The week ahead is paved with 10 good shows

The Gourds perform with James McMurtry Wednesday night at the Bottleneck in Lawrence.

James McMurtry and the Gourds
Wednesday
The Bottleneck
The frequent area tour stops by the Steinbeck-esque songwriter James McMurtry are always welcome.  One of America's most distinctive troubadours, he's documented the consequences of economic strife with harrowing authority.  The most galvanizing element of Wednesday's concert for many connoisseurs, however, is the rare appearance of the Gourds.  Long one of Austin's most celebrated bands, the Gourds are best known for a hilariously straightforward rendition of the Snoop Dogg hit "Gin and Juice."  That amusing novelty aside, the Gourds are exceedingly accomplished practitioners of roots-rock.
Tickets to the 10 p.m. show are $18.50 in advance.

Young Guru 
Wednesday
Czar Bar
Jay-Z's star shines so brightly that it tends to render his supporting cast invisible.  Young Guru is one of the essential members of Hova's crew who has become accustomed to being overshadowed.  Young Guru has mixed almost all of Jay-Z's albums as well as landmark releases by Beyonce, T.I. and Kanye West.  He's also credited as an audio engineer on Coldplay's 2008 album Viva la Vida. Known as "The Sound of New York," the DJ, producer and engineer will showcase his talents Wednesday at the Czar Bar.  
Tickets are $10 in advance.  Doors open at 7 p.m.

Paul Thorn
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Knuckleheads
Paul Thorn takes over Knuckleheads this weekend.  The three-day blowout reflects the Southern singer-songwriter's increasing popularity in Kansas City.  His appeal is obvious.  In addition to his good looks and friendly demeanor, Thorn sounds like a combination of John Prine and John Lee Hooker.  What the Hell Is Goin' On?, Thorn's most recent release, is an enticing collection of songs written by the likes of Ray Wylie Hubbard and Buddy Miller.  Local blues phenomenon Samantha Fish opens Friday's show.  The Nace Brothers, rock veterans from Warrensburg, warm up the audience on Saturday.  Carl Butler, Pat Pearce and Hal Wakes open Sunday's gospel show in Knucklehead's intimate gospel lounge.
Tickets to Friday's 8 p.m. show are $20 in advance.  Tickets to Saturday's 9 p.m. show are $20 in advance.  Tickets to Sunday's 11 a.m. "Old Time Southern Gospel Brunch" are $75 in advance and include a choice of breakfast or lunch.  A pass for all three shows is $100 in advance.  A pass for both the Friday and Saturday shows is $35.  

Spirit Is the Spirit, Wooden Sky and Tiny Horse 
Friday
RecordBar 
The local version of The Deli is an online publication dedicated to covering Kansas City's music scene.  It highlights a broad array of contemporary rock-based artists.  The Deli's Wednesday showcase, however, possesses a decidedly retro sensibility.  Spirit is the Spirit play ramshackle jams that would have been immediately embraced by Grateful Dead fans forty years ago.  The Lawrence band's psychedelic material like "Mother Mountain" is downright trippy.  Tiny Horse is a country-rock project featuring Abigail Henderson and Chris Meck.  The couple are beloved veterans of Kansas City's music scene.  Wooden Sky is sandwiched between the two area acts.  The Canadian band plays hushed folk-rock in the vein of Fleet Foxes. Tickets to the 10 p.m. show are $8 in advance.

Crooked Fingers
Saturday
The RecordBar
Eric Bachmann has always been ahead of his time.  His raucous work with Archers of Loaf influenced a slew of more popular acts.  The acoustic-oriented sound he adopted on his solo albums and under the name Crooked Fingers anticipated the current folk-based craze associated with the likes of Mumford & Sons.  While Bachmann hasn't attained much in the way of commercial compensation, his albums possess a timeless quality that transcend the trends of the day.  John Vanderslice, a California-based singer-songwriter and accomplished producer with a similar disparity between critical plaudits and mainstream success, opens the show. Tickets to the 10 p.m. show are $12 in advance.

Neon Hitch and Wallpaper
Sunday
Riot Room
Revelers are advised to check their brains at the door and plant their tongues firmly in their cheeks as they enter the Riot Room on Sunday.  The dance-oriented double-bill promises outlandishly mindless fun.  Fledgling British pop star Neon Hitch is best known for her lewd hit "F**k U Betta."  Neon Hitch's writhing in the ditty's promotional video makes Madonna's "Like a Virgin" clip look like a scene from Dora the Explorer.  Wallpaper.'s similarly savvy video and social media strategy has made the California-based duo an internet sensation.  With its hashtag, misspelling and use of capitalization, Wallpaper's novelty song "#STUPIDFACEDD" is ingeniously tailored to the Twitterverse. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the show.

Brokencyde
Sunday
The Granada
Infamous leaders of the crunkcore movement, Brokencyde's combination of crunk and screamo has been ruthlessly derided by an army of angry detractors.  Some people just can't take a joke.  By combining the cartoonish hip-hop of Lil Jon and the intense screaming of rock bands like the Devil Wears Prada, Albuquerque's Brokencyde has knowingly forged a new form of fun-loving party music.  Two of the four opening acts- Colorado's Nathan Ryan and New York's Bunny and the Bear- share Brokencyde's puerile mashup sensibility.  Locally-based metal bands My Brother, the Vulture and Shed the Dreamer round out the bill. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are $12 in advance and $14 on the day of the show.

