Wednesday MidDay Medley
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Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The 117 Best Recordings of 2017
(Part 3 of 4)

Wednesday MidDay Medley presents part-three, of our four-week special: The 117 Best Recordings of 2017. Based on playlists of this little ole radio show, we’ve compiled representative tracks from our favorite full-length and EP recordings of the year. We realize that these “Best of” lists can seem very subjective, however we ask that you please accept our list as a celebration of the year of music.

In 2017 we’ve played nearly 1000 different songs on the show, and from nearly 375 New & MidCoastal Releases. More than 200 of these releases were New MidCoastal Releases. Over 35 of the bands and artists in our “Best of” list have joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios. This past year we’ve interviewed nearly 200 guests. 70 of the representative recordings in our “Best of” list were MidCoastal Releases, produced by artists from here. It’s all good!

Tune in next Wednesday, December 27 for our finale to The 117 of Best Recordings of 2017.

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

2. (58.) Sheer Mag – “Just Can’t Get Enough”
from: Need To Feel Your Love / WILSUN RC / July 14, 2017
[Sheer Mag is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2014. Members include: Tina Halladay, Kyle Seely, Hart Seely, Matt Palmer, Ian Dykstra With a combination of 1970s rock and punk ethos, the band has continued to gather attention and has released three 7-inch EPs as of March 2016. In January 2015, Rolling Stone featured the band as one of “10 New Artists You Need To Know”, describing them as “a gang of punks with a not-so-secret love of Seventies classic rock.”Four of five band members attended the State University of New York at Purchase. In 2016, the band was part of the Coachella 2016 line-up and performed on Late Night with Seth Myers. On May 10, 2017, Sheer Mag released “Need To Feel Your Love,” the first track off their first full-length record, Need To Feel Your Love.] [Sheer Mag played The Bottleneck, in Lawrence, KS, with Laffing Gas, The Whiffs, and Nancy Boys]

3. (57.) The National – “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”
from: Sleep Well Beast / 4AD / September 8, 2017
[Sleep Well Beast is the 7th studio album by The National, an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. Currently based in Brooklyn, the band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Founded by Berninger, Aaron Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, The National released their self-titled debut album, The National (2001), on Brassland Records, an independent record label founded by Dessner and his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. Bryce, who had assisted in recording the album, soon joined the band, participating as a full member in the recording of its follow-up, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003). Leaving behind their day jobs, the National signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their third studio album, Alligator (2005), to widespread critical acclaim. The band’s fourth and fifth studio albums, Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010), increased their exposure significantly. In 2013, the band released its sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, which was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.]

4. (56.) Khrystal. – “M e L A N i N P o P P i N”
from: Q u a r t e r C e n t u r y L i v i n g / Khrystal. / September 1, 2017
[Khrystal’s debut EP. Written and performed by Khrystal. Produced by Katheryne Johnson. Khrystal Coppage is Editor-in-Chief of Khorage Magazine. She served as Production Manager at UMKC University News from 2015 to 2016. She graduated from UMKC in 2016 where she studied Family Studies. She graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2013. She is a graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, in KCK. http://mixtapemonkey.com/2073/khrystal-q-u-a-r-t-e-r-c-e-n-t-u-r-y-l-i-v-i-n-g. Late this year, Khrystal also released the three song EP, The Glow Up produced by Duncan Burnett on Novembr 7, 2017. [Khrystal. played Plus Vibes Only w/ Duncan Burnett x Riot at Thursday, October 12, at 7:00 PM, at recordBar, 1520 Grand, with Sauce, Mae C., Kartez Marcel, with sounds by Leonard Destroy.]

5. (55.) Diet Cig – “Leo”
from: Swear I’m Good At This / Father Daughter Records / April 7, 2017
[Pop-punk duo Alex Luciano on vocals & guitar, Noah Bowman on drums met at a house show in New Paltz, New York, in the summer of 2014. Bowman’s old band, Earl Boykins, was playing at the house show, where Luciano needed a cigarette lighter. She interrupted the band’s set to ask Bowman for one, but he gave her a bottle of wine instead. Afterwards, Luciano got his number and told him she’d make a music video for him. The next day, Bowman tattooed a daisy on Luciano’s foot and by August 2014, the pair were making music together. They officially named their act Diet Cig in September 2014. Luciano and Bowman confirmed. Swear I’m Good At This was produced, engineered and mixed by Christopher Daly at Salvation Recording Co. in New Paltz, NY with additional recording at Atomic Sound in New York City, and additional engineering by Travis DeJong and Dakota Bowman. It was mastered by Jamal Ruhe at West West Side.]

