Ten shows in six days: for your consideration

Trampled By Turtles

Tonight at the Granada

The amusing but misleading name of the Minnesota-based band Trampled By Turtles implies that its music is lethargic. The members of the bluegrass-oriented quintet may take their time on sensitive ballads, but they’re also capable of playing with furious speed. As Trampled By Turtles enters its tenth year, the collective retains a traditional bluegrass foundation even as it reaches out to rock and country fans with a brawnier sound. Opening act Carl Broemel is best known for his guitar wizardry as a member of My Morning Jacket. Yet it’s Broemel’s agile songwriting talent that makes his solo material memorable. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $20 in advance and $22 on the day of the show.

American Aquarium

Tonight at the Bottleneck

Savvy fans of Wilco will recognize that American Aquarium’s name is a reference to the disturbing opening lyric of Wilco’s landmark “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” album. Not surprisingly, the music produced by the Raleigh-based band often resembles Wilco. While Wilco tempers its dour songs with sunny material, American Aquarium’s outlook is consistently disconsolate. The narrator of the title track of American Aquarium’s 2012 album “Burn. Flicker. Die.” laments the role that the combination of redheaded women, alcohol and Adderall may play in his early demise. Kansas City’s Brody Buster Band, a blues-based act that also knows about the downside of decadence, opens the show.

Inspectah Deck

Thursday at the Riot Room

It’s a common misperception that the Wu-Tang Clan contains an infinite number of representatives. Most of the eight surviving members of the legendary hip-hop crew are so active that the Wu-Tang Clan brand seems ubiquitous. While not as well known as Method Man, RZA or the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck is a respected member of the New York collective. His raucous verse kicks off 1993’s “Protect Ya Neck,” the Wu-Tang Clan’s debut single. Inspectah Deck’s long-anticipated “Czarface” album is scheduled for a February release. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show.

Olassa

Saturday at the Replay

“I Love You, Come Back To Me,” a six-song EP by Lawrence’s Olassa, possesses a roughhewn charm. The folk band’s delightfully unassuming recording will be officially released Saturday at the Replay Lounge. Three acoustic-based acts from the area with decidedly rowdier sensibilities will help Olassa celebrate. The Kansas City Bear Fighters play fancifully moth-eaten folk. The Calamity Cubes, a self-described “thrashicana” ensemble, and Alex Law of Deadman Flats carry on the alternative bluegrass tradition of the influential Kansas band Split Lip Rayfield. The cover charge of the 10 p.m. show is $3.

Frost Winter EDM Festival

Saturday at the Midland

The frothy side of electronic dance music will be showcased at the Midland on Saturday. Canadian duo Zeds Dead (pictured), the concert’s headliners, are known for pop-oriented original material as well as for their seductive remixes. Zeds Dead’s version of Marina and the Diamond’s “Lies” was recently the most popular track at the influential MP3 blog aggregator the Hype Machine. The lighthearted show also features the coed Chicago trio Krewella, the self-described “heavy bass music” of Indiana’s Figure, the former professional snowboarder Fury, the otherworldly mixes of California’s Seven Lions and the breezy dance music of Atlanta’s Popeska. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are $38 in advance.

Midcoast Takeover Fundraiser

Saturday at the RecordBar

Although representatives of the South by Southwest music festival extend official invitations to hundreds of bands, thousands of additional musicians barnstorm Austin every March looking for a piece of the action. That’s where the Midwest Music Foundation comes in. The organization’s Midcoast Takeover provides an opportunity for artists based in Kansas City, Lawrence and throughout the Midwest to perform at an unofficial showcase, which Ink sponsors. The ambitious effort takes money. Saturday’s show is the first in a series of fundraisers for the effort. It features the crafty pop of Antennas Up, the dance rock of Molly Picture Club (pictured), the insinuating glam rock of Drew Black & the Dirty Electric and folk-based favorites She’s a Keeper. Tickets to the 10 p.m. show are $10 in advance.

Brian Haas

Saturday with Snuff Jazz at Take Five Coffee / Sunday with Snuff Jazz at RecordBar

Much like Kansas City’s Mark Lowrey, Oklahoma-based Brian Haas is a jazz-based keyboardist who enjoys exploring multiple forms of music. Haas, the leader of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, is also conversant in classical, country and rock. The rambunctious young drummer Brian Steever and the two members of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey based in Kansas City—saxophonist Mark Southerland and bassist Jeff Harshbarger— will support Haas at his two area shows this weekend. Multi-instrumentalist Mike Stover will contribute to the collective’s adventurous improvised music on Sunday. The cover charge for Saturday’s 8 p.m. show at Take Five Coffee + Bar is $5. The cover charge for Sunday’s 8 p.m. show at the RecordBar is $5.

