It’s Good to Be Shirtless

Oz and Joe

On a recent trip to Lawrence, I discovered a magic superfast insta-recipe to get Lawrence kids dancing faster than you can say Gumby in the hizzouuuuse! Take two McGuires, preferably of the Ozgood and Shirtless Joe varieties, mix them with a John Brewer-brand jazz pianist, throw in a couple decks, a couple dudes on bass and drums, drop ’em in a club, and watch the roof get raised. That’s what the scene was like when Se�or Oz McGuire and his little brother Joe debuted their Afrolicious African-Latin-funk dance party at the Continental Club (upstairs at Louise’s Downtown) in Lawrence a couple weeks ago. On this very special 4/20 night and for the next few Mondays at the Record Bar, Afrolicous travels to KC and becomes Beat Sanctuary, which features much the same lineup but brings a sound more tailored to get our town’s dance-reluctant crowds shaking a leg. EPs by Joe’s instrumental outfit Pleasuremaker will be for sale. If you like what you hear live, definitely pick up the recording. And if you like what you see, grab ahold of Joe, throw him in the trunk, take him home, put him in a giant Mason jar, throw in some grass and twigs, poke holes in the lid and keep him for a pet.*

*I will not accept liability if some crazy chick actually does this.