by Ashleigh Lee | Jul 2, 2018 | snapshot, visual
June 29th and 30th marked another year of Middle of The Map Fest in Kansas City, MO. Having morphed into several different versions of itself over the years, this year the festival narrowed its performance dates to two, and stepped up their local music offerings. Acts like Rachel Mallin & The Wild Type, Mess, Chloe Jacobson, and Other Americans tore up several stages in the Kansas City Crossroads during the day, despite the insane heat. Social Distortion, Built to Spill, Grizzly Bear, Spoon, and more were phenomenal headliners, and made it easy to forget the outside world. Urban magic. Ashleigh Lee nabbed some pictures for us during the two day event, so we thought it was time to share!
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by Meredith Schneider | Jun 28, 2018 | snapshot, visual
If you can remember back to Boulevardia 2017, you may have been just as bummed out that you missed Guster due to the rain out as most. But — for those of us who didn’t chicken out and bail from heat exhaustion or thunderstorms — Guster regaled an infectiously energetic crowd in a parking garage. As immaculate as it was, it was amazing to have the band back in town for round two at Boulevardia 2018 so they could share their chops on stage with the masses. Thanks to Guster for making it back, and to Boulevardia for one insane weekend.
by ImperfectFifth | Jun 26, 2018 | snapshot, visual
Earlier this month, the incredible indie pop duo Seasaw opened for Har Mar Superstar at recordBar in Kansas City. Justin Kibbel caught some amazing photos for those of us who had to miss it.
Keep up with Seasaw here!
**photos by justin kibbel
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 21, 2018 | snapshot, visual
June 15th and 16th, 2018 marked the fifth annual Boulevardia Beer, Music, and Food Festival. Though it always feels like it falls on the hottest days of the year – it is consistently held on Father’s Day weekend in a an old but picturesque area that is basically all blacktop concrete – Boulevardia is a consistent adventure for midwesterners and travelers alike. This year featured forty bands across three stages, old and new taps alike, food selections from all over the metropolitan area, and additional installations like a wider variety of vendors and the fest’s very on outdoor Silent Disco.
This year, Saturday’s headliner was Bleachers. So of course we ran into the pit to get a few action shots for you!
by ImperfectFifth | Jun 19, 2018 | snapshot, visual
On June 11th, the illustrious Middle Kids took the stage at recordBar in Kansas City to a packed room of fans. Photographer Ashleigh Lee got into the grit to nab some photos for us of the fun Australian trio.
**photos by ashleigh lee
by Erin P.S. Zimmerman | Jun 18, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
For those of you who are not yet privy to the rising music scene in Kansas City, now is the time to do your research. Boulevardia – the midwest beer and music fest that started to call Kemper Arena and the West Bottoms home five years ago – has exploded into a much bigger event, drawing crowds from all over the United States to tap brand new and limited run beers, check out bands in both rustic venues and in front of a very spacey-looking building (Kemper Arena, about to become HyVee Arena), and to ride a ferris wheel in an undoubtedly urban and growing area. This year featured forty bands – including, but certainly not limited to Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Radkey, Manchester Orchestra, Sir Sly, Guster, Bleachers, and Kansas City’s own Tech N9ne -, craftspeople and artists from around the metropolitan area, and a silent disco experience. (The best part about that? It was outside, instead of in a tent, so looky-lous could stop and watch for a bit if life called for it.)
2018 featured an array of additional rides – you know, besides that vibrant, beautiful ferris wheel – and a Royals outfield experience. And even though this event seems to happen on the hottest and muggiest weekend of the year every single year, we were too busy watching numerous parades of contortionists and acrobats and clowns and people full of PRIDE and enjoying the midwest’s best in beers that we almost didn’t even notice it.
But that’s the magic of Boulevardia. Enjoy these Day 1 photos, and check back in to see some highlights from Day 2 as well!
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 14, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
On Monday, June 11th – on one of the most miserably hot days of the year so far – we headed out to The Riot Room in Kansas City to pack ourselves from wall to wall like sardines and enjoy the musical stylings of Meg Myers. She admitted while on stage that it was one of her first live performances in years, and the KC crowd was pleased to have been blessed with that honor. From the very first notes of “Done”, through “Sorry”, new single “Take Me to the Disco”, “Monster”, “Make a Shadow”, and more all the way through the last notes of “Numb”, she incited an energy in her fans that is rare to find elsewhere.
Wearing mauve high waisted pants, a black crop top, and two tiny buns on the top of her head, Myers seemed to cool the room off with her robust, long-ranging vocals and the intense heart she puts into every single line she sings. Although personal favorites included “Make a Shadow” and “I’m Not Sorry”, her widest known track – “Desire” – was a riot to witness live, as the entire room was privy to every word.
The crowd that gathered was interesting as well, with no particular demographic in mind. It seems her heart and her talent is wide-reaching, touching young hearts all the way to the Jimmy Buffet-looking crowd. (You understand everything about this, don’t lie.) Her set was a reminder of the pure passion involved in the music listening experience.
Meg Myers’ cohorts on this magical night? None other than Kansas City’s Other Americans. We got what photos we could of the sold out show, between heads and as close as we could get to the madness!
**Words by Kevin Bernardi + Meredith Schneider
by Meredith Schneider | May 15, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
On the night of Friday May 7th, Modest Mouse kicked off the summer season at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO with a visually stimulating – and otherwise utterly incredible – performance. Although the crowd was a bit riled up by the time they took the stage, slightly later than was expected – the sound was still being tweaked early in the performance -, which simply built up the excitement for the performance even more. As soon as the band started to assemble on stage, the crowd stood up and lost their minds, and rightfully so.
Bathed in vibrant lighting and smoke, the band was wildly entertaining through a large catalogue of their music, rendering the breezy, warm evening the perfect beginning to summer. A venue that sees a lot of polite, seated crowds was able to experience an energy unlike any I’ve seen in a while, the majority of concert-goers going wild with each new song that played. “King Rat”, “Float On”, “Shit In Your Cut”, “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes”, the list goes on. It was a night made for memories, enhanced by the alt rock we’ve come to know and love since Modest Mouse’s conception in 1993.
If you’re looking for a fun upcoming event, check out the band at Sasquatch! Music Festival Memorial Day Weekend in Quincy, WA. Keep up with Modest Mouse here.
by Meredith Schneider | May 10, 2018 | snapshot, visual
On May 3rd, K.Flay headlined The Truman in Kansas City, MO. The warehouse was filled to the brim, as she performed in her quintessentially endearing way to a sold out crowd.
