Every night in Lawrence there's something for me to do, whether it's a show downtown, friends at the bars, or a party at someone's place, it's never boring. But in such a social-activity saturated setting there are still special occasions that get everyone excited.
This Saturday night was such an occasion, as Bassnectar performed at the largest, best venue in Lawrence, Liberty Hall.
November 21st was saved on my calendar far in advance, and I'm glad I bought my ticket early, because I heard rumors the show was sold out, and it certainly looked that way by the time Bassnectar got on around 11.
If you've never heard of Bassnectar before, let me give you a quick introduction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jhnxgJOrnM
That's my favorite song, available thanks to youtube.com. Bassnectar played that song about half-way through his 3 hour set last night, blowing my mind, as well as a few hundred others.
As a bass-oholic, I can never get enough of that deep, vibrating bass. That low, shivering, shaking feeling that you can feel echo in your ribcage. Bassnectar gives me all the bass I can ask for, better than any other band, dj, performance, mix, whatever. You name it. Bassnectar is the best.
I missed the first opening dj who supposedly started at 9, but I was busy pre-partying with my friends (like I said, this was a very special occasion). Even some friends without tickets to the show agreed to come over and hang out for a bit while those of us walking to Liberty Hall had a few drinks before the trek.
My main home-slice, and concert-buddy Nikki had just introduced our friends Rachel and Robert to Bassnectar, and the couple was quickly on board to go to the show. Sadly they pre-partied a little too hard, and stumbled away into the night on our way up the alleys from my friends' house to Liberty Hall. Nikki and I made it to the show intact, and Nikki bravely led the way into the already-thick crowd of people.
The second dj was on when we got there around 10:30 or 10:45. He wasn't bad by any means. I got down to his last few songs, which was the perfect warm-up for Bassnectar.
What first impressed me about Bassnectar was that Lorin Ashton came on immediately after the second dj finished his last song. Not a minute between. It was perfect.
The crowd was riled up already, and I had a great spot on the right wall, up on the small, narrow rise that gives room for about 5 or 6 people to dance.
From my fantastic perch I could watch the crowd getting down to the funky grooves, I could see Ashton rock and bounce to his sick beats, and best of all, I had room to get down as hardcore as I ever have. Bassnectar played a great combination of his own songs, and sweet remixes of famous songs everyone gets excited when they recognize.
The show wasn't over until just about 2:00, and Bassnectar played from 11 until the end, non-stop. While I was determined to make it through the show from my epic spot, Nikki wandered through the venue and even took advantage of the comfortable seats with the fantastic view of the stage from the upstairs balcony. So needless to say, afterward we were tired, and staggered back to the house to relax. There were a couple of after-parties I was invited to, and both sounded fun. MOUTH was playing, a local band that I enjoyed greatly when I saw MOUTH at the Jazzhaus a couple of weeks ago.
Looking back on the show, I felt like that was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time, except for one basic component. It wasn't the music. Bassnectar threw down just as well as he did last time I saw him perform last year at the Granada. Bass was what the crowd was craving and Bass is what he gave us.
It wasn't even the crowd. The even mix of chill people you know are cool, and fakers who were there for their ONE cool concert of the year, was just decent enough that I couldn't really complain. Basically at any big show I go to I know that as a boy I'm going to have to fight for every square inch of my personal dancing, moving, breathing, existing space. Girls and guys alike will try and get in my face, bump and nudge from behind and the sides, and always, always there are the budgers, who think "I've pushed by about fifty people already, I can get ahead of one more dude and stop in front of him and take his space." Fortunately my stone-cold heart, energetic dancing, and hard-headed determination meant bad news for every douche and slut that tried to take my place. Yep, it was just another concert, and everything I could expect from that kind of crowd.
The lights, and the smoke machines made the experience a little more epic. When the houselights would all come on, everyone was eagerly looking around them at the rest of the audience, marveling at our own awesome mix of beautiful, ugly, sweaty, happy faces, flinging arms, bouncing, swaying bodies. When the songs took deep paths the lights followed in suit, cutting rays of neon green, electric blue, in swathes and sharp lines, while clouds of amber and magenta wafted over the crowd, and small, short puffs of grey smoke rose up from the crowd, like so many little steam-whistles from the hot, endlessly grinding machine that was the audience.
