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, February 3, 2021

New & MidCoastal Releases +
Martin Farrell Jr + Mikal Shapiro + D Rashaan Gilmore

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. Foxygen – “San Francisco”
   from: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic / Jagjaguar / January 18, 2013
   [Second full-length album by Californian experimental rock duo of Sam France, 22 years old (at the time) vocalist and songwriter, originally from Olympia, Washington, and Jonathan Rado, also 22, (at the time) who is a songwriter, guitarist, and keyboard player, originally form NYC. Formed in 2005, the band self-released several EPs between 2007 and 2011. In 2012 the group was signed to Jagjaguwar Records. This album was produced by Richard Swift and recorded at his National Freedom studio.]

3. Thundercat – “Funny Thing”
   from: It Is What It Is / Brainfeeder / April 3, 2020
   [4th studio album by Thundercat, executive produced by the lead artist alongside Flying Lotus, and features guest appearances from the likes of Louis Cole, Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, Childish Gambino, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil B, Kamasi Washington, BadBadNotGood, and Zack Fox. The last track from the album, also named It Is What It Is, contains a vocal sample from the late Mac Miller that can be heard in the mid-track. The album is also dedicated to him. The album received critical acclaim, with critics praising the album’s humor elements as well as Thundercat’s way of expressing emotions. // Stephen Lee Bruner was born October 19, 1984) and is better known by his stage name Thundercat, a musician, bassist, singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. First coming to prominence as a member of crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, he has since released four solo studio albums and is noted for his work with producer Flying Lotus and his appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly. In 2016, Thundercat won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance for his work on the track “These Walls” from To Pimp a Butterfly. // Born into a family of musicians, Bruner began playing the bass at an early age: by 15 he had a minor hit in Germany as a member of the boy band No Curfew. A year later he joined his brother Ronald Jr. as a member of the Los Angeles punk band Suicidal Tendencies, replacing former bass player Josh Paul. Bruner’s earliest studio album appearances include playing electric bass on Kamasi Washington’s Live at 5th Street Dick’s and The Proclamation. // Along with his band duties Bruner is also a session musician, acclaimed for his work on Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah (2008) and Flying Lotus’ Cosmogramma (2010). He released his first solo album in 2011, The Golden Age of Apocalypse, which featured production from Flying Lotus, and was influenced by 1970s fusion artists such as Stanley Clarke and George Duke. The next two years saw a return to the recording studio with fellow Brainfeeder artist Flying Lotus, with contributions to the Lotus’s Until the Quiet Comes (2012) and You’re Dead! (2014), and the release of Thundercat’s second album Apocalypse (2013). // Bruner has been described as being a major contributor to and “at the creative epicenter” of Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly. // Along with the involvements with previous artists, Thundercat draws inspiration from jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Mary Lou Williams and Ron Carter. Through this, he is frequently able to renew elements from old soul, funk, and jazz albums. Known as “digging in the crates”, this method is best used to bring the sound, feel and emotion he wants to convey in his music. An example of this can be heard on his EP released in 2015 titled The Beyond.]

4. Lava Dreams – “The Amazing Wave”
   from: “The Amazing Wave” – Single / RIOT / January 8, 2021
   [Lava Dreams released their debut EP “Good Energy + Focus” on June 13, 2020. Written by Lava Dreams and produced by Duncan Burnett. Solo artist Lava Dreams aka Julia Hamilton writes songs influenced by pop, soul, RnB, jazz, trap, house, funk, reggae, rock, and world music. Hailing from Kansas City, MO, her guitar-based music is both dreamy & electric. Lava Dreams began writing lyrics and melodies as a young child. Growing up, she learned to play her first guitar chords from her father – who played around the house and in local bars. After playing guitar and singing in several Kansas City bands as a teenager, she set out to become a solo artist in 2018. Julia Hamilton is also a film maker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila Unversity. You can listen to Lava Dreams on Spotify, iTunes, Tidal, Deezer, Google Play, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or at LavaDreamsMusic.com. Lava Dreams joined us on WMM on April 22, 2020. ]

