#1052 – June 26, 2024 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, June 26, 2024

WMM welcomes Zee Underscore + Miss Boating + The Talking Trees

  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. Kaia Kater – “The Witch (Feat. Aoife O’Donovan)”
    from: Strange Medicine / Kaia Kater – Free Dirt Records / May 17, 2024
    [Kaia Kater’s new album, Strange Medicine, opens with a haunting vision. Accompanied by Aoife O’Donovan, Kater sings of the women burned at the stake as witches in 17th century Salem, Massachusetts and their wish to strike back: “I dreamt I moved through you and / Burned my name into your chest”. It’s an opening salvo from an album that celebrates the power of women and oppressed people throughout history as they rise up and turn the poison of centuries of oppression into a strange kind of medicine. Kater’s songs are dialogues with these historical figures and meditations on her own modern life as well. In the years since her 2018 album, Grenades, on Smithsonian Folkways, Kater has taken time to reinvent herself and hone her skills, first attending film school to learn composition, then diving deeper into her songwriting to come up with her most personal album yet. Feeling the pressure as a talented young songwriter, banjo player, and bandleader with three successful albums and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert under her belt, Kater struggled initially with the expectations of her adopted genre, Americana. “I was factoring everybody else’s perception into my songwriting,” she says. “Would I write more honestly if I knew that no one would ever hear this?” With that in mind, Kater retreated to her apartment in Montréal. Sitting at home with her banjo, the songs unfolded in personal intimacy, revealing windows into the perspective of women and revolutionaries through history. Co-producing with Joe Grass (Elisapie, The Barr Brothers), Kater invited close friends and colleagues O’Donovan and Allison Russell to sing on the album, along with longtime hero and American legend Taj Mahal. With lush arrangements and unexpected musical ideas drawn from genres as surprising as minimalist composition, jazz drumming, and film scores, Strange Medicine is the bold next step in Kater’s career. It’s an album made beyond the white gaze of Americana, unbeholden to a music industry that so often tokenizes and silences marginalized voices, a Black Feminist perspective on a genre that refuses to cede power to Black women. // Kaia Kate writes: “I specifically wanted to write about the way men historically have branded women as temptresses, harlots, sirens and shrews, and then sought to reflect this visually – the letter A for adulteress, the burning of flesh to symbolize evil. The first woman labeled a witch in Salem was a Black woman by the name of Tituba. Usually these women died nameless and scorned. In my narrative, the woman who is branded a witch and burned at the stake survives her pilgrim’s punishment, and now seeks her revenge on those who sought to destroy her.” // “One of Americana’s most thoughtful and inventive artists returns after six years with a meditation on those who’ve survived and thrived against marginalization and oppression.” – Ann Powers, NPR Music]
  1. Foxlin – “Moonlight”
    from: Camper / Foxlin / February 6, 2024
    [Along this 5-song EP, Foxlin also released the 5-track EP, Jekyll&Hyde&Seek on April 19, 2024, and the single. “Losing My Mind on June 7, 2024. // Foxlin is therapy for an artist in KCMO with incurable cancer unable to find a meaning to life. // Foxlin is the solo project of Ryan Johnson based in KCMO. Diagnosed with incurable cancer and Borderline Personality Disorder along with a lifetime of suicidal ideation, he perseveres through his music & lyrics spreading his tale in search of meaning.

[Foxlin, with a full band, are playing The Rino, 314 Armour Rd., North Kansas City on Friday, June 28, at 7:00pm with Mr. Golden Sun, and Starling. Foxling will be recording a live EP! Foxling also arranged to have three different therapists at The Rino to give music fans an opportunity to talk with the therapists and see if you9 might be compatible with a therapist.]

[Foxlin, with a full band, play miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, Saturday, June 20, 2024 at 7:00pm with Talking Backwards, The Mesmerists, and Rachel Is Kozi]

