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Published by SilverThread Productions
Copyright © 1999
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music department Local Music Feature
Local Lazer Music Show - Live @ The Granada - Sundays
Show #14: Outhouse
w/ Avondale
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.

Jason Meier can be reached for comments or questions at:
jason@synapsis.net

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