If you went to the Jackpot on Friday night, you got a giant dose of Topeka. I really don't think I've been to a party this year as loud and crazy as Jockin My Fresh 2.

I'm not sure if it was the party bus full of Topekans that showed up, or if it was the fact that Sneakhype, Bear Club and oh!mr just know how to throw a good party, but this event was out of sight.

We arrived just in time to see Ebony Tusks take the stage. We're all used to seeing Marty in Cowboy Indian Bear, but under Ebony Tusks he's a completely different performer. He's very strong and commanding, and when he demanded everyone come to the front, they did it immediately without batting an eye. One of the songs, "Everybody Run," was about Topeka and excited Marty's hometown crowd. The set was short but energetic.

Da Skeptics continued the Topeka hometown pride with their set, constantly throwing out "Top City!" or "Top Town!" chants all night. By this point the party was getting bigger and crazier with every passing minute, and it didn't take long before we were pressed up against the wall, only able to give friendly glances and nods to our friends passing through. There were about 8 girls for every guy, and everybody looked good. This is how Bear Club throws a party. Get used to it.

Da Skeptics kept the party good and rolling, but the true Belle of the Ball was Stik Figa. I haven't been this entertained in ages. Everything out of this guy's mouth was so clever and hysterical. Talk about someone who makes a connection with the crowd! He was constantly cracking jokes and throwing out the one-liners to keep everyone going.

I thought the other two acts had hometown pride, but this guy left them all behind in that category. Stik Figa is the ultimate good natured kid, and after being treated to some serious beat boxing and incredibly snappy lyrics, I can tell you that this guy is pure talent through and through.

If you get a chance to see Stik Figa, go. You won't regret it. In fact, if you get the chance to go to a Sneakhype/Bear Club/oh!mr party, go. You're pretty much guaranteed to have a good time.

Dana Halferty is a bit of a traveler. When I caught up with the lead singer of Parlours, she had just flown in from Guatemala, stopped in Chicago and was en route to Iowa. Her next stop? Lawrence.

Parlours is set to take the stage at the Jackpot on Superbowl Sunday with a host of other acts including Sam Billen, Canby and Seafarer. She's toured with fellow bandmate Scott Yoshimura before, but this time the full band is heading out on tour. "I just like the full band dynamic," said Halferty. "I think our songs are at their best in the full form. It's just a fun dynamic to have everyone there."

Although this will be the Iowa band's first time playing in Lawrence, the town isn't foreign to Halferty. It's held a soft spot in her heart when it comes to music. "One of my favorite bands is The Appleseed Cast," said Halferty. "So I've always respected Lawrence's music scene." She also noted another area band she used to listen to nonstop, The Belles. "It's just fun to go somewhere where you're actually somewhat aware of what's going on musically."

For Halferty, Lawrence also plays a role in how she connects with other people, which is good for her songwriting. "Most of my songs are very relationally inspired," said Halferty of her wistful and romantic music. "I'd say about 80 percent of the time they're about somebody specific in a situation I encountered." Such was the case for the band's most popular song 'I Dream of Chicago,' which Halferty wrote while on a train to Chicago.

Don't expect Parlours to stick around for too long. After the Lawrence show, they have seven more cities to hit up in their tour. Of course, with Halferty, hitting the road is almost expected now, what with the 32 states she visited last year. "I kind of have a travel bug, so I never stay still for too long."

To catch Parlours while you still can, head to the Jackpot on Superbowl Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Oh, and bring your appetite. Because they're also hosting a potluck.

Nothing gets me more excited than chicks who play guitar and do it well. So it's no wonder I got off the couch Sunday night to watch No Joy at the Jackpot.

Before No Joy took on Lawrence, US Beefheart took the stage.

This is one of those bands where various folks from different local bands get together to experiment and try a little something new. I honestly and genuinely hope this isn't just some temporary experiment, because these guys were AWESOME.

It started out with some roaring over a beautiful wall of noise, then suddenly got fast and intense. They spent much of their time thrashing onstage while steadily increasing the pace, and the roaring and wailing never stopped. Their energy was through the roof! I love it when I go to a show to see a band, and then the opener blows me away (especially when they're local). If they get together for another show, for the love of God SEE THEM. You will have a most fantastic time.

If you are a young adolescent woman and you want to play guitar, you'd want to be in No Joy. These women were truly the queens of cool, from the mess of tangled hair covering their eyes to the mess of pedals at their feet. They were dressed as though they stepped straight out of the 90's grunge scene and utterly did not care. They played enough reverb to make my ears bleed, and their songs were one long continuous section of noise connecting to another.