6. (54.) Eems – “Stumble”
from: Rocket Ship / Independent / August 11, 2017
[Eems is Phillip Jackson, a KC based ukulele loop artist, singer songwriter, rapper, pianist, drummer, The resonance of his bright musical sounds, and lyrical calls, are woven through genres of folk, hip hop, pop, and dance influences. He has shared the stage with notable hop hop artists, and KC Folk Music Fest, Middle of The Map Fest.] [EEMS plays the Crossroads Music Fest, Saturday, Sept 9, at MOD Gallery, 1809 McGee.]

7. (53.) Erin Keller – “Distracted”
from: Distracted / Erin Keller / May 9, 2016
[KC based vocalist Erin Keller is originally from Waukee, Iowa. She was born in August, in 1980. Erin has been singing on a professional level for 25 years. Erin sang with the internationally competitive Des Moines Children’s Choir for 5 years, and 3 years in All-State choir in high school, which helped her earn a voice performance degree from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, in 2002. Erin peforms with the Grammy-Award winning Kansas City Chorale. Erin has also worked as a featured soloist with Owen Cox Dance Ensemble, New Ear, KC jazz musicians, the big band at University of Colorado, a West African Highlife Ensemble, the Balkan brass band Gora Gora Orkestar. Erin also has experience writing her own music, singing in rock, folk, and free improv settings and she more recently earned a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In Colorado she worked for two years in public schools teaching music and moved back to KC to continue her career as musician and educator. In April Erin released her new album, “Distracted,” and has been playing live shows while also being upfront and honest about her recent cancer diagnosis where she has received multiple rounds of chemo treatments. Erin Keller wrote the song “Distracted” and recorded her songs with Chad Meise. Immediately after the album was released Erin diagnosed with liver cancer and began treatments, while also going through a divorce, and moving to a new home. Throughout her chemo treatments Erin continued performing and producing shows, keeping an incredible sense of humor and strength through such a difficult period. She has successfully completed multiple round of chemo and the cancer is gone form her body, although she is currently recovering in the hospital from compilcations for surgery. We wish her well and send her all our love.] [Erin joined us live on the show on August 16.]

8. (52.) Nature Boys – “Grave”
from: 3LP / Mandible Records / April 28, 2017
[Danny Fischer on guitar & vocals, Suzanne Hogan on bass & vocals, Evan Malone on drums. Nature Boys started playing together in Kansas City, MO in September of 2009. They had their first show at Dave’s Stagecoach Inn and then left for their first tour in January of 2010. They’ve released all three of their abums and one single on vinyl. Nature Boys spend most of their time on the road,. The band played 31 shows throughout Europe in June and July of 2017.]

10:30 – Underwriting

9. (51.) Japanese Breakfast – “Road Head”
from: Soft Sounds from Another Planet / Dead Oceans Records / July 14, 2017
[Japanese Breakfast is the solo musical project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League. Under the alias, Zauner has released two studio albums: Psychopomp (2016) and Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017). Prior to her solo project, Michelle Zauner fronted Post Post, an indie pop band with students from Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, then started the Philadelphian emo band Little Big League. Zauner fronted the band between 2011 and 2014, before returning to her hometown of Eugene, Oregon in 2013. Zauner made the trek back home in the wake of her mother being diagnosed with cancer.While at home, tending her family in Oregon, Zauner began recording solo music. Zauner described the project as having much more to say following Tropical Jinx, the 2014 studio album by Little Big League. Originally, Zauner had begun to record early samples of music as a self-meditative and “instant-gratification” feeling.[3] Two years later, the solo project itself eventually became the work of Psychopomp the debut album by Japanese Breakfast. The name of the band, according to Zauner is a juxtaposition of Asian exoticism and American culture. Despite the name, Zauner is not of Japanese descent, but Korean descent.Zauner described the debut album as quite “dark and heavy-handed”, although she had a desire to make the music, urgent and “sonically upbeat.” On June 23, 2016, the Japanese Breakfast project was signed to the Dead Oceans label.]

