####A Simple Exchange
Who wouldn’t swipe right on A Simple Exchange? A soft folk and harmony band, A Simple Exchange is comprised of four members: Catherine Sandstedt on viola, Daniel Blake on drums, and Morgan Manson and Lucas Dierker on vocals. Manson and Dierker met on Tinder in January 2013, and when they finally sang a song by The Civil Wars together, they liked the way they worked as a duo (clearly, because they got married).
The band’s first full-length album, “What We’ve Become,” highlights the group’s Americana vocals. Their shows typically feature an acoustic session that showcases the group’s three-piece harmony, then some songs that specifically spotlight the group’s unique use of the the viola. Plus, Sandstedt sings while playing the viola — a feat that is equally surprising and impressive.
####Ray Wild
Ray Wild is made up of lead guitarist Tyler Stock, singer and rhythm guitarist Jack Pritchett, bassist Ari Shellist and drummer Tom Hipchen. The final song “My Direction” is my favorite on their new album, “Vol.0” with the strongest ’70’s influence, really showcasing their sound. Their debut EP, “Good Fortune” was full of hip music reminiscent of The Jam and Pere Ubu.
The other songs on “Vol. 0” showcase the groovy bass-filled song with definite nighttime-windows-down vibes. The second track on the album, “Get Down” is more of a song you can get down to with friends — and the smooth, riff-filled chorus will definitely be stuck in your head for a while.
####Monchichi
Monchichi, a Columbia hometown band, is made up of Zach Zito on guitar and vocals, Mitch Renfrew on bass and vocals and Jake Somerscales on drums and percussion. The band is inspired by BBNG, Haitus Kaiyote and James Brown, and it shows in their soul-filled songs. The band frequents Cafe Berlin and The Social Room, and it’s definitely worth it to check them out whenever they’re playing.
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####Mangosteen
In an interview with MOVE earlier this year, vocalist and drummer Spencer Westphalen said that the band’s intense sound comes from the players’ shared roots in jazz. The band members, keyboardist Michael Miller, guitarist Colby Johnson, bassist Grant Flakne and Westphalen, make Mangosteen a funky band that’s easy to jam to.
Mangosteen’s first single “She’s a Lady” recently premiered on Spotify, and the keyboard-heavy song would be great to listen to in a low lit room on a rainy day. The band also likes to do a lot of covers: From Hall and Oates “I Can’t Go For That” to Bowie, Mangosteen has a lot to offer to CoMo’s local music scene.
####Tidal Volume
Tidal Volume is a St. Louis band, but they still deserve to be included. Their pop-infused, Weezer-esque music is based in Columbia because most of the band members attend MU. The band is made up of brothers Zach and Matt Sullentrup, bassist Andrew Scherping, keyboardist Will Minard and guitarist Chris Jansson.
Three summers ago, Tidal Volume opened for the Plain White T’s. In an interview with MOVE in 2015, Zach said: “You can expect a high-energy live show. We’re never wanting to have a crazy artistic experience on stage. It’s all about throwing a party.” Zach also is working on a solo career with his new album “Former Failures: Least Flammable Garbage 2012-2015,” featuring my favorite songs on the album, “I Bitched To Someone In Tidal Volume & All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me (Song For Katy)” and “A Record (Scars & Medals).”
####Deadfoot + Larry Stolen Shoe Band
This band is a “local secret supergroup” that appears all over town, playing different shows under different names. Word on the street is that they don’t actually practice; the great sound they produce is just a product of good musicians who happened to fall into sync with one another. This is all unconfirmed, of course, but try to catch the band under their next pseudonym at The Social Room or Rose Music Hall.
_Edited by George Roberson | groberson@themaneater.com_