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, September 24, 2014

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear
+ Guest DJ – Artist Joey Grimm
+ The Sexy Accident

1. Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear – “Silent Movies”
from: We Burned The Cane Field / Independent / October 6, 2012
[Singer songwriter, Madisen Ward graduated from William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri in 2007. He plays live and records with his Mother, Ruth Ward, both on guitar, with Mama Bear harmonizing with her son. Their debut EP was recorded in Kansas city’s Element Recording by Joel Nanos.]

[Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear play The Blue Note in Columbia, this Friday, September 26, at 9:30 pm opening for the Music Maker Blues Revue]

[Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear play Midland Theatre, October 1, opening for B.B. King]

10:05 – Interview with Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear consist of Madisen Ward and his mother, Ruth Ward. Madisen was born in Oklahoma, and grew up in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 2007. Madisen’s journey to become a musician, was “melodically passed down” through the songs of his mother. In 2012 the duo released their EP, “We Burned The Cane Field.” They first played LIVE our show on July 10, 2013, and returned later, to help us celebrate our 500th show. With aspects of folk, blues, spiritual, soul, their music overflows from category because it is so heartfelt, rich, and incredibly special. They were the buzz of the Crossroads Music Festival in early september and have caught the attention of the local music scene with stellar performances this past spring and summer at Unity Temple, Davey’s Uptown, recordBar, Coda, Westport Saloon, and The Buffalo Room.

But people across the country are also taking notice of Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, with the duo’s recent shows in: St. Louis, Joplin, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, opening for Phosphorescent. Last week they played the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, in a special “invite only” showcase in the Blue Room at Third Man Records where Adam Gold of Rollingstone.com wrote, “The duo’s raw, inscrutable chemistry was in full effect as they handily made a case as an inevitable force to be reconed with in the days to come.”

Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear play The Blue Note in Columbia, this Friday, September 26, at 9:30 pm, opening for the Music Maker Blues Revue

Next week Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear will open for BB King, on Wednesday, October 1, at The Midland Theatre, in Kansas City.

Two weeks ago we were writing about how Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear were the buzz of the Crossroads Music Festival, but since then they’ve also become the buzz of the Americana Music Festival in Nashville where they’ve captured the attention of the national music press. Madisen AND Ruth told us about the Third Man Records / New Port Folk showcase, and about how they weren’t aware that the room was packed with industry insiders, they just wanted to give the people a good show.

Adam Gold of rollingstone.com who was present in the room wrote, “Watching mother-and-son duo Ruth and Madisen Ward bring a-hundred-or-so tastemakers and industry insiders to collective awe-struck silence with a stunning set of soulful coffeehouse folk at an invite-only showcase in the Blue Room at Third Man Records, it was hard to believe this was one of the virtually unknown group’s first gigs outside its native Kansas City. Drawing on influences ranging from Tom Waits to Tracy Chapman for fully realized, stellar songs marked by tranquil acoustic guitar interplay and singer Madisen Ward’s otherworldly tenor — a sundry palette of colors with which the 26-year-old painted character-driven scenes of small-town Midwestern life, emoting like a young, falsetto-capable Paul Robeson — the duo’s raw, inscrutable chemistry was in full effect as they handily made a case as an inevitable force to be reckoned with in the days to come.”

Madisen and the Mama Bear just recently signed on with the William Morris Endeavor Agency. They now have a national agent who will represent them and guide them with touring and recording projects.

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear are doing a lot more touring, getting out on the road, and have written enough new songs that they are ready to get into the recording studio.

The Duo’s recent show at the Americana Music Festival was a return trip for Madisen and Ruth because back in August they traveled through Nashville on their way to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to perform for a showcase, and open for Phosphorescent.

Next week Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear will open for BB King, on Wednesday, October 1, at The Midland Theatre, in Kansas City.

10:13

2. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – “Find It In The Mail” (Live)

10:18

Next week Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear will open for BB King, on Wednesday, October 1, at The Midland Theatre, in Kansas City.

Madisen Ward grew up listening to his mother play in coffee houses around the country. He started playing guitar in his later teen years and then started singing.

Madisen talked about how after high schol he started writng songs for he and his mother to perform together.

Ruth you told the Deli KC that you were “learning a lot from my son while enjoying the process as well. I feel like we’re tackling music in ways I never have before.”