  1. Charlotte Bumgarner – “Never Say”
    from: “Never Say” – Single / Manor Records / June 14, 2024
    [Written by Charlotte Bumgarner. Produced by Kendal Osborne and Charlotte Bumgarner. Acoustic guitar by Charlotte Bumgarner, drums by Ramsey Thornton, violin by Olivia McGraw, piano by Max Helmrich, cello and bass by Matt Magerkurth, electric guitar by Kendall Osborne. Cover art by Emma Davenport. // Charlotte Bumgarner released the single, “Red With Love” on March 28, 2021. Charlotte Bumgarner released the single “Haunted House” on January 22, 2021 / Charlotte Bumgarner released the single, “Honey Touch” on December 11, 2020. All were written & performed by Charlotte Bumgarner, with harmony, synth, production, mixing & mastering by Drew Richardson.. // Charlotte is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Tulsa. She has been playing the local Tulsa scene for about 2-3 years as a solo artist and for about a year with her band Graveyard Party. Charlotte’s sound can be described as a mix of many influences, but is mostly a emo singer/songwriter & folky fusion. Charlotte is also a big activist for female equality & rights and tries to integrate that into my songwriting and my footprint in the scene in general.// In 2018 Charlotte began self-recording and releasing her own music with the single “where are you” and night blooming flowers EP. From then on Charlotte continued playing throughout the local Tulsa scene as well as branching out and touring regionally as much as possible. KOSU Radio called Charlotte a “passionate about young women being taken seriously and making the music scene a safer place for everyone.” More info at http://www.manorrecords.com]
  1. Draper Family Band & Brandon Draper – “Fall On Your Sword”
    from: Draper Family Band / Looking Up Productions / May 3, 2024
    [The Draper Family Band comprises decades of familial experience in music as well as a wealth of professional experience that has served them well as a live band and has now resulted in a debut self-titled album. At the center of the band are Hammond B3 and keyboardist Paul Draper (an inductee of the KS Music Hall of Fame) and his son, Brandon Draper, who is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, educator, and songwriter. Both are known for working across genres and cultural traditions, which brings an even wider scope of possibilities to the work they play and record together. // Their debut self-titled album has both the energy and excitement of original compositions and the satisfaction of completing unfinished business, since a number of songs had been building up over a period of years without a clear outlet for release until now. Inventive, and often combining instruments that don’t commonly mesh, the album draws on jazz, blues, and rock traditions, as well as many others. I spoke with Brandon Draper about his multi-faceted life and work, and the ways in which this album has come together at the right time for the band. // Since moving to Kansas City in 2006, Drum Set artist, world percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Brandon Draper, has made a name for his himself for his fierce and amazing drum and musical performances and collaborations with Alaturka, Flamenco Mio, Quixotic Performance Ensemble, Brandon Draper Group, Paul Draper Band, Free Band Radio, and his acoustic project Organic Proof. As a freelance musician, Brandon has performed with DJ Logic, Particle, Donna Summer, Mose Allison, Mike Moreno, and Bobby Watson. Brandon recently performed in the critically acclaimed world premiere of the new hiphop musical “Venice” in Los Angeles, and premiered his original work “Bass Darabukas” with Quixotic and the Kansas City Symphony in Spring of 2011. Brandon Draper is part of the music faculty at the University of Kansas, he is percussion director at Shawnee Mission West High School, and serves as music director at Kansas City Academy. He holds a Bachelors degree in percussion performance from Bethany College, and a Masters of Music with distinction from the University of New Mexico. // Paul Draper spent his life as a sideman on countless recordings and tours beginning in 1964 playing Farfisa keyboard with the show/review band the Shampells. Know as “The Wildman” Paul has been stealing the spotlight for years with his Hammond Organ skills and stage presence. Paul has recorded with Jimmie Bratcher and Grammy Award winning producer Jim Gaines. Paul Draper makes his recording debut as a leader of the band, with his new, critically acclaimed, full length recording titled: Paul Draper Band, that was 5 years in the making and was produced by his son Brandon Draper. The two have been sharing the stage since Brandon was 9 years old. This recording features an array of styles of funk, blues, R&B, soul, country, & jazz. // On Dec. 1, 2012 Paul Draper Band released their self titled album.]

[Brandon Draper – Drummer/Producer/Educator & Patrick Alexander – Charlotte Street Programming Manager/Curator, have curated a lineup of drummers to showcase the rich tapestry of KC & celebrate the versatility of the drum kit as an instrument. GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME, is Fri, June 28, at 7:00pm at Charlotte Street Foundation Stern Theatre, 3333 Wyoming, KCMO as part of Charlotte Street’s in(SITE) series, and features 25 of KC’s most talented drummers, representing styles from Free Jazz to Bop, Latin to Afro-Beat, Fusion to Rock. Drummers include: Arnold Young, Doug Auwarter, Lisa McKenzie, John Kizilarmut, Tyree Johnson, Ryan Lee, Evan Verplough, Alaudin Ottinger, Doug Hitchcock, Duck McClane, and more, with a ribute to Leon Brady! Info at: http://www.charlottestreet.org]

  1. St. George & The Dragons – “Leave It All Up To You”
    from: “Leace It All Up To You” – Single / St. George & The Dragons / June 21, 2024
    [A band’s lifespan is on the average two years. But after two years, St. George & The Dragons is just getting started. After four years of writing, rehearsing, and recording, St. George & The Dragons are releasing their debut album – King Of Kansas City, a ten-song album of pure rock and roll influenced by late 70s rock like the Stones and Tom Petty. // The album’s theme comes from a time when Rock ‘n’ Roll ruled the airwaves. It’s about letting go and raising your hand high into the air with your middle finger out to the world as you move on to the next big thing in your life. // Their first single “Leave It All Up To You” will be available on all streaming services June 21! The full-length album will be out August 30 with the vinyl release in September on Grand Central Bell Records. // Lead singer David George (Moaning Lisa, John Fogerty band) has been working with drummer/engineer Pat Tomek (The Rainmakers) since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. They found it easy to work together and had similar tastes which led them to produced and engineer an album for Kansas City artist David Luther. In the studio with Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys. // George, Tomek, and Kesler hit it off and started working on material of their own, eventually bringing in guitarist Mike Greene (The Front/Bakers Pink) and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks (Beatin’ Path) to round out the sound. Greene was the lead guitarist in the Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound. Hanks, from New Orleans fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies. // Influenced by the works of The Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands from the 70s and the 80s, St. George & The Dragons came together during the Global Pandemic, giving them time to develop their sound. George, Greene, Hanks, Kesler, and Tomek have all had their share of greatness, from the collective albums they’ve released on major and indie labels to sharing the stage with legends like Paul McCartney, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Doobie Brothers, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks Band, Lumineers, Aerosmith, Smithereens, Mother Love Bone, and a list that could fill up a book! // St. George & The Dragons will be following up their release with shows around the Kansas City area later this summer and fall. More information at: http://www.stgeorgeandthedragonsband.com]

[St. George & The Dragons play miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, Friday, June 28, 2024 at 8:00pm with Daykisser.]

