Hit Random

Venice 2010

2010-03-26T12:45:00.001-07:00

I'm never going back.

While I'm glad to have spent two nights in Venice this month, it's just not my scene.

This image encapsulates everything I didn't like about Venice. The Bridge of Sighs is wrapped in a jewelry advertisement.

A Lacoste billboard covers scalffolding in Piazza San Marco. There may be justifiable financial reasons for these decisions, but they symbolize a crass commercial sensibility that I find very unappealing.

Venice is undeniably gorgeous.

In fact, it's the most beautiful city I've encountered.

A steep price tag is associated with the sights.

Not only was my hotel exorbitantly priced, I sensed that I was constantly being cased by the establishment's staff. At least the swarming ants that appeared minutes after I tossed an apple core in a trash can didn't wear jackets and ties. Adding insult to injury- my room had pink light fixtures.

Another of Venice's hazards is the daily influx of tourists from cruise ships. Get a load of that death star in the background. Perhaps the Venetians charged with dealing with the public are shockingly rude because they're forced to contend with the sorts of people who don't think twice about desecrating churches. I saw people spit gum on the floor and pose for "funny" pictures in confessionals at the glorious Basilica Cattedrale Patriachale di San Marco.

I was relieved to discover that the city is relatively empty early in the morning and late at night.

With no motor vehicles allowed, it's an ideal city for walking aimlessly and getting lost.

I won't pretend that I experienced the "real" Venice. But I was attracted to this betting parlor.

Proper restaurants were out of my price range. This market, however, offered the most delicious fruit I've tasted outside of Florida.

Pre-election posters and political rallies were omnipresent. The conspicuous consumption I witnessed was so extreme that I didn't roll my eyes at communist party posters. I get it.

I longed to hang out with these men but my Italian wasn't up to snuff.

Arrivederci.

(Original images by Hit Random.)

A Kansan In the Canyon (Fifth and Final Leg)

2009-03-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

With the Grand Canyon conquered, I moved on to Petrified Forest National Park. The German man in the black jacket wanted to punch my lights out but I bonded with the enthusiastic tour guide.

I'm a petroglyph geek.

Is there life on Mars?

They know how to write a headline in Arizona. And terrestrial radio provided hour after hour of outstanding entertainment on my return trip. Monitoring Navajo and Hopi radio proved fascinating. "Tradio" is never less than hilarious. The NCAA tournament had also begun.

As I sat in Albuquerque's rush hour traffic I realized that it's a place I could happily call home. Later in the trip, I discovered that Oklahoma City has almost completely caught up with Kansas City. They deserve their NBA team.

In a previous life I felt like I owned Amarillo. It's the site of many of my most rewarding professional triumphs. The thick fog that enveloped the city was appropriate. I mustn't live in the past.

There's no place like home.

A Kansan In the Canyon (Fourth Leg)

2009-03-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

The race was on. Would I make it to The Grand Canyon before sunset? I covered a lot of ground but succeeded in beating the clock.

It's truly breathtaking.

And it's surreal- everything seems almost too perfect.

The key to fully enjoying the experience is getting off the beaten path.

Perhaps the natural beauty brings out the best in people. Myself excluded, almost all of the park's visitors- the ratio was equal parts American, European and Japanese- are ridiculously kind and friendly. (I'll pretend my unfortunate encounter with a French-Canadian never happened.)

The on-site hotels were out of my price range, but I was delighted to discover that some of the park's facilities- including this cafeteria- haven't been updated in decades. Hello 1972!

Obligatory animal shot.

Here's my dirty little secret: I often suspected that the whole thing is a fake. It might be a colossal trompe-l'oeil.

A Kansan In the Canyon (Third Leg)

2009-03-21T09:53:00.001-07:00

I left Taos in style by crossing the dizzying Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It's a perfect spot for jumping if you're so inclined.

I'm not a fan of Thomas Kinkade's kitsch, but driving across northern Arizona made me realize that the postcard-perfect pastoral scenes he often depicts actually exist.

Where's my snowboard?

The constantly changing landscape of U.S. 64 is amazing.

