Our new mayor, Matt … sorry … Mark Funkhouser, admitted in a press release to not having heard of George Clinton before he began his mayoral campaign. Surely the PR guy could have gotten a better quotation from the mayor than one that admits he’s so white that he managed to live through the late ’60s and the following…
A Kansas City political consultant accused of forgery has filed a defamation suit against a former employer. On March 14, police picked up Michele Lahr at a candidate forum at the Uptown Theater. The cops wanted to talk to Lahr about a $3,500 check she deposited from Heartland Democrats of America, a Missouri political action committee. Founded by husband-and-wife…
Once again, The Kansas City Star continues its always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life coverage of the Sprint Center’s inability to land a big-name tenant. AEG finally admitted in this article from today’s paper that the Sprint Center will open in October without a NBA or NHL franchise. But the Star’s Randy Covitz dutifully reported the spin from Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, the…
Just a heads up about some loud, loud rock happening around town tonight. First, there’s whatever’s on the radio on your weekday drive home. No, wait! Don’t touch the radio!!! Listen: Gods of Kansas, Don’t Touch the Radio The Gods, who are actually from Kalamazoo, Michigan, play tonight at El Torreon with Gamut, J Boozer and Kill Your Ex….
Aaron Ladage reports: Mac Lethal’s never been the kind of guy to mince words. As far as I know, most rappers who shout “Fuck 95.7” at an event co-sponsored by said radio station (i.e., his performance at the 2005 Pitch Music Awards Showcase) aren’t known for their diplomacy. But even by those standards, it came as a bit of…
Last Friday, Funk Fest ´07 – otherwise known as the mayor’s inaugural ball – took over Union Station. Normally, I’m not interested in such local political wonkery, but the fact that Mark Funkhouser opened it to the public appealed to my inner democrat. Plus, I’ve never been to an inauguration, which is surprising, considering my past political experience (i.e….
Crystal Wiebe reports: If you think you’re a hipster, try to find your way some night to a party at the Pointless Forest. You can figure out for yourself where that is and when the next rager/rock show is supposed to happen. If you’re hip enough. (Just kidding. I’ll make it easy for you. Follow this link.) Having heard…
In this week’s Pitchcast, artist and nursing student Jaimie Oller describes the motivation behind her new exhibit in the Crossroads, which is meant to make visitors feel like they’re in the war-torn West Bank. Check it out in iTunes by following this link. Categories: News
Last weekend, our Spin Cycle contributor Chris Milbourn ventured out to the Coachella Music Festival in Southern California. After a few days laid up with physical maladies incurred at the event (which he doesn’t discuss much here), he finally filed his report. Here’s what he saw. My feelings about going to Coachella had me on a kind of emotional…
It’s great to watch all the progress being made in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. But does the city have to rip up every street at the same damn time? I’m not the first person to notice all the detours and “road closed” signs. But a short trip this afternoon provoked unprecedented levels of aggravation. Categories: News
Over the past few years, a guy named Trikz has shaken the carpetbagging world of fancy basketball trickery to its foundations. This is from a Trikz-related press release: “Despite never playing for an NBA® team, Trikz enjoys superstar status among NBA® players and millions of fans around the globe who have witnessed what he can do with a basketball…
“Patterns” by the Republic Tigers, streaming now on their MySpace page. Seriously, I’ve heard a lot of new stuff this week — Noisettes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, a fistful of British It bands from a MOJO compilation, Dinosaur Jr., Feist, K-Os, the Sea and Cake — and all of it’s been good, but if I had to pick just one…
The bully is back at it. Kansas state Sen. Jim Barone may be the only thing in the way of gambling in his home county. Read more on the Web site for the Pittsburg, Kansas, Morning Sun (registration required). — Justin Kendall Categories: News
Here’s your Wayward Home Photo Companion to this week’s music column on chillying down with Super Black Market in Warrensburg, MO. Enjoy. LE PRE SHOW The club known as the 400 — not the 400 Club, mind you. Just the 400. Categories: Music
Way before Kansas City knew him as the guy who killed people at Ward Parkway, David Logsdon achieved a kind of minor fame on-air at KKFI 90.1, as the host of a 30-minute program devoted to Celtic music and discussion of all things pagan. During the mid-´90s, Logsdon, using the on-air name Templar, ran the show for two years, according…
Half-price draft beer and appetizers every Monday night. Mondays, 4 p.m. Tags: Night & Day
Evidence that Johnson County invented more than Corporate Woods is on exhibit at the Johnson County Museum of History. Made in Johnson County highlights the products, inventions and businesses that put the area on the map as it evolved from a podunk agricultural scene to an industrial behemoth specializing in rocket powder and Valomilk candy cups. Among the exhibit’s illuminations…
Darts and alcohol mix like gunpowder and fire. The game has always been a pub game: The first dartboards were made from the bottoms of wine barrels, and the first players were drunken soldiers who called the game “butts.” While all of the soldiers are in Iraq these days, a few well-loved dartboards are still under fire in Lawrence. And…
Alpha Dog (Universal) An Officer and a Gentleman: Special Collector’s Edition (Paramount) The Best of the Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (Shout) Beverly Hills 90210: The Second Season (Paramount) Clint Eastwood: Western Icon Collection (Universal) A Collection of 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (Magnolia) Fletch: The Jane Doe Edition (Universal) Happily N’Ever After (Lionsgate) The Hitcher (Rogue) Illegal Aliens…
After starring in 20 years’ worth of video games, the Super Mario Brothers have been spread mighty thin. The mustachioed heroes’ latest outing, however, takes this concept to a literal extreme. Paradoxically, Super Paper Mario is like every Mario game you’ve ever played — and like nothing you’ve seen before. All the iconic Mario mainstays — breaking bricks, eating mushrooms,…
Little Children (New Line) In the eyes of Hollywood, our American suburbs are so filled with perversion and treachery that it seems the government ought to crack down on something. Until then, we can count on movies like Little Children to keep us informed. Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson are good as a pair of adulterers energized by their…
Paralysis Promising big surprises to close out both acts, local doctor and playwright Harold Keairnes takes a long, unblinking look at the tragedy of quadriplegia through the eyes of the family and friends charged with taking care of Rob Peters, a football player who has suffered a devastating on-the-field injury. Not one of those surprises: the fact that Peters never…
KCAI Senior Show The future is now at the H&R Block Artspace, where more than 100 of the Kansas City Art Institute’s graduating seniors display their work. Assistant Curator Heather Lustfeldt put together this invitational, which assembles paintings, sculptures, films, interactive pieces, prints, mobiles and sound installations. Among the best: Heather Bell’s colorful portrayal of two dreamers staring up at…
Here’s yet another reason why they hate us. They could be fundamentalists abroad or domestic, of crescent or cross. Us could be the West or this country or anyone whose politics value the right of an individual to marry whomever he or she damn well pleases. They hate that we place such a premium on the self and its…
