One musician's experience in the Lawrence music scene

This is the story of an individual musician's quest to find fellow artists with the same passion for making great music that he has. It's a rough road, but something that takes skill, spirit and determination. Trevor Stout has all of these and more. He has a great appreciation for the local music scene, and dreams of the future.

Trevor Stout's first real band was formed with friends of his, but it wouldn't be long before he moved on.
"I was inexperienced and they found a better match for the sound they were looking for. Fair enough. So I started my next band, Feel Good Lost," This band's end was not so pleasant, as an personal ego discrepancy among band members resulted in the drummer and Trevor starting Electric Theory. The other two band members tried to carry on the original name. The other band members thought they sounded better without Trevor and that he was holding them back.
"Rough news, but life goes on. I decided at that moment that I wasn't gonna let anybody decide my music path or direction and I was going to play music regardless of what bad luck I had previously. I wasn't going to let anyone take the one thing that I'd worked so hard for and felt so passionately about away. Not now, not ever."
After Electronic Theory, Trevor decided to try it alone, working on various instruments to combine sounds to make his own tunes, solo.
"Up until that point I had been playing with other musicians in a band and now I was so fed up with putting so much effort in and other people stopping me from going further, I decided the best way to proceed was looping since I could play or learn most common instruments. This way I only had myself and a drummer to rely on and it was really up to me where I wanted to take it or how far I wanted to go."

Working this way, Trevor has been able to jam with musicians he knows from other bands, and play his own music backed up by a drummer. But even running with a slim crew, shows don't always go smoothly. Of course it takes a tenacious person with fierce energy to make it when things get tough. Trevor has that spirit, and he has a way with words, to tell a story:
"I set up a show at the Jackpot which was to be Electric Theory's first headlining show. I had been talking to Billy Wassung, the guitarist, of Sonic Sutra and Billy the Squirrel, about siting in with us and he liked the idea so much that he agreed to play the whole set with us.
Night of the show and Jayme, my drummer, calls me about three hours before the show and tells me that he has run into some family issues that he had to help with and wouldn't be able to make the gig. Great. My first headlining gig, that I set up with the Jackpot, that I promoted, that my bands name and my name were riding on and I had no drummer.
I wasn't going to give up so I dug through some numbers and came up with Gunnar's [Stephen Gunn], the drummer for Mouth. Luckily he agreed and it ended up being my favorite show to date, regardless of the three of us having never played together before.
I learned sometimes you just have to let go and get out of your comfort zone and see what happens. Jayme ended up wanting out of the band after that show due to what he said was other priorities in his life being more important and music not being worth all the trouble anymore. Tough news. I had felt the whole time Jayme and I shared the same passion and that if I was to go anywhere in music it would be with him right next to me. We don't have any hard feeling towards each other, it's just that he's a younger guy and hasn't figured out what he wants to do in life, where as I've realized my path is music. I hope I get to play with both Billy and Gunnar again given I had an amazing time, but Billy lives in St. Louis now and Gunnar focuses on Mouth and puts a lot of passion into it. Something tells me somewhere down the line we'll all meet up and throw down again." - I certainly hope so!

Trevor is a true believer in the local music scene. This is one of the reasons he loves Lawrence so much. His bands have made their start here, and with good reason. Lawrence has a huge music scene, including lots of local artists, and Trevor has a lot of friends who are either musicians or music enthusiasts.
"As most people know the local music scene in Lawrence is amazing. The sense of community is indescribable. Local music is such a great thing because there's really not too much money in it so all the artists who are involved are one-hundred-percent in it for the right reasons. They play music because of the feeling it gives them and not just for the money or the fame like some big national acts."
Trevor also appreciates the crowd, and recognizes that a musician can't make any progress with his work without listeners.
"Without the crowd a show would be nothing but a few musicians having a good time on stage. We all encourage each other and build off each other in the sense that without everyone being at the shows and dancing and making it fun, and without the musicians playing their hearts to the crowd there wouldn't be a scene at all. People who don't live in Lawrence wouldn't travel here to see shows like they do if they didn't have a good time and I feel like the strong sense of community people see when they come here is directly the cause."
Altogether Trevor has gratitude for all the people involved in the music scene, seeing a wide view of everything that goes into making the scene real. As a humble musician he sees everyone in the community as a part of the scene.
"It takes everyone, musicians, music fans, writers, photographers, sound guys to make it all possible. Most people only see the artists on stage and think it's all about them because their in the spotlight, but without everyone doing their part even the best artists wouldn't be able to get very far."
The ultimate goal of the entire music scene is for everyone to enjoy beautiful music in a cool setting.
"All lovers of music go to shows for the same reason, we've all had that moment at a show where the music captures you and it becomes so much more than just some guys up on stage playing music. You loose yourself and find yourself all in the same moment. As soon as you hear that music, nothing else in the world matters. Call it a form of escape from reality but I feel strongly that it's really just medicine for our soul. People need a release from their daily stress and problems and it's undeniable that when you hear that first beat, all that goes out the window and it's time to have fun with your friends. Music is present in every culture in the world and in every culture it's used for the same thing, to celebrate."
Trevor also sees music as something of a tool for communication, a form of communal expression.
"Music is the language of all people. Especially with jam music, it's all about communication. It's a conversation between those playing but yet you don't have to say a word, you speak with your instrument. For me it's a form of emotional release and expression, if I didn't have music as a healthy outlet I'm sure I would have made some bad decisions on how to release that energy.
As well I feel almost responsible for the continuing of the scene and helping others find that special spark in music now that I'm able to. If you don't carry on what you feel passionate about and what you fell in love with when you have the chance then who does? A little piece of it dies right there and I'm not about to deny someone the great feelings that I have received from music."

