by Meredith Schneider | Nov 25, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On the chilly evening of Thursday November 21st, Chase the Horseman and Whoa Dakota entertained an enthusiastic crowd at The Brick in The Crossroads district of Kansas City, MO. To experience either is an absolute joy, but we will always sing the praises of Whoa Dakota. The project — championed by singer/songwriter Jesse Ott — is so much fun to watch. In fact, this is an act we urge you to see live. Though the song recordings are incredible, they still give no justice to Ott’s far-ranging, angelic vocals, the true instrumental leader of the project. If you get a chance, check them out next time they’re through town!
Keep up with Whoa Dakota here.
by Ashleigh Lee | Nov 18, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On November 16th, The Neighbourhood performed at The Midland in Kansas City, MO. Photographer Ashleigh Lee caught the snow, and snapped some highlights just for us.
Keep up with The Neighbourhood here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 15, 2019 | albums, review
Breezy, ethereal vocals. Light as a feather instrumentals, a warm and inviting soundscape. All of these factors are involved in VanWyck‘s newest full-length release, out today. The project, titled Molten Rock, is comprised of twelve impossibly beautiful tracks, inspired — in part, at least — undoubtedly by the folk of yesteryear. A slow, steady pace is established with first track “Supermarket Line”, and continues into “Lead Me On”, while “Rock Carver” brings with it more assertive instrumentals and a raspier take on the vocals.
“Make of Me” slows everything down to a crawl, gorgeous and sprawling in its soundscape. It is here that we take pause, to realize how important it is to note the comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Nathalie Merchant that VanWyck’s debut album drew, and to notice the way the music has evolved in the space and time since that album was released in 2018. As we roll into “Carolina’s Anatomy”, we feel an attraction to a new love the way this song seems to convey.
Have you ever been this close to feeling no remorse
and being where you want to be
“High School Gym Wall” is even more delicate than its predecessors, something we never would have guessed by its title. Haunting in a way that impresses, it perfectly introduces “Be It to the End”, which brings with it a darker, more theatric atmosphere. “Breakfast Room Revelation” is layered, a ballad of sorts that holds as one of our favorites from this collection.
“The Boatman Calls” and “Like an Ambush” are both solidly beautiful tracks, leading into “The Rock Steady Creeper” which is also impossibly relaxing in its disposition, despite the title. VanWyck expertly rounds out the album with twelfth and final track, the title track, which has the sonic feel of witnessing molten rock cascade down a landscape. The lyrics are descriptive, painting an intense picture, comparisons we all have the capacity to feel.
This album, if nothing else, urges you to feel. Whether by its intense and relatable lyrical content, or its lavish soundscapes. Experience it in full below, and let us know how you feel on Facebook!
Keep up with VanWyck here.
by Emerson Swoger | Nov 14, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On November 9th, X Ambassadors and Bear Hands entertained an excitable — deservedly so — crowd show in Indianapolis, IN at the Egyptian Room in Old National Centre. Emerson Swoger caught some highlights for us.
Keep up with X Ambassadors here.
by Ashleigh Lee | Nov 13, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On November 9th, Hippo Campus regaled a young audience in Lawrence, Kansas at The Granada. Ashleigh Lee popped in to snag some highlights for us.
Keep up with Hippo Campus here.
by Emerson Swoger | Nov 12, 2019 | snapshot, visual
Louisville, Kentucky got an absolute earful — and an immaculate boost in energy — when The Greeting Committee and Hippo Campus rolled through town on November 8th. The event at The Kentucky Center for The Arts was absolutely insane. Highlights below from Emerson Swoger.
Keep up with Hippo Campus here.
