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, August 19, 2026

Michael Tipton & Matthew Hayden + Stephen Roper of Hotel Leo + Austin Marks of oldnothing

1. Various Artists – “Main Title Instrumental (It’s Showtime Folks)”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. Meshell Ndegeocello & Cat Power – “Don’t You Want Me”
   from: Synonym / Blue Note – Verve / October 2, 2026
   [15th album from acclaimed GRAMMY-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello. // This is Ndegeocello’s third Blue Note album, With Synonym, the acclaimed singer-bassist-producer reimagines and reconceptualizes a brilliantly curated collection of classic songs as duets with an astounding rollcall of special guests. Ndegeocello has shared the 2nd single “Don’t You Want Me” featuring Cat Power, an inventive cover of The Human League’s 80s synth-pop hit given a Reggae groove with horn embellishments and performed as a duet by two of the most distinctive song stylists of our time. // Synonym was introduced last month with the lead track “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” an arresting take on the George Michael/Aretha Franklin duet sung by Ndegeocello and Cynthia Erivo. Other featured guests on the album include Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, Bill Callahan, Chris Thile, Madison Cunningham, Laura Lee (of Khruangbin), Lizz Wright, Emily King, Lianne La Havas, Moses Sumney, Destin Conrad, Nick Hakim, Robert Glasper, ANOHNI, WILLOW, Evann McIntosh, and Ink. // The album also notably marks a reunion with David Gamson, the producer of Ndegeocello’s first two classic albums – Plantation Lullabies (1993) and Peace Beyond Passion (1996) – who co-produced Synonym with Ndegeocello and Abe Rounds. A rotating cast of instrumentalists also anchors the music on the album, many of whom are Ndegeocello’s close artistic conspirators, including drummers Rounds and Deantoni Parks; guitarist Chris Bruce; keyboardists Jake Sherman, Jebin Bruni, and Larry Goldings; saxophonists Josh Johnson and Levon Henry; flutist Elena Pinderhughes, banjoist Bela Fleck; and others. // Exploring expressions of desire, care, heartbreak, friendship, disappointment, and love in all forms, the songs range from 1960s folk and 70s soul, country, and pop to 80s R&B and electro-boogie, early-90s alternative rock, and early-aughts hip-hop. “This project is about classic songs that are known and loved,” Ndegeocello says. “The songs have diverse tones, representing various genres and intentional grooves. But the album is also about joy, selfhood, individual representation, and universal experience.” // When asked about the album’s intriguing title, Ndegeocello first suggests that the word “just feels good on the mouth,” before expounding upon its true definition: a word or phrase that means the same thing as another word in the same language. “That’s how humans are,” Ndegeocello theorizes, “Regardless of our differences, deep down we essentially want the same things: healthy food and a safe place to live. We are all different. But at the core of the human condition, we are the same.” //

The tracklisting for Synonym is as follows:
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) with Cynthia Erivo
Don’t You Want Me with Cat Power
Don’t Stop The Music with Nick Hakim, Robert Glasper
Islands In The Stream with Chaka Khan
It Ain’t Me Babe with Madison Cunningham
Always on Time with Laura Lee
Be Real Black For Me with Emily King, Lizz Wright
Don’t Look Any Further with Lianne La Havas
The Closer I Get To You with Destin Conrad, Moses Sumney
Golden Ring with Brandi Carlile
I Got You Babe with ANOHNI
Here We Come (Here He Comes) with Evann McIntosh
Guilty with Ink
Hunger Strike with WILLOW
With God On Our Side with Bill Callahan, Chris Thile.

/ / On August 2, 2024 Meshell Ndegeocello released her acclaimed No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin on Blue Note – Verve. A tribute album to African-American thinkers and writers, including namesake James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. The album was released on Baldwin’s Centennial: August 2, 2024. (from www.bluenote.com): The visionary work is at once a musical experience, a church service, a celebration, a testimonial, and a call to action. With No More Water, Ndegeocello embarks on a prophetic musical odyssey that transcends boundaries and genres, delving headfirst into race, sexuality, religion, and other recurring themes explored in Baldwin’s canon. Following 2023’s The Omnichord Real Book, her acclaimed Blue Note debut which won the inaugural GRAMMY Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album, the multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer renders an immersive and palpable document that is as sagacious, unabashed, and introspective as Baldwin was in life. // Co-produced by Ndegeocello and guitarist Chris Bruce, No More Water features some of the bassist’s frequent collaborators including Bruce, vocalist Justin Hicks, saxophonist (and Omnichord producer) Josh Johnson, keyboardist Jebin Bruni, and drummer Abe Rounds. Also appearing on various songs are vocalist Kenita-Miller Hicks, keyboardists Jake Sherman and Julius Rodriguez, and Executive Director of the NYCPS Arts Office and trumpeter Paul Thompson. The album also showcases powerful spoken word by venerated poet Staceyann Chin and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and critic Hilton Als. // Nearly a decade in the making, the album’s origins began in 2016 during a performance at The Harlem Stage Gatehouse as part of their annual showcase honoring Baldwin. Ndegeocello had delved into Baldwin’s work the year before, including the seminal nonfiction work The Fire Next Time, which she considers “life-changing” and carries with her as a “spiritual text.” Ndegeocello says, “It was just a revelation to me, and it softened my heart in so many ways.” // Meshell Ndegeocello released her Blue Note Records debut with The Omnichord Real Book, on June 16, 2023. // At The 2024 Grammy Awards, Meshell Ndegeocello won the first-ever GRAMMY for Best Alternative Jazz Album for The Omnichord Real Book. In her acceptance speech, the two-time GRAMMY winner and 12-time nominee thanked Don Was, the president of Blue Note Records, as well as other colleagues and loved ones — including her two sons. “I hope I haven’t forgotten anybody,” Ndegeocello graciously said at the end, and invoked an elder of the music: “Oliver Lake, this is for you.” // It was a visionary, expansive, and deeply jazz-influenced album that marks the start of a new chapter in her career. Following her 2018 album Ventriloquism, Meshell returns with an album of new original material that taps into a broad spectrum of her musical roots. The Omnichord Real Book was produced by Josh Johnson and features a wide range of guest artists including Jason Moran, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joel Ross, Jeff Parker, Brandee Younger, Julius Rodriguez, Mark Guiliana, Cory Henry, Joan As Police Woman, Thandiswa, and others. // Meshell Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968 in West Berlin, Germany, to US Army Sergeant Major and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C. where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School. She is a singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist. She has gone by the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur which is used as a writing credit on some of her later work. Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae and rock. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career, being nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, and winning one. She also has been credited for helping to “spark the neo-soul movement”. // Ndegeocello adopted her surname, which she says means “free like a bird” in Swahili. Early pressings of Plantation Lullabies were affixed with stickers to help pronounce her name. The spelling has changed in the hands of record labels a few times during her career; the correct spelling of her stage name as of 2001 is Meshell Ndegeocello.]

3. Katy Guillen & The Drive – “Staying Awake”
   from: MAKE THAT SOUND / Are and Be Recordings / October 17, 2025
   [Katy Guillen & The Drive released the singles: “What If: on July 25, and “Outcome” on August 22, 2025) from the band’s upcoming album.// MAKE THAT SOUND was Produced by Megan McCormick, Engineered & Mixed by Brandon Bell with Annie Petrik, Mastered by Kim Rosen. Katy Guillen on vocals & guitar; Stephanie Williams on drums & percussion; Megan McCormick on bass, backing vocals, additional guitars & percussion; Erin Manning on Synthesizers; and Brandon Bell on Loops & programming. // Established in 2019, Katy Guillen & The Drive is an independent Indie Roots Rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, formed by partners Katy Guillen (Vocals, Guitar) and Stephanie Williams (Drums). The band’s 2022 debut album Another One Gained, produced by Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Heartless Bastards), “hit the sweet spot with a mix of spiky garage rock and soulful country torch songs,” lauds Uncut Magazine. Under The Radar Magazine declares the duo “evokes a timeless indie rock sound” and displays “effortless instrumental chemistry that gives both members a chance to shine.” Following this release, the band unleashed Another One Gained Deluxe featuring ‘Batallas,’ a highly anticipated Spanish version of the fan-favorite ‘Battles,’ which spotlighted special guest Latin Grammy winner Mireya Ramos (Flor De Toloache) on violin and backing vocals. // Katy Guillen & The Drive prides itself on fostering empowered spaces for women in music both onstage and off, and performances showcase the group’s signature all-female powerhouse formation, technical prowess, and electrifying chemistry. This core value heavily influenced the band’s second full-length effort Make That Sound. Guillen admits, “Having never worked with a woman in the studio, that’s something we wanted to change on this record. We wanted more female energy, ideas, and power to influence this album.” With this goal in mind, the band was eventually led to Producer Megan McCormick (Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah). As a result of their fast friendship and facile chemistry, the duo embraced their newfound creative trust in this relationship and ran with it. Within a matter of a few days, the three collaborated on everything from songwriting and arrangements to live tracking and overdubs, resulting in a liberated, emboldened, and nuanced new record. Williams shares, “The recording process was dense and fast. It required being totally present, trusting our initial instincts, and pushing into some uncharted territory at times.” Guillen speaks to the inspiration behind the songs and process, “In creating this album I felt particularly inspired by the countless strong and important women in my life, the love that I’ve grown with my partner, and the strength I’ve gained from digging inward through challenging times.” Make That Sound is a celebration of self-empowerment, liberation, vulnerability, honesty, and love. In addition to McCormick, the band was fortunate to work with engineers Brandon Bell (Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell) and Annie Petrik on tracking and mixing, as well as mastering engineer Kim Rosen (Bonnie Raitt, Allison Russell). The band will partner with Nashville-based indie label and artist collective Are & Be Recordings for the release.]

[Katy Guillen & The Drive play Light Up the Lawn Light Up the Lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary for Art Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS on Friday, August 21, at 8:00pm.]

4. the eradicats – “I Ate a Sandwich”
   from: “I Ate a Sandwich” – Single / Celery Wolf Records / February 27, 2026
   [the eradicats released their singles, “Be My Baby” on August 15, 2025, “Smead” on July 18. 2025, “89 Batman” on May 13, 2025. the eradicats released their EP, best in show on October 2, 2024. Words by Kristi Who and Josh Thomas. Music by Josh Thomas, Chris Smead, Justin Brooks, and Kristi Who, Artwork by Kristi Who. // What if Pixies were funny? Black Francis specifically, Kim Deal is hilarious and the coolest person ever. What if They Might Be Giants grew up listening to punk? The eradicats answer these questions, and maybe even a few others, on their debut EP “Best in Show”.]

[the eradicats play Sound Bite at Warehouse on Broadway, 3951 Broadway BLVFD., KCMO, on Friday, August 21, 2026 , at 6:00pm, with The Touchdowns, and Headlight Rivals.]

5. The Womack Sisters – “I Just Don’t Want You (To Say Goodbye)”
   from: The Womack Sisters / Daptone Records / August 14, 2026
   [The Womack Sisters: Kucha, Zeimani, and BG Womack, were singing before they could walk. The Sisters grew up on the road. Their schools were stages & studios all over the world, where they sang behind their parents, Zekkariyas & Zeriiya (fka Womack & Womack), alongside their four siblings. Nowhere was home for long. No matter where they lived they were always surrounded by music and family. // Their 2026 debut album,The Womack Sisters, is the musical culmination of the Sisters’ long and winding journey to find them-selves. Over an intensely soulful collection of tunes that harkens back to when pop music had substance, vibe and purpose, each of their distinct voices have their moments in the spotlight. // www. thewomacksisters.com.]