5. The Black Creatures – “The Winter & Fall [Radio Edit]”
   from: “Wild Echoes / Center Cut Records/ September 30, 2019
   [In 2020 The Black Creatures were signed to KC based Center Cut Records. Their 2019 album Wild Echoes was remixed and remastered and re-released on August 28, 2020 and also on vinyl.. The Black Creatures are Jade Green & Xavier Martin. The band joined us on the radio on the August 26, 2019 edition of WMM. “Wild Echoes” was #2 in WMM’s 119 Favorite Releases of 2019 (Albums & EPs). Since the release of ”Wild Echoes” the band has released seven entirely new songs, nearly one per month, all posted to their bandcamp page. The Black Creatures fuse dark-pop hip-hop, soul, jazz, and electronic music with elements from science fiction to tell inter-dimensional stories of love, community, life, culture, history. Xavier & Jade have made an impression in the KC music community with their live shows in clubs, galleries, record stores, and area music festivals. The Black Creatures released their debut single “Mouth 2 Mouth” June 5, 2016. They released the album, See No Evil, December 6, 2017. The duo released the singles, “Elements” February 14, 2018; “Silver Tears” June 19. 2018; “Dare” a Gorillaz cover August 8, 2019. They released the album “Wild Echoes” September 30, 2019. The Black Creatures released the singles “Turn” October 30, 2019; “Quartz (Twilight)” November 13, 2019; “SHINE” December 11, 2019; Ghost Bustin’ Dead Prezidentz” January 8, 2020; “To Whom It May Concern” January 22, 2020; “Arcade Love” February 5, 2020; and “Run Up” Feb. 19, 2020.]

6. Bartees Strange – “Mustang”
   from: Live Forever / Memory Music / October 2, 2020
   [Bartees Leon Cox Jr., known by his stage name Bartees Strange, is an American musician. Cox was born in Ipswich, England, raised in Mustang, Oklahoma, but is now based in Washington D.C.. In March of 2020, Cox released an EP of songs by The National that were re-imagined by him, titled Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy. Cox was named an Artist To Watch by Stereogum in September 2020 and released his first full-length album on October 2, 2020 titled Live Forever. The album is a mix of hip hop, indie rock, and jazz music. The album received universal acclaim from reviews. Bartees Strange participated in the 2020 Thursday Signals V2 live show. Cox was born in Ipswich, England, to a military father and opera-singer mother. The family moved from England to Germany, Greenland and various US states before settling in Mustang, Oklahoma, USA when he was aged 12. Before becoming a musician, Cox worked as the director of communications for a nonprofit environmental organization in Washington D.C.]

7. They’re Theirs – “Let Me Roll It”
   from: “Let Me Roll It” – Single / Chase Horseman / December 25, 2020
   [New single release from Chase Horseman and Raspberry Maret recorded and released as a Christmas present to friends and fans. Raspberry Maret plays bass and sings back up vocals for Wick and The Tricks. Chase The Horseman released the EP Disinformation Blues on July 12, 2019 that was recorded & mixed by Joel Nanos & Chase Horseman at Element Recording. Mastered by Joel Nanos. Drums by Ian Dobyns, bass by Skylar Cowdry, guitar/vocals/synthesizers by Chase Horseman. Chase the Horseman is a band, film composer, multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, & producer. He has composed music for over 40 films and as musician has collaborated with Clairaudients, Teri Quinn, Heidi Lynne Gluck, Nan Turner, KD Kuro and more. Chase The Horseman released the single “U Martyr U” June 19, 2018, and the single “Modern Ruins” on Oct 4, 2018.]

10:28 – Underwriting

8. Martin Farrell Jr. – “Take Care”
   from: Coffee and Laundry / Martin Farrell Jr. / December 18, 2020
   [“Coffee and Laundry” has an original sound steeped heavily in traditional American roots music. Martin uses his personal experiences and midwestern upbringing for songwriting inspiration but transforms this perspective by adopting the role of characters throughout history. The record identifies most easily with Alt-Country and Americana genres with elements of folk, bluegrass, rock, western and blues. Similar to his first album, he wrote the songs, self produced the album and played all of the parts on the recordings.Martin recently served as producer of Lily B Moonflower’s new album MOONFLOWER to be released on February 12, 2021, on Lost Cowgirl Records where he played pedal steel, piano, telecaster guitar, tambourine, bells, & back up vocals. Minnesota-born songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Martin is intent on discovering new ways of playing old musical styles. After moving to Lawrence, KS in 2005 he began playing banjo, bass, piano and guitar in local bluegrass and rock groups. After meeting KC based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenna Rae, the two began writing music and performing as a “cosmic western duo.” In 2017, they founded Lost Cowgirl Records with the mission to support female songwriters within the category of Americana and Roots music. More info at: http://www.jennamartinduo.com and http://www.thelostcowgirl.com]

10:34 – Interview with Martin Farrell Jr.

Minnesota-born songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Martin Farrell Jr. joins us to talk about his new album, COFFEE and LAUNDRY released December 18, 2020. He moved to Lawrence, KS in 2005 and began playing banjo, bass, piano and guitar in local bluegrass and rock groups. After meeting KC based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenna Rae, the two began writing music and performing as a “cosmic western duo.” In 2017, they founded Lost Cowgirl Records with the mission to support female songwriters within the category of Americana and Roots music. More info at: http://www.jennamartinduo.com and http://www.thelostcowgirl.com

Martin Farrell Jr., thank you for being with us today on WMM.

The second Martin Farrell Jr. album “Coffee and Laundry” contains 10 brand new original songs with a meaningful message.

