It is not often a big band plays a wild, thumping concert on a Monday night. Musicians and venue owners would not normally expect to get a good crowd. That rule does not apply to Bonobo, a British DJ and musician whose reputation precedes him across the country.
Halfway along his tour across the States, Bonobo decided to make a stop in our small, musical town, drawing envy from folks all around the Midwest. Devoted fans drove across whole states just to make it to the Monday night show and filled the Granada. Music lovers in town also came out in droves to help fill the big venue. Familiar faces and strangers alike held a good vibe as they packed in together for some great music.
One might expect a DJ's live performance to be less than thrilling and only pleasant on the ears. This was somewhat true for the duo that opened for Bonobo. As they spun their mixes and sang into the microphone, the crowd watched with mild boredom. Tokimonsta's ready-made dance mixes had some very cool bass lines that were irresistibly danceable, but just as the packed dance floor started to get its groove on, the beat would die and the song would lose its charm. Fortunately Bonobo brought enough brilliant music to make up for the opener and a large band with a singer, drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, flutist and more for his live set.
Playing guitar and bass for some of his songs, or leading the rest of the band, Bonobo held the audience captive with growing, pumping songs. The DJ's style varies from chill, flowing compilations of the instruments, jazzy solos and heavy, complex Trip-hop bass beats. The crowd got down with pleasure to the dirty dance rhythms and cheered after every soulful, funky solo.
Any smaller venue would have overflowed with the crowd, but it fit the Granada nicely. A grand display of party people came out on Monday night with energy to burn and raged on for every moment of Bonobo's hour-long set. It was a rare opportunity to see a live performance of an internationally renowned DJ from overseas. It's no wonder folks from across the Midwest drove out to see him, and Lawrence enjoyed another epic night of great music.
Now for Previews:
Friday night Fuzz Nasty is getting their funk on at the Jazzhaus for $5. The soul and blues band has a classic jazz sound with their professional instrumentals. It should be a busy Friday night party.
On Saturday, if you're looking for cheap drinks in a cool atmosphere, you might want to check out The Club with DJ ParLe at Fatso's. Fatso's often offers the best prices on drinks and sometimes puts together a cool show. So come for a drink and check it out!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Yonder Mountain String Band completes their tour with a suberb final set at Liberty Hall and Reverend Horton Heat jams the Bottleneck full + Previews!
Yonder Mountain String Band's two nights of bluegrass excellence at Liberty Hall were their last performances in a busy tour. The band gave Lawrence their all, right to the end, celebrating their love for music and their fans with two sets, and two encores on Saturday night. The variety of songs, the excellent vocals and instrument solos and a joyful, adoring crowd made the concert a picturesque sum of Yonder Mountain String Band's brilliance.
From the get go, Yonder kicked off the first set Saturday night with energetic, catchy bluegrass that immediately warmed up the crowd. The band then went on to demonstrate their variety of sounds, showing influences far beyond country or bluegrass. Utilizing their instruments' harmony and the players' sonorous voices, Yonder put together some melancholy, swinging songs you might not expect to hear at a bluegrass show. Beyond that they played some weird, wild, tunes you could only expect at a Les Claypool concert. But flexing their musical muscles, the band reaches their greatest heights when they rock out their most energetic, dance-able bluegrass jams.
Liberty Hall is the largest venue in town, and offers a great view for most everyone attending, from the packed dance floor to the stacked balcony, but it always becomes a desperate fight for space, with no hope of walking around, socializing or even getting much room to dance. As expected at a Yonder show in Lawrence, the place was full Saturday night, and you could tell. Thankfully the audience, which ranged from old couples to party kids and everyone in-between, was a happy, friendly lot that made the crowding a little more tolerable.
Yonder's first set blazed brightly from a little after 8 until 9:45. By then Split Lip Rayfield had begun opening for Reverend Horton Heat at the Bottleneck. But nobody was going to miss Yonder's last set before New Year's Eve. For their second set Yonder really blew the crowd away with fiery hot, fast bluegrass including solos on the banjo, stand-up bass, mandolin and guitar that melted the crowd's face. The band even played some fantastic covers of songs, including a great rendition of the Talking Head's Girlfriend Is Better.
For their first encore the band played two great bluegrass jams, but the crowd still hadn't had enough. Without making us wait too long, Yonder came back out for one final song. And wouldn't you know it, it was a Split Lip Rayfield song! Used To Call Me Baby, which ironically is this reviewer's very favorite song. Their cover was an awesome hit and left the crowd cheering at the top of their lungs, for the third time in a row. It's guaranteed that a number of Yonder fans there last night will make the trip to St. Louis for their New Year's Eve show.
