It is with great pleasure that we wait with bated breath for Kansas City’s own Amy Farrand and The Like to play the official record release show for their debut album One this Saturday, April 28th. The band – adequately self-described as genre-defiant – is comprised of a group of incredible musicians, including, of course, esteemed songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (and band namesake) Amy Farrand, who has been working on this musical project since 2015. Having entertained at some incredible local events – including, but certainly not limited to, Kansas City’s Middle of The Map Fest and Apocalypse Meow – the sextet is amped to let their work reach more ears, and to continue with their incredibly endearing live performance tactics with the new tracks.
One was recorded at Weights and Measures Lab with Duane Trower and is an eleven track stunner you absolutely do not want to miss. If you haven’t heard it already, it was released recently, following the success of the single “Scared To Death of Dying”, which is the perfect jam track. A musical journey alongside Amy Farrand and The Like includes some incredibly soulful vocal vibes, accompanied by a robust-sounding horns section and high energy percussion that really bring everything to life and create some versatility to the tracks. While tracks like “White Girl Wasted” and “Scared to Death of Dying” actually address some common social commentary, the band is laser-focused on tracks like “Dragon Woman” and “Sweet Thing”, two of our absolute favorites from this collection.
Join Amy Farrand and The Likes in celebration of this honest and beautiful collection of songs on April 28th at 8pm at Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club (3402 Main Street, Kansas City, MO). Inviting the warm weather in with this crowd is going to be an absolute delight!
On his new album Beautiful Machine, Matt Boroff ventures into unknown territory to examine our relationship with technology. While Boroff has been making music for years, this album finds him still evolving the way artists should. Boroff compares the tracks on his newest release to episodes of Black Mirror, and this comparison is an appropriate one. With dark and sometimes dreary tones running throughout, one can easily see how these tracks could end up as the soundtrack for the show.
The first track, “Beautiful Machine” is a perfect start, representing the dark vibes that the rest of the album gives off. As the title suggests, it also is a perfect way to get us thinking about our relationship with technology. “Trust” is the realization that we cannot depend on everything around us. While this track gives off some political vibes, it also can easily be related to what we see online. Another stand-out track is “Echo Chamber”, which speaks of the frustration of having your voice lost in the mix of millions of others. Boroff closes out with “Future Crimes”, a chaotic look at our online world, one that declares nobody is innocent.
Alternative rock outfit out of Phoenix, OO, are expanding their loud, energy-driven sound with their newly released EP Nice and Good. The 5-track rocker is the perfect collection of mostly loud and fast tunes sewn together in perfect harmony. The opener, “runnin’”, is a classic up-tempo show starter that relies on heavy drums and mind-blowing guitar licks to get stuck in our heads. This is similar to the warmth of “sizzlin’ sun”, an appropriate track title for an Arizona-based group. The mid-tempo stride of “family fool” is a late-night campfire tune with a sound bordering on country, perfect for a mid-summer camping trip deep into the woods. There is an angst to “eating wurds” that feels nostalgic, while the EP’s closer, “fizzle and fry”, creates the perfect fade away and look onwards to what may be coming next.
OO promise a solid rock experience, filled with flavor and effervescent instrumentals. A taste of their music is a taste of the rock music scene at present, and we love every last bite.
In his return to performing, Glenn Morrow put together a group of talented musicians to form a band, Glenn Morrow’s Cry for Help. Out of that band comes a new album, 2. For anybody yearning for more rock and roll in their lives, 2 is the perfect place to turn. Filled to the brim with some answers to tough life predicaments and a way to move forward, the album is the perfect opportunity to just sit and be cozy while enjoying important stories and comforting melodies.
A major theme throughout the album that creates this heartwarming feeling is simply the idea of moving forward. Tracks like “Soul Hold” and “The Sun the Moon the Scars” are warm reminders that bad times don’t always have to stay that way. The latter song provides a jazz-esque sound, making it one of the most memorable tracks. There are also songs that fall more on the side of yearning for more, namely “Come Back”, “Watch it Burn” and “Other Side of the Dream”. The group provides layers of emotion that truly represent what life can be like, sorrow mixed with some fun, making it a sobering and comforting experience.
Though she began making a name for herself with her band Alyeska, Alaska Reid is taking the next steps of her career as a solo artist. Her newly released EP Big Bunny is a monumental step in her own direction, showing off not only her ability to illustrate a story with her music, but also her eccentric vocal ability. What is to be appreciated is the diversity of subjects that Reid covers, ranging from the hope of moving away from a town that isn’t meant for you, as heard on “City Sadness” and “Boys From Town”, or the yearning for the feeling of comfort and stability that “Warm” and “Pilot” offer up. The final track, “Blood Ice”, calls for reminiscing on old times that felt more welcoming than the current ones, and it feels like a perfect way to wrap up the stories of Big Bunny.
Reid explores the trials and tribulations that we see in our lives with a release that can easily be described as perfect for those who are looking for something more in life, whether it be a new place to call home or people in our lives who make us feel warm. With splashes of personal detail, Reid is also giving herself the chance to feel.
When tragedy strikes, artists often turn to melodies in an attempt to heal the pain. It was no different for Nathaniel Bellows, who turned to writing to cope with the death of his father. The result is his forthcoming album Three. This triumphant masterpiece starts off with “In the Wool”, an address of self-image and finding oneself amidst the chaos of the world. The heart stopping “Haul Me In” speaks of the need to feel weightless in treacherous waters. The breathtaking percussion creates the illusion that we, the listeners, are in the danger that he speaks of. “Split Lip” invites you to step into the feeling of being hopeful despite being surrounded by reasons to be hopeless. It closes out with “Move Away”, which weighs the pros and cons of leaving a place that has provided you both happiness and sorrow throughout his life. Here, Bellows reveals his intentions to, one way or another, look to the future.
Three is a raw and emotional record that sees every track masterfully tackling the struggle of falling into a pit and trying to find a way into the light, sometimes by hoping for a shoulder to lean on. It reflects a vulnerability that resonates with the listener and provides moments of solace and peace.
