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, March 30, 2022

Isaac Flynn of Hembree + D Rashaan Gilmore + Luke M. Harbur aka Music By Skippy

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. Scruffy & The Janitors – “Post Meridian”
   from: “Post Meridian” – Single / Scruffy & The Janitors / March 2, 2022
   [Saint Joseph, MO based trio formed by Steven Foster on vocals & bass, Teriq Newton on guitar & vocals, and Trevin Newton on drums. Scruffy & The Janitors have been described as creating working-class punk and catchy alt-rock. Scruffy & The Janitors have played at: SXSW, Middle Of the Map Fest, NXNE, and Lawrence Field Day Fest. They have also opened for: KONGOS, Kitten, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Brick + Mortar, Radkey, Cheap Girls, Skaters, Bass Drum Of Death, Your Friend, Rev Gusto, and Dreamgirl.]

[Scruffy & The Janitors play recordBar, 1520 Grand, Blvd. KCMO, Fri, April 8, doors at 6:00 PM for the ANY/ALL DROP hosted by DFITD and recordBar, with A’Sean, Indiglow, DFITD, DJ Grvndpa.]

3. Belle & The Vertigo Waves – “Love In Remission”
   from: “Love In Remission” – Single / Drop Out Records / March 25, 2022
   [Belle & The Vertigo Waves is the sonic brainchild of Belle Loux. She resides in KCMO, and is slowly attempting world domination. Members include Belle Loux on lead vocals, John Loux on guitar. This new single is a follow up to “Stand Down” released Jan. 21, 2022. Belle & The Vertigo Waves released their debut album, ALIGNED on Drop Out Records on Oct. 6, 2017. “About the album, Belle told Michelle Bacon at The Bridge, “Many of the tunes had been written around five years prior, when I was just 15 or 16.” Belle had only played them as a solo artist with occasional accompaniment from her dad, guitarist John Loux, & keyboardist Charlie Hibberd. In 2017, she hired the two musicians and a couple other friends to track “Aligned,” dubbing the project Belle and the Vertigo Waves, in the hopes that she’d eventually assemble a live band. “Recording was a surreal and emotional experience. Playing the songs with a band was like seeing them come to life,” she said. “I knew there was no way I could be a solo artist anymore, because I fell in love with the full band sound so much.” The music of Belle & The Vertigo Waves have been described as having an “1980s pop-laden sound.” which drew local attention in 2018. Belle has said that in the past 4 years the band has grown to have more of a darker, glam rock sound, grittier and grungier. Their sound is influenced by three generations of musicians in the band, Belle’s growth as a songwriter and singer, and through the band’s work with engineer and producer Paul Malinowski. Belle & The Vertigo Waves released their single, “Fear or Faith” on June 7, 2019 on Drop Out Records. Belle & The Vertigo Waves released their single, “Pulse” on April 17, 2020 on Drop Out Records. Belle & The Vertigo Waves released their single, “Beat Me To The Punch” on Drop Out Records on Oct. 29, 2021. Belle & The Vertigo Waves joined us on WMM on Feb 5, 2020 and June 26, 2019. More info at: http://www.thevertigowaves.com]

-12. Jenna Rae – “Friend in High Places”
     from: “Friend in High Places” – Single / Lost Cowgirl Records / March 11, 2022
     [Jenna Rae is releasing her second full-length solo album, COUNTRY LO-FI, on April 1, 2022 through Lost Cowgirl Records. This is a follow up to her first full-length solo album WORKIN’ WOMAN, released October 23, 2018. Jenna also records and performs with The Unfit Wives, who released LIVE & UNFIT on Lost Cowgirl Records on September 17, 2021. Jenna also records and performs with her life partner Martin Farrell Jr. as Jenna & Martin who released Cosmic Western Duets on Lost Cowgirl Records on January 3, 2020. Jenna’s began playing tenor saxophone in the Pittsburg State University marching band. In between studying for nursing she started playing banjo and formed the folk band “Deadeye”. After four years of nursing, Jenna cut back on her hours to pursue music. In 2018 she founded Lost Cowgirl Records with partner Martin Farrell Jr., to provide a platform for female fronted Americana. With Lost Cowgirl she released her debut solo album “Workin’ Woman,” in 2018, and Julie Bennett Hume’s album, “Vinegar,” and Elexa Dawson’s album, “Music is Medicine.” In 2019, Jenna Rae on acoustic guitar, Kahlen Mitchell on upright bass, Shannon O’Shea on fiddle, and Monica Greenwood on Mandolin formed the bluegrass group Unfit Wives. More info at: http://www.jennaraemusic.com or http://www.thelostcowgirl.com.]

