imperfect fifth
mike campbell & the dirty knobs’ “vagabonds, virgins, & misfits” is expertly performed nostalgia
Mike Campbell is a classic rock veteran who’s never really gotten his due, at least in the eyes of the public. His musical track record is all over the map, as a founding member of the legendary Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and a collaborator of other household...
masvusi’s i hope you like it balances disco throwbacks and queer coming-of-age
As someone who’s been studying up in the DMV (shout-out George Mason!), I've been slightly aware of MasVusi, an active drag performer in the area. She’s certainly a remarkable figure in both her performances and trans activism, and when I heard she was releasing an...
bootsy collins is still irresistible on “album of the year #1 funkateer”
It’s Bootsy, baby! If you don’t know who Bootsy Collins is, you absolutely need to get the funk out of this site and do your research. (Actually, stay to read the review, then do some listening.) Funk legend, bass player extraordinaire, fashion icon, and outrageous...
cowboys everywhere — all the rhinestones imaginable: cmat in williamsburg
Cowboys everywhere. Boots, hats, shirts, jewelry, all in the loudest colors (and rhinestones) imaginable. Walking into Music Hall of Williamsburg for CMAT’s sold-out performance was like watching the campiest fashion runway from the first row. Hailing from Dunboyne,...
oliver hazard delights a young audience in kansas city
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...
pretty bitter’s “roadkill” explodes with energy and style
I’ll always jump at the chance to review music in my local area, so getting to write about DC-based indie band Pretty Bitter was super exciting. The band, (composed of vocalist Mel Bleker, bassist Miri Tyler, keyboardist Zack Be, guitarist Chris Smith, and drum-ist...
facing the flames and finding strength in letting go with the greeting committee’s “cyclical”
"Is it just me or is it everybody sitting outside with their house on fire?" The Greeting Committee asks in their latest single "Cyclical," released just days before their new album "Everyone's Gone and I Know I'm The Cause". The song doesn't just dip its toes into...
willowake show off their musical chops with debut EP “an alter ego”
After releasing three singles, SoCal-based indie-garage band Willowake has released their debut EP, An Alter Ego. Their previous songs (“Bitterfaced”, “Playground”, and “I See Ghosts”, respectively) showed great promise in the band’s talents as musicians, making me...
sophomore LP “bathwater” finds alt-pop star luna shadows opening up
The second album by any successful artist can be a critical moment in their career. It’s made to show the impact of their previous work wasn’t a fluke, and that they’re still someone worth giving your time and attention to. This is easy to mess up, as the term...
third time’s a charm – not to mention three talented ladies – on “the boy is mine”
This article is about an all-American cast of singers that have made significant impacts on pop and RnB music. Mainstream pop star Ariana Grande’s new song “The Boy Is Mine” pays homage to Grammy-Award-winning song “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy & Monica, a duet from...
big freedia gets the party going during day 2 of boulevardia 2024
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...
jason montero’s “inside out” album is rootsy classic rock filled with killer rhythms
As a music nerd, it’s fun to listen to new releases and try to figure out where an artist’s influences come from. However, it takes talent and real musical ambition to not just seem like an admirer of certain inspirations with nothing original to say. Inside Out, the...
littrell unleashes “dirty” – a visceral genre-blurring masterstroke
For those weary of pop's increasingly homogenized soundscapes, the Indianapolis duo LITTRELL emerges as a refreshing antidote. Their latest single, "Dirty," doesn't just defy genres—it blends them seamlessly, creating a uniquely turbulent and immersive sonic...
take a journey through a history of dance music with our “vintage pride party” soundtrack
June is only a little over halfway done, which means it’s still pride month! And with pride comes a lot of dance music, though why wouldn’t it? The amount of queer history embedded in the development of disco, house, and techno has made countless...
milky chance blesses the stage at boulevardia 2024
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...
becca stevens grapples with grief and change in “now feels bigger than the past”
It’s been a known stereotype that artists will use their work to process and channel their own emotions. This could be their heartbreak into paintings, their loneliness into a story, or–with the newest single by singer-songwriter Becca Stevens–the loss of their loved...
hanson spends weekend in kansas city to release new peach cider at boulevardia
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...
chaka khan brings funk euphoria to her npr tiny desk concert
Maybe it’s just me, but I think Gen Z needs to be more aware of the countless R&B and funk superstars from the 70s and 80s. A lot of these artists just seem to be overshadowed by larger artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, or Stevie Wonder. I love the music of...