The leadup to alt-pop trio Valley’s new album Water The Flowers, Pray For a Garden has been thrilling, culminating in an international tour at the end of September that runs through mid-November. Their new track “Bass Player’s Brother” – to be included in the August 30th full-length release – is about a toxic relationship that can’t seem to find its end. The sound is everything you would hope for from a summer anthem, with words that cut a little deeper.
Valley approached the song in a vulnerable moment after being stranded in North Carolina. They built up the composition to sound as upbeat and fun as possible. This is reflected in the optimistic nature of the track, despite the song really being rooted in heartbreak. They returned to their roots and a carefree attitude in this song, which makes it come alive as a standalone from the upcoming album.
Explains the band:
‘Bass Player’s Brother’ is a song about cyclical love and obsession. In life we often find ourselves in realities that don’t suit our truth, yet we continue to drag ourselves back to the feeling of staying for love’s sake. It’s cyclical in nature yet rooted in heartache and hurt. It’s the back-and-forth outcome of these habits that cause us to stay when we know we should leave. This is the only song on the album where we didn’t reference real names. Sometimes we like to play characters in songs even though we’re always thinking about someone in our lives. We wanted to paint a picture of a classic Americana heartbreak love story.
Don’t forget to pre-save and pre-orderWater The Flowers, Pray For a Garden, out August 30th.
Ohio-bred indie folk outfit Oliver Hazard swooped through Kansas City last night, lighting up the stage at recordBar — quite literally, with their backdrop and Edison bulbs. The trio brought their melodic magic to a captivated crowd.
To note, it was an audience of mostly Gen Z, carrying Nikon point-and-shoot cameras to capture their memories in a wholesome, “old-fashioned” way. It was a delightful way to spend an otherwise uncomfortably warm Wednesday evening, as the band rolled through their catalog and spoke of singing the national anthem at a Royals MLB game. (You know, as one does.)
Catch Oliver Hazard on one of the upcoming tour dates!
Oliver Hazard Tour Dates: Headline dates June 27 – St. Louis, MO – Blueberry Hill Jul 26 – Jul 28, 2024 – Newport Folk Festival* August 2 – Bozeman, MT – Sweet Pea Festival* August 16 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center^ Aug 17 – Waterville, OH – Oliver Hazard Day*
w/the 502s Sept 3 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Sept 5 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount Sept 6 – Portland, ME – Aura Sept 7 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage Sept 8 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Sept 10 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom Sept 14 – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater Sept 15 – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater Sept 16 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel Sept 18 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club Sept 19 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Headline dates Oct 16 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern Oct 17 – Syracuse, NY – Funk ‘n Waffles Oct 18 – Concord, NH – Sound and Color Festival* Oct 19 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom Oct 20 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair Oct 22 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live Oct 23 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg Oct 24 – Washington, DC – Union Stage Oct 26 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
This was my second year witnessing the greatness of Big Freedia at Boulevardia. (I have been lucky enough to see her twerking class at Bonnaroo in years past as well, thankfully.) The hottest weekend of the year so far in Kansas City, this weekend slot of the biggest beer and music festival in the area is always sweltering. And Big Freedia always brings the attitude and energy to make that heat bearable.
What I love about a Big Freedia performance is that, as I walk around the perimeter of the main stage area, I can see people in every direction realizing she is on stage, or hearing dance music, and running in her direction. What an insane power to have. What a great thing to get to see in my life. Here, some early highlights. (And we have gifs to come!)
The headliner of night 1 at Boulevardia 2024 was Milky Chance, a band the event’s organizers had been trying to contract for years. They were giddy as they introduced them, as the night set in on the streets of downtown Kansas City. The band was as fun as ever and the music created an entirely standalone vibe in the main stage. Milky Chance kind of sprinkles magic where they go with their feel-good energy. Photos below to prove it.
Love them or hate them, bands that were popular at the turn of the century are making a comeback. And Hanson? They never really went anywhere. After going indie when their label failed them professionally, the three-brother band has maintained a brand – with multiple creative endeavors within it, including a beer company, tiered fan club membership, collaborative fan community, and more – that has continued to serve them and their growing family over the years. They have consistently toured, continuously contributed to nonprofit funding efforts, and continue to deliver new music as a sibling project year after year.