Free Energy

Monday at the Czar Bar

More cowbell! Free Energy, a ballyhooed band of indie rockers from Philadelphia, takes the satirical mantra to heart on the opening track of its effervescent new album “Love Sign”. Propelled by a cowbell, the exuberant “Electric Fever” crackles with optimism. Like much of Free Energy’s catalog, the song evokes the relative innocence of 1970s acts like Cheap Trick, the J. Geils Band and the Cars. Two Kansas City-based bands that seem to be on the verge of attracting national attention open the show. Not a Planet offers drama-tinged garage rock. The vital pop of Rev Gusto recalls the fresh-faced vigor of British invasion acts like the Kinks. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show are $10 in advance and $12 on the day of the show.

Sum 41

Monday at the Granada

The trajectory of Sum 41 indicates that a lucrative career can be constructed in the imposing shadows cast by Green Day and Blink-182. Fueled by impertinent swagger, the Canadian pop-punk band’s undeniably derivative hits like “Fat Lip” and “Still Waiting” have lost just a bit of their luster during the past decade. The band’s juvenile perspective may result in inconsequential recordings, but Sum 41 has retained its reputation as an entertaining live act. I Am Dynamite, an energetic duo from Detroit, and Hunter Valentine, a gritty band from Toronto, open Monday’s show. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $20 in advance and $22 on the day of the show.

Bill Brownlee, Special to the Star

Comments

[mankvill]

and on the 7th day is Title Fight at the Jackpot in Lawrence! One of the most up-and-coming pop punk/melodic hardcore bands in the scene right now. Gonna be a great night full of sing-alongs and stage dives!

[LiveMusicFan]

What happened to The Calamity Cubes? I really like 'em, but it's like they disappeared for the past few years.

Also, Hermon Mehari brings his group of KC musicians to play the music of Michael Jackson this Saturday at The Bottleneck.

[corky]

Bill and Tim,

I'd like to say thanks again for these lists of shows, it's one of the cooler things on the site.

As I was looking at these shows the name American Aquarium seemed familiar.

Fairly certain I'd seen them once before, and looking at the calender I see they're in the back room at Knuckleheads on Friday 2/1/13.

At just $10 (and, with just 60 seats in the room) that's intimate & up-close for low bucks.

[pellboy]

Yeah, Corky, I recall Geordan talking rather highly of American Aquarium's last visit to Knuckleheads. Sounds like the type of act that would interest me so I might try and catch this show.

[onthemark]

Pellboy, I figure I will check them out based on the review Geordan gave them as well.

Also in for Carrie Rodriguez, Tom Russell and Alejandro.

[Endtro]

so, if that American Aquarium show is in the small room on a Friday night, should I get tickets beforehand?

[Uncle Albert]

As a rule of thumb for all new bands starting out (and given to the fat old men doing the next cookie cutter bs band du jour) BEFORE settling on a band name, please do a google search and and youtube search, just to make sure when people search "YOUR NAME" there is not a whole crowd or people/things with the same name.

and also, try not to dream up (hatchet together) too idiotic of a name, come on men(women)

[Free American Aquarium Energy]

http://www.kissyourfish.com/images/150safresh.JPG

http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&q=Free%20Energy&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41524429,d.cGE&biw=800&bih=445&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw&ei=5F0BUa_OAemKiALTqIHwDg

[pellboy]

Will definitely see you @ Alejandro, otm. Also considering the BoDeans and NMAS (last Knucks show was great). Not totally sure about Aquarium as I'll be doing Calexico the following night in Lawrence. Usually don't double up my weekends until the summertime.

[Oregon Wild Wood]

Great article...! Thanks for sharing the list. I love all things guitar....

[corky]

And I want to see Calexico as well, saw that date pop up.

They were in 'I'm not there' playing Dylan's tune Going to Acapulco. Great version too...

[onthemark]

Endtro, never a bad idea to have a ticket in hand. Not only does that guarantee you entry, it also ensures that you get out of the house and go to the show! I know there have been a few times where I didn't really feel like going but since I had a ticket I was in. And as always, I hugely enjoyed the show and was glad I went!

The Living Room/Retro Lounge holds 60-75 or so, not sure if that show will sell out or not. See you there!

[corky]

Been in that backroom dozens of times. I can't be positive but I'm betting 60 may well be max seating.

[RogerWilco]

I'd like to see the Free Energy show. The last record was fun.
Alas, I'm afraid they won't take the stage until 11:00. If I thought it would be closer to 10:00, I might check it out. Usually no way to know, you call the venue and they tell you what you want (they want you) to hear, it seems. The hazards of being 50 with a Day Job!

[LiveMusicFan]

I hate the way that venues won't be honest about their start times. I know that they want people in there and drinking as early as possible, but lying isn't the way to do it.

[Free Itunes Gift Cards Online]

Gotta love guitars. Nice share.