10. (50.) Hurray For The Riff Raff – “Living In The City”
from: The Navigator / ATO Records / March 10, 2017
[Hurray for the Riff Raff is an American folk-blues and Americana band from New Orleans, Louisiana formed by lead singer and songwriter Alynda Segarra. Segarra was raised by her aunt Nereida in the Bronx where she developed an early appreciation for doo-wop and Motown. She is of Puerto Rican descent. Her mother was former New York City Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra. Segarra became a regular attendee of hardcore punk shows at ABC No Rio when she was young. She left her home in the Bronx at age 17, spending time crossing North America, hopping freight trains. During this time, around 2007, Segarra became a part of the Dead Man Street Orchestra, a band that was documented in a photo essay by Time Magazine in 2007. After two self-released albums, 2008’s It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You and 2010’s Young Blood Blues, Hurray for the Riff Raff released a self-titled CD composed of Segarra’s favorite songs from those records on Loose Music in Europe on March 21, 2011. Tracks from the band’s debut release received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. In February 2011, the band were featured in an article in The Times, based around the HBO TV series, Treme, with their track “Daniella” being listed in their selection of New Orleans’ essential songs. In May 2012, Hurray for the Riff Raff released Look Out Mama on their own label, Born to Win Records. Loose Music released Look Out Mama in Europe on August 20, 2012. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at The Bomb Shelter Studios and produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes).In February 2014, Hurray for the Riff Raff had their ATO Records debut, Small Town Heroes. The record features original songs written or co-written by Segarra, and features fiddler Yosi Perlstein, keyboard player Casey McAllister, and two members of The Deslondes: Sam Doores on guitar and Dan Cutler on bass.]

11. (49.) Jackie Shane – “Any Other Way”
from: Jackie Shane: Any Other Way / Numero Group / October 20, 2017
[Jackie Shane was born May 15, 1940. She is an American former soul and rhythm and blues singer, who was most prominent in the local music scene of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 1960s. She is originally from Nashville, Tennessee. In 1960, Shane moved to Montreal, Quebec, where saxophonist King Herbert Whitaker invited a young Shane along to watch the popular band Frank Motley and his Motley Crew at the Esquire Show Bar. Shane, who showed up in a bright red dress and her hair done up, sat down near the front. When Motley said, “Get that kid up here and let’s see what they can do,” pianist Curley Bridges invited her up onstage for the next set, where she performed songs by Ray Charles and Bobby “Blue” Bland. She was soon the band’s lead vocalist, and relocated to Toronto with them in late 1961. She sometimes returned to the United States to perform shows in Nashville, Boston, and Los Angeles. A fan mythology linked her to Little Richard, including claims that she had been Richard’s backing vocalist before moving to Canada or even that she was Richard’s cousin, although no verification of either claim has ever been found and no evidence exists that Shane ever made either claim herself. Music critic Carl Wilson has concluded that, while in reality Shane had deep and identifiable roots in the traditions of the Southern US Chitlin’ Circuit, the mythology emerged because that scene’s traditions were not known to Torontonians in the 1960s, and thus Little Richard was the only antecedent for Shane’s style that most of her local fan base could identify. Throughout her active musical career and for many years thereafter, Shane was written about by nearly all sources as a man who performed in drag. The few sources that actually sought out her own words on the matter of her own gender identification were more ambiguous, however; she identified herself as male in two early quotes to the Toronto Star, but more often appeared to simply dodge questions about her gender altogether. Her identity as a trans woman was not confirmed on the record by a media outlet until 2017. CBC Radio’s Inside the Music aired a documentary feature, “I Got Mine: The Story of Jackie Shane”, in 2010. At the time, nobody involved in the documentary had been able to determine whether Shane was still living; she was subsequently found still alive in Nashville.Footage of Shane in performance also appeared in Bruce McDonald’s 2011 documentary television series Yonge Street: Toronto Rock & Roll Stories. Jackie Shane Live was reissued in 2011 on Vintage Music as Live at the Sapphire Tavern, although the reissue was labelled as being from 1963 (the date of the original live performance) instead of 1967 (the release date of the album). The reissue also included Shane’s performances from Honkin’ at Midnight as bonus tracks. A compilation album of the studio singles and rarities, Soul Singles Classics, was released the same year. In 2015, the Polaris Music Prize committee shortlisted Jackie Shane Live as one of the nominees for the 1960s-1970s component of its inaugural Heritage Award to honor classic Canadian albums. It was shortlisted for the prize again in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, a group of Toronto writers published the essay anthology Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer, a history of LGBT culture in Toronto; in addition to taking its title from Shane’s 1962 single, the book includes an essay devoted specifically to Shane. In the summer of 2017, the reissue label Numero Group announced that they would be releasing a double-LP/CD compilation of Shane’s music, Any Other Way, on October 20, 2017. The album marks the first time since her final single in 1969 that Shane has been directly involved in the production and release of a reissue of her music.]

