dodie @ marathon music works

dodie @ marathon music works

Dodie blissfully treated us to an evening of honest lyricism and simple–but far from boring–ukulele jams. It is a unique experience to see a YouTube star become an in-real-life star, and oftentimes the wonder and awe doesn’t translate the same past the computer screen, where there are no real-life jump cuts or do-overs. This is far from the case for Dodie, who captivated the flower-crowned and glitter-covered audience. She performed her hits (“She,” “Would You Be So Kind,” “Secret For The Mad”), as well as a charming a cappella cover of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to celebrate being in Music City. Dodie managed to make Marathon Music Works feel as intimate as one of her YouTube videos, as if we were sitting there, watching her magic unfold in her bedroom.

Keep up with Dodie here.

ben folds @ starlight theatre

ben folds @ starlight theatre

On Friday night, Ben Folds made a spectacular appearance at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO. Our city has an affinity for this man, palpable when he sang a song about making Jason Sudeikis his “piano bitch” back in the day when he used to play The Bottleneck in Lawrence. He and his band entertained until the very last second of the sound ordinance, and what a beautiful start to the weekend it was.

Keep up with Ben Folds here.

alex lahey @ outside lands music festival

alex lahey @ outside lands music festival

In May 2018, we got our first true chance to see Alex Lahey perform live. Not only were we enchanted by her set in the mid-day heat at Sasquatch Music Festival, but it left us wanting more. Her appearance at 2019’s Outside Lands was one for the books, as she played a pretty packed Panhandle stage early on Sunday and had us reinvigorated for the remainder of the festivities.

Keep up with Alex Lahey here.

ron gallo @ hinterland

ron gallo @ hinterland

During a mid-afternoon set at the Hinterland Music Festival, which leans heavily towards the folk genre, Ron Gallo injected a heavy dose of high-energy garage rock. The carefree attitude of the band is fun to watch. In between playing crowd favorites, including “Kill The Medicine Man” and “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me,” the guys take turns throwing light-hearted jabs at each other. At times, the concert felt more like an intimate house show than one taking place at a music festival.

Keep up with Ron Gallo here.

the maytags @ hinterland

the maytags @ hinterland

Last weekend was absolutely gorgeous. We know a thing or two, because members of our team spent an entire three days outside, basking under the sun and the stars with other fabulous humans at Hinterland Music Festival in Iowa. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Chicago, this fest actually boasted a slew of great acts on the Lolla ’19 lineup, in a much more tranquil and relaxed setting. Take a deep dive over the next few days into galleries from some of our favorite sets, including these photos of The Maytags!

Keep up with Maytag here.

chase atlantic @ webster hall

chase atlantic @ webster hall

On the heels of their latest release, Phases, Chase Atlantic’s hardcore fanbase stormed into a sold-out Webster Hall for the final show of the Phases tour. Often referred to as “alternative pop,” Chase Atlantic, hailing from Australia, also integrates both R&B and rock into their unmistakeable sound. It’s this fusion that draws fans with different musical tastes together, resulting in an eclectic audience decked out in all kinds of dress.

Taking the stage amid thick smoke and low lighting, strobes flashed on and off, lending itself to a joyfully chaotic atmosphere that allowed the music to speak for itself. The interaction between crowd and creators was unmatched, with the band members spending more time at the edge of the stage than further back. They jumped around, holding the mic out to the audience and enthusiastically encouraging them to sing along.

It was a perfect show to conclude a triumphant tour.