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, June 2, 2021

Bob Walkenhorst + Elexa Dawson + Alisa Jefferson + J Ragland of Quinn’s Laundry Hearse

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Orig. Motion Picture Soundtrack All That Jazz / Casablanca / December 20, 1979
   [WMM’s Adopted Theme Song]

2. Bachelor – “Stay in the Car”
   from: Doomin’ Sun / Polyvinyl recording Company / May 28, 2021
   [Album Notes from http://www.bachelortheband.bandcamp.com: Bachelor, the new project from Melina Duterte (Jay Som) and Ellen Kempner (Palehound), is not a band, it’s a friendship. // You could say the friendship began in 2017 when Duterte and Kempner first met in a Sacramento green room and experienced love at first sight. Having been mutual fans of each other for years at that point, putting each other’s songs on playlists and scouring YouTube for live videos, they both remember starting that night as nervous wrecks intent on making a good impression. That proved extremely easy, and their anxious facades quickly faded into geeky fandom as they unabashedly yell-sang lyrics from the crowd during each other’s sets. // A year later, Kempner visited Duterte’s home studio in Los Angeles to mess around and record for fun. They hadn’t really hung out much since the two shows they did in 2017, but they kept in touch by hesitantly texting and replying to Instagram posts. Now together in LA, the jitters Kempner and Duterte fought the first time they met were back, but this time they weren’t born of insecurity, but of excitement. The two spent a few hours writing and recording their first song together, “Sand Angel,” a seductive slow-burner that unfurls like a lucid dream. Kempner’s arid lead vocals are punctuated by Duterte’s spry harmonies, lending the track a rare dynamism that could only mean one thing: they had to write an album together. // In January of 2020, the duo packed the entirety of Duterte’s recording equipment into two cars and headed to a rental house in Topanga, CA where over the course of two weeks, they wrote and recorded their debut album Doomin’ Sun. The house had a living room with a baby grand piano in it which they turned into a live room by pushing all the furniture against the walls and setting up drums and amps. The ad hoc studio set up offered the comfort required for ideas to flow freely, uninhibited by any preordained schedule. // In this space, Kempner and Duterte hybridized their individual songwriting talents, producing a collection that slips between moods with ease and showcases their lyrical prowess. On the bass-heavy rock song “Stay in the Car,” the duo paint a yearning portrait of a woman in a supermarket parking lot, a barely-contained desire oozing out of cotidian descriptions like: “She burns out of the market/ Plastic bags digging into wrists/ Blood stuck in her fingertips.” The heavy bass makes another appearance on “Anything At All,” a track with a chorus so playful it could be a schoolyard taunt, defying the darker lyrical themes heard on the verses. // A typical day at the house in Topanga consisted of the two late-sleepers slumping down to the kitchen at around 11AM to drink canned ice teas and make lunch before they started messing around with instruments, crafting pitch riffs and chord progressions. After Kempner and Duterte sussed the form of the song and tracked the basics, they’d spend a couple of hours apart. During that time, Kempner wrote lyrics in the backyard treehouse while Duterte worked her producer magic, or Duterte wrote lyrics on the back patio while Kempner came up with guitar parts. When they regrouped, the duo shared what they’d worked on, made dinner, and watched an unreasonable amount of TV for the rest of the night. //About halfway through their stay in Topanga, Buck Meek and James Krivchenia of Big Thief came by the house. Meek brought guitar pedals and a beautiful old Martin acoustic to generously lend to the project, and Krivchenia elevated a few of the songs by tracking drums while Duterte’s partner Annie Truscott (Chastity Belt) recorded strings to accentuate moments on the album. Aside from those contributions, Kempner and Duterte spent most of their time in isolation, a fitting precursor to the remainder of the year, but the songs on Doomin’ Sun are anything but isolating. These songs tell stories that will surely be recognizable to listeners, especially when they offer up interpretations of modern life. “Drivin’ on to the next town/ Keeping the rubber side down/ But the danger is in my phone/ And the drug of an endless scroll,” Kempner sings on the downcast, country-inflected “Sick of Spiraling.” // Kempner and Duterte had arrived in Topanga with no songs written and no solid plan, but after two short weeks, they had finished the 10 songs that make up Doomin’ Sun. That much work in so little time may sound exhausting, but it wasn’t, it was blissful and freeing. On the album’s powerful opener, “Back of My Hand,” it’s possible to hear echoes of Bachelor’s foundation in the opening verse, “I’m your biggest fan/ Got your song in my head/ And your poster’s above my bed,” but the song soon hits a more sinister register as it goes on, “You date the beauty queens/ I see their bodies in magazines/ Sharp jaw size 0 jeans/ I skip a meal/ I drink some tea.” // There was a lot of pain that went into the record, especially around themes of queerness and climate change inspired by the red skies and wildfires subsuming Australia at the time. However, when the duo did shed tears during the creative process, they weren’t tears of sadness, they were tears of laughter. When Kempner and Duterte look back on those weeks, what they remember first is shortness of breath and the inability to track vocal takes without falling to the floor howling. They couldn’t remember a time they’d ever been so delirious with creativity, so overwhelmed with joy.]