12. (48.) Mad Libby – “Powder Blue”
from: Locks Unlocked / Mad Libby / March 4, 2017
[Kansas City based Power Punk 4-piece band formed by: Jennifer Roswold on lead vocals & guitar, Rob Adams on lead guitar, Dana E Scott on drums & backup vocals, and Jessica White on bass & backup vocals.][Mad Libby played 90.1 FM’s Crossroads Music Festival, Sept 9, ay 7:15 at The Brick, 1727 McGee.]

13. (47.) Curtis Harding – “Wednesday Morning Atonement”
from: Face Your Fear / Anti / October 27, 2017
[Curtis Harding is an American soul singer, born in Saginaw, Michigan. Raised as a Mennonite, Harding’s family had no home until they settled in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was 14. Harding’s father, a mechanic, and his mother Dorothy, a gospel singer, took Harding and his five siblings around the United States in a van, stopping at churches. While his mother performed, Harding grew up playing music, though he originally wanted to play professional sports. In the early 2000s, Harding was part of the hip-hop group Proseed. He rapped on and co-wrote CeeLo Green’s 2002 album Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections along with several Proseed members. He toured with Green as a backing singer on the Smokin’ Grooves Tour in 2002 alongside Outkast, Cypress Hill, Lauryn Hill, and The Roots. Harding spent time working with groups in Atlanta before moving to Toronto for a year. A year later, he “came back to record with some friends in my living room.” From these sessions came his debut album, Soul Power, on the indie label Burger Records, released May 6, 2014. He spent two weeks recording the album. Randy Michael composed the music on the single “Keep on Shining”, and Jason Reynolds co-wrote “Heaven’s on the Other Side” with Harding.He formed the band Night Sun with two Black Lips members, guitarist Cole Alexander and drummer Joe Bradley. His second album, Face Your Fear, was recorded at Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Studio in New York City. “Wednesday Morning Atonement” is the opening single. Harding will appear in Sundance TV’s period drama series Hap and Leonard. He will portray two characters: L.C. Soothe and his grandson, Bobby Joe. Harding describes his genre as “slop ‘n’ soul”, a combination of gospel, punk, psych rock, and blues. He has said that his influences include Albert King, the Everly Brothers, and Ronnie Dyson.]

14. (46.) The New Pornographers – “High Ticket Attractions”
from: Whiteout Conditions / New P’s LLC – Concord Music / January 27, 2017
[Seventh album from Canadian indie rock band formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Presented as a musical collective of singer-songwriters and musicians from multiple projects, the band’s seven studio albums have all received critical acclaim for their use of multiple vocalists and elements of power pop incorporated into their music. The album features: Carl Newman on vocals & guitar, Neko Case on vocals, John Collins –on bass, Blaine Thurier on keyboards & synthesizer, Todd Fancey on lead guitar, Kathryn Calder on vocals, keyboards & guitar, and Joe Seiders on drums & vocals. This is the first album not to feature either longtime drummer Kurt Dahle or singer-songwriter Dan Bejar.]

15. (45.) Beck – “Dear Life”
from: Colors / Fonograf – Capitol / October 13, 2017
[13th studio album from Beck Hansen, born July 8, 1970. Colors was recorded at co-executive producer Greg Kurstin’s LA studio, with Beck & Kurstin playing nearly every instrument themselves. Beck rose to fame in the early 1990s with his sonically experimental and lo-fi style, and became known for creating musical collages of wide genre styles. Today, he musically encompasses folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alt rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 13 studio albums (3 of which were independently released), as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.] [At the height of his first hit single “Loser” fame, on April 13, 1994, Beck played Kansas City’s Rhumba Box 1012 McGee. The Rhumba Box lasted from the summer of 1993 to the spring of 1994. Prior to The Rhumba Box, 1012 Megee was home to Human Observation Lab. In 1987 a group of UMKC students called Stimulus and Response took over the defunct gay bath house, Club Bath, at 1012 McGee and opened The Human Observation Lab. At night, this downtown neighborhood was basically deserted except for the old bus station, a few dive bars, and street prostitution. The Lab’s proprietors rehabbed the building into a two story live/work space that evolved into a legendary live performance venue. Gorilla Theatre, Eyes Wide Open, Mongol Beach Party, The Cocktails, and DJ Ray Velasquez are just a few of the off-the-wall performers that evolved out of this underground venue.]

