#1010 – September 6, 2023 Playlist

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, September 6, 2023

Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming on Tiny Horse + Mara Rose Williams of KC Star + Nick Carswell & Fally Afani on MixMaster 2023 + Dan Jones & Steve Tulipana of Dan Jones and The Squids

  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]
  1. Joy Oladokun – “Changes”
    from: Proof of Life / Amigo Records–Verve Forecast / April 28, 2023
    [Proof of Life is the fourth studio album and second major label album by American singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun. The album has been supported by five singles released throughout 2022 and 2023. The album features guest appearances from Mt. Joy, Manchester Orchestra, Chris Stapleton, Maxo Kream, and Noah Kahan. In a press release about the album, Oladokun said that she intended for the songs on Proof of Life to be “helpful anthems” and to resonate with “anybody who feels normal and needs a little musical boost to get through the day”. The album has been supported by five singles, two of which were released before the album was announced. The first single, “Keeping the Light On”, was released on January 21, 2022. The second single, “Sweet Symphony” (featuring Chris Stapleton), was released on September 23, 2022. Of the song, Oladokun said that the song was about “the vulnerability, the fear, and the ups and downs that come from loving someone.” The third single, “Changes”, was released on February 17, 2023, simultaneously with the album announcement. The fourth single, “We’re All Gonna Die” (with Noah Kahan), was released on March 17, 2023. The fifth and final single, “Taking Things for Granted”, was released on April 21, 2023. // Joy Oladokun was born April 6, 1992, she is an American singer-songwriter. Oladokun’s music spans the genres of folk, R&B, rock, and pop and is influenced by her identity as a queer woman of color. Oladokun grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona, listening to country and folk music, as well as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill. Both of her parents are Nigerian immigrants to the United States. Her family regularly attended a Christian church, where Oladokun was chosen to lead worship. Later, Oladokun left the church because it limited her creativity. // When Oladokun was 10, a video of Tracy Chapman inspired her to learn guitar.// After college, at a friend’s suggestion, Oladokun moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music career. She later moved to East Nashville, where she signed with Prescription Songs. She has released three studio albums. In 2015, Joy Oladokun self-released her debut EP Cathedrals. Her debut studio album, Carry Me was funded by Kickstarter and released on April 29, 2016 through Well Records. // Oladokun released the single “Sunday” in 2019, saying “‘Sunday’ is the song that 12-year-old Joy, seated in the back of church youth group, needed to hear. She needed to hear that you can be queer and happy. Queer and healthy. Queer and holy. She needed to see married women kissing and playing with their kids.” The music video highlights people in LGBTQ relationships and has a predominantly queer cast. // Oladokun’s song “Mercy” follows in the same theme, describing her experience as a Black person in the United States, while the single “I See America” criticizes systemic racism. NPR listed “I See America” on its 100 Best Songs of 2020. // On July 17, 2020, Oladokun released her second studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness (Vol. 1) with White Boy Records. Billboard described the album as a “stunningly emotional collection.” Mitch Mosk, editor-in-chief of Atwood Magazine, called it a “a sweeping, soaring, and stunning sophomore record oozing heart and soul.” // In 2021, Oladokun received a grant from YouTube’s “#YouTubeBlack Voices Fund”. The same year she signed with Amigo Records, Verve Forecast Records, and Republic Records. On June 4, 2021 she released her third studio album In Defense of My Own Happiness. More info at: http://www.joyoladokun.com]

[Joy Oladokun plays The Truman 601 E. Truman Road, KCMO on Tuesday, September 12, at 8:00 PM with Becca Mancari]

  1. Paul Jesse & Deegan Poores – “Righteous (Radio Edit)”
    from: Hello Paul Jesse, Pt. II – [EP] / Frog Party / June 23, 2023
    [Paul Jesse is a singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Lawrence, Kansas, whose debut EP, Stuck This Way came out in 2021 and combines his smooth and passionate vocals with psychedelic R&B, hip-hop, and electronic bedroom-pop production. Deegan Poores is also a singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Lawrence, whose debut album from last year, The “Vanishing” Album, combines indie rock, yacht rock, power pop, and synth pop to create a genre-bending sound with co-production from singer-songwriter-producer-filmmaker Remy Styrk from Kansas City. After coming together last year to make the song “Your Sunshine”, which features Lawrence based singer-songwriter Hannah Davis, Paul asked Deegan to executive produce his debut album. Hello Paul Jesse, releasing over the upcoming months as three EPs by Lawrence arts collective Frog Party, takes the sound Paul established on Stuck This Way and expands it to include elements of Deegan’s sound as well as trip hop, hyperpop, and folk, among other genres, all cohering around Paul’s voice and hooks. The lyrics chronicle Paul’s growth and development as a person through heartache, self-reflection, and love, and each EP captures a different stage of that transition. Hello Paul Jesse, Part I was released February 17, 2023. “Remedy” the first single from the EP Hello Paul Jesse, Pt. II featuring Arkko was released on Friday, March 17, 2023.]

[Paul Jesse plays Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming St., KCMO, West Bottoms, on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 3:30 PM for Lemonade Social – Day 2 with Black Light Animals, Steddy P, Mr. Golden Sun, Paris Williams, Flora, Gipson, and The Swallowtails.]

  1. MeShell Ndegeocello – “Call The Tune”
    from: The Omnichord Real Book / Blue Note – Verve / June 16, 2023
    [from wikipedia: 13 album from acclaimed GRAMMY-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello makes her Blue Note Records debut with The Omnichord Real Book, a visionary, expansive, and deeply jazz-influenced album that marks the start of a new chapter in her career. Following her 2018 album Ventriloquism, Meshell returns with an album of new original material that taps into a broad spectrum of her musical roots. The Omnichord Real Book was produced by Josh Johnson and features a wide range of guest artists including Jason Moran, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joel Ross, Jeff Parker, Brandee Younger, Julius Rodriguez, Mark Guiliana, Cory Henry, Joan As Police Woman, Thandiswa, and others. // Meshell Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968 in West Berlin, Germany, to US Army Sergeant Major and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C. where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School. She is a singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist. She has gone by the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur which is used as a writing credit on some of her later work. Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae and rock. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career, being nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, and winning one. She also has been credited for helping to “spark the neo-soul movement”. // Ndegeocello adopted her surname, which she says means “free like a bird” in Swahili. Early pressings of Plantation Lullabies were affixed with stickers to help pronounce her name. The spelling has changed in the hands of record labels a few times during her career; the correct spelling of her stage name as of 2001 is Meshell Ndegeocello.]
  1. LYXE – “Ice Cream”
    from: ”Ice Cream” – Single / LYXE / June 23, 2023
    [LYXE, a three piece pop-rock outfit based out of Lawrence, Kansas formed out of the love of getting fans to sing and dance along to hip shaking rhythms reminiscent of classic 80’s and 90’s sounds. They quickly became a favorite of crowds and musicians alike with the lead of Ryan Wise’s crooning vocals and vintage guitar sounds. The trio has an undeniable chemistry that caught the local scene like wildfire. Bassist AJ Knudson brings a loveable charisma to their live presence, while drummer Jimmy Girod’s subtle, elegant delivery gives this act a sophisticated backbone. // In their debut EP, Everything You Could Ever Want, LYXE strives to create an infectious party environment that hips cannot deny. Pulling inspiration from a wide range of genres, this six-song EP has a pop-rock, new wave nostalgia that sinks its teeth into you. Luring in listeners with dramatics and lush hooks on “Wave,” yet unafraid to tap into their feral side on “I Got Everything.” The record closes with “Fit,” which makes you feel like you’re in an argument with your prom date in 1989.
    In July of 2022, LYXE recorded their debut EP, Everything You Could Ever Want, at Element Recording Studios in Kansas City. The new EP gave listeners a different side of Wise’s songwriting with crooning vocals and vintage guitar sounds. .The EP was released on September 15, 2022. // On June 23, 2023 LYXE released a remastered version of their song “Wave (Remastered 2023)” produced by Joel Nanos. Remaster by Jake Vertigo, with: Ryan Wise (of The Sluts) on vocals, Jimmy Girod on percussion, AJ Knudson on bass, and Chase Horseman on synthesizer. This was originally the debut single “Wave.” // For additional information or inquiries please contact: wearelyxe@gmail.com ]

[LYXE play Lemonade Social – Day 1, at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming Street, KCMO WEST BOTTOMS on Friday, September 8, at 7:00 PM with Static Phantoms, Dress Warm, and Surf Wax]

