Pitch Music Showcase Guide

FOLK/ROOTS Drakkar Sauna Wallace Cochran is a strange fellow. When asked recently what was in store for his avant-country-folk duo, Drakkar Sauna, he spat out: "Are we breaking up? Are we relocating to Shanghai in 2007? Do we have a new album coming out? Are we back together yet? The answer to all these questions is: Yes. Probably. I think." Riiight. Vague, perhaps, but it's this offbeat sensibility that informs his and partner Jeff Stolz's approach to their music. Old-timey on the surface, the songs, sung in harmony and often topped with a foot-pounded beat, tell mysterious, complex and often hilarious stories. http://drakkarsauna.com

In the Pines On paper, the concept behind In the Pines — mixing acoustic guitar and bass, drums and a 1940s pump organ over viola and violin — is a bit perplexing, to say the least. In practice, however, it's a breath of fresh air for Kansas City music. Its earthy, backwoods melancholy breaks new ground and gives voice to the downtrodden Appalachian living inside each of us. www.inthepinesmusic.com

Kasey Rausch Kasey Rausch plays intimate front-porch folk, reciting simple, evocative lyrics about her surroundings in warm, twangy tones. Rausch travels the Midwest so often that she's always discovering new inspiration — "Parkville," for example, likely kills during her gigs at that city's River Rock Coffee Shop. Accompanied by upright bass, percussion, fiddles, mandolins and backup vocalists, Rausch appears regularly at the Brick's Rural Grit Happy Hour and guest-hosts the Record Bar's Honky Tonk Supper Club when Rex Hobart tours. She plans to release a new record before her September appearance at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. www.myspace.com/kaseyrausch

The Afterparty If the persuasive powers of a younger, sexier Bob Dylan (or the collective charisma of the Band) had been used to corral a bevy of talented backup singers, The Basement Tapes might've sounded a lot like the Afterparty's gorgeously messy meanderings. With the Brunettes providing vocal support, Josh Mobley's fantasy-world keyboards pumping the nuance, Danny Fischer's lyrics going wherever they want, and the entire Mad Dogs and Englishmen costume rack apparently at their disposal, the Afterparty, part jug band, part dream soundtrack, is one of the most original bands around. www.afterpartykc.com

Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers Compared time and again to the works of heavyweights Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Westerberg, the music of Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers possesses a timeless quality that makes listeners wonder what kind of man has led a life that could yield such material. Dodge and his Horsefeathers (named after one of Lawrence's favorite cocktails, whiskey and ginger ale) also have time on their side — 2006 marks their 11th year of breaking hearts (hooch being the only cure) with their country- and soul-flavored roots rock. www.arthurdodge.com

HARDCORE/METAL The Esoteric It might be easier to count the number of times a member of the Esoteric hasn't won a Pitch Music Award than to total the victories. With a lineup that has included former members of Coalesce, Reggie and the Full Effect, Theta and Today Is the Day, it's pretty tough not to cover the spread. Individually, each member of this Lawrence metal machine is a freakin' technician in his respective area. Together, they're downright dangerous. www.the-esoteric.com

Moiré An ultra-heavy scene fixture since 1997, Moiré lost longtime frontman Waylon Callahan last year. Paul Kelley, who was recruited in 2002 to work the sampler and provide backing vocals and windmill dreadlocks, took over as lead singer, and the band's brutality remained undiminished. In February, Moiré took Best Metal Band honors at the region's Heavy Frequency Awards. Later this month, the quintet unveils Public Execution, its latest collection of dual-guitar barrages, tooth-loosening drumbeats and ominous growls. www.moiremetal.com

Sidewise What's the best way to keep your local metal or hardcore band from sounding like every other local metal or hardcore band? In the case of Sidewise, the secret's in the instrumentation. By blending '80s-era synths into a wall of thick, layered guitars, the Lawrence six-piece has crafted a sound that doesn't shy away from experimentation. But don't worry — there's still enough ball-busting vitriol here to bring down a small army. www.sidewisemusic.com

The Leo Project With hearty, tuneful vocals and melodies that swell without bloating, the Leo Project ranks among the area's most rock-radio-ready bands. That material from the group's just-released debut, The Burning, could coexist on a playlist alongside Nickelback doesn't mean mainstream fans are its target audience, though. Leo Project guitarists Nic Trotter and Tyler Lyon incorporate brusque hardcore riffs and complex progressions into accessible song structures, establishing an inventive signature sound fully capable of converting the uninitiated. www.theleoproject.com