This shot was taken within minutes of the previous two.

Ship Rock in the Navajo Nation is quite the landmark.

I wanted to cross Utah off my list. That's my excuse for visiting the miserable Four Corners tourist trap. It's a sad place. Still, that's 40 down, 10 to go...

Spectacular? Yes, but the best is yet to come.

A Kansan In the Canyon (Second Leg)

2009-03-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

The real fun began in New Mexico.

I took in the dinosaur tracks at Clayton Lake State Park.

Members of the anti-evolution set have attempted to rewrite the explanatory texts.

Had I known that the path around the rim at Capulin Volcano was covered with ice, I wouldn't have attempted the hike. Scary! The vistas, however, were worth the trouble.

An inspection of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park gave me much-needed perspective.

Spending two nights in Taos was a mistake. I'd always wanted to experience the town. I reckoned it was an ideal match for my sensibilities. Maybe that was true twenty years ago. The place just irritates me now.

With its crass tourist trappings, Taos is no more than a laughably pretentious version of Branson, Missouri. And there's a palpable tension in the air. While shopping for groceries at Albertson's, I witnessed open hostility between angry, disillusioned anarchists and Volvo-driving richies. It was an ugly scene.

Still, there's no denying Taos' gorgeous setting. Fun in the snow provided a welcome respite from rancorous humans.

A Kansan In the Canyon (First Leg)

2009-03-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

2,772 miles.

That's the length of the road trip I just completed.

I'd hoped to visit a glamorous location like Berlin or Buenos Aires for spring break, but the global economic crisis nixed that dream. Still, my traveling jones must be sated.

A trek to the Grand Canyon was my fallback plan. Not bad, right?

There's a catch. The quality of life in the Kansas City area is great until it's time to escape. We're surrounded by hundreds of miles of empty space. All that time behind the wheel made my head and back ache. Still, I enjoyed every mile once I learned to pop Aleve and Tylenol like candy.

The trip began with an obligatory visit to kin in western Kansas. The state's back roads are the only way to go.

I finally made it to Oklahoma. I drove through the state's panhandle at night. Staring at the stars was a mystical experience. I'd forgotten that the night sky seems three dimensional and eerily alive without the veil of urban lights.

Restaurants and upscale hotels weren't an option. Food came from grocery stores and sleep was found at relatively inexpensive motels.

UR So Gay: Warped Tour 2008

2008-07-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

Skinny white boys with guitars have gone a little stale for me.

Since that's Warped Tour's stock in trade, I decided to approach this year's edition of the annual festival from a different angle. As a crusty Warped Tour veteran, and because only a few of the skinny white boys with guitars (SWBWG) on this year's schedule appealed to me, I made it a mission to deliberately seek out alternatives at the so-called alternative festival.

I wasn't disappointed.

Far and away the most popular act appearing in Bonner Springs, Kansas, Wednesday was the female-fronted Paramore. The second hottest artist on the bill was Katy Perry. She currently owns the #1 song in the country, "I Kissed a Girl." I prefer "UR So Gay", Perry's other big hit. Also, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes made international headlines just the day before by getting arrested after accosting a fan in St. Louis.

No corner of the Warped Tour grounds may be less popular than the hip hop tent. Yet it's where much of the most vital sounds can be heard. That's Kansas City favorite Reach above.

Othello (in green) studies MilkDrop.

"I know hip hop isn't for everyone," Othello told passerby. "If we're not going to keep it real, let's keep it fake."

I couldn't tell if Piotta was kidding. He has a Borat-style vibe going on. The Italian is pointing at me because I was his entire audience.

I don't know what's happening here. I quickly retreated after grabbing this shot.

3OH!3 is a duo that goofs on house, hip hop and electronica. They became annoying after ten minutes. The similar but superior Kansas City act Bacon Shoe manages to keep me laughing for a full thirty minutes.

Although I listened to about twenty minutes of Paramore's set from the side of the stage, I wasn't brave enough to elbow my way through the group's rabid fans to get a decent snapshot. Instead, here's a picture of thousands of happy young ladies watching their heroine.

Charlotte Something caught a really bad break- she performed opposite Paramore.

