thursday performs to elated crowd at uptown theater

thursday performs to elated crowd at uptown theater

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

oliver hazard delights a young audience in kansas city

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 mostly Gen Z, carrying Nikon point-and-shoot cameras to capture their memories in a wholesome, “old-fashioned” way. It was a delightful way to spend an otherwise uncomfortably warm Wednesday evening, as the band rolled through their catalog and spoke of singing the national anthem at a Royals MLB game. (You know, as one does.)

Catch Oliver Hazard on one of the upcoming tour dates!

Oliver Hazard Tour Dates:
Headline dates
June 27 – St. Louis, MO – Blueberry Hill
Jul 26 – Jul 28, 2024 – Newport Folk Festival*
August 2 – Bozeman, MT – Sweet Pea Festival*
August 16 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center^
Aug 17 – Waterville, OH – Oliver Hazard Day*

w/the 502s
Sept 3 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
Sept 5 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
Sept 6 – Portland, ME – Aura
Sept 7 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Sept 8 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Sept 10 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
Sept 14 – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater
Sept 15 – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater
Sept 16 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Sept 18 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
Sept 19 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz

Headline dates
Oct 16 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
Oct 17 – Syracuse, NY – Funk ‘n Waffles
Oct 18 – Concord, NH – Sound and Color Festival*
Oct 19 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
Oct 20 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
Oct 22 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
Oct 23 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Oct 24 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
Oct 26 – Lexington, KY – The Burl

*festival dates
^show w/Trampled By Turtles

goose jams kansas city’s faces off at the midland

goose jams kansas city’s faces off at the midland

If you didn’t know who Goose was already, then you could have gotten the full run-down from any man found within a 4 block radius of The Midland on Tuesday evening. “Do you know who Goose is?” a man in a gray tie dyed shirt excitedly asked me as I walked up to the box office to nab my photo pass. “Yes, I’m photographing them.” (And I do know their music. And they’re fantastic.) “Oh.”

But I didn’t have to worry about taking this man’s shine for too long. Almost immediately, he turned to a woman walking from the other direction and excitedly asked, “Do you know who Goose is?” She didn’t, and he was aghast. Immediately he launched into a tale about a young jam band that he and his friends championed from the beginning. I laughed at her expression, got my pass, and went inside.

But that’s what Goose does – they fire up the crowd. They are, in essence, a feel good band with an open, excitable fan base. Walking in, it felt like I was headed to camp. Everyone was complimenting each other’s shirts and looks, asking about strangers’ favorite songs, taking photos with signs and posters.

And that’s another thing… I’ve never seen so many banners and posters in this venue before. I’ve never felt the nostalgia of summer camp inside a venue in Kansas City. In my life. And I’m a native.

That was the vibe they brought. With an enchanting stage set, some quirky accessories (hello stuffed Luigi on a keyboard), and a crowd that was ready to be best friends, Goose brought everyone together on a perfect 70 something degree evening in the midwest.

ajr leaves jaws on the floor after energetic takeover of t-mobile center

ajr leaves jaws on the floor after energetic takeover of t-mobile center

It hasn’t been historically easy for me to figure out what to do for my birthday. Usually, I use the fact that I am an identical twin to find ways to celebrate. Plus, both my brother and brother-in-law have birthdays during the same week as us. April is a crazy time in our household!

But when I heard AJR was planning to be in my hometown on my birthday this year, it was a no-brainer that I would be there. Not because I’m a superfan. (Admittedly, I’m not.) Not because I know their catalog extensively. (Oops, I am a very casual listener.) Actually, it was because the band’s energy felt like the right one for my birthday. Well-paced songs, often dark honesty blended with pop hooks, quirky entertainment value. I had caught a glimpse of their live set at Bonnaroo in 2019, and had wanted to see their full creative capabilities. So, my mom and I got tickets together. (Because she has wildly good taste in music and is a phenomenal show buddy.)

AJR is another three-brother band comprised of Adam, Jack, and Ryan Metz. They are more than just your average “We tried choreographed dancing and it’s still stiff,” “We dress alike for our image,” or “We play instruments but we don’t use the space to entertain” groups. They have approached their work very differently than many others, to maintain their individuality and spark as a group the whole time. As their music catches fire with even more people, they acknowledge and appreciate their successes as it happens.

Dean Lewis opened the show for them, bringing his brand of Australian power ballad to the people of Kansas City. While he may have unbuttoned a few too many buttons on his shirt, his rendition of Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” was really well done, and his vulnerability on stage allowed him to connect with the early crowd.

