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Now, we’re in the heart of concert season, as this weekend looks pretty packed, with the outdoor highlights being the annual Boulevardia Festival near Crown Center and the back-to-back night Phase Fest and Tacos and Tequila Festival on the KS side at Legends Field.
But there’s a good amount of indoor and club shows that shouldn’t be ignored either-- in other words, go see some live music!
Let’s take look at the Kansas City/ Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from June 16th-21st.
FRIDAY JUNE 16
Olivia Jean, Encore at Uptown, $30
She’s the lead singer and guitarist of The Black Belles (and probably heard she got married on stage to a certain Mr Jack White in 2022), but Olivia Jean also just released her third solo album Raving Ghost on May 5th (via Third Man Records of course), which includes tracks like “Trouble” and “Too Late”.
Live, expect some dim red lighting, but an energetic show featuring her own songs, a couple Black Belles favorites, and just maybe, her version of Enya’s’ “Orinoco Flow”.
Boulevardia Day One- Jason Isbell, War & Treaty, The Beths, more, Crown Center, $35 / $60 +
Boulevardia is a unique beer, food and music festival that Kansas City has come to embrace as all its own. Sponsored by the premier 
local brewery, the day features plenty of live music, food and attractions, and of course, all kinds of Boulevard beer. We love Isbell, who remains making some of the best music of his career.
Not a Phase Fest feat Dashboard Confessional, All-American Rejects, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Plain White T's, The Ataris Legends Field,
Not a PHASE FEST 2023 will be a night of live performances, custom cocktails, and fun at Legends Field. The main sage acts all harken back some twenty years, when Emo, screamo, and everything else over-emotional, was more of a musical thing. In addition, look for Wine Bars, Craft Food & Retail Vendors, a Throwback Video Game Lounge, Outdoor Game Experiences, Art Installations, and more for this 21+ outdoor festival.
Dillon Francis, KC Live! CANCELED
SATURDAY JUNE 17
Rival Sons w The Black Angels, Uptown, $32.50-$49
The Grammy-nominated California rockers are out on a spanning nationwide tour in support of their 
new album, the just released DARKFIGHTER, which came out on June 2nd and features new single, “Bird in the Hand”. Just a few dates left on this leg, it’s set to end in Denver on June 18th, but it’s fortunate for anyone seeing these last shows also get to see TX-psych rockers The Black Angels as support, and who we saw headline in Lawrence last October.
Regarding the new single, “Bird in the Hand,” singer Jay Buchannan said, “There’s a lyric in there, ‘Let’s go down to the river where the water runs still and deep, to scatter the ashes of the mess I used to be.’ You can burn through a whole lot of time just trying to find your lane, your realized intention. At some point you accept reincarnation as a waking process. Build, refine and burn again and again and the lyric, ‘A bird in the hand, now that’s a miracle I can believe’ is the immersive commitment to the present.”
Tacos and Tequila feat. Mike Jones, Montell Jordan, Fat Joe, Lil Jon, Fat Joe, Paul Wall, June 17, Legends Field, $69-$99
KC’s biggest (and only?!) Tacos and Tequila Festival is back for their 3rd year. This 21+ event features all-day live hip-hop by talented throwback acts as well as Taco Chef demos, Margaritas, Lucha Libre Wrestling, an Exotic Car Showcase, Chihuahua Beauty Pageant, Salsa & Queso Competition, Art Installations & Photo Ops, and more.
Randall King, Washunga Days-Emporia, free
The rising Hereford, TX native Country singer is making waves not only here, but across the pond, 
recently playing at London’s celebrated C2C Festival and is playing a full run of European/UK shows this fall.
“I’m beyond excited to see the world through my Honkytonk dream and to bring the ‘neon overseas’ to so many great countries,” shares King. “It’s going to be a true thrill to see a side of life I’ve never seen and to play so many iconic venues that have held a lot of my heroes. It’ll be a true honor.”
Impractical Jokers (comedy), T-Mobile Center, $47.50-$158
“We are so excited to finally get back on tour next year. After the difficult last couple of years, we are 
looking forward to laughing again". Brian Quinn (Q), James Murray (Murr) and Sal Vulcano are the Creators, Executive Producers, and Stars of truTV’s series, Impractical Jokers., a hidden camera comedy show that follows Q, Murr and Sal as they compete to embarrass each other amongst the general public with a series of hilarious and outrageous dares. When they challenge each other to say or do something, they have to do it... if they refuse, they lose!
At the end of every episode - with the help of a celebrity guest - the loser must endure a punishment of epic proportions. The series returned for its 10th season in February.
