A curious bill handpicked by Guy Slimey brought Jorge Arana
Trio, Bird Girls, & Neptune out to support Witch Jail as
that band launched its new album.
>>view
Podcast #442 will turn on you so keep an eye on Jan Panter,
Steve Conte, Fightmilk, The Bombpops, Wye Oak, Kississippi,
Julien Baker, & Charmer.
On 4/8 Durand Jones and Instant Karma brought hot soul to
cold Kansas City.
>>view
Julien Baker stopped by a suburban record store in Kansas
for a intimate midday performance that served as tasteful
appetizer or economy replacement for her headlining gig
later that night.
>>view
The underage set packed recordBar for a night with buzz
band Pale Waves and compatriot opener Inheaven.
>>view
Podcast #441 leans heavily on covers with music from Casanovas
In Heat, Hop Along, The Smithereens, Juliana Hatfield, John Paul
Keith, Sloan, & Sonia.
It's only rock 'n' roll but The Whiffs, Flesh Panthers, &
Woolly Bushmen all love it in their own way.
>>view
Women ruled the night as Lovergurl, Natural Velvet, and
Abandoned Bells played dark sets at the even darker miniBar
on 3/22.
>>view
Podcast #440 is sketchy w/ music from Sam Coffey & the Iron Lungs,
The Pandoras, Alma Cogan, Those Unfortunates, Wreckless Eric,
A Deer A Horse, Pale Kids, & Stars Hollow.
NYHC legend Cro-Mags made its first trip to KC where it got
the pit swirling with help from the swampy EyeHateGod and
local hardcore devotees Altered Beast & Devil's Den.
>>view
Podcast #439 has something for you including new music from Hot
Snakes, The Decemberists, Hidden Pictures, Night Flowers, Radio
Days, Telephone Lovers, Midnite Snaxxx, & ELO.
Local openers Witch Jail and Deco Auto warmed the recordBar
stage for touring headliner The Yawpers and its rowdy,
unfamiliar fans.
>>view
Via Luna headlined a four-band bill that included Lobby
Boxer, Le Grand, Microdoser, and enough finger taps, odd
time signatures, and virtuosity to choke a punk.
>>view
Podcast #438 sets the mood w/ The Hold Steady, The Pony
Collaboration, Hurry, Nap Eyes, The Electric Lungs, The Titans,
Rancid, & Crack Cloud.
The dream of the '90s was alive in Kansas City as Bully and
Melkbelly brought grungy guitars and big alt rock hooks to
recordBar.
>>view
Podcast #437 offers a hand up w/ Titus Andronicus, Lucy Dacus,
The Breeders, The Dollyrots, American Nightmare, Dicta, &
Andrew W.K.
Septicflesh, Dark Funeral, and Thy Antichrist turned Riot
Room into loud, putrid, seizure-inducing sauna packed with
happy metalheads.
>>view
Podcast #436 isn't afraid to play music from Screaming Females,
The Not Amused, Camp Cope, Turnspit, The Regrettes, Pale Waves,
& Abbath.
Red Kate celebrated the release of its new TMR single with
good friends Reacharounds, Arson Class, VidCo Kult, and
so much rock & roll.
>>view
Podcast #435 spotlights a very odd music collector w/ Shannon & the
Clams, Turnspit, Murph & The Gazorpos, A Light Within, Amiensus, &
Belle & Sebastian.
The recordBar was hit with wave after wave of volume as A
Light Within, Giants Chair, & Sundiver pummeled the
audience with guitars.
>>view
Old feelings came rushing back as a reformed Pedro the Lion
packed the recordBar. Check out my photos and video of the
resurrected headliner along with openers Marie/Lepanto.
>>view
Podcast #434 feels about right w/ The Lovely Eggs, Death By Unga Bunga,
Red Kate, Brian Fallon, Awakebutstillinbed, & Marie/Lepanto.
LFK punched above its weight class as Diet Cig, Great
Grandpa, Spook School, & MK Ultra sold out the White
Schoolhouse for a night of radical inclusiveness and indie
pop.
>>view
Podcast #433 is pure TMR w/ music from Superchunk, Dirty Fences, Rubs,
Drippies, Go Generation, Happy Accidents, Constant Insult, &
Turbonegro.
Too Much Rock is happy to announce that the seventh installment of
its vinyl-only singles series will feature Kansas City's Red Kate.
The band's fiery, working class lyrics and no-frills pub-rock sound
make this a perfect fit for Too Much Rock. A-side "Iraqi Girl"
latches onto a groove that just doesn't let go, while B-side cover
of TSOL's "American Zone" fits so perfectly into the band's mission
that it became a staple of its live set months before the
single was even announced. The limited-edition vinyl-only single
is available on both black (400 copies) or clear (100 copies) vinyl,
each with its own complementing artwork starting on 2/23. Pre-orders
are available today on the band's bandcamp page.
Watch for an exclusive stream on Modern Vinyl starting next week, then catch
the band on KKFI's Under
the Radar and Wednesday Midday
Medley next week as well. See the band at the official
launch at Davey's on the 23rd, or at the all-ages launch at Mills on 3/3.