Trevor's plans for future are flexible, but there's no denying that music will be a part of his life.
"In the future I'd like to be in a full band just because of the limits that live looping involves. You have to keep the same tempo most of the time and I miss the progressiveness of not having to stay in one tempo for so long. Also it's just fun to play with other musicians because they provide a way of playing you might not have seen and your constantly learning from them and I miss that aspect. I dunno really what my musical future will involve but I'm here for the ride and I'm going to do my best to stay true to the people i.e. the crowd that makes it all possible."
Trevor's passion for music is inspiring and contagious. It's local artists like Trevor that make Lawrence's music scene, and every local music scene, something that brings people together.
"So now we're in the present and all I can see in front of me is a creative explosion in the form of artist collaboration and improvisational sets."

Slippy Larue expertly opens the Jazzhaus for Mouth's old favorites made new + Previews

Slippy Larue, of Columbia, Missouri came out to the Jazzhaus to open for Mouth, fusing synthesizers, keys, drums and guitar to blast the small venue with fantastic jams. The band's hypnotic trance tunes and stirring rhythms filled the Jazzhaus with energy. Slippy Larue demonstrates a kind of dedicated practice and brilliant music choreography that is hard to find anywhere. It was a perfect opening act for Mouth.

The only down side to the opener's performance was the crowd. There wasn't one. People showed up late to the bar and missed out on an epic performance, but the folks that had come early to appreciate the great music got a stunning set from the opener. Hopefully Slippy Larue will return and see a bigger crowd next time!

But aside from a slow start, the night went very well. Mouth came to the stage with some familiar, great songs, that have been tweaked, improved and over-hauled to give the crowd a set of exciting, intense songs that are definitely classic Mouth, but bigger and better than ever. Songs like Virtuality and Worm sounded like they had gotten a jolt of electricity in them, giving the familiar songs a new vibe.

Fortunately for Mouth, the crowd had finally come out in time for them, and the dance floor was packed, seats all filled and the bar was alive. The party didn't stop until after two encore songs, much to the delight of the grateful audience. Mouth knows how to treat their fans.

Now for Previews:

Tonight, Saturday, Cicada Rhythm is putting on a show at the Granada, just $5 for adrenaline-pumping electronic dance music. Lincoln, Nebraska's Somasphere is headlining with Sam Krause, and DJason. This should be a great show, probably packed, considering how low the price is and how fantastic the music will be!

Then, Tuesday, back at the Granada, The Faint will be playing their famous electronic pop rock for $15. If you're into that kinda thing, this'll probably be a pretty great show. It's always exciting when big acts come to town!

FUTURE SHOCK electrocutes the Jazzhaus with Rocket Science + Previews

The Floozies' side-project, FUTURE SHOCK, gave the Jazzhaus the most intense show in months. The small venue has never been so packed with so many party people getting down to a fantastic set of funk. The crowd was so big that dancers were filling the walkways between tables leading up to the dance floor. The porch was overflowing with smokers, and the bar was swamped with people trying to get a drink. All for good reason, this show was too epic to miss.

The night started at 10 p.m. when Rocket Science opened up with a variety of remixes of some top dance tunes. The dynamic duo puts out great electronic beats, with bass-heavy mixes on the synthesizer and dancing rhythms from the drums. The crowd hadn't entirely shown up to appreciate the music yet, but it was a chill atmosphere for the people who were already hanging out.

