Hearne: Dissecting Bob Lefsetz on the Concept of ‘Too Much’

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

BobDylan4I’m not sure what, Too much of nothing really means…

Other than being the lyrics to a Bob Dylan song that a lot of people – me included – used to think were “manna from heaven” back in the 1970s and before.

However for music / pop culture scribe Bob Lefstez those lyrics opened a window into the “too much of everything” of today.

Check him out:

“I remember going to college where there was one snowy television station, one lame college radio outlet and one movie theatre, never mind no internet or cell phones,” Lefsetz says. “You had to talk to people for your entertainment.

“I also remember being bored in high school. With the same damn records to play.

“Now I’m so busy catching up that I constantly feel left behind and to employ the old cliche I frequently want to stop the world and get off. I used to be a connoisseur, I used to be comprehensive, that’s nearly impossible in today’s overloaded word.”

HC: Which of course brings us to Lefsetz takes on too much… Continue reading →

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Hearne: Have Tony, Will Travel—Jersey Boy-Turned-Midtown Man—Has Prismatic Past

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.
The Midtown Men's Christian Hoff Tony in tow

The Midtown Men’s Christian Hoff
Tony in tow

Not many Broadway shows  and starshave groupies…

Jersey Boys does, it’s even got its own Facebook page. 

So who knows? Things could get interesting Thursday night at The Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence when The Midtown Men take the stage.

That’s because the four-person, 30 and 40-something “boy band” sprang from the early ranks of the Broadway musical chronicling the rise to fame of 1960s hit makers, The Four Seasons.

And now The Midtown Men, after five years of touring with more than 100 dates a year and putting on a critically acclaimed two-hour show of 1960s hits, have attracted a groupie following all their own.

“Hundreds of them, many have seen the show 20, 50, 100 times: confirms publicist Sandy Hicks. “One lady over 500 times!  Many have naturally become Midtown Men fans and have seen our show 20 or 30 times and will travel great distances to catch shows.”

Fact is though, they’re just regular guys.

For example when I caught up to Tony winner Christian Hoff Tuesday morning he was in line to renew his car registration at the DMV in San Diego.

“Maybe if I wore my Tony award around my neck like Flavor Flav they’d let me go to the front of the line,” Hoff jokes. “But I doubt anybody here would know what a Tony is.” Continue reading →

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Hearne: Democrat Paul Davis Strip Club Misadventure May Be Fatal

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

TfqSANever been much for strip clubs myself…

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve attended my share, but for writing stories in recent years. Long ago though I went with friends – first out of curiosity – later with married pals from Pembroke Hill…while I was still single, of course

Kinda like Paul Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor in Kansas.

My married friends were seeking PG13 thrills, while I generally tried to position myself in-between them, where I wouldn’t have to fend off lap dances. Not because I was prudish, I just wasn’t particularly into it.

All of that said, I know quite well how the strip club game is played. 

So after receiving a mailing yesterday dinging Davis from backers of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback – a Republican of questionable character himself – I’m thinking Davis is in trouble.

Brownback’s challenger from Lawrence has been leading in the polls up until now, owing to Sam the Sham’s multitudinous missteps.

Which is saying a lot in a dyed-in-the-wool Red State like Kansas.

Unfortunately for Davis – back then a red-blooded American boy in his 20s and single – he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught up in a drug raid that went down there to boot. Continue reading →

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Hearne: ‘Midtown Men’ to Take Lied Center by Storm Thursday

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

14108823-standardOne of the hottest tickets going goes down Thursday night in Lawrence…

That’s when the Baby Boom’s answer to boy band One Direction – The Midtown Men – take the stage at the Lied Center of Kansas for a 7:30 p.m. two hour concert.

Never heard of The Midtown Men? Think Franki Valli & The Four Seasons from the Tony Award winning musical-turned-biographical musical movie drama Jersey Boys. A musical that tells the story of the four young men from “the wrong side of the tracks” in New Jersey who went on to record some of the 1960s and 1970s biggest hits with songs like, “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll” and “Walk Like a Man.”

The Midtown Men are four stars from the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys who struck out on their own in 2007 performing a handful of songs from the musical along with a ton of hit songs from the 1960s such as The Turtles “Happy Together,” The Zombies “Time of the Season” and everything from classic Motown to Beatles.

