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ARTS & CULTURE | KANSAN.COM
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015
11B
Liberty Hall embraces history to break from norm
JARRET ROGERS
@jerogers
In Lawrence's art house, Liberty Hall, there might be only two inescapable facts: It's old, and it's got a whole lot of history for you to see hear and feel
for you to see, hear and see
A movie theater, concert venue,
video store and coffee shop in one building, Liberty Hall offers a unique experience for those who walk in.
Liberty Hall was built on ground that was first occupied in the 1850s by The Herald Freedom, Kansas' first abolitionist newspaper. The current building was constructed in 1912 by the politician J.D. Bowersock. Since then, it has been used as theaters and nightclubs until 1986 when it became Liberty Hall.
For bands that come through the venue, it can be a change of pace after streaks of playing in more contemporary rooms. In some other venues, you'll find nothing more than a main floor with a bar. At Liberty Hall there's far more than just a place to perform.
"The interior of building and the layout, I think, is really intriguing to people. There's something about the facility that makes people want to ask
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
questions and want to know more," said Dean Edington, Liberty Hall's general manager. "A lot of bands are playing more modern facilities. They're playing places that, for lack of a better term, don't have as much character."
Liberty Hall's video store includes VHS tapes for rental.
Dean Edington is the general manager of the Liberty Hall theatre in downtown Lawrence
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN in downtown lawrence
The dim lighting from the vintage chandeliers in the foyer hint at the theater's earlier days. Inside the two movie rooms are rows of velvet seats, wooden banners and the theater's original architecture highlighted by murals painted on the ceilings.
Because it's a multifaceted building, management limits the concert schedule, prioritizing films. As a result, the theater cultivates a schedule that the managers believe brings in the best talents possible.
"Liberty Hall is never going to be that place where you can go see a concert every night of the week," Edington said. "But it will always be that place where the highest caliber of talent is going to come to play."
Liberty Hall typically 'shows the latest indie films in both the main theater and little theater. On weekends, classic films frequent the projectors. Curators at the theater want the experience at Liberty Hall to be as close as possible to the first time the film was screened. There are no gimmicks, sing-alongs or quote-alongs — just a classic movie in a classic theater.
"If you want to hear the entire theater talking during the movie, there are plenty of places to go do that," Edington said. "If you want to go see something like you're actually seeing it in the theater for the first time, this is your spot."
rents out not only Blu-Rays and DVDs, but VHS tapes as well. Movie titles range from "The Avengers" to Criterion collection films for the local cinephiles.
Liberty Hall's offerings go beyond the confines of its theaters. There's also a video store inside the attached building to the right of the theater that
The adjoining coffee shop, La Prima Tazza, is perfect for those hankering for a cup of local coffee, tea or pastries.
"It's cool to be working in such a multifaceted place," said Spencer Brown, who has been an employee for the last two years. "We have a diverse range of regulars and it's a lot
of fun to be making coffee one day and talking movies with someone the next"
Edington said he and his staff care for the historic building because the theater is a cultural cornerstone within the community.
"There is literally something here for everyone," Edington said. "We are an inclusive place for all people."
- Edited by Leah Sitz
ALEX ROBINSON/KANSAN
Nick Fredrickson, Garrett Marsh and John McCain are members of Real Adults, a band that formed two months ago in Lawrence. Not pictured is the keyboardist, Eric Davis.
A chain of musical connections links 'Real Adults'
RYAN WRIGHT
@ryanwayneright
Lawrence is seemingly the mecca of Kansas music. Many artists come from all over the state to collaborate and perform with other musicians. In the middle of this melting pot is Real Adults.
Real Adults is a local band that formed two months ago in Lawrence, but contains members from several different cities in Kansas. The singer-songwriter Garrett Marsh, 20, grew up in Chanute and started writing music out of boredom.
"Being a musician from a small town, I had little to noone to play music with," Marsh said. "This caused me to write all of my music alone, thus forcing me to focus more on an individual sound, rather than building with anyone else during my construction period as a musician."
When Marsh turned 18 he moved to Lawrence, and once he arrived, his goal was to see
as many local shows as possible. The first band he saw was Psychic Heat, and right away, he was thoroughly impressed.
"From there we both started writing together and eventually I joined him in Middle Twin," Marsh said. "Once I joined Middle Twin I met everyone that I know now in the music scene."
After seeing the Psychic Heat show, Marsh continued to become a part of the Lawrence music scene. One day, Eric Davis, the keyboardist for the band Hembree, walked into Marsh's workplace. Marsh noticed the Psychic Heat button on Davis' jacket, which sparked a conversation. The two hit it off, and through his relationship with Davis, Marsh joined the local band Middle Twin.
He met the band's bassist,
John McCain, through his
roommate, a mutual friend.
"Through that I got to know [McCain] and that he was a beautiful bass player," Marsh
said.
"I was never a musical child, but my sister was a singer," McCain said. "I didn't think I was interested in music until I was about 13. I've constantly played in bands since then."
McCain, a sophomore from Lawrence, started playing music when he was 13. He is also a member of the local band Paper Buffalo.
Marsh met Nick Fredrickson, a drummer, at a No Cave show, and the two eventually fostered a musical relationship.
Fredrickson, a Topeka native, was raised in a household of musicians. His father played guitar, and the first band that Fredrickson was a member of was one with his father and siblings.
The band's keyboardist, Joel Martin, has a relatively familiar story. Martin is from Baldwin City, and, like Marsh, decided to write music because he felt he had nothing better to do.
The band formed rather
spontaneously.
"We didn't really have a name and we were at practice one day and John brought up that he had an idea for a name," Marsh said. "And that's how we got the name, Real Adults." McCain said the band's sound was "dreamy math pop."
"The guitar playing is really mathy and the effects of what Joel does on synths adds a dreamy element," McCain said.
"The guitar playing is really mathy and the effects of what Joel does on synths adds a dream element."
"I write wherever an idea
JOHN McCAIN Bassist for Real Adults
The band's creative process usually begins with a concept from Marsh, who said he could be inspired anywhere.
comes to mind," he said. "Anywhere from my bedroom to the passenger seat of a car."
After the songs are written, the other members of the band collaborate to create the music. The band's demo, "Take", is an example of their collaborative process.
It's hard for the band to organize times to record or perform because Marsh lives in Kansas City while everyone else lives in Lawrence. For that reason, the young band hasn't had many performances, although it did play a show in late July at the Roasterie in Hashinger Hall.
"Joel and I were working on an idea and we started writing together a little bit," Marsh said. "Later we started adding the synths. Then we thought to ourselves, why not produce it and make it a full product?"
hear well, but it was a good show"
"I'm not used to playing a coffee shop environment [but] it was cool that people showed up to listen," Marsh said. "The sound was off and we couldn't
During live performances. Marsh and Fredrickson are energetic while Martin and McCain are calm and focused, which creates an interesting dynamic.
Real Adults is taking a break from live shows as it finishes its debut project. The band's next show is on Sept. 28 with Buffalo Rodeo and Dream Girl at The RecordBar at 1020 Westport Road in Kansas City, Mo. Tickets are still available and cost $7. For more information visit therecordbar.com.
- Edited by Scott Chasen