Til Willis & Erratic Cowboy kicked off a sunny spring
weekend with the help of opener Liney Blu.
>>view
Podcast #691 soundtracks my day with hits
from Morgan and the Organ Donors, The
Boyfriends, TV Fifty, Heavy Lag, Why Bother?,
Rick White, & Hooded Grave.
Thursday night has never felt more like Friday than when
The Marked Men and The Whiffs rocked The Ship.
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Everything was supersized for the Doubledrag album release
show w/ support from Siilk & Wire Twins.
>>view
Podcast #690 is what just you needed if you
needed tracks from Cock Sparrer, Emperor
Penguin, Honeychain, Jason Blake, The
Ophelias, & Joan of Arc.
Monday turned dreamy thanks to Punchlove, Still Ill, &
Admin Reveal.
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Night 2 of the “Lost Weekend” mini fest wrapped up with
heavy hitters The Whiffs, Sparrowhawk, & Nature Boys.
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Primal rock & roll from Still Animals, Pet Mosquito, & Kool
100s rattled Hillsiders.
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A packed room reveled in the AV assault delivered by a
reunited Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and Season to Risk.
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Siilk, Khamsin, & Stüp picked up electric guitars and
delivered rambunctious sets at The Brick.
>>view
Podcast #689 is what you came for thanks
to Teens in Trouble, The Jetsons, Civil
Rats, Friends of Cesar Romero, The Reds
Pinks & Purples, Torrey, Secret Shine, &
Waxahatchee.
Podcast #688 fires it up with zingers from
The BV's, Brad Marino, Burger Weekends, The
Wynotts, The Spivs, Is/Ought Gap, The Marked
Men, Fast Eddy, & Cheekface.
Podcast #687 is on a roll w/ hits from
Heatwaves, Still Animals, Civil Rats, TV
Cop, Van Duren, Broken Hearts Are Blue,
Teen Angst, & The Ire.
Teri Quinn, Ione, & They’re Theirs met for a midweek set
that highlighted soft and exquisite songcraft.
>>view
An international horde of metal bands including Mental
Cruelty, Ov Sulfur, Ghost Bath, Extermination
Dismemberment, and Aprilmist rewarded a suppliant Kansas
audience.
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KC was down for anything on a Friday night that featured
New Obsessions, RxGhost, Milk Wave, & Bryce Vz.
>>view
Podcast #686 is the podcast you can trust with tunes
from Doubledrag, Shadow Show, Comet Gain, Daniel
Romano's Outfit, The Names, & Aprilmist.
A package tour featuring Militarie Gun, Pool Kids,
Spiritual Cramp, Spaced, and no locals sold out RecordBar
on a Sunday night.
>>view
Podcast #685 changes faster than the weather
w/ tunes from Maddie Moon, Matthew Sweet,
Dwight Twilley Band, Mean Jeans, Sheer Mag,
Nouvelle Vague, & Dwarrowdelf.
Matthew Sweet brought Abe Partridge along for a bill that
highlighted strengths and weaknesses.
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Podcast #684 makes no sense thanks to Sex
Mex, MC5, Mary Timony, Matthew Sweet, Abe
Partridge, Dan Bern, & Ungfell.
There was a twang in the air as The Roseline celebrated its
new album with assists from Empty Moon and Suzannah
Johannes.
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Podcast #683 is something old, something
new, and something kind of blue as we visit
w/ Lorne Behrman, Eggs on Mars, Ducks Ltd.,
Gentleman Jesse, Class, Civic, The Sleeveens,
& Bill Evans Trio.
Siilk invited friends Ferris Wheel Regulars, Moon 17,
Remorsefully Numb, & God’s Computer to help celebrate the
release of its new album.
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Podcast #682 is a quick 30-minute journey
to somewhere good w/ The Chisel, Dust Star,
J. Robbins, The Prize, Chinese Telephones,
The Roseline, Torres, & The Mountain Goats.
The Band That Fell to Earth KC kicked off Bowie Christmas
with a VIP performance that included Hunky Dory from front
to back plus an encore of favorites.
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An all-ages crowd supplied Howdy with the energy that
fueled sets by Uncouth, Doldrums, and Violet Approach.
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Podcast #681 is what happens when I get new
records from Gruff Rhys, Hero No Hero, The
Laughing Chimes, Green Day, Perilous,
Sleater-Kinney, Smile, & The Cure.
Podcast #680 searches for power pop perfection
w/ new records from The Crocodiles, Nick
Frater, The Umbrellas, The Tubs, Nite Sobs,
Uni Boys, Rick White, Caleb Nichols, &
Wimps.
Minibar loaded up on the power trios hosting Hexicharmed,
Kissy Fit, & Kool 100s.
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Kansas City said goodbye to Buddy Lush with Buddy Bash
featuring Hipshot Killer, Cretin 66, Big Iron, & The
Buddy-less Phenomenon.
