Kansas City radio station 96.5. the Buzz started the outdoor summer season off with a sold out fest: Buzz Under the Stars. Though newcomers Mumford and Sonshave just one album under their belt and have only been known stateside for about a year, Kansas City was eager to hear their banjo-blazing folk tunes. Rounding out the sold out bill was Cake, a band that has only gained in popularity since their first hits in the 90s. Despite the sweltering heat, the audience excitement levels never wavered, participating in big singalongs with both bands.
Photographer Erica Cassella was at the event and shares these photos from the concert:
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. ThenInnerpartysystem 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 Romancetook 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
How do you do a show a month prior to a new release? Well if you want to do it right, you take a page from Innerpartysystem’s set this week in Kansas City. With their first new CD since their 2008 self-titled album set to hit the streets in January, they were primed and ready to officially blow KC away.
Now if you did take this page, you’d see it had: previous huge hit “Don’t Stop” as an appetizer, some numbers off Innerpartysystem and a few teaser hits from the new as a main course and finally ending with “American Trash” as a delectable dessert. The entire set was oh so sweet.
Even though the set list was genius, it was still slightly risky. Putting the song that most people who’ve heard of you would know, smack dab in front lends to high expectations for the other 27 minutes. But what IPS did was take the energy off that song and used it to fuel a hit that’s possibly new or possibly revived: “Money Makes The World Go ‘Round.” If it is in fact another hint of what’s to come in January, then it tells me that the new album will have the same brunt-force tech beats that the band is good at, but set at a whole new level.
After mixing in what [I guess] will soon be called classics: “Die Tonight Live Forever” and “Last Night In Brooklyn” – they had the crowd literally bouncing off the walls. To this they answered with another newbie: “Not Getting Any Better.” At first the song came off as very techno dance, with even a little bit of a pop beat to it. But when it got to what was definitely considered the meat of the song, it exploded. The bass beats and electronic work were awesome. The previously semi-grooving audience was now fully overcome with IPS insanity. And in true “rave” form, the masterpiece was pulsed out longer than the typical song. It’s probably safe to say that no one really ever wanted that number to end.
And then there was dessert.
When “American Trash” was first intro’d back in early summer, the excitement for the new EP officially sparked. The song was perfection in mp3 form. So naturally there was no risk to this part of the show, as taking that song onto a stage would have only one result – mind-blowing. Between the dramatic lead in, the huge beat drop for the chorus and then being carried away via Patrick’s vocals near the end – the song was chaos in electronic form. By the time this song came on, there was no use trying to see the stage as everyone around me had proceeded to jump up and down. This was what the music called for.
Even though the band was minus a member, the sound had not suffered one bit. With the exit of Jesse, the remaining members decided to swap out guitars for further integration of electronics. After all that was said and done, the only difference that was noticeable (at least by me) was the introduction of excellent new music.
KRBZ96.5 the Buzz has announced the line-up for its annual The Night the Buzz Stole X-mas and it’s a doozie this year. The Buzz is bringing not one, but two nights of great alternative rock music to the Midland in Kansas City. Night one features headliners Jimmy Eat World, while My Chemical Romance makes a return to the concert scene for night two. Local act The Beautiful Bodieseven were picked to join the festive show.
The words “Beach Ball” conjure up images of sun, warmth, sand and water. Well Kansas City music lovers that headed to 96.5 the Buzz’s Beach Ball battled clouds, cold, mud and the threat of constant rain. Nonetheless, the swift disappearance of Summer and harsh realities of Fall didn’t stop this outdoor music fest from being a success. Fans were smart enough to don jackets and ponchos before heading out to see the Smashing Pumpkins, Cake, Anberlin and more.
While typical festival complaints would have been that each act had too short of a set, the rapid pace of the double stages and short sets worked in favor for this fest. It gave people less time to dwell in one location feeling too cold or getting bored with any act that wasn’t their cup of tea and giving up on the fest and going home.
