Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

2015 – The Year in Music
with: Tim Finn, Marion Merritt, Chris Haghirian,
& Natalie Gallagher

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
[WMM’s theme]

2015: The Year in Music, with four special guests sharing their favorite musical releases of 2015. Tim Finn – Pop Music Writer for The KC Star and INK, Marion Merritt – owner of Records With Merritt, Chris Haghirian – from Ink and KC Star and Eight One Sixty on The Bridge 90.9, and Natalie Gallagher – Music Editor of The Pitch Kansas City.

10:00 – Interview with Marion Merritt

Marion Merritt

Marion Merritt is our most frequent contributor to WMM, joining us to share her sonic discoveries and information from her musically encyclopedic brain. Marion Merritt is the owner of Records With Merritt, is at 1614 Westport Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri.

Marion Merritt’s Favorite Musical Releases of 2015

#5 – Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Press Color / Light in The Attic Records / 2015
#4 – Death And Vanilla – To Where the Wild Things Are / Fire Records / May 4, 2015
#3 – Stanislas Tohon – Dans le Tchink Système / Hot Casa Records / December 12, 2014
#2 – Darondo – Listen To My Song: The Music City Sessions / Big Beat Records / 2015
#1 – Ork Records: New York, New York / Numero Group / October 30, 2015

2. (5.) Lizzy Mercier Descloux – “Fire”
from: Press Color / Light in The Attic Records / 2015 (1979 Ze Records)
[Debut album of French no wave singer, Lizzy Mercier Descloux. Although largely forgotten the album has received some critical acclaim, being called “the real thing” by Uncut magazine. Martine-Elisabeth “Lizzy” Mercier Descloux was born December 16, 1956 and died April 29, 2004. She was a French musician, singer-songwriter, composer, actress, writer and painter. Mercier Descloux grew up in Lyon, France, but returned to her native Paris in her teens to attend art school. With her partner, Michel Esteban, she helped establish the store Harry Cover, temple of the punk movement in France, and the new wave magazine Rock News. She struck up friendships with Patti Smith and Richard Hell when visiting New York in 1975, and both contributed material to her first book, Desiderata. She and Esteban moved to New York in 1977, meeting Michael Zilkha, with whom Esteban formed Ze Records.]

3. (4.) Death And Vanilla – “Follow the Light”
from: To Where the Wild Things Are / Fire Records / May 4, 2015
[Experimental-psychedelic-dream-pop trio formed in Malmö, Sweden, by Marleen Nilsson and Anders Hansson. Death and Vanilla utilise vintage musical equipment such as vibraphone, organ, mellotron, tremolo guitar and moog, to emulate the sounds of 60s/70s soundtracks, library music, German Krautrock, French Ye-ye pop and 60s psych. They revel in the warmth of older analogue instruments to create a more organic sound, each loose wire and off-kilter noise adding to the rich atmosphere. The band recorded the new album themselves in their rehearsal space, using just one microphone – a 70’s Sennheiser – which they bought at a flea market for a tenner. It is this unconventional recording process that gives Death and Vanilla their unique personality; using a trial and error approach to recording has rewarded the album with a strangeness that would not have otherwise been achievable.]

4. (3.) Stanislas Tohon – “Dja, Dja, Dja”
from: Dans le Tchink Système / Hot Casa Records / December 12, 2014
[From Hot Casa Records: Afro-Soul holy grail by the “Soul Brother From Benin“, featuring the famous “Vis à Vis” band from Ghana and recorded in Kumasi in 1979. Stanislas Tohon aka Papy Grande was born in the “ Country of the kings ” (Benin), in Abomey 1955. He’s “Chevalier de la legion d’honneur” in Benin for his brilliant musical career. The famous soul singer from Cotonou started his musical career at the age of 9 , played with the greatest such as Gnonnas Pedro and recorded almost 35 albums. Influenced by the traditional “Tchingoume “ music , he invented his own rhythm called “Tchink Système”, a mix of soul and Beninese traditional rhythm . “Dans le Tchink Système” is a four track album recorded in Ghana on 24 analog tracks channel with the incredible “Vis à Vis Band”, included a rare version of his first 7 inch “Africa “ that he recorded a year before with “Les Satelites” from Cotonou. Sang in Fon, his native language from Benin, this album is a soulful call for peace and unity in Africa, a real definition of Afro Soul music ! This extremely scarce and obscure record is now remastered and stricltly limited to 1000 copies.]

