Blake Hannon
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
Classical changes
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Young voice, big choice
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
Technology threatens to steer listeners away from radio
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
2nd Ron White show booked
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Late and great arrivals
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
It appears there’s a Hollywood prerequisite for all romantic comedies to revolve around weddings or actors over the age of 30. But there is a music-obsessed, MySpace generation of movie-goers who want young romantic comedy characters that they can relate to.
Active artFriday, Oct. 3, 2008
He may be 67, but mixed media abstract artist Harold Schlotzhauer has a hard time sitting still. He’s an occasional runner, an avid snowboarder, and just last summer he decided to hang up his skateboard. He’s constantly moving, so to him there’s no reason for his art to appear stagnant.
Growing steadyFriday, Oct. 3, 2008
Some people may have gotten word of the acoustic soul of 19-year-old singer/songwriter Justin Nozuka thanks to his “You Outta Know Artist” status on VH1 and his stripped-down single “After Tonight” getting steady spins on radio. But there was a time where Nozuka had the chance to reach a wide audience years earlier.
At 15, he wrote the first of the 11 tracks that would eventually comprise his debut album “Holly,” named after his mother. The songs got the attention of Universal Records, which wanted to sign him to a deal.
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Recently, a step was taken in the music world that was inevitable but could be instrumental to the future of the record industry. MySpace, the social networking site that is responsible for approximately 36 percent of the country’s procrastination for people ages 12 to 38 (my own statistics), is deciding to reach for your musical dollars.
This is: “Lotus” by Jessica LedererFriday, Oct. 3, 2008
This is: “Lotus” by Jessica Lederer
Calendar for Oct. 3, 2008Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Calendar for Oct. 3, 2008
Jam icon reunion, free Oasis and AC/DC in KCWednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
If you are a fan of jam bands, Brit-pop or classic metal, get ready for good news.
Symphony kicks off fund driveWednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Tuesday evening, the St. Joseph Symphony began its efforts to drum up financial support.
CD Review: Metallica "Death Magnetic"Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
For Metallica's first album in five years "Death Magnetic," the first sound that you hear is not a distorted guitar or a double bass drum. It's the sound of a beating heart, slow and labored.
Classical changes
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Back on April 26, the Saint Joseph Symphony celebrated a century of existence. It was meant to be a joyful occasion that would hopefully bring out an appreciative St. Joseph community to recognize the achievement of this classical institution.
But symphony second trumpeter Bill Richardson couldn’t help but notice that the Missouri Theater’s nearly 2,000 seats weren’t even close to being filled.
“We had 360 ticket stubs. It’s almost embarrassing,” Richardson says.
Now, with the departure of long-time musical director Dr. Deborah Freedman, the Saint Joseph Symphony will be searching for a new musical director and plotting out a new course with its 2008-09 season, which kicks off with “Of Magic and Myth” at 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Missouri Theater. Tickets are $10 to $35.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, these lions definitely aren’t sleeping. Singing, dancing and performing Disney’s “The Lion King,” one of the most successful, critically-acclaimed Broadway shows of the past decade, is more like it.
The shuffle: And the award goes to... who cares?Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Last Sunday, television’s brightest stars came out for the 60th Annual Emmy Awards. Cast members from today’s most popular and critically acclaimed shows were all dressed up for the big night. And guess what? Nobody really cared.
This is: Foul Taste of FreedomFriday, Sept. 26, 2008
This is: Foul Taste of Freedom
That's cool: Toshiba XDE-500 DVD Player ($149.99)Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
That's cool: Toshiba XDE-500 DVD Player ($149.99)
Calendars for Sept. 26, 2008Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Calendars for Sept. 26, 2008
Trails West! rings up $10,550 profitThursday, Sept. 25, 2008
For the second year in a row, the Trails West! Music and Arts Festival is in the money.
The play's the thingTuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
Could some regional high school student asleep on his geometry textbook be the next William Shakespeare? Robidoux Resident Theatre is going to try to find out.
