A Friday night with gorgeous weather usually calls for some Replay time. Add in a can't-miss combo with the Lawrence Soul Club spinning rare singles and hits on the patio, with two fine punk rock acts inside, add beer, and your weekend gets started off properly.
The Lawrence Soul Club features DJs such as Sadie Soul and B Sears kicking out rare tunes you'll never hear at Stax of Wax, along with hits from the Temptations, the Shirelles, and others. You can usually find a bevy of folks all tanked up on PBR and cheap whiskey (in Friday's case, Jim Beam) groovin' in front of the stage. Although, when the drum lick that kicks off the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" came out the speakers, I saw girls all over the bar instantaneously start dancing with their men - and they were nasty about it, too. Never underestimate the ability of drunk people to take something sweet and make it filthy.
After an hour of listening to smooth-ass jams, it was time to head inside to see some slightly more dangerous music. Literally. If you stand at the edge of the Replay stage, there's a distinct possibility you could get knocked in the teeth with a guitar neck. You'd think the danger and being about five feet away from the amps might be off-putting, but I've come to find that if you get too close to the stage at the Replay, you can't hear squat. The speakers are actually behind you when you stand in front of the stage. You usually hope for a band that sings loud if you like to be up close and personal.
KTP is that sort of band. They're loud, they're rocking, and they're pretty much the only act in the area playing straight-up, no-frills punk rock. Andy, Merrit, Al, and Brent are KTP and they play the sort of punk rock that Epitaph put out for the better part of the '90s. It's not political, it's not emo, it's not hardcore - it's just punk rock. Saying "just" punk rock is a bit of a misnomer, though. It's like saying it's "just" pizza - because something's no-frills doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with it. As a matter of fact, stripping all the excess away usually results in a higher quality product. Such is KTP.
The boys knocked out a solid set in about 40 minutes, playing mainly new material. They played some favorites off their 2007 Zero Youth release Rockers, including "Welcome to Babylon" and set-closer "Dead Man's Hand," but the new stuff dominated.
"Eyes Ahead" stood out with Merrit, Al, and Andy harmonizing on Oh-ohs as it ended. As for the stage show, it was the usual -- Merrit and Al moved around like they were electrified, while Andy and Brett bopped in place. The whole set really breezed by, and I'm always slightly disappointed when they're done playing. It never seems like it's quite enough.
Set list:
Black Friday
Already There
No Worries
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Sinking Feeling
Welcome to Babylon
Eyes Ahead
Restless Times
Let Me Sleep
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Wendy
Dead Man's Hand
KTP's Zero Youth labelmates Brutally Frank were next. Representing the great city of Joplin, MO, the three-piece knocks out psychobilly without the pompadour. The band hews closer to the sound of bands like the Amazing Royal Crowns and late Lawrence rockers Mass St. Murder than the usual Brian Setzer rockabilly cats out there.
Frontman Klyntt wails and knows how to drop a good ol' Mike Ness guitar pose when the time comes. Steevo plays a stand up bass, which is one of those instruments that gives a band some serious low end. There's something about the hollow body on those things that gives a sound you just can't coax from an electric. Drummer Mell hits the skins like that chick from Lenny Kravitz's band, man -- and she sings, giving the band a little burlesque coo to counter Klyntt's razor-voiced wail.
The whole place was packed, and if you needed to pop out on to the sidewalk for a break from the crush of humanity, there was a guy on a bicycle cart serving up free vegetarian soft tacos. He declined to have his picture taken or give his name, but keep an eye out -- nothing goes better with cheap beer than cheese and salsa with massive amounts of onion, garlic and cilantro. I ate this delicious end to a fun evening, hopped on my bike, and headed home.
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