5.(2.) Darondo – “Luscious Lady”
from: Listen To My Song: The Music City Sessions / Big Beat Records / 2015
[10-track LP on brown translucent vinyl, limited to 1200 copies and features Darondo’s most well-known songs, “Didn’t I” and “Listen To My Song” and previously unissued songs from the 1973-74 sessions. William Daron Pulliam (October 5, 1946 – June 9, 2013), who performed in the 1970s under the name Darondo, was a funk and soul singer from the San Francisco Bay Area. Although he is not widely recognized today, serious enthusiasts of the soul genre consistently rate him in high regard. The mythology surrounding Darondo describes him as a pimp, although he has denied this claim. His performing name is said to have originated as a compliment from a waitress who was fond of his generous tipping habits. Darondo has received more attention in recent years thanks to London DJ Gilles Peterson playing his 1973 single, “Didn’t I” on his BBC Radio 1 program. Recordings of Darondo are available from Luv N Haight, an imprint label of Ubiquity Records. Other works can be purchased from Omnivore Recordings. He also hosted a public broadcasting music video program where he did comedy skits and gave love advice in a segment called “Penthouse Letters” which can be found on YouTube. He died of heart failure in 2013.]

6. (1.) Television – “Little Johnny Jewel”
from: Ork Records: New York, New York / Numero Group / October 30, 2015
[Television was formed in NYC in 1973 and considered influential in the development of punk and alternative music. Television was an early fixture of CBGB and the 1970s New York rock scene. Although they recorded in a stripped-down, guitar-based manner similar to their punk contemporaries, the band’s music was by comparison clean, improvisational, and technically proficient, drawing influence from avant-garde jazz and 1960s rock. The group’s debut album, Marquee Moon, is often considered one of the defining releases of the punk era. Television’s roots can be traced to the teenage friendship between Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell. The duo met at Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware, from which they ran away. Both moved to New York, separately, in the early 1970s, aspiring to be poets. Their first group together was the Neon Boys, consisting of Verlaine on guitar and vocals, Hell on bass and vocals and Billy Ficca on drums. The group lasted from late 1972 to late 1973. In late 1973 the group reformed, calling themselves Television and recruiting Richard Lloyd as a second guitarist. Their first gig was at the Townhouse Theatre, on March 2, 1974. Their manager, Terry Ork, persuaded CBGB owner Hilly Kristal to give the band a regular gig at his club, where they reportedly constructed their first stage. After playing several gigs at CBGB in early 1974, they played at Max’s Kansas City and other clubs, returning to CBGB in January 1975, where they established a significant cult following. Television made their vinyl debut in 1975 with “Little Johnny Jewel” (Parts One and Two), a 7-inch single on the independent label Ork Records, owned by their manager, Terry Ork. William Terry Ork was an American band manager and record producer for the new wave/punk music scene in New York City in the mid 1970s. Ork is associated with the success of the club CBGB as manager for punk band Television and musician Richard Hell. Ork arrived in New York City in 1968 to help Andy Warhol with Warhol’s movies. While working as the manager of a film bookstore called Cinemabilia, Ork met Billy Ficca, Tom Verlaine and Hell of the Neon Boys and introduced them to Richard Lloyd. Ork began managing the new band when they reformed as Television. In 1975, he founded Ork Records which released Television’s Little Johnny Jewel (1975), Richard Hell’s Blank Generation, The Marbles’ Red Light (1979) and Mick Farren’s Lost Johnny, among other recordings. Farren said, “Terry Ork was an idealist, as true to the punk ethic as you could be, which means that when it all started getting slick, and the bands were getting deals, Terry was left behind.” He died in San Diego on October 20, 2004. In the 2013 film CBGB, Ork was portrayed by Johnny Galecki.]

10:29 – Underwriting

Please tune into Wednesday MidDay Medley throughout December as we present our 4-week special: The 115 Best Recordings of 2015 on December 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.

10:31 – Interview with Tim Finn

Originally from Youngstown, New York, Tim Finn studied at University of Missouri in Columbia and received his Masters of Arts, in Journalism from the University of Kansas. Tim is the Pop Music Writer of the KC Star and Ink, and music blog: Back to Rockville.

