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, July 30, 2014

Matt Kesler & 25 Years of The Midwestern Musical Co.
+ Rev Gusto

1. Say Hi – “Such A Drag”
from: Endless Wonder / Barsuk / June 17, 2014
[Say Hi (previously known as Say Hi to Your Mom) is a Seattle-based indie rock band formed in Brooklyn in 2002 by Eric Elbogen. Say Hi’s albums are mostly recorded at Elbogen’s home, with him playing all of the instruments and providing vocals.]

2. The Black Angels – “The Flop”
from: Clear Lake Forest / Blue Horizons Venture / July 22, 2014
[The Black Angels are a psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 2004. Along with this new 7-song EP, they have released four studio albums and one compilation album. Their name is derived from the Velvet Underground song “The Black Angel’s Death Song”.]

3. Morrissey – “Forgive Someone”
from: World Peace Is None Of Your Business / Harvest Records / July 15, 2014
[10th studio album from Steven Patrick Morrissey (born 22 May 1959), commonly known by his last name, Morrissey. He became rock and roll legend starting in the early 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the band The Smiths. After the band broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career. His first solo album, 1988’s Viva Hate, entered the UK albums chart at number one. Morrissey finally made it to Lawrence, to play Liberty Hall on May 20, after 2 previous cancellations. He opened his show in Lawrence saying, “You can do whatever you want to me, but please don’t ever make me go back to Lincoln, Nebraska.” ]

4. Loose Park – “A Cup A Tea”
from: Monstrous / Wreckroom / June 4, 2013
[Brand new music from Kansas City based band formed in June 2013 with Matthew Dunehoo on guitar, vocals; Beckie Trost on Bass guitar; and Mike Myers on Drums . This trio are also members/former members of Doris Henson/Baby Teardrops/Ecstatics, The String & Return/In The Pines/Spacesuit, and Soft Reeds.]

10:15

5. The B’Dinas – “Fated”
from: Fruitcakes / Independent / , 2014
[First full length release from The B’ Dinas formed in 2009 with Katy Guillen – guitar/vocals/harmonica; Peter Lawless – bass/vocals/saxophone; Katelyn Jamison – keys/vocals/bass; Tess Jehle-Ray – drums/vocals.]

[The B’Dinas’ FRUITCAKES Release Party!! Saturday, August 2, at 10:00pm, at the recordBar, 1020 Westport Rd, Kansas City, Missouri with special guests The Electric Lungs and Admiral of the Red.]

6. Claire and the Crowded Stage – “Dance Rock”
from: Kamikazee / Independent / July 20, 2013
[All songs by Claire Adams. All arrangements by The Crowded Stage: Claire Adams vocals, ukulele, guitar; Katy Guillen guitar, vocals, mandolin; Brent jamison keys, vocals; Katelyn Boone bass, vocals, keys; Peter Lawless accordion, bass; Jerod Rivers percission; Stephanie Williams drums; Teri Quinn clarinet, guitar. (additional members include Ben Byard, Mark Laurer and Russell Thorpe. Tecnicolor was Recorded in Kansas City mixed at Sangha Studios by Claire Adams, mastered at Weights+Measures soundlab by Duane Trower.]

[Katy Guillen & The Girls, Not A Planet, Schwervon! play the recordBar, Friday, August 22, at 9:00pm]

7. brutus – “Too Much Everything”
from: grow-up club [EP] / Independent / February 22, 2014
[Written and performed by Brent Jamison with additional guitar from Hume Man. Recorded and mixed at Chappy Road. Mastered by Jon Tidy at Epic Sound Studios. More info at: http://www.brvtvs.bandcamp.com]

[brutus plays The Buffalo Room, 817 Westport Rd, Tuesday, August 12 at 8:00 pm with Teri Quinn, and Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear. ]

10:30 – Underwriting

10:32 – Interview with Shaun Crowley & Quinn Hernandez of Rev Gusto

8. Rev Gusto – “Still There”
from: Too Much Rock Single Series No. 002 / Too Much Rock / 2014
[Jerry Frederick on Vocals & Guitar, Sam Frederick on bass, Shaun Crowley on lead guitar and keys; Peter Beatty on guitar & back-up vocals; Quinn Hernandez on drums, Recorded with and engineered by Joel Nanos at Element Recording. [TMR single Still There B-side of Local Girls Written by Graham Parker.]

