Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers, recordBar
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Read more Kansas City Music Guide.
People talking at shows over the band, a reported fight breaking out at the Key Glock show at the Granada – guess things are back to “normal”, haha. Seriously, hope we can better appreciate the return of live music, and can all positively enjoy the experience.
Live Nation is offering select $25 all-in tix this week, so might be worth a look to see what’s available.
(Several artists are still requiring precautions for entry, so check with the venue and/or assume vaccination proof and maybe a mask, is still required)
Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence, KS metro for the second week of MAY:
The HU, The Truman. $27.50-$55
Everyone’s favorite Mongolian deep throat-ed folk metal band brings their Black Thunder Tour to town, with a new album due out later this year. Expect a mix of new songs and those from 2019’s The Gereg.
Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers w Quasi, recordBar. $20
After Covid caused a recent last-minute cancellation in Minneapolis (though openers Quasi still played) both bands are carrying on, with Spencer working in a Blues Explosion song or two, and Pussy Galore cover, into recent setlists. Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss is doing double duty, leading support band Quasi and banging the skins for The Hitmakers as well.
Boston Manor, Bottleneck. $22
Not from Boston, but rather Blackpool UK, this five-piece emo pop-punk band recently toured with Neck Deep and has new EP, Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures, out.
Buddy Guy, Knuckleheads
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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Uptown
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Buddy Guy, Knuckleheads. $58.50
The undisputed Blues guitar master returns to leave jaws on the ground with his skilled playing, still well worth seeing in-person. Guy is 85 years-young and still performs regularly at his Chicago club, Legends, and the environment at Knuckleheads is perfect for his songs and guitar work.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit w Heartless Bastards, Uptown. $65-$250
One of the strongest double-bill shows of this spring, Isbell and band released Georgia Blue late last year and even covered Metallica’s “Sad but True” for a charity tribute album last fall. The newest album is a collection of covers from Georgia-based artists, including R.E.M., James Brown, Indigo Girls, and The Black Crowes. We last caught Isbell and the 400 Unit alongside wife Amanda Shires at the Basilica Block Party back in the summer of 2018.
We saw opening band Heartless Bastards headlining last fall and they’re still out in support of latest album, A Beautiful Life, the Ohio band’s sixth studio effort, which singer Erika Wennerstrom originally conceived as a solo project.
Chuck Mead, Bottleneck. $20
Nashville singer-songwriter is a founding member of group BR5-49, worked on Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet, and actually graduated from Lawrence High School and attended the University of Kansas, so it’s a bit of a homecoming appearance.
Dorothy, recordBar, $20
We are in Kansas (City) any more! The longtime Los Angeles blues hard rock band returns in support of Gifts from the Holy Ghost, (on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation imprint.) The album’s title was derived from her guitar tech being brought back from an overdose and the album is prefaced with lead single, “Rest in Peace”. We caught the band live in early 2019, and also in 2018, and were impressed both times.
Rosanne Cash, Lied Center. UPDATE - Postponed to June 11
After a few Covid-related postponements, the Americana singer-songwriter comes to the River City, with over four decades, twelve Grammy nominations, and eleven #1 country singles under her belt.
Expect a setlist filled with her own songs as well as numerous covers from Bobbie Gentry, Hank Snow, and of course, her famous father Johnny Cash.
Jordan Davis, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
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Asleep at the Wheel w Brennan Leigh, Knuckleheads, $35
Weather seems ok for this outdoor scheduled show and the legendary Western swing band has been entertaining audiences since 1970 (thus, their twenty-sixth album from 2021, Half a Hundred Years).
Jordan Davis with Tenille Arts, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland $29.50-$35
The Louisiana country pop singer has been rising since debut 2017 single, “Singles You Up” and last year’s “Buy Dirt” (with Luke Bryan and from the album of the same name), also topped the charts.
Canadian country singer Tenille Arts is getting some buzz as well, with 2021’s Girl to Girl album.
Beach Bunny with Wednesday and Ky Voss, Granada. $25
Lilli Trifilio leads this Chicago power pop band (not to be confused with the Latin Bad Bunny) and has a highly anticipated sophomore album, Emotional Creature, due out July 22, on one of our favorite labels, Mom+Pop, prefaced by first single, “Fire Escape”.
