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 30, 2021

Florian Arbenz + Clint Hoffmeier & Royce Diamond + Wyndsrfr

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. Rachel Mallin and The Wild Type – “Closet Anthem”
   from: “Closet Anthem” – Single / Manor Records / June 25, 2021
   [This is the first single from the band’s upcoming EP, THANK YOU STRANGER, to be released July 23, 2021. THANK YOU STRANGER is a collection of songs from that unfinished album, containing the last of the sonic works the group collaborated on, and a proper farewell to the fans, friends, and family who made it all possible. “Drawing inspiration from modern femme-fronted acts such as St. Vincent, Rubblebucket, and Niki & The Dove, THANK YOU STRANGER flaunts an unabashed pop persuasion coming apart at the seams with fuzz-fleshed guitars and reverb-washed cries for reconciliation.” The songs on THANK YOU STRANGER EP were written & recorded by Rachel Mallin of The Wild Type. Performances from Rachel Mallin, Justin Walker, and Ace Edmondson appear on B-side tracks. Pryor to this new release the Indie synthpop from Kansas City based, released the single “It Isn’t Love” on November 9, 2018. That single featured: Rachel Mallin on lead vocals & guitar, Justin Walker on bass, Austin Edmisten on drums & back-up vocals. Rachel Mallin wrote, recorded and produced her first album, The Persistence of Vision, in 2014 — a solo effort that spoke to her synthpop sensibilities and landed her on Kansas City radio. That same year, she left the University of Missouri to pursue a music career, and enlisted bassist Justin Walker and drummer Austin Edmisten to form The Wild Type. By mid-2016, the act — with keyboardist Jesse Bartmess and former guitarist Matt Kosinski — released its debut EP, Degenerate Matters, recorded, produced, and mastered by Joel Nanos at Element Recording Studios. Musical Arrangements written and performed by Rachel Mallin, Justin Walker, Austin Edmisten, Jesse Bartmess, and Matt Kosinski. Lyrics written by Rachel Mallin. That same year, The Wild Type earned support slots for acts from Cold War Kids to Metric and The Struts, and widespread recognition in its hometown at festivals such as Middle of the Map and Boulevardia.]

3. Flare Tha Rebel, Oboi Kong & Bob Pulliam – “Happy Clouds (Bob Ross Flow)”
   from: “Happy Clouds (Bob Ross Flow)” – Single / Shafer/ April 9, 2021
   [Lyricist and MC Flare Tha Rebel and beat producer Bob Pulliam team up with Oboi Kong on this single hip hop tribute to the legendary Television artist/host, Bob Ross. Check out their video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brTTvYOi2jQ. Career and love brought hip-hop MC Flare Tha Rebel back to his hometown of Kansas City, MO, which created a second wind of new music. Noted by The Pitch, “As a member of hip-hop collective Anti-Crew, Flare Tha Rebel made quite an impact on the Kansas City hip-hop scene. After making the leap from KC to Chicago in the late ‘00s, he’s now back…” Known for a highly energetic live performance, Flare has shared the stage with artists such as Chance the Rapper, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Lethal, Nappy Roots, and CES Cru. Although hip-hop at the core, Flare Tha Rebel’s versatility remains as he balances music with socially progressive themes that are still enjoyable enough to raise a glass to at a party. There’s also a duality to Flare’s approach. Many of his songs are connected to his Art to Empower initiative, raising awareness and funds for a variety of social justice causes and nonprofits, such as his Royalty EP poster designed by muralists JT Daniels, which raises funds for the Equal Justice Initiative. Currently, Flare Tha Rebel and Bob Pulliam are preparing for the release of his next social justice fueled EP, THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE HASHTAGGED, to be released Friday, July 9. Their first single from the EP “Child’s Play will be released July 2, 2021. Flare Tha Rebel & Bob Pulliam will be our guests on WMM on August 11. More information at: http://www.flaretharebel.com]

4. Kianna White – “All Alone With Everything”
   from: “All Alone With Everything” – Single / Yes You Are / April 30, 2021
   [This new single is a follow up to “Homecoming Queen” from September 25, 2020 on Team Love Records. Kianna 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 and Of Montreal, playing venues around the world and major festivals like Coachella, Japan’s Summersonic, Iceland Airwaves, Reading and Leeds among others, as well as performing on Late Night with David Letterman and Sesame Street before going on hiatus in 2013. During this era, she also performed guest vocals on Rilo Kiley’s “The Absence of God”, “In the Sun” by She & Him and co-wrote and sang on Tiësto’s song “You Are My Diamond”. // Since 2017, her band Yes You Are, with now husband and co-writer Jared White, has had many song placements in movies, television and commercials, most notably in the Pepsi Super Bowl 51 commercial. When Forbes Magazine asked Lyle Hysen, the founder of Bank Robber Music, about the biggest licensing hits over the years, he spotlit Kianna and Jared’s work alongside artists like Spoon and Phantogram saying “Kianna Alarid from Tilly and the Wall has been working on new music with her band Yes You Are. They’re giving us two songs at a time, and they get placements all the time.” // Known for their electrifying live performances, Yes You Are shared the stage with the likes of K. Flay, Young the Giant and Fitz and the Tantrums, and toured the US with Neon Trees. Even though Yes You Are had proven to be successful in many ways, Kianna and Jared felt like the band hadn’t yet accessed their full artistic potential. In mid 2020 they announced the band’s break up when unexpected and major changes in the lineup served as a clear sign it was time to move on. They also decided that Kianna’s ability to hold the spotlight shouldn’t be ignored and set to work on new songs with a solo career for her in mind. The idea proved to be immediately inspiring to the writing duo, and they quickly assembled a collection of impressive new music that feels artistically fresh and full of potential. // Going now by her married name, and having found the support of Team Love Records, Homecoming Queen is Kianna White’s first solo release. The song’s hazy mood and hypnotic guitar lines take indie pop through the looking glass. What emerges on the other side is not flower child psychedelia, but a modern, luscious, psyche-pop, where lyrics of stoned introspection and longing float around on haunted, seductive melodies. Kianna’s voice keeps the trip from spinning off into a hall of funhouse mirrors, becoming a trusted and sober co-pilot, allowing you to surrender, close your eyes, and dance. // High on the freedom to control her individual narrative for the first time Kianna filmed, starred in and edited Homecoming Queen’s innovative and spellbinding music video. All alone in her bedroom and encumbered with the limitations of self-isolation (she used only an iPhone, a Snapchat filter, a flashlight and iMovie) she managed to create something that feels new, slightly unsettling and entirely captivating. The spooky, trance-inducing visual effects over the song’s eerily inviting hooks, present us with a poignant reflection of our strange and anxious times.]

5. Jass – “A Long Ride”
   from: At the Close of a Decade / JASS / November 26, 2022,
   [Jass is Jasmine “Jass” Crouch. She wrote, “After years of writing and recording in voice memos .. I decided to grab my iPad and began recording something that I am very proud of. I named it, At the Close of A Decade, and released it in November 2019. With my iPhone/iPad, some apple headphones, I created this project. The amazing people around me told me it was worth it, even when I didn’t believe it myself. I convinced myself I would be the only one that liked my songs. If you decide to listen you’ll hear sound clips of shows and movies that made a difference in the way I saw the world, the way I saw myself, and the way I overcame my experiences .. I remember asking my grandma and my son if I should release what I’ve been writing and they both said very simply to do it, so I’ve done it. I want to thank all of my wonderful friends who have been my soundboards during this process, all of the people that have asked me when it’s coming, the people that have kept me accountable, and believed that this time it was for real. My story is so very triumphant and beautiful because I have overcome experiences and shunned the fear I had to do what I love. It’s crazy how you can talk your way out of some amazing things and also how you can talk yourself into making some amazing things happen. If you partake, I hope you enjoy.” More info at: http://www.jassrcouch.com]

6. Mdou Moctar – “Taliat”
   from: Afrique Victime / Matador / May 21, 2021
   [From http://www.mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com: With “Afrique Victime” the prodigious Tuareg guitarist and songwriter rips a new hole in the sky – boldly reforging contemporary Saharan music and “rock music” by melding guitar pyrotechnics, full-blast noise, and field recordings with poetic meditations on love, religion, women’s rights, inequality, and Western Africa’s exploitation at the hands of colonial powers. // If “Ilana” was a late ’60s early ’70s ZZ Top and Black Sabbath record – “Afrique Victime” is mid-’70s to early ’80s Van Halen meets Black Flag meets Black Uhuru. The ferocity of Moctar’s electric guitar and the band’s hypnotic rhythm section are on awe-inspiring display “Chismiten” and the mournful yet incandescent title track. Elsewhere, Moctar finds inspiration in highlighting lesser-known facets of the group: “While people have gotten to know Mdou Moctar as a rock band, there is a whole different set of music with this band done on acoustic guitars, which we wanted to incorporate into this album in order to go through a sonic journey,” he says. Mdou pays homage to one of his heroes Abdallah Ag Oumbadagou, the legendary Niger musician and political revolutionary, on songs “Ya Habibti” and “Layla”. “Abdallah was a contemporary of Tinariwen and helped to pioneer the sound of Tuareg guitar music blended with drum machines and electronic sounds”. // “Afrique Victime” sounds and feels like a Tuareg hand reaching down from the sky, and we are very lucky for this chance to get lifted.]

