All the time in the world for music. // Photo by Brock Wilbur I’m not sure about you, but in times of high weirdness, I turn to music to help me make sense of the world around me. And I don’t listen to music to help distract myself, rather I listen to music that makes me confront the world head-on….
Photo by David Andreatta This piece is syndicated from CITY Newspaper, via the AAN. In a few weeks, most American taxpayers will receive a one-time check from the federal government for $1,200, plus $500 per dependent child, as part of a relief package intended to help them weather the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The payments are for…
As theaters throughout the Greater Kansas City area have shuttered this spring (and their spring shows canceled or postponed), they — like many other organizations and businesses — are abiding by the stay-at-home order, working from home, planning for the future but finding ways in the interim to adapt. Like museums offering virtual tours and schools moving their student instruction…
A nod to Shaun of the Dead on closing night. // Photo courtesy Adam Roberts Adam Roberts is an owner of Screenland. We asked him to tell us what it’s like to be a small, local theater that’s currently shuttered, what it means for the industry as a whole, and how his community is making it through. They’ve now launched…
Ultimate Fakebook The Preserving Machine (Sonic Ritual) There’s that part of Grosse Pointe Blank where Jeremy Piven’s driving along, talking to John Cusack, and just yelling, “TEN YEEEEARS!” because he can’t believe it’s been so long since the two have seen each other. Change “ten” to “sixteen” and that was my reaction when longtime power-poppers Ultimate Fakebook announced that they’d…
Hyborian Volume II (Season of Mist) The Kansas City metal act’s sophomore LP, Volume II, is bigger and cleaner than the band’s 2017 debut. It’s readily apparent that Hyborian’s time on the road has tightened this act into something with which to be reckoned in terms of sonic annihilation. Whereas Volume I was all about the fresh, scrappy intensity of a…
In our childhood, all of us had That Goddamned Thing that haunted us from pop culture. That thing in a movie or TV show that we’re still talking about as adults; that we’re still thinking prevents us from doing certain activities or what-have-you. We’ve had some time this week to be a bit stir-crazy, and so we started chatting. “What’s…
Photo courtesy Planned Parenthood Anna Selle works at Planned Parenthood. We reached out to ask her to let us know what’s happening in this confusing time. Here’s what she had to say: It’s been a little more than two months since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in the United States. In those two months, we’ve watched the number…
Self-medicating and turning a profit. // Photo by Liam Mays Names in this story are changed to protect the interview subjects. Stories were vetted. When Steven was given his prescription of 60 pills a month of Adderall for his ADHD, he quickly realized there was no way he’d consume that amount of the drug. So, when he became a freshman…
Photo courtesy City of Kansas City Communications Department We’re getting a full week of no extra tag required trash pick-up. Because we’re all at home and the garbage is piling up. And getting to the hardware store to buy tags is Something Of An Issue right now. Thank god. Remember this when Christmas comes around and you run a tip…
The Roseline (l-r: Colin Jones (bass), Colin Halliburton (guitar, vocals), Bradley McKellip (guitar), Jim Piller (drums), Kris Losure (guitar)) // photo by Lindsey Kellenbarger Lawrence’s the Roseline, is poised to release their latest LP, Good/Grief this Friday. The follow-up to 2017’s Blood sees the rockers really digging into the poppier aspects of what used to called alt-country. Much like the…
Mike’s Wine and Spirits All three Mike’s locations (Waldo, Brookside and Westport) are open for in-store carryout, curbside pick-up and delivery. Mike’s is limiting the amount of people in each store to 10, including employees. DELIVERY: Non-contact delivery orders can be placed online at MikesKC.com or on the Mike’s Wine and Spirits app available for download on Apple and Android…
Film director John Waters signing Kate Matlack’s jean jacket at the Massachusetts College of Art. // Photo via Creative Commons. It’s well-memed by now that William Shakespeare produced King Lear, MacBeth, and over a hundred sonnets while under quarantine. Today might be the perfect time to start your dream creative project, too. But if comparing yourself to Shakespeare leaves you feeling like the Midwestern…
Joe’s KC door. // Courtesy Joe’s KC In what might be the first time ever, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is opening up all three locations on Sundays. We’re so happy to see some of our local restaurants still thriving during this time, and providing folks with more times and options for acquiring food is good for all of us. Especially…
Courtesy DigBoston This piece is syndicated from DigBoston via the AAN. For most of us who pay close attention to the progress of the coronavirus pandemic over the last three months, talking to our families about how to stay safe and healthy can be difficult. People don’t want to hear that the way they’ve lived their lives up to now…
Cool design. // Courtesy KC Hospitality Support Initiative There’s a brand new way to support service industry folks in KC, and in exchange you get to raise a middle-finger towards coronavirus. Via a t-shirt. Buy cool shirts with a cool design and help those in need, vis-a-vie some profanity. The KC Hospitality Support Initiative was created by a local chef…
Together with over 60 artists, The Pitch has released Coloring KC, a digital coloring book celebrating all things Kansas City. We could all use a little joy right now. And what better way than to color (research shows it helps adults combat stress). There are two volumes to Coloring KC, and each is filled with 30 coloring book pages featuring…
HARV on the boards. // Photo courtesy On Record PR Bernard “HARV” Harvey came from KC and is now living out the musician’s dream. As he runs the show for Justin Beiber, he’s setting an example for kids across our city, and showing them that you don’t need to be from LA to take the entertainment world by storm. We…
Photo from Rightfully Sewn Remember when everyone everywhere was encouraged not to rush to stores to bulk buy all the medical masks so there would actually be some left for medical professionals? Unfortunately, many didn’t listen, and now hospitals are facing a shortage of essential equipment in the middle of a contagious crisis. While COVID-19 spreads throughout the country, hospitals…
Ed Kander with great-grandson True Kander. // Photo by Jason Kander My grandfather, Ed Kander (known in my family as “Pop”), passed away a little over a year ago at the age of 95. Pop never demonstrated or marched, but he was quietly woke. On May 14, 1945, from his post in North Africa, he wrote to his mother about…
Courtesy Kansas City Symphony The Kansas City Symphony leadership and musicians have reached an agreement to guarantee musician salaries and benefits through the end of this current season. “Due to COVID-19, the Symphony has had to cancel or postpone more than 20 concerts and that loss of revenue is extraordinary,” says Executive Director Danny Beckley. “In these uncertain times, other…
Photo courtesy of Bill Abernathy There’s no better feeling in times of crisis than seeing individuals step-up and give back to the community they love. Kansas City musician Bill Abernathy is doing just that with “William’s Wonderland of Wood Coronavirus Sessions.” From his studio (named William’s Wonderland of Wood), Abernathy is taking song requests and recording videos for those who…
Grady Hendrix // Photo by Albert Mitchell Update: The Paper Plains Literary Festival’s live events have been postponed until 2021. However, the festival will still be offering free online events with several of their previously-scheduled authors, including Grady Hendrix and Natalie C. Parker, and a Young Adult panel featuring Julie Murphy, Tessa Gratton, Adib Khorram, Sarah Henning and Amanda Sellet….
The Creepy Jingles // Photo by Alex Napper I first spoke with the Creepy Jingles’ Jocelyn Nixon in June of last year, shortly after the band released their self-titled EP on High Dive Records. Since then, the band’s rapidly become one of my favorite acts to catch around town. Additionally, if you ever get the chance to hang out with them…
