The session included the songs "'87 Blimmy," "Cherry Soda Pop" and "Bird Feeder." Click over to the session here. You'll notice Daytrottter has conveniently listed links to Lethal's previous sessions on the right sidebar. Nice job, sir.
NPR's Michael Katzif really loves Lawrence's Hospital Ships. Back in May, the news organization spotlighted the band's song "Honey, Please." Now NPR has featured Hospital Ships on its Tiny Desk Concert series. Take a listen to the 11-minute-ish concert here.
115 W. 18th St. — formerly known as the Arts Incubator, and originally known as the Bauer — is opening new galleries, offices, retail spaces, studios and a woodshop. It’s been a void on 18th Street since the Arts Incubator closed in July, after a sudden storm of difficulties caused the board to disband. The Bauer has a simpler business model.
Bob Ehinger, longtime owner of the property, asked Jeff Owens, who was renting space and carpentering at the Incubator, to reset the property with him and resurrect the good old Bauer.
Locavores and local lovers, take heed: There's a new event that's catering to Kansas City talent. It's called Maker Faire: Kansas City, and here's the description of the event from its website:
Maker Faire: Kansas City celebrates things people create themselves -- from new technology and electronic gizmos to urban farming and "slow-made" foods to homemade clothes, quilts and sculptures. This family-friendly event demonstrates what and how people are inventing, making and creating. It brings together Makers, Crafters, Inventors, Hackers, Scientists and Artists for a faire full of fun and inspiration. Come see what others are making and be inspired to tap into your own creativity!
Even better: Local music is a part of this celebration, too.
Pitchfork's sister blog, ALTERED ZONES, gave a shout out to Kansas City, Missouri's Umberto. (The original shout came from Rose Quartz.) Here's what the blog says:
Moving on from the '70s horror-doom reverence of his last few releases, Matt Hill of Kansas City's Umberto is taking to the red Corvette and submerging his synth experiments in a milieu that Dee-Dee Bellson would be proud of. "Illegal Entry With Intent To Zuul," a track from his new Freeze! 7" on Not Not Fun, crosses street-lit, Jan Hammer soundtracks with neon-noir territories a la Wang Chung; late-late-night, light-sleeper cop life strategies merge with a slightly cheeseball, Ghostbusters improbability.
The Mockingbird Foundation, an online charitable organization dedicated to music education for children, has named Kansas City's Swope Corridor Renaissance/Upper Room Inc. the recipient of a $5,000 grant to be used for staffing and other programing costs in its Swope Music Program. The Mockingbird Foundation was established in 1997 by avid (and generous) fans of the jam band Phish, and it was officially recognized by the band in 2004 when they handed over all of the proceeds from their Livephish downloading service to the foundation.
Ha Ha Tonka, out of Springfield, Missouri, will be appearing on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations on March 28. (This is the same Travel Channel guru who said Oklahoma Joe's was one of the top 13 places one should eat before dying.) We caught up with Ha Ha Tonka's drummer, Lennon Bone, about the episode:
We filmed the thing just after Christmas and spent the whole day with Tony and his crew. The way I understand it, the episode is mostly based around Daniel Woodrell, the author of Winter's Bone. He currently lives in West Plains where three out of four of us grew up. We just hung out with everybody, doing things we did when we were kids in the Ozarks. Grilled out, shot guns, played cards ... drank a bit of moonshine. It was a blast, and Mr. Bourdain was truly a gentleman.
Louisiana Street Band, a KU-based band named after the street in Lawrence, is the national champion of U Rock! Battle for the Best Band, a contest sponsored by General Mills. The six-man band includes four KU students (Evan Epperson, John-Marc Skoch, Bradley Feagan and Austin Quick) and two Baker University students (Scott Marks and Nate Deel).
According to a press release from the university, the band describes its sound as "Boots in a subway station. Howling at the moon. The rage of a thousand fiery hell-beasts. Wagon wheels crossing dew-laden grass ..."
If ever there was a list that we should be glad to be outside of the top 10, perhaps it's the Men's Health 2011 rankings of the drunkest cities in America. Kansas City was named the 36th drunkest city (out of 100 cities ranked), which is a bit like saying we may be a town of drunks. However, we're nowhere near as drunk as St. Louis (sixth on the list).
Fresno, California, earned the dubious honor of being America's drunkest city, which likely won't be replacing the current tourism slogan of "California's year-round playground."
The Riverfront Times' Gut Check in St. Louis has big plans for how St. Louis can ascend the ranks and dethrone Fresno. St. Louis has come in at No. 6 the past two years. While I'm not certain this is a list you want to top, I can't argue with the idea of spiked concretes or a bar at the top of the St. Louis Arch.
Lawrence's beloved crate-digging haven, LoveGarden Sounds, celebrates its 21st anniversary in February, and it's hosting a throw-down of a party. They'll be flying in garage-punk band Reigning Sound for a night of whiskey-slinging fun -- a special event that is sure to sell out at the intimate Jackpot Music Hall. In fact, they're so sure it will sell out that advance tickets cost more than day-of tickets at the door.
Reigning Sound will be joined by local acts Suzannah Johannes, Miles Bonny and Approach, and Mouthbreathers to complete an oddly diverse lineup.
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