W♥M

R.I.P. Frankie Beverly (Maze)

(Read more Musicians who died in 2024)

R.I.P. Frankie Beverly

“You should know, I wanna make sure I'm right, before I let go”- “Before I Let Go” - Maze

Word has come down that singer-songwriter, guitarist Frankie Beverly, whose band Maze was one of the most influential and enduring acts in R&B, has passed away (10 Sept) at the age of 77, per his and the band’s official social channels.

The statement posted by his family did not reveal any details of his passing: "Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience," the family wrote. "During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way. This period for is one of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly known to the world as Frankie Beverly."

Beverly was best known for his smooth baritone voice and the Philly soul plus California cool anthems he and his seven (and then eight-piece) band concocted, hits that could be heard at almost every gathering or cookout in Black America. His influence continued into genres like hip-hop as artists like 50 Cent, Wale, and Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock all used Maze samples, and the band recently wrapped its farewell tour.

He was born Howard Stanley Beverly in Philadelphia on Dec. 6, 1946, changing his name to Frankie around age 12, after hearing doo-wop group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and their hit, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”

Beverly began performing professionally around that same time, singing similar doo-wop for early bands like The Blenders, The Silhouettes, and The Butlers. After hearing the rock, soul and funk hybrid of Sly and the Family Stone, Beverly began playing more guitar and keyboards as his sound evolved- he renamed his band Raw Soul and was soon traveling west.

An early break was Marvin Gaye’s sister-in-law catching one of the group's Bay Area performances and bringing the band to Gaye’s attention, resulting in an opening slot on Gaye's 1976 Tour and a Capitol Records deal. It was also Gaye who persuaded Beverly to change the band’s name to a single-syllable name, Maze, with Beverly liking the idea because it meant a puzzle, and it didn’t pigeonhole them into a single genre.

Their band logo was a seven-finger hand, with each digit representing a member of the band. (Beverly was the thumb) signifying all were parts of a musical whole.

The group would release nine studio albums from 1977 to 1993, all of which went Gold ,and included numerous hits like “Can’t Stop the Love”, “Silky Soul”, "Happy Feelin's", "While I'm Alone", "Golden Time of Day", “Southern Girl”, "The Look in Your Eyes", "Joy and Pain", "Before I Let Go", "We Are One", "Back in Stride", and "Can't Get Over You", among others.

While Beverly and Maze never had the true crossover success of some of his peers, the band’s fans have remained extremely devoted and had kept the shows full and the group still-popular, as musical styles and trends changed over the decades. Fans even dressed in all casual simple white with a matching ball cap, to mimic Beverly’s typical on-stage wardrobe.

Beverly preached joy, love, and togetherness when in concert, telling Ebony Magazine in 1984: “Maze means magic and love. Everybody is in this maze of life together — people of all types, colors and ages.”

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

R.I.P. Greg Kihn

Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) Official Statement In Loving Memory of Gregory S. Kihn It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Greg Kihn, an iconic figure in the realm of rock music. Greg lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease on 8/13/24 at the age of 75. Known for his magnetic stage presence and unique storytelling that captivated audiences around the globe. He was not merely a musician but a cultural phenomenon whose influence will resonate for generations to come. Born on 07/10/49 in the vibrant city of Baltimore, Maryland. Greg discovered a passion for music early in life. He burst onto the scene with the release of Greg Kihn, which quickly garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. With a unique songwriting style that blended folk, classic rock, blues and pop, his sound helped define a rich musical legacy in the San Francisco Bay Area scene. Greg rose to worldwide fame in the 1980s and left an indelible mark for generations to come. Throughout his illustrious career, Greg received a multitude of accolades, awards and recognition, celebrating his artistic contributions and unwavering dedication to his craft. As a pioneer with the legendary Beserkley Records, Greg helped write the book on revolutionary West Coast Rock and Roll. He toured the world, had hit records, and won several awards for his hit songs "Jeopardy", "The Breakup Song", "Remember" and "Lucky". He was celebrated not only for his musical genius, but also for his ability to connect deeply with fans through powerful lyrics and unforgettable storytelling. As a former Morning Radio host for KFOX for 17 years, as well as a syndicated night time radio host across the country, Greg related to and captivated his audiences with real world issues and hysterical tales from his Rock Star escapades. Beyond the world of music and radio, Greg was renowned as a great storyteller and novelist with 6 published novels and a multitude of short stories. He had a unique hobby of breeding rare praying mantis and he also spent time and raised money for Operation Care and Comfort. His kindness and generosity extended far beyond the stage, as he engaged in initiatives to support Operation Care and Comfort as well as other organizations. Friends and family remember him not just as a Rock Star, but as a warm-hearted individual who brought joy and inspiration to everyone he encountered. Greg is survived by Jay Arafiles-Kihn (Wife), Ryan Kihn (Son), Alexis Harrington-Kihn (Daughter), Samora Harrington (Son-in-Law), Nate Harrington-Kihn (Grandson), Zuri Harrington-Kihn (Grandson), Laura Otremba (Sister), Lou Otremba Jr. (Brother-in-Law), Larry Otremba (Nephew), Lou Otremba III (Nephew), Matthew Otremba (Nephew). All of whom will forever cherish the memories and moments shared with him. A private memorial celebration of his extraordinary life and legacy will take place with friends and family. A public celebration of life concert for fans and fellow musicians will be announced in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Greg Kihn's name to The Alzheimer's Association to help end Alzheimer's Disease. Rest in peace, dear Greg. Your music, your voice, your stories, your spirit and your passion will forever echo in our hearts and inspire countless souls. Rock Kihn Roll Forever! GregKihn.com Read More Greg Kihn Band Speaking of 80s, The Greg Kihn Band had two big hits ("The Breakup Song" and "Jeopardy"), which you can probably hear live at one of their show. Oddly enough, he is releasing a novel called Rubber Soul …

You’ve all heard that the great Greg Kihn has passed away at the age of 75. Like many of you, I first heard of Kihn through Weird Al’s “I Lost on Jeopardy”, so I can never those humorous lyrics out of my head. Once I heard the original song, “Jeopardy” by The Greg Kihn Band, it was simply so brilliant and catchy, that’s why Weird Al decided to parody the song.