6. Sara Swenson – “Your Town” [Video released April 7, 2026]
   from: TALLER / Sara Swenson / February, 28, 2026
   [Sara Swenson and more than 20 beloved KC singer-songwriters, instrumentalists, radio DJs and promoters sing “Your Town”. Includes live footage from Swenson’s performances at KC music venues – the Gospel Lounge at Knuckleheads, recordBar and Crossroads Music Fest at Stockyards Brewing Co. Sara Swenson has released some of our most played and favorite recordings of the last 7 years. Her self titled debut ended up at the top of our list of The 100 Best Recordings of 2009. In 2010 Sara Swenson released her second full length recording, “All Things Big and Small” again working with Don Chaffer in Nashville who added new layers to Sara’s great songs and voice. In November of 2011, Sara released her 5 song EP called “Never Left My Mind,” featuring her band at the time, The Pearl Snaps. In that time frame, she also had picked up two KC Singer-Songwriter of the Year awards, performed with Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair, and placed a song on the season finale of ABC’s “Private Practice.” Then after the school year ended in 2012, Sara Swenson left her job as a High School English & Journalism Teacher in Platte County High School, and left KC, and she flew off to the United Kingdom, where she got married. In the spring of 2014, Sara returned and performed for the Folk Alliance International Conference. On July 18, 2014 she released her 4th album, RUNWAY LIGHTS that captures snapshots of her 18-month experience of living abroad, moving from dating to marriage and sorting through the accompanying transitions. Produced by Don Chaffer in Nashville. On March 26, 2021 Sara Swenson released, “I Wont Let You Feel Alone”a song from husband Michael Price’s film “The Hidden Pandemic” that premiered on KCPBS that also features Mark Lowrey’s piano. Info: saraswenson.com.]

[Sara Swenson plays Greenwood Social Hall at 1750 Belleview Ave. KCMO on Fri., Aug. 21, at 8:00pm]

7. The Elders – “Next To You Love”
   from: The Spirits and The Sea – EP / The Elders / August 7, 2026
   [Ian Byrne on vocals & percussion, Norm Dahlor on vocals, bass, guitar, banjo; Kian Byrne on vocals, drums, bass, mandolin; Bill “Liam” Latas on guitar, Brent Hoad – vocals, keyboards, fiddle, guitar; Dan “Danko” Loftus on keyboard, Shannon O’Shea on violin. // The Elders formed in 1998 with a passion for music rooted in Americana & Celtic folk rock. From the beginning The Elders seemed to be channeling something ancient and enduring, unaffected by fads, trends and the giant maw of mind-numbing commercialism. The Elders remain one of the top Celtic-rock bands in the U.S. after more than two decades because of their timeless sound. Their fans feel connected to the band because of their passion, great melodies, unique harmonies, unparalleled musicianship and strong song-writing. And that songwriting began in 1998 when two musicians moved back from Los Angeles to KC to play Irish music. Norm Dahlor & Brent Hoad, played in numerous bands but their American and Celtic-folk rock roots were calling and The Elders were born. // Their ability to bring together the art of story telling with elements both musically progressive and rooted in tradition, has won them a broad international fan base, as well as critical acclaim ifrom: PASTE Magazine, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange, Music Row Magazine, Goldmine Magazine, TRAD Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Kansas City Star and more. Their 8th studio album, TRUE, builds upon The Elders’ song-writing reputation. The songs feature story lines with vibrant narratives that explore history, legends, tall tales & true-life experience. www.eldersmusic.com

[The Elders play Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester Ave. KCMO on Fri., Aug. 21, at 8:00pm]

The Elders Discography
2000 CD – “The Elders”
2002 CD – “Pass it on Down”
2004 CD – “American Wake”
2005 DVD/CD – “Live at the Gem Theater” (Live)
2006 CD – “Racing the Tide”
2007 DVD/CD – “Alive & Live in Ireland” (Live)
2009 CD – “Gael Day”
2010 CD – “The Best of The Elders”
2011 CD – “Wandering Life & Times”
2012 DVD/CD – “The Elders Hoolie” (Live)
2014 DVD – “Live at The Uptown Theater”
2014 CD “Story Road”
2017 CD “True”
2022 CD “Well Alright Then”
2026 EP – The Spirits and The Sea

Filmography
“Live at the Gem” (2005)
“Alive and Live In Ireland” (2007)
“American Music: OFF THE RECORD” (2008)
“The Elders: Hoolie” (2012)
“Live at The Uptown Theater” (2014)
“Evergy & The Elders Light up the Plaza” (2020) Emmy Winner

10:29 – Underwriting

8. Hotel Leo – “It’s Not Working Out”
   from: Everybody You Know / The Record Machine / August 28, 2026
   [Stephen Roper on Vocals, Synth, Piano, Guitar, Drums; Darin Breeden on Backup Vocals, Guitar, Bass Guitar; and Evan Verploegh on Drums. Mixed by Ross Brown. Mastered By Mike Nolte. Artwork by Tessa Kriss. // In 2026 Hotel Leo released the singles: “It’s Not Working Out” on February 27, 2026; “Mechanical” on March 27, 2026; “Just a Rumor” on May 1, 2026; “Notes in the Door” on June 5, 2026; “Limerence” on July 24, 2026. In 2024 Hotel Leo also released the singles: “Another Low” on May 19, 2024; “Give It a Chance” on June 21, 2024, and “Time Apart” on August 2, 2024. Hotel Leo is the musical project of Stephen Roper who told It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine, “ Hotel Leo has always been a studio-only project, and the idea to bring these songs to a live format is a fairly recent one. I’m lucky to have met several awesome musicians over the past year, and bringing them in to play on Hotel Leo songs feels like unlocking a whole new dimension of the band. I love the different sounds and ideas everybody brings to the table. When writing songs I don’t think about how I’m going to recreate them live – I just try and serve the song however I can. Moving those songs into a more traditional live band lineup has been a challenge. For example, how do we translate some of these synth parts to electric guitar? Or how do some of these songs recorded with a drum machine sound with real drums? I’m really enjoying the new takes on the music, and I feel like it has given new life to these songs.]

[Hotel Leo play an Album Release Show on Friday, August 28 at miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO with Teri Quinn & The Coyotes and The Creepy Jingles.]

[Hotel Leo also plays The RINO, 314 Armour Rd., North Kansas City on September 19 with Brotha Josh, and Mel Crosby, and Pool Culture.]

10:35 – Interview with Stephen Roper

Hotel Leo an indie rock/dream pop project based in Kansas City. It started in 2016 as a bedroom project from songwriter Stephen Roper, and has grown over the past two years into a full band, wth Stephen Roper on vocals, synthesizers, piano, guitar, drums; Darin Breeden on backup vocals, guitar, bass guitar; and Evan Verploegh on drums, regularly playing live shows. The band’s sound was originally built around analog synthesizers and drum machines – still a big part of the project – but has since waded into utilizing electric guitars, acoustic drums, and more. Hotel Leo’s new album “Everybody You Know” will be released through The Record Machine on August 28, 2026.

Hotel Leo play an Album Release Show on Friday, August 28 at miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO with Teri Quinn & The Coyotes and The Creepy Jingles.

Hotel Leo also plays The RINO, 314 Armour Rd., North Kansas City, on September 19 with Brotha Josh, and Mel Crosby, and Pool Culture.

Stephen Roper, thanks for being with us again on WMM

Where are you originally from?
I’m from Kansas City, Missouri

Where did you go to school?
I went to Belton High School, then JCCC, and then UMKC. I dropped out to go on tour with my band.

Have you been another bands?
Yes! I was the drummer in Jump Rope for Heart and Reward Tree, started playing synth in a band called Riddles, and I currently play Synth in Lava Dreams.

When did you start playing music?
I come from a musical family, so played piano as a child. My mother is a drummer in an all-girl classic rock cover band, and inspired me to start playing drums through school and high school.

Who are your biggest influences?
So many, but let’s go with Animal Collective, Broken Social Scene, Future Islands, The Good Life

On the album’s core idea: It’s about connection. Really how everyone’s got their own separate life going on, but we’re all tied together by the same basic truth: none of us get forever. That could sound dark, but for me it actually landed the opposite way. There’s certainly themes of fear and anxiety around mortality on the record, but also how the limited time we have is what makes life worth living.

On the relationship side: I also went through a pretty significant breakup while writing this, and that’s all over the record too – longing, rejection, the process of letting something end. It’s less “concept album about death” and more about how endings of all kinds – a relationship, a chapter, eventually everything – force you to pay attention to what actually matters.

On loss: I also lost my brother while I was working on this record, and that loss is woven through it too. Grief has a way of showing up in your writing whether you plan for it or not. I don’t think of the album as being about any one loss – it’s more that everything I was going through at the time, the breakup, missing him, thinking about how fragile all of it is – it all ended up in the same place.

Stephen Roper, thanks for being with us again on WMM

Hotel Leo play an Album Release Show on Friday, August 28 at miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO with Teri Quinn & The Coyotes and The Creepy Jingles.

Hotel Leo also plays The RINO, 314 Armour Rd., North Kansas City, on September 19 with Brotha Josh, and Mel Crosby, and Pool Culture.

10:54

9. Hotel Leo – “Notes in The Door”
   from: Everybody You Know / The Record Machine / August 28, 2026
   [Stephen Roper on Vocals, Synth, Piano, Guitar, Drums; Darin Breeden on Backup Vocals, Guitar, Bass Guitar; and Evan Verploegh on Drums. Mixed by Ross Brown. Mastered By Mike Nolte. Artwork by Tessa Kriss. // In 2026 Hotel Leo released the singles: “It’s Not Working Out” on February 27, 2026; “Mechanical” on March 27, 2026; “Just a Rumor” on May 1, 2026; “Notes in the Door” on June 5, 2026; “Limerence” on July 24, 2026. In 2024 Hotel Leo also released the singles: “Another Low” on May 19, 2024; “Give It a Chance” on June 21, 2024, and “Time Apart” on August 2, 2024. Hotel Leo is the musical project of Stephen Roper who told It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine, “ Hotel Leo has always been a studio-only project, and the idea to bring these songs to a live format is a fairly recent one. I’m lucky to have met several awesome musicians over the past year, and bringing them in to play on Hotel Leo songs feels like unlocking a whole new dimension of the band. I love the different sounds and ideas everybody brings to the table. When writing songs I don’t think about how I’m going to recreate them live – I just try and serve the song however I can. Moving those songs into a more traditional live band lineup has been a challenge. For example, how do we translate some of these synth parts to electric guitar? Or how do some of these songs recorded with a drum machine sound with real drums? I’m really enjoying the new takes on the music, and I feel like it has given new life to these songs.]

[Hotel Leo play an Album Release Show on Friday, August 28 at miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO with Teri Quinn & The Coyotes and The Creepy Jingles.]

[Hotel Leo also plays The RINO, 314 Armour Rd., North Kansas City on September 19 with Brotha Josh, and Mel Crosby, and Pool Culture.]

11:00 – Station ID

10. Molly Picture Club – “Disconnected”
    from: In My Own Time Machine / Indep. / Orig. April 30, 2013 / Re-released Sept. 8, 2026
    [Aniko Adany: vocals, keys, synths & omnichord; Matthew Hayden: drums, & drum sequencing; Michael Tipton: vocals, guitar, & bass. All songs written, arranged, performed, & produced by Molly Picture Club. Additional percussion by Justin Skinner. Drums recorded, EP Mixed & Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab. All other sounds recorded by Matthew Hayden at Southland Studios.]

[Thursday, August 27, 2026 – Mike Tipton Trio plays Knuckleheads with The Clay Clear Band, Free Rent Band and The Band Grim.]

[Friday, August 21 – Found a Job play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, West Bottoms]

[Friday, August 28, 2026 – Found A Job play Light Up the Lawn Light Up the Lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary for Art Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS on Friday, August 21, at 8:00pm.]

11:03 – Interview with Michael Tipton & Matthew Hayden

Michael Tipton & Matthew Hayden are part of the eight piece, Talking Heads tribute band, Found A Job. The two have collaborated together in many projects and as part of the acclaimed bands: Molly Picture Club (2009-2013), and Kodascope (2013-2016). Molly Picture Club called themselves a “dark disco” band from Kansas City. Heavily influenced by 80s and 90s punk, Hungarian-born Aniko Adany added punchy synth and raw vocals backed by the afro-beat and Latin influenced rhythms of drummer Matt Hayden, while front man and lead guitarist Michael Tipton accentuated the group’s music with yelps and quips that form the characters in MPC’s songs. Matthew has played in the band Afrolicious. Michael & Matt will share two tracks from their upcoming EP re-release, “My Own Time Machine” from Molly Picture Club.

