W♥M

John Garcia (ex- Kyuss) and friends at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)

John Garcia at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS 2024-05-17) JOHN GARCIA SETLIST Gardenia (Kyuss song) Conan Troutman (Kyuss song) Hurricane (Kyuss song) Thumb (Kyuss song) Odyssey (Kyuss song) Cowboys Suck (Hermano song) Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop (Kyuss song) July (Slo Burn song) 100° (Kyuss song) Jim's Whiskers Writhe (Kyuss song) > Whitewater (Kyuss song) Phototropic (Kyuss song) One Inch Man (Kyuss song) Dargona Dragona (Vista Chino song) Spaceship Landing (Kyuss song) El Rodeo (Kyuss song) ENCORE: Green Machine (Kyuss song) TELEKINETIC YETI SETLIST Ghost Train Abominable Stoned and Feathered Ancient Nug Toke Wizard Himalayan Hymn   JOHN GARCIA TOUR DATES 5/15/24 Madison WI - High Noon Saloon 5/16/24 Chicago IL - Thalia Hall 5/17/24 Lawrence KS - Liberty Hall 5/18/24 Little Rock AR - Argenta Theatre 5/19/24 Atlanta GA - Masquerade 5/21/24 Pittsburgh PA - Jergels 5/22/24 Detroit MI - Crofoot Theatre 5/23/24 Grand Rapids MI Pyramid Scheme 5/25/24 Montreal QC Canada - Club Soda 5/27/24 Hampton Beach NH - Wally's 5/28/24 Philadelphia PA - Union Transfer 5/29/24 Brooklyn NY - Elsewhere   READ MORE Telekinetic Yeti Iowa-based two-piece Telekinetic Yeti is headlining the 7th Street Entry this August 29th, in support of their Tee Pee Records debut album, Primordial. ...

The 'undead' lives again!

Well, sorta- see, in the Dungeons & Dragons World of Greyhawk campaign setting, Kyuss is a deity concerned with the Creation and Mastery of the Undead. Known as the Bonemaster, the Wormgod, and the Herald of the Age of Worms, his symbol is a skull erupting with writhing green worms.

Ok, maybe that’s too far down the nerd rabbit hole, but that’s the origins of the band name; and the voice and former frontman of 1990’s seminal desert/stoner rock band Kyuss, John Garcia, has returned to the road after a long absence; playing just twelve cities on this tour leg, including a rare stop in downtown Lawrence, at Liberty Hall.

In addition to his expert backing band (who plays like they’ve been together for decades and features guitarist John Bennet, bassist Billy Cordell, and drummer Greg Saenz), Garcia also loaded the lineup with four other and quite different bands, for a five-hour volume-amplified trip into multi-genres of modern rock.

Garica’s former fabled band, which initially formed in Palm Desert, CA under a different name had a delayed but lasting influence on more recent bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees, Fu Manchu, Dwarves, Eagles of Death Metal, Mondo Generator, and Them Crooked Vultures, which all featured ex-Kyuss members themselves, after the band broke up in 1995. Garcia himself would go on to help form Slo Burn and Hermano, both of which carry on the desert psych spirit, and each of these eras of his four-decade career were represented in the live set.

Garcia admitted some trepidation before embarking on this venture: "I cannot lie, little nervous over this one. I've never done a tour like this in the U.S. celebrating so much of my past… I'm so incredibly lucky to share the stage with these amazing musicians and friends.
This tour with all the incredible bands... in my opinion is more of a traveling music gang and I already love it” ...and so did the many devoted fans in the crowd that had been waiting for years for Garcia to re-visit his past again live.

First up on this evening was power metal trio Drifter (not to be confused with soul doo-wop group The Drifters or several other similar named acts) out in support of their full-length, “Herald”. The three brought a powerful and cinematic soundtrack to start the evening- both with volume and were somewhat atmospheric; as at one point, all were playing various percussion that sounded like the hordes of Valhalla coming over a mountain.

A paradigm shift to the punk-rockabilly blues of Left Lane Cruiser was next, a Fort Wayne, IN duo made up of Fredrick "Joe" Evans IV on guitar/vocals with Brenn Beck on drums/washboard. The group has a new single, “Motown Mash” ahead of new full-length, “Bayport BBQ Blues” and comes off as the anti-Black Keys, which means when they choose to play a R.L. Burnside cover, it’s their version that transforms the song, not a young white duo, trying to mimic the sound of an old black man, which seems much more rewarding.

One of the best band names in recent years, is Telekinetic Yeti, the Dubuque, IA-based psych doom/stoner rock duo comprised of Alex Baumann on guitar/vocals and Rockwel Heim on drums, and who we previously caught live headlining in 2022 in Minneapolis. The Yeti released their second album, “Primordial” in 2022 and musically take no prisoners, are not afraid to face each other down on stage, with riffs and structured noise sent flying into the air.

Wisconsin guitarist singer Jared James Nichols might be one of the best-skilled guitarists maybe more known to fellow guitarists and specific fans, than the general public at large. He and his power trio (Ryan Rice– Drums and Louis Collins- Bass) are back on the road to spread their musical word and play a familiar blend of blues-leaning classic rock.

The three-piece remembered their previous time in town, opening for John 5 at The Bottleneck a few years ago and JJN not only has his own signature amp, but was also named one of just four Gibson Guitars global ambassadors (along with Lzzy Hale, Dave Mustaine, and Slash).

Nichols’ pick-less style of playing is unusual in itself, but he proved you don’t need a small flexible triangle of plastic to shred on solos, or to play the familiar riffs of “Miss You”, “Norwegian Wood”, or their set-crushing final cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”.

After the wind-up of the four previous bands, it was finally time for John Garcia, who played a career-spanning ninety-minute set that was no frills and in-your-face, as the most devoted fans would want it to be. The set began with “Gardenia” a 1995 single from Kyuss’ third album and chugged on with other mid-90’s cuts that the devoted were bobbing and dancing in place with.

Garcia would pause after a few songs, each time expressing his gratefulness to be be able to bring these songs back to the fans, and he acknowledged a very young audience member up front getting musically acclimated to the songs that would inspire so many bands after. As to why Lawrence was a stop on this short tour, Garcia mentioned the many good memories he had of playing in town in the ‘90s- shows with Dwarves, fun times at the renowned punk venue on the outskirts of town, and more.

Mid-set, Garcia and band dipped into slightly more recent projects, with 2004’s “Cowboys Suck” from mid-2000s side project Hermano, then went back a few years previous for “July”, the final song from Slo Burn’s 1997 EP. Garcia’s briefly exited from the stage soon after, allowed the remaining three musicians to stretch their musical wings for an extended crunchy instrumental break.

Garcia soon re-emerged and it was all Kyuss favorites in high gear from there – 1994’s “Whitewater” which lyrically merges nature and some spirituality, “One Inch Man’”, the band’s final released single, and 1995’s “Spaceship Landing” the final song on the band’s final album (not incl.any hidden tracks).

With time getting tight as venue curfew approached, the band would end the main set with “El Rodeo” before being coaxed back out for a rolling encore of 1992’s “Green Machine” with Garcia singing, “I’m a-shutting down” which they did and with a casual final wave, left the stage with hums and feedback still droning.