As if it weren't good enough that Yonder played a great Split Lip Rayfield song, Reverend Horton Heat was still on at the Bottleneck around the corner. Although it was only midnight, the sticklers at the Bottleneck were still charging at the door. Reverend Horton Heat is a spectacle to behold, but still, to pay $11 for the last hour of the show seemed a tad unfair. But the Bottleneck was determined to get their money and they did. No one could have thought it possible, but the Bottleneck was just as completely jam-packed as it was for Lotus' free show. The booths that had been moved to make more room for that show were back in place, with people standing on top of them for a view of the band.
The Texas native rockabilly kings have a surf-rock feel to their bluegrass rock that gives their songs a groovy, oldies' swing. Split Lip Rayfield may have already led the crowd to dance out all their energy, or maybe it was literally too packed to move, but the audience was standing still like a warehouse over-loaded with statues. Reverend Horton Heat's instrumental brilliance was admirable and so was the jammed venue, but it felt odd that no one was dancing. As a musician in the audience pointed out, the surf-rock guitar seemed turned down low, allowing the bass and drums to rock out harder. Perhaps some more volume in the swinging guitar melody would've helped.
All in all it was a great night for music lovers downtown. Hopefully Yonder Mountain String Band and Reverend Horton Heat will each return soon!
Now for Previews:
A dance performance based around lots and lots of drums will be playing at the Granada this Tuesday at 8 p.m. Mutaytor's tribal drum beats and fire-dancing recreates the energy of an epic festival drum circle. Lawrence.com says it'll be about $10-12
Wednesday, Badfish, a Sublime tribute band will be at the Granada. If you love some Sublime hits and a little punk rock, be there with $15.
Supposedly NEON Dance Party is wrapping things up for good in December. Thursday night at the Jackpot may be one of the last times you can boogie to 80's remixes and dance pop songs.
Monday, the 22nd, Bonobo will be rocking out their unique style of electronic indie rock at the Granada for $14-16.
A very exciting bit of news just popped up on Facebook, that Sonic Sutra will be returning to Lawrence on Tuesday, November 30th!
From the get go, Yonder kicked off the first set Saturday night with energetic, catchy bluegrass that immediately warmed up the crowd. The band then went on to demonstrate their variety of sounds, showing influences far beyond country or bluegrass. Utilizing their instruments' harmony and the players' sonorous voices, Yonder put together some melancholy, swinging songs you might not expect to hear at a bluegrass show. Beyond that they played some weird, wild, tunes you could only expect at a Les Claypool concert. But flexing their musical muscles, the band reaches their greatest heights when they rock out their most energetic, dance-able bluegrass jams.
Liberty Hall is the largest venue in town, and offers a great view for most everyone attending, from the packed dance floor to the stacked balcony, but it always becomes a desperate fight for space, with no hope of walking around, socializing or even getting much room to dance. As expected at a Yonder show in Lawrence, the place was full Saturday night, and you could tell. Thankfully the audience, which ranged from old couples to party kids and everyone in-between, was a happy, friendly lot that made the crowding a little more tolerable.
Yonder's first set blazed brightly from a little after 8 until 9:45. By then Split Lip Rayfield had begun opening for Reverend Horton Heat at the Bottleneck. But nobody was going to miss Yonder's last set before New Year's Eve. For their second set Yonder really blew the crowd away with fiery hot, fast bluegrass including solos on the banjo, stand-up bass, mandolin and guitar that melted the crowd's face. The band even played some fantastic covers of songs, including a great rendition of the Talking Head's Girlfriend Is Better.
For their first encore the band played two great bluegrass jams, but the crowd still hadn't had enough. Without making us wait too long, Yonder came back out for one final song. And wouldn't you know it, it was a Split Lip Rayfield song! Used To Call Me Baby, which ironically is this reviewer's very favorite song. Their cover was an awesome hit and left the crowd cheering at the top of their lungs, for the third time in a row. It's guaranteed that a number of Yonder fans there last night will make the trip to St. Louis for their New Year's Eve show.
As if it weren't good enough that Yonder played a great Split Lip Rayfield song, Reverend Horton Heat was still on at the Bottleneck around the corner. Although it was only midnight, the sticklers at the Bottleneck were still charging at the door. Reverend Horton Heat is a spectacle to behold, but still, to pay $11 for the last hour of the show seemed a tad unfair. But the Bottleneck was determined to get their money and they did. No one could have thought it possible, but the Bottleneck was just as completely jam-packed as it was for Lotus' free show. The booths that had been moved to make more room for that show were back in place, with people standing on top of them for a view of the band.