  1. Dan Jones and The Squids – “Shook Loose”
    from: Rock And Roll Daydreams / Dan Jones / Aug. 5, 2023 (Released on vinyl Sept. 1, 2023)
    [ROCK AND ROLL DAYDREAMS that was just released on vinyl on September 1, 2023. Dan Jones and The Squids are: Dan Jones on vocals & guitar; Matt Ronan on drums & vocals, and Steve Tulipana on bass. On the record Rich Wheeler joined them on tenor saxophone for the songs, “Rock & Roll Daydreams” and “Rhythm and The Rhyme.” Their album was engineered by Brendan “JB” Moreland at Temple Sounds in KCMO
    and mixed by Brendan at Massive Sound Studios in Shawnee, KS. // Dan Joones and The Squids released SERVE WITHOUT DELAY on February 5, 202. It was recorded Friday, February 13, 2020 at recordBar, with Paul Malinowski: live sound & recording engineer. Mixed and edited by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound, Shawnee Kansas. Mastered by Tom Nunes at Atomic Disc. Dan Jones on guitar & vocals, Matt Ronan on drums & vocals; Steve Tulipana on bass & vocals. All songs by Daniel Sherman Jones (BMI), except “I Wanna Be You” by Ed Cole. In 2020 the band didn’t get to play out much, so they hunkered down and worked up a double album’s worth of new tunes. It was a weekly woodshed-workshop that culminated with a live-streamed live-album show on November 13, 2020 at recordBar. Paul Malinowski engineered and mixed. // Dan Jones and The Squids released WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD on December 6, 2019. It was Recorded at Temple Sounds in KCMO, 2018-2019. Engineered. by JB Moreland. Produced by Dan Jones and The Squids and JB Moreland. Mastered by Tom Nunes at Atomic Disc. With Dan Jones on acoustic & electric guitars, keyboard, lead vocals + drums/bass on “Love/Life”; Matt Ronan on drums, percussion, vocals; Alex Alexander on electric guitar, vocals; Steve Tulipana on bass, vocals; Joey Slab on poem and spiel on “Beach, Please”; Scot Sperry on electric slide guitar on “Love/Life”; Donna Jones on lyrics to “The Violet Man.” / Dan Jones is among the hardworking lifers with taste and talent, keeping the dream alive that music matters. This is the Kansas City singer/songwriter’s seventh LP over two decades, starting in Eugene, OR before returning to his native, non-coastal home. His bio speaks of support gigs with Mike Watt (who plays these Squids on his radio show), Dinosaur Jr., Steve Wynn, John Doe, Tav Falco, Pedaljets, Peter Case, and Minus 5, all hinted at in his fine music. But what he/they most remind of is Watt’s influence The Urinals/100 Flowers, in the way he breaks out homey tunes in the rush of spikier energy—like “My Favorite Lounge,” which spits guitar glory with gusto following tight circular riffs, while hailing soulful, sweaty dives with honest bands. It’s where you’d want to catch Jones and his cephalopods, happily blasting away. // More info at: More info at: http://www.danjonesmusic.com

[Dan Jones and The Squids play a Record Release Show at Woodyard BBQ, 3001 Merriam, in KCK, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 PM. with Tick Check]

10:18 – Interview with Dan Jones & Steve Tulipana

Dan Jones is a punk and indie rock and roll singer-songwriter living in Kansas City, Missouri. Rock and Roll Daydreams is his 9th album release, and his fourth with Dan Jones and The Squids. Dan was born in the suburbs of Kansas City but headed to the Pacific Northwest in his early 20’s, for about a twenty-year stay. From 1998 to 2013, Jones made indie albums and played in the ever-changing Eugene-based Dan Jones and The Squids as well as The Golden Motors. The Eugene Weekly later called him the “bed-headed poet laureate of Eugene…[finding] beauty in the ordinary while coaxing poetry from things most writers leave in the garage…delivered in a Neil Young-esque holler or Lou Reed-style talk/song…” Returning to his hometown Kansas City area in 2013, Jones fired up The Squids again with junior high pals Steve Tulipana and college pal Matt Ronan, all stalwarts of the KC scene. They’ve become a mainstay on local stages and have supported Tav Falco, Pedaljets, MSSV The Big Iron, and many more.

Also joining us is Artist, Musician, Vocalist, Club Owner Steve Tulipana, who is a co-pounder of the bands: Season To Risk, Roman Numerals, Thee Water Mocassins, Men of Men, The Band That Fell To Earth, and Dan Jones and The Squids. Steve is also co-owner and Manager of recordBar, miniBar, and Lemonade Park along with business partner Shawn Sherrill.

Dan Jones & Steve Tulipana share music from their new Dan Jones and The Squids album, ROCK AND ROLL DAYDREAMS that was just released on vinyl on September 1, 2023. . Dan Jones and The Squids play a Record Release Show at Woodyard BBQ, 3001 Merriam, in KCK, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 PM. More info at: http://www.danjonesmusic.com

Dan Jones and Steve Tulipana, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Dan Jones was on WMM on March 10, 2022 to talk about their last release, Serve Without Delay. Dan Jones was on WMM on March 11, 2020 with Matt Ronan of the band to share music and information about We Live In A World That Is Out Of This World released on December 21, 2019.

ROCK AND ROLL DAYDREAMS was recorded with Dan Jones on vocals & guitar; Matt Ronan on drums & vocals, and Steve Tulipana on bass. On the record Rich Wheeler joined them on tenor saxophone for the songs, “Rock & Roll Daydreams” and “Rhythm and The Rhyme.” Their album was engineered by Brendan “JB” Moreland at Temple Sounds in KCMO and mixed by Brendan at Massive Sound Studios in Shawnee, KS.

Dan Jones and The Squids play a Record Release Show at Woodyard BBQ, 3001 Merriam, in KCK, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 PM. More info at: http://www.danjonesmusic.com

Originally from KC, many years lived in Eugene Oregon, and now back in KC. Dan Jones is a punk-influenced rock and roll singer-songwriter living in KC, Missouri.

Dan Jones is a punk and indie rock and roll singer-songwriter living in Kansas City, Missouri. Rock and Roll Daydreams is his 9th album release, and his fourth with Dan Jones and The Squids.

Jones’ influences range from classic 60’s and 70’s (Lou Reed, The Who, Neil Young, Alex Chilton) and alternative and punk rock (The Minutemen, Guided By Voices, The Replacements, Meat Puppets). He was born in the suburbs of Kansas City but headed to the Pacific Northwest in his early 20’s, for about a twenty-year stay. From 1998 to 2013, Jones made indie albums and played along the I-5 corridor first as an americana troubadour, then leading the ever-changing Eugene-based Dan Jones and The Squids as well as The Golden Motors.

As a prolific and hard-working regional solo artist and bandleader he supported local Eugene bills with Dinosaur Jr, fIREHOSE, Decemberists, Mike Watt, Steve Wynn, John Doe, Stew, Arthur Lee, and many others.

When Jones first made the burgeoning Pacific Northwest Americana scene, The Oregonian declared “any given verse of his songs packs more wit than a roomful of singer-songwriters could muster in a month of open mics.” The Eugene Weekly later called him the “bed-headed poet laureate of Eugene…[finding] beauty in the ordinary while coaxing poetry from things most writers leave in the garage…delivered in a Neil Young-esque holler or Lou Reed-style talk/song…”

Returning to his hometown Kansas City area in 2013, Jones fired up The Squids again with junior high pals Steve Tulipana and college pal Matt Ronan, all stalwarts of the KC scene. They’ve become a mainstay on local stages and have supported Tav Falco, Pedaljets, MSSV The Big Iron, and many more.

Jones shares music, art, and writing pretty much daily at http://www.danjonesmusic.com and still sends handwritten postcards to his mailing list members. http://www.danjonesmusic.com – features words, music, doodles and Squids updates

Dan Jones Discography

dan jones: for your radio (2000)

dan jones: one man submarine (2003)

dan jones: get sounds now (2005)

dan jones and the squids: totally human (2007)

dan jones and peter wilde: my name is john smith (2010)

the golden motors (2011)

the golden motors II (2018)

dan jones and the squids: we live in a world that is out of this world (2019)

dan jones and the squids: serve without delay (2021)

Dan Jones and The Squids Upcoming Shows

Dan Jones and The Squids play a “ROCK AND ROLL DAYDREAMS” RECORD RELEASE PARTY Woodyard BBQ, 3001 Merriam, in KCK, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 PM, with Tick Check

Dan Jones and The Squids play Kansas City Plaza Art Fair on Saturday, September 23, at 12:15 to 1:00 PM

Dan Jones and The Squids play miniBAR, 3810 Broadway Rd, KCMO, on Wednesday, September 27, with MSSV (Mike Baggetta, Mike Watt, Stephen Hodges)

Dan Jones and The Squids play miniBAR, 3810 Broadway Rd, KCMO, on Friday October 20, with La Cerca

Dan Jones and The Squids play miniBAR, 3810 Broadway Rd, KCMO, on Friday, November 17, with Bad Bad Men

Dan Jones and The Squids play The Reverb, in Omaha, NE. on Saturday November 18, with Bad Bad Men

Dan Jones and Steve Tulipana thanks or being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Dan Jones and The Squids play a Record Release Show at Woodyard BBQ, 3001 Merriam, in KCK, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 PM. with Tick Check More info at http://www.danjonesmusic.com.

