The Unicorns / Beans

"Some guy said he was just on the phone with them forty-five minutes ago," says James "and he says they just left Topeka and they should be here pretty soon." In case you don't know, on a map, Topeka is about an inch away from Kansas City. This delays the entire show about 45 minutes before the horrible opening band goes and plays their weak set and leaves. Nothing really important really happened. Beans was a mystery, however, seeing as I'd searched and searched but hadn't found doodely squat on this band anywhere and didn't know what to expect...until a lone black man takes the stage and proceeds to break into hip-hop without any beats (for the first song at least) whatsoever. Then, he proceeds to turn on his cd player (containing a cd with his beats) and totally bring down the house. If you haven't heard Beans, you really really MUST check his stuff out. He's on Warp Records if I'm not mistaken, go to their site, get info. Beans is just a great performer, he moves his body with his music and his words. A complete breath of fresh air and surprise. The crowd loved him.

Following our much beloved Beans, the Unicorns proceed to set up and get ready to put on one hell of a show. Instantly, they burst into "The Clap" and the guitar player knocks over one of the mic stands which falls and hits a kid in the head. So much energy up there on that stage, from the curly haired guitarist at least. The whole time he was so into it, at one point he fell down, or something to that nature, and played one of the songs from the floor and such. What else was great was how there were CONSTANT instrument change ups save the drummer in the back. One plays guitar on one song, one keyboard. One bass, one guitar. Two guitars. They switch and the other plays keyboards while the other plays bass. It's fantastic compared to the bands that go up there and play a completely stationary set like we're so used to seeing. The entire set is right on and has most of your favorites from "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?". As for the setlist, trying to keep them in order takes away from the experience of the show but I KNOW that they played: The Clap, Jellybones, Tuff Ghost, Innoculate Innoculous, and more that I can't name.

What really put this show over the top in my book was the bands open invitation for the crowd to join them onstage for the last two songs. This is a good sized crowd, much more than I was expecting to see, and a good chunk of these people begin crawling up onto the stage including myself and my entorage. This is what it's all about, having the most fun you've ever had at a show, right up there with the band, up close and personal, surrounded by music. The last song is what we're all waiting for, "I Was Born (a Unicorn)". The stage is packed with kids, all half singing along, dancing, taking the mic, what have you. Once the set closes everyone gets in for a group hug and then starts to go home.

This show was just plain fun. Good music, good crowd, and a great ending. They just added dates to their tour as well if I'm not mistaken so if they're coming to your town, I highly encourage you to check it out.

Here are some photos taken between my friend and myself:
The Clap
Tuff Ghost
We're The Unicorns, We're More than Horses
We're the Unicorns and WE'RE PEOPLE TOO!