Upon starting this entertainment tabloid-style 'zine, one of out first decisions was that the cover story would invariably be about local and regional musical artists until we run out of good ones. Luckily, the bands and songwriters that I've met and talked to have shared a similar sentiment; that it's the artist's responsibility to get the listening public back into nightclubs and venues checking out live music by using grass-roots promotional efforts and raising the bar when it comes to putting on exciting live performances. It was no difficult decision to feature this up-and-coming foursome in this month's issue.

    Four guys with the same passion, ambition and drive to make their music heard. Four guys that agree that the word 'pop' really isn't that band or something to be ashamed of--four guys that make up Springfield power-pop combo 'Codie.' The name comes from a character from a Jack Kerouac novel only spelled with an 'ie' because of a band in Germany claiming usage rights with the name 'Cody.' Citing influences ranging from 'The Get Up Kids' and 'Jimmy Eat World' it's clear that edgy modern rock has made an impression on these four young men. However, after checking out their page on Soundclick.com I was surprised see 'Journey' and 'Chicago' also listed as influences. Refreshing indeed that any musicians their age would admit to being influenced by bands that are too often dismissed as corporate rock who in actuality should be cited as having impacted many songwriters.

    Codie began as a concept of guitarist/vocalist Cory LaVallee's when he lived in California three years ago. He moved back to Springfield and met drummer Phillip Burmood at a Superdrag show at The Juke Joint, where they learned they had similar tastes in music and the same level of motivation. After going through approximately 2658156 members they ran across bassist/vocalist Adam S., who originally joined the band as a temp player but ended up staying when he showed the same dedication as the others--or maybe it was just that he simply wouldn't leave. The three continued on as a trio until the recording of their forthcoming CD when they realized that there were additional guitar parts that couldn't be covered by one guitarist live. Thus began their search for a fourth member which ended with the addition of Justin Calhoun on guitar. "Well, these guys are total nerds... but I've them for a long time and it's awfully cool to be playing with them," Calhoun said. The recent success at their shows has been gauged by the fact that they've been consistently selling CD's (their self released EP) at an exponential rate. When asked about their rising popularity and how they felt their recent shows have been received, LaVallee replied that 'it's been really cool to actually sell some CDs... up until recently we've played some cool shows... but it seems like in the last two months people are showing up to shows... and its cool to see that people are hearing about us and that all the promotion and stuff we've been doing is panning out.

    Adam said regarding their rising popularity, "I've actually had several people come up to me and recognize that I was in the band Codie... that's the coolest thing ever."

    the band has been feverishly working on their upcoming 5-song EP, "One For The Road," slated for release on April 11th at The Juke Joint Music Club. Concerning the upcoming show, LaVallee mentioned, "The cool thing about that show is that there will be a flat rate at the door and if you come (to the show) you'll get a free CD... we're trying to hook the fans up with, you know, just get the CD out to people and for a bargain price to get a show and a CD." (Take heed kids, this is another great example of simeple yet effective promotion.

    They are always working on new material at each and every practice, not allowing themselves the luxury of finished a project and sitting on their cans until it's time to do something new. Regarding their songwriting process, "we all mesh" said Burmood. Calhoun added that "I show up at the practices and all of a sudden they're playing a new song and I satart making up my own stuff... somebody comes up with a riff (and) its just like... everybody else just joins in with their own thing and then we all just brainstorm diferent ideas for different parts... it makes it fun rather than like a tedious task." "It's also really reassuring to know that everyone is dedicated," Burmood continued.

    Noticing strong leadership coming from LaVallee, I ask if he's the Rivers Cuomo of the badn and he answered "...in the early stages of the band it was always like, 'well I write the songs' and then I show up and I'm like, this is how its gonna be 'cause I was really close-minded about the whole thing and then... I got to the point where I saw that we could all trust each other and we all started to respect each other more and more." LaVallee included that "now I'll show up to practice with a riff, or Adam will, and we'll build a song around that its actually like instead of one person writing (a song), its like the band writing it and it feels a lot more mature." "The new record is a good reflection of that" added Adam.