3. Hannah Norris – “Will I?”
   from: Will 1? – Single / Hannah Norris & the Band / May 14, 2021
   [We last played Hannah Norris & The Band’s single “Ego Death” on August 28, 2019, just before the band played the 15th Annual Crossroads Music Fest, 2019. Hannah Norris & The Band began in June of 2016 at the Wild West Fest in Hays, KS. Hannah Norris is from Hays Kansas but is now based in Lawrence, Kansas. Hannah Norris is known for her incredible live performances her power house vocals & deft guitar playing.]

[Hannah Norris & The Band play Replay Lounge, 946, Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS., on Friday, July 9, at 6:00 PM, with The Frightened Stag.]

4. Bob Walkenhorst – “Day After Tomorrow”
   from: A Thousand Words / BAT Records / June 1, 2021
   [Bob Walkenhorst’s new 12 song album comes out on June 1, 2021 on Bob’s 68th Birthday. Bob Walkenhorst will be with us LIVE on the show next week. The new album is beautiful and shows the range of Bob Walkenhorst’s gifts as a master songwriter and poet. The album is also evidence of the wide open vocal range of a rock and roller who can call upon his expressive voice, giving listeners lyrics with a growl and also rising to sing the high parts of the harmony, not in a falsetto, but actually singing like a angel in a duet with Una Walkenhorst his equally talented singer songwriter daughter. With Una, Bob recorded the critically acclaimed FOR TOMORROW with that was released October 12, 2018, where they split the difference, taking turns as songwriters for the album’s songs, written individually, and recorded together, in clear beautiful harmonies, with that extra special shared musical DNA, that can be heard in the harmonies of The Carter Family, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, or Shy Boys. FOR TOMORROW was #2 on WMM’s 118 Best recordings of 2018. Una Walkenhorst is the youngest daughter of Bob Walkenhorst, a founding member of The Rainmakers, which had national and international hits in the 1980s and 90s, and continue to this day touring and recording new music. With The Rainmakers Bob has released over 10 albums. Bob’s solo record continues the spirit of FOR TOMORROW. More info at: http://www.bobwalkenhorst.com]

10:15 – Interview with Bob Walkenhorst

KC based Rock & Roll Superstar Bob Walkenhorst joins us on the phone to talk about his new 12 song album, A THOUSAND WORDS, released on June 1, 2021, Bob’s 68th Birthday. The new album shows the range of Bob Walkenhorst’s gifts as a master songwriter and poet, and the wide open vocal range of a rock and roller who can call upon his expressive voice, giving lyrics with a growl and also rising to sing the high parts of the harmony, singing like a angel in a duet with Una Walkenhorst his equally talented singer songwriter daughter. With Una, Bob recorded the critically acclaimed FOR TOMORROW released October 12, 2018, where they split the difference for the album’s songs, written individually, and recorded together, with special shared musical DNA harmonies. Bob Walkenhorst is a founding member of The Rainmakers, which had national and international hits in the 1980s and 1990s, and continue touring and recording new music. With The Rainmakers Bob has released over 10 albums. Bob’s new solo record continues in the musical spirit of FOR TOMORROW. More info at: http://www.bobwalkenhorst.com

Bob Walkenhorst, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Happy Belated Birthday Bob Walkenhorst!

Congratulations to Bob, on his new album, A THOUSAND WORDS.

The new songs are all beautiful. This album feels like a continuation of the spirit in the songs from, FOR TOMORROW, your album of duets with Una Walkenhorst from 2018.

This is Bob’s second solo album, and his comes 18 years after his first solo album, THE BEGINNER, from 2003.

The past 15 months have been devastating to the music industry. The cover of Bob’s new album is an interior shot with Bob sitting before two open, skylight windows. This is Bob’s attic studio where he created all of the songs for A THOUSAND WORDS.

Bob has determined Sept. 1, 2021, as his safe-to-play-again date for solo house concerts.

The Rainmakers play Johnson County Community College on August 27, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

The Rainmakers play Lindberg’s in Springfield, MO on August 28, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

The Raimakers play Knuckleheads November 27, 2021 at 8:00 PM

Along with your music Bob is also a painter of hundreds of works, many have been been presented in gallery shows, almost all of the piece are exterior scenes of trees, farming, bodies of water.

From Bob’s website: “Musician, songwriter, artist, and also an author, Bob Walkenhorst’s second book, Whirlybird Day, was published November 19, 2020. A book of connected short stories, the connection being that they all happen on the same day, in the same small Missouri town. While it is fiction, it is woven from the people and situations and attitudes Bob knew growing up. And yes, there really was a Whirlybird Day. And there really was a Cecil. In the town of Shorter, Missouri, lives are turning —like the big blades of the helicopter visiting the town fora summer festival — some slowly rising, others spinningtoward the ground. Look closely at these people — themysteries and coded messages of life are in the detailsand the mundane, in small decisions and hidden events. Here are nine stories of lives on that single day —a former baseball star who comes back to lead the parade,a woman who drifts between dementia and magic, a localmusician who may have played his final gig, a DJ whotries to come home but has trouble finding the way, acollege girl anxious to leave her roots. Snapshots of lives,all turning, changing, happening — on Whirlybird Day.”

