Gatsby’s American Dream

Gatsby's American Dream

Having matured much from its speed-punk days, Gatsby’s American Dream recently embarked upon a musical odyssey, traveling through a plethora of musical genres back nearly 2,000 years to the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Who knew it was possible to write a successful song -outside of heavy metal or art rock – that narrates the volcanic destruction of an ancient Italian city? The style of the band is eclectic, but time with the heat and pressure of their album “Volcano” have metamorphosed the members into veteran indie-rock storytellers, compacting their sounds and subjects into rock-hard gems. Gatsby’s American Dream joins Action Action, Spitalfield and Waking Ashland at 7 p.m. Sunday at El Torreon, 3101 Gillham Plaza, Kansas City, Mo.

Lakefest 2005

To celebrate native daughter Amelia Earhart, the city of Atchison (about an hour north of Lawrence) gathers up some marquee names for its annual Lakefest event. This year’s headliners include a couple of platinum-selling artists and CMA favorites: prolific country band Sawyer Brown and sultry singer Sara Evans. Gates open at 4 p.m. today. National anthem is at 6 p.m. (Call 800-234-1854 for advance tickets and directions to Warnock Lake.)

The Dog & Everything

The Dog and Everything

Though the ancient Romans may have believed that “the hair of the dog that bit me” was the cure for the insanity wrought by a mad dog’s bite, the elixir for the infectious fanaticism that The Dog & Everything has been spreading remains unknown. Between overloading radio stations in its hometown Chicago, winning head-to-head match-ups against many of the industry’s leading singles, and stirring up a fan base more excited than a kennel in rutting season, this indie rock quartet is quickly proving that The Dog really is man’s best friend. The band joins Oedipus and Playing with Matches at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Granada, 1020 Mass.

‘Strange Passages’

'Strange Passages'

Kemper Museum curator Elizabeth Dunbar says Maria Park “is making some of the best art in Kansas City today.” Park uses a combination of media and techniques to create environments of speed and digitized experience. Her fantastical landscapes are conflagrations of urban space, nature and transportation that can only exist in the imagination – and, therefore, on canvas. “Strange Passages,” a solo installation by Park, opens with a reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. The exhibition remains on view through Oct. 9.

‘Talley’s Folly’

The second play in Missouri native Lanford Wilson’s “Talley Family” trilogy, “Talley’s Folly” closes the Kansas Summer Theatre season. The production, directed by Dennis Christilles, shows one evening in the courtship of two unlikely lovers, Sally Talley and Matt Friedman. Sally is from a conservative, small-town, wealthy family of bigoted Methodists, and Matt is a Jewish accountant 12 years her senior. A year earlier, Matt had met Sally at a dance; he has now returned to ask for her hand. The show plays at 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday and July 21-23 on Stage Too! in Crafton-Preyer Theatre. A matinee will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.