Wednesday MidDay Medley
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Ivory Blue + Nick Carswell & Mix Master 2020
+ David Shaughnessey & KC Irish Fest Where You Are

1. “It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Orig. Motion Picture Soundtrack All That Jazz / Casablanca / Dec. 20, 1979
[WMM’s theme]

2. Shiner – “In The End”
from: Schadenfreude / Two Black Eyes / May 8, 2020
[Shiner is Allen Epley on voice, guitar, Rhodes; Josh Newton on guitar, Jason Gerken on drums, Cymbals; Paul Malinowski on bass. produced by Shiner. Recorded and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound, Shawnee, Kansas. Additional recording by Allen Epley. Additional mixing by Josh Newton. Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering, Portland, OR. Art by Mike McKenney (@the_real_theory). Layout by Josh Newton Shiner is an American post-hardcore band from Kansas City, Missouri that was active from 1992 to 2003. Since 2012 Shiner has been playing several shows a year. The band’s new record “Schadenfreude.” The group formed in 1992, and quickly found wide exposure, releasing a vinyl EP in 1993 and touring with acts such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Chore, Jawbox, Season to Risk, The Jesus Lizard, and Girls Against Boys. The group released their first LP, Splay (recorded at Steve Albini’s Chicago studio) in 1996, and a second album, Lula Divinia the next year. Sub Pop took notice, and released a 7” single of the group’s songs “Sleep it Off” and “Half Empty”. Following this the band toured with Hum in 1998. A third full-length, Starless, was released on a label run by members of Descendents, Owned and Operated, in 2000. A fourth LP, The Egg, would follow before the group broke up in 2002. This was recorded and produced at Matt Talbott’s recording studio, Great Western Record Recorders in Tolono IL. Josh Newton is the guitar/synth player/mastermind for Sie Lieben Maschinen with Jason Gerken on drums. Allen Epley is in The Life and Times.]

[SHINER plays a 15 Year Anniversary – Kickstarter Kick-Off Party with Heels and DJ Stevie Cruz on Friday September 4, 2020, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Lemonade Park, a limited capacity socially distanced outdoor venue created in partnership between recordBar, Voltaire, and Moxie Catering, 1628 Wyoming (NW corner of Wyoming & 17th St.), behind Voltaire. recordBar is launching a Kickstarter campaign through their Lights On program, which is designed specially to help businesses find funding to weather the pandemic. This campaign will celebrate recordBar’s 15th year by offering rewards of limited edition merchandise, items from recordBar’s vast collection of memorabilia, future tickets and much more. To launch the campaign, an all-time favorite band, Shiner will perform. Tickets can be purchased through the Lemonade Park or recordBar website. This show will also be available via live-stream from the Kickstarter page. Tickets are limited to 75 and are available for $75 a piece, with assigned seating. Donations for the Day of Show Auction include prizes from: KC Royals, Midwest Music Foundation, Jack Daniels, Tito’s, Drunken Fiddles, The Record Machine, Ragazza, The Midland Theater, Josey Records, The Pairing, Boulevard Brewery, Manor Records, Jaykco Guitar Straps, Weights & Measures Recording Studio, Massive Sound Recording Studio, Records With Merritt, Messenger Coffee, Ibis Bakery. More info at: http://www.shiner.net / http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/recordbar/15-year-anniversary-recordbar-will-return%5D

[SHINER plays Night 2 of recordBar 15 Year Anniversary Party with The Whiffs and DJ Thundercutz on Sunday September 6, 2020, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Lemonade Park, a limited capacity socially distanced outdoor venue created in partnership between recordBar, Voltaire, and Moxie Catering, 1628 Wyoming (NW corner of Wyoming & 17th St.), behind Voltaire.]

3. Daniel Gum – “Ruin Your Life”
from: Ruin Your Life – Single / Manor Records / September 4, 2020
[First single from Daniel Gum’s new album, Thirteen to be released later this fall on Manor Records. Daniel Gum is a 23 year old singer-songwriter from Kansas City. Since the age of 12, he has spent the majority of his time writing and recording songs by himself in his room. His most recent project, Moon, on the other hand was recorded by someone else in another room while Daniel was by himself in yet another room. The Moon EP was released December 7, 2019. It was engineered by Mike Crawford and Daniel Gum and mixed by Daniel Gum with piano and accordion by Cole Crawford. Daniel Gun released his EP i’m not dead October 25, 2017, and his 10-song album Reorient on July 31, 2015, with all songs written, recorded and mixed by Daniel Gum who also performed all vocals guitars, drums, piano, bass. harmonica, and programming.] [On our July 22, 2020, WMM show we played Daniel Gum’s track, “Tired Saint” from French Exit Records – Black Lives Matter Compilation, released July 6, 2020. French Exit Records was launched two years ago as an independent music label in KCMO, founded by Brad Girard. French Exit Records has released albums for No Magic and Raymond,. The BLM Comp is on French Exit Record’s Bandcamp page: https://frenchexitrecords.bandcamp.com/album/black-lives-matter-compilation. BLM Compilation is 22 acts from the area, with all proceeds donated to One Struggle KC’s Liberation Fund, a Black-led coalition of KC activists seeking to connect the struggles of oppressed communities, locally & globally.]