10:31

  1. Dan Jones and The Squids – “The Hazards of Club Life”
    from: Rock And Roll DayDreams / Dan Jones / Aug. 5, 2023 (Released on vinyl Sept. 1, 2023)
    [ROCK AND ROLL DAYDREAMS that was just released on vinyl on September 1, 2023. Dan Jones and The Squids are: Dan Jones on vocals & guitar; Matt Ronan on drums & vocals, and Steve Tulipana on bass. On the record Rich Wheeler joined them on tenor saxophone for the songs, “Rock & Roll Daydreams” and “Rhythm and The Rhyme.” Their album was engineered by Brendan “JB” Moreland at Temple Sounds in KCMO
    and mixed by Brendan at Massive Sound Studios in Shawnee, KS. // Dan Joones and The Squids released SERVE WITHOUT DELAY on February 5, 202. It was recorded Friday, February 13, 2020 at recordBar, with Paul Malinowski: live sound & recording engineer. Mixed and edited by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound, Shawnee Kansas. Mastered by Tom Nunes at Atomic Disc. Dan Jones on guitar & vocals, Matt Ronan on drums & vocals; Steve Tulipana on bass & vocals. All songs by Daniel Sherman Jones (BMI), except “I Wanna Be You” by Ed Cole. In 2020 the band didn’t get to play out much, so they hunkered down and worked up a double album’s worth of new tunes. It was a weekly woodshed-workshop that culminated with a live-streamed live-album show on November 13, 2020 at recordBar. Paul Malinowski engineered and mixed. // Dan Jones and The Squids released WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD on December 6, 2019. It was Recorded at Temple Sounds in KCMO, 2018-2019. Engineered. by JB Moreland. Produced by Dan Jones and The Squids and JB Moreland. Mastered by Tom Nunes at Atomic Disc. With Dan Jones on acoustic & electric guitars, keyboard, lead vocals + drums/bass on “Love/Life”; Matt Ronan on drums, percussion, vocals; Alex Alexander on electric guitar, vocals; Steve Tulipana on bass, vocals; Joey Slab on poem and spiel on “Beach, Please”; Scot Sperry on electric slide guitar on “Love/Life”; Donna Jones on lyrics to “The Violet Man.” / Dan Jones is among the hardworking lifers with taste and talent, keeping the dream alive that music matters. This is the Kansas City singer/songwriter’s seventh LP over two decades, starting in Eugene, OR before returning to his native, non-coastal home. His bio speaks of support gigs with Mike Watt (who plays these Squids on his radio show), Dinosaur Jr., Steve Wynn, John Doe, Tav Falco, Pedaljets, Peter Case, and Minus 5, all hinted at in his fine music. But what he/they most remind of is Watt’s influence The Urinals/100 Flowers, in the way he breaks out homey tunes in the rush of spikier energy—like “My Favorite Lounge,” which spits guitar glory with gusto following tight circular riffs, while hailing soulful, sweaty dives with honest bands. It’s where you’d want to catch Jones and his cephalopods, happily blasting away. // More info at: More info at: http://www.danjonesmusic.com

[Dan Jones and The Squids play a Record Release Show at Woodyard BBQ, 3001 Merriam, in KCK, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 PM. with Tick Check]

10:33 – Underwriting

  1. Marvin Gaye – “Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)”
    from: “Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)” – Single / Tamla- Motown / Sept. 16, 1971
    [from wikipedia: “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”, often shortened to “Inner City Blues”, is a song by Marvin Gaye, released as the third and final single, and the climactic song from his 1971 landmark album, What’s Going On. Written by Gaye and James Nyx Jr., the song depicts the ghettos and bleak economic situations of inner-city America, and the emotional effects these have on inhabitants. // In 1998, co-writer James Nyx Jr. recalled, “Marvin had a good tune, sort of blues-like, but didn’t have any words for it. We started putting some stuff in there about how rough things were around town. We laughed about putting lyrics in about high taxes, ’cause both of us owed a lot. And we talked about how the government would send guys to the moon, but not help folks in the ghetto. But we still didn’t have a name, or really a good idea of the song. Then, I was home reading the paper one morning, and saw a headline that said something about the ‘inner city’ of Detroit. And I said, ‘Damn, that’s it. ‘Inner City Blues’.” // The song was recorded in a mellow funk style with Gaye playing piano. Several of the Funk Brothers also contributed, including Eddie “Bongo” Brown, and bassist Bob Babbitt. // In its unedited version as it appears on the album, the final minute of the song (and of the LP) is a reprise to the theme of “What’s Going On”, the album’s first song, then segues into a dark ending. This final minute was cut off of the single version, as well as other sections of the song so the single edit runs under three minutes—this edit appears on most reissues of the LP. // Lead and background vocals by Marvin Gaye. Piano by Marvin Gaye; Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra including: Bobbye Hall on bongos. // Motown released “Inner City Blues” as a single on their Tamla label on October 14, 1971. Record World predicted that it would be Gaye’s “third [single from What’s Going On] to smash.” // The song helped Gaye make history by being one of the few artists to have three or more Top 10 songs off Billboard’s Pop Singles chart peaking at #9 and one of the first to have three consecutive #1 hits on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart where it stayed for two weeks. Although not certified by the RIAA at that time, all three releases from the What’s Going On album gained Gold status by selling over 1,000,000 copies in the U.S.]

11:38 – Interview with Mara Rose Williams

Mará Rose Williams is The Kansas City Star’s assistant managing editor for race and equity issues. She previously was a member of the Star’s Editorial Board and an award-winning columnist. She has written on all things education for The Star since 1998, including issues of inequity in education, teen suicide, universal pre-K, college costs & racism on university campuses. She was a writer on The Star’s 2020 “Truth in Black amd White” project, and the recipient of the 2021 Eleanor McClatchy Award for exemplary leadership skills and transformative journalism.

Mará Rose Williams, joins us to talk about The Star’s new 4-week radio series, VOICES OF KANSAS CITY, that The Star is producing with the not-for-profit organizations, KC GIFT and 90.1 FM KKFI. Through KC GIFT’s connection with area small Black owned businesses, Star reporters are navigating through the community to find authentic stories of the people who built these businesses, and their origins, journeys, struggle, and achievements. The series begins on 90.1 FM KKFI on Friday, Sept. 22, at 12:00 Noon.

Mara Rose Williams thank you for being our guest on WMM

KKFI 90.1 FM has had four meetings with representatives at The Kansas City Star: Monday June 26, 2023, Monday July 10, 2023, and Monday, July 31, 2023, and Molnday, August 21, 2023 at KKFI offices 3901 Main Street, KCMO

KC Star Team:
Mara Rose Williams, Assistant Managing Editor Race/Equity at The KC Star
Hannah Wise, KC Star Audience Development Editor

90.1 FM KKFI Team:
Mark Manning, Chair of KKFI’s Programming Committee
J. Kelly Dougherty, KKFI’s Director of Development and Communications
Chad Brothers, KKFI’s Chief Operator // chiefoperator@kkfi.org / 816-931-3122

The KC Star will collaborate with 90.1 FM KKFI on a community engagement project that The KC Star would do the “leg work” on in the Black Small Business community.

Mara Rose Williams started the conversation by referring to how on December 22, 2020. The Kansas City Star published an apology:

“Today we are telling the story of a powerful local business that has done wrong.

For 140 years, it has been one of the most influential forces in shaping Kansas City and the region. And yet for much of its early history — through sins of both commission and omission — it disenfranchised, ignored and scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians. It reinforced Jim Crow laws and redlining. Decade after early decade it robbed an entire community of opportunity, dignity, justice and recognition.

That business is The Kansas City Star.

Before I say more, I feel it to be my moral obligation to express what is in the hearts and minds of the leadership and staff of an organization that is nearly as old as the city it loves and covers:

We are sorry.”

Read more at: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article247928045.html#storylink=cpy

From this apology The KC Star has made a commitment to change. They hosted “Community Listening Projects” to find out what readers want, what are their issues, what are their loves?
The Star learned that the community wants more stories about success and triumphs. The Star is working with KCGIFT, an organization that offers help to Black owned businesses, helping them get started, get loans, helping with taxes, etc. (www.kcgift.org)

Through KC GIFT’s connection with area small Black owned businesses the KC Star Reporters are navigating through, to find authentic, true stories of the people behind the businesses, the origins, the families, their journeys, struggle, achievements. The KC Star through their own facilities will produce 8 stories on a person behind a Black Owned Business. These will be 30-minute interview/features, created and edited at KC Star, to become four 60-minute shows.

