Kansas City concerts: TobyMac, Blue Öyster Cult, Justin Moore and Tracy Lawrence

Flor’s arresting new rendition of the Coldplay hit “Yellow” reflects the bold ambition of the Los Angeles based electro-pop band. Featuring vocals from Mandy Lee of the like-minded group MisterWives, Flor’s cover of “Yellow” sounds as if it’s intended to rouse thousands of admirers in arenas. With songs from its two albums quickly approaching more than 200 million plays on music streaming services, Flor is thriving. The band is just one big break away from attaining outright stardom. With Palo Zolo. 816-753-8665. Tickets are $17 through uptowntheater.com.

Eric Bloom, 75, and Buck Dharma, 72, cultivated sinister mystiques during their band’s heyday. The brooding contemplation of death “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” the heavy metal stomp of “Godzilla” and the malevolent “Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll” are among the classic songs that cemented Blue Öyster Cult’s fearsome reputation in the 1970s. The aura dissipated with the advent of MTV and the internet. Bloom and Dharma now defy their once-menacing reputations by smiling throughout their joy-filled performances. 816-414-7000. Tickets are $35-$50 through ameristarkansascity.com.

Oren Major’s supreme confidence and adventurous music elicit frequent comparisons to Kanye West. In his aggressive song “All the Juice,” the St. Louis native boasts, “I’m a metaphor developer. … I’m a predator, all that’s left of you is a skeleton.” Possessing a similarity to the most polarizing musician alive is a mixed blessing. Major’s combative flow and soulful sound are anathema to the majority of today’s rap fans. He likely will preach to a small coterie of true believers Friday. With Paris Cherrell and Zajikc. 816-326-8281. Tickets are $10 through minibarkc.com.

With a North American tour launching in May, the Rolling Stones seem to be indestructible. Yet should the band ever find itself in need of a guitarist, it would do well to begin the audition process with Jack Broadbent. Born in England in 1988, Broadbent performs the blues with the sort of swagger that made the members of the Rolling Stones rock ’n’ roll legends. The charismatic Broadbent will demonstrate why he’s considered one of the world’s elite slide guitarists. 816-483-1456. Tickets are $10 through knuckleheadskc.com.

Ticket holders to Murder by Death’s concert will receive a magazine commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first performance by the gothic folk-rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. The publication is likely to document the quintet’s extensive touring in support of its eight albums. Murder by Death’s menacing songs like “The Desert Is on Fire” and “Last Night on Earth” resemble an alternate soundtrack to the dusty Spaghetti Western films starring Clint Eastwood. With Amigo the Devil. 785-749-1972. Tickets are $20-$32 through libertyhall.net.

Astrud Gilberto captivated listeners around the world with her delightful vocals on “The Girl From Ipanema” more than 50 years ago. Luciana Souza is a similarly persuasive ambassador for her native Brazil today. One of most prominent Brazilian artists of the new millennium, Souza applies her warm voice to classic bossa nova and innovative chamber-pop. She’ll be accompanied by Chico Pinheiro, a guitarist who regularly collaborates with Brazil’s biggest stars, and elite jazz bassist Scott Colley. 816-474-4444. Tickets are $20-$55 through follytheater.org.

The Late Nights & Longnecks Tour is named after the title of Justin Moore’s 2019 album. Although the moniker accurately reflects the spirited content of the country songs of Moore, 35, and tour mate Tracy Lawrence, 52, their joint endeavor could just as easily be named for Lawrence’s 1996 hit “Time Marches On.” Lawrence’s signature song is a homespun meditation about the inevitability of change, a truism accentuated by the contrasts between two generations of rugged country stars. With Lainey Wilson. 816-753-8665. Tickets are $49.50-$174.50 through uptowntheater.com.

Toby McKeehan brazenly proclaimed his spiritual allegiance on the trio DC Talk’s landmark 1995 song “Jesus Freak.” Noting “my best friend was born in a manger,” he wondered, “What will people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus freak?” The remarkably rapturous reception made McKeehan a star. Following his success with DC Talk, the Virginian earned similar acclaim creating Christian pop as a solo artist. With Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, We Are Messengers, Ryan Stevenson, Aaron Cole and Cochren & Co. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $23-$93 through sprintcenter.com.

This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City concerts: TobyMac, Blue Öyster Cult, Justin Moore and Tracy Lawrence."