As is the case when you head to a comedy show, be prepared for AJR to exist outside of the box a little bit. Crowd interaction, scripted stage moments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their creative process… So many more examples of dynamic storytelling aside from the incredible musicianship are in store for you. The show’s eco-impact – supported by Adam Met’s efforts as a climate activist – is notable alone, as they sell sustainably packaged water and donate a percentage of each ticket sold to Planet Reimagined. Their VIP experiences are almost as dynamic as the show itself. During an AJR show, they drive cars, dine in restaurants, skydive, do shadow puppets, and perform from unexpected heights. And that’s just some of it.

There is a performed breakdown of the song “Way Less Sad” during their set. This was one of the most fascinating elements of their show. It allowed AJR to play with prepared prose and do a little set work. Seeing this – and hearing them talk about having a theatrical musical style – was a super relatable moment as a child of the 90s raised on musicals and art. It seems these brothers had nurturing upbringings embracing the arts and they work really well together. I see myself in that, and want to lead a more collaborative existence like that.

If you are heading out to see The Maybe Man Tour and don’t have context, there is a sad piece to their set. They talk about the inspiring advice their dad gave them before he passed last year. It is fresh in their minds, their lyrics, and their hearts as they approach the topic. I warn you because waterworks are almost unavoidable. Even surrounded by confetti and giddy, happy hearts of almost every age. (It was kind of like a daycare in there at times.)

Check out the remaining AJR tour dates here.

candlebox brings natural ease and sense of appreciation to a beautiful summer evening show in kcmo

candlebox brings natural ease and sense of appreciation to a beautiful summer evening show in kcmo

Since 1990 – give or take a few years here and there – Candlebox (updated lineup: Kevin Martin, Adam Kury, Brian Quinn, Island Styles, BJ Kerwin) has been lighting the stage with its endearing (and enduring) brand of Pacific Northwest grunge rock. Consistently, they’ve brought heavy-hitting sets to dedicated crowds with hints of glam metal and blues in tow.

What the band has not always conveyed in their performance, is a sense of nostalgia or wide-spanning appreciation. Citing the pandemic – and other circumstances over the years – lead singer Kevin Martin took things a little slower, leaving space for reflection during their set at Starlight Theater in Kansas City, MO on Wednesday, September 6.

Martin told us about his flawed and wonderful immigrant grandmother and his incredible parents – including a wonderful anecdote about a cradle-robbing father. He later took time to appreciate the people he – and we all – have lost too soon. Grief is a tricky bitch, and we have all been touched by it over the years. A sense of true empathy fell like a blanket over the Theater, on what was – admittedly – one of the most temperate and enjoyable evenings of the summer. (Despite the additional quilt of smog over us, brought down from the fires in Canada. Oops.)

Setlist
Don’t You
Change
Blossom
No Sense
Elegante
Arrow
Mothers Dream
He Calls Home
Cover Me
Far Behind
You

With COVID cases on the rise (despite what your local news might omit from its reports), photographers were not allowed a wide variety of angles to shoot from. However, the energy and the wild abandon are palpable through our Candlebox highlights, below.

milky chance enliven the crowd on an unseasonably temperate night in kansas city

milky chance enliven the crowd on an unseasonably temperate night in kansas city

There were warnings of storms looming all day on Saturday, July 1st in Kansas City, Missouri. At any moment, a pop-up shower could leave any part of the metropolitan area drenched. And it did. Multiple times.

But not that night.

Not that evening when German rock band – and Midwest fav – Milky Chance opened for Young The Giant at the gorgeous Starlight Theatre. They dazzled the crowd with eye-catching style, serotonin-boosting tunes, and envious hair (according to pretty much everyone there). Here are some beautiful moments from the opening of the show.

k.flay brings the heat on day 2 of boulevardia

k.flay brings the heat on day 2 of boulevardia

K.Flay is one of our favorite live performers here at Imperfect Fifth. This is because, not only is this human a quirky and fun one, but K.Flay is also a highly energetic human that creates an entire party on stage with dance, song, and massive amounts of attitude. Lucky for us, she and her touring partner grandson made a pit stop in Kansas City to help headline Day 2 at Boulevardia 2023.

As crowds began to increase with the ending of the beer tasting at Taps & Tastes and the breeze that settled in at dusk, the attention started to turn more to the main stage. A big crowd gathered over the course of the set, marveling at how much dancing could happen after a day in the heat of a concrete jungle.

Here are some photos to prove we just couldn’t keep up with her talent and charisma.