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

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

David George of St. George & The Dragons + Guest DJ Tucker Slough

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. BLACKSTARKIDS – “SOULMATEZ!”
   from: Saturn Dayz / Dirty Hit Records / September 30, 2022
   [Gen-Z upstarts BLACKSTARKIDS have released their new single and video “SOULMATEZ!” on August 30, 2024, alongside the announcement of their upcoming sixth studio album Saturn Dayz, touching down to earth on September 20 via Dirty Hit. The lead single “SOULMATEZ!,” is a magnetic, blissed-out bop that brings together pop, indie, and alt-rap, reminiscent of Dev Hynes-era Solange mixed with De La Soul. // The follow up to BLACKSTARKIDS’ acclaimed 2022 album CYBERKISS* which featured standout singles “CYBERKISS 2 U* ft. beabadoobee” and “SEX APPEAL,” SATURN DAYZ is an otherworldly, genre-crossing testament to their unrelenting artistry and is their most impressive work to date. PRESS HERE to pre-save SATURN DAYZ. // Putting out music at a prolific rate and making waves for their formidable songwriting and producing talents, as well as their endless energy and truly limitless sound, BLACKSTARKIDS have received critical acclaim from New York Times, MTV, UPROXX, Billboard, Alternative Press, SPIN, Ones To Watch, Rolling Stone France, The Line Of Best Fit, DIY, Coup De Main, and more. Blending garage rock with synth-punk and hip-hop to usher in a new surge of indie, such as on their beloved album Puppies Forever which features anthemic singles “ALL COPS ARE BASTARDS,” “JUNO,” and “FIGHT CLUB,” BLACKSTARKIDS are well on their way to indie stardom and have previously toured with the likes of The 1975, COIN, Glass Animals, beabadoobee, Christian Leave, GroupLove. // Incorporating each member’s wide-ranging influences into their blissful DIY sound, such as Toro Y Moi, NERD*, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Outkast, Odd Future, and A Tribe Called Quest, BLACKSTARKIDS first captivated the internet with their “black coming of age trilogy” of projects Let’s Play Sports, Surf, and Whatever, Man that feature critically acclaimed singles including “BRITNEY BITCH” and “FRANKIE MUNIZ.” // Blackstarkids are phenomenon who came out of Kansas City in 2020 became the soundtrack for the summer. Blackstarkids are a pop/R&B/hip-hop trio based in Kansas City, Missouri. Members include: TheBabeGabe, Deiondre, and TyFaizon (of the Drop Dead XX collective). The members have known each other since high school in Raytown, Missouri. Members met at Raytown South High School and formed the band in 2019. The group released its first album, Let’s Play Sports, on August 1, 2019. Blackstarkids then released their second album SURF through their own label Bedroom Records on February 28, 2020. Blackstarkids caught the attention of The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy and were then signed to The 1975’s management company and UK-based label Dirty Hit Records. They were featured in Clash Magazine. Blackstarkids then released, Surf Basement Demos on Dirty Hit Records on March 5, 2020. On October 29, 2020, Blackstarkids released Whatever, Man on Dirty Hit Records, their third album release of 2020. Gabe, of Blackstarkids recently described the KC Music community to an interviewer, “The music scene here is really nice. There are a lot of bands who are super talented and do all types of genres. The jazz music here is really great as well. Kansas City is honestly a hidden gem when it comes to music. I feel like you can meet an artist anywhere and anyplace in this city.” Deiondre added, “The music scene here is getting cool now, there’s a lot of jazz musicians that go to school for music here too but you can find people from different scenes all over if around the city.” Ty wrote, “The Kansas City scene is great, the community here is so supportive and genuine. This is a really prideful city here and I think they’re finally getting the musicians they deserve.”]

3. The Get Up Kids – “Ten Minutes”
   from: Something to Write Home About / Polyvinyl Records / September 28, 1999
   [Matt Pryor on vocals & guitars, Jim Suptic on guitar, Rob Pope on bass, James Dewees on keyboards, Ryan Pope on drums. On June 8, 2018 The Get Up Kids released their KICKER EP on Polyvinyl Records. Polyvinyl announced on their Instagram account that they had signed the band and that new music will be coming soon. The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s emo scene, otherwise known as the “second wave” of emo music. As they gained prominence, they began touring with bands such as Green Day and Weezer before becoming headliners themselves, eventually embarking on international tours of Japan and Europe. They founded Heroes & Villains Records, an imprint of the successful indie rock label Vagrant Records. While the imprint was started to release albums by The Get Up Kids, it served as a launching pad for several side-projects such as The New Amsterdams and Reggie and the Full Effect. The Get Up Kids were viewed throughout their existence as a prototypical emo band, having been major players in the Midwest emo movement of the mid-1990s. Their second album Something to Write Home About remains their most widely acclaimed album, and is considered to be one of the quintessential albums of the second-wave emo movement. However, like many early emo bands, The Get Up Kids sought to dissociate themselves with the term, as it was considered dismissive to be seen as an “emo band.” The band departed heavily from their established style with the release of their 2002 album On a Wire, which saw the band take on a much more layered, alternative rock sound. Years later, guitarist Jim Suptic even apologized for having the influence they did on many of the modern third-wave emo bands, commenting that “[t]he punk scene we came out of and the punk scene now are completely different. It’s like glam rock now … If this is the world we helped create, then I apologize.” Due to internal conflicts, the band broke up in 2005. Three years later, the band reunited to support the tenth anniversary re-release of Something to Write Home About, and soon afterward entered the studio to write new material. In early 2010, the band released Simple Science, their first release in six years, followed in 2011 by the full-length There Are Rules. The Get Up Kids Members Rob Pope is also in the band Spoon; Jim Suptic is in the bands: Blackpool Lights, and Radar State; James Dewees is in the band Reggie and the Full Effect; and Matt Pryor performs often as a solo artists, and in the bands: Radar State, and The New Amsterdams.]

[The Get Up Kids play a special set of shows in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Something To Write Home About Friday, September 13 ar recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd, KCMO. Saturday, September 14 and Sunday September 15 at The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, KS Check listings – several shows are sold out.]

4. Duncan Burnett – “Goodbye”
   from: “Goodbye” – Single / R.I.O.T LLC / August 16, 2024
   [Olathe, KS based hip hop artist, singer, songwriter, producer, musician, drummer. // Duncan Burnett s the drummer and member of Making Movies. He also has produced music for Lava Dreams. // From Tim Finn’s Back To Rockville (KC Star) Blog Sept. 9, 2015 – When he settled on hip-hop as his music genre, Duncan Burnett had two missions in mind: Keep the messages positive. “I’m big on spirituality and being a positive influence,” he said. “When I started, my goal was to have my nieces and nephews be able to listen to their uncle’s music and love it and be able to repeat every line and lyric but also to have people my age relate to it.” His second mission was to provide live music during his performances. Burnett has been performing live since he was 7. Live music, he said, is in his blood. Duncan released the EP One of These Days on Apppril 10, 2020, it was a follow up to his 2018 EP, The Almighty.]