And judging from recent critical reviews, doing all of them quite well.

“These are all top Broadway guys,” says Theater League main man Mark Edelman, who has presented Jersey Boys in three cities with three more on the way next year. Continue reading →

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Hearne: Tiananmen Square Revisted, Tunnel Vision & Ebola

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Calvin Sense

ByoLwMQCMAAvYtn.jpg-largeAs Motown great Marvin Gaye sang in, “What’s Going On?” – I’m commenting about current events using common sense  or Calvin Sense, if you will… 

For example, will the situation in Hong Kong become today’s Tiananmen Square?

Perhaps not, because the Chinese have developed new strategies for dealing with dissonance; now they employ counter protesters who protest the protest.

It’s the same strategy Russia used in the Ukraine in trying to convince the world their people supported Russia’s position.

And it’s happening in Hong Kong as the counter protesters use violence and force against the legitimate protesters hoping to scare them away.

The jury’s still out on whether this tactic will be successful but it’s a tactic that has to be dealt with. Continue reading →

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Leftridge: Next Stop for Royals, Baltimore

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Brandon Leftridge

salvador-perez-mlb-alds-los-angeles-angels-kansas-city-royals1-850x560When the dust settled, the unlikeliest thief was standing at second with a goofy, childlike grin…

Not only had he stolen a base, he’d also scored from first on a triple earlier in the game.

It was just that kind of night.

Later, the brittle-but-phenomenal center-fielder made two unbelievable, pandemonium inducing catches.

The best player in baseball finally got his first postseason hit—a home run, even—but it mattered about as much as spitting into the sea.

And the best setup man in baseball—maybe even the best relief pitcher entirely—yielded a run, but it was harmless. Continue reading →

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New Jack City: Will Somebody Resurrect KY-102…Again?

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Jack Poessiger

1009994_725498887470137_212138853_nCan a radio station be beloved?

I don’t really know the answer to that question, but the closest I’ve seen was probably KY-102.

From the moment it signed on in 1974 until the plug was pulled by a new ownership group in 1997, KYYS-FM—complete with its sunglasses wearing Hippo mascot—was the Kansas City lifestyle connection for a generation.

The super station super-served them well.

Not that its ratings were always top notch, but KY’s sales staff was able to overcome even extended periods of down ratings books against new competitors who came knocking at the door.

Why?

Because it worked for advertisers seeking out the station’s loyal audience. Continue reading →

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Paul Wilson: ‘So Arrest Me’

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Paul Wilson

imageWe don’t have parking space shortages on the mean streets of KC like some metros…

In Boston a few weeks back, one Lisa Blumenthal, paid $560,000 at an IRS auction for two off street spaces near her home. The record price for a single spot in Boston is $300,000.

The Left Coast isn’t much better with a parking space in San Francisco’s South Beach commanding $82,000. For you investment you get an 8 x 12 foot piece of underground real estate in a condo building. That last spot was listed by a real estate broker and sold in less than two weeks flat.

Which would lead you to believe it must have seemed a bargain price.

Ah, but here in the Midwest we have parking spaces to burn. Continue reading →

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Glazer: Chiefs Keep Getting Better, Keep Losing…

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Craig Glazer

New England Patriots v Kanas City ChiefsTwo of the best back to back games our Kansas City Chiefs have played in 10 years…

Last week they beat New England and  today nearly did the same to a better San Francisco team. It was close. The Chiefs led much of the game.

Kansas City’s running game is the best in the NFL no question.

Knile Davis and Jamaal Charles are crazy good. The Chiefs passing game is getting better, the defense is very good, given it’s a patchwork team. And coach Andy Reid is a miracle man.

This team should be one of the NFL’s three worst instead its decent.

A wild card run is possible – not likely but possible. Hate to say it but I hope not because I would lose my big bet. Continue reading →

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Hearne: Out-of-State American Royal Bigshots Muscle KC Council on Kemper

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.
Terry Dunn with wife, Leawood Mayor-for-Life Peggy Dunn: Where's he gonna move the American Royal to, Leawood?

Terry Dunn with wife, Leawood Mayor-for-Life Peggy Dunn:
Where’s he gonna move the American Royal to, Leawood?

