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We♥KC! March 22-31, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Queensrÿche Queensrÿche is touring in support of their album The Verdict (Century Media Records). The record is available in a variety of limited and exclusive editions, including clear, red transparent, petrol green, red smoke vinyl, etc. …

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Late March is bringing showers… of sold-out shows-- good job KC, for packing live venues again! Plenty else is happening, including several at Knuckleheads and don’t throw away your shot, if you can manage to wrangle those still-elusive Hamilton tickets.

Sad face for the canceled RATM show which would have taken place this week- if they happen to get inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame this fall, maybe some make up dates are in the cards as a victory lap tour leg.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from March 22nd-31st.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 22

Hamilton (musical), continues through Apr 2, Music Hall,$69+

PNC Broadway in Kansas City continues with its most popular and longest-running show of the season! We all know Hamilton by now- the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a unique score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton is told like never before, and has created a lasting cultural moment in the process.

With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. The Disney+ special is great, but you haven’t seen Hamilton until you’ve seen it live on-stage!

THURSDAY MARCH 23

Eric Bellinger, recordBar, $30-$55

The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter is out on his headlining Obsession Tour. It follows his 2022 Vibes On Vibes Tour, which R&B singer Sammie co-headlined. VIP packages are available, including a meet and greet, early and priority entry, autographed merchandise and more. Trevor Jackson, Nick Lavelle, and Dom Chronicles are on as support.

Maddie and Tae, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

Award-winning Country pop duo Maddie & Tae are coming to a sold-out Prairie Band. Their hits include: “Die From A Broken Heart”, “Girl In A Country Song”, current single “Every Night Every Morning”, and many more!

Iris Dement w Ana Egge, Knuckleheads, SOLD OUT

Longtime folk singer-songwriter and former KC resident Dement still obviously has loyal fans in the area. Her debut record Infamous Angel, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, was recently named one of the “greatest country albums of all time” by Rolling Stone, and the two albums that followed, My Life and The Way I Should, each garnered Contemporary Folk GRAMMY nominations.

Thirty years after her debut, she’s still creating some of the most poignant music of her career, bridging seemingly disparate worlds with every note.

FRIDAY MARCH 24

Smithereens w Marshall Crenshaw (re-scheduled date) Knuckleheads,$35-$55

The popular New Jersey band formed way back in 1980, bringing a contemporary beat to a classic rock sound. Jim Babjak (guitar,) Dennis Diken (drums,) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together and original lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from nearby Scotch Plains, NJ. They toured worldwide over the course of 17 albums and 2500+ live shows before the 2017 passing of DiNizio put the band on hold, momentarily.

Longtime friend Marshall Crenshaw takes over lead vocals for this tour, recreating the many Smithereens favorites, as well as likely, a few of his own hits. Special Guest is: The Popskull Rebels.

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams w Shawn Mullins, Knuckleheads. $35-$55

Multi-instrumentalist-singer-songwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams’ acclaimed self-titled 2015 debut, released after seven years of playing in Levon Helm’s band – and frequent high-profile guest appearances – helped put them on the map as a formidable musical duo.

And for this tour, they’re joined by singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, whose critical breakthrough came when 1998 Soul’s Core album shot him to fame on the strength of its Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby”. In early 2002, he formed super group The Thorns with Matthew Sweet and Pete Droge.

Michigan Rattlers, recordBar, $18

A Michigan folk-rock band composed of Graham Young (guitar), Adam Reed (bass), Christian Wilder (piano), and Tony Audia (drums). Veering beyond their initial Country-leaning sound, the band’s second full-length, That Kind of Life was released in 2021 to positive reviews. Morris & Depew open.

SATURDAY MARCH 25

Jerry Cantrell w Thunderpussy, Uptown,$35-$79

The Alice in Chains singer-guitarist is heading back out for another tour leg in support of his 2021 solo acclaimed album, Brighten. Expect to hear a plethora of solo material along with a number of AIC classics. The 2022 trek included vocalist Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan), drummer Gil Sharone (Team Sleep), guitarist Tyler Bates (film soundtrack composer), who should all return as part of Cantrell’s solid band.

Luzcid, Encore at Uptown Theater, $25

The Houston-born electronic artist is out on his Illusions Tour, an Audio/Visual experience with visuals from Data Byte.

JID and Smino, Midland. $32.50-$59.50

Out on their co-headlining Luv is 4ever Tour (which we’re scheduled to cover later this week in Minneapolis). Atlanta rapper J.I.D’s latest is The Forever Story, which topped many “Best of 2022” lists, including Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, while St. Louis rapper Smino’s third album Luv 4 Rent was his debut with Motown Records, in partnership with Zero Fatigue.

Queensryche w Marty Friedman, Trauma, The Truman,$32.50-$65

The ‘Ryche returns to the road with headlining tour dates in support of their latest album, 2022’s Digital Noise Alliance. Joining the classic progressive metal act on the road as special supporting acts will be ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) and rising metal band Trauma, making for an entertaining evening all around.

Queensryche said in a press release, "This touring package is amped up and very much looking forward to seeing all of you! Come on out and let's have a great time together, as live music is as vibrant as ever once again!"

Little River Band, Ameristar Casino, $50-$68

The classic rock band from Melbourne is best known for their top hits “Reminiscing,” “The Night Owls” and “Lonesome Loser,” since forming in 1975. Other radio-familiar hits include “Take it Easy on Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary” and “The Other Guy.”

SUNDAY MARCH 26

Cowboy Mouth, Knuckleheads, $25

Jenny still Says to come to this show for a participatory fun time. Much like gumbo, the New Orleans-born band uses a potent blend of musical ingredients- rock, blues, punk, funk, country, pop, soul and whatever else feels good, for a true rock n roll revival show. Frontman, drummer, and co-founder Fred LeBlanc has asserted “if The Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby, it would be Cowboy Mouth."

MONDAY MARCH 27

Shame, Bottleneck. $20

The rising London post-punk band has returned with their third full-length, Food for Worms, which just came out at the end of last month. Three buzzing singles were released beforehand, doing exceptionally well on the other side of the pond, “Fingers of Steel", "Six-Pack" and "Adderall".

After they missed Rock the Garden in 2018, we finally caught the band live, last summer headlining in Minneapolis. They've been busy touring the UK and Europe, so are ready to hit our shores with a bang.

Tampa’s They Hate Change will open- the hip-hop/electronic duo released their Jagjaguwar debut Finally, New last May, which is their eighth overall project.

TUESDAY MARCH 28

Rage Against The Machine, March 28, T-Mobile Center CANCELED

WEDNESDAY MARCH 29

Toto Uptown,$39-$99

The longtime rock band has spent most of the last couple years, touring on and off with a similar classic band that’s had its ups and downs, Journey, but returns to the area to make up for a previously postponed headlining appearance.

After announcing a breakup (filled with health issues, a lawsuit, etc) in 2019, they announced a reunion a year later with a revamped lineup including old/new singer Joseph Williams (son of composer John Williams), Steve Lukather, bassist John Pierce, drummer Robert “Sput” Searight, keys/vocalist Steve Maggiora, keyboardist Dominique “Xavier” Taplin and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Warren Ham.

Jessie Murph, The Truman, $17

Alabama alt/pop TikTokker 18-year-old singer Murph is out on her first ever North American tour in support of her debut mixtape, Drowning released last month which includes songs “Always Been You,” “If I Died Last Night,” and “Pray”, as well as three new tracks.

She’s catching more notice as many of her originally booked venues, have been re-booked into bigger halls, to accommodate additional demand. We caught Murph live just over a week ago, in Minneapolis, with her older brother opening the show. 44Phantom is listed as support for KC.

THURSDAY MARCH 30

Koe Wetzel, w/ The Cadillac Three, Dylan Wheeler, Cable Dahmer Arena. $35-$60

The genre-bending outlaw country artist brings his Road to Hell Paso Tour to the eastern KC suburbs iin support of Koe’s latest album Hell Paso, out last September which debuted at #12 on Billboard. In speaking about the album, Koe says: “We pulled in every genre we were feeling at the time. We spent the last ten years trying to make this sound, Hell Paso has it.” Wetzel sold over 350,000 tickets last year and is on track for much more in 2023. Opening acts are worth arriving early for.

Key Glock w Big Scarr, Uptown Theater,$39.50

The Memphis rapper is on his Glockoma Tour, a 31-date run of shows running until April 28 for a home-state show in Nashville, in support of new full-length, Glockoma 2, a sequel to his 2018 release.

Zepparella with Bad Bad Men, recordBar. $20

Expect to feel a whole lotta love for this Led Zeppelin tribute made up of vocalist Anna Kristina, guitarist Gretchen Menn, bassist Holly West, and drummer Clementine. Bad Bad Men (from Omaha) open the show.

FRIDAY MARCH 31

A Moving Sound, Polsky Theatre. $17-$35

Fusing traditional Taiwanese influences with a global sensibility, the award-winning ensemble (Sheng Don 聲動) built a worldwide following through their mix of original music and dance, featuring the timbres of the erhu (fiddle) and zhong ruan (lute), and vocals of Mia Hsieh,

Hsieh draws inspiration from her roots in Asian culture, as well as an assimilation of experimental and improvisational art forms. Her vocal influences range from ethnic to experimental. For many of the compositions, she performs using her own created language; chanting, speaking and singing with emotion.

Take 6, Lied Center. $19-$50

The most awarded acapella group (Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley) in history hits the live stage in Lawrence. With 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and more, Take 6 are six voices united in crystal clear harmony. We saw them live performing a Christmas mini-set, outdoors in mid-December numbing temperatures, singing from a rail car (no joke!) supporting Sheryl Crow.

Dave Attell (comedian) thru Apr 1, KC Improv, SOLD OUT

The NYC stand-up comedian remains as popular as ever, selling out all shows on this multi-night KC residency. Known for the hit series, "Insomniac with Dave Attell" on Comedy Central, Attell has also been on every late night talk show and his own half-hour stand-up special, among numerous other appearances.

Tech N9ne with King Iso, March 31, Granada. $30

KC’s favorite rapper got a Super Bowl bump, when his unofficial anthem, “Red Kingdom” was played everywhere as our own Kansas City Chiefs repeated as NFL Champions. He brings his Strange Music show to the home of the Jayhawks (who need some cheering up after being bumped from March Madness).

