American Idol Keeps Us In Idle

By Jimmy “Hambone” Hamilton 

This is definitely not the story I intended to write. I had the other one more or less worked out in my head. Marcus Words our friend and favorite contestant would come bounding from the audition room, golden ticket in hand. High fives all around. Then we’d adjourn to the nearest watering hole for some frosty beverages while Marcus gave us his perceptions on Simon, Randy, Paula, and the whole operation. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it went down.  For those just joining, let’s back up a bit. I wrote a story a few issues back about Hammerjacks, one of our favorite downtown spots for music and libation. I mentioned the talented Mr. Words who plays there Thursday nights and suggested he would do great on American Idol. For the next few weeks people kept telling him he should go to the

Kansas City auditions, and he finally agreed. Since it was our idea, we wanted to sort of baby sit the story. There is another print outlet in town who seemed only too happy to glom on to anything we do here in The Regular Joe. We offered to drive Marcus to the audition. Give you readers the inside story of the whole process. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, August 22nd, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Marcus Goes To Hollywood!

By Jimmy “Hambone”

Hamilton

 

As you may have read in these pages previously, we think a lot of the talents of Marcus Words, local singer/songwriter/guitarist, and all around good dude. In a recent Joe column I suggested he would be perfect for American Idol. Ever since the issue came out, people keep asking him if he’s going to do it. He told me he’d have to think about it. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Full Power Pulls the Plug

 By Will StuckOn Saturday August 2nd area fans of heavy metal and hard rock will lose a band that has been raising the decibel level of

St. Joseph for over 20 years, Full Power. The line-up has changed little since the band’s inception, a remarkable feat for any group that has been around for two decades. The current members are Todd Cooper on lead vocals/guitar, Dave Matt/lead guitar, Ryan Arn/bass guitar and Bill Blizzard/Drums. The band has played almost every venue for live music in town; bars, all-ages clubs, rental halls, park shelters and the bowl at

Krug

Park. Full Power also played shows all over the mid-west and on a few occasions opened for nationally touring metal bands like Overkill and Prong. They have released two independent CD’s; Counterclockwise & One of Many, All the Same. To show you exactly how long they have been around they even had an independent release on cassette, Pictures From the Mind’s Eye. Even with all of these accomplishments the guys of Full Power have given another major contribution to this city, whether they know it or not, inspiration. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, July 25th, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

For Local Musician Dave Sisk, The Road Finally Led Back Home.

By Jimmy “Hambone”

Hamilton

As I’ve gotten to know my neighbor Dave Sisk, I’ve picked up pieces now and again that let me know there is more there than meets the eye. I’d see him come home from work at Moffet’s Nursery often with a little dirt on the knees of his jeans; occupational hazard for someone who does landscaping design as a certified horticulturalist.

Not long after I moved in next door, I observed him backing his truck up to a big trailer in his side yard. “Band’s playing tonight!” he said. I assumed maybe he had a little garage band or something. I watched as he orderly loaded the van with equipment far beyond what you would see from a local band: amplifiers, mixing boards, speakers and lights. I wondered just what he was into but didn’t pursue it at the time. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, July 10th, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | 1 comment

Hamerjacks Beats Jackhammers Hands Down!

By Jimmy “Hambone”

Hamilton

I’d been trying to get into Hammerjacks for the last couple of weeks. I’d get within a block of the place, at 512 Felix, but couldn’t seem to get any closer. Torn up streets and orange plastic fencing were keeping me from my destination. I’m sure the Downtown streetscape stuff will be nice when it’s finished, but in the meantime its’ dirty and totally disruptive to the businesses that count on foot traffic.

I finally maneuvered a winding path through the detritus and made it inside. It was a lot bigger inside than I expected. Chad Van was behind the bar and opened me a cold one with a combination hammer/bottle opener, as we discussed the new venture (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

10th Anniversary of Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival

by Jay Kerner

 

I love start ups. I love the brainstorming, filling legal pads with notes, the conception of the idea when it’s still all pure and beautiful and reality hasn’t wiped its muddy feet all over it yet. The truth, as anybody who has stuck their neck out and tried things knows, is that starting anything that lasts is hard. Our hats are way off to the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Society as they hit their 10 year anniversary and unveil the new statue of St. Joe’s own Jazz Pioneer. This year’s festival will be held Friday and Saturday June 20th & 21st.

