06/29/12

Story by Anne Hunt, 913-496-8500 Ext. 3373

Light Up the Lawn concert

Light Up the Lawn concert at JCCC features two bands in July

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Two bands, She’s a Keeper and Rex Hobart and the Honky Tonk Standards, will perform a free concert Friday, July 20, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College. The concert starts at 8 p.m. (dusk) as part of the summer Light Up the Lawn series.

She’s a Keeper starts off the evening with its original brand of folk and pop rock. The five-member band uses an array of instruments including drums, mandolin, cello, guitars, piano and banjo. Its music features three-part harmonies and unique melodies, many of which start off as soft, smooth ballads and build up to a roaring, upbeat climax.

All original music is written by band members Zac Jurden, Fritz Hutchison, Kate Sopcich, Colin Nelson and Elliott Phillips. Two of the members met in middle school and began playing music together. They added members and started performing as a group two years ago. Their music reflects and synchronizes all of their personalities and musical styles.

They have performed locally at recordBar and Crossroads. The band has released two CDs, the self-titled She’s a Keeper in 2010 and Live at the Midwestern this year. A new CD is in the works. Fans can listen and download music at www.shesakeeper.bandcamp.com and follow the band on www.facebook.com/shesakeepermusic. 

Kansas City-based Rex Hobart and the Honky Tonk Standards will bring their riveting, hard-edged country and western sound to the stage performing music reminiscent of classic country standards from the 1960s. Expect to hear a mix of classics and critically acclaimed originals with a fresh, innovative edge. Its style is rooted in the tradition of country giants Merle Haggard, George Jones and Johnny Paycheck, to name a few.

Hobart and fellow band members Daryl Logue, Michael Smarr and Paul Andrews have been performing together for more than four years and Craig Lagerman joined the group about six months ago. They have performed locally at venues that include Knuckleheads, recordBar and R-Bar. Hobart previously led a group called Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys.

The concert is being sponsored by the Performing Arts Series at JCCC and the Nerman Museum.

The Light Up the Lawn series concludes Aug. 24 with Victor & Penny and The Latenight Callers. 

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