ReVue

Monday, November 11, 2013

The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York CIty

Monday Night Book Discussions

"THE MOLE PEOPLE: LIFE IN THE TUNNELS BENEATH NEW YORK CITY"
(written by Jennifer Toth)

Salina Public Library

Salina, KS

   This book is a series of stories, one on one accounts, of homeless individuals in New York. I tried to get into this book, I did. The first story that I read was very compelling. But I knew that the stories were going to primarily be about how the system has failed these people and the people themselves have failed their own lives. A series of heartbreaking stories of how these homeless folks had scraped by and built a hardscrabble society out of cast offs and nothingness. I didn't see anything uplifting that was going to come out of this story whatsoever.

   I work in a service organization that helps those in our community who are poor. Some of these folks are just always in the wrong place at the wrong time, for whatever reason. But some choose this life because they imagine it is easier than working. For whatever reason, these stories of want and need occur, it is always heartbreaking. Where I work, it is not always possible to help with all the need that's out there, sometimes when we help we make it worse and people become dependent on the system. There's really no answer to any of it. There are those rare occasions though, when it is possible to help an individual turn their life around and come out on top. It's always a thrill when that happens.

   I hear these stories everyday and I simply could not hear any more stories of need, want, heartache, or heartbreak. More power to you if you can finish this book, but I just couldn't. I've heard more than enough stories like these.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Joseph Hall's-Elvis

Joseph Hall's Elvis: Rock and Remember Tribute Show

The McPherson Opera House

McPherson, KS

On Saturday night, Elvis did not leave the building after the show. He merely went to the lobby to sign autographs.

You haven’t seen Elvis until you've seen Joseph Hall’s "Elvis". He sang, he danced and captivated the entire audience. There were multiple costume changes and during the first half of the show he threw teddy bears into the crowd. I actually thought at one point that a few of the older ladies were going to get into a throw down in the aisles when one reached for it and another grabbed it from her it at the same time.

Hall sang many of my favorite Elvis songs. One of my favorites, Kentucky Rain, I got to hear during a backstage interview and although it wasn't part of the show, I got my on personal mini concert back stage. He did a rendition of Suspicious Minds right before intermission that quite honestly, I think was better than Elvis. He put his whole heart and soul into each and every song. And can he belt out a tune. Without a microphone, his voice would have resounded off the rafters in the opera house.

Hall was a contestant on America’s Got Talent on the third season. In an interview before the event he said that he waited outside in line for eight hours to audition. When his time finally came, he was given ninety seconds to impress the judges. A minute and a half. Apparently that’s all it takes to completely change someone’s life. He was chosen to appear on the show and made it into the Top 10 before he was booted off the show, ironically after he’d sang Suspicious Minds.

After intermission and a costume change, the well- known white jumpsuit, the evening got even better. It was one hit after another. Hall did each one justice including two Christmas songs and a salute to veterans.

During the second half of the show Hall invited all the ladies down to the front of the stage and gave many of them the scarf from around his neck. I thought another throw down was going to take place as ladies competed to see who was going to elbow their way in close enough to the stage to get a silk scarf.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what this show was all about. There was so much more and if you missed this show, you missed so much. Hall is making a tour around Kansas stopping at various venues around the state. He also performs in Branson on a regular basis at the Americana Theatre. Check out his website: http://www.josephhallbransonelvis.com/ for more information on his schedule. Hall will appear in Hutchinson at The Fox Theatre in February of 2014.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin

The Orpheum Theatre

Wichita, KS

When I made plans to attend this concert, I couldn't really place the music of Mary Chapin Carpenter, (or Shawn Colvin, for that matter) but I knew the names. I can now say that I am probably one of the duo's biggest fans. The music was incredible and seeing Carpenter and Colvin performing in this type of venue only added to the experience. It was as though they were hosting an intimate dinner party and we were all hanging out in her living room with them.

The energy in the theater was upbeat and electric. The show didn't slow down for a minute. The audience was really into the entire production. It wasn't uncommon to see people be-booping in their seats to the beat. A couple of women sitting next to me were singing along with the words to some of the songs. Truly a lot of die hard fans, all very familiar with the words and music, were packed into The Orpheum on this night.

