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

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MBIRD + The Hearts Of Darkness
+ Victor & Penny + Tina And Her Pony

1. The Hearts of Darkness – “Chippin’ Away”
from: Shelf Life / Shipshape Records / August 25, 2012
[The 15-piece ensemble welcomed 6 additional musicians to record “Shelf Life” their 2nd full-length release, 2 years in the making. Recorded live at the Cooler Studio in Kansas City, Kansas, with Chad Meise, and mastered by Collin Jordan at the Boiler Room in Chicago, using both vintage analog and modern digital technologies. The album will be released on CD and as a limited edition collectible vinyl LP at local music stores, and also available on iTunes. Contributing musicians to “Shelf Life” include: Bob Asher – Trumpet, Sean Branagan – drums and percussion, Rachel Christia – Vocals , Andrew Ford – Trombone, Brandy Gordon – Vocals, Richard Gumbel – Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Sam Hughes – Baritone Saxophone, Les Izmore – Vocals, Pete Leibert – Bass Guitar, Jolan Smith – Tenor Saxophone and Vocals, Miko Spears – Congas, Erica Townsend – Vocals, Ken Walker – Valve Trombone, Brad Williams – drums and percussion, Hermon Mehari – Trumpet, Shawn Hansen – Alto Saxophon, Phil Keegan – Bass Guita, Chris Meck – Rhythm Guita, Josh Mobley – Keyboards, Guitar, Alex Smith – Tenor Saxophone, Mark Vick – Rhythm Guitar.]

[The Hearts of Darkness “Shelf Life” album release is Saturday, August 25, at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2700 Rochester, KCMO w/ an early set at 8:30 and a late set at 10:30 w/ special guests, The Good Foot.]

2. Tiny Horse – “Ride”
from: Single Track Release / Independent / August 2012
[One horse. Very small.]
[Chris Meck & Abigail Henderson are Tiny Horse, an electric/acoustic duo based in Midtown KC. They were a big part of our July 11, “Story in A Song” LIVE at the recordbar where Abigail Henderson sang “Close to You” and Chris Meck sang the Velvert Underground song, “That’s The Story of My Life” as well as Bowie’s “TVC15.”]

10:15

3. Regina Spektor – “How”
from: What We Saw From The Cheap Seats / Sire / May 25 , 2012
[6th studio album from Russian–American alternative singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. Recorded in Los Angeles during the summer of 2011, the album is a collection of new material along with the very first studio recordings of several of Spektor’s older live songs. One of our first phone interviews ever on WMM. ]

[Regina Spektor comes to Kansas City to play The Music Hall on Wednesday, November 7, at 7:30 PM]

4. John Vanderslice – “Tremble And Tear”
from: Romanian Names / Dead Oceans / May 18, 2009
[Born May 22, 1967, John Vanderslice grew up in Florida and Georgia, before his family moved to Maryland when he was 11. After playing in several bands as a teenager, he spent five years as a member of the experimental pop band MK Ultra, with whom he released three albums in the 1990s. During this period, he also founded a recording studio, Tiny Telephone, in the Mission District of San Francisco. Established in 1997, the studio was initially used as a rehearsal space before being developed as a full-time, all-analog recording studio. Bands who have recorded in the studio include Death Cab for Cutie, Okkervil River, Deerhoof, The Magnetic Fields, and Spoon.]

[John Vanderslice plays the recordBar, 1020 Westport Rd. on November 10 with Crooked Fingers.]

10:25 – Underwriting

10:25

5. M Bird – “This Bridge (Boat Song)”
from: Over The Bones / M Bird Music / 2010

[MBird will be playing the Uptown Arts Bar, at 3611 Broadway, on Friday, August 31, at 9:30 PM.]

10:30 – Interview with Megan Birdsall & Michael Smith

MBIRD is: Michael Smith on guitar and Ben Leifer on bass and Megan Birdsall on voice. We’ve been following the careers of Megan Birdsall and Michael Smith through Michael’s work as an actor and producer in Kansas City, working for The Coterie, The Unicorn Theatre, and many other local professional theatre companies. We’ve followed Megan’s career through her earlier recordings: “Track 13” of 2005, and “Little Jazz Bird” of 2007, and through Megan’s painful jaw surgery, to her beautiful collaborative original songs created with Michael. Just as Megan’s star was rising as a Kansas City Jazz Singer, in 2010 Megan released an album of Alternative Country tunes.