It’s high time somebody called bullshit on the American Royal…

Seriously.

Just because a handful of fat cat local businessmen think they can pull a good old boy style power play over on the Kansas City Council – despite a preponderance of evidence that their plan is little more than a taxpayer money grab by a few rich guys – doesn’t mean we should let them. Am I wrong?

The scary part is, in the absence of real opposition, they could succeed.

The only thing the City Council has going to prevent that from happening is the obvious reality that plowing $50 million in taxpayer funds into an institution who’s time has so clearly passed is just plain bad business. Anybody remotely familiar with the American Royal and its devolution the past 30 years knows that much.

Every single public measure – actual and anecdotal – supports that conclusion. 

Now the American Royal is trying to convince locals its BBQ contest needs the additional room that only tearing down Kemper Arena will provide. Never mind that’s there’s abundant, available useable space in every direction.

As Kansas City Star editorial page editor Steve Paul writes, “The Royal’s main argument (is) that without the barbecue event its declining horse-show and ag-oriented events would be toast.”

Hold that thought. Continue reading →

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Glazer: Unreal Week for KC Sports & This Week’s Football Picks

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Craig Glazer

imagesWhat a week for Kansas City sports….

We all know whats up; the Kansas City Royals are flying high. First playoff win for Royals or Chiefs in more than 20 years. Unreal.

Head coach Andy Reid has been ultra handy with this year’s patchwork Kansas City Chiefs squad. Beating New England was no big upset, but the score and complete great performance by the Chiefs was the best game they’ve played in years.

Outstanding.

The Chiefs have an offense, that’s for sure. In fact they will give the 49er’s a run on Sunday. Still I like the SF boys in a close game. MU and K-State both will be in bowl games this winter for sure, how high up is the question. Kansas did what I said they would do, they fired Charlie Weiss.

Weiss leaves with millions of dollars and more to come from KU and Notre Dame. He will collect over 60 million from all his lousy coaching thus far, so he indeed is the winner.

Now on to the picks… Continue reading →

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Paul Wilson: The Weak in Review – Bad Bishop, SpaghettiO Meth, Vagina Shot & Diamonds Aren’t Forever

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Paul Wilson
Bishop Finn

Bishop Finn

We’re on a mission from GOD!

With any luck, Bishop Finn finally has stepped on his weenie this time. If you recall, Finn presides over the Cathloic Diocese of Kansas City – St Joseph overseeing all the young boy sex abuse scandals.

A Canadian Archbishop visited on behalf of the Vatican to investigate the Bishop; the first Catholic prelate found criminally guilty of shielding a priest amidst the sexual abuse crisis.

So what’s their mission? To determine whether or not Finn is fit to be a leader.

If the Vatican envoys ask, “What did you know and when did you know it?” Finn’s sunk. If he has a modicum of intellectual integrity the answer has to be, “I knew it all, real time….and hid the facts.” At that moment, the Vatican’s question has been answered.

Good bye, Bishop. May God have mercy on your soul because I think you’re a dick. Continue reading →

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Sounds Good: Bahamas @ Record Bar, Ringo @ Starlight, J Roddy Walston @ Bottleneck

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Matthew Donnelly

UnknownSaturday, October 4th

Bahamas at the Record Bar in KC

I’ve had this one circled on my calendar for awhile now.  Don’t let the name fool you – the band is really the alter ego of lead singer/ songwriter Afie Jurvanen, a Canadian crooner in the mold of a less boring Jack Johnson.  Even that’s not a great comparison though, because Afie is way more talented of a guitar player.  But the feel is kind of similar, and the two have toured together.  Check out on of the best songs of the last couple years, Lost in the Light.