Of course, my favorite Kihn song is “The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em),” which came out in 1981. That melody! That lyric (ah ah ah ah ah)! Once you hear it, you just can’t get it out of your head.

We wrote about how Kihn’s writing partner Steve Wright died in 2017, which Kihn wrote an eulogy: “Steve and I started the Greg Kihn Band back in 1975 and we were like brothers. We composed all the hits like “Jeopardy,” “Lucky,” and “The Breakup Song,” and dozens of others. Steve was the driving force behind the band and always kept it fresh and new. We had many adventures over the years and lived our lives to the fullest.”

Greg Kihn at Treasure Island (20 Aug 2017)

The same year, we saw Kihn, in August 2017: “Things got started with a bang as Greg Kihn emerged for a three-song, seventeen-minute set starting with hit, ‘Jeopardy’ (known as much, or more for Weird Al’s parody version of the song). Kihn sounded a bit hoarse compared to his earlier days, but was still within vocal range to pull off the songs, and was still good at inciting the crowd, dressed in his familiar white shirt and dark vest. He and the band are back with the appropriately titled ReKihndled (Riot Records) out in March, and ended his brief set with ‘The Breakup Song’ (written after his second divorce) and the crowd supplying the “Ah-ah-ah’s” after every line.”

Rest in peace, Greg Kihn.

Read more Musicians Who Died.

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Jack Russell (Great White)

(Read more Musicians who died in 2024)

R.I.P. Jack Russell

Vocalist and co-founder of 1980’s metal group Great White, Jack Russell passed away at the age of 63 on August 15th surrounded by family and friends.

In recent years, he had battled multiple system atrophy and Lewy body dementia and had been in declining health for some time. Russell announced just last month that he would be retiring from touring following the recent diagnosis. “I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve,” Russell had stated on social media.

Founded in Los Angeles in 1977 (as “Highway”), Great White’s glory years were in the mid to late-1980s with their platinum-selling 1987 third album “Once Bitten” and its 1989 Grammy-nominated follow-up “… Twice Shy,” featuring singles “Rock Me” and “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” and they memorably performed those hits acoustically on an episode of “MTV Unplugged”.

A change in the public’s musical tastes (Russell had said he blamed MTV, the cable channel that helped grow their fame, for "the downfall of rock."), addictions and other pressures saw Russell first leave the group in 1996 before they reformed in 2001 when Russell started touring under the name Jack Russell’s Great White.

Continuing legal squabbles within the band resulted in two versions using the Great White name, which sometimes confused the public, and could find sometimes both band versions playing the same market within close proximity of the other.

Infamously, it was Russell's version of the band that performed at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island on February 20, 2003, that turned into an inferno when the group’s stage pyrotechnics ignited (unreported) flammable acoustic foam that surrounded the venue.

One hundred people would perish in the blaze, including the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley, with numerous others wounded and badly burned. The band returned to playing live that July and continued touring to mid-2005, to help support The Station Fund, for the club’s victims. Russell continued to struggle with the guilt and relapsed into addiction and wouldn’t perform live again until 2007.

We last caught the band on June 22, 2012 (at Neisen’s Bar and Nightclub in Savage MN) as part of the America Rocks Tour, featuring a stacked lineup of the era along with Russell’s Great White- Faster Pussycat, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bulletboys, and Lillian Axe, and even then, Russell was using a cane and recovering from surgery.

“Words cannot express my gratitude for the many years of memories, love, and support.” Russell had posted with his recent retirement announcement, "Thank you for letting me live my dreams. You have made my life a wonder.”

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

R.I.P. John Mayall

John Mayall photo courtesy Guitar World

(Read more Musicians who died in 2024)

R.I.P. John Mayall

The Godfather of British blues has passed on--

John Mayall, the pioneering UK band leader whose 1960s ensembles proved to be springboards to international fame for many of his young members, passed away on Monday at his home in California, at the age of 90, confirmed by his official Facebook page.

No further details were disclosed, but he had lived a long and prolific life, playing multiple instruments and singing in his own bands for decades, but his glory will lay in the recruiting and refining of talented guitarists that would go on to international fame.

Mayall was given an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by the Queen in 2005 and will be awarded a special musical excellence induction at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in October (we’ll be there to recap).

He was born in Cheshire, UK on November 29, 1933, the son of a local guitarist and record collector father, and a mother who encouraged the love of music. Mayall fell early for the sounds of early American blues artists like Lead Belly, Albert Ammons, and Pinetop Smith and taught himself to play multiple instruments.

As part of required national service, Mayall found himself in Korea, and when on leave in Japan, bought his first guitar there. He would return to England to enroll in art school and began playing in bands, eventually becoming a full-time musician, though his art training helped later when designing his own album covers.

