Arty J

BransonBeatsBreakdown isn't only about Branson but 

also local bands in the 417 area including Springfield, MO.

This Thursday December 6th I went downtown to

Springfield's newest night club

Instinct.

This particular evening the soundtrack for the night was being

provided by Arty J.

Originally from St. Louis, celebrity DJ

Arty J gave the crowd plenty of entertainment with a collection

of the newest hip hop, rap, and pop songs

all with a special twist from the DJ booth. 

Arty J also provided live vocals over the tracks and on several

occasions coming down from the DJ booth

to the dance floor to interact with the crowd while performing.

Arty J put on a good performance with great music and for these reasons I give him

5 stars *****

The Kraken

Lead Singer Dean Zeligman is a natural born entertainer

not only in his profession as an Elvis impersonator

at Dick Clark's Legends in Concert

in Branson, MO but also

when he's off the clock performing with The Kraken.

I had seen The Kraken perform awhile back at Dean Z's

Club 57 which happened to be located downstairs in

the Legends in Concert Theater. 

More recently I was able to see them this Halloween 

at Time Out Sports Bar & Grill.

The Kraken is an extremely high energy and fun band to watch live.

Performing mostly covers of the greatest songs from

years past which encourages crowd participation

because everyone can sing along.

Check out my Facebook group for a video of The Kraken 

performing a cover of "Blister in the Sun."

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/364339950307248/

I give The Kraken 5 Stars *****

Blue Holiday

I got to hear Blue Holiday while spending

another great evening at the Outback Pub in Branson, Missouri.

Blue Holiday consists of Larry Holiday and Gina Phillips.

I had seen the duo before several years back at Dean Z's

Club 57 but didn't know who they 

were until recently at the Outback.

Blue Holiday is an acoustic duo that does 

mostly cover with some original. 

Vocalist Gina Phillips even does a great

rendition of Britney Spears'

"Womanizer"

Blue Holiday took time to talk to the crowd between songs 

as well as take requests.

I give Blue Holiday 4 stars ****

The Dysfunctional 4

The Dysfunctional 4 are a riot! They are known as the house band for the Rowdy Beaver Restaurant & Tavern in Branson. They play several nights a week at the 76 mainstay, much to the delight of patrons and tourists alike. 

The Dysfunctional 4 is known for singing classic country combined with some gospel and putting a spin on the songs by changing a few words to make it more comical. 

Requests are always taken and interaction with the crowd

is always the center of their performance.

I have rated The Dysfunctional 4 with 4 stars ****

Members Only

      Members Only is an outrageous 80's cover band based out of Springfield, Missouri.

Members Only has held several performances at the Branson Landing as well as Dean Z's Club 57. Members Only is the areas only strictly 80's cover band. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcbsgLN6Ps

This much-loved band is known for performing some of the most well-known hits from the 80's, and has garnered a huge local following. The guys are based out of Springfield and play shows not only in Missouri, but around the nation as well.

Their image evokes the best, and worst, fashions from the decade, and the females especially seem to love their hair-metal look. If you are at a Members Only show, chances are you find yourself on the dance floor enjoying the best tunes of years past.

Having been to one of their live shows, I can attest to the fanatical following Members Only has received. Not only is the show a visual feast, but the band delivers on a technical level, playing the best hits from over 20 years ago better than the originals. The only factor keeping this band from achieving 5 stars is the fact they do not perform any original music. I have rated this band 4/5 stars.

Harvey Stone

     Harvey Stone is a band I've had several opportunities to see, mostly at the Outback Pub in Branson, MO and I have to say that I am a fan. The band performs a playlist with a mix of cover songs as well as original songs.

 

   One thing I like in particular about Harvey Stone is the stage set. They turn off all overhead lights and set up with some green and dark blue which kind of gives the venue a different and more intimate feel.

   Harvey Stone has a really mellow vibe to their music which is nice when you are just wanting to relax with some friends and not have to yell over a DJ's bass pumping music.

   Harvey Stone plays covers like Simon & Garfunkels "Mrs. Robinson" and Sublime's "Santeria" just to give you an idea of the kind of flavor Harvey Stone has.

   Overall I would have to give Harvey Stone 4 stars ****

Michelle McBride Review



      Local musician Michelle McBride has been a favorite of mine for about a year now. Not only is she beautiful and have the perfect image for the genre of music but she has the perfect voice for it as well.   

      I have seen Michelle McBride and her band several occasions now and am always pleased with her performance. She is completely centered around her crowd which is important for any musician because without the audience, the musician has no purpose.

    Michelle is always open for requests and always pausing between songs for  a comedic insert or some crowd interaction. A signature move of Michelle's is the "Holler and Swaller" where she insists on the audience raising a drink, hollering, and taking a swallow.

    Michelle's sound is a sweet acoustic one. She puts her country style on popular songs such as "Strokin'" and "Gold Digger" which is fun for everyone.

Here is one of Michelle McBride's music videos as well as some live videos of my own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeYCAs-yfW4

Messing With Destiny

Messing with Destiny was a really fun blues band. I happened to catch them on Bike Night at the Outback Pub in Branson so there was a big crowd enjoying the band. 

Messing with Destiny was about as good as your average

blues band. Nothing too exciting or unique about them but the music

and overall vibe they put out

was good. My only complaint was that they did nothing to make them

stand out or memorable and they had little to no interaction with the crowd.

For these reasons I'd have to give Messing with Destiny 3 stars ***

Pearl Nation

   Pearl Nation is an amazing band out of Springfield, Missouri who I have been able to see on two seperate occasions now at Branson's Outback Pub. The band consists of a lead female vocalist, guitar player, and backup vocalist/tambourine player.