It seemed so effortless for them, I half expected them to do this with their eyes closed. The fans that were there were few, but dedicated, nodding their heads in agreement with the sleepy-eyed maidens onstage. I couldn't help but join in, I was developing a major crush on these women. They reminded me of everything I wanted to be in high school. In fact, I wish I had known them in high school. They reminded me of Best Coast, but instead of being cute and polite, they were cool, calm and didn't give a damn.

At the end of their set, they started packing up while noise was still coming out of their amps, without so much as looking up at the crowd. It was that "Let's blow this taco stand and get the hell out of here" kind of attitude. Like one of those scenes in an action movie where the star walks away from an explosion without looking back. Normally I'd take offense to an attitude like that, but it just worked for these women, who had me eating out of the palm of their hand.

On Friday night Lawrencians decked in sequins and feathers filled Downtown Lawrence to start a new year, but you could have fooled me. With the bands I saw gracing the stage, it (happily) felt like 2004.

We packed like sardines (very nicely dressed sardines) into the Jackpot to see the return of Minus Story. The last time I saw them perform was in the very same spot at the Jackpot about six years ago.

They played all my sentimental favorites, and it wasn't just me. One person I talked to said she felt like the band played her "Best Of Minus Story" list. Joyless Joyless, Open Your Eyes, You Were On My Side....These were songs I loved watching them perform live, songs I would rush home to learn on the piano in my younger days.

It was absolutely effortless for Minus Story to sound beautiful like that, and that same effortlessness was there on New Year's Eve. With a conversational frontman who helped the audience feel very at home, you couldn't help but strive to be well to one another, as we all raised our glasses above the tinsel towards the band.

We decided to try and shuffle back and forth between the Jackpot and the Replay. The Jackpot had mostly indie rock, the Replay had metal.

You could immediately sense a change in the attitude at the Replay. Folks were just a little more pushy, and I saw more than one person succumb to alcohol when they fell to the floor. They were dropping like flies! I wanted to avoid the mess and watch the band.

We went inside just in time to catch the end of Wrath and Ruin. I like them. A lot. They performed around a tight group of fans, two of which were rocking out in front. I only wish that the vocals were louder. I liked the singer, but could barely hear him, so I hope the next time I see Wrath and Ruin they turn it up, because I"m pretty sure it'll melt my face off.

By the time we made it back inside to the Jackpot, The Willnots had the folks feeling good. They counted down to midnight, we all exchanged some smooches, and the band played on until local hip hop favorite Approach took the stage.

Approach kicked off the new year proper. He began the set perched up high, jumping around with an energy that can't be matched. Approach is also someone I've watched over the last few years, bringing in even more happy waves of nostalgia. He eventually left his perch to get in with the crowd and get them worked up.

We were too cold to walk to any other venues, and kept it tight between the Replay and the Jackpot. But eventually the Replay became just a bit too crowded and out of on control, so we stayed at the Jackpot and ended the night with the sounds of the Appleseed Cast in the background. They were, as always, atmospheric, wonderful, inspiring and reminded me why I call this city home.

In one night i saw indie rock, metal and hip hop. I would have seen more had it not been so cold, but it was still a true Lawrence party done right. I didn't see one sour face at the Jackpot, everyone was happily drinking their troubles away with Lawrence's finest onstage. Isn't that how we're supposed to start the new year? Surrounded by our old friends, but looking forward? Auld Lang Syne was right...we shouldn't forget the old acquaintances. I'm happily immersed in musicians that hold their ground here in Lawrence.

I don't know if you've noticed, but something happened during this past year of shows. Bands became a little more respectful and polite. I used to see a lot of musicians who just "expected" you to come out to see them play. But this year, they were actually grateful you were there.

The attitude started with a couple of bands, and then it spread. By the end of the year I could go to a show and find smiles as far as they eye could see.

The camaraderie has been fantastic, and held steady all year long. In turn, I am grateful. I am grateful for every single musician in Lawrence. You guys really picked yourselves up, dusted yourselves off and got to work. Every sound that came off of the stage at the Jackpot/Replay/Bottleneck/Granada/Taproom/Liberty Hall meant a little more to me this year. And it's because the attitude in Lawrence was so amazing.

Here are my top ten favorite shows I was lucky to attend in Lawrence and Kansas City this year.

10. Boris

In August Boris came in all their Japanese glory to the Granada to melt my face with experimental rock. Two things made this show fantastic: 1. The drummer was bizarre (see the sparkly vest / gloves) and hilarious. 2. The band placed you in an entirely different universe, they created an atmosphere consisting of a wall of sound and a fog machine that never shut off. For a couple of hours, I was so immersed in the show, I forgot I lived in Lawrence.

