W♥M

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

Dehd

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

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

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

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

TUESDAY OCTOBER 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4

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

KCB Dancer Chat: Link: Virtual on Facebook LIVE

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

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

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

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

Pert Near Sandstone, Oct 4, Knuckleheads, $12

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

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

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

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

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

THURSDAY OCTOBER 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BANKS w/ Movement at First Avenue, Minneapolis (08 October 2014)

Setlist Before I Ever Met You Alibi This Is What It Feels Like Brain Goddess F*** 'Em Only We Know Someone New Na Na (Trey Songz cover) Change And I Drove You Crazy Drowning Waiting Game Beggin’ For Thread -- Encore -- Stick Tour Dates 10/14/14 Seattle, WA The Showbox 10/15/14 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom 10/16/14 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal 10/19/14 San Francisco, CA Treasure Island 10/21/14 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern 10/22/14 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern 11/17/14 Birmingham Institute 11/19/14 Glasgow ABC1 11/23/14 London O2 Academy Brixton 11/25/14 Manchester The Ritz 01/24/15 Singapore Gardens By The Bay 01/26/15 Auckland, New Zealand Silo Park 01/31/15 Brisbane, Aus Brisbane Showgrounds 02/01/15 Rozelle, Aus Sydney College Of Arts 02/06/15 Adelaide, Aus Harts Mill 02/07/15 Footscray, Aus Footscray 02/08/15 Fremantle, Aus Esplanade 02/12/15 Tokyo, Japan Liquid Room Read More BANKS American singer-songwriter Banks is currently on tour in support of her Goddess album, out now on Harvest Records. … Believing that “everyone should be their most powerful selves” Los Angeles singer/songwriter Jillian Rose Banks (AKA BANKS) named her first full-length record, Goddess (Harvest Records), a seemingly confident title for an act few people were aware of, just a short time ago. But, after increasing buzz with her London EP, a cut on the Divergent soundtrack, and a tour with The Weeknd, “goddess” is what BANKS is quickly on the road to becoming, as evidenced by her hour-long set at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Movement This was a good night to bring in night vision goggles,  as opening trio Movement (Lewis Wade- vocals/keys, Jesse Ward- DJ/beats, Sean Walker- drums/percussion) from Sydney Australia, played their nocturnal blend of bass-heavy, atmospheric electronica in dark shirts with minimal lighting.  Tracks like ‘Us’ and ‘Like Lust’ simmered with a mechanical broodiness sung by a more soulful 90’s R&B influenced James Blake (the band even insertied a snippet of Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” into their mix).  Their debut 4-track EP (on Modular Records) is out now, with full-length expected to follow. After intermission, lights dimmed to almost darkness again, and BANKS emerged in all black, with two sidemen, launching into ‘Before I Ever Met You’ followed quickly by ‘Alibi’.  The music itself is a moody blend of trip-hop, goth, R&B, and widescreen alternative (Lauryn Hill+Fiona Apple+Portishead+ Lykke Li?) with lush melodies and layered, overdubbed vocals. Much like Lorde was doing on the other side of the globe, BANKS has taken those influences and interests, thrown them into a sonic melting pot, and emerged with a dreamy sound and lyrics of broken relationships that has related immediately to so many people. Songs like ‘Brain’ and the title track were similar to their recorded counterparts, due to the precision in creating the music and the overdubbed vocals, while the more bare ‘Someone New’ smoldered in its minimalism and emotive lyrics, which obviously cut deep to the woman singing them. Setlist “If you know this song, please sing it”, she mentioned before going into a lilting version of Trey Songz’ ‘Na Na’, which itself samples the Fugees’ ‘Fu-Gee- La’…which in turn samples Teena Marie’s ‘Ooh La La La’,…ok, you get the idea. Her dialogue between songs was minimal, probably in part due to her seeming shyness on stage and also to keep up the mystery façade of the songs and ambience of the show.  The younger-skewed crowd was mostly rabid about the singer and her music, yet was also mysteriously chatty during several of the slower songs. “This is our last song—it’s called Beggin’ for Thread”, she announced, resulting in loud wails for more and for the song itself, which is in regular rotation at local radio. “We love you Minneapolis, we never want to leave you” she remarked before the one song encore of ‘Stick’, which was inspired by “the sexiness of Abel”, referring to The Weeknd’s Abel Tesfaye. BANKS has mentioned of her music, "I sing about falling in love, I sing about anger, I sing about fear, I sing about feeling sexy, I sing about confidence, and also about feeling completely insecure. I sing about every single thing, and every single thing makes me human and makes me beautiful… and a goddess". Point proven. john ♥ weheartmusic.com BANKS photo by Catie Laffoon