Megan and Michael are back in Kansas City full time, after time away in Nashville and on tour.

Megan Birdsall & Michael Smith join us today to talk about their show at The Uptown Arts Bar, at 3611 Broadway, on Friday, August 31, at 9:30 PM. It’s their first show since returning from Nashville.

The Uptown Arts Bar, is at 3611 Broadway Street, in Kansas City.

MBIRD will be running a “Nashville style” Songwriter Showcase at the Uptown Arts Bar, at 3611 Broadway, on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursdays of every month this Fall.

Megan and Michael talked about the “Nashville style” of showcases that are everywhere in Nashville.

They will get the chance to feature stripped down sets from local bands, emcees, poets and writers, as well as lots of folks traveling through the area.

MBird’s Artist Showcase is Thursday, September 13, 7:30pm, Features Heather Thornton, with MBird, Storm, Alyssa Murray, The La De Dahs, Kate Cosentino, and Brian Ruskin.

10:36

6. M Bird – “Over My Head”
from: Over The Bones / M Bird Music / 2010

10:40

Megan, talked about her incredibly talented and creative family. Her dad Jim Birdsall is one of the great actors of our city, and his broadcast voice, has been heard by millions. Her sister is now part of a music group, Lah De Dahs, performing around Kansas City. Her brother plays guitar and is in a band. Her mother plays guitar. Megan talked about how her parents encouraged her artistic endeavors. She talked about how the family gets together and plays music together singing Nanci Griffith songs.

Megan and Michael talked about MBIRD’s work on their new recordings.

MBIRD plays in concert at The Uptown Arts Bar, at 3611 Broadway, on Friday, August 31, at 9:30 PM. There will be a set of Jazz and then a set of original songs. MBIRD’s music is available on i Tunes. For more information you can visit: mbirdmusic.com

10:45

7. Thee Water MoccaSins – “On A Wire”
from: From The Rivers of Missouri and The Banks of Fear / Independent / 2012
[Thee Water MoccaSins is comprised of KC musicians Billy Smith on Guitar and Vocals; Steve Tulipana on Vocals, Guitar and Bass; John Bersuch on Drums and Percussion; and Wade Williamson on Guitar, Keyboards, and Bass. All musicians are currently involved with, or have been involved with: Roman Numerals, Season to Risk, Olympic Size, Dirt Nap, Stella Link, Bacon Shoe, Minds Under Cover and Starhaven Rounders. Billy Smith, now living in NYC.]

[Thee Water Moccasins play The Riot Room, in Kansas City, MO, Thursday, August 23, at 8:00 PM with Be/Non, and Olivetti Letter]

8. The Hearts of Darkness – “Shelf Life”
from: Shelf Life / Shipshape Records / August 25, 2012

[The Hearts of Darkness “Shelf Life” album release is Saturday, August 25, at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2700 Rochester, KCMO w/ an early set at 8:30 and a late set at 10:30 w/ special guests, The Good Foot.]

11:00 – Interview with Bob Asher & Peter Leibert of The Hearts of Darkness

They describe their sound as “a hybrid from the roots of ’70s Afrobeat & building off of the traditions of KC big-band jazz as well as American funk & rock w/ hip-hop on top.” The band produces an incredible live show that brings out diverse audiences who want to dance. Their debut album, “Hearts of Darkness,” released on July 10, 2010 was #1 on our list of “The 100 Best Recordings of 2010.”

Music writer Bill Brownlee, a contributing reviewer to The Kansas City Star wrote on his blog, “Plastic Sax”: “Far from a musty academic exercise, the Hearts of Darkness convey the spirit, if not the sound, of Kansas City’s heyday. The Hearts of Darkness deserve recognition from the jazz audience because their visceral big band power is the soundtrack to the same exuberant scenes that undoubtedly accompanied the bands of Benny Moten, Harlan Leonard and Count Basie.”

