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

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

COOP Sessions + Apocalypse Meow 14 + Calvin Arsenia + Alan Murphy & The Space Invaders

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. Alien Hellbop – “After The Quake”
   from: After The Quake / Alien Hellbop / October 25, 2021
   [Two piece rock with a twist. Performed by Spencer Goertz-Giffen and Braden Young of Hello Biplane.Recorded in 2019 at PULP Arts Recording Studios in Gainesville, FL. Spencer Goertz-Giffen on guitar & vocals; Braden Young on drums, vocals & bass; Winston Goertz-Giffen on synthesizers, and Nate Mahan on synth thing. Recorded and mixed by Winston Goertz-Giffen. Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering. All songs written by Spencer and Braden. // Alien Hellbop is a maximalist rock duo from Lawrence, KS combining guitar, drums, sample pad bass and vocal harmonies to create a sonic duo larger than the sum of its parts. Attendees of shows past have been hypnotized and dumbfounded by how the sound is pulled off. Originally formed in Chico, CA members Spencer Goertz-Giffen and Braden Young set out to create a full band sound with only two members. After a flurry of positive feedback from shows played in northern California, Alien Hellbop managed to drive cross country with their two small children to Gainesville, FL and record a five song EP at PULP studios with the help of engineer and producer Winston Goertz-Giffen. Alien Hellbop is now based out of Lawrence, KS. Spencer and Braden have been involved in many other bands over the years including: Hospital Ships, The Kinetiks, The Willnots, Accursed Wound, The Magentlemen, Saything, and Old and Gray. The duo also fronts another group called Hello Biplane, a six-piece dream-folk-pop band with focus on songwriting and male/female harmonies.More info at: http://www.alienhellbop.bandcamp.com]

[Alien Hellbop play a Triple Album Release Show Friday, November 19 at 6:00 PM Matinee Show at Replay Lounge , 946 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas with Shebangs, and Lonnie Fisher and The Funeral.]

3.Belle & The Vertigo Waves – “Beat Me To The Punch”
from: Beat Me To The Punch – Single / Drop Out Records / October 29, 2021
[Belle & The Vertigo Waves is the sonic brainchild of Belle Loux. She resides in KCMO, and is slowly attempting world domination. More info at: https://bellethevertigowaves.bandcamp.com%5D

[Belle & The Vertigo Waves play Wick and The Tricks Annual Halloween Ball with The Creepy Jingles on Saturday, October 30, at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, WEST BOTTOMS, KCMO, Doors at 6:00 PM, Show at 7:00 PM.]

4. The Creepy Jingles – “Microchip On Your Shoulder”
   from: The Creepy Jingles EP / High Dive Records / May 3, 2019
   [Debut EP Release from The Creepy Jingles: Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, & keyboards; Travis McKenzie on lead guitars, Nick Robertson on drums; and Adam York on bass. From High Dive Records website: “The brainchild of singer/ songwriter, Jocelyn Olivia Nixon acts to guide the listener thru a self-actualized Mono-myth of forging identity thru Bizarre arcane cosmic poetry coupled with the wordplay of a wry smile and eccentric wit. Drummer Nick Robertson charges the group forward with a fiery fueled obsidian backbeat. Adam York delivers pulsing bass lines that the compliment the songs and his partner in the rhythm section. Rounding out the band is Guitarist Travis McKenzie who generously spins a holographic spectrum of color that lift the catchy Brit pop melodies that effortlessly dance about the rapidly changing landscapes of New York Garage Rock and 60s/70s folk music. Beware The Creepy Jingles, their siren call is coming from inside the house.”]

[The Creepy Jingles play Wick and The Tricks Annual Halloween Ball with Belle & The Vertigo Waves on Sat, Oct. 30, at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, WEST BOTTOMS, KCMO, Doors at 6:00 PM, Show at 7:00 PM.]

5. Kat King – “Don’t Wanna Lose”
   from: Say What You Mean EP / Kat King / June 9, 2021
   [Kat King on guitar, keyboards, & vocals; Derek Melies on guitar & back ground vocals; John McCain on bass; Daniel Cole on drums. Co-produced & mixed/mastered by Joel Martin. Lawrence Kansas based singer songwriter Kat King released her last single Song of Spain in 2019 and her single “2017” in, 2018. She released her 5-song EP “Falling Up” on December 1, 2017. Kat King has been creating music since the 2nd grade. She’s produced one 13-song album and three EP’s, the first one released at the age of 14. More info at: http://www.katbking.com] [Kat King announced on Facebook yesterday that she and her band have signed with Manor Records]

[Kat King with full band plays the Outland Ballroom in Springfield, MO., on Nov. 5 with Blue False Indigo.|

10:16 – Interview with Mitch Hewlett and Cody Boston

We first met Mitchell Hewlett as part of the the band Westerners. He is a Producer and Recording Engineer and Mixer for COOP Sessions.

Cody Boston is a Multimedia Director, Producer, and Editor at Kansas City PBS. Part of his job is producing the new monthly show Flatland, hosted by KKFI’s very own D. Rashaan Gilmore . Cody also works with The Bridge and he serves as Producer and Video Director and Editor for COOP Sessions.

Mitch Hewlett and Cody Boston, are here to share details about COOP SESSIONS an independent live music entertainment media outlet produced in Lawrence, Kansas. They pull in bands and songwriters from the area to come to The Coop Studio where they provide hi-fidelity audio/video content of the live performances to the public, via their website, youtube channel, Instagram, and Soundcloud. COOP SESSIONS is working to build, curate, and foster a community for musicians and artists everywhere. COOP SESSIONS has produced two seasons and is launching Season 3 in November. Which will air on KC PBS as presented by The Bridge.

Next weekend, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 7:00 PM, at Deep Space: 1664 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO – COOP Sessions are hosting a Fundraiser and Screening of the first episode of their new season of TV Shows that will be airing on KCPT courtesy of The Bridge, featuring Love Mae C & Supermoto. More info at: http://www.coopsessions.com

Mitch Hewlett and Cody Boston, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Sound and Vision Mitchell Hewlett is a Producer and Recording/Mix Engineer for COOP Sessions. Cody Boston is Producer and Video Director and Editor for cCOOP Sessions.

Cody Boston previously work for KJHK in Lawrence. He documented live performances from bands who played on the radio station. He met Mitchell through this work and the two decided to collaborate.

The COOP Studio is a actual former chicken coop, converted into studio.

COOP SESSIONS is an independent live music entertainment media outlet produced in Lawrence Kansas.

Coop Sessions pull in bands and songwriters from all over the area to come into their humble studio space and provide hi fidelity audio/video content of the live performances to the public via our website, youtube channel, instagram, and soundcloud.

Season 1 included: Pink Fuzz, The Moose, Brendan Mott, Bummer, Leggy, CS Luxem, Toughies, NUBLVCKCITY, Brent Penny, Inside Voice, Heidi Gluck, Drugs & Attics, Domineko, La Guerre, Highwestus, Approach, Keef Mountain, Pale Tounge, No Magic, EEMS, KatKing, LK Ultra,

Season 2 included: Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear, Hush Machine, Pala Zolo, Chloe Jacosen, The Black Craetures, The Kinky Fingers, Blue False Indigo, Joey Origami, Employer, Jooby Truth, R.I. Peter, Radkey, Khrystal., Red Money, Miss Boating, No Swoon, Mommas Boy, Devil’s Den, Maria The Mexicam, True Lions, Olivia Fox, Four Arm Shiver, Chew
They Call Me Sauce,

When COVID hit Coop Sessions moved into bigger spaces to have safe social distancing. For this series the session were called “Flew The Coop.”

Flew The COOP Seession included: Kat King, Mild Cats, Sam Wells, The Roseline, Hadiza, Crystal Rose, Jass, Honeybear, EbonyTusks, Charlotte Bumgarner, Blanky, Daniel Gum, Love Mae C, Supermoto

COOP SESSIONS is working to build, curate, and foster a community for musicians and artists everywhere. COOP SESSIONS has produced two seasons and is working on launching Season 3 starting in November on KC PBS.

More information at http://www.coopsessions.org

COOP Sessions Staff
Mark Sidener – Camera Operator & Video Editor,
Sam Snead – Camera Operator
Betty Chung – Camera Operator & Video Editor
Kieran Vickers – Camera Operator
Kat King – Camera Operator
Monica Castellon – Camera Operator
Josh Boston – Graphic Design

Your favorite neighborhood live music series Coop Sessions is excited to announce a very special event! Saturday, November 6th.COOP Sessions will be hosting an early screening of our half hour tv special that will be airing on KCPT courtesy of The Bridge as well as performances from Love, Mae C and Supermoto, all at our fav Kansas City DIY spot, DeepSpace.

We’re double psyched to be presenting VERY limited edition copies of our first physical release, Coop Sessions Volume 1; A dual Cassette compilation featuring 22 CS artists, fam photo zine, and sticker pack that you’ll be able to find at our merch booth the night of the show. Currently only 22 available.

DeepSpace KC: 1664 Broadway Boulevard
Doors at 7:00 pm
Love, Mae C at 7:30 pm
TV Special Screening at 8:30 pm
Supermoto at 9:30 p,

Tickets at Door: $10

Mitch Hewlett and Cody Boston, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Next weekend, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 7:00 PM, at Deep Space: 1664 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO – COOP Sessions are hosting a Fundraiser and Screening of the first episode of their new season of YTV Shows that will be aiting on KCPT courtesy of The Bridge, featuring Love Mae C & Supermoto. More info at: http://www.coopsessions.com

10:30

6. Jass – “Grow”
   from: At the Close of a Decade / JASS / November 26, 2022,
   [Jass is Jasmine “Jass” Crouch. She wrote, “After years of writing and recording in voice memos .. I decided to grab my iPad and began recording something that I am very proud of. I named it, At the Close of A Decade, and released it in November 2019. With my iPhone/iPad, some apple headphones, I created this project. The amazing people around me told me it was worth it, even when I didn’t believe it myself. I convinced myself I would be the only one that liked my songs. If you decide to listen you’ll hear sound clips of shows and movies that made a difference in the way I saw the world, the way I saw myself, and the way I overcame my experiences .. I remember asking my grandma and my son if I should release what I’ve been writing and they both said very simply to do it, so I’ve done it. I want to thank all of my wonderful friends who have been my soundboards during this process, all of the people that have asked me when it’s coming, the people that have kept me accountable, and believed that this time it was for real. My story is so very triumphant and beautiful because I have overcome experiences and shunned the fear I had to do what I love. It’s crazy how you can talk your way out of some amazing things and also how you can talk yourself into making some amazing things happen. If you partake, I hope you enjoy.” More info at: http://www.jassrcouch.com]

[Jass plays Apocalypse Meow 14, on Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi and The Perfect Strangers, and Julia Othmer. More info: midwestmusicfoundation.org]

10:32 – Underwriting

7. Katy Guillen & The Drive – “No Control”
   from: Dream Girl EP / Katy Guillen / March 20, 2020
   [7-song EP from Katy Guillen & The Drive, the latest project dedicated to Guillen’s songwriting that is founded on the creative spark and chemistry between Katy Guillen & Stephanie Williams. With Guillen on guitar & vocals and Williams on drums, the two sculpt a sound that recalls bands like Led Zeppelin, The Bangles, and Band of Skulls. In 2012, Guillen & Williams formed Katy Guillen and The Girls, and began to build a foundation of touring and recording that carried them through six years and produced three full-length albums: Katy Guillen & the Girls, Heavy Days, and Remember What You Knew Before. Between 2012 and 2018, they traveled the United States extensively, performed at the International Montreal Jazz Festival, toured Sweden, and supported major acts like The Doobie Brothers, Robin Trower, and Heartless Bastards. In these 6 years playing together, Guillen & Williams created a dynamic, sound informed by Guillen’s mesmerizing, emotive guitar style and poignant arrangements, and an equally captivating live show that showcased Williams’ technical, melodic style, resulting in a powerful on-stage chemistry. In addition to the compelling synergy formed by years of playing together, the two developed a method of working together on Guillen’s songs that only deepened their artistic connection, propelling them to forge a path to a new plateau in their music. KG & The Drive push ahead with a melodic, heavy, and soulful sound while maintaining the edge of the artist’s rock ‘n’ roll and blues roots. Katy Guillen joined us on WMM on March 18, 2020.]

[Katy Guillen & The Drive play Apocalypse Meow 14, on Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi and The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass. More info: midwestmusicfoundation.org]

11:37 – Interview with Sondra Freeman

Sondra Freeman is Director of Promotions & Artist Relations for Midwest Music Foundation, a nonprofit created to support music and musicians in Kansas City and the surrounding areas, founded in 2008 by a collective of musicians and music lovers. The Midwest Music Foundation (MMF) unites and empowers the greater KC music community by providing programs and resources to area musicians through outreach, support, education, and health care opportunities. Sondra is instrumental in MMF’s annual events: Apocalypse Meow, MidCoast Takeover and the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, and other collaborative musical events and fundraisers.

Sondra Freeman joins us to share details about Apocalypse Meow 14, on Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi & The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass. Video Production by Steve Gardels, XO Blackwater. Livestreaming and Video by Jay Lindhorst. Sound by Paul Malinowski. Apocalypse Meow is MMF’s primary fundraiser for Abby’s Fund For Musicians’ Health Care, which provides area musicians with emergency health care grants. The concert is free, donations encouraged. midwestmusicfoundation.org

Sondra Freeman thanks for being with us again on WMM.

The Midwest Music Foundation is proud to present the 14th Annual Apocalypse Meow.

The Midwest Music Foundation’s annual benefit concert was founded in response to Kansas City musician Abigail Henderson’s cancer diagnosis, which prompted her friends and fellow musicians to raise money for her healthcare expenses. The first concert marked the birth of the Midwest Music Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting musicians who lack proper access to health care. The event features live performances by notable Kansas City-area bands as a donation of their time and talents to their community; local businesses and artisans donate products and services to the event for auction. All monies raised during Apocalypse Meow go directly to Abby’s Fund for Musician’s Health Care and the production costs of Apocalypse Meow. Performances, business donations, and services are purely voluntary.

“Abby believed that music can take you to where you need to be and that it’s important, and the people that do that need to be taken care of.” – Sondra Freeman

Abby’s Fund for Musicians’ Health Care was named for Abigail Henderson (1977-2013).

Death Notice from St. Louis Post Dispatch: Abigail Hope Henderson the Kansas City vocalist who started a nonprofit organization to help musicians pay health-care costs, died on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 of cancer at her home. She was 35. For more than a decade, Abigail was the lead singler of several area bands: Trouble Junction, The Gaslights, Atlantic Fadeout, and Tiny Horse. In 2008 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had health insurance, but the cost of the treatments prompted her and her husband Christopher Meck, to start the Midwest Music Foundation which raised funds to help area musicians pau health care costs. “Medical bills can throw you into poverty in a week – in one day,” she said. “There’s nothing like standing in your kitchen opening a hospital bill for $63,000.00 in one day and $47,000.00 the next. After a while you don’t want to open them anymore. Who can pay that?”

Midwest Music Foundation – http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

Apocalypse Meow is the primary event for Abby’s Fund For Musicians’ Health Care — providing area musicians and industry workers with essential health care grants.

Access to the concert stream is free, donations are encouraged. MMF will livestream from: Midwest Music Foundation Facebook, 90.9 The Bridge Facebook, and recordBar Facebook, MMF YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/midwestmusicfound,

We are talking with Sondra Freeman about The 14th Annual Apocalypse Meow to benefit Abby’s Fund, is Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi & The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass.Video Production by Steve Gardels, XO Blackwater. Livestreaming & Video by Jay Lindhorst. Sound by Paul Malinowski.

Main Stage sponsored by Too Much Rock. The online auction starts Nov 5 at 8:00 AM Contact rhonda@midwestmusicfound.org for info or schedule an appt. for health services.

For more info and full list of sponsors visit: http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

Midwest Music Foundation Staff

Rhonda Lyne, Executive Director
Sondra Freeman, Director of Promotions and Artist Relations
Canyon McClung, Production Specialist
Scott Easterday, Website Administrator, Musician
Christopher Tate, Technical Officer, Website Specialist

Midwest Music Foundation Board

Amber Hulet, President, Volunteer Coordinator, Social Media
Chris Meck, Vice President, Musician and CM2 Audio
Ellen Sherman, Secretary, Chair of Marketing
Eric Barton, Treasurer, General Counsel
Dr. K. Allen Greiner, MD, MPH, Chair of Health + Wellness, University of KS Med Center
Erin Corriveau, MD, MPH, Public Health Officer, University of Kansas Medical Center
Michelle Bacon, Editor
Erin McGrane, Musician
Julia Haile, Musician
Molly Gotobed, Program Director at the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County
Jerry Jones JD, Director of Community Health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KC

Sondra Freeman thanks for being with us again on WMM.

The 14th Annual Apocalypse Meow to benefit Abby’s Fund, is Sat, Nov 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi & The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass. Video Production by Steve Gardels, XO Blackwater. Livestreaming & Video by Jay Lindhorst. Sound by Paul Malinowski. Apocalypse Meow is MMF’s primary fundraiser for Abby’s Fund For Musicians’ Health Care, which provides area musicians with emergency health care grants. Access to the concert stream is free, but donations are encouraged. More info: midwestmusicfoundation.org

10:51

8. Sons of Great Dane – “Bullet Left It’s Barrels Head”
   from: Why Ramble? / Sharp County Records / September 12, 2012
   [Why Ramble? was recorded by: Brent Windler on guitar & vocals; Nolle Bond on bass,Nathan “Jr” Richardson on drums. Recorded, Produced and Mixed by Lou Whitney at The Studio in Springfield, MO. Drums recorded by Micah Burdick at The Church in Independence, MO. Album Artwork by Leilah Kouri. Photo for disc taken by Morgan Miller. Sons of Great Dane would like to thank all of the musicians who have played with us over the years to make this work: Evanjohn Nash McIntosh, John Yeates, Brendan Culp, Tim Braun, Darrin Matheson, Jason Trabue, Skylar, Corey.] [Brent Windler released his new solo album, NEW MORNING HOWL on August 20, 2021 through Goldstar Recordings. The album contains 9 tracks, all written by Brent. Produced by Brent and Ryan Benton. Strings arranged by Kaitlin Wolfberg, horns arranged by Brent and Mark Hamblin. More info at: http://brentwindler.com/%5D

[Sons of Great Dane play Apocalypse Meow 14, on Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Nathan Corsi and The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass. More info: midwestmusicfoundation.org]

9. Nature Boys– “Another Wizard”
   from: 1V / Dead Broke Rekerds / September 24, 2021
   [Nature Boys started playing together in Kansas City, Missouri September of 2009. We had our first show in November or December at the Troost House, and then our second show at Dave’s Stagecoach Inn.
   We left for our first tour in January of 2010. The band includes: Danny Fischer on guitar & vocals, Suzanne Hogan on bass & vocals, and Evan Malone on drums. These Kansas City, Missouri punk rock & rollers that have been kickin’ up dust all across the country since 2009! This is their fourth album and first on Dead Broke Records after self-releasing a slew of their previous efforts and releasing all on vinyl along with digital. Imagine if Dead Moon was a bunch of punk rockers from the south, then you might be getting close to what Nature Boys scrappy & energetic punk rock is all about. Limited to 300 copies. (200 Black, 100 Clear Pink) Comes w/download code..]

[Nature Boys play a Special Halloween Benefit for Confluence & KC Tenants on Saturday, October 30, at 8:00 PM, at Blip Roasters 1301 Woodswether Rd, WEST BOTTOMS, KCMO with Pink Phase, DJ Dan Cool, Killus, with a costume Contest, Benefit Bar, and Photo Booth.e Contest, Benefit Barm and Photo Booth.]

10. Iris DeMent – “One Red Rose”
    from: Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows, Songs of John Prine, VOL. 2, / Oh Boy Records / Oct 8, 2021
    [From Songwriter Magazine by JACOB UITTI Published October 8, 2021: There’s a new John Prince tribute album, Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, out today (October 8), and fans can buy it here. // The star-studded tribute record features standout artists like Brandi Carlile (“I Remember Everything”), Tyler Childers (“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”), Iris DeMent (“One Red Rose”), Emmylou Harris (“Hello In There”), Jason Isbell (“Souvenirs”), Valerie June (“Summer’s End”), Margo Price (“Sweet Revenge”), Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (“Pretty Good”), Amanda Shires (“Saddle in the Rain”), Sturgill Simpson(“Paradise”) and John Paul White (“Sam Stone”) // Carlile performed Prine’s song, “I Remember Everything,” which was his last recorded song and was recently named Song of the Year at the 2021 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards. The song also won two awards at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards earlier this year: Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance. // Prine’s first self-titled album turned 50 years old today. Just months after the legendary songwriter passed away from complications due to the COVID-19 virus in 2020. // Proceeds from the album will benefit twelve different non-profit organizations, one selected by each of the featured artists. // On November 6, 2020 Iris DeMent released the single “The Sacred Now” one of three new singles she released late last year. On October 9, 2020 Iris DeMent released her 9:21 long protest single, “Going Down to Sing in Texas.” Prior to that she released the single, “How Long” on September 3, 2020 to benefit the Poor People’s Campaign. 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. Calvin Arsenia – “Revelation”
    from: “Revelation” / Calvin Arsenia / October 16, 2020 [Unreleased Single]
    [2020 was a challenging and busy year for Calvin Arsenia He starred in and co-created the soundtrack with Mike Dillon for The West 18th Street Fashion Show’s 20th year as a feature-length film. COVID-19 changed everything in 2020. “We are moving it from the street to the screen,” says Peregrine Honig to inkansascitymagazine. “Mike Dillon and Calvin Arsenia will be scoring and performing in the film.” The film premiered October 16, 2020 at The Boulevard Drive-In. Honig wrote, “We did this during a pandemic and a cultural revolution. I am not sure where else or how else this could happen at this moment in history.” Calvin Arsenia had recently been emotionally and greatly moved by the area and national Black Lives Matter Movement. His own research into his own family revealed that Calvin’s great, great, great grandmother Alice Gilliam Scott, was a former slave who lived to observe her 100th birthday as noted by a regional newspaper Calvin had written. In the summer of 2020 Calvin wrote “Revelation” an unreleased track inspired by Black Lives Matter. Calvin premiered the song on WMM on August 12, 2020. He later shared his other new songs, “Scars and Stripes” and “The Flying Monkees are Coming!” on our October 14, 2020 edition of WMM. Both of those songs ended up on Summer in Hindsight. Calvin Arsenia was born in Orlando, Florida, Calvin’s creative journey really began when he moved to the KC suburb of Olathe, teaching himself the guitar, and eventually the harp. He learned his signature instrument at the age of 20 after he couldn’t find a harpist as determined as him to meld folk, rock, classical, rap and R&B into the irresistible fusion which has become his calling card in KC and beyond. His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career into a life-changing music mission, with an Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to KC reborn as a humanistic songwriter / performer whose impassioned and conceptual stage shows (regularly sold-out in Kansas City, currently catching fire on the West Coast with a diverse following across Europe), are collaborative, costumed-culture-bridging spectacles which In KC Magazine has hailed as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-6-inch harpist with a natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’ Calvin’s 2018 national debut, Cantaloupe, September 15, 2018 on Center Cut Records, has been acclaimed for melding diverse textures into an alluring signature sound for the adventurous artist. On June 28, 2019 Calvin released Honeydew, an EP including a remix of three songs from Cantaloupe. On Dec. 13, 2019 Calvin released his full length Christmas album “all is calm.” Congratulations to Calvin & his fantastic team of co-conspirators & creators: Khitam Jabr, John P. Beatty, Ignacio Galarza III, Ashlee Fairchild Jones, production assistants, & crew. The Toxic music video earned its sixth set of laurels as an official selection of the L.A. Music Video Awards, where they were nominated for Best Music Video, Best Cover Song & Best Male Vocalist.]

11:05 – Interview with Calvin Arsenia

KC based singer, composer & harpist Calvin Arsenia shares details about his new book, EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal. Calvin’s book is part of his journey as an artist “coming out” as Queer and coming out as a descendant of slavery. Earlier this year WMM featured Calvin and high school best friend, Justin Randall about their podcast, “We Were Christian Kids” where they shared stories in over 30 episodes about growing up queer in the evangelical church. Calvin also stars in the film, SUMMER IN HINDSIGHT, where he was the musical director and editor. The film was produced by the 18th Street Fashion Show. Information at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com

Calvin Arsenia, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Calvin’s Book EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal. Calvin’s new musical

GRAMMY.com, Calvin’s classically trained voice, visually striking 6-foot-7 presence, and deft harp playing have built his reputation as an incredible live performer.

Congratulations to Calvin and his team of co-conspirators & creators: Khitam Jabr, John P. Beatty, Ignacio Galarza III, Ashlee Fairchild Jones, production assistants, & crew. Their “Toxic” music video earned its sixth set of laurels as an official selection of the L.A. Music Video Awards, where they were nominated for Best Music Video, Best Cover Song & Best Male Vocalist.

The West 18th Fashion Show has been an annual event for decades, but when COVID hit in 2020 organizer decided to be as safe as possible by turning the entire Fashinon Show into a feature film, titled SUMMER IN HINDSIGHT, Directed by Khitam Jabr, with Jeremy Osbern serving as Director of Photography, with a screenplay written by Peregrine Honig and staring Calvin Arsenia who also served as editor. The film made it’s world premiere on October 16, 2020 at Boulevard Drive-In Theatre. After that premiere the film traveled a successful international film festival circuit, where it received critical acclaimed world wide. The film is 57 minutes long and and was produced by Peregrine Honig, Missy Isamore, Brooklyn Love, and Celeste Lupercio. From the film’s soundtrack created by Calvin Arsenio and Mike Dillon. Black Lives Matter inspired the song “Revelation”.

Calvin came home to KC in 2014 after working in Edinburgh, Scotland. Calvin was voted KC’s Best Musician in The Pitch in 2018, and 2020, and featured in Billboard, NPR.org, and GRAMMY.com, Calvin’s classically trained voice, visually striking 6-foot-7 presence, and deft harp playing have built his reputation as an incredible live performer.

Calvin Arsenia’s angelic stylings on voice & harp create rare harmonies & arrangements that look past the boundaries of traditional gospel & classical disciplines finding the most direct line of expression to inform common struggles. Known for his elaborate and ceremonious sensory concert experiences that merge jazz & electronic influences, “Calvin has consistently delivered genre-bending (and gender-bending) shows that tackle sexuality, religion, and race in a stunningly unorthodox manner. Somewhere between sacred and sacrilege.”

Calvin can be heard on several tracks currently on the radio:

Making Movies –”Listening Wind ft. Calvin Arsenia, Jeremy Kittel”, from La Cuarentena EP on 3/2 Recordings released on February 5, 2021

Rob Rice – “Tiny Window (feat. Calvin Arsenia & Ezgi Karakus)” from: and the Devil’s Threesome released March 21, 2021. This was the first single from the debut EP of singer/songwriter Rob Rice who is a Kansas City native with a spark of millennial magic, his dusty acoustic music transitions from barn-burning ballads to soothing serenades, all of which contain notes of love, loss, and lust whilst learning to live with oneself through it all. On his debut EP and the Devil’s Threesome, Rob humbly assumes the role of choirmaster to a caravan of iconic Kansas City artists and musicians (12 in total) to create unique trios for each song, meditating and musing on the woes and wins of yesteryear.

