WMM Playlist from Feb. 19, 2020

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, February 19, 2019

Spinning Records With Marion Merritt
+ EBONY TUSK
S

Today, we welcome back to the show, Marion Merritt as our special “Guest Producer.” For nearly 16 years Marion has been sharing her sonic discoveries and information from her musically encyclopedic brain. With her partner Ann Stewart, Marion is the creator of Records With Merritt, a small, independent, minority owned business, at 1614 Westport Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri.

Marion Merritt

Marion Merritt, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

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

2. Dimitri From Paris – “Prologue”
from: Sacrebleu / Atlantic / 2001

3. Antibalas – “Fist of Flowers”
from: Fu Chronicles / Daptone Records / February 7, 2020
[7th album from Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti’s Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri’s Harlem River Drive Orchestra. Antibalas is Spanish for “bulletproof”. Although their music generally follows the musical architecture and language of afrobeat, it incorporates elements of jazz, funk, dub, improvised music, and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa. Members include: Martín Perna, Amayo, Marcos García, Jordan McLean, Marcus Farrar, Reinalde Dejesus, Will Rast, Justin Kimmel, Timothy J Allen, Kevin Raczka, Raymond James Mason, Raja Kassi, Morgan Price, Eric Biondo, Jackie Coleman. More info at http://www.antibalas.com]

4. Sharon Van Etten – “Beaten Down”
from: Beaten Down – Single / Jagjaguwar / February 5, 2020
[New single from Sharon Van Etten who was born February 26, 1981, in Belleville, New Jersey and lived in Nutley, NJ before moving to Clinton as a pre-teen. Later, she moved to Tennessee to attend Middle Tennessee State University and studied recording, but dropped out of college after a year. Van Etten ended up working at the Red Rose, a coffee and record shop and music venue in Murfreesboro, for about five years. In 2004, she moved back to New Jersey, where she worked at Perryville Wine and Spirits. Van Etten moved to New York City in 2005. Van Etten self-released handmade CDs until 2009, when her debut studio recording was released. Before her studio debut, she worked at Astor Wines and as a publicist at Ba Da Bing Records. Van Etten’s debut, Because I Was in Love, was released on May 26, 2009, on Language of Stone, and was put out by by Drag City. This is a follow-up to her 5th album “Remind Me Tomorrow.” on Jagjaguar Records.]

5. Isobel Campbell – “Vultures”
from: There is No Other / Cooking Vinyl / February 7, 2020
[Isobel Campbell was born April 27, 1976. She is a Scottish singer-songwriter, cellist and composer. Campbell rose to prominence at age nineteen as a member of the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, but left the group to pursue a solo career, first as The Gentle Waves, and later under her own name. She later collaborated with singer Mark Lanegan on three albums. Campbell’s music has been described as either indie pop, chamber pop or singer-songwriter. Regardless of genre, Campbell makes gentle and sombre music, often using classical instruments and her bright, slightly nasal voice with bittersweet and ironic songwriting. This is her 5th solo full-length album.]

6. Holy Fuck – “Deleters (feat. Angus Andrew)”
from: Deleter / Ef Records / January 17, 2020
[Holy Fuck is an electronica band from Toronto. They were a part of Dependent Music, a music label & artist collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 2004 until its closing. They were then a part of the Young Turks label. In 2016 they signed with Innovative Leisure. The band uses live instrumentation & miscellaneous instruments and non-instruments, including a 35 mm film synchronizer, toy keyboards & toy phaser guns, to achieve electronic-sounding effects without the use of laptops or programmed backing tracks. According to Pitchfork Media, “The band formed with the intent of creating the equivalent of modern electronic music without actually using the techniques, looping, splicing, programming and the like, of that music.]

7. Caribou – “Never Come Back”
from: Suddenly / Merge / February 28, 2020
[Daniel Victor Snaith was born in 1978. He is a Canadian composer, musician, and recording artist who has performed under the stage names Caribou, Manitoba and Daphni. Snaith originally recorded under the stage name Manitoba, but after being threatened with a lawsuit by Richard “Handsome Dick” Manitoba (real name Richard Blum), formerly of punk band The Dictators, Snaith changed his performance name to Caribou. Snaith’s previous full-length albums were then re-released under the new moniker, and The Milk of Human Kindness was released in 2005 by Domino. In June that year the album topped the !earshot Campus and Community Radio Top 200 chart. “Suddenly” is his 5th full-length album as Caribou]

10:33 – Underwriting

8. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – “Texas Sun”
from: Texas Sun EP / Dead Oceans / February 7, 2020
[4th EP and 5th single from Khruangbin a trio from Houston, Texas, with Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald Ray “DJ” Johnson Jr. on drums. The band has also released 3 albums. The band is known for blending global music influences, classic soul, dub and psychedelia. Their debut studio album, The Universe Smiles Upon You (2015), draws from the history of Thai music in the 1960s, while their 2nd album, Con Todo El Mundo (2018), has influences from Spain and the Middle East. Todd Michael “Leon” Bridges was born July 13, 1989. He is an American soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Fort Worth, Texas. He is best known for his song “Coming Home”, which received regular airplay and was also a Top 10 Most Viral Track on Spotify. Bridges’ debut album, also titled Coming Home, was released on June 23, 2015, on Columbia Records and subsequently nominated for Best R&B Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Texas Sun is her 2nd EP. He has also released 2 full length records.]