The bar had filled up considerably by the time Matt and Mark Hill, the brothers who are The Floozies took the stage with the other members of FUTURE SHOCK, - Pat Adams on a second set of drums, Chris Shaw on bass and the legendary Gravy playing saxophone and keys. Everyone already familiar with this funky tribute to Herbie Hancock was pumped to hear more.

Before the first set was finished the dance floor was jammed with party animals getting groovy. The people hanging out were all so friendly and cool, it was a party of good vibes all around. The band has an impressive list of funky tunes that go smoothly from one to the next. Their songs have a familiar, well-practiced feel to them, like you're listening to an album of quintessential soulful funk. The party didn't stop until last call, and even then there were after-parties to keep raging at.

Between the great bands putting out awesome tunes, and the lovely, happy crowd, this was one of the best nights at the Jazzhaus in recent history. Don't miss FUTURE SHOCK next time!

Now For Previews:

Tonight Rocket Science is playing again, this time at the Bottleneck, opening for J. Wail. The one-man-act of J. Wail sounds like funky club music to create a scene rarely found in Kansas. J. Wail is stopping in Lawrence on his way from his home in Denver, Colorado to tour the east coast. This electronic show is sure to be a good time, so be there or be square.

Tuesday, the 13th, Minus the Bear, one of the best bands indie rock as to offer, will be at the Granada at 9 p.m. for $16-18 according to Lawrence.com. Listening to their album, these guys have a funky, experimental edge to their rock that makes it catchy and different, in a good way. This progressive indie rock group from Seattle is a rising star in the music scene, so it might be exciting to be able to say you saw them live, before they make it big and tickets start costing an arm and a leg.

Friday the 16th, Mouth will be playing at the Jazzhaus with Slippy Larue. Mouth always plays a great show, and the Jazzhaus is one of their favorite venues. This is a good time guaranteed.

Free Bluegrass and epic Funk shows fill Friday night with music

This weekend is starting off strong with two great concerts forcing fans to chose between great bluegrass in Olathe and fantastic funk in Lawrence. At least one person will be attempting to make it to both.

The legendary Sam Bush is playing a free show in Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway, in Olathe at 7 p.m. as a part of the Olathe Free Summer Concert Series. Sam Bush's shows are always worth paying to see, so a free show is virtually irresistible. However, any daring music lover who is willing to do a little traveling, can enjoy this superb show, and return to Lawrence in time for a funky party to keep the night going.

The Floozies are presenting "FUTURE SHOCK": a tribute to Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, The Parliament Funkadelic and other soul and funk artists. The rising stars of Rocket Science will be opening this show at the Jazzhaus at 10 p.m. Between the opener's natural jamming skills and the Floozies' reliably great sets, this promises to be a party from beginning to end. The show will only cost $4, according to Lawrence.com.

The show in Olathe is free, so if you like bluegrass and you can get yourself out there by 7-ish, you have no excuse not to go. But if you can't get a ride, or are in a funky kind of mood, there's an equally exciting, although entirely different show happening downtown for just $4. All in all it's a great night for music lovers.

Fourth of July weekend previews

This Fourth of July weekend is sure to be full of exciting events in Lawrence. This is just a few of the great shows scheduled for this weekend, for music lovers looking for a good time during the holiday.

Friday night Electric Theory will be playing with openers The Hunted, and Sobriquet. Electric Theory will be featuring a special guest: Billy Wassung of Sonic Sutra. Electric Theory is a local electronic group that plays fun, energetic, irresistibly rhythmic dance beats. The complex intricacies of this group are inspiring and always get the party started. Come to the Jackpot at 10 p.m. to check this show out. It's $5 for 21+ and $7 if you're under 21. This will definitely be a great time.

Saturday, Split Lip Rayfield will be playing an early show on the outside patio of the Replay Lounge, along with The Grisly Hand. This blend of bluegrass and soul will be going on from 6 to 9 p.m. for somewhere between $5-10.
Then, Ras Neville and the Kingstonians will be jamming at the Jazzhaus. You can enjoy some great live Reggae at an awesome, intimate venue, for just $4! That's crazy!

Sunday, if you're not too busy setting off small explosives while getting intoxicated, local rock band Fourth of July will be playing on the holiday that is their namesake at the Replay Lounge, for just $2. The self-described "most patriotic band in Lawrence" is a 5-piece outfit that has years of experience, naturally they should play a great show today of all days.

There is plenty of fun to have all weekend and beyond, so be safe you crazy kids!

