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Finally, a holiday!
Temps have been great, but looks like rain is a possibility for most of the weekend. Azura opens with classic Country band Alabama, and luckily, it’s all reserved seating, so no muddy lawn if it rains. “Mean Girls” continues outdoors at Starlight, but they’re well prepared and plenty of indoor shows to catch in between food, folks, and general fun- enjoy the holiday!
Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming holiday weekend of May 23rd-26th.
(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)
FRIDAY MAY 23
Alabama w Lee Greenwood, May 23, Azura Amph,$66-$266
Legendary Country band Alabama is returning to the road for a limited number of dates on their new “Live In Concert 25 Tour” through Aug. 28, playing their many hits, with Lee Greenwood opening to ‘Good Bless the USA”.
“There’s nothing I look forward to any more than performing the songs our great fans have made hits and some surprises along the way,” says Alabama Founder Randy Owen. “Every show I count as one more beautiful blessing! Much love to you, our fans! Looking forward to seeing all of you on the tour!
“We are eager to get back on the road and make more cherished memories with each of you,” adds Alabama Founder Teddy Gentry. “It is a joy to play for our followers and friends who have supported us through thick and thin. We can’t wait to reconnect and share the music that brought us all together.”
Orion Sun w Chlothegod, May 23, Truman,$31.82-$59.79
West Coast (via NJ) soul/R&B artist, instrumentalist and producer Orion Sun has a new self-titled album, Orion and follows up last fall’s 19-date “Rising Sun” tour with this Spring leg. 
Speaking about recent single “Mary Jane”, she reflects, “This song is about coping and facing fear head-on. I lean hard on my vices when it feels like the world is falling from the sky. It helps you escape for a while, but no matter where you go, you can’t run from yourself. I had to face my fears eventually, and I’m glad I did.”
Arrive early for North Carolina-bred/LA-based artist chlothegod who has released an expanded take on her sophomore EP, ‘I Feel Different Every Day’ via EQT, which now features four extra tracks. The singer-rapper first made waves with 2023 EP ‘Nearly Straight’.
Gentlemen Rogues, May 23 minibar AND May 24, Replay Lounge- Lawrence, $13.15
The Austin, TX quartet celebrates aggressive guitar pop anthems, bearing the influences of Superchunk, The Replacements, Superdrag, and similar visionaries. Since their debut in 2011, the band — Danny Dunlap (guitar/vocals), Josh Power (drums), Dave Hawkins (bass, vocals), and John Christoffel (guitar) — have honed their hooks over numerous singles, EPs, and the 2022 full-length collection, A History of Fatalism. They count many musicians as fans too, including Springsteen sideman Steven van Zandt who handpicked their music for his online radio show.
Surface Noise is their new LP of well-turned guitar pop, complete with roaring chords and propulsive rhythms, co-released by Double Helix Records & Shifting Sounds featuring tracks like "Involuntary Solitary," "Do the Resurrection!", "Never the Bride," and "All Out Crush."
'Half Empty, Half Fool', the latest single from Surface Noise has been released on opaque pink 7" vinyl. The single includes a cover of the T. Rex classic "Children of the Revolution" on its B-side. Limited to 100 copies, the single will only be available at the shows on their Midwest tour, and on Bandcamp, while supplies last. 
Mean Girls (musical) thru May 25, Starlight, $14.72-$120.75
Last chance! - Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey ("30 Rock" and based on her film script), composer Jeff Richmond ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). and tells the story of a naïve newbie who falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies.
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies, The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Wearing pink seems to be encouraged.
The Lion King (Broadway touring), May 22-June 1, Music Hall, $79-$317
The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before! - This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to the Music Hall! More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular(since it first opened in Minneapolis!) and it has remained one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions in modern theater history!
Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, the production brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of visuals. Its return again features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Whether your first time or a repeat- run, don’t walk for the chance to see this beloved classic!
SATURDAY MAY 24
Napalm Death and The Melvins with The Hard-Ons & Dark Sky Burial, May 24, Madrid, $46-$86
Two long-running, legendary punk/metal bands, Napalm Death and the Melvins, teamed up back in 2016 for the “Savage Imperial Death March” tour together, and now they’re bring it back for a second edition, almost a decade later for this 52-date run. This time, support comes from The Hard-Ons and Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury’s Dark Sky Burial project. 
Melvins’ King Buzzo (who we caught live last year in St. Paul MN) says, “Napalm Death! Melvins! What a dream! Not only are we looking forward to being on the road with our friends in Napalm Death, but we’re excited to have both Dale and Coady both on drums once again.” Dale Crover took a hiatus from the band after a medical emergency in 2023, and they haven’t had the double-drummer lineup with Dale and Coady Willis since 2016.
Alex Warren, May 24, The Midland, sold out
Already upgraded from The Truman, Alex Warren‘s Cheaper Than Therapy Tour has sold out the much bigger Midland, making him one of the biggest successes of the year. He’s a singer, songwriter, YouTuber, former member of the TikTok group Hype House and is best known for his breakthrough single, “Ordinary”. A Fall tour leg was recently announced, which is mostly selling out too- catch him while you can!
One dollar from every ticket sold will go to Camp Kesem, which gives kids with parents who are fighting cancer access to free camps and other programs. Alex was recently forced to cancel several shows due to bronchitis and laryngitis. On the plus side, “Ordinary” has been #1 for eight weeks in the U.K. It’s currently #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael Sanzone to open.
SUNDAY MAY 25
Baroness, May 25, recordBar, $30
Baroness have returned to the road on their North American “Red & Blue Tour," performing its first two LPs, 2007’s Red Album and 2009’s Blue Record, in their entirety. 
“In December, for our annual Philly pre-holiday show, we performed our first two full length albums: Red and Blue,” singer/guitarist John Baizley said in a press release. “It was a great experience, unearthing the deeper cuts from those records that had faded from our setlist and it offered a rare opportunity to play some of those songs for the first time ever outside the studio.”
He continued: “While I’ve personally never been overly interested in the pure nostalgia of past records, we’ve always found it illuminating to bridge the gap between present and past Baroness by learning and updating/rearranging our earliest material. After the overwhelming and positive response from the Philadelphia shows (and while we’re busy writing our next record) we’re looking forward to taking Red and Blue on the road and sharing the experience with old and new friends alike.”
In addition to hearing both albums in full, concertgoers will have a chance to nab tour-exclusive vinyl pressings of Red and Blue featuring new artwork from Baizley, as well as a selection of themed merchandise. We caught them the last time in the area, in 2022 in Lawrence.
MONDAY MAY 26
Happy Memorial Day
National Touring act coming to Kansas City, Lawrence, KS, Topeka, KS, or vicinity? Let us know so we can spotlight the appearance-email [email protected]
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