Martin recently served as producer of Lily B Moonflower‘s new album MOONFLOWER to be released on February 12, 2021, on Lost Cowgirl Records where he played pedal steel, piano, telecaster guitar, tambourine, bells, & back up vocals.

Like most musicians in 2020, Martin has spent most of his time at home – working in his studio, fixing old microphones, writing songs, drinking coffee and doing laundry. Adopting daily routines and working with intention gave rist to teh album’s title. It’s also a line from the first track “Take Care” … “Coffee and laundry is all I do, sometimes predictable acceptable too.” The song also holds an important message … “Take care of yourself my good friend ’cause I wanna see your smiling face again.” Farrell has seen too many musician friends leave this world too early and made a personal decision to stop drinking in 2017, take better care of himself and focus on making the best music he can create. He has done just that, producing music for Lost Cowgirl Records, Jenna Rae, Jenna & Martin, Lily B Moonflower, and Julie Bennett Hume.

Martin Farrell Jr’s talent began to show in early childhood. One year as the family sat down to enjoy the World Series on television, they turned to watch their five year old walk over to the piano and work out the National Anthem by ear. Soon they found him an excellent teacher and after several years of taking piano lessons, playing classical pieces and studying theory, he bought a guitar and started teaching himself how to play. Martin quickly developed a deep appreciation for the music of Frank Zappa and sought out to discover the inner workings of Zappa’s extremely difficult compositions.

After moving to Lawrence, KS in 2005 he began playing banjo, bass, piano and guitar in local bluegrass and rock groups, eventually fronting his own six piece progressive bluegrass band with drums called Dr. Cotton. It was around this time that Farrell started offering his services as a sideman and joined KC based bluegrass group Kansas City Hustle on banjo as well as playing Telecaster in the Beerbellies – a honky tonk band put together by Lawrence fiddling legend and Kansas Music Hall of Fame member, Billy Spears. It was through the lens of the 1970’s revival and reinvention of Country & Bluegrass music that he would discover the true greats of the genres and find their roots. Artists like Gram Parsons, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Danny Barnes and Tony Rice shifted his interest towards monumental figures such as Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams Sr., Merle Haggard, Clarence White, Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, Speedy West, Bill Monroe, and blues great Roy Buchanan. In response to these staggering discoveries, Farrell began to pursue a sound he called “Cosmic Western” – a genre which possesses a classic country sound, bluegrass techniques, gospel harmonies and rock rhythms.

During 2015, he started recording his debut release entitled “Tales from the Outer Country” – a 14 track album produced and recorded entirely by Martin in his home studio. The record shows the potential Farrell has as a writer and arranger, featuring wondrous displays of musicianship, melody, harmony and dedication to the music he makes.

“Being able to produce records on my own without input from others has allowed me to create music unaffected by outside influence and provide a virtually limitless musical environment where I am the boss.” – Martin Farrell Jr.

After meeting Kansas City based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenna Rae, the two began writing music together and worked in a six piece country band called Playing for Horses. The couple started performing as a “cosmic western duo” called Jenna & Martin and continued to make themselves known in the local scene. In 2017, they started a record label called Lost Cowgirl Records with the mission to support female songwriters within the category of Americana and roots music. Farrell went on to produce Jenna Rae’s debut record “Workin’ Woman” in 2018, playing guitar, pedal steel, banjo, piano, mandolin, harmonica, bass, drums and percussion on the album. During the 2018 holiday season, they released their first EP and accompanying short film called “Gingerbread”. They tour throughout the US as a duo with their standard poodle Roy, but will often play with a drummer and bassist for larger shows.

Martin spent around a year playing pedal steel and dobro in the Amarugia Ridge Runners, a young honky tonk group he met while living in his bus on a farm in Peculiar, MO. He also works as a session musician, graphic designer, producer and recording engineer in the Kansas City/Lawrence area.

Martin Farrell Jr, 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

10:47

9. Martin Farrell Jr. – “No Company”
   from: Coffee and Laundry / Martin Farrell Jr. / December 18, 2020
   [“Coffee and Laundry” has an original sound steeped heavily in traditional American roots music. Martin uses his personal experiences and midwestern upbringing for songwriting inspiration but transforms this perspective by adopting the role of characters throughout history. The record identifies most easily with Alt-Country and Americana genres with elements of folk, bluegrass, rock, western and blues. Similar to his first album, he wrote the songs, self produced the album and played all of the parts on the recordings.Martin recently served as producer of Lily B Moonflower’s new album MOONFLOWER to be released on February 12, 2021, on Lost Cowgirl Records where he played pedal steel, piano, telecaster guitar, tambourine, bells, & back up vocals. Minnesota-born songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Martin is intent on discovering new ways of playing old musical styles. After moving to Lawrence, KS in 2005 he began playing banjo, bass, piano and guitar in local bluegrass and rock groups. After meeting KC based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenna Rae, the two began writing music and performing as a “cosmic western duo.” In 2017, they founded Lost Cowgirl Records with the mission to support female songwriters within the category of Americana and Roots music. More info at: http://www.jennamartinduo.com and http://www.thelostcowgirl.com]