5. Folk Bitch Trio – “God’s A Different Sword”
   from: “God’s A different Sword” – Single / Folk Bitch Trio / August 14, 2024
   [“Boygenius if it was from the 40’s or something” – Phoebe Bridgers // “Design a new folk-pop sensation? Oh wait, it already exists” – Sydney Morning Herald // “There’s just something so delightfully unexpected about a group whose music is resplendent in such gorgeous harmonies and confessional songwriting having such a prickly name. Folk Bitch Trio wish to upend expectations.” – Rolling Stone // Melbourne, Australia based Folk Bitch Trio continue expanding their musical odyssey, announcing an expansive world tour this September to November, with new single and video “God’s A Different Sword.” // The partnership of Gracie Sinclair (she/her), Jeanie Pilkington (she/her), and Heide Peverelle (they/them) boast inventive vocal arrangements and warm instrumentation at the striking intersection of the grounded, beyond-their-years conversationalism of Laura Marling and the lightly wrought swirl of Grizzly Bear or The Japanese House. Continuing their ascent today with “God’s A Different Sword,” Folk Bitch Trio showcase their resplendent three-part harmony — signature to their longstanding creative collaboration. // As the trio explain: “‘God’s A Different Sword’ speaks to relinquishing a pattern but indulging in the habit ‘just one more time.’ The song was produced by us and Tom Healy during a fleeting stop in Auckland, Aotearoa this winter, while we were in town supporting Ben Howard. The lyrics are exasperated and questioning, so we wanted them to be held by instrumentation that is optimistic and open. The video, made by our dear friend Bridgette Winten, shows us gallivanting around our stomping grounds in Naarm, where this song was written and born.” // Folk Bitch Trio manifest a unique kinesiology of relaxed indie-folk with a quietly confident, assured underbelly. Born out of what they describe as a “mutual love for songwriting and truth-telling,” most significant to their rise and consistently captivating to their craft is the joy they take in making music together — it surges with the power of friends and collaborators executing a unified vision. // What began as an unserious collaboration at some local shows, has quickly led Folk Bitch Trio to share stages with acts like Alex G, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Julia Jacklin and Courtney Barnett. In 2023, they released the singles “Analogue” and “I Heard” (which Rolling Stone described as “resplendent in gorgeous harmonies and confessional songwriting), and their 2020 debut “Edie” received a praiseful shout-out from Phoebe Bridgers on triple j. From packed out BIGSOUND showcases, the group performed a triumphant run of shows at SXSW Austin earlier this year. // Folk Bitch Trio’s world tour is a massive undertaking that includes, in order: a series of shows in the UK and Europe including dates with The Teskey Brothers and Cat Clyde as well as a headlining London performance; a support run alongside M. Ward across the U.S.; and a lengthy headlining tour of Australia. / Currently on tour supporting M. Ward.]

6. Gillian Welch – “Elvis Presley Blues”
   from: Revelator / Acony Records / July 31, 2001
   [3rd full length album by Gillian Welch. All songs were written by Welch together with David Rawlings and were recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. // Gillian Howard Welch (/ˈɡɪliən ˈwɛltʃ/; born October 2, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, bluegrass, country and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as “at once innovative and obliquely reminiscent of past rural forms.” // Welch and Rawlings have collaborated on nine critically acclaimed albums, five released under her name, three released under Rawlings’ name, and two under both of their names. Her 1996 debut, Revival, and the 2001 release Time (The Revelator), received nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Her 2003 album, Soul Journey, introduced electric guitar, drums, and a more upbeat sound to their body of work. After a gap of eight years, she released a fifth studio album, The Harrow & the Harvest, in 2011, which was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. In 2020, Welch and Rawlings released All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone), which won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. // Welch was an associate producer and performed on two songs of the soundtrack of the Coen brothers 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a platinum album that won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2002. She also appeared in the film attempting to buy a Soggy Bottom Boys record. Welch, while not one of the principal actors, did sing and provide additional lyrics to the Sirens song “Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby.” In 2018 she and Rawlings wrote the song “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings” for the Coens’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, for which they received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.]

[Gillian Welch and David Rawlings plays The Folly Theater, 300 West 12th Street, KCMO, on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 7:30pm.]

7. Comet Tide – “1984EVER”
   from: “1984EVER” – Single / Wonderfuzz / September 13, 2024
   [New KC musical entity made up of members of Wonderfuzz.]

[Comet Tide. Play the St. George & The Dragons play a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO.]

10:30 – Underwriting

8. St. George & The Dragons – “Leave It All Up To You”
   from: King of Kansas City / Grand Central Bell Records / August 30, 2024
   [Released as a single on June 21, 2024. // A band’s lifespan is on the average two years. But after two years, St. George & The Dragons is just getting started. After four years of writing, rehearsing, and recording, St. George & The Dragons are releasing their debut album – King Of Kansas City, a ten-song album of pure rock and roll influenced by late 70s rock like the Stones and Tom Petty. // The album’s theme comes from a time when Rock ‘n’ Roll ruled the airwaves. It’s about letting go and raising your hand high into the air with your middle finger out to the world as you move on to the next big thing in your life. // Their first single “Leave It All Up To You” will be available on all streaming services June 21! The full-length album will be out August 30 with the vinyl release in September on Grand Central Bell Records. // Lead singer David George (Moaning Lisa, John Fogerty band) has been working with drummer/engineer Pat Tomek (The Rainmakers) since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. They found it easy to work together and had similar tastes which led them to produced and engineer an album for Kansas City artist David Luther. In the studio with Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys. // George, Tomek, and Kesler hit it off and started working on material of their own, eventually bringing in guitarist Mike Greene (The Front/Bakers Pink) and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks (Beatin’ Path) to round out the sound. Greene was the lead guitarist in the Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound. Hanks, from New Orleans fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies. // Influenced by the works of The Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands from the 70s and the 80s, St. George & The Dragons came together during the Global Pandemic, giving them time to develop their sound. George, Greene, Hanks, Kesler, and Tomek have all had their share of greatness, from the collective albums they’ve released on major and indie labels to sharing the stage with legends like Paul McCartney, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Doobie Brothers, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks Band, Lumineers, Aerosmith, Smithereens, Mother Love Bone, and a list that could fill up a book! // St. George & The Dragons will be following up their release with shows around the Kansas City area later this summer and fall. More information at: http://www.stgeorgeandthedragonsband.com]

[St. George & The Dragons a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO, with Comet Tide opening]

10:35 – Interview with David George

Singer, songwriter, producer, rock and roller, musical theatre creator, David George has toured with the legendary John Fogerty, performing sold out arenas and the “late night” circuit (David Letterman, Jay Leno). David George also released — three EP’s over a twelve month period: Here I Go Again, Won’t Let Go, and Lesson Of Love, with each album adding to the previous (acoustic, band, horns). George gained national attention when the Kansas City Chiefs chose his song “Hey, Kansas City!” to be their touchdown anthem in 2015-16 season. David George has written a Christmas Musical about a Drag Queen, and has performed at The Kansas City Rep Theatre.

David George joins us to shares tracks from his latest recording KING OF KANSAS CITY, the debut album of St. George & The Dragons. Lead singer David George pof the bands: Moaning Lisa, Volker Brothers, and The John Fogerty band, has been working with drummer, producer and engineer Pat Tomek of The Rainmakers, Howard Iceberg, and Deco Auto since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. While working together producing an album for David Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys. They hit it off! Eventually the trio brought in Mike Greene, lead guitarist of The Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound, and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks from New Orleans, who fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies. The new 5-piece now has a 10-track debut album on Grand Central Bell Records! St. George & The Dragons play a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO with Comet Tide.

David George thanks for being with us again on WMM.

(Last time David was on the show was on WMM June 26, 2019 to share music from the Volker Brothers new EP Wrecking Ball. Volker Brothers played an EP Release Show Thursday, June 27, at 7:30 in The Gospel Lounge at Kunckleheads.)

Voeks and George first started playing together when one would fill in with the other’s band. Whether it was Erik playing bass and singing backup in David George & A Crooked Mile or David playing guitar and singing backup in Erik Voeks & The Vague Lakes, the two realized they had a musicality in common. Stripping the band back to just the two of them on acoustic guitars enabled them to do a weeks worth of shows in Seattle. They began performing intimate shows around Kansas City, including house concerts and private events, and spreading the word on their melody driven, harmony enriched, acoustic based music. It’s not pop and it’s not folk, but a blend of the two.