7. Chess Club – “On Deck, at Bat”
   from: You’re Lucky I Like You / Black-Site / March 23, 2021
   [All songs written and produced by the members of Chess Club: Cooper Avery on drums, David Krejci on bass, and Griffin Nelson on guitar & vocals. Recorded at Weights + Measures Soundlab, Kansas City, MO. Mixed & mastered by Duane Trower. Vinyl Mastering by Chris Muth at Taloowa Corp. Yonkers, NY. Kansan-Emo-Math-Pop – Sometimes with blast beats. Formed in 2014 Chess Club prides itself on the mantra of DIY or DIE, booking its own shows and producing its own recordings. In that spirit, the band treats every show as if it were a house party, breaking down the partition between performer and crowd to create an up close and personal experience. Chess Club released their 10-song debut album, HIT THE BALL on June 9, 2018 through Black-Site. Chess Club released the 6-song debut EP, HI SAD on Jan. 29, 2016. http://www.black-site.org ]

[Chess Club play the “You’re Lucky I Like You” ALBUM Release party!, Friday, July 2, at 10:00 PM at Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, KS with Red Kate, and Matthew Mulnix.]

10:28 – Underwriting

8. Florian Arbenz, Nelson Veras & Hermon Mehari – “In Medias Res”
   from: Conversation #1: Condensed / Hammer Recordings / April 23, 2021
   [2021 sees the launch of an ambitious project from Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz who is set to release 12 albums (or “conversations”) with 12 radically different groups of musicians. // The 1st of this series, recorded from his studio in Basel and accompanied by a feature-length video of the session, features American trumpeter Hermon Mehari and Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras. Across a career spanning more than 25 years, drummer and percussionist Florian Arbenz, has carved out a reputation as not just a skilled musician, but as a creative collaborator. Whether with the long-standing trio VEIN who have recorded and toured with Greg Osby & Dave Liebman, or with his own project Convergence which brings together musicians from four continents, he is not content to sit still. // In 2021, he launches perhaps his most adventurous collaboration yet: a series of 12 albums or “conversations” with 12 different line ups. The thread that joins them all together is his fascination with bringing visionary musicians together and giving them space to express themselves in his studio. Together, they work through a selection of music curated by Florian to suit the individual musical personalities present. // Conversation #1 – subtitled Condensed – sees Florian joined by American trumpeter Hermon Mehari & Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras. // “I’ve known and played with Nelson for several years and am captivated not only by his highly original and virtuoso playing, but also by his unique character and his great sense of humor. He’s a complete player both rhythmically & harmonically so it seemed obvious to get him on board for this series. Hermon, on the other hand, I had never met before our recording session. I had, however, admired his warm tone, open-minded musicality & improvisational skills from afar and am so happy to have finally recorded with him!” // This slightly unusual line up of guitar, trumpet & drums might, at first glance, miss a bass instrument. But despite the challenges, the creativity of the musicians involved, as well as Florian’s addition of custom percussion instruments covering this range, make for a fascinating listen which moves from hard-swinging soloing to dreaming soundscapes. More information at http://www.florianarbenz.com]

10:33 – Interview with Florian Arbenz

Across a career spanning more than 25 years, Swiss drummer and percussionist Florian Arbenz, has carved out a reputation as not just a skilled musician, but as a creative collaborator. Whether with the long-standing trio VEIN who have recorded and toured with Greg Osby & Dave Liebman, or with his own project Convergence which brings together musicians from four continents, he is not content to sit still. In 2021, he launches perhaps his most adventurous collaboration yet: a series of 12 albums or “conversations” with 12 different line ups. The first album in the series – recorded from his studio in Basel and accompanied by a feature-length video – features Kansas City’s own trumpeter Hermon Mehari and Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras, released April 23, 2021 on Hammer Recordings. This slightly unusual line up of guitar, trumpet & drums might, at first glance, miss a bass instrument, but despite the challenges involved, the creativity of the musicians, as well as Florian’s addition of custom percussion instruments covering this range, make for a fascinating listen. More information at http://www.florianarbenz.com

Florian Arbenz, thank you for being with us today on WMM.

One of Europe’s most versatile and accomplished drummers, Florian Arbenz has an unsurpassed jazz pedigree As a student, Florian spent six months at Cuba’s University of the Arts, and has maintained an active interest in the international scene ever since, incorporating Asian and Afro-Cuban elements in his own playing. Despite a busy schedule that saw the release of three acclaimed albums within the last two years

A series of 12 albums or “conversations” with 12 different line ups – The thread that joins them all together is his fascination with bringing visionary musicians together and giving them space to express themselves in his studio. Together, they work through a selection of music curated by Florian to suit the individual musical personalities present.

Conversation #1 – subtitled Condensed – sees Florian joined by American trumpeter Hermon Mehari & Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras.

“I’ve known and played with Nelson for several years and am captivated not only by his highly original and virtuoso playing, but also by his unique character and his great sense of humor. He’s a complete player both rhythmically & harmonically so it seemed obvious to get him on board for this series.”