Crystal Bowersox, Mar 31, Knuckleheads (POSTPONED to October 6)

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We♥KC! March 16-21, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Planet Comicon Crowds in the thousands flocked to Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City over the weekend to attend the three-day Planet Comicon Kansas City, the region’s largest and longest-running comic and pop …

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Faith and Begorrah! it’s St. Pat’s weekend, and there’s no shortage of concerts and cultural events in the metro to celebrate...anything, really.

You know you’re getting old when a bevy of 1990’s/00’s R&B acts are out on reunion tour packages, as evidenced by a couple shows playing here this week... anyway…

The big show of the week is Blake Shelton at T-Mobile, riding high on his last season of The Voice and he’s bringing along the talented Carly Pearce and newcomer Jackson Dean for a solid night of new country. And Pop Culture fans rejoice- Planet Comicon Kansas City is on all weekend downtown!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from March 16th-21st.

THURSDAY MARCH 16

Colony House w little image, The Truman. $28-$42

The Franklin, TN quartet is out on tour in support of new record, The Cannonballers. Led by the Chapman brothers, we caught the Christian-leaning indie band back in 2015 and the tour kicked off last month, stopping in Minneapolis the night before this KC date, as well.

Arrive early for Dallas trio little image, who has a new single, "Ballet" out now, ahead of a self-titled debut due out on May 12th.

Blushing, Pale Dian, Seashine, Lake Love, miniBar, $10

Blushing is an Austin, TX based dreampop / shoegaze quartet comprised of two husband and wife pairs that share a love of making melodic and atmospheric music. The band formed in summer 2015 when after a few years of writing songs Michelle found a musical partner in friend Christina who brought her classical vocal training and bass playing to the project, and also found a fan in Lush’s Miki Berenyi when they covered one of that band’s songs. Tiny venue, low-dough show, ‘Nuff said!

FRIDAY MARCH 17

Planet Comicon Kansas City, Bartle Hall, Mar 17-19 $10.99 (youth)- $230.99

Since 1999, Planet Comicon Kansas City has served as the Midwest’s largest comic book and pop culture gathering featuring a convention center’s worth of exhibits, comic and pop culture vendors, and numerous celebrities and creators. Attend in cosplay of your favorite character and enter the costume contest for pride and prizes. The associated fantasy-themed Fae Ball on March 17 is long sold-out, but there are plenty of after-hours and additional activities, in addition to full days on the convention floor.

This year’s guests include William Shatner, Richard Dreyfuss, Giancarlo Esposito, Cassandra Peterson, and Rachael Leigh Cook, among many others. Comic creators include legendary names like Jim Steranko and Roy Thomas, in addition to newer talent and local favorites. Children under 8 can attend for free and certain discounts are available when booking in advance, online.

Skillet, Theory of a Deadman, Saint Asonia, The Midland, $29.75-$59.75

Canadian rockers Theory of a Deadman and Christian rock band Skillet have embarked on a co-headlining North American tour with support from Saint Asonia dubbed “Rock Resurrection Tour,” that runs through March. Theory has a new single with full album forthcoming, Skillet is touring behind their 2022 release, Dominion, and Saint Asonia released two EPs, Introvert and Extrovert last year.

“We’re super stoked to be touring with our good friends in Skillet and Saint Asonia this winter,” Theory of a Deadman front man Tyler Connolly said in a statement. “We’re also really looking forward to playing new material for our fans!”

“We are so excited to be touring with our friends from Theory again!” Skillet vocalist John Cooper added. “We are looking forward to kicking off 2023 the right way by joining forces for a super-charged rock show! Panheads get ready!”

SATURDAY MARCH 18

Blake Shelton with Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean, T-Mobile Center. $59-$249

The Voice coach (for the final season, as he’s reminding everyone!) is also on the road on his Back to the Honky Tonk Tour which runs through the end of the month with solid support from ACM Female Artist of the Year Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean. We caught Pearce last summer with Kenny Chesney at Arrowhead, and thought she was one of the true highlights of the multi-act day. Pearce releases a live album on March 24^th and shhh, she might just duet with Blake mid-set.

For the tour, Shelton has also partnered with Propeller and Save The Music. In partnership with digital marketing and social impact platform, Shelton helps support the work of Save The Music, a non-profit organization that helps students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. “Music is the greatest healer, and I know my fans will be just as excited as I am to work together to give the gift of music to as many children across the country as possible.”

Shooting Star, Ameristar Casino, $30-$45

Hang On for Your Life tonight! The Midwest’s premier shoulda-been-huge classic rock band hits the casino stage for a setlist of hits and local radio favorites. Most of the original members have departed, but the new lineup injects some energy into forty-year-old songs.

"Last Chance" and "Hang on for Your Life." Keeping it local and old school, Missouri, another classic area rock band will also be taking the stage to make this a fun and nostalgic evening.

Indigo Girls with the Kansas City Symphony, Kauffman Center, $63.50-$83.5

Featuring Gonzalo Farias and David T. Beals III Associate Conductor--

Known for their folk-rock music, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, the two halves of the dynamic duo, bring their captivating music performing with the Kansas City Symphony. Celebrating their successful four-decade-long career, the program features hits like “Galileo,” “Kid Fears,” “Closer to Fine,” and “Making Promises.” We caught the pair live outdoors in 2015. Low (if any) ticket alert.

Donell Jones, H-Town and Changing Faces, Midland. $40-$125

Throwback Time One! Donell Jones is most notable for the hits "U Know What's Up", "Where I Wanna Be", and his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet". Jones' first studio album My Heart, was released in 1996, but he is best known for his late 1990s release of his second album Where I Wanna Be. Album 100% Free came out on digital (and free on his website) in Feb 2021.

Slushii, Aura. $25

aka Julian Scanlan, Slushii is a LA-based DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for working with artists like Marshmello, Ookay and Jauz, with latest release being last year’s A Slushii Summer.

SUNDAY MARCH 19

Winterlude: KC Jazz Disciples, Polsky Theatre. $17-$35 ($5 students)

Five musicians blend into the trademark KC jazz sound while bringing their unique touch, led by saxophonist Gerald Dunn. Pianist Everett Freeman has toured with Oleta Adams and drummer Michael Warren is a seasoned local talent, having worked with almost everybody. Bassist DeAndre Manning completes the lineup and for this performance, the ensemble will be joined by special guest trumpeter Danny Campbell.

Rewind Tour featuring Bow Wow, Pleasure P, Bobby V. Trina and more, Cable Dahmer Arena. $63-$354

Throwback Time Two! No longer “Lil’” the now-35yr-old Bow Wow is a rapper and actor whose career began after being discovered by Snoop Dogg in the late ‘90s, signed to So So Def Recordings and under the tutelage of Jermaine Dupri, he released his first album at age 13 in 2000.

MONDAY MARCH 20

TUESDAY MARCH 21

Jake Wesley Rogers, The Madrid, $25

The eccentric and innovative pop artist is out on the Peace, Love & Pluto Tour, which is the first as a headliner. The genre-blurring hit maker has a new six-song EP, LOVE, a collection of audacious and heartfelt pop anthems, the set showcases his bluesy bravado on hits like "Dark Bird" and "Lavender Forever" as well as two new tracks, "Call It Love" and "My Mistake."

Last Fall, he opened for Panic! At The Disco during their Viva Las Vengeance Tour, which played mostly arenas and allowed more fans than ever, to be exposed to Rogers’ unique talents. A show at the relatively small Madrid, this one looks special (and is worth overcoming road construction and bad parking options).

We Three, recordBar, $25

Springing forth from Season 13 of America's Got Talent, the Portland, OR pop group has a new record, In Therapy, just out last Friday. Joshua, Bethany and Manny make up the Humlie trio, who have aptly named themselves We Three. Since their debut album in 2018, they’ve had over 200+ million song streams, over a million TikTok followers, and thousands of followers on social media.

Hamilton (musical), Mar 21-Apr 2, Music Hall, $69+

PNC Broadway in Kansas City continues with its most popular and longest-run (here for two weeks!) show of the season! We all know Hamilton by now- the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a unique score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton is told like never before and has created a lasting cultural moment in the process.

With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. The Disney+ Special is great, but you haven’t seen Hamilton until you’ve seen it live and on-stage!

Nonpoint, Bottleneck. $25

Out on a month-long leg of their Emerald Cities Tour 2023 the trek features support from BLACKTOP MOJO and SUMO CYCO. Says the band, "Follow the Yellow Brick Road and let the epic sounds of these amazing bands guide you on an unforgettable adventure through this all-immersive experience." 

Clan of Xymox, BLVD Nights, $25 (ticket link)

After a few necessary re-schedules, the legendary and longtime Dutch band (still led by Ronny Moorings) are finally back on the road again hosting an evening of goth electro-darkness. Limbo was released in 2021 but expect of classic tracks dating all the way back to their 1985 self-titled debut album. The tour is a rare US appearance so shouldn’t be missed, and the intimate confines of this Westport venue, make it more compelling to witness the spectacle in-person.

Bellwether Syndicate, Discord, and Monta as support, for a full night of darkwave goodness.

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We♥KC! March 9-15, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Mammoth WVH Special guests Mammoth WVH (aka Wolfgang Van Halen) to open. Guns N’ Roses 2021 Tour Dates: Jul 31 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium* Aug 03 – Boston, MA …

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St Pat’s may not be until the 17^th, but plenty of acts are coming through town early, to make this year a veritable St. Patrick’s Week! Don your best green, belly up for some Guinness and corned beef, and make it a multi-night extravaganza, laddie!

Don’t forget to “spring forward” those clocks Saturday night and it’s Oscar Sunday to follow.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from March 9th-15th.

THURSDAY MARCH 9

Gaelic Storm & The High Kings, Kauffman Center, SOLD OUT

The High Kings are an acclaimed quartet of Irish folk song singers who exploded onto the Irish folk music scene in 2008. They also showcase their versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, playing 13 instruments between the four, bringing an acoustic flavor to brand new songs as well as old favorites.

