Check out Electric Touch and "Never look back" Electric Touch is a five-piece rock band that commenced in Austin, TX about five years ago and has since embarked upon their musical journey and come an admirable distance at an alarming rate. They’ve made their mark performing on the Vans Warped Tour 2011, touring with bands such as Hot Chelle Rae, and playing countless venues/amphitheatres across the nation.
I first came across Electric Touch about a month ago and was immediately hooked after hearing their song “Don’t Stop”. A friend played it for me and after the first 20 seconds or so I knew I could dig it. In fact I purchased their album later that evening. The recently released major label debut album “Never Look Back”, is comprised of 10 songs and a solid play through. It features the single “Don’t Stop”, and hit song “Magnetic”.
The band started when front man Shane Lawlor, originally from Nottingham, U.K. found himself at a coffee shop with some friends and met Christopher Leigh Messina, lead guitar/vocals, they hit it off and thus began their musical saga. The band united and was fully composed around 2007, with the addition of Louis Messina Jr.- drums, Isaac Strycker- keys/vocals and Portland Musser- bass. They began touring and have never looked back.
I also had the pleasure of attending one of their shows at The Midland Theater in KCMO while they were on the “Pretty Little Freaks Tour” with Action Item and headlining act Hot Chelle Rae.
Action Item started off their set with an energetic kick. Their group drum performance was a highlight of the evening. Hot Chelle Rae took command as the headlining band. They gave an undeniably powerful stage performance.
The historical venue was perfect for housing the show. The bands exhibited a very down to earth, fun loving vibe. I was impressed with the crowd interaction and response, being a new fan I felt right at home.
Electric Touch’s sound could be described as British American rock. It’s upbeat, catchy and high energy. I found myself reminded of several bands I enjoy such as Oasis, Our Lady Peace, The Killers and Plain White T’s. I’m sure, several other sound combinations and influences can be sifted out. Electric Touch definitely has a well-rounded mixture of classic and current with their own distinct sound. They cover a lot of bases musically to create their own unique identity and resonance, which makes them stand out.
It is clear by their performance and from talking with them that they are truly full of passion for what they do and the highest points on tour for them is playing for their audience. They’ve made a lasting impression on me personally with their down to earth charm, musical talent and positive outlook/message. If you’re looking for a new addition to your musical collection, Electric Touch is worth a listen.
Story By: Linnzi Fusco
Media By: Mike G. If you’re living in Lawrence, KS and haven’t caught the band 2 Twenty 2 playing around town, you’re missing out. I had the privilege of seeing them first hand at the Bottleneck last fall. The three-piece group is comprised of Shane Berggren-guitar/vocals, Dustyn Bebermeyer-drums, and Ian Johnson-bass/vocals. They are based in Lawrence, KS and have taken the stage in areas throughout Kansas and Missouri. A few of the band’s influences include Blink 182, Ben Folds, and The Foo Fighters. They describe their genre as alternative rock, pop, and classy. Promoting their “semi-pro” 8-song demo, they know how to hold a crowd. They’ve released a full-length music video for the song “I like it” and for the song “Anything”. Their music is upbeat, catchy and fun to listen to. I look forward to a full-length album from these guys in the future. For now I will enjoy the demo and look for upcoming shows. For more 2 Twenty 2 visit:
http://www.facebook.com/2twenty2rox
http://www.purevolume.com/2Twenty2/albums/I+Like+It
Check out upcoming shows from 2 Twenty 2:
April 12- Wichita, KS, Eagles Lodge 7:00pm
April 13- Salina, KS, The Muse Ballroom 6:30pm
April 21- Kansas City, MO, Beamont Club 4:00pm
April 23- Lawrence, KS, Bottleneck 9:00pm
Jun 4- Kansas City, MO, The Riot Room 8:00pm
The Riot Room, located at 4048 Broadway in Westport, Kansas City, MO is a premium live music venue and hot spot for touring bands and local talent. On Thursday, November 10, 2011, it housed a large crowd as local bands I am Nation and Get Busy Living captivated the audience and prepped the stage for the third act Children of Nova from San Diego, CA.