Fight! Fight! Fight! is from St. Louis.

The Warped Tour is always good for a handful of surprises. This year two acts I'd never heard of completely astounded me. The Lordz, a group of Brooklyn geezers, were right in my wheelhouse.

"How many of you people know Run-DMC? The Clash? The Ramones?" the guy in the hat asked. "Mix all that sh*t up and this is what you got."

Perfect.

Comedic rapper MC Chris drew about 200 fans who knew the words to most every song. What the heck! Who were these dorky guys and "Nrrrd Grrrrl"s? Yeah, I fit right in. Word up!

The Horrorpops brought the psychobilly.

I don't know the age of Brandon Phillips, but he's no longer a boy. The Architects remain one of Kansas City's best live bands.

And what about the SWBWG? Well, I'll confess to enjoying Against Me!, Say Anything and August Burns Red. I even liked the Higher's funky pop songs.

I just had to include a second image of Katy Perry. She's teasing a security guy in this shot.

A lot of drama was associated with the day's Gym Class Heroes performance. Travis McCoy was arrested onstage less than 24 hours previously. Cries of "Free Travis" were raised from stages throughout the day.

In spite of a pronounced limp, Travis was there and in fine form.

"I made a boo boo yesterday," he admitted.

The guy's a rock star.

It had been unbearably humid all day. About twenty minutes into the Gym Class Heroes' set, rain began to fall. The band tore into a thrash number. Buckets of rain suddenly fell from the sky.

You haven't lived until you've heard hundreds of emo kids scream in response to nearby lightning strikes. I imagine some of the loudest shrieks came from SWBWG.

Ashton Shepherd at Country In the Woods

2008-06-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ashton Shepherd is trying her darndest to bring drinkin' and cheatin' songs back to country music's mainstream.

The placid audience at the free Country In the Woods festival in the Kansas City area was having none of it. Great songs like "Takin' Off This Pain" were greeted with stony silence. She only connected with a cover of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Fishin' In the Dark."

Lonestar was the headliner, and I suspect that many people were just waiting to sing along with "Amazed". Yet I adored Shepherd. She splits the difference between the feel of the early commercial work by fellow Alabama natives Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer.

I was largely indifferent to opening act Adam Gregory. He seemed stuck to a rigid formula created in a Nashville boardroom. ("Let's find a good-looking guy who's part Jack Ingram and part Keith Urban.")

I had to laugh when he tripped up on the name of a local country radio station. He had thanked their competitor in his introduction to the previous song. Gregory then anxiously and apologetically blurted "I'd like to thank K104." The Q104 staff surely didn't take offense, but it's a drag to see an artist running scared.

Say Anything at KC Live

2008-06-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

Say Anything, the penultimate emo band, performed on the Kansas City Power & Light District stage Wednesday night. While no one cried and there was little sulking to be seen, angular haircuts and stereotypical fashion statements were plentiful.

Considering the band's popularity and that the free event was promoted by a 96.5 The Buzz radio remote, attendance was distressingly light. There were probably more people inside the entertainment district's bars than in front of the stage. Power & Light's age restriction- no one under the age of 21 can enter- likely kept the band's core audience away. But the 500 or so people there for Say Anything (above and below) were very passionate about the band.

It seemed like almost everyone but me was singing along to songs I'd never heard, like "Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat". The songs I was familiar with, including current single "Shiksa", sounded great.

One of the evening's highlights had nothing to do with music. During the break between bands, the Royals-Cardinals game was featured on the video screen behind the stage. Loud cheers greeted eighth inning home runs by David DeJesus and Alex Gordon. Who knew emo fans cared about baseball?

Unlike the Royals' batters, Queens Club (above) failed to make contact.

Significantly less impressive than the promising music posted at their MySpace page, Queens Club came across as a High School Musical version of a Cure-influenced indie rock band. With proper stewardship, they could develop into a noteworthy act.

Wednesday night, however, they looked and sounded like tentative kids brought up to the big leagues too soon.

Maybe We Can Start Again

2008-05-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

What in the world? You mean that crazy special effect in Kanye West's video actually exists?