The Texas native rockabilly kings have a surf-rock feel to their bluegrass rock that gives their songs a groovy, oldies' swing. Split Lip Rayfield may have already led the crowd to dance out all their energy, or maybe it was literally too packed to move, but the audience was standing still like a warehouse over-loaded with statues. Reverend Horton Heat's instrumental brilliance was admirable and so was the jammed venue, but it felt odd that no one was dancing. As a musician in the audience pointed out, the surf-rock guitar seemed turned down low, allowing the bass and drums to rock out harder. Perhaps some more volume in the swinging guitar melody would've helped.
All in all it was a great night for music lovers downtown. Hopefully Yonder Mountain String Band and Reverend Horton Heat will each return soon!
Now for Previews:
A dance performance based around lots and lots of drums will be playing at the Granada this Tuesday at 8 p.m. Mutaytor's tribal drum beats and fire-dancing recreates the energy of an epic festival drum circle. Lawrence.com says it'll be about $10-12
Wednesday, Badfish, a Sublime tribute band will be at the Granada. If you love some Sublime hits and a little punk rock, be there with $15.
Supposedly NEON Dance Party is wrapping things up for good in December. Thursday night at the Jackpot may be one of the last times you can boogie to 80's remixes and dance pop songs.
Monday, the 22nd, Bonobo will be rocking out their unique style of electronic indie rock at the Granada for $14-16.
A very exciting bit of news just popped up on Facebook, that Sonic Sutra will be returning to Lawrence on Tuesday, November 30th!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Bottleneck overflows for a free Lotus show + Previews!
The Bottleneck had its busiest Tuesday night in a long time when Lotus came to town to play a free show, packing the venue to capacity. Lotus took the stage around 10 p.m. and played continuously until 1 a.m. for a full house of loving fans.
The good folks at the Bottleneck were wise enough to remove several of the booths in the bar to make more room for folks to stand and dance around. The extra space was entirely necessary, as the Bottleneck gave away all 400 wristbands, and the dance floor was a crushing deluge of wild-eyed party people.
In all honesty, the music itself was not entirely dance-able. The crowd could either hop and twist to a racing drum beat, or sway to spacey, changing electronic melodies. Obviously it was far from bad, Lotus is well-known for their talent and epic electronic rock. But it wasn't everything it could have been. Still, it's hard to complain when the show is free.
Lotus' combination of drums, bass, guitar and synthesizer/keys made for a complex, intricate set of long, building electronic jams. The drums were usually so fast and loud they drowned out much of the rest of the music and with muted bass on the back-burner, the songs felt light and repetitive. The build-up of each song usually reached one great climax and then stopped. Right at the best part of the song, the bass heavy, the guitar and synthesizer at their crescendo, the song would suddenly end, or drop back into the airy emptiness.
Nonetheless the crowd fought for each inch of space across the entire dance floor. Lines of people stood on the bleachers for a better view of the show and a little space to shake around. With PBR cans for sale for just 2.50 at a second bar that was set up for the show, the crowd was sloshed and happy, even as they stood still or wiggled lightly to the scrambling percussion. It was a grand party of epic proportions and will be remembered for months.
Although the band put out a long, energetic set from 10 to 1, the early ending still left the crowd hungry for more. The encore started off with a rock 'n roll tune that left the crowd a little confused, but then Lotus finished up the night with a climactic last jam.
Now for Previews:
As previously mentioned in the last previews, Yonder Mountain String Band is playing two nights at Liberty Hall, Friday and Saturday. The show is going to be one of the biggest parties in Lawrence this year, but for everyone who cannot find or afford a ticket, there are alternatives Saturday night.
If you're dying for some bluegrass but can't make it to Liberty Hall, head over to the Bottleneck and see Split Lip Rayfield play with Reverend Horton Heat! The doors open at 8 p.m. This should be an affordable, awesome alternative to Yonder. Expect some music lovers from Yonder to hop over after their favorite songs.
The Cosmopolitics will play at the Granada at 9 p.m. with Approach, Animosity & the Freedom Writers, and Right of Way.
Saturday night is full of great options, so don't miss out on the fun!
The good folks at the Bottleneck were wise enough to remove several of the booths in the bar to make more room for folks to stand and dance around. The extra space was entirely necessary, as the Bottleneck gave away all 400 wristbands, and the dance floor was a crushing deluge of wild-eyed party people.
In all honesty, the music itself was not entirely dance-able. The crowd could either hop and twist to a racing drum beat, or sway to spacey, changing electronic melodies. Obviously it was far from bad, Lotus is well-known for their talent and epic electronic rock. But it wasn't everything it could have been. Still, it's hard to complain when the show is free.