Comrades The Architects and Hipshot Killer brought loud
guitars and outsider anthems to the First Fridays crowd.
>>view
Power-pop was out in delightful force as Whiffs, Dirty
Fences, Rubs, & Drugs & Attics played a cycle shop in the
bottoms.
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A dedicated Monday-night crowd got an evening of atmosphere
and textures from Belle Game, Spirit Is The Spirit, & Jake
Wells.
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Podcast #432 requires an explanation w/ Selector Dub Narcotic,
Club 8, BV's, ONSIND, Listener, Tiny Moving Parts, & Belle Game.
Selector Dub Narcotic played a rare all-ages matinee at
Riot Room that drew few fans and no one under 21. And I
want it to happen over and over until I die.
>>view
NKC's Rino earned its punk rock stripes hosting
Lillingtons, Company Retreat, Rackatees, & Red Kate.
>>view
Podcast #431 comes with a cup of herbal tea and music from
Belle & Sebastian, Math and Physics Club, Long Neck, Spook School,
Anna Burch, First Aid Kit, & Obedient Wives Club.
KC audiences cheered as Destroyer and Mega Bog delivered
sophisticated pop sets tinged with jazz.
>>view
Podcast #430 feels like an overshare w/ Daniel Romano, Wall,
Bombs Over Broadway, Number Ones, Records, Styx, & Belle &
Sebastian.
On 1/12 KC basked in the sounds of the Claire Adams and
Abandoned Bells.
>>view
Podcast #429 cools its jets w/ Crazy Squeeze, Electric Needle
Room, Yucky Duster, Pale Lights, Jason Molina, Daniel Romano, &
Kid Dakota.
On 1/6 Hipshot Killer, Ex-Acrobat, & VidCo Kult played
wonderful sets for a small assemblage of the midtown
rabble.
>>view
KC's Oi! family rung in the new year with locals The
Uncouth and Bombs over Broadway, and with help from Iowa's
Make Your Mark.
>>view
Podcast #428 comes home w/ Demons, Menzingers, Telethon, 88
Fingers Louie, Lemuria, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Billy Bragg,
& Elva.
As is tradition, here are my Top 35 Songs of 2017.
These are songs that I loved when I first heard them, and
songs that I was excited to hear again when I started
compiling this list just before Christmas. These aren't the
"best" songs, and certainly are not the ones I listened to
most (those Spotify lists are useless), but they are my
favorites. As always I've also included three tracks from
2016 that I just didn't hear in time to make last year's
list, but they definitely would have made the cut if I
had.
see the full list
Podcast #427 counts down the top 9 tracks of 2017 including Mountain
Goats, Wyldlife, BA Johnston, Noel Gallagher, Cave Girls, Morrissey,
Black Kids, Aimee Mann, & A Giant Dog.
Iron Question made a rare appearance playing punk rock
covers for a good cause and with good friends Nature Boys
and Jewelry.
>>view
New Order was prepared 6 different ways as a parade of KC
artists took the stage to pay tribute to the seminal act.
>>view
KC's Witch Jail celebrated the winter solstice with some
help from the surfy Pono AM & a far out set from Josiah
Hunter.
>>view
KC crowds packed The Ship for 3 hours of heady dark wave
from Emmaline Twist and Sona.
>>view
The new Kansas City sound is breezy lo-fi pop and the
Record Bar audience got it in spades from Fullbloods,
Mysterious Clouds, Jim Button & the Beholders, & Akkilles.
>>view
KC broke out its dancing shoes for some post-Thanksgiving
festivities from Yes You Are, Rachel Mallin, & Y God Y.
>>view
Podcast #426 is the 2017 Christmas Spectacular starring Charly Bliss,
The Spook School, Dude York, Lisa Prank, The Liminanas w/ Pascal
Comelade, Seafang, Bis, & Cheap Trick.
Podcast #425 is about as perfect as it gets w/ Noel
Gallagher, The Searchers, The Summer Suns, The She's, American
Poetry Club, Kicking Giant, & Morrissey.
Emo nostalgia and reunion tours are all the rage, but the
genre has always been alive in Midwestern basements. On
this night Employer, Stars Hollow, Charmed, and Bobby's Oar
all played to a delighted audience.
>>view
Podcast #424 doesn't care about Black Friday sales, just the music
of Dori Freeman, Bedroom Eyes, Last Leaves, Forty Nineteens,
Two Knights, Leg Day, Cadiecowden, & Frankie Rose.
Punk rock anthems rung out as Swingin' Utters wrapped up
its tour with friends Western Settings, Darius Koski, and
Company Retreat in KC on 11/19.
>>view
The party lasted for hours when Truck Stop Love reunited to
celebrate the release of its vintage '90s material.
Pedaljets, Red Kate, & Chris Tolle all helped fuel the
party.
>>view
A common shoegaze thread connected Pine, I Was Afraid, and
Youth Pool as the trio of young bands played The Rino on
11/14.
>>view
Podcast #423 gets the job done w/ Johnny Madcap, Emmaline Twist,
The Phantoms, The Professionals, Arson Class, Natural Man, Daniele
Luppi & Parquet Courts, & Worriers.
