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, November 4, 2015

Sondra Freeman & Apocalypse Meow 8
+ Stephonne Singleton & Jamie Searle

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979 [WMM’s theme]

2. Be/Non – “Chrono-Synclastic Infundibulum”
from: Mystic Sunrise / Sunset Magic / Haymaker Records / October 17, 2015
[Released by Haymaker Records on cassette for International Cassette Store Day. Ro be released on vinyl sometime next year. 5th full length from Be/Non a band founded by Brodie Rush, a songwriter, musician, singer, organizer, artist, film maker, music video creator. Over 20 years ago KC native, Brodie Rush formed the experimental, psychedelic, prog-pop band, Be/Non, The band has had more members than Spinal Tap, but Brodie has remained the only consistent member, songwriter and producer. The current line up of the band includes: Ben Ruth, Brodie Rush, Nathan Burian, John Huff, Nanci Ayala, Mike Cochran. Also available on: Fairgrounds is a collection of experimental and indie music from the KC area, that represent releases on the Haymaker Records, with future Haymaker releases, and other recordings from friends. ]

[Be/Non plays Riot Room, Monday, November 9, at 8:00 pm opening for Stardeath & White Dwarfs with The Phillistines.]

3. EL VY-“Return to the Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, w/Crescendo)”
from: Return To The Moon / 4AD / October 30, 2015
[Pronounced like “hell pie” or the plural of Elvis. Debut album and collaboration of Matt Berninger & Brent Knopf. Matt Berninger is primarily known as the frontman of indie rock band The National. brent Knpf is a multi-instrumentalist/producer from the band Menomena and ramona Falls. The tow have been friends and have toured together for over 10 years and have been sending music back and forth for years.]

4. Lucky Graves – “Low Fuel”
from: Cause It Makes You Feel Good / Adam Stotts / February 8, 2011 1982
[Members include Members include: Adam Stotts on lead vocals & guitar; Brent Richards on drums; and J. Beason on bass. Formed in Kansas City in 2011]

[The Lucky Graves play recordBar, Sunday, November 8, at 8:00 pm with Exeter, and Ex Acrobat (Duane Trower, Chuck Irons, Jason Smith, and Justin Warring).]

[The Lucky Graves play Coda, on Saturday, November 7, at 3:00 pm, for the Sonic Saturday Social Club, with Red Kate.]

5. Joanna Newsom – “Leaving the City”
from: Divers / Drag City / October 23, 2015
[4th album from harpist, keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter and actress, Joanna Newsom who was born and raised in the small town of Nevada City, California. Speaking about the album’s creative process in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said “I … spent a year or two on the instrumental arrangements and overdubs. I wanted the character and colors of the instrumentation to shift definitively, from song to song, which entailed a wide pool of collaborators and a lengthy collaborative process with each person.” She further described the process of making the album as “probably the most fun I’ve had making a record”. Entertainment Weekly also reported Newsom “as using an arsenal of nearly a dozen keyboards and synths including clavichords, mellotrons and Marxophones” for the album while members of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra feature as players on the album.]

6. Straight White Teeth – “A Shadow Doused in Flames”
from: Medicine Sword / Straight White Teeth / November 1, 2015
[Debut EP from, indie-pop artist Patrick McGuire who after five years as the lead singer of the Denver based band Flashbulb Fires, disbanded and began a new project, Straight White Teeth. In April of 2015 he enlisted the help of his girlfriend Ella Trujillo and got to work writing songs and recording. Trujillo who hadn’t picked up a drumstick in over ten years, agreed to join under the condition that she could have full creative control over the visual elements of the band. The EP was recorded by Will Klingenmeier, and produced by Randall Kent and White Flashes, with strings performed by Brett Omara.]