Internet treasure hunters come together for Jesse James Cache Bash next weekendSunday, Sept. 21, 2008
When Vernon Wright first purchased his Global Positioning System (GPS), it was to help avoid getting lost in the timber on elk hunting trips. When his daughter wanted to borrow it for geocaching, a form of treasure hunting using GPS, he got his first introduction to the activity, and as a result, he developed enthusiasm for another hobby.
“It got me outside. I’m an outdoors person, and it was something to fill the time between hunting season,” says Mr. Wright, who works as an electrical projects manager at Nestle Purina.
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Most current emo and pop punk bands tend to wrap their guitar riffs around very personal, open-hearted lyrics.
Then there’s Minneapolis indie rock/pop punk-quintet Motion City Soundtrack, who separate themselves by...well, actually, they don’t differ that much lyrically, given guitarist/singer Justin Pierre’s write-what-you-know take on songwriting.
“Doubled with the fact that I’m a pessimistic narcissist, I tend to write anything about me,” Pierre says.
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Since I have dedicated a part of my job to dissecting music minutia, I have found myself playing a dorky little game. It’s not a board game. It’s not “World of Warcraft.” It’s a contest that I have between myself and critics at music publications.
This is: “Chaco Canyon” by Tracy MillerFriday, Sept. 19, 2008
This is: “Chaco Canyon” by Tracy Miller
Calendars for Sept. 19, 2008Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Calendars for Sept. 19, 2008
Young voice, big choice
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
It’s an unseasonably chilly, rain-drenched summer morning. Nearly two dozen Benton High School seniors are listening to instructor Jeff Carter talk about the Boston Tea Party and other events leading up to the American Revolution in their American Government class.
Those historic events laid the groundwork for America’s current democracy, which several of Mr. Carter’s students are eager to participate in for the first time in the upcoming November general election.
They are young. They are opinionated. They are energized. They are first-time voters, high school and college students who will be heading to the polls to have their votes be counted in the general election.
Technology threatens to steer listeners away from radio
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
The British New Wave group Buggles’ 1979 song “Video Killed the Radio Star” made reference to the golden age of radio and how new technology posed a threat to the medium’s popularity.
In the digital age of music, where iPod is king and digital songs are downloaded, swapped and shared by millions of music fans, new technology has once again threatened to steer listeners away from the radio dial.
Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
The Pioneer Days Arts and Crafts Festival in Edgerton, Mo., has been around since 1971. For years, it was the town’s hot event for family fun and entertainment.
The Shuffle: New political pop: An endangered speciesFriday, Sept. 12, 2008
In the past few weeks, the nation has been saturated with coverage of both the Democratic and Republican national conventions. And both conventions had a musical presence, whether it’s the supportive acts on the convention’s stages or concerts specifically organized in opposition of a political party’s beliefs.
This is: “Untitled” by Megan WyethFriday, Sept. 12, 2008
This is: “Untitled” by Megan Wyeth
Calendars for Sept. 12, 2008Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
Calendars for Sept. 12, 2008
New Kanye West, whether you like it or notThursday, Sept. 11, 2008
Hip-hop superstar Kanye West may have started as a likeable new artist who helped bring hip-hop back to its roots with what have now become his signature soul samples. But now, he has become a love-him-or-hate-him kind of performer.
2nd Ron White show booked
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
The Blue Collar comedian sold out one show at the Missouri Theater in about 2 hours. Now, a second show is booked to handle demand.
Bridging the gapFriday, Sept. 5, 2008
Any Christian-based group has a few hurdles to jump when seeking a wider popularity. How do you create music that can appeal beyond a Christian audience without taming your overall message in fear of alienating the secular music fan?
Veering off courseFriday, Sept. 5, 2008
It seems like the hot indie rock band of the moment comes along every few months or so. And for the most part, they don’t sound or look that much different from one another.
Then, New York’s Vampire Weekend came along in 2007 and pretty much screwed all that up in the most audibly enticing ways possible.