He met fellow blues loving musician Alexis Korner who helped convince him to do music full-time and move to London from Manchester. In 1963 with his band now called the Bluesbreakers (with Fleetwood Mac’s John McVie on bass), they had a regular gig at the famous Marquee Club and managed to go into the studio to record the following spring (as well as backed John Lee Hooker on his 1964 UK Tour).

1966’s band lineup that also recorded the band’s debut studio album featured Eric Clapton on guitar, and other members over the next couple years included Peter Green (who would co-found Fleetwood Mac) and Mick Taylor (the guitarist poached by the Rolling Stones).

Bluesbreakers band members also included drummer Mick Fleetwood , bassist Jack Bruce (of Cream), bassist Andy Fraser (an original member of Free) and drummer Aynsley Dunbar (Frank Zappa, Journey, Jefferson Starship).

That 1966 “Blues Breakers” album signaled trhe beginning of the mid 60’s UK electric blues boom which influenced so many of the greatest bands and artists to come out of that era. Mayall recorded the album “Blues from Laurel Canyon” at the end of the 1960s, befriending many members of Canned Heat, and would end up moving to the Los Angeles area for good.

Mayall’s sound would change with the more American influence and members (which included guitarists Sonny Landreth, Walter Trout and Coco Montoya) and there was a move beyond the trademark UK blues sound he helped create and foster, into more jazz.

Bluesbreakers would return in the 1980s and Mayall was regularly touring for the better part of seven decades, releasing over 70 albums, culminating with 2022 album, “The Sun is Shining Down”. We ordered a couple very inexpensive signed photos of Mayall last year from his website and were charmed by the careful scribe of his signature in silver ink and arriving in a hand-addressed envelope from his California address.

Mayall is survived by his children- Gaz, Jason, Red, Ben, Zak and Samson (from two marriages that both ended in divorce); seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

John Mayall photo courtesy Bill Graham Archives

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

We♥KC! July 22-28, 2024 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence / Topeka KS)

Read More: Olivia Rodrigo In a mini-musical revolution of sorts, artists of Filipino heritage are enjoying their best year to date, dominating this year’s GRAMMY Awards,

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Escape the heat, the stress, and the chaos of life, with a live performance!

Things seem even crazier in the world of late, in addition to everyday normal pressures, so it’s a real gift to be able to step out for an evening- to see a favorite band, a top-level Broadway show, or some gut-busting comedy. Summer events have crested with a bevy of events to choose from, so do yourself a favor and see something that will leave a smile on your face.

(note the update for 30 Seconds and is sold out as is Olivia, and Maren Morris' cancel)

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from July 22nd- 28th.

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show's headline)

MONDAY JULY 22

Vampire Weekend w Ra Ra Riot, July 22, Starlight, $39.50-$89.50

The New York band's newest album, “Only God Was Above Us” arrived on April 5th via Columbia Records, following lead singles, “Capricorn” and “Gen-X Cops.”, and has been critically acclaimed and given the band a renaissance and the chance to play to some of its biggest audiences to date.

This 40-date tour began last month, following the band’s record release show in Austin, with the music video for “Gen-X Cops” including shots of the NYC subway from the ’80s re-created with an authentic subway car, even featuring a “meticulously researched” lighting rig to accurately emulate the light patterns of the subway tunnels from that era. We remember their debut tour in 2008 well, with the show instantly selling out and a huge amount of hype for their show at the now-closed Triple Rock club.

Syracuse NY band Ra Ra Riot toured with the headliners often in their early days and continue to do so here. The band released their first music in five years, a single called “The Wish”, co-written and produced by their friend and co-founding Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmangli.

They haven’t toured for a while, which is why we haven’t seen them live since 2016 in MN.

Maren Morris w Delacey, July 22, The Midland, CANCELED

Tesla, July 22, The Truman, $49.50-$89.50

The Sacramento CA modern day cowboys of anthemic blues rock are still roaring and soaring, celebrating forty years. Their 1986 debut album, Mechanical Resonance, would go platinum and produce the hard rock hits, “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.”

1989’s The Great Radio Controversy brought in many new legions of fans, thanks to its first single, “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out),” and the ballad, “Love Song,” 1990’s Five Man Acoustical Jam produced their biggest hit single, a cover of 60s song, “Signs.”

They would go on hiatus for four years, but returned by starting their own label including a recent re-visit to their live chops, on album, Five Man London Jam. We were in attendance for the filming of their 2008 live video and can attest that they still put on a good show.

TUESDAY JULY 23

Moulin Rouge (Broadway Touring Musical) July 23-Aug 4, Music Hall, $43-$139

Ooh la la and pop the champagne, the Ten-Time Tony Award winner (including Best Musical) is coming for a must-see run in Kansas City! Enter a colorful world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment.

Director Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza, directed by Tony Award® winner Alex Timbers, the musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love.

With a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan; music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award® winner Justin Levine; and choreography by Tony Award® winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! brings the glory days of 20^th century Montmartre alive in Kansas City!

Thirty Seconds to Mars, July 23, UPDATE- moved to Uptown Theater, SOLD OUT

The cinematic rock band’s 2024 Seasons Tour is their first in over five years, and was introduced by Jared Leto, the band’s frontman completing the first-ever climb of the Empire State Building. Having always been fascinated with the landmark since childhood, Leto said, “The building is a testament of all the things that can be done in the world if we put our minds to it, which is largely the inspiration behind our most recent album, It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day.”(released last Sept.via Concord Records)

The band played in Europe for 28 shows before traveling back to North America where they’re scheduled to play 24 major arenas and amphitheaters, completing the tour in Australia and New Zealand. We first saw them way back in 2007 when they kicked off their MTV $2 Dollar Bill Tour at Myth in Maplewood MN and when ticket prices were, you guessed, it $2.