AM Taxi had the privilege of kicking off the 5th Buzz Beach Ball. The rockers thrashed about the stage while fans shook rain sprinkles off their shoulders to raise fists to pump to “Fed Up.” Cooled down music and cooled down temps quickly followed their set as the folk rock of locals Dreams Are For Rookies rapidly followed on the second stage. The group puts a twist on the typical folk rock with the rich adornment of a cello.
After the Homegrown act finished, it was back down the hill for dark piano rockers Civil Twilight. A surprising amount of audience members knew more about this South African band’s songs than just set closer, “Letters from the Sky,” and the band took kindly to this warm response by delivering a set with more energy and flair than the last time I saw them in a dark Lawrence venue.
The rain thickened during what should have been local act Six Percent’s set time up at the second stage. However, the band was delayed by the challenge of an uncovered stage, so this half hour was treated as ‘time to eat warm food’ while concert workers attempted to make a makeshift cover for the act set to follow.
Fortunately, The Limousines weren’t deterred by the rain and played one of the most fun sets of the entire day. The quirky dance rock trio got the crowd moving and singing to “Very Busy People” and by the time they reached new hit “Internet Killed the Video Star,” everyone had a smile as they danced and shouted, “I’m a terrible dancer, I ain’t gonna lie, but I’ll be damned if I ain’t gonna try.” These guys have only gotten better since their last buzz show and their energy is contagious.
A Silent Film were this mystery act from the UK. Audience members had only recently started hearing the Keane-esque “You Will Leave a Mark” on the radio, but it quickly rose up the request lines. But aside from that song, little else was known about these guys. Heck, they hadn’t even played a show in the States before, so they probably knew even less about their audience in return. So whether out of curiosity or genuine love, the lawn was packed to watch these boys on the second stage. For their debut, US performance, even in the most miserable conditions, they killed it. Heavy piano chords and big drums made for a perfectly beautiful outdoor set that almost seemed to clear the skies and bring out the stars by the pure magic of it. Below you can find a video from their first ever United States show.
Anberlin followed A Silent Film with another high energy rock set. The guys are frequent faces at these Buzz events and just like the Limousines, they only seem to get better each time. Though they played songs from their entire higher catalog, they heavily promoted their latest release that came out just a week prior to this show.
Local ska act, Six Percent, delayed by the rain earlier, took to the second stage after Anberlin’s set and played a brass heavy set of covers and original songs. While some covers, “Final Countdown,” were triumphant, others such as a Weezer cover left a lot to be desired.
Beach Ball alumni Cake has been kind of silent on the new music front, but as they showed at Buzz Beach Ball, they have plenty of new material they’re ready to release in January. Half their set seemed to be new songs, but they still helped the audience quickly learn these tunes for singing along before the speak-f0lk rock act brought out some better known songs such as “Going the Distance.”
Local darling Beautiful Bodies showed why they’re on the top of the local food chain as they closed out the second stage sets. Front woman Alicia Solo came out wrapped in Buzz banners before breaking out and starting the rock. The group treated their performance as a celebration, sipping champagne and flashing sly smiles as they broke out new tunes after a year-long absence from the local music scene.
The Smashing Pumpkins. What can be said that can even measure up to the surreality of seeing one of the most influential rock groups? Sure the line-up has changed over the years, but Billy Corgan is still on top of his game. This set gave all the hits a fan could want and more. Throw in the addition of a breath-taking stage set with mosaic windmills and you have a perfect way to end out the night. It was well worth the wait through cold and rain for this.
In December 2005, I witnessed the most catastrophic concert lineup of my life, courtesy of 96.5 The Buzz‘s The Night the Buzz Stole Christmas: Against Me!, Alkaline Trio, Hot Hot Heat, The Psychedelic Furs and Death Cab for Cutie.
Yep.
That show left me with a giant purple bruise on the inside of my arm from clutching the barricade to keep my front row spot until Death Cab took the stage, but that faded after a week or two. The image of The Psychedelic Furs‘s Richard Butler strip teasing out of his women’s sweater can never be unseen.
