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, August 9, 2023

Danny Alexander & Kick Out The Jams! + Michael B. Tipton + Mark Meisenheimer & “Quindaro Ruins” + New & MidCoastal Releases

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. Joanna Sternberg – “I’ve Got Me”
   from: I’ve Got Me / Fat Possum Records / June 30, 2023
   [Joanna Sternberg was born August 18, 1991. Joanna is a singer, songwriter, visual artist and multi-instrumentalist based in New York City. Sternberg released their debut full-length album, Then I Try Some More, on Team Love Records, later picked up on Fat Possum Records. Sternberg went on their first tour opening for Conor Oberst in North America in July 2018. Sternberg’s second album, I’ve Got Me, was released in 2023, on Fat Possum Records; it was produced by Matt Sweeney. Sternberg identifies as gender neutral and uses singular they/them pronouns. They are based in Manhattan. Sternberg is Jewish. At Joanna’s Bandcamp page she writes: “i, my name is Joanna. I am a person who sings songs, writes songs, draws, plays different musical instruments, and watches what the majority of the world would consider “WAY TOO MUCH” TV. You do not have to buy my album but if you do, THANK YOU SO MUCH! And also thank you so much if you are reading this! I love you!” More info at” http://www.joannasternberg.com]

3. Jass & The Boys – “Gvn2u (feat. Jass & Black Light Animals)”
   from: “Gvn2u(feat. Jass & Black Light Animals)”-Single / Groove King Records / July 14, 2023
   [New single from Jass & The Boys follows their earlier single, “Love U Like I Love U (feat. Jass & Black Light Animals) “ released December 2, 2022 through Groocve King Records. “The Boys” are the members of Black Light Animals: Colby Bales, Branden Moser, & Cody Calhoun. Colby and Branden also are pare of the Freedom Affair. Jass is Jasmine “Jass” Couch released the EP OFFKEY: TOO HIGH on September 23, 2022. Jass released her single “Higher Ground” on August 16, 2022. It was WMM’s #1 Single in our 50 Favorite Singles of 2022. Jass released her single “Him” on February 23, 2022. Jass released AT THE CLOSE OF A DECADE on November 26, 2022. It was part of WMM’s 121 Best Recordings of 2021. 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, and 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.” // Jass has played The Essence Festival, Apocalypse Meow, Manor Fest, Farmers Ball, KC Monarchs, recordBar, Bottleneck, Mutual Musicians Foundation, Grinders, Sofar Sounds, The Uptown Theatre . She has shared the stages with The New Respects, Thundercat, Old Sound, and many others. More info at: http://www.jassrcouch.com]

[Jass plays Second Presbyterian Live on the Front Porch, 318 E 55th St, KCMO, TONIGHT Wed, August 9 at 7:07 PM. 2nd Presbyterian’s Front Porch Concerts are presented by Center Cut Records.]

[Jass & The Boys play The Ship 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO WEST BOTTOMS, Thursday, August. 10, at 8:00 PM]

4. Obongjayar – “Just Cool (Radio Edit)”
   from: “Just Cool (Radio Edit)” – Single / September Recordings / May 11, 2023
   [London-based Nigerian artist Obongjayar shares his first single of 2023, “Just Cool,” via September Recordings. The track showcases his signature blend of musical influences — from Afrobeat to R&B and soul — and marks the first of a series of new releases from the artist in 2023. “Just Cool,” with its upbeat tempo and call-and-response refrain, marks a stylistic break from the solemnity of his critically-acclaimed 2022 debut album Some Nights I Dream Of Doors.The track arrives on the heels of Obongjayar’s debut at Austin’s SXSW, where his performances were heralded as standouts of the festival by PAPER Magazine, Austin Chronicle and Austin American-Statesman, among others. // Speaking on the track, Obongjayar says: “Everyone is on edge! How could we not be? Where’s our united humanity? Where is our united love for our brothers and sisters and children looking for safety and opportunity? Where is the love for our planet? We’re constantly being lied to, used and squeezed of whatever energy is left in us. We’re in a pit fighting amongst ourselves while the bloodsuckers incite division and cheer from high above while poking at us continuously. Be cool and let cool.” // “Just Cool” further illustrates Obongjayar’s continued growth — from his 2021 EP Sweetness with renowned Nigerian producer Sarz to his show stopping feature on Little Simz’ single “Point And Kill” from that same year and his debut album last year, he has no intent to slow down any time soon. // Steven Umoh, known by his stage name Obongjayar, is a Nigerian musical artist based in London. After releasing multiple EPs, his debut studio album, Some Nights I Dream Of Doors, was released in 2022. // Steven Umoh grew up in Calabar, Nigeria. He was raised by his grandmother; his mother had moved to the UK to escape Umoh’s father, who was abusive. Early in his life, Umoh primarily listened to bootleg rap, particularly Eminem, Usher, Nelly, Snoop Dogg and Ciara. // Umoh moved to live with his mother in England at the age of 17, but stayed active in the Nigerian music scene. He grew up a devoutly religious Christian, but became less so after he attended university in Norwich. In college he sang primarily in an American accent, influenced by his childhood spent listening to American hip hop music, but he transitioned to singing in his natural Nigerian-British accent before embarking on his professional career. // Obongjayar started his career publishing his music on SoundCloud. His work caught the notice of XL Recordings executive Richard Russell, who then asked Obongjayar to contribute to his Everything Is Recorded project. In 2016, Obongjayar released his first extended play, Home, described by Noisey as “a unique voice: one that navigates darkness with nocturnal, near-spiritual hymns.” // He followed Home with a second EP, Bassey, which was noted for its sparse production and afrobeat rhythms, as well as its themes of spirituality, politics, and his experiences as a Black person. He also contributed to Richard Russell’s 2017 EP, Close But Not Quite. // In 2019, Obongjayar featured on Detroit rapper Danny Brown’s fifth studio album U Know What I’m Sayin? on the tracks “Belly of the Beast” and “uknowhatimsayin¿”. // In collaboration with afrobeat producer Sarz, Obongjayar released a third EP, Sweetness, in 2021. He featured on rapper Little Simz’s second studio album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert on the fourth single “Point and Kill”, which was later accompanied by a music video. Obongjayar also released the song and music video “Message in a Hammer”, the lead single for his debut album. Some Nights I Dream Of Doors was released in May 2022. // On May 13, 2022, Obongjayar released the alnum SOME NIGHTS I DREAM OF DOORS through September Recordings. Iot was part of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2022. // Obongjayar’s music has been called “hard to describe”, incorporating elements of afrobeat, spoken word, soul, and electronic music. His lyrics incorporate spiritual overtones, although they are not readily identifiable with any specific religious tradition. A unifying feature of all of Obongjayar’s music is his unique voice, which slides between rapping, singing, and spoken word.]