True Lions – “Blue Marble feat. Calvin Arsenia” from: The Fempire Strikes Back, released on Manor Records on April 9, 2021. Alisön Hawkins on keytar & vocals, Aryana Nemati on saxophone, Calvin Arsenia on harp & vocals, Claire Adams on guitar, Elizabeth Kosko on drums & percussion, Fritz Hutchison on lead electric guitar, Iona DeWalt on synthesizers;, Leslie Butsch on saxophone, Teri Quinn on bass, plus a sample of Greta Thurnberg’s speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in NYC, Sept. 2019. Recorded at Deep Space Co-op. Tracking & engineering by Ross Brown at Escape Pod Audio. Mixing and mastering by Joel Nanos at Element Recording. In 2019 True Lions released their EP debut, “Cute at Best,” on Feb. 5, 2019. They followed up with a second EP called. You’re Not Invited, released on Nov. 9, 2019. For these recordings True Lions was: Alison Hawkins on guitar, synth, and vocals; Elizabeth Kosko on percussion, vocals; Mikala Petillo on bass, vocals; Claire Adams on guitar, vocals; Leslie Butsch on saxophone, Ezgi Karakus on cello; and Teri Quinn on vocals. All songs written by True Lions and produced by Claire Adams &Alison Hawkins. Tracking & Engineering by Claire Adams. Mixing & Mastering by Ian Dobyns and Chase Horseman. Info at: http://www.manorrecords.com

Calvin was voted KC’s Best Musician in The Pitch in 2018, and 2020, and featured in Billboard, NPR.org. Born in Orlando, Florida, his creative journey really began when he moved to the KC suburb of Olathe, teaching himself the guitar, and eventually the harp. He learned his signature instrument at the age of 20 after he couldn’t find a harpist as determined as him to meld folk, rock, classical, rap and R&B into the irresistible fusion which has become his calling card in the Kansas City music scene and beyond.

His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career into a life-changing music mission, with an Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life.

Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to Kansas City reborn as a humanistic songwriter/performer whose impassioned and conceptual stage shows (regularly sold-out in Kansas City, currently catching fire on the West Coast with a diverse following across Europe), are collaborative, costumed-culture-bridging spectacles which In KC Magazine has hailed as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-7-inch harpist with a natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’

Recent Calvin Discography

Calvin Arsenia – Cantaloupe / Center Cut Records / September 15, 2018.
Calvin’s 2018 national debut, Cantaloupe (Center Cut Records), has been acclaimed for melding diverse textures into an alluring signature sound for the adventurous artist.

Calvin Arsenia – L.A. Sessions / Center Cut Records / September 20, 2019
Calvin performed live at L.A.’s The Mint, showcasing songs on LA Sessions with musicians who collaborated on the album. Says Calvin: “It’s such a special experience to play with them. To be able to perform these songs in front of an audience and do this for a living – to have made a career out of something I love is so amazing – it is an honor that I never take for granted.”

Calvin Arsenia – Honeydew / Center Cut Records / June 28, 2019
[On September 15, 2018 Calvin released Cantaloupe on Center Cut Records. This new EP is a remix of three of the songs from Cantaloupe, plus a Talking Heads cover that was performed live in this style at a New Year’s Eve show at The Truman opening for Making Movies who performed the entire Talking Heads album, Remain in Light. The last three songs on Honeydew were from performed in this style at The Nelson Atkins 2019 event “Party Arty.” Honeydew was produced by Jametatone, Simon Huntley, Calvin Arsenia.

Quixotic & Calvin Arsenia – “Goddess – EP / Quixotic / May 17, 2019
[An innovative performance art collective that fuses imagination with technology, dance, projection, mapping & live music to create fully-immersive, multi-sensory experiences. Quixotic harnesses light, rhythm and expressive emotion. Quixotic was given Silicon Valley’s unofficial stamp of genius when they were invited to perform at the global TED Conference in 2012. A unique blend of performance art, technology & emotion. Quixotic fuses all these elements in to what the New York Times branded an “innovative circus performance”.]

Calvin Arsenia – all is calm / Calvin Arsenia. / December 13, 2019
[Arsenia’s dreamlike whimsy shimmering through your favorite Christmas Classics. All proceeds for this album go towards the purchase of Calvin’s first harp. Featuring: Ben Muñoz on Cello, Shane Borth on Violin and Voila, and Luke “Skippy” Harbur on Beatbox. Mastered by Jametatone at the Infoaming Vertex and special thanks to Simon Huntley. Calvin wrote: “I recorded the majority of this album in my bedroom in between flights to and from KC and SF. I had my nephews and friend’s kids in mind and wanted an album of Christmas lullabys. I think it became just a little more sassy than anticipated, but I think you’ll enjoy it regardless.

Arsenia’s powerful vocals span a 4.5 octave range, playing piano, banjo, guitar & harp. Calvin has played Folk Alliance Int., KC Fringe Fest, Apocalypse Meow, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Middle of the Map Fest., The Folly Theatre. Last year he undertook a three month US/European Outlyre Tour playing San Francisco,Vancouver, NYC, Boston, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and Paris.

Calvin Arsenia, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Calvin’s Book EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal. More info at http://www.calvinarsenia.com

11:21

12. Calvin Arsenia – “Experience”
    from: Catastrophe / Calvin Arsenia / February 14, 2017
    [Calvin Arsenia premiered these songs in a live show at recordBar in November 2016 in a stage show that involved a company of 50 people, dancers, stilt walkers, special lighting, back up singers, guest artists. Born in Orlando, Florida, Calvin’s creative journey really began when he moved to the KC suburb of Olathe, teaching himself the guitar, and eventually the harp. He learned his signature instrument at the age of 20 after he couldn’t find a harpist as determined as him to meld folk, rock, classical, rap and R&B into the irresistible fusion which has become his calling card in the Kansas City music scene and beyond. His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career into a life-changing music mission, with an Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to Kansas City reborn as a humanistic songwriter/performer whose impassioned and conceptual stage shows (regularly sold-out in Kansas City, currently catching fire on the West Coast with a diverse following across Europe), are collaborative, costumed-culture-bridging spectacles which In KC Magazine has hailed as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-6-inch harpist with a natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’
    Since Calvin Arsenia came home to KC after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, he has released his EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. His full-length album Catastrophe on February 14, 2017, His EP Caviar in Novenber 2017. Calvin’s 2018 national debut, Cantaloupe, was released on September 15, 2018 on Center Cut Records. On June 28, 2019 Calvin released Honeydew, an EP including a remix of three songs from Cantaloupe. On September 20, 2019 Calvin released LA Sessions. On December 13, 2019 Calvin released his full length Christmas album “all is calm.” Calvin is also a graduate of Artist INC. Since 2014 we have been celebrating the music of Calvin Arsenia. He has played Folk Alliance International, Kansas City Fringe Fest, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, The Middle of the Map Fest., The Folly Theatre. Calvin was first on WMM on July 25, 2012. He has appeared live on 19 shows, (now 20).]

12. Get Smart! – “Oh Yeah No”
    from: Oh Yeah No / Get Smart! / November 17, 2020
    [Get Smart! formed in Lawrence, KS in 1980. The group helped to solidify Lawrence as an alternative music hotbed and toured extensively, performing 300 shows in six years. They released a flexi-disc and Words Move, a 4-track EP in 1981. In 1983 they relocated to Chicago. Their first LP, “Action Reaction” was released in 1984. The band’s second LP, “Swimming With Sharks” was released in 1986. During seven years of relentless touring, Get Smart! earned a national reputation for intense live shows and edged their way onto college radio playlists with their first two LPs, Action Reaction (1984) and Swimming With Sharks (1986). In January, 1987, the band began work on their third album with seminal recording engineer, Iain Burgess. In 1990 Get Smart! Disbanded. These recordings were archived for 33 years until Get Smart! reformed this year. With the aim of matching their live sound, the band commissioned Steve Albini to craft the final mixes with them. These six songs prove that the tension and inspiration shown on their first LPs was no idle promise. More info at: http://www.getsmartmusic.com]

[Get Smart! play a special Reunion Show, Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 8:00 PM at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS with Pedaljets, Other Geese, Boy Soprano, and DJ Ray Velasquez spins post-punk classics and deep cuts. Proof of vaccination or negative test results within 72 hours of door time are required, masks are required regardless of vaccination status. All Ages. 7:00PM Doors]

14. Boy Soprano – “Nothing At All”
    from: Little League / BoySop Records / August 22, 2021
    [Boy Soprano is a 3-piece rock outfit from Lawrence, KS. The band consists of guitarist Garrison Vernon, bassist Marek Koch, and drummer Jacob Smith. More info at: Twitter.com/boysopranoks]

[Boy Soprano play the Get Smart! special Reunion Show, Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 8:00 PM at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS with Get Smart!,Pedaljets, Other Geese, and DJ Ray Velasquez spins post-punk classics and deep cuts. Proof of vaccination or negative test results within 72 hours of door time are required, masks are required regardless of vaccination status. All Ages. 7:00PM Doors]

11:28 – Underwriting

15. Alan Murphy & The Space Invaders – “Far Far Out”
    from: Stargazing / Intelligent Design Records / TBA
    [Sometime in the 1980s, Alan Murphy began to write a series of outer space-themed songs. His band, Ricky Dean Sinatra, never got around to playing them live or recording them. Now, thanks to COVID and a talented group of fellow musicians, this project has finally been realized. These songs have a 60s sensibility with references to David Bowie’s early songs, T Rex, The B52s, Man or Astroman, and other bands that work in this genre. This isn’t space rock, it’s rock and roll music about the cosmos. Alan Murphy on vocals, guitar & keyboards; Barry Lee on guitar & vocals; Dave Storms on drums, percussion, keyboards & guitar; Doug Byers on bass; Marty Olson on keyboards; Bill Ryan on lead guitar; John Chevalier on guitars, saxophone & bass; Mike Penner on lead guitar; Brad Growcock on lead guitar; Scott Gribble on bass; Sam Platt on drums.]

11:35 – Interview with Barry Lee & Alan Murphy

Barry Lee is host of Signal to Noise heard Friday nights at 9:00 PM here on KKFI 90.1 FM. Barry has been a longtime programmer at KKFI. Barry Lee lives in Lawrence but grew up in the Independence and Raytown areas. He studied creative writing, poetry and radio at UMKC. Barry Lee has organized multiple benefit concerts for KKFI including his annual Beatles Tribute shows, A Tribute to Pete Seeger, and special “Collaborations” recordings. It was while playing in a tribute to Neil Young that Barry and friends formed Broken Arrows, a 5-piece band that has released multiple records to critical acclaim. Barry Lee has also played and recorded with The Jubilee Mystics, and this year is releasing new music as Barry Lee and The Mystic Arrows.

Alan Murphy became locally famous in Lawrence in the 1980s and 1990s as leader of a band called Ricky Dean Sinatra. They often played the Bottleneck, Grand Emporium and other local venues. Alan has also written songs with Chuck Mead who he got to know when Chuck’s band, The Homestead Grays, often opened for Ricky Dean Sinatra. During his time with Ricky Dean Sinatra, Alan started writing songs about outer space, but few of them were performed or recorded by the band. Once COVID hit, Alan decided to go into Roll Away The Stone studio, helmed by drummer Dave Storms, and record these songs. He recruited Barry Lee to help in the production and to play guitar on the basic tracks which were then forwarded to other musicians to add their parts remotely. The result was a two record set of songs.

Barry Lee & Alan Murphy join us live in the 90.1 FM Studios to share details about, Out There – A Musical Journey Thru Space and Time with Alan Murphy and The Space Invaders, Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 7:00 PM, at Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS. The audience is encouraged to wear costumes. Seating will be socially distanced with limited capacity. The event will also be live-streamed. All proceeds benefit 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio. http://www.lawrenceartscenter.org

Barry Lee & Alan Murphy Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Sometime in the 1980s, Alan Murphy began to write a series of outer space-themed songs. His band, Ricky Dean Sinatra, never got around to playing them live or recording them. Now, thanks to COVID and a talented group of fellow musicians, this project has finally been realized. These songs have a 60s sensibility with references to David Bowie’s early songs, T Rex, The B52s, Man or Astroman, and other bands that work in this genre. This isn’t space rock, it’s rock and roll music about the cosmos.

Some background: during the time Alan was fronting Ricky Dean Sinatra in Lawrence in the 80s and 90s, he had stockpiled a lot of outer space rock and roll songs that the band never performed.

Once COVID stopped performances, he and Barry and Dave Storms went in to Roll Away The Stone studios and starting putting down basic tracks for what would be a two cd set. These songs were reminiscent of David Bowie’s early music, T Rex, and the B52s, not to mention 60s’ garage rock.

After the basic tracks were done, other musicians contributed their parts to fill out the songs. The cd has a listing of the personnel. Members of Broken Arrows, The Mahoots, The Kaw Tikis, and Thumbs, all played a part in this record and, for the most part, make up the live band.

Alan Murphy, vocals, guitar, keyboards, Barry Lee, guitar, vocals, Dave Storms, drums, percussion, keyboards, guitar, Doug Byers, bass, Marty Olson, keyboards, Bill Ryan, lead guitar, John Chevalier, guitars, saxophone, bass, Mike Penner, lead guitar, Brad Growcock, lead guitar, Scott Gribble, bass, Sam Platt, drums.

The October 30th show will feature a rare Firesign Theater film, “Martian Space Party” followed by Alan Murphy & The Space Invaders performing songs from the albums live. This is a Halloween show, so we are encouraging the audience to dress up in costumes. The audience will be socially distanced via reserved seating, we will also require proof of vaccination and mask wearing in the venue. They are limiting the seating to 165. This is a benefit for KKFI sponsored by P1 Group and The Lawrence Arts Center.

Barry Lee & Alan Murphy Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Out There – A Musical Journey Thru Space and Time with Alan Murphy and The Space Invaders, Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 7:00 PM, at Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS. The audience is encouraged to wear costumes. Seating will be socially distanced with limited capacity. The event will also be live-streamed. All proceeds benefit 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio. http://www.lawrenceartscenter.org

11:53

16. Alan Murphy & The Space Invaders – “She Must Be From Outer Space”
    from: Out There (Volume 1) / Intelligent Designs Records / September 20, 2021
    [Sometime in the 1980s, Alan Murphy began to write a series of outer space-themed songs. His band, Ricky Dean Sinatra, never got around to playing them live or recording them. Now, thanks to COVID and a talented group of fellow musicians, this project has finally been realized. These songs have a 60s sensibility with references to David Bowie’s early songs, T Rex, The B52s, Man or Astroman, and other bands that work in this genre. This isn’t space rock, it’s rock and roll music about the cosmos. Alan Murphy on vocals, guitar & keyboards; Barry Lee on guitar & vocals; Dave Storms on drums, percussion, keyboards & guitar; Doug Byers on bass; Marty Olson on keyboards; Bill Ryan on lead guitar; John Chevalier on guitars, saxophone & bass; Mike Penner on lead guitar; Brad Growcock on lead guitar; Scott Gribble on bass; Sam Platt on drums.]
17. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
    from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]

Next week on Wednesday MidDay Medley, on November 3 we welcome Collin Halliburton who shares music and details about the new album from The Roseline CONSTANCY. We also welcome Sarah Magill who shares the lastest release from her incredibly beautiful musical project Quiet Takes – the EP, WEEKLY, WEAKLY will be released on November 5, 2021. AND in our second hour we will do a special show about Kurt Von Schlemmer with special guest Rebecca Liberty and Mark Von Schlemmer.

We send a big THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’s Fall On-Air Fundraiser during Wednesday MidDay Medley last week, between our Facebook Fundraiser and Out Fund Drive show we raised $2915.00 from 49 individual donors. THANK YOU ALL!

COOP SESSIONS Illustration by Josh Boston

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

Show #913

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

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

COOP Sessions + Apocalypse Meow 14 + Calvin Arsenia + Alan Murphy & The Space Invaders

Mark plays New & MidCoastal Releases from: Alien Hellbop, The Creepy Jingles, Belle and the Vertigo Waves, Nature Boys, Boy Soprano, Jass, Kat King, Get Smart, Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Calvin Arsenia, Iris DeMent, and Alan Murphy & The Space Invaders.

At 10:15 we welcome co-founders of COOP SESSIONS, Mitch Hewlett, Producer & Audio Engineer and Cody Boston, Producer, Video Director & Editor. COOP SESSIONS is an independent live music entertainment media outlet produced in Lawrence, Kansas. They pull in bands and songwriters from the area to come to The Coop studio where they provide hi-fidelity audio/video content of the live performances to the public via their website, youtube channel, Instagram, and Soundcloud. COOP SESSIONS is working to build, curate, and foster a community for musicians and artists everywhere. COOP SESSIONS has produced two seasons and is launching Season 3 in November. More info at: http://www.coopsessions.com

At 10:35 Mark talks with Sondra Freeman who joins us to share details about Apocalypse Meow 14, on Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi and The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass. Video Production by Steve Gardels, XO Blackwater. Livestreaming and Video by Jay Lindhorst. Sound by Paul Malinowski. Apocalypse Meow is MMF’s primary fundraiser for Abby’s Fund For Musicians’ Health Care, which provides area musicians with emergency health care grants. Access to the concert stream is free, but donations are encouraged. More info: midwestmusicfoundation.org

At 11:00 KC based singer, composer & harpist Calvin Arsenia shares details about his new book, EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal. Calvin’s book is part of his journey as an artist “coming out” as Queer and coming out as a descendant of slavery. Earlier this year WMM featured Calvin and high school best friend, Justin Randall about their podcast, “We Were Christian Kids” where they shared stories in over 30 episodes about growing up queer in the evangelical church. Calvin also stars in the film, SUMMER IN HINDSIGHT, where he was the musical director and editor. The film was produced by the 18th Street Fashion Show. More information at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com

At 11:30 Barry Lee & Alan Murphy share details about, Out There – A Musical Journey Thru Space and Time with Alan Murphy and The Space Invaders, Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 7:00 PM, at Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS. During the 1980s and 90s Alan Murphy led the band, Ricky Dean Sinatra. During this time Alan started writing songs about outer space, but few of them were performed or recorded by the band. Once COVID hit, Alan decided to go to the studio and record these songs that are reminiscent of T Rex, the B-52s, and “garage rock.” Members of Broken Arrows, The Mahoots, The Kaw Tikis, and Thumbs, all played a part in this record and make up the live band. The audience is encouraged to wear costumes. Seating will be socially distanced with limited capacity. The event will also be live-streamed. All proceeds benefit 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio. http://www.lawrenceartscenter.org

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

COOP SESSIONS Illustration by Josh Boston

Show #913

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

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Effie + Chalis O’Neal + Fred Wickham Caravan + Tillie Hall & MellowPhobia

10:00 – Station ID

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. Marieme – “Love Now”
   from: Songs For The Revolution / GALSENE Productions / August 6, 2021
   [Marieme is a Senegalese-American singer-songwriter with a multi-octave voice whose music has R&B, pop and jazz influences. Her musical themes reflect her youth affected by war and her subsequent world travels. She has released one EP, one acoustic visual EP, and her songs have been used in several television shows and in film. Marieme Diop was born in Nouakchott, Mauritania, Africa where her father was an executive at a regional electrical company. When she was six months old, war broke out between that country and Senegal forcing her family to escape leaving behind a comfortable lifestyle and keeping nothing. Marieme and her siblings lived with her aunt in Senegal, while her parents moved to the Bronx, New York in the United States. The family reunited five years later in New York. // “I grew up in Senegal until I was seven years old. There was always music around, but it wasn’t encouraged—I grew up in a very religious household. When I came to America, I found a box of CDs under my parents’ bed. It was a surprise to me because I didn’t think they listened to music. I found out later that my dad was the one who bought it because there was a discount at his job or something. There were CDs by Ace of Base, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and more—about ten albums. I would put them on and cry because of the way the music made me feel. Mariah Carey’s album changed my life. I was learning English through listening to music, which was a powerful connection. My assimilation to America was all through music. I was teased a lot for my skin color and for being straight from Africa.” // At the University of Buffalo, Marieme studied journalism and communication, and even studied and interned in feature writing in London, United Kingdom. It was in high school when a jazz history class played Billie Holiday that she realized what she wanted to become, and did so with a vocal range of several octaves. // Marieme lives in both New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California. // In 2017, Marieme moved to Los Angeles, and two days after arriving, she wrote the song, “Leave” with producer/songwriter Andy Rose. Shortly after, with three songs completed, she got a deal from Jason Markey of Universal Music Publishing Group. She started writing with producers such as Theron “Neff-U” Feemster, who has worked with Michael Jackson, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Dr.Dre, Ne-Yo. // Marieme released an eponymous EP in February 2018 on Caroline Records. The EP featured three songs, “Leave,” “Be The Change,” and “Ask For Help.”[5][6] Of the latter, she told Music in Africa: “In this society, we are faced with so much. As we learn more and more about ourselves and the human condition over time, it is very important to know our limits in order to be able to exceed them and be able to reach our true goal. Often, misplaced pride keeps us from moving forward, and in the song we meant not to be too proud and to be able to ask for help when we needed it. The most powerful way to do this is through music.” // In April 2018, the Marieme song, “What’s Cool” was included on the soundtrack for the Amy Schumer movie, I Feel Pretty. The album was released by Sony Music. // Caroline released a new Marieme song called “Tumblin’” in September 2018, which referenced the fall of a governmental system. // In October 2019, she began releasing a series of acoustic videos of the songs from the Marieme EP. The visual work preceded the release of her acoustic visual EP in January 2019. // Early in 2019, “Ask For Help” was used as the promotion for the nationwide season premiere of Iyanla: Fix My Life on Oprah’s OWN Network, and an episode of the CBS mini-series The Red Line. // Marieme independently released a video for her song “Fi Moy Senegal” featuring Shaheed and Dixa of Alien Zik, both from Senegal. The song was issued to celebrate Senegal’s Independence Day in April 2019. Initially available on YouTube only in Senegal, it became popular enough to be made available internationally by the platform in June. The audio for “Fi Moy Senegal” was used by the Senegalese soccer team Les Lions in July 2019 as they competed for the African Cup of Nations. // Since the beginning of her musical career Marieme has performed around the United States including dates in New York City and Los Angeles. Many of the shows are benefits to help those in her home continent of Africa. In November 2019, she performed at the Kick 4 Life Gala at the Angel Orensanz Center, with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to provide education to at-risk children in Lesotho, Southern Africa. // Back in Senegal, Marieme became known for the live performances she does with popular African musicians, Akon, Youssou N’Dour and Pape et Cheikh.// LinkedIn struck a deal with Marieme to create an anthem for the business site. Her version of the Cat Stevenssong, “Be What You Must, became part of their promotion beginning in November 2019. //The Marieme song, Rogue is one of several that are being played in the Apple TV+ television series Truth Be Told, which became available on the platform December 13, 2019. The song is also used in worldwide TV and Digital commercials about the show. // BlackBook named the song and video for “Ask For Help” as one of BlackBook’s Best Song + Video Premieres of 2019. // In 2019, Marieme shot a video for her track, “Lovechild”, during the New York WorldPride celebrations. The track promotes the promotion of protection for black trans lives.]

3. Pastor T. L. Barrett – “Like a Ship”
   from: I Shall Wear A Crown / Numero Group / September 24, 2021
   [Thomas Lee Barrett, Jr. (born January 13, 1944), better known professionally as Pastor T.L. Barrett and Rev. T.L. Barrett, is an American Pentecostal preacher and gospel musician. Barrett is a preacher on Chicago’s South Side who released gospel albums in the 1970s; as a musician, he was largely unknown outside of Chicago until a resurgence in interest in his music occurred in the 2010s. // Barrett was born on January 13, 1944 in Jamaica, New York, but his family moved to Chicago when he was young. Barrett’s father was a gospel musician who was involved with the music at a church led by Barrett’s aunt. He attended Wendell Phillips High School, where he was expelled. His father died when Barrett was 16, and he then moved to Queens, New York, where he lived with his uncle and took a job at Flushing Hospital extracting glands from cadavers.[4] At 17 he was arrested for failing to pay child support to a 37-year-old who bore his child. In New York, he worked as a shoeshiner and played piano at parties and at venues such as the Waldorf Astoria and the Village Gate. Eventually, he decided to become a preacher, returning to Chicago and starting his own youth-focused ministry. // After receiving his G.E.D. diploma from the New York State Board of Regents in 1961, Barrett attended Bethel Bible Institute in Jamaica, New York, where he graduated with honors. // His career as a pastor began in 1966. He became pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, in the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago in 1968. After a theological disagreement with the elders of the Mt. Zion church, he left in 1976 to form his own ministry, the Life Center COGIC church, in the same neighborhood. // Barrett was charged in 1989 with orchestrating a pyramid scheme, by encouraging his congregants to donate to a series of economic development fundraisers which yielded over two million dollars in total. The financial viability of the plan was judged by a court to be infeasible, and Barrett was ordered to place his church’s title in receivership as a result. He was ordered to repay 1.2 million dollars by 1998, which he did successfully. // In 1998, the Illinois House of Representatives honored Barrett for contributions to civic life in Chicago. The city of Chicago named a portion of Garfield Boulevard, close to his Mt. Zion church location, in Barrett’s honor. In 2007, Barrett’s youngest daughter, Kleo, was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. In the 1970s, Barrett’s congregation included many noteworthy Chicago-area musicians, such as Maurice White and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire, Donny Hathaway, and Phil Cohran.[5] Barrett, recording as Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir, released the album Like a Ship (Without a Sail) in 1971. The Youth for Christ Choir, led by Barrett, was an approximately 40-member ensemble of children ages 12 to 19, which grew out of his Tuesday night weekly choir meetings. The album featured instrumental contributions from Phil Upchurch, Gene Barge, Charles Pittman, and Richard Evans (of Rotary Connection). It was reissued by Light in the Attic Records in 2010 to critical acclaim and praise from musicians such as Jim James and Colin Greenwood. Barrett also released several further albums of music over the course of the 1970s, as well as discs of sermons; he also recorded as Rev. T.L. Barrett. // In 2016, Kanye West sampled the song “Father I Stretch My Hands”, from Barrett’s 1976 album Do Not Pass Me By, in the song “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” and “Pt. 2” from the album The Life of Pablo. // In 2016, Barrett’s music was used in an Under Armour commercial directed by Harmony Korine and on the soundtrack to the film Barry. and in the 2017 Almeida Theatre (London) production of Martin Crimp’s “The Treatment”. //In 2019, Barrett’s song “Nobody Knows”, from the 1971 album ‘Like a Ship (Without a Sail)’, was used in an AT&T commercial titled “Roll Up Your Sleeves”. It was also used in a trailer to Corpus Christi. // Also in 2019, English musician Richard Ashcroft covered live the song ‘Like a Ship (Without a Sail)’ and released it as a streaming single (labeled as ‘Just Like A Ship’). The song was covered during a live session at the Chris Evans Breakfast Show.] // The following year, Barrett’s recording of ‘Like a Ship (Without a Sail)’ was featured in the Netflix documentary, Crip Camp. // In 2020, Barrett’s song “Like a Ship” was sampled by electronic music Duo The Knocks in their song “All About You” featuring Foster The People. // In June 2021, Barrett’s song “Like a Ship” was used on closing credits of Season 1 Episode 9 of HBO “HACKS”. // The song “Nobody Knows”, from the 1971 album ‘Like a Ship (Without a Sail)’, has been sampled numerous times, including on rapper Copywrite’s song “Trouble” from the album “Choose your own adventure: Murderland” and DJ Khaled’s album Grateful. // On July 1, 1967 he married his sweetheart Cleopatra. This union produced seven children (Kim, Kisha, T. L., III, Torrey, Trevore, T’Shaun, and Kleo), He has at least six additional children from other relationships. // Discography:

• Like a Ship… (Without a Sail) (Mt. Zion Gospel Productions TL-8126, 1971)
• Vol. II; Do Not Pass Me By (Universal Awareness, ca. 1973)
  (Note: the “Vol. II” refers to this LP’s status as a sequel to the prior “Like A Ship” LP, and not to the Gospel Roots LP of the same name, which would be released approximately three years later)
• I Found the Answer (Gospel Truth GTS-2718, 1973)
• Do Not Pass Me By (Gospel Roots GR-5002, 1976)
• Roots (Gospel Roots GR-5009, 1977)

4. Fred Wickham Caravan– “Town Without Soul”
   from: Town Without Soul / Black Site Records / October 29, 2021
   [The first single released August 27, 2020, from the Fred Wickham Caravan’s debut LP tells of a place we all know, that city where something just ain’t right Fred Wickham on vocals & guitar, Marco Pascolini on pedal steel, Bart Colliver on piano & accordion & vocals, Richard Burgess on upright bass & vocals, Fred Wickham, Jr. on mandolin, Matt Brahl on drums & percussion. Music and lyrics by Fred Wickham. Produced by Fred Wickham Caravan. Recorded at The Nutthouse Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Engineered by Jimmy Nutt. Mastered by Chad Meise at Massive Sound Studios in KCMO. Fred Wickham is best known for his work with Hadacol, the Kansas City based quartet that released two critically acclaimed records and gained a national reputation for ferocious live shows across the country. The Caravan, formed to support the solo album, Mariosa Delta, blends country, soul and rock & roll into a sound that can only be called pure Americana. Info at: http://www.fredwickhamband.com]

[Fred Wickham Caravan Album Release show with The Roseline is Friday, October 29, 2021, at 6:30 pm, at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, Kansas City, MO 64101]

10:34 – Interview with Fred Wickham

Fred Wickham joins us to share music from the Fred Wickham Caravan debut album, TOWN WITHOUT SOUL. The 10-track album is set to be released on vinyl and digital platforms through Black-Site Records. The band is having a release show on October 29, 2021, at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, West Bottoms, KCMO with the Grand Marquis’ horn section joining the band. The Roseline will open the show.