The Wailers stir up the Granada then The Big Lebowski packs Liberty Hall + Previews

Last Friday night Lawrence was in for a very special treat, as the original Wailers, Bob Marley's band, played at the Granada. A mob of adoring reggae fans packed the venue from the foot of the stage to the back of the balcony. The Wailers played classic hits everyone loves as well as newer pieces the band has written recently, delivering a flawless set.

Folks from all walks of life, young and old from Lawrence and all around were glad to pay only $20, when the Wailers often go for as much as $35 in other cities. The Granada was a great venue for this show because it accommodated a big crowd while still letting the band's sound rock your world. It was so loud that people standing in the walled-off entrance lobby could completely enjoy the music while getting a drink.

The Wailers band members have changed since the days of Bob Marley, but they still have a fiercely passionate, talented lineup of musicians that keeps the fantastic reggae sound that made the band famous. With great vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, two guys with keys, and a manic drummer, the range of sound, harmonies and intricate combination of beats made the songs flow seamlessly.

Anyone who missed the show needs to make sure they catch the Wailers, the next chance they get.

This show kicked off the weekend just right before another great event for fun-lovers came on Saturday night.

The Big Lebowski was played at Liberty Hall on Saturday night for $5. There were also White Russians on sale for true fans who liked to drink along with The Dude. The show was surprisingly popular and the large venue filled up. Some folks were more into the movie than others, some a little too into it.

This cult-classic film has spawned Big Lebowski Festivals, and movie parties all around the country, with no sign of stopping. Everyone should see this movie and if you have the chance, watch it with friends. It might technically be a movie, but The Big Lebowski is more like a party favor than a film.

Now For Previews:

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, Mouth will be playing with Zoogma, and Papadosio at 9 p.m. at the Bottleneck. Zoogma caught this writer's attention when they played at Wakarusa. Mouth is one of the best funk bands in Lawrence, consistently putting on fun shows that turn out to be the hippest parties around.

If you don't get enough funk tomorrow night, Thursday, Fuzz Nasty will be filling the Jazzhaus with soulful dance-tunes at 10 p.m. for $4.

Stay tuned for more reviews and previews! And stay classy, Lawrence.

Wakarusa overwhelms an oversold crowd

Just a short week after Summer Camp, Wakarusa gave Music Festival a new meaning, with four days of nonstop music including nationally renowned bands. Epic sets of fantastic songs filled every night, to keep the crowd in constant musical heaven. Masses of devoted fans from all around the country crowded the camping ground in the Arkansas Ozark National Forest.

Lawrence residents should know that Wakarusa originated just outside of town, at Clinton Lake. The festival was moved to Arkansas when the police started making it hard for anyone to have a good time in Lawrence. But, even though the festival is a lot farther from us now, it's still absolutely worth the trip, and when you get there you'll find that there is a veritable army of Lawrencians representing the origin of the festival.

Aside from fantastic music, there was one terrible flaw to Wakarusa this year that could make the experience an ordeal for anyone. The camp was so over-packed, that a "Satellite Parking and Camp ground" was set up 3 whole miles away. Campers screwed out of the convenience of the regular camping area had a long walk, all uphill, if they didn't want to wait in line for a bus for an hour or more. Thankfully there are a lot of good people at music festivals, willing to give a ride to a poor soul hitch-hiking back and forth. But the hardships of camping even 3 miles away are worth the effort to see the fantastic bands playing each day.

Rocket Science, a local act from Lawrence, opened at the Satellite Stage - not to be confused with the Satellite camping area 3 miles away - with heavy, intricate electronic beats. The duo was the first band to play that stage, and had to suffer the sound check issues. But the beats, rhythms warmed up the crowd for their first night of music.

Railroad Earth played hardcore bluegrass, rambling, rumbling, exciting tunes that took the crowd to a higher level of energy. The trick to Wakarusa is that every great act is followed by another band, already starting on another stage.

The end of the Disco Biscuits set was a wicked progressive rock jam of electronica that gathered a sea of glowstick weilding, glowing hula-hoop swinging festy kids. Then the massive crowd was split between the Pink Floyd Light Show, Lotus, and Dirtfoot.

The first night demonstrated how completely oversold the entire festival was. Pink Floyd was beyond over-crowded with waves of fans sitting and standing well outside the Revival Tent. Lotus' tent was also packed. Both shows were fun, if crowded.

Zoogma started rocking out with electronic jam rock early on Friday. The crowd really got into it when the band whipped out a funky cover of the Ghostbuster song.

