Honestav took the main stage at 8pm on Saturday, June 14th, in the lead up to headliner Tech N9ne. His joy was palpable from the moment he stepped on stage, as the hip hop artist from a small town in southern Missouri kept smiling and talking about how he was living his dreams. 2024’s “I’d Rather Overdose” gained him traction, and – having spent a life trying to be a rockstar along with his brothers and sisters – it seems like his dreams are finally coming true.
Yoke Lore – the alternative/indie project from musician Adrian Galvin – tore up from the floor up opening for Jack’s Mannequin at The Truman in Kansas City, Missouri on June 17th. What would have otherwise been a quiet Tuesday night was lit up with the energy of this incredible musician as he and his band – expertly comprised of Rafe Bouchard and Michael Vokes – dazzled the audience with dance-worthy titles like “Hallucinate” and “Chin Up.” They slowed down a couple of times, namely for crowd favorite “Beige.”
What really got me was Adrian’s stage presence. The last time I had the opportunity to catch these guys, they played a much smaller venue down the street. The Truman had more space to move around on stage (and off), so we got to enjoy some dance moves and a bevy of lighting changes that we couldn’t before.
There’s something uniquely intimate about a show at Café Colonial in Sacramento. Tucked into a small venue space that practically glows with DIY charm, the latest leg of the Friendship Bracelet Tour features: Everybody’s Worried About Owen, The Last Arizona, June Henry, and openers Brianna Carmel and The Reverent Marigold. It was a night of catharsis, comfort, and queer magic.
The crowd, a cozy mix of alt and queer folks, created a safe and welcoming energy that made even first-timers feel like they belonged. The show kicked off with Sacramento’s own Brianna Carmel, whose punk-emo-inspired set featured a mix of originals and covers, grounding the night in raw vulnerability and hometown pride.
The Reverent Marigold, a trans-nonbinary folk artist from the Southwest, followed with a stunning and surreal set. Their originals like “JUDAS” and “Ahab, or the Whale” mixed folk-punk storytelling with poetic grit, but it was their unreleased track (complete with an audience-led chant of “F-U-C-K I-C-E”) that electrified the space. Rev. Mari’s voice and presence brought a grounded power that stuck with you long after the song ended.
Then came Everybody’s Worried About Owen, a standout moment of the night. With a rotating mix of fan favorites and unreleased tracks, Owen’s set felt both intimate and electric. Hearing “Mawce” live…a song that sparked a wave of resonance and visibility among trans listeners online was surreal and affirming. Other tracks like “Hydroplaning” and “Introducing Jonah to the Whale” showcased Owen’s emo-folk style and lyrical intensity, while news of an upcoming album and a move to Oregon left the crowd buzzing. West Coast fans, take note: Owen’s not going anywhere.
The Last Arizona followed with a warm, emotionally grounding set of original songs that brought a quieter intimacy to the room. While their performance leaned more subdued than some of the other acts, it was no less impactful. Their lyrics unfolded like quiet confessions, offering a soft landing near the close of the evening. There’s a patience and sincerity in The Last Arizona’s delivery that invites you to lean in, to listen harder.
Finally, June Henry closed out the night in a way only she could. Enchanting and deeply personal. Known for her minute-long viral track “void-adjacent,” June brought a blend of freak folk, lo-fi storytelling, and unflinching emotional honesty to the stage. Her unreleased songs felt like entries from a haunted diary, delicate but fearless. There’s something magnetic about the way June navigates her limerence, longing, and circus lore.
By the end of the night, it was clear this wasn’t just a concert, it was a communion of trans and queer artists and fans alike. Every set bled with care, creativity, and the kind of truth that rarely gets stage time. The Friendship Bracelet Tour lives up to its name: it’s stitched together with love, handmade vulnerability, and the promise that none of us are alone.