Michael Tipton & Matthew Hayden thanks for being with us on WMM

Shows:

Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 7:00pm – Mike Tipton Trio plays Knuckleheads with The Clay Clear Band, Free Rent Band and The Band Grim

Friday, August 21 – Found a Job play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, West Bottoms

Friday, August 28, 2026 – Found A Job play Light Up the Lawn Light Up the Lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary for Art Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS on Fri., Aug. 21, at 8:00pm.

Michael B. Tipton released 5+ new singles Michael B. Tipton released in 2025. This single was recorded at Weights & Measures Soundlab here in KC. Performers on the track are Nate Holt- organ, Aaron Lewis– bass, Jace Hughes– electric guitar, Sam Shoemaker-pedal steel guitar, Justin Danner-drums, Ashleigh Guthrie-backing vocals, and myself on acoustic and vocals. Written by Michael B. Tipton. // Along with the country singles Michael recently teamed up with vocalist Seyko of The Freedom Affair member Seyko to release a Christmas collab they co-wrote called “Better To Believe” in early December. This song features performances by The Freedom Affair, members of Found A Job and Michael’s country band The Scoundrels, and Seyko’s daughter Reiko. // Michael B. Tipton has been working with Nashville songwriters and studios this past year and recently recorded an original song “Favorite Place in Town” (written about Strawberry Hill’s Hillsiders), at County Q Studios in Nashville. This song will be released TBA in 2026 and distributed to FM and AM Country stations across the country. Michael B. Tipton was signed to Stone Bridge Entertainment in July 2025. His debut solo album, Out of the Woods, was released on October 13, 2023. With his band The Scoundrels, Michael has shared stages with Bronwyn Keith Hynes and Jason Isbell.

Michael Tipton was one of the first musical guests we ever interviewed on WMM when he was in the band Tabla Rasa. We also played almost everything they recorded when Michael was part of the band, Molly Picture Club. Michael’s band Found a Job has been rocking venues in Kansas City for over 10 years playing Talking Heads tracks.

Michael has also been a frequent contributor to The Band That Fell to Earth proving he can serve and deliver with the lyrics of David Byrne and David Bowie.

Michael B Tipton is a seasoned singer-songwriter who has performed for audiences nationwide for over 26 years. With a remarkable versatility across genres like folk, country, electronic, indie rock, and hard rock, his compositions are written to be adapted to various musical styles. Michael made his mark as a member of acclaimed bands: Tabla Rasa (1999-2005), 5 Defy (2006-2008) (With Aniko Adany), Molly Picture Club (with Aniko Adany) (2009-2013), and Kodascope (2013-2016).

He is also the driving force behind Found A Job, a popular 8-piece tribute to Talking Heads since 2012, where he embodies David Byrne’s essence.

In addition to his live performances, Michael’s songwriting prowess has earned him placements on notable TV shows like “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” and various Discovery Channel segments. With an extraordinary ability to connect through heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies, and a solid beat, Michael B Tipton continues to enchant audiences with his music. Stay tuned as this artist ventures into new musical horizons.

Michael has also been a frequent contributor to The Band That Fell to Earth KC proving he can serve and deliver with the lyrics of David Bowie as well as David Byrne.

Michael B Tipton is a seasoned singer-songwriter who has performed for audiences nationwide for over 26 years. With a remarkable versatility across genres like folk, country, electronic, indie rock, and hard rock, his compositions are written to be adapted to various musical styles.

Michael is / was a member of acclaimed bands:
Tabla Rasa (1999-2005),
5 Defy (2006-2008),
Molly Picture Club (2009-2013),
Kodascope (2013-2016)
Michaek B. Tipton & The Scoundrels (2024-2026)
Found A Job (2014 -Present)

Michael B. Tipton is singer-songwriter whose stories are shaped by his expansive life experiences: cowboy, preacher, teacher, massage therapist, door-to-door salesman and dad. He has four kids. www.michaelbtiptonmusic.com

Found A Job:
Michael Tipton: lead vocals, guitar
Matt Hayden: drums
Camry Ivory: vocals, choreography
Peter Lawless: multi-instrumentalist and band director
Justin Skinner: percussion, sound engineering & Jedi-like, show-saving skills
Katelyn Jamison; vocals, choreography
Brent Jamison: bass, keyboards
Ashleigh Guthrie; keyboards (2014-2024)
Lauren Williams: bass (2024-present)

Friday, August 21 – Found a Job play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, West Bottoms

Friday, August 28, 2026 – Found A Job play Light Up the Lawn Light Up the Lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary for Art Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS on Fri., Aug. 21, at 8:00pm.

Michael Tipton & Matthew Hayden thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:23

11. Molly Picture Club – “As You Were”
    from: In My Own Time Machine / Indep. / Orig. April 30, 2013 / Re-released Sept. 8, 2026
    [Aniko Adany: vocals, keys, synths & omnichord; Matthew Hayden: drums, & drum sequencing; Michael Tipton: vocals, guitar, & bass. All songs written, arranged, performed, & produced by Molly Picture Club. Additional percussion by Justin Skinner. Drums recorded, EP Mixed & Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab. All other sounds recorded by Matthew Hayden at Southland Studios.]

[Thursday, August 27, 2026 – Mike Tipton Trio plays Knuckleheads with The Clay Clear Band, Free Rent Band and The Band Grim]

[Friday, August 21 – Found a Job play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, West Bottoms]

[Friday, August 28, 2026 – Found A Job play Light Up the Lawn Light Up the Lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary for Art Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS on Friday, August 21, at 8:00pm.]

11:28 – Underwriting

12. oldnothing – “Take You To The Sun”
    from: Don’t Call Me Tina / oldnothing / August 15, 2026
    [Produced by David Bennett. Album artwotk by Sarah Dowen. // Austin Marks who is currently recording and performing as, oldnothing. Austin Marks is a songwriter from St. Joseph, Missouri. He writes sad songs and love songs (not that there’s any difference), and creates them all himself as warm, hazy, and drenched in reverb. He spent years playing in the Kansas City band Dreamgirl before setting out on his own. His debut album, “Don’t Call Me Tina,” is out now. You can find all of his stuff at www.oldnothing.com.]

11:32 – Interview with Austin Marks

Austin Marks records and performing as, oldnothing. Austin Marks is a songwriter from St. Joseph, Missouri. He writes sad songs and love songs (not that there’s any difference), and creates them all himself as warm, hazy, and drenched in reverb. He spent years playing in the Kansas City band Dreamgirl before setting out on his own. His debut album, “Don’t Call Me Tina,” is out now. You can find all of his stuff at www.oldnothing.com

Austin Marks Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Take you to The Sun (Lyrics)

Well I don’t know your name
But it sure sounds the same
And I could never say “I love you”

But if you wanna try
I guess you’ll blow my mind
And it might be a crime
Why don’t ya

I’l take you to the sun
You might just be the one that I’m sticking to
But you can bathe alone
And I’ll get stoned
And secretly watching

Yeah, I try
Try to make it up to the rainbow
And I lie
Lying when I said I won’t hurt you
Now I desert you
And it’s fine
Fine to move along til you forget me
Say it’s mine
Mine forever til you up and left me
I know it’s crazy

I’l take you to the sun
You might just be the one that I’m sticking to
But you can bathe alone
And I’ll get stoned
And secretly watching

oldnothing writes sad songs and love songs (and he adds: not that there’s any difference). He creates them all himself as warm, hazy, and drenched in reverb.

Oldnothing aka Ausitn Marks is also in the band Dreamgirl

Before Dreamgirl he played in the band eyelit with is ex-wife Dansare.

11:40 – Live Performance

13. oldnothing – “Take Your Time” (LIVE)

11:43 – More Interview with Austin Marks

Austin Marks records and performing as, oldnothing. Austin Marks is a songwriter from St. Joseph, Missouri. He writes sad songs and love songs (not that there’s any difference), and creates them all himself as warm, hazy, and drenched in reverb. He spent years playing in the Kansas City band Dreamgirl before setting out on his own. His debut album, “Don’t Call Me Tina,” is out now. You can find all of his stuff at www.oldnothing.com

Austin Marks Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

His debut album, “Don’t Call Me Tina,” is out now. You can find all of his stuff at www.oldnothing.com

For WMM, I’m Mark Manning. Thanks for listening!

11:55

14. oldnothing – “More Than You Used To Know”
    from: Don’t Call Me Tina / oldnothing / August 15, 2026
    [Produced by David Bennett. Album artwotk by Sarah Dowen. // Austin Marks recorda and performs as, oldnothing. Austin Marks is a songwriter from St. Joseph, Missouri. He writes sad songs and love songs (not that there’s any difference), and creates them all himself as warm, hazy, and drenched in reverb. He spent years playing in the Kansas City band Dreamgirl before setting out on his own. His debut album, “Don’t Call Me Tina,” is out now. You can find all of his stuff at www.oldnothing.com.]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, August 26 we welcome our friend Jocelyn Olivia Nixon joins us to share new music from The Creepy Jingles. Also next week: Al Hawkins and Fritz Hutchison join us to talk about Cold Gravy Bowl 2: The Coldest Bowl playing August 28 and August 29 at Charlotte Street Foundation with The Matchsellers. AND, Amanda Davis and Derek Trautwein of the Spooky Shxt Show, join us to share details about Beach Basement Party September 3, 7:00 to 9:00pm at Hula Hoop KC.

You can find our playlists at: www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & www.kkfi.org
www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein-Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Office Manager Book Keeper – Shaina Littler.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’s Summer Fund Drive during WMM we had a total of 33 people donate a total of $3513.50. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made 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

Show #1161

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, August 5, 2026

New & MidCoastal Releases + BOSCO + D. Rashaan Gilmore

1. Various Artists – “Main Title Instrumental (It’s Showtime Folks)”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. Joel Kraft – “Wooden Castle”
   from: The End / Joel Kraft / March 1, 2026
   [Joel Kraft on voice, guitar, drums, bass, synth, production, programming, writing, dishwashing, slide flute & guitar; Nick Baker on drums on Awakening, Queen of Kings & The Foundness; Stephen Flanery on vocals on Awakening; Ross McLeron on synthesizers on Start It Over; Marty Kraft on vocals on Awakening; Adam Selzer -on mixing & mastering; Shane Ogren on album art; Philip Cheaney on graphic design. // The End is the fourth album from Kansas City–based singer-songwriter and producer Joel Kraft. It’s a layered indie pop record with roots in folk and a twist of art pop—featuring toy pianos, disco bass lines, square wave synths, and field recordings stitched together by hand. Ten years in the making, it’s the first album Kraft fully produced himself after years of learning from collaborators and experimenting with tape, MIDI, and microphones. // Kraft’s songs are rich with impressionistic lyrics, unconventional structures, and sonic textures that reward repeated listening. His songwriting blends the personal and surreal, moving between vivid imagery and quiet emotional weight without ever settling into one mode for long. // The result is a dreamy, bittersweet, and slightly eccentric pop record built on “slow-release architecture,” as Kraft calls it. The End doesn’t sound like goodbye—it sounds like waking up with a new sense of clarity. All songs written by Joel Kraft ℗ & © 2026 Joel Kraft (BMI). All rights reserved. License all rights reserved.]

[Joel Kraft plays an Album release show on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 6:00pm, Matinee Show with Miss Boating at The Ship, 1221 Union Avenue, KCMO West Bottoms.]