We’ve watched the band Rev Gusto grow from a band formed by high school classmates into a critically acclaimed area band that has just signed with High Dive Records and will be putting out a full length release in the fall. Rev Gusto played our Wednesday MidDay Medley Day Party for The Middle of The Map Fest this year at Westport Saloon, they played the MidCoast Takeover at SXSW in Austin, and they’ve been nominated for a Pitch Music Award. The band is: Jerry Frederick on Vocals & Guitar, Sam Frederick on Bass, Shaun Crowley on Guitar, Peter Beatty on guitar Quinn Hernandez on Drums. Rev Gusto’s debut EP was recorded at Element Recording.

Full disclosure. I first met Rev Gusto at the Youth Volunteer Corps 4th Annual KC Metro Youth Battle of the Bands on March 27, 2010. Jerry, Sam and Quinn were in the band at that time with Mitch Hecht and Taylor McHenry. All members were in high school. There were 13 bands in the competition. I was a judge with Skid Roadie from the Fox. Rev Gusto won first place! I invited the band to play LIVE on the radio. Then last summer, I was at an event at Mills Record Company and members of Rev Gusto came in and I didn’t recognize them. It had been 3 years. Quinn’s hair had grown. Apparently I’m still having problems, because for the first 5 minutes of the interview I called Shaun Sam.

Jerry Frederick graduated from St. James Academy in Lenexa in 2010 and started Rev Gusto in 2010 with brother, Sam, who plays bass, and drummer Quinn Hernandez, a fellow St. James alum. The band regrouped in early 2012, with a different lineup. They added two more St. James alums: Shaun Crowley and Peter Beatty, who play guitar, keyboards and the occasional trumpet.

Bassist Sam Frederick recently turned 21. Guitarist Shaun Crowley and keyboardist Peter Beatty are both 19. Drummer Quinn Hernandez and singer-guitarist Jerry Frederick are 22

Shaun Crowley is classically trained and has been enrolled in the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory.

The Name: Reverent Gusto as inspired by a priest Jerry knew from Rockhust High, who used to encourage people to sing with ‘reverent gusto.’

We started the segment with the bands 7″ 45 rpm vinyl release from the Too Much Rock Series.

Too Much Rock is a music blog site created by Sid Sowder in 1997, as a place where he could document his life as it relates to music. Sid posts his photos and videos and comments of the live music shows he attends. The site is not created as a for profit venture.

The Too Much Rock Single Series is a collection of 45 RPM singles that marry great songs with great bands all for the love of vinyl. Each old-school two-song single features one unique song pared with one cover chosen by Too Much Rock. 500 limited edition copies are pressed and given to the band, to sell as merchandise at shows and at local record stores.
So far, their have been three Too Much Rock 7″ Single Releases.

The single was released on Record Store Day at Mills Record Company.

Rev Gusto has been nominated for a 2014 Pitch Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Band (nominees): Cowboy Indian Bear | Not a Planet | Rev Gusto | Spirit Is the Spirit | Various Blonde

The Pitch Music Awards on Sunday, August 3, at The Uptown Theater.

10:47

9. Rev Gusto – “Look Out The Window”
from: Crossroads Summer Block Party 2014 Artist Compilation / Golden Sound Records / 2014
[Jerry Frederick on Vocals & Guitar, Sam Frederick on bass, Shaun Crowley on lead guitar and keys; Peter Beatty on guitar & back-up vocals; Quinn Hernandez on drums.]

Sam Frederick and Jerry Frederick are originally from Leawood, Quinn Hernandez of Kansas City, Kan., Shaun Crowley of De Soto and Peter Beatty of Bonner Springs. Most of the band currently live together in a house

The band has been compared to The Kinks. In a Sept. 4, 2013 Interview for Ink KC, Jerry Frederick told music writer Tim Finn, “Ray Davies does this songwriting class every couple of years over in England,” he said “He picks 12 people from all over the world, and for two weeks he teaches you about songwriting. I’m a big Kinks fan, so I entered some of my songs and got accepted.” “He was really encouraging,” Frederick said. “He said he really liked my songs and told me to keep working at it. So I was like, ‘OK, if you say so, Ray Davies.’”