Openers Wednesday are from Ontario, CAN and NYC-based Ky Voss plays low-fi synth dream pop.
Xavier Wulf, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $25/$30
Tennessee rapper also is a member of the East Memphis Boyz, has released fourteen albums/mixtapes, and has his roots in trap metal hip-hop.
Ben Rector, Starlight Theatre
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Hovvdy, Bottleneck-Lawrence
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Ben Rector w/ Jake Scott Starlight Theatre, $35-$69.95
The Nashville singer-songwriter released his latest, The Joy of Music at the end of last year, which features collaborations with opposite genre artists Snoop Dogg and sax player Dave Koz, and will be playing outdoors at this great metro venue. We caught Rector live in 2017 as part of the Basilica Block Party and twice in 2016, at a proper State Theatre show, and at a more intimate outdoor radio promotional performance.
Opener Jake Scott is a LA-based Arkansas-born multi-instrumentalist currently making waves with new single, “Texas Girl” and is out in support of last summer’s Goldenboy album. Also scheduled is Jordy Searcy and Stephen Day.
Air Supply, Ameristar. $57-$75
They’re not “all out of love” just yet, and are ready to serenade those classic lite-rock hits.
Saba with Lute and Amindi, Granada. $25
The Chicago rapper-producer has his third album out, Few Good Things and is out on his Back Home Tour. Openers are Charlotte’s Lute and Los Angeles artist Amindi.
Steel Woods, Knuckleheads. $20
Nashville country group has a new album coming May 14th.
Hovvdy w Molly Parden, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $15-$18
The Austin, TX indie pop duo has a new album, True Love, out now, and have followed that up with a new EP, Billboard for My Feelings and lead single, “Hide”.
Opener Molly Parden is a Georgia native who also recently collaborated with Victor Mucho of Judah and the Lion, on a Cranberries cover with Sandra McCracken, and covered Enya with Sam Outlaw.
Merle Jam with Walter Trout, Stacy Mitchhart and Tricia Freeman, Knuckleheads. $27.50
This 16th annual fundraiser has been helping heart transplant patients for years.
Bert Kreischer (comedian), May 7-8, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland $39.75-$109.75
Comedian out on his Berty Boy (Relapse) Tour, referring to the pandemic date postponements.
OMD, The Truman
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OMD, The Truman. $32.50-$59.50
The classic British synth band is out on their Souvenir Tour, celebrating forty years of hits and we can confirm that Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys and band are as great as ever to see live. We caught them in concert last back in 2018 and as good as that setlist was, this one will be even more packed with songs you know.
We last saw Michigan art rock openers In the Valley Below back in 2018 in a very unique setting- they were the live soundtrack to their The Pink Chateau film in an Alamo Drafthouse movie theater. The band has a new single, “Lie with Me” and has even released a board game.
Car Seat Headrest with Bartees Strange, Grinders KC, $25-$50
Virginia’s Will Toledo and band have been wow-ing recent crowds on their Masquerade Tour, promising “music, dancing, and identity loss”. The MADLO EPs should be on sale at their merch booth, which compile the previous digital-only releases, and while we’ve seen the band live a few times before, we get the feeling this will be completely different.
Opener Bartees Strange mixes indie, jazz, and hip-hop, and has his second album, Farm to Table due June 17 and has been busy as the support act for all our favorite bands.
Dale Watson, Knuckleheads. $20-$35
Texas alt-country/"Ameripolitan" guitarist remains prolific and is a true road touring warrior.
Destruction, Bottleneck
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Destruction, Bottleneck. $20
One of the “Big Four” of German thrash metal, expect the walls to shake.
Sherman Irby Duo, Lied Center. $19-$35
Irby is the lead alto saxophone player for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and will be joined by bassist Mark Lewandowski. For Rock Chalk Suite, Irby composed “The Truth” celebrating Paul Pierce and “The Ponderous Pachyderm of the Planks” honoring Clyde Lovellette.
Pi'erre Bourne, Granada- Lawrence
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Pi'erre Bourne, Granada- Lawrence, $20-$25
Out on his Purple Tour with opener Young Kush Blower, in addition to rapping, has produced hits for the likes of Playboi Carti and 6ix9ine, and has recently collaborated with Chavo, TM88, and Cardo.
| john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
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