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

Bob Walkenhorst has spent most of his life as a musician, as lead singer and songwriter for the critically acclaimed rock band, The Rainmakers. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Bob and the band have released 9 albums over their 30+ year career, and continue to tour and record.

Bob’s songs gained attention for their lyrical content – thoughtful, humorous, witty, with insightful social commentary. This interest in the power of words eventually led to the publication of a book of Bob’s song lyrics – Scribbling On the Walls of the Mansion – published in 2019. And now Whirlybird Day – published in 2020.

Bob grew up in the small town of Norborne, Missouri, and also spent years in Maryville and Branson. These years of small town life served as the inspiration for the stories in Whirlybird Day.

Bob lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with his wife, Michele Sewell, two daughters and two granddaughters nearby.

Bob Walkenhorst is a Kansas City-based singer, songwriter, musician, and painter. After growing up in his hometown of Norborne, Missouri, he became a founding member of the popular Midwestern U.S. roots rock band The Rainmakers. In the Kansas City area, he currently gives weekly performances and participates in art gallery shows. For some shows, he is joined by his daughter Una.

As the singer/songwriter of his band, The Rainmakers, from 1986 to 1996, Walkenhorst’s discography included five full-length studio albums, one live concert recording, and one “best-of” album. After the dissolution of the band, he released his first solo album, The Beginner, in 2003. In 2009, Walkenhorst and fellow Kansas City musician Jeff Porter released an album entitled No Abandon, under the moniker Walkenhorst and Porter. The Rainmakers reformed in 2011 and have since released three more albums.

Throughout his career as a musician, Walkenhorst has maintained a reputation for producing clever and provocative lyrics, which have garnered him wide critical acclaim. In discussing the self-titled debut of The Rainmakers, Billboard called them “a band with a rarity: a genuinely witty songwriter.” A 1987 review in the Washington Post cited the cleverness while also noting irreverent humor. On a very different note, a review from later that year in the Chicago Tribune observed, “Walkenhorst’s lyrics are preoccupied with morality, although he avoids a moralizing tone.” Over three decades later, in 2018, the Richmond (Missouri) News said, “His unique vocals and viewpoints have garnered him a dedicated following, through more than 30 years in the music scene.”

Perhaps the best-known fan of The Rainmakers and Walkenhorst was Stephen King, who included lyrics from the songs “Downstream” and “Drinkin’ on the Job” in The Tommyknockers. In Gerald’s Game, King excerpted “One More Summer”—citing Walkenhorst by name—and adopted Walkenhorst’s character “The Lakeview Man” in service of the story.

Bob Walkenhorst, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Bob Walkenhorst’s new 12 song album, A THOUSAND WORDS, was released on June 1, 2021. More info at: http://www.bobwalkenhorst.com

10:28

5. Bob Walkenhorst – “Wrapping Around”
   from: A Thousand Words / BAT Records / June 1, 2021
   [Bob Walkenhorst’s new 12 song album comes out on June 1, 2021 on Bob’s 68th Birthday. Bob Walkenhorst will be with us LIVE on the show next week. The new album is beautiful and shows the range of Bob Walkenhorst’s gifts as a master songwriter and poet. The album is also evidence of the wide open vocal range of a rock and roller who can call upon his expressive voice, giving listeners lyrics with a growl and also rising to sing the high parts of the harmony, not in a falsetto, but actually singing like a angel in a duet with Una Walkenhorst his equally talented singer songwriter daughter. With Una, Bob recorded the critically acclaimed FOR TOMORROW with that was released October 12, 2018, where they split the difference, taking turns as songwriters for the album’s songs, written individually, and recorded together, in clear beautiful harmonies, with that extra special shared musical DNA, that can be heard in the harmonies of The Carter Family, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, or Shy Boys. FOR TOMORROW was #2 on WMM’s 118 Best recordings of 2018. Una Walkenhorst is the youngest daughter of Bob Walkenhorst, a founding member of The Rainmakers, which had national and international hits in the 1980s and 90s, and continue to this day touring and recording new music. With The Rainmakers Bob has released over 12 albums. Bob’s solo record continues the spirit of FOR TOMORROW. More info at: http://www.bobwalkenhorst.com]

10:33 – Underwriting

6. Elexa Dawson – “New Song”
   from: “New Song” – Single / Lost Cowgirl Records / April 2, 2021
   [Elexa’s 2019 album, MUSIC IS MEDICINE (Lost Cowgirl Records) and her song “High Place” charted at #6 on Sirius XM’s Indigenous Music Countdown. For “New Song” Elexa Dawson on vocals & guitar, Kelby Kimberlin on bass guitar, Melissa Tastove on vocals & percussion, Jenna Rae on vocals & percussion, Martin Farrell on vocals & keys. Recorded, produced & engineered by Martin Farrell, Lost Cowgirl Records http://www.thelostcowgirl.com Mastered by Brody Wellman Additional mixing by Peter Oviatt, Moonflower Soundswww.moonflowersounds.com.. Cover Photography: Jordan Storrer, Lifeleak Visuals http://www.lifeleakvisuals.com // Elexa Dawson writes: The song was written at the very beginning of the shutdown and is a call to all of our better, higher selves to imagine a better world. “The Way it has always been done is now gone. This is our moment to sing a new song.” // I thought it would be a great campaign song for Bernie Sanders, but the day after I wrote it, he suspended. Ah, well. It’s still a good song. // http://www.elexadawson.com]