Arrive early to this now-intimate show to catch Jagwar Twin, who toured with the Leto bros. in Europe and whose brand-new single "tomorrow [ANGLE OF ETERNITY] ft. lovelytheband" is already making waves.

The LA alt-pop sensation (fka Roy English) was all over the internet with his previous viral hit "Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa)", hitting #1 on Vevo's Top 10 Alternative Videos Chart, and amassing over 180 million streams and over 8.6 billion views on YouTube shorts.

WEDNESDAY JULY 24

THURSDAY JULY 25

Be Your Own Pet, July 25, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $18-$20

The Nashville garage punk band was all the rage when they first hit in the mid-2000s, sneering at the trappings of adulthood on their self-titled debut from 2006 and follow-up 2008 album, Get Awkward,  Formed by a quartet of high school buddies — singer Jemina Pearl, Nathan Vasquez on bass, Jonas Stein on guitar and initially Jamin Orrall on drums (replaced with John Eatherly), the band burned strong for just a handful of years.

After a 15-year hiatus, the second lineup reunited and recorded Mommy, a new album, for new label, Third Man, run by Jack White. And they returned to live stages as well, for this summer show in a college town for a show that should re-kindle much of that punk anti-establishment spirit.

In the Valley Below, July 25, recordBar, $20

Dream indie pop duo In The Valley Below bring their enchanting and powerful live show on tour with the release of their third album, The Black Moon. They continue to examine that heady mix of desire and dread, the magic and the mortality that marks the pair’s personal and musical relationship.

The Michigan married couple of Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob’s debut The Belt spawned the international alternative hit, “Peaches,” broke overseas first before entering the top 20 alternative charts in the US. We’ve seen them a few times recently- with OMD in 2022, and in 2019, playing a live soundtrack to their film project for a headphone-wearing audience in a suburban movie theater.

.38 Special, July 25, Stormont-Vail Events Center-Topeka, $40-$120

Get ready for the return of those Wild-eyed Southern Boys, still led by co-founding bandleader Don Barnes.  With a career that spans four decades and 15 albums, the band continues to tour and showcase their hits to over 100 cities a year. Barnes as guitarist and vocalist, along with bassist Barry Dunaway, drummer Gary Moffatt, keyboardist and vocalist Bobby Capps and the most recent addition of guitarist and vocalist Jerry Riggs completing the team. 
Featuring selections from their numerous Gold and Platinum albums, look forward to hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” “Back Where You Belong” and more.

FRIDAY JULY 26

Olivia Rodrigo w Pink Pantheress, July 26, T-Mobile Center, SOLD OUT

The multi-platinum, three-time Grammy Award-winning (and half-Filipina!) artist Olivia Rodrigo is out on her GUTS world tour in support of her second studio album, GUTS, which was released last September via Geffen Records to critical acclaim. Produced by Live Nation, the massive global tour runs 57-dates, ending with two sold-out shows mid-next month at the Kia Forum near Los Angeles.

GUTS arrived as the follow-up to Rodrigo’s 4x Platinum 2021 full-length debut Sour and features her No. 1 hit “vampire” and the new focus track “get him back!” Second single “bad idea, right?” was named a Best New Track by Pitchfork.

Silver Star Tickets makes a limited number of $20 plus taxes and fees tickets available. Olivia is launching this program for each show, making it as easy and affordable as possible for her fans to make it out to her shows. Ticket locations may include limited view seats, lower and upper level seating, as well as the floor.

In conjunction with the tour, Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good, a global initiative committed to building an equitable and just future for all women and girls through direct support of community-based non-profits that champion girls’ education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will go to the fund.

Arrive early for Pink Pantheress, the young, buzzing UK bedroom pop singer-songwriter in support of her debut full-length, last year’s Heaven Knows.

Shrek the Musical (Broadway Touring July 26-28), Starlight, $12.80-$100

Shrek The Musical is the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue… c’mon, you know the story from the successful films and original book!

Yes, your favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar®-winning, smash hit, DreamWorks animated film. Tony Award-winning duo Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (book) revisit their first collaboration to deliver a more intimate and engaging experience – a joyful, colorful Shrek that leans into the humanity in all of us that celebrates our differences.

With all-new original direction and choreography by Danny Mefford filled with lush orchestrations, this reimagined production brings the show back to its roots. With Eddie Murphy recently disclosing there will be not only a new Shrek movie, but a Donkey solo film as well, this is the perfect opportunity to re-visit the franchise.

Aquabats, July 26, Madrid, $32-$54+

The superhero musical group is heading out on tour this summer, joined by the Aggrolites and Left Alone, which makes the tour even better, all in support of new album called Finally. They also celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2024, with festivities extending beyond music, including a fan gathering, and exclusive celebratory merchandise.

Since their formation in 1994 in Orange County, The Aquabats have been punk rock superheroes dedicated to injecting harmless fun into a music scene that often took itself too seriously. Their distinctive and fun approach quickly gained traction, earning them a loyal following that spans multiple generations.

Everclear, July 26, Ameristar Casino, $25-$195

Ahead of a Fall tour with fellow ’90s rockers Marcy Playground and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, Everclear has some summer headlining shows, which also celebrate their fourth album, Songs from an American Movie Vol. One, which turns 25. The band’s last record was their 2023 live album, Live at The Whiskey A Go Go.

