77 Jefferson at the Riot Room, 1/13/17
77 Jefferson recently hit the Riot Room with their reggae vibes. The local band has a big national following. Groove out on these quality vibes!
The Reggae Vibes of 77 Jefferson at the Riot Room
January 15, 2017The Blazing Vibes of GEKKO at the Riot Room
January 15, 2017
The Band That Fell to Earth “Heroes” Live at RecordBar
January 10, 2017
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.”
The Phantastics “Protein” Live at the Riot Room
January 10, 2017
The Phantastics at the Riot Room, 1/6/17
Kansas City-based band the Phantastics recently celebrated their fifth anniversary at a sold out Riot Room. Check out the soulful, funky grooves of “Protein.”
Community
January 1, 2017For me, this year has been all about community. It is such a great honor to be surrounded by people that are so passionate and creative about what they do. Apathy is for squares. Times can be trying, but try and live a joyous life. Thanks for keeping me fired up people! Woooo! Beast it y’all!
My Favorite Albums of 2016
January 1, 2017
Local Natives at the Midland, 12/17/16
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 subjects Warpaint tighten up their sound on Heads Up. Angel Olsen gets expansive and lush on My Woman.
Local Natives Sunlit Youth
Laura Gibson Empire Builder
Warpaint Heads Up
Angel Olsen My Woman
The Floozies and Jason Hann (The String Cheese Incident/EOTO) Jam at the Midland
December 29, 2016
The Floozies and Jason Hann at the Midland, 12/23/16
Lawrence-based duo the Floozies recently smashed the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland with a set of future electronic funk. Near the end of the show, the past interview subjects were joined by special guest percussionist Jason Hann (The String Cheese Incident/EOTO) for some blazing jams. Check out this video of some of the action.
Emmaline Twist “Vega” Live at the RecordBar
December 29, 2016
Emmaline Twist live at RecordBar, 12/27/16
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.”
A Live Chat With Molly Balloons
December 26, 2016
McClain and Molly Balloons at the Midland, 12/23/16
I recently ran into past interview subject and balloon beast Molly Balloons during a set break at the recent Floozies show at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City. You know we had to go live and chat it up!
My Favorite Shows of 2016
December 23, 2016
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.
Quintron and Miss Pussycat at RecordBar
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
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 at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the MidlandArvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
M83 at the Midland, 6/1/16
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.
Here’s a snippet of the classic “Midnight City,”
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!
McClainJohnson.com 