Probably the torchbearers of US Irish Fairs and St Pat’s events, Gaelic Storm led by co-founders Steve Twigger, and Patrick Murphy) have continued to gain a stronger fan base after two decades and over 2000 shows. Their latest release is Go Climb a Tree, and features party drinking songs (“The Beer Song”), patriotic anthems (“Green, White and Orange”), folk songs (“Monday Morning Girl”), instrumentals (”The Night of Tomfoolery”), and even a pirate song (“Shanghai Kelly”). We caught them live last in St. Paul, MN, at where else, Irish Fair!

Chris D'Elia (comedian) The Midland, $34.50-$54.50

Out on his Don’t Push Me Tour, the comedian has put some past allegations in the rear view. He’s had his own podcast since 2017 and has three specials available on Netflix– No Pain (2020), Man on Fire (2017) and Incorrigible (2015), and is more recently, a father. His son, Calvin, was born in 2020.

Grand Funk Railroad, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

Celebrating over five decades, the legendary band comes along with an armful of hit songs everyone in the sold-out room will likely be singing along to including, “We’re an American Band”, “Some Kind of Wonderful”, “Bad Time”, “The Locomotion” and “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”.

FRIDAY MARCH 10

Danú, Yardley Hall. $14-$42

For more than two decades, Danú’s virtuosi players on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki and vocals (Irish and English), playing a mix of ancient Irish music and new repertoire have charmed JCCC audiences and they’ve performed around the globe, recording seven acclaimed albums.

Danú takes its audiences on a musical journey to their native Ireland, offering a memorable concert experience. Their recordings are available on the Shanachie label, and an additional preshow dinner option is available at 6:30pm.

Maddie Zahm with corook, Encore at The Uptown, SOLD OUT

24-year-old Boise singer/songwriter Maddie Zahm is gaining buzz as her tour to support her debut EP You Might Not Like Her, which includes viral hit, “Fat Funny Friend” which exceeded over 75+ million streams, and is about her past trauma, sexuality, and personal relationship with her own body.

Arrive early for corook (aka Corinne Savage), a rising Pittsburgh area singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist. An alum of the famous Berklee College of Music, graduating with two degrees and an ability to solve a Rubik’s cube in a minute or less on a good day. Debut EP, achoo! out now.

Kentucky Headhunters w Eskimo Brothers, Knuckleheads, $35

The longtime Southern rock band actually has their beginning roots from all the way back in 1968. Featuring Doug Phelps, Greg Martin, and brothers Richard Young and Fred Young, their latest full-length is 2021’s That’s a Fact, Jack! A knee-slappin’ good time for all.

Flogging Molly w Anti-Flag, Skinny Lister, VooDoo Lounge at Harrah's NKC, $44-$153

The LA kings of Celtic punk are out on a six-week trek supporting new album Anthem, which was produced by the legendary Steve Albini. The 11-track album is available now via Rise Records. Dave King and co. always make things entertaining and the band has even taken to the high seas over the last few years, hosting their own Salty Dog Cruises.

Support comes from Anti-Flag, who released their new album Lies They Tell Our Children in January via Spinefarm, and Skinny Lister, who’ll be supporting their latest album, A Matter Of Life & Love.

Donny Benet, recordBar, $18

Not your typical looking musician, the Sydney post-disco artist promises to “guide you through his tales of love, woe, self-deprecation and personal motivation”. Newest release is his Le Piano EP featuring an instrumental version of the title track.

Katie Toupin w Austin Plaine, Knuckleheads, $16

We’ve seen Indiana alt-country band Houndmouth several times live over the years, and fans will be happy to know Toupin has flourished since leaving the group five years ago, with her debut solo album, 2019’s Magnetic Moves, released to acclaim. Expect a healthy helping as well as a few old Houndmouth favorites peppered in for good measure.

SATURDAY MARCH 11

Buddy Guy w Eric Gales, Ally Venable, Uptown, $49-$122

You’re damn right he’s still got the blues! At 86 years-young, the Chicago blues legend is saying this is his final full tour (though hopefully he’ll still pick up a guitar at his Illinois club once in a while) and even has a new album to support, 2022’s The Blues Don’t Lie. He may move a bit slower, but his solos and stage presence can still leave you in absolute awe.

Arrive early for the support acts that shouldn’t be missed, including Eric Gales, a blues master in his own right. He lived in St. Paul briefly while in recovery, so were lucky enough to catch him when he gigged at very small venues, and Gales can play Hendrix maybe better than Jimi himself, playing a right-handed guitar upside-down. Latest album is 2022’s Crown.

Matt Nathanson, Madrid Theatre, $39.50

The Massachusetts native has a new record out, suitably titled Boston Accent, and always comes across with a relaxed and hilarious stage presence, he feels like an old friend or someone you could easily spend some time hanging out with. His pop culture and musical knowledge runs deep as well, never fearing from slipping in a Prince, Harry Styles or AC/DC cover into his setlist, which itself is filled with a handful of radio hits and storytelling charm.

poolblood, Farewell Cafe,PWYC

Toronto-based indie artist poolblood (aka Maryam Said) is out in support of recently released debut LP mole, which has turned heads at NPR, MTV, FADER, and more. Co-produced by Shamir and Louie Short, the record blends acoustic based songwriting with sludgy rock alongside baroque flourishes on singles, "voyager" + "wfy" + "my little room" + "shabby". Stopping on the way to SXSW in Austin, this one’s a bit under the radar, but you might just come away with your new favorite artist.

John McCutcheon, Polsky Theatre. $17-$35

The ageless Wisconsin folk singer and rustic instrumentalist, he’s a master of a dozen instruments, most notably the hammer dulcimer. His 30 recordings have garnered numerous honors, including seven Grammy Award nominations. He’s also produced more than 20 albums of other artists, from traditional fiddlers to contemporary singer-songwriters to educational and documentary works. Newest release is 2021’s Bucket List.

Oleta Adams, The Folly, $25- $35

Part of the Folly Jazz Series, this woman broke her chains years ago, and has forged a path of success all her own and is one of Kansas City’s treasures. She first gained national attention singing with Tears for Fears and the success of her 1990 Platinum debut album, Circle of One with hit single “Get Here” truly established her to a wide audience.

Adams has four GRAMMY® Award nominations and more than two and a half million records sold and in 2019, she was inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. Arrive early for the Jazz Talk with Performers at 7:00pm (all ticket holders welcome).

Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH, Pistols at Dawn, The Midland, $29.95-$55.

Two solid bands that are flying the flag for rock have joined forces for a formidable Pawns & Kings Tour. Florida’s Alter Bridge brings the muscle with guitar hero Mark Tremonti and singer Myles Kennedy (who doubles as Slash’s vocalist and who once successfully auditioned for Led Zeppelin). Their seventh album came out last October.

Mammoth WVH is in the finishing stages of completing their sophomore release, as a follow-up to their self-titled 2021 debut. They played their first proper gig together at a hush-hush radio-sponsored show at The Bottleneck in Lawrence (with proud mom Valerie Bertinelli watching from the wings) and we caught them live on last year’s mighty double-bill, alongside Dirty Honey.

War, (postponed from 2022), Ameristar Casino, $45-$60

The Long Beach funk, rock, and soul legends made good on their word to come back after some re-scheduling and will play top hits like "Why Can't We Be Friends," and "Low Rider”, so spill the wine and dig that girl.

Stanislav & Friends Annual Concert, Kauffman Center, $7.50-$50

Tchaikovsky’s first piano concert will be recreated by the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra featuring acclaimed pianist Stanislav Ioudentich, Founder and Artistic Director of Park International Center for Music. This annual performance will include “Flight of the Bumblebee” For Two Pianos, the KC premiere of “Canzona Matinata” from Broberg & Ioudenitch’s new album Songbird, and the grand finale to ICM’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.

SUNDAY MARCH 12

The Lemon Twigs w Slugbug, The Bottleneck- Lawrence, $22-$25

The Long Island brotherly indie duo are back on the road, after an absence and returning with brand-new full-length, Everything Harmony. We first caught them live early-on, opening at the small 7^th St Entry in Minneapolis, and they’ve only grown bigger and popular with each release. The D’Arrario brothers played a handful of arena dates last fall with My Chemical Romance, but have returned to headlining the clubs, which is the best place to catch them.

Tanya Tucker, Knuckleheads, $58.50

The queen returns to the familiar stage at Knuckleheads, after a highly successful album (“While I’m Livin’”) and tour (which played Starlight last summer) with Brandi Carlile and their single, “Ready As I’ll Never Be”. With a few recent Grammy Awards and a new documentary about the comeback, it’s a great time to catch her onstage during this rebirth period. Abbey Cone to open.

Emmet Cohen, Lied Center. $14-$40

The multifaceted jazz pianist and composer and leader of the Emmet Cohen Trio is also the creator of the Masters Legacy Series. During the pandemic, he created Live From Emmet’s Place—a weekly livestream from his Harlem living room that received millions of views and often featured special guests. Cohen holds jazz piano degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Miami and has worked with Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Christian McBride, Kurt Elling, and many others.

The Wonder Years w Hot Mulligan, Carly Cosgrove, The Truman, $29.50-$60

The Philadelphia pop punk band has been around since 2005 and are back with seventh album, last September’s The Hum Goes on Forever and single, “Summer Clothes”.

MONDAY MARCH 13

Kenny G with the Kansas City Symphony March 13-15, Kauffman Center, $50-$104

The symphony features Gonzalo Farias, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor and Grammy Award®-winning saxophonist Kenny G is the top selling instrumental musician of our time (believe it or not). His smooth sounds will transport you to Havana and beyond. Hear “Songbird,” “Forever in Love,” “Heart and Soul,” “Silhouette” and “My Heart Will Go On”, embellished with lush arrangements and a swelling sound which will make you hear his songs, in an entirely different light.

TUESDAY MARCH 14

National Geographic Live Presents Mesoamerica Illuminated, Kauffman Center, $33.50-$68.50.

Featuring Diana Magaloni-Kerpel, Art Historian & Microarcheologist. Discover how the iconic Olmec heads of Mexico were created, explore the meaning behind the Teotihuacan pyramids and get a peek into the culture in the Mayan city of Chichen Itza. Join her as she brings ancient Mesoamerican civilizations to life in an informative and entertaining way. We’ve attended the NatGeo series previously in Minneapolis and always left more informed and with a greater understanding of our world.