“Hermon, on the other hand, I had never met before our recording session. I had, however, admired his warm tone, open-minded musicality & improvisational skills from afar and am so happy to have finally recorded with him!”

This slightly unusual line up of guitar, trumpet & drums might, at first glance, miss a bass instrument. But despite the challenges, the creativity of the musicians involved, as well as Florian’s addition of custom percussion instruments covering this range, make for a fascinating listen which moves from hard-swinging soloing to dreaming soundscapes.

Florian already has 6 of the 12 albums recorded.

https://florianarbenz.bandcamp.com

Best known for his work with Swiss trio VEIN, drummer Florian Arbenz has toured, recorded and performed with artists including Kirk Lightsey, Greg Osby, Glenn Ferris, Wolfgang Puschnig, Bennie Maupin, Dave Liebman, Rick Margitza, Andy Sheppard, Matthieu Michel, Bruno Rousselet, Michel Benita, Olah Kalman, Tibor Elekes, Oguz Buyukberber and others

Florian Arbenz, thank you for being with us today on WMM.

Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz is releasing 12 albums (or “conversations”) with 12 radically different groups of musicians. The first album in the series features Kansas City’s own trumpeter Hermon Mehari and Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras, released April 23, 2021 on Hammer Recordings. More information at http://www.florianarbenz.com

10:48

9. Florian Arbenz, Nelson Veras & Hermon Mehari – “Race Face”
   from: Conversation #1: Condensed / Hammer Recordings / April 23, 2021
   [2021 sees the launch of an ambitious project from Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz who is set to release 12 albums (or “conversations”) with 12 radically different groups of musicians. // The 1st of this series, recorded from his studio in Basel and accompanied by a feature-length video of the session, features American trumpeter Hermon Mehari and Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras. Across a career spanning more than 25 years, drummer and percussionist Florian Arbenz, has carved out a reputation as not just a skilled musician, but as a creative collaborator. Whether with the long-standing trio VEIN who have recorded and toured with Greg Osby & Dave Liebman, or with his own project Convergence which brings together musicians from four continents, he is not content to sit still. // In 2021, he launches perhaps his most adventurous collaboration yet: a series of 12 albums or “conversations” with 12 different line ups. The thread that joins them all together is his fascination with bringing visionary musicians together and giving them space to express themselves in his studio. Together, they work through a selection of music curated by Florian to suit the individual musical personalities present. // Conversation #1 – subtitled Condensed – sees Florian joined by American trumpeter Hermon Mehari & Brazilian guitarist Nelson Veras. // “I’ve known and played with Nelson for several years and am captivated not only by his highly original and virtuoso playing, but also by his unique character and his great sense of humor. He’s a complete player both rhythmically & harmonically so it seemed obvious to get him on board for this series. Hermon, on the other hand, I had never met before our recording session. I had, however, admired his warm tone, open-minded musicality & improvisational skills from afar and am so happy to have finally recorded with him!” // This slightly unusual line up of guitar, trumpet & drums might, at first glance, miss a bass instrument. But despite the challenges, the creativity of the musicians involved, as well as Florian’s addition of custom percussion instruments covering this range, make for a fascinating listen which moves from hard-swinging soloing to dreaming soundscapes. // Hermon Mehari released CHANGE FOR THE DREAMLIKE on June 5, 2020, that was created in a barn in the French countryside. Hermon wrote, “Like many people during this period, I wasn’t able to think much about the future, only the present and the past. These songs are therefore personal journal entries, versions and visions of my wishes, fantasies and memories. Together they create a kind of modern mixtape of dreams, in every sense of the word, in which my trumpet, all alone in that barn, is a vulnerable presence, virtually and masterly supported by some of my closest musical collaborators around the world.” This was a follow up to his debut solo release, Bleu, from 2017. Hermon Mehari grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, home of Lincoln University. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City Music Conservatory. In 2015 he finished first, at the prestigious Carmine Carusa International Jazz Trumpet Competition at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas. Hermon was a semifinalist in the 2014 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. In 2014 he released the CD “Our Journey” with Diverse, which was recorded in Paris featuring Logan Richardson on alto saxophone. Hermon was also the winner of the 2008 National Trumpet Competition and placed second in the International Trumpet Guild competition in Sydney, Australia. He splits his time between touring and playing all over the world and creative projects in Kansas City. Hermon has collaborated with Cat Mahari on BAM! the Workshop, he is also a founding member of Diverse Jazz, Diverse Trio, and The Buhs. He has played with Peter Schlamb, Making Movies, John Velghe & the Prodigal Sons, Mikal Shapiro, Krystle Warren. Hermon was featured on the world-renowned saxophonist Bobby Watson’s 2013 release, “Check Cashing Day”. More info at: http://www.hermonmehari.com ]

