Sounds Good: Odd Future@Granada, Yawpers@BarnyardBeer, Lumineers@Liberty Hall

Some cool shows this week, but I’ve pared down my picks to just three.

Not included in my three is Bryan Adams Wednesday night at the Uptown, a show that I’m sure my next door neighbor’s mom will be at.  Nor Robert Earl Keen at the Granada in Lawrence, a show that I’m also sure my next door neighbor’s mom and a couple friends who went to college in Texas will be at (last time he played there it was mad packed, by the way).

It was tough, but I’ve made my decision…

Wednesday, September 19^th

Odd Future at the Granada in Lawrence

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no doubt that this LA hip-hop (and I use that term loosely) collective has turned some major heads over the past 12 months.  Though the outfit boasts dozens of artists, rappers, singers, actors, you name it, the ringleader is Tyler, The Creator who broke out in late 2010 with the viral hit Sandwitches.  A few months later he released his second album, Goblin, which included Sandwitches as well as probably his biggest hit, Yonkers, along with Bitch Suck Dick, and She.

Other OF members include Frank Ocean, who was the musical guest last weekend for the season premiere of SNL, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt (though I don’t think he’s currently touring with the group), Left Brain, Taco, and Domo Genesis.  I’m anticipating this packed show to be a hipster-nouveau sort of paradise, with wolf sweatshirts and chunky eyeglasses around every corner.  Is it ironic?

I don’t even know anymore…

Friday, September 21^st

The Yawpers at Barnyard Beer in Lawrence

This somewhat new Boulder alt-country act rolled through the Barnyard a few months ago and put on one helluva show.  I’m told. I was, unfortunately, not able to make it, but I hear that the band played their asses off then drank their faces off with a throng of boot stompers that stuck around after the set. Whiskey whiskey whiskey.  Check out some of their stuff here and decide for yourself.

I’m not going to make the same mistake twice, so if you want to come throw down with your favorite music douche (me) come on out to the ‘Yard, which for those not in the know, is located right behind The Merc, near Biemer’s in Lawrence.  And I’ll try to pull Lawrence’s newest and most stylish hipster (Hearne) out to the shindig as well, so he can buy everyone a round of Golden Ales.

Monday, September 24^th

The Lumineers at Liberty Hall in Lawrence

This show was originally scheduled for the Bottleneck but it sold out in about 2 seconds, so they moved it to Liberty Hall, which sold out in about another 3 seconds.  So if you don’t already have a ticket, now’s the time to start scrambling.

Relatively young as a band, this Denver folk outfit has released only one album, which dropped in April 2012.  But the thing is, the album tore up the charts, mostly on the strength of the jangly single Ho Hey, which received copious radio play and has a sort of Edward Sharpe sing-along quality to it.  Their stripped down, simple sound is one of their strengths.

“I just think people are enamored of going into a room and watching people play their own instruments and sing, rather than using Auto-Tune and a lot of digital equipment to get their sound across,” drummer Jeremiah Fraites explained in an interview with the Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot. “There is so much digital-ness all around us. People are almost taken aback when you do the opposite of that. It’s inspiring.”