A look ahead: The weekend and the holidays beyond

Sara Swenson and her band, the Pearl Snaps, perform at the Brick on Saturday night.

This weekend’s schedule isn’t nearly as loaded with shows as last weekend, but there are still plenty of options. Among the highlights:

On Saturday night at the Brick, 1727 McGee, there’s a terrific two-band bill that starts early: Singer/songwriter Sara Swenson and her band the Pearl Snaps will celebrate the release of a brand-new EP, “Never Left My Mind.” The openers will be Howard Iceberg & the Titanics. Showtime is 7 p.m. Cover is $7. Copies of “Never Left My Mind” will be available for $5.

The late show at the Brick on Saturday is another band scramble, a competition for $500 in prizes. That starts at 10 p.m. (You can also catch Iceberg and his band at 3 p.m. Saturday at Jardine’s, 4536 Main St. Cover is $5.)

Saturday night at Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, the biggest bass-guitar ensemble in the city reunites for a show. The Wyco Low Riders are part of a bill that includes Mr. Marco’s V7 and the Brannock Device. Showtime is 10:30 p.m. Cover is $10.

The Texas “new-grass” band the Greencards headlines a show Saturday night at Knucklehads, 2715 Rochetser. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Holiday plans

It’s not too early to make your music plans for Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday night) and Thanksgiving Day. You will have plenty of options.

• The Brick, 1727 McGee: Wednesday night, one of our favorite local bands, the Hearers, will headline a show that will showcase songs from the latest album, “In Dreamlife.” Highly recommended if you’re a fan of transcendent and melodic orchestral folk/rock with lots of harmonies. The opener will be Winter Carnival, headed by Jay Kakert, a member of the Hearers. Showtime is 10 p.m. If you can’t make it, the Hearers will also perform at the Jackpot Music Hall in Lawrence on Nov. 25 (Friday) with Drakkar Sauna and the Mad Kings.
• Czar, 1533 Grand Blvd: Singer/songwriter Vi Tran and his cohort in music and theater, Katie Gilchrist, will present their weekly Thursday night jam Thanksgiving night. Starting time is 10 p.m. Admission is free.
• Davey’s Uptown, 3402 Main St.: Amy Farrand will host her weekly Weirdo Wednesday Supper Club, a free revue starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Great and inexpensive cuisine is available from chef Heather Hands. On Thanksgiving night, the Elephant Riders, a Clutch cover band, headline starting at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.
• Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester: Wednesday night, the roadhouse in the East Bottoms is throwing a benefit for Harvesters. The lineup: Miss Major & Her Minor Mood Swings, Outlaw Jim & the Whiskey Benders, Truckstop Honeymoon, Adam Lee & the Dead Horse Sound Company, Tinhorn Molly and Haute Flash Burlesque. There will also be live auctions. Showtime is 6 p.m. Cover is $10 or 10 canned goods.
• RecordBar, 1020 Westport Road: Bloodshot Recording artist (and special guests on “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations”) Ha Ha Tonka headlines a nice three-band bill Wednesday night with Honest Pilot and Tommy & the High Pilots. Showtime is 10 p.m. Cover is $12. This is an 18-and-older show. The night of Thanksgiving, one of our best dance/groove bands, the Goodfoot Soul Music Revue, will deliver plenty of old-school R&B and soul starting at 10 p.m. Cover is $7.
• Riot Room, 4048 Broadway: It will be DJ night the evening of Thanksgiving, featuring DJ Sequence, DJ Subliminal and DJ Telekinesis. Starting time is 10 p.m.
• VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino: Wednesday night, Jim Kilroy presents another version of Cover Wars, starting at 8 p.m. Bands on the bill: Down in Flames, Brain Damage, Third Degree, Obscure, Clevemax and the Swingin’ Bebops. Admission is $7.

Looking ahead

Two big shows worth noting the weekend of Thanksgiving:

Nov. 25 at the Brick: Matthew Dunehoo, formerly of Doris Henson, returns to Kansas City to celebrate the release of “X Is for Love” by his cinematic-pop band, Baby Teardrops. He will be backed by a cast of locals: Mike Myers, Duane Trower and Jeremiah James. The opener will be Oilvetti Letter, featuring Myers, Trower, Auggie Wolber, Chuck Irons and Popy Ruiz Farias. The band’s Facebook page describes its music thusly: “It sounds sort of like Blonde Redhead meets recent Sonic Youth meets Archers of Loaf.” Showtime is 10 p.m.

Nov. 26 at the RecordBar: Making Movies, our city’s most dynamic Latin-rock/groove band, will celebrate its final show in Kansas City for 2011 by inviting a host of top-shelf guests to join the band on stage: Mark Lowrey, Pedro Calderon of Andean Express, jazz trumpeter Hermon Mehari, R.L. Brooks from Maps for Travelers, Les Izmore of Hearts of Darkness and Julia Haile and Tim Braun of the Goodfoot. Showtime is 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. This is an 18-and-older show.

Comments

[Eric]

Thee oh sees at the Granada on 11/25. They always put on a great show.

[KD]

The Rainmakers are playing at the Record Bar Fri and Sat night this weekend as well.

[Geordan]

Going to see The Greencards at Knuckleheads Saturday night. I really liked them the one time I saw them there a couple of years back.

[Salley]

David Cook at The Midland, Nov 25th, 8pm