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, January 29, 2020

Jairy + New & MidCoastal Releases
+ Spinning Tree Theatre’s “Girlfriend”

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

2. Yes You Are – “Comet Bicycle”
from: Here’s To The Great Unknowns / Yes You Are / November 15, 2019
[Kianna Alarid on vocals, Jared White on rhythm guitar, Jacob Temeyer on guitars & keyboards, and Willie Jordan on bass. “We play black pop.” says Kianna Alarid, Yes You Are’s intense front woman, “It implies that there might be shadows lurking, even in the shiny places.” Listening to their upcoming album, it IS essentially pop, but they redefine the genre with each and every song. From gospel choirs to guitar-heavy rock to synth-covered dance rhythms, the mainstay (and mainstream friendly) sing-along hooks are what binds all of their work together. Alarid cut her teeth in the critically-acclaimed indie band Tilly and the Wall, touring through the mid to late aughts with bands such as She and Him, Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley, Of Montreal and CSS, playing venues around the world and hitting major festivals like Coachella, Japan’s Summersonic, Iceland Airwaves, Reading, Leeds, Scotland’s T In The Park and Australia’s Splendor In The Grass as well as performing on Late Night with David Letterman and Sesame Street. You’ve probably already heard Yes You Are, as their first single debuted on Pepsi’s Superbowl 51 commercial, as has played over 15,000 times since, all over the world. The song was also featured in the hit movie Bad Moms, as well as FX’s Tyrant and MTV’s Scream. Yes You Are has shared the stage with the likes of K. Flay, Moon Taxi, Marion Hill, Lucius and Neon Trees.]

3. Art d’Ecco – “This Flight Tonight”
from: This Flight Tonight – Single / Paper Bag / July 23, 2019
[Written by Joni Mitchell and originally recorded for her 1971 album “Blue.” Special thanks to our friend Nico Gray for turning us onto Art D’Ecco. Based in British Columbia, “There’s more than a little David Bowie in both the sonic and fashion leanings of Art d’Ecco, a performer who fluidly crosses musical and gender lines, creating highly memorable tracks — and sporting an unforgettable look. Often labelled “neo glam,” the music boasts hints of everything from ’50s pop to psychedelics, from Velvet Underground-era art rock to Grimes-inspired electronics.” – CBC Music Art d’Ecco released the album Trespasser on Paper Bag Records on October 12, 2018. When d’Ecco moved into his grandmother’s cottage on one of the islands, he hadn’t planned on creating a new project. But, as it often does, circumstance charted his course. His grandmother, living with Alzheimer’s, suffered a related phenomenon called ‘sundowning,’ which triggers increased agitation and anxiety around sunset. “The only way to calm this lady down was to sit down at the piano,” says d’Ecco. He would play “Bohemian Rhapsody,” passing it off as Beethoven. After she was relocated, d’Ecco remained in the empty house where he had played as a child. Draped in memory, he gravitated toward the piano, spending the long, lonesome, quiet nights on the bench before the instrument. This is where Art d’Ecco was created. He relocated to a new cottage, built a studio and barricaded himself with copies of Deerhunter’s Cryptograms, Bowie’s Low, and choice krautrock records. In this solitude, d’Ecco would chase tones for hours. The result is a richly-realized confluence of the ferocious spark of those trailblazers and a distinct sadness, with d’Ecco as mad scientist, stitching together these delicious fragments and animating them.]

4. M. Ward – “Unreal City”
from: Migration Stories / Anti / April 3, 2020
[Matthew Stephen Ward was born October 4, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Portland, Oregon. Ward’s solo work is a mixture of folk and blues-inspired Americana analog recordings; he has released eleven albums since 1999, his first nine through independent label Merge Records, and his last two on Anti Records. In addition to his solo work, he is a member of indie pop duo She & Him and folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk, and also participates in recording, producing, and playing with multiple other artists. Ward recorded Migration Stories with Arcade Fire’s Tim Kingsbury, Richard Reed Parry, producer/mixer Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys etc.), and Teddy Impakt. Of the new album, Ward said in a press release: “Some time went by, the stories wove together and I remember them now closer to characters in a dream of how people could treat each other than any kind of front-page news realism. I think music subconsciously—whether writing or listening—is a filter for me. Helping to process all the bad news into something new to build from. Some records to me are like self-fulfilling prophecies—visualizing change to wish something into being. Those records inspired this one.”]