[Jenna Rae will be with us LIVE on WMM Nest week on April 6, 2022]

5. Kid Computer – “Arizona”
   from: CAFE VERTICLE GARDEN / Kid Computer / March 21, 2022
   [Kansas City based 4-piece band with Matt Gore, Christian Sanchez, Dalton Grenier, and George McMillian. Kid Computer released the single, “Romantic Overdrive” on February 21, 2022. The new album is a follow up to the band’s EP The Darnedest Things, released April 26, 2019. More information at: http://www.instagram.com/kidcomputer%5D

[Kid Computer play an EP Release Show, Saturday, May 25, at 10:00 PM at Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence KS., with The Sluts and Vehicles.]

6. The Salvation Choir – “Mawazo Ya Wanadamu (TSC) (feat. The Salvation Choir)”
   from: “Mawazo Ya Wanadamu (TSC) (feat. The Salvation Choir) ”- Single / TSC / Sept.4, 2021
   [Afro-Beat from Kansas City. The Salvation Choir is a Congolese Rumba band from Congo and Tanzania based in Kansas City, Missouri. Led by choir masters Jeune Premier Silambien and his father, Pastor John Wilondja, the choir writes, records, and performs original gospel songs in Swahili. The Salvation Choir has performed in cities across the Midwest and are scheduled to perform at Boulevardia (Kansas City’s largest outdoor music festival) in June 2022. Their music is currently featured in a national advertising campaign on BBC’s Channel 4 and by the internationally renown record company Dust-to-Digital. The Salvation Choir also performs each Sunday in the gymnasium at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Independence, Missouri. Church services start at 10 AM and all are welcome. The services are in Swahili but a choir member will help translate in English. The Salvation Choir recently had one of their first shows at Reply Lounge in Lawrence, Sunday, March 27, 2022. Fally Afani Editor & Founder of I Heart Local Music wrote, “The band, comprised of a very talented and very large family, consisted of aunties, sisters, uncles, cousins, and children. The Congolese and Tanzanian band is based in Kansas City and performs in Swahili.” More info at: http://www.thesalvationchoir.com/%5D

[The Salvation Choir play Boulevardia Festival 2022, Saturday, June 18]

10:30 – Underwriting

7. Flare Tha Rebel & Bob Pulliam – “The Revolution Will Not Be Hashtagged”
   from: The Revolution Will Not Be Hashtagged / Shafer / July 9, 2021
   [Inspired by Gil Scott-Heron’s 1971 single, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. 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. Flare Tha Rebel & Bob Pullian were guests on WMM, Aug. 11, 2021. The Revolution Will Not Be Hashtagged was #9 on WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2021. Info at: http://www.flaretharebel.com]

[Flare Tha Rebel plays recordBar, at 1520 Grand Blvd. on Thursday, March 31, with Ubi of CES Cru and a full live band, with opening acts: Oboi Kong, Aaron Alexander and The Belief Cycle. Hosted by Steddy P. in a fundraiser & awareness raiser for Change The Ref and a local nonprofit founded by Manuel & Patricia Oliver in memory of their son Joaquin Oliver, one of the 17 victims of the MSD High School shooting in Parkland, FL. More info atL http://www.FlareThaRebel.com]

10:35 – Interview with D Rashaan Gilmore

D Rashaan Gilmore is host of the Kansas City PBS program Flatland KC. D. Rashaan is a Newsweek contributing writer and the former host & producer of “Unbossed and Unbothered” that aired from 2021-2022, on 90.1 FM KKFI. D. Rashaan was previously a host & producer of The Tenth Voice for nearly 4 years 2018 – 2021. Gilmore is also the founder of BlaqOut, a Kansas City nonprofit working to serve the Black queer community and help end the HIV/AIDS crisis. He is the recipient of the 2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation–AIDS United Award for Health Equity. D Rashaan is also President/CEO at Purple Cow Omnimedia, LLC. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic. D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization. More info at: http://BlaqOut.org/

D Rashaan Gilmore, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Last time we interviewed D Rashaan on the radio was February 3, 2021 and we were congratulating him on his new radio show, ”Unbossed & Unbothered” as he had just completed 5 weeks of the new show. And now we have D Rashaan back, a little over a year later.

