popwreckoning

Kansas City rock trio Thieves performs live at the All Together Now Showcase at SXSW 2010. The group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the video below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their music would be heard by MTV.

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

Nearing on a year ago, after being dragged to a random show at a church (otherwise known as The Side Door in Lenexa KS), I was introduced the musical styling of Thieves. Being of the shorter persuasion of humans, I was unable to truly “see” that set, but in all actuality it was their sound that blew me away. Composed of Ryan Hiser (vocals/keys/guitar), Salar Rajabnik (guitar/electronics), Chet Kueffer (bass) and Wayne Zimmerman (drums), these four guys had figured out a way to break from the Midwestern norm and form a new sound.

This new sound quickly brought a new following. And as the shows multiplied, so did the fans and the requests for music. After the success of their first single “Swan Song,” the boys went back into the studio to finish up their first EP. And in November (a mere five months after that church show – at which time there was a single song on the MySpace), their EP /DIVIDER was released. More shows and more press quickly ensued, as they officially started to take KC by storm.

Well, that was about sixth months ago. It’s now May and a crowd gathered not only for the Riot Room’s local mini-fest, but for the final set with a Mr. Chet Kueffer. There are no bad feelings around the room, no one’s angered or throwing stones. Instead, there were more sentiments of loss mixed with new outlook for the future. Appropriately, I tracked down the man prior to the set and as well, a Mr. Ryan Hiser afterward. Both interviews spoke of nothing but positive vibes.

For Chet it was a lot on the decision: “It was something that I prayed about a lot the past few months and something that I finally came to the conclusion that this is what’s right for me, like it was what God wanted me to do.”

“I felt like it was time, like I was still supposed to play music, but didn’t have anything lined up. So, I contacted a few people after I made the decision, to see if anyone was looking for a player, ‘cause I wanted to keep to playing music.”

Parting ways with the band: “There’s definitely no ill will. No fighting over the silverware or anything.”

“The guys are excited for me and the possibility for a new opportunity. I have had a lot of peace about it so far.”

Then finally a few hints on the new project: “Unable to say much yet, because the new opportunity hasn’t really announced anything.”

“The role will be more of a ‘normal’ bassist. Standing stage right and adding in few backing vocals. It’ll be more like old school Chet, more pop music. Which is what I grew up on.”

For Ryan it was the next steps for Thieves:

“We don’t really know yet. Because the past years have just been go, go, go. So I think everybody’s just going to take a couple days. We haven’t even really talked about it, as we just found out it was Chet’s last show this week.”

The search for a new bassist: “That’s certainly an option, new bass player or new project. We’ve definitely gone back and forth. For me it’s like: Chet’s been along for the ride since the beginning, so there’s a part of it that feels slightly dishonest to move on without him. There was definitely chemistry there, as Chet is foundational. Just like everybody in the band has a very definitive role, but they all contribute in a way that nobody else in the project can. So it’s a question of what are the odds that we’ll find someone that will be, like that. Then at that point do you try to create new chemistry and start fresh?”

And lastly on continuing the current Thieves sound: “It’s hard to say. There are a lot of bands, where their whole thing is: here’s what they sound like, here’s what they look like. They just pick templates, then behave and sound like that template. For us, we all certainly have influences, but what comes out is when we try to dig in and not pick a template. A lot of what you hear is honest. So as far as the sound – that’s an extension of us. I’m sure whatever it is it’ll work.”

The night ended like normal for them, back at the band house. And set to feelings of sadness and hope. Sad for the end of an original line-up, which created some truly defining music, but hope for the new opportunities for Chet and the new potential set in front of remaining Thieves.

The same went for me.

-Rachel Fredrickson

FYI: The new project for Chet will most likely be decided upon within the next few days and will be officially announced within the next few weeks. Most likely via Facebook.

Kansas City’s T H I E V E S worked on this video for “Swan Song” with their friend Bret Palmer just before playing at SXSW. It features tight camera angles and an even tighter sound.