  1. The Freedom Affair – “If You Don’t Want Me”
    from: “If You Don’t Want Me” – Single / Sunflower Soul Records / May 15, 2024
    [The Freedom Affair is a 9 piece soul juggernaut from Kansas City, MO. The band formed in 2017 with a vision to write original soul music inspired by the traditions of the genre’s past with a universal message looking toward the future. Their new single “If You Don’t Want Me” features: Shon Ruffin on vocals, Seyko Groves on vocals, Paula Saunders on vocals, Cole Bales on guitar, Branden Moser on guitar, Chris Hazelton on bass, Dave Brick on drums, Pete Carroll on trumpet, Brett Jackson on tenor Sax, Pat Conway on congas, and Nick Howell on tambourine. Written, Recorded & Mixed by Chris Hazelton. Mastered by JJ Golden // With their debut album FREEDOM IS LOVE, The Freedom Affair has received critical acclaim and have established themselves as a force in the soul music scene across the states and abroad. Keep your eyes and ears open for their songs and album art featured in the series Bel-Air, an Apple commercial, a Netflix series, etc… This band is just getting started. // The Freedom Affair’s live shows have proven to be soul-stirring, transformative events moving audiences both physically and emotionally to joy. // The Freedom Affair released their debut album Freedom Is Love on September 25, 2020. from The album explores themes of love, heartache, empower-ment, and togetherness through a varying landscape of hard-hitting funk, luscious soul, and everything in between. The album was recorded and produced by Chris Hazelton, utilizing the best of vintage and new recording techno-logies to create an authentic experience, befitting of a soul record that would have been relevant 50 years ago as much as it will be 50 years from now. For the debut record The Freedom Affair was: Misha Roberts on vocals; Paula Saunders on vocals; Seyko Groves on vocals; Cole Bales on guitar, sitar (Track 3); Branden Moser on guitar; Chris Hazelton on bass guitar, organ (Tracks 1, 2, 9, & 10), Tambourine (Track 1), Glockenspiel (Track 3), & Chimes (Track 4); Dave Brick on drums; Pete Carroll on trumpet; Brett Jackson on tenor sax, baritone sax (Tracks 1 & 5), & tambourine (Tracks 5, 6, & 8). Additional Musicians: Pat Conway on Congas (Tracks 1, 3, & 6), Alyssa Bell on viola (Tracks 3, 4, & 7), Elizabeth Codd on violin (Tracks 3 & 4), Matt Bennett on violin (Tracks 3 & 7), John Wickersham on timpani (Track 4), Pamela Baskin-Watson on piano (Track 10), Nick Howell on tambourine (Track 10), The Freedom Family Choir (Track 10): Misha Roberts, Erica Hazelton, Seyko Groves, Paula Saunders, Jordyn Saunders, Cole Bales, and Chris Hazelton. All Horn & String Arrangements by Chris Hazelton except: “Heartaches Don’t Come Easy” and “Give A Little Love” by Pete Carroll & Brett Jackson “Don’t Shoot” by Chris Hazelton & Allyssa Bell. Produced, Recorded, & Mixed by Chris Hazelton. Assistant Produced by Dave Brick. Rhythm Section on Track 10 recorded by Chad Meise. Mastered by JJ Golden. Cover Artwork by Matthew “Mo” Manley. Front cover photograph of civil rights protesters in Kansas City, MO (April 9th, 1968). The Freedom Affair and their track “Rise Up” were selected to be part of Colemine Records 3xLP box set, “Soul Slabs Vol. 2” a Record Store Day Exclusive, released April 13, 2019. Colemine writes: “The Freedom Affair is a freight train of KC soul! Dirty, funky drums, gritty horns, and the combined vocals of Misha Roberts, Seyko Groves, and Paula Saunders to put this band over the top. Politically charged soul music for the dancefloor!”]

[The Freedom Affair play The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, KCMO, WEST BOTTOMS on Friday, June 28, Doors at 7:00, show at 8:00pm with DJ Elgin Smith.]

  1. Makaya McCraven – “Dream Another”
    from: In These Times / International Anthem / September 23, 2022
    [Makaya McCraven was born October 19, 1983. He is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. // McCraven was born in Paris, France, to jazz drummer Stephen McCraven and Hungarian singer Ágnes Zsigmondi (of the band Kolinda), and from the age of three was raised in and around Amherst and Northampton, Massachusetts. At the age of five he played in his father’s drum ensemble, the CMSS Bashers, along with some of his father’s students. In middle school, he and friends formed a band to accompany his mother’s folk singing. In high school, McCraven formed the jazz-hip hop Cold Duck Complex. He studied music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, becoming part of the university’s jazz orchestra and receiving various DownBeat student awards, but did not graduate. // In 2007 McCraven moved to Chicago, where he performed in the bands of Bobby Broom, Corey Wilkes, Willie Pickens, and with the Occidental Brothers, Marquis Hill, and Jeff Parker. He also worked as a studio musician for Apollo Sunshine and Kris Delmhorst. In 2012 he released his debut album, Split Decision, through Chicago Sessions, leading a trio. In the following years he appeared weekly with other musicians, from which he developed concepts for his 2015 album, In the Moment. He also performed with Kamasi Washington. In 2016 he toured mostly in Europe. After several mix tapes, in 2018 he released the double album Universal Beings, on which he was joined by musicians from New York City, London, and Los Angeles; the album was nominated for the Jazz Journalists Association Awards in 2019. In DownBeat’s 2020 Critics Poll, he was the winner in the “Rising Star” categories of best producer and best drummer of the year. In September, 2022, McCraven released In These Times, a full-length album that had been in development since 2015, through International Anthem. // McCraven is married to Nitasha Tamar Sharma, a professor of African-American and Asian-American Studies at Northwestern University as of 2018.]

