Words and Photos: Chronophage / Silicone Prairie / Sister Slate / Genre at Kessler Park
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| Chronophage. Photo by Aaron Rhodes. |
Kessler Park - Kansas City
Chronophage is an Austin, Texas outfit with a small but passionate cult following. Thanks to the group's open-minded approach -- incorporating elements from post-punk, psychedelic pop, and indie rock -- and their strong songwriting skills, they've been able to lead Kansas City fans off the beaten path (literally) twice now as they played their second outdoor DIY generator show here in town.
Attendance at its peak on this evening hovered somewhere between 75 and 100, though only a few dozen stuck around past sundown to see the Texas band play. The set was delayed momentarily due to the generator running out of gas, but a friend was sent off with a canister and made good time. Though there were moments where the band's motoric rhythms and eerie melodies reached a fever pitch and led locals to dance, some portions of the set felt more lounge-y than far out.
The evening began around 8:30 P.M. with a set from Silicone Prairie. The band has only convened for live shows about half a dozen times so far, only one of which I was able to attend, and this performance was far superior to the slightly awkward set at Farewell back in April. The band's country rock influences, for a reason I couldn't quite place, seemed more apparent during this set and the songs were all the better for it -- tap your boot to it. The final song concluded with a smoldering synth solo from Leslie Butsch.
Following Silicone Prairie was the debut of a new band called Genre which included familiar faces Diyana X (Mentira, Battle Royale) and Aoife Conway (formerly of LK Ultra). As one could predict by the band's name, this wasn't going to be some kind of mainstream indie pop effort. The songs ranged from vigorous, scrappy melodic punk reminiscent of '70s bands like X to paranoid, off-kilter no wave not unlike that of No Trend. The group ended its set with a cover of The Stooges' classic "I Wanna Be Your Dog" which inspired some of the most passionate slam dancing and strutting of the night.
Sister Slate was the final local band to play before Chronophage and, like the two bands they followed, featured a new arrangement of local favorites. Dan Ohm (Dimesack, Phantom Head, Meat Mist), Dillon Joeckel (Tongues, ROTA), and Brad Highnam (Nerv, Ruined Orgasm) accompany vocalist Kenia Balquier in what may be one of the scene's most exciting new ventures. The band's style teeters on the edge of shadowy post-punk and confrontational hardcore punk. The crowd's movement during this set was the most consistent it was all night and Balquier was to thank, pacing back in forth in front of the tent stage, staring down front row onlookers. Although the generator died just as the set was coming to a close, Sister Slate managed to get off what I believe to be the most rocking abortion rights song I've ever heard.
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