Normally when one thinks of house shows, a student-filled home with dusty floors, kegs, and scattered red plastic cups come to mind. This was not the case on Friday night, when a cozy East Lawrence bungalow opened its doors to the community for a night of majestic music from some of the scene’s best songwriters.
Mat Shoare is a musician who has been catching our attention lately. Recently, he has been hitting the road with Everyday/Everynight and the Empty Spaces. While his work with the two indie rock outfits is more than impressive, we’re thrilled that he has some solo work coming out again.
It was such a treat to watch Shoare and company in such an intimate setting. The audience packed into the beautiful and soft-lit home, scrunched up against its modern decor and perched upon eloquent furnishings. This sort of close proximity left some attendees feeling Shoare’s dramatic lyrics right in their guts. He would occasionally roll up onto his tippy-toes while seeping his scratchy vocals into the room. The enchanting performer’s music was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Mat Shoare in Lawrence, Kansas from I Heart Local Music on Vimeo.
The entire home had become so good-natured when Justin Klaas went up to perform. “Even though you’re all clapping, you’re kind of terrifying right now,” he joked when he saw how tightly adjacent the crowd had become.
Klaas is an exquisite singer/songwriter who doesn’t make appearances in downtown venues too often, which is why many made the trek to this show to experience his superb talents. He was the only performer to go sans mic/amp, and it appeared he didn’t really need one anyway. He had such a splendid way of commanding the room, basking everyone in his powerful, crescendoing vocals. The circle of green Christmas lights that outlined the stage reflected in his glasses while he swayed and bounced behind his guitar. Even when he sang more serious (and sometimes somber) lyrics, he could crack jokes without ever missing a beat. A phone would ring and he would quip “That’s part of the song!” This was a man who was just so comfortable with performing, we couldn’t help but feel that he was made for serenading.
Justin Klaas in Lawrence, Kansas from I Heart Local Music on Vimeo.
Every now and then, it’s perfectly okay to feel frustrated with the music scene and seek another outlet. Sometimes, you just need to get out of downtown and enjoy each other’s intense company, conversation, and camaraderie off the beaten path.
Words and photos by Fally Afani