KC Confidential.com

Looking for an excuse to kill some quality time in the burbs?

One option:  AMC Theatres Fork & Screen concept that opened last year at its Olathe 30 movieplex. Twelve theatres provide table-side service, and a fairly sizeable food and drink menu - all reasonably overpriced, of course.

On Saturday I made my first trip to the far distant southern Johnson County destination to find out what these $20 tickets are really be worth. Woody Harrelson’s new triumph, Zombieland, provided the impetus for a halfway reasonable weekend excursion.

Entering the Fork & Screen wing, a brave, new atmosphere greeted us.  The bar area, MacGuffins – named after the literary device that pulls in audience members without being particularly relevant to the growing plot – presented a surprisingly sophisticated atmosphere.

This wing of the theatre is pleasantly free of squealing teenagers bumping around and throwing popcorn.  The entire area is open only to 18+. Far removed from the main theatre, the Fork & Screen wing actually does provide a sense of atmosphere. Continue reading

Girls really do dig boys who look like girls.  

I didn’t have the highest of hopes for She Wants Revenge, the headliner at Saturday’s show at the Bottleneck in Lawrence.  The duo had a smattering of radio hits following their 2006 album. But nothing notable from their neck of the woods lately.

Since then, they’ve been released from their label, Interscope, which is rather a problem for a studio band that just doesn’t tour that well.

Lead singer Justin Warfield (you might remember him from One Inch Punch; I didn’t) stood at the front of the stage, virtually motionless for the duration of their set.  He may have been the only person less excited to be there than I was.   Continue reading

I lost my virginity in a dirty basement apartment during senior year of college…

Admittedly, not a very interesting story, so I’ll spare you the details to protect the, um, innocent. My hope was that seeing the play My First Time (now through October 18th at the Unicorn Theatre) would prove to be more interesting than my story.  However, I was sorely disappointed.

The adage about sex selling seems to fall short when the sex isn’t interesting, moving or…sexy.  My First Time was none of these.

To begin with – I get that not only pretty people have sex.  Plenty of fat, pocked, unkempt slobs are fucking right now, while I’m writing this.  Really – I get that. But I’d rather not be forced to hear about it, and particularly don’t need to see it pantomimed in front of my face; I just don’t care for the image of my father’s doppleganger taking it from behind at a skeezy bar in the Bronx.   Continue reading

Opening act Susanna Lee, aka Lucky Deluxe on the Kansas City burlesque circuit, mounted the stage Saturday at Stanford & Sons at the Legends in KCK in a black, skin-tight, high-waisted skirt and blue jewel-tone top, showcasing tattoo-ridden cleavage and body piercings.  Flaunting a non-traditional style, insisting she was unlike typical female counterparts, she assailed the largely male audience with, “My ovaries hang so low I could tea bag you with them.”  Between self-deprecating assertions and bashing men’s come-on lines (what female comic really can avoid that topic?) she quipped, “Fuck me like I’m your last food stamp.”
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Walking in late to the indie rock tour sponsored by internet gossip celebrity Perez Hilton Wednesday at the Beaumont Club in Westport was the biggest favor I could have done myself.

That’s because I missed Semi Precious Weapons’ opening strip-tease. Sources say it included a total onstage wardrobe change by lead singer Justin Tranter, followed by a faux blow job administered by an apparently willing young lady who stood up to service her provocative idol at the front of the stage.

Even at the break, when I came in, there was no relief to be found. Continue reading

Not many have what it takes to run a successful music venue and tour nationwide with a band. The men of Roman Numerals have figured out how to do it, and do it well.

Two of its founding members, Steve Tulipana and Shawn Sherrill, opened the Record Bar in the summer of 2005, concurrent with recording their self-titled debut album out of state (later released in 2006).  In the four years since its inception, the Record Bar has become a destination spot for those seeking underground rock, guitar-picking bluegrass, and even rock & roll for toddlers (that’s right, the Doo Dads bring in a crowd of 2-5 year olds about twice a month).  Early shows, lunches, and even a Sunday brunch provide a savory menu of build-your-own pizzas, pastas, and wraps, and Sunday afternoon biscuits & gravy to die for – or at least – salivate over. Continue reading