10. Iris DeMent – “The Sacred Now”
    from: “The Sacred Now” – Single / Flariella / November 6, 2020
    [Newest single from Iris DeMent recorded in November, 2020, and one of three new singles Iris has released since October 2020. In the mid 1980s Iris moved to the midwest, and after a series of jobs as a waitress and typist she wrote her first song at the age of 25. She moved to Kansas City and played Harling’s Upstairs and open-mic nights alongside Scott Hrabko and Howard Iceberg. Iris met producer Jim Rooney from Nashville, in 1988, who helped her land a record contract. Iris Dement made her recording debut in 1992, with her independently produced album, “Infamous Angel.” The record won critical acclaim and John Prine mentioned Iris in his list of favorite recordings of the year published in Rolling Stone. Despite a complete lack of support from country radio, the word of mouth praise for Iris DeMent’s “Infamous Angel” earned her a deal with Warner Bros Records, which reissued “Infamous Angel” in 1993. The album also included the song, “Let The Mystery Be” a composition that has also been covered by David Bryne, 10,000 Maniacs, Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick, Greg Brown, and it was the theme song for the second season of HBO’s The Leftovers. Iris DeMent represents that place in the road, where Country and Folk music merged with honest stories, of working class people, not afraid to tell the truth about the times they are living through. Iris DeMent grew up singing gospel music, but in her teenage years, she discovered other music through the radio: country, folk, and R&B, and the music of Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell. Iris DeMent’s first three releases, all on Warner Brothers records, were critically acclaimed. She received two Grammy nominations during this time, in the “Folk Music” category. Meanwhile country radio completely overlooked her original songs, and amazing voice, that has been compared to Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. For her 1992 debut record Infamous Angel, John Prine wrote the liner notes. // “One night after receiving a copy of “Let the Mystery Be,” I was listening to the tape while frying a dozen or so pork chops in a skillet. Well Iris DeMent starts singing about “Mama’s Opry,” and being the sentimental fellow I am, I got a lump in my throat and a tear fell from my eyes into the hot oil. Well the oil popped out and burnt my arm as if the pork chops were trying to say, “Shut up, or I’ll really give you something to cry about.” Of course, pork chops can’t talk. But Iris DeMent’s songs can. They talk about isolated memories of life, love and living. And Iris has a voice I like a whole lot, like one you’ve heard before— but not really. So listen to this music, this Iris DeMent. It’s good for you. And if pork chops could talk, they’d probably learn how to sing one of her songs. Then we’d all have something to cry about.” – John Prine, Songwriter, musician & president Oh Boy! Records. // Iris followed up her debut record with the autobiographical, “My Life,” released in 1994 and quickly followed with her third Warner Brother’s release, “The Way I Should,” released in 1996, which contains some of Iris DeMent’s most political songs. // In the 2002 Iris DeMent did a benefit concert for The Friends of Community Radio at Unity Temple on The Plaza. I remember when Iris asked us if it was okay that she have a musician friend open the concert for her, we agreed because Iris was donated her talent to the cause of community radio. And then she told us that this musician friend was Greg Brown, who at this point was know all over the country, but had never before played KC. // Later that year, on November 21, 2002 Greg married Iris DeMent in a private ceremony in the office of Rev. Sam Mann of St. Mark Church in East KC. // Iris released her 5th album, “Sing The Delta” in 2012, to glowing reviews from, The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, and was #1 on WMM’s 112 Best Recordings of 2012. In 2015 Iris DeMent released her 6th album, The Trackless Woods in 2015 with even more national acclaim, and a #5 spot on WMM’s 115 Best Recordings of 2015. The Trackless Woods sets 18 poems by acclaimed 20th century Russian poet Anna Akhmatova to life. Hailed as one of Russia’s finest poets, Akhmatova survived the Bolshevik Revolution, both World Wars and Stalin. When Iris randomly stumbled upon Akhmatova’s work in a book of poetry a friend sent as a gift, she was immediately taken by the sorrow and burden of the poems. Iris recorded the album with co-producer Richard Bennett in her living room over a five-day period. The project also fulfilled a long yearned-for desire to connect with her adopted daughter’s culture and history. Iris and her husband Greg Brown adopted their daughter from Siberia in 2005, when she was 6, and Iris says ”I’d never have made this record were it not for her.” // Last year on September 3, 2020 Grammy Nominated singer songwriter Iris DeMent released the new single “How Long.” Then, in October of last year, Iris DeMent sent me a new song she had just written and created a lyric video. I immediately wrote back to Iris and said, “This song is so beautiful and so needed right now. I cried several times listening to it.” She wrote back, “It’s a cry and dance at the same time song. Can’t say I’ve written one of those before. She ended her message with a smily face and the words, “Much love!” // In his review for WHYY’s Fresh Air, Entertainment Weekly Music Editor – Ken Tucker wrote: “Iris DeMent possesses one of the great voices in contemporary popular music: powerfully, ringingly clear, capable of both heartbreaking fragility and blow-your-ears-back power. Had she been making country albums in the ’70s and ’80s and had more commercial ambition, she’d probably now be considered right up there with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. Instead, she’s lived a contemporary life, a somewhat private life. As she recently told an interviewer, “There’s a lot that goes into life besides songwriting.” And she’s taken her time in composing songs that fit into no genre easily.”]