Both performers covered their own song selections as well as each others. This was truly a treat. They even changed up some of the tunes to the music which the crowd seemed to appreciate. It was a great evening with great music and terrific performers who put their whole heart and soul into this concert date. Now I've got to go buy some of their music!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby

RICKY SKAGGS & BRUCE HORNSBY

The Stiefel Theatre

Salina, KS

A large, enthusiastic and rowdy crowd showed up for the Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby show at The Stiefel on Saturday night. This all acoustic bluegrass show was truly an inspiration. I'm not a a diehard bluegrass fan but I did enjoy this show.

To say that the music was strictly bluegrass, isn't entirely true. There was a little bit of country, a little bit of rock, some Irish melodies mixed in with the Blues, and some Middle Eastern influences. There were some fun songs, like The Dreaded Spoon (about a dad who took his half off the top of his children's ice cream cones) and Cluck Ol' Hen (for those who just can't find a good chicken song any more). The group did a bluegrass version of Super Freak which was amazing. I have never heard a Rick James song sung Bluegrass style and it was not to be missed. I will never hear the song that I won't think of the stage version of the song. And there was so much more.

Hornsby did a take on That's Just The Way It Is (the long version) which was incredible. I will always remember that version whenever I hear the song played on the radio. He also performed a totally different version of Mandolin Rain. I haven't quite made up my mind about this one. I like the original but the way it was sung Saturday night was slow and heart wrenching. Ricky accompanied Hornsby on the mandolin and you could almost hear the rain. It was so sad and lonesome. Very powerful. But so forlorn. I think I prefer the radio version, it's a bit more upbeat, but there is something to be said for the stage version as well. It's safe to say I haven't made my mind up yet. I liked them both, equally.

I'm not as familiar with Skaggs music and they did sing one of his biggest songs. I knew the all the words but can't remember the name of the tune.

Truly a night of inspiring music and tunes mixed up and re-imagined. It was creativity at its best. The sky is the limit and nothing stays the same. It just goes to show that there are so many ways to invent and re-invent music over and over endlessly.

Monday, October 14, 2013

The Secrets of Mary Bowser

Monday Night Book Discussions

"THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER"
(written by Lois Leveen)

Salina Public Library

Salina, KS

Mary El is a slave and servant to the Van Lew family. Bet Van Lew is the daughter of slave holders. Both women share a vision of a New South. Bet see's the spark of something within Mary El and is determined to bring it to fruition. When Bet inherits some family money, she purchases Mary and her mother's freedom from her own mother, setting both women (and the rest of the household slaves) free. And that's when Mary El's life makes a dramatic shift. The South will never be the same again.

     This is a fictional account of what may have happened within Mary Bowser's life. Not a lot is known about her life, but what we do know is that she did work for the Van Lew's and she had a hand in helping to free slaves from all over the South. We know she was educated, worked within the Underground Railroad, and was a spy for the North.

     While the rest of the story is entirely fictional, it is not outside the realm of possibility. This story is a fast paced, easy to read book with action and adventure. There is intrigue, secrets, alliances between people who might never have met were it not for the situations surrounding the characters, and there is heartache, death, destruction. The characters are well-formed, even the secondary characters. I felt as though I was right there, in the South, during the Civil War. Even knowing the logical ending of this story does not diminish the telling of the tale.

     A lot had been written about the Civil War and this book does a great job with the retelling of this time in the history of the United States.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Cantus

CANTUS

(pronounced Can Toose)

McPherson Opera House

McPherson, KS

I saw the most delightful vocal men’s group Saturday night at the McPherson Opera House. The group was Cantus (pronounced Can Toose) who hail from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota area. This group consisted of nine male performers who sang all their songs acapella. The group was comprised of tenors, baritones and bass voices. If you missed this show, you missed a wonderful evening.

The theme of the show was A Place For Us. It was dedicated to all the people who immigrated to America from all over the world and the native peoples who were here when those immigrants arrived. The song choices ranged from Native American chants, Hymns, Appalachian folk songs, songs from Canada and Mexico, a Leonard Bernstein show tune, and even a song written by Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band. When I say this show had it all, as you can see from the list, it did.

I had several favorites: Hole Waimea-a traditional Hawaiian tune which really spoke to me. I also enjoyed Aint’ Got Time to Die and Simple Gifts which everyone knows. The Dave Matthews song, Gravedigger was impressive. True this was a unique arrangement but I could still find Dave Matthews influence in the music. And of course, who doesn’t like Somewhere by Leonard Bernstein. It sums up the entire human experience in this land of immigrants and native peoples.

If you didn’t get a chance to see the live performance, you can still check out the group’s music by going to their website at: http://www.cantussings.org/ and also check them out on SoundCloud. Every month they give away a free track of their music.