12 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18,2003
MUSIC
Danger Bob re-reunites for show Saturday
Zach Straus/Kansan
Members of the band Danger Bob, Kenny Gall, Jason Lovell, Karl Michelbach and Andy Morton, try to point rock and roll in the right direction. Their reunion show is June 21 at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
By Amy Kelly akelle@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Danger Bob may have enjoyed its pinnacle of success in the mid-'90s, but younger music fans have a chance this weekend to hear the band croon about eternal truths such as the dangers of flashing your lights at passing cars and the melodrama of MTV's The Real World.
Two years have passed since the poppunk band with a taste for sarcasm played together, but Danger Bob will reunite this Saturday at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire.
Despite charming crowds over its seven-year run with songs like "The Hook," "Real World Me" and "Jesus Christo," Danger Bob was snubbed by major labels like Maverick, now home to Madonna.
"They said that they were afraid of our songs' subjects and that the catchiest ones were probably too offensive for radio," guitarist Andy Morton said. "I thought that was funny coming out of the mouth of someone from Madonna's label."
With the hopes of signing a record deal decreasing, bassist Jason Lovell said the band knew the 1999 record Girls of the Big 12 would be its last.
"We were playing the same songs over and over again," Lovell said. "We weren't conquering new territory."
The band members now work day jobs in insurance accounting and freelance photography, but fans haven't forgotten them.
"There's just something strange about our fan base," Morton said. "They were intense. I know someone who is flying up from Illinois to see this show."
Lovell said he had not heard any bands in Lawrence recently that ventured into the strange dimensions Danger Bob dwelled in.
"I wouldn't think there's anybody around that did something stupid like we did," Lovell said. "We put out double cassettes, a Christmas album and books."
Jessica Julich, Raytown, Mo., senior said her first concert in Lawrence was a
"When I think back to Danger Bob shows, I chuckle," Julich said. "Those guys were just a lot of fun. I even bought a pink Danger Bob lighter."
Danger Bob show.
Audiences revisited the wackiness two years ago with Danger Bob at the band's first reunion. The performance went so well that Morton had a hard time convincing vocalist Karl Michelbach to participate in the upcoming gigs.
"I said to Karl, I'm coming down to Kansas City, I'm taking you out, I'm getting you drunk and at the end of the night
you will give in," Morton said. "I think he was already drunk when I got there, so it wasn't the best tactic for him to use — I had him within a half hour."
Although drummer Kenny Gall lives in Austin, Texas, he accepted the musical proposition. But in order for him to rejoin the band full-time, Gall said Lawrence needed to resuscitate the local music show from the old days of 105.9 The Lazer.
"We had an audience anywhere in the Lazer listening area — Topeka, Emporia Kansas City," Gall said. "It wouldn't be like that anymore. The infrastructure for supporting our band and a lot of other bands is gone."
Danger Bob will spill out some old classics along with new tunes. Crowds can expect a mystery special guest on the bill along with a range of memorabilia on sale at the concert. The band's memoir, Increididumb: From Wannabes to Has Beens
The Danger Bob Story, will also be sold the night of the show.
The band will also play a show on Friday at Kansas City, Mo.'s, Hurricane located in Westport at 4048 Broadway. Tickets will be available at the door for both events.
Even though Danger Bob is no more, Morton said that the fans' unrelenting enthusiasm still awed him.
"It's kind of humbling," Morton said. "It's amazing that people are that dedicated to local bands. I hope that other local bands have a fan base like that."
—Edited by Richard Gintowt
BUSINESS
Best Buy opening draws crowd, local attention
By Richard Gintowt
rgintowt@ku.edu
Kansan staff writer
Best Buy's opening on Friday the 13th brought no bad luck to the electronics superstore, but local retailers are waiting to see if they can say the same.
More than 12,000 customers shuffled through the doors of the new 30,000 square-foot store at 31st and Iowa Streets during its grand opening weekend. Meanwhile, local retailers hope consumers don't forget about them.
"We're hoping they don't put too big of a dent in us," said Torry Crass, service manager of Hometown Service and Upgrades.
located just a few blocks from Best Buy at 2540 Iowa St. in the Tower Plaza.
Crass said the store, which specializes in custom-built computers and repairs, would probably take its biggest hit in computer parts sales, but would remain competitive by offering personalized customer service.
John Kiefer, owner of Kief's Audio/Video at 2429 Iowa St., said he welcomed the addition of a Best Buy to Lawrence because it would give his customers an opportunity to comparison shop.
"We have a lot of repeat customers who come to us because we're a small local business," Crass said.
"A lot of people shop at chain stores
because they think buying bulk equates to discounts, but it's not true," Keifer said. "Our challenge is to make sure they get a look at us to compare instead of blindly buying from Best Buy."
Keifer said the businesses most likely to lose sales were ones that carried similar products, such as Radio Shack, Target and Wal-Mart.
Ed Mullins, city finance director, said it would be difficult to tell whether Best Buy would bring Lawrence more tax dollars.
"Some of those dollars would have come from other stores in the community." Mullins said.
Erin MacMillan, Best Buy spokeswoman, said Lawrence was a good location because it was a high traffic area with a limited number of electronics retailers.
One shopper that didn't make it to Best Buy's grand opening is Mike Russell, assistant manager of the IHOP restaurant across the street. Russell had to work all weekend.
"I've been dying to get over there and check it out," he said. "I'm a big electronics fan and that's going to be my favorite spot now."
The newly opened Best Buy will employ 130 full- and part-time workers.
Best Buy has 550 stores in 48 states and plans to open 60 new locations this year.
—Edited by Ehren Meditz