After Wednesday night’s performance at the Uptown Theater, we might be able to forgive rock outfit Sons of Silver for having never been to Kansas City together before. Their opening set for Dogstar was energetic and fun. The band took moments to appreciate their position and the evening, ensuring an almost instant connection with the audience. After their set, the band took some time to meet fans by their merch table while Dogstar got situated on stage.
When was the last time you craved a great rock show and it actually delivered? We set out on a Wednesday night to see the storied Dogstar play at the historic Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Not only did the merchandise line snake through the front lobby, but it wrapped down the hall and into the bar area on the other side. I’ve been going to shows for nearly 30 years at this venue, and I’ve never seen anything like it.
From the moment they hit the stage, the trio delivered nonstop entertainment, rolling through a variety of keepers from their catalog. Their particular blend of alternative rock brings with it hints of goth and more theatrical vocals at times, keeping you on the edge of your seat, singing with the crowd. Of course, there were a couple of “I love you, Keanu!” screams from the crowd at times, but for the most part, the crowd was respectful of the reason we were all there… music.
With an incredible 33-year run so far, this band is showing no signs of slowing down.
Setlist Blonde Lust How the Story Ends Everything Turns Around Out Of Glimmer Dillon Street This Is What Math Is For Shards of Rain Overhang Sleep Runway Marmalade Breach Just Like Heaven Shallow Easy Upside Jackbox I Wanna Be Sedated
Thursday took the stage 5th on Friday at the Uptown Theater, another incredible punk/emo act that we all know and love on the Twenty Years of Tears tour. Playing directly after Anberlin and before Hawthorne Heights, this band truly threw their energy into the entire performance, per usual.
We got up close and personal for an evening we just absolutely cannot believe happened.
Setlist The Other Side of the Crash/Over and Out (of Control) Cross Out the Eyes Signals Over the Air Standing on the Edge of Summer Jet Black New Year This Song Brought to You by a Falling Bomb Fast to the End Application for Release From the Dream Paris in Flames Running From the Rain Understanding in a Car Crash War All the Time
Annie J‘s genre-bending sound is not stereotypical of Seattle–with its grunge and alt-rock history–though her artistic confidence is something that powerhouse artists out of the PNW have held a torch over for decades. Her new single titled “Your Power” is a further demonstration of that confidence, though the sonic approach is very different than you would expect from a song of that name.
Though the upcoming EP (Been Loving You) will be Annie J’s first solo project, she has demonstrated her talent well with impactful artists for years, including The True Loves, Odesza, The Dip, and Allen Stone. “Your Power” is light-as-a-feather in lyrics and composition, inducing goosebumps with each new, impactful line.
Admits Annie of the single:
Imagine embodying that voice in your head, the one you hear from time to time that seems to say: “Hey, I’ve been here loving you the whole time. You can heal, and grow and reach for joy.” This song, to me, is remembering that a patient inner voice exists, though she’s sometimes quiet compared to the rest. And knowing I will fall, again and again, and there will always be a way back,” she continues.
On Thursday, July 18th, pop-punk outfit Bowling For Soup hit up The Truman in Kansas City, Missouri to an eagerly-awaiting, sold-out crowd for the second stop on the 20th Anniversary tour of A Hangover You Don’t Deserve. The band is expertly comprised of original members Jaret Reddick, Chris Burney, and Gary Wiseman, joined by Rob Felicetti of The Ataris fame. Noting that it was the first time they’ve completely sold out a show in Kansas City ever, the band seemed very down-to-earth and super grateful, as always. Jaret recounted some great memories around the city from previous passings through and launched us right into the madness of A Hangover You Don’t Deserve.
To note, Chris Burney is currently out of the live lineup to heal from a leg/foot injury. They added his jersey to a mannequin for the duration of the set, which was wildly decorated to call back to the bright, funky ambiance of the album for which the tour exists.
The venue staffed multiple ASL interpreters for the performance, and their presence at the corner of the stage distracted the guys multiple times. They engaged in conversation as best they could, and asked some absurd questions while they took some time to remember the track list and keep a pace for the evening.
While Bowling For Soup aimed to play the 17 songs from the album in order, they did blank a couple of times and got things slightly out of order. Not enough for the crowd to fault them, and it made the set even more charming. With the help of a big wheel on stage, they chose “My Wena” as a mid-set track to shake it up a bit. And once they finished the album in its entirety, they encored with three fan favorites.
“High School Never Ends,” “Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day,” and “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” were the last songs echoing in our heads as elder millennial after elder millennial exited The Truman, joints popping and earplugs falling out. The evening was temperate and beautiful, keeping us in a cozy cocoon of nostalgia as we drifted home.
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.
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.
taylor hansonisaac hansonzac hanson
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.