Fred Wickham, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Caravan includes songwriter Fred Wickham on lead vocals & guitar, Richard Burgess on bass, Marco Pascolini on guitar, Fred Jr. on mandolin, Sweet Matt Brahl on drums, and Lin Buck on keyboards. Co-produced by Grammy-winning engineer Jimmy Nutt at his Nutthouse Recording Studio in legendary Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The album was mastered by Chad

After a year of recording in Muscle Shoals followed by 18 months of waiting out a global pandemic, The Fred Wickham Caravan is set to release its debut album, Town Without Soul, October 29 on Kansas City record label cooperative Black Site. To celebrate, the band is having a release show party that night at The Ship in the historic West Bottoms. The Grand Marquis’ horn section, recently departed keyboardist Cowboy Bart Colliver and a few other surprise guests will be joining the Caravan on stage, while stellar Lawrence alt country band The Roseline will open the show.

Wordsmith and architect Fred Wickham and his five master craftsmen – Richard Burgess (bass), Marco Pascolini (guitar), Fred Jr. (mandolin), Sweet Matt Brahl (drums) and newest member, Lin Buck (keys) – blend country, soul and rock and roll into an edifice of sound that can only be called pure Americana. Town Without Soul brings to vinyl the emotion and musicianship audiences across the Midwest have experienced ever since the Caravan formed to support Wickham’s much-heralded solo record, Mariosa Delta, in 2017. Leaving nothing unutilized in his refined toolbox of honky tonk and roots rock, Wickham leads the Caravan effortlessly through ten tracks of wrenching heartache, scathing satire and wry observation.

Co-produced by Grammy-winning engineer Jimmy Nutt at his Nutthouse Recording Studio in legendary Muscle Shoals, AL in late 2019, the recording was nearly complete when the pandemic struck. To keep moving forward while the music world shut down, the band released three video singles from the album over the next year – the title track, “Fatbird”, and “If We Ever Happened” – all produced by the Pascolini Brothers, Carlo and Marco. During that time, the band put the finishing touches on the rest of the record. In order to preserve the brilliant recording and engineering work of Jimmy Nutt, Wickham turned to local mastering maestro, Chad Meise at Massive Sound Studios in Shawnee, KS. Not wanting to lose an ounce of fidelity in the translation to vinyl, Black Site handed over acetate cutting duties to master of the lathe, Chris Muth at Taloowa Corp. The result is a work of sonic beauty that not only flawlessly captures this six-piece outfit’s expertise at a wide range of instruments – drums, bass, guitar, piano, organ, pedal steel, mandolin, and accordion – but also the swingin’ horn section and exquisitely-executed backing vocals from some of Muscle Shoals’ finest studio pros.

Town Without Soul comes in a gorgeous full-color gatefold jacket designed by Marco Pascolini, with a limited number of copies pressed on clear turquoise vinyl.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Fred Wickham is best known for his work with Hadacol, the popular Kansas City based quartet who released two critically acclaimed records and gained a national reputation for their ferocious live performances across the country.

The Fred Wickham Caravan originally formed to support the recording of Wickham’s 2017 solo album, Mariosa Delta, produced and recorded by the late, great Lou Whitney in Springfield, Missouri. The album received widespread praise both nationally and abroad, with No Depression calling Mariosa Delta “a sparkling gem of an album…a great record, part document, part tragedy, all heartbreak.”

Mariosa Delta featured Wickham’s longtime musical cohort and Hadacol bassist Richard Burgess. To support the album live, the two recruited some of their favorite musicians and best friends to form a six-piece band capable of jumping from one musical style to the next while maintaining a sound that is all their own. Guitar oddity Marco Pascolini lends his unmistakable stylings on electric and pedal steel guitar. Keyboardist, accordion player, and harmony vocalist, Cowboy Bart Colliver, performed on the album, but departed the band earlier this year. His replacement, Lin Buck, who primarily uses piano and Hammond organ to add an element of melodic soul, has recently been compared to the likes of keyboard icons Booker T. Jones, Garth Hudson, Chuck Leavell and Benmont Tench. Matt Brahl, one of KC’s finest drummers and an old friend who played in Hadacol towards the end, jumped right in after original drummer Sam Platt departed n 2017. Rounding out the ensemble is Wickham’s son, Fred Jr., who had become an accomplished mandolin player while no one was watching.

CONTACT:
fredwickhammusic@gmail.com
black-site.org/fred-wickham-caravan
fredwickhamband.com
http://www.facebook.com/fredwickhammusic

BLACK SITE is a record label cooperative created by Kansas City musicians interested in supporting regional punk and rock bands release their recordings on a physical medium. With the world around us becoming a deluge of digital l’s and 0’s, transient as a trust fund crust punk on a cross country excursion, tangible art is critical to maintaining connections to our past, our sense of place, and who we are as a people. Only WE can create the world we want to live in. Reciprocity and solidarity are the cornerstones of building long lasting, self-sustaining community power that pushes back against the commodification of culture. Music is not a business; Punk is not a brand, and DIY is not a lifestyle to be consumed. This is a way of life, and if we don’t hang together, we’ll surely hang alone. More info at: Black-site.org

Fred Wickham, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

[Fred Wickham Caravan Album Release show with The Roseline is Friday, October 29, 2021, at 6:30 pm, at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, Kansas City, MO 64101]

10:27

5. Fred Wickham Caravan– “Fatbird”
   from: Town Without Soul / Black Site Records / Octiber 29, 2020
   [The second single from the Fred Wickham Caravan’s debut LP tells of a place we all know, that city where something just ain’t right Fred Wickham on vocals & guitar, Marco Pascolini on pedal steel, Bart Colliver on piano & accordion & vocals, Richard Burgess on upright bass & vocals, Fred Wickham, Jr. on mandolin, Matt Brahl on drums & percussion. Music and lyrics by Fred Wickham. Produced by Fred Wickham Caravan. Recorded at The Nutthouse Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Engineered by Jimmy Nutt. Mastered by Chad Meise at Massive Sound Studios in Kansas City, MO. More info at: http://www.fredwickhamband.com]

[Fred Wickham Caravan Album Release show with The Roseline is Friday, October 29, 2021, at 6:30 pm,at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, Kansas City, MO 64101]

10:31 – Underwriting

10:33 – Interview with Chalis O’Neal

KC based musician and performer Chalis O’Neal joins us to share details about his upcoming debut album, FLIRTING. Chalis picked up the trumpet at the age of eleven and began studying music at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Inspired by his oldest brother, jazz musician and composer Harold O’Neal, Chalis majored in Jazz Studies with a minor in Classical Trumpet under the direction of Jazz legend Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri Kansas City. O’Neal’s eclectic style ranges from jazz venues to theatre work with the New Theatre Restaurant performing and acting in the The Buddy Holly Story. O’Neal also has burlesque experience with Quixotic Cirque Nouveau. Chalis is also the lead trumpeter for the Afro futuristic band, Arquesta Del SolSoul. O’Neal has performed with Bobby Watson, Harold O’Neal, Tivon Pennicott, Marcus Strickland, Lisa Henry, and David Basse.

Chalis O’Neal, Thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Chalis picked up the trumpet at the age of eleven

Chalis comes froma family of artists, teachers, and activists.

Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts.

Chalis majored in Jazz Studies with a minor in Classical Trumpet under the direction of Jazz legend Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

O’Neal’s eclectic style ranges from jazz venues to theatre work with the New Theatre Restaurant performing and acting in the The Buddy Holly Story.

O’Neal also has burlesque experience with Quixotic Cirque Nouveau.

Chalis is also the lead trumpeter for the Afro futuristic band, Arquesta Del SolSoul.

O’Neal has had the opportunity to perform with artists like Bobby Watson, Jeff ‘“Tain” Watts, Harold O’Neal, Tivon Pennicott, Marcus Strickland, Stephen Scott, Ben Williams, Lewis Nash, Curtis Lundy, Lonnie McFadden, Dan Thomas, Sullivan Fortner, Lisa Henry, and David Basse.

Chalis O’Neal is getting set to release: Flirting in November, 2021.

Chalis O’Neal is the youngest brother of Harold Mujahid O’Neal who was born March 27, 1981, and is an American pianist, composer, record producer, public speaker, dancer, and storyteller. He has recorded and performed with artists in a variety of musical genres (U2, Lupe Fiasco, Busta Rhymes, Damien Rice, Aloe Blacc, and Jay Z). O’Neal has been profiled and featured in numerous publications and programs including Forbes, NPR’s All Things Considered, Fortune, Studio 360, and the 92Y, with The New York Times comparing him to Duke Ellington, Kenny Kirkland, and Maurice Ravel. He is considered to be of this generation’s greatest pianists and composers. O’Neal has been awarded fellowship to the Royal Society of the Arts, with the Patron being Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and recently played a role as a creative expert for the Academy Award winning Pixar film, Soul. // Harold O’Neal was born in Arusha, Tanzania, and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. His great-grandfather, Ollie Harold Pennington, was a jazz pianist and composer for silent film in Kansas City, where his grandmother walked to school with Charlie Parker. O’Neal began playing the piano by ear at age four on his father’s miniature keyboard. He found his earliest inspirations in the music of Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, and Disney. While growing up, he spent a considerable amount of time with his grandmother exploring various creative outlets, before eventually becoming a pianist. Having spent much of his youth living in the projects (Public Housing) and surviving near-death experiences, he credits music with saving his life. O’Neal attended the Paseo Academy Of Fine And Performing Arts, with classmates Logan Richardson, Lil’ Ronnie, and Brian Kennedy, where he began his jazz piano studies while being mentored by Ahmad Alaadeen. He studied classical piano and composition with Margie Cameron-Jarrett, whose musical lineage can be traced back to Franz Liszt. // O’Neal began working with musical luminaries from a young age – touring with Bobby Watson when he was 19 after studying composition at the Berklee College of Music. He then went on to the Manhattan School of Music, to study with Kenny Barron. It was there where he met the great American jazz pianist and composer, Andrew Hill, with whom he soon became the apprentice of. Mr. Hill was an apprentice of prolific composer Paul Hindemith. Following Andrew Hill’s advice, O’Neal left the Manhattan School of Music to replace pianist Jason Moran in the influential band, the Greg Osby 4, making his major-label debut recording for Blue Note Records at the age of 21. In 2004, O’Neal premiered a jazz quartet featuring Greg Osby, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Matt Brewer. // In the following years, O’Neal released a number of critically acclaimed albums including — “Charlie’s Suite” (2006), which was a compilation of his family’s legacy, “Whirling Mantis” (2010) with a jazz quartet, and a solo piano album “Marvelous Fantasy” (2011) on Smalls Records. He then partnered with Ski Beats and Damon Dash, after being signed to Universal Music Group as a songwriter and producer, to release the albums 24 Hour Karate School 2 (2011), Twilight (2012), and Cam’Ron And Vado’s Blu Tops (2012). In 2012, O’Neal formed a partnership with producers Lil Ronnie and Jerry Wonda working with many Pop and R&B artists (Miguel, Akon, Melissa Ethridge, Raphael Saadiq, French Montana). In 2013, he released the album “Man on the Street” featuring a jazz quartet as well as solo piano for BluRoc, an at the time incarnation of Rocafella Records distributed by Def Jam Records. // O’Neal worked as a composer for a featurette and the documentaries of the 2015 Disney film Tomorrowland produced by Academy Award winning filmmaker Anthony Giacchino, which starred George Clooney and Britt Robertson. The film was directed by Brad Bird with the film-score being composed by Michael Giacchino. His solo piano album “Piano Cinema” was released in May 2018, with “Sam and Sam” serving as the lead single. Following the album release, O’Neal completed a spring tour across the U.S. with The Blk Shp with Pixar as a partner. Recently, at the suggestion of Ed Catmull, O’Neal played a role with the filmmakers (Pete Docter, Dana Murray, Kemp Powers) as a creative expert in the development of Pixar’s Soul. // As a keynote speaker and storyteller, O’Neal has been featured at Google, The World Economic Forum, TEDX, Hatch Experience, C2 Montréal, Blk Shp Power Shift, and many other leading platforms.// In 2019, O’Neal was among the 100 international individuals selected to be a Gates Foundation Goalkeeper. Goalkeepers (Gates Foundation) is an initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Its aim is to bring together leaders from around the world to accelerate progress toward achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Invitations are issued to global leaders and aspiring personalities who have been personally selected by the board. Previous attendees include Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron, Amina J. Mohammed, Erna Solberg, Malala Yousafzai, and Trevor Noah.// In 2019, O’Neal was awarded fellowship to the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival, a week-long event held in Aspen, Colorado in the United States. The Aspen Ideas Festival program of events includes discussions, seminars, panels, and tutorials from journalists, designers, innovators, politicians, diplomats, presidents, judges, musicians, artists, and writers. Topics covered during the festival include global politics and economics, U.S. Policy, the environment, technology, science, health, education, the arts, and economic issues. // In 2019, O’Neal was awarded fellowship to the Royal Society of the Arts. Founded in 1754 by William Shipley, it was granted a Royal Charter in 1847, and the right to use the term “Royal” in its name by King Edward VII in 1908. Notable past fellows include Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin, Stephen Hawking, Karl Marx, Adam Smith, Nelson Mandela, David Attenborough, William Hogarth, John Diefenbaker, and Tim Berners-Lee. Today, the RSA has fellows elected from 80 countries worldwide.// NPR All Things Considered: The Yule Log (TV program), Pianist Harold O’Neal and Bill Cosby’s Christmas story[8] On 25 December 2011, O’Neal was featured along with Bill Cosby for the Christmas Day edition of NPR’s All Things Considered, with O’Neal being hosted and interviewed by Guy Raz. // Electric Burma On June 18, 2012, O’Neal performed with U2, Lupe Fiasco, Bob Geldof, Damien Rice, Angelique Kidjo and many other major artists for the presentation of Amnesty International’s prestigious ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ Award to Aung San Suu Kyi. The award was originally announced from the stage when U2 played Croke Park in July 2009 – while the Burmese Nobel Peace Prize recipient was still under house arrest in Burma. // Global Citizen: World on Stage[10] On 22 September 2016, O’Neal performed with Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter for The Global Citizen Festival’s The World on Stage, a night curated by Tom Morello and Jon Batiste. The evening was dedicated to several prominent speakers who addressed various causes—such as education, the refugee crisis, gender equality, poverty, hunger, and much more—and the presentation of the inaugural George Harrison Global Citizen award, presented by Paul Simon to Olivia and Dhani Harrison (George’s widow and son). // On December 4, 2018, Herbie Hancock received the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Medal (Royal Society of Arts) from the Royal Society for the Arts at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—being recognized for his long lifetime of creative achievements and humanitarian efforts. The 264-year-old Royal Society for the Arts, based in London, includes Franklin as a founding fellow and initiated the Benjamin Franklin medal in 1956 to honor people who transcend their vocation to generally benefit mankind. The ceremony featured bassist Christian McBride and pianist O’Neal as guest star performers, each musically representing the electric and acoustic side of Hancock’s legacy. // In 2009, O’Neal appeared as an actor in Jay Z’s music video for the hit record Young Forever, from his multi-platinum album The Blueprint 3. In 2010, he was cast in the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, portraying James P. Johnson. He was also featured in MTV’s Sucker Free.

Chalis O’Neal is the nephew of Felix Lindsey “Pete” O’Neal, Jr. (born 1940), was the chairman of the Kansas City chapter of the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s. He led implementation of many free programs, such as providing free breakfast to children around the city. // O’Neal had trouble with authority figures in high school and dropped out. Soon afterwards, he joined the military, following the steps of his father. Once done with service, he moved to Stockton, California, where in 1959 he was sentenced to 9 months in jail for theft. He escaped from jail after 3 months, traveling back to Kansas City, MO. In 1961, law enforcement caught him and he was sent back to California to serve his remaining sentence. // After completing his sentence, the felony should have been cleared as indicated by Californian law, but it was not. This significantly hindered his chances for employment. // On October 30, 1969, he was arrested again for the transporting of a gun across state lines (under a law that went into effect just two weeks prior to his arrest). A year later a court convicted him and in October 1970, he was sentenced to four years in prison. O’Neal jumped his bail and fled to Algeria, where a number of other Black Panther Party members had also absconded to in the face of imprisonment in the United States. This group became known as the “International Section” of the Black Panther Party, and was centered around Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver. A year later O’Neal moved on to Tanzania, motivated to immigrate there as the then President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, was both a Pan-Africanist and Socialist. O’Neal has remained in Tanzania ever since. // Together with his wife, Charlotte Hill O’Neal, he is the co-founder of the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC) in the village of Imbaseni, near the northern city of Arusha, Tanzania. The UAACC is a center focusing on healing the community by providing a diverse array of free art, music, film and other classes to members of the community. The UAACC also serves as a hostel for people travelling through the area—offering several “huts” with bunk beds. The center has been frequented by several celebrities, American politicians, study abroad programs, students, documentary film makers, and artists. Pete and Charlotte provide numerous jobs to locals of the community and the center is entirely run by local Tanzanians. // O’Neal’s family still resides in the Kansas City area. He is a third cousin to US Representative Emmanuel Cleaver. Since 1991, Cleaver and others have unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a pardon for O’Neal, and took the issue to both President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. Both declined to pardon O’Neal. // His life and exile in Tanzania is the subject of the PBS documentary ‘A Panther in Africa’, by Aaron Matthews, and a book ‘Black Panther in Exile: The Pete O’Neal Story’ by Pete’s attorney, Paul J. Magnarella.]

Chalis O’Neal, Thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

10:45

6. Chalis O’Neal – “Spitting Game”
   from: Flirting / Chalis O’Neal / TBA

7. 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.]

[Mikal Shapiro plays the Full Moon Festivus with Julia Othmer, and Jessica Paige, at The Black Box, 1060 Union Ave m West Bottoms, KCMO, TONIGHT, October 20, 2021, at 7:00 PM. Proof of full vaccination with photo ID is required from all patrons, artists, and staff in order to attend, work, or perform any live event at The Black Box. – Please bring a lawn chair if you’d like to be guaranteed a seat!]

8. Julia Othmer – “Fortunate Son”
   from: SEEDS, Volume 2 (LIVE) / Frickin’ Awesome Records / March 20, 2021
   [This is Julia’s 4th full length and contains 10 live songs selected from her 30-day Songs of September Project, where Julia performed live covers of her favorite songs of protest and hope, broadcast through streaming social platforms to inspire people to vote on November 3. Julia’s fans democratically selected their favorite tracks to be included on SEEDS. Julia Othmer released “Sound,” on April 12, 2019, her second album, that took 3 years to complete, and was produced with James Lundie, who also married Julia in January of 2016, during the completion of the record. Julia Othmer, is a graduate of Park Hill High School. She moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her 1st full-length album, “Oasis Motel.” In 2018 to 2019 Julia Othmer toured with and opened for The Alarm in US show and shows in the United Kingdom. When Julia Othmer is in Kansas City she plays with Johnny Hamil on bass, Chris Tady on guitar, John Floyd Whitaker on drums. More info at http://www.juliaothmer.com.]

[Julia Othmer plays the Full Moon Festivus with Mikal Shapiro, and Jessica Paige, at The Black Box, 1060 Union Ave m West Bottoms, KCMO, TONIGHT, October 20, 2021, at 7:00 PM. Proof of full vaccination with photo ID is required from all patrons, artists, and staff in order to attend, work, or perform any live event at The Black Box. – Please bring a lawn chair if you’d like to be guaranteed a seat!]

11:00 – Station ID

9. MellowPhobia – “Jackal”
   from: “Jackal” – Single / Jackal and Hide Records / May 7, 2020.
   [Music and Lyrics by Tillie Alexandra Hall, Producer Tillie Alexandra Hall. Recording Engineering by Justin Mantooth. Mastering by Pete Maher. Adam McKee on drums MellowPhobia were formed out of the indie alt-rock scene of Pittsburgh, PA. Now residing in their home city of Kansas City, producing a highly original sound that they describe as “landlocked surf rock”. Socially conscious lyrics, and hook laden tunes keeps the crowd jumping. The band revolves around songwriter and guitarist Til who provides the distinctive vocals to all MellowPhobia tracks. In July 2018 MelloPhobia released the 3-song EP LISTEN. More info: http://www.mellowphobia.com]

11:03 – Interview with Tillie Hall

Tillie Hall of MellowPhobia shares music from the group’s new 4-track EP, IS THIS SEAT TAKEN?, released through Jackal And Hide Records. Formed out of the indie alt-rock scene of Pittsburgh, PA. MellowPhobia is now based in Lawrence & Kansas City. The band revolves around songwriter and guitarist Tillie Hall who during the pandemic went into the studio and recorded 12 new tracks. IS THIS SEAT TAKEN? is the band’s sophomore EP. The band also released the stand alone single, “Jackal” on May 7, 2021. More info at: http://www.mellowphobia.bandcamp.com

Tillie Hall thanks for being with us on WMM.

MellowPhobia were formed out of the indie alt-rock scene of Pittsburgh, PA.

Now residing in their home city of Kansas City, they continue to grow their audience producing a highly original sound that they describe as “landlocked surf rock”. With a love of the British sound, socially conscious lyrics, and hook laden tunes; the band will keep the crowd jumping and give them something to think about.

MellowPhobia released their 4-track EP, IS THIS SEAT TAKEN? on June 23, 2021 through Jackal And Hide Records.

Music and lyrics written by Tillie Alexandra Hall Produced by Tillie Alexandra Hall.

Recording Engineer: Justin Mantooth. Mastering Engineer: Pete Maher. Drums: Adam McKee. Illustrator: Jenifer Prince. More info at http://www.melloephobia.bandcamp.com

The band revolves around songwriter and guitarist Til who provides the distinctive vocals to all MellowPhobia tracks.

The year of the pandemic saw MellowPhobia creative force Til Hall go into the studio, hunker down and record 12 new tracks.

The single, ‘Jackal’ recently paved the way for this quartet – and continues to enjoy airplay around the world.

Always ready for a collaboration, Til teamed up with Brazilian artist Jenifer Prince to create the striking cover for both “Jackal” and “Is This Seat Taken?”

The sophomore E.P. ‘Is this Seat Taken?’ includes four fresh tracks; Allie, LRH, MaryAnn Elizabeth, and Hide.

Tillie Hall thanks for being with us on WMM.

MellowPhobia released their 4-track EP, IS THIS SEAT TAKEN? on June 23, 2021 through Jackal And Hide Records. Music and lyrics written by Tillie Alexandra Hall Produced by Tillie Alexandra Hall. More info at http://www.melloephobia.bandcamp.com

11:15

10. MellowPhobia – “Allie”
    from: IS THIS SEAT TAKEN? / Jackal And Hide Records / June 23, 2021
    [Music and Lyrics by Tillie Alexandra Hall, Producer Tillie Alexandra Hall. Recording Engineering by Justin Mantooth. Mastering by Pete Maher. Adam McKee on drums MellowPhobia were formed out of the indie alt-rock scene of Pittsburgh, PA. Now residing in their home city of Kansas City, producing a highly original sound that they describe as “landlocked surf rock”. Socially conscious lyrics, and hook laden tunes keeps the crowd jumping. The band revolves around songwriter and guitarist Til who provides the distinctive vocals to all MellowPhobia tracks. In July 2018 MelloPhobia released the 3-song EP LISTEN. More info: http://www.mellowphobia.com]

11. Lonnie Fisher And The Funeral – “Rock Til You Drop”
    from: HAUNTED / Lonnie Fisher And The Funeral / October 22, 2021
    [Lonnie Fisher on lead vocals, 5 String Guitar & Keyboards; Tim Jenkins on guitars; Chris Nunez on drums, Tim Manning on bass, and Julia Reynolds on vocals & keyboards. More info at: http://www.facebook.com/lonniefisherandthefuneral%5D

[Lonnie Fisher and The Funeral Album Release and Abby’s Fund Benefit, Friday, October 22, 2021, at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, WEST BOTTOMS, KCMO with Fritz Hutchison and Big Dopes. Lonnie Fisher writes: “Midwest Music Foundation helped me through some really tough days after my strokes and it’s a miracle I’m singing and playing again. This show is for helping others.”]

[Lonnie Fisher and The Funeral play a Lawrence Album Release Show at Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, on Fri. Nov. 19 at 6:00 PM with Alien Hellbop and Shebangs, also having Album Releases.]

12. Jake Wells – “Salt and Water”
    from: “Salt and water” – Single / Jake Wells Music / October 3, 2020
    [Co-written with brother Jordan Wells. “This song was inspired by a father daughter relationship that was meant to be celebrated.” More info at https://jakewellsmusic.com. This release was followed by the 6-song EP, GOODBYES on October 15, 2021. All of the new songs on this EP (Plus the stand alone single “Salt and Water”) came from a the “custom song writing project” that Jake and brother Jordan Thompson embarked upon to support themselves financially during the pandemic. More information at: https://www.thepitchkc.com/one-musicians-custom-songwriting-brought-joy-and-tears-to-an-empty-year/ This new music is follow up to Jake’s single “The Wrong Side (feat. J. Taylor)” released on September 3, 2021, and Jake Wells and The Dirty Musicians single, “Holy Woman” released on August 6, 2021, and Jake’s single “Time After Time” released May 6, 2021, and his EP, SUNDAY MORNING released February 29, 2020. Kansas City based indie folk singer songwriter. Jake Wells was born in Florida grew up in Colorado. Jake studied Music Composition at University of Northern Colorado. “Jake’s sound evokes an emotionality and maturity much deeper than his age of 22 would imply.” He was named one of Spotify’s top 20. He has performed on stages since he was a teenager. His single releases are currently gaining radio play in the Midwest on several FM stations. In 2018 he was featured on the nationally televised NBC reality – competition program The Voice.]

