Past interview subjectsRoyal Teeth recently lit up the Tank Room with two hours of indie-pop jams. It was the last night of the tour for the New Orleans-based band. They threw down with one of the best sets I’ve seen in a long time. I covered the show for X1051. There are a lot of happy-clappy indie rock bands out there these days, but Royal Teeth bring the heat live. The interplay was tight and the vocals were perfect. The energy and passion in Royal Teeth’s music and live performances is inspiring.
Check out the live version of the new single “Kids Conspire.”
Here’s the classic “Mais La.”
The epic, joyful song “Wild” always gets crowds fired up.
Much love to Royal Teeth for an epic night. Keep on bringing your glorious music to the world and beasting it hardcore!
Kansas City-based band the Blackbird Revue recently played their final KC show before moving to Los Angeles. I covered the show for X1051. The Blackbird Revue lit up the RecordBar with their passionate indie rock and glorious harmonies. Check out “Good Things” and the live debut of “The Love We Knew.”
The Band That Fell to Earth live at the RecordBar, 1/7/17
The Band That Fell to Earth, an indie rock supergroup featuring many of Kansas City’s best musicians, recently paid tribute to David Bowie by performing his songs at a sold out RecordBar. The amount of local talent in the Kansas City music scene is inspiring and the tribute to Bowie and his songs was moving and powerful. Check out this performance of the classic “Heroes.”
Here are my favorite albums of the year. The shimmering indie rock grooves of Local Natives‘ Sunlit Youth make it my favorite album of the year. Underrated singer-songwriter Laura Gibson crafts a perfect album with Empire Builder. Past interview subjectsWarpaint tighten up their sound on Heads Up. Angel Olsen gets expansive and lush on My Woman.
Kansas City-based band Emmaline Twist brought their potent post punk and shoegaze vibes to the Middle Class Records launch party at the RecordBar on December 27th. Take a listen to this rocking live version of “Vega.”
Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the RecordBar, 10/9/16
2016 was a great year for live music in Kansas City. It was such a great honor to cover so many quality shows this year. Here is a rundown of my favorite gigs of the year.
The garage rock insanity and sweaty mayhem of New Orleans-based Quintron and Miss Pussycat at RecordBar was my favorite show of 2016. Backed by the drumming of the robotic Drum Buddy, the strangely funky grooves and interplay between organist Quintron and percussionist/puppeteer Miss Pussycat had the crowd dancing hard all night. Some songs sounded like if you played “96 Tears” underwater while drinking a bunch of NyQuil. It was weird, wonderful and complete perfection.
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force at CrossroadsKC at Grinders, 7/9/16
The eldest son of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti honored his father’s legacy while pushing the sound into the future at CrossroadsKC. Backed by a 14-piece band, mufti-instrumentalist Femi smashed through two hours of politically charged songs with infectious grooves. The musicianship was topnotch and the messages of empowerment and unity are needed now more than ever.
M83 delivered a high-energy set of indie-pop at te Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. The new material of Junk worked really well live meshed seamlessly with their classic tracks. The production and lighting was also top level. It was a glorious evening of French-tinged indie rock.
Yellowman and McClain at Prohibition Hall, 7/22/16
Reggae-dancehall legend Yellowman smashed KC with an epic performance this year. He came at 1:30 in the morning and he smashed through nearly two hours of classic tunes. King Yellowman was Jamaica’s top-selling artist of the ’80s, but his live show proves that he is no nostalgia act. Something isn’t purely nostalgic when it is right in front of you, blowing your mind. Yellowman’s set was hard-hitting blur of blazing reggae vibes, lyrical dexterity and calisthenics. All hail King Yellowman!
Warpaint recently brought their psychedelic indie rock vibes to the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. The LA-based band are past interview subjects of mine and are one of my favorite bands. The band’s latest album, Heads Up, is one of 2016’s best. The album has gotten the band commercial radio play and reach a larger audience. Watch Warpant groove on “New Song.”
Marian Hill showcased their jazz-laced indie grooves in their recent set at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. Check out this soulful version of their hit song “One Time” that I recorded live on 12/15/16.
A poppy tune from past interview subjects Warpaint. This song finally got them on mainstream radio. It’s great to see a band this trippy and great getting more recognition.
Past interview subjects Bear Hands indie rock smash it here. “If you taught me how to fish, I would sweep the sea clean” are some of my favorite lyrics I’ve heard in a long time.
Nice grooves and intense delivery from K.Flay. She also put on one of the most hard-hitting shows in KC this year. Her set was a perfect blend of hip hop and indie rock.
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