>>view
Podcast #679 brings a potpourri of pleasure
thanks to The Pandoras, The Lemon Twigs,
Raspberries, Guided By Voices, In the Pines,
Of Tree, & A Momentary Lapse Of Happiness.
Podcast #678 plays catch up with releases
from Class, Awakebutstillinbed, The Blast
Monkeys, Vial, Wednesday, Kurt Vile, &
Current Affairs.
Cure tribute act Magnificent pops up once or twice a year
tied to some holiday or another.
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Heidi Gluck invited her friends to help celebrate the
solstice in the cozy Nostalgia Room.
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Saturday night and The Brick was packed with punks thanks
to The Uncouth, Madman, & The D-Fibs.
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Violenteer, Still Ill, & RxGhost combined on a clever bill
that comforted like a weighted blanket.
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Podcast #677 fits in my entire Top 35 of
2023 including Bonnie "Prince" Billy, The
Menzingers, Heidi Lynne Gluck, Tough Age &
Danny the K.
As each year draws to a close I always look back at the new music
that soundtracked it. Here is a ranked list of my favorites. I
don't claim that these are the best songs of the year, just the
ones that were my favorites during a random week in December 2023
when I built this.
35. "Holding My Heart" by Paint Fumes (Dig! Records)
A power pop number with a little punk skuzz and a giant chorus.
This is the formula for success.
see the full list
I did it again. I spent December listening to every album I
got in 2023 to build this list. It's a lot, but it was nice to
visit with these ones. They held up as solid albums from front to
back. As is my usual, the list is ordered, but otherwise presented
without commentary.
50. The Unknowns East Coast Low (Bargain Bin Records)
49. Slowdive Everything is Alive (Dead Oceans)
see the full list
Local is where it's at. Here are the new releases from
2023 that make Kansas City (and the region) so wonderful.
Thank you to the bands, labels, venues, promoters,
photographers, writers, and fans that always show up.
Favorite Local Albums of 2023:
10. Dan Jones and the Squids - Rock And Roll Daydreams (self-released)
9. Nightosphere - Databases (self-released)
see the full list
Black Light Animals, Gemini Parks, and Heat Seger graced
the warm confines of RecordBar on a cold night.
>>view
Turnsol hosted a holiday benefit for Hope House featuring
From Me, Small Victories, Deco Auto, Corey Dies in the End,
& The Critterz.
>>view
Podcast #676 is the 2023 Christmas Spectacular
featuring 30 artists and over 90 minutes
of festive delights and holiday head-scratchers.
Rock & Roll ruled the roost when Sirens in the Suburbs,
Vedettes, & Arson Class played the Replay on a Friday
night.
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Perfume USA, Taking Meds, Public Opinion, & Squint ensured
that a Tuesday night out was definitely not quiet
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Podcast #675 is a trip to my happy place
w/ Spearmint, The Odds, Autographs, Red
Rockers, Geoff Palmer, Erik Voeks & The
Ghosters, Raspberries, & Redder Moon.
Post_This Fest 2.0 played to the fringe with sets from Drifter,
Orphans of Doom, RxGhost, & PanHead 87.
>>view
Midwest Music Foundation’s annual Apocalypse Meow
benefits Abby’s Fund to support musicians healthcare.
This year’s fundraiser featured The Phantastics, Nathan
Corsi and My Atomic Daydream, & True Lions.
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Podcast #674 is going to take you places
with a soundtrack from Single Mothers,
Raspberries, Dori Freeman, Olympic Size,
The American Analog Set, & Damien Jurado.
Up-and-comers Field Daze, Tidal.wav, & Parry packed The
Rino on a Friday night.
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Podcast #673 celebrates the guitar with
honorees Raspberries, Leatherman, Values
Here, Squint, Why Bother?, Outtacontroller,
Obra Negra, & Netherfrost.
Toronto’s Tallies stopped in Kansas City for gas and to
deliver a lovely dream pop set for an audience primed by
Emmaline Twist.
>>view
Heilung called all the heathens to The Midland for a
choreographed operatic performance of its shamanic folk.
>>view
Young and old gathered to celebrate Ricky Reyes’ 50th
with a bash that featured Doldrums, Burning Bush, Make No
Mistake, Blood Harmonies, & his own Still Ill.
>>view
A steady stream of DJs and MCs delivered beats and bars in
support of the erratic Kool Keith.
>>view
Podcast #672 asks the obvious question, why
not music from Brad Marino, Alice Cooper,
Night Court, Catbells, Easy Match, Dirt
Merchants, Drop Nineteens, & The Mountain
Goats.
A Giant Dog gave Record Bar another high energy rock & roll
explosion with some help from The Whiffs and touring act
Trouble in the Streets.