11:00 – Station ID

16. (44.) The Sluts – “Wonderful”
from: Only One / The Sluts / May 25, 2017
[New 5 song EP from the Lawrence based band The Sluts formed by Ryan Wise & Kristoffer Dover in 2011.]

17. (43.) Erica Joy – “All In My Head”
from: Erica Joy, Introduction / Independent / February 3, 2017
[26 year old Kansas City based singer songwriter was Born April 8, 1991, and grew up in Springfield Missouri and went to Kickapoo High, graduating in 2009. Erica Joy graduated from UMKC in 2013. In 2015 her first single “Fun to Hold You” was released and remained in Homegrown Buzz’s rotation for over a year. EJ then released a full EP titled “Introduction” on February 3rd 2017 at Record Bar. For this recording Erica Joy on vocals, Britt Wild on lead guitar, Khitam Jabr on acoustic guitar,. Recorded and produced by Kyle Ward at Counterpoint Studio. This year Erica Joy also played Middle of The Map Fest, she was part of the HearQueer Issuue 001 launch, she has a new band, and is writing and recording new music with Colby Bales (lead guitarist of Instant Karma) Zach Harris (drummer of Instant Karma) and Branden Moser (bassist with Instant Karma) More information at: http://www.ericajoymusic.com,] [Erica Joy played an intimate theatre show, October 1st, at 7:00 PM, at Westport Coffeehouse Theatre debuting new songs, and playing new backing band – Colby Bales, Zach Harris, and Branden Moser. More at: http://www.ericajoymusic.com] [Erica Joy joined us live on WMM on September 13.]

18. (42.) Run With It – “Don’t Waste My Time”
from: How To Start A Fire / Run With It / March 24, 2016
[The Kansas City based band Run With it includes Miguel Caraballo on lead vocals & guitar, Ben Byard on bass & vocals, and Daniel Cole on drums, The power trio are known for their energetic live shows, leaving it all on the stage, and working their musical assets to make their audiences happy. The band stays very busy touring, and recording. How To Start A Fire, recorded with producer Josh Gleave. Miguel Caraballo was born June 11, 1980 and is originally from Junction City, Kansas. Ben Byard grew up in El Dorado Kansas, and plays in David George and A Crooked Mile. Daniel Cole was born April 8, 1991 and graduated from Lee’s Summit West HS in 2009. Run With It have played all over the world including western Ukraine in Khitar. More information at: http://www.runwithitband.com][Run With It joined us live on WMM on March 22.]

19. (41.) David George – “Here I Go Again”
from: Here I Go Again – EP / David George / April 14, 2017
[One of 3 separate releases from David George in 2017. Produced by David George. Engineered & Mixed by Pat Tomek. Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs. Photography & cover designed by Paul Andrews. David George on vocals, acoustic guitars; Erik Voeks on acoustic guitar, bass, vocals; Ben Byard on bass, mandolin, vocals; Mike Stover on pedal steel. Strings on “Live Love Lost” arranged by CJ Vanston & Adam Liebreich-Johnsen. Christine Broxterman on cello, violin. Ben Byard on violin; Joe Donley on upright bass. All songs written by David George. David released his 2nd EP, Won’t Let Go, on October 13. Recorded at Weights & Measures. Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Duane Trower. David George on vocals & guitar, Mike Stover on pedal steel, David Luther, Erik Voeks, Ben Byard & Camry Ivory on harmony vocals. David George also released the single “Can’t Fight Love” on April 7, 2017 benefiting the ACLU. Recorded live at Weights & Measures Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Duane Trower, March 2, 2017. Produced by David George. Written by David George, Jen Appell, & Nathan Corsi, with David George on guitar & vocals (Verse 1 & 5), David Luther on vocals (Verse 2), Jen Appell on guitar & vocals (verse 3), Nathan Corsi on guitar & vocals (Verse 4), Erin McGrane on ukelele & vocals, Jeff Freling on guitar & vocals, Gordon Gilges on dulcimer & vocals, Kristina Ning on upright bass & vocals, Matt Cathlina on upright bass & vocals, Nathan Showalter on piano & vocals, Daniel Starling on piano & vocals, Liam Summicht on cajón & vocals, Phil Jaggard on Vocals, Mark Manning on vocals, John Keck on guitar & vocals, Nate Nall on guitar & vocals, Jessica Paige on vocals, Dave Tanner on vocals. Also this year David George and Erik Voeks performed together for multiple shows as The Volker Brothers. More info: http://www.davidgeorgeband.com]