11:28 – Underwriting

13. Effie – “Higher”
    from: Curve My Enthusiasm / DISTRKCT / August 13, 2021
    [Effie is Effie Altoro. Effie is a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer, one part of Kansas City’s own Jet Pack Productions originally from the Bronx, New York. Effie says that music saved her life and means everything to her. She puts herself in the category of a R&B/Hip Hop Artist. She claims Nina Simone as her biggest influence. Effie writes, “I have been writing for so many years but never shared any of my personal work until last year. So I’m working on pacing myself with releases, instead of just putting so many albums out back to back. My album, Curve My Enthusiasm, is so special to me that I’m going to release a deluxe version in January with 4 additional tracks and videos, including some exciting collaborations. I have also been writing for other artists, so you’ll be able to hear some of those releases soon, as well!” More info at: https://smarturl.it/37jrdz%5D

11:34 – Interview with Effie

In a world gone mad we all search for that guiding light. The bat signal has been received by the eclectic artist known as Effie. She is from Kansas by the way of the boogie down Bronx where the city never sleeps but her roots run deep to La Isla del Encanto. Effie is effortless and effervescent. Her sound has dexterity and fluidity that brings together her blend of influences that were cultivated by dancing in soul train lines on a Sunday afternoon with the family. Her inspirations span from Miss Education, Ye, Kendrick, Stevie Wonder with a little Marc Anthony.

The music speaks volumes but the individual behind the words and melodies has a story to tell and we are all better for listening. Effie released Curve My Enthusiasm on August 13, 2021.

Effie Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

R&B/Hip Hop artist, Effie, originally from the Bronx, New York.

Effie is Effie Altoro

Effie is a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer, and one part of Kansas City’s own Jet Pack Productions.

She also claims Nina Simone as a big influence.

Her range is limitless which is why she dons the moniker of Eff Curry because she doesn’t miss. Her talent for songwriting has been fueled by her unique perspective and her experiences as a young woman on her journey to self-discovery. Her voice conveys the full spectrum of the human condition as her staple sultry voice has a way of welcoming all and putting them in a trance as she weaves her stories in through your ears and around your heart and mind.

Effie says that music saved her life and means everything to her.

Effie writes, “I have been writing for so many years but never shared any of my personal work until last year.

Effie writes, “I’m working on pacing myself with releases, instead of just putting albums out back to back.”

We talked with Effie about the autobiographical truth in the lyrics, “Ain’t Gotta Lie.”

11:41

14. Effie – “Ain’t Gotta Lie”
    from: Curve My Enthusiasm / DISTRKCT / August 13, 2021
    [Effie is Effie Altoro. Effie is a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer, one part of Kansas City’s own Jet Pack Productions originally from the Bronx, New York. Effie says that music saved her life and means everything to her. She puts herself in the category of a R&B/Hip Hop Artist. She claims Nina Simone as her biggest influence. Effie writes, “I have been writing for so many years but never shared any of my personal work until last year. So I’m working on pacing myself with releases, instead of just putting so many albums out back to back. My album, Curve My Enthusiasm, is so special to me that I’m going to release a deluxe version in January with 4 additional tracks and videos, including some exciting collaborations. I have also been writing for other artists, so you’ll be able to hear some of those releases soon, as well!” More info at: https://smarturl.it/37jrdz%5D

11:44 – More Interview with Effie

We are talking with R&B/Hip Hop artist, Effie, originally from the Bronx, New York. Effie is a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer, and one part of Kansas City’s own JET Pack Productions. Effie released Curve My Enthusiasm on August 13, 2021.

Effie Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Effie journey includes The Bronx to Kansas to the Bronx and back to Kansas

Effie is one third of JET Pack Productions a Kansas City based music entertainment company created by Musicians Jo Blaq, Effie Altoro, and Tim Ogutu

Many of the tracks on Curve My Enthusiasm, have had videos created for them. The album features exciting collaborations. One of the collaborations includes JET Pack co-founder Jo Blaq on the track “Someday.”

Effie Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:53

15. Effie – “Someday (feat. Jo Blaq)”
    from: Curve My Enthusiasm / DISTRKCT / August 13, 2021
    [Effie is Effie Altoro. Effie is a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer, one part of Kansas City’s own Jet Pack Productions originally from the Bronx, New York. Effie says that music saved her life and means everything to her. She puts herself in the category of a R&B/Hip Hop Artist. She claims Nina Simone as her biggest influence. Effie writes, “I have been writing for so many years but never shared any of my personal work until last year. So I’m working on pacing myself with releases, instead of just putting so many albums out back to back. My album, Curve My Enthusiasm, is so special to me that I’m going to release a deluxe version in January with 4 additional tracks and videos, including some exciting collaborations. I have also been writing for other artists, so you’ll be able to hear some of those releases soon, as well!” More info at: https://smarturl.it/37jrdz%5D

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

Next week on Wednesday MidDay Medley, on October 27 we welcome Mitch Hewlett Producer and Audio Engineer of Coop Sessions is an online live music series featuring performances from bands and songwriters all over. Recorded in The Coop in Lawrence Kansas. ALSO…Sondra Freeman joins us to share details about Apocalypse Meow 14, on Saturday, November 6, at 7:00 PM – A Virtual Livestream Concert & Online Auction Broadcast from recordBar, with Katy Guillen & The Drive, Sons of Great Dane, Nathan Corsi and The Perfect Strangers, Julia Othmer, and Jass. Go to http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org for more info. AND…Calvin Arsenia joins us to share details about his new book, Every Good Boy Does Fine published by Simon & Schuster. AND… Barry Lee and Alan Murphy join us to share details about Out There – A Musical Journey Thru Space and Time with Alan Murphy and The Space Invaders, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021 AT 7:00 PM, at Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, Kansas.

We send a big THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’s Fall On-Air Fundraiser during Wednesday MidDay Medley last week, between our Facebook Fundraiser and our Fund Drive show we raised $2915.00 from 49 individual donors. THANK YOU ALL!

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

Show #912

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

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Effie + Chalis O’Neal + Fred Wickham Caravan + Tillie Hall & MellowPhobia

Mark plays New & MidCoastal Releases from: MellowPhobia, Jake Wells, Effie, Chalis O’Neal, Julia Othmer, Fred Wickham Caravan, Lonnie Fisher and The Funeral, Mikal Shapiro, Marieme, and Pastor T. L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir.

At 10:15 Fred Wickham joins us to share music from the Fred Wickham Caravan debut album, TOWN WITHOUT SOUL. The 10-track album is set to be released on vinyl and digital platforms through Black-Site Records. The band is having a release show on October 29, 2021, at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, West Bottoms, KCMO with the Grand Marquis’ horn section, and Cowboy Bart Colliver joining the band. The Roseline will open the show. The Caravan includes songwriter Fred Wickham on lead vocals & guitar, Richard Burgess on bass, Marco Pascolini on guitar, Fred Jr. on mandolin, Sweet Matt Brahl on drums, and Lin Buck on keyboards. Co-produced by Grammy-winning engineer Jimmy Nutt at his Nutthouse Recording Studio in legendary Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The album was mastered by Chad Meise at Massive Sound Studios in Shawnee, KS. More info at: http://www.black-sire.org/fred-wickham-caravan

At 10:35 Mark talks with KC based musician and performer Chalis O’Neal about his upcoming debut album, FLIRTING. Chalis picked up the trumpet at the age of eleven and began studying music at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Chalis majored in Jazz Studies with a minor in Classical Trumpet under the direction of Jazz legend Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri Kansas City. O’Neal’s eclectic style ranges from jazz venues to theatre work with the New Theatre Restaurant performing and acting in the The Buddy Holly Story. O’Neal also has burlesque experience with Quixotic Cirque Nouveau. Chalis is also the lead trumpeter for the Afro futuristic band, Arquesta Del SolSoul. O’Neal has performed with Bobby Watson, Harold O’Neal, Tivon Pennicott, Marcus Strickland, Lisa Henry, and David Basse.

At 11:00 Tillie Hall of MellowPhobia shares music from the group’s new 4-track EP, IS THIS SEAT TAKEN?, released through Jackal And Hide Records. Music & lyrics by Tillie Hall who also produced the EP, with Justin Mantooth serving as recording engineer, and mastering by Pete Maher. Adam McKee played drums. Formed out of the indie alt-rock scene of Pittsburgh, PA. MellowPhobia is now based in Lawrence & Kansas City. The band revolves around songwriter and guitarist Tillie Hall who during the pandemic went into the studio and recorded 12 new tracks. IS THIS SEAT TAKEN? is the band’s sophomore EP. The band also released the stand alone single, “Jackal” on May 7, 2021. Called “landlocked surf rock” MellowPhobia is inspired by the British sound, socially conscious lyrics, and hook laden tunes. More info at: http://www.mellowphobia.bandcamp.com

At 11:30 Mark talks with R&B/Hip Hop artist, Effie, originally from the Bronx, New York. Effie says that music saved her life and means everything to her. Effie is Effie Altoro, a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer, and one part of Kansas City’s own Jet Pack Productions. She claims Nina Simone as her biggest influence. Effie writes, “I have been writing for so many years but never shared any of my personal work until last year. I’m working on pacing myself with releases, instead of just putting albums out back to back. My album, Curve My Enthusiasm, is so special to me that I’m going to release a deluxe version in January with 4 additional tracks and videos, including some exciting collaborations.” More info at: http://www.effie.bandcamp.com

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #912

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

WMM’s 33 & 1/3 All Vinyl Fall Fund Drive Show! + Brenton Cook + La Resistencia Press + Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis & Nico Gray

WMM celebrates 90.1 FM – KKFI’s 33 & 1/3 years on the airwaves by spinning recent MidCoastal 33 & 1/3 rpm vinyl releases. We’ll drop the needle on recent (and a few classic) tracks from: HXXS, Expo Seventy, Black Light Animals, The Freedom Affair, Danny Cox, Krystle Warren, Shy Boys, The Black Creatures, Silicone Prairie, Bummer, Knife Crime, Emmaline Twist, Radkey, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, and Jorge Arana Trio. Tracks from KC’s labels: High Dive Records, Black-Site, Center Cut Records, Sunflower Soul, Haymaker Records, Groove King Records, Little Man Records along with Parlour Door Music from Paris, Thrill Jockey Records from Chicago, Polyvinyl Recording Co. from Champaign, Illinois; Feel It Records from Harrisonburg, Virgina; Glassnote Records from NYC and London, and ABC Dunhill Records.

10:00 – Station ID

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. The Freedom Affair – “Rise Up”
   from: Freedom is Love / Sunflower Soul Records / September 25, 2020
   [“Freedom Is Love” is the debut album from Kansas City’s newest soul juggernaut, The Freedom Affair. The album explores themes of love, heartache, empowerment, and togetherness through a varying landscape of hard-hitting funk, luscious soul, and everything in between. The Freedom Affair is a unique collective featuring 3 powerhouse female vocalists in front of a dynamic 6-piece band. On “Freedom Is Love”, each of the ladies get their time to shine individually, but the magic is on full display when all 3 come together in unison and harmony, symbolically embodying the messages that they sing about. The album was recorded and produced by Chris Hazelton, utilizing the best of vintage and new recording technologies to create an authentic experience, befitting of a soul record that would have been relevant 50 years ago as much as it will be 50 years from now. The Freedom Affair is: Misha Roberts on vocals; Paula Saunders on vocals; Seyko Groves on vocals; Cole Bales on guitar, sitar (Track 3); Branden Moser on guitar; Chris Hazelton on bass guitar, organ (Tracks 1, 2, 9, & 10), Tambourine (Track 1), Glockenspiel (Track 3), & Chimes (Track 4); Dave Brick on drums; Pete Carroll on trumpet; Brett Jackson on tenor sax, baritone sax (Tracks 1 & 5), & tambourine (Tracks 5, 6, & 8). Additional Musicians: Pat Conway on Congas (Tracks 1, 3, & 6), Alyssa Bell on viola (Tracks 3, 4, & 7), Elizabeth Codd on violin (Tracks 3 & 4), Matt Bennett on violin (Tracks 3 & 7), John Wickersham on timpani (Track 4), Pamela Baskin-Watson on piano (Track 10), Nick Howell on tambourine (Track 10), The Freedom Family Choir (Track 10): Misha Roberts, Erica Hazelton, Seyko Groves, Paula Saunders, Jordyn Saunders, Cole Bales, and Chris Hazelton. All Horn & String Arrangements by Chris Hazelton except: “Heartaches Don’t Come Easy” and “Give A Little Love” by Pete Carroll & Brett Jackson. “Don’t Shoot” by Chris Hazelton & Allyssa Bell. Produced, Recorded, & Mixed by Chris Hazelton. Assistant Produced by Dave Brick. Rhythm Section on Track 10 recorded by Chad Meise. Mastered by JJ Golden. Cover Artwork by Matthew “Mo” Manley. Front cover photograph of civil rights protesters in Kansas City, MO (April 9th, 1968). The Freedom Affair and their track “Rise Up” were selected to be part of Colemine Records 3xLP box set, “Soul Slabs Vol. 2” a Record Store Day Exclusive, released April 13, 2019. Colemine writes: “The Freedom Affair is a freight train of KC soul! Dirty, funky drums, gritty horns, and the combined vocals of Misha Roberts, Seyko Groves, and Paula Saunders to put this band over the top. Politically charged soul music for the dancefloor!” Chris Hazelton joined us on WMM on September 16, 2020.]

3. Black Light Animals – “Halo”
   from: Playboys of The Western World / Groove King Records / July 3, 2020
   [Formed from the ashes of their last band, Instant Karma the new record contains lush pop vocals crooned over spaghetti western riffs, psychedelic synth, and hip hop drums. Playboys of the Western World is a sprawling, decadent examination of what it means to be a human being through the lens of horror movie organs, spaghetti western guitars, hip hop grooves, psychedelic sojourns, and ballads crooned to lovers in the night. Members include: Cole Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass, and Zach Harris on drums. More info at: http://www.blacklightanimalsband.bandcamp.com]

[Black Light Animals played a special Vinyl Release Show at Lemonade Park, Saturday, August 21, with The Freedom Affair. ]

10:07 – Pledge Break #1

Today we celebrate 90.1 FM KKFI’s 33 & 1/3 years on the airwaves. In honor of these 33 & 1/3 years we will feature recent MidCoastal Releases on 33 & 1/3 vinyl LPs. It’s an All Vinyl – Fall Fund Drive Show! With music from: HXXS, Expo 70, Black Light Animals, The Freedom Affair, Danny Cox, Krystle Warren, Shy Boys, The Black Creatures, Silicone Prairie, Bummer, Knife Crime, Emmaline Twist, Radkey, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear and Jorge Arana Trio, With special guests: Brenton Cook sharing details about Outer Reaches at recordBar, Oct. 16 with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy, and HXXS. And MG Salazar & Alex Martinez sharing details about La Resistencia Press and the Alex Martinez Book Release, Sat, Oct. 16, at 3:30 at InterUrban ArtHouse 8001 Newton Street.

We take a break to encourage YOU to support 90.1 FM KKFI. To help us are our Special Co-Hosts:

Betse Ellis is originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, She received her Bachelors of Arts in Music & Bachelors of Arts in English, from the University of Missouri – KC. She has been playing the Violin and fiddle for over 40 years, and also working as a teacher of music. Betse was a founding member of the acclaimed internationally known band, The Wilders. Betse has released two solo records, and records and performs with her partner, multi-instrumentalist Clarke Wyatt, as Betse & Clarke. In 2020 they released their latest 8-song release, WINTER, which was in the Top Ten of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2020

Betse Ellis, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Marion Merritt is our most frequent contributor to WMM, She grew up in LA, and St. Louis. She went to college in Columbia, Missouri. She studied art & musical engineering, and is a avid lover of classic films and punk rock music. She saw Talking Heads on their first U.S. tour when they played One Block West in 1978. For 17 years she has been sharing her sonic discoveries and information from her musically-encyclopedic brain on WMM. With partner Ann Stewart, Marion is the proprietor of Records With Merritt, a minority owned business at 1614 Westport Rd. in KC, that features new vinyl. More info at: http://www.recordwithmerritt.com

Marion Merritt, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Nico Gray is a writer, and has worked as an actor with KC Rep, Gorilla Theatre, 8th St. Cafe Theatre, Actor’s Craft, and Big Bang Buffet. He appeared in HBO’s “Truman” and as a drunken sailor smoking a cigarette stumbling down the hallways of Union Station in the Robert Altman film “Kansas City.” He starred alongside Jason Sedakis in the short film “Where’s Phil” written & directed by John McGraff. Nico has worked for Theatre League, The Midland Theatre and is a marketing & advertising consultant with Union Station and Marketing Director for Fringe Festival KC. Nico Gray was a Guest Producer on 11 shows and contributed to WMM’s Glam Rock, Bowie Tribute, and 700th show.

Nico Gray, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

90.1 FM KKFI Kansas City Community Radio is Non-Commercial, and that means that three times a year, we interrupt our regular programming, to ask our listeners, to help us continue our unique, 24-7 programming. For 33 & 1/3 years 90.1 FM KKFI has been on the air. While the spirit of this station is kept alive by hundreds of volunteers who passionately donate their time and abilities to keep the transmission of our 100,000-watt-signal alive. We are a operated by a not-for-profit organization, incorporated over 40 years ago, called The MidCoast Radio Project. We’re non-profit, but we still have to pay the electric bill, the rent on our fully accessible production studios and offices, insurance, staff, royalties, production expenses. Even though we have hundreds of committed volunteers, who donate thousands of hours every year, producing radio shows, answering phones, creating websites, producing benefits, rewiring the board, setting up our computer system, we still need YOU, our listener, to take a moment and call 888-931-0901 and donate to keep us alive! Our volunteers are waiting to hear from YOU right now.

YOU are the reason we are able to stay alive. Volunteers are waiting to hear from YOU right now. It only takes a few minutes. Call 888-931-0901. You can also visit us at http://www.kkfi.org, or call 888-931-0901 to support Kansas City Community Radio 90.1 FM.

90.1 FM KKFI is “The Voice of the Community” Our Kansas City area Community Speaks Through our Airwaves and this Program

So far in 2021 on WMM we’ve conducted 115 live interviews with 116 special guests:

Sam Wells, Barry Lee, Lily B. Moonflower, Charlotte Bumgarner, Martin Farrell Jr., Mikal Shapiro, D. Rashaan Gilmore, Chritena Graves, Hadiza., Alisa Jefferson, Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis, David Luther, Cuee, Robert Moore, Sarah Magill, Dan Jones, Juliette Frost, Club Sinister, R.I.Peter, Everette The Grey, Nico Gray, Katy Guillen, Rhonda Lyne, Chris Hudson, Jamie Searle, Nan Turner, Stacy Busch, Claire Adams, Allisön Hawkins, Jen Harris, Vanessa Aricco, Rob Rice, Sherman Brennemen, M.G. Salazar, Michael JC Taylor, Matt Weinman & Melissa Weinman, Aaron Rhodes, Judy Mills, Byron Huhmann, Shawn Stewart, Fally Afani, Calvin Arsenia, Greg LaFollette, Erin Keller, Lee Langston, Connor Leimer, Enrique Chi, Alyssa Murray, Jillian Riscoe, Dylan Pyles, Remy Sryrk, Xavier Martin & Jade Green of The Black Creatures, Bob Walkenhorst, Elexa Dawson, Jeremy Ragland, Marisa Butler, Patrick Sprehe, Dave Tanner, Quite Frankly (The Band), Riley The Musician, Florian Arbenz, Clint Hoffmeier, Royce Diamond, Jacob & Danielle Prestidge of Wyndsrfr, Sara Swenson, Justin Randall, Stacy Busch, Jill McKeever, Jeremiah James Gonzales & Brody Lowe of Redder Moon, Taylor Hughes of Pure XTC, Kian Byrne, Jared Bajkowski, Ivory Blue, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Krystle Warren, Tom Crane, Judy Ancel, Dorothy Hawkins, Ebony Johnson, Catina Taylor, Flare Tha Rebel & Bob Pulliam, Mike Alexander, Ignacio Carvajal, Dedric Moore and Teri Quinn of Monta At Odds, Stephonne Singleton, Geraldine Glen, Cole Bales, Cody Calhoun & Branden Moser of Black Light Animals, Laurel Morgan Parks & Darren Welch of In The Pines, Taylor Avanzpou, Brad Smith of Eggs On Mars, Tucker Slough, Julia Othmer, William Smith of CompanyNoCompany, Whim Grace, Bill Sundahl, Alicia Ellingsworth & Ari Fish, Chuck Whittington & Andrew Sallee of Namelessnumberheadman, Joy Zimmerman, Nathan Reusch, and more to come.

Call 888-931-0901 Online: http://www.kkfi.org

“THANK YOU GIFTS”…with a pledge with: MC, Visa, Amex, or Discover.

Call 888-931-0901 and make your donation to 90.1 FM KKFI’s Fall Fund Drive Show and KKFI will share with you fabulous “Thank You Gifts!”

*** $90.00 ($7.50 Monthly) – KKFI Pint Glass w/ New Design by Nate Hofer (Hoe-fur)
*** $120.00 ($10.00 Monthly) – 5 pack of Jude’s Mini Rum Cakes (Limit 100 Mailed Dec.)
*** $120.00 ($10.00 Monthly) – 1 Pair Tix Halloween Eve (10/30) Lawrence Arts Center – Alan Murphy’s Space Invaders & Fire Sign Theater Movie – LIMIT 25 Pairs
*** $150.00 ($12.50 Monthly) – a “Guest DJ” certificate for a 1-hour music show
*** $240.00 ($20.00 Monthly) – KKFI Maroon Pullover Hoodie w/ Design by Nate Hofer
*** $1200.00 ($100.00 Monthly)–Day Sponsor Gift (You record 30 sec. spot to play all day)

*** Check our “Prize Closet – On Line Gift Shop” for more items: http://www.kkfi.org/thanks
*** Will Mail Koozies, Cups, Cards & Guest DJ Cert. to donors in 4 to 6 Weeks

“Thank You Gifts” availabe at http://www.kkfi.org using MC/Visa/Discover/AMEX.

THANK YOU GIFT FOR EVERY SINGLE DONOR – Every single donor will receive a pack of Native Wild Flowers to plant this fall. Thanks to DeepRoots.ORG for donating this resource. This seed mix provides color from early May into October and attracts many kinds of wildlife. It consists nearly entirely of perennials with a few annuals or biennials that will provide some color while the perennials get established. Deep Roots is a collective impact organization of multi-sector Partners. Together with our Partners, we work to increase native plant landscapes.

THANK YOU GIFT FOR EVERY MONTHLY SUSTAINING DONOR – Every New & Existing Sustaining Donor gets a pair of ticket to the 2021 Sustainers Thank You Party!
World Music Showcase – Dec. 3rd, 2021 at Drexel Hall. Featuring: Mundo Nuovo (Latin Dance – Pronounced Mun-Doh New-oh-Vo), Ala Turka (Turkish Jazz), Gamelan Genta Kastura (Balanese). Thanks to Sean Mawhirter (Maw-hurt-ur) of Mundo Nuovo for producing this event for KKFI. Vaccination or Negative Covid-19 Test Mandatory – Must RSVP to Attend. We will Email andMail the RSVP link to everyone after the fund drive.

10:15

4. The Black Creatures – “D’umm”
   from: “Wild Echoes / Center Cut / Remastered & Reissued on Vinyl August 28, 2020 [Originally digitslly leased on September 30, 2019 – The Black Creatures make a point to blur the lines of genre while maintaining a recognizable cohesion; oftentimes blending contemporary styles of pop, hip-hop, dance, R&B, EDM and soul with cinematic and storytelling sci-fi/fantasy elements and themes. With the complex and creative approach The Black Creatures take to their art, a diverse audience regularly flocks to their gripping and intensely enchanting performances. // Representing the strange land of Kansas City, Missouri, Jade Green and Xavier began working together around the end of 2013 after meeting on-line talking about cosmetics. After Jade stumbled upon Xavier’s SoundCloud, they asked if they could put their vocals on it, and this led to future collaborations with no more than the intention to dabble. They couldn’t stop and eventually dubbed the project The Black Creatures. // Both Jade & Xavier write and perform vocals, with Xavier at the helm of production and composition. Jade Green has a vocal background in opera and a penchant for theatrics, and both are the foundation of their ever-evolving approach to writing and performing in The Black Creatures. While the instrumentals may set the tone for the show, Jade’s voice captivates the audience from beginning to end. Originally a violinist, Xavier unfurled into a producer and vocalist, maintaining the same air of intrigue and mystery throughout his compositions and performances in The Black Creatures. // After releasing Wild Echoes in the fall of 2020, the record received Album Of The Year from The Pitch Magazine, along with high praise from around the world for the four released singles and accompanying videos. “Wretched (It Goes)” was featured in the NPR Live Sessions “Songs For Change” when The Black Creatures were selected as one of 12 national artists, and included in 90.9 The Bridge’s Top 100 singles along with their song “D’ummm” which was in heavy rotation in the winter. Nuance Magazine wrote, “The Black Creatures take their musical talents and use them in such a way that forces listeners to not only tap their foot to a catchy tune, but pay attention and feel something about what is going on in the world around them. Tackling fascism, police brutality, and the deep-rooted effects of slavery in a rhythmic fashion is one thing. Simultaneously making it a good listen is another. However, The Black Creatures make it happen.”]

[The Black Creatures play Mockingbird Lounge TONIGHT October 13]

[The Black Creatures play Art On Oak w/Kian Byrne at 2nd Presbyterian Church Fri, Oct. 15, 7:PM]

[The Black Creatures play 10/22 The Ship on Friday, October 22, 2021]

[The Black Creatures play 10/23 Charlotte Street Magic Mirror Ball Gala on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021]

5. Silicone Prairie – “Dance To The Beat”
   from: My Life on the Silicone Prairie / Feel It Records / February 5, 2021
   [Direct from Kansas City and encased in a layer of four-track analog glory comes the debut album from Silicone Prairie. You may have enjoyed Ian Teeple in action with Warm Bodies or The Natural Man Band, though Silicone Prairie is where Teeple has been focusing his solo creative energies over the past couple years, culminating in these 13 tracks. A trebly & jittery, landlocked Midwestern punk sound comes into effect straight out of the gate, much in the lineage of Gulcher’s ‘Red Snerts’ comp or the Dow Jones side of ‘Hoosier Hysteria’ – with a dash of hardcore DEVO or even D.L.I.M.C. thrown in for contemporary spuds. But there’s far more to Silicone Prairie – with quantitatively great songwriting and instrumentation bursting any preconceived sub-subgenre bubbles and occupying a kindred creative plain that made just about any Mould, Kirkwood, or Sage composition of the mid-80’s oh so delightful & memorable. Heck, there’s even a synth-heavy instrumental dedicated to electronic pioneer Patrick Cowley. ‘My Life on the Silicone Prairie’ dances across the sonic spectrum, from bedroom jangle to basement devolution, carrying big guitars, sharp synthesizers, and a hopeful grin into 2021 and beyond. A carefully crafted debut alive with the kind of creative rock’n’roll energy that simply cannot be quarantined, now or ever. ‘My Life on the Silicone Prairie’ comes shrinkwrapped in a reverse board sleeve with risograph insert printed at Oddities Prints and download code. Australian vinyl pressing available from Computer Human Records. 

