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http://www.morningsun.net/stories/121007/peo_224200130.shtml
STREET PERFORMERS
Members of the Medicine Men Street Unit station themselves at Fifth and Broadway at 10 p.m. every Wednesday
By Nikki Patrick | The Morning Sun
In big cities, its not unusual for street musician to serenade passersby. That happens in Pittsburg, too, at 10 p.m. each Wednesday.
Members of the Medicine Men Street Unit station themselves at Fifth and Broadway, and start in playing. Included are Alex Sheppard, Cooper Neil, Megan McCoy, Josh Johnson, Will Koehler, Larry Fleury and Kevin Huebner. All are Pittsburg State University students, except for McCoy, a Pittsburg High School senior who will graduate in December.
"Wednesday is a big bar night," Neil noted, and they play near 505. "We just come down here and jam. We hope if people see our level of dedication, they'll get out and have a good time."
"Most people give us a funny look and wave," Fleury said. "They probably enjoy us better when they leave the bar."
The Wednesday sessions are not about money.
"In four weeks we got about $1.25," Neil noted on a recent Wednesday.
About five minutes later, a man headed for the bar threw a $1 bill in a guitar case on the sidewalk.
"That makes $2.25," Fleury noted. "Maybe we could buy a double cheeseburger and split it five ways."
Winter weather has been something of a challenge to the musicians. "The trouble with cold weather is that we have to keep re-tuning our instruments all the time — if we bother," Neil said.
McCoy said that the street performances are "a raw expression of music brought directly to the people, whether they planned on attending a performance or not. This is because as musicians, our performances are traditionally arranged, structured and the audience plans to attend. By taking to the streets, no marketing or politics factors into the equation — it's simply a musical expression that may or may not have an audience."
"We're also here to bring big-time city night life to Pittsburg," Neil said. "We have an excellent downtown in Pittsburg, and we don't make use of it."
The rock band also performs in more traditional venues. "We're always looking for indoor gigs, too," McCoy said.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the group may visit www.myspace.com/medicinemenks.
- The Morning Sun
Discography
2007 The Medicine Men EP
Photos
Bio
The Medicine Men were formed in early 2007 in a garage located in southeast Kansas. All of the members are disciplined in a wide range of music, lending to the flexibility of the sound as a whole. The Medicine Men create danceable rock music with strong influences in blues and contemporary alternative music. The Medicine Men have spent the last year and half playing shows around kansas and have built a firm following due to their high-energy live show. The Medicine Men are currently working on more recording and writing and expanding their, already growing, fanbase across the globe.
Alex Sheppard is known in his native Kansas for his artful guitar-playing in the disciplines of jazz and rock. He has been featured playing bass for the soundtrack to the PBS documentary Brown vs. The Board of Education. He has toured with the musician Lem Sheppard across the United States, from the west to the east coast.
Megan McCoy is a classically-trained cellist, violinist, and bassist. She is a member of the Kansas Symphony and is also the bassist in a multitude of jazz ensembles. McCoy has played music professionally since the age of eleven. She has been featured playing fiddle on the soundtrack to the short film 'Spoils of War'.
Josh Johnson is a classically-trained pianist, starting his musical career at the age of seven. He is a multi-instrumentalist, having played guitar, trumpet and piano in groups ranging from big band jazz ensembles to the ambient rock group Circadian Groove.
Cooper Neil is also a multi-instrumentalist. He plays everything from the trombone to the lute. He is also the former lead guitar player and singer of the classic rock ensemble 'Keep the Change.'
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