“Swan Song” is off the Divider EP, which is available for free download at isoldthetruth.com.

This is just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood blog to see our bands at SXSW today and tomorrow or we’ll stick the green goblin on you.

All bands are at the ATN Showcase at the Bayou Lounge. More information and full-line up here.

TODAY – FRIDAY, MARCH 20

The Grisly Hand play at 1: 40 p.m.

TOMORROW – SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Roman Numerals play at 11 a.m.

Thieves play at 3 p.m.

And for those of stuck at home instead of sunny Austin, perhaps revisiting memories of our Pre-SXSW showcase in Kansas City will warm you up.

We were recently sent these photos by Todd Zimmer:

In my time at Popwreckoning, I’ve been lucky enough to experience some fairly unforgettable events. To compare Bonnaroo to the Beaumont Club would simply be unfair. But last night, standing on the side of the stage watching six of my favorite local bands join forces to put together one of the strongest lineups I’ve ever seen locally, I couldn’t help but feel that the Pre-Sxsw Showcase might honestly outshine the best of our best achievements.

We honestly could not have done this without the help of countless people from the Kansas City music scene. Kcfreepress, The Pitch, Ink, Kansas City Star, Jayplay and Unews have all done a great job of taking care of promoting the show. 96.5 The Buzz was very generous in allowing bands to come on their shows and speak about our concert. We of course couldn’t have done this without the help of Pat Fielder of Velocity Marketing and the Beaumont Club for hosting us. Of course we have to have to thank the six amazing bands who took part in the event. Without them there is no show. Lastly, we have to thank Jeff Tafolla of Saddle Creek Records for judging the event.

At the end of the night, Tafolla cast his votes for the bands he felt would best represent Kansas City at the 5th Annual All Together Now Showcase at the Bayou Lounge in Austin Texas. Those bands that will be joining us in Austin, Texas will be:

Bands Picked By Jeff Tafolla:
The Grisly Hand
Roman Numerals

Previously Picked by Popwreckoning:
Thieves

Thank you to everyone who came out to support us, the show and the Kansas City Music Scene. Last night, our scene looked amazing. Lets take that momentum to Austin and show the world why Kansas City matters.  We look forward to doing this again.

Tonight, March 5, at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, Miss., PopWreckoning is pleased to present a Pre-SXSW battle of the bands. Winners of the evening’s showcase will be given the funds to go to the 2010 SXSW festival where they’ll perform at the ATN showcase. Jeff Tafolla of Saddle Creek Records will judge.

Thieves are playing tonight’s show at the Beaumont. They go on at 11 p.m.

The alternative act recently put up their critically-acclaimed Divider for free download. Thieves features Salar Rajabnik, Ryan Hiser, Chet Kueffer and Wayne Zimmerman.

Thieves: MySpace

It’s finally here! A few weeks ago, PopWreckoning announced that we would be hosting a battle of the bands competition to help bring local Kansas acts to play at a national showcase at the 2010 SXSW.  That showcase is happening TONIGHT!

These are the bands and set times of the bands playing tonight:

6:00 pm – Dreams are for Rookies
7:00 pm – The Grisly Hand
8:00 pm – Olympic Size
9:00 pm – Capybara
10:00 pm – Roman Numerals
11:00 pm – Thieves

Whether you are in KC and planning on going to the show or elsewhere in the country, click on those links for the above ands. They are all fantastic and we’d bring them all to SXSW if we could.

However this is a competition and to keep things fair, we will have a special guest judge selecting the winner’s of the evenings events. Jeff Tafolla from Saddle Creek Records will have this honor.

The winners of the showcase will then play at SXSW during the ATN Showcase, the only showcase where bands can be sure their music will be heard by MTV. This showcase also helps the great Invisible Children organization.

There are still tickets will be $10 at the door. A $2 minors fee will be added to anyone 18 and above, but under the age of 21. Come on out and support a great night of local music at the Beaumont Club.

We hope to see you there!

