There are two bands to review: Phantogram, and Phantogram's live show. The Riot Room hosted a very short and concise Phantogram set on Friday night. But if you're only as good as the company you keep, Phantogram may be in a real pickle. The crowd was one of the worst I've encountered in Kansas City. It was as if every freshman who didn't pledge at the end of rush week was told that Friday night was their last night on earth before they would be abducted by aliens and flown to the planet Xandiander for medical testing. Maybe it's not Phantogram's fault. Maybe Kansas City just isn't ready for the future of music. The latter is probably the most likely scenario of the two, but to quote Meryl Streep: "I have doubts."
Eric Nally, frontman of Foxy Shazam, is a paranoid, delusional, manic-depressive squirrel. With pants soaked in water, sweat, and piss Foxy Shazam did their best to give a crowd of eager-beaver high school kids at the Jackpot in Lawrence a show to remember. At least, I think they gave it their best shot. It was hard to differentiate through the awkward stumbling (of both feet and words) of Nally and the actual music being played by the band.
In a scene right out of Stuff White People Like, RecordBar was jam-packed with pleasant drunkards last night. While patrons sucked down pints waiting for headliners Fanfarlo (hailing from the U.K.), we were serenaded by Robert Francis from Los Angeles, and Lawrence of Arabia from Christchurch, New Zealand. Robert Francis casually laughed off the only two fuckers in the bar screaming during his set, and instead did right by the rest of us that were as quiet as church mice. Francis' voice was like that perfect combination of melted butter and smooth maple syrup bursting from the best pancake you've ever had. He's also cute as a button. He covered "Wild Horses," claiming he'd never done it live before, and rest assured he put the Stones to shame -- easily.
The Gaf has closed in Waldo
Pitch Taste of KC beats the weather, draws 700 hungry people
Kanrocksas single-day tickets now on sale
Insane Clown Posse fans will be chugging Faygo in Lawrence tonight
Big Rip Brewing Co. opens to the world Sunday
Boulevard's Saison-Brett hits store shelves and taps Tuesday
KC Pride Festival 2013? Yes, it's still on
Rob Schamberger shows his paintings and sells prints of wrestling champions tonight with 100 percent of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish