On December 12th, an enthusiastic crowd gathered to enjoy performances from Pageant Boys, Digisaurus, and Bad Dreamer at The Rino in Kansas City. We were lucky enough to get a peek inside this gorgeous evening just for you!
On Dec 7th Hardworker of Durham, NC took the stage at Rockwood Music Hall in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. The band has a sound that is deeply rooted in American folk but breaks out and finds its home in todays indie singer/songwriter pool of talent. Lead singer and guitarist Sus Long lead the band through a set of songs off their latest release Go Alone as well as a few tracks from albums past.
By the second song they had to crowds undivided by playing the folk rock turned garage rock anthem “Look More Like A Girl”. The vocal harmonies divided between Long and Alex Treyz on “Lazarus” really filled the room with a Gospel vibe. Mid set the track “Kate” brought the energy with sharp guitars from Daniel Nowell and a distorted four string banjo played by Mike Connor. Wrapping up the already heartfelt show with all out folk song “Kansas City” we were left knowing the band can channel the North Carolinian roots. Elizabeth Cotton would have even probably approved of the bands ode to home.
Hardworker fits into and breaks out of the folk rock mold and they put on a great show in the meantime. Keep up with them here.
On Wednesday, November 1st, the insanely entertaining rock collective Diarrhea Planet rolled through Kansas City, making an exhilarating appearance at Riot Room. In support was local act Witch Jail, which the guys of Diarrhea Planet mentioned had a band name they were jealous of. (But how could you be?) Here are some photos from the evening.
Keep up with Diarrhea Planet here.
On Tuesday, October 31st, The Used took on the Uptown Theater in midtown Kansas City, Missouri to party it up on the most spooktacular evening of the year with help from post-hardcore favorite Glassjaw.
Members of the audience moved about the theater dressed as Clint Eastwood, Batman and Wayne Campbell of Wayne’s World. Not to be outdone, lead vocalist Bert McCracken debuted his look as the Pope as he twirled his garments and hat through “Take It Away” and “The Bird and the Worm.” Bandmates Jeph Howard, Justin Shekoski and Dan Whitesides also dressed for the occasion as a banana, the grim reaper and the Kool Aid Man respectively. McCracken’s ferocious vocals and the eerie Art Deco architecture adorning the venue’s walls added to the sinister night.
The band is touring in support of their just-released seventh studio album, The Canyon. The 17-track analog record stretches 80 minutes and is the first in which Shekoski stepped in for former guitarist Quinn Allman. It is also written as McCracken recovered from the sudden loss of childhood friend Tregen Lewis. Songs featured during the show included the Kurt Cobain-inspired anthem “Over and Over Again” and the live debut of the self-aware galvanizing chorus that is “The Nexus.”
Inspired by Michael Jackson to dance at the age of eight, McCracken refrained from performing his version of the Thriller dance. Though he spoke to the healing abilities of music and power of expression. “Try not to escape your problems but face your fears and maybe you’ll walk out (of it) feeling better,” he said.
Photographer Ashleigh Lee nabbed some stills for us, and you can check them out below!
Keep up with The Used here!
**Copy by Chris Ruder.
**Photos by Ashleigh Lee.
Last month, Yoke Lore and Overcoats impressed a pretty substantial crowd at recordBar during a moody, beautiful, warm evening in Kansas City. A full gallery can be found at PlaylistPlay.com, but we’ve got some more snapshots to share!
