Written by I’m not left handed.
Posts by
Review: Sight and Sound Theatre’s “Joseph”
It’s big, it’s bold, it’s loud, it’s intense.
In other words, it’s exactly what you would expect from a Sight and Sound Theatre show.
The Branson location of the Sight and Sound Theatre is showing the original production of “Joseph”…the guy with the technicolor coat. The story is true to the Biblical story of Joseph with a few things changed slightly to add to the dramatic tension of the work. READ MORE »
Book Review: Steven Furtick’s “Greater”
Honestly, at this moment, I wish I wasn’t obligated to write a review of this book.
I obtained a copy of this book through the Multinomah Books blogging for books program where they send bloggers books on the condition we write a review and post it on our websites. We don’t have to write glowing reviews. We just have to write them.
So here we go. READ MORE »
Review: Murder At The Hop
Ozark Murder Mysteries has moved to the Branson Central Theatre and have a new show called “Murder At The Hop.” The new venue seems to be doing good for the troupe as this is the best show they’ve brought to date. READ MORE »
Review: The Finalists Live!
Even Simon Cowell would have been impressed with The Finalists Live! at the Andy Williams Theatre.
If you’re not familiar with the name of the show, former American Idol finalists are in Branson performing what amounts to “mini-concerts” of songs. Each Idol is in the opening and closing of the show and they each have a small set of individual songs.
Instead of a typical overview review, I’m going to take each segment piece by piece.
The show begins with the only “headline” performer to not have been on American Idol: Pete Peterkin.
Pete came from one of the other 1,487 reality TV talent shows, America’s Got Talent. His big schtick was an impersonation of President Obama. As you can imagine, that impression wasn’t a big hit in Branson but Pete did a good job with it. (Some folks really need to lighten up a bit…it’s a comedy routine!)
Pete whipped out a range of other impressions that went over better with the audience like Chuck Berry including playing guitar like Chuck. Pete had better chops that I expected from an impressionist. Someone clearly went the extra mile prepping for that one.
And as for the impression many of us expected?
He nailed it.
Well, he moonwalked it.
Considering he had a bit of a disadvantage coming in because he wasn’t an “American Idol” Peterkin represented himself very well. There were times he seemed a little nervous on stage when he was bantering with the audience but overall a solid job.
Then the Idols roared out. READ MORE »
Album Review: Rush – “Clockwork Angels”
When I write reviews, I often try to find things to say that could improve because if you’re too glowing people tend to dismiss the review.
I tell you that so you understand my next statement isn’t easily written.
Clockwork Angels is Rush’s best album since their breakthrough 1980 masterpiece Moving Pictures.
It’s that good.
Anyone who’s known me for any length of time knows I’m a hard core Rush fan. Yet every album always seemed to have at least one track that seemed weaker than average for the band. Yes, I set the bar high but the band sets a high bar themselves. I would listen to the album and when the song was done have a feeling of “eh, it’s ok.”
That didn’t happen with Clockwork Angels.
I think the song flow and connection came from Neil Peart’s desire to tell a story through the album. (He’s co-written a book called Clockwork Angels.) That linear motion through the album provides a focus that can sometimes fade when it’s an album of unconnected songs. Lyrically, Peart provides us with a higher level of thought than on Snakes & Arrows and Vapor Trails.
Musically, there is a serious return to the feel of earlier Rush work. A lot of this can be attributed to producer Nick Raskulinecz. A die-hard Rush fan, he knew the way the band’s hard core fans expected Geddy, Alex and Neil to push themselves but keep a familiar sound. Raskulinecz could be the band’s new Terry Brown…a producer who can bring the band to a new level. Raskulinecz’s insistence the band do what they wanted to do and not focus on making each song 3 1/2 minutes led to a fusion of classic Rush tracks of the 70s with the best musicianship to date.
Yet the album has many strong hooks like you’d find in a three and a half minute single. ”Headlong Flight”, “Wish Them Well”…those songs would fit into any album oriented rock station’s playlist.
There’s also a feeling to the record that seemed missing on all the work since the band’s hiatus in the 90s…a joy to the music. There seems to be almost a peace you can feel running through the band’s work. This record is the heart of Geddy, Alex and Neil coming out in ways we haven’t heard in decades.
And while I don’t want to see them call it quits any time soon…if Clockwork Angels is going to be their swan song…I don’t think they could go out any better. If there’s a 21st studio album coming from these guys, they set the bar impossibly high.
Pea Ridge (Arkansas) National Battlefield June 2, 2012
I took a trip to the Pea Ridge National Battlefield in Arkansas to scout it out for the boys. As long time readers know, Dale loves going to Civil War battle sites and his daddy loves taking him. 
(I’ll encourage a love of history all I can!)
I snapped pictures throughout my surprisingly tough 7 mile hike. I can’t imagine walking this battlefield with people shooting at me like the soldiers who fought and died there.
With the pictures below, you can right click and open them in a new window to see the photo at twice the size.
2012 Circle B Show in Branson
A new venue, a revitalized cast and the return of the “classic lineup” has brought the Circle B show to the pinnacle of the cowboy shows in Branson.
The biggest change in the Circle B Cowboy show this year is the new venue. They’ve moved to Branson Central next to the Acrobats of China theatre. The venue is much more suited for the show, bigger, more open…and it leaves you with the feeling of being at an old fashioned barn dance when you’re listening to the Riders of the Circle B do their thing. READ MORE »
Dale turns 11
It’s not actually Dale’s birthday…but he’ll be with his mom on his actual birthday this year so this was his “birthday weekend.”
The first thing he wanted to do was play football. So…we went over to Missouri State where he and Eli had a good brotherly battle. E, of course, couldn’t let Dale win and beat him by one point. READ MORE »
Jim Bakker Show: One Day Behind The Cameras Conclusion
The whole time I sat watching the taping and work ran about two hours.
They had three places where they had to stop the taping and re-set because of a camera glitch.
So out of that two hours, how long do you think Jim spent pitching the food products and talking about giving to the ministry?
READ MORE »
