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, January 27, 2021

New & MidCoastal Releases +
Lily B Moonflower + Redder Moon + Charlotte Bumgarner

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Orig. Motion Picture Soundtrack All That Jazz / Casablanca / December 20, 1979
   [WMM’s Adopted Theme Song]

2. Rose City Band – “Wildflowers”
   from: Summerlong / Thrill Jockey Records / June 19, 2020
   [from Bandcamp.com: It is impossible to talk about modern psychedelic music without mentioning Ripley Johnson. As bandleader of Wooden Shjips and one half of Moon Duo, Johnson has continually charted new cosmic paths that expand on the language of the genre. With Rose City Band, Johnson’s songwriting and beautiful guitar lines take center stage, the veil of psychedelia notably drawn back. While his vocal treatment would be recognizable to any Wooden Shjips fan, the sparseness of the instrumentation lays bare the beauty of his writing. Shimmering guitar lines are free to shine, buoyed by driving rhythms. New to the mix are arrangements and instruments drawn directly from classic country, resulting in songs with more than a hint of twang. The aptly named Summerlong, born of Johnson’s own fondness for the season, delivers an emotional lift—an expression akin to the joy of getting out there on a warm day, be it gathering for a BBQ, hopping onto a bike, leaping into a swimming hole, or simply reading in a park. // Rose City Band started purely as a recording project, with Johnson’s role mostly obscured for the self-titled debut album. Released with no promotion, in the style of private press records, it was a liberating act, a focus on music without any expectations. Explaining it with a chuckle, Johnson elaborates, “I always would threaten to my friends that I’m gonna start a country rock band so I can retire and just play down at the pub every Thursday night during happy hour. I love being able to tour and travel, but I also like the idea of having a local band … more of a social music experience.” Freedom from expectation and obligation gave Johnson the space to experiment with new instrumentation and arrangements. The introduction of lap steel, mandolin, and jaw harp enhance Johnson’s lean guitar work with radiant overtones, placing Summerlong more overtly within the country tradition than its predecessor. Work on the album began at Johnson’s home studio in Portland during the summer, but, interrupted by touring, it would not be finished until the winter season. The dark isolation of winter and the pining for summer’s easier days can be felt in the album’s few quieter moments. Summerlong was mixed by John McEntire (Stereolab, Broken Social Scene, Tortoise) at his newly minted Portland Soma Studios and mastered by Amy Dragon at Telegraph Mastering, also based in Portland.]

3. Ivy Roots – “Pleasure”
from: LOVE ART GROWTH 2 / Ivy Roots / December 16, 2020
[Ivy Roots released the single “Home” on April 22, 2020. KC native singer songwriter, who plays piano & guitar, and produces beats. Her style ranges from R & B, Neo Soul, Hip Hop, Acoustic, & Pop. The acoustic guitar strumming songstress draws from her inspirations; Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Deangelo, and India Arie. Ivy Roots studied audio engineering at Kansas City, Kansas Community College. She toured in a 5-piece reggae band, played regional festivals, Los Angeles, and collaborated with film & performance. She also sang in a vocal jazz group at a performing arts jazz festival at Lincoln Center in NYC, before releasing her first album “Bad Intuition” and beginning her solo career. In 2019 Ivy Roots released her EP Love Art Growth on June 5, 2019 where she collaborated with Eddie Moore. Ivy Roots released her debut album Bad Intuition on April 14, 2016. Written & produced by Ivy Roots.]

On December 19, 2020 President Obama announced on Twitter his Favorite Music of 2020, this was one of the tracks on his playlist:

4. Faye Webster – “Better Distractions”
   from: “Better Distractions” – Single / Secretly Canadian / September 16, 2020
   [Faye Webster is an American folk singer and photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Webster was first signed to Awful Records, with whom she released her sophomore self-titled album in 2017. Webster signed to the record label Secretly Canadian in late 2018. Webster released her third full-length album, Atlanta Millionaires Club, in 2019 via Secretly Canadian. Webster’s song “Room Temperature” was featured in a Rolling Stone article, and received further acclaim when one of her 2020 singles, “Better Distraction,” was featured in a Pitchfork article.]