I walked into last Friday’s Buzz Under the Stars event worried 96.5 had put together a repeat wreck of a lineup: Crash Kings, Against Me! (total fluke that they were involved in both shows), Devo (…), the Silversun Pickups and Ben Folds. Much to my relief, the diverse lineup resulted in a fast-paced show that managed to hold my attention (normally equivalent to that of a six-year old) for nearly five hours of music.
Well…and I had a couple beers. And I left early because Ben Folds was unimpressive. We’ll get back to those later.
Crash Kings, hailing from L.A., kicked off the night. They coaxed a notable number of concertgoers down to the River Market early considering the boiling July heat. The trio played Afentra’s VD Party in February and clearly earned themselves some fans there — and how could they not? Crash Kings features a drummer, a bassist and a Clavinet player. No lead guitar? No problem. Slap a whammy bar on that keyboard and you’re good to go.
The group’s Myspace just calls their sound “rock,” which is accurate, but lacking. Let’s go with “piano-driven rock with a touch of blues influence that feels as comfortable as your favorite corner bar.” Crash Kings filled the outdoor venue with catchy, danceable jams that had me bobbing energetically despite the stifling heat. It was impossible to stand still while watching keys player/lead singer Tony Beliveau flip his hair and hop up and down off his stool without ever missing a note.
Against Me! filed in next, and was my first concern regarding the evening’s lineup. I don’t think I’d listened to Against Me! since seeing them back in 2005, but if memory serves correct, they were pretty punk rock. Lo and behold…they were still pretty punk rock. But I liked them more this time. I don’t know if that means they have improved or that my music taste has widened. I don’t know enough about punk rock to have much commentary here, however I would like to point out the ridiculousness that was keyboardist Franz Nicolay‘s mustache. Very distracting. (Side note: Nicolay is not technically a member of Against Me!. He’s the former keyboardist for The Hold Steady and World/Inferno Friendship Society, and joined up with Against Me! for the band’s current U.S. tour with the Silversun Pickups. That tour also explains why they were at Buzz Under the Stars. Kind of. I still don’t entirely understand why Against Me! is playing with the Pickups at all.)
And then Devohappened played. I was ready for another The Psychedelic Furs experience, and I stepped into the photo pit wearily. All I can say is that I’ve never had such a tough time keeping my professional face on while working. I wanted to laugh, dance and clap along with the jumpsuit-clad band members. Those men brought the red and blue energy-domed crowd to life as they robot-danced across the stage and robot-played their instruments. The commitment to character made it one of the most fun sets I’ve ever watched. Devo, my deepest apologies for ever doubting your ability to rock a Buzz event. But please, never hip-thrust against when your junk is at eye-level for me and I’m two feet away. Awkward.
I am a spoiled girl who expects only the best. So even after an evening filled with whammy bars on keyboards, curlicue mustaches and robot dancing, I wanted more from the Silversun Pickups. Friday night was my first time to see the four-piece alt rock band, even though it’s been one of my favorite music acts for several years (“Lazy Eye” is my theme song). I floated through all of their set, amazed to see that lead singer Brian Aubert‘s voice actually sounds like that — I can’t be the only one who thought it was a recording trick. One complaint, which might line up with Popwreck Managing Editor Bethany Smith telling me she thought the set “boring”: considering the intensity of the Silversun Pickups‘ music, I expected a larger stage presence. The band almost disappeared, spaced out on a nearly empty stage with purple and blue lighting. The musicians stayed mostly still through their set; while artist movement is of course the choice of the artist, I struggle to understand how the quartet could stay so planted. I think the band’s somewhat calm demeanor might have reflected onto the crowd, toning things down a bit after Devo‘s enthusiastic performance.
Ben Folds finished up the night, and if you read the beginning of this article, you already know how I feel about that. Someone told me the next day that unless you are really into Ben Folds, it probably wasn’t that great of a show (that “someone” happens to be a huge fan and nearly smacked me when I told him I got bored and left). Listen, if you’re headlining that big of a show, and you’re doing it totally solo, you better have some damn good stage presence. All I saw was a goofy kid with way too mellow of songs to fit in with the rest of the evening. Maybe things would’ve been different if he at least had brought a chick to sing Regina Spektor‘s part in “You Don’t Know Me.” But he didn’t. So I drank some beer, swapped high-fives with my friends and went home.
