The Record Bar fucking rocks. The bar that has brought The Fall, Battles, Do Make Say Think, Deerhunter, Radio Birdman, Low, Man Man, Junior Boys, Califone, and Asobi Seksu (just to name a few, and I really mean a few) to Kansas City already has some killer shows lined up for next year.
For starters, there's Health (pictured left), a band that's been buzzing for a little while now. A cursory listen gave me the impression that these guys were like Butthole Surfers on acid, which doesn't make sense considering the Butthole Surfers were on acid. Further listens indicated a heavier Industrial and Jesus and Mary Chain influence, but what do I know. I think I like their racket, that's all that matters. Head over to their MySpace page and decide for yourself, then catch them in concert on February 18.
Then there's Black Mountain, the Canadian stoner rockers that supposedly put on one hella good live show. They have a new album, titled In the Future, coming out January 22 on Jagjaguar. The show takes place March 20, which gives us all plenty of time to grow out our hair before the show.
But the biggest, baddest show of all is the triple bill of Holy Fuck, Fuck Buttons, and A Place to Bury Strangers (pictured right), who apparently did not have to change their name to A Place to Fuck Strangers in order to be added to the bill. Surprisingly, APtBS is listed as the opening band, even after all the Pitchfork hype they've received (so far) this year. Then again, I once saw Holy Fuck at the Jackpot opening for Beans (and acting as his backing band), and they completely stole the show despite having to play to a fair amount of hip-hop heads that were probably not expecting their noisy, looped sound collages. I have no doubt that they'll be perfectly capable headliners. Besides, their debut album, released earlier this year, is pretty decent in its own right. This show takes place March 8, but could very well sell out before then. You've been warned.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Fuck Buddies
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Range Life Loves The Besnard Lakes
Last night at KC's Madrid Theatre The Besnard Lakes demonstrated not only their prowess on stage, but in dealing with the little people, too. The band hung out post-show to chat and sell/sign records -- oh, and, to pose for pictures with dorks like us.
Hang tight, cause we've got a live review and pics on the way, including a video of the phenomenal "Because Tonight."
Did we mention Are the Dark Horse is one of the best albums of the year?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Featured Concert of the Week:
Saturday Looks Good to Me
An old friend of mine once made fun of me for going to a Yo La Tengo show. True story. He called to see what I was doing that night, and I told him, "going to see Yo La Tengo." His response: "Why?" To his credit, he had (somehow) confused Yo La Tengo, one of America's best and most prolific bands, with De La Soul, the hip-hop band that was, and still is, long past their 80's heyday.
I bring this up because for the longest time I had somehow confused Saturday Looks Good to Me (pictured) with an emo band. Maybe it was the tours with bands like Saves the Day, I'm not real sure. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that I wrote off SLGtM because of a simple misunderstanding, and boy is my face red. This band is anything but emo, the genre, though I suppose they do have some emotional moments on their latest album, Fill Up the Room. If anything, SLGtM has more in common with bands with emotive singers like the Smiths or Neutral Milk Hotel, than, say, Fall Out Boy. Saturday Looks Good to Me will hopefully fill up the room at the Record Bar in Kansas City this Friday (insert joke about Friday looking good to me here), and you would be doing yourself a favor by attending.
Saturday Looks Good to Me - "(Even if You Die on the) Ocean" (mp3)
From the album Fill Up the Room (K Records)
Check the concert calendar here.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Featured Concert of the Week
Road Trippin' Across the Midwest
Each week for the Featured Concert segment, I usually pick out one show that sticks out the most and write a bit about it. Maybe its the show I'm most looking forward to, the show with the most unique/eclectic lineup, or a way to give a band I like some (brief) attention. Not so this week. To pick just one show is impossible. Take a look at the calendar if you don't believe me. You can skip past Tegan and Sara, but that's about it. Robyn Hitchcock?!? In St. Louis! Are you fucking kidding me?!? The Thermals and Girl Talk (pictured) playing Mojo's on back to back nights! Talk about party time! And of course, there's the previously mentioned Do Make Say Think/Apostle of Hustle double bill in Omaha, where you will find at least a couple of Range Life staffers hanging out. Not to be outdone, Kansas City and Lawrence have several hot shows to offer, like Ghostface Killah, Black Dice, The Mountain Goats, and Regina Spektor. Regardless of what Midwest city you live in/near, there's surly something going on this week.