[Free State Fest Presents: Makala McCraven at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St/ Lawrence KS. TONIGHT, June 26, at 7:00pm, Doors at 6:30pm]

  1. Eddie Moore – “Out of The Woods”
    from: Aperture (Live Piano Works) / Eddie Moore Music / March 5, 2024
    [All songs written by Eddie Moore. Recorded by Eddie Moore and Jaylen Ward. Mixed by Eddie Moore. Mastered by Crayge Lindesay. Album art by Jeremy Ian Thomas. This project presents snapshots into the life of Eddie Moore. The fun times riding bikes, getting lost in the woods, and spending time with loved ones. As a special solo sharing, it only felt right to capture the velvet soothing energy live on stage at Corvino’s, where experimentation and vulnerability are encouraged. // Special thanks to the Corvinos and the staff for letting me sneak in during the “off hours” and post up for a few hours in a blizzard. // When you speak to Eddie Moore you find an ocean of calm, and when you listen to Eddie Moore you find the depth of that ocean. Moore reaches from the soul with every note, in a deep way, with a tension just below the surface. His yearning for exploration and curiosity in music contribute to an ebb and flow freedom of expression. // On April 20, 2023 Eddie Moore released the single “Tuunami” Recorded & produced at Moore’s Tribe Studios, this song features Jaylen Ward on drums. Mixed & mastered by veteran KC savant Crayge Lindesay. // Eddie Moore released his critically acclaimed album INTUITION on October 28, 2022. Written & Produced by Eddie Moore. Recorded at Tribe Studios. Featuring Tim Ogutu on guitar. Mix & Mastered by Rick Carson at Make Believe Studios. Album Art by Brandon Wilson. // Eddie Moore released the single, “Love Song” (with Joel Castillo and Bree Cummings) on October 22, 2021. // Eddie Moore released “We Chillin’” on April 9, 2021. // Eddie Moore’s band We The People released their album MISUNDERSTOOD on September 25, 2020. // Eddie Moore is the recipient of the 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performance Award for his genre bending collaborations. Raised in Houston Texas, he began his musical journey at Texas Southern University where he later earned a Bachelors in Arts and immersed himself in the Houston music scene. Eddie relocated to Kansas City to study under Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he received a M.A in Jazz Studies. 2017’s Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art “Artist in Residence” in collaboration with Rashid Johnson. In 2018 his work with The Outer Circle was nominated for an Indie Music Award for “007”. His music has been featured commercially for Sprint, Netflix’s “Queer Eye”, and Morgan Cooper’s short film “Room Tone”. Moore’ has shared the stage and recordings with Bobby Watson, Logan Richardson, Maurice Brown, Boys II Men, Brian Blade and the Fellowship, John Baptiste, Erykah Badu, Mosdef, Bilal, Ledisi, Chantae Cann, Krystal Warren, Matt Otto, Brandon Draper, Andre Hayward, Tivon Pennicott, Various Blonde, Dominique Sanders, 77 Jefferson, and the Marcus Lewis Big Band. We The People released the single, “Single Double” on June 10, 2021. Written & Produced By Eddie Moore with Moore on keyboards, key bass, & programming; Zach Morrow on drums; and Jason Emmond on bass. Recorded at Tribe Studios. Mixed by Rick Carson at Make Believe Studios. Eddie Moore joined WMM on Sept. 23, 2020 and Nov. 23, 2022. More info at http://www.eddiemooremusic.com]

[Eddie Moore plays The Hey Hey Club at Reiger & Co. at 2700 Guinotte Ave. KCMO on Thursday, June 27, at 7:00pm to 10:00pm.]

10:29 – Underwriting

  1. Zee Underscore – “Easily”
    from: The Zee Underscore Experience – EP / Underscore Form / June 15, 2024
    [Zee Underscore studied at The School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her confidence and talent flourished, sparking a deep passion for music creation and supporting artists of diverse backgrounds. Zee completed a five-year electrical engineering program at The University of Cincinnati, and her work in electrical engineering led her to Kansas City. Zee is co-founder of ZNTL Enterprises. Zee embodies the spirit of dreaming without limits, juggling roles as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, emcee, event coordinator, entrepreneur, and mentor while also working full time as an electrical engineer. Last year Zee Underscore released one of our favorite singles, “In The Way (feat. Amadi Luv)”. More info at: http://www.linktr.ee/Zeebee.notes%5D

[Zee Underscore will play MidCoast Live at 12:00 Noon, July 5, 2024 on 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio]

10:36 – Interview with Zee Underscore

Joining us live in our 90.1 FM Studios is Zee Underscore.

Zee just recently released her debut EP, THE ZEE UNDERSCORE EXPERIENCE. Zee Underscore studied at The School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her confidence and talent flourished, sparking a deep passion for music creation and supporting artists of diverse backgrounds. Zee completed a five-year electrical engineering program at The University of Cincinnati, and her work in electrical engineering led her to Kansas City. Zee is co-founder of ZNTL Enterprises. Zee embodies the spirit of dreaming without limits, juggling roles as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, emcee, event coordinator, entrepreneur, and mentor while also working full time as an electrical engineer. Last year Zee Underscore released one of our favorite singles, “In The Way (feat. Amadi Luv)”. More info at: http://www.linktr.ee/Zeebee.notes

Zee Underscore, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

On Wednesday MidDay Medley we first encountered Zee Underscore when she played the 19th Annual Crossroads Music Fest, last August 26, at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave, KCMO (Indoor Stage).

Zee Underscore is one of 5 children in her family.

Zee Underscore studied at The School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her confidence and talent flourished, sparking a deep passion for music creation and supporting artists of diverse backgrounds.

