John Garcia. // photo by Nick Spacek John Garcia with Jared James Nichols, Telekinetic Yeti, Left Lane Cruiser, and Drifter Liberty Hall Friday, May 17 The crowd present when former Kyuss frontman John Garcia took the stage Friday night could’ve easily fit into the Bottleneck. Liberty Hall was not packed, even with the balcony closed off and the audience limited…
Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, speaks after adjournment Friday morning. He said changes to initiative petition could be passed if the House acts (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). The least productive — and most chaotic — legislative session in living memory came to a close Friday, when the Missouri Senate, mired in factional infighting, threw in the towel eight hours…
Illustrated by Katelyn Betz Summer music season will soon be upon us, and given the sheer width and breadth of musical options that are available to music fans, we’d like to remind you to save a few bucks to catch local and regional musicians, in between shelling out for stadium and amphitheater shows. Whether you’re into country, rock, hip-hop, soul,…
Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, protests as the Senate adjourns for the day Thursday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). The Missouri Senate did nothing but fight during two brief floor sessions Thursday, with Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin stepping in during each to cut off acrimonious exchanges, first with a recess and then with adjournment. As a result, the Senate considered no legislation…
Photo by Kaylynn Mullins Kansas City’s art scene seems to flourish with rich music, theatre, and galleries, ensuring there’s something for every creative to enjoy. Despite the abundance of these forms of art, the glassblowing scene seems minuscule. Belger Arts collaborated on a chandelier with The Kansas City Museum to shed light on local gaffers and the glassblowing community. The…
Courtesy of Kimmie Queen In the immortal words of Madonna, music makes the people come together. And nobody knows that better than Kimmie Queen. Earlier this year, the Kansas City native opened up Planet Queen Records & Vintage with her life partner of 20 years, local musician Cody Wyoming. Their retro-tastic digs are located in Independence Square. In addition to her…
Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who is seeking a full term in office after being appointed by Gov. Mike Parson, speaks on Feb. 29, 2024, at the Boone County Republican Lincoln Days dinner in Columbia (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent) Immigrant baiting is now official business for Missouri officeholders. That’s the message from Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who says his office will represent…
John Garcia and band. // photo by Richard Sibbald If we only counted the five albums John Garcia released with stoner rock band Kyuss from 1990-1995, he’d be an absolute legend in the heavy music world. Upon splitting, that band would spawn the likes of Mondo Generator and Queens of the Stone Age, both of whom have their own stellar…
Izzy Hedges & the Lemon Wedges. // Photo by Maura Dayton Izzy Hedges & the Lemon Wedges Sleet Virga The Koi Pond Friday, May 10, 2024 In the words of the great Alice Cooper, “School’s out for summer” and what better way for KU students to celebrate the end of another school year than a show at Lawrence’s hottest new…
Medusa, kneels with open arms amidst the veiled temple priestesses, embodying vulnerability and defiance. // Courtesy of Kansas City Public Theatre KCPublic’s third annual Theatre Lab Fest explores the too-often female tragedy with The Head of Medusa between May 17 to 20, allowing audience members to feel each character’s footsteps, power, and emotion through an act that scrutinizes the representation of…
Art by Cassondra Jones Looking for delicious plans? Whether you want to impress a date, show your fam the best of KC, or just get out of the house, we’ve got you covered… all while supporting (mostly) local. Here is your weekly roundup of the best food and drink offerings around Kansas City. Cheers! Something new Caramelo: Not far off…
Photo Courtesy of Sergio Garcia Comedian Margaret Cho would like you to know that she’s mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and cosmically preparing for one heckuva busy summer. In fact, she’s kicking off Pride month here in Kansas City with a three-night stint of her new show, “Live & Livid.” The tour, which coincides with Cho’s 40th anniversary in stand-up, swings by The Comedy Club…
Courtesy of Scott Poore Not long ago, Luna was found living in a cemetery in a rural community, where she was possibly dumped by her family. She lived in the cemetery for many months, before those willing to help were made aware of the situation. She was brought to Kansas City, and was immediately taken to get medical attention. Now…
Bobby Watson performing at the Gem Theater in 2018. // Photo Courtesy of Nicole Bissey Jazz singer Deborah Brown first met saxophonist Bobby Watson at Belgium’s Jazz Middelheim Festival in the 1980s, though she was an admirer of his work long before. While the two have toured extensively together for the past 15 years, this Friday will be their first…
Situated between Nothing Bundt Cakes and EB and Co, Brookside Toy & Science has remained Brookside’s local toy shop // Photo Courtesy of Holly Pollard Brookside Toy & Science will celebrate its 60-year anniversary as a family-owned, woman-operated toy store May 17-19 with face painting, balloon animals, vintage toys, and giveaways. Owner Holly Pollard says this event will help the…
Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, speaks about the second week of the legislative session in a press conference Thursday. // Photo by Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent A filibuster in the Missouri Senate set a new record Wednesday morning, as Democrats continued to demand “ballot candy” about non-citizen voting and foreign fundraising be removed from an initiative petition bill before it…
Big Joe Turner. // Director: Joseph Kohn Producer: Ben Frye Production Company: Studio Films, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons One evening in the pandemic summer of 2020, my wife Christina and I found ourselves on our front stoop in Culver City, California with two strangers listening to a 1939 blues vinyl. We had put a vintage-style record player up for…
Páros Estiatorio lunch // Photo by Sarah Sipple I’ve been trying to take my mom to Páros Estiatorio for over a year. We’ve had many lunch dates since, but this was the first time it was convenient for us both to meet here. I knew she would appreciate the modern Greek food and the chic atmosphere. The Mad Greek in…
Cake. // photo by Allison Scavo Cake Grinders KC Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Cake night one of two in Kansas City came in hot with essential songs and covers alike. During “Sheep Go To Heaven,” Cake frontman John McCrea included the crowd for almost half the song. This was a no cell phone show, advocating for the experience of a…
Yonder Mountain String Band. // photo by Allison Scavo Yonder Mountain String Band with MoonShroom Knuckleheads Garage Sunday, May 12 Yonder Mountain String Band has been a-pickin’ and a-hollerin’ since day one back in 1998, whether they knew how to or not, and figured it out along the way. Their bluegrass jam band had an immediate impact and gained followers…
Swans. // photo by Andrew Dodderidge Having recently seen Luca Guadagnino’s new film Challengers a couple weeks back, there is a moment where Zendaya asks Mike Faist if she is Jesus to him, while he quickly replies, without hesitation, “Yes.” When Michael Gira told a young audience member who attempted to start moshing in the front row last Thursday during…
SipSteady Co-Founders Kayla Mason and Sarah Pretorius// Photo by Samantha Levi Photography If you’ve noticed an uptick in chatter, ads, or events for alcohol alternatives, you’re not alone. In fact, our very own Kansas City is home to the first-ever creative agency focused solely on non-alcoholic beverages and sober-friendly businesses: SipSteady. SipSteady co-founders Sarah Pretorius and Kayla Mason have been…
The Freedom Affair. // photo credit Erica Joy Tomorrow, the nine-piece soul powerhouse that is Kansas City’s the Freedom Affair releases their latest single, “If You Don’t Want Me.” This song is the first of four stand-alone singles the band “recorded straight to tape in their Kansas City studio” which will roll out over the course of the rest of…
Sen. Lauren Arthur of Kansas City speaks during a 2023 debate in the Missouri Senate. // Courtesy of Senate Communications A Democratic filibuster of legislation making it harder for Missourians to amend the state constitution through citizen-led initiatives stretched through the night and into its 15th hour Tuesday morning. Though Democrats oppose the changes to the initiative petition process, their…