5. Cuee – “Proud Boi”
   from: “Proud Boi” – Single / Cuee / June 1, 2023
   [Cuee most recently released the (3-song Single) “With Love” including the track “See You Tonight” on February 14, 2023. Before that Cuee released the (3-song Single) “Coming Out” on June 24, 2022. Lawrence based hip-hop artist Cuee is a rapper with a Master’s Degree. Cuee received his Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas. Cuee is also a graduate of Artist Inc. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Cuee has wowed audiences in Lawrence and KC with exciting live performances. And since 2017 Cue has released several critically acclaimed albums, an EP, multiple singles. We last talked with Cuee on March 3, 2021 and on May 5, 2021 and before that, on August 12, 2020, when he released the single “Who’s Back.” and before that on May 29, 2019. Cuee released the single: “Ain’t Goin Backon May 7, 2021, “Gravity (Feat: Lindsey Alderman)” on April 29, 2021 and part of GOSPEL the album. In 2020 Cuee’ track, “Shook” landed on an official Spotify playlist dedicated to transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid musicians across the globe including Kim Petras and Lex Allen. Spotify sent out a note said, “Hey Cuee you hit a high note this month.” Cuee said he didn’t even know what that meant, and he looked up to discover he had over 24,000 listener during the month of June on Spotify. I was trying to figure out what happened. I did a little research, I logged onto my instagram account, I was starting to get a flood of followers. I was just tracing it back and I landed on a Spotify playlist, it was an editorial playlist so he couldn’t find out who put him on there. “Someone found me.” Cuee made three trips home to Chicago to record the record. For the new album GOSPEL Cuee explained that this term can have biblical connections but it also means ‘the truth.” The video for “Ain’t Going Back” takes place in a church, and is a declaration of freedom, and identity, while also paying respect. Cuee talked us about how the track was created in the studio and translating the song into a video that was shot in a church. Last time we talked with Cuee he shared his thoughts about ‘”Queerness in a church,” Cuee said, “you know, is very…different, I mean I wanted to bring that into that space, and freedom into that space, allow that space to be seen and heard by other people who traditionally wont take up that space.” Originally from Chicago, Illinois. 27 year old Lawrence based hip-hop artist emcee, and educator. Cuee has gained fans over the last six years in Lawrence and Kansas City for his critically acclaimed musical releases and live performances. Along with getting his Master’s Degree, Cuee has released around 30 different musical tracks, legally changed his name, and has transitioned physically and vocally. The song “Ain’t Going Back” features Cuee’s friend Joel Leoj who is originally from Florida, but after moving to Chicago, became friends with Cuee in school, and recently moved to Lawrence to make music and collaborate on recordings with Cuee. Cuee explained that they have known each other since high school, that they “started a Hip Hop culture club in our high school, to bring music, kinda having a place to chill after school, write music together as a community. That’s how we started.” “I moved out here to Kansas, to go to school, he stayed back in Miami, and then we kind of connected back, maybe about two years ago, and hit it off really strong. We decided we wanted to pursue this music thing together. We decided let’s just do this. So he said he was going to move to Lawrence. I didn’t believe him at first, until he showed up on my doorstep, and I was like, Wow, you are here, let’s do this.” Joel Leoj released the album, JOEY IN WONDERLAND on January 31, 2021. Cuee is a featured guest emcee on the tracks “Eden” and “No Debate.” More info at: http://www.officialcuee.com]

[Cuee plays Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusrtts, Lawrence, KS., Sunday, August 13, at 10:00 PM with Cardian, VCMN, and Joel Leoj]

6. Big Thief – “Vampire Empire”
   from: “Vampire Empire” / “Born For Loving You” – 7” Single / 4AD / October 20, 2022
   [Big Thief present their highly-anticipated new single, “Vampire Empire,” off their forthcoming “Vampire Empire” / “Born For Loving You” 7” out October 20th on 4AD. “Vampire Empire” is Big Thief’s most eagerly awaited song ever, with the non-album single taking on a life of its own as it became a live fan favorite. Coming off the back of a Grammy-nominated album and debuting on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, it’s already a viral anthem. The television performance and hundreds of live performances of “Vampire Empire” took TikTok by storm. Recorded and produced by Dom Monks at Guissona, Spain’s Teatre de cal Eril Studio during a recent tour, “Vampire Empire” speaks to the beautiful complexity of gender identity and breaking destructive internal cycles. It was celebrated by Stereogum as “ragged, surging […] with some huge harmonies and a great sense of slow-build catharsis.” // Of the song, Adrianne Lenker adds: “For me, it’s about getting out of toxic internal patterns – leaving the empire of energy drains that obscure pure essence, learning about what healthy boundaries are, and finding the power to implement them for the possibility of giving and receiving (both inwardly and outwardly) unbroken and infinite Love.” // Big Thief are currently embarking on a North American tour, including a coveted headlining spot at Pitchfork Music Festival, as they continue to celebrate their landmark Grammy-nominated album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. Big Thief’s guitarist Buck Meek will also be releasing his third solo album later this summer. Full dates are listed below, many of which are sold out, with remaining tickets on sale now. // Big Thief released their last album, DRAGON NEW WARM MOUNTAIN I BELIEVE IN YOU on February 11, 2022, It was their 5th studio album released as a double album through 4AD. It was pat of WMM’s 120 Best recordings of 2022. Produced by drummer James Krivchenia, the album features 20 songs which were recorded over five months in four different locations across the United States. The album’s release was preceded by 8 singles. It received acclaim from critics upon release and entered the top forty in several territories, including Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, the USA and the UK. // In 2019, Big Thief left Saddle Creek and signed to 4AD, releasing two studio albums: U.F.O.F. in May 2019 and Two Hands in Oct. 2019. The albums were the band’s most successful and acclaimed to date: U.F.O.F. received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and both albums appeared on the Billboard 200 chart, with Two Hands peaking at 113. Their song “Not” from Two Hands was named by many publications as one of the year’s best songs and was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Big Thief toured in support of the albums until March 2020, when their European tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drummer James Krivchenia released a solo album titled A New Found Relaxation in June 2020. In October 2020, Lenker released two solo albums: Songs and Instrumentals. Guitarist Buck Meek released his second solo album Two Saviors in January 2021. // Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You album was produced by drummer James Krivchenia, who conceived the concept behind its recording. In late 2019, while at a hotel in Copenhagen, Krivchenia presented the band with the concept that they would travel to four different locations: Upstate New York, Topanga Canyon in California, the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, and the Colorado mountains. They would record at four different studios with four separate engineers, and go to each place with a specific sonic plan in mind. Krivchenia’s intent was to capture a full expression of Lenker’s songwriting and the band onto a single album. Krivchenia’s production handling also marks the band’s first album not produced by their longtime collaborator Andrew Sarlo. // The band recorded over the span of five months, resulting in 45 complete songs which were ultimately edited down to the album’s 20 tracks. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the band initially quarantined in the Vermont woods for two weeks in July 2020. The 1st session was in July and August 2020 at Sam Evian’s Flying Cloud Recordings in Upstate New York. The 2nd session was with Shawn Everett in Oct. 2020 at Five Star Studios in Topanga, California. The third session was with engineer Dom Monks, who previously engineered U.F.O.F. and Two Hands; the session took place in Nov. 2020 at MusicGardens – Studio In The Clouds in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, located just outside Telluride. The fourth and final session was in Dec. 2020 at Scott McMicken’s Press On Studio in Tucson, Arizona. Mat Davidson, a former member of the Low Anthem and a longtime friend of the band who performs under the moniker Twain, was invited to contribute to the recordings in Arizona. Davidson had previously featured on the band’s second studio album, Capacity (2017), with his vocals & fiddle performances featuring heavily throughout the Arizona Dragon New Warm Mountain recordings, marking the first time the band incorporated a fifth instrumentalist for such a substantial contribution]

7. Lava Dreams – “R.I.P. The Old Me” – Single
   from: “R.I.P. The Old Me” – Single / RIOT / July 28, 2023
   [“R.I.P. THE OLD ME” was written and produced by Lava Dreams – vocal produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Spencer Hoad. This is the first release from Lava Dreams since their single, “Thrill Ride” which dropped in July of 2022. // Lava Dreams (she/they) is a queer songwriter, producer, musician, and director from Kansas City, Missouri. Their music is genre-bending Alternative Pop, unified by the use of electric guitar, danceable rhythms, and ethereal vocals. // Lava Dreams and their band recently performed the new single along with six other original songs at J. Rieger’s Electric Park for On Stage With SIS – a concert hosted by local video production company Stellar Image Studios to benefit Band of Angels – a nonprofit that provides musical instruments to children in need in the Kansas City area. // “I’m excited for my fanbase to hear a more explosive, explorative side of me now that I’m in my band-leader era. This latest track is definitely an example of that.” – Lava Dreams //Lava Dreams released their debut EP “Good Energy + Focus” on June 13, 2020. Written by Lava Dreams and produced by Duncan Burnett. Solo artist Lava Dreams aka Julia Hamilton writes songs influenced by pop, soul, RnB, jazz, trap, house, funk, reggae, rock, and world music. Hailing from Kansas City, MO, her guitar-based music is both dreamy & electric. Lava Dreams began writing lyrics and melodies as a young child. Growing up, she learned to play her first guitar chords from her father – who played around the house and in local bars. After playing guitar and singing in several Kansas City bands as a teenager, she set out to become a solo artist in 2018. Julia Hamilton is also a film maker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila Unversity. You can listen to Lava Dreams on Spotify, iTunes, Tidal, Deezer, Google Play, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or at LavaDreamsMusic.com. Lava Dreams joined us on WMM on April 22, 2020. ]

