My KC Folk Adventure

Posted by Brett Hooton May 20, 2006

If you read my previous blog post, you know that I spent the last week in Kansas City, Missouri, foraging for the best music my hometown had to offer.

Here is a quick synopsis of the folky mayhem and what articles you can expect as a result:

Friday: Woke up at 3 a.m. to make my 6 a.m. flight, during which I managed to scribble down my Jolie Holland review. Then, I spent a low-key evening drinking Bud Light and listening to the latest Hank Williams III album, Straight to Hell (which I highly recommend if you like honky-tonk music that comes with a "Parental Advisory" sticker).

Saturday: This was a day full of music and fun. In the evening, I met up with The Last Call Girls for a barbecue and a chat. Over several cans of Budweiser, we talked about their upcoming album. Stay tuned for the highlights of this interview and a review of the CD which will be out later this summer.

After our talk, we headed over to The Elders' concert. Some Coors Light in plastic cups and the opener, Seven Nations, warmed us up, before the headliners put on a fast-paced, bodhrán-pounding show that saw strangers dancing with each other like old friends from County Clare. Check back for a review of The Elders' most recent album as well.

Sunday: I stayed at my friend Ariel's house, where she introduced me to her new four-string banjo by playing some songs from Gillian Welch, Bright Eyes, and her own compositions. We fell asleep after one bottle of a Missouri microbrew, Schlafly.

Monday: I headed to that go-to venue for folk music-the Irish Pub. Unfortunately, all the band played were universally inoffensive, bar-room standards. They did play Van Morrison's "Moondance," but that's as Erin as they got. I drank a local beer, Boulevard Pale Ale, in protest.

Tuesday: My final night in KC. I met up with the lovely and enigmatic Alacartoona. They lured me to their lair with bottles of Boulevard, handwritten notes, and the sexiest press kit I've ever seen. They have a live album coming out this summer as well, so expect to see several stories about this group over the next few weeks.

So come by often, there's plenty cookin' here at Folk101!