Read about the show here.

9. Paul Van Dyk

What was easily the worst show I had ever been to in my life suddenly made the Top Ten list this year. In 2009, I traveled to Chicago to see Paul Van Dyk only to discover (to my horror) the disgusting world of club kids. I was used to Kansas City ravers, who are sweet and cuddly. The show in Chicago was a hot mess of spoiled brats too inebriated to even hear the music.

I begged the husband to give Paul Van Dyk a second chance when he announced a Kansas City show this year. It paid off. Everything, from the crowd to the venue and even the security staff, was a complete 180. It was everything you could ask for when you go see a DJ, especially that magic moment where a DJ is completely in tune with the crowd, and rewards the fans who are really, truly there for the music.

You can read all about the magic from that night here.

8. The Belles

The Belles released a gorgeous new album this year, and they treated the fans to a performance at Love Garden. Love Garden just makes you feel all good inside anyway, and this year the store did a fantastic job at getting in-store performances on a regular basis.

Despite a room full of people and cats, you could almost hear a pin drop. The duo created some of the most beautiful music a two-person band can make, and they had the audience in the palm of their hands. It had been a while since I attended a show that got a group of Lawrencians to shut up and pay attention like that. Bravo, Belles.

Read about the rest of the show here.

7. Extra Classic

There is no better way to spend your Summer than at an Extra Classic show. Scores of Lawrencians dressed to the nines packed into a hot, sweaty Taproom and cut a rug. Fans had patiently waited all Summer for Dri to come back with her new band, and she didn't disappoint. The band brought a high-energy performance and some of the finest dub you can get out here in the Midwest, and the crowd rewarded them with a fantastic night of partying.

See more clips from the show here.

6. Julian Casablancas

I got to relive my younger years and indulge in full nostalgia when Julian Casablancas came to Kansas City this year. He was on a solo tour, but he performed some Strokes classics and even indulged us with a little Christmas music (in April). Armed with his new sobriety, he really came out of his shell and belted out song after song to a surprisingly small crowd. But because so few people were there, I got to experience the full power of his voice. I was pleasantly surprised and left the show a bigger fan.

What really made me feel valuable was even though he was Mr. Hot Shot in little old Kansas, he was ultra friendly to his crowd and catered to their wants and needs. Very classy.

More about the show here.

5. Beach House

"Is it getting romantic yet, God d*$#it?"

That was the guitarist. And he's right. It was pretty darn romantic. Extremely romantic. I literally saw folks at this show holding hands, putting their arms around each other and swaying to the music. The cutest group was about five or six guys, all with their arms on each other's shoulders. They were tipsy, smiling, leaning on each other and just having a heck of a night. That was pretty much the mood of the show for everyone.

Beach House was in the middle of skyrocketing to popularity, and came to Lawrence in the middle of a severe thunderstorm. Scores of happy/tipsy/adorable fans took shelter from the storm in the Granada and were treated to a warm, cozy night of music.

You can read more about how the adorable crowd felt the love here.

4. Anvil

I was eight months pregnant when the husband took me to go see Anvil in Kansas City. I had a baby shower in the morning, then took off the pretty dress and drove three hours to go party with Anvil.

The Heavy Metal band was recently the subject of a documentary, which brought them into a new era of popularity. Therefore, the crowd was split into two different types of fans: the old school metal heads and the film buffs. They got along remarkably well, and we were all just elated to see the band play.

Steve "Lips" Kudlow was also elated, and rocked a guitar solo in the middle of the crowd at the start of the show. The crowd constantly broke out into "Anvil! Anvil!" chants and were rewarded with one of the most unique shows they would see that year.

You can read about some of the other tricks Anvil pulled out here.

3. Cowboy Indian Bear CD Release Show with Ghosty and the Noise FM

Here are some of finest musicians in all of Lawrence, packed into one venue. I (along with everyone else within a 100 mile radius) had become increasingly fond of Cowboy Indian Bear, and I have always had a soft spot for Ghosty. The Noise FM always bring a fantastic energy to their shows. Here were all three of those bands under one roof.

It was at this show that I started noticing a more positive attitude in the music scene. That combined with an unbelievably low cover charge made me feel a little spoiled this year. I got to consistently see great bands with great attitudes for next to nothing. I truly started feeling grateful and pledged to see more local music on a consistent basis.

I am particularly fond of the clip below because Cowboy Indian Bear recruited drummers from other bands for assistance, and that's exactly the kind of camaraderie that lingered in Lawrence throughout the year and made me happy as a clam.

Watch all the bands play here.

