W♥M

We♥KC! October 3-5, 2023, Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Dehd

Read More: Pert Near Sandstone This was Pert Near’s Ship of Fools 7” Release Party and a party is exactly what it was. This band brought the energy, the fun, and the talent to First Avenue...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Rocktober is in full effect, always a big concert month (even bigger than that new Ferris wheel that's not exactly the London Eye) meaning plenty of shows (but still some KC 90-degree heat?!), so here’s a rundown of the upcoming week, to see what’s happening.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from October 2nd-5th.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 3

Movements w/ Mannequin Pussy, Oct 3, Granada-Lawrence, $25-$30

Southern CA post-hardcore band Movements have a third album, Ruckus! just out on August 18 via Fearless Records. It was produced by longtime collaborator Will Yip, and it features recent singles “Killing Time”, “Lead Pipe,” and “Fail You.” Newest and final single from the record is “Heaven Sent”. The band has been impressing crowds and growing their fan base since 2015, when they signed with Fearless after playing only one live show.

Philly’s Mannequin Pussy recently regained back their master recordings and announced their own imprint, Romantic Records and have begun re-releasing some back catalog. The indie four-piece’s last release was the Perfect EP, from 2021.

Softcult and Heart to Gold are also on the bill, making for a full roster.

Jesse Jo Stark, Rachel Bobbitt, Haleigh Marchisio, Oct 3, recordBar, $22.10

The LA Native is an indie rock singer, actor, fashion designer (+Yungblud’s current squeeze) and more, and returns to touring, in support of latest record, Doomed, released last September. Stark has a flair for a darkness theatric, so expect a stage peppered with gargoyles and a band all dressed in black.

Toronto (via Nova Scotia)’s Rachel Bobbitt is also on the bill (joined on stage with guitarist Justice, drummer Stephen, and bassist Isaac), in support of newest EP, The Half We Still Have, and maybe expect a Cranberries or Sharon van Etten cover during the set.  California’s Haleigh Marchisio is also on the bill, and has new single, “Letter 2 the Past”.

We covered the Minnesota stop of the show just a few days ago, read the recap here.

Daniel O'Donnell, Oct 3, Kauffman Center, $43-$93

The legendary Donegal, IE-based singer, who is one of the most prolific and successful recording artists on the UK charts, is the only artist in the world to score a hit on the UK album charts every year since 1988, an unprecedented and unbroken 35-year span.

O’Donnell’s 17th special, “Daniel O’Donnell from Castlebar, Ireland,” was released in March 2023 and can be seen on Public Television stations nationwide. O’Donnell’s latest album, I Wish You Well, was out last November, entering the UK Album Charts at No. 16.

With that release, O’Donnell has now amassed 48 Top 75 albums, including 42 Top 40 albums, 30 Top 30 and 20 Top 10 albums, with 18 being in the 21^st Century, a feat that has not been achieved by any other recording artist.

Eric Andre (comedy), Oct 3, Midland, $49.50-$69.50

The comedian, actor and creator and host of Adult Swim’s hit series “The Eric Andre Show,” can also currently be seen as an expert panelist on ABC’s “The Prank Panel,” alongside Johnny Knoxville and Gabourey Sidibe, and he recently launched his first podcast “Bombing with Eric Andre” as part of the iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network.

In 2020, his first stand-up special “Legalize Everything” premiered on Netflix and in 2021, he starred in the Netflix comedy Bad Trip, which he produced and co-wrote. Andre also currently voices the demon ‘Luci’ on the Netflix animated series “Disenchantment” and lends his voice to a character in the latest Trolls movie.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4

Dance Speaks: Jekyll and Hyde, Oct 4, 6:30-7:15 p.m., Free

KCB Dancer Chat: Link: Virtual on Facebook LIVE

KC Ballet Dancer Chats, a FREE community engagement and education series, are designed to provide the broader public an opportunity to engage with and learn more about the professional dancers from Kansas City Ballet. This Dancer Chat features three KCB company dancers chatting about their roles in the soon-to-open Jekyll & Hyde and sharing aspects of their life journey and dance experiences.

The Foolers, Oct 4, Kauffman Center, $43-$93

The Foolers brings an evening of illusions by Penn & Teller, who curate the show but will not be in attendance. Celebrating television’s #1 rated magic show, this interactive evening presents the Fool Us alumni who share the distinction of being among the few who have impressed the pair with mystifying mind magic and hilarious comedic routines.

In addition to bringing Vegas-caliber modern magic to cities across the US, master magicians Alex Ramon, Jessica Jane, Matt Donnelly and Vinny Grosso, collectively known as The Foolers pay homage to classic magic. VIP Experience packages available as well.

Pert Near Sandstone, Oct 4, Knuckleheads, $12

We’ve kept tabs on the Minnesota band since a decade ago, when they recorded their debut album, 'Up And Down The River.' Founding member Ryan Young has returned after seven years touring the world playing fiddle with Trampled By Turtles, and the upcoming record is “Waiting Days” out October 20 and prefaced by singles, “All Waves Break” and “I’ve Been Traveling.”

Check out the show, which serves as an early release party, for a healthy preview of some of the new folk/bluegrass songs, just in time to be the soundtrack of a Midwestern Fall season.

Air Supply, Oct 4, Lied Center-Lawrence, $21-31 (student) / $40-$60

Though forming way back in 1975, they’re still not “All Out of Love”, nor “Lost in Love”, but are playing KU/Lawrence, instead of their normal stop at Ameristar in Kansas City. Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock met on the first day of rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar in Sydney, becoming instant friends and co-founding the longtime Australian soft-rock band.

Seven top-five singles later and AIR SUPPLY, at that time, had equaled The Beatles’ run of consecutive top-five singles. The albums Lost in Love, The One That You Love, Now & Forever and The Greatest Hits sold in excess of 20 million copies. They were the first Western group to tour China and Taiwan, and are celebrating their 48^th anniversary of making music.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 5

Dehd w Sara Grace White, Oct. 5, recordBar. $23

Chicago indie-rock three piece (Emily, Jason, and Eric) returns to the area, in support of fourth album (and first for Fat Possum), Blue Skies, which offers 13 songs/33 minutes of timely hope, with twice the power. Single “Bad Love” is a surge of self-liberation and an anthem about admitting your faults, seeking forgiveness, and finding a way forward. DEHD has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting organizations working for equity, access, and dignity for all.

We caught them live in Lawrence, as openers a couple years ago, and are not surprised they’ve become headliners in their own right.

Arrive early for LA’s Sara Grace White, in support of EP Are You Here This Time which follows her journey through six tracks as she navigates the thin line that dictates reality and debut single, “Touching”. Other tracks are “Here,” “Ribbon,” “Ash,” “Anything,” and “Blood Like Water.”

Warren Zeiders w A Thousand Horses, Oct 5, Uptown, sold out

Out on his Pretty Little Poison Tour (named after his debut Warner Bros. album), like Zach Bryan, Zeiders is the next breed of outlaw country, under the mainstream radar, but selling out almost every venue booked. PA native Zeiders, who first broke through with his 2021 hit “Ride the Lightning,” was actually planning to become a lacrosse player, until a series of concussions and the onslaught of the pandemic, made him reconsider his future.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began posting acoustic cover songs on TikTok and views began soaring with a growing demand for original material, so in December 2020, Zeiders released his original track “On the Run.” An acoustic covers project and The 717 Tapes EP would follow and a viral-level growing fan base continued. This show is long sold-out and like Bryan, expect much bigger venues in the future.

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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! September 27-October 2, 2023, Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More: Bob Dylan Legendary Bob Dylan is back in town for a residency at the Orpheum Theatre from November 4-November 6th. This should be a much better experience than his last huge show at the Xcel Energy Center in 2012....

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Still a busy calendar as we say ‘goodbye’ to summer and ‘hello’ to Fall, which means pumpkin spice everything, constant leaf raking, and a busy Rocktober.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from September 27th-October 2nd.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27

Dance Speaks: Jekyll and Hyde, Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, $12

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney invites patrons to join him and guests Val Caniparoli, Maiqui Manosa, and Ramona Pansegrau in a conversation inspired by the ballet Jekyll & Hyde. Get a sneak peek beforehand of a company rehearsal of Jekyll & Hyde (which opens October 13) and gain inside information about the production. Includes an audience Q + A.

$uicideboy$ w Ghostemane, T-Mobile Center, $44.95-$144.95

It’s the 2023 edition of their Grey Day Tour, with support from Ghostemane, City Morgue, Sematary and Ramirez. The four-part conceptual EP series, the Yin Yang Tapes, are out now, with each encompassing one of four seasons. City Morgue recently wrapped up their “My Bloody America” tour with Vein.fm, and the Gathering of the Juggalos lineup back in June.

Senses Fail, The Granada- Lawrence, $29-$35.

Out on their new "Life is Not A Waiting Room" 2023 tour, which is a celebration of the 15-year anniversary of the band's third studio album, Life Is Not a Waiting Room. The original album was a major success, charting at number 18 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Senses Fail was formed as a collaboration between Buddy Nielsen, Garrett Zablocki, Dan Miller, and James Gill. Soon enough, Dan Trap, who was only 14 years old at the time, joined the group as well, with Mike Gita replacing Gill. The band released their debut studio album, Let It Enfold You, back in Sept. 2004 which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200.

Opening is Welsh rock band Holding Absence, best-known for their second studio album, 2021’s The Greatest Mistake of My Life, which peaked at number 90 on the UK album chart.

Electric Six w The Surfrajettes, recordBar, $24.36

The Detroit rock vets are wrapping up work on their first proper album of original material in five years, and while details of that are still TBA, they have announced this tour with The Surfrajettes. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Fire. Thanks to debut single “Danger! High Voltage,” which features an assist from fellow Detroiter Jack White, it was a surprise hit — the single and the album were Top 10 in the UK — and featured the band’s mix of riff rock, disco, funk, and frontman Dick Valentine’s maximum bravado. “Gay Bar” was also a hit, and songs like “Naked Pictures (of Your Mother)” and “I’m the Bomb” also resonated.

Of Virtue w/ Divide The Fall, Reddstar, Vevo Live- Overland Park, $15

Not on the venue’s page, but still on the band’s website, so we assume the show is on. Michigan metal band Of Virtue have released their brand new single and music video for “Cut Me Open,” taken from their upcoming full-length album Omen, due next Friday via Arising Empire.

On the new album, the band comment: “Three years in the making and feeling as if it’s the most significant one in our timeline thus far, this album was by far the most difficult to create in many more ways than one and one of the most emotional experiences for us. Hope that it helps you through your time of need, the way it did us.”

Letdown. Encore at Uptown, $15

Aka Blake Coddington, the Chicago-based, Jason Momoa-resembling indie rocker is out supporting his recent EP, Crying In the Shower (on Big Loud Rock Records). A social media hit, in just six months, he amassed 500k followers on TikTok, more than 265k monthly listeners on Spotify, and nearly 100k on Instagram — and that’s before the 12+ million streams his singles have also picked up.

