The Eighth Street Taproom’s basement was filled with haunting music on the night of Friday, November 13. Two wonderful local bands and another band from Omaha, Neb., brought many people out on the cold, dreary night. 
Shiver, Shiver, started the evening with jazz infused rock. Chase Thornburg (drums, vocals) and Jordan Elsberry (keys, vocals) performed upbeat songs that had melancholy lyrics. The band’s 2008 debut release, Soulless Sex Appeal, “is a portrait of the simultaneous embrace and rejection of our chapter in the age-old story of love and lust.”
It was hard to believe Shiver, Shiver, only had two band members. Elsberry and Thornburg’s music was full and robust. Their vocal harmonies stood out, and Thornburg’s drum solos were outstanding.
By the time Kansas City, Mo.’s Roman Numerals took the stage, the Taproom’s basement was crowded. People packed into the small room, and wedged between Shiver, Shiver, and Cowboy Indian Bear‘s equipment and merch.
Numerals’ sound blends new wave melodies with precise percussion. 
Many of Numerals’ songs’ melodies echoed over the band’s driving bass and drums and created a rumbling, hypnotic sound. William Smith (guitar, vocals, stylophone) and Steve Tulipana‘s (vocals, guitar, bass, synth) voices pierced through the sounds Shawn Sherrill (bass, synth), Pete LaPorte (drums, electronics), Ryan Shank (drums, electronics), and created.
During the middle of Numeral’s set, orange and red hues lighted the Taproom’s dark basement. The lights almost welcomed Numerals’ darker, dance-rock tracks; vocals were rough, and gritty bass caused the other bands’ drums to buzz. The band sounded like a darker !!!.
Numerals finished their set by thanking everyone in the audience. Numerals put on a great performance, and left the audience wanting more.
Set list (written on a cocktail napkin illustrated with lightening bolts):
In Motion
CNtRL
Rule Of V
My Life After DUB
Occupado
Go/No/Go
Bass Fishing
Now, this reviewer didn’t stay for Cowboy Indian Bear’s set. The reason for this was PopWreckoning writers’ have reviewed CIB many times this year; see here, here, and here. Here is a quick description of CIB for the readers who don’t click links:
Cowboy Indian Bear blends electronic melodies, soft vocal and guitars, a humming bass and lots of percussion to create a unique sound. The Lawrence, Kan., indie-rock band’s songs are influenced by jazz, 60s lounge, folk… the list goes on.