11:00 – Station ID

11. Mikal Shapiro & The Musical – “The Distance of Elements”
    from: Kansas City Syzygy / Kansas City Syzygy / July 17, 2020
    {The Musical is Mikal Shapiro, on vocals & guitar, Chad Brothers on vocals & guitar, Johnny Hamil on bass, and Matt Richey on drums. Recorded separately and with social distancing. Mikal Shapiro released her critically acclaimed album The Musical II on May 26, 2018 which included “Everybody’s Baby” her pop song she wrote that got a lot of radio play, but all the songs on The Musical 11 are great. The Musical II is the sequel to Shapiro’s 2015 concept album, “The Musical.” Along with Mikal Shapiro, Chad Brothers, Johnny Hamil and Matt Richey, special guests include: Hermon Mehari on trumpet, Tina Bilberry on viola & violin, Damon Parker on keyboards, and Lauren Hughes on vocals. Engineered and co-produced by Joel Nanos at Element Recording & Mastering Studios. Mikal Shapiro is a KC songwriter whose musical influences span popular songs, psych rock, lounge, classic country and old time spirituals. She has toured extensively across the U.S. and has recorded five critically acclaimed albums. KC Star and Tim Finn declared her album “The Musical” to be one of his top five releases of 2015. A third generation storyteller, she draws inspiration from her travels, love life, and the state of the Union.] [Kansas City Syzygy is a glimpse into the music created in the middle of the map in the middle of a pandemic. Mastered by J Ashley Miller, designed by JC Franco, with compilation direction by Robert Castillo. Over 25 Kansas City-based musicians came together to create “Kansas City Syzygy,” a compilation of music created during the shutdown of the world in April of 2020. From this amazing compilation we played 8 brand new original songs from: Miki P, Trevor Turla, Kemet Coleman, Calvin Arsenia, We The People, Rob Rice & The Devils Threesome, Johnny Hamil & Jeff Harshbarger as part of the GAV7D Project, and The Musical. The album can be purchased from Bandcamp. All proceeds will be donated to KC Tenants, a local nonprofit organized to ensure that everyone in KC has a safe, accessible, and truly affordable home.]

11:03 – Interview with Mikal Shapiro

Mikal Shapiro joins us to talk about her new radio show Siren Song, Saturdays at 11:00 AM on 90.1 FM KKFI. Mikal is founder of State City Films creating documentary and experimental filmmaking practices. Mikal studied Film History, Film, & Writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. She received her MFA in Film/Video/New Media/Animation from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2012. Artist, filmmaker, puppeteer, ring-leader, Mikal Shapiro is a Kansas City songwriter whose musical influences span popular songs, psych rock, lounge, classic country and old time spirituals. She has toured extensively across the United States and has recorded 5 critically acclaimed albums Mikal also performs with Shapiro Brothers, and Monta At Odds.

Mikal Shapiro thanks for being with us on WMM.

Siren Song, Saturdays at 11:00 AM on 90.1 FM KKFI brings Mikal back to the radio waves on a weekly basis.

Mikal Shapiro is the founder of State City Films – a new media house based in KCMO and founded by filmmaker-musician Mikal Shapiro. The mission of SCF is to create content that amplifies independent voices and tell stories that ache to be told through documentary and experimental filmmaking practices.

Mikal has worked on commercial, non-profit and independent productions since 2008. She was Director of Photography for the regional Emmy award-winning film “Tipping Point.”

She studied Film History, Film, & Writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.

Mikal received her MFA in Film/Video/New Media/Animation from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2012. She has been involved in music and arts for over two decades.

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 has also served as a curator, producer and co-host of River Trade Radio.

Mikal Shapiro is a Kansas City songwriter whose musical influences span popular songs, psych rock, lounge, classic country and old time spirituals. She has toured extensively across the United States and has recorded five critically acclaimed albums.

Mikal also performs with Chad Brothers of the band Old Sound, as Shapiro Brothers,

Mikal’s full length musical solo releases:
“The Crow The Lark And The Loon” (2008),
“For Good” (2010),
“The Musical” (2017) and
“The Musical II” (2018) have been acclaimed by local music writers.

Mikal has previously recorded albums with the bands: Eudora and Boon.