10:38 – Interview with Elexa Dawson

Kansas based musician Elexa Dawson who released, “New Song” on April 2, 2021. Elexa’s 2019 album, MUSIC IS MEDICINE was also released on Lost Cowgirl Records. Her song “High Place” charted at #6 on Sirius XM’s Indigenous Music Countdown. First recognized as founding member of Weda Skirts, who perform songs influenced by her Potawatomi identity, nature, family, love and loss. She also performs with Heyleon, a cross-pollination of established Kansas musicians. As a rural artist, Elexa values community and for 12 years has produced the Chase County Earth Day Celebration. In 2019, Dawson was awarded the Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship from First Peoples Fund and granted funding for her debut album. She performed multiple private showcases at Folk Alliance International in 2020, and was a delegate at the concurrent International Indigenous Music Summit. She’s on the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission Touring Roster. In 2020, she was awarded the Western Arts Alliance Advancing Indigenous Performance Fellowship. She serves on the Matfield Green Works Advisory Council. Elexa is currently a student of sustainable agriculture. More info at: http://www.elexadawson.com

Elexa Dawson, thank you for being with us today on WMM.

Elexa Dawson lives in the Kansas Flint Hills with her 9 year old daughter.

Elexa Dawson became known, as part of Weda Skirts, who perform songs influenced by her Potawatomi identity, nature, family, love and loss. She also performs with Heyleon, a cross-pollination of established Kansas musicians.

As for “New Song” Elexa Dawson writes “The song was written at the very beginning of the shutdown and is a call to all of our better, higher selves to imagine a better world. “The Way it has always been done is now gone. This is our moment to sing a new song.” // I thought it would be a great campaign song for Bernie Sanders, but the day after I wrote it, he suspended. Ah, well. It’s still a good song.

Elexa Dawson has released her new single and debut album through Lost Cowgirl Records. For “New Song” Elexa Dawson was on vocals & guitar, Kelby Kimberlin on bass guitar, Melissa Tastove on vocals & percussion, Jenna Rae on vocals & percussion, Martin Farrell on vocals & keys. Recorded, produced & engineered by Martin Farrell, Lost Cowgirl Records http://www.thelostcowgirl.com

Elexa Dawson identifies as a “rural artist.” Elexa values community and for 12 years produced the Chase County Earth Day Celebration. Elexa is currently a student of sustainable agriculture.

In 2019, Dawson was awarded the Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship from First Peoples Fund and granted funding for her MUSIC IS MEDICINE.

Elexa Dawson performed multiple private showcases at Folk Alliance International in 2020, and was a delegate at the concurrent International Indigenous Music Summit.

She’s on the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission Touring Roster. She serves on the Matfield Green Works Advisory Council. In 2020, she was awarded the Western Arts Alliance Advancing Indigenous Performance Fellowship.

Recently former Presidential Candidate and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was fired from CNN for his comments on Native American culture. Santorum gave a speech in April at an event of a conservative organization named the Young America’s Foundation where he said: “We birthed a nation from nothing. I mean, there was nothing here. I mean, yes, we have Native Americans, but candidly there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”

Elexa responded saying, “I was absolutely aware of that quote, and that he made that. So much of what our culture is, in America today, even with the residential schooling that my great grandmother, that I was raised in close contact with, was a survivor of one of those schools. She was a survivor because we know from what has just been discovered, up in our traditional territory, a mass grave was found, where 215 children were sent to school, and never returned home. And so, even with all of this, and even with all of the disease, and the imposition of Christianity, and these things, that so much still remains. Not only our bodies and beings, because we are still here, but as you said, the food, and the agriculture, even our place names in Kansas. We have so many places in Kansas that are names that come from indigenous languages. And some of our words even come from indigenous languages. So there is so much that is left, and I can only chalk up this ignorance to first of all, our industrialized school system, that does not prioritize the truth, but rather prioritizes patriotism. And then also, the kind of a disdain to admit that this country has made mistakes, and continues to make mistakes, with their treatment of indigenous people. So yeah, I think there is a movement to create awareness around these things. That is one of the reasons I am involved with sustainable agriculture, because I am specifically interested in indigenous agricultural practices, and indigenous foods, and the life-ways that surround those things, because our languages are all connected to the land. So that is why I am involved in that, is to be a part of this, what we Potawatomi think of as, the seventh generation, which is where we go back and collect those things that our ancestors left. And sometimes that means picking up trama, and healing it. And sometimes that means picking up a tool that hasn’t been found in generations, and learning to make that tool and use it. So there is so much that is involved, but it really does comeback to the land, and the abundance of the land, and for me that is where I want to focus, on food and our connection to food, and our health and things like that, that all come for our relationship with food.”

Elexa Dawson, thank you for being with us today on WMM.