Minus the Bear was at the Firefly Lounge in Kansas City to play 96.5 the Buzz‘s Kegs and Eggs. This is not an easy event for any band to perform at because it is a tiny venue with a tiny stage and the audience waits since 4 a.m. in the heat just to hear a few acoustic songs. Bands typically have a show the night before and essentially have to drive straight to the venue to perform on no sleep. Plus, there is the added challenge that the radio station gives patrons free beer, so the bands play to hot, sweaty and very rowdy fans – not an easy performance situation.
So going into this, I had my doubts that Minus the Bear would be able to impress. Their songs are complicated, progressive rock songs and for anyone who spends enough time listening to their albums, they have tendency to go effects-happy with their material. Yet, Minus the Bear surprised me and their songs transitioned beautifully into mildly funk-tinged acoustic numbers.
They played three acoustic songs off their latest release, OMNI: “Hold Me Down,” “Summer Angel” and “My Time.” In between “Hold Me Down” and “Summer Angel” the band bantered with the audience about this was like a Bon Jovi concert with girls sitting on shoulders to get a better view. They quipped that they might cover, “Living on a Prayer,” but I’m glad they stuck to their own material. “Summer Angel” was my favorite of the acoustic versions: the vocals here perfectly lent themselves for an acoustic rendition and the use of acoustic drums actually gave this song a summery sound.
Of course, “My Time” was the song most wanted to here, this being a radio function and all. Though the band is known for their signature guitar lines, this song really lets the piano shine. The fun keyboard line was all the more in the spotlight in this acoustic version. Once completed, the audience cheered for more, but the band held back from an encore, saving more special treats for their fans who would attend their evening set at the Granada.
So yes, I think I owe Minus the Bear an apology. They survived Kegs and Eggs with a great performance and positive attitudes: a double feat that few bands pull off at these sorts of events.
You can download the entire acoustic set by right clicking and saving from here. And be sure to check out video of the band performing “Summer Angel” below:
Word to the wise: if you’re in a band and you’re asked to play a radio show event at 6 in the morning and said event gives people free booze and happens to be in the summer in one of the most humid Midwest cities, you better (1) be on time and (2) at least play the radio single.
The aforementioned event is called Kegs & Eggs. Basically, what happens is Kansas City alternative radio station, 96.5 the Buzz, invites people out for a free acoustic set at a downtown bar. Doors open at 6 and the first 100-150 people get free beer and breakfast (hence the title: Keg & Eggs). The station usually “opens” for the acoustic set with karaoke and giveaways. So breakfast and booze at 6 a.m., then once the audience is good and morning drunk, karaoke at 7 a.m. Then around 8:30 a.m., usually the band plays the acoustic set. A few of these happen every year.
Well, this time around it was the UK folk darlings Mumford & Sons, whom are fairly new to Kansas City radio. “Little Lion Man” has only been in circulation for a few weeks, so you can imagine my surprise to learn how quickly their evening show sold out and how quickly their line formed at 4 a.m. for this Kegs & Eggs event.
The audience got word that the band was in the vicinity at 8 a.m., but they didn’t take to the stage with their acoustic guitars and banjos until after 9:30 a.m. By that time, people were drunk, hot and tired: the recipe for a cranky crowd.
The band took to the tiny stage and told the crowd that they were the craziest group they’ve ever played for and that they couldn’t believe they were playing a new show and now an extension of the show in Saint Louis the night before. Sometimes I wonder if bands get briefed on these Kegs & Eggs events or if the manager just wakes them up in their bunks: “Surprise! Go play a show.”
The band began with “Awake My Soul,” a song that features some of their beautiful multi-part harmonies and some of their most heartbreaking lyrics, “How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes. I struggle to find any truth in your lies.” The lyrics in that number only get more brutal, “But lend me your heart and I’ll just let you fall.” I guess if you wanted a happy song this Wednesday, you should have gone to hang out with the Edward Sharpe crew setting up at the Beaumont up the street.
