No Irony

MON 5/3
Lots of bands embrace irony like they would a Velvet Underground test pressing, using it as muse for their lyrics and sound and as a defense for dipping into cock rock or acoustic love ballads. But the Supersuckers, who hit the stage at Davey’s (3402 Main, 816-753-1909) on Monday, proudly wear ’70s-inspired cretin rock on their sleeves. Their repertoire of garage rock, cowpunk and sincere country-western is made to accompany getting drunk, partying and trashing some stranger’s bathroom. Trading in high-mindedness for lowbrow good times, the Supersuckers sing the praises of inebriation, women and Satan, eschewing any ironic double meaning for a single one: Rock and roll is supposed to be fun.
The show starts at 8 p.m. On this tour, the ‘Suckers are rumored to be playing a 90-minute rock set and a 90-minute C&W set. Scream out “Hey Ya” and hope they grace you with their supersecret cover of the Outkast hit. Tickets cost $15. —Christopher Sebela
No Bootlegs
4/29-5/1
The three-day bluegrass festival in Park City, Kansas (on the outskirts of Wichita), sounds like a hippie’s paradise: bluegrass on the stage, tents on the ground and a festival-sanctioned 4:20 p.m. “dinner break” (really!). Unfortunately for posterity, the Park City Bluegrass Festival doesn’t allow video or audio recording. See www.parkcitybluegrass.com for all the details.— Michael Vennard
Chinese Acrobats
SAT 5/1
We dig how the New Shanghai Circus‘ ten-member ensemble tools around on one bicycle all at once. However, we don’t envy that poor sucker at the bottom. Pity him in person at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre (1600 South Withers Road in Liberty, 816-792-6130) at 7 p.m. Saturday. Ticket prices start at $25. — Annie Fischer