Elexa Dawson released, “New Song” on April 2, 2021. Elexa’s 2019 album, MUSIC IS MEDICINE was also released on Lost Cowgirl Records. Her song “High Place” charted at #6 on Sirius XM’s Indigenous Music Countdown. More info at: http://www.elexadawson.com

10:52

7. Elexa Dawson – “Circle Song”
   from: Music Is Medicine / Lost Cowgirl Records / December 6, 2019
   [Elexa Dawson’s song “High Place” from her 2019 album, MUSIC IS MEDICINE charted at #6 on Sirius XM’s Indigenous Music Countdown. Elexa Dawson on vocals & guitar, Kelby Kimberlin on bass guitar, Melissa Tastove on vocals & percussion, Jenna Rae on vocals & percussion, Martin Farrell on vocals & keys. Recorded, produced & engineered by Martin Farrell, Lost Cowgirl Records http://www.thelostcowgirl.com Additional mixing by Peter Oviatt, Moonflower Sounds http://www.moonflowersounds.com. Mastered by Brody Wellman. Cover Photography: Jordan Storrer, Lifeleak Visuals http://www.lifeleakvisuals.com // Elexa Dawson writes: The song was written at the very beginning of the shutdown and is a call to all of our better, higher selves to imagine a better world. “The Way it has always been done is now gone. This is our moment to sing a new song.” // I thought it would be a great campaign song for Bernie Sanders, but the day after I wrote it, he suspended. Ah, well. It’s still a good song. // http://www.elexadawson.com]

-14. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – “I Could’ve Sworn”
     from: It’s Not a Burden (Original Songs from the Documentary Film) / Youngest Daughter Records / May 28, 2021
     [Danielle Ate The Sandwich is Danielle Anderson Danielle Ate the Sandwich is a national touring, folk singer/songwriter, known for her original songs, Youtube videos, composing the soundtrack to the HBO documentary, ‘Packed in A Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson,’ and The 24 Hour Album Project, where she writes and records an album in one day, live streaming the process to her fans. She has released over ten albums. It’s Not A Burden is a powerful and brilliant film about the joys and pain of raising elderly parents. The songs are produced by Joanna Katcher. This year Danielle Ate The Sandwich has also released the 7-song album, 24 HOUR ALBUM (2021), on April 25, 2021. The 7 songs on this album were written and recorded in 24 hours on April 24th-25th, 2021, during Danielle Ate the Sandwich’s 6th annual 24 Hour Album. This project challenges the artist to write, record, produce, and release a new album in just twenty four hours. Danielle Ate the Sandwich is a national touring, folk singer/songwriter, known for her original songs, Youtube videos, composing the soundtrack to the HBO documentary, ‘Packed in A Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson,’ and The 24 Hour Album Project, where she writes and records an album in one day, live streaming the process to her fans. More info at: http://www.danielleatethesandwich.com.]

11:00 – Station ID

9. Alisa Jefferson – “These Are Days”
   from: Tell Me / Alisa Jefferson / June 1, 2020
   [10-song solodebut album, TELL ME, on June 1, 2021. All lyrics, instrumentation, vocals, melodies, song content for TELL ME was written and created by Alisa Jefferson. TELL ME was also recorded by Alisa Jefferson. Mixed and produced by Alisa Jefferson and Andy Oxman of SoundWorks Recording Studio, Blue Springs, Mo. And mastered by Matt Elliott of Black Sky Studios, Buckner, MO. Alisa Jefferson grew up in KC. She played viola in her school orchestra and received her first acoustic guitar at age 13. Alisa established her rock trio, Morning Fix, in 1994, singing & playing bass. In December, 2014, Alisa established, fronted, and played bass in the rock trio, Radial Red. In 2019 Alisa performed on the side stage with Joan Jett and Heart at Starlight Theatre with KC band, Mad Libby. More info at: http://www.alisajeffersonmusic.com]

10:04 – Interview with Alisa Jefferson

Rock and Roller Alisa Jefferson shares music from her new 10-song solo album, TELL ME, released on June 1, 2021. All lyrics, instrumentation, vocals, melodies, song content for TELL ME was written and created by Alisa Jefferson. TELL ME was also recorded, mixed, and produced by Alisa Jefferson and Andy Oxman of SoundWorks Recording Studio, in Blue Springs, MO. And mastered by Matt Elliott of Black Sky Studios, Buckner, MO. Alisa Jefferson grew up in KC. She played viola in her school orchestra and received her first acoustic guitar at age 13. Alisa established her rock trio, Morning Fix, in 1994, singing & playing bass. In December, 2014, Alisa established, fronted, and played bass in the rock trio, Radial Red. More info at: http://www.alisajeffersonmusic.com

Alisa Jefferson thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

All lyrics, instrumentation, vocals, melodies, song content for TELL ME was written and created by Alisa Jefferson.

TELL ME was recorded, mixed and produced by Alisa Jefferson and Andy Oxman of SoundWorks Recording Studio, Blue Springs, Mo. And mastered by Matt Elliott of Black Sky Studios, Buckner, MO.

