We're eager to hear reports about the literal or figurative fireworks at Saturday's Kid Rock concert. Or let us know about any other musical adventures you experienced over the holiday weekend. As Gwen Stefani will suggest tonight at Starlight Theatre, "hollaback"!
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
Above: The men of Carbon Leaf tend to their garden.
It's difficult to imagine a more ideal combination of artists, date and venue than Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd at Sandstone on the Fourth of July. Still, there are plenty of other worthwhile live music events in the Kansas City area this weekend. Carbon Leaf, a fine folk-rock band from Virginia, headline a free show tonight at Crossroads KC. Trey Songz croons at the VooDoo Lounge tonight. Another great R&B vocalist, Anthony Hamilton, appears at the Beaumont Club on Saturday. Stone In Love, a Journey tribute band made up of local all-stars, plays tonight at The Record Bar. What do you plan to hear this weekend?
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
Above: Extras receive direction in a video shoot yesterday. Photo by Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star.
The auditorium of a midtown church served as a makeshift film set yesterday. A music video was being filmed for San Diego-based hip hop artist Grieves. As the photo suggests, the video will have a period theme. Hundreds if not thousands of music videos have been shot in Kansas City. Do you have a favorite? Did you participate in a video project? Tell us about it.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
Above: Teacher'z Pet do a mean Van Halen.
While waiting for the doors to open at the Beaumont Club last Friday night, I listened to a cover band perform at the Westport venue's outdoor space. I amazed a colleague by knowing every word to each song by the likes of Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, Journey and REO Speedwagon. The Star, for obvious reasons, doesn't regularly feature cover acts. That doesn't mean, however, that they can't be exceptionally entertaining. Do you enjoy seeing cover bands? If so, which local acts can you recommend? Or do you prefer "tribute" projects dedicated to one band like Led Zeppelin, Kiss or the Beatles?
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
We reviewed shows by Nas and Damian Marley, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire and Conor Oberst over the weekend.
Did you endure the heat to see Del McCoury or the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival? Maybe you caught Joe Cocker at Ameristar. Perhaps there's a locally-based band that merits additional exposure.
Let us know.
Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire took the stage Sunday night at the Sprint Center armed with enough musicians for a intramural football team and sufficient horns to start a Glenn Miller Orchestra franchise.
The oversized black hat worn by Conor Oberst Sunday at the Beaumont Club made it extremely difficult to take him seriously. The odd sartorial selection was typical of the frustratingly inscrutable artist.
Continue reading "Review: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band" »
An artistic gamble reaped enormous dividends Friday at the Beaumont Club.
Hip hop legend Nas and reggae star Damian Marley performed together on the first date of a tour to promote a forthcoming album.
Above: Stevie Wonder and his daughter, Aisha Morris, at Starlight Theatre. Photo by Rich Sugg/The Star
Stevie Wonder walked on stage at Starlight Theatre on Friday night with zero fanfare and cut to the heart of the night before playing a single note.
Historians will point out that the Moonwalk was around before Michael, but did anyone do it better?
Slate has a great vid above.
| David Frese, The Star
Anger overtook grief Thursday night at Crossroads KC.
The breaking news that Michael Jackson had died cast a pall over the audience of about 400 who had gathered to hear Talib Kweli. Interminable delays on the unbearably steamy evening transformed sadness into baffled irritability. Kweli's performance began four-and-a-half hours after the gates opened.
Stevie Wonder performs tonight at Starlight. For the past few days, we've been postingsome vids of his performances over the years. Above is "Free"; below his performance at Luther Vandross' funeral. (If you have some favorites, post a link in the comments.)
Tickets to the show are $45-$350 through Starlight (go here).
| David Frese, The Star
When Arrowhead Stadium was chosen in 1984 as the point of origin for the Victory Tour – a concert featuring all five of the Jackson brothers – it shone an international spotlight on Kansas City like never before. It was if the term “media circus” was invented just for this crazed event.
Photos by Todd Zimmer, friend of B2R
By the time I got to the RecordBar to see Phoenix, the line leading to the front door streched north and then east to the doors of the Westlake Hardware store. And the skies were a dark haze of purple. And the lightning show was fantastic.
-- 96.5 Buzz Beachball, Sept. 4, Sandstone. Two stages with Blink-182, Weezer, Taking Back Sunday, The Von Bondies, Chester French, Company of Thieves, Matt & Kim, Republic Tigers, Stellastarr, Mac Lethal and Billy Boy on Poison. $19.65 presale now through 10 p.m. Friday. Password is “blink”. Official sale starts Saturday, $35-$75.
-- Pogues, Oct. 25, the Midland. $45.25. Presale 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday. Password is IRISH. Official sale starts 10 a.m. Friday.
-- Kottonmouth Kings, Aug. 13, Granada in Lawrence. $25. On sale Friday.
-- Violinist David Garrett, Oct. 20, the Midland. $25-$35. Presale 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday. Password is VIOLIN. Official sale starts 10 a.m. Friday.
Stevie Wonder performs June 26 at Starlight. Leading up to it, we'll post some vids of his performances over the years. Here's "For Once In My Life." (If you have some favorites, post a link in the comments.)
Tickets to the show are $45-$350 through Starlight (go here).
| David Frese, The Star
The "pre-sale" is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday. The password is IRISH. The regular sale starts 10 a.m. Friday. All tickets are $45. Floor is GA. Balcony reserved. It's at the Midland by AMC on Oct. 25, a Sunday.
Stevie Wonder performs June 26 at Starlight. Leading up to it, we'll post some vids of his performances over the years. Here are a couple of drum solos. (If you have some favorites, post a link in the comments.)
Tickets to the show are $45-$350 through Starlight (go here).
| David Frese, The Star
Stevie Wonder performs June 26 at Starlight. Leading up to it, we'll post some vids of his performances over the years. Here's "Superstition." (If you have some favorites, post a link in the comments.)
Tickets to the show are $45-$350 through Starlight (go here).
| David Frese, The Star
In my world, this is even better than Leonard Cohen coming here (another rumor that we hope comes true). The original lineup will be at the Midland by AMC on Oct. 25, a Sunday. Tickets will start at $45.
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