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Canceled: Flogging Molly (but the free show goes on)

The headliner for Day 3 of How the Buzz Stole Christmas has canceled for 'personal reasons.' The Dec. 7 show is now a free all-ages show featuring Matt & Kim, Company of Thieves and Antennas Up. If you want a refund, return to the joint that sold you your ticket. If you bought it on line, Ticketmaster will refund your cash.

Review: Kid Rock

Three hours before he took the stage at what would be a sold-out Midland theater, Kid Rock sat at a table, flanked by representatives of two local charities and facing a small assembly of cameras and reporters. His concert Tuesday was a benefit for El Centro and Helping Hands. Rock (Bob Ritchie) agreed to appear at the press conference to help spread the word about the virtues of each benefactor, with some reluctance. “This is the last thing on my list of things I like to do,” he said.

Review: Jay-Z and Kanye West

Photos by Allison Long/The Star

Hip hop superstars Jay-Z and Kanye West titled their first joint album and tour “Watch the Throne,” but they could have just as easily called it “Where’s the Recession?” Seats near the stage commanded $200 while many seats in the upper deck went for $50. The asking price on tour T-shirts at the concert was $45.

On the way: Ryan Adams

According to his Facebook page, he will perform at the Music Hall in Kansas City on Feb. 1, a Wednesday. Tickets on sale later this week. Stay tuned.

Review: David Cook

Potos by Rich Sugg/The Star

The holidays bring people back home, including those who have left Kansas City for the brighter lights of bigger cities and the glamor of celebrity. Friday night, a couple hours after soul/R&B dynamo and Kansas City, Kan., native Janelle Monae flipped the switch at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Crown Center, David Cook headlined a show at the Midland theater.

Janelle Monae: Big plans for 2012

Janelle Monae at the Independence Events Center in May. File photo.

Janelle Monae returned to her hometown of Kansas City, Kan., on Friday to visit her family and to appear with Kansas City Mayor Sly James at the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Crown Center on Friday night. Before a pre-ceremony reception in the American Restaurant, she met with members of the local media. Here's what she had to say during our brief interview:

Chesney/McGraw: Your ticket guide

Kenny Chesney at Arrowhead Stadium on July 30. He'll return in June 2012. File photo.

More proof that the real money is out on the road, trying to sell tickets, not in the studio, trying to sell records: Less than 11 months after he played to a huge crowd at Arrowhead Stadium with the Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney will return to the Truman Sports Complex, this time with fellow country superstar Tim McGraw. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals open. The show is June 10, a Sunday. Tickets wiil be $25 to $115. Here's what you need to know about tickets, which go on sale next week:

Shop indie; buy music

All the 10-inch official singles from "Nevermind" collected for the first time, housed in an individually numbered slipcase. Available at Love Garden Sounds (see below). $60.

There are specials and premiums to be had for anyone out shopping for recorded music. There's are Black Friday specials, similar to the Record Store Day bonanza. Other stores are offering weekend/holiday specials and/or the usual good reasons to shop at a local music boutique. Here's a list. Please add anything/any place we have overlooked.

Two local bands headline top weekend shows

An Evening With Making Movies — Diego Chi (from left), Juan-Carlos Chaurand, Enrique Javier Chi and Brendan Culp — starts at 10:15 p.m. Saturday at RecordBar, 1020 Westport Road. Admission is $10. This is an 18-and-older show.

Saturday night’s show at RecordBar will be the final Kansas City performance of 2011 for the band Making Movies.

It will mark the end of a year that has been filled with progress and good news, including an opening slot for Los Lobos at Knuckleheads that opened some big doors for the band. (Steve Berlin is now a big fan.)

On the way: Cursive

According to Pollstar, Cursive headlines at the RecordBar on March 2, a Friday. Ume opens. Cursive will release "I Am Gemini," its seventh studio album, on Feb. 21.