Ruth told us during the interview that on her way into the studio this morning she told Madisen that she trusted him, and that she hasn’t always been able to say that about other musical collaborators in her life.

“We Burned the Cane Field,” was produced by Joel Nanos, of Element Recording. Today is Joel’s birthday!

11:25

3. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – “Hell Better Make Room” (Live)

10:30

Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear play The Blue Note in Columbia, this Friday, September 26, at 9:30 pm, opening for the Music Maker Blues Revue

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear will open for BB King, on Wednesday, October 1, at The Midland Theatre, in Kansas City.

More info at http://www.facebook.com/MadisenWardAndTheMamaBear

10:30 – Underwriting

10:32 – Interview with members of The Sexy Accident

4. The Sexy Accident -“The Fictions All I Got (Sometimes)”
from: Lavender 3 / Independent / October 4, 2014
[Produced, engineered and mixed by Steve Fisk. Recorded at Westend, Kansas City. Mixed at Steve’s house in Seattle. All songs written by Jesse Kates and arranged by Jesse Kates, Daniel Torrence, Camry Ivory, Mark Hamblin and Kristin Smith. Guest starring Laurel Parks, Sascha Groschang, Sean Nelson, Ashley Porter, Jim Daniels, Amy Laemmli and Tobias Kates. Josh Williams recorded pianos and organ at BRC, Kansas City. Riccardo Schulz recorded Jim Daniels at Johnny Costa Jazz Studio, Pittsburgh. Alex Austyn recorded some guitars, singing and a glock at Digital Pulse, Kansas City. Mastering by Ed Brooks at RFI, Seattle.]

[The Sexy Accident, play a Book/Album release show on Oct 4, at 7:00 pm, at the Buffalo Room.]

The Kansas City based band, The Sexy Accident, led by guitarist and singer/songwriter Jesse Kates, decided to release their fifth LP, Lavender 3, as a 48-page, 9-inch square silver cloth-covered hardback book featuring fourteen works of visual art, complete lyrics, interviews with the band, and exclusive photographs. There will be a Book/Album release show on October 4, at 7:00 pm , at the Buffalo Room. Tulsa’s Kalyn Barnoski and Rachel La Vonne will opening the show at 8:00 pm, followed by The Sexy Accident at 9:00 pm. Animator Galadriel Thompson of DarkHeart Girlfriends Club will project her visions on unfurled bolts of muslin. Paintings by Steph Toth Kates Art will also be displayed.

Joining us from the band were: Jesse Kates, Camry Ivory, Kristin Smith with artist Galadriel Thompson.

Jesse, talked about why the band decided to release The Sexy Accident’s 5th full length release as a 48 page hardback book.

This is the band’s 3rd full length release working with famed Seattle producer Steve Fisk.

Camry Ivory joined the band in 2010 and has now worked on 2 EPs and 2 full length recordings with The Sexy Accident and also with producer Steve Fisk. Camry talked about working with Steve.

Camry has been performing a lot as a solo artist and is also as part of the group, I Found A Job, playing the music of Talking Heads, as well as Anna Cole and the Other Lovers, and several other bands. Camry talked about how she had a chance to grow in the band and is now singing lead vocals on several tracks.

Jesse talked about how Kristin Smith brought a lot to the record. How Kristin really helped steer a lot of the suspensions, and sevenths, and things like that. “We’ve got a lot more harmony, and the chords are richer than they were on the last record. A lot of that was Kristin’s influence. That was what she brought.”

Kristin talked about how, like Camry, this was her first band.

In the interview in the book Steve talks about “The weaving of the keyboards, all of the keyboard arrangements that went down live, in most of the situations, which for me is always going to be musically superior. They’re all metric and rhythm related, and locked with the guitar parts. You could certainly overdub them to make them right, but if you get all of that going in a room with live drums, it makes it one step closer to Memphis.”

Galadriel Thompson is an animation artist and who will be projecting her images throughout the room the night of the album/book release show.

Lavender 3, as a 48-page, 9-inch square silver cloth-covered hardback book featuring fourteen works of visual art, complete lyrics, interviews with band, exclusive photographs.