View the whole concert calendar.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Featured Concert of the Week
The New Pornographers w/ Immaculate Machine
Though The New Pornographers have never been a band to shy away from playing a little college town such as Lawrence, what's remarkable about their upcoming show at Liberty Hall is Dan Bejar and Neko Case are coming with them, which means A.C. Newman and Kathryn Calder (who is also a member of opening act Immaculate Machine) can stick to just singing their parts for a change. The show is Sunday, November 4th.
New Pornographers - "Myriad Harbour" (mp3)
(From the LP Challengers)
Read the whole concert calendar here.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Featured Concert of the Week
Architecture In Helsinki w/ Glass Candy
Architecture in Helsinki made a splash with 2005's In Case We Die, an album that is best described as pop music for the indie kids that suffer from a severe case of Attention Deficit Disorder. The band's latest album, Places Like This, released last month, sees the band taking a more focused direction, but I can only assume that anything is possible when this band takes the stage.
However, let me be the first to warn you of a possible upstaging that may occur. Let me be clear that I've never seen Architecture in Helsinki live, so I have no idea what they will bring to the table. I have seen Glass Candy twice though, and I know for a fact that they will be bringing their A game. Whether they're playing fuzzed out disco (check out "Beatific", which you can stream/download from their MySpace page) or aping club favorites of yore (think Blondie's "Rapture" minus the rapping, or Indeep's "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life"), Glass Candy will surly have the the Bottleneck's floor bouncing. Though the weather will be cool outside, I highly recommend dressing light 'cause Glass Candy's gonna make you sweat. You've been warned.
Download:
Glass Candy - "Rolling Down the Hills (Spring Demo)
(From the After Dark compilation)
Architecture in Helsinki - "The Cemetery"
(From the In Case We Die LP)
Check Out:
Our Review of Places Like This
Want to know who else is coming to the Midwest? Click here.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Area Concerts (Updated October 16th)
Featured Concert: Caribou w/ Born Ruffians
Though the recently posted clips of Caribou performing live in Dan Snaith's trippy home studio (check out "Melody Day" and "She's The One") are perfectly fine for killing time on a lunch break, I for one cannot wait until next week's show at the Bottleneck in Lawrence. Tickets are a measly $9, so why not check it out. Caribou's blissful psychedelic/electronic/pop sound will surly cure your unruly case of the Mondays, even if you skip the cheap beer at Lawrence's very own Free State Brewery.
October
16 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
17 - Scout Niblett, Monta @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
17 - Shout Out Louds w/ Johnossi, Nico Vega @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
17 - Drive-By Truckers @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
19 - Captured by Robots @ the Brick (Kansas City, MO)
20 - Rogue Wave w/ Port O'Brien @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
20 - Polyphonic Spree w/ Rooney, the Redwalls @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
21 - Henry Rollins @ Liberty Hall (Lawrence, KS)
22 - Bob Dylan w/ Elvis Costello @ Fox Theater (St. Louis, MO)
22 - Caribou w/ Born Ruffians @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
22 - 1990s w/ Love Like Fire, Brilliant Geographers (Kansas City, MO)
22 - Ween @ the Pageant (St. Louis, MO)
22 - Nada Surf w/ Sea Wolf @ The Gargoyle Club (St. Louis, MO)
23 - Bright Eyes @ Lied Center (Lawrence, KS)
24 - Minus the Bear w/ Helio Sequence, Tiny Vipers @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
24 - Bob Dylan w/ Elvis Costello, Amos Lee @ Carver Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, IA)
25 - Architecture in Helsinki w/ Glass Candy, Panther @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Atmosphere w/ Grayskul, Mac Lethal, Lucki.I.Am @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Head of Femur @ The Bluebird (St. Louis, MO)
25 - Love As Laughter @ The Picador (Iowa City, IA)
27 - Melt Banana @ 2 Cents Plain (St. Louis, MO)
29 - The Fiery Furnaces w/ Pit-Er-Pat @ Blueberry Hill's Duck Room (St. Louis, MO)
29 - Yellow Swans w/ Raccoo-oo-oon, Lwa @ The Picador (Iowa City, IA)
Read the whole list here.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Area Concerts (October 8th)
Not very many new additions to the concert calendar, which is not unusual for this time of year. Who honestly wants to play Kansas City or Lawrence in December or January when its fucking cold and the potential for snow and ice is always there? As much as I hate the fact that the midwest is often overlooked, even I can understand not wanting to plan too many shows here in the winter. So, it looks like we're starting the home stretch of what has been a very good year for area shows.
