By JASON HARPER
Buffalo Saints. Now there's a band that takes me back. The first time I saw 'em was in early 2004. The next time after that that I saw 'em was election night 2004, when America re-elected George W. Bush. The band was playing the election results watching party at Davey's. Lead singer and guitarist Tommy Hoskins was then and still is now one of the finest voices in Kansas City music -- his bleating tenor equally suited for pop as for twang. Joining him were Nate Harold on bass, Ryan Johnson on drums and Mike Alexander guitar -- a country slinger before I ever knew him as an Architect or Gadjit. The Saints, in those days, were as dedicated to flannel western shirts and catchy hooks as any band ten or fifty years older, and their music was crisp, catchy and smoky like wet mesquite on the fire.
Or something like that.
See, I'm drunk -- that is to say, quite drunk -- and I've just got home after seeing the Buffalo Saints' last-ever Kansas City show, nearly four years after that terribly, unforgettable day in '04. Last night's Record Bar show, plus a September show in Lawrence, and that's all she wrote for remaining members Hoskins, Harold and Johnson. No more "Walking the Dead" or "She's Off Her Rocker" or "50-50" -- that one with the chorus that could knock Farrar off his pommelhorse: "My HEART'S been spli-ii-ii-it fifty-fifty, whiskey and gin."
A toast to the best, poppiest Kansas City alt-country band that never quite was.
The good news is that Hoskins intends to go ahead with his songwriting and his sangin' -- after a couple years' break to 'stablish a family and raise up a kid -- and we'll be hearing from him soon.
Long live the BuffSaints.
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The Billy Smith Blues Situation would sound something like this. " Oh well oh well I got the blues. Yeeow! Don't you agree Billy?
The Billy Smith Blues Situation would sound something like this. " Oh well oh well I got the blues. Yeeow! Don't you agree Billy?
I'm just catching up on this, guys. Thank you, Billy, for engaging "yo you ryan" in conversation.
Now can I just point out that there's a huge fucking list of unhyped bands, new and old, on this year's Pitch Music Awards ballot. Five of the bands Billy lists are on the ballot. Additionally, we have run features or columns on Bandit Teeth, Organic Proof, Monta at Odds, Sal Retta and shorter pieces on the V7 and People's Lib Big Band, including a blog review on the latter just this past Monday.
What happens is invariably, readers catch wind of Harper/The Pitch blogging about some piece of news that involves a band the city is familiar with, so they come out of the woodwork and shout us down for only covering the Republic Tigers, the Billy Smith Blues Situation, etc. etc. For some reason, it usually goes completely unnoticed when we do a full-page feature on the Khrusty Brothers, Shay Estes, some ancient cover band at Marty's Blues Cafe in Merriam, the Noise FM, anyone in the hip-hop scene, and so on. I'm just saying: it is a verifiable fact that we DO cover tons of new bands alongside the already established ones.
Just not the ones yo you ryan is in.
Thanks Billy. Just a little understanding makes a big difference. At least there are others who care about KC's music scene. Because one does exist, but you'll miss it if you don't know where to look.
I truly understand where you are coming from. Even my Mom can't keep up on all of the blurbs about my projects. But hey, we stay active locally and regionally and nationally. No writer is calling us begging for an interview. We do the begging and pleading and rubbing of elbows to sustain a quality relationship with people that can elevate particular shows and releases.
Here's my two cents: I think bands that are having a hard time getting exposure in the Pitch have to unfold their arms and invite themselves to the party. Everyone is not only welcome, but needed.
PS Thom will be back in full force after raising his family. I think it's sad that he laid Buff Saints to rest. I'll never go on the record as saying "Last" anything. I'm too nostalgic with the songs I write.
PS I loved the last ACB's set I watched. Great new/old band. If I may also recommend:
Organic Proof
Bandit Teeth
Tarkus Attack
Travoltron
Monta at Odds
The Peoples Liberation Big Band
Erik Voeks
Mr. Marco's V7
The Sperm
Mythical Beast
Sal Retta
The Caves
And Jardine's is hosting some kick butt late night shows.
In response: First of all, you're an excellent musician yourself Billy. Secondly, I love the tigers. And third, harper lazily admitted in his review that while writing said review of the show that he was "quite drunk". So blah dee dah indeed.
And if I was in a band, I wouldn't be ragging harper, i'd be blowing him.
It's not my responsiblility to give the Holy Grail list of local bands. It's the job of a band to get itself recognized and then let harper blow them. The Holy Grail sadly exists in the pages of The Pitch, which is, I guess, why I don't read the Bible.
If The Pitch was the Bible, Harper would jesus. And the tigers, architects, the beautiful bodies (though harper wrote a shit review of their album), roman numerals (sorry billy), ghosty, the rich boys, it's over, the life and times, lights and siren, lovers in transit (will they or won't they, stay tuned), olympic size (sorry again billy, good show at the brick, though), and abracadabras would be the apostles. Which, admittedly, wouldn't be a horrible religion.
Except I think you have to have faith in the savior, but I just don't believe in harper.
Look, while this may be (well...is) wordy and drawn out, the point is that a Holy Grail list of unknown local bands probably does exist, and Buffalo Saints are apparently on it. I just want the music section of my local 'in the know' weekly newspaper to know something I don't, and make me aware of what I'm missing before it's gone.
That's great. Now that I've heard from two people how great Tommy Thom Hoskins is, when and where can I see him live? Oh shit. The End.
I wish that the people who write negative responses would just tell us what band they are in. At least give us the Holy Grail list of local bands that the World is missing out on. I am always looking for new local music to dig on. BRING IT! Instead you hate the Tigers, Harpers a drunk, blah dee blah.
PS Thom Hoskins is one of KC's strongest songwriters and his voice is like a god damned bird. The End
So, I'm new to the wayward blog. I've been reading The Pitch for some time now. Well, checking the music calendar anyway. I can hardly stand to read a local rag that uses so much paper promoting "un-local" bands. And it seems that some Pitch journalists, and by some, I mean all, have their heads so far up the asses of KC bands that everyone already knows about, that the most accessible media outlet for local music and shows omits to bring great unknowns to our attention.
Until now. But wait. Buffalo Saints are no more. And how great to read a faint review of a show they played in 2004. What?! Good to know that Tommy Hoskins "still is now one of the finest voices in Kansas City music". (J. Harper) "Still"? Did I not just read that they've played their last KC show? Well, as long as Tommy is planning to come back someday, I suppose still is an appropriate word choice. Tell you this much, I'm anticipating reading about the next time he plays his last show before knowing he was even back.
Nothing like a drunk journalist turning what could have been a nice send off to this band and their fans into a shitty politcal editorial. But who am I? I'm not after-partying with KC's untouchables.
Can't wait to hear about the next great KC band that The Pitch never nodded at until it's too late. Until then, I'll just wait for the next Republic Tigers show, becuase I think they're the only active band in KC right now.
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