5. Making Movies – “Could You”
   from “Could You” – Single / 3/2 Recordings / January 19, 2021
   [The song was tracked at Memphis Magnetic studio and mixed by Jim Eno of Spoon. Making Movies lead singer Enrique Javier Chi writes, “I was thinking about what to share for “Could You?” and I just go back to the fact that Memphis is a profound place… it is a place where you can feel what America truly is and where it comes from. I think you see and feel the reality that so much of this nation was built from exploiting people. You can see that our pop culture is driven by the Black community and yet that community is still the most oppressed in the nation. Things are still so messed up. // Memphis is the place where Elvis started singing black music with a country twang and where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. It’s a beautiful place, it’s a charming place, it feels at times downtrodden and it’s a place that reminds me of home (both Kansas City and Panamá in different ways. Our experiences going to Memphis gave us the context to create “Could You?” It was filmed originally for AMERI’KANA TV, but we feel like we needed to share it now. In its initial role, it served as a pacifier for me, something that would help me feel a little better when I felt super anxious, so hopefully, it will feel like that for you.” Making Movies is a Kansas City based 4-piece band and made up of : Enrique Chi on guitar and lead vocals; Diego Chi on bass & vocals; Juan-Carlos Chaurand on percussion & keyboards; and Duncan Burnett on drums. The band draws their influences from the origins of their families: Santiago, Panama, and KC Missouri, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Making Movies released their critically acclaimed album ameri’kana through 3/2 Recordings on May 24, 2019. This was #1 on WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. Produced by Steve Berlin and Ben Yonas. The notes for this album reads: “ameri’kana is a canary in a coal mine, the watchman at the tower. It is a desire to remember where we come from and assure that we better ourselves in every step along our journey. Every chapter is an example, a reason to not be silent and not accept corrupt leaders as something inevitable. ameri’kana is based on faith, faith that every person on this continent carries within themselves the ability to grow, to awaken their consciousness and merits of the same rights. We were accomplices to get ourselves to this point so we will have to be accomplices in the solutions.” This was the band’s follow up release to their critically acclaimed, I Am Another You, released May 26, 2017. The quartet has toured with Arcade Fire, Thievery Corporation, Cold War Kids, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Tennis, Sergio Mendoza of Calexico, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Hurray for the Riff Raff.]

6. Howard Iceberg & The Titanics – “I Wont Let You Down”
   from: Welcome Aboard! Vol. 8 / Howard Iceberg / November 25, 2020
   [Howard Iceberg on vocals & guitar, Gary Paredes on guitar, Kyle Dahlquist on accordion & vocals, Betse Ellis on fiddle & vocals. This new volume contains 12 more songs from Howard’s vault of his recordings and collaborations from over 10 years, working with Pat Tomek, that was originally released in June of 2011 as a 7 CD set of 15 songs each, containing 105 new songs, full of collaborations with over 50 area musicians. Since then Howard has continued collaborating and continued releasing new albums, making him one of the most prolific singer songwriters ever to record and release music in Kansas City. While 2020 has been an incredible challenge, Howard Iceberg released 3 full length recordings . On June 10, 2020 He released Kansas City Songs Vol. 3 from Howard Iceberg & The Titanics. This included more songs certified to have been written, performed, and recorded in Kansas City by Howard Iceberg. All words and music by Howard Iceberg. Recorded and mixed by Brendan Moreland at Temple Sounds Studio; except “Natalie,” recorded and mixed by Pat Tomek at Largely Studios. Players: Howard Iceberg on lead vocals (except as noted), guitar; Chad Brothers on lead vocal (By Your Side), harmony vocal, guitar; Betse Ellis on lead vocal (Bottle of Rye), fiddle, harmony vox ; Clarke Wyatt on banjo, guitar, keyboards; Andrew Mojo Morris on lead vocal (Promises To Keep), harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo; Julie Bates-Motel on fiddle, harmony vocals; Chris DeVictor on bass; Phil Wade on dobro; Brendan Moreland on electric guitar; Brett Hodges on lead vocal and guitar (Natalie); Roger Eilts on guitar and harmony vocal (Natalie); Leo Eilts – bass and harmony vocal (Natalie); Erin Corriveau on harmony vocals. Howard also released “Absentee Ballads” on November 25, 2020, containing 15 new songs as recorded by the Hermanos Brothers which are: Howard Iceberg, Chad Brothers, Julie Bates, and Andrew Morris. Kansas City’s most prolific singer songwriter Howard Iceberg releases a total of 39 new songs to add to his catalog of hundreds and hundreds.]

7. Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices – “I Can Hear You Cryin’”
   from: Bustin’ Broncs and Honky Tonks / New Madrid Records / December 19, 2020
   [Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices is: Slim Hanson on vocals & guitar – Originally from the Sandhills of Nebraska, Slim Hanson traded his spurs and saddle for a guitar and microphone at the age of 14. Slim has been performing nationally as a guitarist and singer/songwriter for over 25 years founding and leading such acclaimed projects as The Hellcat Trio and The Grand Marquis. Deeply rooted in country-western and delta blues he has shared the stage with the likes of Doyle “Butch” Primm, the late great Magic Slim and Joe Ely. Beau Bledsoe on electric guitar & vocals – Beau Bledsoe performs and records classical music, jazz and folkloric music from around the world as he seeks to integrate different musical cultures with diverse audiences. Through his many varied projects and ensembles, Beau has toured extensively throughout Europe, Russia, South America and North America in addition to producing fifteen recordings under his recording label Tzigane. Beau is currently artistic director and founder of Ensemble Ibérica which explores the music of Spain, Portugal and the colonial Americas. His Southern roots have led him to pick up the telecaster and learn the songs he knew as a boy growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Marco Pascolini on pedal steel guitar – Marco Pascolini is the stuff of guitar legends. For more than twenty years he has forged his path as one of the most well-respected musicians in Kansas City. Recognized as one of the region’s most influential musicians, his talent across a multitude of instruments has been acknowledged in numerous music media including The Kansas City Star and The Pitch, among others. Be it an electric guitar or a pedal steel in his hands, you’ll find him touring with Kasey Rausch’s Country Duo or on stage in his home town with Mr. Marco’s V7, The Naughty Pines, or songwriter extraordinaire Scott Hrabko. John Currey on drums – Originally from Tyler, Texas, John Currey is a freelance percussionist with more than 20 years experience as an in-school presenter and clinician. John specializes in Modern dance accompaniment and has toured extensively throughout the US, Mexico, and Western Europe. Teaching credits include at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Graceland College, and Pittsburg State University. John currently directs the Mexican marimba quartet, Sol de Chiapas. Michael McClintock on electric bass – Michael McClintock graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City Music Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance in 2006 after relocating to Kansas City from Neosho, MO. At the conservatory, Michael studied under the classical guitar master Douglas Niedt. Since graduation Michael has taken his place squarely in the Kansas City music scene. His first professional musical project was with the Manos Rojas School of Flamenco and Dance in Kansas City where he played with, among others, Beau Bledsoe. Michael currently directs the Cuban ensemble Cubanisms and performs regularly with Ensemble Iberia. More info at: http://realhonkytonk.com/%5D

10:28 – Underwriting

8. Lily B Moonflower – “Wild N Free”
   from: Moonflower / Lost Cowgirl Records / February 12, 2021
   [The second single, “Wild N Free”, off her debut album, Moonflower, to be released January 29, 2020. Moonflower is the debut album from KC based singer songwriter Lily B Moonflower who is originally from Desoto Kansas. MOONFLOWER was produced by Martin Farrell Jr. and features: Jake Keegan on dobro, Colby Allen Walter on mandolin, Michael Turnbo & Shannon O’Shea on fiddle, Miki P on drums, Jenna Rae on saxophone & back up vocals, and Martin Farrell Jr. on back up vocals, pedal steel, piano, telecaster guitar, tambourine, & bells. More info at: http://www.lilybmoonflower.com and https://www.thelostcowgirl.com%5D

10:34 – Interview with Lily B Moonflower

23 year old Lawrence Kansas based, Lily B Moonflower, is a shining and sparkling force of nature who has been sharing her free-spirited musical style and soulful country voice on main stages and around campfires in music festivals and established venues. Lily calls her music “folk n roll with a twang.” She has been busy making music videos for her new album MOONFLOWER, to be released on February 12, 2021, on Lost Cowgirl Records. More info at: http://www.lilybmoonflower.com and https://www.thelostcowgirl.com

Lily B Moonflower, thank you for being with us today on WMM.

Lily B Moonflower recently performed on Facebook live her work with medicine bowls.

Lily’s Album Release Show is on Friday, Feb 12 at The Aztec Theatre in Shawnee, Kansas.

MOONFLOWER was produced by Martin Farrell Jr. and features: Jake Keegan on dobro, Colby Allen Walter on mandolin, Michael Turnbo & Shannon O’Shea on fiddle, Miki P on drums, Jenna Rae on saxophone & back up vocals, and Martin Farrell Jr. on back up vocals, pedal steel, piano, telecaster guitar, tambourine, & bells.

Songwriters & musicians that have heavily influenced Lily’s songwriting are Sturgill Simpson, Brent Cobb, The Wood Brothers, Chris & Morgane Stapleton, Grateful Dead, Samantha Fish, Willie Nelson, Led Zeppelin, The Band, Allman Brothers, Waylon, Nicki Bluhm & many many many more. Her entire life is dedicated to music.

Lily B is a ray of sunshine on and off the stage and her passion for roots music is apparent at her live shows and through her music. This debut album gives you a peek into the mind of a young songwriter who longs to be connected to people and nature, loves searching for crystals and arrowheads, has experienced love and heartbreak, and brings the party to every show. She has shared the stage with Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Jim Lauderdale, The Hillbenders, and many more. Lily is on a lifelong journey of creating music and this debut release will be one of many more to come.

When Lily wrote Midnight Song she was inspired by late nights dancing barefoot on the honky tonk floor. Her music video represents the magical fleeting dream state that music creates. Filmed in June with loose planning & directing, Lily wrote that she” really love the way it all came together! I couldn’t have made it happen without my good friends’ creative skills. Martin Farrell Jr., Jake Keegan, Michael Turnbo, Jenna Rae, & I collaborated effortlessly in the studio, & Miki P turned the video into the quintessential Midwestern celebration of love, celebration & music!”