In a Sept. 4, 2013 Interview for Ink KC Jerry Frederick told music writer Tim Finn, “Instead of going out on weekends, I like to sit in my room and listen to all kinds of music,” he said. “I really like that era of music, sunshine pop and old soul.” He was also influenced, he said, by a grandmother who wrote musicals, performed on Broadway and toured Europe. “She loved Cole Porter, so I heard a lot of that growing up, too,” he said.

New influences: The ACB’s, Shy Boys

Rev Gusto signed w/ High Dive Records the label of: Ghosty / The ACB’s / Fourth of July / Shy Boys.

10. Rev Gusto – “It’s Not Too Late”
from: Burnt Out Friends / High Dive Records / To be released Fall 2014
[Jerry Frederick on Vocals & Guitar, Sam Frederick on Bass, Shaun Crowley on Guitar, Peter Beatty on guitar Quinn Hernandez on Drums, Rev Gusto are putting the finishing touches on their new full length at Element Recording.]

10:58 – Station ID

11:03 – Matt Kesler & 25 years of The Midwestern Musical Co.

His parents took him to see Sonny & Cher, Doc Severinsen, Issac Hayes with Dion Warwick, and Elvis, all before he was ten. Matt is the youngest of five siblings who all had their own musical loves. By the time he was 14 his brother and sisters had taken him to see Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Spinners, the Four Tops, and The Temptations. Matt started playing bass at the age of 15, and soon discovered Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Neil Young and The Stones. Matt is also a member of several legendary KC based bands: The Doo-Dads, Midtown Quartet and The Pedaljets. For the past 25 years Matt Kesler has been owner of The Midwestern Musical Co. currently located at 1830 Locust, in the Crossroads District of KCMO. Matt Kesler joins us for our second hour to share music and stories about the 25th Anniversary of The Midwestern Musical Company. After 25 years, Matt has decided to close The Midwestern Musical Company and First April 1 will be the LAST First Friday at The Midwestern Musical Co.

The 25th Anniversary, First Friday FINALE & Guitar Bash, Friday, August 1, 7:00 PM, with The Bad Ideas, Red Kate, Cher UK, The Bash Band Raffle, The Missouri Bultaco Assoc. feat. Ernie Locke & Whitey Trash

The Finale part 2, Sat. August 2, 6:00 pm, with: DROP A GRAND, The Garage Kings, The Pedaljets, Deco Auto, The Red Headed League, Loaded Goat, Good Time Charley.

Congratulation to The Pedaljets on their nomination of a 2014 Pitch Music Award for Album of the Year

Matt Kesler, founded MMC in 1989 with Jim Strahm, who died in 2000. Kesler has kept the shop going for 14 years in memory of his friend, colleague and fellow musician. (Matt told Natalie Gallagher in the Pitch:)”Jim was the guy in Midwestern Music that’d talk your ear off. He was a character. And that’s part of what’s kept the store alive. It’s been for the sake of not just myself but everybody who was ever touched by Jim being there. When he died, we definitely tried to carry on a lot of the practices that he held, the rental and loaning of gear and repairing and things like that, the things that made it really personal.”

Kesler and Strahm moved from the original location in Mission to Kansas City’s El Torreon building in 2004 and, finally, to the Crossroads, its home since 2008.

Matt told Natalie Gallagher of The Pitch, “This has been a labor of love and more of a hobby than a business, as far as definitions of business and hobby go,” Kesler tells me with a laugh. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a lot of fun, and I’m sad, but it’s time to move on. Honestly, I was really pushing to get to 25 years, and I’m there, and now I’ll be able to concentrate on a lot of other things.”

Matt continued, “I mean, in this location, it’s been crazy. We’ve had the First Friday events, so we’ve had a lot of entertainment here. One thing about being right here behind Crossroads KC and Grinders is that, not only am I getting the best of the local bands but I’m getting national bands that are parking their buses right out front. I’ve met a lot of rock stars and a lot of different people, whether they’re driving the buses or work-ing the stage, so that’s been great. I’ve met so many famous people without knowing it.”