[Straight White Teeth play Eighth Street Taproom, in Lawrence, KS, Thursday, November 5 and miniBar, in KCMO, on Friday, November 6, with Rev Gusto, Merit Badge]

7. Millage Gilbert w/ The Creighton Organization – “Nothin’ I Can Do”
from: I Heard It On 18th Street II / Independent / 2009
[Living legend, Millage Gilbert in 77 years old and has deep roots in Kansas City and Mississippi. Born in Jackson, MS, he grew up watching such legends as John Lee Hooker, Little Milton, and Howlin Wolf. At 17, he joined Elmore James’ band. A KC resident since 1962, Gilbert has performed with Little Hatch and Sonny Kenner, and has performed in Europe. He told an interviewer: “I was born in Madison County, Mississippi, near Tougaloo, south of Ridgeland, north of the city of Jackson, Mississippi, May 24, 1938 [Ed. Note – His birth certificate states May 25, 1938, but Gilbert insists he was born on May 24, 1938.] My mother was born Dora Scott in Clarksdale, Mississippi. I was grown up from a family of 14. I’m the 12th child, the baby son. Now I’m the only boy left living. My father was the seventh son in his family and I’m his seventh son. The Gilberts were always known for playing guitar. Hopefully my boys will take it a little further.”]

[Millage Gilbert plays Kansas City Blues Society’s 35th Anniversary Celebration, Saturday, November 7, at 6:00 pm, at Knuckleheads with Jason Vivone & The Billy Bats, Katy Guillen and The Girls, karla Peterie & Jim Herbert, and Anthony Gomes.]

10:30 – Underwriting

10:32 – Interview with Stephonne and Jamie Searle

28 year old singer-songwriter Stephonne Singleton was born in Kansas City and grew up in the inner-city, of Wyandotte County going to High School at Bishop Ward. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Bendictine College and his Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. He has worked as a musician and actor in Kansas City and he joins us to talk about his upcoming debut album, Caged Bird Sings Songs About Red Beard.

Musician and producer, Jamie Searle, founder and member of the band My Brothers & Sisters, also joined the show. Together Jamie and Stephonne performed a live acoustic performance in our 90.1 FM studios of Stephonne’s song “Dangerous,” the second single from Stephonne’s new album.

Stephen wrote, ”My parents loved music. Whether it was a vinyl, a CD, cassette, or the radio it was playing in our house or in the car all day long. I grew up on everyone from Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, and Patti Labelle to Barbara Streisand, The Beatles and Marvin Gaye.”

The young singer, from age 6 on, sang in choirs and read album liner notes, fascinated by all the players, writers, producers and lyrics he found. “I just knew even from a young age that I was supposed to be one of those people. My dad used to be obsessed when he saw Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston on TV and in my heart I had this drive and pull that said ‘that is what I’m supposed to do.'”

Stephonne started writing songs at 10 but didn’t learn to read music until high school.

“I always had a note pad and a full ink pen and I would just write. I heard every instrument and note in my head. I had such a love for melody because it was the way I remembered those songs. Even when I knew notes and chords I still wrote it all in my head.” It was around this time that Nirvana, Alanis Morrisette, Sarah McLachlan and Radiohead changed everything for a then, young lyricist and melody maker. “Alternative music and rock really spoke to me. It was edgier, angrier and moody. That was who I was most of my childhood and even my adulthood and I finally heard that in song. That is when my true love affair with music began. When I knew it understood me even if no one else did.”

The genres of Jazz, Blues, R&B, Pop, Rock, Folk and Funk all collided together and helped to build a voice and artistic perspective that is uniquely and extraordinarily Stephonne.

Stephonne wrote that “The stars aligned when he met, Jamie Searle, of My Brothers & Sisters who is serving as producer and arranger for the new album.

Stephen wrote, “He was the first to see the sonic galaxy that was in my head. He is a genius that recognized a genius in all the melody and lyrics presented to him. He is the first person that could hear exactly what was in my head. Even with a music degree I could never bring the songs what they needed and he is such a true servant of music it blows my mind every day.

Jamie Searle, producer for the album has gone through this process multiple times as well in several bands.

10:42

8. Stephonne & Jamie Searle – “Dangerous” (LIVE)
from: Caged Bird Sings Songs About Red Beard / Independent / to be released in 2016
[Second single from upcoming album.]

Stephonne said that “This is my do or die album.”

Stephonne wrote, ”I was about to give up on all this. I was so defeated after my last band ended and nothing musically was panning out. I was so sad I cried at the thought of not having these songs recorded.”

