You Should Definitely Go To A Show This Weekend

There are a handful of really great shows coming up over the next few days in Kansas City and Lawrence. If you like live music there is plenty for you to find starting tomorrow night in Lawrence.

Local favorites Radkey will be at the Eighth Street Taproom in Lawrence tomorrow, January 31st. They're headlining a show with other locals Bloodbirds and Ponyboy. opening.

On Friday there are options in Kansas City and Lawrence. Again at the Eighth St. Taproom in Lawrence are two great local bands in Hospital Ships and Fourth of July.

On Friday in Kansas City are two recommended shows. First off are national act American Aquarium at Knuckleheads in KC. American Aquarium are an alt-country band in the same vein as Dawes, Lucero or Drive-By Truckers. The show is in the smaller back room at Knuckleheads so make sure you get tickets ahead of time if you want to go. Also in KC on Friday is the second Midcoast Takeover benefit show. Appearing at Czar Bar that night will be The Late Night Callers, Tiny Horse, Jorge Arana Trio and Eyelit.

On Saturday there are a trio of fantastic shows in Lawrence in case you're sad about missing out on the postponed Morrissey show. First off is Arizona's Calexico at The Granada. I've seen Calexico before a few times and they put on an amazing live show. At the Bottleneck on Saturday is Assembly of Dust, a blues/r&b rock band from New York who are also known for their great live shows. Also in Lawrence is my all time favorite Kansas band The Appleseed Cast who will be playing a show at The Replay. They're kicking off a short Texas living room tour in Lawrence and are finishing up their 7th LP which should be out later this year.

Finally, on Sunday night there is a good show worth checking out at The Riot Room. The Growlers are headlining an eclectic bill with Jaill and locals Radkey opening.

You really have no excuse not to see at least one great live show this weekend!

New Song: Potty Mouth - 'Damage'

My love for all-girl punk pioneers Sleater-Kinney has given me an affinity for all-girl punk groups. There aren't a ton of them around worth listening to so I was excited when I first heard Potty Mouth. From the same area of Massachusetts as alt-rock legends J. Mascis and Thurston Moore, Potty Mouth has some serious regional lineage to live up to. Fortunately they write really great songs. They currently have one EP called Sun Damage and are in the process of finishing up their full length album which will be out later in 2013.

Check out the video for the song 'Damage' below.

Concert Announcement: The xx

Another fantastic concert announcement for the KC area as Britain's The xx will be at the Uptown Theater in KC on Tuesday, June 4th. This is the band's first appearance in the KC or Lawrence area and will surely be an eventual sellout. Tickets go on sale this Friday.

The xx - 'Intro'

New Song: Cowboy Indian Bear - 'Does Anybody See You Out?'

Easily one of the best local bands around, Lawrence's Cowboy Indian Bear are getting ready to release their second album Live Old, Die Young this spring. If the first single is any indication it should be a great album.

Stream the single 'Does Anybody See You Out?' below and check them out live on Friday, February 15th at The Uptown Theater. They'll be performing with another great local band Quiet Corral for 8th annual JayRock benefit show which raises money for the JayDoc free clinic.

Upcoming Show: The Eastern Sea

Austin, Texas band The Eastern Sea sound like a band on the brink of becoming huge. The band's second album, Plague, just found it's way into my rotation recently, but it would have been hard not to put it pretty high on my favorite albums of 2012 list. The songwriting and arrangements on the album sound like a seasoned band that's been together for a decade rather than an indie band touring behind only their second album.

The Eastern Sea tour supporting The Kopecky Family band will make a stop on Monday, January 21st in Lawrence at The Bottleneck. Check out the track 'The Match' below and catch them in Lawrence on Monday before they become really big.

The Eastern Sea - 'The Match'

New Song: Junip - 'Line Of Fire'

If you aren't already familiar with Jose Gonzalez, he's most famous for his amazing cover of The Knife's 'Heartbeats'. As good as his solo stuff is, I really enjoy the stuff he does with his full band Junip. They recently announced their second full-length album which comes out on April 23rd. You can hear the fantastic first single 'Line Of Fire' below.

Concert Announcement: Animal Collective/Dan Deacon

Although their last album was a bit of a disappointment  it's still exciting to see that Animal Collective are coming through KC on their newly announced tour. They'll be at the Midland on Thursday, March 21st with opening support from Dan Deacon.

Animal Collective - 'Today's Supernatural'

New Song: Jim James - 'A New Life'

I couldn't go without mentioning the fact that My Morning Jacket's Jim James has his first full-length solo LP coming out on February 5th. James has also allowed Rolling Stone to stream the second single from the album, Regions of Light and Sound of God. Go HERE to check out 'A New Life' and check out the first single 'Know Till Now' below.

Jim James - 'Know Till Now'

The Return of David Bowie

Although at one time I thought we might never hear new music from David Bowie ever again, he surprised everyone by announcing a new album late last night. His first new album in 10 years, The Next Day will be released in the US on March 12th and can be pre-ordered here.

He also already released the first single and video from the album. Check out 'Where Are We Now' below.

New Song/Video: Toro Y Moi - 'Say That'

Yet another highly anticipated album of 2013 is Toro Y Moi's third full length album, Anything In Return. When a genre like Chillwave emerges quickly, it usually dies quickly too and the bands that survive that death are always worth your time. One of the few bands to do just that is Toro Y Moi and he'll continue his rise with the release of the excellent Anything In Return on January 22nd.

He's released a video for the first single from the album, titled 'Say That'. The song and video are both pretty great. Check out the video below and see him live at The Granada in Lawrence on February 21st.

Concert Announcement: Sigur Rós

One of the top 5 live bands I've ever seen, Sigur Rós will be coming through KC with a stop at Starlight Theatre on April 4th. I cannot express what an amazing experience a live Sigur Rós show is so this could be one of the best concerts of the year without a doubt.

Sigur Rós - 'Hoppipolla'

Upcoming Show: Father John Misty

Just one last reminder from me about a great show this coming Monday night in Lawrence. Former Fleet Foxes drummer and established solo artists Father John Misty (J. Tillman) will be at the Bottleneck. His debut album as Father John Misty, Fear Fun, was my #4 album of 2012 and he's also responsible for my favorite song of the year with 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings'.

Check out the video below and don't miss this show!

New Song/Video: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'We No Who U R'

Another album that I'm eagerly anticipating is the return of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds with their album Push The Sky Away (out February 19th).  Although Cave hasn't taken a break from making music, this is the first Bad Seeds album since 2008's Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

The first single from the album is 'We No Who U R' and it's definitely more on the ballad side of the Cave spectrum, which honestly is some of my favorite stuff of his.  Check out the video below.

New Song: Local Natives - 'Heavy Feet'

One of the albums coming out in early 2013 I'm most excited about is the sophomore album from Local Natives. They've been mentioned here a few times and they made one of my top 10 favorite albums of 2010. The second single they've released in anticipation of their new album (Hummingbird, out on 1/29) is fantastic and should give you a peak at what's in store on the new record. Listen to 'Heavy Feet' below.