Yelawolf has been around in the music industry for a powerful fifteen years: founding record label and brand Slumerican, working with artists ranging from Eminem to Ed Sheeran, and now rapping his way through “Searching for Heaven”, a sneak peek from the album Whiskey and Roses, which will be released on July 11. The album is a collaboration with upcoming artist J. Michael Phillips, who combines raspy country vocals with trap beats, telling stories of his rough past which he has fought tooth and nail to push through.
“Searching for Heaven” aims to highlight the moment where life’s momentum breaks through distracting temptation. Phillips’ vocals traverse pop, rock, and country, piercing with genuine exasperation, as the path to salvation is broken. However Yelawolf plays a mere part in the song, leaving the impression that he is a featured artist rather than a partner. His verse picks apart the song’s rhythm, which is seemingly discombobulated either way.
There’s still a lot of promise with eight unreleased tracks from the Whiskey and Roses which you can pre-save now. The new duo has fresh music and messages for you to listen to and you won’t want to miss them.
Yelawolf & J. Michael Phillips – Summer 2025 Tour June 13 – Colorado Springs, CO at Ford Amphitheater June 14 – Denver, CO at Mission Ballroom July 3 – Charleston, SC at Refinery July 11 – Cleveland, OH at House Of Blues July 12 – Harrisburg, PA at XL Live July 13 – New Haven, CT at Toads July 15 – Albany, NY at Empire Live July 16 – McKees Rocks, PA at Roxian Theatre July 18 – Cadott, WI at Rock Fest July 19 – Grand Rapids, MI at Upheaval Fest July 20 – Cincinnati, OH at Bogarts July 22 – Louisville, KY at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall July 24 – Fayetteville, AR at JJ’s Live July 25 – Jefferson City, MO at Capital Region MJ Healthcare Amphitheater July 26 – Wichita, KS at Cotillion Ballroom July 27 – Oklahoma City, OK at The Criterion July 30 – Salt Lake City, UT at The Complex August 1 – Sacramento, CA at Channel 24 August 2 – Rancho Mirage, CA at The Show at Agua Caliente August 3 – Santa Cruz, CA at The Catalyst August 5 – San Luis Obispo, CA at Fremont Theater August 7 – Santa Fe, NM at The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing August 9 – Sturgis, SD at Iron Horse Saloon August 10 – Sioux Falls, SD at The District
Kansas City is really lucky, because we get to witness Andrew McMahon in all of his forms pretty frequently. While other musicians skip our metropolitan area more often than now, we are seemingly prioritized by his tour manager and team every single time, be it for Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness, Something Corporate, or Jack’s Mannequin.
And we show up.
Kansas City sold out the Tuesday night show at The Truman, a warehouse venue in the downtown area that has space to move — which is great, given the amount of dancing – and llama crowdsurfing – that was happening.
As we head banged through “Holiday From Real,” “Kill The Messenger,” “Amy, I,” and “Miss California,” a genuine feeling of camaraderie seemed to echo through the space. Per usual, Andrew provided anecdotes for a few songs, giving us a true look at what his life was like twenty years ago when Everything in Transit was released. It was during this time that he was battling cancer.
While some fans seemed to be learning of his earlier health woes at this show, he has been touring with his Dear Jack Foundation – which raises funding to improve the lives of young people with cancer and their families – in tow for years.** At this particular show, he was raffling off a signed drum head for donations. Toward the end of the show, he boarded a llama pool floatie and crowd surfed from the stage to the back of the venue to find out the winner of the raffle. Known for being interactive with his crowd, this was a really entertaining approach. (And we didn’t drop him!) **Not for nothing, we played his “Dear Jack” documentary at the inaugural cancer walk at my university, as suggested by my rad twin sister. His story, his strength, and the way he has allowed his life to open up since is quite inspiring and fun.