20. (40.) Phoebe Bridgers – “Motion Sickness”
from: Stranger in the Alps / Dead Oceans / 2017
[Phoebe Bridgers was born August 17, 1994, and is from Los Angeles, California. Bridgers released her major label debut 7″ on Ryan Adams record label, PAX AM. In early 2016, Bridgers supported Julien Baker on her 2016 East Coast tour. Bridgers is a graduate of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. In 2014 she was featured in a commercial for the Apple iPhone singing a cover of “Gigantic” by the Pixies. In June 2017, Phoebe Bridgers signed to Dead Oceans. The Alps was produced by Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska.]

21. (39.) Broken Arrows – “All I Got”
from: Extended Play EP / Broken Arrows / March 18, 2017
[KC/Lawrence based 5-piece band, formed by Mike Penner on lead guitar & vocals; Bill Ryan on lead guitar, keyboards & vocals; John Chevalier on bass guitar & vocals; Barry Lee on guitar & vocals; and Dave Storms on drums. Broken Arrows got together to play a Neil Young Tribute at Davey’s Uptown in 2015. They received such a positive reaction and enjoyed playing together so they decided to continue as a band. This song was written by Mike Penner who also sings lead vocals. Both John Chevalier and Dave Storms were previously in The Waspmen. Both have played extensively with many different bands in the Kansas City area. Mike Penner and Bill Ryan were previously in the KC power pop band, Honeywagen. Barry Lee had only played music very few times in public prior to the formation of this band. This is his first band. Mike Penner, Bill Ryan and John Chevalier are the principle songwriters for the band. They play mostly original material and some obscure covers.] [Broken Arrows premiered their debut EP, “Extended Play” with a Special Release show, March 18, at Records With Merritt.] [Broken Arrows joined us live on the WMM on March 15]

22. (38.) Instant Karma – “Make Me A Man”
from: Trying To Find My Mind / Independent / July 22, 2017
[Instant Karma! is a 4 piece psych/soul rock band from Kansas City, MO. Cole Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass, Zach Harris on drums. All songs written by Instant Karma. Mixed by Zach Harris. Mastered at Eureka Mastering. Colby Bales and Cody Calhoun met in High School. They have been playing music together for 5 years. Thet became friends after forming the band. Instant Karma bass player Branden Moser has called the band, “a drug trip through the soul section of your local record store.” Instant Karma’s influences range from The Black Keys to Syl Johnson to the Wu Tang Clan. Instant Karma played an EP Release Show, Saturday, July 22, at Revolution Records. Instant Karma played Lawrence Field Day Fest, Thursday, July 13.] [Members of the band joined us live on WMM on July 12.]

23. (37.) Jametatone – “Too Late”
from: Empty Bliss / J. Ashley Miller / March 21, 2017
[New EP from Jametatone, the solo project of J. Ashley Miller who also records with his band as Metatone. J. Ashley Miller is the The 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow. He is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His genre-bending trans-modern work has been performed everywhere from YJ’s to the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, to the MoMa PS1 in NYC. Ashley utilizes a diverse range of technologies, techniques, and collaborators to access obscure facets of the human emotional landscape. Jametatone opened all four shows at The Outburst KC, where Calvin Arsenia performed his 2017 Release Catastrophe Unplugged with guest musicians Beau Bledsoe, Fritz Hutchinson, Mark Southerland, and artist & vocalist Seth M. Jones. You can view more of Ashley’s work at http://www.jametatone.com.][Jametatone played The Ship, 1217 Union Avenue, in the West Bottoms, on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31, with Natural Man & The Gland Band, and Takin’ A Dive.]