I hadn't visited Chicago in a couple years. Millennium Park was brand new to me when I accidently spotted it last week.

The area features sculptures, gardens and a skating rink, but Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate is the delightful centerpiece.

As this pair of tourists discovered, it's a blast taking snapshots at the site.

The contrast between the smooth sculpture and Chicago's angular skyline is striking.

A new concert hall also looks impressive.

Finally, how can you not love Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain?

It Could Be, It Might Be, It Is!

2008-05-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Mark Cuban was there. He's considering buying the team. Erin Andrews was in the house. She was working. But that's nothing- yours truly returned to Wrigley Field last week after an absence of thirty years. I'd never seen the lights.

My first ten years were spent in the Chicago area. Many of my earliest memories are of attending Cubs games and monitoring broadcasts by Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray. How I miss them.

Ron Santo, Burt Hooten and Fergie Jenkins had cool names. But nothing compares to this year's hero- Kosuke Fukudome. Best baseball name ever.

It's tough returning home. The cold was almost unbearable, and the security staff relentlessly hassled fans.

And while it's still a joyous place to catch a game, Wrigley is kind of a dump.

Quindaro

2008-02-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

A wonderful story in Sunday's Kansas City Star inspired me to investigate the Quindaro area of Kansas City, Kansas. I'd known of the town's history as a beacon of black independence, but I'd never heard of Western University.

The Star's feature prepared me for Quindaro's decrepit condition, but it was still shocking to see the extent of the decay. This weathered sign bears witness to the area's unfillfilled promise.

I really wanted to see the ruins so ignored this "no tresspassing" notice. Although the area seemed completely abandoned, I half expected to see a team of archeologists working at the site.

Two clearly agitated policemen jumped out of their car as I admired this scenic overlook. They stared me down and seemed annoyed by my apologetic wave. But instead of hassling me, they ran into a nearby abandoned building.

One of the creepiest structures I've encountered, it's an ideal location for a climatic scene in a horror movie. And based on the policemen's behavior, I'm guessing that bad stuff regularly goes down here. I'm not easily frightened, but I began to realize that I was putting myself in harm's way. I didn't shake the willies until I navigated back to Quindaro Boulevard thirty minutes later.

The policemen sped off without talking to me. I sensed that they made a mental note to recover my bullet-riddled body later that day. I began to feel sorry for this battered sculpture of John Brown.

The Star notes that it's "all that's left" of Western University. These two close shots don't really tell the story.

A wider angle photograph more accurately depicts the area's status.

This informative site claims that this historic building is a "community center," but it sure looks abandoned to me.

The Star notes that much of the area's history now lies beneath 635.

I couldn't locate the Quindaro cemetary. I'll call this number before my next visit; I'd love a guided tour.

I explored the area's side streets. It has a rustic feel reminiscent of the Ozarks.

While many of the buildings have official "not fit for habitation" notices posted on them, a handful of hardy souls apparently reside in the hills. And they own horses.

Sadly, the area also serves as a dumping ground. It's a tragically symbolic image of Quindaro's unrealized potential.

Thanksgiving Breakfast Dance 2007

2007-11-23T12:42:00.001-08:00

The annual Thanksgiving Day Breakfast Dance is one of Kansas City's finest traditions. This year's event started at ten in the morning at the National Guard Armory in Kansas City, Kansas.

The sound in the big hall is horrendous. Only the dancers in front of the stage can hear the bands clearly. But no one complains. There's much more to the event than music. It's also about drinking, socializing and showing off your flashiest clothes.

Johnnie Taylor, Jr., was not pleased when I refused to buy his CDs.

Another of the late Johnnie Taylor's sons, Floyd Taylor, put on a fine show.

The resiliency of the soul-blues tradition is impressive.

Millie Jackson headlined.

While she's infamous for her use of sordid language and shocking album art, Jackson's solid set was relatively conventional.

Street Festival at 18th & Vine

2007-09-27T07:31:00.001-07:00

Hustler and philosopher Piney Brown returned to 18th & Vine for the American Jazz Museum's tenth anniversary street party on September 15, 2007. His presence was just one of many delightful surprises on tap at the free event. Additional photos of the proceedings, along with my review, are here. That's Ronny Reed playing the role of Brown.