9. Monophonics – “It’s Only Us”
from: It’s Only Us / Colemine Records / March 13, 2020
[Psychedelic Soul from San Francisco, CA from; Austin Bohlman on drums, Kelly Finnigan on vocals & keyboards, Ian McDonald on electric guitar & electric sitar & backing vocals, Myles O’Mahony on electric bass & backing vocals, Ryan Scott on trumpet and backing vocals. “One of the best live soul bands I have ever seen!” – Al Bell (Record producer, songwriter, executive, and co-owner of legendary Stax Records)]

10. Brazzos & O.K. Jazz – “Cha Cha Cha Del Zombo”
from: Soul Jazz Records Presents Congo Revolution: Revolutionary and Evolutionary Sounds From the Two Congos 1955-62 / Soul Jazz Records / October 25, 2019
[This new release looks at the explosion of music that came out of the Congo in the years leading up to independence in 1960. Congolese rumba, a wild combination of African, Jazz and Latin influences, created future stars of its now legendary creators – Franco, Grand Kalle, Tabu Ley, Dr. Nico, Papa Wemba – and all feature here in their ground-breaking early groups such as O.K.Jazz, Brazzos, Rock-A-Mambo, African Jazz and The Beguen Band. The Congo is in fact two countries – The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire) and the Republic of the Congo. Soul Jazz Records is a London based label run by Stuart Baker, which specialises in re-releasing music from around the world on compilations with high quality remastered sound. They also release a large amount of material on vinyl, including new recordings, oftentimes as 12″ singles. The printed record label name on these vinyl releases often varies greatly. For example Soul And Jazz Musical Industries, ENT., Soul Jazz Records Co., Soul Jazz Record Corp., or sometimes the record label which originally released the recording is displayed.]

11. Mukhtar Ramadan Idii – “Check Up Your Head”
from: Mogadisco: Dancing Mogadishu (Somalia 1972 – 1991) / Analog Africa / Dec. 13, 2019
[Analog Africa is a label based in Frankfurt, Germany, owned by Samy Ben Redjeb, releasing compilations with African and South American music mainly of the 70s and 80s. After being blown away by a few tunes, Samy Ben Redjeb travelled to the infamous capital city of Somalia in November of 2016, making Analog Africa the first music label to set foot in Mogadishu. Mogadisco was not Analog Africa’s easiest project. Tracking down the musicians to interview them and gather anecdotes of golden-era Mogadishu has been an undertaking that took three years. Tales of Dur-Dur Band’s kidnapping, movie soundtracks recorded in the basements of hotels, musicians getting electrocuted on stage, others jumping from one band to another under dramatic circumstances, and soul singers competing against each other, are all stories included in the massive booklet. CD, comes with a full color 36-pages booklet containing 50 pictures & full digital album as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.]

11:00 – Station ID

12. of Montreal & Locate S,1 – “Gypsy That Remains”
from: UR FUN / Polyvinyl / January 17, 2020
[16th studio album from of Montreal is an American indie pop band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance between Barnes and a woman “of Montreal.” The band is identified as part of the Elephant 6 collective. Throughout its existence, of Montreal’s musical style has evolved considerably and drawn inspiration from 1960s psychedelic pop acts.]

13. Field Music – “Money Is a Memory”
from: Making a New World / Memphis Industries / January 10, 2020
[Field Music are an English rock band from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, that formed in 2004, particularly active in the Wearside region. The band’s core consists of brothers David Brewis & Peter Brewis, with Andrew Moore occasionally featured as keyboardist. Their line-up has at times featured members of both Maxïmo Park and The Futureheads. Field Music have been called one of the few bands to outlast the indie guitar band explosion of the mid-2000s. Describing the band as “a truly artful proposition in the pseudo-filled landscape of contemporary Brit art-rock,” music blog The Fantastic Hope puts this down in part to their “un-self-conscious anti-fashion stance,” arguing that Field Music’s “wayward pop from the fringes of academia is one of the most worthwhile ways in which rock//indie/guitar music/white pop/whatever might evolve”. Critics have compared their music to acts as diverse as Steely Dan, XTC, Prefab Sprout, Peter Gabriel, Scritti Politti, Talking Heads and Todd Rundgren. They have also been nominated for the Mercury Prize. The songs on Making a New World were inspired by research David and Peter Brewis conducted about stories, events, and technological advances that occurred during and after World War I as part their project for the Imperial War Museum. The songs from Making a New World will cover a wide variety of topics, including gender reassignment and air traffic control. One of the songs was inspired by Harold Gillies, a New Zealand-born surgeon who pioneered facial cosmetic surgery and skin grafts for injured servicemen and who later conducted one of the first gender realignment operations. The song “Only in a Man’s World” is about the development of sanitary napkins and the fact that advertising for the products, created by men, often treat the concept of menstruation like something shameful that should be kept secret. The song was inspired by a Wisconsin-based company called Kimberly-Clark that developed a material for dressing war wounds and was later adapted for the first modern sanitary product, which was called Kotex. David Brewis said he felt some embarrassment writing a song about the topic, particularly when he first shared it with his wife, but he believed “confronting my own embarrassment is a pretty fundamental part of what the song is about”. He further said of the song: “I found myself researching the development of sanitary pads – not a statement I’ve ever imagined myself making – and was surprised at how little the advertising material has changed in a hundred years. It’s still, Hey Ladies! Let’s not mention it too loudly but here is the perfect product to keep you feeling normal WHILE THE DISGUSTING, DIRTY THING HAPPENS. And you realise that it’s a kind of madness that a monthly occurrence for billions of women – something absolutely necessary for the survival of humanity – is seen as shameful or dirty – and is taxed MORE than razor blades?! ”The song “Money Is a Memory” concerns the final payment by Germany in 2010 of the economically ruinous reparations it owed under the Treaty of Versailles, and is written from the perspective of a functionary in the Treasury. In social media postings leading up to the release, David Brewis mentioned the famous image of a man carrying a wheelbarrow full of marks made worthless by the hyper-inflationary policies of the Weimar Republic as an inspiration for the track. Brewis: “The whole album is really about consequences, and how the consequences of that war are still with us. “Money Is A Memory” is probably the most explicit example of that — decisions that were made a hundred years ago still casting a shadow. The initial premise is a bit comical — the admin assistant going through their bureaucratic duties — but buried away inside those papers you can imagine the echoes of millions of lives being turned upside down.]