 

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band at Starlight Theater in KC

If you’re into the whole nostalgia thing, and want to see a 70+ year old dude play some drums on a bunch of other peoples’ tunes, then, well, this one’s for you.  The band this time around is composed of Steve Lukather of Toto, Gregg Rolie of Journey, Richard Page of Mr. Mister, Todd Rundgren, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette.  Their recent setlists have looked like this:

Matchbox(Carl Perkins cover)
It Don’t Come Easy(Ringo Starr cover)
Wings(Ringo Starr cover)
I Saw the Light(Todd Rundgren cover)
Evil Ways(Willie Bobo cover)
Rosanna(Toto cover)
Kyrie(Mr. Mister cover)
Bang the Drum All Day(Todd Rundgren cover)
Boys(The Shirelles cover)
Don’t Pass Me By(The Beatles cover)
Yellow Submarine(The Beatles cover)
Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen(Santana cover)
Honey Don’t(Carl Perkins cover)
Anthem(Ringo Starr cover)
You Are Mine(Richard Page cover)
Africa(Toto cover)
Oye como va(Tito Puente cover)
Love Is the Answer(Utopia cover)
I Wanna Be Your Man(The Beatles cover)
Broken Wings(Mr. Mister cover)
Hold the Line(Toto cover)
Photograph(Ringo Starr cover)
Act Naturally(Buck Owens cover)
With a Little Help from My Friends(The Beatles cover)
Give Peace a Chance(The Plastic Ono Band cover) Continue reading →

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Paul Wilson: The Mt. Rushmore of KC Radio – KY 102’s 40th Reunion Wilding

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Paul Wilson
Tanna Guthrie

Tanna Guthrie

I hear there’s a baseball game being played Friday night…

However there won’t be a bigger party in town that night than what goes down at Knucklehead’s, celebrating the 40th anniversary of radio station KY102. KY signed on in 1974 and during the late 70s and into the 80s, it ranked No. 1, or close to it,  in many of the prime audience demographics.

It promises to be an evening of fun, friends and family with the intention of “putting the band back together” one more time to celebrate the legacy that was this outstanding rock music station.

Before the Internet, KY was the clearing house for just about everything you needed to know in town.

This morning I spoke about the shindig with KY102 event organizer and radio god Randy Raley. Continue reading →

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Hearne: Royals Making Playoffs a Financial Disaster for KC Businesses

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.
At least reviled Royals owner David Glass will make some money tonight

At least reviled Royals owner David Glass will make some money tonight

Think modern mythology…

Somewhere along the line professional sports teams figured out how to con cities, politicians and the general public into doling out millions in tax dollar incentives because they thought it was a good investment.

Starting with taxpayer subsidized stadiums.

That despite countless studies indicating the opposite to be the case.

“According to leading sports economists, stadiums and arenas rarely bring about the promised prosperity, and instead leave cities and states mired in debt that they can’t pay back before the franchise comes calling for more,” according to a 2012 report by a pair of economics analysts in The Atlantic.

Futhermore, “Prospects for cutting sports subsidies are not good,” a 1997 Brookings Institute study concluded, adding, “Given the profound penetration and popularity of sports in American culture, it is hard to see an end to rising public subsidies of sports facilities.”

Even a Federal Reserve Bank of St, Louis report in 2001 began lead off with the following quote from former Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veek:

“We play the Star-Spangled Banner before every game—you want us to pay taxes, too?”

Are stadiums good investments for cities, the study queried?

“The short answer to this question is ‘No,’ ” it continued. “When studying this issue, almost all economists and development specialists -at least those who work independently and not for a chamber of commerce or similar organization- conclude that…cities and metro areas that have invested heavily in sports stadiums and arenas have, on average, experienced slower income growth than those that have not.”

Ditto for those much ballyhooed playoff games like tonight’s contest between the Kansas City Royals and California Angels, says restaurant and comedy club owner Craig Glazer.” Continue reading →

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Leftridge: Some Sort of Sporting Event Happening Tonight or Something

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Brandon Leftridge

KCRcovercelbrateLook, I never expected to be so right in my Kansas City/Oakland A’s Wild Card prediction, but like the classic 1971 Jerry Reed ditty suggests, “When you’re hot, you’re hot.”

That’s right, I knew I was going out on a limb suggesting that the Royals would trollop the Athletics, “probably in extra innings, even. Twelve innings, actually,” I said. But I am a man of bold, always-accurate and honest prophesy. I mean, the fact that I went so far as to state, “They’re going to get to starting pitcher Jon Lester for sure, and if I had to take a guess, I’d say they’ll tag him for six earned runs” is pretty amazing, sure, but that’s what happens when you’re really good at predicting things.

OK. Or maybe not.

