Stinky Feet and the Symphony: Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove will perform in collaboration with East’s marching band to help raise money for their trip to London

East Dad Jim Cosgrove — professionally known as Mr. Stinky Feet — is putting on a concert with the East band on Sept. 30. Tickets are $5 for students under the age of 18, and $10 for adults. Food, games and other activities will start at 5:30 p.m., and the show will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

All funds raised will go to travel expenses for the band’s trip to London in December where they will play in the New Year’s Day parade.

The funds from this concert will help lower the trip costs which are paid for by band students and the district’s boosters. The trip costs over $2,000 per person to cover hotels, meals, flights and instrument transportation.

“[The band is] invited to play at the New Year’s Day parade in London, which is huge,” Jim said. “It’s like London’s version of the Thanksgiving Parade in New York.”

This isn’t the typical show for Jim — usually he’s a solo performer for kids in schools, libraries and festivals.

“I did do a symphony with the Kansas City Symphony, but this is the first time I’ve [performed] with a high school,” Jim said.

Jim’s daughter and sophomore Willa Cosgrove, is a drum line member and will be performing alongside him. They’re also doing a duet together to the song “Peanut Butter.”

“I’ve never really performed on the drums that much before and I never have with my dad,” Willa said. “I’m excited to do it for the first time.”

The concert has been in the works since last year, but was rescheduled when the pandemic and a busy band schedule got in the way. But the concert worked out as more parts of the band were able to participate. According to band teacher Alex Toepfer, having the concert this season allows for the drum line, tubas and marching instruments to perform.

Though the band hasn’t had much time with Jim to practice, Toepfer makes sure to have the band play a couple songs per class for practice. Both the marching band and the jazz band will be playing in the concert.

“We’ve had one rehearsal with him so far,” Toepfer said. “But it’s going great. The music fits together with him pretty easily, so we’re excited for it.”

The concert will have a temporary tattoo and concession stand — as well as an “instrument petting” station.

“[Instrument petting is] a way for kids to play and try out different instruments and get interested in music, which is the goal for the concert,” Toepfer said.

Jim has been making music as Mr. Stinky Feet for 24 years and he enjoys bringing people together with his songs. 

“The focus is always bringing a community together with music,” Jim said. “Music is such a great way to bring people together, and it crosses cultural and language boundaries — it’s just a wonderful tool for unity.”