We congratulate D. Rashaan Gilmore on his television show, Flatland KC on Kansas City PBS, a monthly current affairs program that takes a deep dive into a single local issue that is raising questions, causing tensions, or is curiously unexplored. Hosted by local writer, radio personality and activist D. Rashaan Gilmore, Flatland features an in-depth video report followed by a diverse panel of voices with different takes on the topic.

After nearly four years The Tenth Voice, and a year of “Unbossed & Unbothered” D Rashaan made the jump to television and be a part of a bigger production team.

On “Unbossed & Unbothered” one of the features D Rashaan started each show with was a segment called “Reclaiming My Time” inspired by the legendary U.S. Representative for California’s 43rd Congressional District, Maxine Waters.

D Rashaan covered COVID-19, The Vaccine, The Georgia Senate Races, The Presidential Election, Healthcare, The Articles of Impeachment, The New Administration.

We asked D Rashaan about how he was feeling about the current headlines and news:

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination, and the racist opposition of Sen. John Thune (S.D.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Ted Cruz, etc,

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law this week.

(The bill bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender ID in K – 3rd grade and states that any instruction on those topics cannot occur “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” according to the legislation, HB 1557.)

The Oscar Slap

HIV and AIDS Statistics, The LGBTQIA Struggle, and Kansas City Gay Pride

We talked with D Rashaan about how he has been invited to be a contributing writer to Newsweek

D Rashaan Gilmore is a life-long resident of Kansas City. He is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in KC and develop a leadership core. More info at: http://BlaqOut.org/

Recipient of 2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation–AIDS United Award for Health Equity.

Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness & prevention grants for the KC CARE Clinic. D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization.

D Rashaan is also President/CEO at Purple Cow Omnimedia, LLC.

D Rashaan Gilmore, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Flatland on Kansas City PBS, a monthly current affairs program that takes a deep dive into a single local issue that is raising questions, causing tensions, or is curiously unexplored. http://Www.flatlandkc.org Gilmore is also the founder of BlaqOut, a Kansas City nonprofit working to serve the Black queer community and help end the HIV/AIDS crisis. He is the recipient of the 2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation–AIDS United Award for Health Equity. More info at: http://BlaqOut.org/

11:00 – Station ID

8. MusicbySkippy – “Bi Bi”
   from: MY DYING WISH / Luke Harbur / February 18, 2022
   [musicbyskippy is Luke “Skippy” Harbur’s entertainment project. The Overland Park, Kansas native mixes beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, & keyboard playing to entertain all-age audiences. After graduating from Ithaca College in 2018, he moved near home to Kansas City, Missouri, becoming a featured performer for musicians, festivals, corporate & non-profit events, and performance groups. His music passion roots in receiving a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 11 months old. His debut album, my dying wish, is now on all music streaming and purchasing platforms. He hopes you learn something new and experience songs you love.More info at http://www.musicbyskippy.com]

[Music By Skippy will officially release his debut album, MY DYING WISH with a live album release show, on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater.]

[Musicbyskippy will play Boulevardia, Saturday, June 18, 2022.]

11:03 – Interview with Luke Harbur

Luke M. Harbur records and performs as MusicBySkippy. After graduating from Ithaca College in 2018, he moved near home to Kansas City, Missouri, becoming a featured performer for musicians, corporate & non-profit events, and performance groups. The Kansas native mixes beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, and keyboard playing to entertain all-age audiences in clubs, theaters, festivals and with Kansas City performance collective: Quixotic. The passion in his music has roots in his experience of receiving a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 11 months old. MusicBySkippy will officially release his debut album, MY DYING WISH with a live album release show, on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater. More info at http://www.musicbyskippy.com or http://www.lukeharbur.com

Luke M. Harbur Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

We just heard “Bi Bi” one of the songs from MY DYING WISH that represents just how personal and autobiographical this album is in the storytelling of Luke’s life.

Luke shared with me his ability to “Come Out” in a place of priveledge, and finding acceptance from all of his family and the community to support him.

MY DYING WISH – The album contains many different genres of music and demonstrates your beatboxing, singing, and piano playing. Like started learning piano at the age of 5.

MY DYING WISH Album Release Show is next week on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater. With the support of Mica Thomas Executive Director.