Judas Priest, Cable Dahmer Arena- Independence, CANCELED

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28

Anthony Jeselnik (comedian), Midland. $35-$75

On his Bones and All Tour, the no-holds-barred comedian can also be seen on his podcast, The Jeselnik and Rosenthal Vanity Project, alongside co-host Gregg Rosenthal. His most recent stand up special, Fire in the Maternity Ward premiered on Netflix to critical acclaim. He was also the creator, host and producer of his series, Good Talk, and has performed on all the late-night network shows and was a writer and the first ever stand-up comic to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Giovannie and the Hired Guns, The Bottleneck-Lawrence, $23-$25

Still on their Tejano Punk Boyz Tour, we rocked with these guys at this same venue back in February, calling them “The greatest metal, country-tinged, Tejano, alternative punk-pop, norteño-loving, tuba-blowing band on Earth”, and look for more of the same party this time. Read all about it here: Giovannie and The Hired Guns at The Bottleneck- Lawrence, KS (2023-02-23) review - W♥M (typepad.com)

KC Chamber Orchestra, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, $15-$35

The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra presents Bach Is Back! —And Mozart Too

Working in collaboration with the International Center for Music at Park University, Maestro Bruce Sorrell is thrilled to have award-winning pianist Kuok-Wai Lio join the orchestra to perform the early-era Mozart Piano Concerto no. 9 and the Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 5, in this unique venue. Concert Program: “La Follia Variations” M. Wiancko/Geminiani; “Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major” J.S. Bach; “Piano Concerto No.9 in E-flat major” W.A. Mozart. Pre-concert talk as well.

Grand Funk Railroad and Jefferson Starship, Uptown. $45-$125

Two classic names from the annals of rock ‘n roll join together for a tour featuring numerous radio hits. Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, Grand Funk Railroad is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of “We’re an American Band” and includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer/singer of the hit, “We’re an American Band”) and bassist Mel “The God of Thunder” Schacher. Current singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from .38 Special, who wrote and sang on their highest-charting hit, “Second Chance.”

Jefferson Starship is one of the most successful groups of the 1970s and 80’s, and continues to tour today with original member David Freiberg, drummer Donny Baldwin (whose band roots go back to 1982), keyboardist Chris Smith (who joined in 1998), guitarist Jude Gold (who joined in 2012), and singer and guitarist Cathy Richardson who joined in 2008, but don’t expect Grace Slick (retired) or Mickey Thomas, who fronts his own version.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29

Dogstar, Liberty Hall, $40-$75, (very low tix)

See John Wick, Neo, and Theodore Logan playing bass on the very same night! 1990’s alt-rock band Dogstar returned earlier this year and are releasing their first album in over 20 years, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, on October 6 with first single, “Everything Turns Around” already out.

The 12-track LP marks the band’s first full-length since 2000’s Happy Ending, and solidifies the recent reunion between Keanu Reeves, guitarist-vocalist Bret Domrose, and drummer Rob Mailhouse that kicked off in May with a performance at Napa Valley’s BottleRock Festival. The tour just finished some Japan dates and is back in the States to rock out the rest of the year, ending on December 20.

Three Dog Night, Ameristar Casino, $118-$299

The longtime band, now in its 5th decade, can boast of 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, including 3 #1 singles, 11 Top 10’s, 18 straight Top 20’s, 7 million-selling singles and 12 straight RIAA Certified Gold LPs! A handful of hits for sure, but not a cheap show.

Gregory Alan Isakov w Damien Jurado, The Midland, $29.50-$59.50

Colorado folk singer Isakov’s first studio album in five years, Appaloosa Bones, released on August 18 through Dualtone Records and his own Suitcase Town Music, with lead single, “The Fall” and follows his 2018 Grammy-nominated LP, Evening Machines. We were impressed when we caught him around this time last year, as support for The Lumineers in an all-Colorado line-up.

Headliner-worthy Damien Jurado will open as support, who plays in between his own End of Summer Tour shows, and $1 per ticket will go to Honor the Earth, whose mission is to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities.

Steve Aoki, KCLive!, $25-$65

Oh, yes-- there will be Cake! The two-time Grammy-nominated artist and producer has shared a new single “New York” with multi-platinum DJ and producer Regard and alt-pop artist mazie. The upbeat dance club jam joins mazie’s dreamlike, twisted musical tendencies through a combination of Regard’s production and Aoki’s high-powered creativity.

Also recent is HiROQUEST: Genesis, Aoki’s expansive world-building album which included an array of collaborations from Kane Brown to Taking Back Sunday and Georgia Ku, MOD SUN, Bryce Vine, Santa Fe Klan, Lil Xan, Goody Grace, and more. We’ve barely missed getting “caked” jumping about when we’ve seen him live, most recently in Minneapolis in 2018. $25 seems cheap...

CONTINUING- Lyric Opera presents Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, Sept 29 and Oct 1, Kauffman, $38-$216.

A musical and dramatic double bill that reveals the consequences of infidelity and the rage within us.

Cavalleria rusticana

Turiddu returns from war to find his love, Lola, married to another. In a scheme to induce jealousy, he seduces Santuzza. As swiftly as she is beguiled, Santuzza is discarded while Turiddu begins an affair with his old flame. After the conclusion of Easter mass, passions erupt and expose the ugliness of jealousy. With stirring melodies as iconic as the story, Cavalleria rusticana reveals the consequences of infidelity and the lengths we might go to for revenge.

Pagliacci

The passions of ordinary people take center stage in Leoncavallo’s classic verismo tale of resentment and possession. Drama seeps into the fabric of a small traveling theater troupe led by Canio and his wife, Nedda. When his suspicions of Nedda’s affair are confirmed, Canio must put on a smile and entertain despite his broken heart. Numb to the ugliness of their world, the audience is left to interpret whether the plot before them is theater or reality.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30

Bishop Briggs w Misterwives, GrindersKC, $37.50-$75.00

NYC/LA-based alt-pop group MisterWives is currently on a co-headlining Don’t Look Down Tour with multi-platinum singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs. Briggs released the music video on her latest single, “Baggage,” as well as her new EP When Everything Went Dark in June. We last caught her headlining in Minneapolis back in 2017.

MisterWives released their fourth studio album, Nosebleeds in July, the follow-up to 2020’s Superbloom. The new record is a heavier sound after enduring the loss of a bandmate during the pandemic and vocalist Mandy Lee’s divorce.

Russell Dickerson, KCLive!,$25-$75

The Country singer is out on his Big Wheels & Back Roads Tour and just signed with Range Media Partners’ Music Division. Since debuting in 2011, Dickerson’s first four singles have reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, with “Yours” and “Blue Tacoma” reaching triple and double-Platinum status, and “Love You Like I Used To” and “Every Little Thing” reaching Platinum.

Dickerson’s latest project, the summer-themed EP Three Months Two Streets Down, arrived in June and followed the late December release of single “God Gave Me a Girl,” another top 10 hit at country radio. Special Guest is Restless Road.

Jawny, recordBar, $22

The alt-indie singer songwriter back with new single “Boy Scout” via Interscope Records. The track infuses his sun-dazed alt-pop with psychedelia. “Boy Scout” is his first new song since the release of his debut album in March and a previous sold-out club tour.

Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, Homixide Gang, T-Mobile Center, RESCHEDULED to Feb 14, 2024

SUNDAY OCTOBER 1

Bob Dylan, The Midland, $52.50-$132.50

Age be damned, and on another “never-ending” tour, the legend is out on the next leg in support of album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. Dylan began his tour in November 2021. Along the way, he’s performed in North America, the UK, Europe, and Japan and plans to tour through 2024. Since first announcing the tour, Dylan has also released Shadow Kingdom and Fragments- Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17. 

Note: All your phones, smart watches, etc will be locked in bags for the performance.

Beyoncé (reschedule from Sept 18), GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, $50.50-$430.50.

The Queen cometh! (and you won’t break her soul!) - The Renaissance World Tour is her highest grossing tour to date, in support of her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022) and first outing since 2016. The 2 ½ hr. concert is split into six or seven acts, with Beyoncé performing the tracks of Renaissance in order, interspersed with songs from across her discography. The stage consists of a giant screen with a large "portal" in its center, and features sculptures, robotic arms and ultraviolet technology. Expect a visual spectacle, some experimentation, and maybe not every single one of the hits you were hoping to hear.

The Mission UK / Chameleons (re-scheduled date), recordBar, $36.81

Fans have been waiting for this Deja Vu Tour date for a long time, delayed by the pandemic and other circumstances, but looks like it’s finally on. The Mission UK, featuring founding members Wayne Hussey, Craig Adams (both of whom were both in Sisters of Mercy) and Simon Hinkler, haven’t toured North America in nearly a decade.

This tour also marks a reunion between The Chameleons frontman Mark Burgess and guitarist Reg Smithies, who haven’t toured together under the name since in nearly two decades. Opening is Theatre of Hate who are still led by Kirk Brandon. Unfortunately, there’s been no new Mission UK music since 2016, but the band’s current tour is a healthy mix of selections from its first five albums, starting with 1986’s God’s Own Medicine.

311 w AWOLNATION, Blame My Youth, Grinders KC, Sold Out

The rock/rap/funk band started in Omaha way back in 1990, and has been a local favorite ever since, so the sold-out show is no surprise. "We're super excited to get out on the road with AWOLNATION and BLAME MY YOUTH," shares singer Nick Hexum of this tour. "I'm a big fan of both of those bands and we're getting hit some towns we haven't played in a long while. Stoked!"

AWOLNATION’s latest is last year’s My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers, and Me (2022) and we caught them live most recently, outdoors in Minneapolis at the 2017 Basilica Block Party.

Satsang, Encore at Uptown, $18/ $75 VIP

The Montana soulful folk-rock/ hip hop toned artist considers himself rooted in change, growth, awareness and imperfection and is aka Drew McManus who has released five studio albums: 2016's 'The Story Of You', 2017's 'Pyramid(s)', 2019's 'Kulture', 2021's 'All. Right. Now.', and 2022's 'Flowers From The Fray'

MONDAY OCTOBER 2

Bob Dylan, The Midland, $52.50-$132.50 (see Oct 1 for info)

Cut Worms, w Ryder the Eagle, recordBar, $18.

DIY indie Cleveland-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter aka Max Clarke is out on tour in support of his new self-titled album (available on Jagjaguwar), a follow-up to his 2020 sophomore double-album Nobody Lives Here Anymore. He’s also an artist, having designed the cover of Greil Marcus’ book Folk Music: A Bob Dylan Biography in Seven Songs. We last saw him live in California at Desert Daze 2018, in between his support dates at the time, for King Tuff.

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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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! September 14-17, 2023 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More: Alice Cooper Rock icon Alice Cooper is bringing his incredibly live show to Mankato’s Vetter Stone Amphitheater this Friday, June 9th. We caught Cooper & Co earlier in December 2015 and said, “Alice Cooper shows …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

It’s still September (with thankfully cooler temps), but this weekend alone is so jammed with shows and events, it may as well be counted as part of Rocktober – we’ll waste no more time and get to the listings.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from September 14th-17th.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14

Indigenous, Knuckleheads, $17.50

A longtime upper Midwest Blues Rock band with front man, lead guitarist and vocalist Mato Nanji who has also been part of the Experience Hendrix Tour since 2002. He is also a big advocate for indigenous youth among other causes and this is the ideal KC venue for this band.

Beth Hart, Sept 14, Uptown, Postponed, Statement here: Sept. 2023 U.S. Tour To Be Rescheduled | Beth Hart

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15

Rob Zombie / Alice Cooper (feat Nita Strauss) w Ministry, Filter, Azura Amph,$39.50-$125

Rock’s greatest ghouls, Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper announced the 2023 Freaks on Parade Tour. Following a very successful run last summer, Zombie is at it again. This year he joins forces with the “godfather of Shock Rock” Alice Cooper who promises to bring his signature style of macabre rock.

