Murder by Death returned to Lawrence, KS, on March 7 for a show at historic Liberty Hall. The group is mid-way through their current tour celebrating 20 years as a band. The crowd was so happy to welcome them back to Lawrence. The night included a great moment when lead singer, Adam Turla, acknowledged their love and long history with the town, from playing house parties in the early 00’s, to Liberty hall on Saturday. The group was energetic and cohesive – you could tell they’ve been performing together for 20 years.
The Lone Bellow returned to Kansas City on March 2nd to sold out crowd at Knuckleheads. The large crowd comprised young and old fans alike, and everyone knew the lyrics. Known for their energetic live shows, The Lone Bellow did not disappoint. The set list ranged from new tracks like “Count On Me” from their recently released album “Half Moon Light” to old favorites such as “You Never Need Nobody”, and even included a Boyz II Men cover. After almost a decade as a band, and 5 full-length albums, The Lone Bellow continues to prove they are one of the best live acts in the business today.
Joseph’s February 11th concert at the Madrid Theatre, promoting their newest album “Good Luck, Kid,” was the band’s first Kansas City performance in almost three years. Even so, the trio admitted to always being fond of KC, reminiscing of a stop on one of their first nationwide tours, and apologizing profusely for an early edition of a tour poster which placed Tuesday’s concert in Kansas City, KS…
KC clearly loves them back. An energetic crowd enthusiastically sang the band’s lyrics back to them. In the front row were participants of Joseph’s recent “Good Luck, Kid” cover contest, which the band mentioned by name. There was a celebratory mood all night as Joseph performed an outstanding show for their eager KC fans.
When JoshRittermoves across the stage, he doesn’t run or walk. He bounces across it. With a smile on his face from start to finish, his bubbly attitude is contagious. Ritter is also an expert storyteller, in both his masterfully crafted lyrics and his discussions with he crowd between songs. His set list included new and old favorites, including “The Curse,” “The Temptation of Adam,” and “Getting Ready to Get Down.” Ritter released his tenth studio album in April of this year.
Technical difficulties didn’t keep Ruston Kelly from playing a fantastic set on Sunday of the Hinterland Music Festival. After a brief delay to the start of the show, Ruston quickly turned the mood around and got the crowd moving with his energetic brand of Americana.
The Nude Party began in the dorms of Appalachian State University, when a group of friends decided to form a band…and play naked. Their reputation as “the naked party band” evolved, and was eventually adopted as the band’s name. Unfortunately, the group was required to wear clothes for their set at Hinterland Music Festival. Despite that, The Nude Party still brought their unique brand of Psych Rock and party-like atmosphere that they are now known for.
The Dead South wrapped up their US tour with an appearance at Hinterland Music Festival, playing a raucous set in front of an enthusiastic afternoon crowd. The folk-bluegrass band from Saskatchewan put their exceptional musicianship and infectious energy on display. The set included songs spanning the band’s entire catalog, including the newly released “Diamond Rings” from their upcoming album “Sugar and Joy” to be released October 11.
During a mid-afternoon set at the Hinterland Music Festival, which leans heavily towards the folk genre, RonGallo injected a heavy dose of high-energy garage rock. The carefree attitude of the band is fun to watch. In between playing crowd favorites, including “Kill The Medicine Man” and “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me,” the guys take turns throwing light-hearted jabs at each other. At times, the concert felt more like an intimate house show than one taking place at a music festival.