The Infamous Stringdusters
Tuesday
The Bottleneck
The enormous success enjoyed by the members of the now defunct band Nickel Creek has been a boon to hopeful bluegrass artists.  It now seems possible to achieve a modicum of commercial viability playing banjos, fiddles and mandolins.  The Infamous Stringdusters, a collective of dexterous Nashville cats, are giving it a go.  The band's groove-based version of the Police's "Walking On the Moon" is indicative of the band's unconventional approach.  Bluegrass traditionalists, Deadheads and the new breed of acoustic music fans that favor the Lumineers and the Civil Wars will find plenty to appreciate Tuesday at the Bottleneck. Show time is 9 p.m.

Hinder
Tuesday
Riot Room
Hinder's presence on the calendar of the Riot Room evokes a classic line spoken by the manager of the fictional band Spinal Tap.  Rather than becoming less popular, the manager in the mockumentary insists, the band's "appeal is becoming more selective."  Hinder, a mainstream rock band that's sold millions of albums, will perform for an extremely selective audience at the intimate Westport venue on Tuesday.  The band's faithful fans will undoubtedly be thrilled to hear Hinder's acoustic renderings of hits including "Lips of an Angel," "Get Stoned" and "All American Nightmare."  Aranda, hard rockers from Hinder's hometown of Oklahoma City, open the show.  Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $25 in advance.

Joe Pug
Tuesday
Czar Bar
"There's a world out there, I know there is, where they'll play my songs on their silver harps and their violins," Joe Pug sings on his new album The Great Despiser.  A celestial band of harpists and violinists won't accompany Pug at the Czar Bar on Tuesday.  Yet a small audience of devotees who favor the sound of vintage Bob Dylan will shower their appreciation on the journeyman singer-songwriter.  The compelling songs on the Chicago resident's new project focus on the life of an itinerant man who is coming to grips with the realization that his aspirations may never be fulfilled.  Tickets are $5 in advance.  Doors open at 7 p.m.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[onthemark]

I am in for Paul Thorn!

Hey Geordan, send me an e-mail.

[Geordan]

I'll be at Paul Thorn on Friday, as well, OTM. I wouldn't mind seeing Wooden Sky at the Record Bar, but it's on the same night, dammit! Oh, and I have your email address written down at home, OTM, I'll have to find it. But again, I am there for Paul with the lovely Samantha Fish opening on Friday night and if the weather is going to be a bit warmer, hopefully they will have it outdoors.

[Sherm1123]

The Gourds/McMurtry show tonight is at 8pm- doors at 7pm- not the previously advertised 10pm. I would hate for anybody going to miss the show.

[Troy]

Sir Paul McCartney, St.Louis, this Sunday, best concert you can ever see.....I'm there for the fifth time!

[pellboy]

Going to try and make the Paul Thorn Saturday show, aren't you going both nights, otm? And getting slightly ahead, I'll see you at The Wallflowers show, Geordan. Grabbed my ticket the other day, just $20 at the box office w/ a canned good! Can't beat that deal for a Midland show.

[onthemark]

Yes pellboy, I will be there Friday and Saturday night. Looking forward to both shows!

[onthemark]

By the way, on Friday night I am taking some friends who have never seen Samantha, never seen Paul Thorn and have never been to Knuckleheads. I know they are going to have a great time as well!

[Bewlay]

James McMurtry and the Gourds were great last night. It was my first time at the Bottleneck. Good call featuring them; Bill Brownlee knows his stuff.

[Musicgal]

Paul Thorn Friday night. Yay!

[kcmom]

I'm bringing a couple of first-timers to Paul's Friday night show too, otm. Should be a good evening!

[Geordan]

Just found out that tonight's Paul Thorn show will be outside! Awesome!

[ksuwdboots]

For anyone going to the Joe Pug show - can you please e-mail me at ksuwdboots(AT)gmail(DOT)com re: picking up a copy of The Great Despiser on vinyl? Thanks in advance.

[corky]

Paul Thorne was just great, seems like he played well over 2 hours....

The Nace Brothers open tonight, a very good band we're lucky to see fairly often.

Pellboy, say hello if you get a chance! My ugly mug is on the slideshow advertising furnaces.

At $25 per head at the door, this show is good value for the $$ IMO.
(And we'll be there way past 8:15!)

[Geordan]

My first time seeing Paul Thorn on Friday night and I can only speak for the experience I had, but I expected to be blown away after hearing so many accolades for this guy and have to say that it was disappointing. REAL disappointing. I should keep my yapper shut here, but it's a music blog and we aren't going to agree on everything here, so I expect some slings and arrows from Paul's fans here, but I just don't get the guy's appeal. That show was just bland to me for reasons I'm still trying to figure out. Even his palaver between songs annoyed me a little. Does the guy REALLY talk like that, or is it just an act?? Either way, I kept waiting for the show to get better, and for me, that sadly never occurred.

