Music Forecast October 24-30: Night Beats, John Vanderslice, Joe Pug, the Long Bellow, and more

Night Beats

Who says rock and roll is dead? Night Beats has taken the soul of 1960s psychedelic rock and given it a body, in the form of a new album called Sonic Bloom. If your teenage self were locked in a basement with your parents’ old vinyl, a bottle of terrible tequila and some instruments, this is the kind of music you would make: a little deranged, a little trippy, strangely expressive. Bonus: Three local acts open, with the Conquerors, Shy Boys and Pharaohs sharing the bill.
Friday, October 25, at the Guild (1621 Locust, 816-471-8550)

The Lone Bellow

I’ll be honest: I love the Lone Bellow. Lead singer Zach Williams has this incredible vocal range, and when he’s plaintively strumming a guitar and singing about how he has lost everything and he’s all alone or something equally sad, I want to go bake cookies and swallow a bottle of gin. Add to that the lush and powerful harmonies from mandolin player Kanene Pipkin and guitarist Brian Elmquist, and, well, three songs in you’ll be seeing everything in sepia tones through watery eyes.

Sunday, October 27, at Knuckleheads Saloon (2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456)

John Vanderslice

Thirteen years and 10 albums ago, John Vanderslice burrowed into indie folk with lyrics that were as intelligent and moving as they were politically charged. (For a refresher, Google his controversial tune “Bill Gates Must Die.”) These days, Vanderslice has moved away from condemning technology brainiacs to focus instead on softer, more personal material. His recent Dagger Beach is a collection of heartbreak ballads dressed up in gentle acoustic sounds.

Friday, October 25, at Czar (1531 Grand, 816-421-0300)

Hearts of Darkness and Sunu

Local funk masters Hearts of Darkness and Afro-beat kings Sunu take over Davey’s Uptown Friday for a special-edition Halloween show. As if a thumping bass line and a vivacious horn section weren’t enough to make you want to shake it for the world, the joint will also be holding a costume contest with cash prizes. There are so many reasons to add this show to your calendar — being a thoroughly entertained spectator might be the least of them.

Friday, October 25, at Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club (3402 Main, 816-753-1909)

Joe Pug

Joe Pug has this down-on-the-farm, country-boy-with-a-guitar thing down pat. Don’t let his Chicago ZIP code fool you, either. His dirt-road voice bursts from his chest with enough power to quiet a roomful of chatty drunks. He got his start touring with Steve Earle, has opened for M. Ward, and regularly earns comparisons to Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. On his latest album, The Great Despiser, the 27-year-old Pug settles comfortably into his role as a young storyteller with an old soul.

Saturday, October 26, at RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)

Passion Pit, the Joy Formidable

There’s something oddly appealing about Michael Angelakos’ high-pitched, childlike singing voice. Every time I hear a Passion Pit song, I immediately want it to be summertime, and I want a popsicle. This might be the musical equivalent of laughing at a funeral because Passion Pit’s songs are generally anything but joyful. (If you’ve been following Angelakos’ well-publicized struggles with depression, this isn’t news.) Still, Passion Pit puts on a high-energy show that ices the bruising that his lyrics deliver. The Joy Formidable opens

Tuesday, October 29, at the Midland (1228 Main, 816-283-9921)

Tech N9ne

One of the biggest names in rap today happens to be a local one, and there’s not a single person in town who isn’t a devout member of the Church of Tech N9ne — with good reason. Tech has built his Strange Music record company into a movement all its own. On his recently released Something Else, Tech serves blow after blow of spitfire raps inside an elaborate conceptual framework, and the accolades just keep pouring in.

Wednesday, October 30, at the Midland (1228 Main, 816-283-9921)