3. THAO – “Sick of the Times (ft. Tune-Yards, The Linda Lindas)”
   from: Show Me / Kill Rock Stars / October 30, 2026
   [Primal, expansive, sexy and wrenchingly tender-hearted, critically acclaimed songwriter and performer THAO has announced her first album in six years. Titled quite appropriately Show Me – due out October 30 via Kill Rock Stars – the new collection is a deeply personal exploration of her journey toward full embodiment; a flaying of flesh and old burden to reveal the rapturously beating heart therein. It is a suite of lush, lovingly crafted and powerfully voiced songs that act as portals into THAO’s kaleidoscopic inner life. Show Me was self-produced alongside Nate Brenner (also a co-writer) and Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards and features special guests: Tune-Yards, The Linda Lindas, Neko Case and Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas). // Lead single “Sick of the Times” is an art-rock protest anthem made for community activation and organizing. It is a sure fire anthem of and for these times and arrives alongside a powerful official video. Featuring vocals from powerhouse punks The Linda Lindas and close friend and collaborator Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards (who are also featured in the video), the song thrums and seethes and soothes, the infectious synth drum hook leading us into punk rock battle, the vocals uplifting and defiant. “I wanted it to be an anthem that will be used at political rallies, grass roots organizing and mutual aid events, anything that can help us emotionally prepare to activate and to stay politically engaged at all levels, but especially at the local level,” says Nguyen. “We need to keep each other buoyant, to remind ourselves we’ve got the numbers and the imperative.” Putting action to her ideas, THAO has teamed up once again with Working Families Power to donate $1 per ticket for her newly announced west coast dates. // Sometimes life starts educating you before you are ready to receive the lesson. In the midst of her multidisciplinary artistic forays, THAO’s personal life underwent a reckoning: divorce, the upending of a home. “I learned that the point of life is not to emerge unscathed, and that I don’t want to operate as I always have — masking fear as indifference,” she says. “This album is a real-time record-keeping of my life evolving into a different relationship with love and desire over the last few years. For example, I came out publicly years ago but I’ve never really written a song about sex or queer identity. So, that’s in there,” she winks. “Some songs are snapshots of moments I’ve never felt before. Some are ruminations of what I need to keep, what I want to shear, what I want to move toward.” In the shearing spirit, out went her long-time band name — Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. Show Me is a record of that journey. // The beloved songwriter has been endlessly busy outside the realm of record making since her last lauded album Temple: guest-hosting the iconic Song Exploder podcast, hosting the PBS TV show Southern Storytellers, developing a musical, film scoring and film starring (with collaborator/ Macarthur Fellow artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen, currently on exhibit in contemporary art institutions), gracing the cover of New York Times’s T Magazine, performing on Fred Armisen’s 2018 Netflix special Standup for Drummers and working on her first book for renowned publisher Graywolf Press. But THAO is a stage commanding recording artist first and foremost, and she is thrilled to be back in our ears and live in our sights.]

4. SHE SPEAKS IN TONGUES – “SMILE (ft. Frogpond)”
   from: SMILE (ft. Frogpond) – Single / SHE SPEAKS IN TONGUES / July 28, 2026
   [Kate McCandless is SHE SPEAKS IN TONGUES (vocals, looping pedal, music, lyrics, guitar) featuring members of Kansas City’s iconic band, Frogpond – Heidi Phillips (guitar), Kristen Conkright (bass), Michelle Bacon (drums). Recorded at Element Recording, Kansas City KS with Joel Nanos as Engineer + Mixing + Mastering. Kate McCandless writes, “this song was created to capture the feeling of that “second skin” – a feeling all too familiar for women – that curdles and writhes when we’re being perceived. when power and entitlement are being projected onto us by men. the song highlights the root of rape culture, this sense of entitlement to women’s bodies rooted in patriarchy. this entitlement translates to gestures of violence that needle away at us, gradually building to a full on bleed. leers, stares, cat calls, and “innocent” remarks – “why don’t you smile, honey?” – translate directly to more extreme acts of violence – abuse, sexual assault, murder. this is the air we breathe. its pervasiveness and constancy is mirrored in the repetitive nature of the song, looping the same line again and again until it builds to a chorus of voices, all chanting the same mantra – “DON’T BAT ONE PITCH.” // don’t make eye contact, just walk down the street, ignore them, walk tall. // a body can’t just walk down the street. the second skin recoils. // beyond the chorus arises a woman’s solo cry, increasingly persistent and terrified – // “DON’T. DON’T. DON’T! DON’T!!!” // she said no, and they’re not listening.] [www.shespeaksintongues.bandcamp.com]

5. Sweeping Promises – “Cocoon”
   from: You Say I Romanticize / Feel It Records – Sub Pop / August 14, 2026
   [From bandcamp page: Sweeping Promises’ introduction to the global punk underground was their debut album, Hunger for a Way Out, one of the breakout successes in music during 2020’s pandemic lockdown. In 2023, they followed up with the acclaimed Good Living Is Coming for You, which made Album of the Year lists for Pitchfork, NPR, Paste, and BBC, just to name a few. The album found guitarist/producer Caufield Schnug and bassist/vocalist Lira Mondal testing the limits of their home-recording resourcefulness as freshly minted Kansans – new place, new space. Now, the band is back with a frenetic new offering: You Say I Romanticize. // Recorded over an 18-month period, largely prepared and periodically interrupted by Schnug’s non-SP production work, You Say I Romanticize is a tribute to the chaos of creation and collaboration under shifting circumstances. For years now, Schnug and Mondal have embedded themselves in their combination tour house and recording studio in Kansas, annually working on dozens of albums from other bands, hosting tour stops, planning shows, and the like. After an immersive process of tracking and whittling down YSIR demos and carving out an idiosyncratic chamber recording method for the album’s intentional wall-of-sound, the duo brought in touring drummer Spenser Gralla to play the songs like the band would on stage. // The album’s frenzied execution, akin to the group’s renowned live show, prevails most of all in Mondal’s vocals. Whereas previously, you might have heard a growl here and there on certain Sweeping Promises tracks, the band’s formidable singer shouts, roars, hits all sorts of tricky notes, and shreds her throat all over the record, notably on the pummeling opener “Shooting Shadows” and the smoldering “Cocoon.” // A shadow side exists along with Sweeping Promises’ love of their artistic community—borne of weirdos channeling their misfit status into vibrant art and punk rock music, often passing through the revolving door that is their home studio. You Say I Romanticize takes the art-by-any-means-necessary ethos Mondal and Schnug have developed over the years and turns the prompt upside-down, landing on a personality epidemic manifesting across all ten tracks. // A big theme of You Say I Romanticize is hinted at in its title. Taken from a lyric sung on driving album closer “Write Lightly”—a narrative about the importance of self-expression in writing being scrubbed away by “professional” concerns—many of the characters Mondal fleshed out here are outcasts, marginalized by society and morphed into longing fanatics. The personalities depicted on You Say I Romanticize are often writerly types; as writing is, by and large, an art of obsession. To wit, “Last Man,” by equal turns musically nervous and cathartic, loosely takes after Mary Shelley’s literary work of the same name, The Last Man—a dystopian 19th Century novel written in wake of a cholera outbreak. Similarly, “My Anchoress” resonantes in its portrayal of 15th Century author Julian of Norwich—centered around her enduring Revelations of Divine Love (one of the earliest English-written works by a woman), which details her eccentric, sensuous religious visions. // Sweeping Promises have long been progenitors of concept-forward art-punk music that is remarkably immediate and irresistible. For being largely about personalities boxed in by isolation, You Say I Romanticize is carried by an outright soaring energy. —Martin Douglas ]

[Sweeping Promises play Toy Store at 936 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS Wed, August 12, 2026.]

6. Karate Boogaloo – “Tremendous Fantastic”
   from: Access All Areas / Colemine Records / October 9, 2026
   [Written by David Thor, Henry Jenkins, Hudson Whitlock, and Callum Riley
   Produced by Karate Boogaloo // DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL STREET DATE 10/9/2026 // May it please the people of the known universe that the multi-monikered musical ensemble legally trading as Kay-Bee Funk Music Group are releasing what will alphabetically be their first album, ‘Access All Areas’. Created with Karate Boogaloo’s patented ‘Lovely Recording Technique’ these recordings let you know that everyone’s a VIP when you’re listening to KB. // ‘Access’ was the one word maxim philosophically guiding The Old Kar-Boo’s this innings. If a tune became convoluted, to the bin it went. Only those that could be hummed by any and all were kept. This sieve was on hand throughout the whole process, arrangements and forms were kept watertight, bells and whistles to a minimum. If 2024’s ‘Hold Your Horses’ was an epic, ‘Access All Areas’ is a haiku. // The band’s tried and true recording process was dutifully respected save for one wonderful addition, the magnificent ‘Sound Recordings’ helmed by its proprietor and engineer extraordinaire Alex Bennet. Steering the 4 track Ampex 440 off road when required and making sure the vibes were constantly correct, Alex is a bonafide Booger. // Although it feels only a moment, the clock tells us it’s been nearly 20 years since Kay’s Bees first tried to play the songs of their musical heroes, The Meters, Booker T & The MG’s, and The JB’s to name but a few. Since then The Famous Flying Karate Boogaloo Brothers have put one foot in front of the other and distilled their own sound, one that respectfully acknowledges the history of instrumental Funk & Soul music, and reflects the time they’ve spent crafting their distinctive sound. // As bright as each member shines individually, it is a special event when all four planets in the Booger System align. ‘Access All Areas’ is one such eclipse, it is an artistic expression of equal measure by each member and it casts a shadow unique to the occasion. Every second of music was composed and produced with all hands on deck, mixing was handled by Henry Jenkins, artwork by Hudson Whitlock and Callum Riley, and Darvid Thor did things you’d have to see to believe. Music is a team sport and there’s no I in Funk. // Coming out on the two greatest record labels in the galaxy ‘Colemine Records’ from Loveland, USA, and College of Knowledge from Coburg, Australia, please listen to Karate Boogaloo’s new album ‘Access All Areas’. ]

7. The Womack Sisters – “If I Let You”
   from: The Womack Sisters / Daptone Records / August 14, 2026
   [The Womack Sisters – Kucha, Zeimani, and BG Womack – were singing before they could walk. The Sisters grew up on the road. Their schools were stages and studios all over the world, where they sang behind their parents, Zekkariyas & Zeriiya (fka Womack & Womack), alongside their four siblings. Nowhere was home for long. No matter where they lived they were always surrounded by music and family. // Their 2026 self-titled debut album,The Womack Sisters, is the musical culmination of the Sisters’ long and winding journey to find themselves. Over an intensely soulful collection of tunes that harkens back to when pop music had substance, vibe and purpose, each of their distinct voices have their moments in the spotlight. // See them on tour this summer. All upcoming dates at thewomacksisters.com.]

8. TheBabeGabe – “Stargirl”
   from: Love Language / Seven Rings Media / June 10, 2025
   [New 4-track EP. Follow up the HONEYPOP RELOADED (August 8, 2025) also through Seven Rings Media. Honeypop Reloaded was one of two full length albums released in 2025 by TheBabeGabe, the other being HONEYPOP on Seven Rings Media released March 5, 2025, both with production by The Human. // After years of being the girl in the band, TheBabeGabe is stepping out, and standing ten toes down. As she dives into her solo career, Gabe brings the same sugary raps and addicting energy that she did as 1/3 of the alt-rap trio BLACKSTARKIDS. This time though, she’s telling her story, and forging a fresh start. The debut mixtape HONEY POP introduces the world to a young black girl from Kansas City that’s hungry for better things for herself and everyone who looks like her. Her energy is infectious, and you won’t want to be the one standing in her way, which becomes clear from the rowdy hook of the project’s lead single PSA. “It’s in my DNA, killing shit like every day, take this as a PSA, don’t give a fuck ‘bout what you say.” // With BLACKSTARKIDS, Gabe gained experience crushing a stage, opening on tour with The 1975, beabadoobee, Glass Animals, & more. That confidence shines through on braggadocios tracks like Only See Me, Pulse, and Pep Rally where she raps, “hoe shut the fuck up when I’m talking, got a pretty face but this mouth repulsive.” Pulling inspiration from future peers like Doja Cat & Tyler, The Creator, Gabe is quick to prove she isn’t restricted to one sound. There’s no shortage of variety with sticky hooks, soulful ballads, Janelle Monáe -esque pop hits, somber reflective cuts, and boomy west-coast kickbacks. // No song boasts this genre-bending ability better than the double track RIOT GRRL//DRAMA QUEEN. Starting with an inspirational pop-punk banger that could make any Olivia Rodrigo fan nod in approval, it soon turns to the emotional DRAMA QUEEN, seeing Gabe grapple with difficult changes and struggle to find the best way forward. Listening to Gabe can often feel like hanging with your bestie in that you’re getting both the yap sessions about the everyday as well as the venting about life’s drama and all its uncertainties. // These confessions, boasts, hooks, croons, screams, beats, and sounds all come together to create an extraordinary portrait of a young artist figuring it out. It’s an unfiltered showcase that sees Gabe pull back the curtain and step forward so you can meet her where she’s at. So when you listen, you’re seeing her for who she really is. And for many, that’s someone you can see yourself in. That’s TheBabeGabe. // TheBabeGabe was one-third of the Kansas City based BLACKSTARKIDZ Gen-Z upstarts BLACKSTARKIDS have released their sixth studio album Saturn Dayz on Sept. 20, 2024 through Dirty Hit Records and immediately followed with an 8-track 7th studio album HEAVEN ON URF, on Oct. 25, 2024 on Dirty Hit Records. Music writer Bill Brownlee talked with us about how the band created a double album, but the record company decided to release as two separate albums. The music from both albums relate to each other. Before the release of Saturn Dayz the band released their single and video “SOULMATEZ!” on August 30, 2024. “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 KC in 2020 became the soundtrack for the summer. 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 Oct. 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. KC is honestly a hidden gem when it comes to music. I feel like you can meet an artist anywhere and anyplace in this city.”]