Cooper has recently released 50^th anniversary vinyl editions of his classic albums, “Killer” and “School’s Out” (complete with replicas of the original inserts) and a CD/DVD live package called “Road”.

Rounding out this massive line-up are industrial pioneers Ministry and eclectic alternative rock act Filter, who not only played their first full show in nearby Lawrence, KS, but have a brand-new record just out called The Algorithm.

Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, recordBar, $40

At 68-years-young, the soul and R&B singer hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, born in 1955 (under real name Barry White, go figure) hits the road again.

Active from as far back as the 1970’s, he came to prominence in the following decades and has released a lengthy back-catalogue of LPs and singles, which are still hitting shelves to this day.

CupcakKe, The Madrid, $25-$50

Anyone that caught her upgraded previous area appearance at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, is probably still talking about that show. Aka Elizabeth Harris is a still-rising Chicago rapper, singer and songwriter. First earning attention after releasing her 2016 mixtape, she remains an indie artist. Not for the meek, expect some graphic lyrics and a promiscuous and sultry style which earned her most of her fame.

Great White / Slaughter, Kansas City Live!, $20-$70

Both bands emerged onto the rock scene in the 1980s. Great White is best known for the songs “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me.” Slaughter is best known for the songs “Fly To The Angels” and “Up All Night.”

Great White clocks in with over 10 million albums sold, six Top 100 Billboard hits, nine Top 200 Billboard albums, two platinum albums, and more. Ex-singer Jack Russell has his own version of the band, but the other originals still carry on- Mark Kendall (guitar), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards), Audie Desbrow (drums), Scott Snyder (bass), and new vocalist Brett Carlisle.

Dance Partners, Sept 15-16, JCCC Midwest Trust Center,$25+ ($5 students)

Audiences will delight as four new works premiere on the Yardley Hall stage. For the 10th festival of contemporary and modern dance, the Midwest Trust Center has enlisted four choreographers to create original works for four local dance companies to perform at the world premieres. Each new work will then be owned by the dance company for two years for use in their own programs. The first installment will be The Kansas City Ballet, working with Gina Patterson.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16

Charles Wesley Godwin, The Truman, $25-$50

The native of West Virginia makes cinematic country-folk that's as gorgeous and raw as his Appalachian homeland. With 2021's “How the Mighty Fall,” he trades the autobiographical lyrics that filled “Seneca” — his acclaimed debut, released in 2019 - for a collection of character-driven songs about mortality, hope, and regret, putting a spin on the universal concerns we all share.

John Mark McMillan, Encore at Uptown, $27

Tall Tales Tour: An Acoustic Night of Song and Story.

John Mark McMillan is something of an anomaly: an artist and Platinum-selling songwriter bending genres and defying categorization by carving out his own unique and independent path. With an ear for melody and an eye for metaphor, no topic has been off-limits. While each of his albums over the past decade have continued to explore new territory, it’s his ability to give lyric and language to the human experience that many consider his greatest gift.

Prof, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$30

We know him well from our Twin Cities base – the Minneapolis-based hip hop artist is bringing The Workhorse Tour to town. Known for his larger-than-life stage presence and wildly fun shows filled with plenty of crowd interaction.

In 2021, Prof released Live From Powderhorn Suites and last year he released a plethora of singles including “Devils Gate” ft. Kevin Gates, “Big Hungry Monster,” “Louisiana,” and “Vulnerable God.” Most recently, he released the single “Pack a Lunch” ft. Redman, ahead of his seventh studio album, Horse, out now on his own Stophouse Music Group.

Support From: Cashinova, J. Plaza, Willie Wonka, C Dot Castro

Juicy J, T-Mobile Center, $60-$200

Puff, puff, pass- Introducing the Second Annual Major Cannabis Expo to be held at T-Mobile Center. The expo takes place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. followed by an after-party with live performances. Doors to the after-party concert open at 7 p.m. and the concert featuring Juicy-J starts at 8 p.m. Support from That Mexican OT, Dwalk, KC Young Boss, Roblo Dabstar.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Knuckleheads, SOLD OUT (see below for 2nd show)

Travis Tritt, Ameristar Casino, $70-$88

Tritt has amassed more than 30 million in career album sales, two GRAMMY® Awards, four CMA Awards, a Billboard Music Award, is a member of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, and much more.

Among his eleven studio albums and numerous charted singles are five number ones and 20 Top 10 hits, including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” “Can I Trust You with My Heart,” “Foolish Pride,” “Best of Intentions,” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” “Here’s A Quarter,” “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive.”

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17

Dave Chappelle (comedy), T-Mobile Center,$59.50-$249.50

The veteran comedian has announced the dates for a fall stand-up comedy tour, titled “Dave Chappelle Live,” and is playing the T-Mobile Center in KC for the first time.

Chappelle has been a controversial figure following his 2021 Netflix special “The Closer,” in which he made jokes about transgender people, leading to company walkouts and protests last October.

Look for a pull-no-punches set that is observational humor on common and taboo subjects, and don’t expect phone use in the arena, as he usually requires those to be locked up in secure bags to prevent selfies, piracy and distractions.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Knuckleheads, $25 (outdoors)

One of Willie Nelson’s sons and his band has very much come into his own, after backing Neil Young and others for so long, while cultivating their own career and recordings. The latest is Sticks and Stones (on Thirty Tigers Records), which came out in July and the follow up to A Few Stars Apart, but fans know the live element is where the band really shines.

Corey Feldman, Sept 17, Lemonade Park,$31.16

Actor/musician and “Lost Boy” Corey Feldman is hitting the road again. This will be Feldman’s final round of US dates on his LOVE ReTours (tour) before taking his successful live show overseas for the very first time. Corey and his band, which includes his wife Courtney and actor/musician Bentley Mitchum, will be playing even bigger and better venues than last time and the tour is aptly titled LOVE ReTours 23.

Fans can expect to hear music from Corey’s latest album “Love Left 2: Arm Me With Love” along with favorites such as “Go 4 It” and “Ascension Millennium”. As always, Corey and his band will also play songs from the soundtracks of his classic films.

Bright Light Social Hour, Encore at Uptown, $18

The Austin, TX-based indie psychedelic band kick off spring with new single “Not New” ahead of their new and fourth album, Emergency Leisure, out last month via Escondido Sound.

Founded by Jackie O’Brien (bass/vocals) and Curtis Roush (guitar/vocals) – and newly joined by Mia Carruthers (keys/vocals), Zac Catanzaro (drums) and Juan Alfredo Ríos (percussion) – the band’s sound melds Texas trippiness with irresistible disco-punk groove.

Peelander-Z, Dog Party, The Nature Boys, recordBar, $23.23

Our E-I-C writes:” Our favorite Japanese superhero band is back in town to celebrate their 25th Anniversary of the band. They’re calling it “P-Party! Z-Party!”.

If you’ve never seen a Peelander-Z show, do yourself a favor and check them out. They are one of the most interesting looking and creative bands you’ll ever see. And when you’re at the show, I can guarantee you that you’ll be singing (and possibly playing pots or drums) with the band.”

Cyrano de Bergerac, KC Rep (Spencer Theatre), Through Sept 24, $35-$79

Ongoing- see our write up of the production here: Cyrano de Bergerac (KC Rep) at Spencer Theatre (UMKC), Kansas City MO Sept 5-24, 2023 - W♥M (typepad.com)

Opening their 60^th Anniversary season with a bang (and Asian-featured cast/director!), the classic love triangle tale of a genius with language, Cyrano secretly loves the radiant Roxane, but she loves the beautiful-but-inarticulate Christian. Convinced of his own ugliness, Cyrano offers to act as go-between, setting in motion a poignant and hilarious love triangle in which each character is torn between the lure of physical attraction and the seductive power of words.

Written by Edmond Rostand and freely adapted by Martin Crimp, direction is provided by Associate Artistic Director Nelson T. Eusebio III, and runs 2hr 15min, with an intermission. The production features smoke, haze, and strobe lights, simulations of war with swords, prop guns, and sounds of war with strong language. For ages 14 and up.

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! August 24-31, 2023 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More: Cannons We’re loving everything we’ve heard from Cannons, whose hit single, “Bad Dream”, has been followed by by a digital-only cover album earlier this year.

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Uh-oh, some recent cooler mornings (after the July/August record heat) means it’s all winding down--

Summer is too-quickly coming to an end, as back to school has started for almost all (area colleges return Monday), but the Fall usually means a last blast of concert activity, before the slower holiday season. You’d think it was already Rocktober, instead of late August, as KC has had a ton of shows lately, with a schedule that stays pretty busy through mid-November, so buckle up and go see live music!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from August 24th to 31st.

THURSDAY AUGUST 24

Craig Ferguson (comedy) Aug 24, Uptown, $59-$352

The Scottish former host of The Late Late Show (whose hosting stint on CBS lasted a decade) is a multiple Grammy-nominated, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian. We first saw him in America in 1995 with Betty White and Marie Osmond in the short-lived ABC comedy, “Maybe This Time.” After the show ended, ABC decided to add him to “The Drew Carey Show,” playing Carey’s boss, ‘Nigel Wick,’ from 1996-2003.

Among his many screen credits, he also voices Gobber in the successful How To Train Your Dragon movies, and all along, he’s kept his stand-up comedy career, as time has allowed. In 2006, Ferguson released his first novel, Between the Bridge and the River, which made it onto the bestseller list, and in 2008, Ferguson succeeded in becoming a US Citizen.

FRIDAY AUGUST 25

The Black Keys, August 25, Starlight, $35-$199.50

The blues-rock duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney is back, touring on their 11th studio album, “Dropout Boogie" (released last May) with a follow-up to last season’s 32-date North American run and European to end on, last year. New songs and past favorites like “Howlin’ for You,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Gold on the Ceiling” have been featured, as well as a deep cut or two, and covers from influences Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside.

The acclaimed album was nominated for 2023 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance for the album track “Wild Child.” Dan Auerbach was also nominated last year for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for his work on this and other albums.

Denver alt rock trio The Velveteers (singer-guitarist Demi Demitro / drummers Baby Pottersmith and Jonny Fig) slated to open in support of Nightmare Daydream, on Easy Eye Sound, Auerbach’s label.

Weyes Blood, August 25, The Truman, $25-$50

Aka Natalie Mering is taking her glowing heart to more cities, in support of And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow, her album from last year. This new string of headlining dates is taking place in between her opening support slot on the Beck/ Phoenix co-headlining tour. Mering will make her way to the West Coast in September, play a show at Red Rocks with The Strokes and then return to Europe in October for even more touring.

SATURDAY AUGUST 26

Jelly Roll w Ashley McBryde, Struggle Jennings, Josh Adam Meyers, Aug 26, T-Mobile Center, SOLD OUT

The big man sold it out! Arguably, the sensation of 2023, the rapper/Country artist is taking his genre-blending sound is out on his Backroad Baptism Tour, which kicked off on July 28 in Mississippi, and is selling out most arenas along the way. After a previous seasoned discography, he broke out last year with radio hit, ‘Need A Favor’ then continued this momentum into 2023, earning his first ever Country Radio No. 1 in January with his hit, ‘Son of a Sinner’.

The tour's name is a nod to Jelly Roll's journey of redemption through music, after the artist's struggles with addiction and his former life as a drug dealer, and he even recently visited a group of incarcerated inmates, after seeing them singing his songs on TikTok.

