By all accounts, this past weekend's Sixth Annual North Vs. South Music Festival at Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club was a crackin' good time.
That's what everyone I've talked to has reported, at least. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend for a portion of the last night, Saturday evening, so I missed a lot -- but everything I saw, I liked. The bands sounded great, and the flow moved seamlessly between the north (big stage) and south (barroom floor) rooms of the venue.
Particularly rockin' was Austin, TX, band Grand Champeen, who threw down in the dark, crowded south room like it was Liberty Hall. The band has played NVS fests in the past and was not wanting this year for an engaged crowd. Women were dancing!
Champeen's catchy, furious and textured sound combines '90s Texas psych-rock of bands like Tripping Daisy with ragged, youth-gone-wild powerpop.
Now, since I saw criminally little of this whole big festival, if you were there for any part of it, please have mercy and give us your highlights in the comments. Please. I beg you.
Sincerely,
J.H.
Showing 1-11 of 11
I will be among the locals taking, as Meier says, full advantage of this next August.
Thanks for the kind words Mr. Beers. It was my pleasure to work with McCoy and "Baby" Grant to help make this thing fly once again. We didn't run late one time which is no small feet with this many bands and that much gear! Thankfully all the bands that played were true pros and it made my job of managing things much MUCH easier.
I echo a lot of what's already been said. Here were some of the standouts from the weekend though I have to say that all but one band I saw were really good and I saw/heard every stinking one of them!
Contact High Five really kicked things into high gear early on Thursday with their crazy brand of punk rock. I'll probably never think of the Easter bunny the same way ever again. I really hope they made it to their Replay Lounge show in Lawrence on Saturday night cause them boys can drink some beer!
Cher UK was so much fun Thursday night! Their set brought back a ton of memories for me since this lineup was the version of the band I saw the most times. Mike McCoy was fine form for this and having the time of his life! I was very happy for him as he earned the right to enjoy himself after all his hard work in making this thing happen.
Pong blew my mind Friday night. They brought so many extra lights for their show that we had to plug them into a separate circuit so they didn't blow power to the whole damn building! Great set by a great band that I hope we can get out of Austin to come visit us again soon. There is no reason why they shouldn't be playing to a packed house in KC whenever they want. But they almost never tour so this probably won't take place till next year if at all.
Breman Riot were also a huge highlight of Friday night. This collaboration has been taking place for several years now and that was very obvious. I was so happy when Channing from Grand Champeen told me that they will finally get these tunes on tape in November. I can't wait to buy this CD next August if not before.
Sally Crewe and The Sudden Moves played a fantastic set of pure power pop music. Sally also has such a beautiful voice that it's criminal! It was also nice to see that she was in such good spirits considering her house burnt down and she lost all her belongings prior to leaving for this tour that brought her and her crew to the fest. She was playing on borrowed gear and wearing clothes that she recently had bought prior to heading out for the first tour date. She told me she was really not looking forward to piecing things back together later this week when she got back to Austin. I can't say I blame her.
Bastard Saint was one of the two great new discoveries of the weekend for me. They were the only true heavy/hard rock band that played all weekend and were a nice change of pace from everything else. Think Fu Manchu and Burning Brides and your in the ball park. I loved their energy and willingness to let it all fly for the sake of having a damn good time while bringing the rock (but not in the supper chessy way Mr. Beers described up above)! I can't wait till their CD comes out in October and they start to do some touring for it. Hopefully said tour will find them back in our neck of the woods soon.
Kruddler is always a ton of fun. They missed the festival last year so I was very happy they came back this year. Great punk pop rock from the North.
It was also good to Jim Crego make another festival appearance as well. This time as a solo artist as both God's Favorite Band and Truck Stop Love were unable to play this year. It was so good to hear some of those songs played live again and his backup band wasn't to shabby for a bunch of hacks! I really wished he stilled lived in our area and not up North.
Saturday was nuts! He were SOME of the highlights.
John Ewing is a fantastic singer songwriter from Minnesota. He is also multiple time festival vet who played way early on day three. He has a great way with words and telling a story with his songs. I'm real anxious to get into his new CD soon. More people need to know about this guy.
Stickpony is the main project from Austin, TX songwriter Brit Jones. This version was known as "Stickpony Deluxe" as it was a big band featuring 6 members from the North, South and the Midwest (including some knucklehead named Grover on the Organ!). The band has been broken up for a about 3 years now. But Brit has played every festival so far and was not about to have his streak broken. He is currently putting together a new version of the band back home and promises that they will be back in proper fashion next year. This set really summed up the camaraderie and friendship that this festival is all about and made me really proud to be a small part of it. Great stuff.
One of the two bands from Iowa this weekend was North of Grand and they brought a heavy dose of the rock with them. They recently added a 2'nd guitar player and he really fills out their sound nicely. They make it down our way periodically so make sure you check them out when they do. You won't be disappointed.
Grand Champeen was Grand Champeen. Easily one of the best live bar bands in America right now. While I didn't think this set was a good as Friday's it was still amazing. The new stuff is a logical progression for them songwriting wise. I just wish they had played about 1/2 that and 1/2 older stuff instead. They are also 4 of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet.
