Kitchen Dwellers. // photo by Allison Scavo Kitchen Dwellers are a Montana-based jam band playing at RecordBar on December 3. We interviewed Max Davies, the band’s guitar player ahead of their tour stop about their upcoming new album, Seven Devils, the band’s history, and more. The Pitch: The last time you swung through it was in Kansas City, right? Max Davies: Last time was at Lawrence it was awesome, so we’re super excited to get back. We actually have played [in Kansas City] once with Twiddle, probably in like… 2017, 2016 maybe. So it’s been a while but we’re really excited to come back ..read more

Snotty Nose Rez Kids. // photo by Sterling LaRose First Nations hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids have been making a name for themselves over the course of the last few years. Their debut single, “Skoden,” rapidly went viral and its critical acclaim paved the way for a series of well-received and Polaris-nominated albums from the Haisla rappers. The pairing of Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce, from Kitamaat Village, British Columbia, makes for a sound which never sticks to one particular hip hop subgenre, and always feels like it’s fresh as hell. Earlier this year, Snotty ..read more

Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band. // photo courtesy the artist Dancing on the Edge might be the debut album from Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, but it’s hardly their first effort. For most of the previous decade, Davis released music with the rootsy indie-rock group State Champion and more recently, as a part of the adventurous instrumental outfit Equipment Pointed Ankh, whose membership includes several of the people in the Roadhouse Band. So, what led the Indiana-by-way-of-Kentucky songwriter to put out an album of intricately straightforward, cynically open-hearted country songs und ..read more

Story of the Year at Liberty Hall // photo by Emily Jacobs Story of the Year is back and better than ever with their latest album, Tear Me to Pieces, their first in six years. The record manages to sound modern while still encompassing the original Story of the Year sound, showing that they haven’t lost their passion even after over 20 years as a band. It’s also their first release since the return of original bass player, Adam Russell, who also provides backing vocals. However, taking the forefront for this tour was Story of the Year’s debut album, Page Avenue, which celebrated its 20-year ..read more

Photo by Maura Dayton This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2023. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November.  Fem-ran, pro-LGBTQ+ icon venue Toilet Bowl has sadly flushed for the final time. For the community, it’s like losing a limb. Operating as a safe-space music venue spawned from the sewage of a once-flooded basement, the Toilet Bowl ..read more

Fountain City Guitarworks. // Photo by Pilsen Photo Co-Op This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2023. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November.  Much like the wardrobe in Narnia, the exterior of Fountain City Guitarworks is unassuming. When you step inside, each corner of the house is covered in guitars. It’s located in the Squier Park ne ..read more

Aztec Shawnee Theater. // Courtesy photo This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2023. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November.  Closed since 1974, Aztec Shawnee Theater reopened in the winter of 2020 after three years of renovations. It’s been a slow come-up since, but over the past year, the Aztec Shawnee Theater has not only become a pl ..read more

Dark Star Orchestra. // photo by Allison Scavo Dark Star Orchestra The Madrid Theatre Wednesday, November 15 Sometimes we have the perfect plan and things out of our control happen, like sound issues delaying a set. While it was resolved, the band members who could be heard played their guitars softly to an off script tune. It was as if we were with them when they first met: just an intimate little pickin’. Dark Star Orchestra exemplifies the entire concept of the Grateful Dead, which is to experience less-than-ideal situations, make the best of it, and come out on top. Once the sound was r ..read more

Courtesy Social House Entertainment Emo’s wild ride back into the mainstream continues in 2024 with the return of Social House Entertainment’s “Not Just A Phase Fest” on Saturday, June 2, 2024 at Legends Field. The nostalgia event touts headliners Yellowcard, atop a current line-up including Bayside, 30H!3, Hoobastank, Secondhand Serenade, and Emery. Kansas City’s own DJ Joey Donut who si returning to keep the Elder Emo energy alive and high between sets. If you haven’t caught Joey at Minibar for his emo night residencies there, you absolutely should. Tickets are available now at notjustaph ..read more

DragonForce. // photo by Jeffrey Allee DragonForce with Amaranthe, NanowaR of Steel, and Edge of Paradise The Granada Sunday, November 12 Touring ahead of the release of their next album, Warp Speed Warriors, due out March 15, extreme power metal pioneers DragonForce took to the stage at the Granada to blow minds with the absolute mind-melting shredding abilities of guitar virtuosos and founding members Herman Li and Sam Totman. Along with singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil, and drummer Gee Anzalone, the band ripped through a set which showcased classics like “Through the Fire and Fla ..read more