Lotus' combination of drums, bass, guitar and synthesizer/keys made for a complex, intricate set of long, building electronic jams. The drums were usually so fast and loud they drowned out much of the rest of the music and with muted bass on the back-burner, the songs felt light and repetitive. The build-up of each song usually reached one great climax and then stopped. Right at the best part of the song, the bass heavy, the guitar and synthesizer at their crescendo, the song would suddenly end, or drop back into the airy emptiness.
Nonetheless the crowd fought for each inch of space across the entire dance floor. Lines of people stood on the bleachers for a better view of the show and a little space to shake around. With PBR cans for sale for just 2.50 at a second bar that was set up for the show, the crowd was sloshed and happy, even as they stood still or wiggled lightly to the scrambling percussion. It was a grand party of epic proportions and will be remembered for months.
Although the band put out a long, energetic set from 10 to 1, the early ending still left the crowd hungry for more. The encore started off with a rock 'n roll tune that left the crowd a little confused, but then Lotus finished up the night with a climactic last jam.
Now for Previews:
As previously mentioned in the last previews, Yonder Mountain String Band is playing two nights at Liberty Hall, Friday and Saturday. The show is going to be one of the biggest parties in Lawrence this year, but for everyone who cannot find or afford a ticket, there are alternatives Saturday night.
If you're dying for some bluegrass but can't make it to Liberty Hall, head over to the Bottleneck and see Split Lip Rayfield play with Reverend Horton Heat! The doors open at 8 p.m. This should be an affordable, awesome alternative to Yonder. Expect some music lovers from Yonder to hop over after their favorite songs.
The Cosmopolitics will play at the Granada at 9 p.m. with Approach, Animosity & the Freedom Writers, and Right of Way.
Saturday night is full of great options, so don't miss out on the fun!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Blue Martian Tribe abducts the audience and Mouth takes the show to outerspace + Previews!
Friday night the Jazzhaus got its first taste of the rising star of the jam scene from Nebraska, Blue Martian Tribe, a six-piece band whose sound ranges from psychedelic Pink Floyd trips to funky dance-able jams reminiscent of Moe. Blue Martian Tribe, or BMT, was the perfect opener for Mouth, warming up the crowd and getting hot and heavy with their bold, dynamic guitar riffs, heart-pounding percussion and funky bass and keys.
Between their lead and rhythm guitars, bass, keys and two percussionists, Blue Martian Tribe creates a compilation of mind-boggling music that's pleasant on the ears and impressive to behold. Their songs held all the qualities of an old-school Grateful Dead tribute, a progressive rock group and a funky jazz band. BMT's blend of styles is balanced and keeps their set exciting by changing up the mood with the different sounds.
The dance floor filled up with excited listeners, entranced by the changing, flowing sounds of the band. Even as the Jazzhaus continued to welcome late-comers for Mouth, BMT blew away the crowd with their energetic, diverse set.
"It's a great venue, great crowd. Couldn't ask for a better show," BMT drummer Adam Gerber declared after the set. Plans are already in place for future shows with Mouth in Nebraska. Hopefully it won't be long before Blue Martian Tribe beams down to Lawrence again.
Mouth's drummer Stephen Gunn said, "The secret word for tonight's show is 'nonelectro'. There have been so many electronic shows in town lately, we want to do something different."
Mouth may be the most reliably awesome band playing in Lawrence and Kansas City these days. Every show they play is a well-practiced, brilliantly fun, funky good time. But they are always changing up their songs, adding something new, playing well-loved tunes with a different style. As usual, Mouth failed to disappoint their loving fans, by playing a set that was different, even as it was another great concert.
For their set last night, Mouth played some of the fan favorites, with a different twist, emphasizing less on spacey electronica sounds and focusing on the funky, organic sounds of their songs. You can always recognize a great Mouth song like Virtuality or Worm, but even as you hear your favorite riff, or dynamic back-and-forth between the trio's instruments, you can tell it's different. Mouth needs very little in the way of improvement, but they still love to give their best hits a new spin, and see how the audience likes it.
Last night's experiments were a huge success, the dance floor became entirely packed, with people crowding the tables and walkways leading up to the stage just to get closer to the brilliant music. The entire bar was getting crowded by the time Mouth started their set. By the end of the night it was completely swamped with dancing, drinking, party people.
It's been said before, and it will be said again, if you're looking for a funky dance party, there's nothing better than a Mouth show.