A store, a performance space, a practice space, a hangout, a museum of sorts. A story is behind each instrument, stacks of amps, a drum kit , guitars on the walls. The Midwestern Musical Co. has been the practice space for local bands The Philistines, The Silver Maggies, and The Pedaljets.

The store also includes a recording studio and all the bands that have played live in the space were recorded. Matt shared some of these recordings.

11. Phil Neal & the Wornalls – “Fear The Man”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / January 3, 2014
Also available on: Lifeline / Delaware Street Records / May 24, 2014
[Veteran singer songwriter, and rock and roller, Phil Neal’s early eighties band, The Artists, had a video in rotation on MTV, critical acclaim, and national management. When the band fell apart, Phil continued on, writing songs, and playing for over three decades, with several different bands, all while raising a family, and making a home, here in Kansas City. The songwriter has written dozens, of what he calls “Midwestern Rock” numbers. The Wornalls are the band Phil wanted, to bring his songs to life. Doug Gunn on drums, Danko Loftus on bass, Gary Paredes on guitar, Ben Eisiminger on keyboard, and Bruce Sidener on guitar, they are more than a band to Phil, they’re old friends.]

12. The Silver Maggies – “End Of Time”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / October 7, 2011
Also available on: My Pale Horse / Money Wolf Music / March 28, 2013
[Fronted by lead singer/songwriters – Patrick Deveny and Terrence Moore (American Catastrophe, The Black Water). Founding members include Felix Dukes on electric guitar, Jonathan Knecht on drums and Steve Tubbert (Zoom) on bass. Terrence joined The Silver Maggies in 2010 after performing with them that year at the Murder Ballad Ball. He brought several original songs to add to the repertoire and splits singing and songwriting duties. This spring the band added Amy Farrand (American Catastrophe, Atlantic Fadeout, EIO) on vocals and additional instrumentation, as well as Samon Rajabnik on B3 organ. Both artists performed on “My Pale Horse” and joined the band for a raucous set at the 2012 Murder Ballad Ball in Kansas City. The album was recorded over the last year by Chris Cosgrove at Black Lodge, Cosgrove Audio, WaveLab and Element Recording. Mixing was done in Tuscon, AZ at WaveLab by veteran producer/engineer Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Neko Case, DeVotchKa).]

13. The Cave Girls – “‘Be a Cave Girl”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / June 6, 2014
[“Be a Cave Man” by The Avengers appropriately change it to ‘Be A Cave Girl]

14. The Conquerors – “Look In Your Eyes”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / April 4, 2014

15. The Bellewether State – “These 6 Strings”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / May 7, 2010

16. Making Movies – “Sienna”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / September 2, 2011
Also available on: A La Deriva / Independent / December 21, 2012
[Enrique Chi (guitar/lead vox), Brendan Culp (drums), Diego Chi (bass), Juan-Carlos Chaurand (percussion /keyboard). Their new full length was produced with Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. They also released the EP “Aguardiente” in 2012. The Record Machine pressed a limited number of the 7 inch vinyl, 4 song EP. More info at makingmoviesband.com]

17. The ACBs – (Unknown title)
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / September 3, 2009

18. Ghosty – “Secret Language”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / May 6, 2011
Also available on: A Mystic’s Robe [EP] / More Famouser Records / 2009

19. Tiny Horse – “One Trick Pony Song”
Recorded live at The Midwestern Musical Co. / November 6, 2009
Also available on: The Gaslights – Lines and Wires / December 3, 2005
[Abigail Henderson and Chris Meck]

The 25th Anniversary, First Friday FINALE and Guitar Bash, Friday, August 1, 7:00 PM, The Midwestern Musical Company, 1830 Locust, with The Bad Ideas, Red Kate, Cher UK, The Bash Band Raffle, The Missouri Bultaco Assoc. feat. Ernie Locke & Whitey Trash

The Finale part 2, Saturday August 2, 6:00 pm, at The Midwestern Musical Company. Because one night is not enough. With: DROP A GRAND, The Garage Kings, The Pedaljets, Deco Auto, The Red Headed League, Loaded Goat, Good Time Charley.More info at: http://www.midwesternmusic.com/

11:59:30

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

Sources for notes on tracks: artist’s websites and wikipedia.org
Additional content and material written by Jamie Rich

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Show #536