The Granada was alive with music Friday as three electronic groups threw down dancing tunes for an energetic crowd all night long. Co-Headliners The Floozies and Somasphere each gave the Granada their all with vigorous sets of electronica and funk, which kept the dance floor full throughout the show. Opener Bassthoven was the perfect warm-up to the main acts. The audience was a pack of loyal fans of the bands and music enthusiasts of Lawrence, who brought good vibes and a lot of love for the musicians.
Bassthoven is a collaboration of DJ Blac and Bentone, who combine forces to put together bass-heavy, hip-hoppy house music. A medium sized crowd was already lining the rails and trickling onto the dance floor for the opener, getting down to the duo's electronica. Granted, some folks were hoping the name implied that the DJs had some classical Beethoven music remixes, or something related, but alas, this was not so. Still, the crowd was pumped by the building beats, ready to rage for The Floozies.
The Floozies have been reinforcing their solid reputation around Kansas as one of the best local electronic funk bands. Last night the duo was celebrating Mark Hill's birthday and received roaring cheers from their adoring fans throughout their set. A joyful chorus joined in for the "Happy Birthday" song for Mark, played between climactic, dance-able tunes. Incorporating old favorites like "Crunchface" along with new songs from their latest album. The combination of electronica and funk is the ideal music to dance to and the crowd dug it. From wall to wall, the dance floor and balcony behind it were filled with writhing bodies swinging and bouncing with the rhythm. The band even got drummer Jesse Hodges of Somasphere to join them for some of their finale, adding extra percussion to the band's driving beats. The Floozies are always a party of their own and the Granada was the best place for this show, because the band is getting too popular and too powerful for the smaller venues.
For the final set of the night, Somasphere took the stage for a rowdy audience of eager listeners. Party people at the height of their bacchanalian night could not stop dancing from start to finish of the beat-driven electronic melodies and harmonies. Hooks and riffs kept listeners on their toes, changing with the tempo through the varying parts of growing, expanding songs. Combining guitar, keys, bass, drums and samples, Somasphere is reminiscent of bigger electronic acts like Sound Tribe Sector 9, but this Lincoln, Nebraska foursome offers fresh, improved jams that you cannot find with big, old bands, set in their ways. Somasphere's performancs last night was a heart-racing set of dancer friendly pieces that the entire audience got down to. Almost rave-esque techno set the night into a neon haze of glorious melodies, that hypnotized the crowd into a trance of dance. Last December Somasphere played the Granada for free and earned even more respect from the Lawrence music scene than they had previously stacked up from their epic show at Festy Fest last May. With any luck they will continue to give Lawrence some love, as they are clearly always welcome!
Speaking of Festy Fest, don't miss The Floozies at Lawrence's ultimate music fesival this May. Stay tuned for a full preview of the festival, coming soon!
Now for Previews:
Tonight: Mouth is playing at the Bottleneck with DJ and live drum act Sovereign Sect! This is Mouth's first all-ages show, so all you young 'uns can enjoy the funk with the big kids!
Next Friday, if you are not too hungover from Cinco de Mayo, get your groove on with Electric Theory, J Wail and opener Orion at the Bottleneck! J Wail has been working with Chuck Morris - of Lotus - since October and has new material he is excited to share. This electronic jam show will be a wild good time, so be there or be square!
Saturday J Wail will play with Chuck Morris and Montana at Odds, at 10 p.m. for $10. If you are in KC tonight, this is the place to be!
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