5. Mackenzie Nicole – “Heart of Darkness”
from: Mystic / Strange Music / February 14, 2020
[A rafter-reaching voice, classically trained chops, literate lyricism, and a sassy spark enable Mackenzie Nicole to quietly rewrite the rulebook for pop. Equally inspired by Rihanna, Halsey, Johnny Cash, and The Doors, the 18-year-old impresario who can readily quote The Shining or Wuthering Heights honed her immense vocal talents via singing operas in several different languages since the age of six. Now, she embarks on a mission with focused, albeit far-reaching intentions… “I want to trojan horse some substance and variety into pop,” she exclaims. “I’d like to join a tide of valuable artists changing what happens in mainstream culture, art, and writing. That’s really important to me.” If anybody can do it, it’s Mackenzie. She spent her formative years studying piano and voice under the rigorous instruction of a strict and seasoned professional teacher. Between sharpening those abilities, she devoured art of all forms—from reading Heart of Darkness as a high school sophomore to obsessing over the Insidious film series as a teen (and to this day!) “I was formally trained on how to do everything ‘right’,” she admits. “From a very young age, I knew what was technically correct given theory and according to these rules that I’d learned over and over again. However, I had this realization where I thought, ‘Music doesn’t have to be proper.’ It doesn’t need to pass the litmus test of being technically accurate in order to be good or enjoyable. So, I started experimenting at that point.” That experimentation led to her debut single “Actin Like You Know.” Co-written by the budding artist, she caught the attention of her father Travis O’Guin cofounder and C.E.O. of independent juggernaut Strange Music Inc., proving herself by obsessively nailing the vocal take. Her recording history predates the single as she made her debut on platinum-certified rap icon Tech N9ne’s 2009 K.O.D. before lending her voice to tracks on All 6’s and 7’s [2011] and Something Else [2013]—which both bowed at #4 on the Billboard Top 200. Signing to Strange Music in 2015, she formally unveiled “Actin Like You Know” boasting a cameo from Tech. Early acclaim came as the track racked up over 3.9 million YouTube views and 1.9 million Spotify streams, while the song served as a centerpiece on the Tech N9ne Collabos album Strangeulation Vol. II. 2017 saw her feature on two songs from Strange Reign in addition to guesting at various tour stops. “Deleted” turned up as her next solo hit with over 978K Spotify streams and 599K YouTube views to date. Simultaneously, the songstress assembled what would become her full-length debut and the first release for the Strange Main imprint, The Edge, co-written with and produced by Los Angeles duo The Jam (Lady Gaga, Santana, Jojo). In many ways, that title sums up the expanse of her nuanced and intricate personality. “Personally, and professionally, I’m a very intense and extreme person,” she admits. “I take everything as far as possible before breaking. Sometimes, I take things a little too far to the edge and almost fall off. This is an introduction to me and who I am. It talks about a lot of different subjects that are relevant to me. I can be very serious. I tend to gravitate towards the darker and grimier side of things. The Edge is a glimpse into that. This is me in every way on the record.” She paved the way for the album with the single “Preview,” which begins with orchestral flourishes before building towards a climactic and catchy chorus. “For two years, I was off and on with this guy,” she sighs. “‘Preview’ takes place when we were on again. Even when things are terrible and going horribly, we still end up back with each other. We had to cut things off, dive in, and finally see it through though. ‘Preview’ was the choice to dive in. This relationship was good for the art, but bad for my mental health,” she adds with a laugh. The follow-up “Back to You” illuminates her staggering range over a cinematic musical backdrop. Elsewhere, “Anxious” touts an infectious refrain. “Fix Me” unearths raw emotion in each verse and she admits, “That one is the most authentic to me.” Everything culminates on the expansive and entrancing title track. Over a shimmer of piano keys, she delivers the admission, “Sometimes you need to walk to the edge and just let it take over…” In the end, this trojan horse unlocks a big surprise for pop by channeling a timeless sentiment like only Mackenzie can. “I love it when I listen to a track and completely get chills, because the artist said something that speaks directly to me,” she leaves off. “In this moment, you now have an anthem for your thought or emotion. It’s very individual and intimate. We all go through happiness, love, and anger. I hope listeners can connect on a deeper level. We’re experiencing this art together. I’m sharing it; you’re hopefully feeling it.”]