14. Les Amazones d’Afrique – “Love (feat. Mamani Keita)”
from: Amazones Power / Real World Records / January 24, 2020
[2nd album from Les Amazones d’Afrique, a contemporary world music supergroup formed in Mali in 2015 featuring Kandia Kouyaté, Angélique Kidjo, Mamani Keita, Rokia Koné, Mariam Doumbia (of Amadou & Mariam), Nneka, Mariam Koné, Massan Coulibaly, Madina N’Diaye, Madiaré Dramé, Mouneissa Tandina and Pamela Badjogo. The name of the refers to the Dahomey Amazons, which was a female elephant hunting group and a military regiment from the 17th century thru 19th century in what is now Benin. Les Amazones d’Afrique performed their first concert at Fiesta des Suds in Marseilles in October 2015. The 1st track they released was “I Play The Kora,” a track that goes well beyond the often-reductive term of “world music”. Its message is to encourage women coming together to sing about why they should “rise up and fight injustice because we’re all equal,” and profits from the sale of the track are be donated to The Panzi Foundation, led by Doctor Mukwege in Bukavu (DRC), which has provided healing support to more than 80,000 women, nearly 50,000 of whom are victims of sexualized violence and female genital mutilation. The kora, a harp-like instrument native to West Africa, works as a metaphor: playing the kora was denied to women for years; only men were allowed the prestige. Following their first UK performance at WOMAD Charlton Park in July 2016, Les Amazones d’Afrique were signed to Real World Records for the release of their 1st album, Republique Amazone (2017). Real World Records is a British record label specializing in world music. It was founded in 1989 by English musician Peter Gabriel and original members of WOMAD. In 1999, the label had sold over 3 million records worldwide & released 90 albums. In 2015, it had reached the mark of over 200 albums.]

15. Hailu Mergia & The Walias – “Tche Belew”
from: Tche Belew / Awesome Tapes From Africa / October 10, 2014
[Awesome Tapes From Africa is a record label & web site operated by Brian Shimkovitz based in Los Angeles, CA. Founded in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York, the site was created as a way for Shimkovitz to share music he had come across while on a Fulbright scholarship in Ghana. He was interested in the variety of genres and artists he found, distributed largely on cassette tapes at markets, but that he had not come across outside West Africa. In 2011, Shimkovitz transitioned the site from just a blog with posted recordings of collected tapes posted without the artists’ permission to a commercial record label. The goal of the company is to seed and expand an audience for the artists presented as well as provide opportunities to sell albums and tour. Artists are paid every six months and receive 50% of the profits from an album. Tapes presented on Awesome Tapes come from a variety of sources: gathered in Ghanaian street markets, purchased in stores in the US, or sent by others over the internet.[5] In addition to the website, Shimkovitz DJ’s concerts, clubs and at festivals as Awesome Tapes From Africa, as well as hosts a show on Dublab.Most Awesome Tapes From Africa releases are official rereleases of out-of-print cassettes from African musicians and bands. SK Kakraba’s Songs of Paapieye is the first album to consist of a new release. Although music is distributed in Africa via MP3 on mobile phones, Shimkovitz says the widest variety of music in West Africa is still available on cassette tape. In the journal Public Culture, Awesome Tapes From Africa, along with record labels Sublime Frequencies and Parallel World, is discussed as being emblematic of “World Music 2.0” for combining the “open source ethics of online networks with long-standing countercultural networks of circulation” within cassette culture and music distribution in developing nations. Walias Band were an Ethiopian jazz and funk band active from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. Formed by members of the Venus Band, Walias backed up many prominent singers with a hard polyrhythmic funk sound influenced by western artists like King Curtis, Junior Walker and Maceo Parker. In 1977 they recorded one of the few albums of Ethiopian instrumental music in collaboration with vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke, whose role as a bandleader and composer was also a major influence on Ethiopian popular music. Walias formed in the early 1970s in Addis Ababa where they were the house band for the upscale Hilton Hotel. A civilian curfew made it dangerous for clientele visiting the hotel lounge to leave after 11:00 PM, and Walias would end up playing two or three sets until 6:00 AM the next day. In 1981 Walias became the first modern Ethiopian band to travel to the United States, playing on a tour with singer Mahmoud Ahmed primarily to audiences of Ethiopian refugees. Rather than returning to Ethiopia under its dictatorship, four members of Walias—Girma Bèyènè, Mogès Habté, Mèlakè Gèbrè and Hailu Mergia—stayed in the U.S. and formed a new group called Zula Band. Mergia took work in Washington DC driving a taxi cab, often practicing in his cab while waiting for fares at the airport, and released solo cassette tapes of traditional Ethiopian music played on analog synthesizer, electric piano and accordion. Meanwhile the members of Walias who returned to Ethiopia—Yohannes Tèkola and Tèmarè Harègou—continued to play together under the Derg dictatorship for another decade. In the late 1990s Walias Band found a wider audience in the West when the French label Buda Records reissued much of the group’s music on the Ethiopiques series of compact discs. Their instrumental track, “Musicawi Silt,” became a popular dance number and has been covered by a number of artists. Not much else of Walias’ music was known until African music cassette collector Brian Shimkovitz found a Walias Band tape while traveling in Ethiopia. After hearing it, Shimkovitz found keyboardist Hailu Mergia’s phone number on the Internet, called him up, and arranged an official re-release of Walias Band’s music.]

