November 21, 2009
Blake Hannon - Entertainment Reporter
Our country’s melodies
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Rico McNeela knew he was the Saint Joseph Symphony’s new conductor and musical director when he moved to St. Joseph in June. What he didn’t know was the city’s heritage.
He was almost awe-struck when he saw how many museums St. Joe had and took it upon himself to visit ones like the Patee House. As far as history is concerned, he knew he was inheriting some of his own as head of the century-old symphony, but he has no intentions of letting the orchestra turn into a relic.
“We fit into the performing groups that maintain tradition and at the same time, balance that tradition with offering new things and creating an environment that’s exciting,” McNeela says.
Monday, Sept. 28, 2009
This is: Nigel Dupree Band
Legacies in the spotlight
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
It may not look like it on the surface, but country music icon Patsy Cline and big band jazz legend Glenn Miller have a few things in common.
Both are some of the most reverred artists and performers in their respective genres. Both died at a young age from circumstances involving plane crashes and disappearances.
And thanks to Robidoux Resident Theatre, both of their legacies will be showcased on stage. The hit theatrical production “Always ... Patsy Cline” will kick off its run this weekend at the Robidoux Landing Playhouse, while the Glenn Miller Orchestra comes to the Missouri Theater next week.
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Entertainment calendars for Sept. 25, 2009
Jumping on the Blu-Ray bandwagonFriday, Sept. 25, 2009
We’ve come a long way, baby.
Near the middle of the decade, when Sony first introduced the technology for Blu-Ray players, they were outlandishly priced. Now, Blu-Ray players come in a few forms, with various functions and price tags that are within reason in the hopes of helping DVDs go the way of the VHS. Here are a few Blu-Ray players you might want to consider purchasing.
The sound of free
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Austin-based folk singer/songwriter Jim Keaveny isn’t the type of guy who likes to stay in one place. How else could you explain his frequent cross-country journeys for months on end — hitchhiking, hopping aboard train cars and playing music wherever he lands — or the two years he spent in Europe as a street musician?
This is: “Lumbago” by Marydorsey Wanless
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
This is: “Lumbago” by Marydorsey Wanless
The Shuffle: Why Lady why?
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
I’m not adverse to acknowledging genuine talent or a pop culture phenomenon when I see it.
The MySpace migrationSunday, Sept. 20, 2009
Just a few years ago, MySpace wasn’t just a social networking
Web site, it was THE social networking Web site. The place users obsessively gathered friends, crafted catchy user names, customized Web pages and streamed music from unknown bands who turned to MySpace to bypass record labels and go right to music fans.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009
At the Southside Fall Festival Rodeo Friday night, good, clean fun never had such a strong odor. But based on comments overheard at the Civic Arena box office, that scent wasn’t a bad thing.
Persisting in song
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
There’s plenty to love about the chamber pop of the Syracuse, N.Y., quintet Ra Ra Riot. The elegance of the string arrangements. The caffeinated drum rhythms. The infectiously tuneful melodies and smart arrangements.
But if you knew the band’s back story, you also would grasp the music’s underlying sense of personal loss.
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
Entertainment calendar for Spet. 18, 2009
Screen shotsThursday, Sept. 17, 2009
Those people who dispute the Midwest’s value as a film market may have to think twice after attending the Kansas International Film Festival (KIFF).
While the film festival will screen more than 52 films from Sept. 18 through 24 at the Glenwood Arts Theatre in Overland Park, Kan., it’s the festival’s first cinematic offering that’s garnering a great deal of buzz.
Incendiary documentary filmmaker Michael Moore’s latest film, “Capitalism: A Love Story,” targeting Wall Street and the causes of our current economic crisis, will play on opening night. That’s three weeks before the rest of the country gets the chance to see it on the big screen and, according to Kansas City Star film critic Robert Butler, a sign of KIFF’s growing prominence.
Mess and finesse
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
If you are a reality TV fiend or a purveyor of pop culture, you’ve probably heard the music of Minneapolis indie rockers the Readygoes and not even known it.
This is: “Great Accommodations” by Jamie BurkartWednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
This is: “Great Accommodations” by Jamie Burkart
The Shuffle: Judging the judge
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
For this column, I can’t help but focus on one thing: how one person’s presence and actions can completely change everything. How one person speaking their mind can completely alter the mood of an entire televised event. For the record, I’m not talking about hip-hop man egomaniac Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at MTV’s Video Music Awards. No matter how many public apologies that guy makes, there’s no shrinking that hubris.