JJ Grey and Mofro played traditional blues accented with funky, jazzy jams. The instruments were played by a well-practiced lineup of musicians, that complimented each other well, with a guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone and keys, but the vocals were a little weak, with lyrics that were too corny and cliche.

Trampled by Turtles uses a time machine to a place of exquisite, traditional folk bluegrass. If only the Backwoods Stage had not been a roiling dust storm with barely a view of the stage for the first few rows of people.

ALO played a competent jam, adequate to keep the crowd happy in the shade of the Revival Tent. But there's only so much music a person can listen to before one must retire to a campsite to hang out with friends, recharge your batteries, and have a few more drinks.

Finally Friday night arrived, with an extreme lineup of great electronic sets sure to make the crowd go crazy. Sound Tribe Sector 9 was the first big name this reviewer made it to, although Big Gigantic had played before them. STS9's set was tragically quiet, with the volume just turned down way too low. The band messed up parts of the song Shock Doctrine, turning down the best melody of the song. BUT the band made up for it with a good rendition of Aimlessly, followed by 3 of this reviewer's very favorite songs: Arigato, EHM, and Breathe In. All three songs were played fantastically well. STS9 threw down the bass lines, and got wild with the solos and jams. Breathe In's nostalgic, romantic ending was well used to give the crowd a long, relaxing, beautiful breather after what was, for a long while, the most epic moment in the festival. If only STS9 always used played their best songs so well.

Following STS9 were two more great electronic shows: Bassnectar and Eoto. Fans of both could easily catch part of one act and make the short walk to the next stage for the other. Bassnectar got heavy with the dancing, pumping beats, while Eoto used wild, extravagant electronic harmonies and melodies layered for a complex sound of techno joy. It might sound daunting to expect to dance all night, but these bands know how to keep a body moving, and the crowd never gave up.

Saturday started with some quirky, interesting bands taking the main stage. The Black Keys, a blues, alternative rock, jam duo played competently, just the two, one on drums, the other on guitar and singing, but there's only so much a drummer and guitarist can do alone. They really got going when a bassist and keys joined in, with groovy, dancing tunes. The Black Keys were a welcome addition to the festival, hopefully they will play more often at these kinds of events.

Dweezil Zappa came to the main stage next, playing a great tribute to Frank Zappa's many styles, sounds and he even sounds like his father too. If you can get into Zappa's off-beat, weird, but funky tunes, you will love Dweezil. The lyrics might all be weird and awkward, but the songs are hilarious and fun.

Widespread Panic was the last act on the main stage, and gathered a crowd unlike any other band at the festival. The experienced, undeniably talented rock band jammed with a funky bass that could put the Seinfeld bassist to shame, as well as almost inappropriately long drum solos. The band usually has a lot of country flavor to their rockin, but Saturday night's show was much more of an electronic-fused jam, that the entire Wakarusa mob got down to.

Easily the most obscure, but well-loved bands to perform at Wakarusa came on late Saturday night. Wookiefoot, the hermits from Minnesota, who hardly ever come out of their home state - but still have a cult-following of devoted fans from all around the country - started their set at 2:30 in the morning, to a thinned, but still strong crowd of loving festy folks. This was definitely the best set Saturday, for this reviewer at least.
Wookiefoot has a huge variety of songs, ranging from rap-influenced rock jams, to Irish punked-out drinking sing-alongs.
On stage with the band were a series of scantly-clad fire-dancing girls, ladies who looked like professional dancers expertly wielding fire poi, and glowing toys, as well as a bunch of bizarre characters dressed in costumes too wild, and exotic for even the best Halloween party.
Wookiefoot plays songs with the style and sound of so many different bands, one might thing they had an ipod set on shuffle and plugged into the speakers. A song might sound too familiar for you to believe it isn't some single from Rage Against the Machine, or Flogging Molly, but every tune is an original by this genius group. The band put out a great vibe of positive energy, while leading the crowd to dance and sing along to some of their best, most brilliant songs: Mushroom Jazz, Original Sin, Falling Down Trying...The band played on and on until 4 a.m.
It was a fantastic show, and makes every listener consider making the trip up to see Wookiefoot in their natural habitat, Minnesota. Hopefully they will come out and play more around the country!

Sunday promised lots more great music, but, like many other festival goers, this reviewer had to leave the momentary heaven set up in the woods, to return to real life Monday morning. Still, in all it was an unforgettable weekend in paradise. There are tons of folks from Lawrence, as well as cool, friendly, beautiful people from all around the country to meet. Everyone who was at Wakarusa will tell you how great it is, and everyone who knows what they've missed needs to save up and come along next year!