9. We The People – “Single Double”
   from: “Single Double’” – Single / Eddie Moore Music / June 10, 2021
   [Written & Produced By Eddie Moore with Eddie Moore on keyboards, key bass, & programming; Zach Morrow on drum; Jason Emmond on bass. Recorded at Tribe Studios. Mixed by Rick Carson at make Believe Studios. Album Art by Adrian Truth. Animation by Cody A. Banks. This is a follow-up to We The People’s previous 2021 single, “We Chillin’” released April 9, 2021, written and produced by Eddie Moore with Eddie Moore on piano and Morgan Faw on alto sax. Mixed By Pajmon Porshahi. Eddie Moore’s band We The People released their album MISUNDERSTOOD on September 25, 2020. Eddie Moore is the recipient of the 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performance Award for his genre bending collaborations. Raised in Houston Texas, he began his musical journey at Texas Southern University where he later earned a Bachelors in Arts and immersed himself in the Houston music scene. Eddie relocated to Kansas City to study under Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he received a M.A in Jazz Studies. 2017’s Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art “Artist in Residence” in collaboration with Rashid Johnson. In 2018 his work with The Outer Circle was nominated for an Indie Music Award for “007”. His music has also been featured commercially for Sprint, Netflix’s “Queer Eye”, and Morgan Cooper’s short film “Room Tone”. Moore’ has shared the stage and record with distinctive artist such as Bobby Watson, Pam, Watson, Logan Richardson, Maurice Brown, Boys II Men, Brian Blade and the Fellowship, John Baptiste, Erykah Badu, Mosdef, Bilal, Ledisi, Chantae Cann, Krystal Warren, Matt Otto, Brandon Draper, Andre Hayward, Tivon Pennicott, Various Blonde, Dominique Sanders, 77 Jefferson, and the Marcus Lewis Big Band. We the People is a genre-defying quartet, comprised of keyboardist Eddie Moore, bassist/producer Jason Emmond, drummer Zach Morrow, and turntablist/producer Kethro. Eddie Moore joined us live on WMM on September 23, 2020.]

[We The People play Raj Ma Hall, 2829 E.7th St., KC on Sat., July 17 at 4:00 PM w/ Marcus Lewis Band.]

11. Asterales – “So Easy (feat. Royce Diamond)”
    from: “So Easy (feat. Royce Diamond)” – Single / Asterales / April 30, 2021
    [KC base leftfield, experimental, electronica music maker, also known as Nate Holt. Since this single Aterles relese This is a follow-up to the Asterales previous release, “Beauty In The Distance (ft. Heidi Gluck)” Produced & mixed by Asterales. Vocals by Heidi Gluck. Lyrics by Approach. Mastered by Royce Diamond. Since 2016 Asterales has released the 5-track EP, WORK HOURS on Sept. 6, 2016 in collaboration with Aikido Bray, Leo Minor, Katlyn Conroy, and Tanner Walle, with synthesizers, production, recording, engineering & mastering by Etan Tioh for Datura Records. This was followed by the 3-track EP, FRAGMENTS, released Feb. 3, 2017. Asterales released the single A.M. on Feb. 4, 2017. Asterales released the 10-track album, OUTSIDE THE BOX on Oct. 31, 2017. Asterales released the singles: “BRKFST 4 BTLVRS” on Oct. 31, 2017; and “Soft Spheres” on April 21, 2018. Asterales released the 10-track album ORBITAL DEBRIS: VOL. 1 on Aug. 14, 2020 on Mr. Furious Records. Asterales released the single “ASTR_40”on August 26, 2020. Asterales released the 4-song EP EXTRA JUNK on Dec. 4, 2020 through Mr. Furious Records. Asterales released the singles: “Solstice Song” on Dec. 21, 2020, and “Desire (Tanner Walle) – Asterales Remix” on Jan. 29, 2021. Asterales released the single “Offline” on Feb. 26, 2021. More information at http://www.asterales.bandcamp.com]

11:00 – Station I.D.

12. Vehicle – “Turned Back Flag”
    from: The Other Side of the Mountain / Ancient House Productions / July 6, 2021
    [“The Other Side of the Mountain,” is the sixth Vehicle album. It was written, performed, produced and mixed by Clint Hoffmeier. Clint wrote and performed this over the intense covid pandemic during the year in complete isolation in his home. Chris Tady lent his guitar skills to the last song, “No Beginning in Sight”. After it was finished Royce Diamond joined the project and spent many months mastering and performing many additional mixing and creative outlooks. Including the concept that this album would be released as individual tracks and as well as one long track that is the entire album as one play. Levi Hoffmeier, created the epic artwork which is the cherry on the sundae for what is believed to be a throw back to the old albums, where art and music was equally important.. More info at: www. Ancient House Productions.com ]