10:30 – Underwriting

9. ear – “Ne Plus Ultra”
   from: “Ne Plus Ultra”- Single / A24 Music / May 8, 2026
   [Following a breakout 2025, idm-indebted duo ear return with a new single via A24’s label imprint A24 Music. Emotionally complex yet danceable and cathartic, ear demonstrates their unique ability to seamlessly blend unforgettable electronic melodies with pensive indie songwriting. // Ear (stylized in lowercase) is an American electronic music duo formed by musicians and producers Jonah Paz and Yaelle Avtan in 2024. The group released their debut album The Most Dear and the Future in September 2025. Their song “Real Life” was listed among the best songs of 2025 by The Fader. // Jonah Paz and Yaelle Avtan met in 2024 while attending Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. They are both of Sephardic Jewish ancestory. They bonded over shared musical interests including British post-punk, IDM, and the work of Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse. Paz was noted as being into twee and had previously performed in the group the Barns, while Avtan was into digital hardcore. Prior to making music, Paz worked as a painter and Avtan worked as a ceramicist. // The duo recorded their debut single “Nerves” in 2024 on Avtan’s iPhone in their university library. Within a few months the track garnered the group “200k monthly Spotify listeners”. After a series of releases, they performed a small number of shows. In September 2025, Ear released their debut album The Most Dear and The Future. Followed by performing as supporting acts for Yung Lean in Canada and a backyard concert at UCLA. The duo performed a sold-out European tour, including two sold-out shows in London at Ormside Projects.Paz formed the solo project Sacred Holes in 2025. The band’s album Rumspringa released on May 29, 2026. // According to British magazine The Face, Ear are “the no-caps, lower-case sound of the indietronic underground” Their song “Real Life” was listed among the best songs of 2025 by The Fader. Writer Hajin Yoo stated, “It begins gently, shy vocals ease over a lilting, sing-song synth […] But the soft beginning belies the anxiety bubbling underneath the surface, evinced in stuttering electronic chords that never quite explode to full-out dissonance.” Kieran Press-Reynolds of Pitchfork described the band’s music as “small, sampledelic pop”. // Paz uses Ableton to produce music.]

Discography
Albums
The Most Dear and the Future (2025), self-released
Rumspringa (2026), A24 Music
Singles
“Nerves” (2024), self-released
“Fetish” / “Valley Serpent” (2025), self-released
“Theorem” (2025), self-released
“Ne Plus Ultra” (2026), A24 Music]

10. Field Daze – “On The Couch”
    from: “On The Couch”- Single / Field Daze / July 31, 2026
    [Our new single “On the Couch” is the exploration of the feeling of dread and anxiety that comes from doom scrolling and the 24 hour news cycle that ends up paralyzing us into inaction and isolation. Society is suffering from the weaponization of that feeling, and manifests itself in the form of us being glued to our couch waiting for the revolution to be televised. // Produced, mixed, and mastered by Ian Dobyns at Element Recording Studios. Earlier this year Field Daze released the singles: “Shade of Blue on April 3, 2026, “Hula Girl” on March 3, 2026, “Hate Me” on March 9, 2026, “Melona 99” on March 8, 2026. // Field Daze, is an Indie Rock/Dreampop band, originated in KCMO when Rodd Fenton & Dan Camino responded to a Facebook call to start a Dreampop band. Their collaboration led to the creation of early demos. Shortly after, they were joined by Tracer Cauy, Kyer Lasswell, & Beau Harris, solidifying the band’s lineup. // Their magnetic sound quickly found a home in the KC music community, playing The Rino, The Ship, and The Bottleneck. Field Daze’s live performances became synonymous with an immersive musical experience, drawing in crowds with their captivating melodies. // Currently, the band channels their creativity by recording homegrown tracks within Rodd Fenton’s personal studio, honing their craft and evolving their unique sound. More Info at: http://www.fielddazekc.com]

11. Joy Oladokun – “Kind”
    from: Hope Is A Heavy Thing / Feed The Family – Concord / September 25, 2026
    [“This song is about letting go of the things that might be holding you back,” shares Oladokun. “That includes systems or ways of thinking. We wanted to tell the story of a Nigerian queer couple in this video as a way to showcase that. The criminalization of queer relationships is a product of homophobia inherited from colonizers. It is not reflective of the beauty of Nigeria’s open-hearted culture.” // “Kind” is the latest song unveiled from Oladokun’s highly anticipated new album, Hope Is A Heavy Thing, out September 25 via Concord Records (pre-order/pre-save HERE). Produced by Oladokun with additional contributions from Nigerian producer Spellz, the new 12-track project marks a bold new chapter, expanding Oladokun’s sound while continuing to prove her ability to not only bend genres but also to bridge cultures. Across the album, Oladokun explores identity, connection and self-discovery with the emotional honesty that has become a hallmark of her songwriting. In addition to “Kind” and the previously shared track “Zombie,” the album features a collaboration with Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold. // “‘To understand your future you have to confront your past.’ This is the driving theme behind Hope Is A Heavy Thing,” shares Oladokun. “It’s a collection of 12 songs that I wrote to help myself find my light again after burning out. Produced in Nashville, New York, and the back of a speeding tour bus, this album is sonically an homage to all of the music that inspires me. On this record you’ll find music that nods the brilliance of the Soulquarians, the rawness of Bob Dylan, the rhythms of afrobeats, and the sampling prowess of J Dilla. Not to mention a callback to the Ronettes and a few songs that find inspiration in rock and roll protest music of the 60’s and 70’s. You’ll also find me at the most authentic I’ve been able to be as an artist. It is a record I wrote for anyone who finds themselves wondering how to hope in these times. Sometimes it means looking back and digging through the muck to find what’s worth fighting for again.” // This fall, Oladokun will embark on her extensive “The Heavy Things Tour,” with newly confirmed stops at Austin’s Scoot Inn, Los Angeles’ The Bellwether, Seattle’s Moore Theatre, Denver’s Paramount Theatre, Chicago’s The Vic Theatre, Washington D.C.’s Howard Theatre and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, among many others. See below for complete tour itinerary. // Hope Is A Heavy Thing follows Oladokun’s critically acclaimed albums in defense of my own happiness (2021), Proof of Life (2023) and Observations From A Crowded Room (2024), which led NPR Music to call Oladokun “one of the great singer-songwriters pushing beyond roots or conventional singer-songwriter music today.” Additionally, The New York Times praised, “her songs are conversational and confessional, and her hooky but profound melodies turn her lyrics into mantras,” while Consequence declared, “One of the most refreshing voices coming out of Nashville…there’s a deeply honest quality to her music that makes her hard to shake.” // Oladokun is one of today’s most compelling genre-defying voices, using deeply vulnerable songwriting to seamlessly connect folk, soul, pop and rock with striking emotional clarity. A queer Black musician and daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Oladokun has become a vital cultural voice, writing songs that explore identity, faith, mental health, and social justice with honesty and restraint. She earned a nomination for Americana Artist of the Year and her protest anthem, “i see america,” was a finalist for the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Award for Best Song for Social Change. Oladokun has performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS Saturday Morning’s “Saturday Sessions,” TODAY, PBS’ Austin City Limits and NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” series. Widely respected by her peers, Oladokun has collaborated with artists such as Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Maxo Kream, Jack Antonoff, Jason Isbell and Noah Kahan and has joined Isbell, Kahan, John Mayer, Hozier, My Morning Jacket, Tyler Childers, Pink Sweat$, Leon Bridges and Manchester Orchestra on the road. Joy Oladokun released Observations From A Crowded Room on Oct. 18, 2024. // Joy Iladokun released Proof of Life her 4th studio album on April 28, 2023. The album was supported by five singles released throughout 2022 & 2023. The album features guest appearances from Mt. Joy, Manchester Orchestra, Chris Stapleton, Maxo Kream, and Noah Kahan. In a press release about the album, Oladokun said that she intended for the songs on Proof of Life to be “helpful anthems” and to resonate with “anybody who feels normal and needs a little musical boost to get through the day”. The first single, “Keeping the Light On”, was released on January 21, 2022. The second single, “Sweet Symphony” (featuring Chris Stapleton), was released on September 23, 2022. Of the song, Oladokun said that the song was about “the vulnerability, the fear, and the ups and downs that come from loving someone.” The third single, “Changes”, was released on February 17, 2023, simultaneously with the album announcement. The fourth single, “We’re All Gonna Die” (with Noah Kahan), was released March 17, 2023. The 5th and final single, “Taking Things for Granted”, was released on April 21, 2023. // Joy Oladokun was born April 6, 1992, she is an American singer-songwriter. Oladokun’s music spans the genres of folk, R&B, rock, and pop and is influenced by her identity as a queer woman of color. Oladokun grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona, listening to country and folk music, as well as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill. Both of her parents are Nigerian immigrants to the United States. Her family regularly attended a Christian church, where Oladokun was chosen to lead worship. Later, Oladokun left the church because it limited her creativity. // When Oladokun was 10, a video of Tracy Chapman inspired her to learn guitar.// After college, at a friend’s suggestion, Oladokun moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music career. She later moved to East Nashville, where she signed with Prescription Songs. She has released three studio albums. In 2015, Joy Oladokun self-released her debut EP Cathedrals. Her debut studio album, Carry Me was funded by Kickstarter and released on April 29, 2016 through Well Records. // Oladokun released the single “Sunday” in 2019, saying “‘Sunday’ is the song that 12-year-old Joy, seated in the back of church youth group, needed to hear. She needed to hear that you can be queer and happy. Queer and healthy. Queer and holy. She needed to see married women kissing and playing with their kids.” The music video highlights people in LGBTQ relation-ships and has a predominantly queer cast. // Oladokun’s song “Mercy” follows in the same theme, describing her experience as a Black person in the United States, while the single “I See America” criticizes systemic racism. NPR listed “I See America” on its 100 Best Songs of 2020. // On July 17, 2020, Oladokun released her 2nd studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness (Vol. 1). Billboard described the album as a “stunningly emotional collection.” Mitch Mosk, editor-in-chief of Atwood Mag., called it a “a sweeping, soaring, and stunning sophomore record oozing heart and soul.” // In 2021, Oladokun received a grant from YouTube’s “#YouTubeBlack Voices Fund”. The same year she signed with Amigo Records, Verve Forecast Records, & Republics. http://www.joyoladokun.com Oladokun played The Truman on Sept. 12, 2024.]

12. Lykke Li – “Happy Now”
    from: Afterparty / Virgin / May 8, 2026
    [THE AFTERPARTY – a one shot dusk-to-dawn odyssey, turning the collective feeling of hopelessness into celebratory revenge. Its focus track, “Happy Now,” is Lykke Li’s version of an Abba song: a gorgeously melancholic harmony reminiscent of “Dancing Queen,” the sound of someone promising love and happiness – only to drag you straight back to the ground. This is female rage thrown into the void when joy is absent. // Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson (born 18 March 1986), professionally known as Lykke Li, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, model and actress. Her music often blends elements of indie pop, dream pop and electronic. Her debut studio album, Youth Novels, was released in 2008, and has been followed by Wounded Rhymes (2011), I Never Learn (2014), So Sad So Sexy (2018), Eyeye (2022), and The Afterparty (2026). She is best known for her biggest hit single to date, “I Follow Rivers”.]

