Billy the Squirrel and Sonic Sutra jam pure gold at the Bottleneck

Friday night the Bottleneck hosted one of the most exciting and memorable shows of the years. Since Billy Wassung of both Billy the Squirrel and Sonic Sutra is moving to St. Louis, it may be a long time before anyone in Lawrence hears from two of the town's best local bands again. With that in mind a crowd of dedicated fans and followers of both bands filled the Bottleneck to get one last night of brilliant music.

Billy Squirrel opened the show with it's special style of funky bluegrass. The combination of a mandolin, acoustic guitar and banjo in harmony with an electric bass, keyboard and drums, creates a really surreal blend of sounds. The band's psychedelic solos, and harmonic vocals make every song entirely different and original. The only band that could follow this act was Sonic Sutra.

With not just one but two sets, Sonic Sutra completed the night with some of their best hits, satisfying the crowd with hypnotic jams that make the band's shows so epic. From beginning to end of both sets the dance floor was packed with excited fans getting down to every song. The guitar, and keys' intricate melodies, pumped up by the bass and drums' beats, with the vocal harmonies took the audience to a rare, wonderful level of energy. Dancers let themselves go, and fans cheered and waved at the end of every hit song. When the second set finished, it was a perfect end of a wild party, leaving everyone smiling.

It's a huge loss to the local music scene to see both these great bands go for the time being, but there is hope that they can reunite again when Billy comes back to town to visit. This reviewer will make sure to catch them any time they play again.

Tonight: Vibesquad at the Granada, Electric Theory at the Jackpot, and Split Lip Rayfield at either the Replay or the Bottleneck - not sure on the last one. It's a tough choice, but if you have the cash and the energy you can make it between shows and see some of everything. Whatever you do, have fun and be safe!

Electric Theory charges up the Bottleneck, Afrobreakbeats throws down, then Mouth gets loud and funky + Previews

It was a fantastic Friday night, with show three bands playing long sets for a crowd that was ready to party. The Bottleneck was alive early on, but kept filling up, the energy in the air charging like a battery. Girls swung hula hoops to the sides of the dance floor, and the bar was always crowded. Between sets folks played pool while eagerly awaiting the next band. The crowd of young party people were excited about the first Friday night of the new school year, and the bands kicked the year off just right.

Electric Theory came on at 9 p.m. and didn't stop until after 10. Trevor Stout jammed out alongside Stephen Gunn, the drummer from Mouth. The two skilled musicians played in perfect harmony creating fantastic electronic dance music. Mark Hill of The Floozies also joined them on guitar, creating a dynamic sound that can only come from three wicked talents that are practiced and passionate. This may have been one of Electric Theory's best sets yet, and is a sign of great things to come. Afrobreakbeats had a tough act to follow.

There was some confusion on Lawrence.com over the third band playing with Electric Theory and Mouth. At one point it was listed as Afrobreakbeats, then Zoogma, then someone else, but ultimately it was the first, Afrobreakbeats, featuring Leonard DStroy and Brandon Draper. The energetic drummer carried the set with fantastic solos and pumping beats. The synthesizer added some cool, heavy rhythms, creating a Drum and Bass sound that was reasonably good, but not great. Following Electric Theory's intricate set, Afrobreakbeats' songs felt a little lacking. There were pauses, empty silences, and long, long drum solos. Granted things got a little better when a rapper came on stage to sing some rhymes, but the band may need another instrument to fill in the gaps.

Finally Mouth took the stage to a fully packed Bottleneck. The 3-piece band had Gravy, the expert saxophonist who plays with other fantastic bands such as Future Shock and The Floozies, to add a jazz sound to the band's funky electric jam. Mouth has developed a following of loyal fans who crowded the dance floor and the rest of the venue too. Every hit song of theirs was received with an explosion of cheers from the audience. With the jammed dance floor, girls hula hooping on the sides of the dance floor and other ladies dancing on stage behind the band, it became apparent that Mouth might be ready to fill a bigger venue. The set included most of the band's best, but even after an encore, the crowd was screaming for more. Hopefully they will be back on stage before long!

Now for Previews:

Friday, Billy the Squirrel is playing with Sonic Sutra at the Bottleneck at 9 p.m. This should be one of the best jam shows of the season!

Then Saturday VibeSquaD, The EZ Brothers and Nick Arcade will be playing at the Granada at 9 p.m. This electronic show will be a thumping Dub and Bass rave of epic proportions. Over 200 people are attending the Facebook event. This show will be the place to rage it on Saturday night, so be there!

The Season to Party!

When a certain party-loving friend of mine returned to town and the streets of Lawrence were filled with traffic, it became clear that the time had come for another school year to start, and with that, a ton of parties, shows and nights out on the town to come. It's that time of year again, so in the spirit of the season, everyone is out every night. Monday night at the Jazzhaus, Karaoke night became a crazed sing-along party. New 21-year-olds and older regulars packed the small venue in what was probably the busiest Monday night any bar has seen in months. But that was just the beginning.

Tuesday nights are $1.50 night at the Jazzhaus, this event usually gets a great crowd, but based on last nights' insanity, people should expect it to be a really happenin' time at the bar tonight. This is a perfect example of how you can still have a great time without spending too much money. The cover charge and drinks are affordable, the bar is hoppin' and there's energy coursing through the streets downtown. Now's the time to get out and have some fun!

