Music Forecast 5.21–5.27: Big Sean, Junior Brown, U.S. Air Guitar KC Qualifier, Kodascope and Tennis

Kodascope
Be honest: You probably don’t dance enough. Luckily, Kodascope — a newish local funk-and-soul collective — is here for you. The six-piece has been making music since last summer, and Saturday at the Brick, the group releases a loud and thoroughly fun six-song EP. For the most part, the self-titled release sounds like Talking Heads crashed noggin-first into David Bowie. The result is a beautiful cacophony of 1980s electronic weirdness. At the helm is lead singer Michael Tipton, whose theatrical voice leads you across the dance floor. Sweet summer nights, this is your new soundtrack.

Saturday, May 23, the Brick (1727 McGee, 816-421-1634)

Big Sean

The massively successful Dark Sky Paradise was Big Sean’s first album on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label, and Yeezy’s influence is everywhere. For the most part, the February-released album serves the Detroit rapper well: The production on Paradise‘s 12 tracks is slick, moody and tasteful — undoubtedly exactly as West directed. Big Sean’s flow fits confidently among these beats, and he can hold his own in verses alongside heavyweights such as West and Drake (“Blessings”). But there are still moments on Paradise that seem a little too much like an imitation game. Big Sean may be the protégé, but it would be a shame if he got lost in trying too hard to sound like someone else. Thursday at the Midland, find out if the rapper is as impressive standing alone.

Thursday, May 21, the Midland (1228 Main, 816-283-9921)

Tennis

Tennis seems to take every opportunity to schedule a tour date in Kansas City, not that we’re mad about it. The Colorado three-piece — founded by husband-and-wife team Patrick Riley (guitar, bass and keyboards) and Alaina Moore (lead singer) — specializes in a dreamy, lush, 1970s-era pop that manages to stay fresh on each release. Case in point: September’s Ritual in Repeat, which features endless, smooth grooves; subtle synths; and Moore’s hypnotic, graceful voice. It’s exactly the kind of music you should be listening to right now.

Friday, May 22, RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

2015 U.S. Air Guitar — Kansas City Qualifier
If you think air guitar is for nerds, that’s fine. Stay away from RecordBar Saturday night, when the 2015 U.S. Air Guitar Championship’s Kanas City qualifier takes place. The rest of us know the truth: Airness is real. Some people have it, and some don’t. Saturday, we’ll watch as local air-guitar heroes and heroines shred their imaginary instruments in the hopes of qualifying for the regional competition. The 2013 Air Guitar World Champion, Eric “Mean” Melin, emcees the event, and yours truly will be judging, something I am extremely proficient at doing. Haters, stay home.

Saturday, May 23, RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

Junior Brown

Junior Brown sounds like he belongs to the era of Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard. Cut as he is from the same outlaw country cloth and wearing the same magnanimous cowboy hat, the 62-year-old Texas singer-songwriter has an extensive catalog that started in 1984. Brown’s songs, as much as they sound like traditional honky-tonk, often have lyrical components that give away their true age (see his hit “Hang Up and Drive”). Anyone familiar with Brown knows him by his guit-steel — the double-necked guitar made of a six-string and a lap-steel guitar — that he invented 30 years ago. That, plus Brown’s inimitable baritone, make Saturday’s show one for the books.

Saturday, May 23, Knuckleheads Saloon (2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456)