Ralph Woods, husband of the late Kay Smith-Woods, offered an emotional presentation.

L. Jayne McShann, Jay McShann's daughter, spoke about the struggle to revitalize Kansas City's jazz district.

Myra Taylor loves to talk. And I love to listen.

Leon Brady's band of teenagers impressed.

His pupils are disciplined and focused.

Patricia Lyons-Cox's fun, smart and sexy vocals floored me.

St. Monica's Choir inspired.

The Rebirth Brass Band were the stars of the day.

Many locals didn't know what to make of the guests from New Orleans.

They worked up a sweat on the chilly day.

Bird lives.

Even without Millie Edwards, the Wild Women of Kansas City were a treat.

These two kids were awed.

Eugene Smiley plays the blues for you.

Smiley's audience was feeling it. Note the look the woman in the lower right corner of the photo is giving me- I get that a lot.

Saxophonist Bobby Watson tore it up during the American Jazz Museum All-Star Band's session.

Event drew a large crowd of teenage girls who sang along to every song.

The little girls understand.

Karma trades in old school funk and R&B.

They effectively enhanced a few romances.

Serious dancers could be found in the museum's atrium.

Bobby Watson led his UMKC jazz students.

Schedules were up in the air toward the end of the day.

The Louis Neal Big Band was drowned out by Cameo.

I joined a mob of kids atop a fire truck to take this elevated crowd shot.

Word up. Cameo draws a crowd of thousands.

Branson, August 2007

2007-08-13T16:10:00.001-07:00

It was so blazing hot that walking Branson's main drag on the afternoon of August 12 was not an option. Consequently, this series of photographs was captured from a moving vehicle. Much more time was spent uploading these pictures than taking them. All but the last three snapshots are from Highway 76, also known as Country Music Boulevard. I suspect that these images will be of interest primarily to curious people outside the United States and to amateur researchers of American culture who might stumble across them in a couple decades.

Rockfest 2007

2007-07-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

KQRC-FM, the local "everything that rocks" station, had relentlessly promoted their annual "Rockfest" concert for at least a couple of months in advance of the June 9 event. Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, Buckcherry, Chevelle, Saliva, Puddle of Mudd, Sevendust, the Exies, the Burden Brothers, Three Days Grace and a few other bands were on the bill.

It worked. 40,000 people squeezed into the grounds of the World War I memorial.

The mob of metal fans extended more than two hundred yards from the main stage. For perspective, consider that the two video screens pictured here are about 75 yards apart, and that the first one is about a full football field from the main stage.

The crowd at the second stage was significantly smaller.

The Burden Brothers were one of the first bands to perform. And they were one of the best.

I now regret ignoring the people who said that the Toadies- the Burden Brothers are a Toadies spinoff- were the real deal. I believe them now.

Black Stone Cherry would be the first to admit that they love Lynyrd Skynyrd.

And I love them for that.

Their guitarist looks like a goof until he starts rockin'.

The vocalist reminds me of Steve Miller.

Drowing Pool raged.

I don't know which was more terrifying- the band or their fans.

The combination of sun, beer and metal could have spelled disaster. Yet I don't recall seeing a single fight. I did, however, see lots of people who had passed out.

And then there's this.

I wondered how this young lady felt about the message on her companion's t-shirt.

The guys in Saliva look like complete twits.

It's hard to believe, I know, but they were really good.

One of Rockfest's "attractions" is the disconcerting number of women eager to flash their breasts. While I'm far from noble, I still refused to photograph this sordid behavior. I was touched, however, to see this guy's buddies lift him up so that he might enjoy the scenery.

Carolina Coast

2007-06-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

I was exiled to a remote island in the Carolinas a few weeks ago. I'll call it "Golf Island." I don't participate in the sport so I found other ways to have fun. This old lighthouse is the tallest structure on the small patch of land.

A female companion told me that Spanish moss is a big seller at craft stores. It's free on Golf Island.