The 15-piece ensemble, Hearts of Darkness is on the verge of releasing their 2nd full-length album this Saturday, August 25, at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2700 Rochester, KCMO, with shows at 8:30 and 10:30 with special guests, The Good Foot.

Joining is from the Hearts of Darkness was Bob Asher who plays trumpet and Peter Leibert, who plays bass guitar.

“Shelf Life” was 2 years in the making, Recorded live at the Cooler Studio in Kansas City, Kansas, with Chad Meise, and mastered by Collin Jordan at the Boiler Room in Chicago, using both vintage analog and modern digital technologies.

The album will be released on CD, as a limited edition collectible vinyl LP, and iTunes.

In 2011, the band opened for Huey Lewis and the News, for Snoop Dogg, played w/ Willie Nelson & Neil Young at Farm Aid and performed at the Kanrocksas Music Festival, and won “Best Jazz Ensemble” by the Pitch Music Awards.

This year the band released a new single, played the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas, shared the stage with Seun Kuti & the legendary Egypt 80, played the Wakaursa Festival, Kauffman Stadium, Davey’s Uptown in a benefit for 90.1 FM KKFI, the recordBar, KC Crossroads Knuckleheads, The Mayor’s event on The Bridge this week.

This year the band won “Best Live Act” by The Pitch Music Awards.

Bob Asher talked about what is it like coordinating a 15 member tribe, about how everyone was friends and it was relatively easy for the group to organize.

Bob and Peter told the story of how The Hearts of Darkness came to life.

Bob Asher – Trumpet,
Sean Branagan – drums and percussion,
Rachel Christia – Vocals ,
Andrew Ford – Trombone,
Brandy Gordon – Vocals,
Richard Gumbel – Rhythm and Lead Guitar,
Sam Hughes – Baritone Saxophone,
Les Izmore – Vocals,
Pete Leibert – Bass Guitar,
Jolan Smith – Tenor Saxophone and Vocals,
Miko Spears – Congas,
Erica Townsend – Vocals,
Ken Walker – Valve Trombone,
Brad Williams – drums and percussion,
Hermon Mehari – Trumpet,

Additional Musicians for the recording of “Shelf life”:

Shawn Hansen – Alto Saxophon,
Phil Keegan – Bass Guitar,
Chris Meck – Rhythm Guita,
Josh Mobley – Keyboards, Guitar,
Alex Smith – Tenor Saxophone,
Mark Vick – Rhythm Guitar.

The sonic poetry of Les Izmore with the band skyrockets from Jazz to Hip Hop connecting genre through time and space with sound.

ALSO: The Sonic Spectrum Tribute Series Presents: Underground Spiritual Games – A Tribute to Fela Kuti’s Afrika 77 featuring members of Hearts of Darkness and The People’s Liberation Big Band of Kansas City. This Sunday, August 26, at 8:00 PM.

TICKET GIVEAWAY:
We gave away 3 pairs of tickets for The Hearts of Darkness “Shelf Life” album release is Saturday, August 25, at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2700 Rochester, KCMO w/ an early set at 8:30 and a late set at 10:30 w/ special guests, The Good Foot.

9. The Hearts of Darkness – “Round and Around”
from: Shelf Life / Shipshape Records / August 25, 2012

10. Victor & Penny – “Some of These Days”
from: Antique Pop / V & P Productions / December 9, 2011
[Victor & Penny performed LIVE on our WMM last September. Chicago / KC based duo is Jeff Freling of the Chicago Blue Man Group; and Erin McGrane of the cabaret group Alacartoona. Antique Pop which contains 8 vintage songs plus 2 original songs written by Jeff Freling and a song written by Barclay Martin.]

11. Tina And Her Pony – “Far Away”
from: Tina And Her Pony / Independent / March 9, 2012
[Tina And Her Pony. are: Tina Collins and Quetzal Jordan.]

[Victor & Penny and Tina And Her Pony will be in concert, Saturday, Aug 25, at 7:00 PM, The Kansas City Arts Academy, Grassroots Concert Series, 7933 Main Street, KCMO.]