Young Nudy, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$30

The ATL hip-hopper has a brand-new record, Gumbo, just out last week, and is also known for his Slimeball mixtapes and collabs with cousin 21 Savage.

Zach Williams, Uptown, SOLD OUT

A Hundred Highways Tour is long sold out.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 15

Underoath w Periphery, Loathe, Uptown, $36-$75.

The Tampa rockers just began their month-long Blind Obedience Tour, kicking off in Silver Spring, MD and wrapping April 2nd in Nashville. Latest release is 2022’s Voyeurist but even more new music is in the offing. The band is offering VIP Demo Listening Party packages that include a GA ticket, exclusive pre-show hangout with a demo listening party, a band Q&A, a photo with the band, and limited-edition merch.

“We’re working on new music (as always),” Underoath said in a collective statement. “Some songs are done. Some are close. Some have just gotten started… but we wanted to find a way to bring you inside that creative process. At every VIP meet and greet, we’re going to be having a listening party of unreleased music we’re currently working on as well as never before heard demos of songs you know well.”

The tour’s support lineup is also of note, with prog metallers Periphery and genre-bending UK act Loathe comprising a strong one-two punch of support. Periphery are coming off their 2019 album Periphery IV: Hail Stan, we caught them headlining back in Minneapolis in 2016.

Loathe reinvented themselves with their ambient-leaning 2021 effort The Things They Believe.

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! March 1-8, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Elle King Often compared to Janis Joplin, singer/songwriter/banjoist Elle King will be releasing her debut album Love Stuff next week, February 17th... just missing out on Valentine's Day. The Love Stuff...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

The old saying that “March roars in like a lion” is true, at least in terms of KC-area concerts, as it’s a pretty full first week of shows. It’s still the crazy time of years when temps are 60 and sunny one day, then 30 and overcast the next, so plan accordingly, but don’t fret- outdoor shows return sooner than you know it.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from March 1st-8th.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 1

Six (musical), continuing thru Mar 5, Music Hall, $136+

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived!

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of heartbreak into a celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over (as they are saying!)

SIX won 23 awards in the 2021-22 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

(Tix basically all sold out at this point, but worth it to keep checking!)

Reverend Horton Heat w Scott Biram, Knuckleheads, $25-$45

A must band to see at least once! After a successful tour last year with Toadies and Nashville Pussy (we caught ‘em last October in Minneapolis), rock’s best modern rockabilly/psychobilly trio returns with a new headlining run of their own.

Reverend Horton Heat led by Jim Heath have been innovating the genre for almost four decades, leading to 12 full-length albums, 3 “best-of” collections, 2 DVD releases and thousands of live performances. Heath and Jimbo Wallace along with new drummer Jonathan Jeter are true road dogs and always find a way to deliver with their live performance.

David Ramirez w Dylan LeBlanc, Knuckleheads,$20

The Austin TX Americana singer-songwriter stayed prolific during the pandemic, releasing My Love is a Hurricane in 2020 and following that up with sixth full-length, Backslider, in 2021.

Early albums like American Soil(2009) and Apologies(2012) put him on the map first locally then beyond, while his STRANGETOWN(2011) and The Rooster(2013) EPs delivered fan-favorite recordings, “Shoeboxes” and “The Bad Days respectively, that are staple singalongs at his concerts.

Muscle Shoals, AL native Dylan LeBlanc’s latest record is 2019’s Renegade, on Dave Matthews’ label, ATO Records, so expect a healthy helping of songs from that, and his three previous releases.

Otoboke Beaver, recordBar,$20

So anticipated, our Ed-in-Chief Vu might forego his traditional Winter hibernation in Minneapolis, to brave the elements and cold weather, to venture out to see this all-girl Japanese punk act (おとぼけビ～バ～).

The band takes their name after a “love hotel” in Osaka and the quartet (singer/guitarist Accorinrin, guitarist Yoyoyoshie, bassist Hirochan, and drummer Kahokiss), have a new record, 2022’s Super Champion, to support, and are marking their first full length tour of North America, which will continue across Europe into 2023, and is recommended for Shonen Knife and riot grrrl fans. Silicone Prairie to open.

THURSDAY MARCH 2

The Rural Alberta Advantage w Georgia Harmer, recordBar, $20-$22

The Rural Alberta Advantage (The RAA) recently released The Rise EP featuring 6 new songs including ‘CANDU’, their first new offerings from the award-winning trio since 2017’s album The Wild, and the first recordings since the return of core band member, Amy Cole. An ongoing series of new songs and EPs will be shared through the year as they're written and recorded by the band, so buckle up! We literally just caught them live in Minnesota, to give you an idea of what to expect in KC.

FRIDAY MARCH 3

Mod Sun w Stand Atlantic, Mar 3, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$27

The MN-born trippy hip-hop and pop-punk act may have his marriage plans to Avril Lavigne on the rocks, but his current God Save The Teen Tour rolls on, featuring special guests Stand Atlantic and Tom The Mail Man as support

Saying these will be his biggest headlining shows yet -- "and that's both exhilarating and a big responsibility to me.” He adds, "I'm going to always focus on the sound and performance of any show I play, but this time I really want to focus on the experience as well.”

SATURDAY MARCH 4

White Reaper, Madrid Theatre, $25-$50

White Reaper just released their fourth and latest album, Asking for a Ride, along with its debut single “Pages”. The Louisville rockers recorded and almost entirely self-produced the new set in Nashville with engineer Jeremy Ferguson. We first caught the Louisville garage rockers back in 2015 in MN.

Katy Guillen and The Drive w Frogpond, Knuckleheads,$15

A local bluesy rock treasure! KC’s own Katy Guillen & The Drive is founded on the creative spark and chemistry between Katy Guillen and Stephanie Williams, with Guillen on guitar / vocals and Williams on drums. After collaborating together in Katy Guillen & The Girls, the pair forged ahead with a melodic, heavy, and soulful sound while maintaining their rock ‘n' roll / blues roots on the new album called Another One Gained. We saw them right before Christmas in Lawrence and definitely came away impressed, especially by Guillen’s Flemenco-influenced solos.

Frogpond is a familiar name, known around these parts since the 90’s and fills out this female-empowered night of rock.

SUNDAY MARCH 5

Black Violin, Lied Center- Lawrence, $21-$60

The two-time Grammy-nominated duo, brought to life by Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, invokes a mystifying musical fusion of classical sounds and hip-hop beats. A concert performance that will merge centuries of music with a message of hope and possibility.

On stage, Marcus gives an electrifying violin performance along with Baptiste’s viola and vocal performance and joining them are Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on the turntable, and Liston Gregory on keys.

Bobby Weir and The Wolf Bros, The Midland,$39.75-$99.75

Deadheads unite! Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros formed in 2018 by Weir along with the legendary producer and bassist Don Was and Jay (ex-RatDog and Primus) Lane and play GD classics along with Weir solo material. In 2020, Jeff Chimenti joined the Wolf Bros and is also now joined by Barry Sless on pedal steel.

They recently released their first ever vinyl collection of recorded material, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado, on Third Man Records. The two volume set, produced by Weir, Was and Lane, features a collection of songs recorded during the band’s performances at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO and the Ford Amphitheater in Vail,

MONDAY MARCH 6

jxdn, Granada- Lawrence,$29-$34

The Tennessee Tik Tok and pop-punk/emo-rap star just began his latest tour, releasing a new single called “Sober” last November, which followed his 2021 Travis Barker-produced debut album, Tell Me About Tomorrow. Mark Hoppus collaborators Beauty School Dropout will also be on the bill.

TUESDAY MARCH 7

Crash Test Dummies w Carleton Stone, Madrid Theatre, $45-$79

After some pandemic delays, the Canadian alt-rock band is reuniting for the first time in 17-years to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their seminal sophomore album, God Shuffled His Feet, featuring the original line-up of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge.

Says bandleader Roberts, “It was a wild ride for us that year. Now we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary reuniting with our original line-up and dusting off our old set lists. It will be the first time we’ve toured with the full band since 2001, and we’re very excited about it.” The 1993 platinum-selling Grammy-nominated album hit #9 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart and features their most unusual and popular singles, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” and “Superman.”

WEDNESDAY MARCH 8

Eric Johnson, Madrid. $35-$55

Another show rescheduled due to the pandemic, the guitar hero’s Treasure Tour 2023 will celebrate two separate and new albums, The Book of Making and Yesterday Meets Today, released this past July via his new partnership with Blue Élan Records.

Among Johnson’s many accolades are a Grammy award for “Cliffs of Dover” (a track from his Platinum certified Ah Via Musicom), ten more Grammy nominations, lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats and his listing among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician magazine.

Subtronics w MUST DIE!, Kompany, UBER, AUSTERIA,The Midland,$28-$45

A love for SUBwoofers and elecTRONICS has brought us Subtronics from Philadelphia- aka Jesse Kardon, had a passion for his drum set and Radiohead. While in high school, he discovered electronic music and became enamored with the scene. Fusing his blend of cutting-edge sound design with hard-hitting bass, Subtronics seeks to push the envelope with sound engineering.

In January 2022, he dropped his debut album ‘FRACTALS’ which came in at #4 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Album Chart. The album coincided with his 50+ date national headline FRACTAL TOUR, which featured state-of-the-art production and ground-breaking visuals, traveling with a custom-built stage, featuring a floating DJ table within a reflective black hole, dubbed ‘The Wormhole.’

Elle King w Red Clay Strays, Uptown, $39.50

Elle King has continued to do things her way, with a unique style that encompasses country, soul, rock and blues. King is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, two each in the rock and country categories, and received honors from the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Latest release is the cheekily-named Come Get Your Wife released in January and is more country-tinged, with King ready for her own headlining A Freakin-Men tour, after several dates with Chris Stapleton last year.

We caught her live, early on back in 2015 in Minneapolis, and knew even back then, how driven and fiercely independent she seemed to be. South Alabama rockers Red Clay Strays to open, in support of new full-length, Moment of Truth.