  Pearl is mainly a cover band which can be a great thing because the crowd doesn't have to have heard the band before to know the words and sing along. Pearl Nation covers everything from Stevie Wonder to The Kings of Leon, Chaka Khan to Journey, Grace Potter to Lenny Kravitz and new music from artists like Rhianna and Eminem just to name a few!

  

 The lead vocals are out of this world. Kris possesses a voice that has often been compared to "Pink" in that it has a certain "raspy" quality to it. The band is very involved with the crowd and is constantly playing requests. My second time seeing them live everyone in the room was on their feet singing and dancnig along to their over of Sublime's "Santeria".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vybGxUrjicw

  Pearl Nation is guaranteed to provide a good time accompanied by a great soundtrack and for this I give them 5 stars *****

Lain'z Hot Rod Gang

   If Rock N' Roll is your style then Lain'z Hot Rod Gang is the band for you! Complete with a saxophone, this band rocks it out everytime I have seen them.
                     

   Lain'z Hot Rod Gang is a Classic Rock (50's to 70's) and Blues Standards Band playing in the southwest Missouri region.  Besides their orginal songs Lain'z Hot Rod Gang playlist includes songs from the following: Allan Jackson, Beach Boys, Beatles, Bill Withers, Black Crows, Bob Seger, Buck Owens, CCR, CSNY, Charlie Daniels, Commitments, David Alan Coe, Doobie Bros', Eagels, Elvis, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffet, Kenny Loggins, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, Stones, Rod Stewart, Thunderbirds, Santana, Stones and many more.

     

  Playing cover songs from such popular rock n' roll bands gives Lain'z Gang the advantage of having the crowd involved no matter what the age and as I've mentioned before, crowd participation is everything!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DN4t9uVQVM

  Overall I'd have to give Lain'z Hot Rod Gang 4 stars ****

DJ Imperial

Upon hearing DJ Imperial perform at Branson's

Outback Pub, I was less than impressed. Not only was he completely uninvolved with his crowd but he also had a playlist that was outdated.

                        

His uninvolvment with the crowd was unfortunate because it seems to me that communicating with your audience is an important part of being a DJ.

A DJ has to let his audience know that he cares about

what the crowd is wanting to hear and not just spinning an already

laid out playlist. DJ Imperial didn't even have a microphone set up to

talk back to the crowd. This also hindered the crowd from

knowing who the DJ even was.

DJ Imperial was what I would call a step up from

an iPod set on shuffle and it is for these reasons I give him

3 stars ***.

DJ Kolmega

   DJ Kolmega is a personal friend and someone I have heard spin many many times. Kolmega is known for surprising the crowd everytime with the things he plays.
 
  Kolmega typically works his way through the decades which is very smart in my opinion because the younger crowd tends to come out the later it gets.

  Kolmega will play any and everything from "The Golden Girls" theme song to today's latest dance songs.

  My only negative comment would be that sometimes Kolmega's music doesn't have the best flow and he will suddenly change the pace with a slow song which results in emptying the dance floor and changing the mood.

  For these reasons I give Branson's DJ Kolmega 4 Stars ****

DJ Johan

DJ Johan Collins is a big favorite of mine and someone I have

been hearing at clubs

and events over the past 4 years.

It's not ever easy to expect what DJ Johan is going to spin because he

always comes out with something new and unheard

as well as something you haven't heard in a long time.

Much like famous DJ "GirlTalk", Johan possesses the talent of

mixing two or more songs that seem

completely incompatible, into a track that sounds perfectly

mashed.

His quirky and outgoing personality is able to win the crowd

over and always has people out on the dance floor.

Overall I'd have to give Johan 4 stars ****

October 10th, 2012
    Got another chance to see the amazing drummer/DJ duo Kick and Scratch at a different venue last weekend. This time the guys got funky at Branson's Outback Pub which is a smaller venue then Skye Bar and the size only made the music more amplified and the atmosphere more intimate. Everyone seemed to be really into it and the dance floor was yet again packed all night long! Check out videos from both performances at Skye and Outback Pub on my Facebook Group Page. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/364339950307248/


ALSO check out  Kick & Scratch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/KICKandSCRATCH?fref=ts

Let's Get Started! Review #1 Kick & Scratch!

    What is Branson Beats Breakdown? Well, let me break it down for you! This blog will review and analyze local DJ's and bands performing in the Branson Missouri and 417 area. Bands/DJ's will be rated on a scale from 1-5 stars, 5 stars being the best possible score. Criteria for rating will include things such as, but not limited to, crowd feedback, size of the crowd who came out to see the performance, as well as memorability and uniqueness factors.
   
 So let's get started! Review #1 is going to be over DJ Adam Bomb and Dathan DeVore's drummer and DJ combination, namely Kick and Scratch, performance on Saturday September 8th at Skye Bar and Grille on the strip in Branson.  

 

     I personally loved this performance! The DJ and drummer combination was incredibly unique and crowd pleasing. DJ Adam Bomb took the lead as Dathan DeVore on the drums would change the beat according to what Adam was mixing. The dance floor was full all the way up until closing time. Many members of the crowd gave positive feedback saying they "had a blast" and "couldn't wait for round 2" of Adam and Dathan.
    I've seen DJ Adam Bomb before and he always does a great job of mixing together a huge variety of music from every decade which creates interest in crowd members of all ages. Not only was the mixing good, but most times you could not even tell there was a drummer behind the DJ because DeVore was playing so on point that it sounded as if it was part of the track. Due to the crowd's response as well as the great and unique duo's performance, I give them 5 stars *****!