6. The Anniversary – “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter”
from: Designing a Nervous Breakdown / Vagrant Records – BMG / January 25, 2000
[The Anniversary were formed in Lawrence, Kansas in 1997 by Josh Berwanger, James David, Christian Jankowski, Adrianne Verhoeven and Justin Roelofs. The Anniversary was the solidification of a line-up that had been in flux for a year. After two years of playing shows across with the Midwest with bands that included The Get Up Kids, Braid and Superchunk, The Anniversary signed to Vagrant Records. Originally perceived as a poppy, keyboard-driven emo band with the release of their debut album Designing a Nervous Breakdown in 2000, they developed a stronger, classic rock-influenced sound with the release of a split CD with Superdrag in 2001 and their second full length, 2002’s Your Majesty. After touring heavily throughout 2002 and 2003, The Anniversary began demoing tracks for what would be their third full length. But four years of constant touring and personal strains within the group led to the band’s demise in early 2004. Four and a half years after their breakup, Devil on Our Side, a compilation of b-sides and unreleased tracks, was released by Vagrant Records. On March 28, 2016, it was announced that The Anniversary would join headliners Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday at the Taste of Chaos Festival on July 16, 2016, in San Bernardino, CA. On September 8, 2016, the band kicked off its reunion tour in Boston, at The Brighton Music Hall.]

[The Anniversary celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their debut album playing The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence, KS, Saturday, February 1, with Matt Pryor (acoustic) and other Americans.]

10:23 – Underwriting

7. Free Nationals – “Shibuya (feat. Syd)”
from: Free Nationals / OBE, LLC – Empire / December 13, 2019
[Free Nationals are best known as Anderson . Paak’s live band, until now. Band members include: Kelsey Gonzalez on bass, Ron “Tnava” Avant on keyboards & vocoder, Callum Connor on drums, and José Rios on guitar. Free Nationals have graced the stage at Coachella, opened for Beyoncé and completed World Tours alongside J. For this track Free Nationals ecorded with Sydney Loren Bennett was born April 23, 1992. Known professionally as Syd (formerly Syd tha Kyd), Syd is an American singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. She is a founding member of the band The Internet, and was a member of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future.]

8. Jairy – “Into The Morning”
from: Into The Morning / Manor Records / January 27, 2020
[Jairy is the pop-focused solo project of Jared Bajkowski, bass player of KC indie outfit Momma’s Boy. The music of Jairy explores dissociation, romance, hallucinations, sexuality and the despair of living in a capital-driven world via smooth, sassy and theatrical 70s- and 80s-inspired pop sounds.]

10:32 – Interview with Jared Bajkowski

KC based musician & singer songwriter, Jared Bajkowski joins us live in our 90.1 FM Studios to share details about his new project Jairy, and his new single “Into The Morning” released through Manor Records. Jared is a Manor Records team member and also plays bass and sings in the KC based band, Momma’s Boy. More info at http://www.manorrecords.com

Jared Bajkowski thanks for being with us on WMM.

Jared Bajkowski’s new project Jairy, and his new single “Into The Morning” that is being released through Manor Records.

“Into The Morning” was produced by Ross Brown.

Jairy is a nickname. Jared’s mom doesn’t like it, she says that she “named him Jared, his name is Jared.”

The music of Jairy explores dissociation, romance, hallucinations, sexuality and the despair of living in a capital-driven world via smooth, sassy and theatrical 70s- and 80s-inspired pop sounds.

For the past 4 years Jared has played bass and sand lead on a few songs in the Kansas City based band, Momma’s Boy.

Manor Records and Jairy presented an “Into The Morning” Listening Party at Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters, 519 E 18th Street, KCMO on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 7:00 PM.