6. KNIFE CRIME — “Lump Sum”
   from: Lovely Gary / Black-Site / April 13, 2021
   [After spending months at Massive Sounds studio with producer Paul Malinowski in 2019 and then waiting out the worst of the pandemic’s stranglehold, Knife Crime’s debut album, Lovely Gary, is ready. Finally. // Knife Crime is a band of four veterans of Kansas City’s music community. Going back to the early 1990s, founding brothers Byron Huhmann on guitars, piano & lead vocals; Brad Huhmann on bass & vocals, have played with a small legion of bands, including TV Fifty, Onward Crispin Glover, the Dark Circles, Truck Stop Love, Red Kate and Lushbox. Jake Cardwell on drums & percussion came aboard in 2012, and has played drums for Reflector, the Belles, the Caves and the Conquerors. In 2018, multi-instrumentalist Jeremiah James Gonzalez on guitar & vocals joined, bringing along a resume that includes Elevator Division, Monta at Odds, Be/Non, Umberto, Rhunes and Redder Moon. Songs by Knife Crime. Recorded & mixed by Paul Malinowski, at Massive Sound Studios, Shawnee, KS Mastering by Mike Nolte, Eureka Mastering, Portland, Oregon. Additional mastering & lacquer cutting: Chris Muth, Taloowa Corp., Yonkers, NY. Vinyl Manufacturing: Kindercore Vinyl, Athens, GA. // Follow up to their single release “Falcon” on January 8, 2020. Produced by Knife Crime. Mastered by Dave Gaume at Element Recording Studios. Knife Crime is a 4-piece Kansas City based band formed on January 19, 2011. More info at: http://www.black-site.or9

10:25 – Pledge Break #2 – Bill Sundahl – Champions & Challengers

Our WMM Fall Fund Drive Team: Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis, and Nico Gray

Today on WMM we are celebrating KKFI’s 33 & 1/3 Years by playing from new area vinyl albums from area music record labels. So far we’ve hear The Freedom Affair on Sunflower Souls Records, Black Light Animals on Groove King Records, The Black Creatures on Center Cut Records, Silicone Prairie (the solo project of Ian Temple) on Feel It Records, and Knife Crime on Black-Site Records. WMM and KKFI are committed to featuring artists under-represented in other media, and that includes the music community that lives within Kansas City and Lawrence and the area radiance of our 100 watt signal. The story of Kansas City’s Arts and Music Community is our primary objective on WMM, where for 17years we have shined a light on this music and the artist who create it and that story also include the music labels who help get this music out into the community and beyond Kansas City. That story also includes the recording studios where this music is engineered and mastered. That story also includes the venues where this music is played live and the creative ways that venue owners have worked to achieve during these times of the COVID epidemic/ Outdoor shows at The Ship, Lemonade Park, and The Black Box have brought music lovers to the West Bottoms where open spaces have become concert venues. Vaccination and mask mandates have allowed recordBar, The Kauffman Center, The Uptown Theatre and other venues to reopen in a safe way, as we continue to navigate this virus. KKFI has been with you through this entire time, continuing to bring you the music and information you need and want to be I the “know”. Listening to KKFI inspires.

WMM Plays New & MidCoastal Releases. Timothy Finn Kansas City area music writer named WMM “The Best Place to Hear Local Music on the Radio.” and the Best Place to hear area musicians talk about their music.

10:33 – Underwriting

7. Danny Cox – “Train Song”
   from: Danny Cox / Dunhill Records / August 15, 1971
   [A live version of this is on the digitally released YOUNG AND HOT (LIVE AT COWTOWN BALLROOM) EP on July 27, 2021. Danny Cox was born in 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a folk singer and songwriter best known for his 1974 LP album Feel So Good. Danny Cox moved to Kansas City, Kansas in 1967. As a youth, he sang in a church choir together with Rudolph Iseley, and in the 1960s he started his professional career performing on a Hootennany Folk Tour. Cox has recorded albums for ABC Dunhill, Casablanca, MGM and others. He also partnered a company called Good Karma Productions, run by the KC based Vanguard Coffee House owner Stan Plesser, who managed the acts of Brewer & Shipley, and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils,]

[Danny Cox played the 17th Annual Crossroads Music Fest, Saturday, Sept 11, at Lemonade Park]

8. Krystle Warren & The Faculty – “Forever Is a Long Time”
   from: Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace (Love Songs- A Time to Refrain from Embracing) / Parlour Door Music / April 9, 2012 UK]
   [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. // Krystle Warren & The Crew released THE CREW, on September 15, 2020. 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. She has appeared as a guest on 14 WMMs.]

9. Shy Boys – “In Gloves”
   from: Talk Loud / Polyvinyl Record Co. / September 25, 2020
   [3rd album from Shy Boys. Shy Boys are brothers Collin Rausch & Kyle Rausch, Konnor Ervin, Kyle Little and Ross Brown. Collin & Kyle come from a family of musicians. Their cousin is Kasey Rausch, their father Kent Rausch is a jazz musician and was the music teacher and band director at their High School. Their mother was a choir director. Their father was from a family of 7 brothers (Greg, Terry, Brad), many who are musicians and recording artists, including their Grandfather Dean Rausch. Kyle Rausch and Konnor Ervin were band mates in The ACBs. Collin had been playing for years in the KC area including The Abracadabras, and The I’ms with Kyle. The three shared a love for 1960s era pop rock and soon started writing their own music. In 2014 they released the self-titled Shy Boys on High Dive Records. In June 2014, the band recorded and released two more singles and one of them, “Life Is Peachy,” was featured on Stereogum. Musician Kyle Little and Ross Brown (of Fullbloods) joined Shy Boys to make the band a 5-piece. On April 4th, 2018, it was announced that Shy Boys had signed to Polyvinyl Recording Co. an independent record label based in Champaign, Illinois and home to the band STRFKR, Xiu Xiu, The Get Up Kids, of Montreal, and others. Shy Boys released their Polyvinyl debut album, the autobiographical, Bell House, on August. 3, 2018. They immediately went out on an extended national tour. On February 15, 2019, Shy Boys released their singles, “Dim The Light” and “Brick By Brick” signaling new sounds from the band. Collin Rausch, Kyle Rausch and Ross Brown joined us live on WMM on November 11, 2020.]

10:45 – Pledge Break #3

Our WMM Fall Fund Drive Team: Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis, and Nico Gray

Our most played artist last year was Krystle Warren. Mark first interviewed Krystle on KKFI in early 2002. During a winter snow storm, at a party where Krystle played with longtime friend Solomon Dorsey on bass, in a packed, smoke filled apartment, near Community Christian Church, Mark waited hours for a 2 song demo, that contained a song called “Chanel #5.” Krystle has since gone on to tour all over the world, but maintains contact with her hometown of KC. Krystle’s critically acclaimed album, Three The Hard Way was #1 on WMM’s 117 Best Recordings of 2017. WMM was the first to play tracks from Krystle’s album. Last month Krystle released the new 4-song EP The Crew, with unique versions of classic songs with the hope of encouraging the rallying cries of The Moment: the movement of the people. Krystle has been a guest on 14 WMM Shows.

YOU are the reason we are able to stay alive. Volunteers are waiting to hear from YOU right now. Call 888-931-0901. You can also visit us at http://www.kkfi.org, or call 888-931-0901 to support Kansas City Community Radio 90.1 FM. It only takes a few minutes, and we have “thank you gifts.” The number is 888-931-0901 to support KC Community Radio 90.1 FM

Donating to 90.1 FM KKFI is investing in your community.

KKFI’s Mission Statement: KKFI is the Kansas City area’s independent, noncommercial community radio station. We seek to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other media.

KKFI’s Philosophy Statement: KKFI is committed to diversity in programming and discourse and seeks to create a climate of mutual respect and collaboration among volunteers and staff.

10:52

10. HXXS – “Little Fear of Lightning”
    from: How the West Was Won / High Dive Records / June 18. 2021
    [Originally released digitally on Jue 4, 2020, after HXXS was signed to High Dive Records this was released onvinyl on June 18, 2021. HXXS then went on to release the latest 17-track album CHANNELER (digitally) on August 6, 2021. Jeannie Colleene and Gavin Neves make up the duo known as HXXS. Cutting their teeth in this harsh reality, HXXS has formed a strange mix of noise and deteriorating rebellion. Armed with a combination of drum machines, loopers, electric guitar, and banshee like squalls from both vocalists, HXXS brings the mania of electronic-noise, combines it with jazz-like swordsmanship and incantory spell craft. Taking pride in making things increasingly difficult on themselves by performing live cuts with ritual-like fever, while maintaining the unstable improvisation and manic haywire you might get from free-jazz which makes their live sets unpredictable. “Too unsettling and vivid to dismiss” HXXS “paints a picture of grievances that fester like open wounds.” The KC-based duo has toured extensively in venues the size of living rooms to concert halls with acts like Liars, ADULT., and Kyp Malone.]

[HXXS play Outer Reaches presents: HXXS / Expo Seventy / WE Are the Asteroid / Jorge Arana Trio at recordBar, 1520 Grand Aveneue in KCMO, on October 16 at 7:00 PM with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy. More info at http://www.outerreachesfest.com]

11. Expo 70 – “IV”
    from: Center of the Earth / Aquarius Records / June 6. 2006
    [Very early release from Expo ’70 the musical project of Justin Wright. He began producing this otherworldly music in 2003 while living in Los Angeles. Residing in Kansas City, Missouri now, Wright produces music that is sought after by people all over the world. Wright has toured extensively over the last several years. More recently Wright has added a drummer and bassist to the mix which has started release albums and touring. Justin has released 56 separate releases as Expo ’70 and eight released at Expo Seventy including the 6-track release Evolution o June 9, 2021 that was recorded and mixed by Chad Meise at Massive Sound and included Justin Wright on guitar & synthesizers, Aaron Osborne on bass & auxiliary percussion, Mike Vera on drums. Chris Fugitt on drums, and Sam Hughes on saxophone. More info at: wwwexposeventy.com]

[Expo Seventy play Outer Reaches presents: HXXS / Expo Seventy / WE Are the Asteroid / Jorge Arana Trio at recordBar, 1520 Grand Aveneue in KCMO, on October 16 at 7:00 PM with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy. More info at http://www.outerreachesfest.com]

11:00 – Station ID

11:00 – Interview with Brenton Cook

Brenton Cook studied Computer Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology, in Rolla, Missouri, where he also had his own college radio show. Brenton has produced extensive compilations of area music for the Midwest Music Foundation. He formed the Kansas City independent music label, Haymaker Records in January 2014. The label has released multiple full length albums, for Monta At Odds, HMPH!, Be/Non, Jorge Arana Trio, Riala, Mysterious Clouds, Sie Lieben Maschinen, Schwervon!, and others on vinyl, cassette, CD, and 7 “. He has also produced two Haymaker compilation releases, called Fairgrounds. For the last 9 years, Brenton has been a co-curator of the Outer Reaches Fest shows. And during all of this Brenton has gotten married and recently he and his wife welcomed their baby boy into their world. Brenton joins us today to share details about: Outer Reaches presents: HXXS / Expo Seventy / WE Are the Asteroid / Jorge Arana Trio at recordBar, 1520 Grand Aveneue in KCMO, on October 16 at 7:00 PM with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy. More info at http://www.outerreachesfest.com

Brenton Cook, Thanks for being with us today on WMM

Originally called KC Psych Fest, Outer Reaches started in 2012 to bring together outsider musical acts and celebrate experimental music in Kansas City. While still very psychedelic, the Outer Reaches Fest has grown to emphasize musical acts pushing boundaries.

Dedric Moore launched this festival in 2012. The idea grew out of the music he was creating with his Brother Delaney Moore at the HQ Artspace in KCK. Dedric is a member of the bands Monta At Odds, Mysterious Clouds, and Gemini Revolution.

The full Outer Reaches Fest is taking another year off but they still want to bring you a night’s worth of outsider artists pushing the limits of rock and roll, jazz & electronic music.

HXXS : aka Jeannie Colleene and Gavin Neves return to our stage w/ their noisy electronic visual and aural freak-outs.

EXPO SEVENTY : Justin Wright’s solo experimental drone band Expo ’70 fleshed out to a rock n roll trio blasting out cosmic doom space riffs.

WE Are the Asteroid : Austin freak-rockers comprised of former members of Ed Hall, Butthole Surfers and Pain Teens. Blowing minds from the arid hills of Texas to the crowded streets of Japan. Do not miss this band!

Jorge Arana Trio : It’s been nearly 10 years since Jorge Arana started melting minds with his trio of musical madmen. Inspired avant-rock cum jazz madness.

XO Blackwater‘s video projections enhance your experience.

Proof of vax / neg test required for entry. The show is 18+ (Under 18 with a guardian)

Brenton Cook, Thanks for being with us today on WMM

Outer Reaches presents: HXXS / Expo Seventy / WE Are the Asteroid / Jorge Arana Trio at recordBar, 1520 Grand Aveneue in KCMO, on October 16 at 7:00 PM with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy. More info at http://www.outerreachesfest.com

11:10

12. Jorge Arana Trio – “Overworld Map”
    from: Mammoth / Haymaker Records / September 23, 2016
    [Recorded in early 2016 by Justin Wilson at Sound 81 Productions. Jorge Arana Trio is: Jorge Arana, Josh Enyart, & Jason Nash. Formed in 2011. Mammoth is the 3rd album and 2nd full length release. Jorge Arana Trio played their first album release concert at recordBar, September 2 with 34 and Riala. The Jorge Arana Trio joined us live on WMM on August 31, 2016]

[Expo Seventy play Outer Reaches presents: HXXS / Expo Seventy / WE Are the Asteroid / Jorge Arana Trio at recordBar, 1520 Grand Aveneue in KCMO, on October 16 at 7:00 PM with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy. More info at http://www.outerreachesfest.com]

11:12 – Pledge Break #4 – Bill Sundahl – Champions & Challengers

This is WMM’s Fall Fund Drive Show with Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis, and Nico Gray

KKFI is an Independent, non-commercial radio station!

Now, more than ever, Independent, Community Media is important for our world. We are here to listen to you, to share your concerns, and offer resources and information. Along with our National Public Affairs shows like Democracy Now, and Alternative Radio we also offer more locally produced public affairs programs than anywhere else on the dial.

We offer programs specifically produced for the LGBTQIA Community, Women’s Issues, Native American News and Culture, Middle Eastern Music and Information, Latino Programming, African American Public Affairs and Community News, Labor and Worker’s Unions, our prison population and justice system, environmental programming, Visual and Literary Arts, and Performing Arts.

Just remember what you don’t have to hear when you are tuned to 90.1 FM KKFI! No commercials, we do have brief underwriting announcements, recognizing those who financially contribute to support non-profit community radio.

No automated robot playing the same 40 to 80 songs in a “rotation,” based on a formula, created by a programmer of the robot. KKFI is the opposite of a robot. There is always human being on the other end of the phone line anytime you call.

90.1 offers 104 different radio programs. About 86 of these programs are locally, produced, hosted, engineered and written by over 100 different people, who create content, and personally handcraft each show, each week. There are 55 local music shows and 21 locally produce News, Public Affairs, Arts & Talk shows.

There are 140 hours each week of locally produced handcrafted programs.

You will not find this kind of representative diversity anywhere else on your radio dial. Or from any singular source on your computer. It is very special. It needs to be nourished and kept alive in a world of corporate, nationally owned, commercial or religious broadcasting.

Not only do we bring the most diverse and unfiltered news and information, but our musical playlists are deep, and comprehensive. In one week you can hear over 2000 different songs played, in Blues, Jazz, Folk, Hip Hop, Reggae, Classical, World, Americana, Southern Soul, Fusion, Soul, Rock, New Wave, Electronic, Native, Local, Old Timey, Rockabilly, Women’s, Children’s, Gospel, and Experimental.

With all of this, you hear the voices from the hundreds of KKFI volunteers, and thousands of guests from the community, who share their stories, broadcast live from our non-commercial, midtown studios, at 39th & Main, in the center of our metro, across two states, a collective of communities, and thousands of listeners. What is this worth to you?

11:20

13. Bummer – “E1M1”
    from: Dead Horse / Thrill Jockey Records / October 1, 2021
    [Matt Perrin on guitar & vocals, Mike Gustafson on bass, and Sam Hutchinson on drums. Produced by BUMMER and Justin Mantooth. Engineered and Mixed by Justin Mantooth at Westend Recording Studios in Kansas City, KS. Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering in Portland, Oregon. Painting “Sense Titol” is an original work by Joan LaLucat Vehil and is licensed for use. // Kansas City trio BUMMER mirror the absurdity of modern life with a balance of dark humor, dejected nihilism and righteous fury. Their music spills out in torrents of skull-crushing riffs, gargantuan bass and caustic howls delivered at breakneck speed with gleeful abandon. Following their split 7” with longtime friends The Body which teased a more focused, lean sound for the group, Dead Horse hones BUMMER’s auditory desolation and scathing gaze to laser-point precision. In eleven short vignettes the trio lay waste to everything in their path, penning a vitriolic overview of life in the American Midwest, a surprising blend of one-star Trip Advisor review and insightful cultural critique. // BUMMER’s searing music and self-deprecating sense of humor are steeped in their surroundings. Born and raised in Kansas City, vocalist/guitarist Matt Perrin elaborates: “These songs are influenced by how empty and miniscule life in Kansas can be and the stories that come from it.” From the opioid epidemic to the dust bowl and extraterrestrial encounters, themes recur of entrapment and failed escapes. On the aptly titled “Barn Burner (You Boys Quit Whippin’ Those Whips),” Perrin grapples with a deep-set disillusionment with his hometown atop blistering, splintered riffs. The wreckingball groove of “I Want To Punch Bruce Springsteen in the Dick”s lurches and swings like a pendulum of pure contempt, lamenting environmental devastation ravaged upon Kansas from years of over-farming and overproduction (alongside less subtle messages about their feelings towards The Boss). “Quadruple ZZ Top” repurposes FDR’s infamous quote about the Dust Bowl’s destruction “What the sun left, the grasshoppers took” in a corrosive whirlpool that thrashes in every direction. “E1M1” turns the group’s gaze skyward, inspired by the alleged repeated UFO sightings reported by a 19th century mill worker, while “Kid Spock” draws from Tom Goldwin’s science fiction short “The Cold Equations”. Finding little respite even in the usual escape of space and science fiction, Dead Horse’s relentless bludgeon brings into focus the harsh realities of the American dream and the places left behind by the ravages of capitalism. // In spite of its often weighty subject material and darker textures, Dead Horse is unapologetically fun. Written during lockdown in the trio’s practice space and recorded with Justin Mantooth at Westend Recording Studios in Kansas City, Dead Horse was written as a more collective endeavor than the band’s previous outings. It captures the sheer ecstasy and blunt force of the group’s live shows in greater clarity than ever before. The immediately intoxicating “JFK Speedwagon” sets the tempo for the album, hurtling through Mike Gustafson’s thundering bass breaks and guest vocals from Sean Ingram of Coalesce (who also features on “Juice Pig”), providing a perfect counterpoint to Perrin’s acidic guitar and desperate shout. “I Want To Punch…” and “E1M1” take the foot of the pedal for a split second, cruising through caveman mosh and pummelling sludge. On “Donkey Punch”, drummer Sam Hutchinson’s hypnotic groove and Perrin’s freewheeling guitars threaten to spiral out of control at any moment, pushing up to fever pitch as Perrin trades tortured howls with Portrayal of Guilt’s Matt King. “Magic Cruel Bus” lulls the listener into a false sense of security with a lilting blues guitar opening before erupting into rolling waves of distortion. // Dead Horse is a decisive statement from a band at the height of their powers, a masterclass in eviscerating hooks and incisive takedowns. With their Thrill Jockey debut album, BUMMER’s unflinching reminder of just how gruelling life can be is coupled with a cathartic riff driven explosion of energy. BUMMER offers an escape and a solution: headbang through the bad times. More info at: https://bummerkc.bandcamp.com%5D

14. Emmaline Twist – “Oblivion”
    from: Dissimulation / Black Site / August 24, 2018
    [Debut LP from Emmaline Twist, Kansas City’s Darkwave / Post-Punk / Shoegaze project. In 2017 the band released “Dissimulation 1,” four songs in digital format, their first since 2016’s single release of “Vega” b/w “Moon Eyes.” The band is Meredith McGrade on vocals & guitar, Kristin Conkright on bass, Jonathan Knecht on drums, and Krysztof Nemeth on baritone guitar. Recorded, Mixed, and Produced at Massive Sound by Paul Malinowski, and Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering. Matched with compelling cover-art created by Amy Abshier. Alex Alexander recently joined the band on synthesizers & guitar.]

11:28 – Underwriting

11:30 – Interview with MG Salazar & Alex Martinez

MG Salazar (they/them) is a poet, writer, performer, curator, business owner, chef, civil rights activist, assistant to Antoni Porowski for Season 3 & 4 of Netflix’s acclaimed television program – Queer Eye, cultural reporter & music reviewer for KCUR 89.3 FM, subject of the HBO documentary, Abortion: Stories Women Tell, and former member of the team of Hosts & Producers on 90.1 FM’s The Tenth Voice. A lifelong activist for equality & justice, MG Salazar twice traveled to Standing Rock during the winter of 2016-2017 to stand as a water protector at the [Oh-CHET-tee Shh-COW-wee(n)] Oceti Sakowin Camp. In 2020 MG Salazar ran as a Democratic candidate for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, challenging 8-term, incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II. MG’s latest book, Little Bits of Flesh was published by La Resistencia in 2019; their book, Striking the Black Snake: Poems from Standing Rock, was published by 39 West Press in 2017; and MG’s debut, If You See My Ghosts Like I Do, was published by Spartan Press in 2016.

MG Salazar, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Alex Martínez (they/them) is a poet, badass organizer, and an overall beautiful queen. Born in Mexico, Alex started writing poetry at a very early age as a symptom of displacement.
Alex was an artist in residence for 18 months at Charlotte Street Foundation in 2018 with funding for the program provided by a National Endowment for the Arts – Our Town grant. Some of Alex’s pieces have appeared in Harbor-Review, New City Community Press, Hawaii Review, and About A Place Journal. Alex published their first book Disclosure: Confessions of a Queer in Crisis in April of 2018. Alex performs with Resistencia, a brown & queer group of poets. Alex often writes about trauma and social issues that affect them and their immigrant, brown, and queer communities. Alex lives in Arizona, attending Prescott College. This is their second book

Alex Martínez, thanks for being with us on WMM.

MG Salazar and Alex Martinez are here to share details about La Resistencia Press and their third book release with “Concealment” by La Resistencia member, Alex Martinez.

La Resistencia: Alex Martinez Book Release is Saturday, October 16, at 3:30 PM at InterUrban ArtHouse, 8001 Newton Street, Overland Park, KS

We will gather at the InterUrban ArtHouse starting at 3:30pm to pick up books. 4pm we will open, and we will be done by 5pm!

Ticket sales/pre-orders begin Sept 6! Reserve yours before they sell out!
http://www.laresistenciapress.com

MG Salazar and Alex Martinez are cofounders of La Resistencia, a collective of LGBTQ creatives of color in the KC with: Jessica Ayala, Lucky Garcia, and Miguel M. Morales. Sharing their words, art, voices, & bodies with community and to live the pride of their people. Sharing & celebrate the lived experiences of QTPOC and amplifying voices.

La Resistencia Press removes the biggest barrier from publishing: The Gatekeeper. – Too often, non-white folks are at the mercy of begging for a chance from someone who does not look like them, have the same cultural experience, or does not care to hear artists from outside their realm. So La Resistencia Press thier our own press.

La Resistencia Press Books:
Concealment – Alex Martinez
Allow: A Litany – Ignacio Carvajal
Tiny Bits of Flesh (2018) – MG Salazar

MG Salazar’s recent book, Little Bits of Flesh was published by La Resistencia (2019)

MG Salazar ran as a Democratic candidate for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, challenging 8-term, incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II. When running for Congress MG ran openly as a non-binary candidate. They / Them

From MG Salazar’s Campaign bio, MG wrote: “I can’t ask you to vote for me because I am Non-Binary. Or based solely on any of the identities I hold as a marginalized person. There are plenty of people who exploit their identities for political gain and do nothing to actually impact the community they claim to represent, or only represent the most privileged of their community. I do, however, promise to Queer Congress.”

What does that mean? “It means challenging the status quo. Agitate Cisgender & Hetero-sexual Peers to reflect on their values. Make it clear that Queer & Trans people are not going anywhere without a fight. In many Indigenous Cultures, like the ones of my ancestors, Transgender & Gender Variant people were REVERED and CELEBRATED.”

MG Salazar aka Maite has had a passion for making change that started when they were very young. Their first time “organizing” was when they were a little kid, advocating for animal rights with plans to send a “Barbie Jeep” to save endangered animals from poachers. As they grew up, they got involved in the Anti-War movement during the Bush Administration, at the age of 17 going as far as participating in a direct action when President Bush was in town, that was powerful enough that he thought it was best to run from his car to the building of the event, rather than confront the protest. This was the start of Maite putting themselves on the front lines of movements seeking justice.

One of the most memorable movements they were a part of was the North Dakota Pipeline Shutdown protests facilitated by the Water Protects. During the protests, Maite raised thousands of dollars to support Water Protectors on the front lines, and even joined the front lines themselves, witnessing/experiencing first hand the full barrage of human rights violations and police brutality facilitated by the United States Government, North Dakota and Private Police forces on their fellow peaceful protesters.

As far as their adult life, Maite has worked Service Industry jobs for over 17 years, at restaurants, bars, call centers and more. Customer Service is one of their greatest skills.

They also have spoken at almost every University in the Kansas City area, including some guest lecturing for The Art Institute and Park University, as well as worked as a cultural reporter and music reviewer for KCUR.

MG writes that they are no a millionaire. Not groomed by any party. Not from a political family. Just a regular working class person with some powerful experiences who saw an opportunity to make a difference for the people of 5th district and the took it.

In 2020 MG Salazar ran as a Democratic candidate for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, challenging 8-term, incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II. Why Challenge an Incumbent Democrat? MG believes in direct democratic representation, and that reaching your representative should be EASY and NORMAL. That a representatives responsibility is to be an ACTIVE member of community, not just a public figure who shows up for photo ops and fancy closed door fundraisers and events. MG supports Progressive Polices her opponent doesn’t believe in. They here to stay, and they are gonna keep challenging incumbents until they are replaced by people who understand what being a representative is REALLY about.

MG Salazar worked as an assistant to Antoni Porowski for Season 3 & 4 of Netflix’s Emmy winning TV program – Queer Eye. MG Salazar talked about how Antoni is just as beautiful on the inside as he looks on the outside. MG set up all of food demos on the show.

Alex Martínez is a poet, badass organizer, and an overall beautiful queen living in Kansas City. Born in Mexico, Alex started writing poetry at a very early age.
After migrating to the United States as an undocumented minor in 2005 their primary language became English. Alex often writes about trauma and social issues that affect them and their immigrant, brown, and queer communities.

