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Let’s take look at the Kansas City/Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from May 16th-May 22nd.
TUESDAY MAY 16
They Might be Giants, The Truman, SOLD OUT
We love the Johns and all the wonderfully eclectic music they put out, as does most of the nation, because almost all of these dates have been sold out...for over three years! Covid and scheduling has caused date changes, but it’s finally happening and they’re coming for real!
The band will play seminal album Flood in full, as well as other numerous hits to celebrate their 40th anniversary as a band. We caught them live last Fall in Minneapolis and can’t wait to see what the live show looks like now.
Mask wearing is requested by the band.
Man or Astro-man w/ Season to Risk recordBar, $25 
The longtime Avant rock Alabama outfit emerged in the early ‘90s as a punk-driven, surf-rock band with members who claimed to be extraterrestrials and with a sound peppered with synthesizers, gadgetry and clips from science-fiction movies. They would re-form in 2006 for label Touch and Go’s 25th anniversary and in 2013 released the album Defcon 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1.
A three-song single, Space 1991 came out in 2021 and earlier this year, the double seven-inch, Distant Pulsar (Chunklet Industries) was released.
The Hails, May 16, Encore at Uptown, $15
Groovy five-piece Florida indie band are out on the road for their Fun Run Tour. Having just wrapped up a run with The Happy Fits, they are joining The Beaches and the moss winding their way through the South, Midwest and Northeast. Listen for recent releases like "Fiona," “Breathless” and “Exonerate” off of their upcoming debut LP, slated for release later this year, as well as longtime fan favorites like "Younger" and "Stay."
WEDNESDAY MAY 17
Wednesday w Cyrogeyser, recordBar, $15 
Wednesday...playing on a Wednesday means you gotta go! The Asheville-based quintet (Karly Hartzman, MJ Lenderman, Alan Miller, Xandy Chelmis and Ethan Baechtold) is out in support of new album Rat Saw God, which came out April 7th via Dead Oceans.
The band has shared a new video for “Quarry” to outlets everywhere, in support of the new record and come see an ideal example of why so much buzzworthy music is currently coming out of Asheville. Recently, the band was named Billboard’s Must-Hear Indie Artist of the Month and Consequence’s Artist of the Month. LA indie trio Cryogeyser to open.
Moonspell, moved to The Bottleneck-Lawrence. $25
The Portuguese dark metallers make their return to North America. Originally planned for last year, the "American Full Moon" 30th-anniversary trek will celebrate three decades of metal magic. Commenting on the band’s return, lead vocalist Fernando Ribeiro says: "Touring North America and Canada made us a stronger band on stage and we've learned a lot about music, fans and hard work overseas. We see this 30 years tour as an opportunity to repay all the amazing fans over there who don't get to see enough of us or hear enough of our music.”
THURSDAY MAY 18
KT Tunstall w Ellie Smith Band Jayhawk Theatre- Topeka, $30-$50 
The Scottish singer-songwriter returns to the road to support her recently released seventh studio album, Nut. Known for her dynamic live performance, Tunstall’s signature style skyrocketed her to fame when she appeared solo on the Jools Holland show performing her then single, “Black Horse and The Cherry Tree” in 2004 and where she also met Squeeze. The two acts would tour together in 2019, which is when we saw them last, live in Minneapolis.
Tunstall rang in 2023 with a special New Year’s Eve show opening for fellow singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile at a sold-out show in Portland, OR and is playing a rare gig in downtown Topeka at a near-100-year-old venue that is in the midst of restoration and was just awarded a $5mil grant by the state to finish the work. We saw openers Ellie Smith Band live at this same venue with The Boxmasters.
The Slackers, Madrid. $20-$40
The Ska mainstays are out on their Don't Let The Sunlight Fool Ya Tour and will soon join Flogging Molly’s cruise, a few festivals, and the Rocks Off Concert Cruise to wrap the summer before heading overseas.
Hamilton Loomis, Knuckleheads. $20
The Galveston TX blues, rock and soul musician who draws on Bo Diddley, Johnny Copeland and Joe “Guitar” Hughes as mentors and inspirations, is at the perfect metro venue for his hybrid musical style.
Jordan Davis, Prairie Band Casino-Mayetta, SOLD OUT 
Ahead of his bigger “Damn Good Time Tour,” starting in August, the rising Country artist plays a relatively smaller room, in support of Bluebird Days, only his second full-length album.
Hits include: “What My World Spins Around”, “Next Thing You Know” “Almost Maybes “ and “Buy Dirt,” which was certified 2x platinum, earning Song Of The Year at the CMA and NSAI awards, plus Billboard, AMA, iHeart, and ACM award nominations.
FRIDAY MAY 19
Thomas Rhett with Cole Swindell and Nate Smith, T-Mobile Center. $24.50-$104.50
The multi-Platinum entertainer is midway through his HOME TEAM TOUR 23, to end in Nashville in September. “Being on the road is one of my favorite places to be,” said Thomas Rhett. “I can’t wait to see the joy on y’alls faces next year and with my buddies Cole Swindell and Nate Smith. We’re definitely gonna have a good time.”