The KC Star wanted to partner with KKFI to have us be the broadcast platform to air these programs, as a limited series.

KKFI is a non-commercial radio station under the direction of a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. We operate under FCC and IRS regulations. The series would not be about selling any specific products, it would be more of a journalistic approach to the who, what, where, when, how, of the people behind the business, to tell stories of success.

Mark asked Mara and Hannah about The KC Star’s outreach to other underserved minority groups, the Latinx/Hispanic/Mexican/Asian/Indigenous/LGBTQIA communities. Mara stressed that The Star was committed to reaching out to ALL of these communities, and was working on various initiatives with other groups as well, but she talked about the overwhelming nature of this work, especially if you to attempt to serve all groups at once, with just one initiative, where through their current work, they are focusing on one specific individual group at a time, and for this particular series it will be People involved with Black Owned Businesses.

The KC Star hopes to have these shows produced and ready to go by Mid September These will be part of our New Program Changes in September/October at 990.1 FM KKFI.

The KC Star through KC GIFT facilities is producing 8 stories on the people behind small Black owned businesses. These will be approximately 30-minute interview/features, to become four 60-minute shows, created, produced, hosted, and edited by KC Star Staff.

The Star is producing these programs in KC Gift facilities. Mara Rose Williams and Hannah Wise are serving as hosts.

This series will begin on Friday, September 22, at 12:00 Noon, as part of our new schedule roll-out.

The KC Star Initiative mirrors KKFI’s “New Program Roll Out” Initiative of working to make both of our organizations even more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and representative population we serve.

On Sunday, July 23, 2023, 90.1 FM KKFI’s Programming Committee, voted to approve KKFI’s airing of The KC Star’s 4-week series, to start sometime in September 2023.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, KKFI Programming Committee Chair Mark Manning presented our motion to the MidCoast Radio Project Board of Directors who voted unanimously, to approve the motion.

Mara Rose Williams thank you for being our guest on WMM

The Kansas City Star’s new 4-week radio series, VOICES OF KANSAS CITY, produced on collaboration with the not-for-profit organizations, KC GIFT and 90.1 FM KKFI will begin on 90.1 FM KKFI on Friday, Sept. 22, at 12:00 Noon.

10:52

  1. Noname – “beauty supply”
    from: Sundial / AWAL Recordings / August 11, 2023
    [From the Pitchfork, August 11, 2023, 8.8 review of SUNDIAL >>> “Sometimes the only way to work through the bullshit is to point at your close friends and ask, “Do you all see this, too, or am I bugging?” Their confirmations stop you from feeling like you’re on a different planet from everyone else. That’s the driving force behind Noname’s first project in five years, the eye-opening and disruptive Sundial. On the first track, with her typical buttery, head-in-the-clouds delivery, she raps, “We smokin’ positivity like dust, trust.” It’s a cutting quip: She’s fed up with anti-critical positivity, the kind that leads corporations to dress up and commodify Black art, turning an artist’s politics into a commercialized performance. She has no time for the idea that It’s all good as long as they’re Black, no matter what they’re selling. Sundial pushes back against that complacency in a real regular-person kind of way. It’s not preachy or too heavy. Noname is not trying to sell herself as a revolutionary. She’s also unafraid of biting self-reflection that leaves her own contradictions out in the open. In rap, where it’s so often about seeming indestructible, hanging yourself out to dry is a gutsy move.” // From wikipedia: Fatimah Nyeema Warner was born September 18, 1991. She is known professionally as Noname (pronounced “no name”), and is an American rapper, poet, and record producer. Since 2019, she has run the Noname Book Club, which focuses on radical texts by authors of color. She is also one-third of the musical supergroup Ghetto Sage with fellow rappers Smino and Saba. // Noname began rapping and performing slam poetry in 2010, and gained wider recognition in 2013 for her appearance on the track “Lost” from Chance the Rapper’s mixtape Acid Rap. Noname released her debut mixtape, Telefone, on July 31, 2016, to critical acclaim. Her debut album, Room 25, was released on September 14, 2018, and received further critical acclaim. // Noname grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. She was raised by her grandparents until she was in middle school. Her grandparents were entrepreneurs, as was her mother, who owned Afrocentric Bookstore. When she returned to live with her mother, she had a new sibling and she and her mother did not get along. // As a teenager, she listened to blues musicians Buddy Guy and Howlin’ Wolf, and spent time in her mother’s bookstore. She started writing poetry after taking a creative writing class in high school. As a teen, she spent time in the YOUMedia project, a space for young artists to create and network then based at the Harold Washington Library. There, she befriended many local talents, including Chance the Rapper. // Noname’s interest in poetry led her to compete in local open mics and slam poetry competitions; she took third place in Chicago’s annual Louder Than a Bomb competition. Noname then started to freestyle rap with friends, collaborating with local Chicago artists including Chance the Rapper, Saba, and Mick Jenkins. // In 2013, she appeared on Chance the Rapper’s second mixtape, Acid Rap, contributing a verse to the track “Lost” and singing the chorus. She later contributed a verse to the song “Finish Line/Drown” from Chance the Rapper’s 2016 mixtape Coloring Book. In December 2016, she appeared with Chance the Rapper on Saturday Night Live. She announced her first tour on November 13, 2016. // In 2014, she was featured on Mick Jenkins’s mixtape The Waters, contributing to the track “Comfortable”. In 2015, she was featured on multiple tracks from Kirk Knight’s album Late Knight Special. That year, she also featured on fellow Chicago rapper Ramaj Eroc’s single “I Love You More”. // Noname first used the stage name “Noname Gypsy”, which she chose as a teenager when she was transitioning from poetry to music, believing “gypsies were very nomadic, just not about staying in one space for a long time”. In March 2016, she removed “Gypsy” from her stage name after learning of its racial connotation, saying she had been unaware of its negative connotations and did not want to offend Romani people. In a 2016 interview with The Fader, she explained her current stage name, following the change: “I try to exist without binding myself to labels. I’m not really into labels at all, even the way I dress; I usually don’t wear anything with a name brand. For me, not having a name expands my creativity. I’m able to do anything. Noname could potentially be a nurse. Noname could be a screenwriter. I’m not limited to any one category of art or other existence, on a more existential level.” // Noname released her first mixtape, Telefone, on July 31, 2016, after three years of production. Telefone publicized her new stage name through songs presented as open-ended telephone conversations. The album centers on important telephone conversations Noname has had. Her rap speaks of black women’s pain and highlights the struggles of growing up in Chicago. The album was originally released as a free download on Bandcamp, and then on vinyl in September 2017. Rolling Stone called it one of 2016’s “most thought-provoking hip-hop.” Stereogum wrote that Noname possessed “a potency and urgency in her complicated, spoken word-esque cadences and subdued delivery that escapes many of her more animated peers.” Consequence of Sound wrote that “the louder her music is played, the brighter her cadence glows, giving her lyrics a type of 3D craft that makes Telefone a diary of lessons too relevant to keep to yourself.” // In October 2016, Noname and fellow Chicago resident Saba collaborated to produce “Church/Liquor Store”, a song that explores the Westside of Chicago, where liquor stores sit directly next to places of worship. Noname critiques the gentrification of the neighborhood and the erasure of crime believed to accompany it. // Noname performed a NPR Tiny Desk Concert in April 2017.]
  1. Jungle – “Back On 74 (Radio Edit)”
    from: Volcano / AWAL Recordings / August 11, 2023
    [Jungle are back in 2023 with their new album Volcano. This record builds upon the success of the 2021 album Loving in Stereo, which was met with critical and commercial success, becoming one of the most acclaimed albums of the year. With Volcano, Jungle has once again proven themselves to be one of the most exciting and innovative artists in electronic music. With the infusion of disco, soul and hip-hop elements, Jungle continues to push the boundaries of their sound, creating an uplifting and free-spirited album which is sure to be one of the highlights of the year, solidifying the duo’s status as one of the most important voices in contemporary music. // Jungle’s journey began in Tom McFarland’s bedroom in London, where he and childhood friend Joshua Lloyd-Watson began experimenting with music production. With a passion for creating soulful, funky beats and an affinity for live instrumentation, the duo quickly developed a unique sound that would set them apart from their contemporaries. Jungle’s music quickly gained traction, and they soon found themselves performing at some of the most prestigious music festivals and venues around the world. // The Mercury Prize-nominated, Gold-certified debut and 2018’s follow-up For Ever both entered the UK Top 10. Loving in Stereo then amplified Jungle’s success further, reaching number 3 in the UK charts, whilst rocketing to #1 in the US Billboard Dance Album Chart. These three records have since amassed over 1,000,000 equivalent album sales and gained over a billion streams. From the confines of Tom’s bedroom, Jungle is about to embark on its next journey with the release of Volcano, a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and hard work. // With Volcano, Jungle are expanding their sound even further, with more innovative and forward thinking production. From intricate and complex beats to soaring synths and soulful melodies, this record is testament to Jungle’s skill as producers and their ability to create music that is both timeless and modern. Collaboration is a key feature of this album, with legendary artists such as Roots Manuva, Erick the Architect, Channel Tres and Bas all appearing across the record.]
  1. Little Dragon – “Tumbling Dice”
    from: Slugs of Love / Ninja Tune / July 7, 2023
    [Little Dragon, the much-loved Grammy-nominated Swedish band have released their new album Slugs Of Love via Ninja Tune. They have also announced a 13-date headline tour across North America this fall, with stops in NYC, LA, SF, Chicago and many more. // Consisting of school friends Erik Bodin (drums and percussion), Fredrik Wallin (bass), Håkan Wirenstarnd (keyboards) and Yukimi Nagano (vocals), the band have gone on to become one of the most consistent, respected and universally loved bands of recent times. Recorded in the musical oasis of their Gothenburg Studio — the same studio they have worked in for almost 20 years — on Slugs Of Love they bring their distinctive blend of soulful pop, electronics and R&B — all underpinned by lead singer Yukimi’s instantly recognisable vocals — to the fore across 11 tracks that encapsulate the full range of their diverse individual musical influences. // The new album features a guest turn from Damon Albarn (Gorillaz/Blur) on “Glow”, a “slow dripping glittery ride to a daydream in wonderland” and a collaboration with respected East Atlanta rapper JID (who is signed with J. Cole’s Dreamville label) on the previously released single “Stay”, a song which charts the ups and downs of a relationship. The latest in the band’s long history of high-profile collaborations which has included working with the likes of Kali Uchis, KAYTRANADA, Brittany Howard, Flying Lotus, BADBADNOTGOOD, Moses Sumney, Kelsey Lu, Gorillaz, Big Boi (OutKast), SBTRKT, Yo-Yo Ma and many more. They additionally count the likes of SZA, Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, Diplo, Flume, Ava DuVerney, Ali Wong, Syd, Disclosure, LaKeith Stanfield, The xx and many more as fans, a further attestation to their status as one of the most influential bands of their era. // The album’s official single “Tumbling Dice”, is a track that urges the listener to savor the time they have, to “cheers for this moment, for this life” and a reminder to “celebrate every breath, we will be gone in a flash.”Other standout singles include “Gold”, “a reflection on the riches that money can’t buy,” that sees the band refract pop hits of the 90’s and 00’s; “Kenneth” (a soulful, lo-fi tribute to a childhood friend. “It’s about friendship and love”) and titular single “Slugs Of Love” (a joyous, upbeat track which the band say they imagine “being played by a bunch of youngsters with rubberboots in different sparkling colors”) with both tracks arriving alongside official videos from animation studio Unlimited Time Only (who have previously worked with Khruangbin, Leon Bridges, Teva and more) for a stunning and playful video to accompany the track. // Their previous full-length album, New Me, Same Us, was released on Ninja Tune in 2020 and lauded by the likes of the New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, The Guardian, Mixmag, Crack Magazine and many more, with the band also joining NPR Music for an intimate Tiny Desk (Home) Concert filmed at their long-term home-built studio in Gothenburg, Sweden. Entirely self-produced and recorded at the pioneering Swedish band’s studio, the album hit #5 on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart in the US, with Mixmag calling it “a futuristic record bursting with lush textures and elevated by lead singer Yukimi Nagano’s sublime vocals” and the Guardian finding them on “on deliciously soulful form”. They followed up the release with their “New Me, Same Us Remix EP” which featured the likes of Midland, Octo Octa, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Ela Minus and many more. // They most recently completed an eventful tour across the US and Canada alongside Leon Bridges, playing to a total of 185K people at iconic venues including The Forum (LA), Forest Hills (NYC) and Scotiabank Arena (Toronto). The tour almost didn’t happen though, when a week before they were due to fly out, their driver disappeared with their deposit. “It started as a normal tour, with two buses and drivers, and ended with a lawsuit and various minivans. We had to consider canceling the tour, or finding solutions on the go. In the end we decided to try, and thanks to our amazing team, we succeeded, we couldn’t have done it without them.”]