4. Sam Prekop – “Summer Places”
from: Comma / Thrill Jockey Records / September 11, 2020
[From his Bandcamp page: Sam Prekop’s boundless imagination is guided by his strong sense of melody. For more than 25 years, as a solo artist or as part of The Sea and Cake, Prekop creates a singular sound inventive and warm. His distinctive vocals, guitar playing and work on modular analog synthesizers are inventive, delicate, and always bear his signature sense of melody. Comma finds Sam Prekop for the first time working extensively with beat programming, focusing his enveloping synthesizer pieces around a newfound rhythmic pulse. // Prekop’s creative process is a combination of preparation and improvisation. Writing sessions for Comma began with an open-ended exploration of sounds and textures from which the first fragments of songs would reveal themselves. The introduction of drum machines and additional synthesizer units to his modular setup shifted things in surprising new directions as he worked to bend them into more traditional pop song structures. Drum tracks and emergent rhythms provided the frameworks and narrative sketches to be fleshed out with lustrous widescreen synth pads and ribboning melodies. In approaching his writing with a completely open mind and letting himself be guided by the music, Prekop maintains a delicate balance between composition and chance, control and spontaneity. Comma embraces the analogue synthesizer’s often unpredictable nature, imbuing the record with a decidedly organic feel even while working within the relative rigidity of beat architectures. // Prekop’s wide-eyed sense of discovery guides his exploration of beat-driven music, pushing him to use rhythm as a narrative tool and to embrace electronic music’s romantic and emotional qualities. “Park Line” and “Circle Line” evoke the relentless forward motion of public transit and commuter routine, one propelled by juddering machine-drums, the other illuminated in glistening neon. “Summer Places” and title track “Comma” are utterly transportive in their intoxicating tropical futurism, aqueous electronic loops cascading over melodic percussion. “September Remember” is notable precisely for its lack of drum track, opening up the field of sound and obliterating all but the faintest after-echoes of skittering percussion in its astral melancholy. “Approaching” achieves an incredible depth of sound and feeling using minimal constituent parts, interlocking synth-lines revealing surprising new sonorities with every repetition. With Comma, Prekop compiles an incredible breadth of ideas into a surprisingly coherent sound-world. // Comma is Prekop’s modern minimal pop album that taps into the experimental heritage of the synthesizer. The album places Sam Prekop’s work squarely in the tradition of electronic music pioneers like Brian Eno and Yellow Magic Orchestra who brought together the unrestrained ambition of the avant-garde with the immediacy and accessibility of pop music. ]

5. Miki P and The Swallowtails – “Imperfect”
from: Right Where We Are / Miki P / August 21, 2020
[Rachel Lovelace on bassoon, Adee Dancy on cello & vocals, and Miki P on guitar & lead Vocals. Each member is an integral part of the Kansas City music scene, writing, arranging, performing, and collaborating original music for their own groups and several other projects in the metro. “Introspective pop music with lyric-driven folk influences, mixed with collaborative energy & an odd pairing of instruments, Miki P locked in with the Swallowtails create a moment with music written and arranged from the heart.” Miki P (Mikala Petillo) started playing guitar in middle school. She taught herself to play the drums, while listening to Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr. As a teen she played drums for various groups including American Slim. She wrote songs for their full-length album Irreplaceable released in 2017, followed by a single “Queen of Hearts” released April 11, 2018. She also plays ukulele & piano, teaching herself how to play both the instruments, using them frequently in all projects she is involved in. She was a featured vocalist with The Band That Fell to Earth Bowie Tribute. She’s played Boulevardia, Middle of the Map Fest, Royal’s Kaufman Stadium, recordBar, Uptown Theater, Arrowhead Stadium, Nelson Atkins Museum, the Crossroads Music Festival and the SXSW Music Fest More info at: http://www.mikipmusic.com .]

6. Paper Tongues – “Just Do It”
from: Just Do It – Single / Soundview Projects / August 5, 2020
[Paper Tongues are a musical hailing from Charlotte North Carolina. Aswan North grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina and Danny Santell is originally from the Bronx, New York City, NY. The two combine forces to deliver an eclectic Rock & Hip Hop Sounds. Danny Santell now resides in Kansas City. Paper Tongues was once signed to AM Octone Records and was managed by Randy Jackson (American Idol/Journey). They left the label and got their masters back and are now truly independent recording artists!.]

7. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – “Started With a Family”
from: Started With a Family / Starts With Music, LLC / September 6. 2019
[Produced with Grammy-winner Nathan Chapman at iconic Blackbird Studios in Nashville. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear have garnered international acclaim, and new fans from all over the world. They signed with Glassnote Records and recorded their debut full length album in Nashville with acclaimed producer Jim Abiss. They performed their debut single “Silent Movies” on The Late Show with David Letterman, they’ve toured across the United States, and Europe, more than once. They were featured on CBS Sunday Morning, NBC’s The Today Show, and “Later With Jools Holland and played Bonnaroo, Pilgramage, and the Newport Folk Festival, and the Ryman Theatre, in Nashville. Ruth Ward has continually performed throughout her life, mostly in coffee shops and open mics, for over 30 years, even recording a solo record. In the midst of this she got married and became a mom, and was busy raising a family. Madisen Ward was born in Oklahoma, and grew up in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 2007. Madisen’s journey to become a musician, was “melodically passed down” through the songs of his mother, where Madisen grew up watching his mom perform at local coffee shops. Eventually he began to learn to play the guitar, and poured his talent for writing into the music to create original songs. They began playing Madisen’s original songs along with the occassional cover of a classic track, reinterpreted in their own incredibly beautiful performace of two voices and two guitars in harmony and orchestration. Their debut album, The Skeleton Crew, was released May 9, 2015 and was our most played record that year and was #1 on WMM’s The 115 Best Recordings of 2015. Their follow up EP Radio Winners was released July 27, 2018 and recieved critical acclaim.] [Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear played Crossroads Music Fest, Sat., Sept 7,, Crossroads KC, with Shy Boys, Split Lip Rayfield, The Freedom Affair.]

[Madisen Ward plays Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Sat, Sept. 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen]

10:30 – Underwriting

8. Sean Muldoon & Ashley Davis – “Perfectly Beautiful”
from: LightSongs / Dead Rabbit Records / January 14, 2020
[Think Joni Mitchell meets contemporary Celtic and you’ll get something like the creative force of Ashley Davis, an American singer-songwriter whose musical imagination invites the world into her eclectic sphere. Good Morning America, describes the Ashley Davis Band as “new music springing from ancient roots.” A culmination of the many influences that have inspired her over the years, Davis’s songwriting has captivated audiences on either side of the Atlantic. She has excelled in Celtic folk, Americana, and even electronic, proving she can turn any musical style into a spellbinding story. In the words of Academy Award winning composer Philip Glass, Ashley Davis has “as much musicality as anyone could wish for.” A native of Kansas and graduate of the University of Limerick’s World Music Centre, Ashley Davis writes music that lives between continents and speaks to two national traditions. Between her background in American roots and love of Celtic folk, Davis possesses a unique talent for conjoining ancient history with modern, intercultural interpretation. As a performer moving between Nashville, New York, the west of Ireland, and even the Isle of Man, where she served as Artist in Residence in 2006, Ashley has always applied her distinct Great Plains perspective to a range of genres and cultures, forging songs out of the moment when different minds and backgrounds meet. Given all the time she has spent traversing the Atlantic, it is unsurprising that Davis’s music exhibits an inherently ethereal and aqueous quality. Her songs seem to exist air bound above the ocean, merely waiting for the current to direct them toward shore..]

[Ashley Davis plays Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Sat, Sept. 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen]

10:34 – Interview with David Shaughnessy

What happens when you are in the middle of a pandemic and your annual celebrated and incredibly popular annual KC Irish Fest is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend. The result is: KC Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Saturday, September 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating, and also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen.

David Shaughnessy works at Uptown Artist Group, an artist booking and management agency specializing in contemporary Celtic, World and Mainstream music. Their roster consists of Byrne and Kelly, Mundy, Ashley Davis, Runa, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Dylan Walshe, Shane Hennessy, and Oscar Blue. David is also the founder of Shaughnessy & Associates Photography and he serves as Entertainment Director at Kansas City Irish Fest.

David Shaughnessy, Thanks for being with us on WMM.

Check out http://www.kcirishfest.com for a full listing of Fest Where You Are

Saturday, September 5, at 7:00 PM, a two-hour broadcast of the benefit concert, featuring all the live performances from Crown Center and other surprises, Fest Where You Are will benefit the KC Irish Fest Grant Fund. The broadcast will be available at KCIrishFest.com!

Classic Irish hits & covers from house band Carswell & Hope with guest performances.

PERFORMING LIVE AT CROWN CENTER: Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen

VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES & INTERVIEWS: Aoife Scott, Byrne and Kelly, Corner Boy, Gaelic Storm, Oscar Blue, Shane Hennessy, We Banjo 3.