16. The Heliocentrics – “Burning Wooden Ship”
from: Infinity of Now / Madlib Medicine Show / February 14, 2020
[The Heliocentrics are a London-based musical collective, combining funk, jazz, psych and library influences based around drummer and producer Malcolm Catto, Bassist Jake Ferguson, Guitarist Adrian Owusu and multi-instrumentalist Jack Yglesias. They released their debut album, Out There in 2007 on Now-Again Records, followed by collaborations with Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke on the album Inspiration Information (2009) which was awarded that years Gilles Peterson Worldwide Winner Album of the Year award, Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics (OST)(2010), and Orlando Julius. The Heliocentrics appeared on the track “Skullfuckery” on the UK release of the DJ Shadow album The Outsider, which was released in 2006. In 2013, they released their second full album, 13 Degrees of Reality also on Stones Throw. The album with Astatke was included in a list of ‘Five Essential Jazz Albums’ chosen by pianist Jamie Cullum in 2013. In 2017, they released A World of Masks with vocals by Barbora Patkova, as well as The Sunshine Makers OST, the score they wrote for the 2015 British documentary The Sunshine Makers, directed by Cosmo Feilding-Mellen. Both records were released on Soundway Records.]

Marion Merritt thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

With her partner Ann Stewart, Marion is the creator of Records With Merritt, a small, independent, minority owned business, at 1614 Westport Rd. in KCMO. More info at: http://www.recordswithmerritt.com

The Talking Trees with special guest Tyler Gosnell play Records with Merritt, 1614 Westport Rd, KCMO, Friday, February 21, at 8:00 PM

11:30 – Underwriting

17. Ebony Tusks – “HDF”
from: HDF – Single / High Dive Records / January 17, 2020
[Ebony Tusks is Daniel Smith on DJ & Production, Geese Giesecke on vocals & Production, and Marty Hillard on vocals & Production. A rattling subwoofer is a sonic aberration, a byproduct of high volume that often results in a speaker system’s long-term damage. It takes the listening experience from exclusively aural to physical, evoking a range of reactions from listeners. This experience is bonded inextricably with rap music for both its fans and dissenters, a familiar beacon for some and an unwelcome nuisance for others. Marty was a cashier at Burger King while in high school, spending every Saturday morning working the drive-thru window. One of his best friends pulled up to the menu and filled the speaker with sounds from his 1972 Volkswagen Beetle’s cassette adapter. Marty’s headset was filled with hot, white noise. He knew it was a rap song but it was mutated to scorched earth. It also happened to come through the main speaker right inside the drive-thru window. His manager was not at all pleased, rushing quickly to turn it off. Marty and his friend laughed it off at the time. EBONY TUSKS is a compilation of moments like these. Daniel, Geese, & Marty are 3 people from the Midwest who take pleasure in the mutations of sound available in the least expected places.]

EBONY TUSKS

11:35 – Interview with EBONY TUSKS

EBONY TUSKS are Daniel Smith – DJ & production, Nathan “Geese” Giesecke – vocals & production, and Martinez Hillard – vocals & production. EBONY TUSKS join us live in our 90.1 FM studios to share details about their new single HDF which we just heard, and news about their upcoming album, Heal Thyself, to be released on High Dive Records and Intelligent Sound. EBONY TUSKS are playing in series of “All Ages” shows to celebrate the release of “HDF.”

EBONY TUSKS’s play ArtsConnect Topeka, 909 N. Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS., Thursday, March 5, at 7:00 PM with special guests VOLSTICE and Tione Jackson.

Ebony Tusks play White Schoolhouse, 1510 N 3rd St, Lawrence, KS., Fri, March 6, at 7:00 PM with special guests V.I.S.I.T.O.R. and RAW SPACE.

Ebony Tusks play Mills Record Company, 4045 Broadway Blvd, KCMO Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM, with special guests: Domineko.

Ebony Tusks play recordBar 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Sun, March 8, at 6:00 PM with Elevator Division, Jaenki, Various Blonde, Bodye. All Proceeds go to Eschleman Family.

Daniel Smith, Nathan “Geese” Giesecke, Martinez Hillard thanks for being with us on WMM.

Their upcoming album, Heal Thyself will be released soon on High Dive Records on vinyl and Intelligent Sound on cassette.

From Live From The Underground / Vivid Seats recently wrote in a piece published February 7, 2020, saying: “EBONY TUSKS is dynamic underground hip-hop trio focused on the conscious, lyric-heavy side of the genre, EBONY TUSKS appeared with dozens of leading underground acts throughout the 2010s. Now, they’re ready to take the next step.”

Martinez Hillard told Vivid Seats: “I began EBONY TUSKS in 2009 after a difficult period that summer. I was living in the student ghetto near the University of Kansas in Lawrence. It was an eerily calm Friday night and I didn’t have any plans after work so I crashed. I woke up shortly after 9:00 pm because my door was being kicked in. I was beaten and robbed at gunpoint. Thankfully, two of my neighbors were close friends and called the police immediately. I had nightmares for years afterward that included many symbols I’ve come to associate with various religious practices. I also began writing raps for the first time in over a decade. I was working with a couple producers and we had our first show at a house venue called Pizza Power in October 2010. Both Daniel and Geese came into the fold within a couple years of that show.”

Martinez Hillard, Daniel Miller, and Nathan “Geese” Giesecke of EBONY TUSKS on the February 19, 2020 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on KKFI 90.1 FM.

Daniel Smith lives in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born in Berkeley California. He moved to Lawrence when he was a child. Hs father is a Professor at The University of Kansas. Daniel is a DJ and producer. He makes beats. Daniel works for the United Way of Douglass County. Daniel helps to provide after school job-training programs for under-served youth.