David Luther sings and plays guitar on the song “Six.” Radial Red bandmate Barb Wilmoth plays drums on “Steering the Fear,” & “Democracy Stands” and back up vocals on “Love Conquers All.” Kim Williams plays guitar on “Love Conquers All.” Andy Oxman plays guitar on “Bitter,” “These Are Days,” and “Steering The Fear.”

Alisa Jefferson grew up in the KC area. She played viola in her school orchestra and received her first acoustic guitar at age 13.

Alisa established her rock trio, Morning Fix, in 1994, singing & playing bass.

In December, 2014, Alisa established, fronted, and played bass in the rock trio, Radial Red.

Radial Red a female-fronted original Kansas City rock trio with Barb Wilmoth on drums & backing vocals, and Scott Mitchell on guitar & backing vocals. Radial Red started when Barb Wilmoth found Alisa Jefferson through the Kansas City Women’s Music Network. Barb has been playing drums for seven years, before that she played bass. Alisa met Scott through the insurance industry and knew he played guitar. Radial Red played for four years at KC Pride Fest at Berkeley Riverfront Park.

Radial Red’s debut 7-song EP, RADIATE on June 1, 2015.
Radial Red released the album, MOVING SKIES on December 12, 2020

Alisa Jefferson has played numerous Festivals and Special Events:
KC Pride Festival – June 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
LikeMe Lighthouse Fundraiser – September, 2015
HRC Battle of the Bands – January, 2016
LikeMe Lighthouse Prom – May, 2016
Arts In The Park Festival – June, 2019, 2021
North KC Music Festival – June, 2019
Swift Mile Street Festival – September 2017
Cause for Paws – June 2019

Alisa performed on the side stage with Joan Jett and Heart at Starlight Theatre with KC band, Mad Libby. – Joan Jett, Ann & Nancy Wilson are perfect icons for Alisa Jefferson

Alisa Jefferson has played numerous venues:
° VooDoo Lounge, KC, MO
° Macken Park, North KC, MO
° Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club, KC, MO
° The Roxy, Shawnee, KS
° Uptown Arts Bar, KC, MO
° The Bay, Warrensburg, MO
° Café’ Acoustic Concert Hall, St. Joseph, MO
° Unplugged, St. Joseph, MO
° Scene KC Rock Bar, KC, MO
° Coda, KC, MO
° Mini Bar, KC, MO
° Woody’s, KC, MO
° Danny’s Bar & Grill, Lenexa, KS
° Ollie’s Local, KC, MO
° Mike Kelly’s Westsider, KC, MO
° The All Star Rock Bar, N. KC, MO
° The Point, KC, MO
° Brookside Farmers Market, KC, MO
° Red Door, Leawood, KS
° Bier Station, KC, MO
° Gail’s Harley-Davidson, Grandview, MO
° Rino, NKC, MO
° Bar K Dog Bar, KC, MO
° Paul and Jack’s Tavern, NKC, MO
° The Brick, KC, MO
° Scissors & Scotch, Overland Park, KS
° Lost Evenings Brewery, Lenexa, KS

Alisa with play live at the Mission Sidewalk Sale on June 19, 2021

90.1 FM KKFI has been playing Alisa’s music on WMM, The Tasty Brew, and Under The Radar, and also on 90.9 The Bridge on Eight One Sixty.

“Tell Me” is 10 new songs including the track, “Bitter”

Alisa Jefferson thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Alisa Jefferson released her new 10-song solo album, TELL ME, on June 1, 2021. More info at: http://www.alisajeffersonmusic.com

11:16

10. Alisa Jefferson – “Bitter”
    from: Tell Me / Alisa Jefferson / June 1, 2020
    [10-song solo debut album, TELL ME, on June 1, 2021. All lyrics, instrumentation, vocals, melodies, song content for TELL ME was written and created by Alisa Jefferson. TELL ME was also recorded by Alisa Jefferson. Mixed and produced by Alisa Jefferson and Andy Oxman of SoundWorks Recording Studio, Blue Springs, Mo. And mastered by Matt Elliott of Black Sky Studios, Buckner, MO. Alisa Jefferson grew up in KC. She played viola in her school orchestra and received her first acoustic guitar at age 13. Alisa established her rock trio, Morning Fix, in 1994, singing & playing bass. In December, 2014, Alisa established, fronted, and played bass in the rock trio, Radial Red. In 2019 Alisa performed on the side stage with Joan Jett and Heart at Starlight Theatre with KC band, Mad Libby. More info at: http://www.alisajeffersonmusic.com]