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Giovannie and The Hired Guns at The Bottleneck- Lawrence, KS (2023-02-23) review

GIOVANNIE AND THE HIRED GUNS Poster GIOVANNIE & THE HIRED GUNS SETLIST Bad Habits Run Away Pretend Always On Your Mind Something in the Way The Letter Shout Numb I Don't Mind Rock'n Roll Part 2 (Gary Glitter cover) Overrated Tragos Amargos (Ramón Ayala cover) Ramón Ayala Can't Answer Why Pumped Up Kicks (Foster the People cover w/Guns n' Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" bridge) Encore:         Change         Rooster Tattoo/An Empty Glass/Rooster Tattoo (reprise) SLADE COULTER SETLIST Hellbent Lights Go Out Comin Back Around Here We Go Again Remember Us Stay Hey Mary Space But Me Take it Out on Me GIOVANNIE & THE HIRED GUNS Tour Dates FEB 24 Fox Theatre Hays, KS FEB 25 The Hat Manhattan, KS FEB 26 Rose Music Hall Columbia, MO FEB 28 Off Broadway St. Louis, MO MAR 2 Kiss Bar & Grill Springfield, MO MAR 3 The Majestic Fort Smith, AR MAR 4 Stephenville Buckles & Bugs Fest Stephenville, TX MAR 10 Billy Bob's Texas Fort Worth, TX MAR 11 The Backyard Seguin, TX MAR 13 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Mercedes, TX MAR 16 Revel Entertainment Center Albuquerque, NM MAR 17 Arizona Financial Theatre Phoenix, AZ MAR 18 Abraham Chavez Theater El Paso, TX MAR 31 Chilifest Somerville, TX APR 1 Cooper's Live! Christoval, TX APR 8 Crawfish Boil at Tailgate Midland Midland, TX APR 13 Brewster Street Ice House Corpus Christi, TX APR 15 WashFest Wharton, TX APR 24 191 Toole Tucson, AZ APR 25 The Casbah San Diego, CA APR 26 Temblor Brewing Co Bakersfield, CA APR 28 Goldfield Trading Post Roseville Roseville, CA APR 29 Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music Berkeley, CA APR 30 Strummer's Bar & Grill Fresno, CA MAY 2 The Echo Los Angeles, CA MAY 5 Tumbleweed Dance Hall Stillwater, OK MAY 6 Baylor Bears & Bugs Fest Waco, TX MAY 12 Floore's Country Store Helotes, TX MAY 13 KTBZ's Buzzfest The Woodlands, TX MAY 16 Wooly's Des Moines, IA MAY 17 The Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon Iowa City, IA MAY 19 Turf Club St Paul, MN MAY 20 Joe's Bar Chicago, IL MAY 21 The Rave Milwaukee, WI MAY 24 Castle Theatre Bloomington, IL MAY 25 The Machine Shop Flint, MI MAY 26 Hi-Fi Indianapolis, IN MAY 27 Sonic Temple Columbus, OH JUN 2 The Studio at The Factory Dallas, TX JUN 17 The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO JUN 18 Marquis Theater Denver, CO JUN 20 Moxi Theater Greeley, CO JUN 21 Mesa Theater Grand Junction, CO JUN 23 Hwy 30 Music Fest Filer, ID JUN 24 The State Room Salt Lake City, UT JUN 25 The Lincoln Cheyenne, WY AUG 5 Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK AUG 18 Wheatstock 2023 Helix, OR Read More Giovannie & the Hired Guns This rising rock band melds metal, country and Latin music with radio-friendly pop melodies. Formed back when front man Giovannie Yanez was working at a pawnshop, the Stephenville, TX-based band

The greatest metal, country-tinged, Tejano, alternative punk-pop, norteño-loving, tuba-blowing band on Earth!

Texas band Giovannie and the Hired Guns made a stop in Lawrence KS at the Bottleneck (the first of three Kansas gigs) on their Tejano Punk Boyz Tour, to play before a solidly full weeknight crowd at the downtown club.

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We haven’t heard too much yet about Jayton, TX-born singer-songwriter Slade Coulter but we get the feeling that will change as word gets further out about this rising country-tinged, West Texas rocker. Coulter started his career while attending Texas Tech University releasing his 2020 debut six-song EP Here We Go Again, and followed up that with full-length, Best of Me, at the end of last year.

His forty-five-minute set surely won over many in the crowd and he and the band have been out on their Quite Alright Tour, both headlining and supporting. Though we didn’t hear that new song that the tour is named after, 2021 single “Hey Mary” packed a strong punch with lyrics, “Girl, you're never gonna come to your senses If you're stuck on the fences again”, and Coulter professed his sad closing song, “Take It Out on Me” was the favorite of all he’s written to date.

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Any band that begins their ninety-minute set with the riffs from Pantera’s “Cowboys from Hell” immediately has our attention, and Giovannie and the Hired Guns instantly had the crowd in their hands for the rest of the night. The buzzing rock band melds metal, country. and Tejano music with some punk and power pop and is out supporting third full-length (and first for Warner Music), Tejano Punk Boyz after several previous indie releases.

The band initially formed when front man Giovannie Yanez was working at a pawnshop in the small town of Stephenville, TX and has toured with Classless Act last year, also making a memorable Kansas City appearance at last summer’s Boulevardia Festival that still had people talking.

Yanez’ growling, gravel voice first takes some getting used to, but it fits the melding of those musical genres and represents the street-level storytelling and angst and introspection that Yanez reveals in his lyrics.

The quartet (Yanez- guitar/vocals; his cousin Carlos Villa and Jerrod Flusche- guitars; Alex Trejo -bass; Milton Toles- drums) seemed in sync from the beginning, especially the dual guitarists positioned on each end of the stage, each occasionally stepping atop monitor speakers to cut loose like High and Dry-era Def Lep guitarists Steve Clark and Phil Collen.

2020’s “Always on Your Mind” holds up with any power ballad from Godsmack or Staind and Yanez exposes his emotional vulnerability on “The Letter” singing both in English and Spanish. “Shout” encouraged audience participation on its chorus, and on the darker “Numb” Yanez gives in to admit, “I've had enough, thought I should feel something, I'm better off numb”.

The set seemed to really turn the page and hit yet another gear with their cover of Gary Glitter’s stadium anthem “Rock 'n Roll Part 2” (Glitter is out of jail, so I suppose it’s PC to start hearing this again) as the Hired Guns took out the “Big Brass”- bassist Trejo strapped on a tuba to musically bump the audience into even more of a frenzy.

Fans sung along to the new album’s opening, “Overrated” with Yanez self-depreciating but also slyly enjoying the slight, “I’m such a freak, I love the way she hates it” and their cover of norteño singer Ramon (The King of Accordion) Ayala’s “Tragos Amargos” led into their own breakout hit, a tribute to the musical idol that Yanez (and everyone else in the culture), couldn’t help but listen to while growing up. 2021’s “Ramon Ayala” would go on to be #1 on both the Active Rock Radio Chart and the Alternative Radio Chart, a feat not accomplished in the previous fifteen years.

And after all that, you haven’t heard Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” until you’ve heard Gio and the Guns perform it live- a revved up, pedal to the floor version, punctuated by jagged and swirling guitar riffs, and a percussive back beat, seamlessly inserting the bridge from Guns n’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, before returning to end the song with a musical uppercut, causing the crowd to chant for more as the band walked off the stage.

The band returned quickly, beginning the encore by reaching back to 2017 for “Change” and moving into a medley of “Rose Tattoo/An Empty Glass”, to end things this night with the similar sharp Dimebag-style riffs that began the set, and to rave applause.

Sometimes the critics are actually right- after landing on Amazon Music’s 2022 Artists to Watch list and a profile article last October in Rolling Stone, not to mention chart success with their single, “Ramon Ayala”, we can definitely say with Giovannie and the Hired Guns, we’ve seen the best metal, country, Tejano, punk alt-pop, tuba-featured, band on the planet.

 (click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

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john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 21-28, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Kimbra More than somebody that you used to know-- New Zealand-born Kimbra is back, touring in support of her second album, The Golden Echo (Warner Bros. Records) …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Mostly good reports coming out of Springsteen’s recent KC stop, despite having no sax player due to a positive Covid test, just before showtime. At least half their band has been affected, but the tour rolls on, like most traveling shows these days.

P!nk just announced for late October and Jelly Roll is also headlining T-Mobile Center in late August, and Guns n' Roses will play Kauffman Stadium on Sept 23, so the Fall is already starting to take shape.

This week has a good mix from different genres, with a few being very sold out and/or limited tix remaining, so lock in your seat while you can!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from February 21st-28th.

TUESDAY FEB 21

International Anime Music Festival, The Midland, $45

This inaugural tour brings virtual music superstars to 37 venues and is the first time the popular VTubers (virtually generated animated YouTubers) and Vocaloids (virtual singers with computer generated voices) will appear on stage together.

Stars Kizuna AI Original Singeroid "#kzn", vocal duo HIMEHINA, vocal trio MaRiNaSu, the North American debut of fan favorite GUMI, and pop twins LiLYPSE, the show will be a live DJ-led multimedia concert. Featuring brand new songs and never-before-seen content, the tour brings these characters to life on LED and digital projections. These characters are fan-favorites of international anime-music, generating over 62 million Google searches, and more than 1.2 billion combined views.

National Geographic Live Presents Wild Cats of India with Sandesh Kadur, Kauffman Center, $33.50-$68.50.

With landscapes spanning the Himalaya, arid plains and jungles, India is home to an unmatched diversity of wild cats. Photographer / filmmaker Sandesh Kadur is on a mission to highlight the country’s lesser-known felines in order to protect their future. Through his images and video, you’ll get a unique and up-close look, and the presentation includes an audience Q&A.

WEDNESDAY FEB 22

 THURSDAY FEB 23

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

This rising rock band melds metal, country and Latin music with radio-friendly pop melodies. Formed back when front man Giovannie Yanez was working at a pawnshop, the Stephenville, TX-based band has had great word of mouth related to their live shows and toured last year with Classless Act, who we saw headline to end the year.

In 2019, the band even supported country star Jason Aldean to a crowd of 36,000 at Globe Life Park stadium. With their third full-length, Tejano Punk Boyz, they remain intent on bringing that passion to each and every live set. “Anytime we’re onstage the most important thing is connecting with the crowd in a way that makes them feel like they’re part of the show,” says Yanez.

