Music

Verse Chorus Verse

By Justin Brandt

When I first heard of Kanrocksas Music Festival I wasn’t quite sure what to make of if it. But I do I have to say that for a first year festival it was ran so smooth that you would have thought they have been doing it for years. The music acts I wasn’t so sure how well they were going to mix as far as their crowds being in the same place but it I didn’t hear of any major problems.

Now, when it came to the music itself if you couldn’t find someone out there that you liked then you don’t any kind of pop music. I mean you had Eminem and Kid Cuddi to A Perfect Circle and Flaming Lips. That is quite a range of music not menation all the DJ’s that were out there as well. You even had a local flavor of music out there.

Now for the bands that I did see, The first time I got there on Friday, was in the middle of Kid Cuddi show. I have to admit that I don’t know that much about him. But judging by the crowd (even it the heat) they were loving every minute of it.

After cooling off a little bit I went down to the other end of the field to watch the Primus talk about doing a 180 in music style. As always Primus delivered an excellent show they had everyone grooving from the old burn out from the 80’s to the hot Co-ed’s grinding on each other. It was fun to people this crowd.

I then walked over to the third stage to catch a little bit of Ween.

I walked back down to the Main Stage to catch Bassnectar, now this DJ got the crowd AMPED!! This was great way to lead into the evening. It was a great scene of of the crowd moving in unison as the sun was setting behind the track stands.

Then it was time for the Flaming Lips, now when it comes to this band they are weird. But that is what makes them such a great band to see live. Of course they was the warning that use really strong stroub lights and if you feel you are a adverse reaction to them to just look down or cover your eyes. When I heard this I was this going to be a great show. This show had it all, a camara that gave you very close up of Wayne’s face I giant man bubble that when out over the crowd, giant balloons everywhere, wild graphics going the screen behind the band, confeite guns going off everywhere, giant hands that had lazers coming out of them shooting on to a huge disco ball. Just overall one entertaining show. I would love to see them again.

And to end the night it was Eminem on the Main Stage. I will say I’m not the biggest fan of his but GODDAMN does the man put on one HELLVA a show. Not only did he do a great job of promoting his new album Recovery but did a mix of his older hits. He great job of playing to the crowd. He talked about being from the area even though he did kind of gave it back handed complement. Overall I have to say that I was very impressed with the show.

I would say that Friday was pretty sucessful first day I can’t wait to see what Saturday has in store

Saturday

Cage the Elephant was the first I saw on the second day, I can tell you this that this band is full of energy. I would love to see this band again at somwhere like Beaumont or even Uptown I think they would blow the roof off these places.

Now of course I had see what I think is the best band in KC right now and that is the Beautiful Bodies. They were playing outside the track at the Campground stage, even though they didn’t have a huge crowd, but the people that were there were treated to a great performnece. The blow up doll on a stick was a really nice touch

After walked back in the track I caught the last have of Flogging Molly. Since they were in KC which has a big Irish population I knew they would put on great show. And as expected they did.

Next up was A Perfect Circle, now I have heard all kinds of stories when it comes to this band. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when they come on stage. I thought for the first part of the show it was good not great then, they did their version of Imagine by John Lennon. WOW!!! is all I can say. They take this song and turn inside out and make it a completely different song. I had heard on the radio before but seeing them do was live is one of the songs that I remember seeing the rest of life

The next band up I was really excited to see, I wish I was still kicking myself when I didn’t go and see them when they played at the Crossroads, of course I talking about The Black Keys. The first things I noticed about them was how much they sound like the White Stripes, which I found a little ironic. After seeing them here I will not miss the next time they come town on their own tour.

And now onto the headliner of the second day, Muse. When I was waiting for them to take the stage they were playing what I think was some sort of house music which was getting a little annoying. Then they took the stage and the first minute into the opening song I forgot about the house music. They open with Uprising which was a great way to open. The light/lazer show that had was nothing short of awesome. I would not have known that they played the night before in Chicago at Lalaapoolza. they were spot on with everything. I will say I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when it come to Muse knowing that they use a lot sythn instruments some times when a band uses stuff like that they are not that good live. This is not one of them.

Overall I would say that this was a very successful year. The only problem that I saw had nothing to the with the festival it’s self it had to do with some of the people at the event. It was the people that would have their backs turn toward the stage and talking with their friends while the show was going on. I could understand this if I was in the back of the crowd but, I was pretty close to front. I did have one asshole keep starring at me/or the people behind me. This was about the only thing that ruined what was a great weekend of music.

I would recommend going next year if you have the chance because they got almost everything right the first time