The Sexy Accident Book/Album release show on Oct 4, at 7:00 pm, at the Buffalo Room. Tulsa’s Kalyn Barnoski & Rachel La Vonne will open the show, followed by The Sexy Accident at 9:00 pm. The room itself will mesmerize as animator Galadriel Thompson of DarkHeart Girlfriends Club will projects her visions on unfurled bolts of muslin. Paintings by Steph Toth Kates Art will also be displayed. More at: http://music.sexyaccident.com

10:55

5. The Sexy Accident -“It’s Just Real”
from: Lavender 3 / Independent / October 4, 2014
[Produced, engineered and mixed by Steve Fisk. Recorded at Westend, Kansas City. Mixed at Steve’s house in Seattle. All songs written by Jesse Kates and arranged by Jesse Kates, Daniel Torrence, Camry Ivory, Mark Hamblin and Kristin Smith. Guest starring Laurel Parks, Sascha Groschang, Sean Nelson, Ashley Porter, Jim Daniels, Amy Laemmli and Tobias Kates. Josh Williams recorded pianos and organ at BRC, Kansas City. Riccardo Schulz recorded Jim Daniels at Johnny Costa Jazz Studio, Pittsburgh. Alex Austyn recorded some guitars, singing and a glock at Digital Pulse, Kansas City. Mastering by Ed Brooks at RFI, Seattle.]

[The Sexy Accident, play a Book/Album release show on Oct 4, at 7:00 pm, at the Buffalo Room.]

6. Perfume Genius – “Don’t Let Them In”
from: Too Bright / Matador / Sept. 23, 2014

[Perfume Genius plays The Riot Room, Mon. Sept. 29.]

11:00 – Station I.D.

7. The New Pornographers – “Brill Bruisers”
from: Brill Bruisers / Matador / August 26, 2014
[The first single from the 6th studio album from the Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Members include: Dan Bejar, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins, Kurt Dahle, Todd Fancey, Carl Newman, and Blaine Thurier]

11:05 – Guest DJ Joey Grimm

Joey Grimm was born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in De Soto, Kansas. He became interested in making moving sculptures as a result of tinkering with cars and learning how engines operate. For over ten years, Grimm worked with kinetic sculptors Jim Woodfill, Graham Lane, and Mac MacClanahan on projects ranging from small kinetic sculptures to producing high speed art cars. After receiving his BFA from the Kansas City Art institute in 2010, he attended the Masters of Fine Arts program at the University of Delaware where he is researched and producing kinectic sculpture. After completing his studies, Grimm moved to Brooklyn in New York City, where Joey has started his own business with artist Jordan Johnsoin called Made In Americana, a custom building company, creating various objects and funiture. More info at: http://www.madeinamericana.com. Joey Grimm is back in Kansas City with his partner Jules, and a few other friends.

Joining Joey on the show was is girlfriend Jules Slutsky, and his Aunt Laura Diggs.

Jules Slutsky is a native of Brooklyn, her parents were artists and she is a photographer.

Laura Diggs is an artist now based in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

8. Jonathan Richman & Modern Lovers – “Double Chocolate Malted”
from: It’s Time For Jonathan Richman & Modern Lovers / Upside Records / 1986

11:18

9. Cotton Jones – “Up A Tree (Went This Heart I Have”
from: Paranoid Cocoon / Suicide Squeeze Records / Jan 27, 2009 [Formerly The Cotton Jones Basket Ride, is an indie folk band, with elements of psychedelic folk, dream pop, baroque pop, and Americana, based in Cumberland, Maryland. Michael Nau (born October 31, 1984) is the lead singer-songwriter and plays guitar, Whitney McGraw (born July 20, 1986) is on keyboards, organ, and electronic autoharp, Todd Gowans (born February 4, 1986) is on lead electric guitar, and Greg Bender is on bass. The signature sound of the band is Michael Nau and his wife Whitney McGraw’s ethereal vocal harmonies.]

10. Kurt Vile – “Shame Chamber”
from: Walkin On A Pretty Daze / Matador / April 8, 2013
[Kurt Samuel Vile (born January 3, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He best known for his solo career and as a former member of indie rock band The War on Drugs, with whom he recorded one full studio album. Both in the studio and during live performances, Vile is accompanied by his backing band, The Violators, which currently includes multi-instrumentalists Jesse Trbovich and Rob Laakso, alongside drummer Kyle Spence.]