SunSquabi, recordBar, $17

Incorporating aspects of many genres including electronic, jam band, and funk, among many others the trio is Chris Anderson (drums), Josh Fairman (bass, synth), and Kevin Donohue (guitar, keys, production). They just performed on the Jam Cruise last month and are now making their way around the country. Megan Hamilton also on the bill.

Gary Allan, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT

The longtime Country artist will be performing his greatest hits including “Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain,” "Watching Airplanes," "Nothin' On But The Radio", and others, in a relatively intimate setting. We saw him years ago in Nashville, and his smooth voice and solid songs, are just as strong as ever.

FRIDAY FEB 24

DakhaBrakha, Polsky Theatre. SOLD OUT

This show is Very Sold Out! Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, this unique “ethno chaos” band creates a world of unexpected new music.

They began in 2004 by avant-garde theatre director Vladyslav Troitskyi, with a name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language and their shows are always staged with a strong visual element. Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, Russian and Australian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in their native culture. Support Ukraine!

Fit for a King w Northlane, Alpha Wolf, Kingdom of Giants, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$28.

****POSTPONED TO FEB 27th*****

Supporting their latest metalcore opus, The Hell We Create (released in Oct via Solid State Records). This lineup is packed so prepare for early doors, a long night, and fervent headbanging.  Limited tix left - Act Quick!    

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $29-$69

Celebrating their 30^th Anniversary, the band named themselves after an autograph by blues legend Albert Collins, and since then, they’ve managed to celebrate and revitalize jazz and swing music and bring a sense of joy and fun to audiences.

They began their 30th (officially in April 2023) celebration early by gathering eight other musicians they’ve played with throughout the years, for a total of 17, and delivering a big band sound in their hometown of Ventura, CA and now their show again hits the road-- no telling how many will be on stage, but it will be crowded!

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “The Future” feat. Lee Langston, Kauffman Center. $33.50-$68.50

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra embraces the future of music through performance and education. The Future is built wholly upon that tenet, providing the stage for this art to emerge, featuring current and future legends one and all. Along with the big band, vocalists Eboni Fondren and Lee Langston will put their modern spin on tunes from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, and Sam Cooke. In addition, some of Kansas City’s rising stars, students from Soundwave Academy and KCK Community College, will join onstage.

SATURDAY FEB 25

Blue October, The Truman, $39.50-$75.00

Out on their Spinning the Truth Around Tour, the longtime Houston rock band has an album out by the same name, as part of a planned ambitious triple-album, with the second part due out next month. Always putting on a great live set, we caught them last in Minneapolis in 2019.

Greensky Bluegrass, Uptown, $29-$50

The veteran Kalamazoo-based Americana outfit is out on the road to support their just-released Courage For The Road: Fall 2021 live record, along with cuts from their previous eight studio albums. The five-piece features Anders Beck [dobro], Michael Arlen Bont [banjo], Dave Bruzza [guitar], Mike Devol [upright bass], and Paul Hoffman [Mandolin].

Summer Breeze performing Let It Be, recordBar, $20.

KC’s own soft/yacht rock hits tribute band, whose playlist usually includes the likes of Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Loggins, and Steely Dan, turns its attention to the classic late-era Beatles classic, performed in its entirety, along with special surprise guests!

SUNDAY FEB 26

Kimbra w Tei Shi, recordBar, $22

The New Zealand native who saw her US breakthrough via Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” has returned with new tour and full-length, A Reckoning, with “Foolish Thinking,” as its third single. We caught her live back in 2018 in Minneapolis and she’s even better in concert than you expect.

Opener Tei Shi is a Canadian Colombian singer with music inspired by indie pop, shoegaze and R&B sounds, she's supporting her new EP BAD PREMONITION featuring single, “¿QUIÉN TE MANDA?”. It follows her 2020 EP, Die 4 Ur Love, and features production from herself, Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jacob Portrait, and more. We last caught her headlining back in late 2017.

MONDAY FEB 27

ICM Presents Pianist Claudio Martinez Mehner, 1900 Building, $30 ($10 students)

As part of Park ICM’s 20th Anniversary, a rare U.S. performance by the classical master pianist of a virtuosic work! Friends since their days in school, Park ICM Founder / Artistic Director Stanislav Ioudenitch invited Mehner to come and play Isaac Albeniz’s Iberia, considered one of the most challenging works for piano written. This collection by Spanish composer Albeniz evokes the spirit of Spain and the region of Andalusia in particular, with rhythms and harmonies gleaned from Spanish folk music.  Bravo, Bravo!

TUESDAY FEB 28

Stephen Sanchez w Cece Coakley, recordBar, $15

The buzzing Nashville-based singer/songwriter has returned with his brand-new single, “Evangeline” (via Mercury Records/Republic Records) and he’s out on a 32-date tour.

He became popular on social media, amassing over two million views and a deal with Republic Records. With this opportunity, the young singer wrote another hit song, “Kayla,” in 2021, and a few months later added his EP, What Was, Not Now. Sanchez continued to accumulate hits with his first full album, Easy on My Eyes in 2022.

Joey Molland and Badfinger, Knuckleheads, $38.50-$55

Known for such classic hits as "Baby Blue," "No Matter What" and "Day After Day," Badfinger was one of the first bands to be signed by The Beatles when they decided to start their own record label. Paul McCartney wrote their breakthrough single "Come and Get It," while George Harrison produced both "Day After Day” and "Baby Blue", the latter of which went to #1 decades later, after being featured on the final episode of AMC's "Breaking Bad".

As the only surviving member of this legendary pop band, Joey Molland (a Brit but MN-based for decades) continues the legacy of their music, while also continuing to create new music.

Six (musical), Feb 28- Mar 5, Music Hall, $136+

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived! From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of heartbreak into a celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over (as they are saying!)

SIX has won 23 awards in the 2021-22 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

Much anticipated to play locally, the entire run is just about sold out so secure any remaining tix now!

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 15-20, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Bruce Springsteen More recently, the massive vault of vintage Springsteen recordings was opened, beginning with a 2012 performance at the Apollo in NYC...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Three magical words- Super! Bowl! Champions!

Ok, the big game’s over and getting back to music, this week is all about The Boss! Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are finally back on the road, though not without some drama, as several members have very recently had to sit out, due to Covid. Let’s hope the outbreak is behind them and all members are back on stage this weekend.

The biggest avant-garde secret is that Laurie Anderson is in town with Filharmonie Brno for a unique tribute to Amelia Earhart, and there are also several good club shows this week.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from February 15th-20th.

WEDNESDAY FEB 15

Bruce Cockburn's 50th Anniversary Concert, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $39-$59

Delayed by the pandemic, this special tour is back on tracks and playing to appreciative fans. Cockburn has released 34 albums and his songs have been covered by many artists including Jimmy Buffet, kd Lang, Barenaked Ladies, Jerry Garcia, Anne Murray, Elbow, Judy Collins, Chet Atkins, and more. The 50th Anniversary shows promise songs from each decade that he’s made records in: 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, 2010’s and the 2020’s!

The Dip, Madrid Theatre, $30

The Dip is a pop, rhythm and blues band that was formed in 2013 by jazz music students at the UW-Seattle. The band combines a typical pop instrumentation with a 3-part horn section. They have released three full-length albums as well as two instrumental Eps with latest being last year’s Sticking With it (on Dualtone Records). Live, they’ve recently snuck in their unique version of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”.

Noah Kahan w Jack Van Cleaf, The Truman, SOLD OUT

Newest releases the Cape Elizabeth EP and full-length Stick Season are both so critically acclaimed, many feel the Vermont folk pop singer-songwriter is on the verge of breaking it big(ger) with most shows (including this one) on this run being sold-out. Anyone enamored by the Mumford-like big folk sound will need to somehow find a way into this one.

THURSDAY FEB 16

Brian Posehn, Comedy Club of KC, Feb 16, 17, 18, $20 / $30

The comedian/actor/writer is in town for a multi-night stand, so plenty of chances to catch him live. Known for specials "25x2" and "Criminally Posehn" and his podcast, Nerd Poker, he’s been in numerous films and TV shows including The Five-Year Engagement, Lloyd the Conqueror and The Sarah Silverman Program.

Cody Canada w Rob Leines, Knuckleheads, $20

Expect a heaping helping of Cross Canadian Ragweed songs as well as solo material from their former rock/alt-country Oklahoma-based lead singer. He fronts The Departed and newest release is last year’s Soul Gravy.

FRIDAY FEB 17

Niko Moon w Dylan Schneider, The Truman, $20-$40

Out on his Ain’t No Better Place Tour, the country-pop singer is also currently writing and recording the follow-up to his 2021 debut album Good Time, named after his double Platinum, No. 1 hit single. Also, he recently welcomed a daughter, Lily, with his wife / frequent collaborator, Anna. Together they composed “I Can’t Wait to Love You” in anticipation of Lily’s arrival. Live, he’s been working in Tim McGraw, Zac Brown, and Travis Tritt covers.

Thy Art is Murder, Granada- Lawrence, $25-$30

Australian deathcore band out on their Decade of Hate Tour, it’s a packed evening with the lineup including Kublai Khan TX, Undeath, I AM, and Justice For The Damned, so an early door time.

Rodney Carrington, Feb 17-18 , Ameristar, $65+

Carrington is known for the witty and sarcastic humor that he is able to blend into various mediums of stand-up, music, and short films. He integrates his country roots seamlessly into the essence of his demeanor and writing style, playing around the world as one of the top 10 highest-grossing touring comedians for the past two decades.

SATURDAY FEB 18

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, T-Mobile Center. $63.50-$403.50

Despite high prices and low-ticket availability and a current fight with Covid, Springsteen and his full band have returned to the road for the first time in North America in seven years. Little Steven, Patti Scialfa and Soozie Tyrell have all missed the recent TX dates and the setlist spans decades, but is heavier on material from Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Born in the USA and the more recent Letter to You albums. Whichever way, expect a marathon and fun evening from a legend and one of the best bands working.

Filharmonie Brno With Dennis Russell Davies, and Laurie Anderson, $43.50-$83.50

Take the ultimate flight of fancy with iconic creative pioneer Laurie Anderson as she channels Atchison, KS’ own Amelia Earhart in an expansive work for Filharmonie Brno under the baton of renowned American conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Earhart’s own radio transmissions, diaries, and news clippings are used in Anderson’s sonic score that show off the technical capabilities of Helzberg Hall.