St. George & The Dragons – King of Kansas City is 10 powerful rock and roll tunes influenced by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Stones, Eagles, REO, and many guitar-driven classic bands of the 70s. Eeleased August 30, 2024

David George (vocals/guitar)
Mike Greene (guitar)
Skeet Hanks (vocals/guitar)
Matt Kesler (vocals/bass)
Pat Tomek (drums)

Guest Players:
Lin Buck (piano/organ)
Ken Lovern (Organ)

Produced by David George
Recorded and Engineered by Pat Tomek at Largely Studios – KCMO
Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs – KCMO
Artwork by Jud Kite – Killer Kite Productions

Thanks to Whitney for all the noise we made while she tried to go about her day. And big thanks to all our wives and better halves!

St. George & The Dragons have been doing this rock ‘n’ roll thing for some time. Five legends in the Kansas City music scene got together to make the biggest sounding, rockingest record they could make. And they did it with their debut album KING OF KANSAS CITY!

A ten-song album of pure rock and roll influenced by late 70s rock like the Stones and Tom Petty as well as a few modern era artists like Chris Stapleton — ones that never seemed to follow trends or expectations.

The theme of KING OF KANSAS CITY comes from a time when Rock ‘n’ Roll ruled the airwaves. It’s about letting go and raising your hand high into the air with your middle finger out to the world as you move on to the next big thing in your life.

Their long-awaited debut album is out NOW on Grand Central Bell Records!

Lead singer David George (Moaning Lisa, John Fogerty band) has been working with drummer/engineer Pat Tomek (The Rainmakers) since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. They found it easy to work together and had similar tastes which led them to produced and engineer an album for Kansas City artist David Luther. In the studio with Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys.

George, Tomek, and Kesler hit it off and started working on material of their own, eventually bringing in guitarist Mike Greene (The Front/Bakers Pink) and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks (Beatin’ Path) to round out the sound. Greene was the lead guitarist in the Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound. Hanks, from New Orleans, fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies.

Influenced by the works of The Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands from the 70s and the 80s, St. George & The Dragons came together during the Global Pandemic, giving them time to develop their sound. George, Greene, Hanks, Kesler, and Tomek have all had their share of greatness, from the collective albums they’ve released on major and indie labels to sharing the stage with legends like Paul McCartney, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Doobie Brothers, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks Band, Lumineers, Aerosmith, Smithereens, Mother Love Bone, and a list that could fill up a book!

10:44

9. St. George & The Dragons – “King of Kansas City”
   from: King of Kansas City / Grand Central Bell Records / August 30, 2024
   [David George on vocals/guitar, Mike Greene on guitar, Skeet Hanks on vocals & guitar, Matt Kesler on vocals & bass, and Pat Tomek on drums. With Guest Players: Lin Buck on piano & organ, and Ken Lovern on organ. // Produced by David George. Recorded and Engineered by Pat Tomek at Largely Studios – KCMO. Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs – KCMO. Artwork by Jud Kite – Killer Kite Productions // A band’s lifespan is on the average two years. But after two years, St. George & The Dragons is just getting started. After four years of writing, rehearsing, and recording, St. George & The Dragons are releasing their debut album – King Of Kansas City, a ten-song album of pure rock and roll influenced by late 70s rock like the Stones and Tom Petty. // The album’s theme comes from a time when Rock ‘n’ Roll ruled the airwaves. It’s about letting go and raising your hand high into the air with your middle finger out to the world as you move on to the next big thing in your life. // Their first single “Leave It All Up To You” will be available on all streaming services June 21! The full-length album will be out August 30 with the vinyl release in September on Grand Central Bell Records. // Lead singer David George (Moaning Lisa, John Fogerty band) has been working with drummer/engineer Pat Tomek (The Rainmakers) since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. They found it easy to work together and had similar tastes which led them to produced and engineer an album for Kansas City artist David Luther. In the studio with Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys. // George, Tomek, and Kesler hit it off and started working on material of their own, eventually bringing in guitarist Mike Greene (The Front/Bakers Pink) and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks (Beatin’ Path) to round out the sound. Greene was the lead guitarist in the Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound. Hanks, from New Orleans fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies. // Influenced by the works of The Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands from the 70s and the 80s, St. George & The Dragons came together during the Global Pandemic, giving them time to develop their sound. George, Greene, Hanks, Kesler, and Tomek have all had their share of greatness, from the collective albums they’ve released on major and indie labels to sharing the stage with legends like Paul McCartney, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Doobie Brothers, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks Band, Lumineers, Aerosmith, Smithereens, Mother Love Bone, and a list that could fill up a book! // St. George & The Dragons will be following up their release with shows around the Kansas City area later this summer and fall. More information at: http://www.stgeorgeandthedragonsband.com]

[St. George & The Dragons Play a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO, with Comet Tide opening]

10:47 – More Interview with David George

Singer, songwriter, producer, rock and roller, musical theatre creator, David George has toured all over the place with the bands: Moaning Lisa, Volker Brothers, and The John Fogerty band, where he, played on national television, had his music played when the Chiefs scored a touch down, has written a Christmas Musical about a Drag Queen, and has performed at The Kansas City Rep Theatre.

David George joins us to shares tracks from his latest recording KING OF KANSAS CITY, the debut album of St. George & The Dragons. St. George & The Dragons play a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO with Comet Tide.

David George thanks for being with us again on WMM.

David George on vocals/guitar,
Mike Greene on guitar,
Skeet Hanks on vocals & guitar,
Matt Kesler on vocals & bass, and
Pat Tomek on drums.

With Guest Players: Lin Buck on piano & organ, and Ken Lovern on organ. //

Produced by David George. Recorded and Engineered by Pat Tomek at Largely Studios – KCMO. Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs – KCMO. Artwork by Jud Kite – Killer Kite Productions

A band’s lifespan is on the average two years. But after two years, St. George & The Dragons is just getting started. After four years of writing, rehearsing, and recording, St. George & The Dragons are releasing their debut album – King Of Kansas City, a ten-song album of pure rock and roll influenced by late 70s rock like the Stones and Tom Petty.

The album’s theme comes from a time when Rock ‘n’ Roll ruled the airwaves. It’s about letting go and raising your hand high into the air with your middle finger out to the world as you move on to the next big thing in your life.

Their first single “Leave It All Up To You” will be available on all streaming services June 21! The full-length album will be out August 30 with the vinyl release in September on Grand Central Bell Records.

Lead singer David George (Moaning Lisa, John Fogerty band) has been working with drummer/engineer Pat Tomek (The Rainmakers) since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. They found it easy to work together and had similar tastes which led them to produced and engineer an album for Kansas City artist David Luther. In the studio with Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys.

George, Tomek, and Kesler hit it off and started working on material of their own, eventually bringing in guitarist Mike Greene (The Front/Bakers Pink) and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks (Beatin’ Path) to round out the sound. Greene was the lead guitarist in the Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound. Hanks, from New Orleans fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies.

Influenced by the works of The Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands from the 70s and the 80s, St. George & The Dragons came together during the Global Pandemic, giving them time to develop their sound. George, Greene, Hanks, Kesler, and Tomek have all had their share of greatness, from the collective albums they’ve released on major and indie labels to sharing the stage with legends like Paul McCartney, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Doobie Brothers, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks Band, Lumineers, Aerosmith, Smithereens, Mother Love Bone, and a list that could fill up a book!

St. George & The Dragons will be following up their release with shows around the Kansas City area later this summer and fall.

St. George & The Dragons played the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art “Lawn Party” Kansas City, MO Sunday, July 21.

David George thanks for being with us again on WMM.

St. George & The Dragons Play a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO, with Comet Tide opening.