8. Jean Claude and the Eclairs – “What Are You Doing Tonight?”
   from: HOW TO TALK [EP] / Jean Claude and the Eclairs / June 22, 2022.
   [The band released their EP, HOW TO TALK on National Eclairs Day, June 22, 2022. “Sweet” was released as a single on April 7, 2022. Alternative Pop/Rock band, based in Lawrence, KS., formed in 2016. The band includes: Cooper Scott on vocals, Garrison Krotz on bass, Quinn Maetzold on drums, and Ryan Pollock on guitar. T Produced and Engineered by Ryan Wasoba. The Band wrote on Facebook: “Three years of writing, demoing, recording, rewriting, re-recording, meet ups in Omaha, KC, St. Louis, and Chicago, shows at venues with sketchy PAs, forming new friendships, all of those moments were key to making this EP. We are so excited for you to hear it and we can’t wait to make more music.” Info at: http://www.instagram.com/eclairsofficial/%5D

Jean Claude and the Eclairs Discography:

“Enzymes” (Single) released November 17, 2017
“Crazy For You” (Single) released September 7, 2018
“All It Ever Was” (Single) released November 20, 2018
“City Sounds” (Single) released February 21, 2019
“Glasgow” (Single) released April 4, 2019
“Sweet” (Single) released April 7, 2022
“Couldn’t Be Anybody Else” (Single) released May 19, 2022
HOW TO TALK [EP] released June 23, 2022

[Jean Claude & The Eclairs play The Rino, 314 Armour Blvd., NKC, on Thursday, August 10, at 7:00 PM with Midcentury Llama and Land Lion.]

9. Corinne Bailey Rae – “New York Transit Queen”
   from: Black Rainbows / Black Rainbows Music / September 15, 2023]
   2 time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae confirms her years-in-the-making Black Rainbows project. Inspired by the objects and artworks collected by Theaster Gates at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, the work includes a collection of songs, a book Refraction/Reflection of the Arts Bank photographed by Koto Bolofo, live performances, visuals, lectures and exhibitions—a bold move from her previous work. // The album Black Rainbows is set for release September 15 via Thirty Tigers. The first single, “New York Transit Queen,” is out now. “I knew when I walked through those doors that my life had changed forever,” says Bailey Rae. “Engaging with these archives and encountering Theaster Gates and his practice has change how I think about myself as an artist and what the possibilities of my work can be. This music has come through seeing. Seeing has been like hearing, for me. While I was looking, songs/sounds appeared.” // Wide ranging in its themes, Black Rainbows’ subjects are drawn from encounters with objects in the Arts Bank, a curated collection of Black archives comprising books, sculpture, records, furniture and problematic objects from America’s past. From the rock hewn churches of Ethiopia to the journeys of Black Pioneers westward, from Miss New York Transit 1957 to how the sunset appears from Harriet Jacobs’ loophole. Black Rainbows explores Black femininity, Spell Work, Inner Space/Outer Space, time collapse, ancestors and music as a vessel for transcendence. // About Corinne Bailey Rae: English singer/songwriter/musician Corinne Bailey Rae shot to stardom with her self-titled #1 U.K. debut album in 2006, featuring the global hits “Put Your Records On” and “Like A Star.” Over the course of her career she has released three critically acclaimed studio albums—Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea and The Heart Speaks in Whispers—and earned two Grammy Awards, two MOBOS, and has been nominated for multiple awards including the BRIT Awards, Mercury Music Prize and BET Awards. Her work for film and television includes the theme to Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (SKY1), “The Scientist” for Universal Pictures’
   Fifty Shades Darker openin title and soundtrack which charted globally, and in 2020 her song “New to Me” was performed in the film The High Note by Tracee Ellis Ross. Bailey Rae has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Herbie Hancock, KING, Paul McCartney, Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Questlove, Salaam Rami, RZA, Tyler The Creator, Paul Weller, Richard Hawley, Stevie Wonder, Tracey Thorn, Pharrell, Logic, Mick Jenkins and many more.

10:29 – Underwriting

10. Janelle Monáe – “We Were Rock & Roll”
    from: Electric Lady / Wondaland Productions – Badboy Records / September 6, 2013
    [On June 8, 2023 Janelle Monae released her 4th Studio album, The Age of Pleasure.. Monáe announced the album alongside the release of “Lipstick Lover”, which they first previewed at their Met Gala after-party in early May. It is her first studio album in over five years since her previous album Dirty Computer (2018). // Janelle Monáe Robinson was born on December 1, 1985 in Kansas City, Kansas and was raised in a working-class community of Kansas City, Quindaro. Her mother, Janet, worked as a janitor and a hotel maid. Her father, Michael Robinson Summers, was a truck driver. Monáe’s parents separated when Monáe was a toddler and her mother later married a postal worker. Monáe has a younger sister, Kimmy, from their mother’s remarriage. // Monáe was raised Baptist and learned to sing at a local church. Her family members were musicians and performers at the local AME church, the Baptist church, and the Church of God in Christ. Monáe dreamed of being a singer and a performer from a very young age, and has cited the fictional character of Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz as a musical influence. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which Monáe bought two copies of with her first check, was another source of inspiration. She performed songs from the album on Juneteenth talent shows, winning three years in a row. // As a teenager, Monáe was enrolled in the Coterie Theater’s Young Playwrights’ Round Table, which began writing musicals. One musical, completed when she was around the age of 12, was inspired by the 1979 Stevie Wonder album Journey Through “The Secret Life of Plants”. // Monáe attended F. L. Schlagle High School, and after high school, moved to New York City to study musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where she was the only black woman in her class. Monáe enjoyed the experience, but feared that she might lose her edge and “sound, or look or feel like anybody else”. In a 2010 interview Monáe explained, “I felt like that was a home but I wanted to write my own musicals. I didn’t want to have to live vicariously through a character that had been played thousands of times – in a line with everybody wanting to play the same person.” // After a year and a half, Monáe dropped out of the academy and relocated to Atlanta, enrolling in Perimeter College at Georgia State University. She began writing her own music and performing around the campus. In 2003, Monáe self-released a demo album titled The Audition, which she sold out of the trunk of a Mitsubishi Galant. During this period, Monáe became acquainted with songwriters and producers Chuck Lightning and Nate Wonder. The three would eventually form the Wondaland Arts Collective. She worked at an Office Depot but was fired for answering a fan’s e-mail using a company computer, an incident that inspired the song “Lettin’ Go”, which in turn attracted the attention of Big Boi. // Janelle Monáe Robinson (/moʊˈneɪ/;[9] born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and record producer. Monáe is signed to Atlantic Records, as well as to her own imprint, the Wondaland Arts Society. Monáe has received eight Grammy Award nominations. Monáe won an MTV Video Music Award and the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2010. Monáe was also honored with the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award in 2015 and the Trailblazer of the Year Award in 2018. In 2012, Monáe became a CoverGirl spokesperson. Boston City Council named October 16, 2013 “Janelle Monáe Day” in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, in recognition of her artistry and social leadership. // Monáe’s musical career began in 2003 upon releasing a demo album titled The Audition. In 2007, Monáe publicly debuted with a conceptual EP titled Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). It peaked at number two on the US Top Heatseekers chart, and in 2010, through Bad Boy Records, Monáe released a first full-length studio album, The ArchAndroid, a concept album and sequel to her first EP. In 2011, Monáe was featured as a guest vocalist on fun.’s single “We Are Young”, which achieved major commercial success, topping the charts of more than ten countries and garnering Monáe a wider audience. Her second studio album, The Electric Lady, was released in 2013 and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, serving as the fourth and fifth installments of the seven-part Metropolis concept series. // In 2016, Monáe made her theatrical film debut in two high-profile productions; Monáe starred in Hidden Figures as NASA mathematician and aerospace engineer Mary Jackson, and also starred in Moonlight. Hidden Figures was a box office success, while Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 89th annual ceremony. Monáe’s third studio album, Dirty Computer, also described as a concept album, was released in 2018 to widespread critical acclaim; it was chosen as the best album of the year by several publications and earned Monáe two nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and was further promoted by Monáe’s Dirty Computer Tour, which lasted from June to August 2018.]