A bevy of great acts anchors this bill, including six-time Grammy-nominated Arkansas singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde, whose fourth record The Devil I Know, is set to release on September 8^th and she’s a recent Grand Old Opry inductee as well. Comedian Josh Adam Meyers is set to host.

KC Dance Day, Aug 26, Blender Center, Free!

Join Kansas City Ballet for KC Dance Day, the 13th annual celebration of dance and movement featuring dance performances, and dance and fitness classes.

Choose from more than 20 free dance and movement classes at the Kansas City Ballet School, available for children ages 2-7 in Dance with Me, Creative Movement, Ballet, and Boys Ballet and for ages 8-11 in Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop. Free classes for adults ages 12 and up include Be Moved, DANCEFIX, Ballet, Yoga, Hip Hop, Jazz, Flamenco, and Contemporary. Preregistration for free classes is available online and encouraged.

Lunch will be available from 11:30a-2:00p served by Two Guys and a Grill. Choose from a hamburger, hot dog, veggie burger, or chicken breast, with chips and bottled water for $10 per.  Info/ registration: KC Dance Day - KC Ballet - August 26, 2023 - Free!

Taking Back Sunday, August 26, KCLive!, $25-$65

This past June, the Long Island band returned with “The One,” their first new song in four years, then in July, they participated in the “Sad Summer Festival” tour with The Maine, Mom Jeans, and more. That tour has wrapped, but the band still has some remaining live dates in 2023, including this downtown KC show. They also recently went back to their roots, playing a Long Island house show and delivering a surprise set, but don’t expect anything quite that intimate.

Avett Bros, Old 97's, Turnpike Troubadours, Aug 26, Azura Amph, $24-$191

Hot on the heels of brand-new album, A Cat in the Rain (featuring new single, “Mean Old Sun”) being released only the day before, the Oklahoma band will play outdoors in the KC West suburbs on a tour that started only days ago in Lincoln, NE and includes a residency at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, TX.

“I have that same adrenaline rush again,” Evan Felker, the band’s singer / primary songwriter, tells Rolling Stone. “Waiting around to put this album out, and getting to share it with other people. I would miss that if I weren’t still doing it. I would miss making something, because I can’t make anything else at this level.”

The lineup is stacked with two other great live acts, so arrive well-prepared for a full musical evening.

Kamelot with Battle Beast and Xandria, Aug. 26, The Truman. $35

The modern heavy symphonic metal leaders have announced their 2023 "Awaken The World" North American Tour, featuring special guests, Finland’s acclaimed BATTLE BEAST and additional support from Xandria.

Guitarist Thomas Youngblood says,"We are beyond excited to return to North America for the 'Awaken The World' tour! We just returned from four weeks in Europe to packed houses, so we cannot wait to play new songs and the new set to the KAMELOT Nation U.S. and Canada. See you all at the shows!"

Saving Abel, Tiblow Days- Centennial Park, Bonner Springs - Free! 

A late addition, as we just spotted this; band is on stage about 9:30pm, Heritage Festival Info here: 

Tiblow Days — Bonner Springs Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce (bsedwchamber.org)

SUNDAY AUGUST 27

Corey Taylor (Slipknot) w Wargasm, Oxymorrons, Uptown, $39.50-$97

The Slipknot front man has been busy, as usual, now prepping for the release of his forthcoming second solo album, CMF2, and dropped its lead single "Beyond." The album's out September 15th, and Taylor is out on a 28-day U.S. tour (just started Aug 25 in Denver), featuring support from nu-metal revivalists Wargasm and rap group Oxymorrons.

Goo Goo Dolls w O.A.R., Aug 27, Starlight, $29.50-$169.50

The longtime New York rock band is out in support of their 2022 album, Chaos in Bloom and partnering with O.A.R. on The Big Night Out Summer Tour, which hits more than 30 amphitheaters in cities over the course of three months. The tour launched on July 24 in Tampa and wraps on Sept. 7 with a solo Goo Goo Dolls show in Highland, CA, so this KC date is just past the middle.

“I’m so proud to finally be able to announce our summer tour with a great band and our friends O.A.R.,” Dolls co-founder Johnny Rzeznik said in a press statement. “It’s going to be an amazing night of great music for everyone so BE THERE!!!”

A portion from tickets sold will benefit the Safe At Home Foundation. The organization was founded by former MLB player/manager Joe Torre to provide healing services and education to young people who have been exposed to domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault to “empower them to live healthy lives free of violence,” according to the Foundation’s mission statement.

MONDAY AUGUST 28

TUESDAY AUGUST 29

The Chicks w Ben Harper, Aug 29, T-Mobile Center, $39.50-$139.50

After nearly 14 years, The Chicks released their fifth studio album GASLIGHTER to acclaimed reviews in July 2020 (via Columbia Records), co-produced by award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, Jack Antonoff (who doesn't he produce?!) ...but then, the pandemic (during which time they also shortened their name).

The biggest-selling U.S. female band of all time, The Chicks have sold more than 30.5 million albums and the only female group to achieve multiple “Diamond” selling (10+ million copies) releases. Counting 13 GRAMMY® Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and numerous CMA Awards are among many other accolades.

Illness on the road has caused several recent postponements, but seems like they're past that, and arrive early for singer-songwriter Ben Harper, out in support of last year's Bloodline Maintenance and the just-released 17^th full-length, Wide Open Light.

Come From Away (musical) Aug 29-Sept 3, Starlight, POSTPONED

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30

Mastodon w Gojira, Lorna Shore, Aug 30, Azura Amph, $45-$49.50 (all GA)

Dubbed the Mega-Monsters Tour, buckle your seatbelts for this heavy one!

Mastodon released their latest and eighth album, Hushed and Grim, back in 2021. Before that, the Atlanta-based sludge metal band also dropped the compilation Medium Rarities. As for French avant-metal group Gojira, their newest album also came out in 2021, Fortitude. It was the follow-up to their 2016 full-length, Magma. New Jersey deathcore band Lorna Shore released Pain Remains last October.

Zach Bryan, Aug. 30, T-Mobile Center. Sold Out

The Country sensation’s headlining Burn Burn Burn American Tour might be considered a slight against Ticketmaster, as he’s stayed clear of the ticketing giant, in hopes of a fairer shake for fans acquiring his very in-demand tickets for a reasonable rate.

“I’ve tried my best to make tickets as affordable as possible for the Burn Burn Burn Tour,” Bryan said in a The Office-inspired (with Kevin cameo!) video making the announcement, using mostly Fair AXS as his preferred outlet which only allows resale at face value. Spanning 28 dates, the Burn Burn Burn Tour started in May in Virginia and wraps with this Kansas City show.

Arrive early for two fine Midwest openers, the pride of Duluth, MN - Trampled by Turtles, who we've come to know very well from our Twin Cities base (we really miss their Palomino Festival which ran for several years at Canterbury Park) whose latest full-length is last October's "Alpenglow" (on BanjoDad Records) and Tulsa Country folk singer-songwriter JR Carroll, out in support of 2022's "Raging in the Dark".

Cannons with New Constellations and Jane Leo, Aug. 30, The Truman. $25-$50

We were all-in on this Los Angeles dream/electro-pop trio (Michelle Joy- vocals; Ryan Clapham- lead guitar; Paul Davis- drums keys) when we first saw them live in 2021 and again in 2022, so grab tix to this return engagement, while you still can! We toldja they would be big!

Their three albums- Night Drive [2017], Shadows [2019], and Fever Dream [2022] have shown a true musical growth, and the group has exponentially grown in popularity along the way. Breakout single “Fire For You” reached RIAA Gold, some 250mil. streams, topped Alternative Radio, and landed on the likes of NETFLIX’s Never Have I Ever, American Horror Story, and more. New single is the sunny, sassy, and sexy funkified strut of “Loving You”, signaling much more to come.

Portland indie duo New Constellations have a debut EP out, and Austin TX’s Jane Leo is actually a dark pop, neon noir duo of Leopold and His Fiction and Jane Ellen Bryant.

THURSDAY AUGUST 31

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Asian Invasion at the Varsity Theater

Read more Asian Invasion.

09/06 Boris and Melvins at Varsity Theater Read More Boris Lauren talked about working on the song, “I’ve been a long-time fan of Boris's work and ‘New Album’ has been particularly influential on my musical style. When this came up, Atsuo from the band proposed I … The Melvins Second to play Sunday night was The Melvins. These guys have a huge following in Minneapolis. I truly thought they were from here but apparently that's not true ...

Boris
borisheavyrocks.com

Experimental Japanese band Boris is teaming up with American rock band Melvins for a co-headlining tour. The tour will find their way to the Varsity Theater this September 6th.

Boris (12 Aug 2014)

We saw Boris in Aug 2014 and wrote, “It's hard for someone like me trying to describe Boris to you. While most people will put them into the drone category, when you see them live, they go beyond that. From experimental to a little sludge to metal to shoegaze ... and unexpectedly even a little pop rock!”

Boris + Melvins, on tour:

August 24 Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater
August 25 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
August 26 Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s
August 27 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
August 28 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
August 29 Petaluma, CA @ Mystic Theatre
August 31 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
September 1 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
September 2 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
September 3 Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
September 5 Fargo, ND @ The Hall at Fargo Brewing
September 6 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
September 7 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
September 8 Chicago, IL @ The Metro
September 9 St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag
September 11 Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
September 12 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
September 13 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
September 14 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
September 15 Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian
September 16 Maspeth, NY @ DesertFest NYC
September 18 Albany, NY @ Empire Live
September 19 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
September 20 Bethlehem, PA @ MusicFest Cafe
September 21 Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
September 22 Washington, DC @ The Howard Theatre
September 23 Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27
September 24 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
September 26 Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
September 27 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
September 28 Savannah, GA @ District Live
September 29 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
September 30 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s
October 2 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live - Studio
October 3 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
October 4 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 5 Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall
October 6 Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
October 7 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
October 9 Denver, CO @ Summit
October 11 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
October 13 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
October 14 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

12/08 Atsuko Okatsuka at the Varsity Theater

Atsuko Okatsuka
atsukocomedy.com

American (of Taiwanese decent) stand-up comedian/actress Atsuko Okatsuka is on her “Full Grown Tour” this year. She will be stopping by the Varsity Theater on December 8th. The show sold so well that they’ve added an additional show.

Tour dates:

Sep 15 Vancouver, BC, Canada Vogue Theatre
Sep 15 Vancouver, BC, Canada Vogue Theatre
Sep 16 Outdoor Portland, OR, US Aladdin Theater
Sep 16 Outdoor Portland, OR, US Aladdin Theater
Oct 5 Seattle, WA, US Moore Theatre
Oct 6 Seattle, WA, US Neptune Theatre
Oct 6 Seattle, WA, US Neptune Theatre
Oct 20 Toronto, ON, Canada Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Oct 20 Toronto, ON, Canada Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Oct 21 Washington, DC, US Lincoln Theatre
Oct 21 Washington, DC, US Lincoln Theatre
Nov 10 Boston, MA, US Wilbur Theatre
Nov 10 Boston, MA, US Wilbur Theatre
Nov 11 New York (NYC), NY, US Town Hall
Dec 8 Minneapolis, MN, US Varsity Theater
Dec 8 Minneapolis, MN, US Varsity Theater
Dec 9 Milwaukee, WI, US Turner Hall Ballroom
Jan 11 2024 San Francisco, CA, US Palace of Fine Arts
Jan 12 2024 San Francisco, CA, US Palace of Fine Arts
Jan 12 2024 San Francisco, CA, US Palace of Fine Arts
Jan 13 2024 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US Wilshire Ebell Theatre
Jan 14 2024 Los Angeles (LA), CA, US The Wiltern

08/06 Band-Maid at the Varsity Theater

Band-Maid
bandmaid.tokyo

Five-piece Japanese rock band Band-Maid is on their 2023 10th Anniversary Tour. The tour will find its way to the Varsity Theater on August 6th.