Tim Finn’s Favorite Musical Releases of 2015

#5. Mikal Shapiro – The Musical / Independent / Feb 19, 2015 (11/19/15 – vinyl release)
#4 The Grisly Hand – Flesh & Gold / Independent / October 2, 2015
#3 Radkey – Dark Black Makeup / Strange Loop Records / August 21, 2015
#2 Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys – Long Shot of Hard Stuff EP /Little Class Records/Mar 6, 2015
#1 Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – Skeleton Crew / Glassnote / May 19, 2015

7. (5.) Mikal Shapiro – “Daniel”
from: The Musical / Independent / February 19, 2015 (11/19/15 – vinyl release)
[Singer, songwriter, artist, filmmaker, puppeteer, ring-leader Mikal Shapiro studied Film History, Film, and Writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. She received her MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago studying Film, Video, New Media, and Animation. Her full length solo releases “The Crow The Lark And The Loon from 2008, and “For Good” from 2010 have been acclaimed by local music writers. Mikal is the creator of the web television project, “Go! Go! Global Girls.” She has also created music videos for Dead Voices and Folkicide. Mikal Shapiro is also a curator, producer and co-host of River Trade Radio. Aside from performing as a solo artist Mikal also performs with Chad Brothers of the band Old Sound, as Shapiro Brothers, she is a member of the 4-piece band Royalphonic, and with Kasey Rausch as Partners in Glory. Musical is her third full length solo release, she previously recorded albums with the bands: Eudora and Boon. Mikal writes: “The Musical is a collection of stories and characters; an intersection between popular music, classical songwriting and personal mythologies. Pronouns shift between “them” and “us,” “you” and “me.” Tracks jump influences from jazz, folk, and blues to rock, country and psychedelia.” The core band includes a line-up of local greats: Johnny Hamil (Mr. Marco’s V7/The Malachy Papers) on upright and electric bass, Matt Richey (Dead Voices/Grisly Hand) on drums , Chad Brothers (Old Sound/Supermassive Black Holes) on electric guitar / harmony vocals. Emily Tummons also lends her voice to the mix creating lush three part harmonies that weave throughout the album. Special guests on the album include: Mike Stover (Dead Voices/Grisly Hand) on pedal steel, Hermon Mehari (Diverse/The Buh’s) on trumpet, Betse Ellis (The Wilders/Betse and Clarke) on fiddle, Clarke Wyatt (Trio E/Betse and Clarke) on Wurlitzer, Damon Parker (The MGDs) on Wurly and Rhodes, Erin Bopp AKA Natural E (Royalphonic) on tambourine. Long time friend and collaborator Rachel Gaither (Tullamore/The Boon) stepped in to sing and play violin on the song “Chimo.” Recorded, mixed and mastered by Joel Nanos at Element Studios, it displays a full spectrum of production. Some tracks are deep and watery. Others wide and epic. ]

8. (4.) The Grisly Hand – “Scrappy Dobbins”
from: Flesh & Gold / Independent / October 2, 2015
[The songs on Flesh & Gold are part of a double LP to be released in 2016. The band spent a year with Joel Nanos at Element Recording, and decided to split the songs between two CD/digital releases. The second half will be released in 2016, along with the LP. The album is the first with the newest member, Dan Loftus on bass, keyboards & vocals, joining Jimmy Fitzner on guitar & vocals, Lauren Krum on vocals & percussion, Matt Richey on drums, Mike Stover on steel guitar, bass & vocals, Ben Summers on guitar, vocals & mandolin. “Regrets On Parting” features: Rich Wheeler on tenor saxophone, Nick Howell on trumpet, and Mike Walker on trombone.]

[The Grisly Hand play The Tank Room, Saturday, Dec 5, with Andrew Foshee & His Gosh Darn Band.]

9. (3.) Radkey – “Glore”
from: Dark Black Makeup / Strange Loop Records / August 21, 2015
[Debut full length album from Radkey, originally from St. Joesph, Missouri, now based in Kansas City, made up of brothers Darrion, Isaiah, and Solomon. Their influences include The Who and Nirvana. The brothers have went on several tours of Europe and North America and played huge festivals.]

10. (2.) Rex Hobart and The Misery Boys – “Here in Hell”
from: Long Shot of Hard Stuff EP / Little Class Records / March 6, 2015
[Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys are…Rex Hobart on vocals, Blackjack Snow on bass, J.B. Morris on guitar, T.C. Dobbs on drums, and Solomon Hofer on pedal steel.]

11. (1.) Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear – “Daisy Jane”
from: Skeleton Crew / Glassnote Entertainment Group / May 19, 2015
[Singer songwriters, Madisen Ward and Ruth Ward, both play sing and guitar, harmonizing as mom and son. In the past 14 months they have garnered national acclaimed after an appearance at the 2014 Americana Music Fest, they signed with Glassnote Records and recorded their debut full length album in Nashville with acclaimed producer Jim Abbiss, they released their first single, “Silent Movies,” the same night they performed the song on The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS Television. They launched a big tour across the United States and traveled to Europe for multiple shows in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and ten did it all again. They sang and played on the influential British television show, “Later With Jools Holland” They were featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and visited many radio stations. They performed on tour with Sufjan Stevens, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, played Bonnaroo, Pilgramage, and the Newport Folk Festival, and others. In 2015 they have been representing KC all over the world, and recently joined us on WMM to talk about their appearance on NBC Television’s Today Show, on Nov 23. The band is on tour through Dec they end their year performing at at the Ryman Theatre, in Nashville, on Dec. 30 and 31.]