The interior of the island is a ~~bug-infested swamp~~ lovely wetland.

Curious to see the kind of view twenty million dollars buys, I trespassed on the island's most costly property. Not bad.

At the far corner of the island, powerful currents converge to create an unusual wave pattern. This area looked like it would make for excellent surfing, but I was told that the wicked undercurrent is deadly. (I don't believe it.)

Creatures abound. These little crabs are ridiculous.

I like lizards. I didn't even mind the island's alligators.

Monsters rule the night.

I spent a lot of time watching birds.

Sometimes having nothing to do is nice.

The 2006 Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival

2006-09-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

I had no intention of attending this year's Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival. I had other obligations on Saturday, so I missed the inexplicable headliner lineup of the Latin Jazz Allstars, Proto-Kaw and Bo Diddley. Is there a single person on the planet who'd care to hear all three of these vastly different acts? And since Sunday's schedule was composed almost exclusively of local blues groups, I didn't plan on driving thirty minutes to pay a $17.50 cover on bands that I can catch in local taverns any night of the week. Luckily, a friend slipped me a free ticket for Sunday's show.

My arrival boosted attendance by half a percent. There couldn't have been more than 500 people there by the time I left early Sunday evening.

Echo...echo...echo.

I'd read the stories in which the event organizer boasted that fest-goers could wear high heels as they ordered gin and tonics. That's cool, I guess, but I don't recall him mentioning the best feature of the festival grounds. The betting windows are open! Blues and betting- how sweet is that?

I would have happily wagered my October mortgage had a Woodlands staffer been on hand to explain my betting options. Where do these televised races originate? Why can't I find a tip sheet? What's the payout on the exacta? And why in tarnation are these monitors so small?

A few people told me how much they disliked the setup of this festival. I beg to differ. There was only one stage, but the sound and sightlines were great. Beer was fairly priced and the staff, volunteers and blues fans were pleasant. Aside from the sketchy talent lineup, what's not to like?

Bill Dye may be my favorite guitar player in Kansas City. He's working here with The Hatchlings, so named because the guys were once the late Little Hatch's band. Dye is the rare blues guitarist who solos with relaxed, thoughtful and soulful eloquence. I filmed the first minute of a well-constructed solo. Watch it here.

I really hope the festival manages to survive. All it needs is a slighter better mix of talent for me to be all about it in 2007. I'll bring my own tip sheet.

Kansas City Irish Fest

2006-09-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Kansas City Irish Fest bills itself as the third largest Irish festival in the United States. Perhaps. I'm absolutely positive that it offers the best-tasting beer.

I didn't dare ask these pipers what they were doing at an Irish Festival.

The festival's attractions aren't limited to beer and music. There's an Irish history tent. Kids can bounce on moonwalks, make crafts, and best of all, play in the fountains. This is a bodhran workshop conducted by Mairtin de Cogain of The Fuchsia Band. And needless to say, vendors selling food and merchandise abound.

Plenty of toilets, complete with soap and hand-washing facilities, are a sure sign of a well-run festival that respects its customers.

Seamus Kennedy performed on The Boulevard Pub Stage Friday afternoon. My pal Jason detested Kennedy's efforts the previous night at The Gaf, but I found his light-hearted songs and jokes endearing.

Seamus Kennedy's audience gives me the evil eye. I can't quite identify the expression of the attractive woman with bare arms. Is it revulsion, disdain or pity?

Enter the Haggis irritated me. I'm in the minority; most people adored the Canadian Celtic-rock band.

I had been eager to see The Hothouse Flowers. I share my impressions of them here.

The green team wins. What a great festival!

I'm No Angel: A Trip To Anaheim

2006-08-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

I recently criticized Royals management for allowing Kauffman Stadium to deteriorate. A recent voter-approved tax increase promises significant improvements. While I attended a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game three weeks ago, I considered what I'd like to see next year in Kansas City.

It starts with my pet peeve- the fee to park. Everyone knows that California is the most car-dependent place on the planet. How is it possible that parking is a dollar less in Anaheim than in Kansas City?

It's just a hunch, but I don't think palm trees would last long in Kansas City.