The night started out fine. The show was outdoors, due to the magnificent weather, so I grabbed a seat outside and as the place got packed, Samantha Fish came on stage looking like a million bucks and change in her pink top and black mini-skirt and heels. She played a few minutes shy of an hour and a half and was good, as per usual. You do get the sense that with Go Go Ray coming aboard on drums this year and a younger Bassist joining the band, that Samantha is being prepped to move on up to the next level. Not a bad thing. With her talent and obvious pulchritude, she is beginning to get the notice in the U.S. that she is already getting in Europe. She did a fine job the other night and surely gained some new fans who had never seen her live.

As for Paul Thorn, I have only seen a few things on YouTube and admit I am not familiar with much of his work, but have heard so much about the guy from fans and the fact that he can reel so many people into Knuckleheads over the weekend is impressive. Problem is, musically, it did next to nothing for me. I felt as if I were seeing your average bar band playing to a huger crowd than they deserve. I felt as if I was being 'punk'd.' Surely, there is a joke I'm not privy to, because I didn't find him half as clever as many do and again, musically, the band seemed like a decent bar band, but nothing knocked me out Friday night, except for maybe Paul's lefty guitar player, who was damn good. Junebug, from KKFI, introduced Paul and said that the people seeing him for the first time will leave with a big smile. Sorry, Junebug, but not EVERY newbie was won over.

After Paul's first song, I thought...."Meh, that was OK." I also felt the same thing after the second, third, and fourth songs, and at the one hour point, I came to the startling realization that I was completely bored. I then decided to go inside and grab a bite to eat at that point (not a good sign for someone who gives most artists his undivided attention), hung around for a few more songs, as well as the surprise marriage proposal that occurred on stage, and after 75 minutes I had seen and heard enough and left before Paul's set was over. Live and learn, I suppose, and Friday night, I learned that I was not and will possibly never be a Paul Thorn fan. To each his own and all, but I took nothing away from Paul's performance. The fans there seemed to love him and that's all that matters. It just didn't connect with me, but hell, there are bands I like that would make most people here cringe. It was just my experience of the show.

[onthemark]

Good to see you Geordan! Sorry you did not enjoy the show. We went again Saturday night and once again had a great time. You know my mantra: to each their own...

[Joe]

Geordan, I went Saturday night and it was also my first time seeing Paul. I am a big fan of the Nace Bros. They have the ability to weave through many genres and are as comfortable playing together as any band I have seen. And on top of that, they are all very nice and humble guys.

Paul Thorn struck me as a very competent artist but I too did not get all the fervor about him until he played his acoustic set. The song he sang about the Honky Tonk Neanderthal was awesome. That song made my night. it was about an experience he had opening for Toby Keith and properly, and humorously, described that type of musician.

Overall, a very good value for your entertainment dollar. I too wondered if his Forest Gump style of banter between songs was part of his act.

Finally, there are always little polls going around about who is the best guitar player in town, around the country, in the world... etc. I've seen some of the best. (in my opinon, Richard Thompson is the at the top), But I'm not sure I have seen many more better than Jimmy Nace. His chops are as good as it gets. He can play with fire and intensity but he also has tremendous finesse. Reminds me of Mike Campbell from Petty and the Heartbreakers. Corky, you are right on. We are quite fortunate to be able to regularly see the Nace Bros.

[pellboy]

Sorry, Corky, unable to attend the other night as planned as the wife wasn't feeling well and I was only going because she wanted to. I like Paul, but it's the chicks (and Junebug) that really seem to go ga ga over him. I get some of what Geordan's saying as I've only seen him once myself and it was well before the Knuckleheads crowd annointed him, but I really do like some of his songs and Bill Hinds (as even Geordan mentioned) is a pretty damn good guitarist.

Similar deal happened to me a few years ago @ Knuckleheads although it was all self-hype on my part, but I built my unrealistic expectations up for near 15 years of listening to their records and was then very underwhelmed in seeing the Subdudes for the first time. In the band's defense, it was a cold October night and a band that thrives on igniting a crowd, they just couldn't get the response they wanted or needed. The story ends on a happy note however as being such a big fan, I decided to give the Subdudes another chance and stopped by Knuckleheads on the way home after seeing Uriah Heep @ Ameristar and this time was blown away by their performance that night, perhaps because I was already cranked up from Heep, it was a warm summer evening conducive to drinking/dancing but nevertheless, kudos to the band for "winning" me back.

[corky]

Just checked back in here, after seeing the 3rd and final Paul Thorne show of the weekend Sunday.

Frank's always wanted to do a 'Gospel Brunch' and it worked!

We were all treated to an excellent brunch spread, a wonderful opening set by Carl Butler's band as well as Hal Waites (Atlantic Express singer)

We were then all seated in the Gospel Lounge for a solo set by Paul Thorne.

Best solo set I've seen in 20 years. Pure, heartfelt and fun.

Paul did a tune early on, and it took him to quite a sad memory. Poor guy teared up mid-song and had to struggle to finish. Most of us joined him. Lotsa sniffling.
(Me too)

I wish it'd been filmed somehow.