New Music: Is Paris Burning - Wild b​/​w This City

Everyone always talks up their local music scene, but I can honestly say there are more great bands coming out of Kansas City than I've ever heard before. Or maybe I'm just paying closer attention nowadays. Either way the newest band that you are soon to see all over KC is Is Paris Burning. If you dig jangly guitars with great melodies and vocals, you'll like the two DIY tracks they've recorded so far. I'm really excited to hear more from this band in the coming months.

The band currently has a digital single out. Check out the two tracks below and download them here or from their Bandcamp page. Also, check them out on Wednesday, March 27 at Czar Bar with Pocket Vinyl. If any new shows are announced for Is Paris Burning, I'll add them to the Concert Calendar.

RIP Jason Molina

Damn.

In looking through my blogs archive, I've realized that I haven't written about Jason Molina on my here before. It's really disappointing that the first time I do is to write about his passing. If you aren't familiar with Jason Molina you can catch up via his Wikipedia page. He was absolutely genius songwriter and has recorded albums under his own name in addition to albums as Magnolia Electric Co. and Songs: Ohia. No one wrote more about their demons and struggling with loneliness and sorrow than Jason Molina and those demons are unfortunately what brought his life to an end way, way too fucking early.

I've had a Spotify playlist of all of my favorite songs of his for a while and I thought today might be a good day to share that link.

Songs: Ohia - 'Farewell Transmission'

New Music: Palma Violets - 180

I've never been to SXSW, but I do enjoy reading and following bloggers/writers/twitterers that attend each year to see what bands build some hype while in Austin. This year I saw multiple people mention a band from the UK called Palma Violets. The thing that perked my ears up was to hear them described as England's version of The Replacements. High praise indeed for a band that is already entering dangerous territory of being over-hyped in their homeland.

The Replacements comparison doesn't resonate much for me beyond the fact that they both seem like really great, sloppy & drunken bar bands. I hear a more rocking version of The Walkmen if I had to compare them to anyone. Either way Palma Violets write really great rock songs with catchy hooks and they've put out a freaking fantastic debut album in 180.

According to the SXSW twitter buzz, Palma Violets are also known for putting on great live shows too, so if they make their way through Lawrence or KC, I'll let you know. In the meantime, check out their debut album as well as the video for the first track off the album, 'Best of Friends' below.

Palma Violets - 'Best of Friends'

Middle of the Map Festival Band Preview: Iceage

Even though the birth of my first child will most likely prevent me from attending the third annual Middle Of The Map Festival, I wanted to preview some of the bands I'd be looking forward to seeing over the three day festival.

When the lineup was first announced, I was asked what band would I recommend seeing that might be a hidden gem like Fucked Up was last year for many people. Without hesitation I immediately said Denmark's Iceage. They made some waves with their debut album, New Brigade, which is 30 minutes straight of brutal punk rock. With the release of their second album You're Nothing, they are sure to get even more national attention. You're Nothing is already one of my top 3 albums of the year and if you enjoy punk or hardcore in any shape or form, you'll really dig Iceage.

Check out the video for the first track off the new album 'Ecstasy' below.

Iceage - 'Ecstacy'

New Song/Video - The ACBs - 'Television'

Kansas City band The ACBs are back with a brand new album. Technically the bands third album (but second with this same lineup) Little Leaves is out now and available to stream or purchase HERE. The album is great and if you get a chance to see them live, definitely do so (they don't currently have any live dates on their website, but check back with our concert calendar for upcoming dates in the future).

In the meantime, check out the video for the first single of the album, 'Television' below.

The ACBs - 'Television'

New Song: The Appleseed Cast - 'Great Lake Derelict'

Always exciting news when I get a chance to post the first single from my favorite local band of all-time's new album. Lawrence's The Appleseed Cast have been around for a long time now and although they initially were thrown into the 'emo' genre bucket, they've moved more towards the post-rock sound in the past few years. Their new album, Illumination Ritual, is out on April 23rd on Graveface Records. Check out the first single 'Great Lake Derelict' below and don't miss them at Middle of the Map.

Concert Announcement: Japandroids

Vancouver duo Japandroids will be making their way through Lawrence for the third time (that I'm aware of) in the past few years. Previously they've headlined their own show in 2010 at the Bottleneck and then opened for The Walkmen at the Bottleneck as well. This time they're headlining a show at The Granada on Wednesday, May 29th. Japandroids put out my favorite album of 2012 and I've seen them live before so I can't recommend this show enough.

Opening the show is another band I've seen multiple times live in A Place To Bury Strangers. They are without a doubt one of the loudest live bands I've ever seen so bring some earplugs.

Japandroids - 'The House That Heaven Built'

Upcoming Show: Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats

One of my favorite genres of music and one that I promote heavily here is Americana, Alt-country rock music. Any time a new band comes along through town that falls into that group, I always try to make a note of it here on the blog. This time I'm excited to write about Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats. Hailing from Boise, Idaho, Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats make music for that any fans of Drive-By Truckers, Lucero, American Aquarium or Uncle Tupelo would love.

They are playing two shows in Kansas in early March. They'll be at The Replay in Lawrence on Friday, March 8th in what looks to be an earlier show from The Replay's website. They're also playing a show at John Barleycorn's in Wichita the next night on Saturday, the 9th.

Check out the video/single for the track GreyHound below!

Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats - 'GreyHound'