11:00 – Station ID

11:01 – Interview with Chris Haghirian

Chris Haghirian has worked for The KC Star for 16 years and helped launch INK in April of 2008 where he puts together music promotions, and organizes music at Folk Alliance local showcases, Boulevardia, The Plaza Art Fair, and Wednesday “Winsday” home game concerts at Kauffman Stadium for the World Champion, Kansas City Royals. With Nathan Reusch of The Record Machine, Chris makes The Middle of The Map Fest happen each year. Chris is also a volunteer for Midwest Music Foundation helping with The MidCoast Takeover of Austin during SXSW Music & Arts Festival. Chris is the host, with Sarah Bradshaw, of Eight One Sixty, heard Tuesday nights at 6:00 pm, on 90.9 The Bridge.

Chris Haghirian’s Favorite Musical Releases of 2015

#4. Various Blond – “All Bases Covered”- Single / Independent / August 11, 2015
#3. Spencer MacKenzie Brown – Part 2 / Independent / December 5, 2015
#2. Barrel Maker & Lion – Continuity / Intelligent Sound / October 30, 2015
#1. Hipshot Killer-“Give Me Something Better” from Center of The City 2015 Comp/Indep/ 2015

12. (4.) Various Blond – “All Bases Covered”
from: All Bases Covered – Single From Upcoming Album / Independent / August 11, 2015
[Alternative experimental progressive rock funk pop progressive psychedelic from KC based band. Produced by Adam Mcgill, written by Joshua Allen. Various Blonde was concieved by Joshua Allen in 2008 and has opened for numerous national acts, Russian Circles, Free Moral Agents, Zechs Marquise, Dead Meadow, Imaad Wasif, Jucifer,The Memorials, Thursday, Fang Island, Murder By Death, Matt Pryor, Wannabe Jalva, and Electric Sixx. Current members Include: Joshua Allen on guitar & vocals, Evanjohn Mcintosh on bass, and Mark Lomas on drums. More info at: https://variousblonde.bandcamp.com/track/all-bases-covered%5D

[Various Blonde plays recordBar, Thur, December 31, at 9:00 pm, with The Conquerors and Jaenki]

13. (3.) Spencer MacKenzie Brown – “Regrets”
from: Part 2 / Independent / December 5, 2015
[Second EP release from Lawrence, Kansas, alternative rock-acoustic folk-singer songwriter.]

[Spencer Mackenzie Brown plays an EP Release show Saturday, December 5, at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, with Hembree, and Bonzo Madrid, presented by KJHK.]

14. (2.) Barrel Maker & LION – “Too Soon” (clean edit)
from: Continuity [EP] / Intelligent Sound / October 30, 2015
[Barrell Maker is Morgan Cooper, who is 23, and grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood in Grandview, Missouri. He first started writing poetry and music in middle school and after high school he began apprenticeships in film and photography instead of college. He recorded and released his debut record Blk Flanl, earlier this year with area producer and hip hop artist D/Will, (Denzil Williams). LION is Brian Rogers an Electronic Hip Hop multi-instrumentalist and producer from Lawrence, Kansas. More info at https://soundcloud.com/thereallion. Continuity was recorded at Prosidio Records in Lawrence, Kansas. Produced by LION. Mastered by Approach (Sean Hunt).]

7. (1.) Hipshot Killer – “Gimme Something Better”
from: The Center of The City 2015 Compilation / Independent / June, 2015
[KC based, 3-piece power punk band, formed in the fall of 2008. Current line up includes: Mike Alexander (Revolvers, Architects), on Guitar & Vocals, Chris Wagner (100 Years War, Jackie Carrol) on Bass & Vocals, Thomas Becker (Beautiful Bodies), on Drums. The band released their debut record Hipshot Killer, April 29, 2011, and are currently working on their new release. We played this song on WMM on June 17, 2015.]

