Concert Review: Oz Night at Farewell and Howdy

Original image of Citric Dummies by There Stands the Glass.

A handful of the 100 punks at the companion venues Farewell and Howdy on Thursday, October 5, propped themselves up with canes and walkers. The people half my age might have suffered their debilitating injuries in precisely the sort of mosh pits that made the concurrent shows dangerous.

Like the decrepit concertgoers, I deliberately put myself in harm’s way for three hours during performances by six bands. I felt fortunate to stumble to my car with only a wrenched wrist, a few bruises and ringing ears. I paid $15 admission for each show. A chronological rundown follows.

1. Konrad Hell and the Highwaters (Farewell) A friend’s description of the Kansas City group’s concept as spiritually akin to Sid Vicious’s cover of “My Way” is close to the mark.

2. C-Krit (Howdy) Even though the obnoxious miscreants are musically inept, their ultraviolent spewing was my favorite set of the night.

3. Citric Dummies (Howdy) The Minneapolis trio are Hüsker Dü hooligans.

4. Vintage Crop (Farewell) Shouty Australian indie-rock.

5. Alien Nosejob (Howdy) The Australians’ myriad variations of punk and garage rock exhausted me.

6. Jackoffs (Farewell) Punk fatigue and an aching wrist compelled me to surrender after 15 minutes of fury.

Concert Review: Truth Cult, Young Mvchetes and Burning Bush at Howdy

Original image of Burning Bush at Howdy by There Stands the Glass.

A rainbow appeared to end at Howdy on Sunday, August 14. The grimy noise featured at the all-ages venue in Kansas City’s Leeds District was at odds with the heavenly apparition on the drizzly evening.

The debut performance of Burning Bush opened the show. The wrathful Old Testament-inspired punk band is fronted by my friend, colleague and podcast partner Aaron Rhodes. The brief burst of rage validated the $15 door charge.

Truth Cult was the primary attraction. Paris Roberts, the front person of the Baltimore quartet, unironically wore a Pearl Jam t-shirt. Even though only 50 people crowded into the small room, Truth Cult showed it’s arena-ready. 

I encountered plenty of detailed hardcore-centric analysis of Truth Cult’s sound on the sidewalk. Echoes of my comparatively antiquated reference points including F*cked Up enthralled me.

The industrial noise favored by Young Mvchetes is right up my alley. Yet the literal wall of amplifiers it employed Sunday emitted such extreme volume that I was forced to forfeit the pot of gold with an early exit.

EP Review: Midwestern- Cartoon Network

An audio tag featuring what might be a television news reporter enunciating the words “Kansas City homicide” is frequently applied to Cartoon Network.  It’s appropriate, as the stunning combination of vintage no-wave and au currant hyper-pop on Midwestern’s new EP knocks me dead.

The duo’s freewheeling sound fuses the convulsive anti-funk acts of the 1970s like James Chance and the Contortions with the glitchy innovations of contemporary artists including 100 Gecs, Flying Lotus and Tyler, The Creator.  The dynamic prevents the band’s obvious love of vintage soul from succumbing to sentimental nostalgia.

Midwestern’s rapid evolution is astounding.  Nine months ago, the group looked and sounded like this.  It was something else entirely at Howdy last week.  While there’s no telling what Midwestern will be come December, I anticipate another Kansas City homicide.

Concert Review: Ghais Guevara, Tricky Youth, Student 1, Midwestern, Tabby, Defo, Laaee Uzumak and Young Mvchetes at Farewell and Howdy

Original image of Midwestern by There Stands the Glass.

JPEGMAFIA, the cult artist responsible for the possible album of the year, performed at the Granada in Lawrence, Kansas, on Wednesday, March 29.  I opted for a different rap show.  Two rap shows, actually.

I paid $15 for admittance to the serendipitously titled Farewell to Rap tour at Farewell.  The cover charge for a bill of noise-rappers a few steps away at Howdy was $10.  My quick impressions of all eight acts in the order of their appearances:

• Young Mvchetes- Good ideas. Iffy execution.

• Laaee Uzumak- Mainstream Kaycee rap.

• Defo- Even before he told me he was from Minneapolis, I detected Doomtree vibes from the rapper.

• Student 1- Ingratiating Minnesotan.

• Tricky Youth- Industrial shock rapper replete with an incense incantation and a literal blood ritual.

• Tabby- Slick pop.

• Midwestern- The only act I’d previously seen and a factor in my decision not to go to Lawrence, the duo’s manic performance floored me.

• Ghais Guevara- The leftist Philly rapper merits consideration from Top Dawg Entertainment.

Four rap enthusiasts drove 50 miles from JPEGMAFIA’s concert to catch the final 20 minutes of Ghai Guevara’s gig.  Their dedication inspired me.  Yet no matter how good Peggy was, I’m confident I made the right choice.