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, March 11, 2015

Black Pearl Sings + The Waspmen & The Cave Girls
+ The Record Machine + Psychic Heat

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / 1980
[Wednesday MidDay Medley’s theme song]

2. Viet Cong – “Silhouettes”
from: Viet Cong / Jagjaguar Records / January 20, 2015
[Canadian indie rock band formed in Calgary, Alberta in 2012. The group consists of two ex-members of the rock band Women, vocalist/bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace, as well as guitarists Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen. The group’s musical style has been described as “labyrinthine post-punk.”]

[Viet Cong play recordBar TONIGHT, March 11, with Muscle Worship.]

10:07

3. The Philistines – “Twitch of the Death Nerve”
from: New Single from The Philistines forthcoming debut LP / To be released this summer
[KC based rock ‘n roll/pop band with a psychedelic bent, made up of: Kimmie Queen on lead vocals; Cody Wyoming on lead guitar and vocals; Rod Peal on guitar; Michelle Bacon on bass; Josh Mobley on keyboard, Steve Gardels on drums. Recorded and mixed with Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound, mastered by Dave Gaume.]

[The Philistines play Austin at MidCoast Takeover on Friday, March 20. Their next KC show is April 25 at Middle of the Map Fest at The Riot Room.]

4. Wyatt West – “Voiles Chatoyantes”
from: Voiles Chatoyantes – Single / Independent / February 10, 2015
[Andi Fredrickson: vocals, Aaron Simcox: tenor sax, Wyatt West: piano, Max Berry: guitar, James Albright: bass, Scotty McBee: drums. Recorded at LA Audio, Lynn Allred, engineer. Mixed and mastered by Joel Nanos at Element Recording.]

10:15 – Interview with Walter Coppage and Nedra Dixon

Spinning Tree Theatre is presenting the Kansas City premiere of “Black Pearl Sings,” on stage through March 22, at Just Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 Penn Valley Drive, KCMO. Written by Frank Higgins, directed by Walter Coppage, this acclaimed play features Nedra Dixon as Pearl, an African-American woman with a powerful voice in a Texas prison, and Vanessa Severo as Susannah, an ambitious song collector for the Library of Congress. More info at: http://www.spinningtreetheatre.com

Walter Coppage has appeared with The Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Studio Theatre in Washington, DC, The Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, The Coterie, KC Actors Theatre and The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, and has played principal roles in feature films and television. He is a founding member of KC Actors Theatre, an Advisory Board member for The KC FilmFest and KC Jubilee and is The Unicorn Theatre’s Actor Ambassador for the National New Play Network. You may recognize his voice from his broadcasting and voice over work.

Nedra Dixon is a professional actress, and singer who has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Madison Square Garden, on Broadway, Off Broadway, national tours, regional theaters, and in Kansas City at The Unicorn, The Coterie, American Heartland Theatre, and many others. She is a featured vocalist on 12th Street Jump, the locally-produced jazz radio show that is broadcast on 110 NPR stations nationwide, and is a proud member of the Kansas City vocal jazz trio, Book of Gaia, with Angela Hagenbach and Pamela Baskin-Watson.

“Black Pearl Sings” has been produced all over, Washington DC, Portland, San Jose, Chicago, bit this is the Kansas City premiere of a play written by Kansas City based playwright Frank Higgins, perhaps Kansas City’s most famous playwright, this seems like perfect choice for Spinning Tree Theatre, one of KC newest Equity Theatres.

Walter Coppage talked about how he learned about this play and how it became the show where he made his directorial debut.

Nedra Dixon plays Alberta “Pearl” Johnson, described in one review as, “doing hard time in a Texas prison after visiting Lorena Bobbitt–style vengeance on a man with the devil in his hands.”

This is not a musical, by definition, however there are a lot of songs in this show, making it a play with music.

“Playwright Frank Higgins was inspired by the real-life relationship between legendary singer/guitarist Huddie William Ledbetter, Lead Belly) and Harvard folk musicologist John Lomax, who helped petition for Ledbetter’s release from prison, and later became his manager. Lomax figured, rightly, that African Americans in prison were more likely to be unaffected by popular music of the time, thus retaining early musical influences.”

