The season is ripe for political discontent and a revolution. The Fun Guy’s latest album provides a pretty good soundtrack for such an occasion. From the Attic to the Underground comes from the Lawrence trio, one of the scene’s newest up-and-coming acts spotted around town over the last year. Fronted by staggeringly tall Ranjit Arab (who is not Arab, but actually Indian and American), the band has been indulging us with a perfectly retro punk vibe (think The Clash). The album was recorded at Exception Studio in Topeka. Songs tackle everything from identity to politics to crimes against indigen ..read more

Sarah McLachlan / Photo by Fally Afani The Starlight in Kansas City had a bit of a Canadian invasion over the weekend when Sarah McLachlan and Feist both stopped by to grace fans with their songwriting prowess. This was heaven on Earth for us 90’s gals. It felt like every cool and established lesbian in Lawrence was at the show, swapping Lilith Fair war stories and reminiscing about the woman-led music movement decades ago. This was a tour celebrating the 30th (30th!!) anniversary of McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, a triumph of an album for its unapologetically feminine dominance of the ..read more

We hope you’ll forgive us, but it appears we lied. Last month, we told you that May was the month for street parties. But really, June is the month where it all pops off. We can’t see a single week in the month where there isn’t an opportunity to hit the streets and dance the summer away. Every single Saturday has a big, can’t-miss event. You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a musical, it’s going to be so lit. Here are five events, one for every week, that will have you dancing in the streets ..read more

..read more

Local indie rockers took to the Bottleneck stage Saturday night for one last hurrah before Summer concert season kicks off in Lawrence. Liney Blu opened with a heartbreakingly raw solo set, followed by feel-good rockers The Instant. Local favorites Flash Floods followed with an impressive amount of newer tunes before Kansas City’s Car Microwave came touting their recently released Cabin Fever Dream. Photos below ..read more

MellowPhobia / Photo by Fally Afani It’s been a while since we’ve had a really well-produced local indie album come our way, but MellowPhobia continues to check all our boxes. The Act of Loving in Return is a masterclass in youthful angst. It kicks off with the frustration-laden “Finding It Hard,” setting the tone right away for the album with angsty lyrics over guitar tantrums. From there, the band continues to share their dissatisfactions with us, all while treating their listeners to fantastically-written melodies. We’ve noticed that their bridges are always a moment for quiet reflection be ..read more

Steve Poltz / Photo by Fally Afani We know it’s Spring, the weather’s beautiful, and school’s out for half the town, but we promise you no one had a better time on Thursday night than Steve Poltz. The lovable goofus arrived from Nashville to deliver one of the most entertaining sets we’ve seen in months at the Lawrence Arts Center. The songwriter with decades of tunes under his belt delivered a set that was almost more standup comedy than it was music. In addition to thrilling the crowd with wild tales from life in the music industry (hanging with Mojo Nixon, going on a drug-fueled adventure a ..read more

Greta Van Fleet / Photo by Fally Afani Every now and then you see some older rock musician complain about how rock and roll is dead. Obviously those guys are idiots and not looking in the right place. However, to their credit, today’s climate does make it a bit harder for the major stars to stand out with so many acts on the scene. But if there’s one band keeping our confidence in modern day rock-star-status, it’s Greta Van Fleet. Greta Van Fleet / Photo by Fally Afani First of all, the vibe at Thursday night’s T-Mobile Center show was just fantastic. We love Greta Van Fleet fans. The whole pl ..read more

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some dancing in the streets. May is arguably one of the funnest months of the year because everything really starts to pop off in Lawrence. Though you’ll really need the stamina for June, there’s a good amount to look forward to in May. With the more extravagant events being at the end of the month, you’ll be starting your summer holiday in style with plenty of merriment and dancing. Get ready; here comes some of the best events for your May concert calendar (and be sure to check out the “Other events to keep on your calendar” section at the ..read more

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