    We at the Mustard Press have made it abundantly clear that the better part of our mission is to further the local music scene and the group had no problems with elaborating their thoughts regarding this subject. When asked what should be done to propagate the scene, Adam S. chimed in first: "At first it's going to take a lot of incentive to get the kids in the doors, for example... we can do shows where we can give out free CDs... because once you get them in the door they're going to go to see that show more often,... and when that band is having other bands play with them, they're gonna see those bands too and say 'hey we like that band too'... well they're playing at 'this place' on another night." Burmood mentioned that kids over the last few years haven't even known about shows going on "because no kids knew of it, there was no promoting or there was no advertising and now I thin a lot of (radio stations) and venues are promoting bands as they should be." Also firm believers in grass-roots promotion, you can catch someone from this band out putting flyers on car windows prior to any given show. Adam went as far as to say that "If I see a flyer on my car, I'm going to go to that show just because I know that band made the effort to go to Kinko's, design that flyer, print of 2000 copies and go downtown and stick 'em on a car."

    Further regarding the encouragement of a scene in Springfield, Calhoun mentioned "a huge thing especially for developing a scene is having a collaboration between bands too... it's the job of the bands to get the music out to the people so that you can expose it... we're getting enough good bands who really are serious about playing that it can actually happen." "I think you see it too with the scene starting to grow, I mean you used to have to drive to St. Louis or Kansas City to see a good show and it's at the point now to where I think that in the next short while its going to happen in Springfield where Springfield is going to be more of a stopping place for bands on tour," added LaVallee.

    I pointed out that while media-created trends always have and always will dominate the radio waves, but also that their brand of straight-forward guitar-pop has never really gone away. Concerning the corporate media machine, LaVallee said that he predicted the demise of nu-metal and has high hopes that the current trend of back-to-basics rock music is the bandwagon that they are totally prepared to jump on. Claiming integrity and dismissing the idea of selling-out, these guys just want to do whatever it takes to succeed. LaVallee said, "I know that like, all four of us share the same opinion that if we got the opportunity to be the next Beatles, we'd be all about it; if we got the opportunity to be the next big one-hit wonder, we'd be all about it; if we got to the point where we could find a label that would pay for our stuff for us to just tour, we're all about it." LaVallee continued with this thought that nicely sums up this band's attitude: "That's what we really, really want to do is tour... get out around the country, get our name out to new people, new places and you know, get to see the world doing what we want to do."

    Codie is yet another great example of how dedication, a strong work ethich and an understanding of how important grass-roots, street-level promotion can be as significant as writing catchy songs and putting on a great live show. Their attitude also indicates that you should be able to just simply enjoy being in the best profession in the world; playing in a rock and roll band.

    You can catch Codie at The Juke Joint Music club at their CD release party on April 11th. In the meantime point your web-browser to http://www.soundclick.com/Codie and indulge yourself in some fine music from a great local band trying to do things the right way.

    Wow, talk about your "local band makes good" scenario. These guys are quickly becoming my favorite band of the region. With humble beginnings and several changing in the lineup, Codie has worked their magic to become the next, dare I say, happyendings. The new EP recently recorded with Jeff Smith is radio ready and as easy to love as the next New Found Glory or Good Charlotte hit that MTV will be cranking to the scantly clad spring breakers next March. Don't get me wrong, this is not the sell out that your college roommate adores because the guys in the band cute. Sure they have all that, but there is something more. For one, a true admiration of the roots of punk rock meets pop and the look and sound that goes along with it. They're naturals.

    The five-song EP being officially released April 11th at the Juke Joint has a strong back to back dose of driving tuens about love lost (I think someone got their heart borke) and what they want out of life. The whole disc is a great listen and I guarantee you won't be able to get track two, "Sweet Angel" out of your head. Checking out a live show is highly recommended too. The boys know how to do it. Who says that Springpatch doesn't produce good music?