11:30 – Underwriting

24. (36.) Kevin Morby – “Aboard My Train”
from: City Music / Dead Oceans / June 16, 2017
[4th release from Kevin Robert Morby born April 2, 1988. Kevin learned to play guitar when he was 10. In his teens he formed the band Creepy Aliens. 17-year-old Morby dropped out of Blue Valley Northwest High School, got his GED, and moved from his native Kansas City to Brooklyn in the mid-2000s, supporting himself by working bike delivery and café jobs. He later joined the noise-folk group Woods on bass. While living in Brooklyn, he became close friends and roommates with Cassie Ramone of the punk trio Vivian Girls, and the two formed a side project together called The Babies, who released albums in 2011 and 2012. He began a solo career in 2013 releasing his debut album Harlem River with positive reviews. His 2nd album Still Life was released in 2014. His last album Singing Saw was one of our 116 Best Recordings of 2016] [Kevin Morby played The Madrid, September 14, opening for The Mountain Goats.]

25. (35.) St. Vincent – “Masseduction”
from: MASSEDUCTION / Loma Vista Recordings – Concord Music Group / October 13. 2017
[5th studio album from St. Vincent who is also known as Anne Erin “Annie” Clark who was born September 28, 1982. Masseduction has been described as the “culmination of years of writing, with songs crafted from voice memos, text messages, and snippets of melodies that came to Clark while traveling the globe.” Clark has stated that the album focuses on themes of power, sex, drugs, sadness, imperiled relationships and death. In a press release, she stated: “every record I make has an archetype. Strange Mercy was Housewives on Pills. St. Vincent was Near-Future Cult Leader. Masseduction is different, it’s pretty first person. You can’t fact-check it, but if you want to know about my life, listen to this record.” Annie Clark was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mother is a social worker turned administrator for a non-profit organization and her stepfather works in the tax business. Clark’s parents divorced when she was three years old, and she moved to Dallas, Texas when she was seven years old with her mother and two older sisters. Her father lives in Tulsa. Clark was raised Roman Catholic and Unitarian Universalist. From her parents’ blended families, Clark has eight siblings: four brothers and four sisters. She began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and, as a teenager, worked as a roadie for her uncle and aunt, Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart, of the guitar-vocal jazz duo Tuck & Patti. After studying at Berklee College of Music for three years, she began her music career as a member of the Polyphonic Spree. Clark was also a member of Sufjan Stevens’s touring band before forming her own band in 2006. St. Vincent’s work has received consistent praise for its distinct musical style, which blends soft rock, experimental rock, electropop, and jazz influences. Her debut album was Marry Me (2007), followed by Actor (2009) and Strange Mercy (2011). She released a collaborative album with David Byrne in 2012 titled Love This Giant. Clark also contributed backing vocals for Swans on their 2014 album, To Be Kind. Her fourth solo album, self-titled St. Vincent, was released on February 25, 2014 and was named album of the year by The Guardian, Entertainment Weekly, NME, and Slant Magazine, as well as second best album of the year by Time magazine. The album won her a Grammy for Best Alternative Album, her first Grammy award. She was the first solo female performer in 20 years to win a Grammy in that category.][St. Vincent played The Uptown Theatre, Nov 19.]

26. (34.) The Whiffs – “Never Be Free”
from: Take A Whiff / High Dive Records / March 1, 2017
[Kansas City based power pop 4-piece band featuring members of Conquerors, Wet Ones, and Nubiles. Zach Campbell on bass & vocals, Rory Cameron on guitar & vocals, Nic Allred on guitar & vocals, Jake Cardwell on drums. Recorded and mixed by Vincent Lawhon at Element Studios, Kansas City, MO] [The Whiffs played The Riot Room, Thursday, July 21, with The Coathangers, and Residuals.]

27. (33.) Lovergurl – “My Body”
from: The President is a Sex Offender / Lovergurl / May 19, 2017
[The Kansas City based 4-piece band, Lovergurl caught our ear with their synth pop sound and lyrics reflecting social and political messages with hip hop and punk elements. Keyboardist and vocalist, Stephanie Bankston was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a graduate of The University of Missouri. She moved abroad in her 20s, and lived in Seoul, Korea, where she played in a mostly female band called BaekMa (“White Horse”). Stephanie returned to Kansas City in the Fall 2015. Brook Worlledge, is 25 years old and is a Kansas City native. She is the band’s drummer and she sings and writes songs for the band. Brook is a defender of the proletariat. Brook’s influences range from The B-52s, The Velvet Underground, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Lovergurl guitarist and vocalist, Heather Andrews is also 25. She was born and raised in Rhode Island, and moved to Kansas City in 2011 and fell in love with the city.][Lovergurl joined us live on WMM on May 17.]

