In Kansas City, bands have many theories on how to take their sound to the next level. Some concepts, though tried repeatedly, fail: “Hey, let’s tune our guitars really low and play everything in a dismal mid-tempo.” Others are proven repeatedly: “Hey, this band is already damn good, but let’s add Mike Stover to the [...]

In 2009, we got things started (see last year’s wrap-up).  In 2010, we got things rocking. How did we do that? Through our website, we continue to provide relevant resources, information and some fun stuff like free music!  And visitors to our website more than tripled coming from over 45 countries! Through our social networks [...]

It takes a special temperament to navigate the black comedy of Gothic Americana and not come off as an overwrought boob. This is precisely what Terrence Moore does within the framework of Kansas City’s gloom dwelling American Catastrophe. While frontman Shaun Hamontree’s grisly bellow is a striking focal point, it’s Moore’s guitar, banjo, and harmonica [...]

Jim Holopter is one of the coolest cats around. An orbiter of Midwest music circles for many moons, Diamond Jim is the founding father of KC rockabilly heavies The Rumblejetts, for whom he plays gorgeous things on gorgeous guitars. Jim and the boys have been filling dance floors for more than a decade and have [...]