Luke was born and raised in Overland Park Kansas and went to Olathe East High School but let Olathe East to go to school in Winston Salem, North Carolina, at a Performing Arts School where you studied Acting and Theatre.

Luke then went to Ithica College to study Journalism and eventually got a job as a Production Assistant at the Kansas City Star,

Luke talked with Mark about the importance of collaboration in midsize market like Kansas City and how others can benefit from these collaborations.

Luke performs regularly with Quixotic and is also is a frequent performer at Missy B’s

Luke will be doing a 3 month contract with Stray Cat Film Center.

On MY DYING WISH the song, “I Forget” shows off some of Luke’s beatboxing talents

11:15

9. MusicbySkippy – “I Forget”
   from: MY DYING WISH / Luke Harbur / February 18, 2022
   [musicbyskippy is Luke “Skippy” Harbur’s entertainment project. The Overland Park, Kansas native mixes beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, & keyboard playing to entertain all-age audiences. After graduating from Ithaca College in 2018, he moved near home to Kansas City, Missouri, becoming a featured performer for musicians, festivals, corporate & non-profit events, and performance groups. His music passion roots in receiving a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 11 months old. His debut album, my dying wish, is now on all music streaming and purchasing platforms. He hopes you learn something new and experience songs you love. More info at http://www.musicbyskippy.com]

[Music By Skippy will officially release his debut album, MY DYING WISH with a live album release show, on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater.]

[Musicbyskippy will play Boulevardia, Saturday, June 18, 2022.]

11:18 – Interview with Luke Harbur (continued)

Luke M. Harbur records as MusicBySkippy. The Kansas native mixes beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, and keyboard playing to entertain all-age audiences in clubs, theaters, festivals and with Kansas City performance collective: Quixotic. MusicBySkippy will officially release his debut album, MY DYING WISH with a live album release show, on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater. More info at http://www.musicbyskippy.com or http://www.lukeharbur.com

Luke M. Harbur Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

We just heard “I Forget” one of the songs from MY DYING WISH that represents just Luke’s life.

The first time Mark saw Luke perform was in 2019 at the “L.A. Sessions” concert by Calvin Arsenia at recordBar.

Luke is currently working on a play-cabaret project.

Luke M. Harbur works in Music Videography, Social Media Management, and graphic Design.

From http://www.musicbyskippy.com – The story in 100 words

musicbyskippy is Luke “Skippy” Harbur’s entertainment project. The Overland Park, Kansas native mixes beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, & keyboard playing to entertain all-age audiences. After graduating from Ithaca College in 2018, he moved near home to Kansas City, Missouri, becoming a featured performer for musicians, festivals, corporate & non-profit events, and performance groups.

His music passion roots in receiving a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 11 months old. His debut album, my dying wish, is now on all music streaming and purchasing platforms. He hopes you learn something new and experience songs you love.

Luke “Skippy” Harbur’s CV/Resume – Organizations & artists featuring musicbyskippy

Boulevardia (2022) | Kansas City, Missouri
Missie B’s (2021 & 2022) | Kansas City, Missouri
Cafe Cà Phê (2021) | Kansas City, Missouri & North Kansas City, Missouri
No Divide KC (2021) | Kansas City, Missouri
Jukeboxx Media, gig for T-Mobile (2021) | Kansas City, Missouri
Paradise Garden Club (2021) | Kansas City, Missouri
Fishtank Theatre (2021) | Kansas City, Missouri
Jesse Powers (2021) | Kansas City, Missouri
Calvin Arsenia (2019, 2020, & 2021) | Kansas City, Missouri
Quixotic (2019, 2020, & 2021, 2022) | Kansas City, Missouri
Ithaca College Choral Program (2018) | Ithaca, New York
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2018) | Winston-Salem, North Carolina
NATS Mid-Atlantic Region (2018) | Lynchburg, Virginia
The Heartland Men’s Chorus (2017) | Kansas City, Missouri
Ithacappella (2015, 2016, 2017, & 2018) | Ithaca, New York

musicbyskippy is the entertainment project of Overland Park, Kansas native Luke “Skippy” Harbur. He’s developed skills in beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, & keyboard playing in hopes to express his core vision: everyone has an inner artist and should be able to express their full, authentic self.