28. (32.) KD Kuro –”JULES (feat. Domineko & Chase the Horseman (radio edit)”
from: Good-Luck / Kwame Boateng / August 1, 2017
[This track was produced by Chase the Horseman. KD Kuro is the musical project of Kwame Boateng, a Kansas City based rapper. He was born in Arlington, Virginia, and graduated from Olathe South High School in 2008. After attending Coffeyville Community College Kwame as KD Kuro started his rap career in 2012 and has been cultivating and refining his sound over the course of the last 5 years. Kwame grew up with musical influences like N.E.R.D and Missy Elliot that helped to mold the music he creates. His debut album was co-produced by Chase the Horseman and Nathan “Geesace” Gisecke. KD Kuro’s debut album is available at: http://www.kwamekuro.bandcamp.com] [KD Kuro Kwame Boateng & Chase The Horseman joined us live on WMM on Aug 2.]

29. (31.) Of Tree – “Feel It”
from: Sorry We’re Chosen [EP] / Of Tree / June 1, 2017
[Of Tree is Benjamin Parks on guitar & vocals, Laurel Morgan Parks on violin & fiddle & vocals and John Bersuch on percussion & sub-bass. The band explains “we like to build layers, loop strings, bow guitars and mix sampled beats with real ones as a backdrop for melodies on voice and traditional instruments. Emotional and expressive, our music draws inspiration from loss and triumph, failure and hope.” Of Tree began in 2009 and has taken many forms as it has evolved over time, including a full 5 piece folk band and, at one time, a classical trio backing Parks’ voice and guitar. Of Tree launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help record their new album and release their music on vinyl. Of Tree have been actively writing music for this project since the summer of 2016. Laurel writes “As a married couple its been quite a road for us to be able work through music together without taking things too personally (as people in relationships tend to do), but the magic happened last summer when music started pouring out of us and we were able just allow it to happen. Both of us come from fairly strict religious backgrounds and a lot of our lyrics have to do with healing from those experiences. We also deal with themes of finding new footing in life, moving beyond the past and letting go. Really this album is all about healing on a very personal level.” Laurel writes that she is, “very interested in pushing the boundaries of what instrumentation I can marry to my classical violin training. I have been cross pollinating between electronic music I write on the computer using midi inputs with melodies I write on my violin. I enjoy putting a techno beat behind a folk instrument such as the Kalimba or chime and then morphing that into a journey of layered strings and melodic hooks. I am always interested in melody over lyrics. A lot of the music I wrote for this album is inspired from studying folk traditions such as Celtic fiddling, thematic movie music and Peruvian icaros. ” John Bersuch, has been playing with Of Tree since November of 2016. He adds tasteful beats and enjoys thinking outside the box. He once brought a tree to an “Of Tree” show and played it as a percussive instrument. Ben Parks is a visual artist who also plays in the band Slights with Matthew Dunehoo. Laurel Parks also plays in The Wires, John Bersuch is in Bacon Shoe, RLT, and many others.][Of Tree joined us on WMM on May 24]

30. (30.) Sampha – “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano”
from: Process / Young Turks Recordings / February 3, 2017
[Sampha Sisay was born November 16, 1988. He performs under the mononym Sampha. He is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Morden, South London, United Kingdom. Sampha is known widely for his collaborative work with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Kanye West, Solange and others. Sampha has released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010) and Dual (2013). Sampha’s debut album, Process, won the 2017 Mercury Prize.]

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

Tune in next Wednesday, December 27 for our finale to The 117 of Best Recordings of 2017.

Next week, December 27, 10-Noon, Wednesday MidDay Medley continues with part 4 of our 4 week series, the grand finale of, “The 117 Best Recordings of 2017″ on December 27th, we’ll countdown #29 through #1 with representative tracks from: Krystle Warren, Making Movies, Calvin Arsenia, Katy Guillen & The Girls, Mysterious Clouds, Kemet the Phantom, Andrew Foshee, Berwanger, Samantha Fish, Scott Hrabko & The Rabbits, The Roseline, Hermon Mehari, Emmaline Twist, Truckstop Honeymoon, Mess, Momma’s Boy, Betse & Clarke, The Country Duo, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, LCD Soundsystem, Moses Sumney, The XX, Jay Som, Perfume Genius, Valerie June, Julien Baker, Broken Social Scene, The Magnetic Fields, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

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

Show #713