Mikal also performs with Ayllu and with Monta At Odds.

Mikal Shapiro thanks for being with us on WMM.

Listen to Mikal’s new radio show Siren Song every Saturday at 11:00 AM on KKFI 90.1 FM.

For more about Mikal, visit: http://www.mikalshapiro.com. View State City Film projects here: http://www.vimeo.com/mikalshapiro

11:19

12. Laetitia Sadier – “Find Me The Pulse of The Universe”
    from: Silencio / Drag City / July 24, 2012
    [Laetitia Sadier’s solo follow up to her 2010 record The Trip. Silencio features former Stereolab member/founder Tim Gane, the Zincs’ James Elkington, & The Sea and Cake’s Sam Prekop. Lætitia Sadier was born May 6, 1968. She is a French musician, best known as a founding member of the London-based avant-pop band Stereolab. In 1996, while Stereolab was still active, she formed the side project Monade. In 2009 — the same year Stereolab became inactive – she ended the Monade project and began to perform solo work under her own name; her current band is known as the Lætitia Sadier Source Ensemble. She has frequently performed guest vocals and collaborations with other artists. // Sadier was working as a nanny when she met McCarthy guitarist Tim Gane at one of the band’s Paris gigs during the late 1980s. She was disillusioned with the rock scene in France, and soon moved to London to be with Gane and to pursue her career. She contributed vocals to McCarthy’s final albums, and when McCarthy broke up in 1990, she and Gane immediately formed Stereolab. // For the first incarnation of the band, they enlisted ex-Chills bassist Martin Kean, drummer Joe Dilworth and Gina Morris on backing vocals In 1993, the band were signed to the American major label Elektra. They were released from their recording contract in 2004. Sadier was the main contributor of lyrics, written in both English and French. In 2009, the group went on hiatus. // In 1996, Sadier formed Monade with Pram’s Rosie Cuckston. The group released the singles “The Sunrise Telling” and “Witch Hazel/Ode to a Keyring” in 1997. The band’s debut album Socialisme ou Barbarie: The Bedroom Recordings was released on Duophonic Records in Europe and Drag City in the US in 2003. Their second album A Few Steps More was released on Too Pure in 2004. Monade’s follow-up, Monstre Cosmic, was released in February 2008 on Duophonic. She retired the project in 2009 to perform new songs under her name, and released a solo album titled The Trip in September 2010; it was followed by Silencio in 2012 and Something Shines in 2014. Sadier released the album Find Me Finding You in 2017, credited to the Lætitia Sadier Source Ensemble. // Sadier has contributed vocals to various groups and projects, at times along with the late Stereolab member Mary Hansen. She and Hansen had contributed vocals to various recordings of The High Llamas and to the Tim Gane/Sean O’Hagan side project Turn On, and has contributed backing vocals to the track “Go Round” on The Hair and Skin Trading Company’s 1993 album Over Valence. Sadier added French backing vocals on the 1994 song “To the End,” from Blur’s Parklife album. In 1995, she recorded the Serge Gainsbourg/Brigitte Bardot song “Bonnie and Clyde” with Luna. Throughout the years, Sadier has occasionally collaborated with German electronica group Mouse on Mars. In 1997, Sadier sang on “Schnick Schnack Meltmade” on Mouse on Mars’ Autoditacker LP, and she and Mary Hansen contributed vocals to the Cache Cœur Naif EP. In turn, Mouse on Mars produced tracks on Stereolab’s Dots and Loops LP. // In 2001, Sadier sang on “Sol y sombra” on Fugu’s Fugu 1 LP on Minty Fresh Records. In 2002, Sadier sang the chorus on “New Wave” from Common’s album Electric Circus. She sang lead vocals on “Haiku One” from Sigmatropic’s 2004 album Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories which was an album based on the poetry of Greek poet Giorgos Seferis. In 2007, Sadier wrote songs with Mouse on Mars and toured with them in Italy. In 2009 the French label Deux Mille released an EP which features Sadier singing with Toulouse-based band Momotte. // Sadier wrote and sang the lyrics to the track “Quick Canal” by Atlas Sound on their album Logos (2009). She contributed vocals to “PartyIsntOver/Campfire/ Bimmer” on the album Wolf (2013) by Tyler, the Creator, and “Summer Long” on the album Alexandre (2014) by Brazilian band Mombojó. She wrote the lyrics and was featured in “La Ballade” on the album Something About April II (2016) by Adrian Younge, and sang on the album I’m Willing (2016) by Marker Starling. In 2017, she appeared on the Deerhoof song “Come Down Here and Say That” from their album Mountain Moves. In 2019 she appeared on the Mercury Rev album Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete Revisited where she sang lead vocals on the track Mornin’ Glory. In 2020, she appeared as featured lead singer on two compositions by Chapman Stick virtuoso Michael Bernier, released on his third solo full-length release The Beach Album. // While she spent most of her formative years in France, Sadier’s family travelled extensively, and she lived briefly in the U.S. as a child. // Sadier and Tim Gane were a couple when they formed Stereolab in the late 1980s. They ended the relationship in 2002. Together, they have a son named Alex who was born in 1998.]