Aside from the members-only Stadium Club, the $100-plus crown seats, Arthur Bryant's and Yellow Sub, there's really no notable food options available at "The K." Angels Stadium offers a vast array of choices, including several fast food outlets.

Thirsty for a black and tan? No problem. Other beer brands, including Sapporo, have dedicated kiosks as well.

All right! Unfortunately, Hooters girls don't work here.

This nice restaurant seemed to be the equivalent of the Royals' Stadium Club. The spread at the buffet looked impressive through the concourse glass.

I get this look a lot. Everyone in this picnic area seemed to share this guy's antipathy toward me. I had to eat my delicious teriyaki rice bowl back in my seat because no one was willing to share a table.

Hey, is that Mark Gubicza? He doesn't look too happy about wearing a tie. Or maybe he's just another Happy In Bag fan.

Every dorky baseball fan gets a thrill when he or she catches a first glimpse of the field. Anaheim's facility was built in 1966 and was renovated nine years ago. It's not perfect- many of the seats are oddly aligned. The stadium is staffed by hundreds of older men in bowler hats. They're friendly, helpful and knowledgeable- qualities often lacking in the bored, gum-chomping youths employed as ushers in Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City isn't the only stadium with waterfalls in the outfield. I still don't grasp what Anaheim's rocks are supposed to represent. Is it a rough-hewn "A"?

The stadium's video screen isn't breathtaking, but it's better than Kansas City's offering. What I most appreciated, though, was the additional information it provides about the game- things like pitch count. Furthermore, the screen isn't used to barrage fans with commercials between innings. Are you listening, Royals?

Oakland pitcher Danny Haren shut down the Angels. That's him warming up. Ervin "Little" Santana took the loss for the Angels. Oh yeah- the game was the Angels' 26th sellout of the year.

Lil' Ed and Scotty, July 23, 2006

2006-07-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

The Kansas City Blues Society's Sunday night concert series continued July 23 with Scotty & the Soultones opening for Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials. Scotty, pictured here, treated this showcase as a celebratory party.

They were excellent. The band's original material was just as memorable as the two cover songs they performed, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and "Down Home Blues." Fans of Johnny Taylor and Tyrone Davis would be well served to support this band. Among local blues acts, only D.C. Bellamy rivals Scotty & the Soultones in quality.

Scotty wandered into the crowd several times. He even stopped the show when he spotted his long-lost brother.

It was uncharacteristically cool. And finally, a few City Market restaurants other than Winslow's stayed open to serve the audience of hundreds. Succotash and the Vietnamese joint seemed to be doing brisk business.

Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials come in all shapes and sizes.

This young woman exibits the only appropriate response to Lil' Ed's music.

The Blues Imperials are a Chicago-based blues band in the tradition of Hound Dog Taylor and J.B. Hutto.

The Sunday concert series lasts another two weeks.

The Architects with The Bronx, July 22, 2006

2006-07-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

A punk rock battle-of-the-bands took place early Saturday evening at The Record Bar in Kansas City.

The Architects, my favorite Kansas City rock band, played after Warrensburg, MO, act Super Black Market. This is Brandon Phillips of the Architects.

The green wristbands on the Architects indicate that this was a rare all-ages show.

The Architects are so good that they can play with their eyes closed.

Who you calling trash!

The Bronx possess a might roar.

So, who won? While The Bronx were louder, tighter and the clear audience favorite, the prize goes to the winner, and still number-one-contender-in-the-world, Kansas City's Architects.

Joe Bonamassa, July 16, 2006

2006-07-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

Jon Bonamassa performed at the Kansas City Blues Society's free Sunday night concert series at the City Market on July 16. My review of the concert is posted at Patchchord.

In spite of the oppressive heat, he drew a large crowd. Shade was at a premium.

Many of his fans are bikers.

Bonamassa, to put it mildly, is a showy guitarist.

A great deal of money changed hands at Bonamassa's merch table.

Danny Cox and Malford Milligan: July 14, 2006

2006-07-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

Danny Cox was the unannounced opening act at the Olathe, Kansas, free Friday night concert series on July 14. I wrote about the show here.

