Author Archives: Hearne Christopher Jr.
Hearne: Wakarusa Attendees Debate This Year’s Mudathon
When it rains it pours… There’s no way organizers of the Wakarusa fest could have predicted the monsoon and tornado threats that did in this past weekend’s fest a year in advance. And there’s only so much promoters can do … Continue reading
Car: Right Stuff Gets Short Shrift in Star’s Pretend ‘Automotive’ Section
I’ve preached to you guys about personal responsibility when it comes to your choice of cars. Maybe too much, I’ll admit. But the fact remains if you really don’t need to drive an oversized gas guzzler, you shouldn’t. It’s bad … Continue reading
Hearne: Wakarusa Drowns While Pitch, Star, Journal World Slumber
It’s bad… Global warming may be a controversial topic depending on your, um, politics, but make no mistake; the weather these days couldn’t get much weirder or worse. Or could it? The latest looming disaster: the Lawrence-birthed Wakarusa fest in … Continue reading
Hearne: Wakarusa Festival Getting Hammered by Storms
Kanrocksas isn’t the only area festival getting hammered this week… Funny how the Kansas City Star and Lawrence Journal World are missing this story, but the area’s other big fest – Wakarusa – is in deep do-do and nobody’s talking about … Continue reading
Hearne: The Bottom Line on Bottom Line Communications
Groundhog Day, anyone? For the second time in three or so years, Bottom Line Communications honcho John Landsberg has announced that he will cease to exist. As a blogger. The first time out, Landsberg said writing about local media was … Continue reading
Hearne: Did The Kansas Speedway Kill Kanrocksas?
Nothing against NASCAR fans but… Not all venues are created equal and sometimes a given location just doesn’t match up with a given event. Take the Kansas City Wizards and Arrowhead Stadium. For the Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead is a … Continue reading
Hearne: KC Wins Dubious Tourism Award & The Star Sucks Up
I know, I know… After being gone a week, I’ve got bigger fish to fry, but a quick time out while I administer a little nausea medicine to myself over how predictable and lame local media can be when it … Continue reading
Hearne: They’re Out of Here, Kanrocksas & Bottom Line Communications
Geez, I try and get away for a few days and… The last time I left town, JJ’s blew up. This time out, Kanrocksas and Bottom Line Communications take a bullet. And there’s more. Having just driven for like 18 … Continue reading
Hearne: Down & Out in Santa Fe & The Great Crosby Kemper Art Hoax
It’s back to the desert southwest, this time to Santa Fe, New Mexico… One hour north of the Breaking Badlands of Albuquerque, it’s amazing how many refugees of Kansas City (even Lawrence and Topeka) one can run into in this … Continue reading
Hearne: KC Confidential Looking for a Few…
Been awhile… Seems like forever since KC Confidential last put out a casting call. So like, we’re due, right? I won’t bore you with the particulars, other than to say, if you have an interest and a hankering to write … Continue reading
Hearne: Moving Day @ The Westboro Baptist Church
It wasn’t pretty, but it prepped me for a move to the Kansas City suburb known as Lawrence. Wanting to make the most of my exile I contemplated going undercover at the Westboro Baptist Church. You know, that bastion of … Continue reading
Hearne: Kiefs to Close CD Biz, Sell or Lease Shopping Center
The handwriting’s been on the wall for years… After decades as a pioneer and force to be reckoned with in what’s now referred to as the “music software” biz, Kief’s Music is bowing out. “I’m getting out of the CD … Continue reading
Hearne: Best Buy Death March Continues
The days when how things sounded mattered appear numbered… What’s left of what once was once the “audio industry” is quaking in its boots and living on borrowed time. That in the wake of retailer Best Buy‘s latest financials. The … Continue reading
Hearne: Star Comes Clean to News Staff That Features Head is O-U-T
Honesty’s the best policy, right? So it is that shortly after KC Confidential broke the news about yearling features head honcho Laurie Mansfield being SoCal bound, Star editors decided to level with the newsroom. “They rushed out an announcement after … Continue reading
Hearne: Star Features Head Laurie Mansfield Bailing for LA
Last one out, turn out the… Once upon a time, something called “stability” existed within the ranks of the newsroom at the Kansas City Star. No mas. These days it’s every man, woman and child for him or herself, as … Continue reading
Hearne: ‘The People Have Spoken,” Kanrocksas
Turnabout is fair play… After months of insisting otherwise, the powers that be at the music fest known as Kanrocksas have done an about face and made single day tickets available to the two day fest on June 28th and … Continue reading
Hearne: Stanford’s Looking @ Second Location in Uptown ‘Conspiracy Room’
Don’t look now but comedy could be returning to Midtown… Stanford’s is looking at opening a second comedy club in the Uptown Theater‘s Conspiracy Room. “I’ve always thought that it was a cool room and I still do,” says Stanford’s … Continue reading
Hearne: Chris Fritz to Establish Backstage Memorial to Rival Rock Legend Who Took His Own Life
Maybe it’s me, but this seems a little lame… The Kansas City Star goes out of its way every Sunday to tell readers which famous or infamous people died that week. Anybody can play, from Amy Winehouse to Methuselah, and … Continue reading
Hearne: Former Royals Broadcaster Fred White Passes Away
This just in from the Kansas City Royals… Former Royals broadcaster Fred White has passed away, reportedly from melanoma. “They are keeping everything very private,” says a source familiar with White’s situation. Kansas Association of Broadcasters president Ken Cornish issued … Continue reading
Hearne: ‘Cancer’ Ends Fred White’s Time with Royals
It’s been a long, hard slog for beloved Royals broadcaster Fred White… According to sources, esophageal cancer is to blame for the surprise announcement by White that his days with the team are over. White, who is not expected to … Continue reading