13. Miki P and The Swallowtails – “Not Mine”
    from: Right Where We Are / Miki P / August 21, 2020
    [Rachel Lovelace on bassoon, Adee Dancy on cello & vocals, and Miki P on guitar & lead Vocals. Each member is an integral part of the Kansas City music scene, writing, arranging, performing, and collaborating original music for their own groups and several other projects in the metro. “Introspective pop music with lyric-driven folk influences, mixed with collaborative energy & an odd pairing of instruments, Miki P locked in with the Swallowtails create a moment with music written and arranged from the heart.” Miki P (Mikala Petillo) started playing guitar in middle school. She taught herself to play the drums, while listening to Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr. As a teen she played drums for various groups including American Slim. She wrote songs for their full-length album Irreplaceable released in 2017, followed by a single “Queen of Hearts” released April 11, 2018. She also plays ukulele & piano, teaching herself how to play both the instruments, using them frequently in all projects she is involved in. She was a featured vocalist with The Band That Fell to Earth Bowie Tribute. She’s played Boulevardia, Middle of the Map Fest, Royal’s Kaufman Stadium, recordBar, Uptown Theater, Arrowhead Stadium, Nelson Atkins Museum, the Crossroads Music Festival . More info at: http://www.mikipmusic.com. Miki P was our guest on WMM on April 15, 2020.]

14. Kadesh Flow – “Soft Side”
    from: “Soft Side” – Single / Ryan Davis / January 21, 2021
    [Written, produced, performed, mixed, and mastered by Kadesh Flow. So much of the musical work of Kadesh Flow has been intermeshed with the world of animation. This track is inspired by Vegeta one of the primary characters in the saga of Dragon Ball Z. Kadesh writes, “One thing that strikes me most about Vegeta is how he went from narcissistic planet destroyer to collaborative husband, father, and hero. He has one of the most dynamic character development arcs in the franchise, and I thought I’d take a stab at addressing it.” He adds, “As always, super personal from my end, though.”Kadesh Flow released his EP Motivated on January 21, 2020. Executive Produced by Kadesh Flow. Mixed by Kadesh Flow. Mastered by Bill Beats. Kadesh calls this EP a “collection of tracks that I made to motivate myself. Hopefully they get you fired up as well.” Kadesh Flow is Ryan Davis is a rapper with an MBA. He is an emcee, producer, & trombonist. At age 11, he began rapping and playing trombone within two weeks of one another. His music has been featured on network television in multiple countries and territories across Southeast Asia. Kadesh performs as a solo hip hop artist and with his band the Deshtet. He also plays with The Tiki Brawlers, Jessica Paige, Krystle warren and Owen Cox Dance Group, the KC funk juggernaut The Phantastics, and Marcus Lewis Big Band for the Brass and Boujee concerts and recordings. Along with the EP, Motivated released on January 31. Kadesh Flow also released: the single “Now” with They Call Me Sauce, on January 16, the single “I’m A Hero (Bone Bars) on April 9, JoJo’s Jazz-hop 1 (2-Pack) on April 23, the 6-song EP I Hold Onto Heat For Too Long on May 1, “Free People” on June 5, Bleach Anime Lofi Pack 1 on Oct. 8, and “Forget About Me” on Dec. 3. More info at http://www.kadeshflow.com Kadesh Flow was our guest on WMM on March 11 and on Oct. 21, 2020]

