We’ve been tracking The Philistines for a few months now, and have noticed a fairly noticeable difference in their performances lately.

The Philistines are a fantastic psych-rock outfit from Kansas City, but you really can’t limit them to a single genre. The band is dynamic, and can lure you in with hypnotic slow jams (like the first clip) and thrill you with exciting and racy numbers (second clip).

It’s hard to get your attention past the female vocalist, who releases an effortless sensuality noticeable enough to fill the venue. But once you realize how many people are onstage, it suddenly becomes clear that those mesmerizing guitar lines were what drew you in in the first place. Lately, the band has really secured all the different pieces of this exhilarating puzzle together. The bass lines, the steady beats, the guitar solos, and the occasional screams from the vocalists. It’s all there, perfectly packed together. It may take your breath away, but the band certainly isn’t out of breath.

The Philistines don’t come to Lawrence too often, but they’re worth checking out the next time they do. You’ll come for the psychedelic thrashing, but stay for the narcotic-like dance moves that seem to plague audience members one by one.

Words and photos by Fally Afani