The band’s music was the buzz of the blogosphere at the end of 2007. Before its self-titled debut album was released in Jan. 2008, Spin Magazine did a cover story on the group calling them “The Year’s Best New Band... Already!?”
These critical and musical accolades are enough to go to anybody’s head, but drummer Chris Tomson isn’t quite sure he’s felt that effect.
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
While covering St. Joe’s arts and entertainment scene, I have come to realize what the general public tends to come out for and what it steers clear of. But in St. Joseph, the popularity of stand-up comedy is in some crazy kind of middle ground.
This is: John GoolsbyFriday, Sept. 5, 2008
This is: John Goolsby
Briefs for Sept. 5, 2008Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Briefs for Sept. 5, 2008
That's cool: Water Powered Clock ($12.99)Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
That's cool: Water Powered Clock ($12.99)
Ron White booked for second showFriday, Sept. 5, 2008
Tickets to see a “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” comedian at the Missouri Theater next month were gone before you could say “tater salad.”
Calendars for the week of Sept. 5, 2008Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Calendars for the week of Sept. 5, 2008
Noontime concerts begin ThursdayWednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
For the past decade, the First Presbyterian Church’s Downtown Noon Concert Series has given residents a chance to get a healthy serving of culture on their lunch hour. The 2008-09 concert series will once again give St. Joseph residents that musical option starting Thursday.
Free fallin'Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
You may have noticed those bright orange signs proclaiming St. Joseph a 2008 Creative Community when you drive up and down Frederick Avenue.
Wanna know how it got that title? Do ya?
If you go check out any number of arts events this fall, you’ll see why. Whether it’s competing conductors, hit musicals, Midwest art or a Stephen King masterpiece being brought to the stage, there’s something anyone can appreciate this upcoming fall season besides leaves changing colors, Halloween and new episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
The land of CD retailers is becoming increasingly desolate terrain in today’s music industry. iPods are the norm, and CDs are slowly but surely going the way of the 8-Track and Betamax, turning compact discs into very fashionable coasters.
That's cool: Thirsty Light ($9.99)Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
That's cool: Thirsty Light ($9.99)
Calendars for Aug. 29, 2008Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Calendars for Aug. 29, 2008
American Idol Tour to stop in Kansas City tonight, SaturdayFriday, Aug. 29, 2008
People will get a chance to see the American Idol Tour when it comes to the Sprint Center in Kansas City tonight and Saturday.
Want to hear some new Metallica?Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
After tons of hype and releasing dissatisfactory snippets of upcoming tracks, Metallica finally let's listeners hear a full-length song.
Artist of the Week: The Leo ProjectFriday, Aug. 22, 2008
Kansas City quartet The Leo Project went from singer/guitarist Tyler Lyon’s hard rock side project to one of those regional groups destined for bigger things. The fact that they’ve opened for metal/ hard rock heavyweights like Slipknot, Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown sure helps.
A jam for JordanFriday, Aug. 22, 2008
He may have passed away more than 30 years ago, but the music of pioneering jazz saxophonist and bandleader Louis Jordan holds a special place in the heart of local musician Jerry Maccoux.
Late and great arrivals
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Now that the summer concert season is almost over, looking back on it, there were only a few big names to get a lot of people excited.
Luckily, based on the upcoming lineup of bands and artists and the re-opening of a popular Kansas City venue, that will be different this fall. Here are a few of the legendary names and big shows coming to the area, along with a new venue that’s opened up fall’s music possibilities.
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
We are about ready to put August 2008 in the books. This means that the concert festival season will soon come to a close. But unfortunately, I heard news about a regional music festival that would probably make a few hippies choke on their granola
R.I.P.: LeRoi MooreWednesday, Aug. 20, 2008
I was saddened to learn that a member of one of the most well-known and well-loved bands of my generation passed away Tuesday. LeRoi Moore, saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, died of complications from a June ATV accident. He was 46.
In thinking about Moore's death, I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that he was such an important part of a band that opened ears and minds to an expansive musical landscape for myself and many others.