Nathan “Geese” Giesecke grew up in Olathe but now lives and works in Kansas City, MO. He was friends with Calvin Arsenia in High School. Geese works as a producer as GEESACE. He makes beats and you can find his music at http://soundcloud.com/geesace Nathan is also a lighting designer who jumped on stage to do back up vocals for Marty and ended up being in the band.

Martinez Hillard is the main vocalist and lyricist for EBONY TUSKS. He raps under the moniker Bodye, (pronounced “body”). He also produces beats. Martinez lives in the Old Town neighborhood in downtown Topeka with wife and 5 year old daughter. Martinez was part of the super group Cowboy Indian Bear. Martinez was recently elected to serve as a board member for Friends of the Library for Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

At Marty told Johnson County Library, in a piece published April 27, 2016: “ It was a project I started with other producers back in 2010. I asked Daniel to DJ for me sometime in 2011-2012 and Geese joined not too far behind him. Daniel and I had become fast friends when I lived in Lawrence and he was the nicest, most easygoing DJ of the handful I knew. He made our shows a lot less stressful. Geese was and is a lighting technician for a number of our friends’ projects and that was how I made acquaintance with him, seeing him work for a band and asking if he’d do lights for an EBONY TUSKS concert. He eventually asked if he could be hypeman for us and he brought an intensity that we didn’t have prior.”

EBONY TUSKS have been a band for over 11 years making hip hop in the Lawrence scene that includes Approach, Stik Figa, Heartfelt Anarchy, and Archetype.

Since the three members of EBONY TUSKS live in three separate cities: Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka early on, they created a Dropbox folder to share demos with one another. And as they told Vivid Seat: “It also gave us a bit of language to use in building sounds independent of one another.”

EBONY TUSKS Shows:

EBONY TUSKS play ArtsConnect Topeka, 909 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS., Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 7:00 PM with special guests VOLSTICE and Tione Jackson

The latest EBONY TUSKS single, HDF. It is now available on both 7” and cassette courtesy of High Dive Records and Intelligent Sound. Here is an official music video courtesy of Ulasien Media: https://bit.ly/2E221Gm

All ages, show at 7:00 pm sharp, free entry.

Live art will be provided by Beth King and Robert Tapley Bustamante. We are accepting donations and there will be a raffle drawing for their work at the conclusion of the event. 100% of live art proceeds will go to Beacon Youth Group. Beacon is a welcoming environment for queer youth ages 12-20 to engage in socialization, education, exploration, and activism.
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Ebony Tusks play White Schoolhouse, 1510 N 3rd St, Lawrence, KS., Friday, March 6, at 7:00 PM with special guests V.I.S.I.T.O.R. and RAW SPACE

Please join us in celebration of the latest EBONY TUSKS single, HDF. It is now available on both 7” and cassette courtesy of High Dive Records and Intelligent Sound. Here is an official music video courtesy of Ulasien Media: https://bit.ly/2E221Gm

All ages, show at 7:00 pm sharp. There is a suggested $10 donation. It supports White Schoolhouse, its wonderful volunteers, and their ability to continue hosting safe, accessible, and amazing shows. If you are unable to, please come anyway. We want you in attendance.

Live art will be provided by Matthew Asbury. We are accepting donations and there will be a raffle drawing for Matt’s work at the conclusion of the event. 100% of live art proceeds will go to Girls Rock Lawrence. Girls Rock is an intersectional feminist movement associated with the international Girls Rock Camp Alliance. They create a safe space for adolescent girls and trans youth to participate in music education and mutual empowerment through music. SMASH THE PATRIARCHY!
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Ebony Tusks play Mills Record Company, 4045 Broadway Blvd, KCMO Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM, with special guests: Domineko

Please join us in celebration of the latest EBONY TUSKS single, HDF. It is now available on both 7” and cassette courtesy of High Dive Records and Intelligent Sound. Here is an official music video courtesy of Ulasien Media: https://bit.ly/2E221Gm

Live art will be provided by Nick Lewis. We are accepting donations and there will be a raffle drawing for their work at the conclusion of the event. 100% of live art proceeds will go to BANDWAGGN KC. BANDWAGGN’s mission is to empower girls and trans youth to build community thru authentic relationships and lead a movement toward collective liberation. Music is their chosen tool for teaching, learning & building into our future.
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Ebony Tusks play recordBar 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Sunday, March 8, at 6:00 PM with Elevator Division, Jaenki, Various Blonde, Bodye (Marty from Ebony Tusks) All Proceeds go to Eschleman Family.

11:56:33

18. Ebony Tusks – “Chuck Ds”
from: Heal Thyself / High Dive Records / to be released later this Spring
[Ebony Tusks is Daniel Smith on DJ & Production, Geese Giesecke on vocals & Production, and Marty Hillard on vocals & Production. A rattling subwoofer is a sonic aberration, a byproduct of high volume that often results in a speaker system’s long-term damage. It takes the listening experience from exclusively aural to physical, evoking a range of reactions from listeners. This experience is bonded inextricably with rap music for both its fans and dissenters, a familiar beacon for some and an unwelcome nuisance for others. Marty was a cashier at Burger King while in high school, spending every Saturday morning working the drive-thru window. One of his best friends pulled up to the menu and filled the speaker with sounds from his 1972 Volkswagen Beetle’s cassette adapter. Marty’s headset was filled with hot, white noise. He knew it was a rap song but it was mutated to scorched earth. It also happened to come through the main speaker right inside the drive-thru window. His manager was not at all pleased, rushing quickly to turn it off. Marty and his friend laughed it off at the time. EBONY TUSKS is a compilation of moments like these. Daniel, Geese, and Marty are three people from the Midwest who take pleasure in the mutations of sound available in the least expected places.]

Daniel Smith, Nathan “Geese” Giesecke, Martinez Hillard thanks for being with us on WMM.