Bands butted heads with a surly crowd when The Bad Ideas,
Reacharounds, & Stiff Middle Fingers played miniBar on
11/10.
>>view
Podcast #422 invites you to enjoy the ride w/ Corner Boys,
David George, Margo Price, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Rude
Pride, Evil Conduct, & Quicksand.
A new DIY venue materialized just in time to host
Shellshag, Bad Ideas, Burnt, and a lot of slam dancing.
>>view
Hearts were on sleeves as Beach Slang, Dave Hause, & Hannah
Racecar played KC on 11/5.
>>view
Midwest Music Foundation's 10th annual fundraiser
Apocalypse Meow featured 11 bands, dozens of items up for
auction, and the mayor.
>>view
No Fun gave Blind Tiger a Halloween farewell with help from
the witchy Nitecrawlers and the misanthropic Anti-Seed.
>>view
Milo came to KC and everyone from mohawked children to
greyed geezers rejoiced. Click for my photos and video of
show that featured Descendents, Less than Jake, and Season
to Risk.
>>view
Podcast #421 lets the heart rule w/ Iron Chic, Sammi Lanzetta,
Sports, Bully, The La's, The Orchids, Berwanger, & Henry Jamison.
Those not already wrecked by Halloween were given a punch
to the gut by a rockin' Diarrhea Planet with support from
year-round spooks Witch Jail.
>>view
Sam Coffey brought rock & roll roaring into the Brick with
help from compatriots Drugs & Attics and the contrarian
Salty.
>>view
Podcast #420 is your guide to Apocalypse Meow X w/ music from
Brandon Phillips, Headlight Rivals, Chris Meck, Split Lip
Rayfield, Sandoval, & Expassionates.
The allure of seeing 3 new bands at a new venue was too
much for me to resist. Here are my photos of Runt, Bikes, &
Jeff Means at Rino.
>>view
Podcast #419 is spooky good w/ Kurt Baker, The Connection,
The Coax, GWAR, Pardoner, Wick and the Tricks, Grrrl Gang,
& The Mountain Goats.
The Lotuspool 25th anniversary show flourished with
powerful notes of Poster Children, Heidi Gluck, &
Suneaters, before finishing with subtle nostalgic
undertones.
>>view
Podcast #418 makes it look easy w/ Deer Tick, Last Leaves,
Makthaverskan, Quiet Slang, Har Mar Superstar, & Snapped Ankles.
Fans got their money's worth when The Bronx, Plague Vendor,
& '68 wrecked The Riot Room on 10/12.
>>view
Podcast #417 is insistent w/ music from Who Is She, Tom Petty,
Jeremy Porter, High Waisted, Company Retreat, Luna, Deer Tick, &
Schwervon.
Screaming Females returned to its basement roots during a
10/4 tour stop that also featured Street Eaters, Leggy, The
Rubs, & The Whiffs.
>>view
Bodies were flying and personal items lost when Pup,
Partner, & Architects played to an enthusiastic audience on
10/1.
>>view
Upcoming shows I care about:
4/19 Schwervon! @ recordBar
4/20 Hipshot Killer @ RINO
4/21 Casket Lottery @ Mills
4/21 Hipshot Killer @ Revolution
4/24 Joe Jack Talcum @ recordBar
4/26 Alvvays @ recordBar
4/27 Of Montreal @ recordBar
4/27 Rogue Wave @ Riot Room
4/29 Martha @ Off Broadway (STL)
4/30 LA Witch @ Riot Room
5/2 TSOL @ Riot Room
5/4 Priests @ Bottleneck
5/6 Royal Brat @ Kum-N-Go
5/8 Babymetal @ Uptown
5/11 Breeders @ Truman
5/11-12 Workers Revival Fest @ recordBar
5/12 Hipshot Killer @ miniBar
5/12 Tyr @ Riot Room
4/15 Helmet @ Truman
5/14 Charly Bliss @ recordBar
5/16 Brian Jonestown Massacre @ recordBar
5/18 GY!BE @ recordBar
5/21 Wye Oak @ recordBar
5/21 Japandroids @ Truman
5/23 Decemberists @ Uptown
5/29 Head and the Heart @ Starlight
6/1 Parquet Courts @ Granada
6/7 Har Mar Superstar @ recordBar
6/8 Liz Phair @ Wichita Riverfest
6/12 First Aid Kit @ Truman
6/12 Coathangers @ recordBar
6/14 Trashcan Sinatras @ Knuckleheads
6/16 Hop Along @ Riot Room
6/20 Regrettes @ Bottleneck
6/21 Frank Turner @ Truman
6/26 Dead Boys @ Riot Room
6/28 Flaming Lips @ Uptown
6/29-30 Middle of the Map
7/9 Neurosis @ Granada
7/10 Jenny Lewis @ Truman
7/18 Courtney Barnett @ Truman
7/19 Neurosis/Converge @ Granada
7/29 Steven Malkmus @ recordBar
8/1 Erasure @ Uptown
8/4 Deafheaven @ Granada
8/16 Smashing Pumpkins @ Sprint
9/29 Andrew Bird @ Kauffman Center
11/17 Descendents @ Cain's (Tulsa)