how quiet the mic was, and they really didn’t seem to emphasize that too much. I will definitely say Norgard on the drums was like being kicked in the face in the best way possible, as her playing really emphasized when Frushour or Johnson would hit key elements of their lyrics and would keep you on the edge of your seat. Their song “Things Won’t Get Better” was by far my favorite song from the group with my key takeaway being that it shreds. The bass was perfectly on point, the drums were electric and the duo of Frushour and Johnson belting made it the most enjoyable experience. Seeing the experienced performers work in front of the large crowd was very enjoyable and the band seemed to have a great time performing all original songs. They even wrote a song to include congas and that change did add a unique aspect to their show, even if I did not enjoy the song I really liked the idea of doing something that unique. 

WaxPaperCranes – Alumn Mark Fisher performs under his stage name Wax Paper Cranes. It was Fisher’s first performance under the stage name where performed songs from his EP “Rumspringa” and his most recent album “Evergreen”

 

Norgard –  

Associate Professor of Latin Amy Norgard laughing while performing as the drummer for Duck Fat. Norgard also played the congas for one of their songs during the 30 minute set.

 

Duck Fat Group – The band Duck Fat performs the closing set for the Aorta show on March 14. The band played all original rock and folk songs during their show and were the most experienced despite it being their first time performing under the name Duck Fat.