FEST WHERE YOU ARE BENEFIT CONCERT

Audiences can enjoy the benefit concert live, in-person at Crown Center, with physically distanced tables that seat up to six guests of your choice (and include a beverage package featuring Guinness, Boulevard Products, Miller Lite, wine and water.) Each table also receives a swag bag with gifts from all our Fest Where You Are partners including koozies, bandanas, glassware, and a KC Irish Fest branded mask! All tables are outside under the Crown Center Pavilion tent and spaced a minimum of 8-feet apart. Limited tables available. Tickets must be purchased by table and cannot be purchased individually. Must be 21+ to attend, and agree to these terms and conditions. All proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Kansas City Irish Fest Grant Fund and other non-profit organizations. info@kcirishfest.com
Purchase tickets for the in-person event at Crown Center here: https://bit.ly/3gT2dtu

FEST WHERE YOU ARE CONCERT LIVE FROM CROWN CENTER
WATCH VIRTUALLY VIA LIVESTREAM on KCIrishFest.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 7-9PM

OTHER WAYS TO WATCH

KANSAS CITY IRISH CENTER
Kansas City Irish Center will have a limited number of tickets available for purchase, for a seat on their patio to watch a livestream broadcast of the concert outdoors on a large LED screen. Tickets are $25 and food and beverages will be available for purchase.Enjoy a pre-show with Ian & Kian Byrne.

KELLY’S WESTPORT INN
Kelly’s Westport Inn will be featuring the concert on their TV sets and will have reserved tables available for purchase. Tickets are $15 per person and you must reserve your table by August 20th. Tickets must be purchased by table and cannot be purchased individually. To reserve your table, email info@kellyswestportinn.com

Reservations begin at 7pm but you can stay as long as you like
Table sizes range from 2-20 people, but are limited
All tables are located in the back two rooms of Kelly’s
Ticket includes two drink tickets for Boulevard Wheat, Pale Ale or a Jameson cocktail

BROWNE’S IRISH MARKET
Browne’s Irish Marketplace will be streaming “KC Irish Fest Where you Are” on an LED screen in their large outdoor venue South of Brownes. It is perfect for your small group to be distanced from other small groups. Tickets are $20 and include one drink token. Enjoy a pre-show from the Jump 2-3’s beginning at 6 p.m. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.

CONROY’S PUBLIC HOUSE
Conroy’s will be streaming the concert live at their 47th street location. Reservations are required, please call (913) 296-7901 to make your reservation

THE DUBLINER
The Dubliner in the Power & Light District will be streaming the Fest Where You Are Concert at their restaurant. Food & Drink specials available. Reservations are recommended, but not required. Call (816) 268-4700 to make your reservation

Check out 2020.kcirishfest.com for a full listing of Fest Where You Are activities including Whiskey Tastings, Virtual Workshops, Kids Activities and more.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5.

10:00 am – MR. STINKY FEET VIRTUAL CONCERT & STORYTELLING
11:00 am – COOK IRISH BREAKFAST WITH KYLE FROM BOULEVARD
3:00 pm – SCONES WITH SHAUN BRADY
6:00 pm – JAMESON WHISKEY TASTING
4:00 pm- STONE LION PUPPETS LEPRECHAUN PUPPET WORKSHOP
8:00 pm – LIVE CONCERT AT CROWN CENTER

David Shaughnessy, Thanks for being with us on WMM.

Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Sat, Sept. 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen

David Shaughnessy, Thanks for being with us on WMM.

Check out 2020.kcirishfest.com for a full listing of Fest Where You Are

10:52

9. Calvin Arsenia – “Kansas City Baby”
from: Catastrophe / Calvin Arsenia / February 14, 2017
[Calvin Arsenia premiered these songs in a live show at recordBar in November 2016 in a stage show that involved a company of 50 people, dancers, stilt walkers, special lighting, back up singers, guest artistsBorn in Orlando, Florida, Calvin’s creative journey really began when he moved to the KC suburb of Olathe, teaching himself the guitar, and eventually the harp. He learned his signature instrument at the age of 20 after he couldn’t find a harpist as determined as him to meld folk, rock, classical, rap and R&B into the irresistible fusion which has become his calling card in KC and beyond. His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career into a life-changing music mission, with an Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to Kansas City reborn as a humanistic songwriter / performer whose impassioned and conceptual stage shows (regularly sold-out in Kansas City, currently catching fire on the West Coast with a diverse following across Europe), are collaborative, costumed-culture-bridging spectacles which In KC Magazine has hailed as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-6-inch harpist with a natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’ Calvin’s 2018 national debut, Cantaloupe, September 15, 2018 on Center Cut Records, has been acclaimed for melding diverse textures into an alluring signature sound for the adventurous artist. On June 28, 2019 Calvin released Honeydew, an EP including a remix of three songs from Cantaloupe. On December 13, 2019 Calvin released his full length Christmas album “all is calm.” Congratulations to Calvin and his fantastic team of co-conspirators and creators: Khitam Jabr, John P. Beatty, Ignacio Galarza III, Ashlee Fairchild Jones, production assistants, and crew. The Toxic music video earned its sixth set of laurels as an official selection of the L.A. Music Video Awards, where they were nominated for Best Music Video, Best Cover Song and Best Male Vocalist. Calvin Arsenia will be participating in The West 18th Street Fashion Show’s 20th year as a feature-length film. “We are moving it from the street to the screen,” says Peregrine Honig to inkansascitymagazine.com “Mike Dillon and Calvin Arsenia will be scoring and performing in the film.” The evening of October 16th at The Boulevard Drive-In will be the debut of the director’s cut of “Summer in Hindsight,” which Peregrine is currently working on with Justin Gardner,” Honig says. “We did this during a pandemic and a cultural revolution. I am not sure where else or how else this could happen at this moment in history.”