The Hickoids are one the most legendary cow punk bands in the country. This was my second time seeing them and I hope not my last. Way to much fun for their own good. All punk kids should know who this band is!
Shotgun Daisy was the other great discovery of the whole weekend for me. Germaine Gemberling has a great voice and writes some really catchy alt country/pop tunes. It was also great to see Rich Matteson (ex Ole Yeller) sitting in on guitar with them since his new rock band The Tisdales couldn't make it (though his folk duo The Bitter Spills played a solid set on Friday night). I bought this bands new CD and have already gave it more then one listen.
This was the 2'nd time The Magnolia's have played the festival. The last time was 4 years in Lawrence at The Jackpot Music Hall so they were long overdue for a return visit. I also don't think they have ever played in KC before. If they have it was a LONG time ago. Of all the bands I had to give the high sign to stop, this one was the toughest. They were kicking way to much ass for me to have to tell them that their set was almost over already. I really hope we can get them back next year so that they can play last on their night for as long as they want.
After seeing the Diamond Smugglers all other tribute bands in American are fired! Enough said.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the local bands that played over the 3 days. I though our bands stood up just fine with all of their out of town counter parts. New bands like Faster Horses, Honky Tonk Devils and The Scriveners really made me anxious to see them again soon while veteran acts like The Expassionates, Red Kate, Hotdog Skeletons and The Brannock Device really stepped up their game to deliver A+ sets as well. KC and Lawrence should be real proud of how we were represented.
I hope that more local folks will turn out to support this festival next year. A good portion of the crowd was out of towners and that is kind of sad. It's very rare that we get this many high quality bands from out of town in one place on one weekend! So you local types really should get out and take advantage of this when it happens again next August!
I went all three nights. Thursday highlights were Grant Hart (whose set wasn't as loose as other times I've seen him, since he was accompanied by another player), Cher UK, and a new-ish Austin band called Gleeson, who won me over with originals and ragged covers of Big Star, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen.
Friday: The Dummy Chokers consisted of Jim Crego (God's Favorite Band), three-quarters of the Dead Girls, and Chris Tolle. Crego is more or less a musical superhero in my eyes, so there was no way they were going to disappoint. Also: Sally Crewe and the Sudden Moves played snappy, spiky power pop and had none other than Tommy Keene on bass. I bought all three of their records! The Bremen Riot, consisting of Mike Nicolai fronting Grand Champeen, also slayed. And The Bitter Spills did folk music right.
Saturday: The Magnolias are one of my longtime favorites, and chances to see them are rare--the only way they disappointed was in not having enough time to play all my old favorites. They rocked furiously, as did Austin MVPs Grand Champeen (who played almost all new songs). Minnesota's Shotgun Daisy were the discovery of the night, playing some scorching alt-country with great female lead vocals. And the hard-rocking Little Man deserves a bigger audience one of these years--they never fail to impress.
I saw a lot of other good bands--aside from the above, I bought CDs from The Daylight Titans and Red Kate--and there are still other bands that weren't particularly for my taste but that other folks raved about. I look forward to North Vs. South every year, and I think having the whole thing at Davey's this year worked out really well. Applause all around!
Oh Saturday, my day of rest! I missed Kind of a Big Drag - crap! A tribute to one of San Antonio's finest groups. I hear that they nailed it, only 10 decibels louder. After picking up some Stickpony folks and taking them to their hotel, I eventually found my way back to Davey's and saw a bit of the Scriveners. Punkus Rockus.
Des Moines band North of Grand played next. Whoop-ass bunch of folks, with a newly added 2nd guitar player. Sort of slowed down Descendents with a groove? I hate to bring up House of Large sized, since they are from Iowa, but...the influence is certainly there. Love 'em and can't wait to see NOG again. I miss those guys. Seems like they play down here a couple of times a year.
Little Man (yes, the guitar player/singer was a very tiny man) rocked like classic James Gang. You know, before Joe Walsh left and they floundered around making crappy album after crappy album. Viva la power trio!
Why Make Clocks (another Des Moines band) played. I think I've been on a bill with those folks before...memory failing... Anyway, sort of moody indie rock.
Shotgun Daisy - incredible pop band (MN), from what I heard outside while eating one of many hamburgers cooked up by Whitey and Sara over the course of the festival.
Grand Champeen proved once again to be one of my favorite live acts. Austin should give them a key to the city, already. Inspiring pop/rock band, ala Cheap Trick, with plenty of inventive hooks, 3 part harmonies, and jumping around like they bathed in Icy Hot. It doesn't get much better than GC.
The Hickoids were plagued by a failing bass amp early in the set, but they made the best of it by vamping on a groove and some great stage banter. Wild, scorched "hard-corn" punk rock, complete with versions of Green Acres and Petticoat Junction theme songs. Davy Jones (not that one) sure likes his wah-wah pedal.
The Afterparty was next. Supposedly Cody Wyoming's last gig with them, and it was a great sendoff, if that was the case.
Magnolias were next, sporting some new players since I saw them last. Great songwriting, full of pep. Some call them "the Replacements little brothers"...I don't know. Apt in some respects, but they are certainly their own entity, with tunes well on the level of the 'Mats.
