New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
DC/NY’s Deleted Scenes summer tour is over, and they are headed back into the studio this winter to start recording their third album that’ll be out next year. In the meantime, check out this sweet/eerie video (directed by Ben Usie) for "A Bunch of People Who Love You Like Crazy" off of their second album Young People’s Church of the Air.
Things have simmered down on the Well Hung Heart front. As we get closer to the release of their debut album, ‘Young Enough To Know It All‘, the OC duo (recent Deli LA artists of the month) have dropped a new single, ‘This Is Not Love‘ – streaming below. Of course it builds up, it isn’t what you’d call a ‘soft’ song. Yet, tapping into the band’s ‘tamed side’, this slow-burning blues-laced track reveals a band which, if one may have wondered whether they could only dish out high-power engine-like rock&roll, can pace itself down, drop a few decibels and still remain the raw sounding band that attracted to it more attention with its track ‘Devil’. If you’re curious, you can listen to a rehearsal version of the new single, released a year ago, on the band’s Soundcloud. The video for ‘This Is Not Love‘, to which they are adding the finishing touches, will be out later this month.
(Photo above of Umberto at Replay Lounge, taken by Michael Byars)
Radkey – "N.I.G.G.A. (Not Okay)"
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding young rockers Radkey. The group’s new single “N.I.G.G.A. (Not Okay)” is testament as to why that’s deserved. The song would fit very comfortably tucked away in a Misfits or Ramones playlist. Fuzzed-out guitars, a driving beat, and some impressively strong vocals make this rocker aggressive, while the infectious fist-pumping chorus allows for repeated listens.
–Travis Stull
Umberto – "The Investigation"
On its Facebook page, Umberto is listed as a four-piece electronic-rock band whose home base is Carson City, NV; recently Matt Hill took a solo turn behind the laptop as opener for Moon Duo at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS. “The Investigation” starts off as homage to Nine Inch Nails with its slightly-slower “Closer” marching tempo, which gives way to the more ethereal sounds of bell-like keyboards and distant, tortured choirs about a third of the way through. The rest of the track includes 80s synthy effects given a modern heartbeat – overall, a hauntingly captivating effort.
–Michael Byars
The Clementines – "Bayou"
The Clementines have made strides since emerging as an acoustic duo in 2011. Since then, they’ve become a 4-piece, filling up a bluesy rock sound with a propelling rhythm section. "Bayou" begins with drummer Stephanie Williams’ consistent driving beat, and eventually is carried out by the soulful, blues-influenced voice of Nicole Springer.
–Michelle Bacon
Dream Wolf – "Astro Wolf"
"Astro Wolf" feels like a psychedelic excursion onto the moon. Galactic high-octave keyboards kick off and soar across the song. Elements of glam and prog rock enter in, gravitating the listener between a slow journey and a rapid ascent. A confident vocal delivery from Megan Zander and backup vocals from Katelyn Boone and Chris Tady only add to the song’s ecstatic, harmonious voyage through the cosmos.
–Michelle Bacon
For addicts of whiskey-soaked razor wire psychedelic blues, Daddy Long Legs has got the cure for what ails you. Their debut release Evil Eye on You is out now on Norton Records, and it’s an electrode sure to raise Nikola Telsa from the grave, or at least get his bones a-rollin much like the Death Train off the LP’s lead track. Check out the Brooklyn trio’s latest video for "Death Train Blues" below, or catch them live with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion on Friday November 2 at Helsinki Hudson in Hudson, NY. – Ryan Henriquez
(Photo of Rural Grit All-Stars at The Brick, taken by Michelle Bacon)
By the time I had made it to the Crossroads Music Festival, entertainment was in full swing. I had opted to take the "knowledge" approach to the fest, seeking out only bands that I had yet to experience. Thankfully, the lineup was packed with fresh names, mostly due to my overwhelming tendency to not leave my house.
Due to a pants/dryer fiasco that had plagued me for the better portion of the evening the first set I was able to catch was The Hillary Watts Riot at the Midwestern Musical Company stage. The first thing I noticed while walking in was the room. With guitars at every angle and pop art and vintage toys lining the walls, the space is easily in the running for Kansas City’s best hidden gem. Shove the extremely energetic Hillary Watts Riot in the room and you’ve got a winning combo. Though the band will fuck with your mind like a drunken kitten, the Devo meets B-52 mashup is the type of music you have to stop, think over, digest, process, then accept. However, unique is the fact that while deep and complex it remains fun and approachable on the surface. With a pinup doll look and sunglasses-at-night image, the pedal-heavy band kicks in your teeth with plenty of reverb and a chaotic sound. With glimpses of punk reflecting off the glitters of glam, the band’s sound bounces all over the place. 1990s sound bites bleed through the 1980s influences. Mixed with their witty banter, this band is entertainment at its best. Show up to catch them if not only to catch their drummer (Sergio Moreno) rock his flashlight hands mid-set.