2. The Walkmen

The moment I waited YEARS for finally arrived in October. I kicked myself a few years ago when I didn't see them play in Lawrence, and it wasn't until a couple of albums later that they finally made their triumphant return.

I was on Cloud 9. They kept the mood calm, laid back, smooth. Almost as though they were saying "Hey, relax for just a bit....here, we'll unbutton the top button on our shirts and let's all take it easy the rest of the night."

The played the new stuff and the old favorites, but all with a new spin. It was like hearing their music for the first time again. They absolutely, without a doubt, made my heart melt. Every album they've put out felt like they were predicting the next five years of my life. So watching them play all the favorites was like listening to the highlights of my existence so far.

Read more about the nostalgic night here.

1. Scion Garage Fest

Prior to the night, I had the nastiest attitude about this show. For one, I was peeved that during what was advertised as a showcase of garage rock, only ONE band was local (Rooftop Vigilantes). Also, I didn't like the name of the event. I thought "Who are these corporate jerks telling us what to listen to? What do THEY know about garage rock? Meh!"

The bottom line is, this was the event of the year. If you can ignore the title of the show, the evidence is there when you look at the lineup. Four local venues were packed with hours of the most energetic bands out there. The Clean, The Gories, The Raveonettes, King Khan and the Shrines....this festival had it all. It was like watching a glorious mixtape come to life right before your very eyes.

Downtown Lawrence was alive. Fans rushed from venue to venue to catch glimpses of their favorite bands, and I wouldn't be surprised if they high-fived each other in passing.

Ever since that night, I have gone over it again and again and again and just CANNOT find a more magical night. This was hands down the most extraordinary experience of the year. Things happened on this night that I cannot explain. Friends who I hadn't seen in five years were suddenly at this show. The shows were FREE, therefore making it a true "music for the masses" event.

The true belles of the ball were Best Coast. By the time they took the stage in all their adorable glory, the crowd was deliriously happy. I sat clutching one of my best friend's hands, starry eyed and in happy shock over what was happening. The band pulled a little girl out of the crowd, gave her a tambourine, and played a song with her. Can you imagine being that little girl? Your favorite band pulls you onstage and serenades you? Isn't that every nine year-old's dream?! And here we are, a crowd of hard, seasoned concert-goers, our ears blasted from the hours of garage rock....and our hearts melted as we let out a big "Awwwwww....."

And then there were all the other amazing moments. The rowdiness, the crazy drunk antics of the fans, the three-ring circus from King Khan, the glamor from The Raveonettes, and (one of my favorite moments) our local boys from Rooftop Vigilantes blowing the roof off of Liberty Hall with their set.

I am smitten. What a night. It left me high on life and out of breath, and it will probably be a while before I ever experience anything that wonderful again.

You can see videos of some of those amazing moments from the night here.

*There are definitely some shows I missed this year, and some that I will never forgive myself for missing (I'm looking at you, Jónsi). I'm sure if I had made it to more, this list would be a little different. I want to hear what your favorite shows of the year were, so please share them in the comments section.

If you were one of the many who braved the cold and packed the Jackpot on Monday night (a school night!), you were part of something pretty special.

When I arrived to help a friend record the show, there was an electricity in the air. Folks were packed in there, huddled for warmth, excited to see Tame Impala. I heard much of the crowd had come up from Tulsa thanks to Stardeath and White Dwarfs. You could tell who wasn't a Lawrencian because there was a lack of beards in the audience.

Now I'm not into psychedelic music. Like I said, I was only there to help a friend shoot the show (which is why I have no video or photos of the show for you today). But this was a stellar lineup. These bands are all fantastic, and so are their fans.

Then I started noticing a slight frenzy around the audio board, where a small gathering of tiny t-shirt-clad men with long hair and beards had started forming. Something was amiss, and "sound guys" had come from near and far to work out a problem. Whatever the problem was, the crowd didn't seem to mind. Glasses clanked, friends hugged and bands played. The atmosphere was wonderful, and everyone was just glad to be there.

Then the poor doorman (who is wonderful, and many of you know him on a first name basis) got up on stage and told everyone they were canceling the show. Up went the lights and the Jackpot started refunding tickets.

Folks started to boo, but it wasn't really convincing me. They were upset, but not TOO upset. And here's the reason why they probably weren't too bummed.

The band was still going to play, but it wasn't going to be their usual set. It turned into a few 10-20 minute jams. Yup, they became a jam band for the night, which makes me believe that something was amiss with the microphones.

Now here's why I think fans shouldn't complain, and should instead be happy that they were part of something special. They could have just canceled the show altogether, but they didn't. They could have NOT refunded your ticket, but instead they paid back anyone who paid cash that night. And finally, you got a very unique performance out of the band.

