We walked in to the pop/rock/punk(?) sounds of Exit 159. Supposedly the opening band, the Anniversary, decided to show up a little bit late, so they would be next. Hmmm. Danielle and I wonder if it was on purpose? Immediately, we went to work photographing the band up on stage - a sort of removed charisma exuded from Kristie Stremel, formerly of Frogpond, as she jumped around on stage and worked her guitar like a jackhammer. Funny, cause I've never seen Frogpond move around this much on stage. Makes me wonder if all the life left with Kristie? Anyway, Exit 159 is the classic power-trio: guitar, bass, drums and harmonized vocal lines. Everything very much radio friendly, and thats not to say in a negative way. Perhaps if more of this type of thing were on the radiowaves, I might actually listen more often. Every song was carefully crafted, yet still fun and loose as needed, the way good rock should be. Seems Kristie took the best songwriting elements when she left Frogpond as well. As a unit, the band is a very solid, well-oiled machine, capable of melding the best of good punk, rock, and pop into a cohesive, tight, three to six chord hit; the kind you sing along to on your way to work. You may say to yourself,"I've heard this before", but in this case you'd be wrong, cause there is enough of a new twist to make it fresh, just as if these guys invented the kind of tunes they play. Do yourself a favor, and check them out, if only for their great cover of Prince's "Little Red Corvette".

Next up was, the Anniversary. Double edged Fender Mustang/Jaguar guitar attack, with analogue synths buzzing and chirping as well. At first, I was digging them alright, but by the third song or so, I was ready for TV Fifty. Same basic jangly-then-heavy guitar riffs, mixed with someone adjusting the Oscillators on the synths, attempting to create "spacy sounds".....hmmm. Well, at least they had some girl playing violin on some of the tunes as well, which I must say did succeed in making a full, mature sound. I couldn't get over the lack of professionalism they displayed, though. We waited for them to joke around and goof off between songs, to the strains of ear-slicing feedback. Thanks. The fact that they reminded me of Weezer was proof enough that their time had already passed. Props to the row of "Alphie" robots along the back row of amps - I had more fun looking at them than listening to the band. Next.

OK. I played "Localpaluzzza" in June, and so did TV Fifty. However, I didn't stay to watch them then, so I had only heard them on the radio a few times. I thought they were OK at best, but its a different story live. They were energetic, and fun, and the music was good, too! Very pop concious, and full of good, pop/punky guitar lines. The standard harmonized vocals are there, but still the whole thing works very well. I wasn't bored after two songs, I found myself wanting to hear the next song, and bopping my head and tapping my feet. These guys are one up on most bands in this vein in KC and Lawrence, which explains why they won that Blockbuster thing last year. Hmmm. I never thought I'd say it, but for once, someone won something that deserved it. So, go see 'em.