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Ten Million Pounds of Sludge

By April Fleming

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The Feminine Artistique

Monday, April 28, 2008

While Lawrence prides itself on supporting the arts, gallery closings and less than stellar support for the art auction have caused some to wonder how deep that commitment runs. But the success of grassroots groups like the Fresh Produce Art Collective and the Ladies of Lawrence Artwork (LOLA) proves that artwork of all kinds is still very much in demand—artists may just need to find new ways to reach buyers. Kylie Grater, Leslie Kuluva, and Traci Furan join lawrence.com to discuss art and Art in Lawrence.

Lust for Power

Monday, April 21, 2008

After a decade in Lawrence, The Roseline have found a way to take the change inherent in a revolving-door college town and make it work to their advantage. Lineup changes, marriages, financial stress, and a little bit of old-fashioned libido might sound like ingredients for some pretty angsty listening, but instead the Lawrence band washes it all down with a sweet slide guitar and a hook—no screams here. For its second release, “Lust for Luster,” the band maintains its ease and rootsy Gram Parsons-esque flavor, but experience finds them taking fuller, warmer turns than their 2006 debut. Behind some of the changes is Ehren Starks (keyboards/percussion) joining Colin Halliburton on songwriting duties, as well as the full-time duties of Jeff Jackson (guitar) and James Pillar (drums). Previewing the new album, Halliburton, Starks, and bassist Paul Winn joined lawrence.com amid gab of finances, label shopping, and to whom KU really owes its tourney victory.

A Slit in Time

Monday, March 10, 2008

Punk pedigrees don't come any more bona fide than that of Ari Up. Lead singer of the Slits—the seminal all-girl British ’70s punk band that toured with the Clash and the Buzzcocks. If starting your own band at 14 years of age isn't punk enough, how about adding "step daughter to John Lydon of the Sex Pistols" to your resume and suddenly we have one punk as fuck Brit.

In 2006, 30 years after the formation of the Slits and nearly 25 years after their breakup, Ari decided to reform the band with orginal bassist Tessa Pollitt. On their way to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, the band will stop for an unlikely St. Patrick's Day show on The Replay patio. Ari graciously gave us a glimpse of her singular personality via phone.

Far from Over

Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

After years of being one of the most fun, party-rockin’ bands in the area, It’s Over is finally putting out an album. “That Girl” captures the KC foursome’s country-laced ’50s rock and even some of that bombast from in its live performances. With their release show at the Jazzhaus this weekend, bassist/vocalist Bill Sundahl and lead guitarist Ryan Donegan stopped by our podcast studio to preview the album.

A Bandit Returns

Monday, Jan. 14, 2008

Lawrence sometimes feels like a revolving door, with both students churning in and out and a steady stream of “townies” who’ve made up their mind to finally get the heck out of this damn town. Brad Shanks took his leave seven years ago, effectively disbanding Bandit Teeth, which he had formed with friends Charley Downey and Cobi Newton. He later formed Blood on the Wall with his sister Courtney and Miggy Littleton, which released two critically acclaimed albums and toured last year with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Lawrence’s allure eventually pulled Shanks back, and since his return the reformed Bandit Teeth trio has revived their energetic take on garage and punk rock. The band is currently recording and anticipates releasing its first 7" next year.

Shanks, Downey and Zach Campbell recently joined lawrence.com to chat about reforming, their favorite music and their secret affection for one another.

Ghosty’s Got the ‘Answers’

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since the members of Ghosty—one of Lawrence’s most beloved homegrown bands—packed up, going to Kansas City.

This fivesome is still deeply connected to Lawrence, however, and for the release of their new album we will be treated to two shows in a week—and this from a band that spreads out appearances judiciously.

Ghosty’s fifth release, “Answers,” is its first on OxBlood Records, the local label run by Robert Moore (of Sonic Spectrum on 96.5 FM) and Megan Hamilton, and its first produced by another noted local, Paul Malinowski.

The album is awash with this locale—from its artwork to the lyrics, which marinate on the notion of place, the problem of starting over, and if one can fairly blame geography for his or her problems. Just a few days shy of Christmas, lead singer Andrew Connor invited lawrence.com into the house he shares with artist and fiancée Liz Gardner to chat...