No, the only thing really missing from that show, was the most important thing to me. My friends.
Not enough friends were at this show. I recognized a few people, ran into a few friends on my way into and out of the venue, but really, I just wish I had my crew around me when I was getting down to those songs.
So, next time you hear about a Bassnectar show, or the next time you hear he is playing at a festival, let me insist that it is more than worth the money, but it's always better with a friend.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Beginning Reviews
Hello, my name is David, and this is my first entry in my new blog; Nightlife in Lawrence.
I'm a very socially active individual, who spends most, if not all of my spending money at shows, in bars, and anywhere out on the town. I thought I might as well share what I experience, for anyone interested in what's going on in my neck of the woods. Nothing is set in stone here, but my idea is to write reviews of the concerts I go to, the bars I visit, and the other fun stuff I see, including previews of upcoming events. Hopefully I don't say anything to offend anyone, and someone out there finds this interesting.
I've just created this blog, so I don't know if there's some other place in it for me to introduce myself more, so let me just give a brief introduction, and save more for later.
My name is David, I'm 22 years old. I graduated from the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, Kansas, this last Summer, '09, with a degree in Journalism. I hope to write for a newspaper or magazine someday, but for now, I am working as a delivery driver at Yello Sub, which pays the bills and gives me just enough money to enjoy myself at concerts, bars, and with my friends.
I love music.
I mean I really love it. I go to at least one concert a week, I cannot leave the house without my ipod, and I am trying to learn the bass guitar. My dream is to be in a band someday. Way up high on my bucket-list, I want to perform at least one show with a band, on stage, before I croak.
After that, I love socializing.
I may live by myself, but I can only just barely go one day without hanging out with friends, or checking out a bar, or show downtown.
I get texts and calls from friends most days of the week, asking me what's going on, where I'm going to be tonight, or where the party is at. If you're looking for things to do in the Lawrence, Kansas, area, this blog might just help.
I don't have a special ear for music, I'm not a really talented or experienced reviewer of music, or anything, I'm just an average guy with a journalism degree, looking for something that interests me to write about.
This last week has been a wild one. Last weekend, October 23rd-25th, I went with three of my friends to Spookstock, at Camp Zoe, outside of Salem, Missouri, to see the last music festival (at least in this region) of the season. We watched several bands we've seen before, as well as some that were new to us. We met dozens of nice people camping around us, and explored the almost-Ozark hills of the area. It was great!
If you have ever heard of Schwagstock, Spookstock is the Halloween edition. Schwagstock is a music festival at Camp Zoe, several times a year, starting in the Spring. Thousands of people gather to camp on the private land in the middle of the beautiful countryside, and listen to great performances from bands from around the country, featuring the Schwag, a Psychedelic / Rock / Jam band, also called a Grateful Dead tribute band, led by the bassist for the Grateful Dead, Jimmy Tebeau.
The Schwag are always amazing, and often play two of the nights of the festivals.
If you are interested in music festivals, look Schwagstock up, there are sure to be several great festivals this coming Spring and Summer, not to mention next year's Spookstock.
After a weekend of music and fun, I came back to Kansas, only to see one of my all-time favorite bands, The Raveonettes, playing at the Beaumont Club, in Kansas City, on October 28th. They came on the outdoor venue despite the chill, and played a great set, including my very favorite song, Lust, along with some of their songs from their newest album, my favorite off of that was Last Dance. I loved every minute of it, but I don't think the audience (a sea of North Face jackets, if that means anything to you) appreciated the fantastic art they were listening to.
Then A Flock of Seagulls came on, and once again, the crowd stared agape at them, only clapping and cheering every few minutes, when the bands' bassist would childishly wave at the audience for more applause. I found the band's desperate need for more applause both annoying and pathetic. Worse; I did not recognize a single song they played, and neither did the rest of the audience, it seemed. After their set, I saw the bassist walking through the audience, apparently disappointed to find not a single fan pleading for an autograph.
Finally, Jet came on. The Australians put on a good show, and they were definitely what the audience had been waiting for, but I was a little let down that they were only playing songs from their new album, and I was freezing, so I shrugged and left early, having been able to say that at least I've seen Jet.