The band has become one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s, with founder, vocalist / guitarist (and lone remaining original member) Art Alexakis making it clear that he has no plans to slow down, more than three decades later. We saw them live last September in Minneapolis.

Amanda Fish, July 26, Knuckleheads, $20

Amanda Fish began as a singer songwriter in late 2012, refining her original material as a solo act for 2 years before she formed her band in early 2014. In 2015, she released her first all-original LP, "Down In The Dirt", and in 2018, she released her second studio album, "Free".

During the 2020 Covid crisis, she released an album of home recorded demos of her newly written music named "Trailer Park Demos", sold through her website, and this performance is a record release for her brand-new album.

Ice Cube, July 26, Grinders KC, $69-$152

The legendary rapper and actor is out on tour to deliver a mix of classic hits and newer material to showcase his impact on the industry. Fans can expect a high-energy show filled with the raw lyrics and beats that have defined his career. Ice Cube is an award-winning musician, actor, director, producer, civil rights leader and CEO / co-founder of the BIG3 3-on-3 basketball league.

Cube released his first solo album in 8 years, Everythang’s Corrupt, his 18th album overall via Interscope Records in 2018, and them was a member of hip-hop supergroup Mt Westmore (along w Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too Short) who released a debut album in 2022. It should be a Good Day!

SATURDAY JULY 27

Sarah Sherman (comedy), July 27, The Truman, $35-$40

The SNL comedian aka Sarah Squirm recently completed her third season as a repertory player on the NBC comedy show, becoming a breakout star. She also recently co-starred with Adam Sandler in the Netflix film, “You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!”.

Sherman was selected as a New Face at the 2021 Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival and is known for her popular live show, Helltrap Nightmare. She was previously named one of Vulture's Comics to Watch for 2018 and one of Time Out magazine’s Five Comics to Watch for 2017. This will be an 18+ seated show.

SUNDAY JULY 28

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

RIP Laurie Lindeen (Zuzu's Petals)

Read More Zuzu's Petals Author Laurie Lindeen, formerly from Zuzu's Petals, read an excerpt from her forthcoming book called "My Boyfriend's Dead". It's not a zombie book, but about a 12-year-old girl growing up in the 70s. …

Laurie Lindeen, the guitarist and singer of the girl trio Zuzu’s Petals and Paul Westerberg’s ex-wife, has died on July 1, 2024. The news was shared by bassist Coleen Elwood and drummer Linda Pitmon.

Zuzu’s Petals debut in 1993 with their debut album When No One's Looking on cassette and CD, via Twin/Tone Records. The band took their name from the film It's A Wonderful Life.

Coleen Elwood writes:

It is with a broken heart, and the permission of her family, I share the horrible news of the death of Laurie Lindeen, due to a brain aneurysm 7/1. My dear friend of 45 years, ZZP petal sister, musical collaborator & funny AF old school pal. I am shocked & devastated & at a loss for words to describe what she meant to me, her family & MPLS music community. She was one of the smartest & funniest…who could convince me to do, just about anything; “sure I’ll take my college degree, move to Minneapolis & start a band with you, before I can play the bass”. There will be more pictures & stories to share…and so many more tears to cry. So for today, hug your pals, kiss your loved ones, listen to X/ zeppelin/ Joni or Roxy music…and turn it up past 11. It’s one past 10. We love you Laurie/ Lars/ dolphin petal sister.#ZZP #peacemedicine#godcrie

We saw Lindeen at Wesley Stace’s “Cabinet of Wonders” show in Oct 2013 and wrote, “Author Laurie Lindeen, formerly from Zuzu’s Petals, read an excerpt from her forthcoming book called "My Boyfriend's Dead". It's not a zombie book, but about a 12-year-old girl growing up in the 70s.”

Laurie Lindeen is on the far left of the photo below.

Read more Musicians Who Died.

Wesley Stace's Cabinet of Wonders at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (10/11/13) Left to right: Laurie Lindeen, Haley Bonar, Todd Barry, Gary Louris, Wesley Stace, Marc Perlman, and John Roderick (on keyboard)

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Francoise Hardy and Gaps Hendrickson (The Selecter)

Françoise Hardy Read More France Gall If you like old sixties girl music, you're likely going to love France Gall. Or anything out of the ye-ye music movement. … The Selecter If you love 2 tone ska, you would've loved The Selecter in the 70s, along with such bands like Madness, The Beat (The English Beat) and The Specials. .… …

Two of the biggest and most influential musicians have recently passed away: French singer/songwriter Françoise Hardy and Gaps Hendrickson from the 2-tone Ska The Selecter, have died on June 11.

As you know we are big fans of yé-yé pop music. If you didn’t know, it’s basically the French girl-yeah-yeah singers of the sixties such as Jane Birkin (who died in July 2023) and France Gall (who died in Jan 2018).

Hardy is one of the few French singers of that era to write her own songs, but she is probably famous for covering Perry Como’s “Catch a Falling Star”. I know it is Como’s song, but I’ll always associate that song with Hardy.

As for The Selecter singer, Gaps Hendrickson, he passed away at the age of 73 to cancer. We’re big UK 2-tone fans, such as The Specials, or Madness, so we’ve seen the Selecter at the Cedar Cultural Center in Sep 2013 and wrote, “British ska legend The Selecter made a rare U.S. appearance at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis last night, September 13th; kicking off the start of their 8-date tour in North America. If it's a sign for what's to come, then you'll be happy to know that the band is in tight form, playing all the songs (plus extra b-sides) from Too Much Pressure and, of course, looking good and well-dressed while doing it.”

