Simple Plan and Sum 41, Uptown
Read More
|
Read more Kansas City Music Guide.
Folk and Bluegrass rule the week- the five-day international folk festival returns in-person, bringing acts from all over the world, and Bluegrass at the Bottoms is a two-day twangfest in the heart of the city. Meanwhile, Wynonna cancels her club tour and instead pledges to carry on with The Judds Tour (because... arenas, cha-ching!).
The week starts slow with some previous postponements but May 24 is a real quandary on what to attend, with at least three worthy shows that night-- choose wisely, grasshopper!
Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro MAY 18-24
(Several artists are still requiring precautions for entry, so check with the venue and/or assume vaccination proof and possibly a mask, might still be required)
Simple Plan and Sum 41 w/Set It Off, Uptown, $36
It’s the cleverly named Blame Canada Tour, co-headlined by these north of the border Warped Tour veterans. Simple Plan had some lineup upheaval during the pandemic concerning misconduct allegations, but the band has rebounded with new album Harder Than it Looks.
Sum 41 is returning with double-album Heaven and Hell on the horizon – Heaven being pop punk and Hell being more metal in nature.
Rupi Kaur, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $39-$99
The Canadian illustrator, poet, author and photographer returns to the stage after rising to fame via Instagram and has a film about her streaming on Amazon Prime. Because she first learned composing in Punjabi, she loves lower-case as much or more than e.e.cummings ever did.
Molchat Doma, recordBar SOLD OUT
Currently on a 12-country tour, this is a rare chance to see this Belarusian post-punk band, out in support of 2020’s Monument. Influenced by Joy Division and The Cure, they’ve been working in part of a Robert Smith classic into one of their songs, late in their set.
Folk Alliance International Conference, Westin Crown Center
|
Folk Alliance International Conference, Westin Crown Center, May 18-22, $500+ Tickets here: Conference Registration - Folk Alliance International
The world’s largest gathering of the folk music community (crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, more) returns after some pandemic delays.
This year’s theme is Living Traditions and will showcase various traditional folk music forms regionally, nationally, and internationally. The theme will be explored through topics of music preservation, migration, evolution, and authenticity, and there is a chance to see numerous performers during performance showcases.
Rage Against The Machine,T-Mobile Center. POSTPONED
Eels, Liberty Hall POSTPONED
Wynonna, Knuckleheads, CANCELED
Jacob Collier, The Truman
Read More
|
Jacob Collier, The Truman. $30
Basically, a musical genius (& the only UK artist to win Grammys for his first four albums) who plays about everything and mixes looped harmonies and audience participation sounds, to create unique audio canvases. On his Djesse Tour celebrating his last three studio albums, expect an energetic live show, audience interactions, and maybe some innovative Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and even Charlie Chaplin covers.
Nothing, Nowhere w Poorstacy, Carolesdaughter, Guccihighwaters, Snarls, Granada- Lawrence, $22-$24
MA rapper out in support of 2021’s Trauma Factory and a full night of music on this five-act bill.
CrankGameplays Presents: I Have To Do This Show, Folly. $37.50
A unique experience interlaced with comedy, theater, and a realistic – if possibly warped – viewpoint of the internet, from an online “influencer” (...whatever that means...)
Robert Earl Keen, Uptown Theater, $59
Eighteen studio albums in, this will likely be your last chance to see the 66yr-old Americana veteran, as he’s announced retirement starting in September. For fans of Lyle Lovett and the late Townes Van Zandt, and gotta admire someone that walks away on his own terms.
Bluegrass at the Bottoms, GrindersKC
Read More
|
Brian Regan(comedian), Uptown. $45-$178
The longtime quirky comedian tours following 2021’s Netflix stand up special On the Rocks, and returns with his unique observational and self-deprecating sense of humor.
Riff Generation-KC Jazz Orchestra, Kauffman Center, $10-$35
The second of three events celebrating Kansas City’s stylistic foundational contributions to early jazz. Popular songs like “In The Mood” and “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” were largely written in the KC riff-based style, and the city’s “jam session” cultivation of the music lives on in venues around the world. Expect new, highly collaborative compositions in a modern examination of the KC “riff style”, that also engages with more local musicians.
William Clark Green, Knuckleheads, $29.50
Texas country singer-songwriter with five studio and two live albums under his belt. New music seems overdue so maybe hope for a new song or two, and just maybe an Eagles medley.
Zach Bryan, Azura Amphitheater, $49-$200
Rising young Oklahoma country star and Navy veteran who releases his first full-length, American Heartbreak this coming Friday, with current single, “Something in the Orange” currently on the country charts.
