JagWire reviews local arts

Not A Planet: “The Few, the Proud, the Strange”

Not A Planet’s first album title, “The Few, The Proud, The Strange,” might as well refer to itself. The band is made up of few members — a trio that met in Kansas City in 2010. Proudly, it tours the nation to perform their music. And the strange? Well, its music might not be bizarre, but it is also not Top 40 either. Not A Planet experiments with indie rock trends, combined with storytelling lyrics.

Guitarist Nathan Corsi’s bluesy rock guitar riffs are what take Not A Planet from interesting local band to binge-listen worthy. Acoustic-based songs like “Girl Comes Down” provide a sharp contrast to the rest of the album.

Outside of just guitar work, Not A Planet also tries different musical techniques throughout the album.  This kind of variation is great to see on an indie rock band’s first album, when so many end up with identical-sounding tracks. The final song, “I’ve Got a Secret,” even starts with an organ and the sounds of a crowd.

Music aside, the band has a great Kansas City origins story — the original members actually met because one helped run the local bands segment on radio station 96.5 The Buzz. Becoming a local band after meeting over a radio station’s local bands segment might be the ultimate homegrown story.

Jeremy Osbern: “AIR: The Musical”

Shot and produced entirely in Kansas, “AIR: The Musical” is a great example of the kind of film that can come out of the Sunflower State. The film centers around three separate love stories in a unique romantic comedy musical.

The movie was made mostly in Lawrence, but many of its scenes were shot in other cities like Kansas City and Topeka.

Although it suffers from some subpar acting and lower production quality, “AIR: The Musical” tells a story with lots of heart. The variety of music itself makes for some very interesting scenes.  The independently produced movie makes up for its issues by telling us a great story. “AIR: The Musical” is available to buy or rent on Amazon or Google Play instantly. The DVD is available on Amazon.

Stephen Roth: “A Plot for Pridemore”

In his debut novel, “A Plot for Pridemore,” Kansas City-native Stephen Roth tells the story of a small Missouri town’s last attempt at staying relevant.

In the novel, Roth manages to do something few writers can — he creates a storyline that is both character and plot driven. Each chapter focuses on a different Pridemore resident, with his or her own quirks and qualities. As the mayor’s plan progresses, “A Plot for Pridemore” also becomes quite the page turner.

Roth creates an amazing sense of place, putting many small-town characteristics together to form Pridemore. A few Kansas City references add to the reading experience for someone from the city.

Regardless of where you’re from, “A Plot for Pridemore” will make a great reading experience.