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These may be called the “dog days” of summer, but there are no “dogs” in this week’s group of great area shows. If anyone got into Saturday’s Glass Animals secret acoustic promo-only show at a KC distillery, consider yourself very lucky.
With the heat continuing, take precautions for any outdoor shows. Kansas surprised the nation with their recent vote on the state amendment question, and now it’s time to go out, sip a cold one, and support live music.
Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro August 8th– 15th
(Several artists are still requiring precautions for entry, so check with the venue and/or assume vaccination proof, might still be required)
Monday Aug 8
Here and There Festival featuring Courtney Barnett, Lucy Dacus and Quinn Christopherson, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $40.50-$60.50
‘Here And There’ is a concept partially born of Barnett’s love of curation. Barnett has owned a Melbourne-based label (Milk! Records) for a decade now and we’ve followed her ever since, even before her US successes. Most recent album is last November’s Things Take Time, Take Time.
For this first stop of the tour, Lucy Dacus joins up, who we saw flat on her back earlier this year in Lawrence, after slipping some discs in her back, but was determined to carry on with shows. 2021’s “Home Video” remains her latest full-length, but we’ve seen several new singles since.
Opening singer-songwriter Quinn Christopherson has set September 16 for the debut album release of Write Your Name in Pink.
Non-profit Sounds of Saving, have partnered on the tour, and their mission is to use the connection to music as a direct path to mental well being. The group on-site will include a representative from the local 988 call center, one mental health professional, and someone from Sounds of Saving.
Tim Heidecker (comedian), The Truman, $49.50
We’ve followed the eclectic comedian for years, both solo and as part of duo Tim and Eric, seeing them most recently in 2017. Newest album High School came out earlier this spring.
Thundercat, Grinders KC, $35-$75
On our radar for years, the aka Stephen Bruner is a bass-playing monster, as evidenced when he opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers in arenas years ago. Last studio release, It Is What It Is, won both GRAMMY and Libera Awards and he even appeared in couple episodes of the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett.
Red Fang, recordBar, $20
The Portland hard alternative four-piece band is back with 2021’s Arrows, and a tour which was delayed by the pandemic, but now back on course. Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin: Stygian Bough, which is a doom metal collaboration and Help slated to open.
Tuesday Aug 9
Father John Misty w Suki Waterhouse, Arvest Bank at the Midland, $39.99-$59.99
WHM loves you, honeybear-- We’ve covered the aka Josh Tillman since well before he adopted his current stage name and the new record is Chloe and the Next 20th Century, an ambitious fifth studio album under the FJM name, which he’s performed numerous times with a symphony orchestra.
We last caught him live, closing out the 2018 edition of Rock the Garden in Minneapolis.
Opening is Suki Waterhouse, the better half of actor Robert Pattinson and who dabbles in a little of everything- acting, modeling, and music, with newest singles being “Devil I Know” and “Wild Side”.
Anastasia (musical) at Starlight Theatre August 9-14, 2022
Inspired by the films, the transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Anastasia features a book by playwright Terrence McNally, new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) based on original direction by Tony Award® winner Darko Tresnjak with choreography by Peggy Hickey and tour direction by Sarah Hartmann.
Imagine Dragons w Macklemore, Kings Elliot, T-Mobile Center, $45.50-$155
Indie rockers out on their summer leg of their Mercury Tour, in support of latest releases, Mercury Act I and Act II. We’ve seen the band live numerous times, from their humble beginnings in tiny clubs, to part of NFL Superbowl and MLB All-Star Game weekends and they always seem to bring the excitement live, as well as remind us of positive mental health.
Macklemore is currently rolling solo (without Ryan Lewis) but we saw the duo bring the house down ten years ago at the MN State Fair. Newest singles are “Next Year” w/Windsor and Ryan Lewis, and the new “Chant” with Tones and I.
Kings Elliot is a buzzworthy Swiss-born, London-based young new artist, who released EP Chaos in my Court late last year and a preorder is up for upcoming EP, Bored of the Circus with featured single, “Butterfly Pen.”
Murder by Death Lemonade Park, $32
Bloomington, IN indie rockers just released new album, Spell/Bound last week and we last saw them in 2016. Their electric cello sound gives a haunting goth edge to their sound and this Tour from the Crypt show also features Amigo the Devil and Samantha Crain, who we just caught live in May.
Ian Sweet / BNNY / Pure XTC, recordBar, $15
She’s aka Jillian Medford, an alternative singer-songwriter from LA and is out in support of 2021’s Show Me How You Disappear. We literally just caught this show, days ago in Minneapolis.Chicago’s BNNY has their debut album just out now.
Wednesday Aug 10
Sleigh Bells w N3PTUNE, The Truman. $30-$60
The Brooklyn noise pop duo is on the road supporting Texis, (with its current single “Justine Go Genesis” ) released at the end of last year and has been a band for almost fifteen years now. We caught them live in Fall 2016 when their last album signaled a bit of a sound change.
Black Pistol Fire with The Shooks, recordBar. $20
Quite simply one of the most incendiary live acts to currently grace a live stage, this Toronto via Austin TX duo mixes post punk rock with a Southern edge and is in support of last year’s Look Alive album. We caught them live in 2021 and in 2017 and were happily taken aback each time by their efforts. They’ve recently been dropping in a Childish Gambino and older Fleetwood Mac cover into their live sets.