11:30 – Underwriting

11. Talking Heads – “Nothing But Flowers”
from: Naked / Fly-Sire / 1988
[Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in NYC and active until 1991. The band was comprised of David Byrne (lead vocals and guitar), Chris Frantz (drums and backing vocals), Tina Weymouth (bass and backing vocals) and Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals). Other musicians also regularly made appearances in concert and on the group’s albums. The new wave style of Talking Heads combined elements of punk rock, art rock, avant-garde, pop, funk, world music, and Americana. Frontman and songwriter David Byrne contributed whimsical, esoteric lyrics to the band’s songs, and emphasized their showmanship through various multimedia projects and performances. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Talking Heads as being “one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the ’80s, while managing to earn several pop hits.” In 2002, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of the band’s albums appeared on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.]

12. The Clash – “Lost In The Supermarket”
from: London Calling / Epic Records / December 14, 1979
[Produced by Guy Stevens, it is credited to the Strummer/Jones songwriting partnership. It was released on their third studio album. Although it features Mick Jones on lead vocals, the song was written by Joe Strummer. The supermarket in question was The International, located at 471-473 Kings Road, beneath the World’s End Estate. 31 Whistler Walk was where Joe lived at the time with his girlfriend Gaby Salter, her two younger brothers and her mother.]

13. Neil Young – “Unknown Legend”
from: Harvest Moon / Reprise / October 23, 1992
[20th studio album by Neil Young. Many of the musicians appearing on it also appeared on his 1972 album Harvest, and it is considered by many to be like a “sequel” to Harvest. Recovering from a case of tinnitus that had come about after the recording of 1990’s Ragged Glory and its subsequent tour (which produced 1991’s Weld and Arc), Young was determined to return to the studio. Returning to Nashville and joining up with compatriots like Ben Keith, Young put down the electric guitar, returning to the acoustic guitar, piano and banjo that had dominated albums such as Harvest, Comes a Time and Old Ways.The album earned the 1994 Juno Award for album of the year.]

14. David Bowie – “Space Oddity”
from: David Bowie / Parlophone Records / 1969
[released as a music single in July 1969. It is about the launch of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut. Besides its title, which clearly alludes to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the introduction to the song is a barely audible instrumental build-up that is analogous to the deep bass tone in Also Sprach Zarathustra that is prominently used in the film. The lyrics have also been seen to lampoon the British space programme. The song appears on the album David Bowie (also known as Space Oddity). The song was awarded the 1969 Ivor Novello Award, together with Peter Sarstedt’s “Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?”. “Space Oddity” became so well known that Bowie’s second album, originally released as David Bowie in the UK (like his first album), was renamed after the track for its 1972 reissue by RCA Records, and has since become known by this name. It was used by U2 during their 360° Tour (2009-2011). It was played over the public address system preceding the band’s arrival on stage. In 2013, the song gained renewed popularity after it was covered by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who performed the song while aboard the International Space Station, and therefore became the first music video shot in space. This video was removed from YouTube on May 13, 2014: despite Bowie’s explicit wishes that Hadfield be fully licensed to record the song and produce the video, the song is owned — and its copyright controlled — by Bowie’s publisher, who granted Hadfield license to the song for only one year. Bowie would later revisit his Major Tom character in the songs “Ashes to Ashes” and “Hallo Spaceboy”. German singer Peter Schilling’s 1983 hit “Major Tom (Coming Home)” is written as a retelling of the song.]

11:58

Next week: on Wed, October 4, we’ll more New & Midcoastal Releases from: Monta At Odds, Jorge Arano Trio, Gemini Revolution, The Conquerors, Akkilles, Thee Water Moccasins, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, and Schwervon!

At 10:30, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Barclay Martin joins us to share music and stories about his recent trip to Madagascar with musician, drummer, engineer and producer, Giuliano Mingucci. Their recording of all Malagasy music will be released in October.

In our second hour Dedric Moore of the KCK based bands Gemini Revolution and Monta At Odds, and Brenton Cook of Haymaker Records, join us to share music and information about the THIRD annual KC Psych Fest, October 9, 10 & 11, at the recordBar, 1020 Westport Road, featuring 24 bands in three days..PLUS the band Schwervon! will join us and play live on the show!

11:59:30

15. 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

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

Show #544