[Calvin Arsenia will be a panelist for MixMaster2020: Virtual Panels & Workshops in partnership with KKFI 90.1 FM’s Crossroads Music Fest, TODAY, Wednesdays, September 2, from 4 to 5:30 PM, focused on COVID Check-in: Staying Well & Staying Creative with panelist s Krystle Warren, Erin McGrane and Nick Carswell, and moderated by Mark Manning.]

[Calvin Arsenia plays Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Sat, Sept. 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen]

10. Black Pumas – “Fast Car”
from: Black Pumas (Deluxe) / ATO / August 28, 2020
[From Rolling Stone: Black Pumas have released a new double album deluxe edition of the band’s debut album, out August 28th via ATO Records. This deluxe edition features live-in-studio version of their song “Confines” where Black Pumas are tapering back the quick soul skip of the original into a groove that still moves at a steady pace, but now boasts additional space for a cadre of background singers and a string quartet. This new arrangement suits Black Pumas, as both Eric Burton’s raw vocals and Adrian Quesada’s spitfire guitar still sound right at home amid the swelling strings. This version of “Confines” is one of three live-in-studio cuts on the deluxe edition, along with renditions of “Colors” and “Oct 33.” The record also features three previously unreleased originals, “I’m Ready,” “Red Rover” and “Black Cat,” plus a live version of “Know You Better,” recorded at the Austin club, C-Boys Heart and Soul. The deluxe edition, Black Pumas also feature four cover songs: their take on Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” plus renditions of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” Death’s “Politicians in My Eyes” and Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City.” // Black Pumas are a funk and soul duo based in Austin, Texas, consisting of singer Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada. Their work also has strong Latin music influences. The duo received their first Grammy nomination ever for Best New Artist at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. The duo formed in 2017 and released their debut album, Black Pumas, on June 21, 2019 which was part of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. Black Pumas performed at South by Southwest in 2019 and won a best new band trophy at the 2019 Austin Music Awards. On November 20, 2019, they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Quesada was a member of Latin funk band Grupo Fantasma when it won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album for the 2010 album El Existential, and when it was previously nominated for the same award in 2008 for Sonidos Gold.]

11:00 – Station ID

11. Ivory Blue – “Elite Dreamland”
from: “Elite Dreamland” – Single / Devin Robert Kesler / February 17, 2020
[KC based singer songwriter and rock & roller, Ivory Blue is currently in the studio putting together a new full length 10-song album called “Compound Love” for release in 2020. Ivory Blue’s debut EP, Ready Get Set was released in June 2015 and had wide radio airplay on this show and multiple radio and television stations in Kansas City and across the country. In 2017 Ivory was among 1800 bands that competed in neXt2Rock. Ivory won local & regional challenges and advanced to nationals in Los Angeles to win the top prize. Ivøry Blue has played Crossroads Music festival, The Middle of the Map Festival, The Westport Roots Festival, Kauffman Stadium, the KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at The Kansas City Public Library. Born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, and given up for adoption at the age of four, it was difficult to find trust in people after living with eight different foster families. Running away at 15, Ivory moved from Indiana to Oklahoma and eventually ended up in Seattle. In 2011 Ivory moved to Kansas City, and has became a part of new family.]

11:04 – Interview with Ivory Blue

KC based singer songwriter and rock & roller, Ivory Blue caught our attention with the debut EP, Ready Get Set, released in June 2015 and had wide radio airplay on this show and multiple radio and television stations in Kansas City and across the country. In 2017 Ivory was among 1800 bands that competed in neXt2Rock. Ivory won local & regional challenges and advanced to nationals in Los Angeles to win the top prize. Ivory Blue joins us on the phone to share the new single “Half a Life” to be released September 20, 2020. Earlier this year Ivory released the single “Elite Dreamland” on February 17. Ivory Blue has been in the studio working on a new 10-song album called, “Compound Love.” Ivory has played Crossroads Music Fest, Middle of the Map Fest, The Westport Roots Festival, Kauffman Stadium, and the KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at KC Public Library. More info at: http://www.ivorybluemusic.com

Ivory Blue thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Creating music in pandemic times.

Ivory Blue has been in the studio working on a new 10-song album, “Compound Love.”

Ivory Blue was among 1800 bands that competed in neXt2Rock. Ivory won local and regional challenges and advanced to the nationals in Los Angeles, where the top five bands played The Viper Room before judges that included: Scott Borchetta President & CEO of Big Machine Label Records; fashion designer John Varvatos; songwriter & producer Desmond Child; engineer Chris Lord-Alge; Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols; and Gavin Rossdale of Bush. Ivory won the entire competition and the opportunity to record “Ready Get Set” for Big Machine Records / John Varvatos Records.

