Blake Hannon
Entertainment Reporter

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Call Blake at 816-271-8546.

Baseball, booms and all-day grooves
by Blake Hannon
Friday, July 3, 2009

What makes a good Fourth of July holiday? Depends on who you ask.
Some may say that there is no better way to celebrate your independence then rocking out by listening to a ton of bands. Others want to grab their families and take ‘em out to the ball game. But regardless, most everybody wants to chow down while seeing some crazy, pretty, loud stuff blow up in the night sky.
With that being said, here are a few of the things you can do to celebrate your Independence Day weekend.

Urban effects
by Blake Hannon
Friday, July 3, 2009

New York City can be called a lot of things. NYC. The Big Apple. The City That Never Sleeps. Renowned “Pop Art” innovator George Segal simply called it and its people his muse.

The Shuffle: A legacy in question
by Blake Hannon
Friday, July 3, 2009

It’s been a week since the world lost Michael Jackson, one of our most beloved musical icons. By the time you read this, there will undoubtedly be a wealth of information on the death of the King of Pop, but in the moment of this column’s creation, all I know is that he is gone — and his legacy is in question.

Establishing a dynamic
by Shea Conner by Blake Hannon
Friday, July 3, 2009

Paramore is clearly riding the youth movement to success. The band’s resume includes the breakthrough hit “Decode” from the “Twilight” soundtrack, two Teen Choice Awards and the contribution of several tracks to video games such as “Rock Band 2,” “Guitar Hero: World Tour” and “The Sims 2.” Not to mention the consistent exposure MTV gives the group.

This is: “Body of Water” by Brenda Reilly
by Blake Hannon
Friday, July 3, 2009

This is: “Body of Water” by Brenda Reilly

The keys to a good time
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, July 2, 2009

When it comes to the concept of dueling pianos, let’s get a few things straight for those who aren’t familiar.
First, it’s not the same as dueling banjos, so leave that comparative joke at the door. Second, just because there are pianos doesn’t mean you should expect to make a reservation and sit for a quiet, relaxing evening out while the performer plays some delicate standards to set the mood.

Michael Jackson: A legacy in question
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 26, 2009

It's been days since the the death of Michael Jackson, one of the world's most beloved icons in all of music. By the time you read this, there will surely be a wealth of knowledge discovered on the King of Pop's passing. But in the moment of this column's creation, all I know is he is gone -- and his legacy is currently in question.

Playing for the City
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 26, 2009

Of the many classic songs that soul, R&B and pop music legend Stevie Wonder has created, the most fitting for this area’s music lovers would probably be “I Wish.” That’s because it’s been more than 20 years since Wonder has made a concert appearance in Kansas City and his fans probably wish he’d come back sooner or later.
If you are one of these people, consider your wish granted.

A big screen for smaller films
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 26, 2009

The Plaza 8 will begin its first-run series of independent films with the documentaries “Nelly Don: A Stitch In Time” and “Black Hand Strawman: The History of Organized Crime in Kansas City” this weekend.

The Shuffle: The rise of the eccentric female
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 26, 2009

In Hollywood, the bombshell has long been the quintessential image for women in cinema. Otherwise, Marilyn Monroe wouldn’t be such an icon of old Hollywood. But through the years, audiences have sometimes wanted to see something different. Something like Winona Ryder in the 1990s. Women whose main characteristics were that they were dark with issues instead of being bleach blonde and buxom.

This is: The Beat Common
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 26, 2009

This is: The Beat Common

Entertainment calendars for June 26, 2009
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 26, 2009

Entertainment calendars for June 26, 2009

Lake Contrary cancels fireworks display
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, June 25, 2009

In St. Joseph, there will be one less reason to look to the sky this Fourth of July.

Local country crooner heading for Stampede
by Blake Hannon
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Between performing in St. Joe for 10 years and his brief stint performing in Nashville last year, local country singer/songwriter Casey Brett has shared the stage with everyone from Dierks Bentley and Richochet to Jake Owen and Tommy Tutone.
But this weekend, his performance resume is about to get a big boost.

"Rock Band: The Beatles" commercial: Coolest music commercial ever?
by Blake Hannon
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A career-spanning trailer for the highly-anticipated game

Fun for all
by Blake Hannon
Sunday, June 21, 2009

Carol Henderson, president of the St. Joseph Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, knows that people have a certain perception about the visually impaired. But she says one of them shouldn’t be that they don’t know how to have fun.

