Posted
by Nick Spacek on
Wed, May 23, 2012 at 7:11 AM
Behind the scenes with Making Movies
Scion has pretty much been the only member of the auto industry that's made inroads to the music community over the past few years; the Scion AV arm showcases some of the finest garage, metal and hip-hop out there. However, Chevy has wised up to the fact that musicians need vehicles to haul all that gear, and the company is now throwing its hat into the ring. The Chevy Music Showcase looks to focus on "great local music performed by great local bands."
In addition to shows like this Thursday's free shindig at RecordBar with Making Movies and Sons of Great Dane, Chevy will be presenting short-form documentaries on eight local bands (David Burchfield and the Great Stop, Making Movies, Maps for Travelers, Margo May, Soft Reeds, Sons of Great Dane, the Dead Girls, and the Silver Maggies) at the Chevy Music website; the docs also air late-night on KMBC and KCWE Wednesday through Friday.
Posted
by Nick Spacek on
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 7:53 AM
This Wednesday, February 22, there is a free screening of the documentary Colonel Jin Xing. The film is about the former Chinese army colonel, now a transgendered woman and founder of China's first independent modern dance company. The 2001 documentary about her life tells the tale of how the Chinese man, born to Korean parents, became one of the few transgendered individuals recognized as such by the Chinese government. Colonel Jin Xing screens at 7 p.m. in the Regnier Auditorium on the KU Edwards campus. Admission is free, and the screening will be followed by a Q&A with Jin Xing herself. Jin Xing Dance Theatre performs "Shanghai Tango" at the Lied Center the following night, Thursday, February 23.
Check out a trailer for the film, and a preview of "Shanghair Tango," below.
Posted
by Nick Spacek on
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 11:54 AM
For those of you who just can't wait for the release of the Grisly Hand's new EP, you can download the title track for free at the band's website. All it takes is sharing your e-mail address. The EP itself — which features two new originals, as well as covers of Radiohead and Gram Parsons — hits digital outlets on February 12, and they hope to have vinyl sometime in early March. Additionally, the band's previous release, Safe House, is available as a pay-what-you-like download at Noise Trade, where it has reached No. 6. For those who don't wish to share their e-mail, the single is streaming below, via Bandcamp.
Posted
by Abbie Stutzer on
Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 8:02 AM
Hypothetical movie soundtracks and holiday albums are Mouth's thang.
For each holiday album the local jazz-funk band has released over the last three years, it has created a campy soundtrack to a nonexistent film the band wished existed. Campy, jokey, whatever — the eight-track album, Escape From the Moon, is worth a listen. Read more about the release and download the album for free here.
Posted
by Nick Spacek on
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 8:11 AM
For those unable to make Saturday's Lied Center performance from Mongolian ensemble AnDa Union, there's a free screening of the documentary about the band, AnDa Union, From the Steppes to the City, tonight at the Kansas City Public Library's Plaza Branch, at 6 p.m. The documentary features live performances and traces the band as it travels through Mongolia making music. The clips of the band on YouTube are hypnotic, and seeing them on a bigger screen with better sound will only further blow one's mind.
Posted
by Abbie Stutzer on
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 11:19 AM
A dreary Wednesday. Midweek hump, slump, all that. Here's something that should help pump up your day. A free download from Kansas City's Dsodean! Head over to the band's bandcamp to snatch "Send a Sign." Dsodean plays RecordBar tomorrow, Thursday, September 15, with Slowdown and Deerpeople. 21-plus. $7. Doors 9 p.m.
Posted
by Nick Spacek on
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 8:29 AM
If you've got some time to kill before the Cool Kids show at The Granada tonight (or if you've already blown all your student-loan money on weed and Xbox games), you might want to pop into White Chocolate, the skate shop just half a block away at 933 Massachusetts. It'll be hosting a Cool Kids in-store meet and greet from 5 to 7 p.m.
Posted
by Abbie Stutzer on
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Forgot to mention: All-lady quartet the Coathangers will bring their playful, searing punk rock to the RecordBar on August 2. The band's recent Daytrotter session was a fine one. Take a listen. Doors open at 10 p.m. 18-plus. Maren Parusel and Parts of Speech open.
Posted
by David Hudnall on
Thu, May 26, 2011 at 11:14 AM
The Grisly Hand reached 1,000 Facebook fans the other day, and to celebrate, the band is giving away its Safe House EP for free until Sunday. All's you gotta do is fan Grisly Hand on Facebook and it's yours.
Posted
by Jenny Kratz on
Fri, May 13, 2011 at 11:17 AM
The MarchFourth Big Band likes to party, and they want to party with you!
It's summertime, and that means it's that time of the year when big, national acts pass through Kansas City at Crossroads KC at Grinders -- the wood-chipped, beer-guzzlin' outdoor venue where so many of us have experienced the "rain or shine" variety of concert. But for those of us who are cash-strapped, snagging one of those often pricey tickets for a Crossroads show can be a bit of a pocket buster. Well, now the folks at the venue would like to say thank you, fans, for supporting live music in the open air.
Customer Appreciation Night at Crossroads KC goes down Tuesday, June 14, with the vaudevillian spectacular MarchFourth Big Band, and yes -- it is free.
Wayne Coyne, of the Liberty Hall-bound Flaming Lips, just wants your full attention
Dancefestopia, a hip-hop and pop-oriented festival, arrives this weekend
Summer 2012 music concerts
Music Forecast May 31-June 6: DJ Ozgood, Blitzen Trapper, New Edition, Disney classics and more
The Rumblejetts' Jud Kite on drums, art and the band's latest, Motor Honey
Q&A: Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper
Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart on art, human angst and naps
Joe Pug on touring, giving music away, and becoming an adult