What I’m actually referring to is the decision to find a replacement judge for the infinitely kind, loopy Paula Abdul on “American Idol.” And who did they choose? Another former music superstar? Record producer? Boy band has been?
How about a talk show host?
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
You hear people talk about how we need to count our calories, be mindful of our portions and practice more restraint and responsibility with our dietary decisions.
But guess what? You have to eat. And in some cases, you want to eat a lot. Maybe even put that thing you call a digestive system to the test.
With that in mind, we have a few suggestions. We have compiled short list of locally owned locations that have entrees and enough food to get your fill. Some may leave you belt-looseningly full. At least one will test your tolerance for heat. All are worth a try. And if we left one out, feel free to make your own comments and suggestions. Hungry residents everywhere will be thankful.
The rhythm and the ride
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
There needs to be a bit of explanation behind the upcoming third annual Bikes and Blues Festival.
While it’s taking place the same weekend the Tour of Missouri rolls through St. Joseph, there isn’t a direct correlation or cooperation between the City of St. Joseph and the Bikes and Blues Festival, but Coleman Hawkins Jazz Society president Mark Sheehan insists the theme should stick.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
Entertainment calendar for Sept. 11, 2009
Success and connection
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
The “Time to Shine” Tour is one that got its inspiration in history — and some lofty, legendary history at that.
The Shuffle: Lessons in summer cinema
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
A lot of people think Labor Day marked the end of the summer movie season. Based on the mediocre films that came out that weekend (people actually went to see “All About Steve?”), you would probably be right. But technically, the last official day of summer is Sept. 21, so that’s enough of an excuse for me to talk about a summer of cinema. Deal with it people.
This is: The Woo BandTuesday, Sept. 8, 2009
This is: The Woo Band
Soaking up the last bit of summer
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009
On Labor Day, a time most Americans have to rest, the sun started off working overtime. Overcast skies, cooler temperatures and even a bit of fog greeted St. Joseph residents Monday morning, but few things would stop people from enjoying a holiday that many consider to be summer’s last hurrah.
Unexpected pit stop docks boater in St. JoeTuesday, Sept. 8, 2009
Washing and ringing out laundry by hand on a boat dock isn’t how most people picture spending their Labor Day. But that’s how 31-year-old Michael “Tug” Buse was spending his in St. Joseph — a short pit stop on a long, ambitious journey.
Knocking out the nonsense
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
In the 11 years that the metalcore group Every Time I Die has been together, they’ve noticed a few things they don’t like about the current state of popular music. Even their own genre isn’t safe from a bit of criticism.
Review: ‘Extract’
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
Mike Judge has to be some sort of zen master in hilarious stupidity. The writer/director has created gold in shows like “Beavis and Butthead” and “King of the Hill” and the workplace cult comedy “Office Space.” But the only thing he’s responsible for in his latest comic offering, “Extract,” is his trademark dumb humor with a lot of darkness, few laughs and even occasional boredom, despite some solid performances.
Entertainment calendar for Sept. 4, 2009Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
Entertainment calendar for Sept. 4, 2009
Personal punchlines
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009
During many of Philadelphia comedian Kevin Hart’s shows, you’ll hear words and phrases at the beginning and middle of jokes like “honestly,” “seriously,” and “some true s**t.”
Playing in the pastThursday, Sept. 3, 2009
We all know the weekends are when people like to cut loose, relax and forget about the repetition of the work week. But sometimes, that’s simply not enough.
Sometimes, you would rather imagine yourself in another place and time. And for the past 33 years, the Kansas City Renaissance Festival has happily and successfully helped.
“I think just to get away from real life ... That’s what you really get to do,” says festival general manager Carrie Shoptaw. “You get to really step into a storybook. You get to totally forget about everything else.”
The sounds of an era
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
If you’re a KISS tribute band, you know you’re investing in makeup and platform shoes. If you’re a hair metal tribute band, it’s spandex, leather and Aqua Net. But what do you wear if you’re a vintage soul tribute band like the Kansas City septet Good Foot?