His parent’s and grandparent’s own journeys in music fostered his artistic upbringing. His involvement in music programs since age 5 eventually lead him to move to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and finish high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ High School Drama Program. Although he was offered Acting scholarships to SUNY Purchase and Webster University, he attended Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York on academic scholarship and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Outside collegiate academics he served as a vocal percussionist, ensemble member, and soloist for Ithacappella, Ithaca College’s all-male a cappella group. Once a year the group traveled across America’s northeastern coast for a winter singing tour, creating collabor-ations with the PS 22 Chorus in Staten Island, New York and singing the national anthem for NHL’s New York Rangers and NBA’s New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Since moving to Kansas City, Missouri in 2019, he’s started finding his audience: Quixotic, Missie B’s, and Cafe Cà Phê have become some of his core, consistent collaborators, and in 2021 he started releasing his first batch of public music projects. His first was SKIPPY Sessions Volume 1, a collection of 8 short music compositions combining his beatboxing skills with other artistic disciplines practiced by other Kansas City-based artists. The second music project was “Rant,” his debut single from his debut album, my dying wish, which released on all music streaming and purchasing platforms on February 18th, 2022.

Each opportunity to perform and collaborate with others is rooted in a deeper story. In 1996, at 5 months old, he was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease. 6 months later he received a life-saving liver transplant from an 8-year-old boy named Aaron Drake, who passed away while on a camping trip at The Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. But through this tragedy came hope, giving Luke “Skippy” Harbur a second chance to inspire others. From his music, he hopes you learn something new and experience songs you love.

Luke has been doing public speaking for 15 years.

Luke received a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 11 months old.

Music By Skippy will officially release his debut album, MY DYING WISH with a live album release show, on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater. More info at http://www.musicbyskippy.com or http://www.lukeharbur.com

Luke Harbur, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

11:26

10. MusicbySkippy – “Aaron Drake”
    from: MY DYING WISH / Luke Harbur / February 18, 2022
    [musicbyskippy is the music project of Luke Harbur. The Overland Park, KS native mixes beatboxing, singing, beat production, rapping, & keyboard playing to entertain all-age audiences. After graduating from Ithaca College in 2018, he moved near home to KCMO, becoming a featured performer for musicians, festivals, corporate & non-profit events, and performance groups. His music passion roots in receiving a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 11 months old. .More info at http://www.musicbyskippy.com]

[Music By Skippy will officially release his debut album, MY DYING WISH with a live album release show, on April 7 & 8, hosted by Quixotic, 1616 Broadway Blvd, KCMO at their Blackbox Theater.]

[Musicbyskippy will play Boulevardia, Saturday, June 18, 2022.]

11:29 – Underwriting

11. Hembree – “Close To Me”
    from: IT’S A DREAM! / Oread Records / February 4, 2022
    [This was the 4th single from the band’s 15-track album, IT’S A DREAM! Hembree is a KC born band was formed in November of 2015, with Isaac Flynn on guitar, & lead vocals, Garrett Childers on bass & vocals, Eric Davis on keys & synth, Alex Ward on guitar, and Austin Ward on drums. Hembree is signed to Thirty Tigers of Nashville, TN. The band was founded by original members Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, and Eric Davis. Brothers Alex and Austin Ward later joined in 2018. Hembree quickly garnered national attention after their single “Holy Water” was placed in an Apple commercial that aired during Super Bowl LII. The band’s music has been featured in a variety of other national placements, including Monday Night Football (NFL) and Bose. Hembree has notably supported Elvis Costello, Phoenix, Cold War Kids, Vance Joy, JR JR, and Joywave, among others. The band first toured Europe in Fall 2018. In 2018, Hembree signed with Thirty Tigers to release their first full-length album House on Fire, released 4/26/2019. In 2019, Hembree performed at Hangout Music Festival. They will also appear on the soundtrack of 13 Reasons Why: Season 3 with the song “Culture”. Hembree was named one of NPR’s Slingshot 2018 Artists to Watch. Rolling Stone named Hembree as one of the thirty best artists at SXSW 2018. “Had It All” debuted on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 on January 19, 2017. Lowe described the song as “absolutely fantastic.” “Holy Water” was featured in Apple’s HomePod “Distortion” TV spot, which ran during Super Bowl LII, the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and the 2018 Winter Olympics. Hembree released the single, “Reach Out” on July 20, 2021 and “Operators (feat. Bodye)” on Sept. 21, 2021on Oread Records. Info at: http://www.hembreemusic.com]