Tour Dates:

Aug 3 Chicago, IL, US Park West
Aug 6 Minneapolis, MN, US Varsity Theater
Aug 8 Denver, CO, US Summit Music Hall
Aug 9 Salt Lake City, UT, US The Depot
Aug 11 Portland, OR, US McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Aug 12 Spokane, WA, US Bing Crosby Theater
Aug 14 Sacramento, CA, US Ace of Spades
Aug 15 Anaheim, CA, US House of Blues - Old Location
Aug 18 Mexico City, Mexico Pabellón del Palacio de los Deportes

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! June 22-30, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More: The Head And The Heart Seattle's The Head and the Heart just stopped by First Avenue, in Minneapolis, as part of their national tour in support of Let's Be Still.

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Already the end of June and the holiday weekend of the 4^th is close on the horizon (as is the summer heat!).

As we take a look at the last ten days of the month, there are some good shows, but also a few gaps in the week, probably giving you a deserved night off of rest, if you hit one of the many metro festivals the previous weekend.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/ Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from June 22nd-30th.

THURSDAY JUNE 22

Dwight Yoakam w Aaron Lewis (Staind), Azura Amph, $39-$199

Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. 12 gold albums and 9 platinum / multi-platinum albums, and 14 Billboard Top 10 singles, and oh, he acts pretty well too. We could go on but know he’s a classic artist that everyone should see at least once, despite the fact that he has not released any albums since 2016.

As the front man of hard rock vets Staind, the band built up a big name, but like Darius Rucker and others, band leader Aaron Lewis has managed to re-invent himself as a solo Country artist. Having recorded with George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Charlie Daniels, Lewis has put a traditionalist brand on his outlier country. His latest album, Frayed At Both Ends, offers the 15-million-selling workingman’s star at his most personal and unplugged.

Tyler Hubbard, KCLive!, $30-$80

Speaking of re-inventing, formerly half of Florida Georgia Line, Tyler Hubbard has topped the country charts
for the second time solo, taking “Dancin’ In The Country” to No. 1 as a single from his first solo and self-titled album. Its debut hit single, “5 Foot 9,” was released back in May 2022. Live, expect a couple of the duo’s big hits, including their collab with Bebe Rexha.

 FRIDAY JUNE 23

iMom So Hard (comedy), Liberty Hall-Lawrence, $45-$180

Beginning as a popular web-series by real-life best friends, comedians, and moms Kristin and Jen, it                    sparked an online community of 2 million followers. The phenomenon created by Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley has since been in development by WB TV, they’ve sold-out two national tours, written an autobiographical book and children’s book, began a podcast, and taped a standup special for Amazon Prime Video.

Jon McReynolds, Madrid Theatre, - RESCHEDULED to April 3, 2024

SATURDAY JUNE 24

Fall Out Boy w Alkaline Trio, The Royal and the Serpent, Daisy Garage, Azura Amph, $46-$326.

Even if you did see them live at the recent NFL Draft, that was only a forty-minute live set, a mere appetizer for their full musical buffet! Fall Out Boy are back on the road, in support of the new album So Much (for) Stardust and as we saw in April, founding guitarist Joe Trohman has returned to the fold, to round out the full lineup. So Much (for) Stardust follows the 2018 album Mania. The new LP was released in late March and features the singles “Love From the Other Side” and “Heartbreak Feels So Good.” Three supporting acts make it an early start and full evening of tunes.

SUNDAY JUNE 25

MONDAY JUNE 26

TUESDAY JUNE 27

Dirty Heads w Yelawolf, G Love, Tropodelic, GrindersKC, SOLD OUT

The SoCal-based reggae-rock band is out on their eight-week Island Glow Tour 2023 and managed to sell out this outdoor show. Dirty Heads, who celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2023 and recently released the new single “Rescue Me,” will have Yelawolf (we caught him as part of Go Fest ‘15 in Minneapolis) serve as direct support for the start of the trek. We caught opener G Love just last Fall in Lawrence and the hippie headliners back in 2015 live as well

Alesana, recordBar. $27

Alesana have announced another album-centric tour, this time focusing on their 2011 effort, “A Place Where The Sun Is Silent “. That outing marked the second entry in the band’s ‘Annabel Trilogy’. This tour is the second in their trilogy of live runs celebrating the albums in that trilogy. Expect to find the Raleigh, NC post-hardcore band performing the album in its entirety on a nightly basis.

Vocalist Shawn Milke commented: "On the heels of the incredible fun we had last year playing The Emptiness, we are excited to announce The Trilogy Tour Part II. This time around we will be playing A Place Where The Sun Is Silent from front to back, which means there will be several songs that we have never before performed live hitting the stage for the first time ever.

Support on the run will come from LIMBS, Vampires Everywhere! and Across The White Water Tower.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 28

Free State Festival: An Evening with Boots Riley- Liberty Hall-Lawrence, $22

Join a moderated conversation with the filmmaker, activist, screenwriter, producer, poet, rapper, and speaker. Boots Riley is the founding member and lead vocalist of The Coup and Street Sweeper Social Club featuring Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine on guitar. A community-based activist, Boots was involved with the Occupy Oakland movement and was one of the leaders of the activist group The Young Comrades. He is the author of the critically acclaimed collection of essays “Tell Homeland Security-We Are the Bomb.” His directorial debut Sorry to Bother You premiered to strong critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. Preshow passholder reception at Sunflower Bike Shop (804 Mass St.)

THURSDAY JUNE 29

Righteous Brothers, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo The Righteous Brothers topped the charts for four decades. Now, Bill Medley joins forces with one of the most versatile vocalists in America, Bucky Heard, to continue the long tradition featuring a string of their biggest hits, including “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”, “Soul & Inspiration,” “Unchained Melody,” “Rock and Roll Heaven,” Medley’s Dirty Dancing theme “The Time of My Life”, and more.

Hailey Whitters, KCLive!, Free!

The rising Country artist is on tour to celebrate her latest album “Raised,” which is based on the singer- songwriter’s experiences growing up in a small town in Iowa and was released last March.

Originally from Shueyville, IA, Whitters has been performing live since she was 26 and for the last 16 years, she has pursued music in Nashville. “Raised” is her fourth album and her first to reach the Billboard charts. Whitters was also nominated for a Grammy award last year for Song of the Year with “A Beautiful Noise.”

FRIDAY JUNE 30

The Head and the Heart w The Revivalists, Jamie Wyatt, Starlight, $31.50-$127

The Revivalists have mapped out a 2023 North American co-headlining tour with The Head and the Heart in support of their new album, Pour It Out Into the Night which was just released on June 2nd via Concord Records and features the lead single, “Kid”. It marks the follow-up to 2018’s Take Good Care. In 2020, they released their Made in Muscle Shoals Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 Eps.

Our favorites, The Head And The Heart initially announced that former founding band member Josiah Johnson was returning to the fold leading up to their June 29 Red Rocks show, but Johnson regretfully posted last week that was no longer the case, and he was bowing out.  But Charity Thielen and piano player Kenny Hensley will be sharing the same stage together since some 2019 absences, so that's something, and we hope we see them all back together in Kansas City, as it’s the first night of the co-headlining run. We saw them live last October, with 2022’s Every Shade of Blue still being their latest full-length album.

Nashville (via Santa Monica) New West Records Americana singer-songwriter Jamie Wyatt to open.

The Ongoing Concept w/Bloodlines, Lightworker, Tundra, The Rino, $15

The Idaho post hardcore metal band has returned with fourth album Again, which was released March 31 via Solid State Records and features lead single, “Feel Again”. Not only is this the first taste of new music from the band since 2017, but it also marks the return of the original lineup.

Guitarist/Vocalist Dawson Scholz shared the following: “Feel Again' was the first song we started writing and ended up taking the longest to finish. We were all rusty from not writing together in years, and this song really brought us all back and jump-started our creative flow. There was a lot of growing up and healing that happened between the time the original guys left and when they returned, and this song really showcases that, lyrically. It really brought us all closer and showed us all how much we have matured over the years and how much we missed creating art through our music.”

Three support acts made this a full night of rawk!

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! May 2-8, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Topeka / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Robert Plant The English musician best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Led Zeppelin, will be headlining the Orpheum Theatre. Billed as Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters, .… …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Mayday, Mayday!

The alert is that May is here, signaling the beginning (as evidenced by last weekend’s NFL Draft concerts and Kelce Jam) of outdoor concert season and a summer jam-packed with shows. Starlight takes the lead with a stellar upcoming show from Robert Plant / Alison Krauss, there’s a couple arena shows this week, and Knuckleheads looks as busy as usual.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from May 2nd-May 8th.

TUESDAY MAY 2

Janet Jackson w Ludacris, T-Mobile Center, $39.95-$499.95

The five-time GRAMMY®️ Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame®️ Inductee has returned to the road after four years with her ninth concert tour, “Together Again.” The tour will offer the long-awaited chance to reunite with Jackson in celebration of her 50th anniversary in entertainment and spotlight the milestones for two of Jackson's most critically acclaimed albums- 25 years of "The Velvet Rope", and 30 years of "janet."plus other mega hits, so expect some three-dozen classics during the evening.

3x-Grammy Award winning recording artist and Fast & Furious actor, Ludacris will open.

Skinny Puppy w Lead into Gold, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, $38.50-$174

The Canadian industrial icons are celebrating their 40th anniversary and are doing so by announcing what they're calling their "Final Tour." “It’s been eight long years since we’ve toured and there is no better way to end our run as a group than with a tour celebrating our 40th anniversary,” stated the band in a press release. “To our West Coast fans, don’t worry! We’ll see you soon!”

2013’s Weapon is the most recent LP in Skinny Puppy’s long discography.

Foreigner w Cage Willis, Stormont Vail Events Center- Topeka, $49.50-$120

The band, formed in1976 by British guitarist Mick Jones, is out on its Farewell Tour which runs through the end of 2024 and Topeka gets one of the early dates. Foreigner has released nine studio albums and sold more than 50 million records worldwide. They have had nine top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including rock radio staples such as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent” and the power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Jones, the last original member still active, has become something of a special guest at the band’s concerts, not attending every show due to health reasons and playing only during the latter portion of the set. Singer Kelly Hansen as been lead vocalist since joining in 2005.

Southern rock artist Cage Willis has his debut album Who I Am just out, featuring singles “Hallucinate” and “Way Out Here” and was produced by songwriter Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry

Les Miserables, May 2-7, Music Hall, $36-$126

Seen by over 130 million people in 53 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Miz is as popular as ever! Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon.

Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells a story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The score includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House” and many more.