Thursday, the Floozies, a local band in Lawrence played at the Jazzhaus. The crowd was small at first, but the 5 piece band, (which I heard had never been all together at one given show before, so this was like a musical alignment of the planets) got us dancing early and before long the bar was getting busy. As a friend of one of the band members, Mark, I sat up close with many of his other friends and relatives, showing the audience how to get down to the Floozies funky, jam-band, dance music. Whether it's only two of the band members playing, or five, the Floozies always put on a good show. Last week they opened for Lotus at The Granada, and there is talk that they will tour with them.
Finally Friday and Saturday, Yonder Mountain String Band played at Liberty Hall. Some of my friends went to the first night while the rest of us hung around sipping on a keg of Free State beer, (the best beer in Kansas). They told us it was a good show, but they didn't get all the songs they wanted.
The second night, Halloween night, many of my friends and I went to the show. The opening act was good, and Jeff Austin even played with Danny Barnes. Yonder was great, their first songs all kept a fun dancing beat, with epic solos and choruses that got the whole crowd screaming and cheering.
Having worked a busy day of Halloween deliveries, I was too tired to even dance through the whole show. Fortunately there was just enough room in the balcony to sit with some friends.
After the show my friends returned to their nearby house. From there I went on to Eoto, which I got into for free, because two friends had extra tickets. I love my friends.
Eoto threw down some sick bass lines that had everyone bouncing and hollering. The lights, fog machines, glowsticks and the general vibe of the already-pumped crowd (a lot of the people were coming from the Yonder show, or a Halloween party, dressed up and twisted) made the place feel like the hottest cross between a bar, club, rave and concert that I've seen in a while.
I can only assume I was entering just as the second set began, because the band did not stop until they had to at 2 a.m. I could not believe my good fortune. My friends at the show were all dancing around front and center, with the best view of the entire show. I saw at least a dozen other people I knew besides my close crew who I danced with. The whole show felt more like an epic party, full of cool friends, and cool friends of friends.
I'm expecting to feel the same on November 21st, when Bassnectar plays at Liberty Hall!
My friends and I returned to the house of our friends' near downtown, and heard about a kid having a seizure at some other party around 17th and Louisiana.
So, that's a quick review of my last week, and from now on, I hope to make entries every few days, when I have something worth writing about.
Hope someone enjoys this.
I'm a very socially active individual, who spends most, if not all of my spending money at shows, in bars, and anywhere out on the town. I thought I might as well share what I experience, for anyone interested in what's going on in my neck of the woods. Nothing is set in stone here, but my idea is to write reviews of the concerts I go to, the bars I visit, and the other fun stuff I see, including previews of upcoming events. Hopefully I don't say anything to offend anyone, and someone out there finds this interesting.
I've just created this blog, so I don't know if there's some other place in it for me to introduce myself more, so let me just give a brief introduction, and save more for later.
My name is David, I'm 22 years old. I graduated from the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, Kansas, this last Summer, '09, with a degree in Journalism. I hope to write for a newspaper or magazine someday, but for now, I am working as a delivery driver at Yello Sub, which pays the bills and gives me just enough money to enjoy myself at concerts, bars, and with my friends.
I love music.
I mean I really love it. I go to at least one concert a week, I cannot leave the house without my ipod, and I am trying to learn the bass guitar. My dream is to be in a band someday. Way up high on my bucket-list, I want to perform at least one show with a band, on stage, before I croak.
After that, I love socializing.
I may live by myself, but I can only just barely go one day without hanging out with friends, or checking out a bar, or show downtown.
I get texts and calls from friends most days of the week, asking me what's going on, where I'm going to be tonight, or where the party is at. If you're looking for things to do in the Lawrence, Kansas, area, this blog might just help.
I don't have a special ear for music, I'm not a really talented or experienced reviewer of music, or anything, I'm just an average guy with a journalism degree, looking for something that interests me to write about.
This last week has been a wild one. Last weekend, October 23rd-25th, I went with three of my friends to Spookstock, at Camp Zoe, outside of Salem, Missouri, to see the last music festival (at least in this region) of the season. We watched several bands we've seen before, as well as some that were new to us. We met dozens of nice people camping around us, and explored the almost-Ozark hills of the area. It was great!