EBONY TUSKS photo by Ailecia Ruscin of OH! Snap! Photography

Next week, February 26 – Nico Gray joins us as Guest Producer. Plus, Doby Watson joins us to play live in our 90.1 FM Studios.

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/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM

Show #825

WMM presents Marion Merritt + EBONY TUSKS

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, February 19, 2019

Spinning Records With Marion Merritt
+ EBONY TUSKS

Marion Merritt

Mark welcomes Marion Merritt, of Records With Merritt, who joins us as “Guest Producer” to share sonic discoveries and information from her musically-encyclopedic-brain. Records With Merritt is located at 1614 Westport Road, KCMO. More info at: http://www.recordswithmerritt.com.

Marion will play tracks from: Antibalas, Sharon Van Etten, Isobel Campbell, Holy Fuck, Caribou, Khruangbin & Leon Bridges, Monophonics, Brazzos & O.K., Mukhtar Ramadan Idii, of Montreal, Field Music, Les Amazones d’Afrique, Hailu Mergia & The Walias, Sestetto Basso-Valdambrini, and The Heliocentrics.

EBONY TUSKS

At 11:30 Mark talks with members of the Lawrence, KS. based hip hop trio, EBONY TUSKS who join us live in our 90.1 FM studios to share details about their new single HDF and their upcoming album, Heal Thyself on High Dive Records. Ebony Tusks are playing a series of “All Ages” shows to celebrate the release of their new single “HDF.” EBONY TUSKS’s play ArtsConnect Topeka, 909 N Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS., Thursday, March 5, at 7:00 PM with special guests VOLSTICE and Tione Jackson. EBONY TUSKS play White Schoolhouse, 1510 N 3rd St, Lawrence, KS., Friday, March 6, at 7:00 PM with special guests V.I.S.I.T.O.R. and RAW SPACE. EBONY TUSKS play Mills Record Company, 4045 Broadway Blvd, KCMO Saturday, March 7, at 7:00 PM, with special guests: Domineko. And EBONY TUSKS play recordBar 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Sun, March 8, at 6:00 PM with Elevator Division, Jaenki, Various Blonde, Bodye. All Proceeds go to Eschleman Family.

EBONY TUSKS photo by OH! Snap! Photography

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #825

WMM Playlist from February 29, 2012

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

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

New & Local Releases + Beautiful Bodies
+ Sneaky Creep
s

1. Field Music – “Start The Day Right”
From: Plumb / Memphis Industries / Feb. 13, 2012
[4th full-length studio album from Sunderland, England band, recorded in their newly-built studio. The band’s core consists of brothers David & Peter Brewis, who played drums for fellow Sunderland band The Futureheads. Plumb was released on plum-colored vinyl. David Brewis told DIY magazine, “I love the fact that the English language has so many homophones. I think it’s one of those unique things about the language which really informs the English sense of humor. It tickles me that we can colour all of the album text and the vinyl plum.” The album’s cover art is a collage assembled by Peter Brewis and based on the painting “Standard Station” by American pop artist Ed Ruscha, a print of which hung in Peter’s bathroom.]

The next 7 tracks represent area band participating in MidCoast Takeover SXSW 2012. The next 14 tracks are all from area bands!

2. The Future Kings – “First Impressions”
from: We Are / Nation of Love Records / February 2, 2011 [Indie rock from Olathe, KS. The Future Kings include: lead vocalist and keyboardist – Jules Starr; and her drummer brother – Brett Pippin; bassist/multi-instrumentalist Matt Epstein; and guitarist Trey Durkin. The Future Kings are part of 26 area bands chosen to be part of MidCoast Takeover SXSW 2012 in Austin Texas, March 16-17. The MidCoast Takeover is a project of The Midwest Music Foundation, a not-for-profit organization working for healthcare of all working musicians. MidcoastTakeover.com gives you all the information you need plus a 30 song download representing all of the local and national bands appearing on stage at the 2012 MidCoast Takeover.]

3. Appropriate Grammar – “Six Foot Dreams”
from: Single release / Independent / 2010 [Appropriate Grammar includes: Nick McKenna – Guitar/Vocals, Alex Dunsford – Lead Guitar, Claire Adams – Bass/Vocals, and Steve Gardels – Drums. Their new release, “Lies and Stories” is coming this Spring. The Future Kings are part of 26 area bands chosen to be part of MidCoast Takeover SXSW 2012 in Austin Texas, March 16-17. ]

10:14

4. She’s A Keeper – “Guidance”
from: She’s A Keeper / Independent / 2011
[5-piece band from Kansas City, includes: Fritz Hutchison – vocals, banjo, percussion; Zac Jurden – vocals, guitar; Colin Nelson – vocals, guitar; Elliott Phillips – bass, mandolin; Kate Sopcich – cello, keyboard. She’s A Keeper has just recently recorded their first music video in promotion of a live EP recorded at Midwestern Musical Co. in KC. The band is currently working on a second full-length album that will be available in the summer of 2012. She’s A Keeper are part of 26 area bands chosen to be part of MidCoast Takeover SXSW 2012 in Austin Texas, March 16-17. More info at: midcoasttakeover.com]

5. Quiet Corral – “One, Two, Three, Oh”
from: Quiet Corral / Independent / December 21, 2010
[6-piece band from Lawrence, Kansas, includes: lead singer Jesse Braswell Roberts, with Jim Barnes, Garrett Childers, Isaac Flynn, Matt Green, and Zach Mehla. The band mixes folk and pop elements with four-part harmonies, and electric guitars mixed with acoustic instruments. Quiet Corral is in concert tonight, Feb 29th @ Chaser’s in Scottsdale, AZ. They’ll be back in KC to be in concert with: The Blackbird Review, and Sara Swenson & the Pearl Snaps, at Czar, this Friday March 2, in a special benefit for The MidCoast Takeover SXSW 2012. Quiet Corral is one of 26 bands chosen to represent KC at the MidCoast Takeover at SXSW.]