On Friday, June 14th, Hanson entertained a large crowd gathered in front of the Visit Missouri main stage at Boulevardia in Kansas City, Missouri. There, they announced the release of their new peach cider venture – that comes in honor of the 20th anniversary of “Penny & Me” – that they would be pouring themselves at the Taps & Tastes event the following day.
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Boulevardia draws thousands to the Kansas City area every Father’s Day weekend for an interactive beer and music festival, with local makers and food vendors galore.
Every Father’s Day weekend – for years now – Boulevardia has taken over a crucial area of Kansas City, bringing the best taps, tastes, and tunes to the metropolitan area. (And region, if we are being honest.) The relocation to Crown Center a handful of years ago made the festival a little more central — though no less sweltering hot.
I arrived later on Friday, making it a point to get there in time to see Pom Pom Squad. Frontwoman Mia Berrin introduced the band as Hanson – who was coming up next on the Visit Missouri main stage – and then proceeded to rip our faces off. Berrin’s dynamic vocals serenaded us through a breezy, hot Midwest sunset. A few fun photos below.
Considering the band members that comprise psych-tinged alt-rock quartet Liily – Dylan Nash (Frontman), Sam De La Torre (Guitarist), Charlie Anastasis (Bassist), and Maxx Morando (Drummer) – are all artistic in a variety of ways, it comes as no surprise that the video for single “Swallow” off their fresh drop Liily was so fully ideated and realized by the band, who directed it. The song – which is very specifically about their disdain for trauma porn – is, according to the band, “a pretty simple rock tune, we wanted to keep it straight forward along with the rest of the EP, no bells and whistles! We saw it as our chance to be musical vs over-intellectualizing something that is meat and potatoes.”
About the composition, they are correct. A little bit of a dirty edge to it, with a steady rhythm most can get into, the song is more catchy than one would assume when they think of the subject matter. With both vocals and a video that are sprinkled with the stereotypical bored demeanor of a true rock outfit, the build of energy in the song is almost unexpected, but equally welcoming.
“Swallow” was shot by members of Liily in 2022 with a little help from Keegan James Hurley, Justin Billings, and Andie Jane. Guitarist Sam De La Torre edited it, giving it an admittedly engaging finish.
If you didn’t know who Goose was already, then you could have gotten the full run-down from any man found within a 4 block radius of The Midland on Tuesday evening. “Do you know who Goose is?” a man in a gray tie dyed shirt excitedly asked me as I walked up to the box office to nab my photo pass. “Yes, I’m photographing them.” (And I do know their music. And they’re fantastic.) “Oh.”
But I didn’t have to worry about taking this man’s shine for too long. Almost immediately, he turned to a woman walking from the other direction and excitedly asked, “Do you know who Goose is?” She didn’t, and he was aghast. Immediately he launched into a tale about a young jam band that he and his friends championed from the beginning. I laughed at her expression, got my pass, and went inside.
But that’s what Goose does – they fire up the crowd. They are, in essence, a feel good band with an open, excitable fan base. Walking in, it felt like I was headed to camp. Everyone was complimenting each other’s shirts and looks, asking about strangers’ favorite songs, taking photos with signs and posters.
And that’s another thing… I’ve never seen so many banners and posters in this venue before. I’ve never felt the nostalgia of summer camp inside a venue in Kansas City. In my life. And I’m a native.
That was the vibe they brought. With an enchanting stage set, some quirky accessories (hello stuffed Luigi on a keyboard), and a crowd that was ready to be best friends, Goose brought everyone together on a perfect 70 something degree evening in the midwest.
Today, Boston-bred singer/songwriter Arto Vaun releases the third single from his upcoming July debut release Stuck Inside a Map. If the singles so far are any indication, Vaun’s solo project is bound to take flight, on the wings of self-awareness and a proclivity for word magic.
“Build My Own Fever” is a mid-tempo track, incorporating Vaun’s dreamy vocals over shimmery guitar. Explains Vaun, “I wrote ‘Build My Own Fever’ partly as a response to feeling overwhelmed by all the uncertainty in the world lately, and the sensory overload we’re all dealing with. It’s about trying to stay grounded even when things feel untethered and chaotic, and finding perspective to see the universality and connectedness between and around us all”.
If you can relate, you’ll want to get a listen to this relatable – and, honestly, beautiful – track below.