Cox enjoyed national recognition among folk circles in the late '60s and early '70s. He now resides in Kansas City, KS.

Vocalist Malford Milligan contributed to Cox's set.

They seemed to enjoy the pairing, although their music has little in common.

Milligan, a Texan, opened his set with Freddie King's "Palace of the King."

About four hundred people attended the concert.

Warped Tour, June 19, 2006, Part One

2006-06-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Joan Jett is older than me. So are Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle of The Buzzcocks. Otherwise, I was the most aged person everywhere I roamed at Kansas City's Warped tour stop on a scorching Monday afternoon. I was pleased to find that I hadn't missed many of my favorite acts when I reached this giant lineup board around 2pm.

I missed the whole fourth ska revival of the '90s. But Less Than Jake, pictured here, were really good at what they did. And the kids adored them.

Desperate for shade, I stumbled into the MySpace tent and the day's best music. Gym Class Heroes were funny and smart, and Helmet aside, were the only band I heard that understood the power of a deep groove. These guys have star potential.

I always liked Joan Jett as much as the next guy, but I didn't have much in the way of expectations for her at this late date. Boy, was I wrong. She was clearly out to prove something. She paced like a caged animal as Underoath wrapped up their set on the adjacent stage. She tore into "Bad Reputation" before Underoath's feedback faded out.

And just look at her!

Warped Tour, June 19, 2006, Part Two

2006-06-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Save me a seat on the "Induct Joan Jett Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" bandwagon.

I'm certainly not qualified to explain Saves the Day's popularity. All I know is that this is exactly the sort of band that makes me question my love of music.

I like that Aiden's singer made an effort. Too bad about the music.

The outdoor amphitheater's regular stage was split into two halves. It was really amusing to watch the fans of pop act Amber Pacific attempting to endure the screamo-thrash of The Bled before their heroes began their set. The Bled, by the way, were fantastic.

Attendance was light. The unbearable heat was a big factor. But the lack of a headliner like AFI, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance or Taking Back Sunday was surely the primary culprit.

The racket made by Helmet hits the sweet spot between Metallica's roar and Sonic Youth's arty experimentation. It could have been the heat, but their excellent set hypnotized me.

In 2005, I marvelled at the ridiculously long autograph line for a band called Fall Out Boy. It wasn't until a couple months later that "Sugar, We're Going Down" started to get break. Based on that evidence, Motion City Soundtrack is next. This line was well over 200 yards long.

Warped can be just as punishing for bands as it is for fans. I caught this band hanging their heads as the band at the adjacent stage played for hundreds of ecstatic kids. Based on their dejected countenance, they seem to know that they're doomed.

I'd never seen The Buzzcocks. Finally hearing "Orgasm Addict," "Fast Cars" and "Ever Fallen In Love" live was a big deal for me.

I commented elsewhere that I'm impressed by The Buzzcocks' adherence to the punk ethos- they obviously refused to waste even a moment of the last 25 years learning how to play their instruments.

Something tells me these guys were waiting for Anti-Flag's set. I went home when The Buzzcocks quit playing around 6pm. It took me a couple days to fully rehydrate.

Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival

2006-06-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

This year the festival moved to an industrial district of Kansas City, Kansas. Hidden behind the warehouses, factories and silos is a park at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. Lewis and Clark spend the night at this location during their westward trek. I wrote a preview of the event for Patchchord, and took this pictures on Friday, June 23, 2006.

For the first time, the festival added a second stage. The "street stage" was actually in a parking lot near a highway exit ramp. Loud trucks would occasionally disrupt the performances at this stage. That's JJ Johnson- a soul singer, not the jazz trombonist- in red.

I was disappointed to find that the "river" stage was situated in a grassy park on a bluff above the rivers instead of in the lovely forrested area on the rivers' banks. That's guitarist Jimmy D. Lane in the flashy blouse.

David "Honeyboy" Edwards peformed on the street stage Friday night.

He was accompanied on harmonica by his manager, Earwig label owner Michael Frank.

The street stage faced downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Here's the pretty view at night.