Rock tonight (Tuesday, Aug. 5) with Last Men Standing, featuring soon-to-be Hutchinson Middle School seventh-graders — and best friends — Sam Ruppert on electric guitar, Hayden Black on drums, and Tim Hanna on bass guitar and vocals — at the National Night Out gathering beginning at 6 p.m. at VFW Park on Sherwood Street in Hutchinson.

Known for its eclectic mix of classic, punk and garage rock, Last Men Standing plays a variety of covers and original material. Songwriting is a collaborative effort among the three with Hanna writing most of the lyrics. The band made its first official public appearance at the Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival this past June.

Upcoming performances: < Friday, Aug. 15: Second annual Battle of the Bands at the McLeod County Fair, 840 Century Ave. S.W., Hutchinson; Thursday, Aug. 14: 8 p.m., open for the Rhythm Kings at the McLeod County Fair, 840 Century Ave. S.W., Hutchinson; < Monday, Aug. 18: 5:30 p.m., Litchfield Area Rural Partners in Prevention, Litchfield Opera House, Marshall Avenue; and < Saturday, Aug. 30: 8 p.m., open for Crimson Edge at the Hutchinson VFW, 247 First Ave. S.E. For booking information, call Cheri Ruppert at (320) 587-3446, or e-mail: cheri.ruppert@mchsi.com [1].

To read the entire story, see the print edition of the Hutchinson Leader for Thursday, July 31, 2008.

(Kay Johnson is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com [2]).