Alex was an artist in residence for 18 months at Charlotte Street Foundation in 2018 with funding for the program provided by a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant. Some of Alex’s pieces have appeared in Harbor Review, New City Community Press, Hawai‘i Review, and About A Place Journal. Alex published their first book Disclosure: Confessions of a Queer in Crisis in April of 2018.

Alex performs with Resistencia, a brown & queer group of poets and occasionally does community radio. Be sure to follow Alex on social media and subscribe to their newsletter for continuous updates. More info at http://www.poetalex.com

MG Salazar and Alex Martinez, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Alex Martinez’s new chapbook, Concealment, is the most recent release from La Resistencia Press who’ll host a Book Release, Saturday, Oct 16, at 3:30 PM at InterUrban ArtHouse, 8001 Newton Street, OP KS, More info at: http://www.laresistenciapress.com

11:40

15. Radkey – “Seize”
    from: Green Room / Little Man Records / November 27, 2020
    [On Green Room the band serve as their own producers. On April 7, 2020 Radkey released a 2 minute cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine” written by Bill Withers who died in 2020. The band released singles “Underground” on November 27, and “Seize” on November 29, 2020. Isaiah, Dee, and Solomon Radke of the critically acclaimed rock trio Radkey joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios on September 5, 2018. Radkey was formed in 2010 in St. Joseph, where the brothers were raised. The family moved to Kansas City. The band has released two full-length recordings — “Dark Black Makeup” in 2015 and “Delicious Rock Noise” in 2016 — plus multiple EPs and singles, and were part of a MasterCard advertising campaign on digital billboards in NYC along with a national television commercial that aired during the 2018 Grammy Awards that brought the band to the attention of Jack White who asked the band to tour with him. In 2018 the band went back on the road with The Damned throughout the United States. In December they went back into the studio to record with producer Bill Stevenson of the California punk rock group Desendents. In early 2019 they played shows in Amsterdam and Stockholm. In 2018 the band released “Basement,” “St. Elwood,” “Rock & Roll Home-school,” as well as several other singles. On Feb. 22, 2019, Radkey released “No Strange Cats…P.A.W.” a 7-song EP is essentially a collection of the band’s most recent singles. It comes after the January 11, 2019 release of No Strange cats…Spiders – EP a 6 song EP of several new songs mixed with several singles from late 2018.]

11:43 – Pledge Break #5

KKFI and WMM offer loads and loads of information about what is going on in the community. Not only does this show interview 150 guest each year, not only do we play nearly 900 different songs with more than half of those being locally produced, but we also shine a light on area not-for-profit theatre companies, art museums & galleries, area festivals, service organizations, area record labels and record stores, the area music scene, arts scene, theatre scene, literary arts scene, political action scene.

In just this past year, we’ve featured segments shining a light on:, The Kauffman Center for The Performing Arts, UMKC Conservatory of Music, MidCoast Takeover, Spinning Tree Theatre, The Pitch Kansas City, Owen Cox Dance Group, Bandwaggin KC, KC Bands Together, The Green Line Initiative, Black Lives Matter, The Queer Narratives Festival, KC Bass Workshop, Kansas City Syzygy, The Record Machine, Mills Record Company, Records With Merritt, High Dive Records, Center Cut Records, Manor Records, Polyvinyl Records, Lost Cowgirl Records, Sunflower Soul Records, KC Irish Fest, The Crossroads Music fest, MixMaster Music Conference, Too Much Rock, Midwest Music Foundation, Apocalypse Meow, filmmaker Morgan Cooper, Charlotte Street Foundation, Inter Urban Arthouse, Lemonade Park, Weights and Measure Sound Lab.

11:50

16. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – “Childhood Goodbye” from: Radio Winners – EP / Glassnote Records / July 27. 2018
    [Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear have garnered international acclaim, and new fans from all over the world. They signed with Glassnote Records and recorded their debut full length album in Nashville with acclaimed producer Jim Abiss. They performed their debut single “Silent Movies” on The Late Show with David Letterman, they’ve toured across the United States, and Europe, more than once. They were featured on CBS Sunday Morning, NBC’s The Today Show, and “Later With Jools Holland and played Bonnaroo, Pilgramage, and the Newport Folk Festival, and the Ryman Theatre, in Nashville. Ruth Ward has continually performed throughout her life, mostly in coffee shops and open mics, for over 30 years, even recording a solo record. In the midst of this she got married and became a mom, and was busy raising a family. Madisen Ward was born in Oklahoma, and grew up in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 2007. Madisen’s journey to become a musician, was “melodically passed down” through the songs of his mother, where Madisen grew up watching his mom perform at local coffee shops. Eventually he began to learn to play the guitar, and poured his talent for writing into the music to create original songs. They began playing Madisen’s original songs along with the occassional cover of a classic track, reinterpreted in their own incredibly beautiful performance of two voices and two guitars in harmony and orchestration. Their debut album, The Skeleton Crew, was released May 9, 2015 and was our most played record that year and was #1 on WMM’s The 115 Best Recordings of 2015.]

11:53 – Pledge Break #6

This is WMM’s Fall Fund Drive Show with Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis, and Nico Gray

KKFI offers 24-7 programming, and YOU (the listener), basically get all of this amazing programming for “free.” I, for one, love that I can turn on my radio, or computer device, and tune into the 90.1 FM’s 100, 000 watt, crystal-clear signal, and hear the music, information, news, entertainment, events, and stories, that I really cannot find anywhere else. 90.1 is my comfort, my special companion, my interesting friend, introducing me to all kinds of new & local music, as well as the news & information without the intrusion of commercials. It is radio brought to YOU by real people, who create these shows out of love, and are guided by KKFI’s noble mission that “seeks to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other media.”

Driving in your car, at the office, at the gym, in your garage, in your cubicle, in your artspace, on your iPod, at your construction site, in your kitchen, in your barn, YOU can take 90.1 with you, as your companion. 90.1 FM is generally a good date. Good for a few laughs, fun to dance with, always interested in good conversation. Isn’t 90.1 FM KKFI worth a few dollars a day, or a week? So many people tune in to http://www.kkfi.org everyday, but studies show, that less than 1 percent actually donate to keep this miracle of broadcasting alive. Your support means that you will help bring this programming to folks who could not donate at this time, for whatever the reason.

This is your chance to put your money where your ears are. Please help keep this part of our public airwaves alive for our community to enjoy, free from commercials, free from religious sermonizing, free from extremely conservative and slanted right wing “talk radio,” and free from corporately “owned and cloned” robotic affiliates that play the same 15 songs everyday at the same time. YOU deserve better. YOU deserve radio that really reflects our great city, and tells the story of our great music scene, and performing arts scene, and labor rights, and women’s issues, and LBGT information, and programming specifically produced for Latinos and African Americans, working people, Jazz lovers. Support the free-form spirit that is 90.1 FM KKFI!

11:57:30

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

Next week on Wednesday MidDay Medley, on October 20 we talk with Fred Wickham about his new album from the Fred Wickham Caravan called, TOWN WITHOUT SOUL to be released October 29 through Black-Site Records. We also talk with musician Chalis O’Neal about his new album and talk with Chalis and Geraldine Glen. Also next week Til Hall shares new music from their band MellowPhobia. AND with talk with Kansas City based singer songwriter Effie about her fabulous 2021 album CURVE MY ENTHUSIASM.
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 #911

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

WMM’s 33 & 1/3 All Vinyl Fall Fund Drive Show! + Brenton Cook + La Resistencia Press + Marion Merritt, Betse Ellis & Nico Gray

WMM celebrates KKFI’s 33 & 1/3 years on the airwaves by spinning recent MidCoastal 33 & 1/3 rpm vinyl releases. We’ll drop the needle on recent (and a few classic) tracks from: HXXS, Expo Seventy, Black Light Animals, The Freedom Affair, Danny Cox, Krystle Warren, Shy Boys, The Black Creatures, Silicone Prairie, Bummer, Knife Crime, Emmaline Twist, Radkey, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, and Jorge Arana Trio. Tracks from KC’s labels: High Dive Records, Black-Site, Center Cut Records, Sunflower Soul, Haymaker Records, Groove King Records, along with Parlour Door Music from Paris, Thrill Jockey Records from Chicago, Polyvinyl Recording Co. from Champaign, Illinois; Feel It Records from Harrisonburg, Virgina; Glassnote Records from NYC and London, and ABC Dunhill Records.

At 11:00 Mark talks with Brenton Cook about Outer Reaches presents: HXXS / Expo Seventy / WE Are the Asteroid / Jorge Arana Trio at recordBar, 1520 Grand Avenue in KCMO, on October 16 at 7:00 PM. Brenton formed the Kansas City independent music label, Haymaker Records in January 2014. The label has released multiple full length albums, for Monta At Odds, HMPH!, Be/Non, Jorge Arana Trio, Riala, Mysterious Clouds, Sie Lieben Maschinen, Schwervon! For the last 9 years, Brenton has been a co-curator of the Outer Reaches shows. More info at http://www.outereachesfest.com

At 11:30 MG Salazar & Alex Martinez share details about La Resistencia Press and Alex Martinez’s new book, Concealment , and the Book Release on Saturday, October 16, at 3:30 PM at InterUrban ArtHouse 8001 Newton St., Overland Park, Kansas. MG Salazar is a poet, writer, performer, curator/business owner, chef, civil rights activist. MG’s book, Little Bits of Flesh was published by La Resistencia in 2019; her book, Striking the Black Snake: Poems from Standing Rock, was published by 39 West Press in 2017; and her debut book, If You See My Ghosts Like I Do, was published by Spartan Press in 2016. Alex Martínez is a poet, badass organizer, and an overall beautiful queen. Born in Mexico, Alex started writing poetry at a very early age. After migrating to the United States as an undocumented minor in 2005 their primary language became English. Alex often writes about trauma and social issues that affect them and their immigrant, brown, and queer communities. Alex was an artist in residence for 18 months at Charlotte Street Foundation in 2018 with funding for the program provided by a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant. Alex published their first book Disclosure: Confessions of a Queer in Crisis in April of 2018. More info at: http://www.laresistenciapress.com

One of WMM’s longtime contributors, Marion Merritt of Records With Merritt, a minority owned business in KCMO, joins us as our special guest co-host. We also welcome Betse Ellis, critically acclaimed fiddler, singer, songwriter, and one half of Betse & Clarke who also joins us as special guest co-host. Rounding our our team is actor, writer and marketing & advertising consultant with Union Station, Nico Gray. Marion, Betse and Nico will encourage our listeners to call 888-931-0901, or visit http://www.kkfi.org to support 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio during our Fall Fund Drive Show.

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #911

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

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Spinning Records With Marion Merritt + Shawn Stewart’s POP

Today, we welcome back to the show, Marion Merritt as our special “Guest Producer.” Marion Merritt is our most frequent contributor to WMM. For over 17 years now Marion has been sharing her sonic discoveries and information from her musically encyclopedic brain. Bringing music that is just not played on other radio stations. Marion grew up in Los Angeles, and St. Louis. She went to college in Columbia, Missouri. She studied art and musical engineering. After nearly two decades of managing Kansas City’s largest music department store, Marion left the corporate world and went Independent. With her partner Ann Stewart, Marion is the proprietor of Records With Merritt, a small, independent, minority owned business, at 1614 Westport R in Kansas City, Missouri. More info at: http://www.recordswithmerritt.com.

Marion Merritt, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medle

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. Dimitri From Paris – “Prologue”
   from: Sacrebleu / Atlantic / 2001

3. The Orb featuring Lee “Scratch” Perry – “Hold Me Upsetter”
   from: The Observer in the Star House / Cooking Vinyl / Aug. 28, 2012
   [The 11th studio album from the English electronic music group known for spawning the genre of ambient house music, The Orb. Founded in 1988. This new release was recorded in Berlin over a period of several months and featured dub musician/producer Lee “Scratch” Perry.]

4. Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters – “Soul Fire”
   from: “Lee Perry “”the Upsetter” Presents Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread / VP Music Group, Inc. / 1978 [Reissued on vinyl on Music On Vinyl / 2021]
   [Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread is a studio album by Lee Perry, released in 1978. Although Perry had been in the Jamaican music business for a long time by 1978, this album, produced by himself at his Black Ark studio, was the first to consist entirely of songs sung by himself. The album is very experimental. Island Records, that had released earlier Lee Perry productions like Super Ape and War Ina Babylon, rejected the album. This angered Perry and his relationship with the record company got worse. Lee “Scratch” Perry was born Rainford Hugh Perry on March 20, 1936 and passed away on August 29, 2021. He was a Jamaican record producer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development of dub music with his early adoption of remixing and studio effects to create new instrumental or vocal versions of existing reggae tracks. He worked with and produced for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, The Congos, Max Romeo, Adrian Sherwood, Beastie Boys, Ari Up, The Clash, The Orb, and many others.]

5. Aldous Harding – “Fixture Picture”
   from: Designer / 4AD / April 26, 2019
   [Designer is the third studio album by singer-songwriter Aldous Harding, released on April 26, 2019 by 4AD. The song “The Barrel” won the 2019 APRA Silver Scroll award. Hannah Sian Topp was born in 1990. She is known professionally as Aldous Harding, is a New Zealand folk singer-songwriter, based in Cardiff, Wales. // Topp comes from a musical family in Lyttelton, New Zealand: her mother is folk singer Lorina Harding.[3] One of the first musicians who came across her was New Zealand folk-pop singer/songwriter Anika Moa. Moa asked Harding to play support for her that night after finding her busking outside the venue she was about to play at. // She has released music through independent record labels Flying Nun, Spunk, and 4AD. She has collaborated with Marlon Williams, John Parish, Mike Hadreas and Fenne Lily. // 4AD announced Harding as a new signing in early 2017 just prior to the release of her second album, Party. Party was nominated for IMPALA’s European Album of the Year Award. // As of 2020, she is based in Cardiff, Wales, where she had previously lived with partner and collaborator H. Hawkline.]

6. Aldous Harding – “Zoo Eyes”
   from: Designer / 4AD / April 26, 2019

7. Sandro Galileo & Eraserhood Sound – “Ribelle di Mare”
   from: Ribelle di Mare / Eraserhood Sound / August 27, 2021
   [In the fateful year of 2020, Vincent John and Maxwell Perla of Eraserhood Sound were fortunate enough to stumble upon the score to the long lost, never completed 1974 Italian film Riblle Di Mare. It was not long before they realized they had discovered an opus, written by legendary film composer Sandro Galileo in what was to be his final soundtrack. Only it never came to pass. The film was abandoned before it could be completed, and the ashes of Galileo’s final work were swept aside and forgotten. Until today. Eraserhood Sound is proud to present Ribelle Di Mare in all its glory, produced and performed by house band Fantasy 15 in their signature “Synth & Soul” sound. Enjoy the nine stunning tracks that follow, which range in style from dramatic Philly Soul balladry, Spaghetti Western r&b, and Italian library funk.]

8. Sandro Galileo & Eraserhood Sound – “Cliffdiver”
   from: Ribelle di Mare / Eraserhood Sound / August 27, 2021
   [In the fateful year of 2020, Vincent John and Maxwell Perla of Eraserhood Sound were fortunate enough to stumble upon the score to the long lost, never completed 1974 Italian film Riblle Di Mare. It was not long before they realized they had discovered an opus, written by legendary film composer Sandro Galileo in what was to be his final soundtrack. Only it never came to pass. The film was abandoned before it could be completed, and the ashes of Galileo’s final work were swept aside and forgotten. Until today. Eraserhood Sound is proud to present Ribelle Di Mare in all its glory, produced and performed by house band Fantasy 15 in their signature “Synth & Soul” sound. Enjoy the nine stunning tracks that follow, which range in style from dramatic Philly Soul balladry, Spaghetti Western r&b, and Italian library funk.]

10:30 – Underwriting

9. Low – “Disappearing”
   from: Hey What / Sub Pop Records / September 10, 2021
   [Focusing on their craft, staying out of the fray, and holding fast their faith to find new ways to express the discord and delight of being alive, to turn the duality of existence into hymns we can share, Low present HEY WHAT. These ten pieces—each built around their own instantaneous, undeniable hook—are turbocharged by the vivid textures that surround them. The ineffable, familiar harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker break through the chaos like a life raft. Layers of distorted sound accrete with each new verse – building, breaking, colossal then restrained, a solemn vow only whispered. There will be time to unravel and attribute meaning to the music and art of these times, but the creative moment looks FORWARD, with teeth. HEY WHAT is Low’s thirteenth full-length release in twenty-seven years, and their third with producer BJ Burton.

10. Low – “Hey”
    from: Hey What / Sub Pop Records / September 10, 2021
    [Focusing on their craft, staying out of the fray, and holding fast their faith to find new ways to express the discord and delight of being alive, to turn the duality of existence into hymns we can share, Low present HEY WHAT. These ten pieces—each built around their own instantaneous, undeniable hook—are turbocharged by the vivid textures that surround them. The ineffable, familiar harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker break through the chaos like a life raft. Layers of distorted sound accrete with each new verse – building, breaking, colossal then restrained, a solemn vow only whispered. There will be time to unravel and attribute meaning to the music and art of these times, but the creative moment looks FORWARD, with teeth. HEY WHAT is Low’s thirteenth full-length release in twenty-seven years, and their third with producer BJ Burton.

11. Katsuhisa Hattori – “Edo No Kaze (Main Theme)”
    from: 江戸の旋風 Edo No Kaze / Light in The Attic / 2021
    [Katsuhisa Hattori was born November 1, 1936 and died June 11, 2020. Hattori was a Japanese classical composer who also wrote music for anime films, television series and OVAs. Hattori was a respected composer in Japan; his style was classical, although he was experienced and respected in many other genres, such as New Age, Jazz, etc. He was the son of Ryoichi Hattori and the father of Takayuki Hattori, both musical composers as well.// Besides being a composer, he was a producer and music supervisor for many years and had his own publishing company, Hattori Music Publishing. He was also a pianist, judge and chairman for the Tokyo music festivals. // Hattori was born in Tokyo, Japan. In 2000, his life and musical works were honored in an hour-long Japanese television special. He has conducted many famous orchestras, but most of his own compositions are performed by the acclaimed Tokyo Pops Orchestra. // In 1989, Katsuhisa Hattori and his son, Takayuki Hattori, who is also a composer, produced the first orchestrated Final Fantasy music CD for critically acclaimed video game music composer Nobuo Uematsu. The CD was performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and entitled “Symphonic Suite Final Fantasy”. In 1991, again at Nobuo Uematsu’s request, he produced three Final Fantasy tracks for the first “Orchestral Game Concert” CD (tracks 13, 14 and 15) and two for the second Orchestral Game Concert. // In September 2002, the Tokyo High Court ordered Hattori to pay 9.4 million yen in damages, ruling that there was a strong similarity between his song, “Kinenju” (記念樹, “Memorial Tree”), and Asei Kobayashi’s song “Dokomademo Iko” (どこまでも行こう, “Let’s Go To Eternity Together”). Asei Kobayashi’s music publisher, the Kanai Ongaku Shuppan company, who gave JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers) permission to manage the song “Dokomademo Iko” in 1967, claimed that JASRAC had illegally allowed the use of the sound-alike song. In December 2003, the Tokyo District Court ordered JASRAC to pay 1.8 million yen in damages, for allowing the publishing, broadcast and sale in CD form of Hattori’s song. This decision was overturned by the Tokyo High Court in 2005. // Hattori died on June 11, 2020, at the age of 83. He became one of eight recipients of the Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards.]

12. Katsuhisa Hattori – “Dark Night”
    from: 江戸の旋風 Edo No Kaze / Light in The Attic / 2021
    [Hattori was a Japanese classical composer who also wrote music for anime films, television series and OVAs. Hattori was a respected composer in Japan; his style was classical, although he was experienced and respected in many other genres, such as New Age, Jazz, etc. He was the son of Ryoichi Hattori and the father of Takayuki Hattori, both musical composers as well.]

13. José Gonzaléz – “El Invento”
    from: Local Valley / City Slang – Mute / September 17, 2021
    [José Gabriel González (born 31 July 1978) is a Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Gothenburg. González is also a member of the band Junip, along with Tobias Winterkorn. Local Valley is the 4th studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter José González. It succeeds González’s third studio album Vestiges and Claws, which was released in 2015, as well as the live album Live in Europe. Three singles have preceded Local Valley, including “El Invento”, “Visions” “Head On”, and “Swing”. Local Valley was recorded and produced by José González at Studio Koltrast in Hakefjorden and Studio Koltrast in Linné, Sweden. “Line of Fire” is a re-recording of the 2013 song of the same name by González’s band, Junip. In 1976, the González family – made up of González’s father, a National University of San Luis psychology student, González’s mother, a fellow student studying biochemistry, both of whom were politically active, and González’s older sister, then an infant – fled Argentina after a right-wing military coup (military junta) seized power in March 1976, the beginning of the “Dirty War”. José was born two years later, in 1978, in a suburb of Gothenburg, Sweden. He has a younger sibling. He commented, “It’s a very small town. It has about a half-million people living there. It’s a pretty good music city by the ocean. It rains a lot there, but it’s beautiful in the summertime.” González grew up listening to Latin folk and pop music and has named Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez as a favourite artist. He said the first concert he went to was The Wailers. “I got their autographs and everything,” he said in an interview. “I was about 12 or so. At the time, my favourite music was Bob Marley and Michael Jackson.” González was in a PhD program for biochemistry at the University of Gothenburg. In 2003, he stopped working on the PhD, as his musical career became a new focus. The first band he played in was Back Against the Wall, a Gothenburg hardcore punk band influenced by Black Flag, The Misfits and the Dead Kennedys. He later played bass guitar in another hardcore band, Renascence, between 1993 and 1998. Between 1997 and 1998 José played guitar with rock band Only if You Call Me Jonathan. In June 2003 González released his debut solo release, a two-track 7″ single. The single was discovered by Joakim Gävert, co-founder of the then fledgling label Imperial Records who then signed González as their first official artist. In October he released his debut album, Veneer, in Europe. The album was subsequently released in the UK on 25 April 2005, and in the United States on 6 September 2005. The album was made while González was a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg. González’ trademark sound is solo classical guitar with soft vocal melody. His work, although mostly original, also includes acoustic covers of such hits as “Heartbeats” by his fellow Swedes The Knife, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division, “Born in the U.S.A.” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Bruce Springsteen, “Hand on Your Heart” by Kylie Minogue, “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat, “Teardrop” by Massive Attack and “Last Snowstorm of the Year” by Low. His second album, In Our Nature, was released internationally on 22 September 2007. The album’s lyrical content was in part influenced by his reading of books like The God Delusion by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and Practical Ethics by ethicist Peter Singer. In 2007, González won a European Border Breakers Award Award. Every year the European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) recognize the success of ten emerging artists or groups who reached audiences outside their own countries with their first internationally released album in the past year. In 2010, a documentary about González called The Extraordinary Ordinary Life Of Jose Gonzalez was released. In December 2014, González performed at the sustainable lifestyle festival, Wonderfruit in Thailand.]

14. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine – “Reach Out”
    from: A Beginner’s Mind / Asthmatic Kitty / September 24, 2021
    [A Beginner’s Mind is a collaborative album by American musicians Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine. After being teased by Asthmatic Kitty for several days, the album was formally announced on July 7, 2021, along with its track listing and two singles, “Reach Out” and “Olympus”. Daniel Anum Jasper created the album’s cover artwork. The album was met with widespread acclaim from music critics. A Beginner’s Mind was created in a cabin in upstate New York. There, Stevens and Augustine watched movies every day for inspiration. // Angelo De Augustine is an American musician residing in Thousand Oaks, California. De Augustine has collaborated with and opened for musician Sufjan Stevens. His parents were both close to music. When he was 5 years old, his father left home. Angelo wanted to be a professional soccer player in his teens years, but after an accident, he wasn’t able to continue his dream, but replaced the soccer for the music later, becoming his biggest passion. Angelo De Augustine self-released his first album in 2014, titled Spirals of Silence. In 2017, Angelo De Augustine released his second full-length album and first with Asthmatic Kitty Records, titled Swim Inside The Moon. In a 2018 review of the artist’s “Carcassonne,” National Public Radio (NPR) said that De Augustine wrote it for people who dream of visiting small villages and towns in France. NPR characterized the album’s mood as being “like waves rushing onto the shore.” In 2019, Angelo De Augustine released his third full-length album and second with Asthmatic Kitty Records titled Tomb. The Irish Times described the artist’s Tomb album as “his first bona fide studio album” that followed “a series of low-key releases recorded in a bathtub on a reel-to-reel tape machine and a single microphone.” The artist’s “Time” single was performed as a duo with musician Sufjan Stevens.// Sufjan Stevens (/ˈsuːfjɑːn/ SOOF-yahn; was born July 1, 1975. He is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released nine solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nominations. His debut album, A Sun Came, was released in 2000 on the Asthmatic Kitty label, which he co-founded with his stepfather. He received wide recognition for his 2005 album Illinois, which hit number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, and for the single “Chicago” from that album. Stevens later contributed to the soundtrack of the 2017 film Call Me by Your Name. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media for the soundtrack’s lead single, “Mystery of Love”. Stevens has released albums of varying styles, from the electronica of Enjoy Your Rabbit and the lo-fi folk of Seven Swans to the symphonic instrumentation of Illinois and Christmas-themed Songs for Christmas. He employs various instruments, often playing many of them himself on the same recording. Stevens’ music is also known for exploring various themes, particularly religion and spirituality. Stevens’ ninth and latest studio album, Convocations, was released in 2021.]

11:00 – Station ID

15. The Pro-Teens – “I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly”
    from: I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly / College of Knowledge/ June 10, 2021 [Mr. Bongo/2021]
    [Within Melbourne’s burgeoning cinematic-soul scene, which includes breakout acts Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo, mysteriously sit The Pro-Teens. Helmed by prolific drummer and percussionist Hudson Whitlock, who also plays in both aforementioned bands, this breakaway studio project involves an interchangeable collective of incognito, Melbourne-based, esteemed instrumentalists playing under outlandish pseudonyms such as “‘Dead Honest’ Dean Amazing” and “Libby Clique-Baite”. Symbolically led by keyboardist “Snooch Dodd”, new album ‘I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly’ is the latest musical concoction from Whitlock’s eccentric brain, marrying the soul/funk roots of sample culture with the principles of boom-bap hip hop. // Incorporating the colourful comic book stylings of MF DOOM and Kool Keith, or the dark and exotic flavours of Gravediggaz and The Wu-Tang Clan, The Pro-Teens also take cues from their composing heroes Galt MacDermot, Richard Evans and Marc Moulin. The Pro-Teens bop, zip, whip and fling on this phantasmagorical journey – an unorthodox patchwork of cinematic soul, hip hop-guided funk breaks, vivid instrumental textures and film score-esque moods. // The Pro-Teens work on the same analogue recording model adopted by the tight-knit College Of Knowledge label, self-recorded and produced with the rag-tag crew of musicians putting tracks down live to tape in crammed attic studios and sharehouse recording spaces. The first limited pressing of ‘I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly’ was released on the ‘College Of Knowledge’ imprint in late 2020. It was one of the highlights of the year at Mr Bongo HQ who loved the concept and felt this tripped out masterpiece from Melbourne needed to be heard well beyond those lucky enough to have bagged those limited first copies. // This album was made on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge them as the traditional custodians of the land and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land. // All songs written by Snooch Dodd and performed by the Pro-Teens. Recorded at the College Of Knowledge in the year 2019. Produced by a very lovely friend. xoxo. Thanks to every one who made this album what it is. Special thanks to the College Of Knowledge and Baby Huey the cat. More info at http://www.thepro-teens.bandcamp.com]

16. The Rugged Nuggets – “Rugged Walk”
    from: Odds & Ends / Colemine Records / September 24, 2021
    [“Cinematic soul” ensemble formed by Judson McDaniel, comprised of members of Orgone and Jungle Fire: David Moyer, Jake Najor, Joey Reina, Judson McDaniel, Michael Duffy, Patrick Bailey, Sam Halterma. Group For Fans of Menahan Street Band, El Michels Affair, Khruangbin, BadBadNotGood. Recorded in the San Fernando Valley just a stones throw away from the infamous Van Nuys Blvd. cruising scene, it’s no wonder from the debut long player from The Rugged Nuggets hits hard and demands to be turned up loud with the windows rolled down. Delivering west-coast cool at it’s finest. With swooning strings, breezy guitars and tough as nails drums, Odds & Ends epitomizes a mellow vibe, but is undeniably cool.]

