Archives: March 2014

Music

Marijuana Deathsquads never meant to tour, but that won’t hold them back now

Natalie Gallagher,

Back in 2009, in the grimy shadows of a decrepit Minneapolis warehouse, Marijuana Deathsquads was born. Formed by Gayngs mastermind Ryan Olson and Isaac Gale, the experimental electro-noise band came up through off-the-record performances and almost-underground residencies that featured an amorphous cast of cool kids, including Doomtree’s P.O.S., Poliça’s Ben Ivascu, and Har Mar Superstar. I remember many a splendid…
Music

Lawrence’s Taryn Miller signs to Domino Records

Natalie Gallagher,

On a gray Friday morning, Taryn Miller lights a cigarette and stares out at the wintry field beyond the back porch of her two-story house on the edge of Lawrence. She likes it here, she tells me — this town and also the slight distance from its center that the house allows her. As we talk, though, it’s clear that…
Music

Music Forecast 3.13–19: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Russian Circles, Halfway to Winfield, Misterwives, and more

Natalie Gallagher,

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Since the early 1960s, the internationally renowned South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has entertained and educated listeners all over the world. It has released more than 50 albums and collected four Grammy Awards. For longtime fans, the male ensemble’s latest album, Always With Us, holds no huge surprises: The traditional Zulu rhythms and style…
News

Hot prospects, cold beer: It’s March again at the Sprint Center

Justin Kendall,

The top two prospects in this summer’s NBA Draft are in the Big 12 — and playing for the same team. University of Kansas Jayhawks Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins are projected to go with the top two picks in the pro draft. This week’s sold-out Big 12 men’s basketball tournament is likely the last appearance in conference play for…
A&E

Three KC Fashion Week designers share their unexpected inspirations

Nancy Hull Rigdon,

Union Station embodies Kansas City even as it also signifies movement in and away from the metro. And over the course of four days this week, the landmark transforms into a showcase of not just local life but also other cultures that exist far beyond our city’s boundaries. The Kansas City Fashion Week runway returns to Union Station for its…
A&E

Ahram Park and Wilbur Niewald show their patience at Haw

Liz Cook,

As anyone can attest who has sat and watched dust particles spiral and spark in a slant of afternoon light, romance can emerge from the most ordinary subjects. At Haw Contemporary, two new solo exhibitions invite us to contemplate the vibrancy and mystery of straightforward scenes. The dramatic black-and-white photographs that make up Ahram Park’s Friendly Stranger sweep us into…
News

Jack Cashill is investigating the missing Malaysian Airlines plane, already has a conspiracy theory

Steve Vockrodt,

The intriguing and ongoing mystery of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370’s disappearance near Vietnam has generated a cottage industry of freshly minted amateur avionic experts who confidently express their hidden genius about what happened to the plane. While most of this speculative chatter has been confined to story comment sections, local conspiracy theorist Jack Cashill has taken to the airwaves with…
Music

Get your SXSW fix with our daily slideshows

Natalie Gallagher,

Sometimes, a photo says it all. Other times, you’re too busy to read what I write. That’s why, this week, while Pitch photographer Zach Bauman and I are messing with Texas so you don’t have to, we’ll be uploading daily slideshows of everything we see.  Check out the slideshow from Tuesday, March 11, here. Do you have Austin tips? Bands you…

Music

What Would Garth Brooks Tickets at the Sprint Center Cost?

Nick Tranfaglia,

It only took 90 minutes for country icon Garth Brooks to sell out all three dates of his Comeback Special Event. 400,000 tickets have been sold for five concert dates this July in one of the most widely anticipated concerts ever staged in Ireland. The question now becomes, will Garth come back across the pond and perform here in the…
News

Watch this wild police chase in KCK yesterday

David Hudnall,

All’s well that ends well (sort of). Yesterday afternoon, a couple of goons led local law enforcement on a semi-high-speed chase throughout the metropolitan area. It ended in KCK, where the driver slammed the car to a halt, jumped out, and sprinted around the neighborhood for a solid minute – at one point impressively climbing what looked to be a…
Food & Drink

Succotash’s Sumo: Is there such a thing as too much breakfast?

Angela Lutz,

Succotash’s gut-busting Sumo breakfast challenge requires its own special plate – and a certain attentiveness to liability issues. When someone orders it, server David Meyer says, “Everyone on staff will keep checking on them, mostly because we want them to win but also because of health reasons. We want to make sure they’re doing OK.” If something goes wrong, there…
News

On tap at Gusto Lounge: more lawsuits

Steve Vockrodt,

Cocaine, guns, identity theft, forged signatures, claims of cheating lawyers – these are the primary ingredients in Gusto Lounge’s shit soup, according to litigators doing battle over the Westport bar. While the rest of that nightlife district has cleaned up its act and is ready to reclaim its standing as Kansas City’s top entertainment strip, Gusto Lounge’s ownership is entangled…
Music

The Hotelier’s Christian Holden talks anti-pop

Nick Spacek,

Worcester, Massachusetts’ the Hotelier released their latest full-length, Home, Like NoPlace Is There, via Tiny Engines late last month, and it’s been playing non-stop on my iPod and stereo ever since it showed up in my inbox. “The Scope Of All Of This Rebuilding” and “Housebroken” feature a declamatory, deadpan delivery that brings to mind the likes of Piebald or…
News

Keith Curtis, of KC Improv Co., answers The Pitch‘s questionnaire

Justin Kendall,

Name: Keith Curtis Occupation: I work in insurance at Lockton for real money. I also help organize and run the KC Improv Co., as well as the Kansas City Improv Festival, for fun money. Hometown: Wichita. Go, Shockers! Current neighborhood: Merriam What I do (in 140 characters): Help my wife raise a beautiful and feisty 4-year-old daughter. In my free…
News

Boulevard’s Grainstorm Black Rye IPA hits store shelves and taps next week

Justin Kendall,

Boulevard Brewing Co.’s next Smokestack Series seasonal isn’t going to garner the attention lavished on Chocolate Ale, but it may be a better-tasting beer. We popped open a 750-milliliter bottle of Boulevard’s Grainstorm Black Rye IPA during our weekly editorial meeting, and in less than an hour the bottle was dry. (Kegs of Grainstorm hit taps Monday, March 17, and…