The roots of the Filharmonie Brno go way back to the 1870s when young Leoš Janáček endeavored to establish a Czech symphony orchestra in Brno and the setlist will consist of work by Antonin Dvořák and Bohuslav Martinů as well as the Laurie Anderson piece.

SUNDAY FEB 19

Winterlude: Trent Austin Quartet, Polsky Theatre. $17-$35

Trumpeter, artist, and educator Trent Austin plays jazz classics with the influences of classical and contemporary music. A prodigy, Austin performed at the opening of Euro-Disney and was a featured performer at the 1992 Montreux Jazz Festival and later played with the likes of Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Jack Jones, and numerous others.

He was a trumpet professor at the University of Southern Maine for nine years and now maintains an active teaching studio providing trumpet and jazz improv lessons in Kansas City.

MONDAY FEB 20

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

David Lowery at Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence KS (2023-02-09)

DAVID LOWERY Poster DAVID LOWERY Setlist Frozen Sea, 1963 Plaza de Toros, 1967 Super Bloom, 1973 We Hate You Leaving Key Member Clause It Don't Last Long The Giving Tree Father (I Don't Wanna Go to the) Lincoln Shrine (Camper Van Beethoven song) DAVID LOWERY Tour Dates March 9 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA March 10 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA March 11 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA June 17 The Acorn Festival The Acorn Three Oaks, MI Read More Camper Van Beethoven Camper Van Beethoven, has explored a variety of musical genres in the 20-odd years they’ve been making music. Where CVB injected traditional Eastern European music... Cracker If you listened to our new podcast, you can clearly hear us singing to various Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven songs off the top of our heads. …

“Enjoy it while you can, it don’t last long” -

David Lowery, singer-songwriter of legendary alt-rock bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven sings this on the first track of his most recent full-length, Vending Machine, but there’s those that would disagree, evidenced by Lowery’s over four-decade career in music.

Lowery discussed his career in music and musician rights activism, and then performed a short but intimate acoustic set as part of Lawrence Public Library’s annual 780s Series- (named after the music section of the Dewey Decimal system in libraries) a once-a-year event that celebrates a notable life in music and the stories behind their songs.

Made possible through a private donation from the Harrison Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation, and in partnership with The Lawrence Public Library Foundation, the series has brought formidable talent to town in previous installments including Mavis Staples, Rakim, Jimmy Webb, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, and Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG’s.

Brad Allen, Executive Director of Lawrence Public Library sat down with Lowery at the Lawrence Arts Center (an ideal venue) for conversation, with some audience questions, and a brief performance following. David Lowery is a mathematician, writer, musician, producer, college lecturer, and entrepreneur based mostly in Georgia.

Lowery would unknowingly become a godfather of what we now identify as indie rock while studying math and computers at UC- Santa Cruz, co-founding early band Sitting Ducks in the early 1980’s, which distinguished themselves by playing a punk, acid rock version of "fake Russian-sounding music." That band would evolve into Camper Van Beethoven and associated label, Pitch-a-Tent Records was brought to life along the way.

That band would break up, with Lowery and guitarist friend Johnny Hickman, with bassist Davey Faragher next forming Cracker, whose sound was more traditional, country-tinged roots-rock, that struck more of a mainstream chord with radio hits like 1992’s "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" and 1993’s "Low".

Lowery eventually went solo and along the way co-founded a studio, created commercial tracks, produced numerous notable artists, and earned an Ed.D. from the University of Georgia in 2018, to add to his math degree.

With the rise of streaming and digital platforms of music, Lowery also found himself a music activist, involved in class-action lawsuits against the likes of Pandora and Spotify, who to this day, still only pay most artists a fraction of a cent, per-play.

Lowery also kept a keen eye on evolving technology as well, advising on the early version of Groupon and was a seed investor in music gear website Reverb.com.

In 2016 Lowery released Conquistador as a dramatic-musical work of a 1000-copy limited edition and because of this designation, all public performances, including streaming, webcasting, and radio broadcast required written permission from the author, meaning seemingly random sources like a German classical station would directly pay Lowery a one-time broadcast fee.

Lowery is still notably very much an advocate of the CD format (of which he described his signed limited run on a social post as “analog NFTs”, confusing many in the younger generation), preferring its sound, the ownership of a physical product, and because it allows more direct royalties to the artist.

While Lowery said he also enjoys the resurgence of vinyl, he mentioned the high prices, lead times, and a licensing structure, as potential barriers in allowing the re-release of his other older band releases for the moment.

Asked about major artists selling their music catalogs of late, Lowery understands the impetus to do so, and explained that the trend made his own song catalog's value multiply 3-4x as a ripple effect. Lowery explained the importance of describing a location in many of his songs, as another important paintbrush in his composing palette and how personal his latest songs are, dedicating many to his siblings and own children.

Following a short break, Lowery returned for a short eight-song acoustic set, mostly culled from his recent works, beginning with “Frozen Sea, 1963” about his childhood and his serviceman father. 2019’s “Plaza de Toros, 1967” was about witnessing bullfighting while the family lived in Spain and 2021’s "Leaving Key Member Clause” was his all-too-true story about assuming a band’s name, rights, and obligations (including all debts).

The lone older track was saved for last, one he composed as a teen that Camper Van Beethoven would perform in the mid-80s, called “(I Don't Wanna Go to the) Lincoln Shrine” about an inevitable grade school trip most classes in Redlands, CA took, to visit a local tourist attraction and museum.

“It’s timing and it’s luck” David Lowery admits on 2023’s “It Doesn’t Last Long” but while his musical career may have started out with the help of such; his surviving and thriving over the last forty years, has shown that talent, persistence, and a musical uniqueness were the true characteristics that paved his way. The 780s Series of conversation and performance proved a worthy and entertaining (did we mention free as well?) evening of showcasing the insight into an influential musician and their songs, and any future installments shouldn't be missed. 

(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

BRAD ALLEN

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

DAVID LOWERY

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 8-14, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Country Stampede Country Stampede at the Heartland is an outdoor music festival featuring country music stars, camping, and more in Topeka, Kansas at Heartland Motorsports Park, held annually since 1996. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Ahh, the month of love!

KC is showing some love to live shows as well, with a handful this week that are sold-out, and it looks like a busy week at recordBar, The Uptown, and in Lawrence-- get out and see something live while those temps remain mild.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings through the end of the month- February 8th-14th.

WEDNESDAY FEB 8

My Fair Lady (musical), Kauffman Center, $56.50-$121.50

(Continues through Feb 12- look for our review of opening night soon!)  From Lincoln Center Theater (who brought The King & I and South Pacific), comes the Lerner & Loewe classic. Director Bartlett Sher’s production boasts classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” and “On the Street Where You Live,” it tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a professor determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.”

Garrison Keillor and Company (comedy/spoken word), Uptown, $39-$69

An evening of stand-up, storytelling, audience song, and poetry starring Garrison Keillor and featuring pianist Dan Chouinard, vocalist Prudence Johnson and musician Dean Magraw.

There are sung sonnets, limericks and musical jokes, and the thread that runs through it is the beauty of growing old. There is the News from Lake Wobegon, a town booming with new entrepreneurs, makers of artisanal firewood and gourmet meatloaf, breeders of composting worms, and dogs trained to do childcare. Minnesotans and beyond have been enraptured by this world of small-town humor.

Magic City Hippies w Capyac, recordBar SOLD OUT

Miami alt-pop psych-funk party starters are back on tour in support of third album Water Your Garden. We saw them open for Hippo Campus in Mar 2017 on their first-ever national tour, knowing bigger things were to come...and were right. 

THURSDAY FEB 9

Alastair Greene, Knuckleheads,$10

A night of blues rock from a member of the Alan Parsons Live Project from 2010 to 2017, Greene would go on to play with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas and Sugaray Rayford Band, as well as his own band. Greene formed his own Alastair Greene Band in 1997 and subsequently released eight albums, including two live sets and a compilation record, over nearly 20 years. Howard Mahan to open.

FRIDAY FEB 10

Ian Munsick w Ashland Craft, Ned LaDoux, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, SOLD OUT

One of the true highlights of last summer’s Country Stampede Festival was seeing this Wyoming native live, who is currently out on his mostly sold-out Long Live Cowgirls Tour and as well as the local date, is headlining the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the first time.

The tour, named after the song, that has garnered over 74.5 million global streams to date and topped SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown, compliments the news of Munsick’s sophomore LP White Buffalo, due April 7th (on Warner Music Nashville). The album is an ode to the wild landscapes and complex characters of Munsick’s Wyoming, including a real-life glimpse of the bond between Native American and cowboy culture.

Ashland Craft and maybe fellow WY native (and son of legend Chris LeDoux), Ned LeDoux opens as support (scheduled, though we don't see his name listed on the venue's website).  

Chapel Hart w Lucas Hoge, Feb 10, Uptown, $25-$125

The Poplarville country music trio featuring sisters Danica Hart and Devynn Hart and cousin Trea Swindle is out on their Glory Days Tour as they release new music, which includes a song of the same name."This single is so exciting for us because we are currently living in our ‘Glory Days,'" the group said in a news release. "The beauty of it all is that there are some folks who've been where we are, there are some who are in it with us, and there are some who haven’t made it there yet.”

Shlump, Encore at Uptown, $25

Dubstep DJ / producer spins on his Alien Trip Tour

 

 

David Lowery, Knuckleheads, $20

What the world needs now…is a mathematician, writer, musician, producer and serial entrepreneur based in Richmond, VA and Athens, GA. While studying mathematics and computers at the UC-Santa Cruz in the early 1980’s, Lowery founded the critically acclaimed ensemble Camper Van Beethoven and associated record label Pitch-a-Tent Records, helping jump start the modern Indie Rock movement and would later go on to even further success with band Cracker. The one-man show will be an intimate look into early indie.

(Note- Fall 2022 date in Lawrence, KS was previously postponed and is now taking place the night before at Lawrence Arts Center, free)

SATURDAY FEB 11

Voices of Mississippi feat Ruthie Foster, JCCC- Midwest Trust Center, $25+

More than a concert – a unique entertaining and informative Blues and Roots event!  "Voices of Mississippi” is a new multimedia event that celebrates the music, art and storytelling traditions of the people of Mississippi, based on the 2019 double Grammy Award–winning source. The program features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings and rare photographs by folklorist William “Bill” Ferris, who will also serve as host.