The ‘undead’ that was Kyuss had finally returned to life in Lawrence, courtesy of John Garcia and band, to the complete delight of all the longtime and devoted fans that managed to recapture some of that 1990’s nostalgia, if only for a couple hours.

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

JOHN GARCIA at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)

JOHN GARCIA at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)

JARED JAMES NICHOLS at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)

TELEKINETIC YETI at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)
LEFT LANE CRUISER at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)
DRIFTER at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2024-05-17)

JohnC ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥KC! January 18-25, 2024- Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read More: Elvis Costello I've seen Elvis Costello at the Berkeley Theater before. I was there to cover Sleeper, the opening band. We had pretty awful seats, I had brought some friends along.

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

So, 2024 has started very chilly (to say the least,brrr!), but also predictably slow in terms of shows in the area. Things will pick up, though it’s been a little troubling to see announcements skip KC in favor of St. Louis or Omaha – low overall amount of radio station backing, a need for additional and better talent bookers, and some gaps in certain-sized venues, all contribute, but we remain hopeful.

Meanwhile, the year starts with a bang locally, with a sold-out-in-seconds Jason Isbell show in Lawrence, a wonderful Minnesota-set Dylan-inspired musical stopping by for its run, and even an Elvis sighting – read on, music friends!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from January 18th-25th.

THURSDAY JANUARY 18

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Liberty Hall Sold Out / Postponed to May 7

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the man fell ill and had to bump the opening night in Springfield MO and the Lawrence KS show, due to illness. Postponed shows are being rescheduled to May when they also become the opening act for Zach Bryan at U.S. stadiums, which should open more eyes and ears to one of the best singer-songwriters on the road today.

We caught them last in Minneapolis in the summer of 2018, and they’ve only gotten better since.

New bassist Anna Butterss seems to be official and the rest of the lineup consists of familiar faces, including guitarist Sadler Vaden, keyboardist Derry DeBorja, and drummer Chad Gamble, as well as more recent addition, multi-instrumentalist Will Johnson. Minneapolis/St. Paul can look forward to two nights at The Palace coming in March, and we’re wishing them good health for the rest of their run.

                                                FRIDAY JANUARY 19

                                        SATURDAY JANUARY 20

                                        SUNDAY JANUARY 21

                                        MONDAY JANUARY 22

TUESDAY JANUARY 23

Girl From The North Country, Jan 23-28, Kauffman Center,$61-$121

The Tony Award-winning new musical is finally on its first proper North American Tour and has an early run in KC! (of course, it opened last fall in Minneapolis, and in a theater Dylan once even owned!)

Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring orchestrations by Simon Hale, the musical re-imagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.”

Set in 1934 in Duluth, MN, a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse are filled with music, life and hope. Dylan himself has seen it staged and approves, claiming it had him in tears by the end, though he had nothing to do directly with it and a film adaptation with Olivia Colman and Woody Harrelson is scheduled to roll very soon.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24

Foy Vance w Bonnie Bishop, Jan 24, The Truman, $29.50-$44.50

Consider us fans of the award-winning Northern Irish singer/songwriter, on a special tour to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his breakthrough 2013 album ‘Joy Of Nothing. Recorded in Donegal on Ireland’s west coast, Joy Of Nothing was Vance’s second full-length album and proved a critical and commercial breakthrough, winning the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize.

Joy Of Nothing features Ed Sheeran (on “Guiding Light”) and Bonnie Raitt (on “You And I”), both of whom Vance supported on world tours, and he also toured with Elton John and Snow Patrol, as well as his own sell-out headline tours. We caught him live back in 2014 and were mesmerized by his storytelling, verbal honesty, and troubadour songs.

THURSDAY JANUARY 25

Elvis Costello w Charlie Sexton, Jan 25, Uptown, $69-$225

Elvis is in the Building! The 7-0-7 Tour hits town for a setlist of endless favorites. Aka Declan MacManus, he’s been performing now for over fifty years, solo, alongside longtime pianist, Steve Nieve and with bands Rusty, the Attractions, His Confederates, The Rude Five, The Sugarcanes and of course, The Imposters.

Costello is a two-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and is a member of both The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and even our E-I-C, Vu, has fond memories of catching him live in LA way back in 1996, and even though he really went just for the opening band.

Texas guitar legend Charlie Sexton, who played with Dylan for years (and Arc Angels), will open.

Park ICM Presents The Rosamunde Trio, Jan 25, 1900 Building, $10-$30

The Rosamunde Trio (Ben Sayevich, Violin; Daniel Veis, Cello; Martino Tirimo, Piano) has toured extensively in the UK and major venues in the USA, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Cyprus and the Czech Republic. The Trio’s recordings include the Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich Trios, as well as Dvorak’s Trios, all recorded in Prague at the Liechtenstein Palace.

The London Chamber Music Society invited the Trio to do an even bigger series at London’s Kings Place devoted to all the Mozart Trios and the great works of the ‘French School’.

National Touring act coming to Kansas City, Lawrence, KS, Topeka, KS, or vicinity?  Let us know so we can spotlight the appearance-email [email protected]

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

The Japanese House at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2023-11-30)

Japanese House Setlist Sad to Breathe Touching Yourself Something Has to Change Morning Pages Follow My Girl i saw you in a dream Boyhood You Seemed So Happy Baby goes again Over There Friends Worms Chewing Cotton Wool Maybe You're the Reason Dionne -- Encore -- One for sorrow, two for Joni Jones Sunshine Baby quinnie Setlist ripple itch baja bird better promised shape for you silver second man touch tank gold star THE JAPANESE HOUSE TOUR DATES DEC 1 WOOLY'S DES MOINES, IA DEC 2 FINE LINE MINNEAPOLIS, MN DEC 3 METRO CHICAGO, IL DEC 5 THE MAJESTIC THEATRE DETROIT, MI DEC 6 DANFORTH MUSIC HALL TORONTO, ON DEC 8 LE STUDIO TD MONTREAL, QC DEC 9 HIGHER GROUND, BALLROOM BURLINGTON, VT DEC 10 ROADRUNNER BOSTON, MA MAY 7 SWG3 GLASGOW, UK MAY 8 O2 INSTITUTE BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND MAY 9 ROUNDHOUSE LONDON, ENGLAND MAY 10 ALBERT HALL MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM Read More The Japanese House British singer Amber Bain, billed as The Japanese House is touring the U.S.A. (heading to SXSW 2017), in support of her third EP Swim Against The Tide. She is getting great buzz for .... quinnie The evening began with a well-received forty-minute set from New Jersey folk/bedroom pop Columbia Records artist quinnie, in support of debut full-length, flounder, but also played many new ....

On a chilly, rain-soaked last night of November in downtown Lawrence, a visit from another “house” and even a burst of “sunshine baby” to help perk up the somber weather--

Indie pop rock band The Japanese House made a stop at a very sold-out Liberty Hall to charm the rabid, loyal, and mostly college-age crowd.

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The evening began with a well-received forty-minute set from New Jersey folk/bedroom pop Columbia Records artist quinnie, in support of debut full-length, flounder, but also played many new, yet-to-be-released songs, much to the delight of her many following fans.

Performing as a trio (with jake weinberg, and hudson pollock), the music is somewhat simple, imbuing the elements of 60’s/70’s dreamy folk with delicate higher-pitch vocals; but lyrically, there can often be an honest, revealing, and sometimes profane twist on the classic themes of love, loss, and relationships. Oh, and she obviously doesn’t care for capital letters on anything (very e.e.cummings).