11:34 – Interview with Isaac Flynn

Isaac Flynn is lead singer of Hembree who released their 15-track album, IT’S A DREAM! on February 4, 2022, on Oread Records. The KC born band was formed in November of 2015, with Isaac Flynn on guitar, & lead vocals, Garrett Childers on bass & vocals, Eric Davis on keys & synth, Alex Ward on guitar, and Austin Ward on drums. Hembree is signed to Thirty Tigers of Nashville, TN and were featured in Apple‘s “Distortion” TV spot, which ran during Super Bowl LII, the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and the 2018 Winter Olympics. Hembree has supported Elvis Costello, Phoenix, Cold War Kids, Vance Joy, JR JR, and Joywave, among others. The band first toured Europe in 2018. Hembree will play Boulevardia on June 17, 2022. More info at: http://www.hembreemusic.com

Isaac Flynn thanks for being on WMM.

Congratulations on the new record and all the great the single releases including the LIVE cover of Talking Head’s “Girlfriend is Better.” The band went out to Joshua Tree and filmed/tracked their live version of this classic.

The sound of Hembree is evolving with each new album.

Isaac wrote that, “It’s a Dream! is hands down my favorite piece of music I’ve ever been a part of. This record feels like a big level up as a songwriter and for us as a band. We pushed the creativity further than ever before, and I’m so thankful for everyone who contributed their time and talents to make this album happen in the strangest of times. If you find the time, it would mean the world to the guys and me if you took this thing for a spin front to back.”

Hembree was formed from the ashes of the band Quiet Corral, an indie folk band from Lawrence, KS. Most of the group went on to form Hembree. Members: Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, Jim Barnes, Matt Green, Jesse Braswell Roberts, Zach Mehl, Released: Quiet Corral (2010), Art House Acoustic Sessions (2011), and Ancestors (2013)

Hembree is an indie rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Hembree consists of Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, Eric Davis, Alex Ward, and Austin Ward. The band began releasing songs independently in 2015. Hembree is signed to Thirty Tigers of Nashville, TN. Their debut studio album, House on Fire, was released in April 2019.

The band was founded in 2013 by original members Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, and Eric Davis. Brothers Alex and Austin Ward (of The Noise FM) later joined in 2018.

Hembree garnered national attention when their single “Holy Water” was placed in an Apple commercial aired during Super Bowl LII. The band’s music has been featured in a variety of other national placements, including Monday Night Football (NFL) and Bose.

Hembree has notably supported Elvis Costello, Phoenix, Cold War Kids, Vance Joy, JR JR, and Joywave, among others. The band first toured Europe in Fall 2018.

In 2018, Hembree signed with Thirty Tigers (The Avett Brothers, Lupe Fiasco) to release their first full-length album House on Fire, released 4/26/2019.

In 2019, Hembree performed at Hangout Music Festival in May and Music Midtown in September. During June 2019, they were featured on Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour alongside bands Bloxx and Warbly Jets.[6] In October 2019, they supported Mating Ritual. In December 2019, they supported The Get Up Kids for 11 shows.

They also appear on the soundtrack of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why: Season 3 with the song “Culture”, and Outer Banks with the song “Continents”.

Hembree was named one of NPR’s Slingshot 2018 Artists to Watch.

Rolling Stone named Hembree as one of the thirty best artists at SXSW 2018.

“Had It All” debuted on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 on January 19, 2017. Lowe described the song as “absolutely fantastic.”

“Holy Water” was featured in Apple’s HomePod “Distortion” TV spot, which ran during Super Bowl LII, the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and the 2018 Winter Olympics.

“Continents” (single) was featured on Kitsuné America 5: The NBA Edition.

We recently saw Austin Ward on the Oscar Awards working as a “seat-filler.” Life in Los Angeles offers so many opportunities.

HOUSE ON FIRE 10-song album was released on April 26, 2019.

HAD IT ALL – EP was released on November 3, 2017

SHOWS:
May 6 – Grass Valley, CA @ Center for the Arts, supporting MAGIC GIANT!
May 7 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent, supporting Magic Giant!
May 8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Resident, album release show with Joshoo! Come hang!
June 11 – Indianapolis, Indiana, WonderRoad Festival
June 17 – Kansas City, Boulevardia Fest
July 10 – Cleveland, Ohio, Wonderstruck Festival
August 26 – Columbus, Ohio, Wonderbus Music + Arts Festival

Isaac Flynn told Modern Drummer Magazine “I’ve always been surrounded by music—my parents are musicians so I grew up in a studio and was always playing instruments,” Flynn says. “When my previous band ended I wasn’t ready to stop being a musician / drummer, so I started writing songs and making demos myself. I started to realize how much I could convey in three minutes of music and fell in love with songwriting.”

