Live Review: Kevin Morby with Liam Kazar at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, 5/29/26

There’s something to be said for home-field advantage. On a muggy night in Kansas City, Kevin Morby had it in spades. Touring in support of his eighth studio album, Little Wide Open, the singer-songwriter left it all on the stage for an audience filled with adoring fans, friends, and family.

The Kansas City native is currently in the midst of an extensive world tour, bringing his unique blend of indie rock, country, and Americana to audiences across the globe while steadily expanding his devoted following.

If Bob Dylan and Lou Reed somehow produced a musical lovechild, Morby might be the result. There are traces of both artists in his singing, songwriting, and attitude. Yet Morby remains entirely his own artist. Throughout Little Wide Open, he blurs genre boundaries while celebrating the landscapes and spirit of the Midwest. Suddenly, the flyover states feel cool again.

With a sunflower-adorned stage, he opened with “Natural Disaster,” a slow-burning track that gradually builds in intensity. Singing, “Cause prairies, they wildfire / Seas hurricane / The hills, they all landslide / Tornados strip the plains / And my whole earth quakes.” Morby transforms Midwestern weather into powerful metaphors for life’s upheavals. Tornados, in particular, appear frequently throughout the album, serving as recurring symbols of both destruction and renewal.

As the evening unfolded, the energy between performer and audience became increasingly reciprocal. Guitar in hand, Morby jumped, spun, and danced across the stage, visibly feeding off the crowd’s enthusiasm. Seven songs from Little Wide Open made the setlist, alongside beloved selections from earlier albums, including “This Is a Photograph,” “Campfire,” and “City Music.”

Midway through the show, Morby announced, “We like to bring out friends while on tour. Please welcome my better half, Katie Crutchfield.” Fans of Waxahatchee erupted as Crutchfield joined him for a moving rendition of “Bittersweet, TN.” With the couple soon to become parents, the performance carried an added emotional weight.

Other highlights included “Badlands” (not a Springsteen cover, but a nod to Morby’s own Midwestern landscape) and “Javelin,” which was greeted with near-exultation from the hometown crowd. Local comedian and Friend-of-Kevin Caleb Hearon, who stars in the song’s music video, made a surprise appearance, emerging with a guitar in hand. “My guitar tech,” Morby joked as Hearon delivered the instrument. The crowd ate it up.

Later, longtime friend Hermon Mehari joined the band on trumpet for a rousing “I Have Been to the Mountain.” Alongside saxophonist Cochemea Gastelum, the pair elevated the song into something spiritual and celebratory. Morby’s current band is exceptional, featuring Liam Kazar on bass, guitar, piano, and vocals; Cole Berggren on bass; Camellia Hartman on keyboards, violin, and vocals; and Dom Billet on drums. Together, they rival any touring group on the road today.

Throughout the night, Morby repeatedly expressed his affection for Kansas City, calling the Uptown Theater his favorite venue. He shared a story about being 16 years old and trying to sneak into a sold-out Pixies concert there. After telling a ticket seller that he and his friends had driven all the way from Omaha (lie), they were rewarded with two tickets, while their third friend managed to score one of his own.

The main set concluded with the beautiful title track, “Little Wide Open.” Before leaving, Morby thanked the crowd and joked, “So, we’ve got one more song, then we’ll” – throwing up air quotes – “leave the stage, then come back if you’re loud enough.” The audience obliged.

The band quickly returned for a two-song encore that included “Beautiful Strangers,” Morby’s anti-gun statement written in the aftermath of the Bataclan attacks in Paris. As he sang, “If I die too young, or the gunmen come / I’m full of love,” with an emphatic “Fuck I.C.E.!” that was met with enthusiastic approval.

The evening closed with a rocking rendition of “Dorothy” from his Singing Saw album. Fueled by fuzzy guitars and unrelenting energy, it was the perfect finale. For a brief moment in time, Morby, his band, and everyone inside the Uptown Theater seemed united by the music. He left the stage drenched in sweat, looking every bit like a Kansas wheat harvester in July.

Opening the evening was Morby bandmate Liam Kazar, who pulled double duty alongside Berggren and Billet. Touring behind his second solo album, Pilot Light, Kazar delivered a terrific set that made the evening feel like a two-for-one bargain. An accomplished guitarist with a voice perfectly suited to his songs, he impressed with standout performances of “The Word the War,” “Day Off,” and “Didn’t I,” offering a reminder of just how much musical talent exists within Morby’s orbit.

If you’re new to Morby and Kazar, this show will serve as an excellent initian. If not, you already know. Do yourself a favor and buy the tickets. And while you’re waiting in the queue, check out the #SetListPlayList below!

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