WEDNESDAY MAY 3

John Butler, The Folly, $40-$58.50

(Note: Knuckleheads Presents the show, but it is at The Folly)

One of Australia’s premiere indie alternative songwriter/ storytellers, Butler’s most recent studio album, 2018’s ‘HOME’, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts and a Live in Paris release just came out, from John Butler Trio.

moe., The Truman. $30-$60

The longtime jam band (Al Schnier (guitars, vocals) * Chuck Garvey (guitars, vocals) * Rob Derhak (bass, vocals) * Jim Loughlin (percussion, vibes) * Vinnie Amico (drums) first formed at the Univ of Buffalo back in 1990. 2020's THIS IS NOT, WE ARE is the band's 12th studio album and first since 2014.

 

THURSDAY MAY 4

Dragon Inn 3, Blip Roasters, Free! (more info here)

KC-based indie pop/synth band Dragon Inn 3- led by Phil Dickey, co-founder of indie-pop band Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin just released their sophomore album Trade Secrets on American Laundromat Records. The idea behind the foursome (Grace Bentley- vocals. Philip Dickey- synths, drums, guitar, bass, vocals. Sharon Hamm- synths. David Hill- synths) began as more of an experiment a decade ago by Dickey, running concurrently with SSLYBY (who we last caught live back in Minneapolis in 2013 and also in Brooklyn in 2009).

Their synth-driven sounds were polished and defined on their 2018 debut, Double Line, with the band mostly hunkered down (like most of us) as the pandemic years passed. For Kansas City fans, they’ve finally returned to the live stage, with Phil and Grace playing a special acoustic show in the Crossroads district, to showcase the new songs and play some old favorites.

Daniel Rodriguez, Knuckleheads, $20

The Colorado singer-songwriter is still out in support of his third studio album, Vast Nothing and we caught him live, opening an all-Colorado lineup featuring The Lumineers last summer. He is also a founding member of Elephant Revival and wrote some of their most well-known songs before they disbanded in 2018.

Brooks and Dunn w Scottie McCreery, T-Mobile Center,$24.75-$164.75

Country’s most-awarded duo pull on their cowboy boots once again to continue their Reboot Tour which first launched in 2021. The tour is named after the duo's 2019 collaboration album "Reboot," which includes the pair singing with artists including Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Cody Johnson and Jon Pardi.

Orianthi, Knuckleheads,$32.50-$50

The platinum-selling artist and one of the best rock guitarists today, is out supporting studio album, “Rock Candy” which came out last October. and is described as a hard rockin’, blues tinged, display of Orianthi’s guitar playing and soulful vocals. She’s played with the likes of Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Carrie Underwood, Alice Cooper, ahem...Ritchie Sambora, and lately Tracii Guns,

FRIDAY MAY 5

Air Supply, Ameristar Casino, $68-$240

The Aussie soft rock duo started all the way back in 1975 in Melbourne and is still going today – America seems never "All out of Love" to hear their songs. In addition to their own classic hits, they’ve been working in their version of Nilsson’s “Without You” into their encores.

Against the Current w Trophy Eyes, Yours Truly, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$28

The NY-based pop-punk trio dropped their new single, “good guy.” which vocalist Chrissy Costanza describes the track as “all about going from anger to apathy, recognizing that this person that hurt you is too sad to hate,” urging listeners to “don’t ignore the red flags, trust your gut.”

The band’s career spans over a decade, forming in 2011 before releasing their debut studio album, In Our Bones, in 2016, followed by 2018’s Past Lives, and have also released several EPs.

Robert Plant / Alison Krauss, Starlight, $37-$175

The legendary Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and bluegrass innovator and 27-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss have finally reunited again on their Raising the Roof Tour. More than 15 years after their initial critically acclaimed and award-sweeping collaboration, Plant and Krauss are now touring in support of their most recent album, "Raise the Roof," released last November.

It's their first LP together since their 2007 collaboration, "Raising Sand." Plant and Krauss have included songs from both albums in their new sets as well as their unique versions of Zeppelin/ Page Plant songs "The Battle of Evermore," "Rock and Roll," and "Please Read the Letter." Expect other covers from the likes of Calexico, The Everly Brothers, and Allen Toussaint. We caught Plant solo in Minneapolis in 2018, and think the magical combination of these two, outdoors under the stars, will undoubtedly make for a memorable show.

JD McPherson to open, who we saw solo at the MN State Fair back in 2017, and who is also a part of the headlining band.  

Eddie Griffin,(comedian Uptown. $39.50-$122

The hometown comedian returns with a brand new hilarious show. Born in Kansas City, by the young age of 16, he opened his own dance studio and was choreographing the Kansas City Chiefs halftime shows, but his career would later lead down the comedy path and also into acting.

Amythyst Kiah, Knuckleheads, $17.50

The Chattanooga, TN singer/songwriter is making waves with her Rounder Records debut, Wary + Strange, after earning a Grammy Award nomination for Best American Roots Song and winning Song of the Year at the 2019 Folk Alliance International Awards (in Kansas City). “For anyone who’s struggled with grief or trauma or felt left out and weird and like they didn’t belong, I hope this album lets them know that they’re not alone in that feeling,” says Kiah.

SATURDAY MAY 6

Knuckle Puck & Real Friends w Between You and Me, The Truman, $28-$30

Knuckle Puck formed in 2010 in the suburbs of Chicago releasing several EPs, one of which, While I Stay Secluded, peaked at 5 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. The band announced last Fall that they had signed with Pure Noise Records and released a new single “Groundhog Day.” Their upcoming 4th LP will release in 2024. We caught them live last, back in 2015 in Minneapolis.

49 Winchester with The Weathered Souls, Knuckleheads. $20

With its latest and fourth album, “Fortune Favors The Bold,” (their debut for Nashville’s New West Records) the VA-based band is ready to break onto the national scene with its unique brand alt-country, barroom floor rock-n-roll, and high-octane Appalachian folk.

Formed eight years ago in the small mountain town of Castlewood, VA, the band started as a rag tag bunch of area teenagers who just wanted to get together for the sake of playing together but are now making a larger impact.

Black Dahlia Murder w/ Terror, Frozen Soul, Fuming Mouth, and Phobophilic, Granada-Lawrence,$25

The rockers are back out on their first tour since the tragic death at age 41 of lead vocalist Trevor Strnad, with guitarist Brian Eschbach since taking over on lead vocals. They’re remembering how one of Trevor's roles was uplifting young and new bands, and how they plan to do their best to continue to do this. This tour includes three of the most promising newer metal and/or hardcore bands around (Frozen Soul, Fuming Mouth, and Phobophilic), along with hardcore vets Terror.

Sondheim on Sondheim, May 6-7, Kauffman Center, $33.50-$139.50

Sondheim on Sondheim is an intimate portrait of the famed songwriter through his beloved songs and words. With exclusive interviews interspersed among favorite songs, audiences get an inside look at the renowned composer’s personal life and artistic process. Honoring the legacy of Stephen Sondheim, who passed away in November 2021, this production features various vocal stylists accompanied by the Kansas City Symphony. 

SUNDAY MAY 7

Built to Spill w Prism Bitch, Itchy Kitty (rescheduled), Madrid Theatre, $35-$59.50

The longtime alternative Boise, ID group is back on tour behind new album When the Wind Forgets Your Name. We caught the band last in Georgia back in 2016. The live band throughout the tour will be comprised of Doug Martsch, bassist Melanie Radford, and drummer Teresa Esguerra. With two interesting openers, it’s a full night of entertainment.

MONDAY MAY 8

nada

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! April 26-May 1, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Mötley Crüe All the original members of glam "hair" metal band Mötley Crüe are back with an all-original studio album, Saints of Los Angeles. The album is out today …

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Late April means Draft Week in KC!

After two Super Bowl wins, the metro gets to host the NFL Draft this Thur/Fri/Sat, which has become a huge media event, and has free nightly concerts after the rounds end. Admission is free but requires the NFL OnePass QR code, because the league wants your marketing info, of course. Still, should be fun. April has quickly come and gone- bring on May!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from April 26th-May 1st.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 26

Sabrina Carpenter, Midland. $29.50-$59.50

Out on her emails i can't send Tour supporting her fifth full-length album and debut for Island Records, the album represents a music leap for the multi-talented star. In order to get “closer to music,” Sabrina quite literally embraced her roots once again. Listening intently to a myriad of favorites, she dusted off listening to the likes of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, and Marvin Gaye, emphasizing the inclusion of live instrumentation and stripped-back production.

Since making her debut with Eyes Wide Open in 2015, Carpenter has evolved as a singer, songwriter, and performer on her own terms, amassing over a billion streams, a platinum and two gold singles along the way. Blu DeTiger to open.

Lainey Wilson, KC Live, Free

Wilson is on the road for her first major headlining tour she dubs the Country With a Flare Tour. New album, Bell Bottom Country has been critically acclaimed and swept recent Country award shows. She’s a real-deal rising artist with #1’s "Things a Man Oughta Know" and "Never Say Never," a collaboration with Cole Swindell and single "Heart Like a Truck” is currently everywhere, even on a Ram Truck commercial in heavy rotation. Oh, plus Free show! - arrive early for a good spot.

THURSDAY APRIL 27

Black Flag (performing My War), recordBar, $25

The punk luminaries have taken on many forms over the years, but one thing that has stayed consistent is guitarist (and primary songwriter) Greg Ginn, who’s the sole continuous member of the band. On this tour, pro-skater-turned-punk vocalist Mike Vallely will front the band in a performance of the seminal 1984 album, My War, in its entirety along with classic punk hits.

Fall Out Boy, NFL Draft at Union Station, free w NFL OnePass

The GRAMMY award-nominated, multi-platinum and award-winning rock band will take the stage following the conclusion of Round 1. The band's eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust, debuted as the No. 1 rock album when released last month. This June, they come back(!) on their So Much For (Tour) Dust but you can see this sneak peek for free. Jonas Brothers also appearing earlier in the evening with a new single!

Mo Lowda & The Humble w/Illiterate Light, Encore at Uptown,$15-$17

The Philly indie four piece is headlining their album release tour, in support of their self-titled full length, which just released in March. It’s their fourth, so you know they’ve been honing their chops and energetic live show, for some time.

Arrive early for openers Illiterate Light The Virginia duo (singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman and drummer Jake Cochran), has been around since 2015 and is touring in support of their new album Sunburned, out now via Thirty Tigers. We just caught this show last week in Minneapolis – read all about it here!

Pert Near Sandstone w the Way Back Wanderers, Knuckleheads, $18.50

The Minneapolis-based string group released their debut album, 'Up And Down The River” over a decade ago. New release, 'Discovery Of Honey,' finds them once again recording in a basement and reuniting with founding member Ryan Young, who's spent the past seven years playing fiddle with Duluth’s Trampled By Turtles.

Current lineup also includes Nate Sipe and Kevin Kniebel, founding guitarist J Lenz, bassist Justin Bruhn, and clog & fiddle player Matt Cartier. Support comes from Peoria, IL band The Way Down Wanderers, who recently released third full-length, More Like Tomorrow.

IV and the Strange Band, Knuckleheads, $20

"Patience is a virtue." Those words are tattooed across Coleman Williams' right arm, forever reminding the alternative-country singer/songwriter of the benefits of taking one's time as the great-grandson of Hank Williams Sr., grandson of Hank Williams Jr., and only son of Hank 3. Expect a genre-blending mix with Southern attitude and a DIY mentality. The Goddamn Gallows as support.

Rob Schneider (comedy), Folly. $35-$75

The multi-faceted Schneider is out on his I Have Issues Tour.. A stand-up comic and veteran of the award-winning NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Schneider has gone on to a career in films (the Deuce Bigalow franchise), television and continues touring and the three-time Emmy nominated writer is also raising young daughters Miranda and Madeline, with his wife Patricia.

