When Emmaline Twist debuted earlier this year, the self-described "post-punk shoegaze" quartet was embraced by area indie-rock tastemakers. The seasoned members of Emmaline Twist were previously in bands including the Latenight Callers, Onward Crispin Glover and the Silver Maggies.
3 reasons we're listening to Emmaline Twist this week:
1. The quartet of Kristin Conkright (bass), Jonathan Knecht (drums), Meredith McGrade (vocals and guitar) and Krysztof Nemeth (guitar) is signed to Middle Class Records, the RecordBar's new in-house record label. They've released two songs, including “Vega.”
2. The group’s dark, goth-imbued sound echoes British bands like Joy Division and the Cure.
3. Saturday’s show is part of Apocalypse Meow, an annual benefit for the Midwest Music Foundation. The core mission of the non-profit organization is centered on "providing health care assistance, education and career development, events and resources" to Kansas City area musicians.
Emmaline Twist performs on Saturday, November 5, with headliners Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear at RecordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri, 64108; 816-753-5207. Apocalypse Meow opens Friday at Mills Record Company, 4045 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri, 816-960-3775.
Bill Brownlee’s writing appears weekly in The Kansas City Star and Ink magazine. He blogs about Kansas City’s jazz scene at Plastic Sax.