I’ll always remember that show, because the band played “Too Much Pressure” twice! I guess they wanted us to remember that song.

Read more Musicians Who Died.

The Selecter at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (13 Sep 2013)

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Prince and Purple Rain - 40th Anniversary Celebrations

PRINCE - PURPLE RAIN ALBUM TRACKLIST 1."Let's Go Crazy" (Prince and the Revolution) 4:39 2."Take Me with U" (Prince and the Revolution) 3:54 3."The Beautiful Ones" (Prince) 5:13 4."Computer Blue" (Prince and the Revolution) 3:59 5."Darling Nikki" (Prince) 4:14 6."When Doves Cry" (Prince) 5:54 7."I Would Die 4 U" (Prince and the Revolution) 2:49 8."Baby I'm a Star" (Prince and the Revolution) 4:24 9."Purple Rain" (Prince and the Revolution) 8:41 Read More Prince There is a Prince Celebration kicking off Thursday evening, June 2nd, and continues to Saturday at Paisley Park. There’ll be Q&A with artists who worked closely with Prince, including his former wife and NPG dancer Mayte Garcia ...

40 years later, the sky is still purple and Purple still Reigns--

2024 represents the 40^th anniversary of Purple Rain, the legendary film and accompanying Academy Award-winning soundtrack album, that catapulted the then 26-year-old Prince Rogers Nelson to international superstardom, and remains as a respected and essential musical project, ranking amongst the greatest of all-time.

Directed by Albert Magnoli, “Purple Rain” was released in theaters on July 27, 1984, with a script he co-wrote being very loosely inspired by the musician’s own life – the film would go on to earn over $70 million worldwide at the box office.

Prince’s character was known as The Kid (a better movie moniker than his own childhood nickname, Skipper) with the world being introduced to co-star Apollonia Kotero as his protégé and love interest, as well as members of his actual band The Revolution and the group for which he had written and produced songs, The Time. The companion soundtrack album, featured hits “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry”, “Baby I’m a Star”, “Take Me With U” and “I Would Die 4 U” in addition to the title track, and would go on to sell more than 25 million copies.

Magnoli’s collaboration with Prince during the film’s production led to him becoming his personal manager for much of the 1980s which included through the recording of songs for Tim Burton’s 1989 adaptation of “Batman”.

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On June 25, Warner Home Video will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Prince’s “Purple Rain” with a re-release of the film on 4K UHD and digital platforms. In addition to upgraded picture and sound, the release will be accompanied by most of the previous legacy bonus content (but not all, so keep that previous Blu-Ray) including commentary, eight music videos, and a featurette.

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Additionally, lucky Airbnb users could soon get the chance to book a special-experience stay at the Longfellow neighborhood two-story, three-bedroom house in Minneapolis featured in "Purple Rain."

The Purple Rain House is one of 11 new experiential listings Airbnb is offering called "Icons" which includes a hangout with Kevin Hart, the balloon house from “Up”, and overnight stays at famous museums. Airbnb will select guests for Icon stays via an application and random lottery.

Most of the offerings are free for those selected, though some cost up to $100 per guest. Those who manage to stay at the Purple Rain House (available sometime this August) can "explore the home and go crazy for rare and special tracks from Prince's world in an exclusive studio session," according to an Airbnb release.

The reserved room, modeled after The Kid’s basement bedroom, is a replica of the one seen on film, with ambient purple lighting, Prince sheet music, and a mural of eyes peering over the bed. The experience also comes with an intimate tour, a myriad of memorabilia, unreleased recordings from the Purple Rain sessions, and the opportunity to speak with the star-studded hosts: Wendy and Lisa, Prince’s former Revolution band mates.

The house was purchased quietly by Prince in 2015 for $117,000 but was needing a near-complete rehab. The transaction was kept undisclosed until after his death in 2016 and though he never lived in the house, it has become iconic due to its location in the film.

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A new coffee table book, Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years is just out, which includes rare photography and memorabilia in a slip-cased hardcover edition. Andrea Swensson, the former 89.3 Current DJ and host/co-producer of Prince | Official Podcast, takes a detailed look into his most famous work for its 40th anniversary.

Featuring a foreword by superfan Maya Rudolph and illustrated with performance and off-stage photography as well as memorabilia from top collectors, the book is a timely tribute to the album and film.

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The crown jewel of the 40^th Anniversary events is this year’s Celebration at Paisley Park, an annual gathering of fans (or “fams,” as he preferred) that launched in 2017, initially inspired by a week-long party Prince hosted in 2000. Taking place at the fabled Paisley Park studio and grounds and destinations throughout the metro, Celebration 2024 will celebrate the Purple Rain 40th anniversary for four consecutive days, June 20-24th. We were most recently on-site at Paisley last October, covering the impressive expanded album release of his later seminal album, Diamonds and Pearls.

Guests can experience live concerts, celebrity panels, exclusive concert footage, multiple activities in downtown Minneapolis, a newly curated Paisley Park Tour, a (VIP) boat excursion, gospel brunch, new talent showcase, and more.

Confirmed musicians for the weekend include Morris Day, The Revolution, and The New Power Generation (NPG). The Revolution (Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Bobby Z, BrownMark, and Dr. Fink) are set to perform two shows during Celebration 2024 on June 21 and June 22. The concerts will take place at First Avenue, the famous downtown venue that featured prominently in the film.