Vanessa Severo plays Susannah, a song collector for the Library of Congress. “People with good voices tend to know a lot of songs,” Susannah observes, hoping Pearl will offer up an unknown song to help further her academic career. Pearl makes the decision to share her songs and voice when Susannah offers to help search for Pearl’s 22-year-old daughter, who is missing from her Houston neighborhood.

So much about this play depends on the two actress, who alone bring this play and these characters to life each night on stage.

Spinning Tree Theatre presents the KC premiere of “Black Pearl Sings,” on stage through March 22, at Just Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 Penn Valley Drive, KCMO. Written by Frank Higgins, directed by Walter Coppage, this acclaimed play features Nedra Dixon as Pearl, and Vanessa Severo as Susannah. More info at: http://www.spinningtreetheatre.com

10:29 – Underwriting
10:30

5. The Thunderclaps – “7 Doos, No Donts”
from: The Thunderclaps / Independent / August 17, 2014
[Colin Blunt – Drums and Bryce Jones – vocals and Guitar. Bryce works as an English teacher in Salina, KS.]

[The Thunderclaps play MidCoast Takeover Fundraiser at The Brick, Saturday, March 14, with Bottle Breakers, Federation of Horsepower, and Dsodean.]

6. The Waspmen – “Again”
from: First Stings First / Independent / March 14, 2015
[Ian Griggs on vocals, Elan Portnoy on guitar, Jim McCormack on bass, and Dave Storms on drums.]

[The Waspmen play a CD Release show Sat, March 14, at 7:00 pm at recordBar, with The Cave Girls.]

10:35 – Interview with Elan Portnoy, Jim McCormack, & Robin Campbell

Members of the bands: The Waspmen and The Cave Girls joined us in our 90.1 FM Studios to give us all the details about The Waspmen’s CD release show at recordBar, 1020 Westport Rd, this Saturday night, March 14, at 7:00 pm.
Congratulations on the new CD, First Stings First, recorded at Destiny Audio in Independence.

The Waspmen’s new song “Again,” is getting play on Sirius Radio.

In the 1980s, Elan Portney, was a lead guitarist of the New York City band The Fuzztones and played in shows alongside The Clash, The Damned, The Cramps, R.E.M. and Midnight Oil. In the late 1980s, Elan played with the NYC based band, The Headless Horsemen. The band reunited in 2013.

Elan Portnoy – lead guitar, and Jim McCormack, bassist, discussed how The Waspmen originally formed.

Robin Campbell, talked about how The Cave Girls and The Waspmen were brought together for this show, in a perfect pairing of celebrated “garage bands.”

10:44

7. The Waspmen – “You’re Gonna Miss Me”
from: First Stings First / Independent / March 14, 2015
[Ian Griggs on vocals, Elan Portnoy on guitar, Jim McCormack on bass, and Dave Storms on drums.]

First Stings First, was recorded at Destiny Audio and produced by The Waspmen.

The Cave Girls are: Robin Campbell on voice and guitar, Stone Age Sara (Teasley) on vocals and drums, and Lizz Weiler on vocals and bass. The Cave Girls have been recording new songs, and have plans for an upcoming release.

The Cave Girls have been invited to be a part of a new compilation Tribute album celebrating the songs of the band The Pandoras.

11:55

8. The Cave Girls – “Let’s Do Right”
from: A Tribute to The Pandoras / Independent / 2015
[The Cave Girls are: Robin Campbell on voice and guitar, Stone Age Sara Teasley on vocals & drums, and Lizz Weiler on vocals & bass.]

[The Cave Girls will open for The Waspmen CD Release show Sat, March 14, at 7:00 pm at recordBar, 1020 Westport Rd.]

10:58 – Station ID

9. Ghastly Menace – “Ain’t Gonna Cry”
from: Songs of Ghastly Menace / The Record Machine / January 27, 2015
[6-piece band made up of: Andy Schroeder, Chris Geick, Pat Lawlor, Kody Nixon, Michael Heringhaus, and Clint Weber. Formed in Chicago, IL. in 2010, initially the group started as a recording project between two friends. Songs of Ghastly Menace, marks the group’s first full band effort. Recorded in collaboration with songwriter/producer Nigel Dennis, the album expands greatly upon the experimentation and stylistic range of 2010’s Pitcairn EP. ]

[Ghastly Menace will play The Middle of The Map Fest, April 25]

11:02 – Interview with Nathan Reusch and Alex Ellis

Now in it’s 5th year, Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest, curated by The Record Machine, returns to Kansas City, with an extra day, running April 22-25, featuring local, national, international and emerging talent. Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest is the brainchild of Nathan Reusch co-founder of The Record Machine now in their 11th year.