 

Do we like festivals around here or what? The cool thing about this annual event is that it’s a mellow vibe that’s just perfect to mingle around in. See old friends. Have a beer outside in the park on a sunny summer afternoon or evening. Bring some lawn chairs and sit down front. Bring a blanket and pick a shady spot on the bank. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Saturday, June 14th, 2008
Filed under: Jay Kerner, Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Interview with Justin Townes Earle

By Danny R. Phillips

 

Standing in the shadow of a legendary father can be hard if not impossible, just ask Julian Lennon. However, Justin Townes Earle, son of outlaw country hero Steve Earle, seems to be pulling it off. The young Mr. Earle’s latest release, The Good Life, is unlike the so-called country that is dominating the charts. At 26, Justin is a throwback to the days of honky-tonks, heart on your sleeve songwriting and living on the road. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

FORTH YEER FRESHMAN RETURNS TO ST. JOE FOR THE BEST NIGHT YOU’LL NEVER REMEMBER!

FORTH YEER FRESHMAN Returns to St. Joe 

Who: FORTH YEER FRESHMANWhat: Performing 1 night of nasty rock n’ rollWhere: The Rendezvous 619 Felix St, St Joseph, MO When: Saturday May 24th @ 9:00 PM The Rendezvous of St. Joe is proud to present a performance by tavern rock legends, FORTH YEER FRESHMAN on Saturday May 24th 2008.Denver’s own Rock n’ Roll juggernauts FORTH YEER FRESHMAN have been kickin’ out the bad jams with their current line up since 2004. The last four years of insanity have culminated in their epic new release – ROCK YOUR BOX. FORTH YEER FRESHMAN’s eclectic musical palette is skillfully executed on this latest effort. Their infamous sense of humor has only become more potent with ROCK YOUR BOX and its eleven adrenaline fueled, sexually deviant tracks.The bands critically acclaimed live show is an undeniable favorite amongst dive bar regulars and rock elitists alike. Their commanding presence on stage truly must be witnessed in person. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Magoon’s Lets Me Have It!

By Jimmy “Hambone” Hamilton 

I did something last week that I’d been meaning to do for sometime; I stopped in for a beer at Magoon’s Famous Delicatessen. The business which originally opened across the street in 1918 by namesake Ben Magoon, moved to its permanent home at 632 South 8th in 1925. Present owners Barry and Marjorie Woodhull purchased the place in 2004 and worked on it for two and a half years before it re-opened in 2006, serving the same type of deli sandwiches that made it a Joetown landmark in its heyday, and also serving up some of the best live music in town. 

I walked through the door last week, and basically entered a time capsule. The red vinyl booths, the linoleum floor, the vintage meat cases, and the walls, covered with beer bottles and signs from another era. Wow, is it 1967 in here or 1947? (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Rainmakers Frontman at First-Ward, Rain or Shine.

 

by Jimmy “Hambone”

Hamilton

Six months ago, if you had told me Bob Walkenhorst, writer and lead singer of The Rainmakers would be calling me on my cell phone, I’d have accused you of being over-served. But danged if it didn’t happen just the other day.

I got an email telling me that Bob and his friend Jeff Porter will be playing an acoustic show at the First Ward Tavern, on Saturday March 29th, beginning at 9pm. They were nice enough to include Bob’s personal cell phone number, in case I wanted to interview him. Is my job cool or what?

So before I called, I thought it prudent to get a little online update. I always dug the band when they were getting radio play around here in the 80s. I even spent some hard earned dollars to buy a couple of their albums. (Ok, it was cassette tapes). But I lost touch with them in the 90s and was excited for the opportunity to catch up. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, March 21st, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Next Page »