10:56

10. St. George & The Dragons – “Put a Little Lovin’ In”
    from: King of Kansas City / Grand Central Bell Records / August 30, 2024
    [David George on vocals/guitar, Mike Greene on guitar, Skeet Hanks on vocals & guitar, Matt Kesler on vocals & bass, and Pat Tomek on drums. With Guest Players: Lin Buck on piano & organ, and Ken Lovern on organ. // Produced by David George. Recorded and Engineered by Pat Tomek at Largely Studios – KCMO. Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs – KCMO. Artwork by Jud Kite – Killer Kite Productions // A band’s lifespan is on the average two years. But after two years, St. George & The Dragons is just getting started. After four years of writing, rehearsing, and recording, St. George & The Dragons are releasing their debut album – King Of Kansas City, a ten-song album of pure rock and roll influenced by late 70s rock like the Stones and Tom Petty. // The album’s theme comes from a time when Rock ‘n’ Roll ruled the airwaves. It’s about letting go and raising your hand high into the air with your middle finger out to the world as you move on to the next big thing in your life. // Their first single “Leave It All Up To You” will be available on all streaming services June 21! The full-length album will be out August 30 with the vinyl release in September on Grand Central Bell Records. // Lead singer David George (Moaning Lisa, John Fogerty band) has been working with drummer/engineer Pat Tomek (The Rainmakers) since 2018 when they recorded three solo EPs for George. They found it easy to work together and had similar tastes which led them to produced and engineer an album for Kansas City artist David Luther. In the studio with Luther, they enlisted the help of Matt Kesler (The Pedaljets, She Said, The Doo Dads) on bass with Tomek on drums and George on guitars and keys. // George, Tomek, and Kesler hit it off and started working on material of their own, eventually bringing in guitarist Mike Greene (The Front/Bakers Pink) and vocalist/guitarist Skeet Hanks (Beatin’ Path) to round out the sound. Greene was the lead guitarist in the Front, a band known for their searing guitar and power rock sound. Hanks, from New Orleans fronted the band Beatin’ Path, tearing up the Bayou country with their progressive rock sound and soaring melodies. // Influenced by the works of The Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands from the 70s and the 80s, St. George & The Dragons came together during the Global Pandemic, giving them time to develop their sound. George, Greene, Hanks, Kesler, and Tomek have all had their share of greatness, from the collective albums they’ve released on major and indie labels to sharing the stage with legends like Paul McCartney, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Doobie Brothers, The Black Crowes, Derek Trucks Band, Lumineers, Aerosmith, Smithereens, Mother Love Bone, and a list that could fill up a book! // St. George & The Dragons will be following up their release with shows around the Kansas City area later this summer and fall. More information at: http://www.stgeorgeandthedragonsband.com]

[St. George & The Dragons a Vinyl Release Party, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:00pm at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO, with Comet Tide opening]

11:00 – Station ID

11. The Nation of Ulysses – “the sound of Jazz to come”
    from: Plays Pretty for Baby / Dischord / October 6, 1992
    [The Nation of Ulysses was an American punk rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in spring 1988 with four members. Originally known as simply Ulysses, the first mark of the group consisted of Ian Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kroner on guitar, Steve Gamboa on bass guitar, and James Canty on drums. Tim Green joined the band late in 1989 as a guitarist and the band became “Nation of Ulysses.” Nation of Ulysses disbanded in the autumn of 1992, having failed to complete their third album. After the breakup, Svenonius, Canty, and Gamboa went on to form the short-lived Cupid Car Club and The Make-Up. Tim Green went on to help create The Fucking Champs, a mostly-instrumental trio out of San Francisco, and later Concentrick, a solo project with a focus on ambient music. // Nation of Ulysses was known for their far-left politics, their extremely physical live performances, and their unique take on punk culture and fashion. In total, Nation of Ulysses released three full-length albums, and two vinyl EPs released on Dischord Records, and were featured on a number of compilation albums on a variety of record labels. // The band formed in spring 1988, initially composed of four members – Ian Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kroner on guitar, Steve Gamboa on bass guitar, and James Canty on drums – and known simply as “Ulysses.” In late 1989, Tim Green joined the band as a second guitarist and the band was renamed to “Nation of Ulysses.” // In 1990, before the band released any official albums, Ian Svenonius was featured as teen-oriented Sassy Magazine’s first “Sassiest Boy in America.” He was interviewed at length in the magazine’s October issue, going into some depth about the band’s sound and political motivations. // In 1991 they released their first full-length album, 13-Point Program to Destroy America on Dischord Records. This was followed a year later by Plays Pretty for Baby, also on Dischord. During the recording of the band’s follow-up to Plays Pretty for Baby, Steve Kroner left the band. The remaining quartet continued to record, but eventually dissolved in 1992. In a later interview, Svenonius explained the reason for the split: “Nation of Ulysses broke up because the epoch changed with the advent of digital music and the Nirvana explosion. We were faced with what’s now known as indie rock, a sort of vacuous form. We had to determine our next move and this [the forming of the Make-Up] is it.” // After the band’s dissolution, Svenonius went on to form the short-lived Cupid Car Club with James Canty and Steve Gamboa, the Make-Up (again with Canty and Gamboa), and Weird War. Green went on to become an engineer and record producer and joined the prog-heavy metal band The Fucking Champs. // Though relatively short-lived, Nation of Ulysses’ influence has been substantial: they have been cited as influences for bands such as Glassjaw, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, The Hives, Thursday, Refused, Boysetsfire, Bikini Kill, Rocket From The Crypt, Antioch Arrow, The Locust, Death From Above 1979, At The Drive-in, LCD Soundsystem, Bis and Huggy Bear, among many others. // During Nation of Ulysses’ four years of activity, they released only two full-length albums: 13-Point Program to Destroy America in 1991 and Plays Pretty for Baby in 1992, both released on Dischord Records. After releasing Plays Pretty for Baby, the band began recording a third full-length album, but Steve Kroner separated from the band before recording was completed. The remaining quartet continued to record, but the group eventually dissolved before the record’s completion. In 2000, six songs from those sessions, in addition to four new tracks recorded live, were compiled and released posthumously as The Embassy Tapes. // In addition to their three full-length albums, Nation of Ulysses released two vinyl EPs. The first, a self-titled EP, was the band’s first official release, but went out of print when the three tracks from it were included in 13-Point Program to Destroy America. The second EP, released in 1992 under the title The Birth of the Ulysses Aesthetic (the synthesis of speed and transformation), also went out of print when its tracks were later released on Plays Pretty for Baby.[10] The band were also featured in a number of compilation albums on a variety of record labels. // In 1992, NOU was on tour with Bikini Kill, and when they arrived in Memphis, the found that the promoter for the show hadn’t actually promoted the show. So, while out on the town flyering the streets and ducking into record stores, NOU ran into Primal Scream, a band which had been in town recording their own album. Primal Scream then decided to attend NOU’s show at the Antenna Club, and then proceeded to invite NOU to record with them in the studio the next day. Nation of Ulysses then recorded five songs with Primal Scream in nine hours, though of course only after a quick errand for some tin foil for the members of Primal Scream to smoke a bit of crack, according to Tim Green. These recordings are known as Memphis Demos, and include the demos of N-Sub Ulysses, 50,000 Watts, Mockingbird, Yeah, and Shakedown.]

11:05 – Guest DJ – Tucker Slough

We welcomes Tucker Slough as a special Guest DJ. Tucker Slough is a veteran of the Kansas City Music Community. His father is Fred Slough a well know Kansas City Attorney. Fred was part of the progressive law firm Slough Conneally Irwin and Madden who had offices above The Corner Restaurant in Westport, back when Westport was progressive and cool. // The late Kathleen Conneally was an Attorney for KKFI in our early years. Kay Madden was a regular contributor to KKFI’s The Tenth Voice for over a decade. // Tucker Slough is a KC based MC, drummer, and actor.

Tucker released his 8-track album, all of us ends up as all of us, on September 30, 2023. Tucker released his 13-track album, Municipal Bonds on December 26, 2022 in collaboration with Sloan Myers who provided Beats and cuts. He released his 5-track EP, Lx Obvix, on January 15, 2022. Tucker released his 16-track album, DraculaVision, on June 16, 2021. A veteran of the Kansas City music community, Tucker has previously released the 23-track album, Sloughterhouse V, in 2007, the 15-track album, The Sloughvinci Code, from 2007-2008, and the 28-track album Neonderthal in 2014. Tucker Slough has also released two vinyl albums: EPs 1 & 2, and EPs 3 & 4, with Shante’ Clair for their experimental Chicago/Kansas City band, ShinyJets. Info at: http://www.tuckerslough.bandcamp.com

Tucker Slough Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

We just heard The Nation of Ulysses

Coming up Tucker will spin tracks from: Nation of Ulysses, Big Black, Bellini, Jesus Lizard, Joanna Newsom, US Maple, Luge, Ava Luna, and Lx Obvix.

