Starbomb brings chaos, comedy, and video games to Kansas City
Written by Katelyn Christensen
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – On Starbomb’s ninth stop of Probably the Only Tour Ever, the band performed at Kansas City’s Uptown Theater on September 23. Fans lined the streets for blocks, eager to see the comedy music trio of Arin Hanson, Dan Avidan, and Brian Wecht, whose music is comedy-based and centered around classic video games.
The evening began with a surprise guest. Thirty minutes before the scheduled start, a shadowy figure walked onto the stage and introduced himself as jazz legend Trey Magnifique, an alter ego and satirical character created by Wecht.
Playing soprano saxophone, Magnifique performed original pieces including Satin Velvet and Summer’s Hot. His deadpan comedy quickly won over the audience, particularly when he launched into a long-winded story claiming he was the original creator of Golden from Kpop Demon Hunters. He also covered You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, dedicating it to “the big man upstairs, Jim Carrey,” before closing with the jazz classic Careless Whisper, which he jokingly claimed to have written.
After Magnifique’s set, Epic Rap Battles of History took the stage. Created by Peter Shukoff and Lloyd “EpicLLOYD” Ahlquist, the project pits historical and pop-culture figures against one another in rap battles. Throughout the performance, Shukoff and Ahlquist portrayed every character themselves, using an assortment of wigs, hats, helmets, lab coats, beards, and capes to distinguish each role.
The crowd was energetic throughout the set, screaming, dancing, and singing along. Halfway through, the duo invited two fans onstage to participate in Adam vs. Eve and Goku vs. Superman. The fans earned huge cheers and were ultimately declared the winners of their fictional battles. Epic Rap Battles of History finished with Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates.
Finally, it was Starbomb’s turn.
A video introduced a little robot named IntroBot, who instructed the audience to cheer for Starbomb before welcoming them onto the stage. The lights went completely dark, leaving only the band’s logo illuminated behind them. As Hanson, Avidan, and Wecht walked onstage, the crowd erupted in applause.
The band opened with its first-ever song from 2013, I Choose You to Die. Fans sang nearly every word, sometimes louder than the music itself. The trio wore shiny tracksuits in their signature colors, which reflected the stage lights as they ran around during the performance.
Afterward, a call from the CEO of Video Games, played by YouTuber Markiplier, interrupted the show. He informed Starbomb that he was suing them for making songs about his games and had put them into severe debt. Fortunately, he would accept a unique form of payment, audience cheers.
Determined to escape their debt, Starbomb began performing songs designed to generate as much applause as possible. This led into fan favorites such as Rap Battle: Ryu vs. Ken and Nintendo Online’s Greatest Announcement.
The show then took another unexpected turn when Wecht announced that he was also part of Drugs Are Bad, also known as DAB, alongside bassists Jim Roach and Commander Meouch. Together, they performed Cocaine and Crack, an anti-drug song originally from McGruff the Crime Dog. Wecht repeatedly became distracted by various tangents, forcing Hanson to come backstage several times to remind him to finish the song.
The performance then shifted toward songs highlighting Avidan’s vocals. It’s Dangerous to Go Alone and A Boy and His Boat feature soaring choruses that showcase his tenor range. Fans raised their arms as he sang, almost as if it was a religious experience.
As the show continued, calls from the CEO, lawyers, and a hacker provided a comedic framework for more songs from Starbomb’s discography, including Kiss the Elden Ring, Welcome to the Mario Party, Pokémon Smash or Pass, and Filling in the Name Of. Hanson’s rapping also stood out. His voice-acting experience allows him to portray a wide range of characters, even through fast-paced and tongue-twisting verses.
Eventually, the CEO made one final call, revealing that Starbomb still did not have enough money to pay their debts. As punishment, he claimed to have captured IntroBot. However, the robot was programmed to explode whenever its name was spoken aloud. When the CEO said “IntroBot,” he was promptly blown up, while IntroBot somehow survived.
With the CEO gone, Starbomb was finally free of its debts. To celebrate, the band performed one final song, The Hero of Rhyme.
By the end of the night, Starbomb had delivered exactly what fans came to see. A chaotic combination of comedy, music, video game references, and audience participation. From Trey Magnifique’s unexpected jazz set to Epic Rap Battles of History’s energetic performance, the evening was packed with surprises before Starbomb even took the stage.
Starbomb then built on that energy with songs spanning its discography and an elaborate comedic storyline that kept the audience engaged from beginning to end. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the Kansas City stop of Probably the Only Tour Ever was a memorable night.