Then Friday, Electric Theory, Mouth, and now Zoogma are scheduled to play the Bottleneck, starting at 9 p.m. This show is guaranteed to rock your socks off, so be there or be square. Electric Theory puts out fantastic tunes that will definitely get the crowd going from the start. Mouth is one of the best bands in Lawrence, and every show they play is like a fantastic party. Zoogma is a rising star in the Jazzy Electronic scene and they are impressive and fun. This show is a MUST because the lineup is great, the venue is awesome, and this is that special time of year when everyone is out there, looking for fun, and you should be too!

But, if those bands are not your cup of tea, The Cosmopolitics will be up at the Jazzhaus, which is not a bad alternative by any means. If you want to get down to some fusion, progressive jam rock, this band is worth checking out, it's too bad both great shows are going on at the same time.

A week later there will be even more incredible shows, so stay tuned and keep the party going!

Gogol Bordello burns up the Uptown then Primus melts it down

Gypsy punk and funky metal might sound like two odd sounds that would never compliment each other, but nothing could be further from the truth when the bands are two of the best live acts in the world, Gogol Bordello and Primus. Both bands brought a cult-following of dedicated fans that completely packed the Uptown Theater, singing and dancing to every song. Gogol opened with a long, heavy set of boot-stomping songs fans were hollering along to, without ever slowing down. Despite the suffocating heat, Primus kept the pace accelerating with relentlessly energetic hits all the fans knew, playing a set to satisfy every hardcore fan.

The only small faults at this show were entirely due to the venue and its owners. The musicians in these bands have a way of making their shows hot, but even they complained about the temperature in the stuffy, muggy theater, even as they played their encores. Before Gogol Bordello took the stage the Uptown felt like a sauna and the crowd was dripping with sweat. It seemed as though the owners of the theater had decided to not even try and keep the place cool, and let the audience suffer to the brink of heat exhaustion. Even before entering the venue, security going into the show was completely uncalled for. Men and women were placed in separate lines to be patted down before entering the venue, as if a crowd that consisted mostly of older metal heads and nerdy guys was going to come into the theater planning to start some trouble.

Once inside, fans from all walks of life crowded around the small, over-priced bars, trying to get a small cup of beer for $5, before struggling for space in the oversold auditorium. Despite the grueling heat the indoor venue would have been perfect for this show if not for the fact that the microphones were clearly busted, and nobody could understand what the musicians were saying most of the time. Only fans who already know the words could possibly sing along to any songs.

Still, even in this far-from-perfect venue, Gogol Bordello showed their fans a great time with a set of great hits and catchy tunes. The gypsy punk band produces a genuine, old-fashioned gypsy style music, infused with new life thanks to the mohawk punk on drums and wailing electric guitar and bass. Incorporating a second drummer, the lead singer who also plays acoustic guitar, and old veterans on violin and accordion, the band fused its many sounds together to make something exhilarating and addictive. It might have been a hard act to follow, but not for Primus!

Primus played two whole hours of nonstop perfection. The crowd screamed and roared at the start of each song, and sometimes throughout the songs. Les Claypool proved himself to be aging well, rocking on the bass line fast and accurate, while singing simultaneously. Larry "Ler" LaLonde played a continuous stream of wicked guitar riffs and solos to compliment the bass, while Jay Lane hammered out fast, hard beats on the drums. Altogether the three musicians combined sounds took every song from slow and upward openings to the wild and crazy metal choruses with seamless precision. The already hot venue turned into a raging inferno when each song hit its climax. Just when a song calmed down, it jumped back up, never letting the crowd relax. The head-banging, arm-pumping chaos didn't stop until the encore finished.

Primus finished at 11:30 p.m. but after both bands' insane sets, in the horrific heat of the Uptown it felt like a full night. With any luck Gogol Bordello and Primus will be back again soon. Be sure to catch them any chance you get!

Primus and Gogol Bordello promise a wacky night at the Uptown Theater

It's almost time! Last May Primus announced they would be going on tour for the first time in years, and the shows have been selling out ever since. Now it's almost time for Kansas to see the legendary weird and wild band perform at the Uptown Theater. Hardly any opener could make this show more exciting than it already is, but Gogol Bordello isn't just any opener. The gypsy punk band of New York City is known for their extravagant live performances, and have a fun style of music that will definitely get the crowd warmed up for the headliner.

Primus is possibly the most famous acquired taste in music, with quirky, off-the-beaten-path styles that give the ear something different from predictable mainstream music, or anything else for that matter. Their diversity and unique sound makes it difficult to describe this band, but many would call them a blend of metal and funk, often leaning heavy on goofy vocals, entrancing bass lines, and stirring drums, all inspired by the band's creator, Les Claypool.

Gogol Bordello has grown from anonymity to international fame, with a cult following of fans stemming from genres of punk, indie, world music and beyond. The band's incorporation of gypsy style music, including the use of accordion and violin, mixed with punk and dub, creates a sound that is both catchy and intricate. The band's biggest hits will stick in your head for weeks, in a good way, and they're fun to dance to too!

The show cost $40 but supposedly it's already sold out. No doubt tickets will be for sale outside the Uptown the night of the show - doors open at 6:30 p.m. - so any hardcore fans who understand how rare and exciting this opportunity is should show up, with or without a ticket. It's absolutely worth it!