Some heavy hitters come to KC this week. Interpol, who I admire for showing Kansas City some love each time they tour, return on Wednesday, as does Wilco, this time with Andrew Bird opening. Do I smell a potential upstage performance? Doubtful, considering the Wilco audiences I have been a part of have never been the most open minded, or sober, bunch of people to ever stand through an opening act. I guess what I'm trying to say is if Calexico couldn't wow them 4 years ago, Andrew Bird will probably fly right over their heads as well.
October
8 - Head of Femur @ Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
8 - USSA (featuring Duane Dennison of Jesus Lizard/Tomahawk and Paul Barker of Ministry) @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
9 - Head of Femur @ Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
10 - Interpol w/ Liars @ Uptown Theater (Kansas City, MO)
11 - The Good Life w/Georgie James, Zookeeper @ Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
12 - The Broken West @ Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
13 - Wilco w/ Andrew Bird @ the Crossroads (Kansas City, MO)
15 - Adam Franklin (of Swerverdriver) @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
16 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
17 - Scout Niblett, Monta @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
17 - Shout Out Louds w/ Johnossi, Nico Vega @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
17 - Drive-By Truckers @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
19 - Captured by Robots @ the Brick (Kansas City, MO)
20 - Rogue Wave w/ Port O'Brien @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
20 - Polyphonic Spree w/ Rooney, the Redwalls @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
21 - Henry Rollins @ Liberty Hall (Lawrence, KS)
22 - Caribou w/ Born Ruffians @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
22 - 1990s w/ Love Like Fire, Brilliant Geographers (Kansas City, MO)
23 - Bright Eyes @ Lied Center (Lawrence, KS)
24 - Minus the Bear w/ Helio Sequence, Tiny Vipers @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Architecture in Helsinki w/ Glass Candy, Panther @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Atmosphere w/ Grayskul, Mac Lethal, Lucki.I.Am @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Head of Femur @ The Bluebird (St. Louis, MO)
30 - Jesu w/ Torche, Fog @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
30 - Anti MC w/ Busdriver, Daedelus @ the Gaslight Tavern (Lawrence, KS)
30 - SSION w/ DJ Iggy Baby @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
31 - Gogol Bordello @ Liberty Hall (Lawrence, KS)
31 - Múm @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
November
2 - The Ponys w/ Chinup Chinup, Black Tie Dynasty @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
4 - New Pornographers w/ Emma Pollock, Immaculate Machine @ Liberty Hall (Lawrence, KS)
5 - Tegan and Sara w/ Northern State @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
7 - The Thermals @ Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
8 - Girl Talk @ Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
8 - Richard Buckner w/ Dave Dondero @ The Picador (Iowa City, IA)
9 - The Mountain Goats @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
9 - The Thermals @ Sokol Underground (Omaha, NE)
9 - Black Dice @ the Pistol Social Club (Kansas City, MO)
9 - Tori Amos @ Lied Center (Lawrence, KS)
10 - Ghostface Killah, Brother Ali, Rakim, more @ the Beaumont Club (Kansas City, MO)
11 - Parts and Labor @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
11 - Regina Spektor @ the Uptown Theater (Kansas City, MO)
12 - Sea Wolf @ The Gaslight Tavern (Lawrence, KS)
12 - Meat Puppets @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
13 - The Hold Steady w/ Art Brut @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Old Time Relijun w/ Madhappy @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
15 - Eric Bachman (Archers of Loaf) w/ In the Pines @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
16 - Saturday Looks Good to Me w/ Ok Jones @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
16 - Great Northern w/ Robbers on High Street @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
16 - Maritime @ the Replay Lounge (Lawrence, KS)
18 - Of Montreal w/ MGMT @ Liberty Hall (Lawrence, KS)
20 - Annuals w/ Manchester Orchestra @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Peter Bjorn & John @ Cain's Ballroom (Tulsa, OK)
26 - Peter Bjorn & John @ Madrid Theater (Kansas City, MO)
26 - The Locust w/ Yip-Yip, Sleeping People, Beautiful Bodies @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
27 - King Khan's BBQ Show w/ Bleeding Hands @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
December
1 - Electric Six @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
2 - Shonen Knife @ the Bottleneck
6 - VHS or Beta @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
9 - The Lemonheads (!) @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
13 - Paper Airplanes @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Area Concerts (Updated September 24th)
Featured Concert of the Week: Arcade Fire w/ LCD Soundsystem
With so many great concerts having already coming through the area in the past two weeks (thank you Austin City Limits festival), this Friday's show totally crept up on us. Hopefully it didn't do the same to you, as word on the street tells me this show is pretty much sold out. While we here at Range Life already know the Arcade Fire can entertain an audience, the addition of LCD as the night's openers provide reason enough to take a half day at work.