I'm busy setting up the Hammond for the Diamond Smugglers set during the French Leaves, so I miss them.
It's been a couple of years since I've seen The Diamond Smugglers...oh man...Austin supergroup that are a...uh..well, sort of a Neil Diamond tribute band. "hollllllllly hooooooooooooly....fuck!" They absolutely brought down the house (as did Pong). Hopefully they'll play the festival again next year. What a great way to end the event.
All in all, amazing music by creative bands that give a shit. Hey, that's kind of important, right? Not once did I roll my eyes after hearing some vacuous band with a chip on its shoulder singing about cars, booze, "chicks", and how much they "rock - lowest common denominator rock? Oy vey...
I'm proud of my friends (old and new) that make this happen. Jason Meier managed the stages like a trooper. Many folks were generous with providing backline gear. Thanks to Davey's and the Pitch and Blvd. Beer. And somebody give Mike McCoy and Baby Grant Johnson the keys to the city, already!
Friday!
Honky Tonk Devils (Wichita) started things off with a bang. Country surf? Whatever it was, it was good. Super energetic. Albert0, who handles the artwork and printing of stickers, banners, etc. for every NvS Festival slings bass for them.
Next up was some ...uh..Eastern European influenced band (think Gogol Bordello)...reminded me of Jethro Tull. Honestly, I couldn't get into it.
Stickpony was next - hey, I played Hammond - Alt-country in the tradition of Uncle Tulpelo - Austin meets KC meets Wichita meets Minneapolis for this lineup. I think it's the 17th version of Stickpony. I had fun, even in it's rockiest moments - hey, we hardly practiced!
Next - Bitter Spills with Rich and Baby Grant Johnson, a co-organizer of NvS. Fine fine fine fine folk tunes. No crappy acting like a lot of folk bands. Best version of Shenandoah I've ever heard, and I've heard a lot.
I missed Daylight Titans as I was busy setting up, but overheard them a bit - pretty wild tunes.
Then we (Brannock Device) played. 2nd gig with Marco on guitar and our first with Elaine singing. I guess it went pretty well. Many kind words from all sorts of folks and we were plenty sweaty after our set. We had a blast.
Missed a few bands after that, but got back to see Bremen Riot (Mike Nickolai with Grand Champeen)...Boy, KC lost out when he moved back to Austin. Mike did an incredible chicken dance during one song.
Kruddler tore it up, with Tony on bass, one of my favorite bass players - love seeing/hearing that guy blast out the bottom end. He lays into it, for real. Super energetic.
I layed low for a bit...faded fast after we played. But I was back for PONG. I've seen them maybe 3-4 times and this was the best set. They transformed Davey's into another planet, with lights and a smoke machine that just wouldn't stop - heh. I haven't seen that many folks dancing in Davey's since....well, it's been a long time. Exhausted, I drove home listening to my new Bitter Spills CDs.
Was there for part of Friday and Saturday. I definitely agree with Brannock Device rocking it. The Diamond Smugglers closing out the festival were a blast, but I thought PONG closing out Friday night was amazing!
Hey, three silver coins will gain you entrance to the ladies room!
I'll get to each day eventually, but here's a recap of Thursday:
I caught Faster Horses doing their best impersonation of Crazy Horse - not a bad thing. They seemed to scoot out rather quick though. Weird.
Platte River Rain from Omaha, were great. (mostly) acoustic trio will massively inventive songs folked up the big stage, right after Contact High Five brought some punk rock insanity, complete with bunny costumes, deer masks, and songs about cocaine's ability to shrink your penis over time on the small stage.
Expassionates were ON, maybe one of the best shows I've seen them play. Red Kate was after that, with the tallest bass player on the planet. Locals Hot Dog Skeletons were next. Matt and Co. were ragged and smoking hot. I haven't seen them with keys before. Very cool.
Grant Hart was digging into it, playing with another guitar player, too. Some great "stoner" segues. New Frankling Panthers were louder than 28 Federation of Horsepowers, and that was on the stage with just the vocals running through the PA!!! ROCK ROCK ROCK ROCK. Cher UK tied up the night nicely. Drunk, Wet Santa tour line-up (my favorite). It started out in the fine tradition of McCoy going wildly out of tune for the first few songs and then utterly DESTROYED until 3:00 am. Saw lots of faces I haven't seen in a while, for sure.
Thanks, Rhonda. Other sources also told me Pong and Brannock Device were good. In fact, if you look in the above video, Jason Beers of Brannock Device is holding down the entrance to the ladies room.
I only made it out for one night unfortunately too. Highlights for me were Brannock Device w/Elaine McMilian joining them on vocals. The Dummy Chockers, the supergroup of Jim Crego, Chris Tolle, Eric Melin, Nick Colby and Cameron Hawk. Mike Nicolai with the guys from Grand Champeen backing him and of course, the almighty Pong from Austin, Texas!!
I hear all three nights were equally full of rockin good times!
McCoy and the gang never fail to provide an amazing lineup for North vs South and no matter what side of the battle you support, it's always a great time!
like
dislike