The set list for The MFEO Tour has varied slightly. The following songs were played by Jack’s Mannequin at The Truman on June 17th. Holiday From Real Spinning The Mixed Tape Release Me Kill the Messenger Crashin Miss Delaney Swim Television I’m Ready Amy, I Bruised Miss California The Resolution Rescued MFEO: Pt. 1 – Made for Each Other / Pt. 2 – You Can Breathe Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby) La La Lie
Foggieraw’s new single “Nefertiti” uses memory-inducing lyrics over a gentle jazz piano to depict 90’s nostalgia and childish love.
The jazzy piano melodies trigger both nostalgia and a sense of timelessness, as Foggieraw begins the song speaking to his “Nefertiti” directly. The premise of the song is a plea to remember the “good ol’ days” and the moments that they shared together, while also acknowledging their faults and insecurities as a couple.
“Nefertiti” is pumped full of references to everything from Betty Boop to Freaky Friday and Spykids. The nostalgia that Foggieraw employs on this track also plays into the immaturity of his love, as he begins to reveal the cracks and instability in his relationship.
He writes about fighting with her cousins, them fighting with each other, and with her friends. It paints a complicated picture of their attachment as even though they have deep love and a prolonged connection, their extended time in each other’s lives has created a muddy and messy situation. Foggieraw ends the song by restating that he does not like her friends, “I don’t like none of your friends, I don’t like Kiana, I don’t like Kiesha and I definitely don’t like Kiki,” which only emphasizes the complex relationship presented in the track.
Foggieraw’s style in “Nefertiti” leans towards conversational, as he uses the softness of the hypnotic backing piano to languidly rap his lyrics to his lover. His lyrics are what really shine as he is able to be honest, nostalgic, and exude confidence all in less than two and a half minutes. Foggieraw encapsulates his struggle in his relationship by saying, “I like you for who you is, you like me for the n**** I could be one day.”
Foggieraw has managed to create a love song that is both romantic and argumentative, which creates a listening experience that is raw, real and nostalgic. “Nefertiti” shows us that relationships are complicated experiences, but that love and romance often keeps us coming back for more.
Tech N9ne was so excited to take the stage as the headliner for Saturday’s Boulevardia Festival in his native Kansas City, that he started his set 10 minutes early. We were on the other side of the festival walking over, so only got one song to grab highlights. But as we walked up to the stage, you could feel the energy oozing from the crowd. And when we approached the front, we saw that – on the day of NO KINGS – or very own hometown hero was wearing a headband that read “KING.”
It has been seven years since his last appearance at the festival, and headlining the 10th anniversary more than makes him Kansas City’s version of a king. Some fun snaps below.
Boulevardia really brought the heat – as it does every year – for its tenth anniversary, set with a backdrop of the skyline in Kansas City, Missouri. The festival grabbed local headliners for the decade anniversary of its existence on one of the hottest weekends of the year, a lineup that featured The Greeting Committee at 6:30pm as the sun started to make its way down into the trees. We caught some highlights from the performance, below.
Have you ever wanted to laugh while nerding out on a topic you have limited information on? Enter: LabX’s “Wrong Answers Only,” the comedy show hosted by Chris Duffy that entertains a deep-dive topic with one expert and three comedians.
“Wrong Answers Only” has hilariously introduced truths on topics like cybersecurity and bees. On June 17th, they will cover the fan-favorite topic of ICE CREAM. (I mean, who doesn’t love ice cream?) Chris will be joined in his ice cream, adventure by Expert Dr. Maya Warren and comedians Lily Du, Alyssa Limperis, and Aparna Nancherla at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 17th.
National Ice Cream Month kicks off in July, so it’s time to get your knowledge on. We got to ask Chris Duffy a few questions while he preps for a night of sweet, sweet comedy and entertainment.
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WRONG ANSWERS ONLY is a real treat for people like me who like to fully understand topics. Have you had a favorite deep-dive yet? What would be a future topic you’d want to talk to a scientist about?
Honestly, so much of the fun of doing a show where comedians interview scientists is that every topic ends up being surprising and hilarious. That being said, I think one of the most mind blowing topics was when we interviewed Dr. Moogega Cooper who works on making sure Earth’s spaceships don’t accidentally send out a bacteria or organism that could wreak havoc across the galaxy.
