Butler's Cinema Scene

Sound Mandela is the world’s coolest stereo system. And a pretty nifty diversion for Kansas Citians this summer.

The brainchild of (among others) soon-to-retire UMKC prof and Kansas City Rep sound designer Tom Mardikes, Sound Mandela has taken over the Unicorn Theatre at 3828 Main for two months of mind-blowing aural experiences.

The theater’s auditorium has been converted to an acoustically perfect (or darn close to perfect) listening room. Guests sit in one of about 40 chairs surrounded by 100 speakers (we’re talking front, sides, rear, overhead). The lights dim and the magic begins.

I recently caught one of three 45-minute programs that will be playing in rotation and was blown away by the sounds that came at me from all directions. (Unlike your home stereo you don’t have to sit in the middle to get an ultimate experience…it’s the same everywhere in the room.)

It began with an approaching thunderstorm, from distant rumblings to crashes of lightning that seemed to land in your lap. I could practically smell the approach of rain. If only Ferde Grofe had Sound Mandela to play with while writing his Grand Canyon Suite.

There were spoken word passages (with appropriate sound effects). The local (and now defunct) band The Plant delivered a knockout slice of psychedelia with “In the Garden.” One of the tracks had a strong Captain Beefheart/Wild Man Fischer anarchistic vibe (extra points if you know what I’m talking about).

The presentation wrapped up with a stunning cover of “Tomorrow Never Knows,” already the trippiest tune in the Beatles catalog and here blasted into the stratosphere by the soul-liberating spacial effects, especially the electronically-generated noises (sounds to me almost like a flock of birds) that seem to fly back and forth across the auditorium.

This is pretty much a home grown affair. Instead of relying solely on commercially available songs Mardikes and Co. have turned to many artists recorded right here in Kansas City over a number of years. Among the featured performers are beatboxer Luke “Skippy” Harbor, Austen Schober, rapper Krizz Kalico, actress Vanessa Severn and Dwight Frizzell.

But wait. That’s not all.

One of the programs features cuts by five bands/performers represented by Challenger Artists. Participating are Mini Trees, Toledo, Valley Boy, Capital Soiree and the evocatively named Post Sex Nachos.

And as if all that was’t nifty enough, Sound Mandela also will be screening the silent horror classic “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” It features a specially composed and recorded soundtrack by Thomas Newby and chamber pop pioneers The Green Zoo that takes full advantage of the technology’s possibilities.

For information on showtimes and ticket prices, visit http://www.soundmandela.org or the Unicorn boxoffice at 816-531-7529 (or visit unicorntheatre.org

| Robert W. Butler