Sound Tribe delivers sick set at the Crossroads in KC then The Floozies throw down for the afterparty

It was a perfect night for an outdoor show downtown in the city. The Crossroads at Grinders in Kansas City was set up with fantastic lights, lasers and fog machines to create an atmosphere of psychedelic electronica. A crowd lined up in the neighboring parking lot, along with folks gathered around cars surrounding the venue, tailgating the show. The air was alive with the eager fans' anticipation. It was clear that this would be a fantastic night.

Ghostland Observatory opened for the gathering crowd, playing electronic jams that included piercing, lyrics that were not always in tune with the music. The punk element the vocals brought was interesting, but it felt out of place with the rest of the songs. The crowd was appreciative, but the opener was not on par with the headliner.

When Sound Tribe Sector 9 took the stage, the audience went wild. It was just after 9 p.m. and the crowd was excited to jam. Throughout the set, the band played familiar songs to entirely different tempos, with odd sharp and flat chords, as if playing the songs in whole different keys. It felt satisfying to hear the band play something familiar, but new. STS9 met their own greatest challenge, finding a jam bands' balance between lovable classics and new, original material. EHM, one of this reviewer's all-time favorite songs was played fantastically well, stirring the crowd to a higher level of energy than anything else. The instrument's volumes were well balanced, to allow hardcore fans to usually hear the parts of songs they know well, but even so, there was an occasional omission of some sweet, lovable solo or riff that left one's ears with something missing.
Even with a powerful performance including some very well-done renditions of songs like Shock Doctrine, Rent and One a Day, there was a general outcry of shock and dismay when the band said goodnight at 11 p.m. Granted, two hours is a fairly decent set, but the encore's two songs were possibly the weakest in the set, and left the crowd feeling a little let down. In retrospect it was a great show, but at the time it really felt short.

Although the show at the Crossroads ended tragically early, The Floozies had spread the word about an afterparty show at the Crosstown Station around the corner. At the early hour of the night a trickle of music lovers who were far from finished partying made their way to the smaller, indoor venue, where one of the EZ brothers was playing songs to warm things up for The Floozies.
Mark and Matt Hill took the stage to an eruption of applause from friends, fans and music enthusiasts ready to get down. It was a long, and passionate set for the band, playing from before midnight until 2:30 a.m. and the brother's played with the intricate brilliance and funky soul. The crowd was grateful and packed the dancefloor butt to gut, getting wild and crazy through the set. Loyal Lawrencians who traveled for the show and stuck around to see their local favorites took the stage to dance behind the band, while a hula-hoop wielding seductress performed beautifully up front.
Sound Tribe might seem like a tough act to follow, but in the intimate venue, surrounded by friends and party animals, the Floozies proved themselves more than capable. The last song, a hot, funky rendition of Thriller, brought the house down, and left the crowd satisfied.

Sound Tribe threw down a great set, and even though it felt short, it really wasn't. This may not have been their very best set ever, but it was good, and original, and you can't ask for more from a jam band that is always trying something new when they play live shows. The Floozies made the night, when they picked up the energy right where STS9 left it. It would be great to see both these bands on the same stage someday!