From the opening new track “ripple” to new song “for you” (about having the ideal relationship, as well as the love between her parents), to the winter-themed “silver second” the crowd seemed completely enthralled with every note. This was even more evident towards the end of the set, as they played “touch tank”, a song which went TikTok viral last Spring, and the set-closing “gold star’, an early track from a 2019 EP that was written while in high school.

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Lawrence was lucky to host the return of The Japanese House aka Buckinghamshire singer songwriter Amber Bain, as one of the 29 stops of her first US Tour since 2019, in support of new album, In the End It Always Does (out in June via The 1975’s label, Dirty Hit).

Supposedly, the story behind the band name came from a childhood week-long stay at an actual Japanese-esque tea house in Cornwall, UK (once owned by actor Kate Winslet), that became very creatively impressionable to Bain as a young child. Bain’s own musical breakthrough was being added as support for The 1975 and we’ve been fortunate to see the band headlining live previously both in 2019 and in 2017.

The seventy-minute set (band on stage surrounded in a thin mist and often low lighting) began with the second single from the new record, the sullenly beautiful “Sad to Breathe” and Bain lyrically emoting, “It's sad to breathe the air when you're not there.”

Many of the songs (more so the upbeat ones), sound musically familiar to The 1975 (who we’re big fans of and covered continuously as they started out) because many were co-written and co-produced by that band’s drummer, George Daniel (himself, newly engaged to Charli XCX!).

Bain and band seemed to be naturally having fun during the evening, not saying too much between songs to the sold-out crowd, who remained in rapt attention throughout. “Let’s try a couple classics”, Bain mentioned before the familiar notes of 2019’s “Follow My Girl” and “Saw You in a Dream”, to the shrieking delight of the females lined along the front barricade.

Bain dedicated the important recent single, “Boyhood” to “all the queers in the room”, a song about finding one’s own true identity, and as Bain has said, “This song talks about how sometimes, however hard you try, you can’t help but be a product of the things that happened to you or held you back earlier on in life. But also, and more importantly, it’s about hope for overcoming those things.”

“That’s enough sad time for a bit... some happy times!” Bain declared before “Friends”, about confidently moving on from a relationship, and set to a very Daniel/1975 percussive beat. “Enough kind-of happiness let’s get to the sad sh*t” Bain soon remarked, going back to 2020’s “Chewing Cotton Wool” about seeing a face everywhere and in everything.

The main set would end with Bain’s 2020 collaboration with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, “Dionne”, lyrically personifying longing singing “Wishing that someone would film the way I'm looking at you” then darting off, before quickly returning for a two-song encore.

A piano was rolled out for the somber, “One for sorrow, two for Joni Jones” from the new record and featured Bain’s stream of consciousness lyrics, “You seem to love me more when other people are around, it feels something like I'm missing you, but also like I'm missing me.”

The rest of the band would rejoin to close with the new album’s upbeat lead single, “Sunshine Baby”, a studio collab with The 1975’s Matty Healy and named after her dog’s nickname, as well as an ex, and her euphemism for just relaxing on a beach.

Outside, the weather had turned even more poor- a sleet-filled winter mix as crowd goers made their way back to cars and dormitories; while inside was still the glow from the performance of The Japanese House, ideally punctuated at the end, with that needed bit of “sunshine baby”.

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

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE (Liberty Hall Lawrence KS 2023-11-30)

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE (Liberty Hall Lawrence KS 2023-11-30)

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

quinnie (Liberty Hall Lawrence KS 2023-11-30)

quinnie

quinnie

quinnie

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2023-10-17)

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN SETLIST Demoni (Claudio Simonetti) (screening of the film with its score performed live) Cut And Run Il cartaio (Claudio Simonetti song) Zombi (Goblin cover) (from “Dawn of the Dead”) L'alba Dei Morti Viventi (Dawn of the Dead) Opera (Claudio Simonetti song) Halloween Theme- Main Title (John Carpenter cover) Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield cover) Suspiria (Mater Suspiriorum version, Goblin cover) Phenomena (Goblin cover) Profondo Rosso (Goblin cover) Tenebrae (Goblin cover) Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN TOUR DATES 18 October Denver CO, Paramount Theatre 22 October Seattle WA, El Corazon 23 October Vancouver BC, Rio Theatre 24 October Portland OR, Hollywood Theatre 25 October Portland OR, Hollywood Theatre 26 October Sacramento CA, Colonial Theatre 27 October San Francisco CA, Castro Theatre 28 October Glendale, CA, Alex Theatre 29 October San Diego CA, Music Box 1 November Huston TX, Heights Theatre 2 November Dallas TX, Texas Theatre 3 November San Antonio TX, Aztec Theatre 4 November New Orleans LA, The Broadside 5 November Little Rock AR, The Hall 6 November St Louis MO, Red Flag 3 March London UK, Celestial Darkness Festival 8-13 March Cruise To The Edge TBA July Japan Tour   Read More Goblin  Italian instrumental/ soundtrack /prog rock band, Goblin, will be playing a number of live dates in the U.S., for the first time ever. Dates are set in October.......

Now, it truly feels like the Fall / Halloween season--

The currently touring version of the influential and classic Italian instrumental progressive band Goblin, came to Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence to perform a live score to the 1985 film “Demons”, as well as a classic live set of their own.

The band initially was formed by Claudio Simonetti and Massimo Morante, from the remnants of previous band, Cherry Five in the early 70’s and went through various lineup changes and incarnations, also composing film soundtracks as well as their own albums.

Several variations of the group have continued and the touring version that North American audiences have been familiar with since 2014 is Claudio Simonetti's Goblin, consisting of Simonetti on keyboards, Daniele Amador on guitar, Cecilia Nappo on bass, and Federico Maragoni on drums.

They’ve previously toured scoring Dario Argento films in concert such as “Suspiria” and “Deep Red”, but this time out was the lesser known “Demons” produced by Argento and directed by Lamberto Bava.

The film turned out to be quite entertaining as well as apropos in a meta way, as the story revolves around students and random people who are given complimentary tickets to a mysterious movie screening in the streets, where they soon find themselves trapped in the movie theater with a horde of ravenous demons.

For the live scoring of the film, the volume was adjusted to match the amplified live band and the score itself was adjusted to fit better in the live setting. In addition to Goblin’s score, the original film did have a traditional soundtrack, in step with the times, that featured mid 80’s acts like Go West, Billy Idol, Rock Springfield, and Saxon.

On heavier hits, “Save Our Souls” by Mötley Crüe and “Fast As Shark” by AC/DC-esque German band Accept, the live foursome played along to the music and to great effect, as the original vocals soared and sitting cinema crowd roared with delight and flashed horned metal signs with both arms.

Following the purposely overly bloody movie, that was drama-building in some points, unintentionally funny in others, but all-around entertaining, the live quartet fired up further, as the movie’s credits were rolling.

Without taking a break, Simonetti guided band and audience, through a bevy of Goblin discography/filmography songs (known from films “Suspiria”, “Deep Red”, “Tenebre”, and “Phenomena”) with selections like “Suspiria” given a musical updating, and deemed the “Mater Suspiriorum” version, accompanied by a recent band video.

