03/15/24
Bad Times, Hays, KS
I want to start off by making a simple statement. Well, two simple statements. First, the number of times I have tried to type out “LYXE” on my keyboard, only to hit “W” instead of “E” is, well, I’ve lost count. “LYXW”, “LYXE”. Whatever, I have fat fingers, and I’m okay with this. Secondly, I learned on Friday night, yet again, that it is a very small world.
Miles on End last played in Hays back in November, a make up for a show in October where The Instant, from Lawrence, were supposed to play. Mother Nature, being the fickle sort that she is, had other plans. Finally they were able to get to Hays, along with fellow LFK’ers, LYXE. Inside of a venue like Bad Times, the swirling combination of rock made the evening fun and relaxing, even if someone did get thrown thru a merch table.
Starting the night out, Miles on End brought out a couple of new songs they’ve been working on, “Lonesome Summer” and “Feelings You Fixed”, what could be considered the new era of this three-piece. Last year they released their album “Under The Neon Motel“, a gathering of the remaining content they had with four members. This year stands as an opportunity for them to stretch their wings and produce new music. Even their take on a cover of Firehose’s “Brave Captain” was something new, and while not without it’s hiccups, there’s a growth within the band as they become more experienced. “As an artist, I feel like you often look back on your past work and, some days, you love it and some days you don’t. And I think it comes down to production, and even what you’re feeling at the time.” says Nate on the creation of new music. “I’ve always thought if you’re working out or doing something engaging and you’re listening to your own music, you like it more than if you’re stagnant. I feel like we’re trying to decide if it’s the right time to record material.”
Coming up for them is a show at Chuck’s in Hays on March 31st with Tree Kitty and The Salesmen.
Made up of Lead Singer Guitarist Chris, Guitarist Chris, Bassist Jeff, and Drummer Dan, Lawrence based The Instant brought a mix of Indie Rock, Punk, and Classic Rock that really complemented the sounds of the other two groups they played with at Bad Times. Recently playing with Miles on End, as well as The Blast Monkeys at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence back in February, they finally got the chance to play in Hays after the aforementioned weather upset their plans to make the trip in November. Recently releasing their debut album MAUGA, recorded and produced with Pretend Machine Records in Lawrence, bringing their music to new ears is imperative.
Up next for them is a show at The Bottleneck with Car Microwave, Liney Blu, and Flash Floods on May 18th.
Finally we get to LYXE. “Pronounced ‘Likes’,” Lead Singer Ryan Wise states “we even have it on our koozie. I fully regret it but we’ve been a band for so long that we can’t undo it now. I just wanted a four-letter name, and in my mind it was going to be like ‘likes’ on a social media page and I thought L Y X E, the laws of English, even though these letters normally aren’t combined, would lead people to that, but we get “Licksy” and “Lux” and people mispronounce our name all the time. But now, you know, people are catching on. We have it all over our social media, it literally says “pronounced ‘likes'” everywhere.” Having said that, with a name that ambiguous as to how it’s pronounced, it is not going to be easily forgotten once you find out how to say it.
Sounding nostalgic with a hint of the Cure and The Strokes, baked into a Post Punk-Grunge sound, along with Bassist AJ Knudson, and Drummer Jimmy Giord, they capped the night off playing more and more until they literally had nothing left to play. We all wanted more. Having played in Denver before, looking for a place in between there and the Lawrence and Kansas City area, doesn’t seem like it’s that hard, but thanks to the networking of music lovers and bands alike, they were able to bring their stuff to town. “The thing I like about Hays is, like, when there’s a show, people give a shit. You come to a town like this, people protect that. Like, there’s a show tonight? We should go. It’s like the thing to do and y’all got right up front for us.” Ryan finishes. I’d mentioned that it is a small small world earlier. Turns out I had shot Ryan’s other band Local Darling last year when they opened for Radkey at the Bottleneck. Small, small world…
Coming up for LYXE is a show on April 5th at Replay Lounge in Lawrence with They’re Theirs and MellowPhobia, before hitting the road to Iowa and Minnesota in May.
Next up at Bad Times is a show on March 30th with Bartlett, Zac Crow and the No Shows, and Call Me Ishmael.
