Sounds Good: HUM, Gift of Gab @ Record Bar; David Bazan @ Bottleneck, WWIII Tour @ Uptown

This weekend has a little something for everyone. Yes, everyone…

The sportos, the motorheads, the geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies and dickheads. That pretty much covers all the readers here at KCC, doesn’t it?

So the question isn’t, "What are we going to do?" The question is, "What aren’t we going to do"?

Friday, November 4th

Hum at the RecordBar in KC

Remember these guys?  They’re from the ‘90s. They had that one awesome song, Stars, that combined perfectly all the elements that made alternative rock so cool – buzzing Pumpkins-esque guitars, slow then fast parts, and of course, angst.
These guys don’t really tour much anymore, but when they do the class of ’95 comes out in full force as evidenced by the RecordBar hosting two shows. The first is at 8:00 and the second at 11:00. I thought I heard the first one might already be sold out, so act now if you want to catch the show.  Oh, and it will be loud.

Saturday, November 5th

David Bazan at the Bottleneck in Lawrence

After a string of successes with indie band Pedro the Lion, Bazan set sail on his own, performing solo and writing songs with achingly honest lyrics.  His latest release, Strange Negotiations, abandons the stripped down solo thing and instead employs the skills of a backing band comprised mostly of Bazan’s friends and cohorts from his years on other bands.
The album has generally received a warm reception, with Andy Whitman of Paste magazine saying, “Strange Negotiations is a messy album chronicling a messy life. The conflict is still very much in process, superbly illuminated by wry observations, stellar writing, and raw rock ‘n’ roll.”

World War III Tour featuring Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria, & more at the Uptown in KC

You ready for this KC?  Allow me to answer that: No, you are not.  Unless, that is, you are into hard core nu-metal shredders who wear masks, dress all in black and would probably scare the crap out of your parents. So, maybe you are ready. 

Headliners, Hollywood Undead, recently released an album entitled American Tragedy that went as high as #4 on the Billboard 200, and #1 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Album chart. 

Asking Alexandria is a British metalcore act that features a heavy dose of electronica and rave-slamming.
The other bands on the bill are similarly hard and fast, party-till-you-puke, FU type acts.  And, oh yeah, KCC photographer Katie Grogan will be there getting her sweat on and documenting the whole dirty mess for your viewing pleasure.

Sunday, November 6th 

Gift of Gab at the RecordBar in KC

Best known for his membership in the rap group Blackalicious, Gift of Gab is often praised as one of the best MCs ever for his fast and fluid rapping, socially conscious lyrics, and overall style when he picks up a mic.
I saw him at the Bottleneck a few years ago and walked away impressed with the show. 

I have never, ever heard someone rap that fast and still enunciate every single word so clearly. 

That and his overall persona keeps the audience mesmerized and wanting more.  Before I knew it, the show was over, and the Gift of Gab had at least one more hardcore fan.