>>view
Upcoming gigs I care about:
4/18 Waxahatchee @ Uptown
4/20 Season to Risk @ RecordBar
4/20 Still Ill @ Howdy
4/20 Dreamist @ Farewell
4/20 Creepy Jingles @ Replay
4/20 Traindodge @ Minibar
4/21 Interrupters @ Uptown
4/22 Fake Dust @ Reservoir
4/24 Flooding @ Howdy
4/24 Brittany Howard @ Starlight
4/25 Alvvays @ Truman
4/25 Graham Parker @ Knuckleheads
4/26 RxGhost @ Brick
4/26 William Elliott Whitmore @ RecordBar
4/26 90 Minute Cassette @ Minibar
4/26 Roseline @ Replay (matinee)
4/27 Uncouth @ Minibar
4/27 Men of Men @ Ship
4/28 Cheekface @ Bottleneck
4/28 Cataphract @ Farewell
4/28 Academy Order @ Howdy
4/30 Primus @ Azura
5/1 Expo 70 @ Farewell
5/1 Steve Vai/Joe Satriani @ Uptown
5/2 Abigail Williams @ Bottleneck
5/3 Arson Class @ Sister Anne's (matinee)
5/3 Slowdive @ Truman
5/3 Show Me the Body @ Granada
5/3 Field Daze @ Lemonade Park
5/4 Jorge Arana Trio @ RecordBar
5/5 Garden Home @ Howdy
5/5 Pure XTC @ RecordBar
5/6 Arson Class @ Farewell
5/7 Jason Isbell @ Liberty Hall
5/7 Gene Loves Jezebel @ Knuckleheads
5/7 Redder Moon @ RecordBar
5/9 Swans @ RecordBar
5/9 Postal Service @ T-Mobile
5/10 The Dahmers @ Hillsiders
5/11 Thimastr @ Farewell
5/12 12 Rods @ RecordBar
5/14 Cake
5/15 Cake
5/16 Battle Beast @ Granada
5/16 EXTC @ RecordBar
5/17 Various Blonde @ Minibar
5/17 "Kyuss" @ Liberty Hall
5/18 Arson Class @ Centennial Skate Park
5/20 Real Estate @ Truman
5/20 Camping in Alaska @ Howdy
5/21 Drifter @ Replay
5/22 Drifter @ Minibar
5/23 Creepy Jingles @ Rino
5/23 Dreamist @ Farewell
5/24 Eggs on Mars @ Easy Inn
5/25 Get Smart @ Lucia (LFK)
5/25 Radkey @ Lemonade Park
5/25 Highwater @ BLVD Tavern
5/25 Daniel Gum @ Hickory Union Moto
5/25 Shy Boys @ Emerald
5/28 Modern Color @ Encore
5/29 Nekromantix @ RecordBar
5/30 Squirrel Flower @ Farewell
5/31 Fullbloods @ Turnsol
6/1 Frogpond @ Made Mobb
6/1 Highwater @ Arizona Trading Co
6/1 Blackstarkids @ RecordBar
6/1 Flooding @ Big Mood Wines
6/2 Phase Fest @ Legends Field
6/7 String Out @ Bottleneck
6/9 Sarah McLachlan @ Starlight
6/12 Chuck Prophet @ Knuckleheads
6/12 Total Sham @ Studio Skate
6/14 Ultimate Fakebook @ Press (MTN)
6/15 Deco Auto @ Minibar
6/17 Hot Water Music/Quicksand @ Liberty
6/17 Sons of Great Dane @ RecordBar
6/19 MC Chris @ RecordBar
6/19 Drifter @ Howdy
6/21 Belmont @ Rino
6/22 Summer Kamp IV @ Farwell & Howdy
6/23 Flaming Lips @ Uptown
6/24 Pixies @ Starlight
6/26 Lucero/Menzingers @ Madrid
6/28 Pallbearer @ Bottleneck
6/29 Swallowtails @ Lemonade Park
6/30 Amyl/Sniffers @ Granada
7/2 Still Ill @ Farewell
7/3 Sex Mex @ Farewell
7/6 New Obsessions @ Minibar
7/10 Baseball Project @ RecordBar
7/12 Wallflowers @ Liberty
7/19 Fruit Bats @ Lemonade Park
7/20 Mates of State @ RecordBar
7/21 Jeff Rosenstock @ Bottleneck
7/22 Ra Ra Riot @ Starlight
7/25 Be Your Own Pet @ Bottleneck
7/26 Aggrolites @ Madrid
8/1 Pretenders @ Uptown
8/1 Orville Peck
8/3 Big Fat Cow @ BLVD Tavern
8/9 Blink-182 @ T-Mobile
8/11 Old 97s @ Madrid
8/14 Smashing Pumpkins @ Starlight
8/16 Jason Isbell @ Azura
8/20 Green Day @ Azura
8/31 Glass Animals @ Azura
9/4 Big Fat Cow @ Replay
9/7 Chatpile @ Bottleneck
10/4 Heart/Cheap Trick @ T-Mobile
10/18 Korn @ T-Mobile
10/24 Hatebreed @ Uptown
1/25 Aerosmith @ T-Mobile