This is the 11th post of a blog by Matt Porubsky called “satisfactual,” which will be updated weekly, discussing odds and ends about Topeka history and culture, with a little opinion thrown in for good measure.

Whatever you wanted to call the clouds – looming, ominous, brooding – they in no way put a damper on ReThink Topeka’s “High Noon.” They actually gave some well-needed shade to those performers and attendees who heated up the sidewalks in downtown Topeka. The ReThinkers kept their plans secret until 11:59 a.m. All they told the public was where: Kansas Avenue, streets 6th to 10th, and when: high noon. Whether it was intrigue of plain ol’ love for the city, the citizens of Topeka heeded the call once again and heard the street corners resonate with music right at 12:00. Surprise, Topeka!

My families’ journey began at 10th to the sound of Jim Schwartz’s acoustic guitar that I think was playing a Bob Dylan cover. Can’t start off much better than that. At that first stop, I saw heads begin to turn from car windows and acknowledge the music and passers-by ears perk up to this impromptu performance. There was no way this event could be ignored.

Bluegrass music began as a whisper as we strolled toward the Southeast corner of 9th Street. There we encountered a four-piece group who go by the name of Pastense. These old-timey songs got the kids dancing and strange looks from across the street. A truck honked as it went by and all four musicians nodded and smiled without missing a note. A man who was passing by pulled out a dollar bill and dropped into into the open violin case behind the group. Again, they all grinned and played on and we walked to the next corner hearing the fiddle resounding around the intersection and trees and buildings.

The southwest corner of 8th was where the Stringbucklers had set up shop. They were right below where Tucker’s used to be. The largest crowd I had seen yet had also set up shop on that corner. Anyone who brought a camera had it out and pointed, including John Ary from I Love Topeka, Karl Fundenberger from FryeAllen and Jeff Davis from The Topeka Capital-Journal. Needless to say, me too. Funny to think they were all taking photos of a Colin MacMillan, a professional photographer for Nathan Ham, who was performing in the group on steel guitar. Everyone was coming out to play, in more ways than one.

Diagonally from them was a sight that I am pretty sure has never been seen on a Topeka street corner. A sitar. A beautiful shining sitar played by Sarah Carson. She was accompanied by James Thomblison on the acoustic guitar. They are part of one of the newest downtown businesses, Blue Planet Café. The waves and twangs of their music seemed to sit in the humid air and to softly temper it. I later learned that Justin and Bailey Marable, creators of ReThink Topeka, had no idea Sarah and James were going to play. They just decided to join in and share their music with every person who was lucky enough to walk by. How cool is that?

Kyler Carpenter was playing at the northwest of 7th and Kansas. All the kids were there in full force hopping, singing and jumping to the music. He was taking requests and giving out free stickers. You could get a sticker even if you weren’t a kid. Kyler was working up a sweat singing the ABCs and Twinkle, Twinkle in front of a fantastic Topeka establishment that has made downtown better since 1924, Wolfe’s Camera.

Poet Jeff Fouquet read on the 6th street corner, a ReThink Topeka banner fluttering in wind over his shoulder. Justin Marable stood stoically, listening and waiting to play his next song. He soon began his performance. His songs are humble but his message is far from it. It is loud and proud and powerful enough to fill Kansas Avenue with a breathtaking possibility. His songs fired notes of change like a gunslinger’s bullets at high noon.

See all of Matt’s photos from High Noon on the seveneightfive Facebook Page.

Matt Porubsky is not a licensed therapist, statistician, historian or medical professional. But he is the 2009 Distinguished Kansan of the Year in arts and entertainment. Take that! Most of the time he just makes stuff up. But all of these stories are based on actual events.

[June 2010 | Matt Porubsky | photos by Matt Porubsky]