The Main Street Café is a beautiful venue and was the perfect setting for a local show. It’s kind of like a large living room, full of comfortable couches and dim chandelier lights. It really makes the show more personal for fans.
Kevin Hanly opened the night to a slightly empty room, however that didn’t damper his spirits. Hanly was well-dressed in a cardigan with his acoustic guitar.
No need for a backup band with a voice like his. Hanly’s voice is soft and easy to listen to next to the strum of his guitar.
Next, Dylan Pyles gets on stage, with quite a few people crowding the front. Pyles is accompanied by a banjo player which compliments his rough, spoken style of singing.
This solo project, which sometimes includes his friends, has a trace of folk to it.
His singing is somewhat the White Stripes/mewithoutYou-esque. Pyles is interesting and unique, but not something one could listen to for more than a song or so.
After a longer than usual sound check, Flight Design took the stage.
This local Christian band from Blue Springs was entertaining and reacted with the crowd well.
It was hard to pay attention to them after the first two songs. They’re catchy but at the same time sound sort of like every other catchy band.
Despite minor setbacks such as a bad amp and chord, The Only Survivors put on a show.
This indie Lawrence band is made up of five very talented musicians.
Out of all the bands, The Only Survivors had the only females- lead guitarist Stephanie Castor and vocalist Tanya Moore.
After the delays for technical problems, they only had a couple songs left. They rocked those two songs.
The Only Survivors play again at the Granada on Nov. 3 with Evergreen Terrace and I definitely plan to attend. Hopefully this show will turn out better for them.
Headlining the evening was Grizzly J Berry (GJB).
This local Blue Springs band was off the wall crazy, one of the best bands I’ve seen lately.
GJB also had a few technical difficulties; lead guitarist/vocalist Brandon Price broke his guitar strap and a string.
After borrowing a guitar from another band, GJB was at it again.
They’re hard to explain, sort of like their own genre. More like a mix of crazy progressive/experimental/indie rock.
GJB uses lots of effects throughout their entire set, hardly taking a break between songs. They had a guest accordionist, Nathan Kenny, to join them onstage for as well.
I recommend this band to anyone that has the chance to go see them.
Band info:
Kevin Hanly: myspace
Dylan Pyles: myspace
Flight Design: myspace
The Only Survivors: myspace
Grizzly J Bear: myspace
