COWTOWN BALLROOM...SWEET JESUS!

Russ Simmons KC Tribune 5/22/09

Russ Simmons

For about 38 months in the early 1970s, a former roller rink at 31st and Gillham in Kansas City, MO was a popular concert venue. For the counterculture crowd that came out of the 60s, it was also the Midwest equivalent of Haight-Ashbury.

The documentary “Cowtown Ballroom…Sweet Jesus” is a loving homage to that legendary musical landmark. Those old enough to remember the era will enjoy this entertainingly nostalgic trip, while those born too late will find it a heady trip into the ancient past.

Directed by Joe Heyden and written by Heyden and cinematographer Anthony Ladesich, “Cowtown Ballroom: Sweet Jesus” is as much a fond look back at a lost era of idealism as it is a film about the local music scene.

In its heyday, Cowtown Ballroom served as host to such acts as B.B. King, Van Morrison, Linda Ronstadt, Blue Oyster Cult, The Steve Miller Band, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, The Byrds, Frank Zappa and Alice Cooper, just to name a few.

But the joint was most often the spot where local audiences flocked to see folk rock acts like The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who made it something of a home away from home. Their opening act, a young banjo-playing comic named Steve Martin, was a frequent performer, too.

It also served as a launching pad for local talent that made good, like Brewer & Shipley and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Even though concert footage of the era is limited to grainy old Super-8 films, Heyden and Ladesich (who also does a fine job as editor) make good use of it, incorporating photographic stills to fill in the blanks.

But mainly the film is about recollections and the filmmakers have interviewed dozens of local folks who remember the venue well, even though some of their memories are viewed through a cloud of cannabis smoke.

The talking heads also include many of the performers that frequented the low-tech hall. Among those sharing memories are King, members of the Dirt Band, the Daredevils, Brewer & Shipley, Miller, Roger Earl of Foghat, Charlie Daniels and Commander Cody.

The movie provides a tutorial on Cowtown’s origins, development and early demise. Among the interviewees are founder Stan Plesser and Good Karma Music’s Paul Peterson. In one amusing moment, we learn that they made exactly $4 profit during the venue’s lifetime.

New York had CBGBs, LA had The Whisky A Go Go and San Francisco had the Fillmore. But KC’s Cowtown Ballroom takes a backseat to none. For those who never attended a concert there, watching “Cowtown Ballroom…Sweet Jesus” is a bit like getting a contact high. (No MPAA rating) Rating: ***1/2

* Avoid at all costs
** Only if you're bored
*** Good movie
**** Well worth your time
***** Be sure to see it