It's been a great week for live music here in the KC
area.  I'm riding high this morning after seeing the
Finn Brothers for the first time last night.  I've
been a fan since Crowded House emerged in 1986 (and I
loved "I Got You" before that), so this was a treat
I've waited too long for.  And they were fantastic.  I
knew there would be great songs, because I've heard
most of them before.  I knew the brotherly harmonies
would be dead on.  I was sure that they would be
charming onstage, joking easily with each other and
the audience.  I did *not* know that Neil Finn was
such a badass on guitar.  Just excellent all around.

Last weekend I got to see Sharon Jones and the
Dap-Kings, who were a total retro-funk delight.  For
those unfamiliar with them, they make
authentic-sounding old-school funk in the James Brown
style.  Sharon Jones is a hell of an engaging
frontwoman, too, with real pipes.  Some might fault
them for being too stuck in the past--they're like the
R&B version of the Resonars or something--but the
stuff sounds alive and absolutely vital in concert. 
So much fun.

The other night was my first Bettie Serveert show,
after about 12 years of appreciating their recorded
output.  It wasn't the best show I've seen lately, but
the competition is fierce.  I love Carol Van Dijk's
voice, and I could just kind of get lost in the guitar
swirls.  Good to finally see them.

Tonight I'm heading up to Ames, Iowa, to see the first
reunion gig anywhere by Mark Olson and Gary Louris of
the Jayhawks.  I just know this will be great.  The
venue (the Maintenance Shop) is one of my favorite
places to see bands--nice and intimate, with excellent
sound.

And tomorrow night I'll check out the first show by
Blackpool Lights, whose web page (
http://www.blackpoollights.com/ ) was previously
mentioned here on Audities by someone else (Lauree, I
think).  That band's members have been in the Get Up
Kids, Ultimate Fakebook, the Creature Comforts, and
the Belles, among others, and the demos on the web
page are promising.  I expect a sparkling debut.

All this, and the new Wedding Present album came out
this week, too.  Next week is slower, but Visqueen is
stopping in town.  I'm enjoying my good fortune.

Randy

P.S.  As long as Myspace is being discussed, allow me
to suggest the Myspace page of Dead Girls Ruin
Everything:

http://www.myspace.com/deadgirlsruineverything

DGRE has the rhythm section from Ultimate Fakebook and
the leads from Podstar.  They've been together for a
few months and are working on their debut record now.



		
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