From there, I wandered downtown towards The Brick to catch Victor & Penny. I had wanted to catch their antique pop set for a while, but could never manage to get their schedule to align with mine. In addition, their tour schedule has been nothing to scoff at. Neither is their live act. Victor (Jeff Freling), who runs his vocals through a vintage throwback radio, is a treat to watch. His guitar chops are stout and his rockabilly licks are well-rehearsed and down pat. Paired with the beautiful Penny (Erin McGrane), who rocks a tiny uke and a sunshine smile, the group is unstoppable and refreshing. Her act has a bit of snarl to it, growling when you least expect it. She is also in full control of her facial expressions, turning them on at all the appropriate moments. She is the perfect front lady and in full control of her craft. She knows her charms and makes certain that her audience is enlightened of them as well, as she swims through her 100-year-old material. Of all the sets of the night, this one was the hardest to leave early.
Begrudgingly, I meandered toward the Czar Bar to catch John Velgne & The Prodigal Sons. Sadly, I wasn’t able to get a fair judgment of their sound due to an overwhelmingly extreme use of soundboard. Turned up to 11, the band’s layers and depth were missing, buried somewhere in a clutter of echo and earplugs. You could, however, gather the way the horns filled the room. Making note of their E Street ways, I gave my ears a break and headed back toward Midwestern Musical Company’s setup for Dim Peepers.
Sporting a suitcase bass drum, kazoos, a homemade washtub bass and tiny horns, Dim Peepers won my heart and the award for the fest’s most unique band. With a fantastic do-it-yourself sound, the band owned the room, the crowd, and in my humble opinion, the fest. Requesting that I not be afraid to get drunk and make a fool of myself, I lived wildly. I didn’t take notes and instead danced a little. Just a touch. Not enough to be noticed or lose my reclusive wallflower status, but enough to feel silly. Good times.
From there, I lurked at the Midwest Music Foundation tent, listening to Hearts of Darkness and watching cougars shimmy across the parking lot. Even from my lawn chair, I found the set enjoyable. The female vocals belted across the city skyline as people danced (poorly and drunkenly) in the wood chips. After a nice break, I bolted for Appropriate Grammar down the street.
Shifty eyed and crooked smiled, the band brought its best chops and left their R-rated jokes at home (due to parents in the room). With great guitar riffs and power-pop hooks slamming into the occasional alt-country structure, the band is somewhat unique to Kansas City. Think Rhett Miller without the band bleeding all over the stage emotionally. The charming female "ohs" blended well with the male vocals and seemed to fit flawlessly over the band’s epic drum usage. Sadly, battling Hearts of Darkness, the band played one of the fest’s most promising sets to an almost empty room. Take note of that and catch them when you can.
Starhaven Rounders would serve as my next adventure of the evening. I mean, can you think of a better follow up to power-pop than a country cover band? Nope. I didn’t think so.
There is a bit of irony to my catching this set. As I sat in The Brick in a purple emo hoodie, rocking a fairly impressive-sized jewfro, one would never assume me the type to catch the latest gossip at the honky-tonks of Nash Vegas. But honestly, is there anything better than a good, solid country band? With slide guitar, violin (called a fiddle in this case) and sad bastard lyrics. The interactions of a good country band are without question better than anything that any other genre can offer. There is nothing more real in music. Hearing our local member crank out Don Williams, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash makes me both proud and disappointed in Kansas City. This sound is something we could use more of (says the emo kid). We can debate this if you want, but before we do, I challenge you to catch this band and tell me that they don’t possess some of the finest instrumentation in the 816.
If you can debate convincingly, I’ll buy you a beer. I’ll be the one wearing the cat shirt.
The Hillary Watts Riot at Midwestern Musical Company (Photo by Michelle Bacon)
Bill Sundahl, Crossroads Music Fest organizer (Photo by Todd Zimmer)
Kasey Rausch, Mikal Shapiro, and Shane Ogren at Czar (Photo by Michelle Bacon)
Thom Hoskins at Midwestern Musical Company (Photo by Todd Zimmer)
The Supernauts at Crossroads KC at Grinder’s (Photo by Todd Zimmer)
–Joshua Hammond
| After stints drumming for both The Afternoons and Jenny Carr and the Waiting List in the Lawrence/Kansas City music scene, Joshua Hammond found his footing as a music journalist, launching the national publication Popwreckoning. After running the show as Editor in Chief for 6 years, Hammond stepped away from the reigns to freelance for other publications like Under The Gun Review and High Voltage Magazine. This shift allowed the adequate amount of time for him to write passionately, allow the Kansas City Royals to break his heart on a daily basis and spoon his cats just enough that they don’t shred his vinyl. |
