Dutch Newman @ The Bottleneck Dec. 28
Deriving his name from a 1930s song writer, Dutch Newman is guaranteed to bring classic lyricism. Newman’s resume includes working with local greats such as Tech N9ne and Stik Figa and opening for hip-hop classic Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He is a local favorite and is largely respected amongst many other musicians.
His most recent project, The Lonely Hearts Club, featuring local vocalist Johny Quest, recently released its sophomore studio EP entitled “Skinny Jeans for Fat People.” The EP contains 10 tracks set to provoke, inspire and entertain. The EP is a wild adventure through the passions and pitfalls of the young MC laced with lush melodies provided by Johnny Quest.
Whether he is wrecking an open mic session or free-styling outside of The Granada, Dutch Newman continues to be one of the the hungriest Kansas City MCs. He strives to please his audience with real music while also telling a story. His work ethic and talent continue to bring Newman closer to fame while still producing pleasing music.
Tickets are $3 and are available at The Bottleneck. Having seen Dutch Newman live, I can guarantee that he is loads of fun to watch. Often times he runs offstage into the audience, enhancing the already captivating music being performed. This concert is sure to impress any hip-hop-head exploring local talent.
Quiet Corral @ The Bottleneck Jan. 21
With haunting harmonies and smooth sounds, Lawrence’s Quiet Corral continues to establish itself as one of this city’s top musical acts. Quiet Corral is comprised of six Lawrence residents — two of whom are Isaac Flynn and Matt Green who were previously in punk-pop group Lawrence Letterday. Quiet Corral combines both indie-pop and folk elements, greatly departing from Flynn and Green’s pervious musical project. With four-part harmonies, electric and acoustic guitars and intricate percussive beats, Quiet Corral creates a new listening experience for their audience.
Quiet Corral released their first self-titled studio EP in November 2010 and has continued to please fans with its dusty Americana feel. The EP starts with an instrumental track composed purely of a guitar harmony. The intro sets the mood for the vocal singalong to ensue. Many of the tracks would fit perfectly into the scheme of radio music containing delicate instrumentals intertwined with dense vocals. Many elements in Quiet Corral are reminiscent of greats such as U2 and recent music phenomena Foster The People.
Quiet Corral has the talent to become a remarkably popular musical number. The six-person ensemble gives the band much versatility to throw together songs using their varying musical tastes. This allows them not be tethered to a single style of music.
The high energy produced by Quiet Corral sets the cornerstone for what will unfold to be a fun concert experience. Audience members will be kept on their toes by Quiet Corral’s layered sound and exciting, lush vocals. Concert goers will be satisfied with a mix between smooth, melodic songs and upbeat, fast tunes. Ticket prices are unavailable at this time but tickets will be sold at The Bottleneck.
Take Shelter @ Liberty Hall Coming Soon
Scoring an outstanding 92 percent on movie review website Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomato Meter and an 8/10 on IMDb, “Take Shelter” is a movie greatly enjoyed by esteemed critics and movie connoisseurs alike. What may seem like just another “indie” film is becoming more and more critically acclaimed with its heartfelt message and dynamic acting delivered by a modest cast.
When a farmer from Ohio by the name of Curtis LaForche, played by Michael Shannon, begins to receive apocalyptic visions, he chooses not to tell his family but to instead build a bomb shelter. This strange behavior begins to break the bonds he had with his family. In his solitude, he begins to fear the possible reality of his dreams. As the visions continue, LaForche has to determine whether to shield his family from his visions or from himself.
“Michael Shannon gives a powerhouse performance and the purposefully subtle film-making creates a perfect blend of drama, terror, and dread,” Rotten Tomatoes says. Tom Long from the Detroit News describes “Take Shelter” as “the best drama of the year so far.” Many top critics agree that “Take Shelter” is a must-see.
Although Liberty Hall has not released the dates that this film will be showing, I would not let that deter you from keeping your eyes peeled for this film. Any movie fan will be moved by the heart-touching performances of this cast.