11:06 – Interview with Clint Hoffmeier and producer Royce Diamond

Musician Clint Hoffmeier and producer Royce Diamond join us LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studios to share details about the new release from Clint’s band Vehicle, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, is to be released July 6, 2021. The new album was written, performed and engineered over the last year by Clint Hoffmeier. Vehicle was a project he began twenty years ago in isolation. Clint returned to creating music as a solo artist during the pandemic and it only seemed right to call it a Vehicle album. Although Clint performed all of the music, he did have the guitarist Chris Tady play on the epic 10-minute ending track. The album was mastered with additional mixing by Royce Diamond, with cover art is by Levi Hoffmeier: The Art of Leviathan, and released through Ancient House Productions. http://www.ancienthouseproductions.com

Clint Hoffmeier, Thanks for being with us on WMM

Royce Diamond aka Royce White lives in Kansas City Kansas. Royce Diamond is a songwriter, producer, hip-hop artist and audio engineer from Kansas City. He has done extensive work with the Lawrence, Kansas based Datura Records, and hip hop legend Approach aka Sean Hunt. Royce studied Audio Engineering at CRAS-Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences. Royce Diamond is one of the people that make things happen at Phosphor Studios and collaborates with many area musicians and bands. Royce contributes to one of the new singles from Asterales aka Nate Holt who released the single “So Easy (Feat. Royce Diamond” on April 30, 2021.

Royce Diamond, Thanks for being with us on WMM

Clint Hoffmeier has been part of the bands: The Ned Ludd Band, Vehicle and Dynamite Defense and associated with the bands: Sour Babies, Brvtvs, Deerwolfanimalbear, Thee Devotion, The Lucky Graves.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, is to be released July 6, 2021. The new album was written, performed and engineered over the last year by Clint Hoffmeier.

Vehicle was a project he began twenty years ago in isolation. Clint returned to creating music as a solo artist during the pandemic and it only seemed right to call it a Vehicle album.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN is a pandemic project. COVID-19 took musicians off the rod and out of the venues for 14 months and so they all went into the re cording studio.

Back in May 2013 Vehicle released “The Reluctant Cog” their farewell album release Recorded at Deerwolfanimalbear studios.

“Vehicle”, ” The Other Side of the Mountain”, is the sixth Vehicle album, written, performed, produced and mixed by Clint Hoffmeier. Clint wrote and performed this over the intense covid pandemic during the year in complete isolation in his home.

Although Clint performed all of the music, he did have Chris Tady share his guitar skills to the last song, the epic 10-minute ending track,”No Beginning in Sight.”

The album was mastered with additional mixing by Royce Diamond.

After it was finished Royce Diamond joined the project and spent many months mastering and performing many additional mixing and creative outlooks.

Royce suggested the concept that this album would be released as individual tracks and as well as one long track that is the entire album as one-play.

Levi Hoffmeier, created the epic artwork which is the cherry on the sundae for what is believed to be a throw back to the old albums, where art and music was equally important
Levi Hoffmeier: The Art of Leviathan,

Phosphor Studio is a production house for film, video, recording, live broadcast, where both Clint and Royce have produced works.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN is being released through Ancient House Productions is Clint’s production company. http://www.ancienthouseproductions.com

Clint is also the mastermind with Matt Tady of the very popular podcast, Wednesday Night Drinking Practice, heard everywhere you find podcasts. Jessica Paige is the current guest.

Clint Hoffmeier and Royce Diamond, Thanks for being with us on WMM

Clint Hoffmeier wrote and recorded the music and lyrics for the new release from Clint’s band Vehicle, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, to be released July 6, 2021.

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

11:21

13. Vehicle – “Communication”
    from: The Other Side of the Mountain / Ancient House Productions / July 6, 2021
    [“The Other Side of the Mountain”, is the sixth Vehicle album, written, performed, produced and mixed by Clint Hoffmeier. Clint wrote and performed this over the intense covid pandemic during the year in complete isolation in his home. Chris Tady lent his guitar skills to the last song, “No Beginning in Sight”. After it was finished Royce Diamond joined the project and spent many months mastering and performing many additional mixing and creative outlooks. Including the concept that this album would be released as individual tracks and as well as one long track that is the entire album as one play. Levi Hoffmeier, created the epic artwork which is the cherry on the sundae for what is believed to be a throw back to the old albums, where art and music was equally important. More info at: www. Ancient House Productions.com]

14. Birdie – “You Can’t Stop Her”
    from: “You Can’t Stop Her” – Single / Birdie / June 13, 2021
    [Power pop, punk, and echoes of the girl groups of our time intersect in Kansas City-based band Birdie. This energetic collaboration of local talent brings a fresh take on classic sounds. Birdie released the 7-track EP, CELLOPHANE HEART on June 4, 2021. Birdie is the musical project of Betsy Schwartze who lives in Stilwell Kansas. More info at: http://www.birdiesound.com]