But hey, I wasn’t the ONLY person to suggest that this was an unfavorable matchup for KC. In fact, a great majority of writers/analysts/ex-ballplayers on ESPN wearing terrible suits thought the A’s would emerge from the raucous confines of the K victorious, setting up a boring, sunny, very late-night series in California.

But it was not to be. Continue reading →

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Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Gone Girl’—Let the Punishment Fit the Crime

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Jack Poessiger

rs_560x415-140117183509-1024.Gone-Girl-Ben-Affleck.011714_copyGONE GIRL is a terrific mystery thriller!

Think of it as a modern day Hitchcock movie as its mesmerizing storyline zig-zags through almost two and a half hours of misdirection.

Here ex-Kansas Citian Gillian Flynn adapts her own global best selling novel under the direction of David Fincher of THE SOCIAL NETWORK, PANIC ROOM, FIGHT CLUB and THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO fame.

GONE GIRL lays bare all that is—or can be modern marriage as Nick Dunne (played with perfection by Ben Affleck) on the occasion of his 5th wedding anniversary reports his wife missing.

The picture-perfect couple had moved back to North Carthage, Missouri from New York City. But it soon becomes obvious that wife Amy Dunne was never quite able to make the transition to her husband’s early stomping grounds.

So what we’ve got now is…“the real housewives of Branson.” Continue reading →

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Hearne: Advertiser Calls Out 96.5 The Buzz Hosts as ‘Player Haters’

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.
Lazlo

Lazlo

Out of the mouths of babes…

In the wake of revelations about rampant on-air raunchiness at radio station 96.5 The Buzz and the million dollar message delivered last week by a jury to its parent company and hosts Afentra and Danny Boi, comes this bit of perspective from a former listener and prominent former advertiser on the station who asks not to be named.

In short, there’s a difference between the R-rated antics of rival morning show host Johnny Dare on The Rock 98.9 and the crude antics of Buzz hosts Afentra and husband Lazlo who hosts the afternoon drive slot on the station.

Continue reading →

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Starbeams: Chiefs Blind Goodell, Sporting Crashes Capitol & Bring back Boone

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Kelly Urich

nflspraySporting Kansas City got to meet President Obama in the White House Wednesday afternoon.  They achieved this incredible feat by sneaking over the White House fence.

                                                                  *******

Most Kansas City residents are sleep deprived this week after staying up to watch in improbable KC Royals come-from-behind win just one night after staying awake hoping to see a Tom Brady nip-slip.

                                                                   *******

The Chiefs put such a beating on the Patriots, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell denied he ever saw it.

                                                                     ******* Continue reading →

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Sutherland: Scotland Forever; Behind the Scenes on ‘The Vote’

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Dwight D. Sutherland, Jr.

Screen Shot 2014-10-01 at 10.58.33 AMI was fortunate enough to be in Scotland two weeks ago for the referendum on Scottish Independence…

The couple I was staying with were committed “No” voters but the town where they lived seemed to be evenly divided pro and con on the issue.  The degree of interest in the vote was unprecedented by British standards and unthinkable by American ones.  Ninety seven percent (97%) of those eligible to vote were registered.  Moreover, foreign residents and 16 year olds and older were all eligible so the pool of eligible voters was a large one.

I was also fortunate enough to know two of the most knowledgeable observers on the event.  I ran into Scot Niall Ferguson in New York on my way over.  (Ferguson has been to K.C. twice in recent years, once to speak at the rededication of the Liberty Memorial, the second time to teach at William Jewell.)  Ferguson said he was worried about the outcome of the vote.

As a widely respected historian, he thought that the Scottish Nationalist Party was being run by demagogues like Alex Salmond, the S.N.P leader, who were cynically exploiting legitimate dissent and unhappiness with the established British parties, the Conservatives and Labour.  In a post-mortem after the vote, he pointed out that the Scottish Nationalists were part of a wave of populist parties, harnessing the unhappiness with the political establishment in an unhealthy mixture of chauvinism and authoritarianism.  (This is true throughout Europe right now, with anti-immigrant, xenophobic parties thriving in such disparate countries as France, Holland, Sweden, and Greece.)  Continue reading →

Posted in Dwight D. Sutherland, Jr. | 10 Comments