Tucker’s music is incredibly original, theatrical, hilarious, political, making social commentary with song, and the poetry of hip

Tucker is an Actor. Tucker is a drummer. Tucker Slough is a husband and father

Tucker was part of the band ShinyJets an experimental rock band formed in Chicago in 2004 when drummer Tucker Slough encountered Singer/Guitarist Shanté Clair performing at a party thrown by a mutual friend in the Rogers Park area. The two struck up a friendship and began trying to incorporate Tucker’s drumming into Shanté’s existing solo project, The Maybe. Soon they began writing new songs and pushing their musical ideas further, incorporating looping pedals and other electronics until they had compiled a number of songs. Some time afterwards, Tucker moved back to his hometown of Kansas City and Shanté left Chicago to live in New York for a number of years. Around 2014, the two began working on new songs together, with Shanté writing songs that Tucker would then add drums parts to and send back via Dropbox. Within a short time the material they were creating began to take shape and discussions began about re-establishing the band. In March of 2015 Shanté packed up and moved to Kansas City to begin work on the project that would assume the moniker Shiny Jets. Incorporating songs written back in Chicago and those songs written long distance between New York and Kansas City, the two began adding layers of sampling and further experimentation with even more complex looping and arrangements. Currently Shiny Jets are no longer a band.

Tucker Slough Discography

all of us ends up as all of us, released September 30, 2023
8-track album,

Municipal Bonds, released December 26, 2022
13-track album made in collaboration with Sloan Myers who provided Beats and cuts.

Lx Obvix, released January 15, 2022
5-track EP,

DraculaVision, released June 16, 2021
16-track album

Sloughterhouse V, released in 2007
23-track album, Produced by Tucker Slough in Chicago and Kansas City. Featuring the cartoon bear. http://www.neonderthalkcmo.bandcamp.com

Tucker Slough: The Sloughvinci Code, released 2007-2008
15-track album, recorded in KCMO 2007, 2008 in a house near Topp Boom’s crib. All production by Tucker Slough. Rhymes by Tucker Slough.

Sloughchwitz, released in 2009-ish
Sloughschwitz is a concept album recorded in and around Kansas City in 2009-ish, at a time when Tucker Slough was obsessively studying the bizarre and fascinating, crypto-right wing extremist Lyndon Larouche cult, and observing in horror the growth of the right-wing extremism in the United States and around the world. All music and rhymes by Tucker Slough except Negro Sco verse on his cameo song. This album has a conspicuous absence of the cartoon bear.

Neonderthal, released in 2014
28-track album, Produced by Luke Rocha and Tucker Slough, compact disc and digital download available at- http://www.neonderthalkcmo.bandcamp.com. Recorded in KC, 2014. Symbol Heavy Recordings

Tucker Slough has also released two vinyl albums:
EPs 1 & 2, and EPs 3 & 4, with Shante’ Clair for their band, ShinyJets.

Tucker Slough Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Info at: http://www.tuckerslough.bandcamp.com

11:09

12. Big Black – “Kerosene”
    from: Automizer (Remastered) / Touch and Go Records / June 1, 1985
    [Atomizer is the debut full-length album by American punk rock group Big Black released in 1986. Steve Albini on vocals, guitar, drum machine programming (1981–1987; died 2024); bass guitar (1981–82); Jeff Pezzati on bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–84)
    Santiago Durango on guitar, backing vocals (1983–1987) Dave Riley on bass guitar, backing vocals (1985–1987; died 2019). // The band’s drum machine is credited as “Roland” on their releases. // Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded first as a solo project by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band became a trio with an initial lineup that included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun. In 1985, Pezzati was replaced by Dave Riley, who played on Big Black’s two full-length studio albums, Atomizer (1986) and Songs About Fucking (1987). // Big Black’s aggressive and abrasive music was characterized by distinctively clanky guitars and the use of a drum machine rather than a drum kit, elements that foreshadowed industrial rock. The band’s lyrics flouted commonly held taboos and dealt frankly—and often explicitly—with politically and culturally loaded topics including murder, rape, child sexual abuse, arson, racism, and misogyny. Though the band’s lyrics contained controversial material, the lyrics were meant to serve as a commentary or a display of distaste for the subject matter. They were staunchly critical of the commercial nature of rock, shunning the mainstream music industry and insisting on complete control over all aspects of their career. At the height of their success, they booked their own tours, paid for their own recordings, refused to sign contracts, and eschewed many of the traditional corporate trappings of rock bands. In doing so, they had a significant impact on the aesthetic and political development of independent and underground rock music. // In addition to two studio albums, Big Black released two live albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, and five singles, all through independent record labels. Most of the band’s catalog was kept in print through Touch and Go Records for years following their breakup.// Big Black was founded by Steve Albini in 1981 during his second year of college at Northwestern University. Albini had become a fan of punk rock during his high school years in Missoula, Montana, and taught himself to play bass guitar in the fall of 1979, his senior year, while recuperating from a badly broken leg resulting from being struck by a car while riding his motorcycle. Moving to Evanston, Illinois the following year to pursue a journalism degree and fine art minor at Northwestern, Albini immersed himself in the fledgling Chicago punk scene and became a devoted fan of the band Naked Raygun. He also DJ’d for the campus radio station, from which he was repeatedly fired for playing loud and abrasive music during the morning time slot as well as not completing the required logs. He also wrote a controversial column titled “Tired of Ugly Fat?” for the Chicago zine Matter, publishing confrontational rants about the local music scene which polarized readers into either respecting or hating him. // A Roland TR-606 drum machine, the model Albini used to create Big Black’s drum sound // Albini began playing in college bands, including a short-lived “arty new wave” act called Stations that featured a drum machine. Seeing the advantage in a machine that could play incredibly fast without tiring, always kept a steady beat, and would follow commands exactly, he purchased a Roland TR-606 drum machine and began writing what would become the first Big Black songs. However, he was unable to find other musicians who could play the songs to his satisfaction, later stating in Forced Exposure that “I couldn’t find anybody who didn’t blow out of a pig’s asshole.” Instead, in the spring of 1981, he bought a guitar, borrowed a four-track multitrack recorder from a friend in exchange for a case of beer, and spent his spring break week recording the Lungs EP in his living room, handling the guitar, bass, and vocals by himself and programming the Roland TR-606 to provide the drum sound. Influenced by bands like Cabaret Voltaire, Killing Joke, and the Cure, the EP is described by Our Band Could Be Your Life author Michael Azerrad as “cold, dark, and resolutely unlistenable”, with the lyrics describing child abusers and other controversial topics, and Albini later regarded the effort as one of his few artistic regrets. // Albini named his new musical project Big Black, calling the moniker “just sort of a reduction of the concept of a large, scary, ominous figure. All the historical images of fear and all the things that kids are afraid of are all big and black, basically.” He used the Lungs tape to try to enlist other musicians to the project, briefly recruiting Minor Threat guitarist Lyle Preslar who was attending Northwestern, but the two proved incompatible as musicians. Albini passed Lungs on to John Babbin of the small local label Ruthless Records, who released 1,500 copies of the EP in December 1982 with random objects such as dollar bills, used condoms, photographs of Bruce Lee, and bloody pieces of paper thrown into the inserts.]