Not limited to Argento films, a selection of “horror greatest hits” from non-Argento associated classic films was performed as well, including their version of John Carpenter’s “Halloween- Main Title Theme”, Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” (best known from The Exorcist”), and more.

The evening ended by being a fantastically entertaining audio-visual experience, perfect for the season, and featured spot-on musicianship by four talented musicians. We regret not previously catching Claudio Simonetti's Goblin live before but have made it a part of our fall tradition, for as long as they come through a nearby venue, and we suggest you do the same.

 (Photos by BRANDON CLASEN - Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)    

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

Claudio Simonetti’s GOBLIN

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

Eels at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2023-06-18)

EELS SETLIST Steam Engine Amateur Hour Me and the Boys (NRBQ cover) Watcha Gonna Do About It (Small Faces cover) Good Night on Earth Anything for Boo Jeannie's Diary 3 Speed The Gentle Souls Peach Blossom Who You Say You Are The Look You Give That Guy Climbing to the Moon The Deconstruction I Like the Way This is Going Dog Faced Boy My Beloved Monster / You Really Got E (The Kinks cover reimagined) Drummer Man (Nancy Sinatra cover)/ band intros Novocaine for the Soul Root Beer Are We Alright Again Baby Let's Make It Real Encore: Friendly Ghost Last Stop: This Town Encore 2: Earth to Dora Wonderful, Glorious God Gave Rock and Roll to You (Argent cover) EELS Tour Dates JUNE 20 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA FIRST AVENUE JUNE 21 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS METRO JUNE 23 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL JUNE 24 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA KESWICK THEATRE JUNE 25 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS PARADISE ROCK CLUB JUNE 27 NEW YORK, NEW YORK WEBSTER HALL JUNE 28 SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND THE FILLMORE JUNE 29 CARRBORO, NORTH CAROLINA CAT'S CRADLE JUNE 30 ATLANTA, GEORGIA VARIETY PLAYHOUSE Read More Eels Eels recently debut the video for “Good Night On Earth”, in anticipation for the upcoming fourteenth studio album Extreme Witchcraft, available January 28 via PIAS and the band’s own E Works Records. …

"221 collective years and 711 pounds of pure rock 'n roll spirit!"--

One is often not sure which version of Eels, led by mainstay, E (aka Mark Oliver Everett) you're going to get, as the lineup and musical direction often changes from album to album; but this time out (and after a few pandemic-related postponements which added up to a three-year wait), this was the lean essence of Eels- Everett and a three-piece band that hit the stage in downtown Lawrence at Liberty Hall. 

The evening began with Austin Antoine, a performance artist who blends his music, poetry, and theater. to interact and improvise with the audience for some Common-level ad-lib verse, composed on the spot.   

 

He's done some acting and his latest EP is called The Rest is History, a follow-up to previous EP TRDMRK which he worked on with Jurassic 5 turntablist DJ Nu-Mark (Mark Potsic) and former Pharcyde member Slimkid3 (Tre Hardson).  From audience suggestions, he was able to freestyle a rap that included Tech N9ne, local places to eat, and area points of interest, and preached the power of positivity and keeping your dreams in mind always. 

 

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After a brief break, Eels emerged for their two-hour set, amidst an arctic setting backdrop, with the foursome on icefloe-like platforms, all nattily dressed in suits and bowties, with Everett's beard looking more fuller and fluffier than ever (like Letterman's little brother, although E had the beard before Dave).  

 

Finally able to play live again, the four-piece is out on their Hurricane Lockdown Tour, in support of their “Extreme Witchcraft” album, released last year, and the band also has limited-edition vinyl reissues of their earlier records, Hombre Lobo, End Times, and Tomorrow Morning through E Works/[PIAS].  

 

A few choice (and somewhat deep) covers were peppered into what was mostly a set full of Eels music, with the running joke throughout being that the band was forced to wear smart watches and there would be a flashing message on-screen when each band member achieved their required level of activity for the day, which elicited cheers.

 

A series of more mellow songs would usually be followed by a stomper like 2001's "Dog Faced Boy" and Everett made good fun of comparing his newer music to the older songs and band drummer Joe was mock chastised for randomly snacking, and Face Timing with his daughter during the show, Father's Day or not. 

 

Everett expressed his love and familiarity with Lawrence, having played the town numerous times over the last twenty-five years, even deciding he was so familiar with the town, he was calling it "Larry" from now on (according to the tour archive page, the band has never played KC, can that be right!?).  

 

People danced in the aisles, sang louder than maybe they should have (given their limited pitch), and generally had as good a time as the band seemed to have, with the night capping with a powerful version of 2013's "Wonderful, Glorious" and the Argent cover of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (done more like the Kiss sequel?) in which opener Antoine jumped back on stage to freestyle over those somewhat cheesy '70's original lyrics. 

 

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The coolest band in the popular MCU (aka the Marvel Comics film Universe- they had a cameo in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”), they finally overcome pandemic delays and forced re-scheduling to embark on their Spring Tour, which started in March and runs through the end of the month.

The brainchild of leader Mark Oliver Everett, the band released their “Extreme Witchcraft” album last year and also has limited-edition vinyl reissues of their earlier records, Hombre Lobo, End Times, and Tomorrow Morning through E Works/[PIAS]. Plus, they brought Journey’s Steve Perry back from seclusion. We've caught the band live several times, including in 2018 at First Ave in Minneapolis. 

EELS have had one of the most consistently acclaimed careers in music. The ever-changing project of principal singer-songwriter E (Mark Oliver Everett), EELS have released 14 studio albums since their 1996 debut, Beautiful Freak. In 2008, E published his highly acclaimed book Things the Grandchildren Should Know and starred in the award-winning Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives documentary about the search to understand his quantum physicist father, Hugh Everett III.

 

2015 saw the release of the band’s extraordinary Royal Albert Hall live album and concert film. In the same year, the band’s “Fresh Blood” served as the theme song to HBO’s The Jinx and from 2016 to 2018 E appeared in Judd Apatow’s Netflix original series, Love. EELS released their 12th studio album, The Deconstruction, in April 2018 and toured America and Europe in 2018 and 2019.

 

EELS’ thirteenth studio album, Earth To Dora, was recorded at the EELS’ Los Feliz, California studio. Produced by E and performed by E, Koool G Murder, The Chet, and P-Boo, the album received extensive critical praise, and was described as “their sweetest natured album ever” by The Independent.

Austin Antoine is set to open.  

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

EELS

EELS

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EELS w/ AUSTIN ANTOINE

AUSTIN ANTOINE

AUSTIN ANTOINE

AUSTIN ANTOINE

AUSTIN ANTOINE

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

Dawes at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2023-04-16) live review

Dawes at Liberty Hall poster DAWES Setlist SET ONE   SET TWO   SET ONE A Little Bit of Everything (Taylor /Lee solo) Ghost in the Machine My Girl to Me Somewhere Along the Way We're All Gonna Die Everything Is Permanent Living in the Future Picture of a Man Comes in Waves When My Time Comes SET TWO Surprise! (Taylor solo, new song) Roll Tide (Griff w/ Taylor) What It Takes Feed the Fire Right on Time Most People Still Feel Like a Kid Time Spent in Los Angeles Someone Else's Café/Doomscroller Tries to Relax All Your Favorite Bands Encore: Things Happen (Taylor solo acoustic) Read More Dawes The three-hour evening was opened by Los Angeles-based Dawes, who considers Minneapolis one of their strongest markets, in a solid hour-long set of their own. …

“It’s a Sunday...well, it’s Saturday for us up here, so it’s Saturday out there!”