Bruce-O-Rama Starring Bruce Campbell, Uptown Theater, $27.50-$125.00

PART 1: PLAY A GAME!

Hosted by Bruce, LAST FAN STANDING is not your father's trivia contest. As the only interactive game show created exclusively for fans of pop culture, it will test your knowledge about the things that really matter: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Superheroes, Gaming.

PART 2: WATCH A GROOVY BRUCE MOVIE!

Bruce will introduce a cult favorite he's been in and take questions before the screening. It's a lively half hour of anecdotes, insults and random cash giveaways.

FRIDAY APRIL 28

Kelce Jam feat Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, Loud Luxury, Tech N9ne, Azura Amph, $49.99+

The two-time Super Bowl Champion is curating his very own music festival, to help celebrate NFL Draft Week in Kansas City (even though this is way out in Bonner Springs)

Mostly sold out, it pairs the newsworthy Machine Gun Kelly with rappers Ross and local favorite Tech N9ne for an evening that is very close to sold out, try for tix quick.

MÖTLEY CRÜE, NFL Draft at Union Station, free w NFL OnePass

Known for their iconic live performances and currently on The World Tour playing stadiums around the globe, the world's most notorious rock band, MÖTLEY CRÜE will headline Day 2 following Round 3 on Friday, April 28, before taking their tour to 17 European countries starting next month and returning to the USA for more stadium shows in August.

Latrice Royale, Madrid Theatre, $35-$249

Celebrating 30 years in the biz, Latrice shares how she’s risen from the lowest points in her life to becoming one of the World’s most Beloved Queens. It’s a story of resilience, heart, soul and determination as Latrice spills all the “Tea” through comedy, storytelling and music. Spendy VIP packages available, of course.

Park ICM Orchestra, Parkville, free w/email reserve here

Currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the International Center for Music at Park University (Park ICM) started its famed chamber orchestra in 2016. The season will culminate with Kansas City favorite Timothy Hankewich, former resident conductor of the Kansas City Symphony on April 28th.

Maestro Hankewich has selected an all-French program, with music of Honegger, Saint-Saëns, Fauré and Milhaud being featured. The Swiss/French composer Arthur Honegger is perhaps best known by two very different works; his symphonic poem Pacific 231, inspired by his great love of trains, and the so-called symphonic psalm King David, a work that propelled the composer to fame in 1921. His Pastorale d’ete will be heard to start the concert and is an evocation of a calm early morning in the Swiss alps.

SATURDAY APRIL 29

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “The Root,” April 29, Kauffman Center,$33.50-$68.50

The root of jazz lies in another Black American art form: the blues. But the relationship that Kansas City jazz has with the blues is unique, maintaining a strong association throughout the past century. From Julia Lee to Charlie Parker to Bobby Watson and beyond, Kansas City jazz musicians have embodied this tradition in a holistic, yet continually contemporary style and will honor its musical roots.

Thundercat, NFL Draft at Union Station, free w NFL OnePass

The Grammy-winning iconic bassist and vocalist previously wowed opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and an outdoor show last summer at GrindersKC, and will now close out the 2023 Draft Concert Series. He will curate a special performance which will pay tribute to the rich music history and the legacy of jazz in Kansas City. His latest single is a collab with Tame Impala.

Damien Jurado, recordBar, $17

New album Sometimes You Hurt The Ones You Hate just came out (via Maraqopa Records) and “Neiman Marcus” is the lead single, a melodic pop song that sounds both fresh and classic.

Ron Pope w/Caleb Hearn and Lydia Luce, Knuckleheads,$20-$2525

After his world tour was canceled in early-2020, Pope passed three hundred afternoons at his living room piano and the resulting music is Inside Voices, due out in early June. Pope circled back to how his solo career began- simple, honest lyrics and melodies..

With special guest Caleb Hearn and Lydia Luce and no, that top ticket price is not wrong-- it basically entitles you to hang out all day with Pope.

The New Pornographers with Wild Pink, The Truman. $30-$60

For the last two decades, the indie supergroup — A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, Todd Fancey, Blaine Thurier, John Collins, Joe Seiders and Simi Stone have been delivering infectious hooks, harmonies, and a pile of power-pop riffs every time they take the stage, now embarking on a tour in support of their brand new record In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights. We caught the band at First Avenue almost a decade ago (has it been that long?!) and the lineup changes, depending on who’s available. Openers Wild Pink are an indie rock band from the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, with ILYSM being their fourth full-length album.

Cut Chemist, The Ship,$18-$20

The legendary turntablist (co-founder of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli) will be performing a special vinyl-only set in the main room

SUNDAY APRIL 30

The Birthday Massacre, Encore at Uptown. $25

From the band whose landmark album Walking With Strangers has been called the "Sgt. Pepper of Dark Wave" comes their 12th release and most intimate offering to date. " Fascination" is at once the most fully realized album with the bands signature blend of haunting vocals, electronica and aggressive guitars and their most accessible. We caught them live both last year, and back in 2017 and this is a headlining show, in between support gigs with Lacuna Coil. 

Wage War with Nothing,nowhere. and Spite, The Truman. $25-$70

The metalcore band formed in Ocala, FL in 2010 under the name Empires and consists of lead vocalist Briton Bond, lead guitarist Seth Blake, rhythm guitarist / vocalist Cody Quistad, bassist Chris Gaylord, and drummer Stephen Kluesener. Acoustic album The Stripped Sessions, was released last December. Opener Nothing,Nowhere is a 30yr-old Foxborough, Mass Emo rapper whose new album “VOID ETERNAL” featuring the 'THIRST4VIOLENCE', 'VEN0M' & 'CYAN1DE' is out now.

MONDAY MAY 1

Wilder Woods (NEEDTOBREATHE), Madrid. $31

The Covid lockdown turned into a very productive period for NEEDTOBREATHE singer Bear Rinehart who was fresh off of touring behind the first album for his new solo project, Wilder Woods, when he holed up with his wife and children. The result is a brand-new 2^nd solo album, Fever/Sky, out now on Dualtone Records, but expect some band, as well as solo favorite songs. We’ve seen the band a handful of times, most recently last summer with OneRepublic on a lovely summer night outdoors at Starlight.

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! April 12-17, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Dawes The three-hour evening was opened by Los Angeles-based Dawes, who considers Minneapolis one of their strongest markets, in a solid hour-long set of their own. …

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April showers means it's raining concerts in the KC/Lawrence metro!  Tax deadline is growing near, so if you already have your refund, splurge a little and go see some live music again.  

The NFL Draft is fast approaching too, with the league still not disclosing any musical talent, but we hope to hear soon.  Recent announcements for late summer/fall include ZZ Top at Starlight (Aug); A7X w/Falling in Reverse at T-Mobile (Sept); and Blues Traveler/Big Head Todd at Grinders (Aug), so things are filling up!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from April 12th-17th.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12

Tennis w Kate Bollinger, Liberty Hall-Lawrence,$29-$50

The Denver pop duo are hitting the road in support of their new album, POLLEN. Following a couple of UK shows in February, the band has been touring the States, with this leg winding down, and we just caught them live, at their recent Minneapolis stop.

Accompanying single from the new record is "One Night with the Valet,", whose video was directed by Luca Venter and featuring Tennis singer Alaina Moore on a farm.

Cactus Blossoms w Riley Downing, Knuckleheads, $20

The Minneapolis-based Americana brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey are back out on the road, headlining in the Midwest after previous touring with the likes of Wilco, Jenny Lewis and Lucius.

Their recent digital EP, If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1), will be available for the first time on 12-inch, 45 rpm limited-edition blue marble vinyl. This special Record Store Day release will be available exclusively at participating indie stores on April 22.

Pedro the Lion, recordBar,$25

Dave Bazan has a massive 2023 tour honoring the anniversaries of two seminal Pedro the Lion albums, where he’ll celebrate 25 years of It’s Hard to Find a Friend and 20 years of Control. The 38-date trek just started in Omaha and wraps June 30th in Pedro the Lion’s hometown of Seattle. Supported by Erik Walters

THURSDAY APRIL 13

Kitchen Dwellers, Bottleneck,$20-$22

The Bozeman, MT, Americana alt/bluegrass band have a 17-date 2023 Spring Tour with support from Nashville’s Sicard Hollow. The tour kicks off in Davenport, IA with Lawrence getting the second show on the list! The foursome (Shawn Swain, Torrin Daniels, Joe Funk and Max Davies) play a unique blend of “outer bluegrass” and have their 3^rd album, Wise River out April 29 and produced by Minnesota’s own guitar hero, Cory Wong.

“Bad Friends” with Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee, Uptown, $45-$63

The live version of their hit podcast-

Andrew Santino stars in FX’s most-watched comedy series, Dave alongside Lil’ Dicky. Santino starred in the SHOWTIME series, I’m Dying Up Here executive produced by Jim Carey and directed by Jonathan Levine. He also appeared in Game Over Man written/produced by The Workaholics crew. 

Bobby Lee is a stand-up, actor, and podcaster. From 2001 to 2009, Lee was a cast member on MADtv, and he co-starred in the ABC sitcom series Splitting Up Together alongside Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson between 2018 and 2019. Lee has also appeared in the films Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Pineapple Express, and The Dictator.

FRIDAY APRIL 14

Steven Curtis Chapman, Liberty Hall-Lawrence,$52-$93

Chapman is the most awarded artist in contemporary Christian music including five Grammy Awards, 59 Gospel Music Dove Awards — including a record seven Artist of the Year awards and is the first contemporary Christian music artist to have 50 No. 1 hits in the genre. Need we say more?

Covet w/ altopalo, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $25

San Jose math rock band Covet has embarked on a spring tour, which just kicked off on April 7 in Portland, running until Los Angeles on May 12. Scarypoolparty and altopalo will open each stop. The trek will find Covet performing a slew of new songs as they prep for the release of their third studio album. altopalo has a unique blended indie sound and is touring in support of last September’s Frenemy release.

Joanne Shaw Taylor, Kauffman Center, $37.50-$67.50

She’s the #1 Billboard Blues Artist and plan to perform songs from critically acclaimed album, The Blues Album. which was voted #1 Most Played Blues Album of 2021 by the Independent Blues Broadcaster’s Association.

Demon Hunter with Opponent, Granada. $30

The longtime Christian metalcore act continues their 20 Years of Exile Tour commemorating two decades since Demon Hunter released their self-titled debut album. The band plays songs from all eleven of their albums so expect a career-spanning set from the Seattle-based band.

Lil Duval (comedian), Apr 14, 15, 16, KC Improv Comedy Club, $47-$57

The Jacksonville, FL native (aka Roland Powell) stops in KC for a multiple night stand, so several chances to catch his distinctive style of comedy. Duval can currently be seen on the MTV series Guy Code, but he’s not done yet. “Everything that you can do and even more that hasn’t been done yet” is a goal for him. “Whatever it is the people want me to do, I’m going to do it. And, I’m going to be the best at it,” he promises.

SATURDAY APRIL 15

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Yardley Hall. $15-$49

Returning for their fifth appearance at MTC, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has become a worldwide phenomenon. They began back in 1985, with the concept of an orchestra consisting entirely of ukuleles in different sizes.

The orchestra has collaborated with the British Film Institute in providing music for silent films and musically with Madness, Robbie Williams, Ant & Dec, Yusuf Cat Stevens, and a full symphony orchestra performing at the Royal Festival Hall.