If you have ever heard of Schwagstock, Spookstock is the Halloween edition. Schwagstock is a music festival at Camp Zoe, several times a year, starting in the Spring. Thousands of people gather to camp on the private land in the middle of the beautiful countryside, and listen to great performances from bands from around the country, featuring the Schwag, a Psychedelic / Rock / Jam band, also called a Grateful Dead tribute band, led by the bassist for the Grateful Dead, Jimmy Tebeau.
The Schwag are always amazing, and often play two of the nights of the festivals.
If you are interested in music festivals, look Schwagstock up, there are sure to be several great festivals this coming Spring and Summer, not to mention next year's Spookstock.
After a weekend of music and fun, I came back to Kansas, only to see one of my all-time favorite bands, The Raveonettes, playing at the Beaumont Club, in Kansas City, on October 28th. They came on the outdoor venue despite the chill, and played a great set, including my very favorite song, Lust, along with some of their songs from their newest album, my favorite off of that was Last Dance. I loved every minute of it, but I don't think the audience (a sea of North Face jackets, if that means anything to you) appreciated the fantastic art they were listening to.
Then A Flock of Seagulls came on, and once again, the crowd stared agape at them, only clapping and cheering every few minutes, when the bands' bassist would childishly wave at the audience for more applause. I found the band's desperate need for more applause both annoying and pathetic. Worse; I did not recognize a single song they played, and neither did the rest of the audience, it seemed. After their set, I saw the bassist walking through the audience, apparently disappointed to find not a single fan pleading for an autograph.
Finally, Jet came on. The Australians put on a good show, and they were definitely what the audience had been waiting for, but I was a little let down that they were only playing songs from their new album, and I was freezing, so I shrugged and left early, having been able to say that at least I've seen Jet.
Thursday, the Floozies, a local band in Lawrence played at the Jazzhaus. The crowd was small at first, but the 5 piece band, (which I heard had never been all together at one given show before, so this was like a musical alignment of the planets) got us dancing early and before long the bar was getting busy. As a friend of one of the band members, Mark, I sat up close with many of his other friends and relatives, showing the audience how to get down to the Floozies funky, jam-band, dance music. Whether it's only two of the band members playing, or five, the Floozies always put on a good show. Last week they opened for Lotus at The Granada, and there is talk that they will tour with them.
Finally Friday and Saturday, Yonder Mountain String Band played at Liberty Hall. Some of my friends went to the first night while the rest of us hung around sipping on a keg of Free State beer, (the best beer in Kansas). They told us it was a good show, but they didn't get all the songs they wanted.
The second night, Halloween night, many of my friends and I went to the show. The opening act was good, and Jeff Austin even played with Danny Barnes. Yonder was great, their first songs all kept a fun dancing beat, with epic solos and choruses that got the whole crowd screaming and cheering.
Having worked a busy day of Halloween deliveries, I was too tired to even dance through the whole show. Fortunately there was just enough room in the balcony to sit with some friends.
After the show my friends returned to their nearby house. From there I went on to Eoto, which I got into for free, because two friends had extra tickets. I love my friends.
Eoto threw down some sick bass lines that had everyone bouncing and hollering. The lights, fog machines, glowsticks and the general vibe of the already-pumped crowd (a lot of the people were coming from the Yonder show, or a Halloween party, dressed up and twisted) made the place feel like the hottest cross between a bar, club, rave and concert that I've seen in a while.
I can only assume I was entering just as the second set began, because the band did not stop until they had to at 2 a.m. I could not believe my good fortune. My friends at the show were all dancing around front and center, with the best view of the entire show. I saw at least a dozen other people I knew besides my close crew who I danced with. The whole show felt more like an epic party, full of cool friends, and cool friends of friends.
I'm expecting to feel the same on November 21st, when Bassnectar plays at Liberty Hall!
My friends and I returned to the house of our friends' near downtown, and heard about a kid having a seizure at some other party around 17th and Louisiana.
So, that's a quick review of my last week, and from now on, I hope to make entries every few days, when I have something worth writing about.
Hope someone enjoys this.
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