Tomas Kubinek

   

     

     I attended the Tomas Kubinek show at The Historic Fox Theatre this past Thursday night and I'm not sure what to make of it.

     When I entered the theatre there was this feel of the late 1890's era, perhaps an asylum; and this little man entered in clothes of the era and assumed the persona of a lunatic.  He did some parlor tricks where he blew out candles as he was trying to light them, dropped things he was trying to pick up, did some improve with the audience at the front of the stage, and also some magic tricks.  Kids in the audience were laughing and having a good time.  I could hear them throughout the auditorium. Their laughter helped lighten the overall effect of the stage set.

     At one point Kubinek strapped on the amazing continuous walking machine, which I thought was excellent.  He never actually walked on the extra legs that I could tell, although I tried to keep up for a while as to when he was on his actual feet and when he utilized the extra feet to pivot and turn, and then finally gave up on that as he moved way to fast.

     He brought a child of 5 years up on the stage.  Noah was his name, and he was having the time of his life at the show and even on the stage when Kubinek turned up the house lights.  Noah was all about being in front of the crowd, he wasn't shy and met the audience full on.  I would say that this might have been the start of something big for Noah.  Kubinek also brought up another audience member on stage to help him with a part of his performance and did quite a few interesting acrobatic type things, Kubinek also kept up improv with the audience as he advanced through his show.  He's very versatile and appears to have no bones, very limber.  

     This show was interesting and I don't quite know how to categorize it, as I don't think a category exists to slip it into, very original and unique.  Kubinek's website is wonderful. You should go check it out here: Tomas Kubinek

Book Clubs At The Public Library

 

     Do you like to read?  Do you enjoy mysteries or science fiction?  Do you enjoy discussing books with others?  If you do, you might enjoy the book clubs at the Hutchinson Public Library.


     My first love is mysteries and the Mystery Mavens book club was a good fit.  The book that they are reading and discussing this Tuesday night at 7:00 pm upstairs in conference room #2 is: "The Keeper of Lost Causes" by Jussi Adler-Olsen.  The writer of this book is Danish and last year one of the books that came from an author in this same region had a car chase scene in it that was incredible. I could actually see the scene in my head, it was so clear.  The title of that book was: "The Hunting Dogs" by John Lier Horst.  There were a couple of books that I didn't finish; one was due to the way it was written, but overall I've read along with every one.  I'm not sure who picks out the books for this club but they should be commended.  I have had an entire world of mystery writers opened up to me that I never would have went looking for on my own.  I've learned a lot on my way through these books.  If you love mysteries, check out these books and if you have time, attend the book club.  I haven't gone to an actual meeting yet, but I have enjoyed the books.


      Then there is the science fiction book club.  I'm not big on sci-fi stories but there were a few this past year that I enjoyed and had to read.  They had more of a supernatural bent to them which is probably why they appealed to me.  "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury was frightening in a way that Stephen King is not. This book stuck with me during the daylight hours and was in my thoughts up until I finished it and beyond.  I also enjoyed "After The Fall, Before The Fall, During The Fall" by Nancy Kress.  The way this was written was unique and eventually everything came together as one and then proceeded forward.  I am still unsure why a nuclear bomb had to be deployed, so probably I should have attended the book club meeting.  Currently this group is reading: "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson and of course, I have to read this one.  If you love sci-fi you need to check out the monthly selections available for this group.  The group meets next on Thursday, February 11.

Voice Play

     The McPherson Opera House hosted the group Voice Play on Saturday, January 16.  You might remember this group from the fourth season of the NBC show, The Sing Off.

     Voice Play is a group of five guys from Orlando, Florida: Earl, Eli, Geoff, Layne and Tony.  Although they sing a capella tunes and at first glance appear to be a barbershop type of group, this act is far from the standard barbershop fare.  They sing, they did some dancing, they incorporated some live action vaudeville type skits, brought audience members up on stage, and always, throughout the performance they kept the crowd engaged through audience participation.  There was some comedy routines, as well.

     One of the more amazing parts of this show is the groups use of instruments, or lack there of, as the vocalists became the instruments.  Layne primarily produced the amazing drumbeats for the songs.  He has some amazing talent.  Geoff provided bass to accompany Layne on drums and it is truly a treat to see them in concert together.  Hard to believe that those instrument sounds are coming from voices and not from the actual instruments.  Truly this has to be seen to be believed.