Now, for Previews:
Possibly the best deal you'll ever get for a concert; Lotus is playing at the Bottleneck Tuesday night at 10 p.m. for FREE! The electronic jam band has a strong following of loving fans, who are already frothing at the mouth about this show. If you want to join the party, tickets will be available for free starting at 2 p.m. Come early and get your groove on, it's going to be a wild night!
Then if you haven't gotten your fill of electronica, the Granada will have a lineup of DJs throwing down hot tracks Wednesday night at the Granada at 9 p.m. for just $3. The show is being called Bass.0 which one would assume means that there will be a lot of heavy bass, so come ready to get down.
Lastly, this weekend promises two nights of glorious bluegrass from one of the nation's best bands in the scene: Yonder Mountain String Band! The Colorado based band of string-plucking minstrels makes a stop in Lawrence each Fall to throw down some epic jams. Yonder is usually very upbeat, pleasant on the ears and easy to dance to. If the past 3 years are any indication, these two nights will be fantastic. If you can get a hold of a ticket for either night, do it! Liberty Hall, 8 p.m. Be There!
Between their lead and rhythm guitars, bass, keys and two percussionists, Blue Martian Tribe creates a compilation of mind-boggling music that's pleasant on the ears and impressive to behold. Their songs held all the qualities of an old-school Grateful Dead tribute, a progressive rock group and a funky jazz band. BMT's blend of styles is balanced and keeps their set exciting by changing up the mood with the different sounds.
The dance floor filled up with excited listeners, entranced by the changing, flowing sounds of the band. Even as the Jazzhaus continued to welcome late-comers for Mouth, BMT blew away the crowd with their energetic, diverse set.
"It's a great venue, great crowd. Couldn't ask for a better show," BMT drummer Adam Gerber declared after the set. Plans are already in place for future shows with Mouth in Nebraska. Hopefully it won't be long before Blue Martian Tribe beams down to Lawrence again.
Mouth's drummer Stephen Gunn said, "The secret word for tonight's show is 'nonelectro'. There have been so many electronic shows in town lately, we want to do something different."
Mouth may be the most reliably awesome band playing in Lawrence and Kansas City these days. Every show they play is a well-practiced, brilliantly fun, funky good time. But they are always changing up their songs, adding something new, playing well-loved tunes with a different style. As usual, Mouth failed to disappoint their loving fans, by playing a set that was different, even as it was another great concert.
For their set last night, Mouth played some of the fan favorites, with a different twist, emphasizing less on spacey electronica sounds and focusing on the funky, organic sounds of their songs. You can always recognize a great Mouth song like Virtuality or Worm, but even as you hear your favorite riff, or dynamic back-and-forth between the trio's instruments, you can tell it's different. Mouth needs very little in the way of improvement, but they still love to give their best hits a new spin, and see how the audience likes it.
Last night's experiments were a huge success, the dance floor became entirely packed, with people crowding the tables and walkways leading up to the stage just to get closer to the brilliant music. The entire bar was getting crowded by the time Mouth started their set. By the end of the night it was completely swamped with dancing, drinking, party people.
It's been said before, and it will be said again, if you're looking for a funky dance party, there's nothing better than a Mouth show.
Now, for Previews:
Possibly the best deal you'll ever get for a concert; Lotus is playing at the Bottleneck Tuesday night at 10 p.m. for FREE! The electronic jam band has a strong following of loving fans, who are already frothing at the mouth about this show. If you want to join the party, tickets will be available for free starting at 2 p.m. Come early and get your groove on, it's going to be a wild night!
Then if you haven't gotten your fill of electronica, the Granada will have a lineup of DJs throwing down hot tracks Wednesday night at the Granada at 9 p.m. for just $3. The show is being called Bass.0 which one would assume means that there will be a lot of heavy bass, so come ready to get down.
Lastly, this weekend promises two nights of glorious bluegrass from one of the nation's best bands in the scene: Yonder Mountain String Band! The Colorado based band of string-plucking minstrels makes a stop in Lawrence each Fall to throw down some epic jams. Yonder is usually very upbeat, pleasant on the ears and easy to dance to. If the past 3 years are any indication, these two nights will be fantastic. If you can get a hold of a ticket for either night, do it! Liberty Hall, 8 p.m. Be There!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Future Rock blows up the Granada then EOTO tears it down!
Halloween night, EOTO always plays in Lawrence to celebrate everyone's favorite night of debauchery. In the past the band has played the Bottleneck and the Jackpot, but for this Hallows' eve, EOTO was raging it at the Granada for a crowd that barely fit inside the spacious venue.