13. Bellini – “Rut Row”
    from: Snowing Sun / Monitor Records / September 10, 2002
    [Bellini is an international indie rock/math rock band, composed of members from Girls Against Boys, Soulside and Uzeda. This band was named after the Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini. // The band was formed after Damon Che’s previous band Don Caballero went on hiatus. To start a new outfit he called upon the Italian guitarist Agostino Tilotta. They were joined by Tilotta’s wife Giovanna Cacciola (vocals) while Che brought in Matthew Taylor on bass. The four-piece got together with Steve Albini who produced their debut album Snowing Sun, released in 2002. During the subsequent North American tour drummer Che left and was replaced by Alexis Fleisig. In 2005 the band released the album Small Stones, followed by The Precious Prize of Gravity in 2009. Both recorded with the assistance of Steve Albini. A new record was planned for sometime in 2015. // Members: Giovanna Cacciola on vocals, Alexis Fleisig on drums, Matthew Taylor on bass, Agostino Tilotta on guitar, Damon Che on drums (2001—2002). // Official releases: Snowing Sun, (Monitor Records, Palace Records, 2002), Small Stones, (Temporary Residence Limited, 2005), The Buffalo Song/Never Again 7″ single (Radio is Down, 2004), The Precious Prize of Gravity, (Temporary Residence Limited, 2009), and Before The Day Has Gone, (Temporary Residence Limited, 2018).]

11:17 – Guest DJ – Tucker Slough

We welcome Tucker Slough as a special Guest DJ. Tucker Slough is a veteran of the KC Music Community. His father is Fred Slough a well know Kansas City Attorney. Fred was part of the progressive law firm Slough Conneally Irwin and Madden who had offices above The Corner Restaurant in Westport, back when Westport was progressive and cool. // The late Kathleen Conneally was an Attorney for KKFI in our early years. Kay Madden was a regular contributor to KKFI’s The Tenth Voice for a decade. //

Tucker’s music is incredibly original, theatrical, hilarious, political, making social commentary with song, and the poetry of hip.

Tucker is an Actor. Tucker is a drummer. Tucker Slough is a husband and father

Tucker Slough Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:20

14. The Jesus Lizard – “Then Comes Dudley”
    from: GOAT / Touch and Go Records / March 15, 1991
    [Austin, Texas based band with David Yow, David Wm. Sims, Duane Denison, Mac McNeilly, and past members: Jim Kimball, and Brendan Murphy. // The Jesus Lizard is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas by vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Wm. Sims. They relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1989, where they found kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and Touch and Go Records. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly, they began performing live, eventually attracting an international audience with their powerful live show. // The Jesus Lizard were “a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial noise.” The albums Goat (1991) and Liar (1992) have since been recognized as two of the most significant noise rock albums of their decade. // Drummer Jim Kimball replaced McNeilly late in 1996, and was himself replaced by Brendan Murphy two years later, with McNeilly returning to drums for their reunion shows years later. Despite releasing a split single with leading alt-rockers Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records, the band failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion tour ten years later garnered positive responses from audiences and critics. The band performed another reunion tour in 2017 and 2019. // The band began in Austin, Texas, when guitarist Duane Denison asked David Yow, formerly of Scratch Acid, to play bass on some songs he wanted to record. Yow suggested that he sing and have former Scratch Acid bassist David Wm. Sims play bass instead. The resultant group took its name from a common nickname for the basilisk, a type of lizard that can run on water. The trio rehearsed several times in Austin with a drum machine. Yow and Sims moved to Chicago in 1988, and Denison followed the next year. // Their first EP, Pure, was recorded by Albini and released by Touch & Go in 1989. It is the only record by the band that uses a drum machine. Drummer Mac McNeilly, formerly of Phantom 309, was recruited and the band played its first live show on July 1, 1989. Albini recorded the band’s next four albums – Head (1990), Goat (1991), Liar (1992), and Down (1994). During this era the group also released a live record, Show, and a split single with Nirvana, Puss/Oh, the Guilt. // The band signed to Capitol Records in 1995, recording the song “Panic in Cicero” for the Clerks soundtrack and making appearances at Lollapalooza shortly thereafter. Impressed by his work on The Melvins’ Stoner Witch album, the band hired producer Garth Richardson to record their next record, Shot, the following year. While rumors that Albini refused to work with the band due to their involvement with a major label persisted, both Albini and the group have stated this to be false. // McNeilly left the band in late 1996, citing exhaustion from touring and the desire to spend more time with his family.[He was replaced by Jim Kimball, of Mule and Denison’s side project, The Denison/Kimball Trio. // After more heavy touring the following year, this lineup recorded 1998’s self-titled EP, their only record whose title is not a four-letter word, on Jetset Records. The EP featured production and engineering by Andy Gill of Gang of Four, John Cale, and Jim O’Rourke. Later that year, the band released the album Blue, also recorded by Gill. A departure, the record explored their experimental instincts previously hinted at on earlier songs like “Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along” and “White Hole”. // In August 1998 Kimball left the group and was replaced by Chicago-based drummer Brendan Murphy, formerly of the Wesley Willis Fiasco. They embarked on several more months of heavy touring, playing the final gig of their initial career at the Umeå Open festival in Umeå, Sweden, on March 27, 1999. After being dropped from Capitol Records mid-contract, the band announced its split the following June.]

