Josh Vowell band plays the blues to a quiet Jazzhaus while Disappears fill the Replay Lounge with shoegaze

Thursday night there was music everywhere downtown, but not enough listeners to appreciate it. Sure it was a week night and there had been heavy rain earlier in the evening, but music lovers missed out big time when the Josh Vowell band played at the Jazzhaus.

The crowd was small, but very lucky to enjoy the wild, face-melting guitar of Josh Vowell and the soulful harmonica of Justin Shelton. Backed up by a solid drummer and funky guitarist, the band came together for dynamic blues rock and took the time to show off some fantastic solos as well. The rockin' blues drew a few people to the dance floor for a song or two, but had there been a larger crowd the place would have been far more lively.

Though the Josh Vowell band is a local group and should be well known, the Lawrence music scene missed them Thursday night. On can only hope that blues lovers will get more chances to appreciate great musicians like these soon!

Meanwhile that same night, bands from as far as California and Illinois drew a good-sized crowd at the Reply Lounge just down the street from the Jazzhaus.

Weekend from California opened for Disappears from Illinois, a shoegaze rock band that can fill a room with hypnotic garage rock. Thursday night Disappears jammed for a full audience at the Replay Lounge. Disappears' music is slow, yet aggressive, addictive and captivating. It harkens back to old shoegaze classics like The Smiths and carries a flavor of dark psychedelia like The Doors.

Thankfully at least one good band received the audience it deserved, it is too bad there were not enough music lovers out Thursday night to appreciate everything going on downtown.