Zee completed a five-year electrical engineering program at The University of Cincinnati, and her work in electrical engineering led her to Kansas City.

Zee is co-founder of ZNTL Enterprises. Through this work shoe emcees and produces outdoor stage shows at First Friday’s in the West Crossroads.

Zee embodies the spirit of dreaming without limits, juggling roles as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, emcee, event coordinator, entrepreneur, and mentor while also working full time as an electrical engineer.

Last year Zee Underscore released one of our favorite singles, “In The Way (feat. Amadi Luv)”.

Zee Underscore, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

More info at: http://www.linktr.ee/Zeebee.notes

10:53

  1. Zee Underscore – “In The Way (feat. Amadi Luv)”
    from: “In The Way (feat. Amadi Luv)” – Single / Underscore Form / July 12, 2023
    [[Zee Underscore studied at The School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her confidence and talent flourished, sparking a deep passion for music creation and supporting artists of diverse backgrounds. Zee completed a five-year electrical engineering program at The University of Cincinnati, and her work in electrical engineering led her to Kansas City. Zee is co-founder of ZNTL Enterprises. Zee embodies the spirit of dreaming without limits, juggling roles as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, emcee, event coordinator, entrepreneur, and mentor while also working full time as an electrical engineer. Last year Zee Underscore released one of our favorite singles, “In The Way (feat. Amadi Luv)”. More info at: http://www.linktr.ee/Zeebee.notes%5D

[Zee Underscore will play MidCoast Live at 12:00 Noon, July 5, 2024 on 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio]

  1. Keo & Them – “Fire”
    from: “Fire” – Single / Midtopia / March 15, 2024
    [Keo & Them released their 7-tracxk album, THIS TIME AROUND on October 28, 2023. // When Neo-soul meets funk, meets R&B, meets pop, meets hip hop & even rock sometimes. Keo & Them released the single “Fool Me Once” on October 6, 2023 on Midtopia. Leo & Them released the three song single “Don’t Say” with “Be Still” and “Money Grooves (feat. Greg Spero)” on June 2, 2023 on Midtopia. And earlier “Money Grooves (feat. Greg Spero)” was release by itself on March 2, 2023. For Wichita-based, Texas-raised singer/songwriter Keo, making music is as much about the one creates and the songs one writes as it is about making deeper connections with the other people partaking in an artistic journey. From the unique flavors, perspectives, and performances they each contribute, Keo finds the “Them” that brings her project Keo & Them full circle. // First formed and conceptualized by Keo in 2018, the collective consists of Keo and a revolving door of musicians and collaborators, each of whose contributions would leave an indelible mark on the project’s ever-adapting sound that merges the worlds of 70’s pop and R&B with the moody glow of contemporary neo-soul and beyond. For Keo, the project’s sole constant member, the fluid line-up allowed her to become immersed and acquainted with a Wichita music scene she was completely new to and overwhelmed by. Through meeting, jamming, and performing with the Kansas town’s tight-knit and eclectic music scene in which Keo found something akin to a family. More info at: https://linktr.ee/keoandthem [Keo & Them played Outer Reaches Fest, on Sat, Oct. 14 at recordBar, On the Les BonsBons Electrique stage w/ Sweeping Promises, Static Phantoms, Alyssa Murray.]

11:00 – Station ID

  1. Miss Boating – “You’ll Sparkle”
    rom: Jewel In The Trash / High Dive Records / June 29, 2024
    [Miss Boating who’ve recently signed with High Dive Records to release their debut album, JEWEL IN THE TRASH. Miss Boating is a KC based, five-piece with multi-instrumentalist & lead singer Charlie Colborne, drummer Bill Belzer, Aaron Jones on trombone, Tom Gillespie on Saxophone, and Bryan McGuire on bass. (Phil Dickey played bass on the album.) Charlie and Bill met in the late 1980s. In the beginning they were called The Sympathetic Fringe, and then The Sleazebeats. In recent years Charlie & Bill added Aaron, Tim and Bryan. Described by one local radio host as “the perfect house band for a John Waters After Party.” One of their songs is about a friend’s mom’s dynamic relationship with prescription medication. Another is a tribute to the late Evan Jolly, their former bassist. All of the songs are written by Charlie Colborne through his blue/gay eyes. These songs have a fine patina of ditch weed, filthy humor, cigarette smoke, gay drama, Bee Gee’s inflected new wave, queer music hall schmaltz, odd stiff naive sambas, and box wine. More info at: http://www.highdivekc.com // From the ashes of their former band The Sleazebeats, Charles Colborne and Bill Belzer faced a difficult 2019 when combined with the death of Charlie’s own beloved mother, their friend and bassist Evan Vhargon died. The band wrote that they “were lost when Evan passed.” Through the tough times Bill and Charlie kept playing and wrote that they “were blown away when Phil Dickey wanted to jam with us… the jamming turned into something more and we were going again. We couldn’t be more thankful and humbled.” Phil is part of the bands Dragon Inn 3, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. // On January 1, 2020 Miss Boating released The Vhargon Sidestep with: Charlie Colborne on keyboards, guitar, vocals; Bill Belzer: drums, vocals; Phil Dickey on bass; Aaron Jones on trombone; Tim Gillespie on saxophone. Ross Brown served as engineering, did all of the mixing for The Vhargon Sidestep and Mike Nolte handled all of the mastering.]

[Miss Boating play an Album Release Show, Saturday, June 29 at 6:00pm at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO, with Fullbloods.]