Kinetik Energy

Monday, Dec. 10, 2007

For the past few years the Kinetiks have been steadily winning fans in Lawrence and KC for their high-energy, girl-fronted take on punk, rock, and dance music. The band’s shows are as much about getting the audience moving as they are playing music. The band itself is hardly afraid to break a sweat—there is no shortage of clapping, jumping, or dancing on stage. The Kinetiks are about to release “Music History,” their second EP and their first foray into studio recording. The EP won’t disappoint fans of the band’s live show—it’s packed with sharp beats, fun lyrics, and harmonies reminiscent of bands like Sleater-Kinney.

Schoolhouse Rock

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007

Some days, simply waking up can slay the most capable of adults. Some of us may only have work to manage, and that can definitely be enough—but we’re not Matt Pryor. Since forming The New Amsterdams in 2000, the band has managed to release nearly an album a year, whether under that name or under the moniker of the kid-centric version of the Ams, The Terrible Twos. Add three young children to Pryor’s family, two large dogs and commitments to the Little Red Schoolhouse—suddenly ‘busy’ becomes relative.

The New Ams have been organizing shows as fundraisers for the school that learns Pryor’s kids. The Little Red Schoolhouse, or The Lawrence Community Nursery School, or LCNS, functions as a co-op, requiring more parental involvement than your average nursery school. This includes fundraising, and rather than a traditional bake sale or a 5K, Pryor and his bandmates have taken on playing shows as their way of contributing to the school’s effort.

Along the way, the band has nurtured an interest in writing and performing music for children, eventually forming a pseudo-side project in The Terrible Twos. As the two acts are essentially the same band, they tour together. The bands’ most recent tour featured Pryor’s three-year-old, Elliot, on maracas.

The members of The New Amsterdams recently invited lawrence.com over to their practice space to talk about education, playing in front of those small fries, and to play some news songs.

Backpedaling

Monday, Nov. 12, 2007

Everyone’s got at least one thing in his or her life that could use a serious redo, but in most circumstances physics or the irreversible march of time renders that dream impossible. One can’t take back a bad relationship or a bad decision—but in the case of the Pedaljets, the members have gotten their chance at a big do-over for their second album, which in large part led to their breakup in 1990.

The Pedaljets came into their own back in the ’80s, touring as an independent band among the likes of Hüsker Dü and the Replacements. The band garnered critical acclaim with the 1988 release of “Today Today,” but circumstances surrounding the release of their self-titled second album and the weariness from overtouring resulted in an untimely breakup. Yet, knocking on 17 years later, the band has been granted second life thanks to the producing efforts of ex-Shiner member Paul Malinowski and the interest of local tastemakers and Oxblood Records entrepreneurs Robert Moore (of Sonic Spectrum) and Megan Hamilton, who chose to release the record.

The Pedaljets (and Malinowski, briefly) sat down with lawrence.com recently at Midwestern Musical Company in midtown KC to discuss old times (including a fabulous true-life story about Prince) and the re-recording of their fated second album.

Gimme Moore

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007

Robert Moore, longtime host of Kansas City’s Sonic Spectrum radio show on KCUR, surprised and saddened listeners earlier this summer when he announced he was leaving the NPR affiliate and taking his show with him. After four plus years navigating the left side of the dial with knowledge honed with years at record labels and in radio, Moore decided it was time for a change.

Tired of going it alone, he thought it may have been the end to his live broadcast, which incorporated an impressive range of current independent music and influential gems of the past. Sonic Spectrum was part of a rare club of free-form radio music programs—the anti-corporate antidote to Top-40 fatigue. So in a move nearly as surprising (and quick) as his departure, Moore’s show has been brought new life—not by another non-profit, but by the much-maligned and Clear Channel-owned KRBZ. Yep, 96.5 The Buzz. Who knew?

On a rainy day in KC, Moore sat with us over lunch at the Brick to talk about what’s behind the change in call letters, about his label (Oxblood Records) and about the local music scene.

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