More information at http://www.manorrecords.com

Jared Bajkowski is Senior UX Designer at H&R Block

Jared Bajkowski Studied Entrepreneurship at Missouri State University

Jared Bajkowski lives in Kansas City, Missouri

Jared Bajkowski is from Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Jared Bajkowski thanks for being with us on WMM.

Momma’s Boy plays recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd, KCMO, Thurs, Jan 30, at 8:00 PM w/ Surf Curse.

Momma’s Boy plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, Wed, Feb 5, at 9:00 PM w/ Stary, The Creepy Jingles, and Shady Bug.

10:47

9. Momma’s Boy – “Want Me Back”
from: Want Me Back – Single / Dead Summer Single Series / January 19, 2018
[3rd release of Momma’s Boys’ Dead Summer Single Series. Written by Jared bajkowski. Lead vocals by Jared Bajkowski. Momma’s Boy is an Indie Surf Pop 4-piece band from KCMO, formed December 2015, and made up of former members of Rev Gusto: Peter Beatty on guitar & vocals, Shaun Crowley on guitar & vocals, Quinn Hernandez on drums, and Jared Bajkowski on bass & vocals. Mixed, mastered and recorded by Joel Nanos at Element Recording Studios.Their debut EP Liquid Courage was released Feb. 25, 2017.]

[Momma’s Boy plays recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd, KCMO, Thurs, Jan 30, at 8:00 PM w/ Surf Curse.]

[Momma’s Boy plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, Wed, Feb 5, at 9:00 PM w/ Stary, The Creepy Jingles, and Shady Bug.]

10. The War and Treaty – “Hustlin'”
from: Jealousy / Hustlin’ – Single / Rounder Records / January 24, 2020
[New music on a new label from The War and Treaty who released their full length debut album, “Healing Tide” on August 10, 2018. Michael Trotter Jr & Tanya Blount-Trotter are from Albion, Michigan. For Michael Trotter Jr., the journey began in 2004, when he arrived in Iraq, an untested soldier stricken by fear and self-doubt. His captain made it his personal mission to see to Trotter’s survival. The unit was encamped in one of Saddam Hussein’s private palaces, and in a forgotten corner in its basement, they found a black upright piano that once belonged to the dictator himself. When Trotter shared the fact he could sing, he was encouraged to teach himself to play piano on that confiscated keyboard. “I wrote my first song after that captain was killed,” Trotter recalls. “I sang it for his memorial in Iraq.” Soon after it became his mission to sing at the memorial services for those that had fallen. For the next three years, he sang songs that brought solace and comfort to the members of his unit. His efforts eventually garnered wider recognition as well. He came in first place in “Military Idol,” the army’s version of “American Idol,” during a competition held in Baumholder, Germany. Following his discharge, he was featured on the Hope Channel program “My Story, My Song.” Then he met Tanya Blount. Blount’s musically influences include Mahalia Jackson, Sister Odette and Aretha Franklin. The two fell in love, got married and used the experiences they had gained to create a new musical collaboration. The couple then secured the services of musicians whose skills add a distinctive sound to The War and Treaty’s blend of roots music, blue grass, folk, gospel and soul. Their 2017 EP Down to the River was released July 21, 2017. Recorded in Albion, Michigan, Down to the River boasts a sound that’s both stirring and sensual, driven by joy, determination and an unceasing upward gaze. The music is visceral but never morose, flush with emotion but void of despair… a style that touches on a variety of genres, but never finds itself confined to anyone. The arrangements are uncluttered– harmonies, basslines, guitar and mandolin licks, settle drum patterns and keyboards create an immensely moving soundscape — but the sentiments and emotions are fully realized and soar with a steady, chilling assurance. “The recording process wasn’t like anything I ever experienced,” Tanya recalls. “This EP has allowed me to breathe musically. I feel like all I have wanted to express for the past ten years has come forth with what we’ve done. The combination of heart, soul and the overwhelming amount of love that Michael and I have for one another comes across in this record.“ “I was sitting on the banks of the Euphrates River in Baghdad dreaming about one day being able to play and sing professionally for people all around the world,” Michael reflects. “As we recorded our music, I constantly had flashbacks of those desert dreams. I thought to myself that this is actually the perfect ending to usher in a new beginning in my life.” ] [First Played February 7, 2018]

11. Various Blonde – “Dirty Martini”
from: 3s 1 / The Record Machine / January 10, 2020
[New three song release from Various Blonde. Kansas City based experimental, rock, pop, and funk band originally formed in 2008 and currently served by founder Joshua Allen on guitar, synthesizers, and vocals; and Mark Lomas on drums. The band has been described by Mills Record Company as, “Having all the sex appeal of The Weeknd and all the grit of Rage Against the Machine–the combination makes for a performance that is explosive.”]

