From the Quad City Times -- September 16, 2005

QCT 150th ANNIVERSARY: Local music scene is flush with talent, diverse sound and plenty of offerings

David Burke

ACCORDING to the Web site QuadCityMusic.com, there are more than 175 bands that play rock, blues, jazz or country music.

And one that plays “surf, spy, crime jazz, rockabilly, sci-fi, noir and lounge music.” The Metrolites, founded by Scott Morschhauser in 2002, is one of the bands broadening the musical landscape in the Quad-Cities.

“Once people get to know what we do, we tend to be a successful act,” said Morschhauser, who was a part of the rock-meets-Klezmer band The Kabalas with fellow Metrolite “Nervous Neal” Smith.

The Metrolites’ unique sound and ability to market itself are two of the trademarks of bands in the Quad-Cities these days, said Ellis Kell.

“I think there’s more diversity here, in types of music and musical genres, than there’s ever been,” said Kell, a longtime Quad-City musician as well as director of music, programs and operations at River Music Experience, Davenport. “Going along with the way music’s going today, there’s more crossover among all bands, where it used to be you were a dyed-in-the-wool country band or dyed-in-the-wool rock band. There’s more crossover, and I think that’s real healthy.

“Bands are done limiting themselves. They just take it where the music takes them, and they don’t worry about labels.”

While the Quad-Cities may never have the mass musical appeal of a Seattle or an Athens, Ga., it has produced several nationally known musical acts:

- Lynn Allen, which hit regionally and national charts with the songs “Last Night” and “Domino.”

- Tripmaster Monkey, which released two albums under the Warner Brothers label in the mid-1990s.

- Jude Cole, a singer-songwriter-producer (the band Lifehouse, which Cole produces, is currently in the Top 10 on Billboard charts).

- Country singer Suzy Bogguss, a native of nearby Aledo, Ill.

- Jim Seales, guitar player for the country band Shenandoah.

- Jesse Johnson, a musician-producer who was behind Janet Jackson’s first album.

- Einstein’s Sister, a power-pop band which has an international following, and has contributed songs to several TV soundtracks.

Kerry Tucker, a Quad-City musician and guitar teacher, plays for Einstein’s Sister, as well as the duo Douglas & Tucker with fellow ES member Bill Douglas.

Tucker said that cover bands are and have always been in the Quad-Cities as much as any other market, but audiences are becoming more receptive to original music.

“Because of the Internet, the demographic is changing,” Tucker said. “You don’t go see bands, as much as trade tapes or download mp3s. A band can go nationwide that way.”

It’s how Einstein’s Sister has spread into a large Asian following, he said.

Tucker said it’s more difficult for bands to emerge than it used to be.

“The biggest problem is, where do bands play anymore? Thank God for RIBCO (Rock Island Brewing Co., a showcase of bands for more than 25 years), but you kind of have to elevate yourself to that level,” Tucker said. “It’s not from lack of musicians or lack of good bands. You just have to find a place to see these bands.”

Morschhauser said bands need to promote themselves as much as possible, and to make its own opportunities.

“The idea is to make things happen wherever you are, wherever you live. It’s a lot more progressive than people who’ve lived here all their life would believe,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, if you want to have any amount of success, even if it’s successful in your hometown.”

Kell said he’s working with local musicians to teach them how to market themselves, through Web sites, e-mail campaigns and street teams.

He said The Metrolites are an example of promoting one’s self.

“They’re a big hit around here, and do an excellent job of promoting themselves, as good or better than anyone in the area,” he said. “People are going out on a limb and doing things that haven’t been done before.”

Kell sees a promising future for Quad-City musicians.

“The Quad-Cities now is just coming into its own as a musical community, and I think there are great things in store for the musical community here,” he said. “People just need to keep an open mind and learn how to work together.”

The concept of River Music Experience, which opened last year, was to put the Quad-Cities on a muscal par with its neighbors along the Mississippi, including New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

“I just think we’re getting ready to bust wide open,” Kell said of the music scene. “This is going to be the next coast, right here on the Mississippi.”