Boulevardia Day Two- Surfaces, Grandson, K Flay, Big Freedia, more, Crown Center, $35 / $60 +
Day Two of the outdoor extravaganza continues, with the lineup going more alternative than the prvious day’s Americana-leaning. Plenty of local bands both days and other attractions, so assuming the rain can hold off, why not go both days?
Shooting Star with Missouri, Kearney Amphitheater. $20
2018 was the 38th Anniversary of the legendary Shooting Star debut album released in 1980. Featuring the iconic hit songs written by Van McLain and Gary West; “You've Got What I Need”, “Bring It On”, “Last Chance” and more. Sadly though 2018 was also year of tremendous loss.
Through the years, Shooting Star endured their share of industry challenges and member changes. Founding member was the constant rock that kept the fire burning but sadly, McLain passed away in March of 2018. The remaining members were determined to continue on to honor Van and keep his music alive.
SUNDAY JUNE 18
Matchbox Twenty, Starlight, $39.50-$129.50
After some pandemic-related delays, the band has finally returned, and with a new album, their first new album in over a decade. 
Where The Light Goes, was released on May 26th via Atlantic Records, featuring recent single, “Wild Dogs (Running In A Slow Dream).”
The 50-date “Slow Dream Tour” kicked off on May 16th in Vancouver and runs through early August. Matt Nathanson will provide support for the KC show-- we thoroughly enjoyed him headlining in March.
Eels, (rescheduled date) Liberty Hall- Lawrence), $30-$55
The coolest band in the popular MCU (aka the Marvel Comics film Universe- they had a cameo in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”), they finally overcome pandemic delays and forced re-scheduling to embark on their Spring Tour, which started in March and runs through the end of the month.
The brainchild of leader Mark Oliver Everett, the band released their “Extreme Witchcraft” album last year and also has limited-edition vinyl reissues of their earlier records, Hombre Lobo, End Times, and Tomorrow Morning through E Works/[PIAS]. Plus, they brought Journey’s Steve Perry back from seclusion. We've caught the band live several times, including in 2018 at First Ave in Minneapolis.
MONDAY JUNE 19
IAMX, RecordBar. $20
We only saw them live once, back in 2015, but still remember that powerful live show. The FAULT LINES1 Tour sees aka Chris Corner 
and live band performing across North America, following the release of the first lyrically driven IAMX album in years, with a second full album and European tour coming this fall.
The cold, grinding, synthetic soundscapes of Fault Lines combine with biting lyrical themes of psychological fracture, social division, and the ineffable forces of nature. Both albums showcase a new, harder side of IAMX while elevating the melody and emotions at the core of the project to new heights. Live, expect IAMX's psycho-sexual, passionate performance paired with theatrical lights, visuals, filth glam and the bands' need to become one with their audience.
TUESDAY JUNE 20
Annie DiRusso, recordBar, $15
The Nashville based indie-rock artist born in NYC is out on her God, I Love This Tour. (named from the title of her recent EP). Musically, she blends buzzing garage rock guitars and high-energy performances with a pop-infused flair. DiRusso is currently working on new music at a studio in NYC, which will debut next month and is best-known for her 2018 song, “Don’t Swerve”.
Jesus Christ Superstar (musical), June 20-25, Starlight,$16-$100
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, a new production of the iconic musical phenomenon returns to the 
stage. Originally staged by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and helmed by director Timothy Sheader (Crazy for You, Into the Woods) and choreographer Drew McOnie (King Kong, Strictly Ballroom), this production won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical.
With lyrics and music by Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, it is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the score includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane,” and “Superstar.”
WEDNESDAY JUNE 21
Santa Fe Klan w Tornillo, Snow da Product,$35+ UPDATE: Moved to The Midland
The Mexican rapper is set to bring his recent album Mundos (featuring songs “Mar y Tierra,” “Eres,” and “Me Iré Con Ella,” which features Tornillo) on the road for a 35-stop tour, titled “Todo y Nada.” (“All and Nothing.”).
“I am really excited to perform new songs that weren’t on my last two tours, to see my fans experience an exciting show with an all-new production, look, and feel,” he says. “I’m always excited to perform in front of my fans again, to feel the energy that they bring me, and to experience these memories with them. 
Summer Salt, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $26-30
Campanita is the new record from the trop-pop, just out on May 19 on Wax Bodega. Its 12 tracks meander through sun-soaked and rose-tinted memories, deep relationships and loss. The album drifts across dreamy jazz, bedroom pop, beachy bossa nova, and desert-night indie rock. There are guitars, keys, and cloud-light harmonies, and strings, synths, horns, and harmonicas, too.
Live, expect some twenty songs, ending with an encore that includes the new album’s title track.
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