(Updated: Lillie Mae has decided to bow out of the tour, instead working on a "secret project")
Ballyhoo! and Shwayze, Bottleneck. $20
The Maryland reggae pop/punk band are Warped Tour veterans and put out the Planet Sad Boi EP last year, with latest single, “The Front Porch”, out most recently. Alt hip-hop opener Schwayze (aka Aaron Smith) last released 2019’s Beach Boy album, so is likely due for new music.
Thursday Aug 11
Brett Young, Kansas City Live! $30-$70
The country pop singer’s latest album is last year’s Weekends Look a Little Different These Days, a happy result of the birth of his new daughter Presley, and the Orange County native also released a Christmas album last year. Live, he’s recently worked in a John Hiatt cover song among his own hits.
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Friday Aug 12
Incubus with Sublime with Rome, Aquadolls, Azura Amphitheater.
UPDATE: BONNER SPRINGS KS, MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO AND TINLEY PARK, IL SHOWS NOW POSTPONED
Michael Franti & Spearhead, Grinders KC, $35-$75
It’s always a “good day for a good day” when Michael Franti & Spearhead play, and their joyous vibe of feel-good, life-affirming music, is what everyone needs as we slowly move past the pandemic. We caught them live recently, last fall at an outdoor street party in Lawrence, and even performing as only a trio, everyone was thoroughly entertained and in appreciation of the return of live music.
The new release Follow Your Heart was released in June and reflects our shared struggle of the last couple years and encourages listening to your inner voice and being your authentic self.
Santa Fe Klan, Uptown Theater, $59.50-$85
Hip hop artist from Guanajuato, México, aka Ángel Quezada is out on his 15-stop Mar y Tierra Tour. With six albums under his name, he was a finalist of MIDEM´s “Talent Accelerator” and named The Latin Youth´s voice.
Drake White, Power and Light District, $20
We just caught the Alabama native live last month as part of the massive three-day Country Stampede at the Heartland in Topeka with an hour-long set on the second stage, and he returns to the area in support of his March full-length The Optimystic.
Goatwhore, Granada. $20
After sharing Spring stages with Gwar and Brujeria, the New Orleans black metal band headlines a night not for the faint of heart. Comments guitarist Sammy Duet, “We’re excited to be back on the road … Expect absolute debauchery and chaos, maniacs!”
Starcrawler, recordBar, $15
LA pop punk band has a brand-new album out, She Said, with latest single, “Stranded” and has been working in a frantic Ramones cover into current live sets. The Bad Ideas scheduled to open.
Saturday Aug 13
Decemberists with Brigid Mae Power, Grinders KC, $35-$99
Calling it the Arise from the Bunkers! Tour, count us as fans of the longtime Portland indie band, with the band celebrating over two decades. Singer-songwriter Colin Meloy also has a book coming this fall. Live, we caught them in a memorable show back in 2015 and more recently, they’ve been ending their main set with a cover of The Smiths’ “Ask.”
The Lumineers with Gregory Alan Isakov, T-Mobile Center. $49-$89
Out on their Brightside Tour, in support of fourth studio album of the same name, the core band is just a duo, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, though they bring a full band with them.
The Colorado indie folk group recorded a cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” as a bonus track for the new album and live their recent twenty-five song set includes a cover of Tom Petty’s “Walls.” We caught them as part of a stacked lineupp at Target Center in Minneapolis in 2017.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Knuckleheads. $20
The Austin TX blues funk rock band always invites you to “come to my party” and this venue seems the ideal place to see them live. We caught them in the summer of 2014 at the Tour de Fat Beer and Bike Festival and previous to that, at First Avenue in Minneapolis the previous Autumn. In 2020, they released single, “Five Dollars.”
Sunday Aug 14
Melissa Etheridge, Liberty Hall, $69-$199
The pride of Leavenworth, KS returns to her home state for a relatively intimate show in support of One Way Out (on BMG Records). The album is composed of unreleased songs written in the late 80's and early 90's, but recorded recently with her original band, with two songs recorded live at the Roxy in LA in 2002. Expect all the previous hits played live as well. (Note: vaxx status is required)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Uptown. $45-$249
It’s fabulous! RuPaul’s Drag Race World Tour returns with an all-new production for 2022 - an experiment gone wrong has sent the audience spiraling through time with no way of returning to the present. Join Kameron Michaels, Rose, Vanessa Vanjie, Yvie Oddly and finalists from the upcoming 14th Season on a journey through iconic periods of history in hopes of finding your way back to 2022.
Oliver Tree, Arvest Bank at the Midland, $29.50-$59.50
The Santa Cruz, CA singer-songwriter/rapper has his second studio release out, Cowboy Tears supposedly a final album which follows up 2020's Ugly Is Beautiful which reached #1 on Billboard's Rock chart. Recent single “I Hate You” is not on the new LP. JAWNY, Huddy slated to open.
Sleeping With Sirens with Don Broco, Point North and Garzi, The Truman. $32-$55
The Orlando post hardcore alt-rock group is out on a 24-date summer U.S. tour dubbed "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" with KC being the final show on the leg. Their most recent record, 2019's How It Feels to Be Lost, featured songs "Leave It All Behind" and "Agree to Disagree" and single "Bloody Knuckles," came out last year, though we’re interested to hear their version of The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris”.
Monday Aug 15
take a day off
| john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
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