13. Danny McGaw – “What’s A Boy Gonna Do”
    from: Songs In The Key Of Hope / Northern Sky Recordings / July 19, 2026
    [New 10-track album. // Manchester, England born Danny McGaw was a footballer, then a street musician, then a bar musician, and then a husband and father living in Lawrence, Kansas, where he released one of our favorite recordings of 2012 called, “Eccles Road.” After that he formed the band, Welles The Traveler with Jason Jones, Dan Hines, Chad Brothers, and Mike West, who produced the group’s debut recording. Eventually Danny and family relocated to California. He has made over 10 records in 25 years and records his songs in his home studio. // Danny McGaw released the singles: “SOHO” on April 22, 2024, “Step Into The Future “i n 2024; “Love Is Real” on 2024; “Start Over” on July 25, 2024; “Human” on May 24, 2024; “Scars” May 8; “Any More That I Do” on April 15. ]

14. Phoebe Bridgers – “Lost Boys”
    from: Lost Weekend / Dead Oceans / August 14, 2026
    [Phoebe Bridgers (born August 17, 1994) is an American singer, songwriter record producer. Her indie folk music typically centers on acoustic guitar and electronic production, with melancholic lyrical themes. She has won four Grammy Awards on eleven nominations. // Bridgers has performed music since her youth and was a member of Sloppy Jane. She released her debut solo album, Stranger in the Alps, in 2017, followed by Punisher (2020), both of which received critical acclaim. She is also a member of the supergroup boygenius, with which she released a self-titled EP in 2018, followed by its debut album The Record and the EP The Rest in 2023. She was also a member of Better Oblivion Community Center with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, with whom she released a self-titled album and two singles. // Bridgers has been featured on tracks with Taylor Swift, the 1975’s Matty Healy, The Killers, Muna, SZA, Kid Cudi, Christian Lee Hutson, Shame, and the National. She has progressive political views, and has advocated and fundraised for various causes. // Phoebe Lucille Bridgers was born on August 17, 1994, in Pasadena, California. Her mother, Jamie, works in real estate and stand-up comedy, while her father was a film and television set builder. She has a younger brother named Jackson.Her parents divorced when she was 19 years old She was raised in Pasadena, but also spent some of her childhood in Ukiah, California. As a child, she made extra money by busking at the Pasadena Farmers Market, and started playing guitar around the age of 13. After graduating from the Sequoyah School, she began studying vocal jazz at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in 2009. She was later accepted by the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out after orientation.// Bridgers was a member of various groups while in high school, including Einstein’s Dirty Secret and Sloppy Jane, and frequently played solo shows around Los Angeles. After deciding not to attend college to focus on her career, her growing presence in the L.A. music scene led to her befriending producer Tony Berg, who began working with her on her first album for free. Making an Apple commercial with Sloppy Jane had given her some financial security, so she planned to complete her record and then sell it to a label, rather than try to get signed first. This allowed her much more time and creative freedom to create what became Stranger in the Alps. Around this time, Bridgers met American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams through mutual collaborators, and he put out her EP Killer on his label PAX AM.Bridgers also supported Julien Baker on her 2016 tour of the East Coast. // In January 2017, Bridgers released the single “Smoke Signals” and opened for Conor Oberst on his European tour. The two had met the previous summer at a secret showcase Oberst organized at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. He and his Bright Eyes bandmate, Mike Mogis, contributed vocals and production to Stranger in the Alps. Bridgers joined The Joy Formidable and Adams for select dates on their respective U.S. tours before playing at South by Southwest in March 2017. In June 2017, Bridgers signed to independent label Dead Oceans. /// In September 2017, Bridgers released her debut studio album, Stranger in the Alps, to critical acclaim. The album was produced by Tony Berg, Ethan Gruska, and Rob Moose, all of whom became consistent collaborators with Bridgers. . // Bridgers has been called a “serial collaborator”, and has either been featured on or co-released tracks with Lord Huron, Fiona Apple, Matt Berninger the National, Andrew Bird, Manchester Orchestra, the 1975, Maggie Rogers, Kid Cudi, Taylor Swift, and SZA, among others. She has participated in full-album projects with Oberst, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus.]

15. Hello Biplane – “Don’t Let Go”
    from: how to hold a bug / Hello Biplane / March 27, 2026
    [Spencer Goertz-Giffen – vocals, guitar, charango; Braden Young – vocals, electric, acoustic, baritone guitar; Jeff Jackson – bass; Austin Sinkler – drums; Hugh Naughtin – cello, synth; Nate Holt – piano, accordion, organ. // Engineered by Jim Piller and Braden Young. Produced by Braden Young, Spencer Goertz-Giffen, and Jim Piller. Mastered by Winston Goertz-Giffen at Pulp Arts Studio. All songs written by Spencer Goertz-Giffen and Braden Young. // Spencer Goertz-Giffen and Braden Young of Hello Biplane also have the band, Alien Hellbop who released the EP, After The Quake on October 25, 2021. // Alien Hellbop is a maximalist rock duo from Lawrence, KS combining guitar, drums, sample pad bass and vocal harmonies to create a sonic duo larger than the sum of its parts. Attendees of shows past have been hypnotized and dumbfounded by how the sound is pulled off. Originally formed in Chico, CA members Spencer Goertz-Giffen and Braden Young set out to create a full band sound with only two members. After a flurry of positive feedback from shows played in northern California, Alien Hellbop managed to drive cross country with their two small children to Gainesville, FL and record a five song EP at PULP studios with the help of engineer and producer Winston Goertz-Giffen. Alien Hellbop is now based out of Lawrence, KS. Spencer and Braden have been involved in many other bands over the years including: Hospital Ships, The Kinetiks, The Willnots, Accursed Wound, The Magentlemen, Saything, and Old and Gray. The duo also fronts another group called Hello Biplane, a six-piece dream-folk-pop band with focus on songwriting and male/female harmonies.]

[Hello Biplane play MidCoast LIVE! Friday, August 14, from 12:00 Noon to 1:00pm performing a live 60 minute concert on LIVE o 90.1 FM! ]

[Hello Biplane play Crossroads Music Fest Sat, Sept. 12, in the historic West Bottoms with 25 bands.]

11:00 – Station ID

16. Sly & The Family Stone – “Family Affair”
    from: There’s A Riot Goin’ On / Sony Music / November 1, 1971
    [On June 9, 2025 we lost one of the biggest change makers inAmerican music. Sylvester Stewart passed away quietly at home surrounded by his family. // Sylvester Stewart (March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, was an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the development of psychedelic soul and funk with his pioneering fusion of soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel in the 1960s and 1970s. AllMusic stated that “James Brown may have invented funk, but Sly Stone perfected it,” and credited him with “creating a series of euphoric yet politically charged records that proved a massive influence on artists of all musical and cultural backgrounds”. Crawdaddy! has credited him as the founder of the “progressive soul” movement. // Sly & The Family Stone changed everything. RIP Sly Stone. He was a musical genius who deserved so much more than we gave him. He was a genius DJ, songwriter, producer, band leader, and father. Thank you for making my radio sound so much better!!!!! // High Moon Records is proud to announce the official release of Sly & The Family Stone’s ‘The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967’, available Friday, July 18 on CD, LP, and digital download. This earliest live recording of the pioneering band is accompanied by a deluxe booklet with liner notes from the set’s GRAMMY nominated producer Alec Palao, featuring exclusive interviews with Sly Stone and all of the original band members, never-before-seen photos, rare memorabilia, and more. The CD edition includes a bonus performance of Otis Redding’s classic “Try A Little Tenderness.” An electrifying “I Gotta Go Now / Funky Broadway.” // Sly & The Family Stone were true pioneers on so many levels: black/white, male/female, rock/soul, the act shattered all preconceptions of what popular music could be and would go on to become one of the most innovative and influential groups the world has ever witnessed. // Originally released as a sold-out, limited edition LP, earlier this year for Record Store Day, The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967 is an electrifying live performance by the original Family Stone line-up, a full year before their chart breakthrough with “Dance To The Music.” This fascinating recording was featured in Questlove’s critically acclaimed 2025 documentary, Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and spotlights Sly Stone’s singular brilliance on a tremendously exciting and atmospheric set of vintage soul covers and original compositions, peppered with the arrangements, motifs, and intoxicating energy that would soon become familiar during the group’s ascent. // Sly & The Family Stone served as the house band at Redwood City, CA’s Winchester Cathedral from December 16, 1966, to April 28, 1967, lighting up the club with their dynamic, crowd-pleasing performances. The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967 was recorded in the early hours of March 26, 1967, by Sly & The Family Stone’s first manager, Rich Romanello. Upon the group’s signing to Epic Records later that year, Romanello put the 7-inch analog tapes into storage where they sat for thirty-five years. The reels were rediscovered in 2002 by Dutch twins Edwin and Arno Konings, renowned Sly & The Family Stone archivists, and carefully restored by their co-producer Palao for this set. // With mastering by Dan Hersch and a lacquer cut by Kevin Gray, the result is an electrifying fifty-minutes that proves the genius of Sylvester Stone.]

11:04 – Interview with D Rashaan Gilmore

On Saturday, February 14 at 5:00pm on 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community radio relaunched the very good radio show called, “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore.” After nearly four years as part of the team on 90.1’s The Tenth Voice, D. Rashaan made the leap to producing and hosting his own weekly radio show “Unbossed and Unbothered” that aired from 2021-2022 on 90.1 FM KKFI, that was until our friends at KCPT Kansas City PBS took D. Rashaan away from us to be host and producer of Flatland In Focus where he won two Emmy Awards. Last year, KC PBS ended this critically acclaimed program, and we’re are lucky to have D. Rashaan’s old time slot suddenly become open again, around the same tome D Rashaan was looking to return to KKFI.

A life-long resident of Kansas City. D Rashaan is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic. D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization. Rashaan’s stellar and innovative work led to his being the distinguished recipient of the 2020 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Award.

“Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore” airs Saturdays at 5:00pm. More info at: www.blaqout.org

D. Rashaan Gilmore thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Unbossed and Unbothered – The slogan “unbought and unbossed” appeared on Shirley Chisholm’s campaign posters, one of which resides in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. NMAAHC, Gift of Ellen Brooks

In 1972 Shirley Chisholm announced her historic run for the White House, challenging fellow Democrats George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Edmund Muskie, Henry M. Jackson and George Wallace. “I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the woman’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that.” Before Carol Moseley Braun, before Barack Obama, before Hillary Clinton, Shirley Chisholm was both the first woman and the first African American to run for the nomination of a major party for president of the United States. Already the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress in 1968, Chisholm made her ambitious attempt to win the White House decades before her country was ready for her, garnering just 152 delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention.

One of the segments of D. Rashaan’s show was “Reclaiming My Time” in honor of Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) who is the first woman and first African American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Waters ‘went viral’ in 2017 when she invoked House procedural rules during Steven Mnuchin’s House Financial Services Committee hearing. Rejecting Mnuchin’s attempts to avoid her questions, Waters repeated the phrase “reclaiming my time” to indicate her right to retain minutes on the clock that had been allotted to her. The hashtag #ReclaimingMyTime began trending on social media and has since become a symbol of resistance and refusal.

D Rashaan Gilmore’s sister is Dana Gilmore. Mark interviewed Dana in the early years of WMM. Dana Gilmore appeared in episode 5 of the 4th season of Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO. The show ran for 7 seasons from 2002 – 2007. Tell is about your parents and how they raised two children both gifted in words and communication.

D Rashaan is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core.