As for a dream topic, I always think scientists who study animals are fascinating and hilarious so I’d love to talk to a rat expert. I bet there’s a lot of comedy there. But actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I’d probably have to look at a lot of photos of rats, which is disgusting and terrifying. So let’s say a guinea pig expert instead. They’re like the friendly cousins of rats.
Where was the show topic of ice cream born from for this upcoming Dynasty Typewriter event?
The idea to do a comedy show about ice cream came from: 1) how good it is to eat ice cream 2) us hearing about a scientist who studies ice cream 3) me realizing this would mean I’d get to eat ice cream for work and 4) us realizing we could give the audience ice cream during the show and have them love us forever.
Can’t argue any of that! Dr. Maya Warren is going to be your guest for this ice cream deep dive. What qualifies her as an ice cream expert, and how did you get into contact?
Well, if you go to her website, it says in giant letters “Ice Cream Scientist™” so that’s definitely a clue that you might be dealing with an ice cream expert. But also, she’s got a PhD in Food Science and has traveled the world studying and creating new flavors of ice cream. One of the amazing parts of doing a comedy show for LabX (a program of the National Academy of Sciences) is that they just know people like this. They’re the only people I could ever meet in my life who would go “Oh, we actually met this ice cream scientist the other night, do you think that might be a fun topic for the show?” The answer, of course, was yes.
Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to bringing up with Dr. Warren and the comedians?
I am most looking forward to ice cream. But also to hearing about Dr. Warren’s work helping create new flavors for Snoop Dogg’s ice cream company, her research studying the “behavioral properties of frozen aerated desserts,” and asking her what the scientifically best and worst ice cream flavors are.
Do you have any pre-show rituals when you’re performing in front of an audience, or even just in general?
My pre-show ritual is to panic, sweat through my shirt, rethink all of my life choices, and then go out onto the stage.
What is your idea of the perfect night out at Dynasty Typewriter, in particular?
I love Dynasty Typewriter! It’s my favorite comedy venue in Los Angeles. It’s also right next to Wi Spa, so you could always catch the show and then immediately soak in several different tubs and get a full body scrub. That’s a really bold combination for a night out, but it is technically possible! A tad less unhinged would be to grab a drink and some food at The Prince**, one of the most fun and classically LA spots in the city. I love the ambience and also the addition of mozzarella to almost any food you order there. The HMS Bounty is another classic LA spot that’s close by and has surprisingly good food. Plus, I don’t think this is true, but I always tell people I bring there that it’s made from an actual ship. Don’t fact check that.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Frankly, I think it’s hard to beat a good vanilla with hot fudge on top. But when I go to Handel’s in Los Feliz (my current favorite ice cream shop), I love to get their taro flavor.
Where do you draw inspiration from in your work?
I am largely inspired by typos on signs.
Incredible. Anything else you’d like to share with your sweet toothed crowd?
Please come to this show, it’s on Tuesday, June 17th at 7:30 p.m. at Dynasty Typewriter and I will personally guarantee you get ice cream during the show. PROVE YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH BY COMING AND BRINGING ALL YOUR FRIENDS!!!!
(Much of the way I promote my comedy veers between aggressive yelling and begging for people to attend. It’s kind of my signature.)
As a quick side note, your podcast “How to Be a Better Human” is incredibly sincere and eye-opening. Is there a singular episode or anecdote you have in your memory bank that really solidifies your commitment to the self-help genre?
My memory bank is experiencing a dramatic run on the reserves and it is not FDIC insured. It’s a very unreliable bank. That being said, I loved the episode we did this season with Clint Smith III about history and memory.
**The Prince is absolutely worth it if you want to feel like you’re on set. You may recognize it from several of your favorite productions, including as Nick Miller’s bar in New Girl. Right across the street sits Los Angeles High School of The Arts, which is also a big piece of history and a filming location.
