Some bands just can’t catch a break. Lawrence’s the Billions will likely go down in history as one of those bands, but that won’t temper the memories of their joyous shows and catchy-as-heck albums. Sam Billen, Dan Billen, Ken Komiya, and Jared Bowes will perform their final show as the Billions this Saturday, April 18, at the Bottleneck (minus guitarist…
This puts the whole Domino’s fiasco into perspective. The sad truth is if you’ve had a reasonable amount of fast food in your life, you’ve probably digested some gross stuff. Bill Clinton’s White House chef was laid off from his job in Minneapolis and decided to open his own restaurant, but had trouble getting financing. How can Clinton’s personal chef…
%{}% Science Whatever: Apparently, scientists have known for years that blood comes squirting directly out Antarctic glaciers, but didn’t bother to tell anyone because when Antarctica’s “Aunt Flo comes to visit” or whatever, it’s a really private, sensitive time. Congratulations, Miss Polar Continent. Now you are a woman. And it’s not actually blood, you guys, it’s a salty, red, iron-rich…
Oh, no. U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt is about to leave the circle of trust. Asked if Rush Limbaugh is the Republican Party’s “de facto leader” by a Kansas City Star Editorial Board member (the story’s by Yael Abouhalkah), Tiahrt said, “No, no, he’s just an entertainer.” Todd, have you learned nothing from the real chairman of the Republican Party, Michael…
At a time when live theater’s on the decline and technological innovations like Netflix, Hulu and auto-erotic asphyxiation are keeping folks at home on the weekends, it’s heartening to hear that one group of actors and musicians is gathering a growing following with real, live, in-the-flesh performances — just like in some old 13th century novel of life on the…
Kansas City police say 37-year-old Steven L. James was the man found dead in his apartment at 8803 Millwood Drive last Sunday, The Kansas City Star reported last night. View Larger Map Not much else is known. Police are waiting on the medical examiner to rule on the cause of death and the police have yet to count James’ death…
Back in grade school, Mom made me sign up for the summer reading program, and I dutifully finished all the books and checked them off the list. So what if the only one that left an impression was S.E. Hinton’s teen-delinquent story That Was Then, This Is Now? So what if I went on to become a delinquent myself —…
By GRAHAM RAYMAN The crew of the M/V Maersk Alabama acted quickly to take control of key areas of the vessel after Somali pirates attacked on April 8, according to a crewmember’s account obtained by the Village Voice, The Pitch”s sister publication. The insider’s e-mailed account of the initial day of the drama offers details that have been somewhat overlooked…
President Obama is talking high-speed rail, right here, in Kansas City. See, we’re even on this nifty map. KC would be part of the “Chicago Hub Network.” Obama sounds hopeful that the $8 billion in the Recovery Act and $1 billion a year for five years in his budget will get the project started. Obama said: There’s no reason why…
As you should all know by now, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the state’s marriage ban is unconstitutional, and the wedding bells will start legally ringing on April 24. Now gay couples www.uniquecaketoppers.com can know the joy of smart businesses making a buck off their marital bliss. And if I may put on my salesman’s hat for a moment, what…
Remember the movie Bring it On? About those ultra-competitive cheerleaders battling against those other ultra-competitive cheerleaders? Well replace the words “cheerleaders” with “beer drinkers” and you get the gist of the inaugural Kansas City Flip Cup Tournament this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Brooksider Bar & Grill. You may think you’re a mean flip cup player but you ain’t…
I wasn’t initially sold on Headlights, having caught the group at the Replay Lounge in the band’s infancy (prior even to 2006’s Kill Them With Kindness, I believe). But a couple albums and a couple shows later, consider me a true believer. Sure, I’m a little biased towards bands from Champaign, Illinois – the Poster Children, Menthol, and Hum being…
We’ve been hearing murmurs that local DJ, jazz trumpeter, R&B singer, webcaster, label manager and agent provacateur Miles Bonny might be reviving his popular Feel Sexy dance party, and now we know it’s true. This Saturday, April 18, Feel Sexy bursts back into fruition at the Firefly Lounge in Westport (4118 Pennsylvania). Running for a year and a half in…
Good column today from Steve Rose on the rise and fall of Ben Hodge, the now former Johnson County Community College Trustee and Kansas state rep. Rose lays out a great case for why Hodge is now out of office — alienating legislators (including conservatives) “with his obnoxious personality,” running up legal bills, leaking a list of possible cuts to…
Yesterday’s Kansas City tea party protest drew at least a couple thousand people. It was pretty impressive to see. And capitalism was in full effect. Looks like TKC was right. The teabaggers had a problem forking their money over to the government. But they didn’t see any problem buying merchandise from a “grassroots political movement.” At the entrance, there were…
I am not a smoker, except for the occasional cigar. I’m anti-smoking in that I hate the smell of smoke and think it’s a disgusting habit. But I’m inclined to believe anti-smoking crusaders have gone too far when they start suppressing opposing arguments — exactly what tobacco companies did for much of the last century. Especially when the people being…
Americans have drip coffee down pat. You put a filter, coffee and some water in the machine, turn a knob and bingo! Fool-proof hot coffee. Iced coffee is a different beast. The ice dilutes the coffee, so it takes planning ahead to get the coffee strength correct. Then there is that whole waiting for the coffee to cool down. Unless…
Someone order 40-year-old prog? Yes (est. 1968) is coming to town, playing the Uptown on July 14 with support from Asia (bet they chose ’em in the heat of the moment, yuk yuk). This lineup of Yes includes original members Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass) and Alan White (drums), but singer Jon Anderson has been replaced by new guy…
There’s already a beer movie and a bourbon tasting tonight so why not a wine dinner to complete the booze trifecta? Readers of our Pitch Forks newsletter already know that starting at 6:30 tonight, 1924 Main hosts a wine dinner with Oscar Renteria of Renteria Winery. Renteria is a second-generation wine maker. His father, Salvador Renteria, was a Mexican immigrant…
Former Weezer bassist and Rentals frontman Matt Sharp decided he wanted to make an embed player containing his on-and-off band’s new EP, The Story of a Thousand Seasons Past, and we’re like “OK!” The EP is billed as a “mini-album” and is the first installment of the Rentals upcoming, three-CD/EP set, Songs About Time, the band’s first proper album in…
Maybe I should have left the Killa City tag on this post. An earlier report indicated that the police didn’t initially consider the death suspicious. Now, The Kansas City Star is reporting that murder squad detectives are looking into the death of a man found in an apartment at 8803 Millwood Drive. View Larger Map The Star says: Police did…
City Tavern is hosting a small-batch bourbon tasting tonight, with a mind-numbing (literally) seven bourbons to choose from, along with six food pairings. If the weather holds up, it will take place on the patio outside. Manager Ryan Asbury said the whole thing is being served “mix and match” style, meaning it won’t be a sit-down dinner; instead, he’ll have…