The Hawk has landed
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 19, 2009

Eleven years ago, when Alonzo Weston and Mark Sheehan co-founded the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Society and decided to organize the first Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival, they didn’t know if it had the potential to become an annual event. And even if it did, they didn’t know how long it would last.

The Shuffle: The great falling Ferrell
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 19, 2009

Sometimes, if a person has a problem, it isn’t obvious right away. That’s because the screw-ups, slip-ups and missteps aren’t constantly happening. They are occasional, sporadic at best and often followed by a huge step of progress that would suggest they are on their way to a full recovery. But when the problem starts to become more frequent or severe, you just have to say something.

Review: 'Year One'
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 19, 2009

On paper, it looks like one of those dream team comic duos. Having wild-eyed goofball Jack Black paired with master of understated delivery and awkwardness Michael Cera in the prehistoric comedy “Year One” sounds like a match made heaven. Unfortunately, on paper is where this idea should have stayed. Despite Black and Cera’s abilities, “Year One” runs on the juice of rehashed historical parody and toilet humor with little laughs and zero cleverness.

This is: Randy Weeks
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 19, 2009

This is: Randy Weeks

Entertainment calendars for June 19, 2009
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 19, 2009

Entertainment calendars for June 19, 2009

Comedian bringing Comedy Central crew to St. Joe
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 19, 2009

Stand-up comic Alex Reymundo is returning to St. Joe — and he’s bringing a Comedy Central crew with him.
The Latino comedian who opened for Blue Collar Comedy Tour headliner Ron White during his two sold-out shows at the Missouri Theater back in October has decided to film his latest Comedy Central special in St. Joseph. The event will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Missouri Theater.

Weekend in review: June 12, 2009
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, June 18, 2009

A young post-hardcore group and two distinctly different brands of country were all to be found last weekend

Herbs in every form
by Blake Hannon
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Some people pass through the produce aisle and have no intention of messing with fresh herbs. At the same time, a guy a few aisles over could be looking at a plethora of dried herbs but only reaching for canisters of salt and pepper.
Then, there’s the lady doing a double-take wondering if that is really parsley in a squeezable tube.

Bravo! RRT launches new series
by Blake Hannon
Saturday, June 13, 2009

Robidoux Resident Theatre plans on giving St. Joseph entertainment lovers one more reason to cheer.

Hot nights, hard slams
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 12, 2009

For a city with plenty of wrestling fans who love nothing more than to witness a good body slam or finishing moves off the top rope, 2009 is going to be year to remember.

Fantastic voyage
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 12, 2009

Any artistic journey worth taking as a band is going to be a lot easier if your bandmates bring something out of you that you can’t find anywhere else.
Luckily for the Canadian New Wave quartet Metric, this is the case.

Review: 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3’
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 12, 2009

In a summer movie season highlighted thus far by invigorating franchise revamps (“Star Trek”), comedies about wild drunken nights (“The Hangover”) and an old, crotchety guy in a flying house (“Up”), it would be easy for a film with a silly title like “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” to get lost in the shuffle. But thanks to dependable Denzel Washington and an outrageous John Travolta, this style-over-substance, beat-the-clock thriller turns out to be a decent summer ride.

The Shuffle: Bearing witness to greatness
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 12, 2009

In the past 19 years, movie-goers have witnessed all kinds of strange phenomena in the world of film. Hannibal Lecter, “Titanic,” the resurgence of the comic-book movie and Robert Pattinson’s hair have created crazy shockwaves in Hollywood in that span of time. But what also has happened is something that hasn’t been replicated in film in recent memory, the equivalent to a dynasty sports franchise.

This is: Josh Grider Trio
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 12, 2009

This is: Josh Grider Trio

Entertainment calendars for June 12, 2009
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 12, 2009

Entertainment calendars for June 12, 2009

Arts organization announces new season, new leadership
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, June 11, 2009

As the Performing Arts Association gets ready to turn 30, it’s also turning to new leadership.

The toys of summer
by Blake Hannon
Sunday, June 7, 2009

Do you need an excuse to get out and enjoy the warm summer weather? Probably not. A lot of you are probably itching to get outside and catch some sun or hang at the pool with family and friends.
But as enjoyable as that may be, a few new and popular toys made for the pool, for the lawn or for your next water battle can make this warm weather season even more entertaining. Here are just a few of the toys of summer.