11:00 – Station ID

  1. Making Movies – “Medicina”
    from: “Medicina” – Single / Independent / July 20, 2023
    [Latin Grammy nominated band Making Movies latest single. For this recording.“Medicina” is an anthemic, cumbia-rock cut that immediately grabs you as soon as you hear the opening distorted guitar riff. Composer: Enrique Javier Chi. Produced by: Ben Yonas. Recorded by: Enrique Javier Chi, Diego Samuel Chi, Juan-Carlos Chaurand, and Duncan Burnett. Mixer: David Simon-Baker. Masterer: John Baldwin // Enrique Chi on lead vocals & electric guitar; Duncan Burnett on drums & background vocals, Diego Chi on bass, synthesizer & background vocals; Juan-Carlos Chaurand on percussion & background vocals. Horn Arrangement: Asdru Sierra. Trombone: Adam Theis. Recording Studio: Memphis Magnetic Recording Co. Recording Engineer: Ben Yonas & Scott McEwen. Assistant Engineers: Omar Ruiz, Owen Reece, Felipe Villegas, Miguel Pons] [Most recently Making Movies released XOPA through Cosmica Artists on June 17, 2022. XOPA and was recorded in Memphis, produced by Ben Yonas and mixed by Tchad Blake. More info at: http://www.makingmovies.world. Making Movies is a KCbased 4-piece band and made up of : Enrique Chi on guitar and lead vocals; Diego Chi on bass & vocals; Juan-Carlos Chaurand on percussion & keyboards; and Duncan Burnett on drums. The band draws their influences from the origins of their families: Santiago, Panama, and KC Missouri, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Making Movies released the 5-song EP, EN VIVO (SIN APLAUSO) on February 4, 2022. Prior to that, Making Movies released the 6-track EP BORING BITS, on May 7, 2021, which includes their single “La Marcha.” On February 5, the band released a sneak peek of the new music they’ve been working on. The 7-song, La Cuarentena EP includes a brand new version of the first Making Movies song, “La Marcha” and the lullaby “Could You?” (both mixed by Jim Eno of Spoon and tracked at Memphis Magnetic studio), and the love ballad “Una Vida.” The EP was ranked #25 inWMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2021. The EP also includes: covers of Talking Heads and Tears for Fears classics, plus bonus live acoustic tracks. This EP was made available on BandCamp for only three days on February 5 through February 7, 2021. Since then it has been made private, an is not available anywhere. Making Movies released their single “Could You” on January 12, 2021. About “Could You” lead singer Enrique Javier Chi wrote, “I was thinking about what to share for “Could You?” and I just go back to the fact that Memphis is a profound place… it is a place where you can feel what America truly is and where it comes from. I think you see and feel the reality that so much of this nation was built from exploiting people. You can see that our pop culture is driven by the Black community and yet that community is still the most oppressed in the nation. Things are still so messed up. // Memphis is the place where Elvis started singing black music with a country twang and where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. It’s a beautiful place, it’s a charming place, it feels at times downtrodden and it’s a place that reminds me of home (both KC and Panamá in different ways. Our experiences going to Memphis gave us the context to create “Could You?” It was filmed originally for AMERI’KANA TV..” Making Movies released their critically acclaimed album ameri’kana through 3/2 Recordings on May 24, 2019. This was #1 on WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. Produced by Steve Berlin and Ben Yonas. The notes for this album read: “ameri’kana is a canary in a coal mine, the watchman at the tower. It is a desire to remember where we come from and assure that we better ourselves in every step along our journey. Every chapter is an example, a reason to not be silent and not accept corrupt leaders as something inevitable. ameri’kana is based on faith, faith that every person on this continent carries within themselves the ability to grow, to awaken their consciousness and merits of the same rights. We were accomplices to get ourselves to this point so we will have to be accomplices in the solutions.” This was the band’s follow up release to their critically acclaimed, I Am Another You, released May 26, 2017. The quartet has toured with Arcade Fire, Thievery Corporation, Cold War Kids, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Tennis, Sergio Mendoza of Calexico, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Enrique Chi joined WMM on May 19, 2021.]