The show kicked off at 9pm with I Am Nation, a spunky modern punk, alternative, rock band with undeniable charm. Their energetic presence brought a positive crowd response and catchy tunes. The band members include: Liz Greub- Vocalist/Guitar, Wyatt Lemmon- Bass, Megan Gladbach- Guitar, and David Gonzales- Drums. The band released their first EP, “Shenanigans”, in May of this year and will be releasing a full-length album within the upcoming year. In the meantime look for music on the bands networking sites listed below as they continue to make their mark on the Kansas City music scene.
www.myspace.com/iamnationmusic
www.twitter.com/iamnationband
www.youtube.com/iamnationband
www.iamnation.com
Get busy Living, previously known as Kiss and Tell, followed I am Nation’s set with their debut appearance and new songs from their recent EP “Don’t back down”. Originally from Manhattan, KS, the band members have reformed from their previous music project Kiss and Tell and moved to join the Kansas City music scene as Get Busy Living. With the name change and relocation comes a new sound, new songs, and new ideas. They decided to change the band name to fit the new music style, which features “power-pop sound, breakdowns, and catchy melodies”. The band’s members include: Chase Petersen- Guitar/Vocals, Jonathan Cole- Guitar/Vocals, Jason Adams- Keyboards, and Jonny Welch- Drums/ Vocals. Follow the band’s progression and check out their music at the bands networking sites listed below.
www.facebook.com/GetBusyLivingBand
www.myspace.com/getbusylivingband
Making their way from San Diego, CA, Children of Nova, graced the stage with a unique mix of sound ranging from progressive rock to jazz and punk. They headlined the show with songs form their EP “Complexity of Light”, which can be found on iTunes. They seem to have pulled inspiration from a multitude of genres, and made it their own. Their unique musical style seems to be working for them. They began touring the west coast in 2008 and have since had the opportunity to tour a full year followed by the release of their EP and are now gearing up to release a full-length album due to drop in late 2011- early 2012. The band’s members include: Teo- Vocals, Nick- Guitar, Pozzi- Guitar, Mario- Bass, and Colin- Drums. Check out their EP along with show and tour dates on the band’s networking sites listed below.
www.twitter.com/childrenofnova
www.myspace.com/childrenofnova
www.last.fm/music/Children+of+Nova
www.sonicbids.com/childrenofnova
www.reverbnation.com/childrenofnova
www.purevolume.com/childrenofnova
www.youtube.com/childrenofnova
www.childrenofnova.bigcartel.com
Story by: Linnzi Fusco
Photos by: Mike Goehring
On July 6, 2011 the Vans Warped Tour brought 67 bands to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Kansas City. With seven stages and some big names, fans kept busy as they gravitated from one stage to the next. Headlining the tour, A Day to Remember, kept energies high despite the blazing heat. This year marked the 17th annual Warped Tour.
 Not soon forgotten: A Day to Remember finished the day off on the main stage and made their mark. They are the first band in the history of the Warped Tour to feature a personalized inflatable stage design.  Kevin Skaff, guitarist for A Day to Remember The name Warped originated from Warp Magazine, once published by Transworld, which featured snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, and music. Since the Warped tour began in 1994, the event has made its way from a national USA tour to a worldwide tour having reached parts of Canada, Japan, Europe, Australia and more. The event showcases live music stemming from punk, rock and alternative genres along with extreme sports including BMX and skateboarding. It has become a major summer event spanning dates from June through August. The Warped tour is currently happening, for more information visit: www.vanswarpedtour.com Between stages: The Vans Warped Tour brought more than big name bands and crowds of eager listeners. Fans making their way from stage to stage found a maze of vendors, merch tents, and non-profit organizations. Among the non-profit tents was the Keep a Breast tent which hosted an acoustic show featuring The Material, an unsigned band from San Diego, CA.
May 21, 2011 would allegedly mark the end of the world, but the only thing that ended was The Dead Sevens show due to heavy storms across the Midwest.
Flint Hills Eliminators Car Club, in St. Marys, Kan., held their third annual car show. It started off sunny with many people showing off their classic cars. The club issued awards for the top ten cars at the show and as the clouds rolled in, The Dead Sevens set up the stage.
The first half hour of the show went smooth, with The Dead Sevens playing some original songs along with a few covers. By this point all of the show cars were gone, as severe weather alerts were broadcast across eastern Kan.. Despite the warnings the band played until the hail started to fall from the sky. The set was taken down in a matter of minutes and everyone ran for cover. Overall it was a good show. enjoy the video. For more photos visit the Show Gallery.
A lineup of six bands: Lower than Atlantis, Evergreen Terrace, Miss May I, Chiodos, Emmure, and Asking Alexandria all graced the stage. The “Reckless and Relentess” tour, headlined by Asking Alexandria found its way to the Sokol Auditorium in Omaha with the uttermost intention of rocking off the faces of spectactors.
Fans wait patiently during a set change.
I had been introduced to the Sokol Underground concert venue this past summer as I watched a show by The Material, who are also included on originalprofilms.com. But this was my first time seeing a show in the auditorium, which was upstairs from the underground venue (hence the title.) It was an impressive venue to say the least with an open and spacious floor for those who want to be as close to the stage as possible, but it also included stairs that lead to a balcony area, which allowed spectators to watch the show from a standpoint that would allow them to observe the entire in full as it progressed.