A charitable thread
by Blake Hannon
Sunday, June 7, 2009

Through a meeting at the Chalk and Cue Pool Hall in St. Joseph, Betty Miller and Debbie Teed realized that they shared a common thread.
Both Ms. Miller, 50, and Ms. Teed, 53, had been sewing since they were children. They were introduced through their husbands a few years ago, and a mutual hobby led to a creative partnership.

Sound, Scene, Delivered: Video Edition
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 5, 2009

What I saw in May 2009

A year in the life
by Shea Conner by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 5, 2009

When we launched St. Joe Live last year, it was not with any intentions of world domination. We are not to be confused with Stewie from “Family Guy” or Hulu. What we did want to do was keep you entertained and informed of all the cool (or at least curious) stuff going on in St. Joe and elsewhere. For our first anniversary, we’re taking a look back at how we started, what we’ve done and what you can expect.

The Shuffle: One year down, tomorrow to go
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 5, 2009

For my first entry in “The Shuffle,” I playfully (and based on a couple calls we got the next day, crudely) declared that St. Joe Live would “be all over arts and entertainment like a groupie on a rock star’s codpiece.” In hindsight, I regret saying this. But that’s only because nobody wears codpieces anymore. Well, maybe David Lee Roth, but that’s about it.

This is: “Black and White Study #1” by Josh Hamilton
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 5, 2009

This is: “Black and White Study #1” by Josh Hamilton

Entertainment calendar for June 5, 2009
by Blake Hannon
Friday, June 5, 2009

Entertainment calendar for June 5, 2009

Concert Review: The Decemberists at the Uptown Theater
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

I walked in to The Decemberists concert at the Uptown Theater Wednesday night as a reporter and a somewhat objective critic. In the name of full disclosure, I am a pretty big fan of the Portland-based literary folk rockers. But by the time it was over, I ended up being a camel for approximately three minutes. I'll explain later.

Summer squared
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

For the last 10 years, thanks to the Sounds of Summer concert series, the downtown gazebo has been put to some fun and musical use. Thankfully for St. Joe, this year will be no different.

Accessible tragedy
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

The way some music sounds can be explained through simple geography.
Scandinavian countries are known for their harsh winter conditions, lack of sunlight and an above-average suicide rate that is either urban myth or statistical fact, depending on what you read.
This is not lost on the Swedish pop trio A Camp, and the band has consistently used it to its advantage.
“You have in your genes an inherited melancholy,” says guitarist and composer Niclas Frisk. “At least it’s good for music.”

The Shuffle: There’s just something about Andy
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

Before it was taken over by “reality” shows like “The Hills,” MTV used to be the barometer of hipness. In the past, if you tuned in and the VJs were talking about a band, an artist, a movie, whatever, people at least took notice and at most jumped on the pop culture bandwagon.

This is: Snowblind
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

This is: Snowblind

That's Cool: Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard ($149.99)
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

That's Cool: Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard ($149.99)

Entertainment calendars for May 29, 2009
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 29, 2009

Entertainment calendars for May 29, 2009

DVD Review: "Valkyrie"
by Blake Hannon
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The historical thriller and Tom Cruise vehicle "Valkyrie" was originally supposed to be released in the summer 2008 as a possible blockbuster. It was later delayed to the winter as potential Oscar bait.
But "Valkyrie" belongs in neither category. Instead, the Bryan Singer-directed film comes off as a run-of-the-mill thriller where the thrills come too late and too few.

A peaceful plot
by Blake Hannon
Sunday, May 24, 2009

Just off of Interstate 29 in the town Rock Port, Mo., there’s a gravel road that leads to Hunter Cemetery. At the foot of the hillside cemetery, in the brush right by the road, there are blue iris flowers, planted decades ago that continue to spring and spread on their own.
And keeping Hunter Cemetery alive and flourishing is what the Ladies Association of Hunter Cemetery have done since 1929. The group initially raised money through farm, provision and rummage sales and by organizing fundraising dinners and fish frys to raise money for Hunter Cemetery’s upkeep.

Tributes, outlaws and local love
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 22, 2009

Many St. Joe music fans think the only exciting thing about summer is traveling to KC or Lawrence, Kan., to check out some of the big music acts.
News flash! These people are seriously mistaken.
As it turns out, between the new albums being released from notable local and regional bands and a few of the possible acts that may be coming here this summer, music lovers have plenty of reasons to stay put and see what’s happening.

Review: ‘Terminator Salvation’
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 22, 2009

“Terminator Salvation” is the fourth “Terminator” film, and its name couldn’t be more appropriate. That’s because it not only delivers the big-bang blockbuster goods, it salvages a sci-fi franchise.