Ivory Blue’s debut EP, Ready Get Set was released in June 2015, recorded and mastered by Larry Gann of Awestruck studios. Micah Burdick on guitar, Craig Kew on bass, and Lester Estelle, drummer for Kelly Clarkson, on drums for Ivory ‘s EP.

More info at: http://www.ivorybluemusic.com

Ivory Blue has played Crossroads Music festival, The Middle of the Map Festival, The Westport Roots Festival, the KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at The Kansas City Public Library, and The Kauffman Stadium, July 1, Royals home game.

Klaartje Van Lue is Ivory’s manager and she was the one who helped Ivory find their way to KC. Ivory has said that Klaartje saved their life.

Born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, and given up for adoption at the age of four, it was difficult to find trust in people after living with eight different foster families. Running away at 15, Ivory moved from Indiana to Oklahoma and eventually ended up in Seattle. In 2011 Ivory moved to Kansas City, and was welcomed into a new family. On June 23, 2015, Ivory released the debut EP, “Ready Get Set.” Ivory is now currently in the process of writing and recording a debut full-length album.

Ivory has talked with us about how in their life they have turned to music to express pain. Ivory spent most of their childhood looking for a family. In 2010 Klaartje Van Lue saw Ivory performing in a YouTube video and contacted them, flying Ivory to Kansas City, and adopting Ivory into the Van Lue family. During the past 10 years Ivory came out as “Non-Binary Transgender.”

Ivory is one of our most frequent guests and sang “Elite Dreamland” live on our November 6, 2019 edition.

“Half A Life” was composed, arranged, and produced solely by Ivory Blue, with every instrument, every sound effect, thinkle or loop, with the exception of drums by Lennon Bone recorded at Element Studios, (Joel Nanos), and bass by Craig Kew recorded in Ivory’s home studio.

Ivory Blue thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Ivory Blue’s new song “Half A Life” will be released September 20. Ivory’s full length 10-song album called “Compound Love” will be released later in 2020. More info at: http://www.ivorybluemusic.com

11:20

12. Ivory Blue – “Half A Life”
from: “Half A Life” – Single / Devin Robert Kesler / September 20, 2020
[“Half A Life” was composed, arranged, and produced solely by Ivory Blue, with every instrument, every sound effect, thinkle or loop, with the exception of drums by Lennon Bone recorded at Element Studios, (Joel Nanos), and bass by Craig Kew recorded in Ivory’s home studio. KC based singer songwriter and rock & roller, Ivory Blue is currently in the studio putting together a new full length 10-song album called “Compound Love” for release in 2020. KC based singer songwriter and rock & roller, Ivory Blue is currently in the studio putting together a new full length 10-song album called “Compound Love” for release in 2020. Ivory Blue’s debut EP, Ready Get Set was released in June 2015 and had wide radio airplay on this show and multiple radio and television stations in Kansas City and across the country. In 2017 Ivory was among 1800 bands that competed in neXt2Rock. Ivory won local & regional challenges and advanced to nationals in Los Angeles to win the top prize. Ivory Blue has played Crossroads Music festival, The Middle of the Map Festival, The Westport Roots Festival, Kauffman Stadium, the KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at The Kansas City Public Library. Born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, and given up for adoption at the age of four, it was difficult to find trust in people after living with eight different foster families. Running away at 15, Ivory moved from Indiana to Oklahoma and eventually ended up in Seattle. In 2011 Ivory moved to Kansas City, and has became a part of new family]

13. Lava Dreams – “See It Through”
from: “Good Energy + Focus / Lava Dreams / June 13, 2020
[Written by Lava Dreams and produced by Duncan Burnett. Solo artist Lava Dreams aka Julia Hamilton writes songs influenced by pop, soul, RnB, jazz, trap, house, funk, reggae, rock, and world music. Hailing from Kansas City, MO, her guitar-based music is both dreamy & electric. Lava Dreams began writing lyrics and melodies as a young child. Growing up, she learned to play her first guitar chords from her father – who played around the house and in local bars. After playing guitar and singing in several Kansas City bands as a teenager, she set out to become a solo artist in 2018. Julia Hamilton is also a film maker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila Unversity. You can listen to Lava Dreams on Spotify, iTunes, Tidal, Deezer, Google Play, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or at LavaDreamsMusic.com ]

[Lava Dreams plays Saturday Storytellers, Saturday, September 5, at 5:00 PM with Jessica Paige, at Ollie’s Local, 3044 Gillham Rd., in KCMO hosted by Don Simon on the first Saturday of each month.]