[Making Movies presents Celebrate AMERI’KANA Pre-Party. Saturday, September 9, at 6:00 PM at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue KCMO WEST BOTTOMS. On the ALL ELSE THE SEA stage: AMERI’KANA All Stars Featuring: Enrique Chi, Diego Chi, Duncan Burnett, Juan Carlos Chaurand, Trevor Turla, Parranderos Latin Combo, Itzel Sanchez, and Sin Tope. On the SHIP original lounge – Art As Mentorship All-Stars Stage includes alumni, staff, mentors, and friends of Art as Mentorship, (a nonprofit that runs free songwriting camps for young artists in Kansas City), featuring: Super Motto, Regina Sanchez, Daniel Gum, Beatrix, Malek Azreal, Jack Summers, and Anna Koffler. Part of the ¡Viva El Barco! ~ Latino Love Aboard The Ship collection – Making Movies presents Celebrate AMERI’KANA Pre-Party. Join us for a cultural dance party to celebrate the success of Art as Mentorship, a non profit organization bringing arts programming to the community.]

[Making Movies curates Celebrate AMERI’KANA, September 10, 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Concourse Park, 200 South Benton Blvd, KCM, in the Historic Northeast Neighborhood.. The line-up includes Los Texmaniacs, Making Movies, Dos Santos, The Salvation Choir, Talibah Safiya, Parranderos Latin Combo, Kate Cosentino, Trevor Turla, Rebel Song Academy, and more. Celebrate AMERI’KANA is a FREE day-long, music and arts festival that celebrates the Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Immigrant heroes of American music. The festival also includes the Mercado, an international open air market, from 1pm-6pm. It will feature local artists, creators, growers, and small businesses. Celebrate AMERI’KANA supports Art as Mentorship, a Kansas City non-profit that empowers young artists to write their own success stores.]

11:03 – Interview with Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming

Scott Easterday is a singer – songwriter and founder of the KC band, Expassionates with Scott Easterday on guitar & vocals, Marco Pascolini on guitar, Richard Burgess on bass, Sam Platt on drums. They released the critically acclaimed album, Landscapes in 2008. This lineup started in 2006 but over the years there have been other groups of musicians that have appeared as part of Expassionates for various concerts and a studio recording that predates this current group who released the album Verse, Chorus, Bridge in 1998. Scott was part of the band Easterday from 1993-1995, The Roosevelts (with Richard Alwyn) from 1991-1993, and The Mongol Beach Party from 1989-1991. // Scott Easterday served as Board President, Board Secretary, Website Administrator from 2009-2022, and Volunteer from 2009-2022. // Scott Easterday was also the local Host for the KC Chapter of The Love Hangover from 2008 to 2022. He booked Abigail Henderson & Chris Meck for the first KC Love Hangover at Davey’s Uptown in 2008.

Cody Wyoming is a multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, composer, band leader, actor, director, record producer and performer who has been a part of Kansas City’s Music and Entertainment community since the mid 1990s. He has performed in, and directed several local theater productions, but is mostly known for having played in well over two dozen bands over the last three decades, including: The Philistines, the Pedaljets, The Guillotine Choir, WYCO, The Afterparty and The Cody Wyoming Deal. The Philistines are returning after a lengthy hiatus this year with their long awaited sophomore album Dysnomia. Which they hope to release this fall. The Cody Wyoming Deal, is an outfit known for playing classic albums in their entirety. Last April, The Deal has teamed up with Kate McCandless of She Speaks in Tongues to perform Patti Smith’s Easter” on Easter Sunday at recordbar,. Cody and The Deal amnd She Speaks in Tounges are collaborating an a new show performing PJ Harvey’s TO BRING YOU MY LOVE, Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:00 PM at The Brick.

Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming join us to share details about Expassionates performing the songs of Abigail Henderson’s band Tiny Horse and their acclaimed EP, DARKLY SPARKLY. Originally released March 4, 2013 with Abigail Henderson on vocals & acoustic guitar; Christopher Meck on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, & backing vocals; Cody Wyoming on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards & backing vocals; Zach Phillips on bass, Matt Richey on drums & percussion, with songs written by Abby. Abigail Henderson died August 27, 2013, at the age of 36, from breast cancer. Abby’s passion for music and justice fueled her desire to create the not-profit organization, Midwest Music Foundation, which provides funds to area musicians in need of emergency medical care.

Expassionates will perform the songs from the Tiny Horse recording, DARKLY SPARKLY live at recordBar, 1520 Grand, Ave, KCMO, Sunday, September 10, at 7:00 PM, to benefit Midwest Music Foundation. More info at: http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming, thanks for being with us on WMM

Expassionates are Scott Easterday is a singer – songwriter and founder of the KC band, Expassionates with Scott Easterday on guitar & vocals, Marco Pascolini on guitar, Richard Burgess on bass, Sam Platt on drums. They released the critically acclaimed album, Landscapes in 2008.

This lineup started in 2006 but over the years there have been other groups of musicians that have appeared as part of Expassionates for various concerts and a studio recording that predates this current group who released the album Verse, Chorus, Bridge in 1998.

Scott was part of the band Easterday from 1993-1995, The Roosevelts (with Richard Alwyn) from 1991-1993, and The Mongol Beach Party from 1989-1991.

Scott Easterday served as Board President of the Midwest Music Foundation from 2016-2022, Board Secretary from 2014-2016, Website Administrator from 2009-2022, and Volunteer from 2009-2014.

Scott Easterday played The Love Hangover in Brooklyn, NY in 2007, produced by Richard Alwyn, The Love Hangover is a multi-city showcase of duos & small groups performing love songs of all sorts on the day after Valentine’s Day.

Scott became the Local Host for the KC Chapter of The Love Hangover in 2008. He booked Abigail Henderson & Chris Meck for the first KC Love Hangover at Davey’s Uptown in 2008.

Expassionates will perform the songs from the Tiny Horse recording, DARKLY SPARKLY live at recordBar, 1520 Grand, Ave, KCMO, Sunday, September 10, at 7:00 PM, to benefit Midwest Music Foundation. More info at: http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

Expassionates “History”: http://www.scotteasterday.com http://www.scotteasterday.com/expassionates
Recordings:
Verse, Chorus, Bridge (1998)
Landscapes (2008) http://www.expassionates.bandcamp.com/album/landscapes

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

The Love Hangover Local KC Chapter Host http://www.thelovehangover.com

The Love Hangover is produced by Richard Alwyn, Brooklyn, NYC. It’s a multi-city showcase of duos & small groups performing love songs of all sorts the day after Valentine’s Day.

Scott played The Love Hangover in Brookly, NY in 2007, and then became the Local Host for the Kansas City Chapter in 2008. Scott booked Abigail Henderson & Chris Meck for the first KC Love Hangover at Davey’s Uptown in 2008.

Also in 2008 Scott played The Love Hangover with long time partner Elaine McMilian. Elaine & Scott had a singing duo called Ballhog & Tugboat that performed from the early 1990s into the early 2000s. Elaine & Scott were in the band Easterday from 1993-1995.

2024 will be the 25th Anniversary of The Love Hangover at the recordBar. In 2023 Scott handed over the Local Host-ship to Steve Tulipana at the recordBar

Notes of interest:

**Scott asked Chris Meck if he had a copy of the lyrics for Tiny Horse, Darkly Sparkly and he said he did not. My friend and Producer of the Love Hangover, Richard Alwyn, owns a transcription company in NY so I sent them the CD and he and one of his staff transcribed the lyrics that I will be singing at the show.

**Scott asked Cody Wyoming to join him on Midday Medley because he was in Tiny Horse along with Abigail Henderson-guitar and vocal, Chris Meck-guitar, Matt Richey-drums and Zach Philips-bass.

WMM’s Abigail Henderson Bio

While walking into the KKFI Studios in 2008, Abigail Henderson once told Mark, “We like to think of this as OUR show.”

We first played “Ride” on WMM on October 31, 2012, when Abigail Henderson was a guest on our show to promote Apocalypse Meow 5 at The Beaumont Club. Abigail Henderson was a frequent guest on WMM especially from 2008 to 2013.

Chris Meck & Abigail Henderson as Tiny Horse, were a big part of our July 11, 2012 “Story in A Song” LIVE at the recordbar where Abigail Henderson sang “Close to You” and Chris Meck sang the Velvet Underground song, “That’s The Story of My Life” as well as Bowie’s “TVC15.”