     The group also utilized a screen behind them with messages and other interactive media as they sang which provided another dimension to their performance.

     A couple of montages of songs in the first and second acts were well received by the audience as everyone sang along.  One of the funnier parts of the show was when Voice Play insisted that they were not a boy band and then proceeded to build a boy band on the stage.  There was the heart throb, the bad boy, the old guy, the shy one and of the guy who leaves the group and goes solo.  They even included an 'N Sync (Bye, Bye, Bye) and New Kids On The Block (You Got It: The Right Stuff) tune during this part of the show.

     Polished and professional, with a sound like no other.  This was the kick off performance of a three week tour, so if you didn't catch them in McPherson and want to do some traveling, the next closet date will be April 7 and 8 in Aurora, Colorado at the CHSAA Annual A Capella Festival.  Also check out their YouTube video's (especially The Chicken Song) and website: http://thevoiceplay.com/

   

The Good Dinosaur

      What would have happened to life on planet Earth if the meteor completely missed the earth and dinosaurs continued to rule the world?  The Good Dinosaur attempts to answer that question.

     Brontosaurus would become farmers; planting, tilling, watering, and harvesting their crops.  They'd build and live in barn like structures, raise their children, and live quiet peaceful lives.  No surprises there, brontosaurus were plant eaters, peaceful creatures that lived in groups. This is how the movie begins.  There's a little bit of a Flintstones twist to the story as the brontosaurus family adapt the environment to their needs.

     Stegosaurus makes an appearance in the movie as a frightful looking creature who does his best to camouflage himself and stay safe with the help of his friends who hang out on his many horns.  I'd always heard that stegosaurus was a fierce creature but not in this movie.  Stegosaurus introduces his friends to Arlo, the good dinosaur, and tells Arlo what they do to help him.  All except for Debbie, the redbird, who seems to have no purpose except to look pretty.  At one point she flies away and stegosaurus goes chasing after her.

     My favorite dinosaurs of the movie were the family of Tyrannosaurus Rex.  These dinosaurs were said to be fierce and dangerous.  And they were in the movie, too.  They were also a cowboy family running a herd of longhorns that appeared to be Wooly Mammoths.

     At this point the world has turned upside down.  Nothing is what it appears to be.  Then there is the boy named Spot, a quest to return home, what makes a family and how important it is to do what you think is right, to help a friend even when your scared, and to be a good dinosaur.

     Adults and children will enjoy this movie equally.  It's full of action and adventure.  This movie will hold your interest throughout the film.  There was only one place in the movie that I was a bit shocked by and that was when Arlo and Spot came across some berries on the ground that had fermented and there was some brief scenes of being on a psychedelic high.  The 6 year old that was with me didn't seem to pick up on it, but it shocked me that it was in a Disney film.

     If you need a family activity to do over the Christmas holidays, be sure to check this movie out.  It's great and will bring a tear to the eye of adults and children alike.

   

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

     The lights blinked three times and the crowd drifted from the concession area to their seats.  As the house lights went down, nine dapper gentlemen in vintage suits and hats, took to the stage.  Everyone held their breath, and then . . .it began.

     An explosion of music and sound that had everyone rocking in their seats.  The evening started off with the song: Rockabilly Christmas which was quickly turned into a medley of Christmas standards.  It included Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer played on saxophone, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and The Night Before Christmas. This wasn't your standard songs, BBVD put their own spin on all of them and worked their band name into the lyrics.

     Then we heard the entire song Santa Claus is Coming To Town, on the trumpet, which was amazing.  The amount of air that had to be produced to get such overwhelming sound to come out of that small brass instrument was phenomenal.  I wondered how the musician had the strength to walk back to his position on the stage after that performance.  Then we heard Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer in its entirety complete with bells. And it only got better from there, if that's possible.

     Walking into The Orpheum Theatre in Wichita is such a treat.  It's a lovely old theatre,  The neon sign out front is a wonderful welcome, along with the lobby and concession area, simply beautiful.  Once you enter the theatre it's clear this is a work in progress.  But what a great venue to see a class act like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in their vintage apparel rocking the stage. 

