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Introducing Wugazi

 

From Doomtree, comes the inaugural track from Wugazi, an "homage project" that celebrates the sounds of Fugazi and Wu-Tang Clan. The first track, called "Sleep Rules Everything Around Me" (above), mashes Fugazi's "I'm So Tired" with Wu-Tang's "C.R.E.A.M." Says Dooomtree, "Many more details will be trickling out over the next two weeks."

Local bands to vie for spot at KanRocksas

Every Friday in July at Wild Bill's, 843 Village West Parkway in the Legends shopping center, three to four local/regional bands will compete for a cash prize and a chance to play one of the big stages at the KanRocksas festival. DJs will also compete for a spot. Winners based equally on audience reaction and judges vote. Second- through fifth-place finishers will perform at the Camping Stage. Here's the schedule. There is no cover for this event. It's a 21-and-older event. Here's the month-long schedule.

The year's best music, so far

Several lists are out there. Not much of a consensus, but Bon Iver gets several mentions. Here's a link to a few:

Get an Elvis discount

Elvis Costello and the Imposters perform Thursday at Crossroads KC. That same night, the Meat Puppets headline a show at the RecordBar, 1020 Westport Road. If you bring your ticket stub from the Elvis Costello show to the RecordBar, you'll get $5 off the $12 admission to the Meat Puppets, who go on at 11:30-ish. 

Review: Wilders, Split Lip Rayfield

The Wilders' frontman, Ike Sheldon. Photos by Sue Pfannmuller/Special to The Star

Clichés may be worn-out adages, but some still convey a truth.  And one came to mind Saturday night, when music venues in this town featured some of our town’s best local musicians and local bands: Sometimes what you’re looking for is right around the next corner. And you can go home again.

Review: Del the Funky Homosapien

Many music fans causally attach the phrase “golden era” to a nostalgic entry point or a favorite genre style. But the music of Del the Funky Homosapien truly represents a lost period of hip hop, before rap was the CNN of the streets or a gangsta’s paradise.

Golden Republic: One more time, fondly

Goldenn Republic will perform for the first time since 2007 tonight at Record Bar. From left: Ryan Shank, Harry Anderson, Ben Grimes and Kenn Jankowski. Photo by Rich Suggs/The Star

By TIMOTHY FINN / The Star

Three members of the band that used to be called the Golden Republic have gathered in a booth in the downtown bar and music venue the Brick and are remembering their days on the road. The year was 2005, and the band had just released its self-titled debut album on the major label Astralwerks.

A few ways to fill your weekend with music

Split Lip Rayfield will rev it up Saturday night at the MIssouri Chainsaw Grassacre.

As usual, there is plenty of music to catch this weekend. Here are a few options that may not be on your radar. Let us know what your plans are.

• Saturday’s show at Crossroads KC, the venue behind Grinders, is an all-day event for anyone who likes country/roots/Americana music in a variety of forms, some of them a little twisted and subversive.

Band's trailer stolen in Raytown

This post is from the blog for Trampled Under Foot, a local and highly decorated blues trio. The band's van was stolen Wednesday night: "Please help us find our stolen trailer. It is a 6′ x 12′ white Atlas trailer with a side door and fold/drop down back door. Our P.A. system and merchandise was in the trailer at the time it was stolen. It was stolen out of the Eclipse Bar & Grill parking lot in Raytown (6512 Raytown Rd). It was stolen between 10:10 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Wednesday night. The thieves were seen leaving the parking lot of The Eclipse AT SPEED. They were driving a black truck, possibly a Dodge or a Chevy."

Review: Lovett and Hiatt

They could have called this  “The Good Songs and Witty Banter Tour.” Or “Two Guys with Guitars and Lots of Good Songs.”

Wednesday’s show at the Uptown Theater featured John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett, two of the more esteemed songwriters of the past 30 years or so, on stage with no one but each other, passing the performing duties back and forth, as if on a front porch or in front of a campfire.