Kansas City Blog

REVIEW BY ABBIE STUTZER

Last night at the Replay, each bands' show had a unique quality. LoFi had a calm and intimate act; the Hot Toddies had a subtly dirty and reserved set, and the Dead Girls had a powerful, steady performance.

Abbie Stutzer

Lonnie Fisher (left) and Cody Henry get LoFi.

Lonnie Fisher (vocal, guitar), former member of Lonnie Fisher and the Funeral and Sturgeon Mill, and Cody Henry (vocals, bass), started off the evening with their quiet, but strong semi-acoustic set. LoFi sat atop worn red chairs, and played their set with no frills. During their simple but solid performance, Anderson and Henry weaved in and out of songs, such as "Fascination," while drinking from a PBR can and beer pitcher, respectively.

Towards the end of the set, Fisher thanked the audience and said he knew he was playing among many friends. After "Kill Yourself or I Will," Fisher introduced the next act, the Hot Toddies.

The Toddies, Heidi Bodeson (bass, vocals), Erin Skidmore (guitar, vocals), Sylvia Hurtado (drums) and Jessica Wright (vocals, keyboard, guitar, and tambourine) quaintly walked on stage. The Oakland, Calif. natives were timid during their first few songs, but warmed up to the audience once spectators began to dance.

The Toddies' pop, doo-wop sound rang through the Replay's tiny interior. Their songs were about fun and simple things, such as cars, boys, traveling, and surfing.

During the Toddies' performance of the Beatles song, "Please Please Me," the crowd reached its peak. People clumped around the stage and settled into the bars' dingy stools.

Abbie Stutzer

The Hot Toddies are the first girl band in space.

Their most unforgettable song by far was "HTML." The lead Toddie spoke-sung the song's pivotal moment: Last night while you were offline, I Googled your name and I found out that you're a 40-year-old innertube salesman from Ohio! WTF?! I thought you were the one for me, but you're just a major loser, and now I will always be... lonely girl 15.

The Hot Toddies' songs mixed sweet, 1950s sugar-pop melodies with dirty, "bad girl" lyrics. Their Beach Boys-meets-Weezer aesthetic proved to be a success. The Toddies left the stage happy, and with some new fans in tow.

After the Toddies' played, some of the audience left. This may have been because the Hot Toddies were originally billed as the headliner. Although the lineup was switched, the Dead Girls held the attention of those who remained.

The alt-pop Lawrence band (formerly Dead Girls Ruin Everything, as you may know by now) recently released two EPs, Hair Trigger and Te Quiero. Their full-length album will be released this fall.

During the beginning of the Dead Girls' set, two young ladies, one in skinny, yellow pants and sneakers, and the other in an aqua-blue strapless dress and white-printed stilettos, spun and danced.

After seeing Cameron Hawk (guitar, vocals), Nick Colby (bass), JoJo Longbottom (guitar, vocals) and Eric Melin (drums) play, I can without a doubt state that they are remarkable musicians. The Girls' drums and bass rang with metronomic precision, and their guitars and vocals swung with harmonious perfection.

From what I could tell, the crowd reacted most favorably to the Girl's newer songs: "Te Quiero," "Chasing Clouds," and "Hair Trigger."

Abbie Stutzer

The Girls played succinct pop anthems and rock ballads back to back, which diversified the show's pace and kept the Tuesday-night crowd on its toes.

It was a good night for pop.

Dead Girls set list:

Abbie Stutzer

Cameron Hawk is a power pop bird of prey.

Sun Kills Moon
What's Another
You Ignited
Te Quiero
Chasing Clouds
Look at Her
Hair Trigger
Later
Tied to Trax
Last Words
Staircase
Out of Earshot

Hot Toddies set list:

Sarah
Photosynthesis
French ("new song with French lyrics," they said)
Please Please Me
HTML
Rocker Girl
Only with You
Seattle
Jag
The Surf Song