Heather McMahan (comedian), The Midland,$39.25-$89.25

The comedian is back on the road after her podcast, ABSOLUTELY NOT WITH HEATHER MCMAHAN was named one of the Ten Best Podcasts by Entertainment Weekly. She starred opposite Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang in Netflix’s LOVE HARD and is currently developing a half-hour comedy based on her life for NBC.

Warren Zeiders, Granada-Lawrence, Sold Out.

Talk about a Hot Country Night- basically all of this rising Country singer’s show are Sold Out.! Cultivating his own indie success, Zeiders has amassed over 1.4 billion global TikTok views, more than 767 million audio streams and well over 39 million video plays. His recently released debut album 717 Tapes: The Album was out last fall, gathering up his previous releases along with a handful of new tracks.

Texas Tenors, Ameristar Casino,$27-$165

They came from NBC's America's Got Talent over a decade ago and have since performed more than 1500 concerts Their versions of songs like John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" to "E lucevan le stelle" from Puccini's Tosca, Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" and The Righteous Brothers’ "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin’” as well as their own originals have all grown their fanbase.

Blackberry Smoke, KC Live! $25-$75

The Georgia Southern rock band has gone through a tough year, with member Brit Turner, suffering from major health issues. Along with being a founding member of the band, Brit is the literal brother of bass player Richard Turner, and is considered the big brother to everyone in the band, but they’ve carried on with as much joy and passion as being on a live stage, can muster.

Snow Tha Product, The Truman, $28.50-$57

The Mexican American artist (aka Claudia Meza) from San Jose, CA is out on her The Quince I Never Had Tour, releasing

SUNDAY APRIL 16

 

Dawes, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, $30-$75

The always-great Dawes is out on their North American tour in support of their eighth studio album, last July’s Misadventures of Doomscroller and reprises their An Evening With… format, meaning look for two sets and a full evening of Laurel Canyon-inspired Americana sound. The 30-date run wraps early next month at a hometown show at The Theatre in LA’s Ace Hotel.

Taylor Goldsmith remarks in a press release. “Two sets. Just us. Long nights. Full hearts. Buy tickets. Come early. We’ll all have to break out the catalog master lists and bingo cards as we try to get to every song we’ve got.” We caught them live in this same format, back in 2018, and always enjoy seeing the band live. A bittersweet note is that it is the last shows of co-founding bassist Wylie Gelber, who has announced his departure to focus on other interests, following this run.

John Crist (comedian), The Midland,$29.75-$59

Continuing his Emotional Support comedy tour, the rising stand-up comedian boasts more than one billion video views over five million fans on social media. "When the world seems a little bit upside down, that's when comedy is at its best," says Crist.

John Gorka, Lied Center. $16-$30

note: masks are required by all for his performance)

Known for his soulful baritone voice and ability to work every nuance of language, Gorka captures a wide array of experiences and weaves them into memorable melodies. With 14 acclaimed albums, he has collaborated with the likes of Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ani DiFranco, Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin and many more.

MONDAY APRIL 17

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! April 6-11, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Kevin Morby Former bassist for Woods and frontman of The Babies, Kevin Morby is back with his third solo album Singing Saw, out now on Dead Oceans Records. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Easter weekend approaches and with the weather staying warmer (89 degrees as I write this), there’s some colorful shows to hop to (see what we did there), and a good excuse to leave the house, if visiting family gets to be too much.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from April 6th-11th.

THURSDAY APRIL 6

Noel Miller, Uptown, $30

His one-liners and topical social commentary has made him a force to be reckoned with in the comedy world. In addition to starring in the YouTube series That’s Cringe, he co-presents podcast Tiny Meat Gang with fellow comedian Cody Ko,

Outside of music, Noel recently released his first short film, Suki, a dark comedy about a relationship between a detective and a serial killer.

David Koechner (comedy), Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, $25-$30

KC’s own Koechner is known for a wealth of characters in movies and TV including Champ Kind from “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and Todd Packer from “The Office.”

Koechner’s start was in improv in 1987. He was a member of the famous Chicago Second City comedy troupe. He was also a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” from 1995-1996. He still loves the art of improv as much as stand-up and acting.

Kevin Morby w Erin Rae, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $30

How is this Not sold out!!?? KC native Morby has seven acclaimed solo albums and myriad records of various collaboration under his belt and usually sell out every local appearance.

This Is A Photograph, Morby’s latest album, finds him leaning more toward Americana with his signature mature songwriting and arrangements.

He’s also worked on Music from Montana Story, the official soundtrack for the 2021 film Montana Story, including latest single “Like a Flower.” Morby’s soundtrack is 13 tracks and only 18-minutes long, with plenty of moody guitar instrumentals plucked out in sparse soundscapes and also boasts “One Paper Kid,” a collaboration with Katie Crutchfield aka Waxahatchee.

Laura Jane Grace w Weakened Friends, Knuckleheads, $23.50-$37

Best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of punk band Against Me! for the past two-plus decades, Laura Jane Grace is also a prolific solo artist (with backing band The Devouring Mothers) whose most recent album is 2020's “Stay Alive” recorded in Chicago with the legendary Steve Albini.

Expect a healthy helping of Against Me! Favorites (more of those than solo songs) and local faves, The Black Mariah Theater who we caught at the end of last year, are supporting as well.

FRIDAY APRIL 7

Martha Redbone, Lied Center. $11-$30

The multi award-winning Roots musician draws from the folk and mountain blues sounds of her childhood in the Kentucky Appalachian hills, mixed with the grit of teenage years in per-gentrified Brooklyn.

Redbone will perform Bone Hill—The Concert, an epic story of one woman’s return to her childhood homeland on Black Mountain and the coal mines of Harlan County, KY, where her family have lived for centuries. Traveling back in time to her childhood and her ancestors spanning four generations of women in a Cherokee family, Bone Hill explores their lives and stories.

Kevin Morby w Erin Rae, Apr 7, recordBar, SOLD OUT

sold out in seconds, see above for details.

Future and Friends, T-Mobile Center, $55-$260

After hosting a string of shows in January as part of his One Big Party Tour that showcased acts such as Lil Durk, Kodak Black, Jeezy, and more, innovative rapper Future looks to extend the festivities with his arena tour. The Future and Friends One Big Party Tour will boast a star-studded lineup with Don Toliver, G Herbo, Mariah the Scientist and Dess Dior hitting the road.

Future is coming off a successful run with his ninth studio album, I NEVER LIKED YOU., which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last year, anchored by its Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Wait for U” featuring Drake and Tems.

Rakim, Madrid Theatre, $29.50-$59.50

The pioneering slow flow rap of game-changing innovator and God MC will be live and in-person in midtown Kansas City! Hip hop great and rapper Rakim (William Griffin Jr.) is rightfully known as one of greatest MCs of all time, pioneering the complex lyrical rhyme pattern that transformed rap music in the 1980s.

Rakim formed the Eric B. & Rakim duo with producer DJ Eric B. The pair’s first album Paid in Full was named MTV’s greatest hip hop album of all time. The album produced six classic singles: Eric B. Is President, I Ain’t No Joke, I Know You Got Soul, Move the Crowd, My Melody and Paid in Full.

The album went gold then platinum in 1997. Rolling Stone listed the album on its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and Time magazine included the album among the 18 albums of the ‘80s that were included in its “All-TIME 100” albums. Come witness the greatness.

Floyd Nation (Pink Floyd tribute), Kauffman Center, $57.50

Since there’s looks to be no chance of another Waters/Gilmour/Mason reunion, this tribute band might be your closest next best option. Expect to be immersed in sound, lights and lasers as they take you on an epic audio journey, bringing back your best memories of the iconic psychedelic music we all grew up with.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra- Riff Generation, Medallion Theater, $25

April installment featuring a new jazz ensemble that cultivates new music alongside Kansas City’s fabled heritage of the genre. Part of a stand-alone performance series of new, highly collaborative compositions in a modern examination of the Kansas City “riff style.” Musicians audition for a one-year residency and perform these works in a variety of settings.

SATURDAY APRIL 8

Asleep at the Wheel, Brennan Leigh, Joshua Hedley, Uptown, $25-$79

The Past, Present and Future of Country & Western Music! Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. Inspired by western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has accrued 10 Grammy Awards. Ray Benson carries the band back onto the road, where they’ve remained a staple for five decades.

Brennen Leigh is a rising songwriter, guitar player, mandolin player and singer. Her new 7^th album Obsessed with the West is an ode to Western swing featuring Asleep at the Wheel as backing band.

Joshua Hedley is “a singing professor of country & western,” he declares on his new album, Neon Blue. His 2018 debut, Mr. Jukebox, showcased his knowledge of country’s history, in particular the ballads of the 1950s and ‘60s.

Straight Jokes! No Chaser Comedy Tour featuring Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Earthquake & D.C. Young Fly, T-Mobile Center. $59.50-$129.50

Mike Epps who will host, is known for his comedy, along with his notable acting roles. Cedric the Entertainer is an actor, comedian, and game show host, known for being one of The Original Kings of Comedy. Earthquake is a comedian, actor, and voice-artist known for stand-up on BET, HBO, Comedy Central, Showtime, and more. D.L. Hughley is one of the most popular and recognized stand-ups, having made an impression in the television, film, and radio arenas. DC Young Fly is a comedian, actor, host, rapper, and singer best known for his “roasting sessions” videos on Instagram and Vine.

SUNDAY APRIL 9

Mountain Goats, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $37-$47

The longtime indie folk band from Claremont, CA led by John Darnielle formed back in 1991 and have amassed a cult following and released over 20 albums to date, are out on their Spectral Tide 2023 Tour. The now-North Carolina-based band’s newest album is last year’s Bleed Out.

Mac Ayres, The Truman, $27.50-$55

Ayres is a self-taught producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from Long Island, NY. In the summer of 2017, Mac released his debut EP "Drive Slow" and 5^th and latest studio album is this year’s Comfortable Enough.

Pokey Bear, April 9, KC Music Hall, CANCELED

MONDAY APRIL 10

TUESDAY APRIL 1!

Michigander, recordBar, $15

The ever-buzzworthy indie rock artist (aka Jason Singer and actually from Michigan) is out on tour in support of his EP It Will Never Be The Same (via C3 Records), produced and mixed by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, M83), mastered by Dave Cooley (Spoon, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore), and recorded at L.A.’s Sunset Sound (with the exception of “In My Head” produced by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of Manchester Orchestra).

Sullivan King w Level Up, Benda, Vastive, The Truman, $20-$50

“Pursuit of Violence” marks the final single off Sullivan King’s new album Thrones of Blood, which was released March 17^th blending the DJ / musician’s unique mix of guitar-driven metal and EDM. Three support acts make for a full evening of hard noise.

Nat Geo Live: Life on the Vertical, Kauffman Center, $32.50-$73.50

Mark Synnott is a man on the brink of new discovery. A big wall rock-climber, he’s made first ascents of some of the world’s tallest, most forbidding walls, from Baffin Island to Pakistan. Synnott uses his skills to break scientific ground, reaching inaccessible environments in search of rare species. It’s all in the adventurous spirit of exploration in order to educate about these sites of strange and remote beauty.

National Geographic Live brings you behind-the-scenes stories, unforgettable imagery, and gripping footage from world-renowned photographers, scientists, writers, filmmakers and adventurers. We’ve attended this series previously in Minneapolis and always come away highly “info-tained”.

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com