Knowing my basketball team was bound to lose on Saturday afternoon, I hedged my bets by attending the Homegrown Buzz Showcase in the Power & Light District.
I kept one eye on television monitors- there’s no shortage of screens in the entertainment district- and both ears on music.
I caught complete sets by five acts and small samples of a few other bands. Three artists stood out.
Various Blonde isn’t perfect- there are a couple elements that could stand a little improvement- but its outing in a crowded restaurant verified my assertion that Various Blonde’s is one of Kansas City’s best rock bands.
Brandon Phillips covered Iron Maiden, Elvis Costello, Jawbreaker, Leonard Cohen and a song by his band the Architects in his solo set. It’s not the first time I’ve fallen under his spell.
I’ve seen a lot of mainstream pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop and country acts on the KC Live! stage. It was a nice change of pace, consequently, to see the post-hardcore band Maps For Travelers make a mighty noise on the big stage.
About that game- my team lost on a last-second shot.
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I reviewed Bill Frisell’s appearance at White Theatre.
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I reviewed Helmet’s show at the RecordBar.
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I reviewed Live at the Living Room, the new album by Victor & Penny Loose Change Orchestra and Their Loose Change Orchestra.
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I contributed a segment on Millie Edwards to KCUR.
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Lew Soloff has died.
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Brandon Phillips of the Architects throws down the gauntlet in an essay for Alternative Press.
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The Kansas City Chorale’s Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil was released this week.
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I’m tempted to think that Cannibal Ox made Blade of the Ronin with me in mind. It’s right in my wheelhouse. RIYL: Wu-Tang Clan, hip-hop in 1993, Ultramagnetic MCs.
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I guess Estelle isn’t the artist I thought she was. The new album True Romance isn’t very good. RIYL: Solange, disappointments, Jazmine Sullivan. Here’s ”Conqueror”.
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The production on Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise is excellent. Too bad about the rapper. Here’s a video for the opening track.
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Rhiannon Giddens has doubled down on the retro thing. Her debut album is RIYL: Judy Collins, calculated realness, Mimi Farina.
(Original image of Various Blonde’s Josh Allen by There Stands the Glass.)
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