6. The Atlantic – “How To Start A War”
from: How To Start A War [EP] / Independent / June 1, 2010
[indie four piece from Kansas City includes: Patrick Robinson (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Brandon Gardner (Lead Guitar/vocals), Eric Augustus Fain (Bass), and M. Blaire Geenens (Drums). One of 26 bands chosen to represent KC at the MidCoast Takeover at SXSW.]

7. Beautiful Bodies – “She’s A Blast”
from: Single / Shipshape Records / 2012
[Indie/rock band from Kansas City that mixes elements of punk, dance, new wave, and rock. Fronted by the magnetic – and at times, mischievous – Alicia Solombrino on VOCALS; Thomas Becker on GUITAR & BACKUP VOX; Luis Arana on BASS; Aaron Crawford on DRUMS. The band has received comparisons to Blondie, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Runaways and Metric. One of 26 bands chosen to represent KC at the MidCoast Takeover at SXSW. More info at thebeautifulbodies.com]

10:30

8. The Blackbird Review – “Mother’s Radio”
from: The Whaler & Other Stories / Independent / November 13, 2010
[KC based 6-piece band includes: the husband & wife team of: Danielle Prestidge & Jacob Prestidge, with: Jeff Larison, Brain Griffith, Ryan Riggs & Jake Myszka. They’ve shared the stage w/ Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Over the Rhine, & Vedera. One of 26 bands chosen to represent KC at the MidCoast Takeover at SXSW in Austin. The Blackbird Review will be in concert w/: Sara Swenson & the Pearl Snaps, and Quiet Corral, at Czar, Fri Mar 2, in a benefit for MidCoast Takeover. More info at: midcoasttakeover.com]

9. Sara Swenson – “Lights Brighter”
from: All Things Big and Small / Independent / 2010
[KC based singer songwriter Sara Swenson, is a full time high school teacher at Platte County High School in Platte City, in her 9th year of teaching. This is the follow-up to her 2009 critically acclaimed selt titled debut. She also released a new EP in late 2011. Sara Swenson & the Pearl Snaps will be in concert w/ Quiet Corral, & The Blackbird Revue, at Czar, Fri Mar 2, in a benefit for MidCoast Takeover. More info at midcoasttakeover.com. Sara Swenson also plays the recordBar, Mon, Mar. 5 at 10:00 PM with Katie Herzig.]

10. David Burchfield – “Arkansas”
from: The Beginning / Independent / 2011
[Produced, engineered, mixed & master by Mike Crawford at the Impossible Box in KC, w/ David Burchfield on vocals & guitar; Leslie Hammer on banjo, fiddle & viola; Seth Jenkins on upright bass, Jeff Larison on pedal steel & dobro; Andy Michael on piano & accordian; and Devon Russell on vocals, choir. David Burchfield will be in concert this Fri, Mar 2 7:00 pm, First Friday at the Beggar’s Table, 2009 Baltimore Ave., KCMO. & Sat, Mar 24 8:30 pm w/ Sara Swenson, at R Bar 1617 Genessee, KCMO in the West Bottoms.]

10:45 – Interview with Alicia Solombrino of Beautiful Bodies

Beautiful Bodies have been compared to Blondie, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the Runaways. Fronted by the playful and charismatic Alicia Solombrino on Lead Vocals; with Thomas Becker on Guitar & Back-up Vocals; Luis Arana on Bass; Aaron Crawford on Drums, Beautiful Bodies have been playing live since 2005 and have shared the stage with Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Chemical Romance, Cake.

Beautiful Bodies play Beaumont Club, March 12, at 7:00 PM in an all ages show, with Company of Thieves.

The band takes its name from one of Solombrino’s favorite books, the Beautiful Bodies by Laura Cunningham.

Alicia Solombrino was born and raised here in Kansas City and she explained the moment when she knew that she wanted to be a musician. It was when she was in kindergarten. “I saw Madonna on the (1990) MTV (Video Music) Awards performing Vogue,” she said.

Along with being Lead singer, Alicia is also known as a videographer, director, photographer, promotions manager, and web designer, she has been able to put her talents to use in many different ways and with many different venues. Alicia has created videos with many bands including The Republic Tigers and Alacartoona.

Guitarist Thomas Becker, is a Harvard Law graduate. (in Miami, representing victims of a Bolivian massacre in a civil lawsuit against the country’s former president.)

Beautiful Bodies have been playing and touring since 2005, sharing the stage with bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Chemical Romance, Cake. Har Mar Superstar, Shny Toy Guns, and others.

Beautiful Bodies released the single “You’re A Risk” Oct. 12, 2010?

Over the past few years the band has been writing new songs and now have the opportunity to record these songs with multi-platinum selling producer John Feldmann who has worked with The Used, Panic at the Disco, Good Charlotte, Neon Trees and Hilary Duff. How did you all meet up with John Feldman?

The band will be traveling to Los Angeles and recording for about a month. And have started a Kickstarter grant to help complete the recording of their new record. This past Saturday, February 25, Beautiful Bodies were in concert for their Album Kickstarter Party at the Riot Room, with Mute the Idol, Bears & Company, Last Nights Vice. Tell us about your Kickstarter. You can learn more at thebeautifulbodies.com.

Beautiful Bodies are one of 26 area bands chosen to represent KC at the MidCoast Takeover at SXSW. This is their third year participating in the MidCoast takeover in Austin.