September
24 - Animal Collective w/ Tickley Feather @ Gargoyle Club (St. Louis, MO)
24 - Willy Wisely w/ the Belated @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
25 - The Melvins @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
26 - The Weakerthans w/ Jeremy Fisher @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
26 - The Good Life w/ Fourth of July @ The Picador (Iowa City, IA)
27 - Two Gallants w/ Blitzen Trapper, Songs For Moms @ the Picador (Iowa City, IA)
27 - Crystal Castles w/ Nomathamatics @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
27 - Holly Golightly @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
28 - Arcade Fire w/ LCD Soundsystem @ Starlight Theater (Kansas City, MO)
29 - Actors & Actresses w/ Barn Owl @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
29 - The Only Children @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
30 - Oakley Hall w/ 1900s, Jim Button Band @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
Read the whole list here.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
ANDREW BIRD HAS FLOWN INTO MY HEART!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Area Concerts (Updated September 17th)
Featured Concert of the Week: Andrew Bird
I'm going to Andrew Bird tomorrow, and you should too. If for some reason you can't make it, perhaps you're coloring your hair, or going to the Sea and Cake in Columbia, maybe the above video will suffice (though I somehow doubt it). Le Loup opens the show, and they're pretty good too. Their latest album has a vibe that makes me think Arcade Fire meets Sung Tongs, or, a nice indie sound that I can really dig.
September
17 - The Sea and Cake @ the Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
17 - Andrew Bird w/ Le Loup @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
18 - Jim Button Band w/ Mason Proper, the Coast @ the Record Bar (Lawrence, KS)
19 - The Fucking Champs @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
20 - Dave Bazan (of Pedro the Lion) w/ Casiotone For the Painfully Alone @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
21 - Caspian w/ The Constant, Actors & Actresses, World Dance Party @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
22 - Qui w/ Beautiful Bodies, The Mad Kings @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
22 - The Ants w/ Rats and People, Bad Folk @ the Replay (Lawrence, KS)
Read the whole list here.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Area Concerts (Updated September 10th)
Featured Concert: Blonde Redhead
Road trip! That is, if you don't live in Columbia, Missouri or Oklahoma City, but I digress. Blonde Redhead return to the midwest for the first time since opening for Interpol one snowy February evening back in 2005. They were touring for Misery Is a Butterfly then, a fine album for sure, but now they're supporting the more rocking 23, a reason enough to go if you ask me, not to mention the excellent back catalog. If Blonde Redhead is not your cup of tea, there's still Okkervil River in Omaha on Thursday, and in a week from today the veteran college rockers of the Sea and Cake will treat the citizens of Columbia, Missouri to a set of old and new goodies that hopefully won't be half as bass heavy as their Pitchfork Festival appearance.