11. The Popper & They Call Me Sauce – “Kansas City Lights”
    from: Kansas City Lights / The Popper / May 28, 2021
    [New album from Royce “Sauce” Handy, in collaboration with legendary KC rapper, The Popper. After several meetings in public Sauce met The Popper at his store, IMKC Clothing Company, a local clothing and apparel line based in Kansas City at 1809 Vine St., Kansas City, MO. The two went into the studio and created a new up beat record that was done in classic mixtape style. They Call Me Sauce told Nick Spacek in a May 28, 2021 editiion of The Pitch KC, “we got some of the hottest up-and-coming artists on there, Suli-4Q and YGKC. Then we got a DJ Big Baby and DJ Fresh, these classic mixed tape and DJ mainstays. Fresh was one of the first. He’s a core DJ, one of the first people to host hip hop shows and big hip hop shows in Kansas City and stuff, and that’s the Popper’s brother, so I’m like, ‘Yo, this makes so much sense.’ And then, to have Tech on there and then Brian B. Shynin and Shay Moore from Hot 103—we wanted to make sure we were representing all of those things mixed together, as well.” The album starts with an intro from Brian B. Shynin is Co-host of The Morning Grind with Shay & Shyne on Hot 103 Jamz. More information at: https://www.thepitchkc.com/they-call-me-sauce-and-the…/ Royce “Sauce” Handy is a rapper, songwriter, beat maker, designer, teacher, MC, business owner, social media manager, husband, father, and community organizer. He has worked with AdHoc Group Against Crime, Teens in Transition, Storytellers Inc., Arts Tech, Mid-America Regional Council, UMKC, Rep. Brandon Ellington, and former KC Mayor, Sly James. He is co-owner of The Rap Asylum, We are RAP, and owner of Melanin Connoisseur. In 2017 Sauce released his EP, Summer Sauce, part of WMM’s 117 Best Recordings of 2017. In 2018 Sauce released Soul Food 4. In 2019 his collective NuBvckCity w/ Kartez Marcel, Mae C, & VP3 released “All Night” / “Alive”. This was #1 on WMM’s 39 Favorite Singles of 2019. In 2020 They Call Me Sauce released 5 Singles including “Make You Sing [feat. Love, Mae C]” on March 27, 2020. Sauce was on WMM on April 29, 2020]

12. Kadesh Flow – “Elegant”
    from: ”Elegant” – Single / Ryan Jamaal Davis / May 21, 2021
    [Written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. This is one of 16 new singles Kadesh Flow has released so far this year: Kadesh Flow & The Enclave released, “Soft Side,” on Jan. 21, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed & mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow released, “Assumptions feat. Shubzilla,” on Jan. 29, 2021. Kadesh Flow released, “Frosty,” on February 12, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow & The Enclave released, “Cry For Me 2,” February 12, 2021. Kadesh Flow released, “Not on My Watch,” on February 19, 2021, Inspired by Lord Beerus (Dragonball Super). Kadesh Flow released, “Held Me Longer,” on Marc written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow released, “Your Dream Isn’t Always Yours,” on March 12, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow & The Enclave released, “Forgot About Me,” on March 14, 2021. Kadesh Flow released, “Take Backs (feat. Ryan Heinlein),” on March 26, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow & The Enclave released, “But Hope” on March 26, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed & mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow released the single, “I Don’t Care” on April 9, 2021, written, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Produced by D. Professor. Kadesh Flow released the single, “That Way” on April 16, 2021, written, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow, and produced by Dominique “Bassman” Saunders. Kadesh Flow released the new single, “So Far” on April 23, 2021, written, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow and produced by Dominique “Bassman” Sanders. Kadesh Flow released the single, “On Target” on April 30, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow released the single ”Lighten Up”on May 7, 2021, written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Kadesh Flow. Kadesh Flow is Ryan Davis is a rapper with an MBA. He is an emcee, producer, & trombonist. At age 11, he began rapping and playing trombone within two weeks of one another. His music has been featured on network television in multiple countries and territories across Southeast Asia. Kadesh performs as a solo hip hop artist. He also plays with The Phantastics, and Marcus Lewis Big Band. Kadesh Flow was on WMM on Oct. 21, 2020. More info at: http://www.kadeshflow.com]

[Kadesh Flow plays Troostival Street Tour, Union Station Streetcar Stop, on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 7:00 PM with Brass & Boujee – the chart toping hip-hop unit of the Marcus Lewis Big Band with Kemet Coleman and Kadesh Flow and also featuring: The Black Creatures.]

[Kadesh Flow plays Center Cut Records SUMMER SOULSTICE at Lemonad(e) Park, Friday, June 18, with The Black Creatures, and The Freedom Affair. More info at: http://www.centercutrecords.com]

[The Phantastics play The Ship 1217 Union Avenue, on Friday, June 25, at 9:00 PM]

11:28 – Underwriting

13. Quinn’s Laundry Hearse – “Quinn’s Laundry Hearse”
    from: Quinn’s Laundry Hearse / Quinn’s Laundry Hearse / April 14, 2021
    [Hello. Welcome to Quinn’s Laundry Hearse. Bedroom recording quality, sad lyrics, poorly mixed vocals, lackluster instrumentation, we’ve got it all. 5 demo songs for your consideration. music & lyrics by j.ragland. album cover photo by helen graham. contact: aundryhearse@gmail.com or InstaGram: @quinnslaundryhearse @j.ragland kcmo or http://www./quinnslaundryhearse.bandcamp.com%5D

11:36 – Interview with J. Ragland of Quinn’s Laundry Hearse

Our next guest, J. Ragland returns to WMM as a guest to share details about Quinn’s Laundry Hearse, a new indie rock project based out of KC and NYC. Quinn’s Laundry Hearse released their debut self-titled 5-track EP, on April 23, 2021. Quinn’s Laundry Hearse is the musical project of J Ragland who serves as songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist, J. Ragland is originally from Fayetteville North Carolina and is a professional actor who has appeared on stage in musical productions for Spinning Tree Theatre, and Faust Theatre in KC. For more info on Quinn’s Laundry Hearse on Instagram @quinnslaundryhearse or at: http://www.quinnslaundryhearse.bandcamp.com.

