Missing a day at the office, I don't feel so guilty about. But missing Office when it played KC at the Westport Beach Club, September 21, I feel terrible about. Why? Because Office is, as of discovering them today, my new favorite band from Chicago.
It's about time this New Wave revival lightened up and rediscovered the Cars. Like records by many a recent business-wear band, Office's debut, A Night at the Ritz contains keyboards, dance rhythms and catchy hooks, but it also flows over with orchestral instrumentation, piano riffs, killer harmonies, funny and passionate lyrics, and a hell of a lot of, just, well, spirit.
Office on the beach. Photo by Aaron O.
(Listening ops after the jump.)
BY CRYSTAL K. WIEBE
It ain’t easy to live on rock and roll – or to live with it. The Pointless Forest, a midtown KC party house that frequently hosts underground rock shows, seemed a little worse for the wear when I watched a show there back in May. In this past entry, you can read about how one of the venue’s residents collected donations in a plastic bag. Apparently, he hasn’t been able to collect enough – from guests or his roommates.
The band Causeco-motion at the Pointless Forest, August 22, 2007
From a recent press release:
"The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc ® is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 to bring radio broadcasters from around the world together with the Country music industry for the purpose of ensuring the continued vitality of the Country radio format. They do this by idea sharing and education through an annual convention called the Country Radio Seminar."
Any good seminar needs a keynote speaker. So who are they getting this year? Merle? Willie?
Try Sean Hannity, Clinton-hater for Fox News, as NNDB has it, and author of books Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty Against Liberalism (2002) and Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism (2004).
Way to put the c*nt back in country, CRB.
Mark your calendars for the seven days between September 29 and October 6, because the ACLU is celebrating Banned Books Week, the Shark Week of censorship. At 7 p.m. October 3, author Chris Finan reads from his ponderously titled From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America at the Kansas City Public Library's Central Branch, 14 West 10th Street.
Hey – come to think of it, somebody else is celebrating Banned Books Week. I know it was someone important. Damn. Who was it?
Oh, yeah.
BY ANDY VIHSTADT
Titular Homicide
It looks like Electric Six is going to take this year’s longest album title with I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master. Suck on that, Modest Mouse. Stereogum has the first single, “Dance Pattern”.
Peace Offering
I’m a little bummed that Deerhoof skipped us on this year’s lengthy Friendship Opportunity tour, but the band won me back with this free album of assorted goodies posted on its site. Afterwards, download the self-explanatory Coverhoof!.
More fix after the jump.
I took a Skybus jet to Columbus on Thursday night. The next morning, however, I felt as though I had never left Kansas City. Reading the paper at breakfast, I came across a story about America's most newsworthy parks commissioner, Frances Semler.
It’s a bright, clean space with no sign of plastic penis straws or boob macaroni.
Yesterday, a new coffee shop in Mission gave drink discounts to folks in fedoras. Fedora Day, every Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m., is just one of the quirky specials at Nighthawks Coffeehouse. On other days, the colorful joint gives discounts to tattooed folks and gay patrons. Ink Day is on Wednesdays; Alternative Lifestyle Night is on Tuesdays.
Wilco, with Dr. Dog.
Wednesday, 9-19-07
Outside the Blue Note in Beautiful Downtown Columbia, MO
Better than: Having the show inside the Blue Note, where there are places to sit and better vantage points to actually see the bands, as opposed to standing on pavement for three hours behind some tattooed love girl who will not stop invading our space.
Review by Megan Metzger, amateurish-but-earnest photos by Darren A. Fox, bastard French cutlines by Harper
Le crowd.
After a two-hour road trip and a pit stop at the Flatbranch Brewery, we arrived at Ninth and Broadway to catch Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog. Although we aren’t a fan of the band’s name, we totally dig its ’70s-infused, blue-eyed granola soul, which the boys in sunglasses and retro threads rollicked through for about an hour.
Attendance was fairly light for the opener, and we surmised the threat of rain and the just-announced October 13th Wilco show in KC kept some fans away. But the night turned out to be clear and gorgeous, and as Wilco’s start time crept closer, the crowd got bigger and bigger.
The Bob Newhart theme streamed through the PA, and Wilco took to the stage, opening the long show with “You Are My Face” off of latest release Sky Blue Sky.
Le dog docteur.
This week in the Village Voice, former Pitch staffer and VV columnist Annie Fischer writes about reliving Kansas City's 18th Street Mardi Gras traditions at a Brooklyn opening.
The God of Indulgence (and Anthropologie)
On the weekend of September 15, local artist David Ford, who owns YJ's Snack Bar and several 18th Street buildings in the Crossroads, flew a crew (or, rather krewe) for a performance-art-y opening at Jack the Pelican Presents in Williamsburg. The opening/party centered around a Latin-American deity known as St. Maximon. Attendees witnessed the out-jazz of KC combo Snuff Jazz and the guerilla antics of 18th Street favorite the Dirty Force Brass Knuckle Street Band. Costumes were worn. Drunkeness was attained. Bacon was cooked.
Bitch was owned, son.
Image courtesy JackthePelicanPresents.org
McDonald's sued by employee who wants a check, not a debit card
Kiss' Rock & Brews will 'Shout It Out Loud' in Overland Park in early 2014
Infusions Grill & Bar wants you to spread 'em
Restaurants that ban children? Really?
Phoenix will headline Buzz Beach Ball in September
Eric Sader, Jana's Campaign executive director, answers The Pitch's questionnaire
Nick Bolton, personal trainer, answers The Pitch's questionnaire
Drake is coming to Sprint Center this fall