A few years ago, I went to go see Depeche Mode in KC. I was a giddy schoolgirl and had waited a long time to see them. They took the stage, played about 3 songs, then the lead singer ran off due to an illness, and the rest of the band awkwardly fumbled some piano ballads for just a few more minutes before they canceled the show. It was a major letdown. Don't get me wrong, I was concerned and worried after the singer ran off stage a couple of times, but they could have at least refunded our tickets.

That wasn't the only time I've seen a band play a couple of songs, then run offstage due to some catastrophe, and was left without a refund.

At least on Monday night, fans got a special performance that was unique to them. They still drank, had fun, took photos and did all the great things that go along with seeing a show. The band was in good spirits as well. They ended their set by saying "We're only going to play one more, and then we're going to get out of here....so you can go home and forget this all happened." Then the band, and everyone else, had a good chuckle. Not so bad for dragging ourselves out in the cold on a school night, in my opinion.

On Friday night the Jackpot in Lawrence had a fantastic lineup for anybody who loves electronic music and wanted to bask themselves in glitchy glory.

I came to see Dosh and El Ten Eleven, but was blown away by the opener, Baths. I really shouldn't have missed this. I came just in time to catch the last song, and I am regretting that I didn't get there earlier. Here was this man, standing on stage, giving us powerful bursts of emotion from his voice over all sorts of glitchy goodness.

This was possibly the best final two minutes of a set I've ever seen. I whipped out the camera just in time:

After I was done kicking myself for missing the opening act, Dosh took the stage to experiment with beats, rhythms and loops. Just when you'd get used to something and start to groove, the one-man-band would switch it up on ya. It was fantastic fun.

He even took requests that members of the audience yelled out. "I could try that, it wouldn't be that horrible," and off he'd go playing random songs, pleasing his die-hard fans. To the average person it may have sounded like a series of random noises, but his fans would yelp and holler during their favorite loops.

He played a song from each record, and at one point whispered an enthusiastic "Jayhawks!" into the mic, only to met with booing (heh). Ah, hipsters.

Dosh used several bits and pieces of noise to layer the song just right. When he neared the end of his set, he leaned into the mic and said "I'm just going to make something up. You guys are really awesome, this is really fun." Well, maybe it's not as calculated as we thought. :-)

I also loved some of the art that was for sale at the show. The guy running the merch table (Dennis Conrad) had some of his work out. I loved it. If you want to check out his art and photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis_conrad.

El Ten Eleven closed out the night with a dancier atmosphere. I'm always impressed with bands that do so much with very little. Here, you have just two guys, but surrounded by many of their pedals and fancy equipment they can bring you into a full on dance party. It was a really pleasant feeling. Plus, you got to see them rock out in front of some fog, which is pretty neat. Sometimes I forget that such dancy music can come out of a man and his bass.

This was the kind of show that can't help but leave you feeling upbeat. If there was ever a way to escape the drama, this was it. Here was a show where you could disappear into a wall of noise, the kind of music you could sit around and watch the leaves fall to and set everything in slow motion. It's been a while since I've seen three bands lined up in a show that compliment each other so well. Hopefully next time around I can get it together and not miss the first band. You never know what kind of Easter egg you'll find.

I love a good party. Especially when it comes in the form of a CD release show. On Friday, Downtown Lawrence was in full swing, and I headed out to Fourth of July's CD Release Party at the Jackpot.

What I liked about this show was the diverse lineup. You had hip hop/rap, hard rock, and then indie rock.

I caught just a little bit of the opener, Conchance (out of Omaha). Here he is with Black Johnny Quest.

After that, Mansion came out to surround you with noise. There was a lot of headbanging going on here, reminded me of the recent Russian Circles show I saw. The clip below isn't a complete song, because this band's entire set was just one big song. But they were pretty rockin. Imagine how much fun you'd have if you were this band's drummer. The stamina!

If you like them and want to see more, check out their Turnpike episode.

My old standbys Fourth of July were welcomed with open arms by a packed Jackpot. Scores of people came out to see them introduce the new album. If you didn't come with a friend, you probably ran into one at the show.

Here is a band that is very comfortable with each other, and (every time I've seen them) very comfortable with the crowd. It's like going to watch your little brother's band, but actually enjoying the music (no offense to my little brother and his musical adventures).

You can tell the band is well-liked. They continuously provide us with a consistent string of shows and feel-good lyrics. Also, I got the feeling half the audience wanted to throw their panties at the guys on stage.

This wasn't a bad way to welcome the students back to Lawrence. I hope the new album will bring us more shows.

Here's an extra bonus for you: the guys made a music video. Neat!