‘Caged Bird Sings Songs about Red Beard.’
The songs were all birthed in the last 5 years, a dark time of heartbreak, identity crisis, and depression and healing. “Without music I would truly be dead. All of these thoughts and emotions coursed through my soul and body as bad blood and getting it out on paper and recording it was my only salvation. So much came out but these songs, the survivors, are the ones that never went away. These songs demanded to be heard and hit me like a brick every time I sang through a melody of them.”

Stephen has launched a Kickstarter Campaign. Funding will help with album manufacturing and distribution, marketing, promotion, and travel costs.

Stephonne Presents: Caged Bird Sings Songs About Red Beard

Follow this link to see Stephonne’s Kickstarter Campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1838578292/stephonne-presents-caged-bird-sings-songs-about-re?ref=project_link

“Unworthy,” The 1st single and pop odyssey from Caged Bird Sings Songs About Red Beard was proceeded by the cover of “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”

9. Stephonne – “Unworthy”
from: Caged Bird Sings Songs About Red Beard / Independent / to be released in 2016
[First single from upcoming album, available on iTunes, amazon, etc.]

11:00 – Station ID

10. Malachy Papers with Earl Harvin – “Four Titter Puppet”
from: Malachy Papers with Earl Harvin / Reap and Sow / 2005
[Written by Mike Dillon featuring Mark Southerland on horns, Mike Dillon on vibraphone, Johnny Hamil on Bass, and Earl Harvin on Drum Kit and Tiympani. Recorded in December of 2004.]

[Mike Dillon & Earl Harvin Duo with Malachy Papers, play The Brick, 1727 McGee, tonight, Wednesday, Nov 4 at The Brick. Earl Harvin Duo will go on at 9:30 pm, followed by the (rarely seen) Malachy Papers, with Johmmy Hamil and Mark Southerland.]

11. Amy Farrand – “How You Feelin’”
from: Amy Farrand Loves You [EP] / Independent / March 14, 2012
[Ernie Locke on harmonica. Recorded & mixed by Chris Meck. Singer, songwriter, bassist, drummer, mistress of ceremonies, producer, organizer, trail blazer, Amy Farrand, has been a part of many influential KC bands including Sister mary Rotten Croth, EIO, Atlantic Fadeout. For four years she produced and hosted The Weirdo Wednesday Supper Club at Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club]

[Amy Farrand and the Like play recordBar, Friday, November 6, at 7:00 pm for Apocalypse Meow kick off show with Chris Meck & The Guilty Birds, Drop A Grand.]

12. Chris Meck & The Guilty Birds – “Brave and Wreckless”
from: Brave and Wreckless – Single / Independent / February 10, 2015
[Chris Meck on lead guitar & vocals, Michelle Bacon on drums, Calandra Ysquierdo on bass guitar & vocals, Camry Ivory on keys & vocals. Recording with Chad Meise.]

[Chris Meck & The Guilty Birds play recordBar, Friday, November 6, at 7:00 pm for Apocalypse Meow kick off show with Drop A Grand, and Amy Farrand and the Like.]

13. Berwanger – “I Want You Bad” (CD #19) (1:41)
from: Demonios [EP] / High Dive Records / To be released December 11, 2015
[On September 2, 2015 it was announced that Josh Berwanger band was signed to High Dive Records. Recorded at Element Recording with producer Doug Boehm. The current line up includes: Josh Berwanger, Ricky Salthouse, and Brian Klien. Josh Berwanger was previously in The Anniversary, a Kansas band that released, 2000’s Designing a Nervous Breakdown & 2002’s Your Majesty and sold over 100,000 records before breaking up on tour in Japan. Berwanger put together a new band, The Only Children, and released, 2004’s Change of Living & 2007’s Keeper of Youth. When Keeper of Touth ended Josh Berwanger took a break and became a high school basketball coach. In the 2012 Josh formed the Josh Berwanger band. Josh Berwanger recently recorded a 7 ” Split Single with Dwight Twilley for Good Land Records. In September the band went on the road as Berwanger, opening for Get Up Kids, and in October opening for Boys Life.]