11:11

  1. Tiny Horse – “Ride”
    from: Darkly Sparkly [EP] / Flyover Records / Mar. 4, 2013
    [Outside of the band, we were the first to hear the debut EP release from Abigail Henderson and Christopher Lynn Meck. In our opinion, Abigails voice remains one of the most honest and moving voices in KC music scene, Chris Meck’s guitar sings too. Cody Wyoming-baritone guitar, guitar, keys, Zachary Phillips-bass guitar, Matt Richey-drums, percussion ]

11:16 – More interview with Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming

Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming join us to share details about Expassionates will perform the songs from the Tiny Horse recording, DARKLY SPARKLY live at recordBar, 1520 Grand, Ave, KCMO, Sunday, September 10, at 7:00 PM, to benefit Midwest Music Foundation. More info at: http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming, thanks for being with us on WMM

WMM’s Abigail Henderson mini Biography by Mark

Abigail Henderson was known for her bands: Trouble Junction, The Gaslights, Atlantic Fadeout, and Tiny Horse. Abigail Henderson is a songwriter, musician, activist, & survivor. After non-stop touring, recording, & promoting, she was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. That year, The Apocalypse Meow Fund was created by Abby’s friends & fellow musicians, who rallied around her and raised money to help her with the enormous hospital bills. Abigail has spent the last 5 years working to create a permanent net for musicians in the area and Apocalypse Meow is now an annual event to help raise funds for the Musicians Health Care Fund for Artists living and working in the KC area. The Foundation aims to create mechanisms where Musicians, Live Sound Engineers, Music Club Employees, and Recording Engineers can gain affordable access to health care.

Friend, a musician, an activist, a singer, a songwriter, an organizer, a founder, a rock & roller, a warrior, a voice, a beauty, a daughter, a wife. Abigail Henderson’s Obituary, was published in the KC Star on August 31, 2013.

Abigail Hope Henderson Meck, 36, died Aug. 27, 2013 at her home in Kansas City after a five-year battle with cancer. Abigail was born April 8, 1977, in New York. In 1984, she moved to a suburb of Detroit. In 1999, she moved to KC to live with her mother, Carol Pfander, who preceded her in death. Abigail attended the UMKC. She graduated in 2002 with a bachelor of arts in English. While at UMKC, she was co-founder and co-director of the Association of Women Students. The association sponsored several events, including an appearance by Angela Davis, a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” and a “Take Back the Night” vigil. After college, she also helped organize “Beauty Slays the Beast,” a benefit for political-activism and voter awareness. While in college, Abigail started playing guitar. In 2001, she started her first band, Trouble Junction.

Trouble Junction released Trial By Fire in 2003. The songs were recorded in Spring 2003. Trouble Junction were: Abigail Henderson, guitar & vocals; Mike Stover, guitar; Jeff Williams, bass; and John Bersuch, drums. (Allison Seidner played cello on “Virginia.”) This music was recorded and mixed by John Velghe who told me that when Abigail unleashed her powerful voice in his home studio, plaster fell from the ceiling.

In the fall of 2003, singer/songwriter Abigail Henderson and guitarist Chris Meck got together and started writing songs. They confessed that their first songs were “pretty country…pretty… cow-punkish.” Mike Stover wrote on facebook that, “Trouble Junction had to end so that Abigail could start the next chapters.” In 2003, Abigail started the band The Gaslights with Chris Meck, who would later become her husband. The Gaslights recorded five albums, releasing three of them.

Anne Winter was instrumental in nudging me into working on many great projects and shows. I started doing this radio program the same year The Gaslights released their debut recording. Prominently displayed on the New Releases shelf at Recycled Sounds, Anne’s record store, it was Anne encouraged me to check out The Gaslights first release, “Midwest Hotel.”

The Gaslights released The Midwest Hotel on Flyover Records in 2004 with Abigail Henderson on vocals & guitar; Chris Meck on guitars & vocals; Glen Hockemeir on drums & percussion; Monty Black on bass guitar; and Clarke Wyatt on Wurlitzer.

The Gaslights toured & recorded from 2004 to 2008. After 9 bass players, 3 drummers, 2 vans, 1 dead moose, 1 impromptu marriage, countless tours of the United States, 3 tours in Europe, 3 full length releases. The Gaslights ended.

In early 2008, Abigail was diagnosed with Stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer. In response to her battle with a health insurance company and daunting medical bills, she and others in the music community founded the Midwest Music Foundation, a group that sponsors health care programs and provides financial relief to local musicians who have suffered a health care crisis. Since 2009, the MMF has distributed thousands of dollars in health-care grants. Abigail also founded Apocalypse Meow, an annual fundraiser for the MMF.

Doing this radio show has taught me about the growing & fertile KC Music Scene. Abigail was always fostering the community, as a songwriter & performer, but also as an organizer. A frequent guest on WMM, she came on the air to talk about Apocalypse Meow & The MidCoast Takeover. On one of her earliest appearances, Abigail told me,”We think of this as OUR radio show.” She was right. In fact, 90.1 FM, belongs to all of us. She knew that.

In 2010, Abigail & Chris formed: Atlantic Fadeout with Dutch Humphrey on bass, vocals; and Amy Farrand on drums. Abigail had lost her hair, but not her power. Anyone who saw Atlantic Fadeout live, could not deny the spirit in her performance. Like opera, you felt the song, because Abigail imprinted her lyrics into your heart, with the strength of her voice.

Atlantic Fadeout released Better Run of Bad Luck on Flyover Records on May 23, 2011 featuring: the great…Abigail Henderson on lead vocals and guitar; Chris Meck lead guitar, steel guitar, vocals; Dutch Humphrey on bass, vocals; and Amy Farrand on drums. The new band was created from the ashes of The Gaslights, combined with the super powers of Amy Farrand who plays bass in American Catastrophe (and many other bands) and Dutch Humphrey who sings lead in Cherokee Rock Rifle.

Abigail had undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy treatments. In January 2012 her cancer reappeared and she tried an experimental treatment. As reported in the KC Star, “She took a last-ditch experimental drug and recovered, but not unscathed. The cancer had paralyzed one of her vocal cords. Still, she did not give up her music. Instead, she and Meck started Tiny Horse, a folk duo that would grow into a full band.” She told The Star in October, 2012, just days before the 5th annual Apocalypse Meow, “I used to nail notes to the walls, I can’t do that anymore. I had to find a different path. It’s like a guitar player who loses fingers: You can still play, you just have to figure out how to do it differently.”

In addition to her mother, Abigail was preceded in death by her father, Frank Henderson, who died in 2007. Abigail is survived by her husband and many friends and music fans in the KC and Lawrence area. A memorial in her honor was held Sat, Aug. 31, at Unity Temple on The Plaza. After the services, a wake was held that lasted until the sunrise.

You can honor Abigail’s work and her music by donating to the Midwest Music Foundation. For more information you can visit: http://www.MidwestMusicFound.org

In 2013 Abigail Henderson and Chris Meck released the beautiful EP, “Darkly Sparkly” from their most recent band: Tiny Horse. Abigail’s final live performance in Kansas City was at Knuckleheads on July 11, 2013 when Tiny Horse opened for the BoDeans.

Abigail Hope Henderson Meck, your life was cut short, way too early, but in the last 10 years you did more than many will do in 60 years, and you have left us better off than we were before you were here. We will keep your light shining

Scott Easterday & Cody Wyoming, thanks for being with us on WMM

Expassionates will perform the songs from the Tiny Horse recording, DARKLY SPARKLY live at recordBar, 1520 Grand, Ave, KCMO, Sunday, September 10, at 7:00 PM, to benefit Midwest Music Foundation. More info at: http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

11:27

  1. Tiny Horse – “Wind and Rain”
    from: Darkly Sparkly [EP] / Flyover Records / Mar. 4, 2013
    [Outside of the band, we were the first to hear the debut EP release from Abigail Henderson and Christopher Lynn Meck. In our opinion, Abigails voice remains one of the most honest and moving voices in KC music scene, Chris Meck’s guitar sings too. Cody Wyoming-baritone guitar, guitar, keys, Zachary Phillips-bass guitar, Matt Richey-drums, percussion ]

11:30 – Underwriting

  1. Carswell & Hope – “Lo/Behold”
    from: Sign Of The Times / Silly Goose Records / August 30, 2022
    [Recorded and produced by Jason Slote and Nick Carswell. Mixed and mastered by Joel Nanos at Element Recording Studios. Lawrence KS based 5-piece band formed June 25, 2012. The band is: Nick Carswell, Jason Slote, Austin Quick, Chris Handley, and Jordan Tucker. Songwriter Nick Carswell is originally from Ireland and has found a new home on the plains of Kansas.Songwriter Nick Carswell is originally from Limerick, Ireland, Nick Carswell has been living in Lawrence, KS since 2011. He formed Carswell & Hope in late 2012. The band released their debut album in 2014, coinciding with a two week Irish tour. Nick also plays bass in the electro-pop band Pink Royal and is the force behind Silly Goose Records and the annual Mix-Master music conference.]. http://www.carswellandhope.bandcamp.com]

11:35 – Interview with Nick Carswell & Fally Afani

Songwriter Nick Carswell is originally from Limerick, Ireland, Nick Carswell has been living in Lawrence, KS since 2011 with his growing family. Nick formed Carswell & Hope in late 2012. The band released their debut album in 2014, coinciding with a two week Irish tour. Carswell and Hope released the EP, EXIT PLAN in 2018. Carswell & Hope released SIGN OF THE TIMES, on August 30, 2022. Nick has also played bass in the electro-pop band Pink Royal and is the force behind Silly Goose Records. Nick Carswell just finished a busy weekend playing with the KC Irish Fest.