14. Shy Boys – “View From The Sky”
from: Talk Loud / Polyvinyl Record Co. / Expected September 25, 2020
[From the upcoming third album from Kansas City’s Shy Boys. The follow up to single, “Trash” released August 3, 2020. and after Dim The Light / Brick By Brick, released February 15, 2019. Shy Boys released their 2nd album and Polyvinyl debut, Bell House on August 3, 2018. Shy Boys line-up consists of brothers Collin Rausch and Kyle Rausch, Konnor Ervin, Kyle Little and Ross Brown. Kyle Rausch and Konnor Ervin were already band mates in the indie-pop band The ACBs and Collin had been playing for years in the Kansas City area in various bands including The Abracadabras, and The I’ms with brother Kyle. The three shared a love for 1960s era pop rock and soon started writing their own music. In 2014 they released the self-titled Shy Boys on High Dive Records. The album received generally positive reviews and the single “Bully Fight” (originally released by The I’ms) was featured on Spin.com. In June 2014, the band recorded and released two more singles and one of them, “Life Is Peachy,” was featured on Stereogum. On April 4th, 2018, it was announced that the band had signed to Polyvinyl Record Company.]

11:29 – Underwriting

15. Carswell & Hope – “The Other Side”
from: Exit Plan EP / Silly Goose Records / May 22, 2018
[Music by Carswell & Hope. Lyrics by Nick Carswell. Produced & mixed by Jason Slote & Nick Carswell. Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper @ TurtleTone Studio NYC. Lawrence KS based 5-piece band formed June 25, 2012. The band is: Nick Carswell, Jason Slote, Austin Quick, Chris Handley, and Jordan Tucker. Songwriter Nick Carswell is originally from Ireland and has found a new home on the plains of Kansas.]

[Carswell & Hope will be the house band for KC Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Sat, Sept. 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen]

[Nick Carswell is presenting MixMaster2020: Virtual Panels & Workshops in partnership with KKFI 90.1 FM’s Crossroads Music Fest, TODAY, Wednesdays, September 2, from 4 to 5:30 PM, focused on COVID Check-in: Staying Well & Staying Creative with panelist s Krystle Warren, Erin McGrane and Nick Carswell, and moderated by Mark Manning.]

10:34 – Interview with Nick Carswell

Songwriter Nick Carswell is originally from Limerick, Ireland, Nick Carswell has been living in Lawrence, KS since 2011. He formed Carswell & Hope in late 2012. The band released their debut album in 2014, coinciding with a two week Irish tour. Nick has also played bass in the electro-pop band Pink Royal and is the force behind Silly Goose Records and the annual MixMaster music conference, now part of the Crossroads Music Festival. Nick Carswell joins us to shares details on MixMaster2020: Virtual Panels & Workshops in partnership with KKFI 90.1 FM’s Crossroads Music Fest. Now in its 7th year, MXM 2020 is offering a 3-week series of online panel discussions, starting this week, on Wednesdays, from 4 to 5:30 PM, focused on empowering artists, connecting creators with the wider industry, and sharing best practices to advancing your music. In context of the COVID-19 pandemic, topics cover how artists are coping, what opportunities are available, and how to remain positive, creative and connected. The virtual series begins this afternoon, September 2, at 4;00 to 5:30 PM offering COVID Check-in: Staying Well & Staying Creative with panelist Krystle Warren, Calvin Arsenia, Erin McGrane, Nick Carswell, and moderated by Mark Manning. More info at: http://www.kkfi.org

Nick Carswell thanks for being with us on WMM.

Limerick, Ireland, Nick Carswell has been living in Lawrence, KS since 2011.

Last time Nick was on the show was over a year ago when he shared music and information about Changing Shades – Stories of Migration, Confusion & Belonging told in Image & Song from Nick Carswell in a solo performance of 10 songs, accompanied by lighting, projection and stage design, creating a unique visual canvas to the music.: Friday, May 10, at The Irish Center of KC, 19 West Linwood Blvd. AND Saturday, May 11, at Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, KS. The project was supported by an ArtsKC Inspiration Grant.

Carswell & Hope will be the house band for KC Irish Fest Where You Are – Benefit Concert, Saturday, September 5, 7 to 9:00 PM at Crown Center Pavilion, with social distanced-limited seating also broadcast live at: 2020.kcirishfest.com with Classic Irish hits & covers from house band Carswell & Hope with guest performances from: Calvin Arsenia, Carswell & Hope, Ashley Davis, Eddie Delahunt. Maria the Mexican, Enrique Chi of Making Moves, Ian Byrne of The Elders, Madisen Ward, Victor and Penny, and Katy Guillen.With virtual performances and presentations from: Aoife Scott, Byrne and Kelly, Corner Boy, Gaelic Storm, Oscar Blue, Shane Hennessy, We Banjo 3.

Saturday, September 5, at 7:00 PM, a two-hour broadcast of the benefit concert, featuring all the live performances from Crown Center and other surprises, Fest Where You Are will benefit the KC Irish Fest Grant Fund. The broadcast will be available at KCIrishFest.com!

MixMaster2020: Virtual Panels & Workshops in partnership with KKFI 90.1 FM’s Crossroads Music Fest.

Now in its 7th year, MXM 2020 is offering a 3-week series of online panel discussions, starting this week, on Wednesdays, from 4 to 5:30 PM, focused on empowering artists, connecting creators with the wider industry, and sharing best practices to advancing your music. In context of the COVID-19 pandemic, topics cover how artists are coping, what opportunities are available, and how to remain positive, creative and connected.

