Jonnie W and Hector Anchondo among August entertainment slated for Topeka area
August in Topeka and surrounding areas will see great opportunities for entertainment, including "Weird Al" Yankovic, Melissa Ethridge and Ann Wilson.
Some lesser-known, and up and coming artists will be in the area as well. Here are some of the musical artists and comics to check out in coming weeks.
Jonnie W. brings comedy to Jayhawk Theatre
The Jonnie W.: Comedy – Music Tour will bring laughter with family-friendly humor mixed with music at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Jayhawk Theatre, 720 S.W. Jackson St.
For a taste of what will bring to the capital city, Topekans can watch "The United States Hate Each Other," Jonnie W.'s — Full Special, W.'s appearance on YouTube's Dry Bar Comedy, which has more than 5 million views.
"I guess you'd call it musical comedy," W. said. "I do a little bit of traditional stand up and then also mix it with some music."
"So I do a little bit of country and a little bit of rock, and sometimes I'll use music to kind of parody a certain genre or a style of music ... like I do a little run where I kind of parody country artists."
W. said he doesn't parody the actual music per se, but rather the culture of the music.
"When I was a kid, the country artists, the guys who wrote country songs were all ugly, and I think ugly country artists write better songs because they have pain to draw from," he said. "So Keith Urban is talented, but what pain has he ever experienced?
"Yeah, so he's married to Nicole Kidman. Amen. Just stuff like that."
Concert Series welcomes 2020 International Blues Challenge winner
Blues guitarist Hector Anchondo will take the stage as part of NOTO Art District's Summer Concert Series at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at Redbud Park, 935 N. Kansas Ave.
The 2020 International Blues Challenge winner and winner of the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award is a mostly self-taught musician, picking up the guitar at age 16. It wasn't until taking jazz guitar lessons that he hit his stride.
"I was kind of hitting a plateau a little bit in my mid-20s," he said. "And then that just sent me off into a really great direction."
Anchondo dedicated himself to bringing his art to wherever he and his band found audiences. There were many lean times along the road.
"There was one tour we went on, that we bought a few cases of ramen," he said. "We did nothing but sleep in the van and eat ramen.
"I think we were on tour for a month, so by the time we got home we were all sick of ramen ... because a lot of times we didn't even have a way to cook the ramen. So we would crunch it up like chips and eat it."
Anchondo eventually gravitated to the intense visuals and haunting beauty of the blues. He said his brand is a downhome sound mixed with the higher energy of rock blues, although he said his band doesn't play super loud.
With Khayman Windfield on drums and Carl Brown on base, Anchondo plays acoustic and electric guitar.
Here are some other exciting events in the Topeka area in August
Aug. 5
Good Sam Club Band, 6 to 9 p.m., NOTO's Redbud Park, 935 N. Kansas Ave.
Caleb Nelson, 7 to 10 p.m., Doughboyz Pizzeria, 1312 N. Kansas Ave.
Duke Mason with Cowboy, Inc., 8 to 11 p.m., The Vinewood, 2848 S.E. 29th St.
Baile Como en el Rancho con el Nono, 9 p.m., The Villa Event Venue, 2941 S.E. Fremont St.
Aug. 6
Colin Nichols, 2 to 5 p.m., Prairie Fire Winery, 20250 Hudson Ranch Road, Paxico.
Delta Haze, 7 p.m. Brass Rail Tavern, 401 N.E. Emmett St.
Howard Mahan Solo Act, 7 p.m. Happy Basset Brewing Co., 6044 S.W. 29th St.
Josh Vowell Blues Band, 7:30 p.m., Happy Basset Barrel House.
Aug. 11
Zach Neil, 6:30 p.m., Happy Basset Barrel House.
Aug. 12
Up To No Good Improv Co., 7 to 9 p.m., Helen Hocker Theater, 700 S.W. Zoo Parkway.
Reflection's Ghost, 7 to 9 p.m., Doughboyz Pizzeria.
Switch In Time, 8 p.m., Happy Basset Barrel House.
Aug. 13
Restless Native, 3 to 6 p.m. Happy Basset Barrel House.
Alter Ego, 8 p.m., Happy Basset Barrel House.
Alex Miller, 8 to 11 p.m., The Vinewood.
Aug. 14
Music from The Dullards, 2 to 5 p.m., Crooked Post Vineyard & Winery, 7397 K-92 highway, Ozawkie.
Melissa Ethridge: One Way Out Tour, 8 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St, Lawrence. Ticket prices: $69 to $122.
Aug. 18
Ann Wilson of Heart, 7 p.m., Prairie Band Casino & Resort, 12305 150th Road, Mayetta. Ticket prices: $65 and $75.
Aug. 19
Kaw Tikis and a Beach Party, 6 p.m., Compass Point, 800 N. Kansas Ave.
The Bash, 7 to 10 p.m., Doughboyz Pizzeria.
The Hoodoo’s, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., Happy Basset Barrel House.
Aug. 19-20
Laugh Lines, 8 p.m., Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy, 3028 S.W. 8th Ave. See website for ticket prices.
Aug. 20
Kelley Hunt Acoustic Quartet, 7 p.m. Jayhawk Theatre. Visit website for ticket information.
WVP (Wood Valley Pickers), 7:30 p.m., The Classic Bean Espresso Coffee House & Deli, 2125 S.W. Fairlawn Road.
THTP, 7:30 to11:30 p.m., Happy Basset Barrel House.
Megan Luttrell, 8 to 10:30 p.m., Brass Rail Tavern.
Aug. 26
Andy McKee and Friends — Concert for a Child, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 S.E. 8th Ave. Concert tickets: $40 and $100.
Aug. 26 and 27
Slash and Bash: Horror and Sci-Fi Movie Festival, Topeka Performing Arts Center. Ticket price: $19.99.
Aug. 27
Platinum Express – A Funky Dance Party, 8 p.m., The Vinewood.
Aug. 31
"Weird Al" Yankovic, 7 p.m., Topeka Performing Arts Center. Prices: $46, $76, $99, $333 (VIP).
Catheryn Hrenchir is a feature writer for The Topeka-Capital Journal. She can be reached at chrenchir@gannett.com or (785) 817-6383.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's August events include Jonnie W. and Hector Anchondo