[Josh Berwanger Band play Mills Record Company, Saturday, November 7, at 7:00 pm, with Schwervon!, in an ALL AGES SHOW presented by The Deli Magazine – Kansas City]

11:15 – Interview with Sondra Freeman

Sondra Freeman is Director of Promotions and Artist Relations for Midwest Music Foundation, a nonprofit created to support music and musicians in Kansas City and the surrounding areas, founded in 2008 by a collective of musicians and music lovers. The Midwest Music Foundation (MMF) unites and empowers the greater Kansas City music community by providing programs and resources to area musicians through outreach, support, education, and health care opportunities. Sondra is instrumental in MMF’s annual events: Apocalypse Meow, MidCoast Takeover and the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, as well as many other collaborative musical events and fundraisers.

Sondra joins us to share all the details about Apocalypse Meow 8, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 at recordBar, with Chris Meck and The Guilty Birds, Amy Farrand and the Like, and Drop a Grand; SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, at 7:00 pm at Mills Record Company, in an ALL AGES SHOW presented by The Deli Magazine – Kansas City featuring: Berwanger, and Schwervon!; and SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, at Knuckleheads Saloon, on three stages, with Kangaroo Knife Fight, Westerners, Me Like Bees, The Noise FM, Yes You Are, Federation of Horsepower, Sara Morgan, and Jessica Paige. Apocalypse Meow is the annual fundraiser for Midwest Music Foundation and Abby’s Fund. More info at http://www.midwestmusicfound.org.

Abby’s Fund was named after Abigail Henderson

Abigail Hope Henderson Meck, 36, died Aug. 27, 2013 at her home in Kansas City after a five-year battle with cancer. Abigail was born April 8, 1977, in New York. In 1984, she moved to a suburb of Detroit. In 1999, she moved to Kansas City to live with her mother, Carol Pfander, who preceded her in death. Abigail attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She graduated in 2002 with a bachelor of arts in English. While at UMKC, she was co- founder and co-director of the Association of Women Students. The association sponsored several events, including an appearance by Angela Davis, a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” and a Take Back the Night vigil. After college, she also helped organize “Beauty Slays the Beast,” a benefit for political- activism and voter awareness. While in college, Abigail started playing guitar. In 2001, she started her first band, Trouble Junction. In 2003, she started the band the Gaslights with Christopher Meck, who would later become her husband. The Gaslights recorded five albums, releasing three of them. They also toured the United States regularly and toured Europe three times. She was a member of two other bands with her husband: Atlantic Fadeout and Tiny Horse. Her final live performance in Kansas City was at Knuckleheads on July 11, when Tiny Horse opened for the BoDeans. In early 2008, Abigail was diagnosed with Stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer. In response to her battle with health insurance company and daunting medical bills, she and others in the music community founded the Midwest Music Foundation, a group that sponsors health- care programs and provides financial relief to local musicians who have suffered a health-care crisis. Since 2009, the MMF has distributed $30,000 in health-care grants. It also co-sponsored the Well Women’s Clinic, which provides free screenings for female musicians. Abigail also founded Apocalypse Meow, an annual fundraiser for the MMF. In addition to her mother, Abigail was preceded in death by her father, Frank Henderson, who died in 2007. She is survived by her husband and many friends and music fans in the Kansas City and Lawrence area.

Abigail Henderson co-founded Midwest Music Foundation, since her death, (two years ago), friends, musicians, collaborators have kept this not-for-profit alive, folks like: Rhonda Lyne, Sondra Freeman, Michelle Bacon, Brenton Cook, Chris Meck, Scott Easterday, Don Simon, Vi Tran, Michael Byars, Angela Lupton, Mac McSpadden, Chris Haghirian.

Midwest Music Foundation is a part of events all year round: Midcoast Takeover, Middle of The Map Fest, Crossroads Music Fest, and more…

14. Federation of Horsepower – “Queen of Rosedale”
from: Hermanos de Sangre / Independent / May 21, 2014
[Gregg Todt – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Hammond Organ, Piano; Johnny Catfish – Bass, Background Vocals ; Chris Fugitt – Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals; Auggie Wolber – Guitar; Christopher Tolle – Guitar, Background Vocals. Additional vocals on “The Queen of Rosedale” – Monique Danielle. Produced by Duane Trower and Federation of Horsepower. Engineered and Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab, Kansas City MO. Cover Art by Gerardo Quetzatl Garcia .]

