Nothing quite says, “It’s the holidays” like a radio show extravaganza and 96.5 the Buzz outdid themselves this year. Instead of just one night of amazing alternative rock music, they gave listeners two festive nights at Kansas City’s majestic Midland Theater.
The first day of the Night the Buzz Stole Xmas featured Free Energy, Cage the Elephant (last minute replacement for Sleigh Bells), The Dirty Heads and Jimmy Eat World. I must admit, Sleigh Bell’s cancellation made me a little bitter toward the openers for this show. I had just brushed those bands off as “stoner music,” but then The Dirty Heads, the band that should have been the ultimate stoner music with their Sublime-esque sound, blew me away with a surprisingly rocking set that featured some killer covers. Of course, the audience really lit up when Jimmy Eat World took to the stage. The group’s latest effort didn’t really wow me like some of their previous stuff, so I was pleased to see a good mix of older songs in the set so that it wasn’t too new song heavy. The biggest treat of their set was the festive cover of “Last Christmas” near the end of the set. These guys are still as fantastic live as they were when I first saw them years ago.
Gallery photos from Night 1 are courtesy of photographer Ryan Davis.
Jimmy Eat World Set List:
Bleed American
Praise Chorus
My Best Theory
Coffee and Cigs
Futures
Little Thing
Big Casino
Action Needs an Aud.
Pain
Hear You Me
Last Xmas
Blister
Work
Get It Faster
Middle
Sweetness
Night 1 was the sit back and relax to good music evening, but Night 2 demanded that you stand up in dance. Local rockers the Beautiful Bodies started the evening with front woman Alicia Solo strutting her stuff in a peacock costume. Then Innerpartysystem revved up the crowd with their dance rock similar to the style of the Faint. A Day to Remember screamed out for the younger crowd to come forward and mosh (this was a drink break for some of the older crowd that doesn’t really do the whole screamo thing). Then finally, My Chemical Romance took to the stage with their anthem-packed alternative rock songs. With how much the band embraces the whole concept album thing, I was a bit nervous that some songs wouldn’t be able to stand up on their own, but their wasn’t a down moment to their set. They quickly proved to me that it’s true. they’re not ok…they’re fantastic.
Gallery photos from Night 2 are courtesy of photographer Todd Zimmer.
My Chemical Romance Set List:
Na Na Na
Venom
Planetary (Go!)
Not OK
Prison
Sing
House of Wolves
Only Hope
Mama
Black Parade
Teenagers
Ghost
Destroya
Helena
//
Cancer
Kids