11:30 – Interview with Victor & Penny + Tina And Her Pony + Miles Bonny

Erin McGrane of Alacartoona and Jeff Freling of the Blue Man Group make up the Chicago and KC based duo, Victor & Penny, who late last year released their full length album of what they like to call “Antique Pop.” Victor and Penny were with us by phone, from Indianapolis where they have a show tonight. They’ll be back in Kansas City for their 100th show, this Saturday night, Aug 25, at 7:00 PM, The Kansas City Academy, Grassroots Concert Series, 7933 Main Street, KCMO.

Also joining us in the conversation, on the phone from Minneapolis, was Tina Collins and Quetzal Jordan, who perform as Tina And Her Pony, a critically acclaimed, alt. Americana band, currently on a national tour. They are with us on the phone from Minneapolis where they have a show tonight.

In the 90.1 FM studios we were joined by Miles Bonny, musician, producer, DJ, teacher. Miles serves as Cultural Ambassador for Kansas City Academy, a private progressive 6th grade through 12 grade school, located at 7933 Main Street, in Kansas City, Missouri. Miles has a background in non-profit communication and original music composition.

Tina Collins talked about their song “Far Away” where they were joined by Chris Grady on trumpet. Chris Grady plays in Tom Waits band.

Tina Collins and Quetzal Jordan are out on the road on a national tour and have been on the road for 3 1/2 months and have 9 months to go on their tour.

Tina & Her Pony’s songs (from their website) echo bluegrass and old-time melodies that have been sung by generations of women before them, while creating their own waves with their radical queer lyrics and intricate melodies. You write that you are,”Queerin’ up the hetero-normative lyrics, that are the country scene.”

Erin McGrane talked about meeting Tina & Her Pony at the Uke Fest in Colorado, and hearing them and wanting to bring them to Kansas City.

Victor and Penny with Tina And Her Pony perform, in concert, this Saturday, Aug 25, at The Kansas City Arts Academy, Grassroots Concert Series, 7933 Main Street, KCMO.

Miles Bonny, told us about The Kansas City Academy, how he become involved in the school?

Victor & Penny are not only performing Saturday night at the Kansas City Academy, but are also playing the Light Up The Lawn at the Nerman Museum at Johnson County Community College with The Latenight Callers, this Friday Night, August 24.

Tina Collins, talked about how the band is now based in Taos, New Mexico, but was formed while the two lived in Asheville, North Carolina. She talked about how the band was influenced by the forests of Appalachia.

Miles Bonny talked about how the show on Saturday will be held in the KC Academy’s Black Box Theatre, and how this is part of a series of shows to benefit the music programs at the academy.

Victor and Penny with Tina And Her Pony perform, in concert, this Saturday, Aug 25, at The Kansas City Arts Academy, Grassroots Concert Series, 7933 Main Street, KCMO. Each duo will play one set and afterwards there will be a Q&A and an encore performance. This is ALL AGES. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit KC Academy’s Music Program. Info: victorandpenny.com or TinaAndHerPony.com or KCacademy.org/Music

11:48

12. Tina And Her Pony – “Ana Bai”
from: Tina And Her Pony / Independent / March 9, 2012
[Tina And Her Pony are Tina Collins and Quetzal Jordan.]

13. The Latenight Callers – “Wrecking Ball”
from: Easy Virtues / TLNC / 2012
[TLNC were originally formed in Lawrence by baritone guitarist, Krysztof Nemeth, and vocalist Julie Berndsen, with the addition of Guitarist Ellen O’Hayer, Bassist Gavin Mac, and Nick Combs on keyboards TLNC have become a KC Band known for their enchanting live performances. ]

[The Latenight Callers play the “Light Up The Lawn Concert” at the Nerman Museum of Art at Johnson County Community College with Victor & Penny, this Friday Night, August 24.]

[TLNC also play the Paris of The Plains Festival at the Uptown Theatre Sunday, August 26]

11:59:30

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

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:
WednesdayMidDayMedley.org
facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM and
kkfi.org

Show #435