Los Angeles band Dawes is back on the road, supporting their eighth full-length, Misadventures of Doomscroller, (out last July via Rounder Records) and seemed very determined to extend the free spirit of the weekend, for as long as possible.

The new album stretches out their sound and features longer instrumental passages, channeling the jam band tendencies we all know they had in them. In concert, they suitably returned to their An Evening With… format (the way we caught them live back in pre-pandemic 2018 and before that in Minneapolis 2017) which features no opening acts and two full sets.

For the Lawrence, KS audience at Liberty Hall, this was pure bliss, seeing their favorite band who hadn’t played the college town since a 2014 show alongside Conor Oberst (yup, we caught that tour live as well).

The first seventy-five-minute set started with a hush, and front man Taylor Goldsmith stripping 2011 favorite “A Little Bit of Everything” to its bare essence, given a gospel vibe with some Booker T-style organ work from keyboardist Lee Pardini.

From there, a taste of the new, with “Ghost in the Machine” (with some vintage L.A. Ray Manzarek-sounding keys) from the new record and a limber version of 2009’s “My Girl to Me” with 2015’s “Somewhere Along the Way” allowing them to extend into a groove instrumental mid-section.

Goldsmith’s song titles give a peek into his demeanor from the mid-set “We’re All Gonna Die” and reminding that “Everything is Permanent”, with a trepidacious dose of positivity on 2018’s “Living in the Future”. Goldsmith is usually most effective when he’s storytelling, revealing characters and being introspective, like on “Comes in Waves” from Doomscroller and the show’s first half ended on a high note, with the audience doing the chorus singing on 2009’s “When My Time Comes”.

Set Two began with a surprise- literally– as Goldsmith began solo and acoustic with a new, yet-unreleased song, “Surprise!” before younger brother Griff strode out to take lead vocals on the Alabama-flavored “Roll Tide”.

The full band rejoined on stage for their newest single, “What It Takes”, a song keyboardist Pardini first developed as an instrumental, with Goldsmith later adding lyrics about all of the daily demands of growing up in a city, takes upon someone.

The peaceful, easy feeling of their Laurel Canyon sound sank in deeper with 2015’s “Right on Time” and “Most People” from the prior album, that showed off the Goldsmith brothers harmonies and band’s musical dexterity, particularly longtime touring guitarist Trevor Menear, who has truly become so in sync, it's as if he’s played with the group since day one.

2020’s playful “Still Feel Like a Kid” adds some sunny California “bop-bops” to its chorus and the ten-minute epic opener from the new album, “Someone Else's Café/Doomscroller Tries to Relax” packed even more punch live with some jazzy riffing.

The sing-along of 2015’s “All Your Favorite Bands" (complete with fans waving “Let’s Party” caps freshly purchased from the merch stand) would end the main set with flourish.

After some rabid applause and a room full of foot-stomping, Goldsmith re-appeared and strapped on his acoustic guitar for what would be the final song of the night- a gentle, poetic and poignant “Things Happen”, because “that’s all they ever do”.

The band’s appearance was also bittersweet, as fans knew it would be the last time seeing co-founding bassist Wylie Gelber perform with the group, he announcing his leaving to pursue other ventures after this run of shows. A true end to a chapter of the band, they had played together since all were teenagers, and so it made sense that the loudest applause was often reserved for the bassist.

From the numerous shouts all night for songs not played even after the two long sets, it was obvious that Dawes would have been more than welcomed to play a third set. Which means not only are they beloved in the area, but it’s a perfect excuse to catch them again on their next time through, and seeing where that next musical chapter finds one of America’s best-working bands.

Remaining tour dates:

APR 18 Wave Wichita, KS
APR 19 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
APR 20 The Commonwealth Room Salt Lake City, UT
APR 21 United Supermarket Arena Lubbock, TX
APR 22 Neptune Theatre Seattle, WA
APR 23 Revolution Hall Portland, OR
APR 26 The Fillmore San Francisco, CA
APR 27 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA
APR 28 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, CA
MAY 5 The Theatre at Ace Hotel Los Angeles, CA
MAY 13 Imagine Zero M usic Fest Brandon, VT
JUN 18 Outpost in the Burbs Montclair, NJ (Taylor solo)
JUL 27 Out of Space Evanston, IL
AUG 26 Wolf Trap Vienna, VA
SEP 1 - SEP 3 Caveman Fest Weston, CO
SEP 2 - SEP 3 Down In The Valley Napa, CA
SEP 15 - SEP 17 Borderland Music Festival East Aurora, NY
OCT 14 - OCT 15 RushSouth Music Fest Columbus, GA

 

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

WYLIE GELBER

GRIIFFIN GOLDSMITH

TAYLOR GOLDSMITH

DAWES at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (16 Apr 2023)

WYLIE GELBER / GRIFFIN GOLDSMITH

LEE PARDINI

TAYLOR GOLDSMITH

DAWES at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (16 Apr 2023)

John C ♥ [email protected] ♥ 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 ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Angel Olsen & the Big Time Band at Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS (2023-01-27)

ANGEL OLSEN Poster ANGEL OLSEN SETLIST Dream Thing (acoustic) Big Time (acoustic) Ghost On Right Now Shut Up Kiss Me Give It Up All Mirrors Lark Go Home This Is How It Works All the Good Times Sister Those Were the Days Chance -- Encore -- Without You (Harry Nilsson / Badfinger cover) ERIN RAE SETLIST Mind / Heart Can’t Cut Loose Love Like Before California Belongs to You Enemy Candy and Curry Modern Woman On Her Side (new song) True Love’s Face Bad Mind Bittersweet, TN (Kevin Morby cover) Cosmic Sigh Lighten Up & Try ANGEL OLSEN Tour Dates JAN 28 THE FACTORY CHESTERFIELD, MO JAN 29 THE BLUEBIRD BLOOMINGTON, IN JAN 31 THE ATHENAEUM THEATRE COLUMBUS, OH FEB 1 THE MAJESTIC THEATRE DETROIT, MI FEB 2 AGORA THEATRE BALLROOM CLEVELAND, OH FEB 3 MR. SMALLS THEATRE MILLVALE, PA FEB 4 ASBURY HALL BUFFALO, NY FEB 6 WHITE EAGLE HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ FEB 7 COLLEGE ST MUSIC HALL NEW HAVEN, CT FEB 8 BEARSVILLE THEATER WOODSTOCK, NY FEB 9 BALTIMORE SOUNDSTAGE BALTIMORE, MD FEB 10 THE NATIONAL RICHMOND, VA FEB 11 THE CAROLINA THEATRE DURHAM, NC FEB 24 THEATRE ROYAL CASTLEMAINE, AUSTRALIA FEB 25 MONA FOMA HOBART, AUSTRALIA MAR 1 MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE SOUTHBANK MAR 3 MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE SOUTHBANK MAR 4 NINE LIVES FESTIVAL BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA MAR 6 SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE SYDNEY, NSW MAR 7-8 PERTH MUSIC FESTIVAL PERTH, AUSTRALIA MAR 10 BRUNSWICK BALLROOM BRUNSWICK, AUST MAR 11 GOLDEN PLAINS FESTIVAL MEREDITH, AUST MAR 13 WOMADELAIDE ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA APR 15-16 HIGH WATER FEST N CHARLESTON, SC MAY 3 RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE MORRISON, CO MAY 4 RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE MORRISON, CO JUL 7 MAD COOL FESTIVAL MADRID, SPAIN JUL 8 NOS ALIVE FESTIVAL LISBON, PORTUGAL AUG 5 HINTERLAND MUSIC FEST ST. CHARLES, IA AUG 25 ALL POINTS EAST FESTIVAL LONDON, UK Read More Angel Olsen Angel Olsen will be headlining First Avenue on October 2nd. Olsen fans can look forward to Phases, a collection of B-sides, rarities, and demos on November 10th via Jagjaguwar. ...