    

A Benefit for 1st Call For Help of Reno County

     Concert For The Cause held a benefit for 1st Call For Help of Reno County on Friday night at The Rusty Needle.  There was live music provided by Colton Gartleman, Sean Story and Morgan Wilk.  Throughout the night folks were encouraged to sign up for the many raffle items that were on display.

     Colton started out his set by singing a rousing rendition of Blue on Black.  This song got the crowds attention.  He followed up with Copperhead Road, Hurts So Good (which Gartleman put his own twist on both the lyrics and music, I loved it!), there was Old Time Rock and Roll, Keep On Rockin' In The Free World, and finally Last Dance with Mary Jane.  All in all Gartleman played an amazing set of 13 songs.  Incredible!

     Sean took to the stage next and started his set with Wonderwall, he also did his now infamous rendition of Creep as sung by Kermit The Frog (this was a requested song), and even managed to work in a Christmas song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Story sang en extensive set as well, of over 11 songs.

     Throughout the night the bucket was passed again and again for donations while the performers kept pumping up all the good the 1st Call does throughout the year for the Hutchinson community.  Folks continued buying chances to try and win a raffle item or two.  The crowd came and went all evening and the bar was nearly capacity all night.

    Morgan took to the stage and Sean accompanied her during her set on either mandolin or guitar.  Wilk sang some original songs as well as cover tunes.  She sang her original songs: Good Memories, My Own Pair of Wings, The Sunnyside (always a crowd favorite), and Kinda Like Mine (about a favorite nephew).  Then there were the cover tunes: Hard Candy Christman, Purple Rain, and Freedom Isn't Free.

      As the evening drew to a close, the bucket was passed one last time and then it was time to draw the names of the raffle winners.  Many merchants donated to the event to make the raffle possible.  Thank you's go out to Longs (sweat shirts), Stutzman's (poinsettias), Roy's Pit Barbecue (gift certificates), Sumo Creations (pen made out of beautiful stone), Hastings (gift certificates), Bornholdt Plant Land (hummingbird feeder and a planting kneeler), Outdoor Decor (pottery and yard art) and of course, the shining star of the evening, Westfahl Jewelers who donated a ruby bracelet.  Cindy M. won three times and took home that beautiful bracelet. 

      1st Call for Help of Reno County raised some much needed funds to finish out their year.  This show was the final show for the 2015 season for Concert For The Cause.  But CFTC will return next year with more concerts benefiting great Hutchinson charities.

CFTC-1st Call For Help

      This Friday, December 11, 7:00 to 11:00 pm, Concert For The Cause will host a benefit for 1st Call For Help at The Rusty Needle.  There will be performances by Morgan Wilk, Sean Story and Colton Gartleman, among others.  Also register for a chance to win a  variety of prizes which have been provided by Roy's Pit Barbecue, Bornholdt Plant Land, Longs, Westfahl Jewelers, Mikes, and Outdoor Decor.  What could be better than a night of great music and a chance to win terrific prizes, all while helping a local organization.

     1st Call For Help is a local organization that operates primarily on donations from the community, although they do receive a small amount of money from Reno County mill levy funds.  Right now the need is huge for this organization, a $19,000. grant that generally pays most of the operating capital and provides for the needs of those that the organization serves was not available this year.  So, it is more important than ever to raise money to keep the operation going in the year 2016.

     Over 450 families with emergency needs were helped this past year but with the tremendous cut in funding it is unclear how 1st Call will be able to continue to help the poorest of the poor in Reno County.  Over 175 elderly folks were helped this year with simple basic needs, such as soap, shampoo, personal care items, laundry detergent, etc.  These small things made a tremendous difference in their lives as they were unable to afford these basic healthcare items.  The back to school book bag program provided 1800 school bags for children attending school who could not afford to purchase school supplies.  1st Call also provides diapers, wipes, blankets, formula, and baby food for babies.  During the Christmas season the organization also provides gifts for Teen Christmas.

     The need has never been greater for babies, children, teens, families, the disabled, and the elderly.  Please join Concert For The Cause on Friday night at The Rusty Needle and help 1st Call For Help continue to help those in need by making a donation, enjoying some terrific live music, and registering for a chance to win great prizes.