Alex Ellis, a multi-instrumentalist originally from Seattle, and now based in Kansas City. Alex has been writing songs for the past 17 years, and works as AE|Beats, as a songwriter/composer, audio engineer and producer. Alex received a masters in music business from Berkley School of Music, and is working with The Record Machine.

Ghastly Menace, is one of The Record Machine’s newest bands whom will be playing Middle of the Map Fest – April 22-25

MOTM

Wednesday, April 22 at The Uptown – OK GO / The Republic Tigers

Thursday, April 23 at The Uptown
– Iron & Wine / Strand of Oaks / Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear / Sean Rowe

Friday, April 24 in Various Venues in Westport

Saturday, April 25 in Various Venues in Westport …100+ bands

VENUES
Uptown Theater (Wed/Thurs)
Outdoor Stage (Fri/Sat) ALL AGES – parking lot in Westport /
Ernie Biggs 4115 Mill Street / recordBar 1020 Westport Road /
Riot Room (inside) 4048 Broadway / Riot Room (outside) 4048 Broadway /
Westport Saloon 4112 Pennsylvania / Mills Record Company (Sat) 314 Westport Road

DAY PARTIES AND SHOWCASES
90.9 The Bridge Day Party w/ Jon Hart (Saturday at rB)

Eight One Sixty from 90.9 The Bridge Day Party w/ Sarah Bradshaw
(Saturday at Riot outside)

90.1 FM – Wednesday MidDay Medley KKFI Day Party w/ Mark Manning
(Sat. at Westport Saloon)
with: Not A Planet, The Big Iron, The Project H, She’s A Keeper, and The Lucky

I Heart Local Music and 90.9 KJHK Day Party (Saturday at Riot inside)

The Record Machine Day Party (Saturday at the Outdoor Stage)

Tim Finn’s Back To Rockville Singer-Songwriter Showcase (Sat at Mills Record Company)

The festival has also grown to include Ink’s Middle of the Map Forum (a civic minded arts, tech, culture conference) and Ink’s Middle of the Map Film Fest (5 days of films at Alamo Drafthouse).

Many of The Record Machine bands: La Guerre, The Noise FM, The Westerners, are also playing The 6th Annual MidCoast Takeover, next week, at The Shangri La, in Austin Texas, Wednesday March 18 through Saturday, March 21.

Nathan, will be with us again in 2 weeks and on March 25, and on April 15 for our special 120 minutes of Music from The Middle of The Map with Chris Haghirian.

For more information about The Record Machine, The MidCoast Takeover, and The Middle of The Map Fest, April 22-25. More info at: http://www.therecordmachine.net, http://www.midwestmusicfound.org, and http://www.middleofthemapfest.com

11:15

10. The Noise FM – “Every Other Word”
from: Attraction / The Record Machine / January 28, 2014
[Formed in 2005 by Fort Scott, KS. brothers Alex Ward on vocals, keyboard, guitar & Austin Ward on drums, vocals. In 2007 the band moved to Lawrence. In 2010 they relocated to Chicago. The band performs live as a trio with Barry Kidd playing bass.]

[The Noise FM, play recordBar, Sat, Mar 14, at 10pm w/ Me Like Bees, Archie Powell & The Exports.]

[The Noise FM play Austin at MidCoast Takeover on Friday, March 20. Their next KC show is April 25 at Middle of the Map Fest at Riot Room.]

11:18 – Underwriting

11:20 – Interview with Steve/Evan Herd, Tanner Spreer, Sam Boatright, and Joel Kuhn and Rolf Peterman.

11. Psychic Heat – “Stargazer” (LIVE)
also available on: Lighter and Brighter / Whatever Forever Tapes / March 13, 2015
[Cassette reissue of 2013 EP Lighter and Higher on side A with Live Performances of those songs on Side B. Steve/Evan Herd on guitar and vocals, Tanner Spreer on guitar, Sam Boatright on bass and vocals, and Ricky Barkosky on drums. You can learn about their music at: http://www.psychicheat.bandcamp.com]

[Psychic Heat play The Bottleneck, Friday, March 13, at 9:00 pm with Gnarly Davidson, and The Sluts. The show celebrates the reissue of their EP, Lighter and Brighter’s new cassette release, through Whatever Forever Tapes.]