11:03 – Interview with Charlie Colborne & Bill Belzer

Charlie Colborne is Senior Editor & Editorial Manager for Greeting Cards at Andrews McMeel Publishing. Prior to this position Charlie worked as an Attorney for many years at Legal Aid. Charlie Colborne is from KC, and literally lives 3 blocks from where he was born. As he writes, “…basically, he’s gone nowhere.’ Charlie came from a musical family, his mother Kathleen passed down to him her love of playing the piano. Charlie has been playing in bands since the late 1980s including The Larvae, The Post-Executives, Crackpot Idealists, Borax Babies, Faun, The Sympathetic Fringe, The Escapegoats, The Sleazebeats and Miss Boating. Charlie also has collaborated with theatre performances.

Charlie Colborne, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Bill Belzer was born on the day Nixon was elected to his only full term (November 5, 1968 ) at the now demolished St. Mary’s Hospital, in a room over-looking the Liberty Memorial. He played bass guitar and drums in high school, first at Catholic Savior of the World High School Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas and then Rockhurst High School, in Kansas City, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1987. While at Rockhurst High School he joined the band Mongol Beach Party as drummer. The band’s breakup coincided with Bill leaving to join Uncle Tupelo as drummer for a stint on their European-American Tour with Michelle Shocked, The Band and Taj Mahal in the early 1990s. Like Charlie he has stuck close to home. His beloved boyfriend Aaron plays trombone in Miss Boating and they are both very much looking forward to having band practice again. Bill has been a part of the bands: Mongol Beach Party, Grumpy, Uncle Tupelo, The Grant Hart Band, The Sleazebeats, The Patio Set, The Terrible Twos, Ghosty, Lazy, The New Amsterdams, and Miss Boating.

Bill Belzer Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Congratulations on being signed to High Dive Records

Charlie and Bill met in the late 1980s.

In the beginning they were called The Sympathetic Fringe, and then The Sleazebeats. In recent years Charlie & Bill added Aaron, Tim and Bryan.

Charlie Colborne on keyboards and guitar,
Bill Belzer, on drums
Aaron Jones on trombone,
Tom Gillespie on Saxophone,
Bryan McGuire (The ACBs) on bass.
(Phil Dickey played bass on the album.)

Described by one local radio host as “the perfect house band for a John Waters After Party.

Many of the tunes on their self titled debut LP may have been written before your parents were born. One song is about a friend’s mom’s dynamic relationship with prescription medication.

Another describes what tetracycline does to your teeth. Another is a tribute to the late Evan Jolly, their former bassist, but it could be about anyone you still love but miss every day.

All songs written by Charlie Colborne through his blue/gay eyes. Many genres, many moods. Bee Gee’s inflected new wave, queer music hall schmaltz, odd stiff naive sambas. Many genres. This queen contains multitudes.

These songs have a fine patina of ditch weed, filthy humor, cigarette smoke, gay drama and box wine. They are classics to some, but probably new to you. They’re sailing your way in a little boat they call a Miss Boating album, ready to disembark and run around the cruise port of your life for a little while.

11:13

  1. Miss Boating – “Crew Cut Baby”
    from: Jewel In The Trash / High Dive Records / June 29, 2024
    [Miss Boating who’ve recently signed with High Dive Records to release their debut album, JEWEL IN THE TRASH. Miss Boating is a KC based, five-piece with multi-instrumentalist & lead singer Charlie Colborne, drummer Bill Belzer, Aaron Jones on trombone, Tom Gillespie on Saxophone, and Bryan McGuire on bass. (Phil Dickey played bass on the album.) Charlie and Bill met in the late 1980s. In the beginning they were called The Sympathetic Fringe, and then The Sleazebeats. In recent years Charlie & Bill added Aaron, Tim and Bryan. Described by one local radio host as “the perfect house band for a John Waters After Party.” One of their songs is about a friend’s mom’s dynamic relationship with prescription medication. Another is a tribute to the late Evan Jolly, their former bassist. All of the songs are written by Charlie Colborne through his blue/gay eyes. These songs have a fine patina of ditch weed, filthy humor, cigarette smoke, gay drama, Bee Gee’s inflected new wave, queer music hall schmaltz, odd stiff naive sambas, and box wine. More info at: http://www.highdivekc.com // From the ashes of their former band The Sleazebeats, Charles Colborne and Bill Belzer faced a difficult 2019 when combined with the death of Charlie’s own beloved mother, their friend and bassist Evan Jolly died. The band wrote that they “were lost when Evan passed.” Through the tough times Bill and Charlie kept playing and wrote that they “were blown away when Phil Dickey wanted to jam with us… the jamming turned into something more and we were going again. We couldn’t be more thankful and humbled.” Phil is part of the bands Dragon Inn 3, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. // On January 1, 2020 Miss Boating released The Vhargon Sidestep with: Charlie Colborne on keyboards, guitar, vocals; Bill Belzer: drums, vocals; Phil Dickey on bass; Aaron Jones on trombone; Tim Gillespie on saxophone. Ross Brown served as engineering, did all of the mixing for The Vhargon Sidestep and Mike Nolte handled all of the mastering.]

[Miss Boating play an Album Release Show, Saturday, June 29 at 6:00pm at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO, with Fullbloods.]

11:15 – More Interview with Charlie Colborne & Bill Belzer

We are talking with multi-instrumentalist & lead singer Charlie Colborne, drummer Bill Belzer, about their band Miss Boating.

Miss Boating was recently signed to High Dive Records

Miss Boating play an Album Release Show, Saturday, June 29 at 6:00pm at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO, with Fullbloods. (Ross Brown)

Miss Boating:
Charlie Colborne on vocals, keyboards and guitar,
Bill Belzer on drums
Aaron Jones on trombone
Tim Gillespie on Saxophone
Bryan McGuire (The ACBs) on bass.
(Phil Dickey played bass on the album.