Calling his new project Hembree, Flynn put himself through what he calls “three years of songwriting boot camp,” working on music from the loft where he lives in Kansas City. Looking to inspiration from masters of the three-minute opus like Tom Petty, John Lennon, and Bruce Springsteen, he started sending his demos around to friends and musical peers in the KC scene—but without telling them who was behind the work. The honest opinions were unanimously positive, and Flynn knew he was on to something. So, he started piecing together his dream lineup—because despite Hembree being his creation, he wanted the project to come to life as a band.

He says, “I assembled a group from people I respect as musicians but also want to spend a lot of time with—people who, like me, have committed their lives to music,” he says. The Hembree lineup now includes Flynn on guitar and lead vocals, Garrett Childers on bass and backup vocals, Flynn’s brother-in-law Eric Davis on keys/synth, and brothers Alex and Austin Ward on guitar and drums.
“Operators (fest Bodye)” aka Marty Hillard of Ebony Tusks and Cowboy Indian Bear.

Isaac Flynn thanks for being on WMM.

Hembree will play Boulevardia on June 17, 2022. More info at: http://www.hembreemusic.com

11:47

12. Hembree – “Operators (fest Bodye)”
    from: IT’S A DREAM! / Oread Records / February 4, 2022
    [This was a single from the band’s 15-track album, IT’S A DREAM! featuring Bodye aka Marty Hillard of Ebony Tusks and Cowboy Indian Bear. KC based band was formed in November of 2015, with Isaac Flynn on guitar, & lead vocals, Garrett Childers on bass & vocals, Eric Davis on keys & synth, Alex Ward on guitar, and Austin Ward on drums. Hembree is signed to Thirty Tigers of Nashville, TN. The band was founded by original members Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, and Eric Davis. Brothers Alex and Austin Ward later joined in 2018. Hembree quickly garnered national attention after their single “Holy Water” was placed in an Apple commercial that aired during Super Bowl LII. The band’s music has been featured in a variety of other national placements, including Monday Night Football (NFL) and Bose. Hembree has notably supported Elvis Costello, Phoenix, Cold War Kids, Vance Joy, JR JR, and Joywave, among others. The band first toured Europe in Fall 2018. In 2018, Hembree signed with Thirty Tigers to release their first full-length album House on Fire, released 4/26/2019. In 2019, Hembree performed at Hangout Music Festival. They will also appear on the soundtrack of 13 Reasons Why: Season 3 with the song “Culture”. Hembree was named one of NPR’s Slingshot 2018 Artists to Watch. Rolling Stone named Hembree as one of the thirty best artists at SXSW 2018. “Had It All” debuted on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 on January 19, 2017. Lowe described the song as “absolutely fantastic.” “Holy Water” was featured in Apple’s HomePod “Distortion” TV spot, which ran during Super Bowl LII, the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and the 2018 Winter Olympics. Hembree released the single, “Reach Out” on July 20, 2021 and “Operators (feat. Bodye)” on Sept. 21, 2021 on Oread Records. Info at: http://www.hembreemusic.com]