[Federation of Horsepower play Knuckleheads, Sun, Nov. 8, for Apocalypse Meow 8, w/ Westerners, Me Like Bees, The Noise FM, Yes You Are, Kangaroo Knife Fight, Sara Morgan, and Jessica Paige.]

15. Westerners – “Tetris”
from: Westerners [EP] / The Record Machine / March 24, 2014
[Mitch Hewlett, Josh Hartranft, Matt Mirsch, Ben Childs. Recorded and produced at Element Recording by Joel Nanos. Members of the band come from all over: the east coast, London, Kansas City, bonded by an arbitrary move to a farmhouse in nowhere, Kansas, and an almost decade long friendship. In 2013 the band enlisting a friend and local band director who was then recently discharged from the US Coast Huard to fill out their sound. Westerners emerged on the local music scene with their high energy performances.]

[Westerners also play Knuckleheads, Sun, Nov 8, for Apocalypse Meow 8, w/ Federation of Horsepower, Me Like Bees, The Noise FM, Yes You Are, Kangaroo Knife Fight, Sara Morgan, and Jessica Paige.]

Apocalypse Meow 8

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 at recordBar,
with Chris Meck and The Guilty Birds, Amy Farrand and the Like, and Drop a Grand

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, at 7:00 pm at Mills Record Company,
in an ALL AGES SHOW presented by The Deli Magazine – Kansas City
featuring: Berwanger, and Schwervon!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, at Knuckleheads Saloon, on three stages,
with Kangaroo Knife Fight, Westerners, Me Like Bees, The Noise FM, Yes You Are, Federation of Horsepower, Sara Morgan, and Jessica Paige.

Apocalypse Meow is the annual fundraiser for Midwest Music Foundation and Abby’s Fund. More info at http://www.midwestmusicfound.org

16. Kangaroo Knife Fight – “Loose My Head”
from: Firebrand / Independent / December 6, 2014
[Debut [EP] from Kansas City based 4-piece that includes: Native Australian, Anthony Avis, lead vocalist, with Brandon Skeens on guitar, Gus Rechtien on bass, and Ian on drums. Kangaroo Knife Fight played live on the show on November 12, 2014.]

[Kangaroo Knife Fight play Knuckleheads Saloon, Sun, Nov 8, for Apocalypse Meow 8, w/ Westerners, Me Like Bees, The Noise FM, Yes You Are, Federation of Horsepower, Sara Morgan, and Jessica Paige.]

17. 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 Knuckleheads Saloon, Sun, Nov 8, for Apocalypse Meow 8, w/ Westerners, Me Like Bees, Kangaroo Knife Fight, Yes You Are, Federation of Horsepower, Sara Morgan, and Jessica Paige.]

18. Sara Morgan – “One Night at the Opry”
from: Easy To Dream EP / Independent / June 9, 2015
[KC based Singer/Songwriter, originally from McGehee, Arkansas. She plays piano, saxophone, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and piano. Sara has opened for BJ Thomas, John Michael Montgomery, John Corbett, Sean Rowe, Chuck Mead, Ben Taylor, and was the preshow at the Industry Bar inside the Uptown Theater before Loretta Lynn, took the main stage in November 2014. Ms. Lynn hosted Sara on her tour bus after Sara’s set and prior to Ms. Lynn’s performance.]

[Sara Morgan plays Knuckleheads Saloon, Sun, Nov 8, for Apocalypse Meow 8, w/ Westerners, Me Like Bees, Kangaroo Knife Fight, Yes You Are, Federation of Horsepower, The Noise FM, and Jessica Paige.]


11:59:30

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

Next week on November 11, the crew from Josey Records Kansas City: Christian LaBeau, Britt Adair, and Steve Shoup join us in our first hour as Guest Producers. In our second hour we’ll talk with Chely Wright about the big benefit concert at the Folly Theater on Friday, Nov. 13 with: Michael Ian Black, Carson Kressley, Fortune Feimster, Dana Goldberg, and special guest Ty Herndon. More info at: http://www.likemelighthouse.org

Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org 


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Show #602