How the band took on the name “Miss Boating,” is inspired by, Charlie’s mom, Kathleen Rita Colborne, who in January 1956, was crowned “Miss Boating” at the Kansas City Sports Show. A photo of Miss Boating went up at the bar in the Twin Oaks apartment complex where she lived. The photo caught the eye of John H. (Jack) Colborne, from Wausau, Wisconsin. They met, and after a brief courtship they married in August 1956.

Miss Boating rose from the ashes of your former band The Sleazebeats, who played live in various incarnations for 20 years, always with Bill and Charlie. Releasing a full length album with Jeff Harshbarger on bass on January 1, 2012

Charles Colborne and Bill Belzer faced a difficult 2019 when combined with the death of Charlie’s own beloved mother, their friend and bassist Evan Jolly died.

The band wrote that they “were lost when Evan passed.” Through the tough times Bill and Charlie kept playing and wrote that they “were blown away when Phil Dickey wanted to jam with us… the jamming turned into something more and we were going again. We couldn’t be more thankful and humbled.” Phil is part of the bands Dragon Inn 3, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

With Phil Dickey jamming with the band, the jamming turned into something more and the band got going again. Charlie and Bill were thankful and humbled.”

Phil Dickey is part of the bands: Dragon Inn 3, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

On January 1, 2020 Miss Boating released The Vhargon Sidestep with: Charlie Colborne on keyboards, guitar, vocals; Bill Belzer: drums, vocals; Phil Dickey on bass; Aaron Jones on trombone; Tim Gillespie on saxophone. Ross Brown served as engineering, did all of the mixing for The Vhargon Sidestep and Mike Nolte handled all of the mastering.

Charlie has been in a bunch of bands, most of which seldom ventured out of the basement.

Here’s the list:
The Larvae,
The Post-Executives,
Crackpot Idealists,
Borax Babies,
Faun,
Sympathetic Fringe,
The Sleazebeats,
The Escapegoats,
Miss Boating

Charlie Colborne & Bill Belzer thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Miss Boating play an Album Release Show, Saturday, June 29 at 6:00pm at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO, with Fullbloods. More info at: http://www.highdiverecords.com

11:26

Photo by Bill Belzer
  1. Miss Boating – “Not My Life”
    from: Jewel In The Trash / High Dive Records / June 29, 2024
    [Miss Boating who’ve recently signed with High Dive Records to release their debut album, JEWEL IN THE TRASH. Miss Boating is a KC based, five-piece with multi-instrumentalist & lead singer Charlie Coleborne, drummer Bill Belzer, Aaron Jones on trombone, Tom Gillespie on Saxophone, and Bryan McGuire on bass. (Phil Dickey played bass on the album.) Charlie and Bill met in the late 1980s. In the beginning they were called The Sympathetic Fringe, and then The Sleazebeats. In recent years Charlie & Bill added Aaron, Tim and Bryan. Described by one local radio host as “the perfect house band for a John Waters After Party.” One of their songs is about a friend’s mom’s dynamic relationship with prescription medication. Another is a tribute to the late Evan Jolly, their former bassist. All of the songs are written by Charlie Colborne through his blue/gay eyes. These songs have a fine patina of ditch weed, filthy humor, cigarette smoke, gay drama, Bee Gee’s inflected new wave, queer music hall schmaltz, odd stiff naive sambas, and box wine. More info at: http://www.highdivekc.com // From the ashes of their former band The Sleazebeats, Charles Colborne and Bill Belzer faced a difficult 2019 when combined with the death of Charlie’s own beloved mother, their friend and bassist Evan Vhargon died. The band wrote that they “were lost when Evan passed.” Through the tough times Bill and Charlie kept playing and wrote that they “were blown away when Phil Dickey wanted to jam with us… the jamming turned into something more and we were going again. We couldn’t be more thankful and humbled.” Phil is part of the bands Dragon Inn 3, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. // On January 1, 2020 Miss Boating released The Vhargon Sidestep with: Charlie Colborne on keyboards, guitar, vocals; Bill Belzer: drums, vocals; Phil Dickey on bass; Aaron Jones on trombone; Tim Gillespie on saxophone. Ross Brown served as engineering, did all of the mixing for The Vhargon Sidestep and Mike Nolte handled all of the mastering.]

[Miss Boating play an Album Release Show, Saturday, June 29 at 6:00pm at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO, with Fullbloods.]

11:28 – Underwriting

  1. The Talking Trees – “Eons”
    from: ALIENS – EP / The Talking Trees / March 1, 2024
    [The Talking Trees is an American post-rock Trio based in Kansas City comprised of multi-instrumentalists Dirk Liebert on bass, guitar, & vocals; Tommy Capps on keyboard, guitar, and vocals; Graham Stone on drums & percussion. More information: http://www.thetalkingtreesmusic.com]

[The Talking Trees play The Brick, 1727 McGee St., KCMO on First Friday, Aug 2, at 9:00pm.]

[The Talking Trees play Velo Garage & Tap House, 1403 Swift St., North KC on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.]

11:35 – Interview with Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone

Joining us LIVE I our 90.1 FM Studio is Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone of the Kansas City based band The Talking Trees.