Lily B Moonflower’s music video “Midnight Song”was created with:
Video Producer – Miki P
The Videographers – Miki P, Michael Thompson, & Greg Graham
Music Producer – Martin Farrell Jr. & Jenna Rae
The Band – Colby Allen Walter, Jake Keegan, Michael Turnbo, Austin Quick, Shannon O’Shea, Jenna Rae, & Martin Farrell Jr.
Dream Scene – Gretchen Nothouse, Elaina Mcendree, Bridget & Rich Kiggins, Alicia & Sarah Keegan, Bob, Moravia, Zafaran, & Denali Satterfield, Andrew Moore, Jade Hodge, Ben Soukup, Jack Knauss, K.A. Browning, Shayla Hopcraft Browning, & Kevin Stone
Stunt Double Actors – James Fisher & Jade Hodge
Midnight Song music video was shot at Bubblecream’s Ice Cream Shop in my hometown, Desoto Ks

From Lily B Moonflower album reviewed by Max Paley of Americana Music Academy (http://www.americanamusicacademy.com/press)

“Lily has some advantages over your average country singer. First, her musical heritage is not hurting anything. But, more importantly, she has surrounded herself with the right people, particularly her life partner Jake Keegan (of the nationally touring bluegrass act Grassfed) and the good people at Lost Cowgirl Records. The new album sounds straight out of Nashville in terms of quality. // This is due mostly to the musical mind of Martin Farrell, Jr. Farrell retains his heavyweight Kansas Country producer belt that he acquired with 2018’s Cosmic Western Duos, defended with 2020’s Coffee & Laundry and more than holds on to with Moonflower. Farrell demands authenticity from his artists, performing very little post-production work on the album and absolutely no auto-tuning. This means that Lily is actually as good as she sounds on these recordings. // Moonflower makes for such an exciting listen because it solidifies both Lily B. Moonflower as a true Country singer-songwriter and and the Eastern Kansas Country scene as a legitimate one worth paying attention to. It is so refreshing to hear a woman telling her stories in such a digestible way and accompanied by an amazing slate of backing musicians. Plans are already in motion for a new duo album with Lily and Keegan and even a second solo album and we cannot wait!”

Lily B Moonflower has played these Music Festivals:
Hillberry Music Festival – Eureka Springs
Missouri Country Festival – Columbia
Folk Alliance International Conference – New Orleans
Lovegrass Music Festival – Wilson State Park
Pickin On The Picknic – St Louis
Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival – Winfield
Rekinection Music Festival – La Cygne
Halfway to Everywhere Music Festival – Emporia

and Venues:
The Blue Note – Columbia
Knucklehead’s Garage – KCMO
Chelsea’s Live Music – Eureka Springs
Breckenridge Brewery – Denver
The Colony – Tulsa
Rose Music Hall – Columbia
20th Century Theater – Cincinnati
Folk Alliance Int. Conference – New Orleans

Lily B Moonflower, thank you for being with us today on WMM.

Lily B Moonflower’s album MOONFLOWER will be released Feb 12, 2021, on Lost Cowgirl Records. Info at: http://www.lilybmoonflower.com & http://www.thelostcowgirl.com

10:48

9. Lily B Moonflower – “Midnight Song”
   from: Moonflower / Lost Cowgirl Records/ February 12, 2021
   [The first single, Midnight Song, off her debut album, Moonflower, was released to all streaming platforms on NYE 2021! Moonflower is the debut album from KC based singer songwriter Lily B Moonflower who is originally from Desoto Kansas. MOONFLOWER was produced by Martin Farrell Jr. and features: Jake Keegan on dobro, Colby Allen Walter on mandolin, Michael Turnbo & Shannon O’Shea on fiddle, Miki P on drums, Jenna Rae on saxophone & back up vocals, and Martin Farrell Jr. on back up vocals, pedal steel, piano, telecaster guitar, tambourine, & bells. More info at: http://www.lilybmoonflower.com and https://www.thelostcowgirl.com%5D

On December 19, 2020 President Obama announced on Twitter his Favorite Music of 2020, this was one of the tracks on his playlist:

10. Jhené Aiko – “Summer 2020 (imterlude)”
    from: Chilombo / Artclub INTL, LLC – Def Jam Recordings / March 6, 2020
    [3rd album from Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo was born March 16, 1988. She is an American singer and songwriter, who embarked on her music career contributing vocals and appearing in several music videos for R&B group B2K. At the time, she was known as B2K member Lil’ Fizz’s “cousin”, though she is not actually related to him. It was used as a marketing tool, suggested by Sony and Epic Records to promote Aiko through group and cultivate her own following. In 2003, Aiko was set to release her debut album, My Name Is Jhené, through her labels Sony, The Ultimate Group and Epic; however, the album was never released, with Aiko eventually asking to be released from the label in order to continue her education.// In March 2011, Aiko made her return to music with the release of her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Sailing Soul(s). On December 16, 2011, Aiko signed a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.’s record label ARTium, distributed through Def Jam Recordings. In 2013, Aiko appeared on Big Sean’s single “Beware”, also featuring Lil Wayne, which became her first top 40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In November 2013, she released her first project for Artium and Def Jam, an extended play (EP), titled Sail Out. The EP was supported by the singles “3:16AM”, “Bed Peace” and “The Worst”, the latter of which went on to become certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Aiko released her major-label debut album, Souled Out, on September 9, 2014. On September 22, 2017, she released her second studio album Trip. On March 6, 2020, she released her third studio album, Chilombo, which earned Aiko three Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year. // Aiko was born in Los Angeles. Her family lived in South Los Angeles but their home burned down when she was seven. They moved near Slauson Avenue around View Park–Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills and Ladera Heights where she was homeschooled until high school. She calls her home neighborhood “Slauson Heights”. Aiko is the daughter of Christina Yamamoto and Karamo Chilombo, a pediatrician. Her parents later divorced. Her sister is R&B singer Mila J. Her mother is of Spanish, Dominican and Japanese descent and her father is of Native American, African-American and German-Jewish descent.// She took vocal lessons in Culver City, California, but quit when she unexpectedly got pregnant. At age 20, she gave birth to a baby girl she named Namiko Love Browner.]

11. Afel Bocoum – “Djougal”
    from: Lindé / World Circuit / September 4, 2020
    [Afel Bocoum was born in 1955, He is a musician from Mali, noted as a singer and guitarist. He began his career as a member of Ali Farka Touré’s group ASCO, and Toure is often regarded as his mentor. Both men come from the town of Niafunke on the River Niger, and are members of the Sonrai people. Bocoum is an agricultural advisor by profession. // His group, Alkibar (the name means ‘messenger of the great river’ in Sonrai) consists of two acoustic guitars, a njarka (a one-string fiddle), a njurkle (a kind of lute), calabash and djembe percussion, and two female singers as well as male singers in the choruses. Bocoum is the lead vocalist. Bocoum uses music as a medium of communication, commenting on contemporary Malian society, e.g., “if you betray one woman, you betray all women” (Yarabitala), “we live in a crazy world with no respect; tomorrow we’ll be judged by our children” (Salamm aleikum), “parents, do not force your daughters to marry; a home will never flourish without true love” (Mali woymoyo). // Most of his singing is done in Sonrai, his native language, but also in Tamasheq (the language of the Tuareg) and in Fulfulde (the language of the Fula people). Bocoum’s father was a musician and was noted locally for his ability to play the njarka and njurkel, which he employed to play music at weddings. Bocoum used to accompany his father to the weddings and there learnt the songs of the se galarare style of music. He retained his preference for acoustic over electric guitar, and the use of traditional instruments. As well as the Malian musicians he grew up with, Bocoum cites Jorge Ben Jor, Mamadou Doumbia, Salif Keita, John Lee Hooker, and Mongo Santamaría as his musical influences. // In 1968, at the age of thirteen, he joined the group of guitarist Ali Farka Touré and singer Harber Maiga as an apprentice. It was Maiga who taught Bocoum to sing and to write songs until his death on 23 March 1983. Bocoum’s first solo performance came in 1968 at a musical competition in Mopti. He was well received by the public. In 1972 he performed in front of 3000 people at Mali’s second Biennale in Bamako, which was held every two years from 1970 to 1990, when Musa Traore was overthrown. The Bambara people were dominant in Malian affairs at that time and because of his Sonrai ethnicity, Bocoum was only awarded second prize. // He left the Niafunke group in 1975 when he won a scholarship to an agricultural college in M’Pessoba, near Koutiala in the southeast of the country. After three years of study he began working in Djenné, before returning to his home town, and the group, in 1980. In 1982 he was invited to join the Orchestre Diaba Regional from Timbuktu. In the early 1980s he formed Alkibar, and influenced by his knowledge of agriculture, used their music to communicate with people about water and irrigation. // His debut album, Alkibar, was recorded in an abandoned school near Niafunke over the course of six days – the same session and location where the Ali Farka Touré’s Niafunke was recorded. In fact, Ali Farka and Bocoum appeared on each other’s albums. Bocoum and Ali Farka’s record producer believed that transporting the group to a recording studio overseas would diminish the quality of the music. // In 2002 Bocoum collaborated with the Blur singer Damon Albarn on the successful Mali Music album, and the two played together in concerts in London and Denmark. // In 2006, Afel Bocoum and his band, Alkibar, released their second full-length album Niger on the Belgian label Contre-Jour. The sounds of Niger rely heavily on the traditional instruments njarka and njurkel, which give this collection of new materials a more traditional, and distinctively different quality from their excellent Western debut, Alkibar. Niger opens with a heartfelt and stirring tribute to his late mentor, Ali Farka Touré. // There is a curiosity about a visit made by Afel Bocoum in 2001 in Brazil. On this visit, Bocoum said his name “Afel” was like “Affection”, showing what he felt for all Brazilians. Today, after 10 years many Brazilians use the word “Afel” to symbolize “Affection”. // As of 2011, Afel is touring as part of the second iteration of Acoustic Africa.]

