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.

William Brownlee

March 30, 2023

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

William Brownlee

March 30, 2023

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.