11:28 – Underwriting

15. Wyndsrfr – “Burning Summer”
    from: Golden Years / Jacob Prestidge / June 11, 2021
    [In early 2017, husband and wife Jacob and Danielle Prestidge packed up everything they owned, sold their home in Kansas City and headed for the West coast. Behind them they left their families, a city they loved, a few library fines and their folk-rock band, (The Blackbird Revue) with whom they had performed over 200 concerts in the previous 2 years. // They both knew it was time for a change. // Upon arriving in Los Angeles, they set up a home studio, purchased some vintage synthesizers and set about the process of musical reconstruction – building a new sound that captured the neon glow of palm tree sunsets and the visionary spirit of this city of dreamers, while still carrying traces of the longing of midwestern winters. Wyndsrfr was born. // To date, Wyndsrfr’s music has been heard around the world with over 2 million digital streams, as well as features on NBC, ABC, Fox, ESPN, MTV, CNN, The Discovery Channel and more. // Now, with their new album, Golden Years they offer their most compelling and fully realized vision to date, deftly pulling elements of synthwave, post-rock, and ambient music together in their unique blend of vibrant, top down dream-rock, perfect for a nice set of headphones or a sunset drive up the coast. Jacob and Danielle Prestidge will join us live on WMM on June 30. More info at: http://www.wyndsrfr.com]

11:34 – Interview with Danielle and Jacob Prestidge

In early 2017, husband and wife Jacob and Danielle Prestidge packed up everything they owned, sold their home in Kansas City and headed for the west coast. Behind them they left their families, a city they loved, a few library fines and their folk-rock band, (The Blackbird Revue) with whom they had performed over 200 concerts in the previous 2 years. They both knew it was time for a change. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, they set up a home studio, purchased some vintage synthesizers and set about the process of musical reconstruction – building a new sound that captured the neon glow of palm tree sunsets and the visionary spirit of this city of dreamers, while still carrying traces of the longing of midwestern winters. Wyndsrfr was born. Their new album, GOLDEN YEARS was released June 11, 2021 pulling elements of synthwave, post-rock, and ambient music together in their unique blend of vibrant, top down dream-rock, perfect for a nice set of headphones or a sunset drive up the coast. More info at: http://www.wyndsrfr.com

Danielle and Jacob Prestidge, Thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Four years ago, in early 2017, husband and wife Jacob and Danielle Prestidge packed up everything they owned, sold their home in Kansas City and headed for the West Coast. Behind them they left their families, a city they loved, a few library fines and their folk-rock band, (The Blackbird Revue) with whom they had performed over 200 concerts in the previous 2 years. They both knew it was time for a change.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, they set up a home studio, purchased some vintage synthesizers and set about the process of musical reconstruction – building a new sound that captured the neon glow of palm tree sunsets and the visionary spirit of this city of dreamers, while still carrying traces of the longing of midwestern winters. Wyndsrfr was born.

What were your early conversations like? Was is refreshing to start over and create a whole new sound? What were your guide lines and references?

The sound of Wyndsrfr is so different from The Blackbird Revue, and the genre change-up gives Danielle and Jacob opportunities to meet new audiences.

The heart of the songs have the vocals of Danielle Prestidge.

To date, Wyndsrfr’s music has been heard around the world with over 2 million digital streams, as well as features on NBC, ABC, Fox, ESPN, MTV, CNN, The Discovery Channel and more.

Golden Years offers their most compelling and fully realized vision to date, deftly pulling elements of synthwave, post-rock, and ambient music together in their unique blend of vibrant, top down dream-rock, perfect for a nice set of headphones or a sunset drive up the coast.

We are coming out of a 14-15 month pandemic shut down of live music all over the world. Danielle and Jacob have started doing live show again.

We played the track “Burning Summers” just before the interview. Certain parts of the West and Pacific Northwest re experiencing incredibly high temperatures, what are you all seeing?

Danielle and Jacob Prestidge, Thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Their new album, GOLDEN YEARS was released June 11, 2021. More info at: http://www.wyndsrfr.com

11:48

16. Wyndsrfr – “Golden Years”
    from: Golden Years / Jacob Prestidge / June 11, 2021
    [First single from Golden Years was released May 14, 2021. In early 2017, husband and wife Jacob and Danielle Prestidge packed up everything they owned, sold their home in Kansas City and headed for the west coast. Behind them they left their families, a city they loved, a few library fines and their folk-rock band, (The Blackbird Revue) with whom they had performed over 200 concerts in the previous 2 years. // They both knew it was time for a change. // Upon arriving in Los Angeles, they set up a home studio, purchased some vintage synthesizers and set about the process of musical reconstruction – building a new sound that captured the neon glow of palm tree sunsets and the visionary spirit of this city of dreamers, while still carrying traces of the longing of midwestern winters. Wyndsrfr was born. // To date, Wyndsrfr’s music has been heard around the world with over 2 million digital streams, as well as features on NBC, ABC, Fox, ESPN, MTV, CNN, The Discovery Channel and more. // Now, with their new album, Golden Years they offer their most compelling and fully realized vision to date, deftly pulling elements of synthwave, post-rock, and ambient music together in their unique blend of vibrant, top down dream-rock, perfect for a nice set of headphones or a sunset drive up the coast. More info at: http://www.wyndsrfr.com]