Opening for the dynamic duo was Future Rock, an progressive house and electronic band from Chicago. The trio's combination of grumbling bass, symphonic keys, and dancing drums give their brand of techno a rock 'n' roll growl to it. Future Rock blew away the Late Night Show at Summer Camp Music Festival last May, and their rave-esque electronica still has the same quality of dance-ability it did then. To finish their set the bassist led the crowd in an epic last rah. He held his guitar up by the neck, thrusting the instrument straight up into the air as the final song reached its crescendo, the entire audience screaming with glee.
Before EOTO took the stage the crowd had already shuffled outside, packed the sidewalk for a cigarette break, staggered back inside and packed the entire venue again. EOTO took the stage and wasted no time getting busy. The band's style has been described as dubstep, breakbeat, house, drum and bass, trip-hop and more, but whatever you call it, the band throws down heavy beats with its pulsing bass and thumping drums. Mixing drums, bass, guitars, keys and vocals, live, the pair of veteran electronic bards put together unique sets every night. You can even find their sets on livedownloads.com, so you can hear the set you loved so much again. For this Halloween concert the band put together a set of such epic, bass-heavy tunes that the floor, even the air itself seemed to vibrate for each piece.
The entire concert had a general good vibe about it. Strangers all dressed in ridiculous costumes made fast friends with everyone dancing around them. There wasn't really room to be distant, so everyone was getting friendly. The bands' great music had an upbeat, dance-ability that made it impossible to resist rocking your body to. EOTO got the crowd so worked up that their encore barely sated everyone's thirst for more music. After the finale, the huge crowd lingered outside the Granada until almost 3 in the morning, with street performers keeping the beats going.
Electronic music of this quality comes around just a couple times in a year. EOTO loves Lawrence and Lawrence loves EOTO, so if you're looking for a good atmosphere for a dance party, be there the next time they come to town!
Opening for the dynamic duo was Future Rock, an progressive house and electronic band from Chicago. The trio's combination of grumbling bass, symphonic keys, and dancing drums give their brand of techno a rock 'n' roll growl to it. Future Rock blew away the Late Night Show at Summer Camp Music Festival last May, and their rave-esque electronica still has the same quality of dance-ability it did then. To finish their set the bassist led the crowd in an epic last rah. He held his guitar up by the neck, thrusting the instrument straight up into the air as the final song reached its crescendo, the entire audience screaming with glee.
Before EOTO took the stage the crowd had already shuffled outside, packed the sidewalk for a cigarette break, staggered back inside and packed the entire venue again. EOTO took the stage and wasted no time getting busy. The band's style has been described as dubstep, breakbeat, house, drum and bass, trip-hop and more, but whatever you call it, the band throws down heavy beats with its pulsing bass and thumping drums. Mixing drums, bass, guitars, keys and vocals, live, the pair of veteran electronic bards put together unique sets every night. You can even find their sets on livedownloads.com, so you can hear the set you loved so much again. For this Halloween concert the band put together a set of such epic, bass-heavy tunes that the floor, even the air itself seemed to vibrate for each piece.
The entire concert had a general good vibe about it. Strangers all dressed in ridiculous costumes made fast friends with everyone dancing around them. There wasn't really room to be distant, so everyone was getting friendly. The bands' great music had an upbeat, dance-ability that made it impossible to resist rocking your body to. EOTO got the crowd so worked up that their encore barely sated everyone's thirst for more music. After the finale, the huge crowd lingered outside the Granada until almost 3 in the morning, with street performers keeping the beats going.
Electronic music of this quality comes around just a couple times in a year. EOTO loves Lawrence and Lawrence loves EOTO, so if you're looking for a good atmosphere for a dance party, be there the next time they come to town!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Alex B and Big Gigantic drop heavy Drum and Bass at the Granada + Previews!
Thursday night Halloween weekend was kicked off early with a hardcore electronic set from the rising stars of Big Gigantic and a worthy opening act by Alex B. The opener's electronica accented by thumping bass and hip-hop stylings got the crowd warmed up with a short first set before the headliner came on stage.
The Granada had a healthy, big audience was already filling the dance floor and lining the bar. Everyone was thrilled and a little confused to see Big Gigantic come on so soon, but Alex B explained how the night's multiple sets were going to work.
One interesting, unique thing about this show was how the opener and headliner took turns on stage, switching places twice before both the members of Big Gigantic and Alex B played together for the final set of the night.
With barely a pause in the music, Alex B and Big Gigantic switched places on stage to keep the dancing and cheering. Everyone at the show was smiling, laughing and getting down perpetually, from one set to the next.