Confirmed- this angel’s officially hit the Big Time--

Alternative country / folk singer-songwriter Angel Olsen and her distinctive voice, played to a loyal and raucous capacity crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS, satisfying her older fans and making plenty of new, on this, her biggest headlining area show to date, in support of newest record, Big Time.

We caught her live, just last August, in an outdoor show on the Wild Hearts Tour alongside Julien Baker and Sharon Van Etten, and were impressed but left wanting more, and we even knew there were bigger things to come from Olsen when we caught her in Minneapolis back in 2017.

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The evening began with a generous fifty-minute set from Nashville singer-songwriter Erin Rae, in support of her newest solo full-length, Lighten Up (the title of which, is a not-so-subtle reminder to herself to not take things too seriously).

“I’ll start with my saddest song” she deadpanned, strumming “Mind / Heart” from the newest record. She described 2018’s “Love Like Before” as her “summer jam, my almost-mid-tempo song” to polite laughter and one of the common threads between she and the headliner, is that both new records were produced by the wunderkind of the modern Laurel Canyon sound, Jonathan Wilson (with several Big Time Band members also guesting on it).

Her delicate song “Enemy” is actually about friendship and jealously, she played a new song for only the second time live, and Rae worked in a cover from “by my friend and your neighbor, Kevin Morby”, also mentioning she’d be touring with him and back in the area soon (KC show instantly sold out, but Apr 6 Bottleneck tix still remain).

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To say that the crowd was anticipating Angel Olsen’s ninety-five-minute headlining set, is a massive understatement; as in addition to the locals and students, many had driven in from Kansas City and much farther parts unknown, to catch the buzzing St. Louis-born / Asheville, NC resident, in support of latest full-length, Big Time (Jagjaguwar Records) released last June.

Olsen and the half-dozen Big Time Band members dressed in smartly segmented solid colors (she in blue, her string section in red, bass player in green, etc.) against a Appalachian Mountain backdrop and began acoustically with the new “Dream Thing” and title track from the record.

Olsen’s songs can inspire and narrate as well as haunt, crossing lines between folk, stripped-down alternative, and alt-country, with a voice that shifts from a traditional country croon, to soaring gospel-level heights, to maybe even the occasional yodel.

Like other recent dates, Olsen teased playing a song she “just wrote the night before” saying it “has serious potential”, before cheekily going into her most-recognizable song, 2016’s “Shut Up Kiss Me” that had the audience singing the chorus back at the band, followed by “another loud one”, “Give it Up” also from her previous My Woman album.

2019’s “All Mirrors” remains lush in concert, with its scene-setting keyboard and string crescendo and hollowed percussion, Olsen pleads “I want to Go Home, go back to small things” on a song from the new album, and she described the newest LP’s lead single, “All the Good Times” as “a mad one, about an ex”.

After asking “What song should we do?” (and receiving the inevitable unintelligible shouts back), 2016’s “Sister” launched by popular demand, with Olsen repeating “All my life, I thought I’d change” as the instrumentation built from a hush to a triumphant end, with the main set ending on 2019’s “Chance”.

The single-song encore was a vintage ‘70’s cover, as she’s been doing in recent sets, this night being the Harry Nilsson version of the Badfinger classic “Without You," which was an ideal showcase for Olsen’s voice to rise up to the rafters (even overcoming some monitor fuzz) to end the night on an inspirational high point.

If there was any previous doubt, it’s more than obvious at this point, that Angel Olsen has indeed hit the Big Time; evidenced by the throng of loyal fans that crowded the front barricades and smilingly sang along to every aching song, to the large handful waiting outside her bus afterward, for a brief hello or selfie. For Olsen, these are All the Good Times.

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All Photos by Brandon Clasen (click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

ANGEL OLSEN

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ERIN RAE

ERIN RAE

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ERIN RAE

 

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

Snail Mail w Joy Again at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2022-04-16)

SNAIL MAIL SETLIST Valentine Ben Franklin Glory Speaking Terms Heat Wave Automate Madonna Golden Dream Thinning Light Blue Full Control Headlock Tonight, Tonight (The Smashing Pumpkins cover) Forever (Sailing) -- Encore -- Mia Pristine Read More Snail Mail Matador’s youngest signing Snail Mail (aka 18-yr-old Lindsey Jordan) will be stopping by the 7th Street Entry in support of her debut album Lush - out now. … Joy Again Philadelphia five-piece Joy Again to open the show. Since forming in 2015, the band established themselves as a “staple of the Philly basement scene.” …

The calendar may have said Easter Weekend, but for everyone inside Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS to see Snail Mail in concert, it seemed much more like Valentine’s –

The indie rock project led by Maryland native/NYC-based singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan is out in support of her second full-length album. Valentine (on Matador Records), released last November.

The evening began with a forty-three minute opening set from Philadelphia band Joy Again, for their first time playing in the state, and the tour’s support act for just a week before they would venture off on their own headlining club dates.

The musical collective has two singer/guitarists that split lead duties (Sachi DiSerafino and Arthur Shea, alongside keyboardists Blaise O'Brien, and Zachary Tyndall, bassist Kieran Ferris, and drummer Will Butera) and plays slightly more than typical alternative rock – there’s also a dash of Zappa/Flaming Lips eclecticism and weirdness that makes their music both danceable and more existential at the same time.

Their second EP is 2019’s Piano and they’ve since been signed to Arista Records, marking that signing with recent single, “What Lovers Do” and the crowd reserved their most audible response for 2015’s “Looking Out for You”, played towards the end of their fifteen-song set.

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With the band’s logo on a big backdrop and a couple of Cupid statues on pedestals adorning the stage, Snail Mail began their sixty-five minute set with the title track and album opener from the latest record, Valentine and quickly got all of the crowd engaged and on their side.

Following the album’s sequence, “Ben Franklin” next brought things very personal, as Jordan sang about her 2020 stint in rehab.

After pandemic-related delays and an additional late 2021 pause for a necessary vocal chord operation, both the band and the crowd seemed elated to see each other, and there was often singing along and shrieking affection after every song. Jordan confessed that “Automate” was one of her favorites from the new record (and they played all but one song from Valentine), singing “you’ll be sweet if I stay, and it’s not enough, conditional love”.

“Thinning” reached all the way back to 2016, with Jordan singing repeatedly as if to convince herself, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong” then exclaiming, It’s Saturday night!” clearly thrilled by the reception. She also recalled her last time in town, at a smaller venue during mid-July heat and the air conditioning system not working properly, but also remembered she thought it was a good show. Nevertheless.