17. Elephant Wrecking Ball – “Stone Poem (feat. Mike Dillon)”
    from: Joy Front / Elephant Wreckords / October 10, 2019 [Issued on Vinyl on Color Red / 2021]
    [Elephant Wrecking Ball brings an inimitable brand of experimental groove jazz in their latest track “Stone Poem” featuring Mike Dillon on vibraphone and tabla. Spurred from an odd time signature bass line, the unconventional form reads like a poem with three different parts in succession as the initial motif is followed by variations in different time signatures. The track is off of the group’s latest album ‘Joy Front’ released in October 2019. // Artist Statement: “I’m very pleased with how this track came out. It follows a very unconventional song form that reads like a poem, hence the name, having three distinctly different parts that happen in succession. In this case the time signature changes between the three sections. I took the idea from some punk rock songs that I grew up loving in which it seems like the ideas flow like stream of consciousness without the need for recapitulation. Mike Dillon really put it over the top with the addition of tabla and vibraphone on the drum-set feature section. It’s now got a very playful energy between those three instruments in the middle section that I think take the song to a new level.” – Dan Africano // Released October 28, 2019. Producer Dan Africano. Credits: Dan Africano on bass guitar, Neal Evans on drums, Scott Flynn on trombone, Mike Dillon on vibraphone & tabla. Tracking Engineer – Josh Fairman, Scanhope Sound. Mixing Engineer – Doug Krebs, Doug Krebs Mastering. Mastering Engineer – Doug Krebs, Doug Krebs Mastering.]

18. Dave Okumu – “Son of Emmerson”
    from: Knopperz / Transgressive / September 24, 2021
    [Already one of the most sought-after songwriters, producers and musicians around, Dave Okumu has collaborated with; Arlo Parks, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, St Vincent, Jessie Ware, Grace Jones, Adele, and also Joan As A Policewoman and the late Tony Allen on a forthcoming and recently announced collaborative album. He is also the singer and guitarist of Mercury nominated band The Invisible. // Okumu is now stepping in to the spotlight by himself with debut solo project, Knopperz, out 24th September on Transgressive Records. The instrumental release – which unites hip-hop, jazz and experimental electronic music – is part homage to J Dilla’s Donuts and inspired by, and uses elements of, pianist Duval Timothy’s album, Sen Am.]

19. Papi Churro & FLKS – “Libertad”
    from: El Clásico / We Run This – Groove Attack / August 13, 2021
    [After the great success with their last song “El Barrio” Richard Holzmann & The Breed aka “Papi Churro” are back with their next groovy single. “Libertad” is breathing the spirit of freedom and fenceless boarders with the help of a very atypical meter of 13/4 and a groovy bassline by FLKS the next signing on “we run this records”. Jazzsaxophonist Claudius Stallbaum and Pianist Johann Fritsche round off the whole thing.]

20. Ricardo Marrero & The Group – “Tiny”
    from: A Taste (Remastered) / P-Vine Records / 2021 [originally recorded in 1976]
    [Jazzman Holy Grail Series notes: The third in our HOLY GRAIL series of Rare LP reissues – ALL vinyl copies of previous issues are now SOLD OUT Just in time for summer and here’s a mouth-watering taste of super latin soul! With the ingredients ranging from spicy hot funk to cool refreshing salsa, Ricardo Marrero’s A Taste sets the scene for an exciting summer awash with soulful latin rhythms over a tropical breeze… an album of wonderful music – an album that very nearly never happened! The story of this album begins in New York during the mid ’70s. It’s a story of stolen master tapes, shady deals and records deliberately made NOT to be sold. // It’s the story of the musical obsession of one man who has devoted his life to music and how he was sold down the river by unscrupulous record industry moguls. It’s also the story of one of the rarest, most in demand and expensive records the world has ever known, with only a handful of copies of this super LP ever being found. Demand for the solid music within has led to a bidding frenzy whenever a copy has surfaced – the latest one on eBay fetched an amazing $4000! Records don’t get much more collectable than that, and so we have no hesitation of awarding a coveted Holy Grail status to this LP, the third in our acclaimed series. Why so rare? // We spoke to Ricardo himself to find out, and his remarkable story is revealed in the CD liners for the first time ever. He speaks about the recording of the album and his disappointment at the stolen tapes, his ill-fated association with boxing legend Don King, and the making of the legendary latin funk anthem Babalonia, which underwent no less than 4 pressings. We’ve also included a rare picture of the band, and two alternate takes of songs previously only obtainable on 7 vinyl. // Released January 1, 2009 – The LP is a repro of the original, and is numbered and limited to 1000 copies only and will NOT be repressed.]

21. Joy Orbison – “w/ dad & frankie”
    from: still slipping vol. 1 / Hinge Finger – XL Recordings / August 13, 2021
    [Peter O’Grady, better known as Joy Orbison or Joy O, is an English electronic musician. His style is a coalescence of house, dubstep, UK funky, UK garage and oldschool jungle. O’Grady achieved underground success with his debut single “Hyph Mngo”, released via Hotflush Recordings in September 2009. He is also known for his collaborations with Boddika. // O’Grady credits his uncle Ray Keith for introducing him to jungle and UK garage at a young age. At 13, he took up DJing and eventually moved into production in his 20s, using Fruity Loops to create 8-bar grime loops before developing his sound combining house, disco and dubstep. He cites influences as diverse as J Dilla, My Bloody Valentine, GG Allin, Josef K and The Beach Boys. // His debut single “Hyph Mngo” was called the most forward-thinking dubstep track of 2009 and received airplay and floorplay worldwide. This was followed by “Brkln Clln” on O’Grady’s own label Doldrums, which he ran in tandem with partner Impey. In 2010, O’Grady released “The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow” on Aus Music, an eclectic record label founded by Will Saul and Fink. // “Hyph Mngo” was voted #23 in the Resident Advisor top 100 tracks of the 2000s and #1 in Fact Magazine’s top tracks of 2009. He was named number 18 in NME’s New Music Tips of 2010 and voted 19th in the Resident Advisor ‘Top DJs of 2012’ poll. // In 2012, O’Grady began residencies at his own London based club night ‘Just For You’ and at Manchester’s ‘meandyou’ party. He also launched a record label called Hinge Finger which is co-run by artist Will Bankhead.]

Marion Merritt thanks for being out Guest Producer on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Records With Merritt, is a small, independent, minority owned business, at 1614 Westport Rd. in KCMO. More info at: http://www.recordswithmerritt.com

11:32 – Underwriting

22. Shawn M. Stewart-“Basic Ass Bro (feat. Miki P & They Call Me Sauce)”
    from: “Basic Ass Bro(feat. Miki P & They Call Me Sauce)”-Single / Shawn M Stewart / May 1 2021
    [Shawn M. Stewart has already written and recorded his next full length album titled POP, in the spring of 2021 but wanted to hold it for an October 2021 release. He is releasing the first single from POP, “Basic Ass Bro,”. The single features Miki P and They Call Me Sauce. Singer songwriter Shawn M. Stewart is owner of Stewart 360. Shawn M. Stewart released his album 2020: THE MUSICAL in November 2020. From that album the single “Cameras” was voted the #4 favorite song of the year, by Bridge 90.9 listeners and has received over 20,495 streams on Spotify and 1,500,000 streams on Soundcloud.]

[The Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers.]

11:37 – Interview with Shawn M. Stewart

Shawn M. Stewart joins us to share the details about his new album POP and the Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers. Shawn released the first single from POP, “Basic Ass Bro” on May 1, 2021. The single features Miki P and They Call Me Sauce. Shawn released his latest single, “Annie Oakley” last week and it already has over 2,000 streams on Spotify. Shawn M. Stewart is working like a music factory writing in multiple genres of music, for radio, television, film, and for indie punk bands. More info at: http://www.ShawnMStewart.com

Shawn M. Stewart thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

We just heard the first single from POP, “Basic Ass Bro” released on May 1, 2021. The single features Miki P and They Call Me Sauce.

December and January were slow with social justice initiatives because of Covid and the cold, so Shawn knocked out the next album, “Pop”. He is going to wait and release it in July, october, however he is released “Basic Ass Bro”, the first single, everywhere on May 1, 2021.

“Pop” is 100% radio pop. Many songs are better suited to Mix 93 than KKFI or The Bridge. Some songs use auto tune and were produced in Europe. It will not be for everybody. Other facts and stats:

“Bad-Hippie Girl (Modern Mix) is the only song written before December which will be on the album. On pre-release via soundcloud, it has amassed 1,500,000 streams.
“Average Joe” has 1,100,000 on soundcloud’s pre-release.

“Lorem Ipsum” has 1,000,000 streams and 22,000 TikTok views.

Pop comes out October 8, via a live show at Lemonade Park. It has Dick Daniels’ character T-Shirts, 4 gig thumb-drives and 10 hand-made CDs which can be acquired at the show as well as at Records With Merritt, It’s a Beautiful Day and Prosperos. The vinyl will arrive in December.

Fun Facts about Pop. The songs were written after an exercise in which Shawn only listened to brand new music for 12 months, mostly top 40. After that immersive experience, Shawn found the ideas that were coming to him sounded more like “Basic Ass Bro” than 2020’s “Poppies and Puppies.” shawn wrote most of the songs (8 of 10) last December in a Pop-flurry.

The current single which has a couple thousand Spotify streams since being released last week is “Annie Oakley”.

Writing process: Shawn started like most do, grabbing an instrument and sitting down for a writing session, alone or with others. He’d plink and plunk around until he had a chord progression he liked. He’d hum melodies to the chords until they morphed into consonants and vowels which sounded like words and spend a day or two finishing the song: adding verses, creating a chorus. He wrote actively.

After learning to meditate, it occurred to Shawn that the same inspirations and voices which would come to you in that state were also there to transmit music. Now he writes almost exclusively passively. He simply makes himself a receiver of the ethernet and the music is always there, always transmitting. Writing is just a matter of tuning in being ready to receive and interpret the signals.

Shawn M. Stewart’s POP Album Release Show, is Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers.

11:45

23. Shawn M. Stewart – “Buy Me”
    from: “POP / Shawn M. Stewart / October 8, 2021
    [Shawn M. Stewart has already written and recorded POP in spring of 2021 but held off for an October 2021 release. Shawn M. Stewart released his album 2020: THE MUSICAL in November 2020. From that album the single “Cameras” was voted the #4 favorite song of the year, by Bridge 90.9 listeners and has received over 20,495 streams on Spotify and 1,500,000 streams on Soundcloud.

[The Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers.]

10:48 – More Interview with Shawn Stewart

We are talking with Shawn M. Stewart about his new album POP and the Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers. More info at: http://www.ShawnMStewart.com

Shawn M. Stewart thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

We just heard ‘Buy Me’ from POP. Shawn M. Stewart is working like a music factory writing in multiple genres of music, for radio, television, film, and for indie punk bands.

Congratulations on the new album and all of the attention your music is getting on Spotify, Soundcloud and TikTok.

On TikTok Shawn calls himself, “A Wes Anderson character, socially unhinged.”

On Soundcloud Shawn describes his sound as Psych-Americana-Alternative-Country-Rap.

On Spotify Shawn wrote that he just got a website in January 2021. And that he never took promotion seriously prior, but with help from a friend, they are going at 2021 with a vengeance and averaging nearly 700,000 weekly combined streams.

On Facebook Shawn identifies as a songwriter with published TV/Film material, a Top % finish in “Song of The Year” and that you play live…very infrequently

Shawn has previously been known as “Johnny Super Colossal” but he has decided to go forward with his real name.

He is actually maintaining a site now: http://www.ShawnMStewart.com. He is stressing the “M” because a guy with a markedly different sound has the .com and is all over the music channels.

Shawn M Stewart is also part of the band, Helkat 1-1/2 years after their last show. 2 years after their last recording, their pages still gets lot of views, so, Shawn will be recording with Helcat vocalist Helen Proctor between her exams in Minneapolis, working on the first Helkat single since 2019 and hope to record it when she is in town for Thanksgiving.

Shawn M. Stewart released his album 2020: THE MUSICAL last November 13, 2020

“I Fell For You” featuring NY rock goddess, Debra Devi has 12,650 Spotify and 660,600 streams on Soundcloud.

“Cameras”, the other single from “2020” has 20,495 and 1,500,000 on SoundCloud. It was the listener’s Poll #4 of 2020 on The Bridge.

“Jesus Came Down” was never released but somehow caught on, with 4,605 Spotify and 375,700 on SoundCloud

“I Drink Therefore I Am” was released on Soundcloud only and got 844,100 streams. It features Marco Pascolini.

Shawn M. Stewart thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers.

Shawn released his latest single, “Annie Oakley” last week and it already has over 2,000 streams on Spotify. More info at: http://www.ShawnMStewart.com

11:55

24. Shawn M. Stewart – “Annie Oakley”
    from:“POP / Shawn M. Stewart / October 8, 2021
    [Shawn M. Stewart has already written and recorded POP in spring of 2021 but held off for an October 2021 release. Shawn M. Stewart released his album 2020: THE MUSICAL in November 2020. From that album the single “Cameras” was voted the #4 favorite song of the year, by Bridge 90.9 listeners and has received over 20,495 streams on Spotify and 1,500,000 streams on Soundcloud.

[The Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers.]

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

Next week on Wednesday MidDay Medley, on October 13, Marion Merritt will be back with Betse Ellis and Nico Gray as our Guest Co-Hosts for: 33 & 1/3 WMM’s Fall Fund Drive Show for 90.1 FM KKFI Celebrating 33 and 1/3 years with New MidCoastal Releases on 33 & 1/3 vinyl albums. It’s an All Vinyl Fund Drive Show!!! With special guests: Brenton Cook sharing details about Outer Reaches at recordBar, October 16 with We Are The Astroid, Jorge Arana Trio, Expo Seventy, and HXXS. Also Next Week MG Salazar and Alex Martinez of La Resistencia Press join us to share details about La Resistencia: Alex Martinez Book Release, Saturday, October 16, at 3:30 at InterUrban ArtHouse 8001 Newton Street.

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 #910

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

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Spinning Records With Marion Merritt + Shawn Stewart’s POP

Mark welcomes Marion Merritt, of Records With Merritt, who joins us as “Guest Producer” to share sonic discoveries and information from her musically-encyclopedic-brain. Marion Merritt is our most frequent contributor to WMM. She grew up in Los Angeles, and St. Louis. She went to college in Columbia, Missouri. She studied art and musical engineering. She saw Talking Heads on their first U.S. tour when they played One Block West, in KCK, in 1978. For 17 years Marion has joined us on WMM. Marion is also the proprietor of Records With Merritt, at 1614 Westport Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri. More info at: http://www.recordswithmerritt.com.

Marion will play tracks from: The Orb Ft. Lee “Scratch” Perry, Aldous Harding, Sandro Galileo & Eraserhood Sound, Low, Katsuhisa Hattori, José González, Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine, The Pro-Teens, The Rugged Nuggets, Elephant Wrecking Ball feat. Mike Dillon, Dave Okumu, Papi Churro & FLKS, Ricardo Marrero & The Group A Taste, Joy Orbison, and Dimitri from Paris.

At 11:30 Mark talks with singer songwriter, Shawn M. Stewart about his new album POP and the Shawn M. Stewart POP Album Release Show, Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming, West Bottoms, KCMO, with Miki P, and Timbers. Shawn released the first single from POP, “Basic Ass Bro” on May 1, 2021. The single features Miki P and They Call Me Sauce. Shawn released his latest single, “Annie Oakley” last week and it already has over 2,000 streams on Spotify. Shawn M. Stewart is working like a music factory writing in multiple genres of music, for radio, television, film, and for indie punk bands. More info at: http://www.ShawnMStewart.com.

Shawn Stewart’s POP artwork was created by Dick Daniels

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #910

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, September 29, 2021

Nico Gray Celebrates Art d’Ecco

10:00 – Station ID

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 – We are proud members of the church of Fosse]

2. Reitzell/Beggs — “Intro Versaille”
   from: From: Marie Antoinette (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) / Verve Forecast / 2006

3. Joni Mitchell — “A Bird That Whistles”
   from: Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm / Geffen Records / January 1, 1988
   [Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm is the 13th studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1988. It was her third for Geffen Records. The album features various duets with guest artists such as Peter Gabriel on “My Secret Place”, Willie Nelson on “Cool Water”, Don Henley on “Snakes and Ladders”, Billy Idol and Tom Petty on the track “Dancin’ Clown”. Henley also performs backing vocals on “Lakota”, and Wendy and Lisa perform backing vocals on “The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms)”. // In early 1986, Mitchell and Larry Klein visited Peter Gabriel’s Ashcombe House recording studio near Bath, England. Since Gabriel had mostly finished his album So by that time, he offered Mitchell and Klein the use of his studio if they wanted to record. They did, and the result was the track “My Secret Place” which was a duet between Mitchell and Gabriel. Mitchell told Musician magazine about this song: “It’s a love beginning song. The song’s about the threshold of intimacy. It’s a shared thing so I wanted it to be like the Song of Solomon, where you can’t tell what gender it is. It’s the uniting spirit of two people at the beginning of a relationship”. // In February 1987, Mitchell saw Billy Idol performing his hit version of the William Bell R&B ballad, “To Be a Lover” on the Grammy Awards show. She felt he captured the original spirit of rock’n’roll along with a new spark of energy, and would be perfect for a cameo on her song “Dancin’ Clown”. Idol came over to Mitchell’s studio one evening a few days after the Grammys and recorded his part, complete with yelps and howls. Mitchell told Macleans magazine about this pairing up: “It was for the contrast he provided. It’s a great little cameo for him, and he brings real life to the part.” Later, Tom Petty recorded his cameo on the same song. // About Chalk Mark, Mitchell told interviewer Kristine McKenna: “I’ve discovered that with your focus no longer on finding a mate, you get a heightened sense of community, and I’ve become a bit more political – not too political though”. // Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm was released in March 1988, and the song “Snakes and Ladders” (featuring Don Henley) was issued as a pre-release single to radio stations in January 1988.]

4. Cosmo Sheldrake — “Cuckoo Song”
   from: Wake Up Calls / Tardigrade Records / September 18, 2020
   [Cosmo Sheldrake was born December 16, 1989. He is an English musician, composer, and producer. He is the son of parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake and voice teacher Jill Purce, and the brother of biologist Merlin Sheldrake. He released his first single, “The Moss”/”Solar”, in 2014 and followed it up with the Pelicans We EP in 2015. He is associated with Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, Mr Jukes, Sam Lee, The Gentle Mystics, Bernie Krause, and Matthew Herbert. // Described as a “musical visionary” by The Telegraph, Sheldrake has been releasing music since 2014. // His debut single, “The Moss”, was released on 25 March 2014, followed by a debut EP, Pelicans We, on 6 April 2015, and a debut album, The Much Much How How and I, on 6 April 2018. // Much of Sheldrake’s work is concerned with improvisation, nonsense, and the sonorous environment. He has provided music for film and theatre, including the score for a series of Samuel Beckett plays at the Young Vic in London. Sheldrake also performs solo and with several bands including Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit and the Gentle Mystics. His song “Come Along” was featured in an advertisement for Apple’s iPhone XR in the US and UK. The song subsequently charted at number 39 on the US Digital Songs chart dated 26 January 2019.]

5. Love and Rockets — “An American Dream”
   from: Express / Beggars Banquet Records / September 15, 1986
   [Express is the second studio album by English alternative rock band Love and Rockets. It was released on 15 September 1986 on Beggars Banquet Records. An even greater departure from the band members’ previous work as Bauhaus, the album’s fusion of underground rock with pop stylings can be seen as an early example of alternative rock music, a genre that reached mainstream popularity in the early 1990s.”Kundalini Express” was featured in the 1986 Italian horror film Demons 2 and appeared on an episode of the T.V. show Miami Vice.]

10:13 – Nico (& Mark) Live Intro

Nico: THE GREAT AFRICAN AMERICAN POET, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, NOVELIST AND PLAYWRIGHT LANGSTON HUGHES WROTE “HOLD FAST TO DREAMS, FOR IF DREAMS DIE- LIFE IS A BROKEN-WINGED BIRD THAT CANNOT FLY.”
WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY MIDDAY MEDLEY. YOU JUST HEARD THE SONG “AN AMERICAN DREAM” FROM THE ENGLISH BAND LOVE AND ROCKETS FROM THEIR 1986 LP EXPRESS. WE OPENED THE SHOW WITH “A BIRD THAT WHISTLES” FROM THE PROLIFIC CANADIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER JONI MITCHELL FROM HER 13TH STUDIO ALBUM IN 1988 “CHALK MARK IN A RAIN STORM” AND WE FOLLOWED THAT WITH “CUCKOO SONG” BY BRITISH MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER COSMO SHELDRAKE FROM HIS 2020 ALBUM ‘WAKE UP CALLS.”

MY NAME IS NICO GRAY AND I’M YOUR GUEST PRODUCER FOR TODAY’S SHOW ALONG WITH YOUR HOST, MARK MANNING.

MARK: Wednesday MidDay Medley welcomes back to the show, Nico Gray, as “Guest Producer.” Nico is a writer, performance artist, and has worked as an actor with KC Rep, Gorilla Theatre, 8th St. Cafe Theatre, Actor’s Craft, and Big Bang Buffet. He appeared in HBO’s Truman and you can see him as a drunken sailor smoking a cigarette stumbling down the hallways of Union Station in the Robert Altman film Kansas City. He starred alongside Jason Sedakis in the short film “Where’s Phil” written and directed by local film maker John McGraff. Nico has worked for Theatre League, The Midland Theatre and is currently a marketing & advertising consultant with Union Station and the Marketing Director for Fringe Festival KC. For WMM Nico Gray has co-hosted several of fund drive shows, Glam Rock show, Bowie Tribute Shows, and our 700th show. Today is his 11th appearance as Guest Producer.

Nico: TODAY WE CELEBRATE, DISCOVER, ENGAGE, AND DIVE DEEP INTO THE MUSIC AND INNOVATIVE MIND OF CANADIAN INDIE-GLAM ROCKER, SINGER-SONGWRITER AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, ART D’ECCO. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE HUMBLE ARTIST AND I’LL SHARE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALONG WITH TRACKS FROM HIS LATEST ALBUM “IN STANDARD DEFINITION.” RELEASED IN APRIL, HIS SPELLBINDING 2018 LP TRESPASSER, AND WE’LL BE SPINNING SOME VINYL TRACKS FROM HIS SOLO DEBUT LP FROM 2016 “DAY FEVERS”,

GRAB YOUR PLATFORM SHOES, YOUR LIPSTICK, ROUGE, EYE SHADOW, FEATHER BOA, AND WANDERING EAR- IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE’LL TAKE A CANDID GLIMPSE INTO THE WORLD OF ART D’ECCO’S MUSICAL MIND.

WE’LL START BY PLAYING THE TITLE TRACK TO HIS LATEST ALBUM IN STANDARD DEFINITION AND THE INSTRUMENTAL INTRO “CHANNEL 7 (PILOT SEASON).”

BUT FIRST AS AUTUNM HAS ARRIVED, LET US WELCOME OCTOBER AND THE NEW YEAR IT BRINGS. FROM THEIR 2ND STUDIO RECORDED ALBUM RELEASED 30 YEARS AGO THIS OCTOBER, THIS IS U2 AND THE TITLE TRACK “OCTOBER.”

10:16

6. U2 – “October”
   from: October / Island Records / October 12,1981
   [October is the second studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 12 October 1981 by Island Records, and was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The album was lyrically inspired by the memberships of Bono, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. in a Christian group called the “Shalom Fellowship”, and consequently it contains spiritual and religious themes. Their involvement with Shalom Fellowship led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the “rock and roll” lifestyle, and threatened to break up the band. // After completing the third leg of the Boy Tour in February 1981, U2 began to write new material for October, entering the recording studio in July 1981. Just as they did for their 1980 debut Boy the band recorded at Windmill Lane Studios with Lillywhite producing. The recording sessions were complicated by Bono’s loss of a briefcase containing in-progress lyrics for the new songs, forcing a hurried, improvisational approach to completing the album on time. // October was preceded by the lead single “Fire” in July 1981, while its second single “Gloria” coincided with its release. The album received mixed reviews and limited radio play. In 2008, a remastered edition of October was released.]

7. David Bowie — “Sound and Vision 2013”
   from: Sound and Vision 2013 – Single / Parophone UK / October 3, 2013
   [A stripped-down remix was created by Sonjay Prabhakar in 2013 for a Sony commercial. Titled “Sound and Vision 2013”, it was solely included on a CD-R promo. An extended version of the remix was released later the same year. // “Sound and Vision” is a song by English musician David Bowie. It was released in January 1977 on side one of his 11th studio album Low. RCA Records later chose it as the first single from the album. Co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the song was recorded at the Château d’Hérouville in Hérouville in September 1976, continuing at Hansa Studios in West Berlin from October to November. The song began as a simple G major chord progression, which Bowie gave to the backing musicians, writing and recording his vocals later on. It features backing vocals from Brian Eno and Visconti’s then-wife Mary Hopkin. // Regarded by biographers as the closest to a “conventional pop song” on Low, “Sound and Vision” is oddly structured. It begins as an instrumental, with elements building throughout its runtime; Bowie’s vocals don’t appear for over a minute and a half into the song. The song’s lyrics are dark and introspective, reflecting Bowie’s mental state after years of drug addiction. They further continue the lyrical themes of other tracks on Low’s first side. The lyrics provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous and upbeat. Like other Low tracks, the song’s drum sound was achieved through the use of Visconti’s Eventide H910 Harmonizer. // Released as a single on 11 February 1977, “Sound and Vision” was a commercial success, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart, aided by its appearance in BBC television commercials. It nevertheless signaled Bowie’s commercial downturn until 1983 in the US, where it peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100. Music critics and biographers have regarded “Sound and Vision” as one of Bowie’s greatest songs. Bowie performed the song only once on his 1978 Isolar II world tour, but performed it frequently on later tours. Remixes of the song have been created in subsequent decades and it has appeared on numerous compilation albums.]