[Various Blonde play The Brick 1727 Mcgee Street, KCMO on Friday, January 31, at 10:00 PM with Knife Crime, and The Beholders.]

[Various Blonde play Replay Lounge 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence, KS, on Saturday, February 1, at 10:00 PM with Not A Planet, and The Black Mariah Theatre.]

11:00 – Station ID

12. Matthew Sweet – “Girlfriend”
from: Girlfriend / Volcano Entertainment / October 22, 1991
[Sidney Matthew Sweet was born October 6, 1964 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He graduated from Southeast High School in Lincoln, in 1983. Upon graduation he moved to Athens, Georgia to attend college and join the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s. His latest albums, Tomorrow Forever and Tomorrow’s Daughter, were followed by 2018’s Wicked System of Things. As a high school student in 1980, Sweet wrote songs and recorded them on four-track cassettes. He joined the band The Specs and released his first recording on a battle of bands LP produced by a local radio station, and fronted his own local band called The Dialtones. After graduating, Sweet traveled to Athens, Georgia, to attend college during the vibrant Athens music scene. That same year, Sweet, who had met the band R.E.M. when they played a show in his hometown the previous year, collaborated with frontman Michael Stipe in a duo group under the name Community Trolls, as well as played guitar in Stipe’s sister Lynda Stipe’s band, Oh-OK. In addition, he formed another duo, The Buzz of Delight, with Oh-OK drummer David Pierce, releasing an EP, Sound Castles, in 1984 on DB Records. On the strength of this 12″ vinyl, Sweet was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records. In 1986, he released Inside, his debut album, to good reviews but little commercial success. In 1989, he released Earth after signing with A&M Records; likewise, it was well-received critically, yet not commercially. This marked a personal and professional low period as his record company lost interest and his marriage failed. In 1990, A&M released Sweet from his contract, and he signed with rival Zoo Entertainment, which evolved into Volcano Entertainment. Sweet formed a new band (which included Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine, Greg Leisz, Lloyd Cole, and Fred Maher), and together they spent that year assembling his next work, originally titled Nothing Lasts. In 1991, Sweet released Girlfriend, the re-titled pop-rock album which was widely considered an artistic breakthrough. It quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales, spawning a Top 10 single with the title track. The music video for “Girlfriend” (heavily aired on MTV, MuchMusic and Night Tracks) featured clips from the anime film, Space Adventure Cobra, while the video for “I’ve Been Waiting” used clips of the Urusei Yatsura character, Lum Invader.]

11:04 – Interview with Michael Grayman-Parkhurst, Jeremy Ragland, and Dakotta Hagar

Spinning Tree Artistic Director Michael Grayman-Parkhurst and actors: Jeremy Ragland and Dakotta Hagar join us to share details about Spinning Tree Theatre’s KC premiere of “Girlfriend” based on Matthew Sweet’s 1991 album “Girlfriend. Set in 1993 small-town Nebraska during the summer between high school and whatever comes next, college-bound jock Mike and self-assured but aimless Will are romantically brought together. Their rush of first-time love, confusion and passion, is captured by the power-pop precision and frayed guitar emotion of Sweet’s alternative rock album performed with an all femme band backing up actors: Jeremy Ragland and Dakotta Hagar, who sing the songs and are both making company debuts.

“Girlfriend” runs January 24 through February 9 at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. More information at http://www.spinningtreetheatre.com

Michael Grayman Parkhurst, Jeremy Ragland, and Dakotta Hagar thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Jeremy Ragland plays college-bound jock Mike
Dakotta Hagar plays self-assured but aimless Will

This musical is similar instill to “Jagged Little Pill” the Alanis Morissette Musical on Broadway where a creative writer takes a preexisiting music album and puts the songs into characters and story lines invented around the music. Not an easy task.