September 2, offers COVID Check-in: Staying Well & Staying Creative with panelist Calvin Arsenia, Nick Carswell, and Krystle Warren moderated by Mark Manning.

September 9, offers Connecting with Audiences in COVID times: Livestreams, Patreon and more.

September 16, offers, Keeping the Lights On: Venues, events & the wider industry. The series is hosted by Silly Goose Records, CMFKC and KKFI 90.1 FM. More info at: http://www.kkfi.org

Nick Carswell thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:49

16. Krystle Warren – “Born In The Fall”
from: A Time to Keep Love Songs EP / Parlour Door Music / August 12, 2011
[Originally from KC, Krystle learned to play the guitar by listening to Rubber Soul & Revolver from The Beatles. Krystle graduated from Paseo Arts Academy in 2001 and began her musical career in collaborating with area jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and NYC, Krystle was signed to a French label, Because Music, and moved to Paris to release “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played French and British television programs, including Later with Jools Holland, garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music, to release “Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace” a recording from a 13-day session in Brooklyn, where she recorded 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty, alongside choirs, horn and string sections.]

[Krystle Warren will be a panelist for MixMaster2020: Virtual Panels & Workshops in partnership with KKFI 90.1 FM’s Crossroads Music Fest, TODAY, Wednesdays, September 2, from 4 to 5:30 PM, focused on COVID Check-in: Staying Well & Staying Creative with panelist s Krystle Warren, Erin McGrane and Nick Carswell, and moderated by Mark Manning.]

17. Angel Olsen – “Whole New Mess”
from: Whole New Mess / Jagjaguwar / August 28, 2020
[5th studio album from Angel Olsen. Recorded by Olsen and engineer Michael Harris in a converted church, the album features tracks from her 2019 album, All Mirrors, arranged in a more intimate style. Whole New Mess was recorded over ten days in October 2018 with engineer Michael Harris. The pair worked in isolation in the town of Anacortes, Washington, recording in a converted Catholic church.[2] Olsen would use the church’s corridors to create a natural echo effect on her vocals. The album was recorded prior to Olsen’s 2019 studio album, All Mirrors, which features many of the same compositions in a different form: “When we made [Whole New Mess], I was still processing a lot of the songs, so for me, it’s harder to listen to this record than it is for me to listen to All Mirrors. When I recorded All Mirrors, other people had their hands in the pot, which separated me from the songs. I could get into them in a distant way. On Whole New Mess I’m feeling every feeling that they evoke.” The album was written following the collapse of a romantic relationship, with Olsen noting: “I was really depressed. I had no idea whether the songs were good. They were just about my life. I could have recorded them at home and kept them as demos, but I knew Michael [Harris] was someone I could be depressed in front of, who would help me to explore it in different ways. It was such an emotional process.” Angel Olsen was born January 22, 1987. She is an American singer-songwriter and musician from St. Louis, Missouri who currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. At age three, Olsen was adopted by a foster family that had cared for her since shortly after her birth. The difference in years between her and her parents left an impression. “Because there are so many decades of difference between us, I became more interested in what their childhood was like,” she says of her parents, both of whom still live in St. Louis. “I fantasized about what it was like to be young in the ’30s and ’50s, more so than other kids my age.” Olsen explained that “my mother just has this capacity for children.” Despite early adolescent aspirations to be a “pop star”, her interests later shifted in high school. Olsen became more introverted, regularly attending punk rock and noise music shows at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center and the Creepy Crawl as well as Christian rock shows throughout the city. She began learning the piano and guitar and writing her own music. Two years after graduating from Tower Grove Christian High School, Olsen moved to Chicago.After releasing her first EP, Strange Cacti, and a debut album, Half Way Home, on Bathetic Records, Olsen signed with Jagjaguwar, ahead of her first full-band record, Burn Your Fire for No Witness, which was released on February 17, 2014. Olsen’s third full-length album, My Woman, was released on September 2, 2016. In addition to her work with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and The Cairo Gang, Olsen has collaborated with a number of other notable figures of American indie rock, including Tim Kinsella of Cap’n Jazz, LeRoy Bach of Wilco and Cass McCombs. Her collaboration with Kinsella and Bach, as well as with Chicago poet Marvin Tate, resulted in the album Tim Kinsella Sings the Songs of Marvin Tate by Leroy Bach Featuring Angel Olsen which the group released on Indianapolis label Joyful Noise Recordings on December 3, 2013.]

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

11:58 – ArtsKC – Arts Calendar

Next week on Wednesday, September 9, Bill Sundahl joins us to share details the Crossroads Music Fest presented virtually and over the radio on Saturday, September 9, with Calvin Arsenia, Laura Noble, We the People (feat. Eddie Moore), Julia Othmer, Ezgi Karakus & John Livingston, Soul Servers, and The Royal Chief. More info at: http://www.CMF.com

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

Nick Carswell photo by John Knepper

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

Black Lives Matter

Show #853