Julia Othmer is an art-rock musician in the vein of Tori Amos and Peter Gabriel. Although she currently lives in Los Angeles, Othmer claims Kansas City as her hometown and returns to visit her parents and friends several times a year.
Othmer says she intends to "be on the road a lot" in 2018 to promote her forthcoming album "Sound. That includes a stop at Knuckleheads this weekend.
The album's single, "Hungry Days (Make Me Feel)," builds slowly from foreboding percussive sounds into a clamorous rock symphony. It's "an anthem against apathy," Othmer says.
"If nothing else, (it's) a reminder to myself to be active in this life, to engage and experience the world," she says. "I see a grand transformation occurring and I hope we all play a compassionate and consciously active part in it."
Guitarist Jeff Porter, bassist Johnny Hamil and drummer John Floyd Whitaker will accompany the pianist and vocalist on Friday. But she also says she'll take some time to play solo, too.
"I like being 'alone' on stage," she says. "There's a different kind of vulnerability and intimacy."
Julia Othmer, 8:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9 at Knuckleheads Garage, 2715 Rochester, Kansas City, Missouri, 64120; 816-483-1456.
KCUR contributor Bill Brownlee blogs about Kansas City's jazz scene at Plastic Sax.
