8A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
MONDAY.APRIL 28.2003
Local bands compete in KJHK-sponsored Farmer's Ball
By Lauren Biristow
bristow@kansan.com
Kansas state warrior
Eric Braun/Kansas
Four bands battled it out Satur day night amidst bubbles, smoke blue Christmas lights and fishine stockings for the title of champion of KJHK's Farmer's Ball.
One local band — Kelpie came out the winner.
"I'm really flattered," said John Momberg, Kelpie drummer and Lawrence resident. "Any band that got this far deserved it just as much as we did."
The members of Kelpie Momberg; Casey Burge, Shawnee resident; and Nate Harold, Weskan senior received 10 hours of recording time at Blacklodge Studios in Eudora, rather than the traditional opening stage at Day on the Hill, a music concert sponsored by Student Union Activities.
New arrangements had to be made because Day on the Hill was canceled this year.
"Most of the band members seem pretty pleased with the new prize," said Meredith Vacek. Lawrence junior and KJHK station manager. "The recording time is worth about $500, if not more."
After the four bands' performances, Vacek and other KJHK staff members appeared onstage to measure the audience vote by
loudest anplause. Kelpie and the runner-up, Vibralux, received almost equal response and staff members unofficially declared Kelpie as the winner of the audience vote.
The audience's decision was worth 25 percent. Judges then went upstairs at The Bottleneck, 727 New Hampshire St., to cast their vote for their favorite.
Eight people from area news
papers, music Websites, SUA and the Lawrence music community served as judges. In the past, staff members from KJHK selected the winners.
"I think this year, it is a more
democratic and fair voting process." Vacek said. "In the past, staff members have voted for their friends' bands and it just didn't seem fair."
While judges decided the winner, fans waited for the decision and discussed positive qualities of their favorite band.
"I saw Vibralux perform on Wednesday night and I really liked them," said Jennie Jackson, Baldwin City graduate student. "Their show was basically the same thing as on Wednesday, but it is really entertaining."
Vibralux band members appeared onstage dressed in drag, including fishnet stockings, mini skirts and full make-up.
"We're dressed in drag because we represent hermaphrodite space creatures," said Mercury, the band's lead singer and guitarist.
After the announcement was made, band members loaded equipment into their vehicles and most left to go to parties for the bands.
Edited by Ryan Wood
Momberg said he was ready to begin work in the studio.
"We are much, much more appreciative of the studio time," Momberg said. "We need the time to work on some new recordings and we definitely need the experience."
KJHK received more than 50 entries this year and selected 10 bands to participate in two preliminary rounds; four bands continued on to the finals. Finalists were: (blue) Hearts to Waste, Kelpie and Vibralux.
John Nowak/Kansar
Facilities Operations worker Jack Bame surveys the new steam whistle afop the KU Power Plant. The new whistle was built and delivered by Aaron Richardson of Cincinnati Friday afternoon. The old whistle, "Big Tooter," is on display in the Kansas Union.
Whistle
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
whistle committee that finally decided on the George M. Verity whistle.
The George M. Verity was a stern twitch wowtow that pushed barges up and down the Mississippi river, said Aaron Richardson, builder of the new whistle.
The original whistle is on display in the George M. Verity Riverboat Museum in Keokuk, Iowa.
"You know how sometimes you walk by the whistle and it scares the hell out of you?" Cone said.
"When it chimes and finishes it has the prettiest echo. I can close my eyes and picture it now."
"Authoritative." That's how Richardson, builder of the new whistle would describe it. Richardson is the production supervisor of Richardson's Landing, a small, family-owned business.
The replica is made out of bronze and steel and weighs 270 pounds. It has four whistles that create a single note that will last seven seconds.
Richardson said that if regular maintenance was done on the whistle it should last another 30 years.
"It's the biggest type of whistle he's done," said Renee Richardson, his wife. "It's a big deal to see up there knowing that it's his and it's going to be around for a while."
After testing the whistle 1 times to adjust the pitch, Richardson said he was a little frustrated.
"I wish it had sounded right the first time," Richardson said.
Derek Breid, Oronoco, Minn,
sophomore, heard the first blow
of the new whistle.
He said he was started when it went off, but was glad it was back
"It will be a lot easier to figure out how late I am to class," Breid said.
Aralee Patton, Emporia sophomore, didn't think she'd be walking in front of the whistle when it went off.
"It seared me," Patton said. "It sounds good, though. It will be nice because teachers will know when to let us out."
Neal Lintecum and his wife, Julie, pledged the money to cover the manufacturing and installation of a new whistle in honor of Neal's late father, Dean.
"He dedicated it to his father." Cone said, "whose funeral was the same day the whistle died."
Edited by Christy Dendurent
Drag Show
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
Queers and Allies collected more than $500 during the hour performance; said director Patrick Ross.
"It exceeded my expectations," he said. "I thought the people weren't going to come, but it went great."
Keith Redmond, Kansas City,
Kan., junior performed three songs as Valerie Dolls. He said anyone who missed it this year shouldn't miss it next year.
"It's a raw cultural experience," he said. "It represents understanding and acceptance. We're doing it because we love it, and we had a blog."
Lindsev Gold/Kansar
Edited by Julie Jantzer
Ebony O. Varice preforms for the crowd at the Hawk's Nest Friday afternoon at the 10th Annual Brown Bag Drag Show.
"Valerie Dolls," aka Keith Redmond, Kansas City, Kan., junior (center) finishes one of three songs at the 10th Annual Brown Bag Drag Show. The University's Queers and Allies put on the event Friday at the Hawk's Nest and accepted donations for the performance.
Eric Braem/Kansan
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