13. Ivory Blue – “Heavy”
    from: “Compound Love / Sound Ballistics Music & Publishing / February 25, 2022
    [Ivory Blue signed a publishing deal with Sound Ballistics Music & Publishing of Atlanta GA on August 18, 2021. This company is managing Ivory and handling all of their publishing. For COMPOUND LOVE Ivory served as songwriter, producer, vocalist and played all instruments with the exception of: Lester Estelle on drums, Klaartje Van Lue on piano, Craig Kew on bass, Lennon Bone on drums, and Marco Pascolini on pedal steel guitar. Nick Poortman served in mixing, with Kurt Festge who also served in mixing & Mastering. 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 2022. 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, the KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at The Kansas City Public Library., and Kauffman Stadium. // Ivory Blue was born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, as Devin James Miclettet. Ivory’s birth mother put them up for adoption at the age of four. Ivory speaks about how it was difficult to find trust in people offering their home to someone denied it for so long, Ivory lived with eight different families. before running away at 15. // 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 them Ivory KC, and adopting Ivory into the Van Lue family. During the past 10 years Ivory came out as “Non-Binary Transgender. // As a multi-instrumentalist, Ivory began refining their performance style, using digital looping pedals to stack harmonies and guitar parts live on stage, giving their solo shows the feel of a full band. In 2011, Ivory settled in Kansas City, MO and quickly began attracting an intense regional following for their strong vocals and incisive, deeply personal lyrics. // By 2013, IVORY BLUE was playing regularly in and around Kansas City and the first EP ‘Ready Get Set’ was released. in 2015. While the EP helped spread the word and got much attention from regional radio and TV stations, a big break would come in 2017. Ivory entered NeXt2Rock, a nationwide talent search with over 1800 artists/bands who applied to find fresh and promising rock artists. The top 5 national bands battled it off for the win in Los Angeles CA at the legendary Viper Room, with judges Scott Borchetta (BMLG), John Varvatos (fashion designer), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols Guitarist and Host of “Jonesy’s Jukebox”), Desmond Child (Musician, producer), Chris Lord-Alge (producer), Ivory Blue won over the judges and became the grand prize winner! Ivory Ivory won the contest and a one-year record deal with BMLG who re-released the song Ready Get Set from the 2015 EP. Ivory’s 2018 re-release of ‘Ready Get Set’ undauntedly received National and International airplay within weeks. For their upcoming album, IVORY BLUE is producing all the tracks with the exception of Drums and Bass. Ivory is currently working with Lester Estelle (Drummer for Kelly Clarkson), Craig Kew (Bass) KC, Kurt Festge (Mastering | Citizen Kane & Vilent Femmes) NC. and Nick Poortman (LA based Los Angeles based Producer, Engineer, Mixer, and Songwriter) Nick has worked alongside producers including Justin Gray, Gil Norton, Big Tank, and Greg Haver on sessions throughout the USA, UK, Europe, and New Zealand. // On August 18th 2021 Ivory Blue signed a publishing deal with Sound Ballistics Music & Publishing out of Atlanta GA. // Ivory released the singles: “Elite Dreamland,” on Feb. 17, 2021, “Half a Life” on Sept. 20, 2021. Ivory Blue released the video of “Family Table” directed by Mikal Shapiro, on August 21, 2021 and the audio track was released on September 7, 2021. Ivory Blue released the single “Good Changes” on Oct 26, 2021. Ivory Blue released the singles: “Heavy,” “Bad Weather,” “It Must Have Been Me,” “Compound Love,” and “The Start” on December 14, 2021. Ivory Blue joined us on WMM on November 10, September 15, and July 28, in 2021. More info at: https://linktr.ee/ivorybluemusic%5D [IVORY BLUE will play Boulevardia on June 18, 2022.

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

Next week on Wednesday, April 6 we talk with Fritz Hutchison will be releasing his new album titled MOVIE NIGHT via Manor Records on April 15th, 2022. More info at http://www.manorrecords.com

We also talk with Jenna Rae who is releasing her second full-length solo album, COUNTRY LO-FI, on April 1, 2022 through Lost Cowgirl Records. This is a follow up to her first full-length solo album WORKIN’ WOMAN, released October 23, 2018. Jenna also records and performs with The Unfit Wives, who released LIVE & UNFIT on Lost Cowgirl Records on September 17, 2021. Jenna also records and performs with her life partner Martin Farrell Jr. as Jenna & Martin who released Cosmic Western Duets on Lost Cowgirl Records on January 3, 2020.

We also talk with Kristie Stremel about her new band Prairie Brigade who will release their first self-titled album will be released April 12, 2022. Prairie Brigade is a Kansas City band born in late 2021 with Kristie Stremel on vocals & guitar, Chris Meck on guitar & vocals, John Hobson on guitar & bass & vocals, Ryan McCall on electric piano & vocals, and Tom Hudson on drums. More information at: http://www.prairiebrigade.bandcamp.com or http://www.prairiebrigademusic.com

And Sondra Freeman joins us to share details about Midwest Music Foundation 2022 Spring Donation Drive and Kick Off Concert featuring The Black Creatures, Stephonne, True Lions, and The Way Way Back, Saturday, April 9, 7:00 Doors, 8:00 PM Show at The Rino 314 Armour Rd., North Kansas City. More information at: http://www.midwestmusicfoundation.org

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

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Show #935