[Janelle Monae plays The Midland Theatre, 1228 Main Street, KCMO, on Saturday, September 9 at 8:00 PM.]

10:35 – Interview with Mark Meisenheimer

Mark Meisenheimer joins us to share details about his new documentary film “Quindaro Ruins”. Once an Underground Railroad site in Kansas, what’s left of “Old Quindaro” not only fights to be relevant in the narratives of Kansas City 19th Century History, but its residents fight for its neighborhood’s existence. The Quindaro Ruins, once slated to be part of a landfill, is surrounded by a predominantly African-American neighborhood that has been disinvested and disenfranchised. The film showcases the struggle of many community members to keep its history alive.

Mark Meisenheimer is a former TV journalist who worked in TV News for 12-years. “Quindaro Ruins” won the Award for Exceptional Excellence at the Docs without Borders International Film Festival-Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The film has also been shown at Kansas City FilmFest International, the Filmteenth International Film Festival in Bethesda, Maryland, and is scheduled for National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Film Festival in Church Creek, Maryland.

Mark Meisenheimer, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Once an Underground Railroad site just on the other side of the Missouri River in Kansas, what’s left of “Old Quindaro” not only fights to be relevant in the narratives of Kansas City 19th Century History, but its residents fight for its neighborhood’s existence. The Quindaro Ruins, once slated to be part of a landfill, is surrounded by a predominantly African-American neighborhood that has been disinvested and disenfranchised. The film showcases the struggle of many community members to keep its history alive, but also in seeking ways to lift up the area which has in many ways been abandoned and forgotten.

Director Biography:

Mark Meisenheimer is a former TV journalist. He worked in TV News for 12-years, both in front of the camera and behind it in: Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa. He is the author of two books, one fictional: Green Fields, and one non-fiction: No Pants Required: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at TV Sports Broadcasting. Mark, a Wisconsin native, currently calls Kansas City home. He lives in the Brookside neighborhood with his wife Jessica, his son Princeton and dogs Charley and Hudson. Quindaro Ruins is Mark’s second documentary film following his debut documentary: Legacy of a Newsman.

Director Statement:

The filming of “Quindaro Ruins” started as an attempt to showcase Underground Railroad sites that were impacted by the border war between Kansas and Missouri, an often discussed topic in regards to the area’s 19th century history. We simply stumbled into Quindaro and knew almost immediately that its story was something special.

Over almost three years, we’ve approached community members, stakeholders and politicians to help gain a greater understanding of the complex history surrounding the Quindaro Ruins. Our goal from the beginning was to help raise a level of awareness about the site’s rich history, and perhaps help in some way to give the Quindaro Ruins greater significance as a historic site and tourist destination in the area.

Preview:

Mark Meisenheimer, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Mark Meisenheimer’s new documentary film “Quindaro Ruins” and is scheduled for a sreening at the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Film Festival in Church Creek, Maryland.

More information at http://www.quindaroruins.com

10:51

11. Chris Hazelton – “Easy Talk”
    from: Easy Talk / Cellar Live – La Reserve Records LLC / August 11, 2023
    [Chris Hazelton – Hammond B-3 Organ, Brett Jackson – Baritone Saxophone, Jamie Anderson – Guitar, John Kizilarmut – Drums, Pat Conway – Congas (Tracks 1, 5, & 7). Executive Producer: Cory Weeds. Produced by Chris Hazelton. Recorded at Weights & Measures Soundlab (Kansas City, MO) on February 19th & 20th, 2022. Engineered and mixed by Duane Trower. Mastered by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Audio. Photography by Cory Weeds. // On his Bandcamp page Chris writes: “Dark (noun): a: a place or time of little or no light (ex: night, nightfall) b: absence of light. // I’ve always been somewhat of a night owl. I suppose it comes with the territory of being a jazz musician. We feel at home in dimly lit, hazy settings during the wee small hours of the morning. Something about nighttime has always been enchanting to me. There are endless possibilities, and one never knows what could happen before daybreak. // Towards the end of 2021, however, I found myself in a state of darkness that was truly unfamiliar to me. Like every other musician, the pandemic had brought my career to a grinding halt in the previous year. It seemed like losses were becoming a pattern and grief was becoming more than I could bear. At times, I even questioned whether I still WAS a musician. As the beginning of 2022 approached, I was faced with the reality that three of my greatest musical mentors had passed on, and I suddenly felt a new weight of responsibility for carrying on the tradition of the Hammond B-3 Organ in jazz. Consequently, I found a fresh sense of purpose and inspiration. // So with no real game plan in place, I booked a weekend in the studio and hired friends that I knew could deliver the feeling I was looking for. I have always had an affinity for the sound of a baritone sax in front of the organ trio. Going all the way back to George Benson’s first two albums with Ronnie Cuber and Lonnie Smith, as well as recent releases by my friends Adam Scone and Ian Hendrickson-Smith, the format has a certain grit and heaviness not found in other configurations within the jazz realm. // After dark, there is magic and mystique waiting… and maybe even some true darkness… but AFTER dark, there is always light! // from http://www.chrishazelton.com: Some things in life are just meant to be. The first time Chris Hazelton experienced a real Hammond B-3 organ, he knew instantly that it was the instrument he was destined to play. At the request of his college professor, the then-underage aspiring musician snuck into a dark Kansas City jazz club called Bobby’s Hangout to hear the man behind the console, jazz organ master Everette DeVan. After several weeks of coaxing, Mr. DeVan agreed to take Chris on a student, showing him the ins and outs of the complex machine. With a background in string bass and piano, Chris’ transfer to organ was a natural one. // From 2007 to 2009, Chris called the Big Apple home. New York City provided an education that can only be found by living there. The rhythm of the city and the constant presence of jazz royalty helped sharpen his playing into a potent combination of groove and artistry. During his time there, Chris regularly performed at legendary Harlem jazz clubs such as Minton’s Playhouse, the Lenox Lounge, and Showman’s Jazz Lounge. In 2009, Chris had the honor of studying with the world’s foremost authority in the jazz organ world, Dr. Lonnie Smith! // Upon returning to his native Kansas City, Chris has made a name for himself as one of the premier jazz organists in the midwest and recently made an appearance with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. // His flagship ensemble, Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7, was assembled in 2013 and held a impressive seven-year Friday night residency at Kansas City’s Green Lady Lounge. This seven piece unit focuses on funky, rhythmic soul-jazz that harkens back to the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, a time when Lou Donaldson, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, Grant Green, Lonnie Smith, and a host of others packed dance floors and venues along the “Chitlin Circuit”. The Boogaloo 7 has released two 45rpm 7-inch vinyl singles and two full-length LPs on Sunflower Soul Records, a label established by Hazelton in 2014 that produces soulful recordings with unashamedly old-school, analog vibe. // For nearly 10 years, Chris served as the organist at “The Historic” Centennial United Methodist Church in the 18th & Vine Jazz District of Kansas City, MO – a church that was once home to Count Basie and Charlie Parker. He plays bass guitar with the popular soul ensemble The Freedom Affair. He is happily married to the love of his life, Erica, and together have a daughter named Evelyn and a son named Jaxon..]

