by Erin P.S. Zimmerman | Nov 4, 2019 | show review, snapshot
The end of October brought with it more than just a weather cool-down. As we started to bundle up for the winter ahead, we took time to pause on a breezy Autumn evening to celebrate the last 2 years of accomplishments with Imperfect Fifth. We were lucky enough to partner with Do Good Co., an incredible company on 38th Street in Kansas City, MO, who was also celebrating their 2nd birthday that evening. Together, we brought in vendors (Sugar Buffet KC, Scorpio Rising Botanicals, Crystal Ramirez Jewelry) and unique shopping opportunities with an evening of music and fun. Guitarist James Schneider opened the evening, followed by the talents of Danza Special and Fathers. We captured some photographs, caught up with friends, and were able to celebrate some incredible people locally, to boost our change globally.
Check our merch shop all week for discounts! Sales end at midnight, 11.11!
**photos by Erin P.S. Zimmerman, Elizabeth Schneider, and Meredith Schneider
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 31, 2019 | show review, snapshot
If you haven’t experienced KONGOS live yet, it’s really high time you should. The South African quartet — comprised of brothersJohnny Kongos, Jesse Kongos, Dylan Kongos, and Daniel Kongos — boasts incredible vocal harmonies and layered, striking instrumentals (hello, accordion!). Their captivating stage presence is no surprise, as their musician father must have had quite the influence on them. Just a few days after spending time in the studio with Hanson in Oklahoma, the brothers performed compellingly to an audience in Kansas City, MO. Nothing could have been more beautiful than the full moon on October 13th, shining brightly over this collective crooning to the patio stage at Riot Room.
Through every track, there was a sense of belief in the story that was being told. At times the vocals were raspy and rough, while at others there was a smoothness you almost didn’t expect from this handsome group of men. Regardless of its delivery, each song felt so effortlessly inspiring. For example, during the more tropical-infused track “I Am Not Me”, the audience sang at the sky, as though every individual was having the same existential realization at the exact same time. It was such an intensely beautiful moment, illuminated by the red stage lights, that by the time we got to crowd favorite “Come With Me Now”, I felt like most of the audience had become family. Litter percussive tracks like “Birds Do It” and “I’m Only Joking”, and you’re in for a night of blissful camaraderie with strangers, no matter your surroundings.
What was perhaps most notable was the friendliness with which the group welcomed the crowd and shared anecdotes to introduce their songs. I’m not certain what it was, but a sense of magic surrounded this performance that I wasn’t altogether expecting. Charming, incredible musicians with a lot of love and fire for their work. And simplified, that’s the experience KONGOS creates.
Keep up with KONGOS here.
by Michael Arnold Porter Jr. | Oct 16, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On September 27th, Ashe performed at Encore at the Uptown Theater. Our photographer caught some moody shots for us to swoon over, highlights below!
Keep up with Ashe here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 11, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On Tuesday, October 8th, The Bacon Brothers took the stage at The Folly in downtown Kansas City, MO to a well-mannered and vibrant audience. (Even the couple dressed like bacon added a certain je ne sais quoi. For those of you wondering, yes, this would be Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael, who have been making gorgeous Americana music since 1995. So, yes, your head has been under a rock and it’s time to jam out. These men have got some chops, and they’re wonderfully entertaining.
Keep up with The Bacon Brothers here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 9, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On Monday, October 7th, we escaped the ever-more-frigid midwestern air to enjoy some of the oughts’ most incredible emo tracks. The Early November was performing at The Rino in North Kansas City, MO, and — as big-time fans for over a decade — you bet we were there, surrounded by a room full of people who all had the same nostalgia while singing. In support was Have Mercy. Highlights below.
Keep up with The Early November here.
by Carly Butler | Oct 4, 2019 | snapshot, visual
K.Flay made her mark last night in Nashville, singing and rapping triumphantly atop a mountain of cascading platforms that towered over the crowd at Marathon Music Works during the last stop of her Solutions tour. She knows her audience well, and the set list shows that: she opened with 3 tracks from her new album, Solutions (“Not In California,” “Bad Vibes,” and “This Baby Don’t Cry”). She then proceeded to play the album in its entirety throughout the show, and ended with a fan favorite–and her most popular song to date–Grammy-nominated “Blood In The Cut.” K.Flay belongs on the stage, and you can tell from her live performances that she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Keep up with K. Flay here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 3, 2019 | show review
Next Tuesday, October 8th, join us at the intimate Folly Theater in Kansas City as we welcome The Bacon Brothers on their latest tour, The Shaky Ground Tour. The Philadelphia-based genre-bending collective — comprised of Michael Bacon, Kevin Bacon, Paul Guzzone, Tim Quick, Frank Vilardi, and Joe Mennonna — has been lending their talent to the advancing Americana scene for decades. Though the two namesakes of the act have been making music together for most of their lives, they began to record music with this project in 1995.
So, if you haven’t heard of them yet, then your head is officially under a rock.
The perfect news in all of this? They have been touring pretty heavily as of late and — though originally they were only to come as close as Des Moines to the actual heart of America — added us to the tour a little later in the game, which made our hearts absolutely swoon.
Their latest single “Play!” that was released earlier this summer received critical acclaim and served as the backdrop to hot summer nights at the tail end of our warm months. Just enough of a boogie flare wraps itself in a warm embrace around such a beautiful chord progression, and we’re just so excited to see this one performed live.
Take an evening off and visit these Grammy-nominated musicians on Tuesday evening, October 8th. Tickets are available here.
See you on Tuesday! In the meantime, keep up with the brothers here!
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 2, 2019 | show review, snapshot, visual
On Monday, September 30th, we were thrilled by the crowd packed into Kansas City’s recordBar to enjoy an evening of music by Noah Gundersen. Quite honestly, weeknights in Kansas City are difficult to draw fans out for, especially with our weather being so unpredictable. But the night was beautiful, and the music was absolutely enthralling.
Packed to the brim, there was an excitement in the air as we pushed through the doors on that beautiful autumn night. Couples in droves, though largely we noticed how wide Gundersen’s audience is, as there was no obvious demographic. Young, old(er), couples, single people rocking out, people in all types of outfits and moods. It was probably the most intense melting pot we have been a part of in a while, and it was thrilling.
As soon as the first chords of “Robin Williams” came from the speakers, the entire crowd was captivated. As you can view in some of the following photographs, the audience was respectful of the ambience of each song, making sure to slow down and engage on a different level with songs such as “Heavy Metals”, “Watermelon”, and “Bad Desire”. And we truly can’t blame them. Noah does an amazing job at making each person feel as though they are the only one in the room, both with the emotion in his vocals, his intense gazes into the audience, and his inventive and beautiful musicianship. But he didn’t stop there, and the setup’s light display was actually mesmerizing as well. We can only imagine how intricate a show in a less intimate venue would be, and we can’t wait to see him come back through town.
Setlist
Robin Williams
Crystal Creek
Heavy Metals
Lose You
Watermelon
Out of Time
Older
Ledges
Jesus, Jesus
Annie
So What
Bad Desire
Send the Rain (To Everyone)
Wild Horses
Kamikaze (with Lemolo)
Lover
All My Friends
Keep up with Noah Gundersen here.
by Chad Bennett | Oct 1, 2019 | snapshot, visual
Chris Davidson started his music career as a jazz drummer. The New Yorker now taps into that discipline and experience with his project CHNNLL, an alternative rock four-piece with Davidson on vocals, keys and guitar. Named as a tribute to his father, CHNNLL is in the middle of a Midwest and east coast tour called Age of Outrage. On September 24, CHNNLL returned to Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines.