Just moments before the scheduled start time of 6 p.m., Lower than Atlantis brought it’s A-game to the stage to show the audience what their UK punk style was all about. Early in the set, it was evident that audience members were at least mildly thrown off by the band and hadn’t expected their musical sound.
But it was hard for anyone could say “this band sucks” as they finished their first few songs. Quickly noticing though that much of the crowd was there for a different genre, vocalist Mike Duce proclaimed following one of their songs how much he appreciated to the audience for listening to their music even though it was a somewhat different style. With that in mind, Duce also asked that the a circle pit open up for one of the songs, helping make Lower than Atlantis’ set energy-filled and very enjoyable to say the least. The band will release a new album entitled World Record on April 19.
As Evergreen Terrace entered the spotlight for the next set, it was quickly discovered by audience
members that this band was out with a mission: bring the heavy. Coming out of Jacksonville, Fla., their assault fired on all cylinders. I found my way to the floor during a few of their songs, as the mosh pit began to open up and spectators started to actively participate in the intense styles of the band. One of my favorites “Wolfbiker” was included within their set and I will announce that I think I lost about three pounds during that song with the jumping and moshing I did.
I stepped away from the action for a moment during Miss May I to catch my breath and chug some water, while MMI (as they’re abbreviated) chugged their guitars through songs from their albums Monument and Apologies Are For the Weak. However, as the sounds of “Architect” hit the stage, from their first full-length album Apologies Are For the Weak, I immediately jumped back into the action.
I was impressed with their performance, as it rivaled their presence I felt when seeing them with The Devil Wears Prada, however, where MMI lacks in my opinion is diversity of song structure. So, while I enjoyed their performance, I did find myself questioning whether I was listening to the same guitar patterns consecutive times on a few occasions.
I have a bit of a predisposition with the next band, I admit. Chiodos has been one of my favorites since 2006 when I first heard “Baby You Wouldn’t Last A Minute On The Creek.” With their newest album Illumunaudio, new vocalist Brandon Bolmer continues the heavy hitting and frantic song structures I’ve always loved about their band. One of the strongest songs off Illumunaudio was their opener on Wednesday: “Stratovolcano Mouth.”
Stage presence for the band was spectacular and I was thoroughly impressed with how well they replicated their studio sound. I don’t know if I’ve ever sang that loud for a band before when seeing them live. But when you know the songs so well, it’s hard not to.
An interesting side note to the set came when the members flaunted their smoking (there was no specification on the substance’s legality) on stage while the audience, in a smoke-free facility, could have nothing to do with it. Casually though, they thanked the members of Emmure for providing it for them and continued with their set.
But for me, that was about all the respect I could give Emmure. I guess you can say The Respect Issue album by them may reference to me. I have an issue with this band. They give a great stage presence and for the first few songs, breakdown after breakdown is fun. But it gets old. Quick. This band’s just not my cup of tea. I found it hard to jump around during a song that sounded exactly like the last.
While the delay between Emmure and Asking Alexandria was tremendous, it was well worth the wait. On top of the fact that it gave me a chance to rest, AA played a spectacular set. This was encouraging based on recent events that happened in Seattle, Wash. during a set, where lead singer Danny Worsnop had to be taken off stage and the set had to be finished early due to severe intoxication. Worsnop seemed very competent during his Omaha show and it proved true during his ferocious screams on songs from the band’s new album, “Reckless and Relentless.”
At this point, I find it appropriate to mention that one of the best “wall of death” renditions I’ve ever seen done was at Sokol Auditorium Wednesday night. During a very heavy opening to one of AA’s songs, Worsnop asked that the crowd of roughly 500 split right down the middle. We proceeded to run straight at each other. Adrenaline rush, you ask? Of course it was.
After an encore that led to the playing of “Stand Up and Scream,” their set ceased. As I walked out of the auditorium, soaked in perspiration, I could only breathe a sense of satisfaction. This was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to and full of energy. Despite my somewhat dissatisfaction for two of the six bands, I still maintain a high rating for the show overall. Final verdict: 8/10.
Video by: Mike Goehring Story by: Rob Burkett
Sometimes going fishing for a quality night out can lead you to odd places. Such was the case last weekend.
Jerry’s Bait Shop, located in Lenexa, Kan., hosted an evening of rock that featured the crown jewel of up and coming independent bands. The Material, hailing from San Diego, Calif., took stage right at the stroke of 9 p.m. last Sunday and brought a melodic, sonic and always head-rocking attitude. While some might hear the group and spring to mind with instant comparisons to fellow female front singer groups like Paramore and Flyleaf, they would be tragically mistaken.
