Letters from the week of March 13, 2008

Letters, February 21

This goes out to the shit-talking hard-on who bad-mouthed Jason Harper and various others within the Kansas City music community and who was too much of a fucking coward to even put a name on his or her own shit-talking.

A wise man once sat me down and told me something. He told me that what you write in hateful, pussy, bullshit letters to the editor of The Pitch is representative of what you’ll be doing the entire year to come. And if what he told me is true, you will still be an anonymous, overopinionated, arms-folded naysayer for the rest of the year who projects a piss-poor attitude on the rest of the city. Have fun with that. The rest of us are going to make music, play shows and drink it in. I suggest you do the same.

Keenan Nichols, Kansas City, Missouri

Burnt Ends, January 31, and Letters, February 28

I’d like to applaud my girl Laurie Ray for piping up about the infuriating Burnt Ends piece “Burlesque: The New Goth.” As a performer in burlesque shows in the early 2000s, I have an interest in all articles on the subject that have appeared over the years in your magazine. This one, however, insults the very artists whose events have been religiously highlighted in your calendar section for the past five years.

Whether this “handy primer” was intended as a slap in the face of the revivalist pioneers in Kansas City with “abundant thighs” or a middle finger to the women now performing in the “suburbs” is irrelevant. So modern burlesque is a valid form of entertainment only when performed in the confines of midtown? Have any of you tried booking a burlesque act in Kansas City, Missouri, lately? Most bar owners don’t want to cough up the fee for the permit now required by Liquor Control, and they don’t have the guts to put a show on without one.

One point comes across loud and clear: Anyone over a size 2 or over a certain age or who has children can expect to be marginalized by mainstream media when they step onstage.

I’d like to see a picture published of the writer in a bra and panties with arrows pointing out all flaws and imperfections based on impossible standards set by the media. But then the writer might find out that there are plenty of people who enjoy a woman — or a man, for that matter — in lingerie, no matter what size their booty is or where they shake it! Quit hatin’!

Gabriel Garner, Independence

Martin: “Double Billing,” March 6

Great investigating and columns by David Martin on Councilman Terry Riley. Thanks! The guy’s stories stink to high heaven. I don’t have time to read The Pitch every issue, but I enjoy reading articles like Martin’s and will be looking for more. Unfortunately, it’s almost certain no other journalists will follow up on your story, likewise the city.

Michael Moles, Kansas City, Missouri

Congratulations again to David Martin on an outstanding article on Councilman Terry Riley (“Pity Partier”).

Once again, David has chosen as his subject an excellent example of the core problems in KC community leadership: unaccountability, perceived immunity to rules and accepted behavior, and the belief that the KC citizenry owes them something.

Please keep up those “witch hunts,” and please continue to expose municipal bloodsuckers, for our city’s sake.

Name withheld by request

Fat Mouth, March 6

We very much appreciate Charles Ferruzza’s Fat Mouth column about the Burns family business, but the following is also true: With Brenda Burns as chef, Californos received a four-star food review from The Kansas City Star in 1989.

Also, our monthly Opera Supper event is made possible in part by the Kansas City Puccini Festival and our wonderful customers. Brenda is now employed by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and enjoys opera at suppertime!

Aaron Burns, Kansas City, Missouri