Main Street Meltdown to serve up rock

Do you wanna rock? The Main Street Meltdown on July 23 at Mudsucker's will feature many of the most popular hard rock bands that the Cape Girardeau has to offer. But be prepared, it could get pretty wild.

Drivin' Rain has been around since 1994, and counts themselves as "a valor member of the School of Hard Rock."

"The local legends so to speak, these guys have been at it for 10 years now doing their thing and doing a damn good job at it," said Jared Smith, a member of local band Minds Above and a fan of the local music scene. Drivin' Rain have also have released their own self-titled album, and they have been featured on many local compilations as well.

A band from Memphis, Tennessee, Adios Gringo, will also be visiting Cape Girardeau for the Main Street Meltdown. Adios Gringo hasn't played in Cape Girardeau since the 1990's, and their performance is anticipated by many. Adios Gringo also has an album out, and has been featured on a Black Flag tribute album.

Emaciation, another band slated to play, are known for their stage make-up and theatrics, but are more than just your typical black metal band. They describe themselves as being "power, death, thrash, classical, old school metal, ambient, gothic, and rock." Smith describes them as being "not for the faint of heart; they're a brutal bunch but they will kick your ass every show."

Steerjockey play a brand of rock referred to as "balls-out trucker punk." Their sound is driven by "amphetamines and hundred-mile coffee fuel," as described by John La Briola. They'll not only be rocking the Main Street Meltdown but they also might pack it up in the eighteen-wheeler that they tour in, and will presumably have few problems getting themselves heated up as long as the coffee is hot.

Squadcar is a band that's been together for over four years as a part of the local music scene. They describe their rock and roll as being close to "late-seventies heavy-metal" and "mid-western melodic bar rock." "Their songs just kick your ass from set start to set end," said Smith. Squadcar also promises to "eat... YOUR FACES OFF!"

Rock Solid, a relatively new band, will also be contributing their flame to the collective Meltdown fire. "These guys can just rock out, they're like a metal version of a jam band," said Smith of their sound.

Rock Solid's music, according to their own description, sprang from "a love for cheap beer, Nintendo and loud guitars." With at least two of the three guaranteed to be at Main Street Meltdown, Rock Solid is bound to feel right at home.

Even with these great bands, you might still be asking yourself why you should come to this show. "Come to see bands, have fun and drink beer," said Ron Ruppel, an event organizer.