A hodgepodge of local rock hit the Riot Room last Friday night, and the ol' Wayward Son was in top form, taking photos, throwing back PBRs and other intoxicating things, saying and doing ridiculous things he doesn't remember, and, you know, the usual live-music-joint shenanigans. If you were there, you better make sure you're not in this slideshow. Whoa, nelly.
Go Go Gadget Slideshow: Last Friday at the Riot Room.
Notes:
Four bands made for a hefty bill, and I was sore disappointed when I arrived during the tail end of the Little Lost & Innocents' set, which had begun at 9:45. This fairly new garage-pop, Nuggets-stylin' group has good local buzz and recently landed the opening slot for the Black Hollies at the Record Bar on May 12. Won't wanna miss that. The Little Lost ones seem to be part of a growing garage a' go-go (or whatever you wanna call it) scene here in KC, which includes the Pink Socks and the Black Tarantulas and the currently in-flux Rich Boys. And that's fine with me. Bring that shit on.
Up next, Lights & Siren brought the darkness -- and brought the women, being the first of the next three acts to feature two or more lady members. This group keeps getting better, refining itsaggressive, noisy, crackling, sometimes frightening sound that evokes My Bloody Valentine, dreampop, plasma balls and evil thoughts but is still catchy. I can't wait for these locals to record an album -- it's been how long since that first Anvil Chorus EP?
Third on the bill was Baltimore, Maryland, act Karmella's Game. Can't say I dug it too much. The band's chirpy, adolescent vocals, relentlessly squiggly synth hooks and melodramatic, punk-ish pop recalled Reggie & the Full Effect and its leagues of MySpace friends. Maybe the kiddies still like this stuff, I don't know.
Last on the bill was Lawrence band the Kinetiks, a group that I'm ambivalent about. I like the style and chutzpah and guitar-rockin' of frontwoman Spencer Goertz-Giffen, and I like that the group's music dares to be a bit weird. But it's not always listenable. Similar to the boingy, creepy music of the Slits, the Kinetiks stand somewhere between dancey, poppy rock and strange, art rock. Squonky guitar and rubbery basslines team up with disco-beat drums on just about every song, producing trancelike, rhythmic monotony. The vocals are bizarre and beguiling; the band oozes personality in some areas and lacks it overall in the instrumentation. Some sonic variety would help the band a lot.
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