[The Freedom Affair play recordBar 1520 Grand Blvd. KCMO, on Saturday, August 12 doors at 7:00 PM, with Flutienastiness and The Soulpatrol.]

12. SEYKO – “What I Want”
    from: “What I Want” – Single / Groove King Records – Fat Beats / June 23, 2023
    [Produced by Colby Bales of the band Black Light Animals and also a bandmate of SEYKO’s in The Freedom Affair. // From http://www.seykomusic.com: Seyko has always found music to be a reflection of her innermost thoughts and feelings, a way of self-expression but even deeper than that. Music was always a life-giving, constant companion from the happiest moments to the darkest days. Music continues to be Seyko’s way of communicating with the world around her. // Seyko developed her musical talent during her formative years through church and school choirs, friendships that evolved into singing groups, and professional training through voice lessons and songwriting. Opportunities presented themselves, but Seyko also created opportunities for herself as she chased her dream to create and perform her own music. // The Freedom Affair and Sunu, two Kansas City bands Seyko performs and writes with, have solidified her place in the music scene and provide a solid foundation for beginning her solo career. Seyko’s singing and songwriting career has spanned twenty years, and it shows! Her creative growth has led to her being a well-respected artist in Kansas City, allowing her to participate in recording projects for fellow musicians and even singing background vocals for Michael Bublé at a live concert in 2022.]

[The Freedom Affair play recordBar 1520 Grand Blvd. KCMO, on Saturday, August 12 doors at 7:00 PM, with Flutienastiness and The Soulpatrol.]

11:00 – Station ID

13. MC5 – “Kick Out The Jams”
    from: Kick Out The Jams (Compilation) / Warner Music Group / March 22, 2017
    [From Wikipedia: Kick Out the Jams is the debut album by American proto-punk band MC5. It was released in February 1969, through Elektra Records. It was recorded live at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom over two nights, Devil’s Night and Halloween, 1968. //MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The classic line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. MC5 were listed by Parade as one of the best rock bands of all time. The band’s first three albums are regarded by many as staples of rock music, and their 1969 song “Kick Out the Jams” is widely covered. // “Crystallizing the counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening”, according to AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, MC5’s leftist political ties and anti-establishment lyrics and music positioned them as emerging pioneers of the punk movement in the United States. Their loud, energetic style of back-to-basics rock and roll included elements of garage rock, hard rock, blues rock, and psychedelic rock. // MC5 had a promising beginning that earned them a January 1969 cover appearance on Rolling Stone and a story written by Eric Ehrmann before their debut live album was released. They developed a reputation for energetic and polemical live performances, one of which was recorded as their 1969 debut album Kick Out the Jams before the group disbanded in 1972. // Vocalist Tyner died of a heart attack in late 1991 at the age of 46 and was followed by Fred Smith, who also died of a heart attack, in 1994 at the age of 46. The remaining three members of the band reformed in 2003 with The Dictators’ singer Handsome Dick Manitoba as its new vocalist, and this reformed line-up occasionally performed live over the next nine years until Davis died of liver failure in 2012 at the age of 68. // In 2022, Kramer announced that a tour under the banner of We Are All MC5 would take place that spring, and that a new MC5 studio album with producer Bob Ezrin would also be released later that year with original MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson playing on two tracks.] [The LP peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart, with the title track peaking at No. 82 in the Hot 100. Although the album received an unfavorable review in Rolling Stone magazine upon its release, it has gone on to be considered an important forerunner to punk rock music, and was ranked number 294 in both 2003 and 2012 editions of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” lists, and at number 349 in a 2020 revised list. // While “Ramblin’ Rose” and “Motor City Is Burning” open with the band’s typical leftist and revolutionary rhetoric, it was the opening line to the title track that stirred up controversy. Vocalist Rob Tyner shouted, “And right now… right now… right now it’s time to… kick out the jams, motherfuckers!” before the opening riffs. Elektra Records executives were offended by the line and had preferred to edit it out of the album (replacing the offending words with “brothers and sisters”), while the band and manager John Sinclair adamantly opposed this. // The original release had “kick out the jams, Motherfuckers!” printed on the inside album cover, but was soon pulled from stores. Two versions were then released, both with censored album covers, with the uncensored audio version sold behind record counters. // Making matters worse, Hudson’s department stores refused to carry the album. Tensions between the band and the Hudson’s chain escalated to the point that the department stores refused to carry any album from the Elektra label after MC5 took out a full-page ad that, according to Danny Fields, “was just a picture of Rob Tyner, and all it said was ‘Fuck Hudson’s.’ And it had the Elektra logo”. To end the conflict and to avoid further financial loss, Elektra dropped MC5 from their record label. // Later the same year, Jefferson Airplane recorded the song “We Can Be Together” for their Volunteers album, a song containing the word “motherfucker”. Unlike Elektra, RCA Records released the album wholly uncensored. // “Kick out the jams” has also been taken to be a slogan of the 1960s ethos of revolution and liberation, an incitement to “kick out” restrictions in various forms.[citation needed] To quote MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer from his interview with Caroline Boucher in Disc & Music Echo magazine on August 8, 1970: People said “oh wow, ‘kick out the jams’ means break down restrictions” etc., and it made good copy, but when we wrote it we didn’t have that in mind. We first used the phrase when we were the house band at a ballroom in Detroit, and we played there every week with another band from the area. […] We got in the habit, being the sort of punks we are, of screaming at them to get off the stage, to kick out the jams, meaning stop jamming. We were saying it all the time and it became a sort of esoteric phrase. Now, I think people can get what they like out of it; that’s one of the good things about rock and roll. // Kramer also claimed during a 1999 interview that was excerpted for Goldmine magazine that the phrase was specifically aimed toward British 1960s bands playing at the Grande who MC5 felt were not putting enough energy into their performances.[citation needed] The title has also (jokingly) been reinterpreted as an establishment message masquerading as a revolutionary anthem. David Bowie sings in the song “Cygnet Committee”: “[We] stoned the poor on slogans such as/Wish You Could Hear/Love Is All We Need/Kick Out the Jams/Kick Out Your Mother”. // In March 2005, Q magazine placed the song “Kick Out the Jams” at number 39 in its “100 Greatest Guitar Tracks” list. The same track was named the 65th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.// “The MC5 were a mercurial band,” remarked guitarist Wayne Kramer. “We were inconsistent. All of a sudden, this was the night. It was a lot of pressure for us to be under. I hear it every time I listen to the record. I hear me making clumsy mistakes on the guitar; I hear Dennis all over on the tempos; I hear Rob not quite in the perfect voice he was capable of.”]

11:03 – Interview with Danny Alexander

Danny Alexander joins us to share details about a new book he co-edited called KICK OUT THE JAMS Jibes, Barbs, Tributes, and Rallying Cries from 35 Years of Music Writing by Dave Marsh. Dave Marsh was among the first editors of Creem magazine and wrote extensively for Rolling Stone and other publications. He has authored twenty-five books. Marsh cofounded the newsletter Rock & Rap Confidential and currently hosts Kick Out the Jams on SiriusXM. For over thirty years, Danny Alexander served as Associate Editor for Rock & Rap Confidential while also writing for, among others, Kansas City’s Pitch and the Kansas City Star. Alexander teaches the Literature of American Popular Music at Johnson County Community College. His book Real Love, No Drama: The Music of Mary J. Blige was published by University of Texas Press in 2016.

Danny Alexander hosts a Kick Out the Jams Release Party, Tuesday, August 15, at 7:00 PM at The Warwick Theatre, 3927 Main Street, KCMO.

Danny Alexander, Thanks for being with us as today on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Selected writings on three decades of popular music from Dave Marsh, one of the most influential critics of his generation.

