MUSIC
RADAR
M U S I C F O R E CA S T
BY
Other shows worth seeing this week.
D AV ID HUDN A L L
T H U R S D AY, M AY 16
KC Psychfest
After a happy first run in 2012, KC Psychfest returns this weekend. FOKL, the KCK arts space that was the fest’s home last year, has downsized, so the shows will be split among its new lower level and courtyard and Monta HQ, about a dozen blocks away. The lineup again boasts some of the finest avant-garde acts in the area, including MetaTone, Monta at Odds, Conquerors, Your Friend, Expo ’70 and more. (See kcpsychfest.com for the full schedule.) It costs $10 per day. Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, at FOKL (556 Central, Kansas City, Kansas, 816-665-3748) and Monta HQ (40 South 13th Street, Kansas City, Kansas)
F R I D AY, M AY 17 Steve Forbert: 8 p.m. Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456. Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie: 8 p.m. The Midland, 1228 Main, 816-283-9900. The Presets, Dragonette, Classixx: 7 p.m. The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-842-1390. Bobby Watson’s I Have a Dream Band: 8 p.m. The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St., 816-474-8463.
anybody who doesn’t at least kind of like this band, and that’s the way it should be. Wednesday, May 22, at Crossroads KC at Grinders (417 East 18th Street, 785-749-3434)
Telekinesis
Michael Benjamin Lerner is a 26-year-old from Seattle who, as Telekinesis, has now released three pretty sturdy indie-pop albums. Fans of Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Matthew Sweet should approve. (There’s also a bit of Superchunk in there, which makes sense. Telekinesis is signed to Merge Records, the universally esteemed label run by Superchunk frontman Mac McCaughan.) Live, Lerner sings from behind the drums but enlists a guitarist, a bassist and a keyboardist to bring his cheery songs to life. Saturday, May 18, at the Riot Room (4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179)
Insane Clown Posse
Are you down with the Clown? The FBI, which recently classified Insane Clown Posse as a criminal street gang, is not. But the Detroit buttrap group’s legions of fans aren’t bothered by that kind of notoriety. They’ll continue to spray each other with Faygo (official soft drink of the Juggalos), paint their faces and party to ICP’s horrorcore songs while not giving a single fuck what anybody else thinks about it. Monday, May 20, at the Granada (1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-842-1390)
Big surprise: Fade, the latest Yo La Tengo record, its 13th, is another gorgeous batch of gently fuzzy, melodic pop songs. (The moment when the strings come in on the chorus of “Is That Enough” is among the most pleasurable things I’ve heard on an album so far this year.) Missteps are rare for the Hoboken, New Jersey, trio, which has been perfecting its sound — one that draws on the Velvet Underground and the Feelies and, live, leaves enough room for screeching, improvised jams and tranquil lullabies — for nigh on 25 years. I don’t know
School’s out! KU students looking to celebrate the last day of finals — or Lawrence residents looking to celebrate the exodus of KU students — should find this triple bill of local acts suitably joyful. KC groups Ghosty and the Shy Boys practice gentle, precise indie rock. Oils has more of a herky-jerky Pavement thing going on. See you next fall! Friday, May 17, at the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire, Lawrence, 785-841-5483)
Laura Stevenson
On her new record, Wheel, Laura Stevenson calls to mind Sharon Van Etten and Land of Talk’s Elizabeth Powell — women singers who preside over expansive, soaring indie-rock songs. But I like Wheel better than anything those two have done, including, yes, Van Etten’s Tramp. Wheel’s folk ballads are offset by its Crazy Horse scorchers (I like both equally), and Stevenson and her band, the Cans, just sound like they’re excited to be playing these songs. It rubs off on the listener. Thursday, May 16, at the Jackpot Music Hall (943 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-832-1085)
A kickoff of sorts to the summer season at the Crossroads KC at Grinders stage, this year’s Spring Dance is rootsy as all hell. Country darling the Grisly Hand is fresh off the release of its new album, Country Singles. Starhaven Rounders revive the sounds of classic-country icons like George Jones and Loretta Lynn. And My Brothers & Sisters is a brassy pop ensemble led by Jamie Searle, formerly of KC folk-rock group It’s Over. Saturday, May 18, at Crossroads KC at Grinders (417 East 18th Street, 785-749-3434)
Katatonia: 7 p.m. Aftershock Bar & Grill, 5240 Merriam Dr., Merriam, 913-384-5646.
Decapitated, Unmerciful, the Cast Pattern, Night Creation: 8 p.m. The Riot Room, 4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179.
W E D N E S D AY, M AY 2 2 Band of Heathens: 8:30 p.m. Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456. Soundgarden: 8 p.m. The Midland, 1228 Main, 816-283-9900. Take Offense, Down Presser, Bitter End, Iron Guts Kelly: 6 p.m. Jackpot Music Hall, 943 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-832-1085. Trapt, 3 Pill Morning, Corvus, Years Past, Solus: 7 p.m. The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-842-1390.
FRIDAY 24 Kelly Rowland and the Dream: The Midland
K E Y
JUNE
....................................................Hooks for Days
.............................................. Roaming Juggalos
........................................ Hallucinogen-Friendly
................................................ Singing Drummer
.......................................................Kind of Scary
...............................................Abundant Droning
.............................................. Indie-Rock Heroes
.............................................. Not Recommended
.................................................. Locally Sourced
.......................................................Thick Frames
.......................................................... On the Rise
.................................................................. Twang
.................................................... So Much Faygo
..............................................................Brooklyn
m ay 1 6 - 2 2 , 2 0 1 3
S U N D AY, M AY 19
T U E S D AY, M AY 21
..................................................Pick of the Week
the pitch
Alex Bugnon with Cindy Bradley: 8:30 p.m. Gem Theater, 1615 E. 18th St., 816-842-1414. Hot Club of Cowtown: 7:30 p.m. Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456. Red Elvises, Hayseed Dixie: 8:30 p.m. Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456. Spring Into Summer With Y(our) Fri(end), Pale Hearts, the Basement, Naomi What?, Approach, G Train/Approach DJ set, Dry Bonnet, Up the Academy, the Regrets, Mouthbreathers: 3 p.m. Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-749-7676. Bobby Watson’s I Have a Dream Band: 8 p.m. The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St., 816-474-8463.
FUTURECAST F O R E C A S T
28
S AT U R D AY, M AY 18
Telekinesis (left) and Laura Stevenson
Spring Dance Ghosty, with Oils and Shy Boys
Yo La Tengo
Rodney Carrington: 8 p.m. The Midland, 1228 Main, 816-283-9900. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers: 8:30 p.m. Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456. Marina and the Diamonds, Charli XCX: 7 p.m. The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-842-1390. Chris Murray, the New Riddim, DJ Johnny 2 Tone: 9 p.m. The Riot Room, 4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179.
pitch.com
SATURDAY 1 Chris Mann: The Midland SUNDAY 2 Guns N’ Roses: The Midland TUESDAY 4 The XX: Uptown Theater THURSDAY 13 Hospital Ships, Cowboy Indian Bear, Lucas Oswald: Replay Lounge, Lawrence