The Velveteers made a triumphant return to The Bottleneck on Thursday night, delivering on their reputation as one of the best rock bands to watch live. Shredding, crowd surfing, and getting close with the crowd were all signature maneuvers from the band, which brought in fans from far and wide. Lawrence newcomers City Hall and Kansas City’s The Black Mariah Theater opened. Photos below ..read more

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon of The Creepy Jingles / Photo by John Knepper The Creepy Jingles are hands-down keeping rock and roll alive in this region. The Kansas City band, fronted by eternal cool-girl Jocelyn Nixon, are frequent faces in Lawrence. They’ve gained notable popularity due to their thrilling live shows, expert guitar work, and heart-racing rhythms. Their latest single, “Repeat After Me,” is no different. Our only complaint is that it’s too short! We demand more! Clocking in at just under two minutes, it’s definitely a barn-burner that causes a commotion at their shows. We can’t wait to ..read more

It’s rare for us to say this so early in the year, but when we sit down and put our “Best Of” list together in December, this show will likely be Number 1. Krizz Kaliko / Photo by Fally Afani It’s hard to believe this is Krizz Kaliko’s first national tour. The way he commands a stage would make anyone believe he’s a veteran performer holding the nation’s attention. We were absolutely shocked and thrilled to see him bring this show to The Bottleneck, and it did not disappoint. With the energy of a thousand suns, he set the Downtown Lawrence venue on fire with his expert skill and nonstop poten ..read more

Keo and Them / Photo by Fally Afani I know Lawrence is seen as a music town, but trust us when we say that some of the best music in Lawrence right now is coming from Wichita. The city has consistently for the past year (and then some) been providing a pipeline of nonstop killer musical acts. Friday night’s lineup at the Replay solidified their position as the big music-maker in the great state of Kansas. Keo and Them / Photo by Fally Afani Case in point: Keo and Them. We caught wind of this band a few months ago at the Replay, and were thrilled to see them come back on an all-Wichita lin ..read more

With April being a big touring month for bands, we’re seeing a lot of big name shows roll through the Lawrence area this month thanks to our access to large and mid-sized venues. Though some are already sold out (Kublai Khan, Jessie Murph) or close to selling out, there are still plenty of opportunities to wet your rhythmic whistle this Spring. I know we say this a lot, but there really is something for every type of music listener this month. From rap to indie to country (and even something for the nerds), it’s probably best to stay put for live music in April. Here’s a look at some of the be ..read more

Personally, I love things that are unapologetically feminine. That time in the late 90’s and early 2000’s where rom-coms ruled the movie theaters? Pink everything? 13 Going On 30? Fuck yes. This might be why ASPN’s music takes us to a very special place. It’s a joyful pop-infused romp that immediately takes us to the moment in a lighthearted film where the protagonist finds true love. Their debut album (DEBUT!!!) is coming out on April 2nd, with a show to follow at Minibar on April 6. While the title track came for In This Dream out in the Fall, the band’s been at work getting the re ..read more

There’s a reason why we love Spring in Lawrence, Kansas. For one, we get to see a plethora of amazing show announcements as the weather warms up. But also, it’s when we do our annual “Sings to a Baby” video series. This year, we invited Heidi Gluck to help us ring in the Spring season and sing to a baby. The musician-about-town (and recent Phoenix Award recipient) plopped down on a picnic blanket with her bandmate’s young (and very shy) daughter, Zadie. Did you know Zadie is also very musically talented? She provides some percussion via a half-consumed box of tic tacs in the video from the saf ..read more

Approach / Photo by Fally Afani Every now and then you get one of those shows that just reminds you of all the joys of hip-hop. This was the case on Saturday night at the Replay, when a stellar lineup came together and resulted in an eruption of the best vibes. Alan Doyle / Photo by Fally Afani The moment marked Tulsa rapper Alan Doyle’s second appearance at the Replay in recent months. Here’s what we’ve learned: if you try to stay still during an Alan Doyle set, your body will betray you. His flow had everyone swaying in unison in one big collective groove. He was joined by Approach, who we’v ..read more

If you scrounge around the Replay long enough, you’ll always run into the newest up-and-coming punk bands. Friday night’s set was no different, featuring a four-band lineup of loud and obstreperous acts from the region. The first half of Friday night’s set was dedicated to some good old-fashioned shrill lady rage– and while there is plenty to be angry about in the unjust world these days, the overwhelming theme still appears to be “ugh, MEN.” Cat F!ght / Photo by Fally Afani Locals Cat F!ght debuted a new song and a newish guitarist who’s been with the band for the last couple of months but s ..read more

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears / Photo by Fally Afani It’s not every day a living blues legend makes their way to Lawrence, but the town was abuzz for Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears at the Bottleneck on Wednesday night. Threats of tornado weather couldn’t keep fans away from the band’s driving rhythms and raw lyrics. The Texas-based bluesman delivered a masterclass in the buildup, warming up the crowd with a couple of songs before throwing down harder with each proceeding tune. Shane Guerrette / Photo by Fally Afani The band is on tour with Shane Guerrette, a fresh face on the scene ..read more