HEADLINES:

In Missouri – Amendments 4 and 5 were rejected by over 81 percent of the vote! Amendment 5 has been one of the most discussed measures in the days, weeks and months leading up to the August primaries. // Implementing this new amendment has been at the center of numerous debates; however, many high-profile lawmakers, including Gov. Mike Kehoe, have expressed their support for the measure, claiming that it will drive business and growth for the state. // The ballot language is as follows: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Require legislative phase-out of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth, and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes; Curtail constitutional limits on taxing goods and services; and Require local tax rate cuts without reducing school funding if local sales tax revenue increases? // The proposal has no direct impact on state or local tax revenue. If passed, implementing legislation will have an unknown impact to state and local tax revenue. If implemented, state government entities expect a reduction of $57,000 annually in income tax check-off donations and implementation costs of at least $100,000.” // Missouri’s income tax has been around for more than 100 years. According to Gov. Kehoe, the state needs to implement a new tax code that fits the current economy. // If Amendment 5 passes, the Missouri General Assembly will have to slowly phase out the income tax over several years. The state’s revenue growth will largely determine the amount of time and rate of reduction. // Amendment 5 will also prevent the state from being able to implement income taxes in the future. // The passing of the amendment would mean Missouri would face significant economic losses, and lawmakers would have to replace that lost revenue with increased sales and use tax rates or expanded taxes on goods and services. How this will be done and what will be taxed is unknown. // If voters say “no” to Amendment 5, the individual income tax will remain the same. // One of the biggest worries surrounding the passing of Amendment 5 is its actual risks to Missouri taxpayers. // Some claim eliminating the individual income tax will not save people money; instead, it would cost them more by taking critical funding away and increasing taxes on other necessary service

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a critical hurdle Tuesday in his bid to be confirmed to the post after swaying Republican holdouts on a Senate committee to advance his nomination for a floor vote. // The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines in support of the nomination of President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, who has aggressively pushed the Republican administration’s priorities since taking over from Pam Bondi in April. // The vote followed a deal struck late Sunday between Blanche and two Republican senators — John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — who had been threatening to block his confirmation over the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the president’s leaked tax returns. // Cornyn and Tillis backed Blanche’s nomination after the Justice Department confirmed in writing that it wasn’t moving forward with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were prosecuted for political purposes, which the administration announced as part of the settlement.

D. Rashaan Gilmore thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

“Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore” broadcasts live Saturday at 5:00pm. More info at: www.blaqout.org

11:35

17. Alabama Shakes – “I Feel Hope Coming”
    from: I Must Be Dreaming / Alabama Shakes – ATO Records / August 28, 2026
    [Formed in Athens, Alabama in 2009. The band currently consists of lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, keyboard player Ben Tanner, and drummer Steve Johnson. The group rose to prominence from virtual obscurity in the early 2010s with their distinctive and soulful roots rock sound. The band began their career touring and performing at bars and clubs around the Southeast for two years while honing their sound and writing music. They recorded their debut album, Boys & Girls, themselves in Nashville while still unsigned. Online acclaim led ATO Records to sign the band, which released Boys & Girls in 2012 to acclaim. The album had a hit single, “Hold On,” and was nominated for three Grammy Awards. After a long touring cycle, the band recorded their sophomore record, Sound & Color, which was released in 2015 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Brittany Howard’s solo releases are fabulous.Alabama Shakes released Sound & Color on April 21, 2015 ]

11:30 – Underwriting

11:32 – Interview with BOSCO

“The Marvelous Miss Gender” Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 8:00pm at The Folly Theater 300 W. 12th, KCMO.

BOSCO is an international showgirl, RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar, writer, and creative producer and star of, “The Marvelous Miss Gender” to be presented Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 8:00pm at The Folly Theater 300 West 12th Street, KCMO.

Bosco is best known as the globally beloved star of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 (2025), as well as a finalist of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 (2022). Though based in Seattle, Bosco has toured the world with dazzling showgirl performances in sold-out venues across Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. From walking the New York Fashion Week runway, to a residency on the Las Vegas Strip, and to starring in her own Paramount-produced documentary. More information at dragfans.com. or www.follytheater.org

from wikipedia: Blair Constantino (born June 11, 1993). Bosco was raised in Great Falls, Montana. She was raised Catholic. She received formal dance training at a young age. Bosco was profiled in the Tribune after being awarded the q Senior Boy Titlist, ranked at the national competition in Las Vegas in 2010.

The name “Bosco” is taken from her deceased dog as a tribute to him, jokingly stating that “He’s not using it anymore, he’s dead, so now it’s mine”.

In 2022, on season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She performed a burlesque routine for the opening episode’s talent show. In the fifth, ninth, and thirteenth episodes of the season, she won the main challenges, winning three cash prizes of US$5,000. For Snatch Game, Bosco portrayed Gwyneth Paltrow but landed in the bottom seven, and thus participated in a lip-sync tournament which took place the following episode. She lost two lip syncs, one against Willow Pill to “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross and one against Lady Camden to “Don’t Let Go (Love)” by En Vogue. In the final lip sync, Bosco went up against Jasmine Kennedie to “Swept Away” by Diana Ross, and won.

In episode 12, Bosco landed in the bottom two alongside Jorgeous and had to lip sync to “Heartbreak Hotel (Hex Hector Remix)” by Whitney Houston. She lost the lip sync but was saved after she received the Gold Bar (a twist introduced in the third episode where each queen was assigned a chocolate bar and whoever had a bar which contained a golden ticket wrapped inside would be saved from elimination). This allowed Bosco to stay in the competition. In the subsequent episode, Bosco won the main challenge, which was a roast of Ross Mathews. She ended up placing third in the finale. She appears in RuPaul’s Drag Race Live Untucked.

On April 23, 2025, Bosco was announced as one of eighteen former Drag Race contestants participating in the tenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.[11] Bosco competed in the season’s first bracket and advanced to the semifinals, having earned six points and won two challenges. She advanced to the finale after winning the talent show in the penultimate episode. She ultimately placed third a second time after winning a lipsync against Daya Betty and losing to Ginger Minj, the season’s eventual winner.

Bosco uses “she” and “they” pronouns out of drag and “she” in drag. Bosco came out as a transgender woman in February 2022, having begun her transition after filming Drag Race. In 2023, she underwent facial feminization surgery and debuted her new look while walking in New York Fashion Week.

Season 15 contestant Irene the Alien has been described as a drag “sister” to Bosco. Bosco has lived in Seattle since 2015.

Filmography

2022 RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 14) TV 3rd place (15 episodes)
2022 RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked (season 14) TV Herself (13 episodes)
2024 RuPaul’s Drag Race Live Untucked Web series Main cast Season 1–present
2025 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (season 10) TV 3rd place (6 episodes)

Awards and nominations

2022
MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Fight (Shared with Lady Camden)
RuPaul’s Drag Race Won
Critics’ Choice Real TV Awards Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series Won
People’s Choice Awards The Competition Contestant of 2022 Nominated

2023
Queerty Awards Closet Door Bustdown (Shared with Jasmine Kennedie, Kornbread Jeté and Willow Pill) Runner-up [23]

2024
Future All-Star Herself Nominated

2026
Drag Royalty Won

“The Marvelous Miss Gender” to be presented Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 8:00pm at The Folly Theater 300 West 12th Street, KCMO.

Directed, co-written, and co-produced by Bosco, The Marvelous Miss Gender is a cinematic two-act musical comedy featuring her supervillain alter ego: Miss Gender. Enter Miss Gender’s lair and watch as Bosco blends comic book noir, burlesque, dance, high-fashion, satirical storytelling, lip sync numbers, stand-up, and over-the-top camp for a narrative-driven and immersive night of drag spectacle.

Inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, Kill Bill, Elvira, and Pee-wee’s Playhouse, The Marvelous Miss Gender is a send-up of current sociopolitical topics, and a journey through jewel heists, chase scenes, champagne celebrations, and battles with archenemies.

“I am so excited and deeply grateful to be heading out on my first solo tour with The Marvelous Miss Gender! This show has been living in my notes app for years, and after spending so much time on the road performing, producing, and writing, the time has finally come to bring it to life, now that I have an incredible team behind me,” Bosco says.

“This show is also a love letter to physical media, analog theater, and the magic of practical effects—because people are craving something they can feel and touch, not just a general approximation spit out by a computer. The Marvelous Miss Gender feels like everything I’ve been building toward in my career, and I truly can’t wait to share it with you all.”

“The Marvelous Miss Gender” marks Bosco’s first full-length solo touring show. Pulling from her years of experience as a choreographer, dancer, director, and show-maker, audiences will see intentionally crafted practical stage effects, giant props, video elements, forced-perspective sets, artist-illustrated backdrops, and GLAMOUR.

Bosco is best known as the star of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 (2025), as well as a finalist of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 (2022). Though based in Seattle, Bosco has toured the world with dazzling showgirl performances in sold-out venues across Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond.

Reserved seats for The Marvelous Miss Gender are $45 – $129. The VIP add-on package is $99 and includes a special meet & greet with Bosco before the show. The 2-hour show includes a 20-minute intermission. Doors open at 7pm with an 8pm showtime. Admission is restricted to persons 18+.

2026 Tour Dates:

July 8 – Detroit, MI (Royal Oak Music Theatre)

July 9 – Cleveland, OH (Agora Theater)

July 10 – New York, NY (Town Hall)

July 11 – Washington, D.C. (Warner Theatre)

July 12 – Pittsburgh, PA (Roxian Theatre)

July 14 – Boston, MA (The Wilbur)

July 15 – Philadelphia, PA (The Fillmore)

July 16 – Raleigh, NC (Fletcher Opera Theatre)

July 17 – Knoxville, TN (Bijou Theatre)

July 18 – Atlanta, GA (Center Stage)

July 19 – Orlando, FL (Plaza Live)

July 21 – New Orleans, LA (Civic Theatre)

July 22 – Houston, TX (House of Blues)

July 23 – Dallas, TX (House of Blues)

July 24 – Austin, TX (Emo’s)

July 25 – San Antonio, TX (Aztec Theatre)

July 28 – Palm Springs, CA (Plaza Theatre)

July 29 – Las Vegas, NV (House of Blues)

July 30 – Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)

July 31 – Phoenix, AZ (The Van Buren)

August 1 – San Diego, CA (Observatory North Park)

August 2 – San Francisco, CA (Palace of Fine Arts)

August 4 – Portland, OR (Newmark Theatre)

August 5 – Boise, ID (Egyptian Theatre)

August 7 – Salt Lake City, UT (The Complex)

August 8 – Denver, CO (The Fillmore)

August 10 – Tulsa, OK (Cain’s Ballroom)

August 11 – Kansas City, MO (Folly Theater)

August 12 – Minneapolis, MN (Pantages Theatre)

August 13 – Chicago, IL (Vic Theatre)

August 14 – St. Louis, MO (The Pageant)

August 15 – Columbus, OH (Lincoln Theatre)

August 16 – Buffalo, NY (Shea’s 710 Theatre)

“The Marvelous Miss Gender” written, produced, starring BOSCO – Tues, Aug 11, 8:00pm at The Folly Theater 300 W. 12th St. KCMO. dragfans.com. or www.follytheater.org

11:49

18. The Golden Republic – “NYC”
    from: The Golden Republic / Astralwerks / February 8, 2005
    [The Golden Republic is the only studio album by American rock band The Golden Republic. It was released in United States by Astralwerks on February 8, 2005. // The Golden Republic was an American rock band, originally formed in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1999 under the name People by founding members Ben Grimes and Ryan Shank. // In 2003, the Golden Republic signed to Astralwerks, releasing one album and one EP. The band’s album received a two-and-a-half-star rating from AllMusic,[1] and a score of three from PopMatters. // The band split up in December 2006 and Kenn Jankowski went on to form the Republic Tigers. // Band members: Ben Grimes – guitar, lead vocals; Kenn Jankowski – guitar, keyboards; Harry Anderson – bass; Ryan Shank – drums. Discography: Studio albums – The Golden Republic, released February 8, 2005. EPs – People, released September 21, 2004. Compilation – Their final single “Hemel Dalingen” was included on the compilation First Blood on OxBlood Records in 2008.]