Taking to the stage, the group opened with a blistering rendition of “What We Are” bringing the attention of the audience to the stage and electrifying the building with a current of rock inspired energy. In particular Colleen D’Agostino, the lead singer of The Material, brought a dynamic presence to the stage. Using all the tricks of the proverbial trade, D’Agostino engaged with the audience giving her all to the performance and raising the collective pulse of the audience.
The rest of the set would continue to be more of the same as the band rocked through an amazing set of their new songs as well as tunes familiar to the video game crowd, rocking tunes available on the popular game, “Rock Band.”
The band concluded with “Appearances,” a song so intense that guitarist Roi Elam lost his guitar strap to the performance, eventually turning his guitar over to another road member of the band and getting into the audience to help lead the end of the performance in the front row, energizing the crowd.
Currently the band is touring in Austin, Texas for the SXSW festival. To follow them or find out more information, visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/thematerialmusic or follow them on twitter at www.twitter.com/thematerial. Photos by: Mike Goehring
Story by: Richard Kelly
While I’d seen Parkway Drive once before, never had I seen them in a enclosed venue such as the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, Mo. It was an experience not to soon be forgotten.
Playing to a packed venue, the band mixed old and new as the Australian band brought their show to KC on Feb. 18. Enemies Laid to Rest, The Warriors, The Ghost Inside and Set Your Goals all opened for the headliners.
Now, with how Parkway Drive, I could easily skip right ahead, however, the other acts put on an equally solid show so it’s hard to not mention them first. The first band to stage, Enemies Laid to Rest, were a local band from the area with a definite love for metal. The most talented and perhaps most interesting aspect of the band was their vocalist, Cameron Walker.
Not only did he succeed as a very successful vocalist, but he also plays drums for the band. For anyone relatively familiar with the metal scene, complex drum structures are rampant and would usually be enough to keep a member busy, but he took it an extra step, which looked ridiculously difficult.
The next band, The Warriors, came to the Beaumont Club with an in-your-face punk experience and great stage presence and energy. Without barriers between the stage and the fans, it was The Warriors who started encouraging fans towards moshing and crowdsurfing, much to the delight of fans. However, despite the obvious talent of the band, the crowd seemed fairly timid much of the performance.
But, The Ghost Inside changed that timidness. Now, without utter bias, they were who I was there to see. Their melodic yet hardcore sound has appealed to me since the moment my ears heard it in late 2008. Now, TGI has been in Kansas City and the surrounding area before, but due to circumstances, it was my first time seeing the band live.
Talk about one hell of a performance. As they cycled between songs from their newest album Returners and their first album Fury and the Fallen Ones, I began screaming the lyrics to the band on stage. Now, I’m sure we’ve all been to shows where we’re absolutely ecstatic to see the artist but when the band members catch eyes with you as you’re singing the lyrics and appreciate the fanbase, the experience becomes all that much better.
But, need I say, let the stagediving commence. TGI was fast to influence this and with their encouragement to fans, I successfully made my way to stage and jumped off, getting caught by fans and cycled across before making my way back to the ground. That was an exciting moment. As they finished their set, I was satisfied, because their performance was everything I was hoping it’d be.
Set Your Goals, who took the stage next, had an interesting variation of pop-punk and melodic hardcore, which seemed to fit for them. While I’d never heard of the band, their set consisted of a large amount of energy and it was evident the band had quite the following as many fans could be heard as the band performed. Stagediving and moshing continued through the set, as they cycled between old and new songs alike.
The wait between SYG and Parkway Drive seemed to be an eternity. I’ll just put it that way. But it was worth the wait.
Parkway Drive mainly played music off their new album Deep Blue beginning their performance with one hell of a breakdown and a lot of moshing and moving. What was most eye-opening was just how many people knew every single song of theirs. Before the set even started… the chant “PARKWAY DRIVE, PARKWAY DRIVE, PARKWAY DRIVE” had commenced.
Halfway through the set, the band claimed to the fans they were some of the craziest fans on tour and one of the most fun shows they’ve had, which caused a huge roar from the fans. After their set had finished, this was evident as the fans chanted their name again and to everyone’s delight, they returned to play “Carrion,” one of their most popular songs.
As I left, I realized it was probably one of the most exhilarating (and exhausting) shows I’ve ever been to. I would give each band a huge chance if ever able to see them again.
Classy new Jolly Roger footage from The Uptown Theatre show that took place on Jan. 29, 2011.
Photos from this event are featured in the music show gallery.
Classy footage of Echo Lake rocking at The Dugout in Topeka Kan. on January 15,2011
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