Dylan Guthrie and the Good Time Guys at Lifted Spirits, 1/27/17
Dylan Guthrie and the Good Time Guys recently played their first Kansas City show. They smashed a set at the Do816 launch party at Lifted Spirits. I covered the show for X1051. The Lawrence-based band dazzled with their interplay and quality songwriting. Check out this live video of “Dreaming of Love.”
The Greeting Committee at Lifted Spirits Distillery, 1/30/17
Past interview subjects the Greeting Committee recently played the Do816 launch party at Lifted Spirits Distillery. The Kansas City-based band beasted through new songs and old favorites. The Greeting Committee brings indie rock heat live and are one of my favorite bands. It’s inspiring to see young bands with so much talent.
“Make It Right”
Here’s “BBC”
Here’s “Hands Down” and “She’s A Gun.”
Andrew Bird at the Sprint Center, 1/24/17
Andrew Bird recently opened up for the Lumineers during their recent show at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. I covered the show for X1051. The multi-instrumentalist won over the crowd with his pristine voice, whistling and incredible chops on the guitar and violin. Check out this live version of “Tenuousness.”
The Lumineers at the Sprint Center, 1/24/17
The Lumineers recently played a rousing set to over 10,000 people at the Sprint Center. I covered the show for X1051X1051 and was fortunate to be able to meet the band. They were kind and chill. It was a brief meeting, but I managed to tell them that I love both albums and that they beast it live. Happy clappy indie folk vibes can be hard to translate to big arenas, but the band pulled it off beautifully.
It’s interesting when a band with only two albums so far can pack out one of the biggest venues in Kansas City on a Tuesday. Getting a crowd that large speaks to their popularity. The set sounded fantastic and the crowd was engaged all night.
The mini acoustic set in the middle of the arena was a highlight. It was also impressive that the band played “Ho Hey” as the third song in the set. The song placement was a gutsy move. “Ho Hey” is a massive hit and it was surprising to hear it so early. When you go to shows, bands often save their biggest songs for the end of the show. When a band plays a big song early, it shows that they have more songs to offer and are not screwing around. It was a joyous night of music. The passion in the Lumineers’ music comes out even more live.
Here’s the classic “Ho Hey.”
Check out “Dead Sea.”
McClain Johnson, Matt Malone and the Lumineers at the Sprint Center, 1/24/17
Royal Teeth at the Tank Room, 1/21/17
Past interview subjects Royal 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!
Royal Teeth’s Nora Patterson
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.”
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.”
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!
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!
Warpaint at the Midland, 12/17/16
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.”
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