Bluegrass at the Bottoms- Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mtn String Band, more, May 20-21, GrindersKC, $80-$150
Two-day music and brews event includes Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Bush Unsafe At Any Speed (featuring Greensky Bluegrass’ Dave Bruzza), Sierra Hull, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Tall Tall Trees, The Mighty Pines ,Whiskey for the Lady and many more.
Southern Culture on the Skids w Dressy Bessy, Knuckleheads. $20
Psychobilly/surf rock band SCOTS has been around since 1983(!?) and is out in support of 2021’s At Home With SCOTS. Bummer as it seems they no longer throw fried chicken / play “Eight Piece Box” but watch your head during “Banana Puddin’” and assume the whole audience might be on stage by the end.
Y’allapalooza, Azura Amphitheater
|
Y’allapalooza starring Jon Pardi w Hardy, Ernest, Azura Amphitheater. $45-$99
It’s Pardi Time! (to crib the name of his CMT series) – most recent album is 2019’s Heartache Medication and he even covered Metallica for a 2021 benefit cover album.
Opener Hardy is a ...unique looking dude who’s been opening in arenas for Morgan Wallen
Jessie James Decker, Arvest Bank Theatre
|
Jessie James Decker with Adam Doleac, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $34.50-$79.50
The country pop singer who married Minnesota Gopher and ex-NFL receiver Eric Decker, struck gold last year with single, “Should Have Known Better”. Latest album is Oct. 2021’s The Woman I’ve Become on Epic Records and her live show has had her covering Shania, Lil Nas X, and even Nirvana
Judy Collins and Madeleine Peyroux, Yardley Hall $20-$85
Folk and jazz icons come together for this unique live pairing. If they play some songs together, that would make the night even more magical. We caught Peyroux live back in 2017 with Rickie Lee Jones and have to admit, were a little disappointed they didn’t perform together for at least one song.
Stand Atlantic, Confidence, Cemetery Sun, Census Bottleneck-Lawrence $20-$25
Plenty of pop punk playing this week, but this Aussie band might be worth checking out. Latest album is F.E.A.R. released May 6 (not to be confused with the Marillion album of the same name) and the band has ten years worth of history and songs to draw from.
Christine “Kingfish” Ingram, Uptown CANCELED
The Head and the Heart, Uptown Theater
Read More
The Head and the Heart, Uptown Theater
Read More
|
The Head and the Heart with Jade Bird, Uptown Theater, $45-$99
Count us as fans of this Seattle indie-pop band, as we’ve covered them for a decade, memorably seeing them live early on in 2013, and outdoors at the greatly-missed Festival Palomino the following summer. Latest album is their fifth, Every Shade of Blue, released last month on Warner/Reprise and current single. “Virginia (Wind in the Night)” topped the AAA charts.
We love Jade Bird as well and were fortunate to have caught her live on her first US Tour back in 2017. The London folk singer-songwriter has her second full-length out, last August’s Different Kind of Light and got engaged late last year to her touring guitarist.
Modest Mouse with The Cribs, GrindersKC. UPDATE - POSTPONED (weather)
This is a great double-bill as well – Washington indie rockers Modest Mouse have returned en force with 2021’s The Golden Casket and we caught them live last August, shortly after the record was released. Lead singer Isaac Brock continues to steer their ship and even recently revealed that new and unheard songs with Johnny Marr may be in the near future, which is a wonderful surprise.
Wakefield UK’s brothers Jarman are a band we’ve followed since 2007. The Cribs returned in late 2020 with Night Network, their eighth studio album and we’ll always remember seeing them in St. Paul on August 1 2007, just after the bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis, collapsed.
Limp Bizkit w Yung Gravy, Wargasm UK, Dying Wish Cable Dahmer Arena - Independence. $29.50-$79
They said it- out on their Still Sucks Tour, you can’t deny the nu-rock/rap band did have some banging hits in the mid-90s that helped define that decade. Actually, the tour is named after their 2021 album, (still not available on physical media for whatever reason) and features single, “Dad Vibes” and an INXS cover. In concert, they’ve been performing a Ministry song, prefaced by a Metallica/Megadeth medley.
Todd Snider w Ian Noe, Granada-Lawrence, $30-$40
More than twenty-five years later, he’s still an Alright Guy. In 2021, Snider released the folk-funky First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder and always has interesting and funny stories between songs live. We caught him live back in 2019, though his dog who he brought on stage, didn’t seem to be too impressed (or had heard it all before).
Harbour, recordBar, $15
This Cincinnati indie rock band maybe doesn’t have the most internet-friendly searchable name, and most members were previously in a band called The Monument (not the greatest internet-friendly name either). Anyway, they’ve followed 2019 album, Thoughts on Letting Go with 2020 single, “Twenty Twenty” and newest, “Bahamas” coming next month.
| john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
Recent Comments