11:00 – Station ID

12. Redder Moon – “Dominos In Slow Motion”
    from: “Dominos In Slow Motion” – Single / Redder Moon / January 12, 2021
    [Jeremiah James Gonzales on guitar, bass, analog drums, producing, arranging and composing with new collaborators; Brody Lowe (from Portland, Oregon) on synths and Jill McKeever (For Strange Women) on vocals & lyrics. The band uses layered synths & production with live bass, drums, guitars, and vocals. Redder Moon tends to skirt the line between traditional electronic act and indie avant garde. With washed out guitars, thick bass grooves, and distant reverb soaked vocals, the songs beam with the almost tactile feel of a sound track to a lost movie but with enough dance-ability to pull you out of your seat. In the last few months of 2020, the band has written and recorded an album’s with of songs, over 20 actually, without playing together, and with each member individually recording their parts at home. This was a welcome channel of creation in a time of restraint. The result is a collection that explores everything from synth pop shoegaze, to dark wave indie sounds, with dance undertones and haunting lyrics. More info at http://www.reddermoon.bandcamp.com.]

11:05 – Interview with Jeremiah James Gonzales and Jill McKeever

Joining us on the phone are Jeremiah James Gonzales and Jill McKeever of the KC based band Redder Moon. The band also includes Brody Lowe (from Portland Oregon) on synthesizers. We just heard their newest single, “Dominos in Slow Motion” and e’ll talk about their process of putting together their latest album. In the last few months of 2020, the band has written and recorded an album’s with of songs, over 20 actually, without playing together, and with each member individually recording their parts at home. The result is a collection that explores synth pop shoegaze, to dark wave indie sounds, with dance undertones and haunting lyrics. More info at http://www.reddermoon.bandcamp.com

Jeremiah James Gonzales and Jill McKeever thanks for being with us on WMM.

The current line-up consists of: Jeremiah James Gonzales on guitar, bass and analog drums, and producing, arranging and composing with my two new collaborators; Brody Lowe on synths (from Portland, Oregon) and Jill McKeever (of For Strange Women) on vocals and lyrics. The band uses layered synths and production with live bass, drums, guitars, and vocals the Redder Moon tends to skirt the line between traditional electronic act and indie avantgarde. With washed out guitars, thick bass grooves, and distant reverb soaked vocals, the songs beam with the almost tactile feel of a sound track to a lost movie but with enough dance-ability to pull you out of your seat.

In the last months of 2020, the band has written & recorded an album’s with of songs, over 20 actually, without playing together, and with each member individually recording their parts at home.

Jeremiah you wrote that this “was a welcome channel of creation in a time of restraint.”

The result is a collection that explores everything from synth pop shoegaze, to dark wave indie sounds, with dance undertones and haunting lyrics.

Jeremiah James Gonzales is originally from in rural Idaho. After a couple years spinning his wheels at community college he discovered an outlet playing top 40 rock tunes with a non-profit organization that led him to spend months touring places like Brazil, India, Poland, as well as in the United States, from 1998 to 2001. Making many friends around the world, Jeremiah kept in touch with a drummer friend from Nigeria who had somehow landed in Kansas City. In March of 2001 Jeremiah James accepted what was supposed to be a 3-month tour of the Midwest playing bass in a hard rock band. One thing led to another and now it’s been 20 years in KC.

The Bands of Jeremiah James Gonzales (* All on guitar unless otherwise noted.)

Elevator Division (2001 – 2006 , Reunited 2020)
Lovers In Transit (Founder, 2006 – 2008)
Monta At Odds (2008 – 2010)
Be/Non (2009 – current)
Mannequin Skywalker (solo project 2009 – 2010)
Umberto (2010 – 2013 *drummer)
Redder Moon (Founder 2013 – current)
RHUNES (Founder 2014 – current)
Knife Crime (2018 – current)

Jeremiah James writes, “My passion is and always has been and will be forever, to create and share music.”

Since 2009 Jill McKeever has been an Alchemist at For Strange Women
for more info: http://www.forstrangewomen.com

Jill McKeever grew up in Kansas City and gradated from Oak Park High in 2002. She studied Video, Music/Audio design at Missouri State University where she also studied electronic arts. And graduated in 2006. She also studied at Earthship Biotecture Academy.

Jill McKeever is the author of The Spirit of Botany, Aromatic Recipes and Rituals, Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing; First Edition (October 13, 2020)

Jill McKeever founded For Strange Women Perfume in 2009. Combining her backgrounds in graphic/web design, video and audio production, photography, and music, she has developed a unique, synesthetic method of perfume construction. A passionate advocate for animals and the environment, Jill loves spending time in her garden with her cat, Onyx, and chickens, Patsy and Edina.