Casting, making the a love story between two young men, have an all femme band.

“Girlfriend,” is based on Matthew Sweet’s 1991 rock album of the same name, is set in 1993 small-town Nebraska during the summer between high school and whatever comes next. College-bound jock Mike and self-assured but aimless Will find themselves drawn to each other. Their rush of first-time love, full of excitement, confusion and passion, is captured by the power-pop precision and frayed guitar emotion of Sweet’s alternative rock album.

Jeremy Ragland plays Mike and Dakotta Hagar plays Will, both making company debuts. Spinning Tree Artistic Director Michael Grayman-Parkhurst directs, with music direction by Pamela Baskin-Watson (Billy Elliot, Once on this Island). The Girlfriend band is Baskin-Watson (keyboard), Kelly Crane (bass), Caitlyn Henson (drums) and Darcie Hingula (guitar).

The creative and design team also includes Conor Tierney (projections), Eric Palmquist (props), Jeff Eubank (sound), Rachael Carney (lights) and Lydia Krause (stage management).

ASL Shadow Interpreted performances of Girlfriend will be offered January 29 – February 2. Certified interpreters Lisa Lehnen and Juliana Ladd will perform all five performances that week. Shadow interpreting, in which interpreters “shadow” the actors, allows D/deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons the ability to take in both the sign language and the action simultaneously and offers a more seamless experience for the entire audience.

Managing Director Andrew Grayman-Parkhurst: “We’re honored to produce the area premiere of Matthew Sweet and Todd Almond’s Girlfriend, which offers a relatable love story that happens to be between two young men. Hopefully our production will not only rock the house, but also allow our city’s LGBTQ-identifying youth the opportunity to see themselves reflected onstage honestly and tenderly.”

Michael Grayman Parkhurst, Jeremy Ragland, and Dakotta Hagar thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

“Girlfriend” runs through February 9 at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. More information at http://www.spinningtreetheatre.com

11:20

13. Matthew Sweet – “I’ve Been Waiting”
from: Girlfriend / Volcano Entertaiment / October 22, 1991

14. SUNU – “Liberation” (on 7” Vinyl)
from: Food, Inc. – Single b/w “Liberation” / Sunflower Soul Records / December 11, 2015
[Rev. Aaron Morris – Trumpet & Lead Vocals; Dan Pem – Tenor Sax; Chris Leopold – Trombone; Mike Hamm – Guitar; Chris Shaw – Bass; Dylan Bassett – Drums & Percussion; Alex Thiessen – Drums & Percussion; Taylor Babb – Drums & Percussion. Recorded, mixed, & produced by Chris Hazelton. Mastered by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Audio.]

[SUNU plays The Ship, Friday, January 31, at 10:00 PM.]

11:28 – Underwriting

15. Sudan Archives – “Glorious”
from: Athena / Stones Throw Records / November 1, 2019
[LA based violinist Sudan Archives, combines elements of the modern and ancient. The 23 year-old self-taught violinist draws inspiration from Sudanese fiddlers, R&B, West African rhythms, and experimental electronic music. Building records around rhythms and melodies from the strings of her violin and raw vocals, Sudan effortlessly draws the link between traditional African music and contemporary electronic production.]

16. The Phantastics – “Heartbreaker”
from: Life of the Party – EP / Kemet Creative / August 24, 2018
[Eight member band from Kansas City formed in December 0f 2010 made up of: Kemet the Phantom -lead vocals; Kim “Phirst Lady” Newsome on lead vocals; JJ Cantrell on lead guitar & vocals; Danny Florez on electric bass; Ashley Thompson on drums, Ernest Melton on saxophone; Ryan Davis on Trombone and rap vocals; Austin Quick on keyboards. The Phantastics specialize in genre-blending dance floor activators. In 2015, the music group was crowned “Kansas City’s best party band” by the Kansas City Star. Musicianship and diversity are at the core of their success. Rock, Rap, Dance, Funk, Jazz and Soul are all incorporated into their music. “The band that can do it all”, according to I Heart Local Music, has shared the stage with some of music’s most legendary acts including George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic.]