The show features musicians Ruthie Foster and Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, Sharde Thomas and Chris Mallory, all of whom have deep ties to Mississippi. With an array of photos, film clips, stories and live music, “Voices of Mississippi” paints a powerful picture of a time and place that remains an essential piece of the American cultural fabric.

Adam Sandler, T-Mobile Center, $34.50-$164.50

The Sandman is back to his stand-up roots (though on an arena stage) promising a special surprise guest and at each show, Sandler pays his respects to his former “Saturday Night Live” cast mate Chris Farley with his original song “Farley.”

The tour leads up to Sandler set to receiving the 24th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor next month. Some who have received the award in recent years include Tina Fey, Jon Stewart, Richard Pryor, Will Ferrell and Carl Reiner.

SUNDAY FEB 12

Super Bowl LVII- Go Chiefs!

MONDAY FEB 13

We Came as Romans, Granada-Lawrence, $25-$28

Out on their Darkbloom U.S. Headline Tour, a 24-date run with support from ERRA and Brand of Sacrifice. Guitarist Joshua Moore commented, "We're stoked to announce we'll be hitting the road again on the Darkbloom headliner! — get ready for a heavy show! We're excited to be able to play a ton of new songs for our fans, we're so grateful for your support over the last four years!"

Oliver Hazard w The 502s, recordBar, $14

Oliver Hazard is an indie-folk band from Waterville, OH whose sound is self-described as a “ramshackle of uprooted folk-stomp,” though band member Mike Belazis says he would consider adding the word “melodious.” The project of musicians Mike, Devin East, and Griffin McCulloch. They’re big enough in their hometown, they even have their own summer festival.

FL Tik Tok sensations The 502s are a sextet comprised of cousins Ed and Jake Isola, who grew up across the street from one another (in house number 502!), and also features kindergarten friends Matt Tonner and Joe Capati, plus Sean Froehlich and Nick Melashenko who joined the gang when they all met at college together.

Blue Man Group, Feb 13, 14, Lied Center- Lawrence,$21-$60

Celebrate with a loved one with a show with a show everyone should see at least once! More than 50 million people around the world have experienced the smash hit phenomenon. It’s everything you know and love—signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and comedy—the men are still blue, but the rest is all new! Featuring original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction, and more.

TUESDAY FEB 14

Eleri Ward, recordBar,$20

The singer/songwriter will perform selections from her new album Keep A Tender Distance (via Ghostlight Records). The album is an introspective folk guitar exploration of Stephen Sondheim's musical theater canon and is the follow-up to A Perfect Little Death, her viral hit debut take on the Sondheim catalog. We caught her live last July with Josh Groban and came away very impressed.

john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC! February 1-7, 2023 Upcoming concerts/shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More Death Cab for Cutie before we get to Death Cab for Cutie, I have to explain that I've seen the band before in 2001 at the 7th Street Entry for $5. People who live in Minnesota know that the 7th Street is a tiny venue. …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

February already?! And how ‘bout those...Chiefs!!

The chill of winter has hit (thankfully only 5” of snow this season) but there’s hot concerts inside to enjoy. In addition to the below, two massive Midland announcements yesterday for The Smile (Radiohead offshoot) and Sparks, are worthy alternative choices to huge Country pop shows held those same nights. Save those pennies, as Valentine’s is just around the corner too.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings through the end of the month- February 1^st- 7th.

WEDNESDAY FEB 1

Folk Alliance international Conference, Feb 1-5, Westin Crown Center $150-$550

The Folk Alliance International Conference, presented by Folk Alliance International, is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community (crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions and always has hundreds of artists attending. The theme of the 2023 gathering is Facing the Future: Sustainability in Folk Music.  Some 148 or more artists, hailing from everywhere, are scheduled to be in attendance. 

One such featured artist is country-folk-leaning singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris, who will perform on February 3rd at 9:15p in Shawnee Mission, ahead of her forthcoming sophomore album Boomerang Town, with first single “Missing Someone” already out. 

Harris began cultivating the album back in 2016, when a shift in the political landscape had ushered in a new level of cultural polarization (as we all know).  For someone who grew up outside of Waco, TX, Harris believed the values instilled by her parents were not entirely in line with how people had now considered Christians in particular. So, she felt she had to re-evaluate things, and it was from the intersection of these social, personal, and political currents, that the album and its songs were born.

THURSDAY FEB 2

Hairspray (musical), Lied Center- Lawrence, $21-$60.

Broadway’s Tony Award-winning popular musical comedy is back on tour! Join teen Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and bigger hair) change the world?

Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” Hairspray is “fresh, winning and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times in this all-new touring production will reuniting the creative team led by director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

FRIDAY FEB 3

The Judds w Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride T-Mobile Center, $24.50-$394.50

Following the tragic passing of her mother, Wynonna Judd made the announcement that the duo’s intended outing – The Judds: The Final Tour will be continuing, thanks to the overwhelming love and support of fans. Wynonna, along with the help of many of her musical friends, including Kelsea Ballerini and Martina McBride on this stop, will celebrate a lifetime of timeless music and heart.

“I have never felt so overwhelmed by this much love and support!” says Wynonna. “The emotions that flow while listening to the different generations of fans sing back to me each night has been other-worldly. In my 39 years of performing, these shows have truly been some of my absolute favorite experiences ever and I look forward to making new memories with the fans and guest artists in 2023.”

Hairball, Ameristar Casino, $20+

Few do the hair band/heavy metal tribute better than this longtime act, now in its 23rd year of bringing blasts from the past. With their beginnings being first in the Minneapolis area, we’ve seen them over the years and their costumes/routines, and setlist of familiar jukebox songs, are all top-notch to make for a fun and very entertaining concert experience.

Destroy Lonely w/ Homixide Gang, lil 88, Granada- Lawrence, $37-$89.

Following the release of his latest project, NO STYLIST, the Atlanta rapper is embarking on a tour with label mate Homixide Gang, and lil 88 providing support. With a sonically ambitious project, a handful of viral singles under his belt and a legion of dedicated fans, the rapper's tour will be sure to impress.

Joe Pera, Uptown, $39-$49

On his Comedy In Ice: Winter Standup Tour 2023 Pera brings an all-new show. He’s a standup comedian, writer, and filmmaker originally from Buffalo, NY, best known for his current Adult Swim series, ‘Joe Pera Talks With You’, Season 3 of which, is now available to stream on HBO Max.

Marauda w Versa, Drinkurwater, The Truman, $15-$50

Hamish Prasad, professionally known as Marauda, is a Sydney-based EDM producer who has taken the world by storm with his provocative noise which summons a darkness within the souls of his listeners. “Through his relentless, punishing live sets he devours his followers into the wretchedness of depravity, hybrid soundscapes and malevolent force” says the press release...ummm, wow.

GUNNAR, Tin Roof, FREE!

Could be the next big thing! The 21-year-old up & comer is signed with star maker Scooter Braun and is out on tour this February. A social media sensation, he's amassed 22M global streams, 145K followers on IG, and 250K followers on TikTok. And recently released his single "They Didn't Tell Me, "a grunge/rock/pop number. Plus, Free!  

Grab those tix while you can!

Kansas City Symphony- Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, Feb 3, 4, 5, $40-$120

Featuring Gonzalo Farias, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

She fought for civil and women’s rights. She won eighteen Grammy® Awards. She is the most charted female artist in history. She was the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was named the greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone. The story of Aretha Franklin is the story of America in the second half of the 20th century. “Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” celebrates the singer, the icon, the leader, the woman.

(DL Hughley, Feb 3, Kansas City Improv Comedy Club – moved to Sept)

SATURDAY FEB 4

Ott, Madrid Theatre, $25-$55

The UK-born producer of electronic, dub, ambient, trip hop, ethnic electronica, livetronica has worked with Sinéad O'Connor, Embrace, the Orb, and Brian Eno, and has achieved recognition since 2002 for his own psychedelic dub tracks with latest album being last year’s, Heads. And FYI, his stage name is a reference to ethnobotanist Jonathan Ott who coined the term "entheogen".

SUNDAY FEB 5

Small Glories, Feb 5, Polsky Theatre, $25+ ($5 students)

The roots duo of Cara Luft and J.D. Edwards are a musical partnership planted on the Canadian prairies, with hummable songs and a unique stage banter. Luft was an original member of harmony sweethearts The Wailin' Jennys and whose parents were folk singers influenced by the activist Pete Seeger.

Their sophomore album, Assiniboine & the Red, was released the summer of 2019 on Compass/Red House Records as a follow-up to the band’s debut album, 2016’s Wondrous Traveler.

MONDAY FEB 6

Death Cab for Cutie w Momma (re-scheduled date), The Midland, SOLD OUT

Touring in support of latest album, Asphalt Meadows, area fans have been anticipating this show since it was re-scheduled from last October.

Their tenth studio album (via Atlantic Records) was released to widespread acclaim last September. Produced by GRAMMY® Award-winner John Congleton (St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Wallows). An acoustic version of the record, recorded in December, will drop in March.  

The band heads to Europe following, then returns later in the year for a special tour with The Postal Service reunion, meaning singer Ben Gibbard does double-duty nightly.

LA indie rockers Momma provide support, in support of new full-length, Household Name.

TUESDAY FEB 7

Bush w / Starcrawler, The Midland, $32.50-$69.50

The Gavin Rossdale-fronted group is touring in support of their latest album, The Art of Survival

“We’ll always love playing those big summer shows and the big stages, but we wanted to do some shows where we could get close to the diehard Bush fans again,” Rossdale said in a statement. “We’re excited for this run coming up.” LA band Starcrawler opens, in support of the new She Said.

My Fair Lady (musical), Feb 7-12, Kauffman Center, $56.50-$121.50

From Lincoln Center Theater (who brought The King & I and South Pacific), comes the Lerner & Loewe classic. Director Bartlett Sher’s production boasts classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” and “On the Street Where You Live,” it tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a professor determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” Runs through Feb. 12th.  

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