ABOUT THE MUSIC
ATM REVIEWS
BZirk -THE ROCK HOUSE BRAWL
Expectations. Pre-judgment. You think you know something. Bam. A night like the Rock House Brawl happens and you have to stop and rethink it.
Yeah, Kobi’s is a small venue. A typical Saturday night in November may find it half-full of regulars, sipping drinks and dropping quarters in the juke box or savoring a juicy steak prepared by Kansas City’s best kept secret, Chef John.
November 14th at 7 PM, typical got blown away.
Grizzly Adams (http://www.myspace.com/grizzlyadamskc) took the stage, late, somewhat reluctant and scratching their heads at the small space they had available to set up equipment and kick off a five-band show.
In his passion-for all-things-metal-growl, Bzirk Production’s John Zirkle, already hoarse from an oncoming head-cold, introduced Grizzly, a band he had waited to hear for nearly a month.
Pretty much from the first chord, everybody in the place was on their feet as this band shook the walls, the floors and apparently ripped off some faces with Techniques of Animation. In spite of their initial hesitation, Grizzly just flat-out tore it up. They played a hard 40 minute set to a screaming audience of grateful new fans.
Okay, so I thought they would be too hard for Kobi’s. I thought they might be too hard for me. I had to rethink it. And yeah, the earth opened. We all fell in. Even me.
Grizzly left in a hurry, still scratching their heads. Trip Fix took the stage. A little different energy. Zirkle intro’d Trip Fix (http://www.myspace.com/tripfixmusic) , still reeling from the Grizzly set, but with his typical anticipation for the possibilities of the ‘fix for your trip, the trip that never quits’ (you had to be there). And they delivered. The band had already packed the place with their own fans and the rest of us had to squeeze through the crowd to actually see this band. But it was worth the clawing through people to get up front. They were that good. This may have been the band that busted up typical the most. I just don’t think anybody was expecting how hard they slammed it. Everybody in the bar was either in front of the stage or as I found out later, sitting in their typical spots – but clearly into this band. The unsung hero of most bands may be the drummer. I was lucky enough to be standing next to this one and it was amazing to watch him keep this band's rhythm pounding. He absolutely brought the house down with a giant cow bell. Rumor has it that some of the faces ripped off by Grizzly landed on this bell. Okay, I thought they might not be hard enough for Kobi’s. I thought they might be a little Pearl-Jam-ish for me. Bam. People are still talking about it. See this band again at Jerry's Baitshop, Dec. 13 @ 8 pm. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
-TYLER LYON
-BRANDED FATE
Friday’s Stratgazer show at the Aftershock turned out to be a good time with a couple of nice surprises.
When Tyler Lyon of the Leo Project came on stage alone with his acoustic guitar I was not sure what to think but I was ready to head outside and check my email (can somebody turn the heat down in there?). From his opening song, however, I stayed in my seat and was immediately but cautiously impressed. It kept getting better. This was not the jump up and scream and bang your head kind of show and it has been awhile since a guy in a local bar could keep me in my seat with nothing but a guitar.
It was the voice that kept me sitting. Remarkable. Lyon clearly feels the music and his act is less of a performance and more like music is supposed to be, a collective retelling of what is familiar to all of us--sung rather than spoken, the universal language. It was real.
This was an especially rare treat in this local market with the MTV wanna- be bands performing imitations of what they have been spoon-fed for years from the idiot box and local ‘rock’ stations. Too many of them look and certainly sound mechanical and soul-less.
Generally speaking, The Leo Project may be a little mild for my musical taste but the music is solid, the guitars precise and the band clearly ‘gets it’ when they perform. I look forward to seeing them play their next gig in Kansas City and as for Tyler Lyon, I will stay seated for him any night. Just turn the heat down please.
Also on the Aftershock bill Nov. 6th was a band called Branded Fate. The music was good, the singer’s voice impressive. It will be interesting to hear this band develop the sultry, bluesy vocals with the fusion of metal, electronica and good, hard rock.
http://www.myspace.com/theleoproject
http://www.myspace.com/stratgazer
