For boomers only? Lineup for Olathe summer concert series heavy on rock cover bands
Hey, boomers, this one’s for you.
But if you like live jazz and want to catch a vibe this summer, it won’t be at Olathe’s annual summer concert series.
Want to jam to soul music? You better shop around. (The Miracles) Two-step to R&B tunes? Ain’t no sunshine for you. (Bill Withers) Hip hop? Hold on, we’re going home. (Drake)
Those genres apparently aren’t a good draw, organizers said. Mercy, mercy me. (Marvin Gaye)
Musical acts for Olathe Live!, a series of five free concerts in the Johnson County suburb, includes rock and roll tribute bands covering hits from the Beatles, the Beach Boys and more.
The Rainmakers, a buzz-worthy local rock group playing original music, will also perform this summer.
No doubt the likes of Liverpool, a Beatles tribute band, and Bob Jovi Tribute — a rock act that pays homage to Bon Jovi — are top-tier musicians. It takes talent to sing like someone else. Not everyone can successfully copy an original act.
Was it too much for event organizers to consider the region’s rich musical history and book a jazz ensemble?
How about choosing from a plethora of immensely talented R&B groups with huge followings in the area?
The Phantastics, an eclectic nine-member collective The Star once called Kansas City’s best party band, would have been a viable option, as would soul singer Lee Langston, a celebrated local artist.
Maybe musical group 2 Proud 2 Beg, a soul and funk band that covers a mix of classic hits, will make the cut next year.
Hip hop is one the most popular forms of music today. Any number of successful rap acts with ties to the area would fit the bill.
Instead, families will get down to covers of songs from legendary acts The Who, Elton John, REO Speedwagon and others.
In the past, the 20-year concert series has featured a wide range of national, regional and local acts performing everything from gospel and blues to jazz, folk and soul.
Bands covering timeless rock and roll hits draw the best, Olathe city officials said.
“No one wants to come out to an empty park,” Olathe special events coordinator Chris Stewart said. “People want to dance and sing and have a good time.”
Last time I checked, people of all ages and backgrounds loved groovin’ to Motown music.
In terms of genre or generations, the acts leave out a chunk of Olathe’s demographics. In 2020, Olathe had a population of nearly 142,000 people, according to the U.S. Census. White residents made up 71% of the population while 18% were Hispanic or Black residents.
People under 18 account for 28% of the city’s population. Will young teens have interest in attending any of the shows this summer? Not likely.
One Johnson County entertainer, a Black woman, was asked her thoughts on the Olathe Live! lineup. I’m not naming her because she makes a living making music and fears a backlash for speaking her mind.
She didn’t even blink at the schedule of acts because “this is the norm in Johnson County,” the woman wrote in a message.
“They made little effort, if any, to appeal to (Black people) here in JoCo,” she wrote.
Fans of cover bands enjoy coming to Stagecoach Park and singing along to popular hits with their families, Olathe officials said. But the lack of diverse acts makes me wonder at which households the concerts are aimed.
This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