8. Art d’Ecco – “Channel 7 (Pilot Season)”
   from: In Standard Definition / Paper Bag Records Records / April 23, 2021
   [Art d’Ecco is based in British Columbia, “There’s more than a little David Bowie in both the sonic and fashion leanings of Art d’Ecco, a performer who fluidly crosses musical and gender lines, creating highly memorable tracks — and sporting an unforgettable look. Often labelled “neo glam,” the music boasts hints of everything from ’50s pop to psychedelics, from Velvet Underground-era art rock to Grimes-inspired electronics.” – CBC Music Art d’Ecco released the album Trespasser on Paper Bag Records on October 12, 2018. When d’Ecco moved into his grandmother’s cottage on one of the islands, he hadn’t planned on creating a new project. But, as it often does, circumstance charted his course. His grandmother, living with Alzheimer’s, suffered a related phenomenon called ‘sundowning,’ which triggers increased agitation and anxiety around sunset. “The only way to calm this lady down was to sit down at the piano,” says d’Ecco. He would play “Bohemian Rhapsody,” passing it off as Beethoven. After she was relocated, d’Ecco remained in the empty house where he had played as a child. Draped in memory, he gravitated toward the piano, spending the long, lonesome, quiet nights on the bench before the instrument. This is where Art d’Ecco was created. He relocated to a new cottage, built a studio and barricaded himself with copies of Deerhunter’s Cryptograms, Bowie’s Low, and choice krautrock records. In this solitude, d’Ecco would chase tones for hours. The result is a richly-realized confluence of the ferocious spark of those trailblazers and a distinct sadness, with d’Ecco as mad scientist, stitching together these delicious fragments and animating them.]

9. Art d’Ecco – “In Standard Definition”
   from: In Standard Definition / Paper Bag Records Records / April 23, 2021

10:25 – Underwriting

10. Art d’Ecco – “Never Tell”
    from: Trespasser / Paper Bag Records Records / October 12, 2018
    [“From beneath dark bobbed hair and charismatic maquillaged eyes, Art d’Ecco conveys the look of a person born out of time. But Art, it seems, has found his niche – a modernity, a beguiling look and a musical style that reflect his obsessions. On stage the character of Art d’Ecco takes a stance and steps into a theatrical role with total conviction.” – Princess Julia]

10:30 – Nico Live Read

THAT’S THE FIRST TRACK FOUND ON THE 2018 ALBUM “TRESPASSER” THAT WAS “NEVER TELL”.

BUT TODAY THE INDIE SINGER-SONGWRITER ART D’ECCO DOES TELL. WE’RE CELEBRATING HIS MUSIC AND THE MAN BEHIND IT ALL.

KKFI 90.1 FM KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY RADIO COMPLIES WITH THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT – BUT IN THE CASE OF THIS SHOW WE’VE RECEIVED SPECIAL WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE ARTIST AND RECORD COMPANY TO PLAY MORE THAN 4 SONGS IN THIS TWO-HOUR PROGRAM.

A NOTE FROM ART D’ECCO (MARCH 21, 2016 GULF ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA) FROM HIS 1ST RECORDING LP “DAY FEVERS”

IN 2013 I TURNED MY BACK ON THE CITY THAT RAISED ME. I WAS FINISHED WITH MUSIC – TIRED OF THE CRUSHING LOWS, THE ENDLESS DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND THE COMPOUNDING FAILURES THAT FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONLESS SOULS WHO LONG FOR ITS ACCEPTANCE.

THE GREENER PASTURES I FLED TO WERE INDEED MUCH GREENER – AND ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT. IT WAS IN THIS NEW HOME – OVERLOOKING AN ORCHARD SURROUNDED BY FORESTED LAKES AND CANADIAN WILDLIFE; THAT I FOUND THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT CLUTTERED MY BUSY MIND: “WHO IS ART D’ECCO? WHERE DOES HE BELONG?

10:31

11. Art d’Ecco – “Sunrise” (Vinyl)
    from: Day Fevers / Your Face Records / 2016 [No longer Available]
    [When d’Ecco moved into his grandmother’s cottage on one of the islands, he hadn’t planned on creating a new project. But, as it often does, circumstance charted his course. His grandmother, living with Alzheimer’s, suffered a related phenomenon called ‘sundowning,’ which triggers increased agitation and anxiety around sunset. “The only way to calm this lady down was to sit down at the piano,” says d’Ecco. He would play “Bohemian Rhapsody,” passing it off as Beethoven. After she was relocated, d’Ecco remained in the empty house where he had played as a child. Draped in memory, he gravitated toward the piano, spending the long, lonesome, quiet nights on the bench before the instrument. This is where Art d’Ecco was created. He relocated to a new cottage, built a studio and barricaded himself with copies of Deerhunter’s Cryptograms, Bowie’s Low, and choice krautrock records. In this solitude, d’Ecco would chase tones for hours. The result is a richly-realized confluence of the ferocious spark of those trailblazers and a distinct sadness, with d’Ecco as mad scientist, stitching together these delicious fragments and animating them.]

10:32 – Nico Live Read

THAT WAS “SUNRISE” THE FIRST TRACK ON ART D’ECCOS SOLO DEBUT LP CALLED “DAY FEVERS” RELEASED IN 2016.

BORN IN OTTOWA, CANADA THE SAME YEAR THAT DAVID BOWIE’S “LET’S DANCE” WAS NUMBER ONE ON A WORLDWIDE STAGE, ART D’ECCO IN HIS EARLY YEARS WOULD BOUNCE BACK BETWEEN OTTAWA, CANADA AND IOWA, USA, THEN BACK TO OTTOWA AND EVENTUALLY LAND IN VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA. AS A CHILD HIS PROPENSITY FOR MUSIC, ESPECIALLY THE PIANO WOULD TAKE HIM TO STUDY UNDER ONE OF CANADA’S GREATEST JAZZ MUSICIANS, (THE ECCENTRIC GEORGE ESSELHOFF). I ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF MUSIC AND HIS CHILDHOOD DAYS ON THE PIANO.

10:33

12. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Early life of Music learning to play Piano & Guitar”

17. Art d’Ecco – “Joy”
    from: Trespasser / Paper Bag Records Records / October 12, 2018
    [“From beneath dark bobbed hair and charismatic maquillaged eyes, Art d’Ecco conveys the look of a person born out of time. But Art, it seems, has found his niche – a modernity, a beguiling look and a musical style that reflect his obsessions. On stage the character of Art d’Ecco takes a stance and steps into a theatrical role with total conviction.” – Princess Julia]

10:40 – Nico Live Read

THE SONG TITLED ‘JOY’ FROM 2018’S TRESPASSER.

FROM THE AGES OF 16 – 20 ART D’ECCO HAD TRADED ONE OBSESSION, PLAYING CLASSICAL PIANO FOR ANOTHER, DIVING DEEP INTO LEARNING TO PLAY THE GUITAR. EAGER TO FORM A BAND AS HE WAS FINE-TUNING HIS OWN MUSICAL TASTES, HE DECIDED IN 2003, AT THE AGE OF 20 TO MOVE TO VANCOUVER IN HOPES OF FINDING LIKE-MINDED MUSICIANS. HE SAYS VANCOUVER AT THE TIME IN THE EARLY AUTS FELT LIKE A MICRO CARBON COPY OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE MUSIC SCENE IN NEW YORK CITY AND SIMILAR CITIES. BUT AS JOHN LENNON WROTE IN HIS SONG “BEAUTIFUL BOY (DARLING BOY)” , “LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN YOU’RE BUSY MAKING OTHER PLANS.” BY THE YEAR 2012, ART FELT THAT A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HIS 20’S WERE WASTED, PARTYING TO MUCH, -HE FELT ANXIETY, AND WAS BURNT OUT FROM THE MUSIC SCENE IN VANCOUVER- A BROKEN-WINGED BIRD THAT COULD NOT FLY.

BUT A CHANGE WOULD SOON BE ON THE HORIZON. A LENGTHY DISCUSSION WITH HIS FATHER LED HIM TO RELOCATE FROM VANCOUVER TO THE SERENE AND BREATHTAKING SURROUNDINGS OF THE GULF ISLANDS TO ASSIST WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER’S FAILING HEALTH SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER’S. THIS MOVE WOULD BE THE CATALYST FOR REVAMPING HIS MUSICAL DREAMS AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD PROPEL AND INFLUENCE HIS FIRST TWO ALBUM RECORDINGS, DAY FEVERS AND TRESPASSER. HERE, ART TALKS ABOUT HIS RELOCATION AND THAT PERIOD IN HIS LIFE:

10:42

14. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Gulf Islands Day Fever”

15. Art d’Ecco – “I’ll Never Give You Up” (Vinyl)
    from: Day Fevers / Your Face Records / 2016
    [Based in British Columbia, “There’s more than a little David Bowie in both the sonic and fashion leanings of Art d’Ecco, a performer who fluidly crosses musical and gender lines, creating highly memorable tracks — and sporting an unforgettable look. Often labelled “neo glam,” the music boasts hints of everything from ’50s pop to psychedelics, from Velvet Underground-era art rock to Grimes-inspired electronics.” – CBC Music Art d’Ecco released the album Trespasser on Paper Bag Records on October 12, 2018.]

16. Art d’Ecco – “Trespasser”
    from: Trespasser / Paper Bag Records Records / October 12, 2018

10:50 – Mark talks with Nico about Art d’Ecco

10:58

17. Art d’Ecco – “Station ID”

10:58 – Nico Live Read

THAT WAS THE TITLE TRACK TO ART D’ECCO’S 2ND STUDIO LP “TRESPASSER” RELEASED IN OCTOBER 2018.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THE SECOND HOUR OF WEDNESDAY MIDDAY MEDLEY. MY NAME IS NICO GRAY AND I’M YOUR GUEST PRODUCER AND WE’RE PROFILING THE TALENT OF ONE OF CANADA’S RISING STARS- INDIE NEO-GLAM ROCK ARTIST – ART D’ECCO.

HIS DEBUT RECORD DAY FEVERS WAS RELEASED IN THE SUMMER OF 2016 AND A TOUR WOULD SOON FOLLOW. WHILE IN VICTORIA BEFORE THEIR SECOND SHOW OF THE TOUR, AFTER FINISHING A SOUND CHECK AND BEFORE STEPPING ONTO STAGE HE MATERIALIZED BEFORE HIS BAND MATES WEARING A COSTUME AND A HUMAN HAIR BOB-CUT WIG THAT HE’D PURCHASED EARLIER AT A WIG SHOP IN A MALL. HIS BAND MATES JAWS DROPPED WITH MOUTHS’ WIDE-OPEN, ASKING, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??” A REACTION HE WAS LOOKING FOR AND THE GENESIS OF THE GLAM ROCKER LOOK LOCKED INTO PLACE AS SEEN ON HIS SECOND ALBUM COVER, TRESPASSER. RETURNING FROM THE TOUR AND STILL LIVING IN THE GULF ISLANDS, ISOLATION, LONELINESS, SELF-DOUBT AND REFLECTION WOULD PECK ON THE DOOR OF RELEASE. WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT TIME IN 2017, A YEAR AFTER DAY FEVERS WAS RELEASED AND THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD BECOME HIS SONIC SUPER STAR ALBUM “TRESPASSER.”

11:00

18. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Gulf Islands The Hunted”

19. Art d’Ecco – “The Hunted”
    from: Trespasser / Paper Bag Records Records / October 12, 2018

11:09 – Nico Live Read

THERE ARE TEN TRACKS ON TRESPASSER, THAT IS TRACK #10, THE HUNTED. RELEASED IN OCTOBER 2018.

LADY’S MISUNDERSTOOD- SHY AND DEMURE
HE LET THE ENGINE RUN – SHE’S WIDOWED FOR GOOD
THESE EMPTY HALLS WE SHARED FOR YEARS –
IT’S TOUGH TO HEAR YOU CRYING THROUGH THE WALLS.

HOLLOWED-OUT ROCKING CHAIR SCRATCHING THE WOOD
QUIETLY SITTING THERE – SHE’S WAITING HER TURN
THESE EMPTY HALLS WE SHARED FOR YEARS
NIGHT TIME WITHDRAWAL – I’VE BEEN HERE THRU IT ALL.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE LYRICS FROM “LADY NEXT DOOR” A HAUNTING MELODIC SONG WITH AIRY VOCALS BACKED WITH STRINGS THAT SUBTLY PARADES TO A SARGENT-PEPPER-ESQUE ENDING.

THERE IS SOMETHING SO SWEET ABOUT THE SADNESS, SOME COMFORT TO TAKE IN THE ISOLATION THAT IS PURVEYED IN SOME OF THE SONGS ON TRESPASSER. CONNECTING WITH AND REPLAYING THIS SONG OFTEN FOR ITS POETIC RHYME AND SOFT MEMORIES IT EVOKES. SO, I ASKED ART ABOUT HIS WRITING TECHNIQUE AND BACKGROUND ON SOME OF THE SONGS IN THIS ABLUM BUT SPECIFICALLY I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHO IS THE LADY NEXT DOOR?

11:11

20. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Lady Next Door”

21. Art d’Ecco – “Lady Next Door”
    from: Trespasser / Paper Bag Records Records / October 12, 2018

11:17 – Nico Live Read

LADY NEXT DOOR – A ROCKING CHAIR MELODY FOR THE UBER GLAM LISTENER.

SUPPORTING HIS RELEASE AND THE SUCCESS OF 2018’S TRESPASSER, ART D’ECCO TOURED IN BOTH CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE SPRING OF 2019 AND ANOTHER IN THE FALL OF THAT SAME YEAR – PLAYING IN SMALL CHIC VENUES.

ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 I FOUND MYSELF ON AN JET-PLANE AFTER PURCHASING A TICKET TO HIS SEPTEMBER 19TH SHOW AT THE HI-DIVE BAR IN DENVER, COLORADO. A SMALL BAR/VENUE REMINISCENT OF KANSAS CITY’S FAMOUS GRAND EMPORIUM.

BY THIS TIME, ART HAD RELEASED A SINGLE RECORD- A VERY UNIQUE AND POIGNANT CHOICE AS HE COVERED THE SONG “THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT” FROM THE ICONIC JONI MITCHELL ALBUM “BLUE”. I DOWNLOADED THE SONG BEFORE I LEFT FOR THE AIRPORT AND ADDED IT TO MY ART D’ECCO PLAYLIST- WHICH AT THE TIME CONSISTED OF THE ENTIRE TRESPASSER ALBUM, AND NOW THIS JONI MITCHELL COVER. I’D WAIT TO LISTEN TO IT ON MY IPOD AS A MEANS TO PASS TIME DURING THE FLIGHT.

I’M A HUGE JONI MITCHELL FAN. TODAY’S SHOW WAS OPENED WITH HER VOICE. MY OLDER SISTER WOULD SING HER SONGS TO ME AS A CHILD, SO IN A WAY HER MUSIC IS “FAMILIA” TO ME. ESPECIALLY HER ALBUM BLUE.
THE PLANE TOOK OFF FROM KCI AND AS WE SOARED INTO THE PINKISH-BLUE EVENING WESTERN SKY- I PUSHED PLAY ON THE COVER TRACK AND WAS ABRUPTLY ABDUCTED INTO A FRESH ORB. IF JONI’S VERSION WAS LIKE FAMILY, THEN ART D’ECCO’S COVER WAS LIKE LOOKING IN A MIRROR AND SEEING SOMEONE ELSE. SUDDENLY, I BECAME UNSURE ABOUT GETTING ON THE FLIGHT…HAVING DOUBTS ABOUT FLYING, SHOULD I HAVE STAYED HOME….IS THE AIRPLANE ENGINE OK- – SHOULD I HAVE GOTTEN ON THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT?…THE LURING AND HYPNOTIC DRUMBEAT, MESMERIZING VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE 80’S HUMAN LEAGUE POINTED SYNTHESIZERS TOUCH ON EVERY WORD THAT NOW GIVES THIS CLASSIC SONG A CRISP AND CLEARER MEANING WITH HITCHCOCK UNDERTONES. QUITE SIMPLY- HE COMPLETELY “D’ECCO-‘D” IT! GIVING IT HIS OWN PERSONAL STAMP FROM HIS INSPIRED APPROACH. I REPLAYED THE SONG OFTEN DURING THE FLIGHT UNTIL WE LANDED SAFELY ON THE TWINKLE-BLUE DIM-LIT DENVER AIRPORT TARMAC. I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HIS DECISION TO COVER A VERY SPECIFIC JONI MITCHELL SONG. ONE THAT NOW HAS SO MANY PLAYS ON MY PLAYLIST. I WAS CERTAIN IT WAS A SEXY STORY.

11:19

22. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Joni Mitchell”

23. Art d’Ecco – “This Flight Tonight”
    from: This Flight Tonight – Single / Paper Bag / July 23, 2019
    [Written by Joni Mitchell and originally recorded for her 1971 album “Blue.” Special thanks to our friend Nico Gray for turning us onto Art D’Ecco. Based in British Columbia, “There’s more than a little David Bowie in both the sonic and fashion leanings of Art d’Ecco, a performer who fluidly crosses musical and gender lines, creating highly memorable tracks — and sporting an unforgettable look. Often labelled “neo glam,” the music boasts hints of everything from ’50s pop to psychedelics, from Velvet Underground-era art rock to Grimes-inspired electronics.” – CBC Music]

11:24 – Underwriting

10:25 – Nico Live Read

“THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT” A CAPTIVATING COVER BY ART D’ECCO- WRITTEN BY JONI MITCHEL FROM HER 1971 ALBUM BLUE.

AS ART’S TOUR CONCLUDED BY THE END SEPTEMBER 2019, HE WENT INTO THE STUDIO IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER TO RECORD WHAT WOULD TECHNICALLY BE HIS 3RD STUDIO ALBUM, IN STANDARD DEFINITION. AN ALBUM WRITTEN LATE AT NIGHT WITH THE TV ON- IN VARIOUS HOTEL ROOMS WHILE ON THE ROAD DURING HIS TRESPASSER TOUR.

THEN IN JANUARY OF 2020, HE JOINED AND OPENED FOR THE ENGLISH ROCK BAND TEMPLES ON THEIR NORTH AMERICAN TOUR. THIS IS WHERE I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AGAIN- IN MINNEAPOLIS AT THE FAMOUS FIRST AVENUE VENUE. ART AND TEMPLES WERE PLAYING THE 7TH ST. ENTRY, AN INTIMATE STAGE IN THE SAME BUILDING AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE. THIS WAS THE EPICENTER OF MUSIC ROYALTY WHERE PRINCE, ON A WHIM WOULD OFTEN SHOW UP AND PLAY IN THIS INTIMATE SETTING. THE SHOW WAS SOLD OUT. 250 CAPACITY- TIGHT QUARTERS- WHERE YOU CAN SMELL EVERYONE’S COLOGNE, HAIR PRODUCT, BOOZE ON A BREATH- IT WAS A PERFECT PRE-COVID EXPERIENCE AS HE TOOK THE STAGE TO A PACKED, EAGER AND WILLING ROCK-N-ROLL AUDIENCE WHO WOULD HAVE NO IDEA THAT THESE EXPERIENCES INSIDE NIGHTCLUBS WOULD BE FOREVER CHANGED DUE TO A PANDEMIC. ALMOST APPEARING TO BEAM HIMSELF ON STAGE WEARING A BLACK LEATHER ONE PIECE SUIT HE ROCKED THE CROWD AND ENLIVENED THE STILL BODIES DURING HIS STAR PERFORMANCE. AT ONE POINT HE DRANK WATER FROM A PLATIC BOTTLE – TILTING HIS HEAD BACKWARD AND SPRAYING IT OUT OF HIS MOUTH LIKE A VENETIAN FOUNTAIN -LIKE IGGY POP SWINGING SHIRTLESS FROM AN IMAGINARY VINE, FLIPPING OFF AN AUDIENCE DURING A STOOGES CONCERT- IT WAS GLAM – RELENTLESS- IT WAS ROCK WITH A THRUSTFUL ROLL. HE HAS A LOOK YES- AN IMAGE- YES- STAGE CHARISMA- YES- BUT IT IS THE MUSIC- THE LYRICS- AND MOSTLY THE UNIQUELY FAMILIAR VOICE THAT WE SO WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH GLAM ICONS, OR 70’S AND 80’S PUNK ROCKERS. YET HIS VOICE IS HIS OWN.

THE TEMPLES TOUR ENDED ON FEBRUARY 7TH AT CROCODILE CAFÉ IN SEATTLE. LIKE THEATRE ACTORS IN A LONG-RUN PLAY, IT WAS A TOUR THAT FELT LIKE FAMILY. IT WOULD BE THE END OF THE BEGINNING AND THE BEGINNING OF THE END AS CONCERT SCENES EVAPORATED, FUTURE TOURING PLANS HALTED, AND THE PRODUCTION AND MIXING OF IN STANDARD DEFINITION WOULD BE POSTPONED.

BUT ON APRIL 23RD 2021 ART D’ECCO’S ALBUM WOULD FINALLY BE RELEASED; A 12 TRACK LP -RECORDED IN ANALOGUE ON A 50 YEAR-OLD CONSOLE. HE HIRED A VIOLIN AND CELLO PLAYER FROM THE VANCOUVER VICTORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND HOSTS AN ARRANGEMENT OF TALENTED MUSICIANS – FROM DRUMMERS, GUITARISTS, TROMBONE, TRUMPET, AND SAXOPHONE PLAYERS – TO BLUES AND JAZZ STYLE BACKUP VOCALIST. HE PLAYS THE ELECTRIC AND ACOUSTIC GUITAR, BASS, DRUM MACHINE, ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER, FM SYNTHESIS, CLAVINET, MELLOTRON, PIANO, PROCEEDED HORNS AND ADDITIONAL STRINGS. BUT IT’S HIS MAIN AND MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT THAT PIQUED MY CURIOSITY. SO, I ASKED HIM ABOUT FINDING AND FINE-TUNING HIS VOICE.

11:29

24. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Vocals”

25. Art d’Ecco – “Bird Of Prey”
    from: In Standard Definition / Paper Bag Records Records / April 23, 2016

11:36 – Nico Live Read

“BIRD OF PREY” A BEAUTIFUL LOVE SONG WRITTEN FOR HIS THEN GIRLFRIEND AND SOON TO BE BRIDE, FROM THE CONCEPTUAL ALBUM IN STANDARD DEFINITION RELEASED THIS PAST APRIL ON PAPER BAG RECORDS. WE’LL HEAR FROM ART ONE MORE TIME AS WE NEAR THE END OF THIS SPECIAL TWO-HOUR PROGRAM ON WEDNESDAY MIDDAY MEDLEY.

“ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE, AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN MERELY PLAYERS’ “(ACT 2, SCENE 7) FROM, SHAKESPEARE’S AS YOU LIKE IT.

THE ALBUM IS A STAGE AND IN ART D’ECCO’S IMAGINATIVE WORLD OF IN STANDARD DEFINITION HE IS THE ACTOR. IT’S UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT’S BEEN HEARD BEFORE AND ANOTHER OUT OF THIS WORLD AUDIO EXPERIENCE. THE GLAM ROCK ENERGY IS HEARD ON EVEN SOME OF ITS SLOWER TRACKS. THERE ARE TWO INSTRUMENTAL SONGS WITH ENO-ESQUE VIBES AND HE ONCE AGAIN TRANSPORTS US AWAY FROM OUR REALITY – THIS TIME INTO THE LIVES OF TV CHARACTERS AND THEIR AUDIENCES. THE CROWD IS GOING WILD AGAIN AS D’ECCO BROADCASTS HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS ALBUM AND A SONG THAT PERSONALLY RESONATES WITH ME.

11:40

26. Art d’Ecco Interview – “Actor”

27. Art d’Ecco – “I Remember”
    from: In Standard Definition / Paper Bag Records Records / April 23, 2021

11:48 – Nico Live Read

Nico: “I REMEMBER” THE LAST TRACK FROM THE LATEST ART D’ECCO ALBUM IN STANDARD DEFINTION. FITTING, AS OUR CREDITS WILL NOW START ROLLING.

Nico: THANK YOU CHAD BROTHERS: THANKS TO BRENDAN MCCARNEY AT DOUBLE DENIM MGMT; PAPER BAG RECORDS AND TO OUR STAR OF THE DAY, ART D’ECCO FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES, YOUR MUSIC, YOUR WORLDS OF TALENT. WE WELCOME YOU TO KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI AND WE LOOK FORWARD SEEING YOU SOON!

THANKS TO EVERYONE OUT THERE LISTENING, AND A MILLION THANKS TO MARK MANNING.

WE’LL END OUR GLAM ROCK DAY TRIP WITH SPINNING A TRACK ON VINYL FROM DAY FEVERS. “UNTIL IT IS OVER”.

11:50

28. Art d’Ecco – “Until It’s Over” (Vinyl)
    from: Day Fevers / Your Face Records / 2016
    [Art d’Ecco has been compared to David Bowie, The Cure, and Sparks. Born in Ottawa, Ontario and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, d’Ecco’s father put him up at a family home in the Gulf Islands to care for his grandmother, then ailing with Alzheimer’s disease. It was during this time that d’Ecco wrote the songs that would make up his solo debut, DAY FEVERS, recorded with a piano and an iPhone. After touring with DAY FEVERS, d’Ecco began to experiment with his image. Inspired by his fascination with Iggy Pop and Deerhunter he had arrived at his signature glam-androgynous look, just as he released his second album, Trespasser. In 2021 d’Ecco released his third album, IN STANDARD DEFINITION, recorded in analog on a 50-year-old console. More info at: http://www.artdeccomusic.ca]

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

11:58 – ArtsKCGO – Arts Calendar

12:00 – Station I.D.

Next week on Wednesday MidDay Medley, on October 6 – Marion Merritt returns as guest producer with music from The Orb, ft. Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, Jose Gonzalez, The Pro-Teens, Odds & Ends, Elephant Wrecking Ball, Dave Okumu, Low, Sandro Galileo, Katsuhisa Hattori, Papi Churro, Joy Orbison, and Aldous Harding.

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

Nico Gray Portrait by: Jan McNiel

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

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #909

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, September 29, 2021

Nico Gray Celebrates Art d’Ecco

Mark welcomes back Nico Gray as “Guest Producer”. Nico is a writer, performance artist, and actor who has performed with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Gorilla Theatre, 8th St. Cafe Theatre, Actor’s Craft, and Big Bang Buffet. Nico has worked for Theatre League, The Midland Theatre, and is currently a marketing & advertising consultant with Union Station, KC Fringe, and KC Creates. Nico grew up in KC but has lived in Chicago, New York, and Marseille.

Nico Gray Celebrates Art d’Ecco with selected musical tracks from his albums: DAY FEVERS (2016), TRESPASSER (2018), IN STANDARD DEFINITION (2021) and singles. Mixed with the music, Nico shares multiple short segments from a 2-hour interview he recently conducted with Art d’Ecco on the phone from Victoria, British Columbia. Nico also plays music from Art d’Ecco’s influences: David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, U2, Love and Rockets, and Cosmo Sheldrake.

Art d’Ecco has been compared to David Bowie, The Cure, and Sparks. Born in Ottawa, Ontario and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, d’Ecco’s father put him up at a family home in the Gulf Islands to care for his grandmother, then ailing with Alzheimer’s disease. It was during this time that d’Ecco wrote the songs that would make up his solo debut, DAY FEVERS, recorded with a piano and an iPhone. After touring with DAY FEVERS, d’Ecco began to experiment with his image. Inspired by his fascination with Iggy Pop and Deerhunter he had arrived at his signature glam-androgynous look, just as he released his second album, Trespasser. In 2021 d’Ecco released his third album, IN STANDARD DEFINITION, recorded in analog on a 50-year-old console. More info at: http://www.artdeccomusic.ca

Nico Gray Portrait by: Jan McNiel

Tune in on 90.1 FM KKFI
or streaming live at kkfi.org

Show #909