KICK OUT THE JAMS
Jibes, Barbs, Tributes, and Rallying Cries from 35 Years of Music Writing
By Dave Marsh
Edited by Daniel Wolff and Danny Alexander

ABOUT KICK OUT THE JAMS

In the 2020s, it may seem absurd that there was a time when rock and its audiences were not taken seriously, were mocked and even criminalized, and a fighting matter. Dave Marsh, one of the most influential critics of his generation, came up in those times, and this collection, among its many virtues, argues for the value and possibility of rock, soul, and rap music.

Dave Marsh was a founding editor for Creem magazine, featured Rolling Stone writer and other publications, and acclaimed music critic. Spanning three decades worth of astute, acerbic, and overall astounding music writing, KICK OUT THE JAMS is the first large-scale anthology of the work of Dave Marsh – offering some of his best writing from the mid-1980s through the 2010s. Ranging from Elvis Presley to Kurt Cobain, from Nina Simone to Ani DiFranco, from the Beatles to Green Day, the book gives an opinionated, eye-opening overview of 20th century popular music—offering a portrait not just of an era but of a writer wrestling with the American empire.

Every essay bears the distinct Dave Marsh attitude and voice. That passion is evident in a heart-wrenching piece on Cobain’s suicide and legacy; a humorous attack on “Bono’s bullshit;” an indignant look at James Brown and the FBI; deep, revelatory probes into the work of under appreciated artists like Patty Griffin and Alejandro Escovedo; and inspiring insight into what drives Marsh as a writer, namely “a raging passion to explain things in the hope that others would not be trapped and to keep the way clear so that others from the trashy outskirts of barbarous America still had a place to stand—if not in the culture at large, at least in rock and roll.”

If you want to explore the recent history of pop music—its politics as well as its performers—Kick Out the Jams is the perfect guidebook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dave Marsh was among the first editors of Creem magazine and wrote extensively for Rolling Stone and other publications. He has authored twenty-five books, including two bestselling biographies of Bruce Springsteen, Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who, and The Heart of Rock & Soul: the 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Marsh cofounded the newsletter Rock & Rap Confidential and currently hosts Kick Out the Jams and other programs on SiriusXM.

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Daniel Wolff
Grammy-nominated author Daniel Wolff has published six books of award-winning non-fiction, from You Send Me, a biography of singer Sam Cooke, to How To Become an American: A History if Immigration, Assimilation, and Loneliness. He worked with Dave Marsh on Rock & Rap Confidential, has published four volumes of poetry, produced a number of documentary films, and written collaboratively with musicians, choreographers, sculptors, and scientists.

Danny Alexander
For over thirty years, Danny Alexander served as Associate Editor for Rock & Rap Confidential while also writing for, among others, Kansas City’s Pitch and the Kansas City Star. Alexander teaches the Literature of American Popular Music at Johnson County Community College. His book Real Love, No Drama: The Music of Mary J. Blige was published by University of Texas Press in 2016. He blogs at http://takeemastheycome.blogspot.com/

11:15

14. Patti Griffin – “Flaming Road”
    from: Flaming Road / A&M Records / June 23, 1998
    [Patricia Jean Griffin was born March 16, 1964. She is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She is a vocalist and plays guitar and piano. She is known for her stripped-down songwriting style in the folk music genre. Her songs have been covered by numerous musicians, including Emmylou Harris, Ellis Paul, Kelly Clarkson, Rory Block, Dave Hause, Sugarland, Bette Midler and The Chicks. // In 2007, Griffin received the Artist of the Year award from the Americana Music Association, and her album Children Running Through won the award for Best Album. In 2011, Griffin’s album Downtown Church won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album and her 2019 self-titled album won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. // Griffin is from Old Town, Maine, United States, next to the Penobscot Native American reservation. The youngest child in her family, with six older siblings, she bought a guitar for $50 at age 16. She sang and played but had no inclination to become a professional musician. After a 6-year marriage, which ended in 1994, Griffin began playing in Boston coffee houses and was “scouted” by A&M Records, which signed her on the strength of her demo tape. When the finished studio recordings were submitted to A&M, the company executives thought it was overproduced, so producer Nile Rodgers and A&M instead released a stripped-down reworking of her demo tape as the album Living with Ghosts.// Griffin’s second album, Flaming Red, released in 1998, was a departure from the acoustic sound of Living with Ghosts, with a mix of mellow songs and high-tempo rock and roll songs. The title track, “Flaming Red”, is an example of the latter, beginning with an even beat until it increases to a fevered pitch of emotion. Another song from the album, “Tony”, is also featured on the charity benefit album Live in the X Lounge. // Her third album, Silver Bell, has a sound similar to its predecessor. It was released by A&M in 2013, 13 years after it was recorded (and well after bootlegged copies had been circulated). A&M dropped Griffin’s contract after Silver Bell was recorded, and she was then signed by Dave Matthews’s ATO Records. Griffin re-recorded songs from that album for later releases, such as “Making Pies”, “Mother of God”, “Standing”, and “Top of the World”. Copies of the unreleased Silver Bell were leaked and bootlegged and can be easily acquired by the B&P (blanks and postage) method on message boards. In August 2013, it was announced that UMe planned to release Silver Bell, mixed by producer Glyn Johns, in October 2013. // Four albums followed on ATO: 1000 Kisses (2002), A Kiss in Time (2003), Impossible Dream (2004), and Children Running Through (2007). // In 2004, Griffin toured with Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as the Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue. On February 6, 2007, she released Children Running Through. The album debuted at number 34 on the Billboard 200, with 27,000 copies sold. Of the album, Griffin told Gibson Lifestyle, “I just kind of felt like singing what I wanted to sing, and playing how I wanted to play. It’s not all dark and tragic. It’s a different way for me to look at things. Getting old—older, I should say, I’m not so serious all the time.” It was also said that the album was inspired by her childhood.// Griffin’s songs have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Irish-born singer Maura O’Connell (“Long Ride Home”), Linda Ronstadt (“Falling Down”), The Chicks (“Truth No. 2”, “Top of the World”, “Let Him Fly”, “Mary”), Bette Midler, Melissa Ferrick and Missy Higgins (“Moses”), Beth Nielsen Chapman, Christine Collister, and Mary Chapin Carpenter (“Dear Old Friend”), Jessica Simpson (“Let Him Fly”), Martina McBride (“Goodbye”), Emmylou Harris (“One Big Love”, “Moon Song”), Bethany Joy Galeotti (“Blue Sky”), the Wreckers (“One More Girl”), Keri Noble and Ruthie Foster (“When It Don’t Come Easy”), Joan Osborne (“What You Are”), Solomon Burke (“Up to the Mountain”), and Miranda Lambert (“Getting Ready”). Kelly Clarkson performed “Up to the Mountain” with Jeff Beck on guitar, accompanied by some orchestration on the “Idol Gives Back” episode of American Idol, and the live recording was released as a single immediately afterwards, reaching number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its first week and giving Griffin her highest-charting position as a songwriter. (The audience gave Clarkson a standing ovation following her performance.) Griffin’s version of the song was featured in episode 11 of the fourth season of the ABC television show Grey’s Anatomy.]

10:17 – More Interview with Danny Alexander

Danny Alexander shares details about a new book he co-edited called KICK OUT THE JAMS Jibes, Barbs, Tributes, and Rallying Cries from 35 Years of Music Writing by Dave Marsh. Dave Marsh was among the first editors of Creem magazine and wrote extensively for Rolling Stone and other publications. He has authored twenty-five books. Marsh cofounded the newsletter Rock & Rap Confidential and currently hosts Kick Out the Jams on SiriusXM.

For over thirty years, Danny Alexander served as Associate Editor for Rock & Rap Confidential while also writing for, among others, Kansas City’s Pitch and the Kansas City Star. Alexander teaches the Literature of American Popular Music at Johnson County Community College. His book Real Love, No Drama: The Music of Mary J. Blige was published by University of Texas Press in 2016.

Danny Alexander hosts a Kick Out the Jams Release Party, Tuesday, August 15, at 7:00 PM at The Warwick Theatre, 3927 Main Street, KCMO.