11:29 – Underwriting

11:31 – Interview with Natalie Gallagher

Natalie Gallagher has been the music editor at The Pitch Weekly since Sept. 2013, when she moved to KC from her beloved Minneapolis. She is a very good writer and she covers a huge territory of music reviewing new releases, covering live performances, writing feature pieces, hiring writers and editing tons of content for Kansas City’s oldest weekly, which originally began at the Penny Pitch out of Penny Lane Records, all those years ago.
More info about The Pitch Kansas City at: http://www.pitch.com

Natalie Gallagher’s Favorite Musical Releases of 2015

#5. Heidi Lynne Gluck – The Only Girl In The Room EP / Lotuspool / April 28, 2015
#4. The Roseline – Townie / Independent / June 19, 2015
#3. Berwanger – Demonios [EP] / High Dive Records / December 11, 2015
#2. El-Rey-Tones – “Mind Speak” – Single / El-Rey-Tones SoundCloud / March, 2015
#1. stik figa x D/Will – JOBB / Independent / September 18, 2015

16. (5.) Heidi Lynne Gluck – “The Only Girl In The Room”
from: The Only Girl in the Room – EP / Lotuspool Records / April 28, 2015
[Debut solo release from Lawrence, Kamsas based Heidi Lynne Gluck is a songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist originally from the middle of Canada. After transplanting herself from the plains of Manitoba to the midwestern United States, Heidi quickly became an in-demand player, performing on stage and in the studio both as a solo artist and with renowned musicians including Juliana Hatfield & Some Girls, Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos, Lily & Madeleine, The Pieces, The Only Children, and others.]

17. (4.) The Roseline – “Feckless”
from: Townie / Independent / June 19, 2015
[4th album from Lawrence, Kansas, based alt-country/Americana rock band, formed by Colin Halliburton with friends in 2005. The Roseline has been through dozens of lineup changes. The current lineup has been together for about two months: Halliburton on guitar; Kris Losure on guitar, Aaron Pando on drums, Sam Goodellon keyboards, and Heidi Gluck on bass.]

[The Roseline play The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS, on December 3, with The Delta Saints.]

[The Roseline play The Tank Room, December 12, at 9:00 pm, with My Oh My.]

18. (3.) Berwanger – “Demonios”
from: Demonios [EP] / High Dive Records / To be released on December 11, 2015
[On September 2, 2015 it was announced that Josh Berwanger band was signed to High Dive Records. Recorded at Element Recording with Joel Nanos. The current line up includes: Josh Berwanger, Ricky Salthouse, and Brian Klien. Josh Berwanger was previously in The Anniversary, a Kansas band that released, 2000’s Designing a Nervous Breakdown & 2002’s Your Majesty and sold over 100,000 records before breaking up on tour in Japan. Berwanger put together a new band, The Only Children, and released, 2004’s Change of Living & 2007’s Keeper of Youth. When Keeper of Touth ended Josh Berwanger took a break and became a high school basketball coach. In the 2012 Josh formed the Josh Berwanger band. Josh Berwanger recently recorded a 7 ” Split Single with Dwight Twilley for Good Land Records. In September the band went on the road as Berwanger, opening for Get Up Kids, and in October opening for Boys Life.]

[Berwanger play EP Release Fri, Dec 11, at 7 pm at Mills Record Company w/ Rev Gusto(6:30 pm)]

[and later that night at Fri, Dec 11, at 9:00 pm Blind Tiger, KCMO, EP Release w/ Conquerors]

[Berwanger, plays a special EP Release, on Saturday, December 12, at 9:00 pm, at Replay Lounge 946 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, Kansas, with Psychic Heat, and Berwanger labelmates, The Conquerors, who are releasing a 7” single, also through High Dive Records.]

19. (2.) El-Rey-Tones – “Mind Speak”
from: Mind Speak – Digital Single / El-Rey-Tones SoundCloud / March, 2015
[This song will be part of the band’s debut EP, Hits. El-Rey-Tones started as a writing and recording project by Johnny Mitchell & Bryan Koehler during the spring of 2013. The band currently consists of: Bryan Koehler on vocals, Austin Turney on bass, Drew Little on drums, David Bennett on guitars, and Cortland Gibson on keyboards. El-Rey-Tones are awaiting the release of their debut EP, writing new songs, and playing some shows around KC.]

20. (1.) stik figa x D/Will – “Negroux Riche”
from: JOBB / Independent / September 18, 2015
[All songs written by Stik Figa. All songs produced, mixed and mastered by D/WILL. Stik Figa is a prolific MC and wordsmith from Topeka, Kansas. He was raised in Memphis. He has been featured on NPR and 2DopeBoyz. After signing with Mello Music Group, he released “As Himself” a project drawing from his unique perspective and background. On March 31, 2015 he released, Stik Figa Is Not Quite Himself, produced by Leonard DStroy.]

11:59:30

28. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]
[WMM Closing Theme Song]


Next week, Please tune into Wednesday MidDay Medley throughout December as we present our 4-week special: The 115 Best Recordings of 2015 on December 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:

www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,

www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM,
http://www.kkfi.org

Show #606