Alex B's electronic mixes had a wacky, experimental flair that did not always stick with a dance-able beat, but the beat-intoxicated audience hardly paused in their gyrations through the long, changing songs.
Big Gigantic's hardcore electronica is backed by wild, energetic drums and smoothly blended with saxophone to create a funky, jazzy techno mix that you cannot find anywhere else. Their heavy bass and drums gave the songs their dancing beat, and kept everyone entranced throughout each of their sets. Big Gigantic has a knack for changing keys within a song, completely switching the sound of the song, without giving up the beat and the flow of the music.
The band impressed this reviewer when they opened for STS9 at Liberty Hall last year, and proved themselves more than capable of satisfying a big crowd all on their own, with some help from opener Alex B. The Granada's full house was thoroughly impressed by last night's set, and showed their appreciation with constant cheering and a demand for an encore. The last set ended at 1:15 a.m. with a final jazzy encore lasting until 1:30. Alex B joined Big Gigantic with a bass guitar, and the three musicians combined their jazzy electronic skills to make a smooth, funky finale that left everyone fully satisfied.
Hopefully Big Gigantic and Alex B will both be back in town before long!
Now for Previews:
On top of all the epic shows that already came up this week, and those due to come this weekend, there are more great shows on the way next week, so be sure to sober up after Halloween so you can get back downtown!
There's the Mudstomp Monday Bluegrass at the Granada on November 1st
Then Neon Dance Party Thursday night at the Jackpot Thursday, November 4th
Finall, Mouth will be playing at the Jazzhaus Friday at 9 p.m. with Blue Martian Tribe! This show is sure to be a great party, so come ready to rage it!
The Granada had a healthy, big audience was already filling the dance floor and lining the bar. Everyone was thrilled and a little confused to see Big Gigantic come on so soon, but Alex B explained how the night's multiple sets were going to work.
One interesting, unique thing about this show was how the opener and headliner took turns on stage, switching places twice before both the members of Big Gigantic and Alex B played together for the final set of the night.
With barely a pause in the music, Alex B and Big Gigantic switched places on stage to keep the dancing and cheering. Everyone at the show was smiling, laughing and getting down perpetually, from one set to the next.
Alex B's electronic mixes had a wacky, experimental flair that did not always stick with a dance-able beat, but the beat-intoxicated audience hardly paused in their gyrations through the long, changing songs.
Big Gigantic's hardcore electronica is backed by wild, energetic drums and smoothly blended with saxophone to create a funky, jazzy techno mix that you cannot find anywhere else. Their heavy bass and drums gave the songs their dancing beat, and kept everyone entranced throughout each of their sets. Big Gigantic has a knack for changing keys within a song, completely switching the sound of the song, without giving up the beat and the flow of the music.
The band impressed this reviewer when they opened for STS9 at Liberty Hall last year, and proved themselves more than capable of satisfying a big crowd all on their own, with some help from opener Alex B. The Granada's full house was thoroughly impressed by last night's set, and showed their appreciation with constant cheering and a demand for an encore. The last set ended at 1:15 a.m. with a final jazzy encore lasting until 1:30. Alex B joined Big Gigantic with a bass guitar, and the three musicians combined their jazzy electronic skills to make a smooth, funky finale that left everyone fully satisfied.
Hopefully Big Gigantic and Alex B will both be back in town before long!
Now for Previews:
On top of all the epic shows that already came up this week, and those due to come this weekend, there are more great shows on the way next week, so be sure to sober up after Halloween so you can get back downtown!
There's the Mudstomp Monday Bluegrass at the Granada on November 1st
Then Neon Dance Party Thursday night at the Jackpot Thursday, November 4th
Finall, Mouth will be playing at the Jazzhaus Friday at 9 p.m. with Blue Martian Tribe! This show is sure to be a great party, so come ready to rage it!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Scary awesome shows coming up around Halloween!
It's one of the best times of the year for terrific concerts of all kinds and sure enough Lawrence is hosting some of the best shows you can find to celebrate Halloween at. Starting this weekend and leading up to the holiday itself, there's too many things to list here. The following are just highlights of the most exciting shows in town.
Friday the Cosmopolitics will be getting funky at the Jazzhaus at 10 p.m. The progressive, fusion jam band should have a good crowd on a Friday night, so come out if you're in the mood to party!
Saturday there are a couple of fantastic shows:
Of Montreal will be playing at Liberty Hall at 7 p.m. with Janelle Monae. For any fan of indie pop this is a must see show. Tickets might seem a little expensive, at $21, but it's worth it if this is your scene.