11:54 – The 50th Anniversary of Joni Mitchell’s BLUE

17. Joni Mtchell – Blue
    from: Blue / Warner Bros / June 22, 1971
    [Blue is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on June 22, 1971 by Reprise Records. Written and produced entirely by Mitchell, it was recorded in 1971 at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California. Created just after her breakup with Graham Nash, and during an intense relationship with James Taylor, Blue explores various facets of relationships from infatuation on “A Case of You” to insecurity on “This Flight Tonight”. The songs feature simple accompaniments on piano, guitar and Appalachian dulcimer. The album peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart, number 9 on the Canadian RPM Albums Chart and number 15 on the Blllboard 200. // Today, Blue is generally regarded by music critics as one of the greatest albums of all time; the way Mitchell’s songwriting, compositions and voice all work together are frequent areas of praise. In January 2000, The New York Times chose Blue as one of the 25 albums that represented “turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music”. In 2020, Blue was rated the third greatest album of all time in Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, the highest entry by a female artist. It was also voted number 24 in the third edition of Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000). In July 2017, Blue was chosen by NPR as the greatest album of all time made by a woman. // Despite the success of her first three albums and songs like “Woodstock”, January 1970 saw Mitchell make a decision to break from performing. In early spring 1970, she set off on a vacation around Europe. While on the island of Crete and staying in Matala she wrote some of the songs that appear on Blue. This journey was the backdrop for the songs “Carey” and “California”—”Carey” was inspired by her relationship with an American named Cary Raditz, who was the “redneck on a Grecian Isle” in “California”. Some of the songs on Blue were inspired by Mitchell’s 1968–1970 relationship with Graham Nash. Their relationship was already troubled when she left for Europe, and it was while she was on Formentera that she sent Nash the telegram that let him know that their relationship was over. The songs “My Old Man” and “River” are thought to be inspired by their relationship. // Another pivotal experience in Mitchell’s life that drove the emergence of the album was her relationship with James Taylor. She had begun an intense relationship with Taylor by the summer of 1970, visiting him on the set of the movie Two-Lane Blacktop, the aura of which is referred to in “This Flight Tonight”. The songs “Blue” and “All I Want” have specific references to her relationship with Taylor, such as a sweater that she knitted for him at the time, and his heroin addiction. During the making of Blue in January 1971, they were still very much in love and involved. Despite his difficulties, Mitchell evidently felt that she had found the person with whom she could pair-bond in Taylor. By March, his fame exploded, causing friction. She was reportedly devastated when he broke off the relationship. // The album was almost released in a somewhat different form. In March 1971, completed masters for the album were ready for production. Originally, there were three old songs that had not found their way onto any of her previous albums. At the last minute, Mitchell decided to remove two of the three so that she could add the new songs “All I Want” and “The Last Time I Saw Richard”. “Little Green”, composed in 1967, was the only old song that remained. The two songs removed were: “Urge for Going” – her first song to achieve commercial success when recorded by country singer George Hamilton IV. It was later released as the B-side of “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” and again on her 1996 compilation album, Hits. “Hunter (The Good Samaritan)”, which was released in 2021 on her EP Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes). // In 1979 Mitchell reflected, “The Blue album, there’s hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn’t pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either.” // Mitchell continued to use alternate tunings on her guitar to allow easier access to augmented chords and notes in unexpected combinations. Due to the stark and bare revelations in the album, when it was first played for Kris Kristofferson he is reported to have commented, “Joni! Keep something to yourself!” // Today, Blue is generally regarded by music critics as one of the greatest albums of all time; Mitchell’s songwriting and compositions are frequent areas of praise. In January 2000, The New York Times chose Blue as one of the 25 albums that represented “turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music”. // Jason Ankeny of AllMusic describes Blue as “the quintessential confessional singer/songwriter album”. Praising the songs as “raw nerves, tales of love and loss etched with stunning complexity”, Ankeny concludes writing “Unrivaled in its intensity”. The writers of Pitchfork gave the album a perfect 10-out-of-10 rating, calling it “possibly the most gutting break-up album ever made]

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

Next week on Wednesday, July 7 we welcome special guest: Sara Swenson, and also Christena Graves and Brandon Graves. We will devote our entire second hour to catching up with our friend Calvin Arsenia. We will talk with Calvin’s childhood friend Justin Randall who works as a professional comedian in New York City about Justin and Calvin’s great podcast, “We Were Christian Kids” and we’ll hear several recordings from Calvin.

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 #896