When I started PopWreckoning a little over two years ago, one of the main goals I set for the site was for it to be used as a tool to help bands succeed. It was very important to me to always remember what it felt like to play in a smaller do-it-yourself type band. Unlike web sites like Pitchfork and Absolute Punk, I wanted PopWreckoning to always keep a grasp on how thankless it can be to keep putting everything into music. I also wanted to reach a place with my project where I could take bands under my wing and offer them a larger stage than they otherwise might not have had. We wanted PopWreckoning to become a part of the Kansas City (and national) music scene, rather than just covering them.

I believe the 2010 PopWreckoning Pre-SXSW showcase, which will be held March 5, 2010 at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, will help us take a major step towards that goal.

The lineup will be as follows:

6:00 pm – Dreams are for Rookies
7:00 pm – The Grisly Hand
8:00 pm – Olympic Size
9:00 pm – Capybara
10:00 pm – Roman Numerals
11:00 pm – Thieves

Tickets will be ten dollars at the door. A $2 minors fee will be added to anyone 18 and above, but under the age of 21.

Tickets can be collected in three locations. They are as follows:

1. They can be purchased at the door on the day of show.
2. They can be purchased on Ticketmaster here.
3. They can be purchased directly from PopWreckoning by email joshua@popwreckoning.com.

Standing within the box that is the Kansas City music scene, Thieves seem to have gotten a little lost.  Coming from nowhere, they’re suddenly everywhere, earning their role in a complicated and sometimes closed-minded blue collar music city. However, it is important to make it perfectly clear that sometimes being lost here isn’t always a bad thing. It seems to me that if anything, this group of guys finds itself ahead of the curve, leaving behind a scene three to five years behind the national trend, which hangs its hat on the fame of The Get Up Kids. While the godfathers of the modern emo movement have earned and deserve our praise, the time has come to reestablish and rebuild our struggling scene. I have little doubt that this could be the band to do it.

One would swear when spinning their new disc, Dividers, released Saturday, November 5 at the Record Bar, that the sounds spilling from the speakers surely must be a previously established, national act.   While half the credit of this must go to the production values of  Ryan Cork and The Punch at Premier studio in Lenexa, Kansas, the band’s polished, atmospheric tendencies offer entertainment by themselves.

Take “Swan Song,” Divider‘s opening cut, for example.  Ticky-tack electronic drums skip down a path towards a haunting guitar and vocal combo that would make even Mars Volta proud.  Blended in a way that makes the band appear to be a united force, rather than a group of individuals caught up in guarding their images and defined roles, the album’s first track sets the tone for this epic, flowing journey into a musical conversation with Thieves.   It’s pretty clear, they have something to say.  They’re not just vocal and guitar solos. They are their message.

“In House. In Host,” the album’s second cut, it escalates the intensity of Divider a touch.  With a fist pumping fury and an air raid feel, Thieves scream, “I try to fight it but the devil is breaking down the door,”  over pounding drums and muted guitar.  If for no other reason, this song’s ability to condition the listener to adopt the semblance and spirit of the song is breathtaking and worth the listen.

From power struggle to power ballet, the album’s third cut, “While You Were Sleeping,” is at its best if listened to through headphones.  The listener’s ability to pick up every casual drum beat and urgent radio transmission is imperative.  The calm piano introduction and soft vocals remind me of something one might find on The Virgin Suicide soundtrack alongside any number of Air tracks.  I also find it without a doubt to be the strongest track on the album and one of the best local tracks of 2009.

Skipping over the very pretty musical track in “Transit,” Divider’s fifth and sixth tracks “Mecca”  and “E. 130″ sport a very European style signature which cohesively constructs a sound that mixes the likes Radiohead’s quitar structures and vocal whails with The Postal Service’s electronic instrumentation.  You can check it out for yourself, free of charge, by downloading the album here, until December 31, 2009.

Trust me, you should.

Track Listing:
01. Swan Song
02. In House. In Host
03. While You Were Sleeping
04. Transit
05. Mecca
06. E. 130

Thieves: website | myspace