September
10 - Coat Party w/ Fast Computers, Waterfowl Habitat @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
12 - Blonde Redhead @ the Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
12 - Flaming Lips w/ Black Moth Super Rainbow @ Uptown Theater (Kansas City, MO)
12 - Mobius Band w/ White Rabbits, Mason Proper @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Blonde Redhead @ Bricktown Ballroom (Oklahoma City, OK)
13 - Devendra Banhart w/ Rio En Medio @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Oh No! Oh My! w/ The Legendary Terrordactyls @ the Replay Lounge (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Cloud Cult @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Paper Cities w/ Via Audio, Noise FM @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
14 - Okkervil River w/ Damien Jurardo @ the Picador (Iowa City, IA)
14 - Roman Numerals w/ Femme Fatale, The Bureau @ the Record Bar (Lawrence, KS)
14 - William Elliot Whitmore w/ Tim Barry, Josh Small @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
15 - AM Syndicate w/ Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk, Ample Branches @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
15 - Sal Retta w/ Snuff Jazz, Blackpool Lights, Life & Times, Appleseed Cast, and more @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
16 - Bob Log III @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
Read the whole list here.
Blonde Redhead - "Loved Despite of Great Faults" (mp3)
From the album Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Area Concerts (Updated Sept. 4th)
Upcoming Concert of Note: The Flaming Lips
With next week being such a huge week for shows as bands pass through on their way to Austin, I thought I'd just go ahead and feature one of those shows now. On September 12, the Flaming Lips (with local boy Kliph Scurlock on skins!) return to Kansas City for the first time in 5 years, and their first non-festival headlining gig in the area since they played the Granada way back in 2000. By now, everyone knows that a Flaming Lips concert is more about the experience than the music, but at least they deliver the goods. Chances are that if you attend this concert you will experience one of the most bizarre yet fucking fantastic Wednesdays in your entire life.
September
4 - Far Less w/ Left on Northwood @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
7 - Approach (CD Release Party) @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
7 - Central Standard w/ Mad Happy, Calaveras @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
8 - Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk w/ Darling at Sea, The ACBs @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
10 - Coat Party w/ Fast Computers, Waterfowl Habitat @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
12 - Blonde Redhead @ the Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
12 - Flaming Lips w/ Black Moth Super Rainbow @ Uptown Theater (Kansas City, MO)
12 - Mobius Band w/ White Rabbits, Mason Proper @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Blonde Redhead @ Bricktown Ballroom (Oklahoma City, OK)
13 - Devendra Banhart w/ Rio En Medio @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Oh No! Oh My! w/ The Legendary Terrordactyls @ the Replay Lounge (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Cloud Cult @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
13 - Paper Cities w/ Via Audio, Noise FM @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
14 - Okkervil River w/ Damien Jurardo @ the Picador (Iowa City, IA)
14 - Roman Numerals w/ Femme Fatale, The Bureau @ the Record Bar (Lawrence, KS)
14 - William Elliot Whitmore w/ Tim Barry, Josh Small @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
15 - AM Syndicate w/ Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk, Ample Branches @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
15 - Sal Retta w/ Snuff Jazz, Blackpool Lights, Life & Times, Appleseed Cast, and more @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
Read the whole list here.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Area Concerts (Updated August 20th)
August
21 - Pelican w/ Clouds (ex Cave-In), Your Black Star@ the Waiting Room (Omaha, NE)
22 - The Fairer Sex, w/ Endless Mic @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
23 - Talib Kweli w/ DJ Chaps @ the Granada (Lawrence, KS)
24 - Volunteers s/ Chad Serhal @ Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Coalesce w/ This Is My Condition, Rocket Fuel is the Key @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
25 - Detroit Cobras w/ the Willowz @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
26 - Meat Puppets w/ the Hearers, the Only Children @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
27 - Dark Meat w/ Drakkar Sauna @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
27 - Magnolia Electric Co. @ the Grand Emporium (Kansas City, MO)
28 - Ladyfinger w/ The Jen Say Kwas, SHHH @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
28 - Making Movies w/ Oliver Future, Action Figure @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
29 - 100 Year War w/ Ladyfinger, Counterlife @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
30 - The Belated w/ Cordelia, Yell Like Hell @ the Record Bar (Kansas City, MO)
30 - Ben Kweller w/ Willie Mason, Old Canes @ the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS)
31 - The Only Children w/ Saints and Sinners, Telegraph Canyon @ the Jackpot (Lawrence, KS)
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