15. Joanna Newsom – “Bridges and Balloons”
    from: The Milk-Eyed Mender / Drag City / March 23, 2004
    [Debut album from Joanna Newsom (born January 18, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Born and raised in Northern California, Newsom was classically trained on the harp in her youth and began her career as a keyboardist in the San Francisco-based indie band the Pleased. // After recording and self-releasing two EPs in 2002, Newsom signed to the independent label Drag City. Her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was released in 2004 to acclaim and garnered Newsom an underground following. She received wider exposure with Ys (2006), which reached number 134 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a 2007 Shortlist Music Prize. She continued releasing albums with Have One on Me in 2010 and Divers in 2015. // Newsom has been noted by critics for her unique musical style, sometimes characterized as progressive folk, and for her harp instrumentation. She has also appeared as an actress with roles in the television series Portlandia and in the 2014 film Inherent Vice. // Newsom was born in Grass Valley, California. Her parents, both doctors, were “progressive-minded professionals” who previously lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. Newsom was raised in Nevada City along with her older brother, Peter, and younger sister, Emily. She is the second cousin, twice removed, of Gavin Newsom, Governor of California. // As a child, Newsom was not allowed to watch television or listen to the radio. She describes her parents as “kind of idealists when it came to hoping they could protect us from bad influences, like violent movies, or stupid stuff.” She listened to music from a young age. Her father played the guitar, and her mother was a classically trained pianist who played the hammered dulcimer, the autoharp and conga drums. Newsom attended a Waldorf school where she studied theater and learned to memorize and recite long poems. // At five, Newsom asked her parents if she could learn to play the harp. Her parents eventually agreed to sign her up for harp lessons, but the local harp instructor did not want to take on such a young student and suggested she learn to play the piano first. She did, and later moved on to the harp which she “loved from the first lesson onward.” She first played on smaller Celtic harps until her parents bought her a full-size pedal harp in the seventh grade. // After high school, she studied composition and creative writing at Mills College, where she played keyboards in The Pleased. She dropped out, however, to focus on her music and returned to live with family in Nevada City. // n 2002–03, after appearing as a guest musician on Nervous Cop’s self-titled collaboration album, Newsom recorded two EPs, Walnut Whales and Yarn and Glue. These homemade recordings were intended to serve as a document of her early work and were not intended for public distribution. At the suggestion of Noah Georgeson, her then-boyfriend and recording engineer of the EP, she burned several copies to sell at her early shows. Newsom’s friend and bandmate in Golden Shoulders, Adam Kline, gave one of her CDs to Will Oldham at a show in Nevada City. Oldham was impressed with Newsom’s music and asked her to tour with him. He also gave a copy of the CD to the owner of Drag City, his record label. Drag City signed Newsom and released her debut album The Milk-Eyed Mender in 2004. // Shortly thereafter, Newsom toured with Devendra Banhart and Vetiver to promote the album and made an early UK appearance at the Green Man Festival in Wales.[19] The tour was the subject of the 2011 documentary, The Family Jams. In December 2004, she performed with Smog and Weird War at Drag City’s “It’s a Wonderful Next Life” Christmas party. She also appeared as a guest musician on Vetiver’s 2004 self-titled album, and the following year, on Vashti Bunyan’s Lookaftering (2005). The track “Sprout and the Bean” was featured in the 2008 horror film The Strangers. // The Milk-Eyed Mender had sold 200,000 copies as of 2010 and helped her garner an underground following. The album was remarked as a “neo-folk benchmark” by music historian John Morrish in 2007 and was named the 12th best folk album of all time by NME. // Her second album, Ys (/iːs/), was released in November 2006, also by Drag City. The album features orchestrations and arrangements by Van Dyke Parks, engineering from Steve Albini and mixing by Drag City label-mate Jim O’Rourke. On a road trip, Bill Callahan recommended she listen to the album Song Cycle by Parks, which led to him being chosen to arrange her work on Ys. To support Ys, Newsom performed the album live in 2008 with the Brooklyn Philharmonic in New York City and with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Sydney, Australia. Ys garnered Newsom wider exposure, charting at number 134 on the Billboard 200. The album was also nominated for a 2007 Shortlist Music Prize. As of 2010, Ys had sold 250,000 copies. // In 2009, she appeared in the music video for the song “Kids” by the group MGMT. Also in 2009, Newsom appeared as a guest harpist on the Moore Brothers’ album Aptos and played piano on Golden Shoulders’ Get Reasonable. Newsom provided additional vocals for The Lonely Island’s song “Ras Trent” during this period as well. On March 28, 2009, she performed over two hours of new material at an unannounced concert in Big Sur, California with fellow Nevada City singer-lyricist Mariee Sioux under the pseudonym the Beatles’s. Those in attendance reported that about one-third of her new material was played primarily on piano, with a backing arrangement of banjo, violin, guitar and drums. On February 11, 2010, Pitchfork Media reported that Newsom would be the subject of a tribute book titled Visions of Joanna Newsom which was published by Roan Press and features a contribution from author and publisher Dave Eggers. Newsom’s third studio album, Have One on Me, was released on February 23, 2010, in North America.[39] A triple album recorded in Tokyo in 2009, it consists of over two hours of songs. Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Ann Powers praised the album’s variety, adding: “Newsom uses the songwriter’s default mode to explore how traditional love, for women, can be both the beginning and the end of possibility: a way to escape home and be exiled from it; to welcome children or be burdened by fertility; to be entrusted with secrets, or betrayed.” Throughout 2010, she toured Europe and North America to promote the record, supported by a five-piece band, and also appeared as a guest composer on the album How I Got Over by the Roots, released in June of that year. She was also selected by Matt Groening to perform at the edition of the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England. In December 2010, a tribute album of Newsom covers was released as a digital download. Artists involved include M. Ward, Billy Bragg, Francesco Santocono, Guy Buttery and Owen Pallett, with all proceeds going to Oxfam America’s Pakistan Flood Relief Efforts. On July 19, 2011, Newsom’s second single, “What We Have Known,” was released on 12″ vinyl. The single was originally the b-side to her first single, “Sprout and the Bean”.[43] In June 2011, she filmed her second music video (for the song “Good Intentions Paving Company”) with directors Karni & Saul.[44] Newsom was selected by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival that he curated in March 2012 in Minehead, England. In late 2011, Newsom contributed vocals to “The Muppet Show Theme” for The Muppetsand appeared on the cover of the 10th anniversary issue of Under the Radar with Robin Pecknold. // Newsom began 2012 with television appearances on Austin City Limits (on January 21) and Portlandia (on February 7). // On June 25, 2012, she performed at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco with Philip Glass and Tim Fain as part of a benefit for the Henry Miller Memorial Library. She performed a new song at the concert tentatively titled The Diver’s Wife, a love story concerning pearl hunting, which would eventually become the title track from her next album, Divers. On October 14, she performed another new song tentatively called “Look and Despair” at the Treasure Island Festival, which was renamed “Sapokanikan” and released as the lead single from Divers. //Newsom appeared on a track titled “Kindness be Conceived” on Thao and the Get Down Stay Down’s album We the Common, released in February 2013.[52] In March 2013, Newsom contributed to the song “The Man Who Ran the Town” from the album Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear by British skinhead band Hard Skin. // She appeared in and narrated the 2014 film Inherent Vice, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called Newsom’s narration in the film “gorgeously rendered.” Newsom’s fourth record, Divers, was released on October 23, 2015. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Alternative Albums chart and topped her previous best sales week (Ys’s debut). // On December 8, 2015, she performed “Leaving the City” from the album on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert On March 22, 2023, she performed a surprise set as Fleet Foxes’ opener during their Spring Recital show in Los Angeles, performing five new songs tentatively titled “Bombs Are Whistling”, “Marie at the Mill”, “Little Hand”, “The Air Again”, and “No Wonder”. On May 18, 2024, during concert performances of mainly children’s song covers, Newsom debuted two original songs: “Home Economics” and “Rovenshere”.]

11:28 – Underwriting

11:30 – Guest DJ – Tucker Slough

We welcome Tucker Slough as a special Guest DJ. Tucker Slough is a veteran of the KC Music Community. His father is Fred Slough a well know Kansas City Attorney. Fred was part of the progressive law firm Slough Conneally Irwin and Madden who had offices above The Corner Restaurant in Westport, back when Westport was progressive and cool. // The late Kathleen Conneally was an Attorney for KKFI in our early years. Kay Madden was a regular contributor to KKFI’s The Tenth Voice for a decade. //