11:28 – Underwriting

15. Krystle Warren & The Crew – “Gimme Some Truth”
    [Through isolation came unity. The Crew is Lakecia Benjamin, Matthew Silberman, Jacob Snider, Joe Blaxx, Solomon Dorsey, Zach Djanikian, Cassorla, Krystle Warren, and Ben Kane. They have recorded unique versions of classic songs with the hope of encouraging the rallying cries of The Moment: the movement of the people. // In the lockdown of their homes, they sewed together their interpretations of “Bein’ Green” (based upon Ray Charles’ rendition); “Gimme Some Truth” (a mighty John Lennon composition); “Dear Landlord” (a scathing indictment from the blistering pen of Bob Dylan); and “Rhythm of Life”, (a timeless statement originally performed by Oleta Adams). // A portion of the proceeds from The Crew. EP will be donated to the various causes and organizations. From Billboard.com: Singer-songwriter Krystle Warren has made a powerful statement about the struggle for Black equality with the help of Kermit the Frog’s iconic song “Bein’ Green” (written by Joe Raposo). // The moving five-minute clip, over which Warren sings her rendition of the 1970 song — since recorded by Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and others — sprang from a covers EP she recorded during the pandemic with a group of musicians known as The Crew. Warren embarked on the project after her forthcoming album with her regular group, The Faculty, was put on hold due to COVID-19. The EP, which tackles themes of racial injustice in the wake of nationwide Black Lives Matter protests this summer, also includes a cover of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth.” // The “Bein’ Green” video weaves in footage of this year’s Black Lives Matter protests, and also includes a heartbreaking montage of young Black children choosing white dolls over dark-skinned ones. It additionally features archival footage of such transformative Black figures as James Baldwin, Angela Davis, Malcom X, Nina Simone, Marsha P. Johnson and Al Sharpton, as well as victims of police brutality including Sandra Bland, George Floyd and Eric Garner. It ends with a clip from a speech by civil rights activist Ella Baker. // “‘Bein’ Green,’ it’s such a gorgeous song, and it says so, so much,” says Warren. “I began thinking about what I wanted it to express visually before we started [recording the song]. Essentially — it’s not easy being Black. That’s what Ray Charles was saying, and we felt it needed to be said again.” // Warren, who now resides in Paris, began performing in her native Kansas City at the age of 16 before moving to New York City, where she started busking on the streets and later formed her regular band, The Faculty. She and the group have recorded several full-length albums, including 2009’s Circles, 2012’s Love Songs and 2017’s Three the Hard Way. Her next album is slated for release this winter. // A large percentage of proceeds from sales of the EP — which is available for digital downloads via Warren’s website now and released on all streaming platforms next Friday — will be donated to the ACLU. Krystle Warren joined us live on WMM on September 23, 2020.]

11:34 – Interview with D Rashaan Gilmore

D. Rashaan Gilmore joins us to share information about his new radio show on Saturday nights at 5:00 PM on KKFI. After nearly four years as part of the team on 90.1’s The Tenth Voice, D. Rashaan has made the leap to producing and hosting his own weekly radio show. A life-long resident of Kansas City. He is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic. D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization.

D Rashann Gilmore thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

D. Rashaan Gilmore congratulations on your new radio show on Saturday nights at 5:00 PM on KKFI.

D Rashaan has already done 5 weeks of shows and has been covering insurrections, impeachments, and inaugurations. The last five weeks feels like five years.

After nearly four years as part of the team on 90.1’s The Tenth Voice, D. Rashaan has made the leap to producing and hosting his own weekly radio show.

D Rashaan starts each show with a segment called “Reclaiming My Time” inspired by the legendary U.S. Representative for California’s 43rd Congressional District, Maxine Waters.

D Rashaan has been covering COVID-19, The Vaccine, The George Senate Races, The Presidential election, Healthcare, The Articles of Impeachment, The New Administration.

A name for the show. When on The Tenth Voice D Rashaan called his show “Unbossed and Unbothered.” For this new time slot Rashaan is still deciding what it will be called.

A life-long resident of Kansas City. He is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core.

Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic.

D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization.

D Rashaan thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

D Rashaan Gilmore’s new radio show is on every Saturday at 5:00 PM on 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio.

11:48

16. Krystle Warren – “Sunbeams”
    from: A Time to Keep Love Songs EP / Parlour Door Music / August 12, 2011
    [Originally from KC, Krystle learned to play the guitar by listening to Rubber Soul & Revolver from The Beatles. Krystle graduated from Paseo Arts Academy in 2001 and began her musical career in collaborating with area jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and NYC, Krystle was signed to a French label, Because Music, and moved to Paris to release “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played French and British television programs, including Later with Jools Holland, garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music, to release “Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace” a recording from a 13-day session in Brooklyn, where she recorded 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty, alongside choirs, horn and string sections.]

17. Waxahatchee – “Lilacs”
    from: Saint Cloud / Merge Records / March 27, 2020
    [All songs by Katie Crutchfield. Recorded & mixed at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, TX & Long Pond in Stuyvesant, NY. Produced by Brad Cook. Engineered by Jerry Ordonez. Additional engineering by Jon Low. Mixed by Jon Low. Mastered by Brent Lambert at The Kitchen. KATIE CRUTCHFIELD on vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, keys; BRAD COOK on bass, acoustic guitar, piano, keys, synth; BOBBY COLOMBO on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keys; BILL LENNOX on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keys, percussion; NICK KINSEY on drums, percussion; JOSH KAUFMAN on electric guitars, piano, organ, percussion. Katie Crutchfield’s southern roots are undeniable. The name of her solo musical project Waxahatchee comes from a creek not far from her childhood home in Alabama and seems to represent both where she came from and where she’s going. More at: http://www.waxahatchee.com.]

[Waxahatchee plays Jimmy Kimmel Live Tues, Feb. 9 at 10:35 on KMBC 9 TV.]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, Feb 10 our guests include singer songwriter Christena Graves, Vocalist, songwriter Hadiza., and musician Alisa Jefferson.

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 #875