New Power Generation (NPG) performs on Saturday, June 22. NPG continue to play with the musical precision learned from when their famous leader was still front and center. Their shows are a kaleidoscope of the hits from all eras of Prince's career, but are focused on the late 80s/early 90s period when the original group was most active. We last caught the band live on back-to-back special appearances in Minneapolis back in 2018.

Morris Day is also set for Saturday, June 22 at Celebration. Day played an essential role in the development of the Minneapolis Sound of the 1980s. He went to school with Prince and sang in Prince’s first band Grand Central, before going on to become the founding lead singer of Prince's band, The Time.

After the first three albums with The Time, Day launched his solo career, releasing albums Color of Success, Daydreaming, Guaranteed, and newest album Last Call as well as re-joined his version of The Time and is continuing to tour under his own name. We caught Morris and co. live at Paisley in Jan 2016, a few months before Prince passed, and when the pair had some private time together, to make some amends. Celebration Tickets Here

So, gel your hair into a curly pompadour, find a frilly shirt and purple overcoat, and hop on your motorbike to purify in the waters of Lake Minnetonka and celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of Purple Rain this season, in Minneapolis and other points- Let’s Go Crazy!

 

illustration by Yann Dalon / Behance

John C ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥Sports: NASCAR AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City KS (2024-05-05)

ADVENTHEALTH 400 RESULTS Pos   Driver   Car Make 1 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 2 Chris Buescher Ford 3 Chase Elliott Chevrolet 4 Martin Truex Toyota 5 Denny Hamlin Toyota 6 Christopher Bell Toyota 7 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 8 Kyle Busch Chevrolet 9 Noah Gragson Ford 10 Michael McDowell Ford 11 Brad Keselowski Ford 12 Ryan Blaney Ford 13 John H. Nemechek Toyota 14 Todd Gilliland Ford 15 Josh Berry Ford 16 Ricky Stenhouse Chevrolet 17 Bubba Wallace Toyota 18 Justin Haley Ford 19 Ross Chastain Chevrolet 20 Tyler Reddick Toyota 21 Chase Briscoe Ford 22 Corey Heim Toyota 23 William Byron Chevrolet 24 Carson Hocevar Chevrolet 25 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 26 Corey LaJoie Chevrolet 27 Daniel Suárez Chevrolet 28 Ryan Preece Ford 29 Zane Smith Chevrolet 30 Daniel Hemric Toyota 31 Derek Kraus Chevrolet 32 Ty Gibbs Toyota 33 Austin Hill Chevrolet 34 Joey Logano Ford 35 Riley Herbst Ford 36 Harrison Burton Ford 37 Austin Cindric Ford 38 Jimmie Johnson Toyota   READ MORE Sports Major League Soccer becomes a true reality in the Twin Cities as Minnesota United FC is about to debut their brand-new soccer-specific stadium, Allianz Field

A two-and-a-half-hour rain delay... and then, History!

It was the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history at the AdventHealth 400, held over the weekend at the Kansas Speedway in suburban Bonner Springs.

Defending champion Kyle Larson topped Chris Buescher by literally an inch. The official victory margin for Larson was 0.001 seconds, overtaking the 2003 Darlington and 2011 Talladega races for the closest finish in Cup Series history. Initially, timing and scoring had Buescher as the winner, but after looking at the replay, NASCAR determined Larson had won the race.

The AdventHealth 400 is race 12 of 36 in the NASCAR Cup Series race and takes place at Kansas Speedway typically in May, with the Hollywood Casino 400, the thirty-second race of the season, held at the Speedway in September.

Larson had been driving smart all day, taking his time when needed and weaving down and high, to pass cars one-by-one to stay near the top of the leaderboard in every race stage.  

Because of the rain delay, race Grand Marshal Richard Petty, nor his son Kyle, were not able to stay to shout the traditional, "Start Your Engines!" call once the rain had passed, so the task was passed down to un-retired driver Jimmie Johnson from the front seat of his vehicle, and who would end up in a crash, one of several on a damp track.  

Also as part of the weekend, Corey Heim overcame some mechanical difficulties to take the Heart of America 200 Truck Series race, and Connor Mosack driving his 28 car, took the checkered flag at the Tide 150, both held the day before the AdventHealth400.  

NASCAR CUP SERIES AND REMAINING SEASON SCHEDULE

 

