The 14th installment
of the Lazer's live local music show took place on August 1st, 1999, and featured a
double-shot of Kansas City rock. Outhouse is one of
this reviewer's favorite bands from Kansas City and is a band that I had seen many times
in the past with anticipation. This night would be no different. The other band on the
bill was a newer band to the local scene and a band that was also new to me. Avondale had
been making some noise in Kansas City in the last few months and I was looking forward to
seeing what the hype was all about.
This is the first time that Avondale has ventured up to
Lawrence to play, but I'm sure that it won't be the last. The band has been around for two
years, but has only really hit their stride in the last six to eight months. Since then,
they've taken off and made some pretty good impressions. The band had just recently
released their first EP, Enormous Black Power Gift, and has been
busy playing lot's of shows in Kansas City and the surrounding area. Avondale is a dark-sounding
hard rock band that features one of the most unique lead vocalists in the area.
The members of Avondale are: Matt Palubicki - guitar, textures,
and vocals; Joe Fortunato - guitar, guitar synth, and textures; Brian Brooks - bass and vocals;
and Gregg Todt - drums and vocals.
Avondale's music is very interesting that there is
typically a lot going on within each song in terms of composition and effect. The band
makes good use of dynamics, harmonies, and different overall sounds to enhance the songs.
To give you an idea of that sound... If the members of Queensryche, Jawbox and Radiohead
where to hang out in KC with local boys, The Black Water; Avondale is the music they would
spawn.
With those positives, it is needless to say that the music
is very strong. However, the members of Avondale could use some work on their stage
presence. They need to talk a little bit more with the crowd, and give more of an
impression that they are having fun. I also have to admit that while Matt Palubiki's voice
is very solid, after a little while, it did begin to edge on the annoying side... perhaps
it's a little too unique.
Set highlights included the songs "Shine,"
"Power Gift," and "Second Thought." I definitely think that this is a
band to keep an eye on in the scene, and I feel that the future is bright for them. If you
would like more info on Avondale, you can visit their web site at www.avondale-online.com. Also make sure to check
their website or the Synapsis calendar for future Avondale show dates. This is one group
you should check out.
The headliner for this evening's show is probably the best
rock band in all of Kansas City. Outhouse has been around for about three years and in
that time they have played the local scene, been signed to Mercury Records, toured with
the legendary Kiss and all over the country, been dropped by their label when Mercury
changed management, and are now back to playing the local scene again.
The last year or so had been a slow one for Outhouse, as
they waited to find out from Mercury if they where still signed. So not to waste time, the
boys of Outhouse holed themselves up in their practice space and wrote a bunch of new
material and waited.
When they did find that Mercury had changed management,
resulting in their release, they actually took it as good news. They were now free to
record new material and get out and start playing more shows throughout the region.
And that brings us to the present. The band has started
playing more local shows and have plans to go back into the studio to record a follow-up
disc to their 1997 major-label debut, Welcome.
Upon witnessing this performance at the Granada, I can
honestly say that the time off from the public eye has not hurt Outhouse in the least. The
band is still one of the best rock bands in the Kansas City area, and still has the energy
and stage skills to get the crowd into what they are doing.
The band played a set that consisted of a whole bunch of
new songs that most had not yet heard, as well as bunch of old Outhouse favorites that got
the crowd moving. Set highlights included new songs - "Alien,"
Sleepwalking," "Violins" and "Song About Her" - as well as old Outhouse
standards, "Genius Boy," "Savior," "Bleed," "Welcome"
and "Familiar." We also got treated to an impromptu version of the Black Sabbath
classic, "War Pigs."
During the next few months keep an eye out for these guys,
because I have a feeling that we have only begun to hear good things about this band. Make
sure to keep an eye on the Synapsis calendar for future show dates with these guys, because
if rock is what you want, Outhouse will deliver it to you in a big way. |