Fally Afani is an award-winning journalist with a career spanning nearly 20 years in media. She has worked extensively in radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. She has received several Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards as well as an Edward R. Murrow award for her online work in journalism. Fally lives in Lawrence, Kansas, where she reports on local & touring musicians and is the editor & founder of, I Heart Local Music a comprehensive website providing info and place for music lovers in Lawrence to gather. It was started out of a deep love & appreciation for the local music scene. And has grown to produce a quarterly printed magazine. Fally is also the recipient of the Rocket Grant Award, which helped develop live music events for her community. As a straight ally she has almost single handedly resurrected Lawrence Pride and helped make it an institution. In 2015, a video she made detailing one second of her life every day gained national attention after it was featured on BuzzFeed and The Huffington Post. Fally Afani works as Communications Coordinator of The University of Kansas School of Music. She is married with two children. Fally’s family immigrated to the United States from Palestine. Fally Afani received her M.S. in Digital Content Strategy, University of Kansas, in 2021, and her B.S. in Journalism, University of Kansas, in 2003. For more information you can visit: http://www.iheartlocalmusic.com

Nick & Fally join us to share details about The Mixmaster 2023 Conference, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at The Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS, connecting music professionals with bookers, promoters, venues. This is the first in-person edition of the program since the pandemic, and the only music conference of its kind in the region. Conference schedule is available at http://www.mixmaster2023.com/program.

Nick Carswell & Fally Afani thanks for being with us on WMM.

MixMaster is presented by the Lawrence Music Alliance and supported by a Community Arts Grant from the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. Attendees can anticipate a rich and diverse selection of speakers, including locally renowned artists, producers, and industry experts. Panelists will share their valuable insights and experiences through a series of discussions and workshops on topics ranging from music production and artist development to marketing strategies.

Lawrence Music Alliance
http://www.lawrencemusicalliance.com

MixMaster Music Conference unveils speakers and schedule

Lawrence, Kansas – Mixmaster Music Conference is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated lineup. This all-encompassing FREE music conference will take place on Saturday, September 9, at the Lawrence Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., bringing together music enthusiasts and industry professionals for a day of knowledge sharing and networking.

This is the first in-person edition of the program since the pandemic, and the only music conference of its kind in the region. MixMaster is presented by the Lawrence Music Alliance and supported by a Community Arts Grant from the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission.

Attendees can anticipate a rich and diverse selection of speakers, including locally renowned artists, producers, and industry experts. Panelists will share their valuable insights and experiences through a series of discussions and workshops on topics ranging from music production and artist development to marketing strategies.

The conference schedule is now available at http://www.mixmaster2023.com/program, and promises a blend of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions. Topics are as follows:

What Works For Artists (Keynote Address with Erin McGrane) Sponsored by Mid-America Arts Alliance
Careers in Music
Get Booked, Get On Stage
Music Promotion: Growing Your Audience
Grant Funding for Music
Music Ecosystems with the Lawrence Music Alliance
Video Digital Content
Artivism (Art + Activism)
Sound+Vision Studio Tours
Audio Mixing Psychology
Audio in Film, TV, and Commercials
Two additional segments of the conference, the Demo Dip Workshop (with representatives from radio, media and music booking) and Networking Speed Sessions, will allow attendees to interact with and hear feedback from a live panel of experts.

“We are thrilled to present a diverse array of speakers and topics for this year’s Mixmaster Music Conference,” said Nick Carswell, conference founder and organizer. “Our goal is to provide a welcoming space for folks to share knowledge, learn from each other and connect, to benefit our creative economy and music industry.”

The conference is open to all individuals passionate about the music industry, regardless of their level of experience or expertise. Attendance is FREE; however, interested individuals are encouraged to register in advance at MixMaster2023.com to secure their spot.

About MixMaster:
The MixMaster Music Conference is an annual event dedicated to empowering individuals in the music industry. By bringing together musicians, industry professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs, MixMaster provides a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and career development. The conference is a program of the Lawrence Music Alliance and supported by the City of Lawrence, Kansas, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. For more information, please visit MixMaster2023.com.

About the Lawrence Music Alliance:
Our vision at the Lawrence Music Alliance is the vibrant and thriving music scene in Lawrence, Kansas, where musicians of all genres can flourish and engage with the community. Through our collaborative efforts with the city, we aim to promote and support the live music industry and ensure that Lawrence is recognized as a premier destination for music lovers everywhere.

Nick Carswell & Fally Afanithanks for being with us on WMM.

The Mixmaster 2023 Conference, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at The Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS, connecting music professionals with bookers, promoters, venues. This is the first in-person edition of the program since the pandemic, and the only music conference of its kind in the region. Conference schedule is available at http://www.mixmaster2023.com/program.

11:47

  1. Carswell & Hope – “On My Way”
    from: Sign Of The Times / Silly Goose Records / August 30, 2022
    [Originally released as a single October 25, 2019. New song from band with a new video. Last year on May 22, 2018 Carswell & Hope released the critically acclaimed EP Exit Plan with music by Carswell & Hope. Lyrics by Nick Carswell. Produced & mixed by Jason Slote & Nick Carswell. Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper @ TurtleTone Studio NYC. Lawrence KS based 5-piece band formed June 25, 2012. The band is: Nick Carswell, Jason Slote, Austin Quick, Chris Handley, and Jordan Tucker. Songwriter Nick Carswell is originally from Limerick, Ireland and has found a new home on the plains of Kansas. Nick has been living in Lawrence, KS since 2011. He formed Carswell & Hope in late 2012. The band released their debut album in 2014, coinciding with a two week Irish tour. Nick also plays bass in the electro-pop band Pink Royal and is the force behind Silly Goose Records and the annual MixMaster music conference.]
  1. Static Phantoms – “Something Bright”
    from: “Something Bright” – Single / The Record Machine / September 22, 2023
    [Static Phantoms’ synth pop single “Something Bright” is like the soundtrack of a lost John Hughes film, weaving bubbling synthesizers and dreamy guitars around lyrics that describe a main character who’s lost but whom we love despite it. The track is both melancholy and hopeful, dreamy and driving, a dance song for the long gone. // Is the Pandemic a fever-dream? Was it just a missing span of the calendar? A worm-hole? What would the soundtrack for these missing years be like? Would it be dark and gloomy, bright and hopeful….or, both? STATIC PHANTOMS was born out of that very question. // Dedric Moore and Krysztof Nemeth (the brain trust behind STATIC PHANTOMS) were convinced that a studio project would be a perfect opportunity to pass the time and get creative by exploring the music and themes of a different age of anxiety-driven pop: the New Wave music of the 1980s. If you know the two musicians and their respective projects (Monta, The Republic Tigers, Emmaline Twist), you know they are well-versed in ‘80s synths and guitars. But with this project, they wanted to be even more faithful to the decade. // As STATIC PHANTOMS, the duo takes their cues in production from beloved acts from the ’80s like The Glove, Tones on Tail, Tears For Fears, Soft Cell, and others that made sounds more extensive than the sum of their parts. They spent the dark days of the Pandemic creating songs that ran the gamut of guitar-driven anthems to more synth-laden sounds, from gothic meditations to lounge pop explorations. // “We wanted to pull out the sonic tricks that made the 80’s such a rich period of experimentation,” says Nemeth. ”New Wave and Pop Music were often created by duos or trios that utilized the studio to create a vibrant and massive sound from a minimal amount of core musicians.” // STATIC PHANTOMS sounds like an echo in time, yet firmly present in the now. // Static Phantoms released their debut 6-tack EP BATHED IN A BLUE LIGHT on November 11, 2022 through The Record Machine. Static Phantoms who are: Dedric Moore on synths, drum programming, backing vocals, & production; and Krysztof Nemeth on baritone guitar, bass, synths, lead vocals.. WMM premiered “Bathed in a Blue Light” on February 2, 2022. The first single from the EP, BATHED IN A BLUE LIGHT. Their 2nd single “Ghostwalk was released March 18, 2022.]

[Static Phantoms play Lemonade Social – Day 1, at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming Street, KCMO WEST BOTTOMS on Friday, September 8, at 7:00 PM with LYXE, Dress Warm, and Surf Wax]

  1. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
    from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]
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Next week on September 13 – Marion Merritt returns with new sonic discoveries and informanion form her musically encyclodedic brain, Plus KC Blues Society President Betty Berry joins us to talk about the International Blues Challenge on Saturday, September 16 at Knuckleheads.

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/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM

Show #1010