This is: The photography of Amy Holmes George
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
This is: The photography of Amy Holmes George
The Shuffle: A game in the life
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009
Since digital music is king, it seems a bit funny that The Beatles, the biggest band of all time, have basically steered clear of it. Even now, if you try to find the group’s music on iTunes, they are the digital music store’s one glaring omission. But last fall, the Fab Four showed they are embracing the digital age — and in a surprising and unexpected way.
Of course, unless you don’t own a television or computer, you already know what I’m referring to. On Sept. 9, 2009, The Beatles will release “The Beatles: Rock Band.” The music game will feature a career-spanning 45 tracks, taking you through every phase of the band’s legendary career and giving gamers the chance to play as John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009
Dental Exams
From the time you were a little kid and had that possibly harrowing first-time experience in the dentist’s chair, you’ve probably known about the six-month benchmark set for dental cleanings and check-ups.
Dr. Lisa Goin, a dentist in St. Joseph, says the six-month timeline helps to maintain tooth and gum health, prevent periodontal disease and catch any major problems before they get bigger (and, therefore, more expensive to fix).
But Dr. Goin says that there have been a few exceptions to the rule.
The fair that’s not far
Friday, Aug. 28, 2009
Let’s do a quick recap, shall we?
You’ve had opportunities to check out some aerial acrobatics, country stars and one-of-a-kind fireworks at the Amelia Earhart Festival in July. Last weekend, Trails West! gave people a chance to peruse local and regional art and see up-and-coming country stars, a blues guitar prodigy and a signature ‘80s band.
As for the Missouri State Fair earlier this month, you may have missed all that simply because it was too far of a drive.
But this weekend, if you are willing to drive a little over an hour north of St. Joe, you can check out both mainstream rock and country acts, livestock and art shows and enough motorsports to give your clothes the permanent scent of burning gasoline.
‘Halloween II’: A horrific vision
Friday, Aug. 28, 2009
Hollywood has had absolutely no problem taking iconic horror films and remaking them for a quick buck. But one look at heavy metal boogie man/horror director Rob Zombie’s re-imagining of slasher icon Michael Myers in 2007’s “Halloween” and you knew that he wasn’t just cashing in. He was trying to make something great and undoubtedly his own.
Expanding the conceptThursday, Aug. 27, 2009
People are conditioned to make assumptions based on what they see. They see four young guys setting up to perform with mainly electric instruments, they might think they’re going to hear some sub genre of rock. But by the time the local quartet Jazz Express play their last note, the audience is usually surprised — and appreciative.
This is: Untitled by Jacob W. Schildtknecht
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
Now that 22-year-old artist Jacob W. Schildtknecht has graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute, he’s been craving reconnection.
The Shuffle: Hype or revolution?
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
I always end up driving down to Kansas City a few times a month to screen films so that you lovely St. Joe Live readers can have a local opinion for a change. But most of the time I drive down there, I’m at least seeing a full-length feature. So, what would compel me to make the hour-plus drive to a KC theater to see a mere 15-minutes of a film that’s coming out in December? James Cameron, that’s why.
New musical blood hits Trails West! stagesFriday, Aug. 21, 2009
If you’ve gone to Trails West! in the past, you may have gotten used to hearing similar sounds and seeing the same familiar faces of bands on the festival’s side stages.
But this year, things have changed a bit. The faces are younger. The music is more eclectic. The vibe may be a bit different. And according to Allison Stewart, performance arts chairwoman for Trails West!, that’s part of the plan.
Kids at play
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
Do the Chicago old school rap duo The Cool Kids think they are actually “cool kids?” Yeah, pretty much. But what they define as cool is not the untouchable, superhuman cool exuded by many of hip-hop’s heavy hitters. It’s a fun-loving type of accessibility that they feel their fans can relate to.
Holiday railroadThursday, Aug. 20, 2009
Those who don’t like the fact that companies are talking about Christmas sooner and sooner each year are pretty much going to hate what Disney is doing right now.
But when they find out Disney’s latest promotion offers the chance to get an interactive, behind-the-scenes look at the making of its latest version of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” starring Jim Carrey — including a special sneak peek of the film — all for free, well, there might be reason to start getting into the holiday spirit.
This is: Coles Whalen
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
Denver-based singer/songwriter Coles Whalen, 22, used to play Big Bang Sundays at the legendary L.A. hot spot The Viper Room with her rock band, Whalen. Then, one night, they were asked change it up and go unplugged in 2002. For her, that moment served as an end to her band — but the start of something else.