The Talking Trees are a post-rock trio based in Kansas City. They released their 4-song EP, ALIENS on March 1, 2024. That was preceded by the 5-song EP, ARE YOU OK? released October 1, 2022, and the 5-song EP, ONCE I WAS BORN on April 22, 2022, multiple single released in 2020 through 2022, and their debut EP, THE TALKING TREES on August 19, 2019. The band is currently in the studio working on the newest album FOREVER MAN. More info at: https://thetalkingtreesmusic.com

Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Talking Trees is an indie rock trio co-founded by Tommy Lee Capps and Dirk Liebert in early 2019.

Tommy Capps on vocal, guitars and keyboards
Dirk Liebert on vocals, guitar, and bass
Graham Stone on drums

Tommy Lee had released a couple of albums of atmospheric instrumental music under my name Tommy Lee Capps as well as playing jazz/classical piano a couple of nights a week, but was seeking a more “song-based” project.

Dirk Liebert was playing in the Lawrence based band Sycamore and had begun writing and recording his own songs. Both he and Tommy Lee are multi-instrumentalists / songwriters and started collaborating and bouncing around some songs off of each other.

Early on, Dirk brought in Graham Stone to play drums and we immediately had great chemistry as a band. In a six-month span, we had a full setlist of original material and booked our first show by the end of 2019.

The Talking Trees only played two shows before everything shut down. With the setback of the pandemic, it gave the band the opportunity to record and fine tune the songs.

They released a series of singles and EPs, splitting recording time at our home setups and Element Recording Studios with engineer/producer Joel Nanos through 2020-2022.

The last couple of years the band has been trying to gig and play those songs as much as possible. This last fall Dirk built a recording studio that has become The Talking Trees HQ. This has made the writing process so much faster and productive.

The Talking Trees have 2-3 albums worth of music they are recording. They recorded the Aliens EP, which will be part of our full length record Forever Man, which is looking to be a January 2025 release.

The track Livin’ On Mars is a song the band has been playing and reworking since 2020. It is one they knew could be “bigger” than what they had been doing and kept pushing it back to make sure it was fully actualized. It is their most ambitious track yet and sets the tone for the futuristic sci-fi theme of their upcoming album Forever Man.

11:42

  1. The Talking Trees – “Livin’ On Mars”
    from: from upcoming: Forever Man (2025) / The Talking Trees / unreleased
    [The Talking Trees is an American post-rock Trio based in Kansas City comprised of multi-instrumentalists Dirk Liebert on bass, guitar, & vocals; Tommy Capps on keyboard, guitar, and vocals; Graham Stone on drums & percussion. More information: http://www.thetalkingtreesmusic.com]
    [The Talking Trees play The Brick, 1727 McGee St., KCMO on First Friday, Aug 2, at 9:00pm.]

[The Talking Trees play Velo Garage & Tap House, 1403 Swift St., North KC on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.]

11:45 – More Interview with Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone

Joining us LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studio is Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone of the Kansas City based band The Talking Trees.

Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Talking Trees is a post-rock trio based in Kansas City. They released their 4-song EP, ALIENS on March 1, 2024. That was preceded by the 5-song EP, ARE YOU OK? released October 1, 2022, and the 5-song EP, ONCE I WAS BORN on April 22, 2022, multiple single released in 2020 through 2022, and their debut EP, THE TALKING TREES on August 19, 2019. The band is currently in the studio working on the newest album.

They released a series of singles and EPs, splitting recording time at our home setups and Element Recording Studios with engineer/producer Joel Nanos through 2020-2022.

The last couple of years the band has been trying to gig and play those songs as much as possible. This last fall Dirk built a recording studio that has become The Talking Trees HQ. This has made the writing process so much faster and productive.

The Talking Trees have 2-3 albums worth of music they are recording. They recorded the Aliens EP, which will be part of our full length record Forever Man, which is looking to be a January 2025 release.

The track Livin’ On Mars is a song we’ve been playing and reworking since 2020. It is one we knew could be “bigger” than what we had been doing and kept pushing it back to make sure it was fully actualized. It is our most ambitious track yet and sets the tone for the futuristic sci-fi theme of our upcoming album Forever Man.

Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, and Graham Stone Thanks for being with us on WMM

The Talking Trees play The Brick, 1727 McGee St., KCMO First Friday, Aug 2, at 9:00pm. The Talking Trees play Velo Garage & Tap House, 1403 Swift St., North KC on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. More info at: https://thetalkingtreesmusic.com%5D

  1. The Talking Trees – “Aliens”
    from: ALIENS – EP / The Talking Trees / March 1, 2024
    [The Talking Trees is an American post-rock Trio based in Kansas City comprised of multi-instrumentalists Dirk Liebert on bass, guitar, & vocals; Tommy Capps on keyboard, guitar, and vocals; Graham Stone on drums & percussion. More information: http://www.thetalkingtreesmusic.com]

[The Talking Trees play The Brick, 1727 McGee St., KCMO on First Friday, Aug 2, at 9:00pm.]

[The Talking Trees play Velo Garage & Tap House, 1403 Swift St., North KC on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.]

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

Next week on Wednesday, July 3 Audrey Crabtree joins us to talk about the 20th Anniversary of The Kansas City Fringe Festival which starts July 12 and runs through July 28. And Tillie Swedlund Hall returns to the show to share new music form her band Mellowphobia

THANK YOU to our incredible KKFI Staff; Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, KKFI Accounting & Administration – Shaina Littler

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. Instead it is about a collective spirit of hundreds of hardworking people, unselfishly setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the gigantic goal of keeping our airwaves free, non-commercial, and open to all! Congratulations and thank you to all programmers & volunteers who went the extra effort to keep our station alive.

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
https://www.soundcloud.com/wednesdaymiddaymedley
http://www.bandcamp.com/wednesdaymiddaymedley
http://www.instagram.markthomasmanning

Show #1052