Tucker Slough Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:33

16. US Maple – “Sweet and Center”
    from: Purple On Time / Drag City Records / November 4, 2003
    [Chicago, based band active from 1995–2007 with Al Johnson, Mark Shippy, Todd Rittman, Adam Vida, and past member Pat Samson. // According to singer Al Johnson, the album’s title is meant to elicit connotations of emotion, as, to him, purple is an emotional color. The “on time” aspect of the title is meant to evoke sexual associations related to climax. Al Johnson describes the records as a “love record,” and contends that the band intended to make an album of love songs, but their intention went unnoticed. // U.S. Maple was an American noise rock band. The group formed in Chicago in 1995. The band consists of Al Johnson (lead singer), Mark Shippy (guitarist), Pat Samson (drummer), and Todd Rittmann (guitarist). // U.S. Maple was formed in 1995 at DeKalb’s Northern Illinois University by former members of Shorty and the Mercury Players. Two members from each band met at the corner of Grand and Western Avenues, and as the band would reveal later on their website, began discussing how the group could erase rock and roll from their collective minds. The assembled group set out to devise a working method for reorganizing Rock and Roll, keeping only what they felt were its most important core elements. Recognizing they were kindred spirits, the group decided then and there to unite in an attempt to realize some of their musical ambitions. // U.S. Maple inherited vocalist Al Johnson and guitarist Mark Shippy from Shorty, while drummer Pat Samson and second guitarist Todd Rittman were transplants from the Mercury Players. The band’s first recording came in the form of a two-song 7″ single produced by Doug Easley and recorded in September 1995 at Easley Studios in Memphis, Tennessee (during these sessions a cover version of AC/DC’s “Sin City” was also recorded, and eventually released on Skin Graft’s “Sides 1-4″ 7” compilation). U.S. Maple’s first single featured the songs “Stuck” and “When a Man says Ow!” The independent label Skin Graft Records took an interest in the band and signed them to the label, releasing the “Stuck” single in the fall of 1995. // The band recorded their first album, Long Hair in Three Stages, late in 1995 at Illinois’ Solid Sound Studios located in Hoffman Estates. The album was produced by indie music producer and future Sonic Youth guitarist Jim O’Rourke, and was fueled with jarring guitar noodling, vocal wheezes and howls, and spastic drumming — all staples of the band’s elastic song structures. Skin Graft released the album in October 1995 in both vinyl and CD formats; the vinyl pressings included a bonus track and hand-made sheet metal jackets manufactured by the bandmembers themselves. The band then embarked on a six-week, twelve country, European tour in support of their first album. While in England, the band recorded a Peel session for John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show. // When the band returned home from their European tour they recorded a second single featuring a cover of the 1961 Dion and the Belmonts hit “The Wanderer”, as well as an original composition, “Whoa Complains.” In 1997, the band returned to Solid Sound Studios to record their second album, again with producer Jim O’Rourke. This session produced the album Sang Phat Editor, which was released by Skin Graft Records in June 1997. // In the fall of 1998 U.S. Maple left Skin Graft, signing to Drag City the following year, due in part to the influence of Drag City labelmate Jim O’Rourke, but also due to an agreement by the label to support the band during their busy tour schedule. 1999 saw the band returning to the studio to record the followup to their Skin Graft work. Their third album, Talker, a darker, sparser record than their previous albums, was recorded at B.C. Studio in Brooklyn, New York. The album was recorded by Michael Gira, lead singer of post-industrial rock band Swans, with Martin Bisi engineering. // In 2001 the band released their fourth album, Acre Thrills. The album was recorded in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, at Pachyderm Studio, and mixed a week later in Richmond, Virginia, at Sound of Music. In the summer of 2001, after the recording of Acre Thrills, drummer Pat Samson left the band, and was replaced by Adam Vida. With Vida, the band released their fifth studio album, 2003’s Purple On Time, which saw a departure from the confrontational, fervent, and violent aspects of previous releases. Purple on Time contained more conventional song structures, instrumentation and singing. // Al Johnson and Mark Shippy were both previously in Shorty (1991–1994). Shippy, along with former U.S. Maple drummer Pat Samson are now in Miracle Condition. Shippy also plays in two-piece band Invisible Things with Jim Sykes. // Todd Rittmann now leads Chicago-based Dead Rider, in addition to being a member of Drag City band, Singer. He was formerly a guitarist in The Mercury Players and Cheer-Accident. // Johnson made appearances both live and on record with no-wave band Lake of Dracula,(1995–1997) where he was billed simply as “The Manhattanite”, alongside members of The Scissor Girls, The Flying Luttenbachers, and Couch.]

17. Luge – “Triangle Lifestyle”
    from: Luge / Luge / April 24, 2020
    [Toronto, Ontario based band with Cam Fraser on bass, Kaiva Gotham on vocals & synth, Tobias Hart on guitar, Stu Mein on drums & percussion. Mixed and mastered by Jackson Willows. Album art by Isaac Roberts (and Kaiva Gotham)]

11:42 – Guest DJ – Tucker Slough

We welcome Tucker Slough as a special Guest DJ. Tucker Slough is a veteran of the KC Music Community. His father is Fred Slough a well know Kansas City Attorney. Fred was part of the progressive law firm Slough Conneally Irwin and Madden who had offices above The Corner Restaurant in Westport, back when Westport was progressive and cool. // The late Kathleen Conneally was an Attorney for KKFI in our early years. Kay Madden was a regular contributor to KKFI’s The Tenth Voice for a decade.

Tucker Slough Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:45

18. Ava Luna – “Sears Roebuck M&Ms”
    from: Electric Balloon / Western Vinyl / March 4, 2014
    [Ava Luna is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, United States. // Their labvel debut, Ice Level was reviewed in Pitchfork by Paul Thompson who says “The genre-bending New York synth-funk septet create a glorious mess on their full-length debut.”. The songs from Electric Balloon “stick in your head in a way their earlier material didn’t” according to Lindsay Zoladz from Pitchfork. Tess Duncan of Pitchfork said of Infinite House that “The album has a loose, playful energy, and always seems to be ready to pounce on you.” // Current members: Carlos Hernandez on vocals, guitar (2005–present), Julian Fader – drums (2005–2007, 2010–present), Felicia Douglass – keyboard, vocals (2008–present), Ethan Bassford – bass (2010–present). Former members: Judnick Mayard on vocals (2008–2009), Alex Smith – drums (2007–2010), Siheun Song – vocals (2007–2010), Nathan Tompkins – keyboard (2005–2013), Becca Kauffman – keyboard, vocals, guitar (2009–2019). // DiscographyAlbums: Lemming (2007, self-released), Ice Level (2012, Infinite Best), Electric Balloon (2014, Western Vinyl). Infinite House (2015, Western Vinyl), Histoire de Melody Nelson (2018, Turntable Kitchen), Moon 2 (2018, Western Vinyl), Live at Market Hotel (2020, Western Vinyl). Compilations: Takamatsu Station (2015, self-released). EPs: 3rd Avenue Island (2009, Cooling Pie Records), Services EP (2010, Cooling Pie Records/Environmental Aesthetics), Pigments EP (2019, Western Vinyl). Singles: Wrenning Day (2012, Inflated Records), Water Duct (2012, Weathervane Music), Rain Flexi (2015, Father/Daughter Records), Israelites Flexi (2015, Joyful Noise Recordings).}

11:48 – Guest DJ – Tucker Slough / Goodbyes

We welcome Tucker Slough as a special Guest DJ. Tucker Slough is a veteran of the KC Music Community. His father is Fred Slough a well know Kansas City Attorney. Fred was part of the progressive law firm Slough Conneally Irwin and Madden who had offices above The Corner Restaurant in Westport, back when Westport was progressive and cool. // The late Kathleen Conneally was an Attorney for KKFI in our early years. Kay Madden was a regular contributor to KKFI’s The Tenth Voice for a decade. //

Tucker’s music is incredibly original, theatrical, hilarious, political, making social commentary with song, and the poetry of hip.

Tucker is an Actor. Tucker is a drummer. Tucker Slough is a husband and father

Tucker released his 8-track album, all of us ends up as all of us, on September 30, 2023. Tucker released his 13-track album, Municipal Bonds on December 26, 2022 in collaboration with Sloan Myers who provided Beats and cuts. He released his 5-track EP, Lx Obvix, on January 15, 2022. Tucker released his 16-track album, DraculaVision, on June 16, 2021. A veteran of the Kansas City music community, Tucker has previously released the 23-track album, Sloughterhouse V, in 2007, the 15-track album, The Sloughvinci Code, from 2007-2008, and the 28-track album Neonderthal in 2014. Tucker Slough has also released two vinyl albums: EPs 1 & 2, and EPs 3 & 4, with Shante’ Clair for their experimental Chicago/Kansas City band, ShinyJets.

Tucker Slough Thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Thank you all for listening

11:52

19. Lx Obvix – “As Death Approaches”
    from: all of us ends up as all of us / Tucker Slough / September 20, 2023
    [Tucker Slough is an MC/drummer/actor/ who makes stuff that you may enjoy…. DraculaVision was performed entirely by Tucker Slough with guest appearances by Shante’ Clair of ShinyJets and a cartoon bear. More info at: http://www.tuckerslough.bandcamp.com]

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

Next week on Wednesday, September 18 – we’ll talk with artist Lori Raye Erickson, and for our second hour we will focus on The Outer Reaches Festival September 20, 21, and 22 with special guest Steve Tulipana, Brenton Cook, Nathan Reusch, and Mark Ronning.

THANK YOU to our incredible KKFI Staff; Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, KKFI Accounting & Administration – Shaina Littler.

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. Instead it is about a collective spirit of hundreds of hardworking people, unselfishly setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the gigantic goal of keeping our airwaves free, non-commercial, and open to all! Congratulations and thank you to all programmers & volunteers who went the extra effort to keep our station alive.

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
https://www.soundcloud.com/wednesdaymiddaymedley
http://www.bandcamp.com/wednesdaymiddaymedley
http://www.instagram.markthomasmanning

Show #1060