Then, the band played two more songs – also gorgeous harmonies; great instrumentals of banjo, accordion, and guitars; and of course, heartbreaking lyrics – “Roll Away Your Stone” and “The Cave.”
But then, they left the stage…without playing “Little Lion Man.” This being a radio event, people pretty much expected that, so they cheered for an encore: for 20 minutes. Finally a guy came out and started taking down the mics. That really was it. People finally stumbled away.
If you want to be a good band, play your instruments flawlessly. If you want to be a spectacular band, play your instruments flawlessly and frequently jump on a trampoline…Ok, so that formula might not work for everyone, but it definitely works for Weezer.
Nashville’s American Bang gave the audience a dose of their soulful southern rock. With stretched out, yowling vocals, big drums and even bigger guitar riffs, these guys are like a more affordable Kings of Leon. Though the audience didn’t seem that familiar with their tunes, many were at least able to sing along with single “Wild and Young” and pick up on the choruses to the rest of the catchy Americana rock songs.
After American Bang, was Manchester Orchestra, and with how often they play for this city, they might as well move here and take up residence. Like American Bang, they’re also from the South, but their sound takes on a completely different edge. I love them for the energy and intensity they bring to their music, but as they kicked off with their popular, “I’ve Got Friends,” I was dismayed with how rushed and sloppy this set seemed in comparison to previous performances. They’re a good band, so I know they can do better than what I heard Friday. Only “Shake It Out” seemed up to its usual standard.
Manchester Orchestra Set List: I’ve Got Friends, Pride, Shake It Out, Everything to Nothing, The River
Next up were the science loving prog rockers Coheed & Cambria who played a juggernaut of set list. Wailing, soaring guitar riffs made this the perfect music to rock your head up and down to and it was almost a shame that it was so hot that the mosh lovers couldn’t really get into it. The only issue here was that while the set sounded great down in the front, if you moved further out into the venue, the falsetto vocals got swallowed up. Not necessarily the band’s fault, but one of the pitfalls of an outdoor show.
Coheed & Cambria Set List: (Intro), The Broken, Here We Are Juggernaut, At The Killer, Three Evils, World of Lines, Made Out of Nothing, The Suffering, Pearl, Time Consumer, No World for Tomorrow, A Favor House Atlantic, Welcome Home
Watching Weezer, it is a little hard to believe that they’re seasoned veterans of the alt rock world with the youthful and downright jubilant energy they use in their performance. Their set of hit after hit though, served as a good reminder that these guys have been around for awhile and good with reason. Singer Rivers Cuomo danced around the stage, hopped on a trampoline, smashed instruments and every other spectacular performance trick you can think of, but the real treat came during the encore performance. Weezer mashed together MGMT‘s “Kids” with Lady Gaga‘s “Poker Face.” Brilliant (you can check it out below). I know that Weezer fans are divided and some even go as far to ignore the new music, but the thing about Weezer is that no matter what you say you like, all their music is fun.
Weezer Set List: Intro, Hash Pipe, Troublemaker, Undone, Surf Wax America, Woolly Mammoth, Trippin’ Down the Freeway, Perfect Situation, Dope Nose, Say It Ain’t So, Brian’s Theme, Can’t Stop Partying, Why Bother?, I Want You To, My Name Is Jonas, Beverly Hills//Hot for Teacher, Pork and Beans, MGMT’s “Kids”/Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”///Island in the Sun, Buddy Holly
To keep this site up and running, we reserve the sidebar for ads. In that case, put your ad here.
All that's needed is for you to fill out this lovely form.
All media content contained within PopWreckoning is meant to enhance reader appreciation for the art and medium. Please support artists you discover here by purchasing albums, attending shows and buying merch.
Contact us should you wish for certain media to be removed from PopWreckoning.
Concert Calendar
Nov 23, 2011
HaHa Tonka @ Recordbar, Kansas City MO
Nov 25, 2011
Thee Oh Sees @ The Granada, Lawrence KS