Jordan’s voice soared during “Light Blue” proving to everyone she’d almost completely recovered from that polyp removal surgery, something she briefly talked about, following the song. Her band: Alex Bass (his real name!) – bass; Ray Brown – drums; Madeline McCormack – guitar, keys; Benjamin Kaunitz – guitar, played solidly all evening without being obtrusive or upstaging, and all came really alive with their authentic cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight”.

“Forever (Sailing)” with Jordan singing, “whatever you decide, I’ll chase you from the city to the sky” took us to the end of the main set, with Jordan soon to re-appear, with only her acoustic guitar and Kaunitz at her side for a delicate “Mia” and again, her vocals reaching heights she likely could not have, just a year prior, pre-surgery.

The rest of the band re-joined on stage for the closing “Pristine” from 2018’s breakout album Lush, a love song of self second-guessing and what could have been, common feelings the mostly college-age crowd could obviously relate to.

As the pandemic winds down and people re-emerge in social gatherings, we find we’re having to re-learn basic interacting skills, most left more vulnerable by twenty months of isolation. Like everyone else, 22 year-old Lindsey Jordan had experienced very similar, but opened herself up and put those lyrics to paper, about love and loss, and learning lessons. Though the album is called Valentine, the live show from Snail Mail may be more “Easter” after all, as it was a mix of songs about realization, catharsis, and eventual rebirth.

JOY AGAIN SETLIST I'm Your Dog Couldn't Mistakes Sungazing Deathwish // Deathbed Woof Woof Kim Rats Who Knows Country Song Abaigh's Song Love Me Like You Used To Lymes Looking Out for You Winter Snakes JOY AGAIN TOUR DATES 4/17 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre 4/20 Oakland, CA Starline Social Club 4/21 Los Angeles, CA 1720 4/22 Garden Grove, CA Locker Room 4/23 San Diego, CA HOB Voodoo Room 4/24 Tucson, AZ Club Congress 4/26 Austin, TX The Far Out Lounge 4/27 Houston, TX RISE Rooftop 4/28 Fort Worth , TX Tulips 4/29 Norman, OK Norman Music Festival 4/30 Springfield, MO Outland Ballroom 5/1 Nashville, TN DRKMTTR 5/3 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade 5/5 Richmond, VA Richmond Music Hall 5/6 Washington, DC DC9

SNAIL MAIL TOUR DATES

APR 19 Capitol Theater Olympia, WA
APR 20 The Moore Theatre Seattle, WA
APR 21 Vogue Theatre Vancouver, BC
APR 22 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
APR 23 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
APR 24 Fox Theater Oakland, CA
APR 27 Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, CA
APR 28 The Observatory North Park San Diego, CA
APR 29 Nile Theater Mesa, AZ
APR 30 Meow Wolf Santa Fe, NM
MAY 2 The Moody Theater Austin, TX
MAY 3 The Studio at The Factory Dallas, TX
MAY 5 The Masquerade - Heaven Stage Atlanta, GA
MAY 6 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC
MAY 7 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
MAY 8 Brooklyn Bowl Nashville Nashville, TN
JUN 6 Gebäude 9 Cologne, NRW
JUN 7 Knust Hamburg, Germany
JUN 9 Oceanen Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County
JUN 11 Slaktkyrkan Stockholm, Stockholm County
JUN 13 Columbia Theater Berlin
JUN 14 Groovestation Dresden, Saxony
JUN 15 Ampere Munich, Germany
JUN 16 Santeria Toscana 31 Milan, Lombardy
JUN 18 Bogen F Zürich, ZH
JUN 19 Le Trabendo Paris, France
JUN 21 Paradiso Noord Amsterdam, NL
JUN 23 O2 Ritz Manchester, UK
JUN 24 Queen Margaret Union Glasgow, Scotland
JUN 28 The Marble Factory Bristol, England
JUN 29 O2 Forum Kentish Town London, United Kingdom
JUN 30 CHALK Brighton, England
JUL 6 L'Epicerie Moderne Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
JUL 30 Fuji Rock Festival Minamiuonuma, Niigata
AUG 12 Fête Music Hall Providence, RI
AUG 14 Beak and Skiff Syracuse, NY
AUG 16 Toad's Place New Haven, CT
AUG 17 The Stone Pony Asbury Park, NJ
AUG 19 The National Richmond, VA
AUG 20 The NorVa Norfolk, VA
AUG 21 Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC
AUG 23 The Beacham Orlando, FL
AUG 24 The Ritz Ybor Tampa, FL
AUG 26 Saturn Birmingham, AL
AUG 27 The Mill & Mine Knoxville, TN
AUG 28 Headliners Music Hall Louisville, KY
AUG 30 Castle Theatre Bloomington, IL
AUG 31 Majestic Theatre Madison, WI
SEP 2 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
SEP 3 The Pageant St Louis, MO
SEP 4 The Athenaeum Theatre Columbus, OH
SEP 6 The Majestic Theatre Detroit, MI
SEP 7 Mr. Smalls Theatre Millvale, PA
SEP 9 The Fillmore Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD
SEP 24 Frantic City Festival Atlantic City, NJ

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

Joy Again

Joy Again

Snail Mail Setlist

Snail Mail

Snail Mail

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Snail Mail

Snail Mail at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (2022-04-16)

 

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

Lucy Dacus w Indigo De Souza at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (19 Feb 2022) review

