As night descends on Kansas City and Middle of the Map Fest, St. Louis' Dots Not Feathers and their assorted company of boyfriends and friends wait outside the Riot Room for load-in. It is 6:30 p.m. before the crew hauls its gear on and around the stage.

The club fills with fog, sludge-covered power chords pin you against the wall. Bright lights and even more fog seep from the Off Broadway stage to reveal two brothers, also known as JEFF the Brotherhood.

I've always been the kind of person that doesn't like to limit myself to one genre of music, and this year was perfect for that.

This year offered so many fine albums in the indie-rock vein that it was hard to choose just 10.

Fidlar opened the night to a thinly gathered crowd. While super tight and fun to watch, I just couldn't get over their similarity to Jay Reatard's entire back catalogue.

With a recent appearance on late night television, it's no surprise that JEFF the Brotherhood played to packed audience last night at Off Broadway.

During the single hour containing JEFF the Brotherhood's set, I had three beers poured on my head, one pocket knife placed in my back pocket and four bruises just waiting to show up the next day.

anthemic (an-the-mik)
adj.
(of a song) like an anthem in being rousing or uplifting.
See also: F*cked Up at the Firebird on Friday, July 1, 2011.