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Review: Avett Brothers

Scott and Seth Avett at Crossroads KC on Thursday night. Photo by Jill Toyoshiba/The Star

It’s safe to say the Avett Brothers have arrived. Thursday night, for the second time in less than two years, the North Carolina band drew a huge crowd to Crossroads KC. 

Nearly 3,000 fans packed themselves into the outdoor venue, enduring the heat and humidity, and watched the Avetts put on a two-hour showcase of their often lively mix of country, bluegrass, rock and folk.

Review: Los Lobos

Los Lobos is in a rut.  For much of its 39-year existence, the band has been one of the most creative and powerful acts in rock.  It was startling, consequently, to hear Los Lobos perform a largely unexceptional concert Thursday at Knuckleheads.

On the way: Bruce Springsteen

He and the E Street Band are coming to the Sprint Center on Nov. 17, a Saturday. The tour also stops in Omaha on Nov. 15. Tickets go on sale Aug. 3. His last appearance in Kansas City was at the Sprint Center in August 2008. A show in October 2009 was canceled at the last minute after his assistant road manager, who was also his cousin, was found dead in a Kanssas City hotel room.

Review: Tenacious D

Tenacious D fans unable to secure tickets to Tuesday's sold-out concert at the Uptown Theater might howl in a combination of delight and dismay upon learning that a twenty-foot phallus served as the backdrop for the comedic rock duo.  The overtly vulgar display might have offended the uninitiated, but the act's deeply devoted fans smiled throughout Tenacious D's one-hour-and-forty-five-minute performance.

Review: The BoDeans

The urgency in Kurt Neumann’s voice was so strong that he repeated the phrase twice before ending the show: “Buy ‘American Made’ and we’ll come back and play for you.” Translation: we need you to buy our new album to keep going.

Review: Old Crow Medicine Show

Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, who performed Saturday night at Crossroads KC. Photos by Sue Pfannmuller/Special to The Star

This town produces and supports a variety of music genres but as much as anything, Kansas City loves country music, whether it’s from the big-label commercial country acts who get lots of radio airplay and fill the Sprint Center, like George Strait or Brad Paisley, or the acts on small labels who get no commercial airtime — like Old Crow Medicine Show.

Review: James Taylor

James Taylor is a smooth operator.  Like a suitor who wins over his reluctant date with gentle persuasion, Taylor made at least one skeptical listener feel like one of the luckiest men alive by the conclusion of his concert Saturday at Starlight Theatre.  The majority of the audience of about 8,000 were similarly charmed by Taylor's amiable persona and tender songs. 

On the way: Esperanza Spalding

She is coming to Helzberg Hall in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 9, a Tuesday. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 9. 

The Kauffman Center announced three other shows that will also be part of this fall's Kauffman Center Presents series:

Review: Josh Ritter

Photos by JILL TOYOSHIBA/The Star

Josh Ritter always looks like the happiest person in the room, even when the heat is oppressive, even when he’s singing a few verses of the Beatles’ “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.”

An exceptional songwriter with an everyday voice, he has cultivated a modest but loyal following of fans who seem to admire him for his disposition as much as they do for his songs, which take a variety of means to tell stories and express the intimacies of life and love.

Not on the way: Dylan with Knopfler

Bob Dylan announced dates for his 2012 fall tour with special guest Mark Knopfler. It is not coming to KCMO. It will, however, stop in Tulsa on Nov. 2 and Omaha on Nov. 3 (a Friday/Saturday). Dylan is also performing in Des Moines on Aug. 22. On Sept.11, Dylan will release "Tempest," his 35th studio album.