J. Ragland welcome back to Wednesday MidDay Medley.

There is an actual Quinn’s Laundry at 552 East 99th Street, serving the Grandview, MO area. Along with coin operated washers and dryers. The business also offers pick up and delivery. To make their deliveries they use a giant white hearse with “Quinn’s Laundry” painted on the sides of the automobile.

J. Ragland is originally from Fayetteville North Carolina, but his family moved to Dodge City, Kansas where he graduated from High School.

J. Ragland is also a professional actor who has appeared on stage in musical productions for Spinning Tree Theatre, and Faust Theatre in KC.

We last had J. Ragland on WMM on January 29, 2020 with Director Michael Grayman-Parkhurst and actor Dakorra Hagar to share details about Spinning Tree Theatre’s KC premiere of “Girlfriend” based on Matthew Sweet’s 1991 album “Girlfriend.” “Girlfriend” seemed like one of those theatre experiences that was an overlap between j Ragland’s worlds of Theatre and Rock & Roll.

Quinn’s Laundry Hearse recently did a live show at The Black Box on Saturday, May 1.

Quinn’s Laundry Hearse is based in KC and NYC, is that because J Ragland has plans to move to New York City to continue to pursue his theatre and music career.

Since the EP, Quinn’s Laundry Hearse has released, “Strawberry Moon.” May 7, 2021.

J. Ragland thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Quinn’s Laundry Hearse released their debut self-titled 5-track EP, on April 23, 2021. Quinn’s Laundry Hearse is the musical project of J Ragland who serves as songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist. http://www.quinnslaundryhearse.bandcamp.com.

11:48

14. Quinn’s Laundry Hearse – “Secondhand Silhouettes” (CD #14) (3:36)
    from: Quinn’s Laundry Hearse / Quinn’s Laundry Hearse / April 14, 2021
    [Hello. Welcome to Quinn’s Laundry Hearse. Bedroom recording quality, sad lyrics, poorly mixed vocals,lackluster instrumentation, we’ve got it all. 5 demo songs for your consideration. music & lyrics by j.ragland. album cover photo by helen graham. contact: aundryhearse@gmail.com or InstaGram: @quinnslaundryhearse @j.ragland kcmo or http://www./quinnslaundryhearse.bandcamp.com%5D

15. Sara Swenson – “The Moment You Fall Asleep”
    from: “The Moment You Fall Asleep” – Single / Sara Swenson / June 4, 2021
    [One of two new singles Sara Swenson is releasing on Friday, June 4, 2021. These follow an earlier release this year called “I Wont Let You Feel Alone” that Sara wrote and is featured in her husband Michael Price’s film “The Hidden Pandemic” that aired on Kansas City PBS, about the mental health crisis in KC. The song and the film also features Mark Lowrey’s piano playing. To see a trailer for “The Hidden Pandemic” you can visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkd7046rPtU. Critically acclaimed singer songwriter Sara Swenson has released some of our most played and favorite recordings of the last 16 years. Her self titled debut album was at the top of our list of WMM’s 100 Best Recordings of 2009. In 2010 Sara Swenson released her second full length recording, “All Things Big and Small” again working with Don Chaffer in Nashville who added new layers to Sara’s great songs and voice. In November of 2011, Sara released her 5 song EP called “Never Left My Mind,” featuring her band at the time, The Pearl Snaps. In that time frame, she also picked up two Kansas City Singer-Songwriter of the Year awards, performed with Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair, and placed a song on the season finale of ABC’s “Private Practice.” Then after the school year ended in 2012, Sara Swenson left her job as a High School English and Journalism Teacher in Platte County High School, and left the Kansas City music scene, and flew off to the United Kingdom, where she got married. In the spring of 2014, Sara returned to Kansas City and performed for the Folk Alliance International Conference. On July 18, 2014 she released her 4th album, RUNWAY LIGHTS that captures snapshots of her 18-month experience of living abroad, moving from dating, to marriage, and sorting through the accompanying transitions and emotions. Produced by Don Chaffer in Nashville. Since 2014 Sara has performed less frequently and has been raising her family. More info at: http://www.saraswenson.com]

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

Next week on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 – we present Part One of a 2-part special, WMM’s Favorite MidCoastal Releases of 2021 So Far! We also talk with Marisa Butler, the new host & producer of the Friday morning radio program, The Mixtape, that airs from 6:00 to 8:00 AM on 90.1 FM KKFI. ALSO: Marion Merritt and Betse Ellis join us as special guest co-hosts to encourage our listeners to call 888-931-0901, or visit http://www.kkfi.org to support 90.1 FM KKFI – KC Community Radio during our Spring Fund Drive Show.

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/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1

Show #892