Danny Alexander, Thanks for being with us as today on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Praise for Dave Marsh and Kick Out the Jams

“Throughout [Kick Out the Jams], Marsh’s deep passion for the music and the artists he writes about provides a bassline of energy and excitement. The author breathes new insight into well-known artists and provides avenues of discovery for new music while maintaining humor and heart…Heartfelt and often amusing, these essays will have you reaching into your record collection to listen with fresh ears.” — Kirkus Reviews

“I regarded Dave Marsh as a teacher right away. With Dave, it’s emotional, it’s personal. He draws people together on an emotional as well as an intellectual level.” — Jackson Browne

“Not only is Dave Marsh a great writer, a great person, life-giving lover, a great friend, and a wordsmith, but he has great insight into the music business, connecting the dots, defining things for me.” — Dion
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“One of the striking things about Dave Marsh, right off the bat, is his emotional involvement. It’s fun to sit down and talk with him about music.” —Patty Griffin

“Dave Marsh has always been a tireless advocate of justice, human rights, and rock’n’roll. His pen and voice are an important player in the history of the music we love and the struggle for a more just and decent world.” — Tom Morello

“Dave Marsh has always been vociferously a champion of equal rights in music writing and of viewing music outside of the segregationist categories formed by the music industry and too often the music press. He’s just a great writer.” — Ann Powers, author of Weird Like Us and Good Booty

“I connected to Dave because I knew he felt about music the way I felt about it. It was life sustaining. It was central to your existence.” — Bruce Springsteen

“The impact of Dave Marsh seeped into my critical consciousness early on. He was the kind of leader in the field who pushed to see the critical conversation be democratized and inclusive and incredibly diverse.” — Greg Tate, author of Flyboy in the Buttermilk

“Dave was just full on, 100%, tying together art and politics, which of course are really tethered anyway. He was the embodiment of that.” — Steven Van Zandt

ABOUT THE BOOK
Kick Out the Jams: Jibes, Barbs, Tributes, and Rallying Cries from 35 Years of Music Writing
By Dave Marsh
August 15, 2023
Hardcover, 336 pages, $28.99
HC ISBN: 9781982197162 | eISBN: 9781982197186 | Audio: 9781797160788

Danny Alexander, Thanks for being with us as today on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Danny Alexander teaches the Literature of American Popular Music at Johnson County Community College. His book Real Love, No Drama: The Music of Mary J. Blige was published by University of Texas Press in 2016.

Danny Alexander hosts a Kick Out the Jams Release Party, Tuesday, August 15, at 7:00 PM at The Warwick Theatre, 3927 Main Street, KCMO.

He blogs at http://takeemastheycome.blogspot.com/

11:25

15. Sly & The Family Stone – “Everyday People”
    from: Stand! (Bonus Track Edition) [2007 Remaster] / Sony Records / May 3, 1969
    [“Everyday People” is a 1968 song composed by Sly Stone and first recorded by his band, Sly and the Family Stone. It was the first single by the band to go to number one on the Soul singles chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] It held that position on the Hot 100 for four weeks, from February 9 to March 8, 1969, and is remembered as one of the most popular songs of the 1960s. Billboard ranked it as the No. 5 song of 1969. // This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (May 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) // The song is one of Sly Stone’s pleas for peace and equality between differing races and social groups, a major theme and focus for the band. The Family Stone featured white members Greg Errico and Jerry Martini in its lineup, as well as females Rose Stone and Cynthia Robinson; making it an early major integrated band in rock history. Sly and the Family Stone’s message was about peace and equality through music, and this song reflects the same. // Unlike the band’s more typically funky and psychedelic records, “Everyday People” is a mid-tempo number with a more mainstream pop feel. Sly, singing the main verses for the song, explains that he is “no better / and neither are you / we are the same / whatever we do.” // Sly’s sister Rose Stone sings bridging sections (using the cadence of the “na-na na-na boo-boo” children’s taunt) that mock the futility of people hating each other for being tall, short, rich, poor, fat, skinny, white, black, or anything else. The bridges of the song contain the line “different strokes for different folks”, which became a popular catchphrase in 1969 (and inspired the name of the later television series, Diff’rent Strokes). Rose’s singing ends each part of the bridge with the words: “And so on, and so on, and scooby dooby doo”. // During the chorus, all of the singing members of the band (Sly, Rosie, Larry Graham, and Sly’s brother Freddie Stone) proclaim that “I am everyday people,” meaning that each of them (and each listener as well) should consider himself or herself as parts of one whole, not of smaller, specialized factions. // Bassist Larry Graham contends that the track featured the first instance of the “slap bass technique”, which would become a staple of funk and other genres. The technique involves striking a string with the thumb of the right hand (or left hand, for a left-handed player) so that the string collides with the frets, producing a metallic “clunk” at the beginning of the note. Later slap bass songs – for example, Graham’s performance on “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)” – expanded on the technique, incorporating a complementary “pull” or “pop” component. // “Everyday People” was included on the band’s classic album Stand! (1969), which sold over three million copies. It is one of the most covered songs in the band’s repertoire, with versions by the Winstons, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, William Bell, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the Supremes and the Four Tops, Peggy Lee, Belle & Sebastian, Pearl Jam, and Nicole C. Mullen, Ta Mara and the Seen and many others. Hip-hop group Arrested Development used the song as the basis of their 1992 hit, “People Everyday”, which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 8 on the Hot 100. Dolly Parton’s previously unreleased 1980 cover of the song was included as a bonus track on the 2009 reissue of her 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album. Rolling Stone ranked “Everyday People” as No. 145 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. “Everyday People” was prominently featured in a series of Toyota commercials in the late 1990s as part of their “Everyday” slogan campaign. In 2021, the song appeared in another TV commercial, this time for Aspen Dental. // The third verse of Sly and the Family Stone’s 1969 “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”, a No. 1 hit by February 1970, references the titles of “Everyday People” and several of the band’s other successful songs.]

11:30 – Underwriting

11:32 – Interview with Michael B. Tipton

We are happy to welcome back to the show Michael B. Tipton who was actually one of our very first guests on Wednesday MidDay Medley back in 2004 the year this show first went on the air. Michael join us back then to talk about his band Tabla Rasa. Over the years Michael has been a part of some of our most played Kansas City area bands including Molly Picture Club and Kodascope.
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Michael B Tipton is a seasoned singer-songwriter who has performed for audiences nationwide for over 26 years. With a remarkable versatility across genres like folk, country, electronic, indie rock, and hard rock, his compositions are written to be adapted to various musical styles. Michael made his mark as a member of acclaimed bands: Tabla Rasa (1999-2005), 5 Defy (2006-2008), Molly Picture Club (2009-2013), and Kodascope (2013-2016). He is also the driving force behind Found A Job, a popular 8-piece tribute to Talking Heads since 2012, where he embodies David Byrne’s essence.

Michael B. Tipton joins us today to shares his new single, “Scoundrel” to be released August 18, 2023. “Scoundrel” is from Michael’s new solo album, OUT OF THE WOODS, to be release in October. More info at: @michaelbtiptonmusic

Michael B. Tipton, Thanks for being with us as today on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Meet Michael B Tipton, a seasoned American singer-songwriter who has performed for audiences nationwide for over 26 years. With a remarkable versatility across genres like folk, country, electronic, indie rock, and hard rock, his compositions are written to be adapted to various musical styles. Michael made his mark as a member of acclaimed bands such as Tabla Rasa(1999-2005), 5 Defy (2006-2008), Molly Picture Club (2009-2013), and Kodascope (2013-2016).

He is also the driving force behind Found A Job, a popular 8-piece tribute to Talking Heads since 2012, where he embodies David Byrne’s essence.

In addition to his live performances, Michael’s songwriting prowess has earned him placements on notable TV shows like “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” and various Discovery Channel segments. With an extraordinary ability to connect through heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies, and a solid beat, Michael B Tipton continues to enchant audiences with his music. Stay tuned as this artist ventures into new musical horizons.

