Sober as a Judge to perform in Nevada

Associate Circuit Judge Charles Curless wields a gavel during the day at the Barton County Courthouse, and a guitar during the night -- at least some nights. Curless moonlights in the band Sober As a Judge, a band that is best known for playing '60s and '70s oldies. Levi Morrow has been playing with Curless for 16 years.

"Primarily, we play '60s and '70s rock and roll," Morrow said. "We do a lot of oldies. Turtles, Jimmy Buffett, that kind of songs."

Sober as a Judge will be playing at Bushwhacker Days, Saturday, June 11, at 7:30 p.m., as the opening act for the Kansas City Street Band.

Sober as a Judge has been in Nevada before, they've played at Echo's, the VFW and one year were the featured performers at the Nevada Regional Medical Center Gala held at the Nevada Eagles lodge.

"We played a New Year's Eve at the VFW there," Morrow said. "We played the hospital gala and at Echo's, before it burned down."

According to Morrow the nucleus of the band is Curless; himself; Chris Morrow, his son; and Fred Shaw. Since the band members "do have a life," as Morrow says, work and other obligations sometimes prevent a member from playing, so there are associate members -- including some other judges and county officials. Judge Robert Koffman is the circuit judge in division 4, Pettis County and Jerry Holcomb is the Family Court Commissioner in Jasper County.

Other members include Todd Hastings, Bob Golay, Jim Hunter, Paul von Adam, Matt Bennett and Denise Bowmaker.

The band is not just filled with the judiciary, Chris Morrow is an insurance agent Shaw is vice-president of underwriting at Barton County Mutual, Hunter is in real estate and Hastings works at Pittsburg State University.

"I think he's a professor there but I can't swear to it," Morrow said.

A current playlist shows an eclectic mix of songs, from "Another Saturday Night" to "Wonderful Tonight." Other songs include "Hang on Sloopy," "Mustang Sally," "Under the Boardwalk," "Margaritaville" and "Save the Last Dance."