[Psychic Heat also plays The MidCaost Takeover, Saturday, March 21, in Austin Texas.]

Members of Psychic Heat include: Steve/Evan Herd on guitar and vocals, Tanner Spreer on guitar, Sam Boatright on bass and vocals, and Ricky Barkosky on drums. For today’s show for the next few weeks, Joel Kuhn will be filling in on drums for Ricky Barkosky (who is currently in Europe.)

I Heart Local Music of Lawrence wrote that Psychic Heat, “like to color outside the lines” this is in reference to the band’s live shows. Evan has been know to leave the stage completely to deliver vocals from somewhere in the audience.

Evan Herd, Tanner Spreer, and others work at the Mercantile Cooperative grocery store in Lawrence.

Evan Herd told Natalie Gallagher in an interview with The Pitch last year, “I think we all struggle from anxiety, and Psychic Heat has been a great outlet for us to destroy that. It’s this anxiety-killing way to express ourselves.”

11:32

12. Psychic Heat – “Mortal Concept” (LIVE)
also available on: Lighter and Brighter / Whatever Forever Tapes / March 13, 2015
[Cassette reissue of 2013 EP Lighter and Higher on side A with Live Performances of those songs on Side B. Steve/Evan Herd on guitar and vocals, Tanner Spreer on guitar, Sam Boatright on bass and vocals, and Ricky Barkosky on drums.]

Evan Herd, is son of artist Stan Herd.

11:44

13. Psychic Heat – “Ambience” (LIVE)
also available on: Lighter and Brighter / Whatever Forever Tapes / March 13, 2015
[Cassette reissue of 2013 EP Lighter and Higher on side A with Live Performances of those songs on Side B. Steve/Evan Herd on guitar and vocals, Tanner Spreer on guitar, Sam Boatright on bass and vocals, and Ricky Barkosky on drums.]

Psychic Heat play The Bottleneck, Friday, March 13, at 9:00 pm with Gnarly Davidson, and The Sluts. The show celebrates the reissue of their EP, Lighter and Brighter’s new cassette release, through Whatever Forever Tapes.

11:50

14. Hudson Falcons – “Soul Salvation”
from: Peace of Mind / East Grand Record Co. / March 10, 2015
[New Jersey band formed by Mark Linsky recording and touring for over 15 years. Known for their rock & roll and punk political songs for the working class. Music writers have compared their sound to both The Ramones and The Replacements.]

[Hudson Falcons play Davey’s Uptown, Sat, Mar 14, 2015, w/ Red Kate, Dressed For The Occasion, and The Uncouth.]


11:55:30

15. Nicholas St. James – “The Good Kind”
from: Honeysuckle / Independent / July 26, 2014
[Bio from www:nicholasstjames.com: Nicholas St. James is a folk troubadour who is more a throwback to Vaudeville than the Dust Bowl; a master of both acoustic and electric performance. The dedication and ferociousness with which he performs is worth the price of admission alone, but then there are the songs… His songs tell tales of deceased mothers, down-on-their-luck working men, drunks and encounters with strangers. Nicholas’ sound is one-part gypsy and one-part blues while honoring and expanding on the genre Americana. …and he helped me push my stalled Toyota Land Cruiser out of the middle of Main Street and into a parking lot nearby.]

[Nicholas St. James plays The Bottleneck, Tuesday, March 17, in an early show at 2:00 pm with Carswell & Hope, and Dr. Cotton.]

11:59:30

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

Next week on March 18, Patrick Alonzo Conway joins us to discuss Gamelan Genta Kasturi and their upcoming show, Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 7:00 pm, at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, Founder’s Hall, 1415 W. 13th Street, KCMO. More info at: http://www.gamelangentakasturi.org. Also, Matt Kesler joins us to play a brand new tracks from The Pedaljets. In 2nd hour, Calvin Arsenia plays LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studios.

90.1 FM’s crystal clear, 100,000 watt signal, delivers some of the best quality of sound you will hear in the metro’s radio airwaves.

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

Show #568