BIO – New Music: Out Of The Woods
After enduring a prolonged songwriting drought, Tipton found solace in the music of his upbringing—Asleep At The Wheel, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, Ernest Tubb, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and George Jones. This rediscovery sparked a creative surge, resulting in a collection of heartfelt songs. Scheduled for release in the fall of 2023, “Out of The Woods” captures Tipton’s revival and showcases his storytelling. As Tipton explains, it’s the most personal and coherent set of songs he’s written to date.

11:41

16. Michael B. Tipton – “Scoundrel”
    from: Scoundrel / August 18, 2023 / January 31, 2023
    [Recorded & Produced by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab, Kansas City, MO. Musicians: Michael B Tipton on vocals, guitars, percussion; Aaron “Big Al” Lewis on Bass;| Justin Danner on Drums; Matt Smithmier on Mandolin; Jace Hughes on Electric Guitar; Brad King on Slide Guitar; Mallory Edson on Fiddle; Devon Teran on Pedal Steel Guitar; Nate Holt on Organ, Piano; Kate Valliere on Backing Vocals. // Michael B Tipton is a seasoned singer-songwriter who has performed for audiences nationwide for over 26 years. With a remarkable versatility across genres like folk, country, electronic, indie rock, and hard rock, his compositions are written to be adapted to various musical styles. Michael made his mark as a member of acclaimed bands: Tabla Rasa (1999-2005), 5 Defy (2006-2008), Molly Picture Club (2009-2013), and Kodascope (2013-2016). He is also the driving force behind Found A Job, a popular 8-piece tribute to Talking Heads since 2012, where he embodies David Byrne’s essence.]

11:47 – More Interview with Michael B. Tipton

We are talking with Michael B. Tipton who joins us today to shares his new single, “Scoundrel” to be released August 18, 2023. “Scoundrel” is from Michael’s new solo album, OUT OF THE WOODS, to be release in October. More info at: @michaelbtiptonmusic

Michael B. Tipton, Thanks for being with us as today on Wednesday MidDay Medley

“The title ‘Out of the Woods,’ has a double meaning for me. It’s both a recurring theme for the lyrics and itspeaks to an acoustic-heavy instrumentation, which is the literal meaning because the music is coming outof the woods.” Tipton pulled in long-time collaborators and newfound friends from the KC music scene tohelp him bring his album to life. This is Tipton’s first album under his name, even though he has released 7albums and 6 EPs over the years. It is scheduled for release Friday, October 13, 2023.

Recorded & Produced by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab, KC, MO

Musicians: Michael B Tipton- vocals, guitars, percussion |
Aaron”Big Al”Lewis-Bass | Justin Danner – Drums | Matt Smithmier – Mandolin | JaceHughes – Electric Guitar | Brad King – Slide Guitar | Mallory Edson- Fiddle
Devon Teran – Pedal Steel Guitar | Nate Holt – Organ, Piano
Kate Valliere – Backing Vocals.

Michael B. Tipton, Thanks for being with us as today on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Listen To Songs at Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/ryYYn
Bandcamp / Videos + Social @michaelbtiptonmusic

10:50

17. Youth Lagoon – “Prizefighter” (radio edit)
    from: Heaven is a Junkyard / Fat Possum Records / June 9, 2023
    [Youth Lagoon is amidst “a striking reclamation of artistic identity” (Pitchfork). The cherished project of Trevor Powers released “Prizefighter,” the new single/video from his album (and Youth Lagoon’s first in eight years), Heaven Is a Junkyard, on Fat Possum, with a massive tour of North America, his first in 8 years, and will be playing songs from his entire catalog. Following lead single, “Idaho Alien,” “one of Powers’ best feats of songwriting to date”(Paste), “Prizefighter” explores the bond between two brothers, leaving undefined what is fact and what is fiction. // Powers explains:”4 years ago, I started writing a song about brothers. I grew up with 3 of them, so our house was doomsday but with more sugar cereal. Our love was strong and so was our barbarity. It was real joy — the kind you didn’t have to look for cuz it smacked you in the face or pushed you off the bed into a file cabinet. Beyond that, we were homeschooled. 4 fuckin’ weirdos home all day who adored each other and hated each other and played baseball everyday in the backyard and threw rocks at each other’s heads and laughed ’till we threw up. Our bond is forever. That song I started those years ago meant too much to me to finish. I was scared of it. Scared of not making it great… so I tabled it. // A couple weeks before leaving to make the record, I went through some old voice memos while watching a VHS of Drugstore Cowboy. I listened to that 30-second sketch called “Prizefighter.” It was like an angel fell from the sky to tell me how to finish it. “Don’t make it great,” she said. “Make it true.” I finished the song in 2 days.” // Throughout Heaven Is A Junkyard, Powers stitches together a lyrical style that feels both punk and western. With whispers of country, Heaven Is a Junkyard is mutant Americana in a world of love, drugs, storytelling, and miracles — held together by Powers’ voice and an upright piano. In Powers’ own words, “Heaven Is a Junkyard is about all of us. It’s stories of brothers leaving for war, drunk fathers learning to hug, mothers falling in love, neighbors stealing mail, cowboys doing drugs, friends skipping school, me crying in the bathtub, dogs catching rabbits, and children playing in tall grass.” ]

11:54

18. Sara Swenson – “Transitions”
    from: Runway Lights / Sara Swenson / July 15, 2014
    [Sara Swenson released the single, “The Moment You Fall Asleep” on Friday, June 4, 2021. These follow an earlier release this year called “I Wont Let You Feel Alone” that Sara wrote and is featured in her husband Michael Price’s film “The Hidden Pandemic” that aired on Kansas City PBS, about the mental health crisis in KC. The song and the film also features Mark Lowrey’s piano playing. To see a trailer for “The Hidden Pandemic” you can visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkd7046rPtU. Critically acclaimed singer songwriter Sara Swenson has released some of our most played and favorite recordings of the last 18 years. Her self titled debut album was at the top of our list of WMM’s 100 Best Recordings of 2009. In 2010 Sara Swenson released her second full length recording, “All Things Big and Small” again working with Don Chaffer in Nashville who added new layers to Sara’s great songs and voice. In November of 2011, Sara released her 5 song EP called “Never Left My Mind,” featuring her band at the time, The Pearl Snaps. In that time frame, she also picked up two Kansas City Singer-Songwriter of the Year awards, performed with Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair, and placed a song on the season finale of ABC’s “Private Practice.” Then after the school year ended in 2012, Sara Swenson left her job as a High School English and Journalism Teacher in Platte County High School, and left the Kansas City music scene, and flew off to the United Kingdom, where she got married. In the spring of 2014, Sara returned to Kansas City and performed for the Folk Alliance International Conference. On July 18, 2014 she released her 4th album, RUNWAY LIGHTS that captures snapshots of her 18-month experience of living abroad, moving from dating, to marriage, and sorting through the accompanying transitions and emotions. Produced by Don Chaffer in Nashville. Since 2014 Sara has performed less frequently and has been raising her family. More info at: http://www.saraswenson.com]

[Sara Swenson plays Knuckleheads Saloon in The Gospel Lounge, 2715 Rochester Street, KCMO, on Saturday, August 12, at 8:00 PM with Banjo Kelly Hunt.]

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

Next week on August 16 we welcome Asian Rap Music Wunderkind…. JNabe, at 11:00 the Sisters of Black Mariah Theater join us LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studios, AND at 11:30 our friend Jocelyn Olivia Nixin of The Creepy Jingles shares all the details about a Fundraiser for Amplify Lawrence at The Bottleneck, Saturday, August 26 at 6:00 PM with The Creepy Jingles, MellowPhobia, Lyxe, and DJ Romance and drag performances by Kansas Campbell-Mykals, Ms. Amanda Love and Jeni Tonic co-sponsored by Amplify Lawrence, Lawrence Pride, I Heart Local Music, KJHK 90.7 Lawrence, Manor Records and High Dive Records.

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

Show #1006