MAY 12 Goodyear 400 DARLINGTON RACEWAY Darlington, South Carolina - 293 laps / 400.238 miles
MAY 19 NASCAR All-Star Open NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY North Wilkesboro, NC - 100 laps / 62.5 miles
MAY 19 NASCAR All-Star Race NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY North Wilkesboro, NC - 100 laps / 62.5 miles
MAY 26 Coca-Cola 600 CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY Concord, North Carolina - 400 laps / 600 miles
JUNE 2 Enjoy Illinois 300 WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY Madison, Illinois - 240 laps / 300 miles
JUNE 9 Toyota / Save Mart 350 SONOMA RACEWAY Sonoma, California - 110 laps / 218.9 miles
JUNE 16 Iowa Corn 350 IOWA SPEEDWAY Newton, Iowa - 350 laps / 306.25 miles
JUNE 23 NASCAR Cup NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY Loudon, New Hampshire - 301 laps / 318.458 miles
JUNE 30 Ally 400 NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY Nashville, Tennessee - 300 laps / 399 miles
JULY 7 Grant Park 165 CHICAGO STREET RACE Chicago, Illinois - 75 laps / 165 miles
JULY 14 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono POCONO RACEWAY Long Pond, Pennsylvania - 160 laps / 400 miles
JULY 21 Brickyard 400 INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Speedway, Indiana - 160 laps / 400 miles
AUG. 11 Cook Out 400 RICHMOND RACEWAY Richmond, Virginia - 400 laps / 300 miles
AUG. 18 FireKeepers Casino 400 MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY Brooklyn, MI - 200 laps / 400 miles
AUG. 24 Coke Zero Sugar 400 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY Daytona Beach, FL- 160 laps / 400 miles
SEPT. 1 Cook Out Southern 500 DARLINGTON RACEWAY Darlington, South Carolina - 367 laps / 501.322 miles
SEPT. 8 Quaker State 400 available at Walmart ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY Hampton, GA - 260 laps / 400.4 miles
SEPT. 15 Go Bowling at The Glen WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL Watkins Glen, New York - 90 laps / 220.5 miles
SEPT. 21 Bass Pro Shops Night Race BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY Bristol, Tennessee - 500 laps / 266.5 miles
SEPT. 29 Hollywood Casino 400 KANSAS SPEEDWAY Kansas City, Kansas - 267 laps / 400.5 miles
OCT. 6 YellaWood 500 TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY Talladega, Alabama - 188 laps / 500.08 miles
OCT. 13 Bank of America ROVAL 400 CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY Concord, NC - 109 laps / 252.88 miles
OCT. 20 South Point 400 LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Las Vegas, Nevada - 267 laps / 400.5 miles
OCT. 27 NASCAR Cup Series Race at HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY Homestead, Florida - 267 laps / 400.5 miles
NOV. 3 XFINITY 500 MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY Martinsville, Virginia - 500 laps / 263 miles
NOV. 10 NASCAR Cup Series Championship PHOENIX RACEWAY Avondale, Arizona - 312 laps / 312 miles

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

ADVENTHEALTH 400 at Kansas Speedway, Bonner Springs KS (2024-05-05)

ADVENTHEALTH 400 at Kansas Speedway, Bonner Springs KS (2024-05-05) 
HEART OF AMERICA 200 at Kansas Speedway, Bonner Springs KS (2024-05-04) 

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

We♥Comics! - Planet Comicon Kansas City 2024 (March 8-10) recap - Part One

Read More Planet ComiCon Planet ComiCon Kansas City (August 20, 21, 22), Bartle Hall, $35-210 The region’s largest comic book and pop culture event returns to downtown Kansas City with a three-day extravaganza that will please fans …

Celebrating a full quarter century, Planet Comicon Kansas City celebrated their 25 years as the region’s largest and longest-running comic and pop culture event celebrating comic books, science fiction, superheroes and fantasy and its creators; with large daily crowds who converged downtown at Bartle Hall and the Convention Center.

The show has been in existence since 1999, starting small in the south suburbs, moving to larger venues as it grew exponentially along the way to become the Midwest’s premier comics and pop culture gathering and remains a locally run, independent venture, when so many shows have been sold to trade show and exhibit corporations.

The dealer exhibit space covered over seven football fields worth of area featuring comics, pop culture collectibles, anime, anime, nostalgia and memorabilia, along with gaming, entertainment, and other retail options.

Beer was even served via Boulevard Brewing, free play pinball and video games were available, and workshop presentations were held for would-be hands-on creators.

Paid celebrity meet-and-greets and photo opportunities were available as usual, and one of the best ways to learn about these attendees or ask a particular question, was to attend their public Panel discussion/Q&A.

Some of the numerous guests attending this year included:

Adrienne Barbeau Melissa Barrera Jon Bernthal Paul Bettany Simon Bisley Corbin Bleu Barry Bostwick

Tim Bradstreet Bernard Chang Spencer Charnas Ming Chen Chris Claremont Amanda Conner Keith David Kevin Eastman

Glenn Fabry Danielle Fishel Garrett Hedlund Charlie Hunnam Jamie Kennedy Sid Krofft Matthew Lillard Francis Manapul

Jason Marsden Ian McDiarmid Donny Most Dermot Mulroney Jimmy Palmiotti Ron Perlman John Rhys-Davies Eduardo Risso

Adam Savage Tara Strong Rider Strong Ben Templesmith Skeet Ulrich Mark Waid Anson Williams Henry Winkler

Japanese animation and its associated culture aka Anime is even more popular in recent years; so much so, that a sister show Planet Anime Kansas City will make its successful return for a second year, this October.

As for Planet Comicon Kansas City, plans are already confirmed to begin their second quarter-century with the next installment set for March 21-23, 2025.

(click any image to enlarge and see in full)

HAPPY DAYS REUNION at Planet Comicon Kansas City 2024

TMNT Co-Creator KEVIN EASTMAN

Artists BEN TEMPLESMITH / GLENN FABRY

Radio Host / Moderator JOHNNY DARE

Actor JON BERNTHAL at Planet Comicon Kansas City 2024

Actor GARETT HEDLUND

STORMFRONT COMICS Panel

C CONVENTION Sales Floor

SCREAM FILMS / HORROR PANEL at Planet Comicon Kansas City 2024

STAR WARS- ROGUE ONE Display

THE MANDOLARIAN Display

THE IMPERIAL THRONE Display

Actor PAUL BETTANY at Planet Comicon Kansas City 2024

PREDATOR DISPLAY

Creators JIMMY PALMIOTTI / AMANDA CONNER

Artist BERNARD CHANG

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