[The Phantistics play the HEMP HOP: The Future of Missouri Hemp and Hip-Hop, Saturday, February 1, at 7:00 PM at The Riot Room, 4048 Broadway, KCMO with NuBlvckCity.]

[The Phantastics play the I Heart Local Music Presents: Black Prom with The Phantastics! Saturday, February 8, at 7:00 PM at The Granada Theater, 1020 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS]

17. Misha Roberts – “Glass”
from: Exposed – EP / Misha Roberts / January 2020 (Unreleased)
[Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Misha Roberts has worked extensively in Kansas City as a vocalist for over 10 years. Misha is currently in the studio working on her solo album. She recently released this song as a You Tube video. Misha plays with the band The Freedom Affair.]

18. True Lions – “No Thanks”
from: Cute At Best / True Lions / February 5, 2019
[This is the band’s EP debut. It features an early configuration of the band with Alison Hawkins on guitar, piano, synth, vocals; Mikala Petillo on percussion, bass, guitar, vocals; and with Ross Brown serving as producer & engineer; and Nika Winn providing artwork. This EP began as an unrelated, musical dispute between lovers, but triumphantly became the spunky collaboration of two midwestern “woms” whose passion for playing music nearly exceeds their desire to create it. The band released a second EP titled “You’re Not Invited” on November 9, 2019 with: Alison Hawkins on guitar, synth, and vocals; Elizabeth Kosko on percussion, vocals; Mikala Petillo on bass, vocals; Claire Adams on guitar, vocals; Leslie Butsch on saxophone, Ezgi Karakus on cello; and Teri Quinn on vocals. All songs written by True Lions and produced by Claire Adams and Alison Hawkins. Tracking Engineering by Claire Adams. Mixing and Mastering by Ian Dobyns and Chase Horseman. Album Artwork by Genevieve Sloan. Special thanks to Calvin Arsenia and Fritz Hutchison .]

[True Lions play a Birthday House Show with Oh Nelly, Saturday, February 1 at 8:00 PM at 1020 W 24th St, KCMO]

19. U.S. Girls – “Overtime”
from: Heavy Light / 4AD / March 6, 2020
[7th studio album from U.S. Girls, the recording moniker of American-Canadian musician Meghan Remy. Formed in the United States in 2007 as a noise-pop project, Remy later moved the band to Toronto after marrying Canadian musician Max “Slim Twig” Turnbull. She released music on a variety of independent labels in both the United States and Canada before signing to 4AD in 2015. Her first record for that label, Half Free, was released the same year. Half Free garnered a Juno Award nomination for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2016, and was a shortlisted finalist for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize. Heavy Light is a follow up to 2018 “In a Poem Unlimited” and is her third release on 4AD.] [First played on February 28, 2018]

20. Stary – “Rainy”
from: Stary / Stary / June 5, 2019
[Debut EP from alternative, lo-fi, indie rock band formed in Kansas City with Adam Stary on guitar & vocals; Marisa Bee on bass & vocals, and Seth Props on drums. Production by Sean Obrecht and Wallace McCanless.]

[Stary play miniBar, 3810 Broadway, Wed, Feb 5, at 9:00 PM w/ Momma’s Boys, The Creepy Jingles, and Shady Bug.]

21. Amy Marcus – “Sweater”
from: Sweater – Single / Independent / January 28, 2019
[Singer songwriter Amy Marcus was born and raised in Kansas City. She has been writing song since she was a child and in May 2016 she released her debut 5-song EP Brave with Kansas City based Serve Productions. In January 2017 she released ” I Want More For My Daughters” that was produced by musician Zach Balch at his studios in Dallas. Amy writes music to bring her honest lyrics to life. Amy Marcus studied photography at the Kansas City Art Institute. She is a mother of three and works as a professional photographer and personal chef. Amy is currently working on a new EP and will be our guest on WMM on March 4.]

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

Next week, on February 5, Belle & The Vertigo Waves share their new single with us. We talk with broadway actor Marty Thomas, and Sondra Freeman of Midwest Music Foundation joins us to shre details about MidCoast Takeover.

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

Spinning Tree Theatre photo by Richard Fabac
Jairy photo by Coal Simmons

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

Show #822