A visually entrancing and esoteric guide to connecting with plants through the senses. In The Spirit of Botany, artist and perfumer Jill McKeever reveals her personal rituals and creative methods of using aromatic botanical materials in incense, perfume, tisanes, ritual baths, and much more.

Jill McKeever joined Redder Moon in August 2020.

Brody Lowe is originally from from Portland, Oregon. He also recently joined the band on synthesizers. Brody Lowe studied Design at Oregon State University. He founded the company Brody Lowe Design. Along with multiple projects in print, video, space, artwork for companies, banks, artists, podcasts, and others, Brody has designed over 100 album covers.

You can learn more about his work in Art Direction and Design at http://www.brodylowe.com

The band played Lemonade park on Saturday, July 25 with Various Blonde and YUM.

The band is currently working in and out of studios. Working separately, balancing the costs of production and studio rates with a search for a record label to support the band.

The band hopes to release a new album in 2021

Jeremiah James Gonzales and Jill McKeever thanks for being with us on WMM.

More info at http://www.reddermoon.bandcamp.com

11:19

13. Redder Moon – “Land of the Blind”
    from: “Land of the Blind” – Single / Redder Moon / January 27, 2021
    [Jeremiah James Gonzales on guitar, bass, analog drums, producing, arranging and composing with new collaborators; Brody Lowe (from Portland, Oregon) on synths and Jill McKeever (For Strange Women) on vocals & lyrics. The band uses layered synths & production with live bass, drums, guitars, and vocals. Redder Moon tends to skirt the line between traditional electronic act and indie avant garde. With washed out guitars, thick bass grooves, and distant reverb soaked vocals, the songs beam with the almost tactile feel of a sound track to a lost movie but with enough dance-ability to pull you out of your seat. In the last few months of 2020, the band has written and recorded an album’s with of songs, over 20 actually, without playing together, and with each member individually recording their parts at home. This was a welcome channel of creation in a time of restraint. The result is a collection that explores everything from synth pop shoegaze, to dark wave indie sounds, with dance undertones and haunting lyrics. More info at http://www.reddermoon.bandcamp.com.]

On December 19, 2020 President Obama announced on Twitter his Favorite Music of 2020, this was one of the tracks on his playlist:

14. Hope Tala – “All My Girls Like To Fight”
    from: Girl Eats Sun – EP / EMI – Republic Records / November 13, 2020
    [22 year old singer songwriter from the UK. After three yers studying at the University of Bristol with first class honors in English Literature while also traveling back and forth to London to record her first EP Starrry Ache and her second EP Sensitive Soul (August 2019), Hope Tala let her academic life to focus entirely in her musical career. Alexandra Pollard in the Independent writes, ” Having turned down a masters offer from Cambridge to pursue a career in music, 23-year-old Hope Tala has a breezy self-confidence about her – one that oozes into the music. She doesn’t so much belt out her melodies as sigh them out, in a voice that is relaxed and conversational, set against bossa nova and R&B beats. She is refreshingly uncoy about using female pronouns, too. ‘Being open about being queer,’ she says, ‘has contributed to my confidence in myself.'”

11:28 – Underwriting

15. Charlotte Bumgarner – “Haunted House”
    from: “Haunted House” – Single / Manor Records / January 22, 2021
    [Written & performed by Charlotte Bumgarner. Harmony, synth, production, mixing & mastering by Drew Richardson.. // Charlotte is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Tulsa. She has been playing the local Tulsa scene for about 2-3 years as a solo artist and for about a year with her band Graveyard Party. Charlotte’s sound can be described as a mix of many influences, but is mostly a emo singer/songwriter & folky fusion. Charlotte is also a big activist for female equality & rights and tries to integrate that into my songwriting and my footprint in the scene in general.// In 2018 Charlotte began self-recording and releasing her own music with the single “where are you” and night blooming flowers EP. From then on Charlotte continued playing throughout the local Tulsa scene as well as branching out and touring regionally as much as possible. In the spring of 2020 prior to signing with Manor Records, Charlotte self-released an acoustic set for RSU radio EP that first introduced us to her upcoming single “Honey Touch”. After signing to the label, Charlotte’s plan is to release a three-track single series beginning with this release, followed up by her debut album later in the year 2021. KOSU Radio called Charlotte a “passionate about young women being taken seriously and making the music scene a safer place for everyone.” More info at http://www.manorrecords.com]

11:34 – Interview with Charlotte Bumgarner

“Haunted House,” is Charlotte Bumgarner’s newest single, released on January 22, 2021 on Manor Records. After signing to the label, Charlotte’s plan is to release a three-track single series beginning with this release, followed up by her debut album later in the year. Charlotte has been playing professionally in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a solo artist for about three years, and with her band Graveyard Party for the past year. Charlotte is an activist for female equality and integrates that into her songs. More info at http://www.manorrecords.com

Charlotte Bumgarner thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Charlotte Bumgarner celebrated her 20th birthday on January 11, 2021

The new singles and songs on Charlottes debut album are written & performed by Charlotte Bumgarner.