Lucy Dacus at Liberty Hall LUCY DACUS SETLIST Triple Dog Dare First Time Addictions Hot & Heavy Christine VBS Cartwheel Time Fighter Yours & Mine Partner in Crime Home Again (Carole King cover) Please Stay Going Going Gone Thumbs Brando I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore Kissing Lessons Night Shift LUCY DACUS TOUR DATES 02/20 - OK City, OK @ Tower Theatre * 02/23 - Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre * 02/24 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel * 02/25 - C-Ville, VA @ Jefferson * 02/26 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony * 03/01 - Toronto, ONT @ Danforth Music Hall * 03/02 - Montreal, QUE @ Corona Theatre * 03/03 - Providence, RI @ The Strand 03/05 - Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head 03/18 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club 03/19 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club 03/20 - Glasgow, UK @ St. Lukes 03/21 - Dublin, IE @ The Button Factory ** 03/23 - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla 03/24 - Bristol, UK @ Trinity 03/25 - London, UK @ Kentish Town Forum 03/29 - Brussels, BL @ Rotonde ** 03/30 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord ** 03/31 - Cologne, DE @ Artheater ** 04/02 - Hamburg, DE @ Molotow ** 04/03 - Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen ** Apr 04 - Aarhus, DK @ Atlas ** 04/06 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret ** 04/07 - Stockholm, SE @ Nalen Klubb ** 04/09 - Berlin, DE @ Lido ** 04/10 - Jena, DE @ Trafo ** 04/11 - Vienna, AT @ Chelsea ** 04/13 - Munich, DE @ Milla ** 04/14 - Zürich, SU @ Bogen F ** 04/15 - Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie ** * = Indigo De Souza supporting **= Fenne Lily supporting INDIGO DE SOUZA TOUR DATES FEB 20 Tower Theatre Oklahoma City, OK * FEB 23 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA * FEB 24 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC * FEB 25 The Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA * FEB 26 The Stone Pony Asbury Park, NJ * MAR 3 The Strand Ballroom & Theatre Providence, RI * MAR 5 Rams Head Live! Baltimore, MD * MAR 19 Blueberry Hill St Louis, MO * MAR 21 The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO MAR 22 Fox Theatre Boulder, CO MAR 23 - MAR 27 Treefort Festival Boise, ID MAR 26 ALMA Tacoma, WA MAR 28 Neumos Seattle, WA MAR 29 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR MAR 31 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA APR 1 Harlow's Sacramento, CA APR 20 Black Cat Washington, DC APR 21 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY APR 24 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY APR 25 Royale Boston, MA Rescheduled from Jan 27 APR 28 Higher Ground South Burlington, VT APR 29 Space Ballroom Hamden, CT APR 30 Colony Woodstock, NY MAY 2 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA MAY 7 Le Hasard Ludique Paris, France MAY 9 Paradiso Amsterdam, NL MAY 11 Les Nuits Botanique Brussels, Belgium MAY 11 - MAY 14 The Great Escape Festival Brighton, UK MAY 12 Elsewhere Margate, UK MAY 15 SOUP Manchester, UK MAY 16 Rough Trade Bristol Bristol, UK MAY 17 Electrowerkz London, UK MAY 20 Bulls Ball Park Durham, NC MAY 24 Music Hall Richmond, VA MAY 25 Amos' Southend Charlotte, NC MAY 27 - MAY 29 Forecastle Festival Louisville, KY JUN 16 - JUN 19 Bonnaroo Manchester, TN JUN 21 Jacobs Pavilion Cleveland, OH ^ JUN 22 Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA ^ JUN 28 Meadow Brooke Amphitheatre Rochester Hills, MI ^ JUN 29 KEMBA Live! Columbus, OH ^ JUL 1 Breese Stevens Field Madison, WI ^ JUL 2 Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Chicago, IL ^ AUG 16 -20 Vodafone Paredes de Coura Paredes AUG 18 - AUG 21 Green Man Festival Crickhowell, Wales AUG 19 - AUG 21 MS Dockville Festival Hamburg, Germany AUG 27 - AUG 28 This Ain’t No Picnic Pasadena, CA * = Supporting Lucy Dacus ^ = Supporting My Morning Jacket Read More Lucy Dacus American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus will be headlining First Avenue’s mainroom on Saturday, October 9th, 2021. Bartees Strange will open. Dacus is touring in support of her new album Home Video, which … Indigo De Souza North Carolina’s Indigo De Souza will head out on tour for her new album Any Shape You Take (Saddle Creek). The tour will stop by the 7th Street Entry on October 1st. …

Couch-bound confessions, revealing home videos, and more--

Two bold female acts took to the (newly refurbished) stage at Liberty Hall in Lawrence as indie singer-songwriters Lucy Dacus and Indigo De Souza played to a loyal and sold-out audience. 

Rising star Indigo De Souza, from Asheville, NC was up first, in support of last August’s Any Shape You Take (on Saddle Creek Records) and proved early on, that she was worthy of the gaining buzz and attention she’s been getting. 

We were fortunate to catch her headlining last fall in Minneapolis, making mention of her burgeoning female fan base and Lawrence was no exception, with devotees perched up front along the railing, some in pastel makeup, glitter and angel wings, singing along to every word. 

The product of a bossa nova guitarist father and primarily raised by her visual artist mother (who paints her album covers), creativity seemed to surround her from an early age, making her own music at age nine, and shyly but confidently making her own blend of grunge pop and emotional 90s-esque indie rock. The setlist built to a crescendo with De Souza’s voice and angst rising to end with repeated verses of “Tell them that I wasn’t having much fun” (though the audience sure seemed to be).

Lucy Dacus sure can persevere--

Despite continued Covid restrictions/mask mandates (and a problematic fifty-minute wait in line outside for entry) and for the last ten days or so, two painful herniated discs in her back, Dacus has bravely carried on with her tour, when many acts under less duress probably would have called it all off and returned home. 

In support of her third studio album, Home Video (on Matador Records) out last summer, the tour (like everything else) had to be postponed, but that also gave the Virginia musician some time to also release two new singles. 

In between acts, the screen at the back of the stage showed a loop of Dacus’ own home movies, VHS-sourced clips of the singer from near-birth to young child, to early teenager, in typical family settings. 

A long leather couch with pillow and short mic stand and nearby guitars were placed at the center of the stage, with her solid four-piece band (bass- Dominic Angelella; drums- Ricardo Lagomasino; guitars- Jacob Blizard; keys- Sarah Goldstone) framed around her on each corner. With Dacus flat on her back, the rest of the band had to, and did rise to the musical occasion, notably guitarist Jacob Blizard. 

We've seen Dacus a handful of times over the last several years, and her musical confidence and audience have both grown exponentially, along with a greater self-assurance in her warts-and-all honest lyrics. 

The ninety-minute set started with the new album’s last track, “Triple Dog Dare” and whose lyric, “you’re yawning on your couch” got an early chuckle from the crowd, who collectively felt for her restricted condition and were hanging on every verse. 

Laying back and strumming guitar with her vulnerable and self-revealing songs, Dacus appeared like she was emoting life experiences on an analyst’s couch, very briefly sitting up here and there for a verse, before the pain forced her back down again. 

The living room-style setting, and relaxed nature seemed to add an additional intimacy, further allowing even the most reserved fans in the crowd, to believe it was all right to sway with eyes closed and sing along to all their favorites. 

2018’s “Addictions” from her first album and “Hot & Heavy” which opens the new record, were especially crowd-pleasing, with Dacus growing a bit restless as she sang as a movie marquee with the song’s title was shown on the screen. 

Religion is still strong in the bible belt Midwest, as evidenced when she asked the crowd how many had gone to Vacation Bible School as children, and so many hands went into the air before the band launched into “VBS” from the new record. 

“Timefighter” from her first record was a rare treat to hear, not having been performed live in over three years with Dacus singing her truth that “I’m just good as anybody, I’m just as bad as anybody". The band would gather around her for a campfire version of “Home Again”, a Carole King cover from her classic 1971 Tapestry album and an obvious influence on Dacus.

Aforementioned new singles, “Thumbs” and “Kissing Lessons” were saved towards the end of the set and embraced as heartily by the fans as older, familiar songs like “Brando” and “I Don’t Want to be Funny Anymore” which were played in-between. 

With obviously no traditional encore (the pain of Dacus having to get up and then re-enter, would have been too much), the evening would end with “Night Shift”-chronicling a somewhat resentful end to a long-term relationship of hers, a needed group catharsis for the crowd as she let the audience take the chorus over, “You got a 9 to 5, so I'll take the night shift, and I'll never see you again if I can help it”.

Wounded, hurt, vulnerable, awkward, revealing, and eventually persevering– this was the running message through the songs of both Lucy Dacus and Indigo De Souza, and from the invested reaction of the sold-out crowd, these were feelings, emotions, and experiences that everyone there could also relate to.

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

Indigo De Souza

Indigo De Souza

Indigo De Souza

Lucy Dacus Setlist

Lucy Dacus Band

Lucy Dacus Band

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus at Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS (19 Feb 2022)

 

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