Pitch

Merry Xmas From the Dead Malls

A lonely Santa, decorations held up by an abandoned shoe, and an homage to Oprah await you at KC's forgotten shopping centers.

• by David Martin
• Tags: Feature, Editorial Feature, Oprah Winfrey, Jesus de la Torre, Sherman Dreiseszun, Thanksgiving Patrick Crowe

Snow Job

The KC Strip is the sirloin of Kansas City media, a critical cut of surmisin' steak that each week weighs in on the issues of the day, dictating its column to Pitch writers.

• by Bryan Noonan
• Tags: Kansas City Strip, Columns, Barry Pener, David Pener, Ron Hunt, Kansas City

Blame the Bisque

We drag the river for stuff you didn't know you were missing.

• Tags: Backwash, Columns, AFC West Division, American Football Conference, Kansas City Chiefs, National Football League

Anarchy in the OC

You'll never guess which TV show Death Cab for Cutie is sick of talking about.

• by Cole Haddon
• Tags: Interview, Feature, Ben Gibbard, Death Cab for Cutie, Atlantic Recording Corporation, The Postal Service (Band)

One, But Not the Same

The first-ever Battle of the One-Man Bands doesn’t disappoint or leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.

• by Jason Harper
• Tags: Wayward Son, Column, Sheri Parr, Brodie Rush, Amy Farrand, John Ferguson

The Division Bell

After seven years of great music and constant obscurity, Elevator Division is hanging it up.

• by Andrew Miller
• Tags: Bonus Tracks, Columns, Joe Hoskins, CAKE (Band), Verizon Communications Inc., Weezer

Critical Fatwa

All hail Big Poppa!

• by The Ayatollah of Rock
• Tags: Bonus Tracks, Columns, Sean Combs, Eminem, Missy Elliott, Notorious B.I.G.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Our very special holiday music guide

• by John Lomax
• Tags: Bonus Tracks, Columns, Carolina Christmas, Gershon Kingsley, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Robert Moog

Dwele

Friday, December 16, at the Grand Emporium

• Tags: Critic's Choice, Preview, Dwele, Kansas City, Boney James, Detroit

Eric Bachmann

Thursday, December 15, at the Record Bar.

• Tags: Critic's Choice, Preview, Eric Bachmanncame, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Seattle

The Psychedelic Furs

Friday, December 16, at Memorial Hall

• Tags: Critic's Choice, Preview, The Psychedelic Furs, Richard Butler, Andrew Marcus, Upstate New York

Mommy and Daddy

Friday, December 16, at the Jackpot Saloon

• Tags: Critic's Choice, Preview, Edmond Hallas, Vivian Sarratt, Andrew Miller, C+C Music Factory

The Quivering

Saturday, December 17, at the Brick

• Tags: Critic's Choice, Preview, Andrew Luker, Corum, Dick Wilson, Jesse Dalton

Mike Ireland and Holler

Tuesday, December 20, at Mike's Tavern

• Tags: Critic's Choice, Preview, Mike Ireland, Nashville, Kansas City, Grand Ole Opry House

T. Rex

The Slider, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, Dandy in the Underworld, The T. Rex Wax Co. Singles: A’s and B’s 1972-77(Rhino)

• Tags: CD Reviews, Review, Marc Bolan, Chuck Berry, David Bowie, Andrew Marcus

Big & Rich

Comin' to Your City (Warner Bros.)

• Tags: CD Reviews, Review, John Rich, Kenny Alphin, Michael Roberts, Vietnam

American Catastrophe

Excerpts From the Broken Bone Choir (self-released)

• Tags: Listen Here, Review, Amy Farrand, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Lord Byron

Donta' Slusha

Take Me 2 Da Block (Recklis Records)

• Tags: Listen Here, Review, Toriano Porter

Tommie Sunshine

Thursday, December 15, at The Granada

• Tags: Spin Cycle, Preview, Tommie Sunshine, Avril Lavigne, Elvis Presley, Andrew Miller

No Headgear

Cheap beer and Afros rock this road trip.

• by Jen Chen
• Tags: Night Ranger, Columns, Night Ranger, Branson, Larry Johnson, Crown Center

Don Survivor

Don Pepe's latest creation just might be his best yet.

• by Charles Ferruzza
• Tags: Cafe, Dining Review, Don Pepe, Lou Jane, Madrid, Guiding Light (Soap Opera)

Wine Whine

Hey, cheapskate, tip on the wine, too.

• by Charles Ferruzza
• Tags: Fat Mouth, Columns, Larry Roth, Kansas City, Wine

Monkey Business

Peter Jackson spares no expense for a Kong that's just too long.

• by Robert Wilonsky
• Tags: Film, Film Review, Peter Jackson, Skull Island, Carl Denham, Jeff Bridges

Oh, Joy

The Family Stone is hard to like, harder still to hate.

• Tags: Film, Film Review, Sybil Stone, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Thomas Bezucha

Fooltide Greetings

This Christmas party is absurd — and a big success.

• by Alan Scherstuhl
• Tags: Stage, Stage, Mark Robbins, David Graham Jones, Alan Ayckbourn, Barry Kyle

Senior Moments

A gallery show for their senior projects.

• by Ray T. Barker
• Tags: Art, Columns, Larissa Uredi, Brent Wheatley, Kansas City Art Institute, Deja Browning

Heads of the Class

These artists find that schoolhouses rock.

• by Gina Kaufmann
• Tags: SeeSaw, Columns, Nikol Lohr, Randy Wolf, Russell Fergusson, Harveyville

Art Capsule Reviews

Our critics recommend these shows.

• by Ray T. Barker, Rebecca Braverman, Annie Fischer and Gina Kaufmann
• Tags: Art Capsules, Culture Listings, Teri Frame, Eduardo Cerro, Kansas City, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Stage Capsule Reviews

Reviews and previews of upcoming shows.

• by Alan Scherstuhl
• Tags: Stage Capsules, Listings, Buddy Holly, Jacqueline Susann, Stuart Hall, Crown Center

Love the Sin

• by Jordan Harper, Luke Y. Thompson and Robert Wilonsky
• Tags: DVDish, Reviews, Bruce Willis, Frank Miller, Peter Jackson, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc.

Virtual Quagmire

• by Luke O'Brien
• Tags: Game On, Reviews, U.S. Army, Iraq, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Middle East

Our top DVD picks for the week of December 13

• Tags: What Else Is New?, Reviews, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc., Sony Corporation, Marvin Gaye, Miami

Get Out!

Instead of failing at those same old resolutions, consider some alternatives.

• by Lorna Perry
• Tags: New Year's, Column, AL Central Division, American League (Baseball), Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball

New Year's Eve

In The Clubs

• Tags: New Year's, Column, Baltimore, Bar Natasha, DJ Lew, Pennsylvania

Free Fall

Letters from the week of December 15, 2005

• Tags: Letters, Letters, Justin Kendall, Bryan Noonan, Ken Miller, Phil Gibson