Charlotte is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Tulsa. She has been playing the local Tulsa scene for about 2-3 years as a solo artist and for about a year with her band Graveyard Party. Charlotte’s sound can be described as a mix of many influences, but is mostly a emo singer/songwriter & folky fusion.

Charlotte is also a big activist for female equality & rights and tries to integrate that into my songwriting and my footprint in the scene in general.

In 2018 Charlotte began self-recording and releasing her own music with the single “where are you” and night blooming flowers EP. From then on Charlotte continued playing throughout Tulsa as well as branching out and touring regionally as much as possible.

In the spring of 2020 prior to signing with Manor Records, Charlotte self-released an acoustic set for RSU radio EP that first introduced us to her single “Honey Touch”.

After signing to the label, Charlotte’s plan is to release a three-track single series beginning with this release, followed up by her debut album later in the year 2021. KOSU Radio called Charlotte a “passionate about young women being taken seriously and making the music scene a safer place for everyone.”

Charlotte Bumgarner thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Charlotte Bumgarner’s new single, “Haunted House: was just released on Manor Records.
Charlotte’s plan is to release a 3-track single series beginning with this release, followed up by her debut album later in the year 2021. More info at http://www.manorrecords.com]

11:46

16. Charlotte Bumgarner – “Honey Touch”
    from: Honey Touch – Single / Manor Records / December 11, 2020
    [Written & performed by Charlotte Bumgarner. Harmony, synth, production, mixing & mastering by Drew Richardson. Charlotte is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Tulsa. She has been playing the local Tulsa scene for about 2-3 years as a solo artist and for about a year with her band Graveyard Party. Charlotte’s sound can be described as a mix of many influences, but is mostly a emo singer/songwriter & folky fusion. Charlotte is also a big activist for female equality & rights and tries to integrate that into my songwriting and my footprint in the scene in general.// In 2018 Charlotte began self-recording and releasing her own music with the single “where are you” and night blooming flowers EP. From then on Charlotte continued playing throughout the local Tulsa scene as well as branching out and touring regionally as much as possible. In the spring of 2020 prior to signing with Manor Records, Charlotte self-released an acoustic set for RSU radio EP that first introduced us to her upcoming single “Honey Touch”. After signing to the label, Charlotte’s plan is to release a three-track single series beginning with this release, followed up by her debut album later in the year 2021. More info at http://www.manorrecords.com]

17. The Flaming Lips – “Dinosaurs On The Mountain”
    from: American Head / Warner Records / September 11, 2020
    [American Head is the sixteenth studio album by experimental rock band the Flaming Lips, released on September 11, 2020, on Warner Records in the US and Bella Union in the UK. On March 23, 2020, Drozd announced that the band’s sixteenth studio album, titled American Head, is due for release in the summer. The album represents a shift in identity as the band decided to focus on their American roots on the album. The band officially announced the album’s release date as September 11, 2020, along with the single “My Religion Is You” on June 26, 2020. Coyne gave a track-by-track breakdown of the album for Apple Music.]

18. Ondist – “Love is Gold [feat. Jillian Riscoe]”
    from: Mise en Place / Bikiniwax Records / June 12, 2020
    [Recorded at Weights & Measures with Duane Trower with Sam Platt on drums, Eddie Moore on keyboards, Jamie Anderson on guitar, and Jillian Riscoe on vocals, In 2020 the band Ondist released three full length albums, NO COINCIDENCE on June 12, and ELECTRICITY on August 14, and MISE EN PLACE on November 13 totaling 41 songs. Plus band member Corbin Dooley released a 14-track solo album called AFFECTION on September 18. The band also released a 26 track Acapellas & Instrumentals Release on July 3, plus a 4-song EP entitled RESOUND on February 28, plus 9 singles. Ondist is Corbin Dooley, Nick Poortman, and Maya Coppola are Ondist. Recording in Malibu, Dallas, Kansas City, and Las Vegas brought environmental influences to the center of the Ondist sound, which is united by its cinematic vision of hope. Several of the tracks for all of these album releases were recorded at Weights & Measures with Duane Trower with Sam Platt on drums, Eddie Moore on keyboards, DeAndre Manning on bass, Jamie Anderson on guitar, Claire Adams on vocals, and Jillian Riscoe on vocals. With divergent backgrounds rooted in Arkansas, New Zealand, and New York, the trio connected in Los Angeles. Corbin Dooley signed Nine Inch nails to TVT Records in 1990. He managed Blur, and Tekronic. We interviewed Maya Coppola on the October 7, 2020 on WMM.]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, February 3, we talk with singer songwriter Martin Farrell Jr. We also chat with filmmaker, artist, musician and radio show host & producer Mikal Shapiro. And community and AIDS activist, Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, and host and producer of his own weekly radio show on 90.1 FM KKFI on Saturday nights at 5:00 PM D Rashaan Gilmore joins us live.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:
http://www.kkfi.org,
http://www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1

Show #874