Southern Culture on the Skids with The Get Down, Knuckleheads, $20
Psychobilly/surf rock band SCOTS has been around since 1983(!?) and is out in support of 2021’s At Home With SCOTS. Bummer as it seems they no longer throw fried chicken / play “Eight Piece Box” but watch your head during “Banana Puddin’” and assume the whole audience might be on stage by the end. 
Atreyu, Granada Theater-Lawrence. $25
The Cali metalcore pioneers have a new EP, The Hope Of A Spark, that was released on April 14, so it makes sense they’re back on the road to play it live for the fans.
Tootsie (musical) May 19-21, Starlight, $16-$100
Known best as the award-winning movie starring Dustin Hoffman, this laugh-out-loud love letter to the theater tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime.
Featuring a Tony Award®-winning book by Robert Horn and score by 2018 Tony winner Davie Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), this is a “joyful delight” (The Washington Post).
SATURDAY MAY 20
Willie Nelson w Gary Allan, Tracy Lawrence, Azura Amph,$34-$249 
There might be no bigger (or higher) legend! 90 years-young and fresh from an all-star birthday celebration, the red-headed stranger comes to town for what looks to be a very memorable show.
The music icon was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and is one of the newest inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this November. His discography includes 98 studio albums, with 25 singles reaching number one on the US charts.
Tracy Lawrence has released 14 studio albums, highlighted by Alibis and Time Marches On, both certified double-platinum and has charted more than forty singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts.
Gary Allan's ten studio / greatest hits albums have produced 26 singles on the U.S. Billboard Country and Country Airplay charts, including number one hits "Man to Man,” "Tough Little Boys,” "Nothing On but the Radio,” and "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain).”
Currents w Like Moths to Flames, The Bottleneck-Lawrence, now SOLD OUT
The Connecticut metalcore (w djent influences) outfit spent the winter on tour with Parkway Drive + Memphis May Fire and have hit the road again on their The Death We Seek Tour running through June 9 in Philadelphia, in support of the album of the same name, which was released just last week.
Monster Jam (giant trucks),Arrowhead Stadium, $15-$85+ 
They’ll sell you the whole seat, but all you’ll need is the edge! The most unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans returns for an adrenaline-charged weekend. Twelve drivers and their 12,000 lb. trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. The Stadium Series Blue Champion will receive a highly coveted automatic bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World Finals® to compete for the title of World Champion.
Skating Polly w Lord Friday the 13th, Replay Lounge- Lawrence,$5
The OKC punk grunge all-grrrl band has been around since 2009 and has sixth full-length, Chaos County Line, due out June 23, and is known for alternating instruments among each member, poetic song lyrics, and intense live shows playing an eclectic array of songs. “Hickey King” is the new single and they love playing covers, so expect maybe something familiar with their own spin on things.
SUNDAY MAY 21
Me Nd Adam Encore at Uptown, $13 
These trash wave trailblazers are an alternative rock duo from Austin, TX. American Drip, Pt. I is now available worldwide. “Giddy Up or Giddy Out!” as they say.
MONDAY MAY 22
Ricardo Arjona, T-Mobile Center. $63.49-$253.49
The Guatemalan singer/songwriter is out on his Blanco y Negro Tour, and he is one of the most respected Latin artists, for both his social conscience and his overall integrity. Arjona has enjoyed over 25 years of success since his breakthrough album Animal Nocturno in 1992. Since then, he has switched styles and formats from intimate ballads to electric epics, while building his audience and winning multiple Grammys.
Aquadolls, Encore at Uptown, $12
Los Angeles’ The Aquadolls is currently on their Spring Fling Tour in support of their upcoming album Charmed, set for release on June 2nd. In the meantime, 
they recently released some singles, the latest being “Far Far Away” which takes on a lighter feel with more pop influences, but still showcases catchy melodies and bright harmonies. We might just have a report from the Minneapolis show- check back.
Christian Lee Huston w Fenne Lily, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $18-$20
The cute Bristol UK indie folk singer-songwriter returns to these shores, co-headlining with Christian Lee Hutson. Lily’s new and third album Big Picture is out now on Dead Oceans, released last month. Newest single from the LP is “Pick” and she’s recommended to Laura Marling fans. We caught her live last March in Minneapolis.
As for Hutson, he’s supporting new album Quitters, the follow up to his ANTI records debut, Beginners. He moves away from the focus on growing up to the dread and complications of growing older on a more mature record, produced by Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst which was recorded with more of an organic and homegrown approach. We caught him live with both producers, in a Spring 2019 Minneapolis show. 
Ruston Kelly w Briscoe, Knuckleheads, $25-$134
Americana singer-songwriter Kelly is out on his “The Weakness Tour,” a run of 30 spring dates in support of his new album, The Weakness (on Rounder Records), which came out in early April.
Kelly will be joined by Briscoe, and wraps June 2nd in Nashville, TN, before Kelly embarks on his previously-announced trek with Noah Kahan..We saw the show just two weeks ago in Minneapolis – peep here for all the details and info.
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