11:00

11. Molly Picture Club – “Idears (You Don’t Dance Enough)”
from: Molly Picture Club / Independent / March 3, 2012
[KC based band featuring: Aniko Adany- vocals, synths, keys, omnichord, Matthew Hayden- drums, drum sequencing, and Michael Tipton- vocals, guitar, bass. Mike Tipton recently passed on to us brand new tracks from M.P.C.’s new recordings to be released March 3, at 10:00 PM, at the recordBar. The album was mixed and mastered by Duane Trower at Weights and Measures Soundlab here in KC. Molly Picture Club will be in concert for a special CD Release Party, Saturday, March 3, at 10:00 PM at the recordBar, 1020 Westport Road. Molly Picture Club will also be participating in 90-.1 FM KKFI’s annual Band Auction. They’ll be on Wednesday MidDay Medley on March 14, listeners get your bidding ready!]

12. In Back of a Black Car – “Spare Me Love”
from: Single / Silver Tongue Records / August 2011
[Made up of former members of: Lovers in Transit, Five Star Crush, and Monta At Odds. This KC based, 4-piece includes: Matt Pluff on Drums, Backing Vocals and iPod; Zachary Bozich on Keyboards, Backing Vocals, and Hand Claps; Mychael Scott Reed on Bass, Programming, Keyboards, Theremin, and Backing Vocals; and Joel Hines on Lead Vocals, Guitar, and Bass.]

11:09

13. Sneaky Creeps – “It Must Be Chemical”
from: World Cup / Independent / Nov. 2010 [Max Crutcher, Andy Davis, Andy Erdrich all met while going to KCAI. Andy Erdrich, who is also a co-founder of BREAD!]

11:13 – Interview with Max Crutcher & Andrew Erdrich

Sneaky Creeps were originally formed by Artists: Max Crutcher, Andy Davis, Andy Erdrich who all met while going to KCAI. Andy Davis moved away, making the Sneaky Creeps a duo of Max Crutcher on Drums and Yell/Talk, and Andrew Erdrich on Guitar and Yell/Talk.

Max Crutcher moved to KC from Tulsa, Oklamoma.

Andrew Erdrich you and Sean Starowitz, both recent graduates of The Kansas City Art Institute, founded: BREAD! KC, an art project conceived in 2010 that creates funding for local artists by hosting a dinner, where for a $10 donation, diners are served a bowl of fresh soup, fresh baked bread, and a ballot. Three different creative projects are presented, and diners vote for one to receive the money collected from the evening. In under a year, BREAD! KC has awarded many thousands in micro-grants to area writers, gardeners, bands and artists.

Andrew Erdrich, besides playing with Sneaky Creeps, organizing and conducting Bread KC events each month, also works as the pressman at Vahalla Studios.

Andrew Erdrich is part of the Urban Culture Project.

Max Crutcher has a blog: yourniverse.blogspot.com

“The Thin Man Wigs Out” was Recorded by Ashley at Infoaming Vortex

11:24

14. Sneaky Creeps – “Flat”
from: The Thin Man Wigs Out / Independent / Jan. 8, 2012
[The 2nd EP from band formed by, Max Crutcher, Andy Davis, Andy Erdrich who all met while going to KCAI. Andy Davis moved away, making the Sneaky Creeps a duo of Max Crutcher on Drums and Yell/Talk, and Andrew Erdrich on Guitar and Yell/Talk. Recorded by Ashley at Infoaming Vortex All material written by Sneaky Creeps, Andy Erdrich, who is also a co-founder of BREAD! Was happy to report that we were the very first to download their new, release, “The Thin Man Wigs Out,” through bandcamp.]

11:26

Max Crutcher and Andrew Erdrich have both been involved in may local art projects and shows at: Spray Booth Gallery, 130 W 18th Wyandotte St. (Volker Bicycles) SprayBoothGallery.com, and City Arts Projects, 2015 Campbell St.

Spray Booth Gallery is largely curated by Andrew Lyles, a classmate of theirs from KCAI.

To check out Max Cruthcher & Andrew Erdrich’s new EP, “The Thin Man Wigs Out” visit: sneakycreeps.bandcamp.com.

For more info about Bread KC! – breadkc.wordpress.com

11:38

We are gave away 2 CDs of: Soft Reeds, “Soft Reeds Are Bastards,” from The Record Machine.

15. Soft Reeds – “Thick of Thin Things”
from: Soft Reeds Are Bastards / The Record Machine / 2010
[newest project from former Golden Republic frontman Ben Grimes. For more info: therecordmachine.net ]

16. Unicycle Loves You – “Wow Wave Cinema”
from: Failure / Mecca Lecca/Highwheel / 2012
[One of the bands coming in to play The Middle of The Map Festival in April. 3rd full length from Chicago based indie rock trio featuring: Jim Carroll on vocals/guitar/keys; Nicole Vitale on vocals/bass; and J.T. Baker/John Rungger on drums.]

11:45

17. Sharon van Etten – “Serpents”
from: Tramp / Jagjaguar Records / February 6, 2012
[3rd studio album, produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner, and recorded in his studio over the period of several months. Sharon van Etten was born & raised in New Jersey. She moved to Tennessee to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where she discovered a variety of influential music. After moving back to New Jersey, Van Etten was encouraged by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio to pursue a career in music.]

18. Frankie Rose – “Interstellar”
from: Interstellar / Slumberland Records / February 7, 2012
[2nd full-length album from Brooklyn vocalist, songwriter and musician She was formerly an original member of acclaimed garage rock acts Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, and the Vivian Girls.]

17. Fun. – “All The Pretty Girls”
from: Aim and Ignite / Nettwerk Records / Sept. 28, 2010 [One of the bands coming to play The Middle of The Map Festival in April. This is from the debut full length. You may’ve heard this song on Glee.]

11:59:30

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

Sources for Notes: Artist’s websites noted above and wikipedia.org

Show #410