The Shuffle: The (super)group mentalityWednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
Good news in the latest development of rock ‘n’ roll dream teams. It was announced last week that a new group has popped up comprised of some familiar faces. They’re called Them Crooked Vultures (wonder how that went over in “Spellcheck”). The band will feature singer/guitarist Josh Homme from stoner metalheads Queens of the Stone Age, drummer Dave Grohl, formerly of Nirvana and current rock star frontman of Foo Fighters and keyboardist/bassist John Paul Jones, best known as the former bassist for metal gods Led Zeppelin.
Band of brothersWednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
A then 19-years-old Greg Smith was hanging out in his military barracks when he was stationed in Berlin, Germany serving the U.S. Army in 1972. Fifty feet away, he heard the acoustic guitar of fellow serviceman Frank Lovato reverberating off the walls. Smith felt inspired to chime in.
Daring stunt to kick off festivalWednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
Before St. Joseph residents escape to the Trails West! Music and Arts Festival this weekend, they will have the chance to see a performer escaping with his life. Professional escape artist/magician Mario Manzini will perform a stunt in tribute to legendary escape artist Harry Houdini from 3 to 4 p.m. today at the swimming pool at Moila Shrine Temple, 701 N. Noyes Blvd. In the event of bad weather, the performance, a promotional precursor to Trails West!, will be moved to the YWCA Aquatic Center, 802 Jules St. Mr. Manzini is a performer based out of Columbia, Mo., and specializes in magic, death-defying escapes and the occasional Elvis impersonation. He will perform at Trails West! at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Civic Center Park. Allison Stewart, performance arts chairwoman for Trails West!, said she thought Mr. Manzini’s act stood out from the countless performers she says write in, wanting to be featured at the annual festival.
A guilty pleasure face-offFriday, Aug. 14, 2009
What is the musical artist that you're ashamed to admit you like? Is it Journey? Hannah Montana? Ace of Base?
A big step on a long road
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
If you’ve picked up a copy of Rolling Stone or Spin Magazine lately, you may have read about the breakthrough release from the North Carolina folk-rock trio The Avett Brothers.
If you’ve JUST read this, you may think the brothers Scott (banjo, vocals), Seth (guitar, vocals) and bassist Bob Crawford, are an overnight success. And they are — that is, if you don’t count the last eight years performing their lovelorn, energy-spiked songs to the road.
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
Entertainment calendars for Aug. 14, 2009
Review: ‘The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard’
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
If “The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard’s” cocksure salesmen were going to sell you on the movie, they probably wouldn’t mention that it’s basically an older model of comedy you’ve seen in superior predecessors with equally long titles like “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” or “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” But thanks to a strong cast of scene-stealers lead by Jeremy Piven, “The Goods,” a raunchy, absurd and mostly solid comedy, is still worth driving off the lot.
The rudimentary plot the comedy hangs on involves Selleck Motors, a down-and-out used car dealership in Temecula, Calif., run by Ben Selleck (James Brolin). Before the business goes belly-up in bankruptcy, the owners call in hired gun Don Ready (Jeremy Piven), a natural-born salesman/womanizer armed with a fast tongue, permanent five o’ clock shadow, ‘70s sideburns and a Hacienda Courts Frequent Sleeper Card. He and his road-tested team — soulful teddy bear Jibby Newsome (Ving Rhames), nymphomaniac boozer Babs Merrick (Kathryn Hahn) and perverse number cruncher Brent Gage (David Koechner) — descend upon the Cali car lot to pull out all the stops on a July 4th weekend to sell the metal.
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009
Maybe you’re a fan of old-time country, gospel and bluegrass but don’t have very many places to hear these classic styles of music. Maybe you want to go out and hear live music without having to deal with a bar’s smoky atmosphere and inebriated spectators. And maybe you want something to do that the whole family can enjoy and get a good meal while you’re at it.
In Northwest Missouri, you have numerous opportunities to do just that thanks to several opries that offer a fun, safe and lively atmosphere.
“Some people ... they’d rather go to Branson (Mo.) and pay big money,” says Mary Lou Snyder, manager of the Gower Goodtimers Opry in Gower, Mo. “They don’t realize that there’s a lot of good music in these small towns.”
Here are some of the opries you can check out for yourself in our area:
JOB SEARCH
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