The same night Big Smith will be playing the Bottleneck at 9 p.m. with Shannon McNally and Hot
Sauce, and That Damn Sasquatch. The price isn't listed on Lawrence.com but if you're a fan of folk rock this is the place to be Saturday night.
Things REALLY heat up Monday night, when Bassnectar will be playing at Liberty Hall. This show promises to be so epic tickets have already sold out. Bassnectar threw down a sick show at Liberty Hall last Fall, and the Fall before that at the Granada. His sets are so great he is often a main act at major music festivals like Summer Camp and Wakarusa. If you're incredibly lucky you already have tickets, but if not, you might just find someone with a spare outside around 9 p.m.
Then, it's just a few days until Big Gigantic plays with Alex B at the Granada at 9 p.m. on Thursday night for $13-15 according to Lawrence.com. Big Gigantic did a fantastic job opening for Sound Tribe Sector 9 the last time they played in Lawrence, at Liberty Hall. This should be a great pre-Halloween weekend show.
Friday, the 29th, Gogol Bordello will be playing at Liberty Hall at 9 p.m.. The gypsy punk band has a cult following of their own, and gave a fantastic performance opening for Primus at the Uptown Theatre this last August. For between $26 to $28 this is sure to be a wild concert. Gogol's weird, wacky, stomp-along songs will be a hoot on Halloween weekend.
But if Gogol isn't your cup of tea, check out Chicago Afrobeat Project playing at the Bottleneck at 9 p.m. with Hearts of Darkness. This dance party will have funky jams going all night long, perfect for folks who are ready for a raging weekend.
Then perhaps the most exciting concert of the weekend will be inconveniently scheduled for Sunday, the 31st, when Eoto will be playing with Future Rock at the Granada. Eoto's bass-thumping, drum-rumbling electronic jams are so intricate, addictive and exciting you won't ever want to stop dancing once you start. Future Rock threw down at Summer Camp Music Festival this last May, and will no doubt make a fantastic opener for Eoto. Be advised, you might miss work or school the next morning if you attend this show.
Remember, Halloween is awesome, so have fun, and be safe so you can celebrate it again next year!
Friday the Cosmopolitics will be getting funky at the Jazzhaus at 10 p.m. The progressive, fusion jam band should have a good crowd on a Friday night, so come out if you're in the mood to party!
Saturday there are a couple of fantastic shows:
Of Montreal will be playing at Liberty Hall at 7 p.m. with Janelle Monae. For any fan of indie pop this is a must see show. Tickets might seem a little expensive, at $21, but it's worth it if this is your scene.
The same night Big Smith will be playing the Bottleneck at 9 p.m. with Shannon McNally and Hot
Sauce, and That Damn Sasquatch. The price isn't listed on Lawrence.com but if you're a fan of folk rock this is the place to be Saturday night.
Things REALLY heat up Monday night, when Bassnectar will be playing at Liberty Hall. This show promises to be so epic tickets have already sold out. Bassnectar threw down a sick show at Liberty Hall last Fall, and the Fall before that at the Granada. His sets are so great he is often a main act at major music festivals like Summer Camp and Wakarusa. If you're incredibly lucky you already have tickets, but if not, you might just find someone with a spare outside around 9 p.m.
Then, it's just a few days until Big Gigantic plays with Alex B at the Granada at 9 p.m. on Thursday night for $13-15 according to Lawrence.com. Big Gigantic did a fantastic job opening for Sound Tribe Sector 9 the last time they played in Lawrence, at Liberty Hall. This should be a great pre-Halloween weekend show.
Friday, the 29th, Gogol Bordello will be playing at Liberty Hall at 9 p.m.. The gypsy punk band has a cult following of their own, and gave a fantastic performance opening for Primus at the Uptown Theatre this last August. For between $26 to $28 this is sure to be a wild concert. Gogol's weird, wacky, stomp-along songs will be a hoot on Halloween weekend.
But if Gogol isn't your cup of tea, check out Chicago Afrobeat Project playing at the Bottleneck at 9 p.m. with Hearts of Darkness. This dance party will have funky jams going all night long, perfect for folks who are ready for a raging weekend.
Then perhaps the most exciting concert of the weekend will be inconveniently scheduled for Sunday, the 31st, when Eoto will be playing with Future Rock at the Granada. Eoto's bass-thumping, drum-rumbling electronic jams are so intricate, addictive and exciting you won't ever want to stop dancing once you start. Future Rock threw down at Summer Camp Music Festival this last May, and will no doubt make a fantastic opener for Eoto. Be advised, you might miss work or school the next morning if you attend this show.
Remember, Halloween is awesome, so have fun, and be safe so you can celebrate it again next year!
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