11:54

19. Kat King – “It’s In A Dream”
    from: It’s In A Dream (Alt Versions) – EP / Kat King / July 31, 2026
    [4-track EP various remix versions of “It’s In A Dream.”// Kat King released the EP Merry Go Rounds on September 12, 2025. // Kat King released the single “It’s In a Dream” on July 11, 2025. // Kat King released the single “Somersaults”on May 2, 2025. // Kat King released the single “I Might Like It” through Manor Records on February 28, 2025 / / Kat King, on lead vocals, Derek Melies on guitar, John Kaul McCain on bass, Daniel Cole on drums, & Kara LePage on keyboards. Produced by Isaac Flynn of Hembree. // Kat King released the EP Domestic Bliss on April 5, 2024. Domestic Bliss was in the Top 25 of WMM’s 129 Best Recordings of 2024. // On October 6, 2023 Kat King released the single. “Bight-Eyed.” // On June 16, 2024 Kat King released the single “Baby Talk.” // On Jan. 13, 2023 Kat King released “Gone South” Produced by Joel Martin. Centering on themes of self-care, steadfast friendship, and revitalizing optimism. On September 20, 2022 Kat King released the single “With Nothing In My Way.” This followed their single “New Sun” released July 29, 2022. “New Sun” was a follow up to the June 9, 2021, SAY WHAT YOU MEAN 5-track EP, recorded with her band. Co-produced & mixed / mastered by Joel Martin. Lawrence KS based singer songwriter Kat King released her last single “Song of Spain” in 2019 and her single “2017” in, 2018. She released her 5-song EP “Falling Up” on Dec. 1, 2017. // Kat King’s career started as far back as 2nd grade in small town Kansas. As a solo singer-songwriter act, she produced one 13-song album and three EP’s. Now based in Kansas City, Kat King graduated into a 5-piece indie-pop rock group who are gearing up for the release of their second EP together. Their infectious energy has landed them on some of KC’s biggest stages.]

[Kat King plays Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave., KCMO on Thursday, August 6, at 7:00pm with Fullbloods and Brian Gerald Bulger]

[Kat King plays Flew the Coop Fest at Blip Roasters, 512 Mulberry St., KCMO on Sat, August 29 at 2:30pm – featuring over 20 artists from our recent live sessions across three stages. The fest starts at 2:30 PM at Blip Coffee Roasters and keeps kicking till 2 AM at our afterparty hosted by our sponsor Sinse Cannabis! Catch performances from Kirstie Lynn, Brian Gerald Bulger, Eddie Moore, Corners of The Sky, Kapten, Pale Tongue, Kat King, Miki P, Jairy, Virga, Nature Boys, Alber, killusonline, Jass(ContraBand), Lauren Lovelle, Conflicts, Ezgi, Big Fat Cow + DJ sets from KB Mixes; DJ Billo!]

[Kat King plays Crossroads Music Fest on Saturday, September 12, 2026 in West Bottoms.]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, August 12, Just Angel and Clarence Copridge join us to perform LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studios and to share details about REMINISCE – Stories from the Living Room, hosted by Cherayla, with Just Angel, Ashley Brewer, and LeShea & Clarence Copridge, at GALLERY AT 705 on August 23, 2026, at 6:00pm. Also joining us is Rosie O’Brien of the Sass-a-Brass Band

You can find our playlists at: www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & www.kkfi.org
www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein-Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Office Manager Book Keeper – Shaina Littler.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’s Summer Fund Drive during WMM we had a total of 33 people donate a total of $3513.50. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made 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

Show #1159

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, July 1, 2026

John Lawrence Johnson + Jamogi + Danny Fischer

1. Various Artists – “Main Title Instrumental (It’s Showtime Folks)”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. feeble little horse – “Rewind (Album Version)”
   from: BITKNOT / Saddle Creek Records / May 26, 2026
   [Pittsburgh, PA’s feeble little horse surprise released their new album, bitknot, May 26 via Saddle Creek. On the band’s third full-length album, feeble little horse explore the tension between human connection and the isolating effects of capitalism, technology, and modern consumer culture. Sonically, they continue their exploration of making thrilling and wildly unpredictable music, blending expansive arrangements, introspective lyricism, melodic hooks, dense noise textures, and precision drumming into a sound that feels rooted in the early aughts but pointed toward something entirely new at the clumsy conjunction of IRL and WWW. // Throughout bitknot the band contrasts the digital and the physical, questioning ideas of hyperindividualism and self-sufficiency while searching for new forms of interdependence and shared humanity. “The album art is based on the coincidental core memory matrix, which was used in old computers to store memory / access information using 0s and 1s. Each core, or ‘bit,’ is accessed through the grid of wires, like a knot that stores secret details and memories.” // bitknot was written, arranged, produced, and recorded by Sebastian Kinsler, Lydia Slocum, and Jake Kelley across their respective homes in Pittsburgh. ]

[feeble little horse play The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., Lawrence KS on Fri, July 24]

3. Tara Clerkin Trio – “Lake Walk”
   from: Somewhere Good / World of Echo / June 5, 2026
   [With two extraordinary mini-albums making a splash on London’s World of Echo label in wake of their self-titled 2020 debut, Somewhere Good is, in many ways, the Tara Clerkin Trio’s most realised work. In running their usual gauntlet of idiosyncratic approaches, Clerkin & co. Color in and outside of compositional lines over the course of 40+ celebratory minutes – never wallowing, despite inherently somber subject matters of self-defeat, disease, displacement, restlessness, gentrification – allowing their arrangements and improvisations ample space and time to situate, stretch out, breathe, cross-pollinate, and ultimately take deeper hold on the listener’s imagination – all while somehow sounding more like themselves than ever before.Of course, there are traceable influences herein.. Being the big dumb American from the small boring town that I am, cornfed on ’90s alternative radio with the enchantingly exotic sounds of Maxinquaye and Mezzanine emanating from my chunky tube television, I can’t help but to make a blatantly obvious reference to a “Bristol sound”, ie the whole trip-hop trip, the pastoral crooning over the suggestive urban grime of cracked electro/piano treatments, the digitally-yet-primitively reconstructed James Bond soundtrack string-beats, etc.. But the Tara Clerkin Trio is so infinitely much more than that. There are elements of avant-pop, modern classical, kraut-folk, audio verité, dare I say indie rock (and not of the beer guzzling, masturbatory fuzz-flex variety but perhaps more like a Trish Keenan-fronted Faust, Adrian Sherwood at the mixing desk of If You’re Feeling Sinister, or – in expanding on our alternate reality – a world in which High Llamas cut a full-length for Warp Records with Andrew Weatherall on coffee duty).- Ryan Davis (Chicago, February 2026). ]

4. Suneaters – “Boulevard Of Joy And Love (feat. Rhiannon Birdsall)”
   from: Suneaters V: Heroic Dose / Lotuspool Records / June 19, 2026
   [9th album release. Suneaters are: Scott Free on vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer; Chris Lost on vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, percussion; Mike Judd on guitar, electric piano; Nick Carroll on vocals, guitar, drums, percussion; Sam Goodell on piano, organ, & synthesizer. // Produced by Chris Cosgrove and Suneaters. Engineered and mixed by Chris Cosgrove. Additional Engineering by Matt Allen on Women Get The Shaft. Mastering by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering. Vinyl Mastering by Jeff Powell at TAKE OUT VINYL. Album illustrations by Michael McMillian. Layout and design by Michael Legleighter. // All songs written and performed by Suneaters except “Rock Me Baby” written by Bump Funk and J. Scott. // Even while their last studio album, Suneaters IV: Absinthe Makes The Heart Grow Fingers was listed as one of the best albums of 2022, it’s ambitious to make the next studio album a double. In their defense, Suneaters V: Heroic Dose (Available June 19, 2026 Digital and Double LP), organically grew to its eventual size, and like fingerless gloves, gets the job done with minimal fuss. // Can you call a double LP with a scattershot array of tastes/flavors, themes, and styles at all “minimal”? Mostly it’s a four-sided hunting blind. Peak your head through the flaps to see what waits for you. Beauty – a sunset. Creation – a sunrise. Destruction – thunder and lightning. // Targeting ears and attitudes. Targeting hearts and minds. Stories about precise moments captured that are to be endured or celebrated. Precise moments of heart ache, rejection, or disappointment, ecstasy, transcendence, power, aggression or love. A heroic dose of these things that cripple or teach. All on four sides. A square. // Enlarged subset to show greater detail:
   Bedhead – From the annals of a social anxiety digest.//

Song list:

Home – Where you’re happy?
Johatsu – The ultimate French exit
Obliteration – A controlled burn
Greater Than… – A depressed Richard Alpert discovers ketamine
Mr. Sullivan – Hat tip to those who formed us
Give the Mind… – A political song for Kid Rock to sing
Come Apart – Unlucky charms and an unhappy meal
Rock Me Baby – Didn’t see that coming
Big Dancer – Body movin’
Boulevard of Joy and Love – That which sustains us
Morning Face – Non-diegetic score for a cup of coffee
Revenge of the Children – What variety of a shithole do we leave?

// A jump off a low bridge. A baby sip of poison. A super soaker to the head. A butter knife to the wrist. Heroic Dose runs over the speed bump of broken bands with sheer genuineness in this dumbest of all timelines. // There’s no such thing as a straight line said the geometer and the Suneater. A parallelogram with one line pleased as punch and another filled with something approaching sorrow. Calculated together, you get your prescription, a Heroic Dose. // Suneaters collectively thank, Matt Ku, Rhiannon Birdsall, Bump Funk, J. Scott, Michael McMillian, Mark Silverberg, Chris Cardwell, W. Dave Keith, David Saab, Matt Nalbach, Larry Glasscock, and Mike Horvath.]

5. Lucinda Williams – “So Much Trouble in The World (ft. Mavis Staples)”
   from: World’s Gone Wrong / Highway 20 – Thirty Tigers / January 23, 2026
   [World’s Gone Wrong is the sixteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. World’s Gone Wrong features nine original songs composed by Williams and a cover of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “So Much Trouble in the World”, seen here as a duet with Mavis Staples. The album also features additional guest appearances from Brittney Spencer (“The World’s Gone Wrong” and “Something’s Gotta Give”) and Norah Jones (“We’ve Come Too Far to Turn Around”). // The album was co-produced by Tom Overby and Ray Kennedy and recorded at the Room & Board Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. // The album’s lead single, “The World’s Gone Wrong”, was released on October 30, 2025, simultaneously with the album’s announcement. A performance video coincided with the song’s release. The second single, “There’s So Much Trouble in the World”, was released on December 12, 2025. // Lucinda Gayl Williams[a] (born January 26, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter and a solo guitarist. She recorded her first two albums, Ramblin’ on My Mind (1979) and Happy Woman Blues (1980), in a traditional country and blues style that received critical praise but little public or radio attention. In 1988, she released her third album, Lucinda Williams, to widespread critical acclaim. Regarded as “an Americana classic”, the album also featured “Passionate Kisses”, a song later recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter for her 1992 album Come On Come On, which garnered Williams her first Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994. Williams released her fourth album, Sweet Old World, four years later in 1992. Sweet Old World was met with further critical acclaim and was voted the 11th best album of 1992 in The Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of prominent music critics. Robert Christgau, the poll’s creator, ranked it 6th on his own year-end list, later writing that the album as well as Lucinda Williams were “gorgeous, flawless, brilliant”. // Williams’ commercial breakthrough came in 1998 with Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, an album presenting a broader scope of songs that fused rock, blues, country and Americana into a distinctive style that remained consistent and commercial.[citation needed] Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, which included the singles “Right in Time” and the Grammy nominated “Can’t Let Go”, became Williams’ greatest commercial success to date.[citation needed] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA the following year, and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album while being universally acclaimed by critics. Williams’ next album, Essence, appeared in 2001 to further critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming her first Top 40 album on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 28. Featuring a more downbeat musical tone, with spare, intimate arrangements,[citation needed] Essence earned Williams three Grammy nominations in 2002: Best Contemporary Folk Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the title track, and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the single “Get Right With God”, which she won. // One of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of her generation, Williams has released a string of albums since that have earned her further critical acclaim and commercial success, including World Without Tears (2003), West (2007), Little Honey (2008), Blessed (2011), Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (2014), The Ghosts of Highway 20 (2016), and Good Souls Better Angels (2020). She has won three Grammy Awards from 17 nominations, and has received two Americana Awards (one competitive, one honorary) from 11 nominations. Williams ranked No. 97 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1999, and was named “America’s best songwriter” by Time magazine in 2002. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked her the 79th greatest songwriter of all time. In 2017, she received the Berklee College of Music Honorary Doctorate of Music Degree, and ranked No. 91 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time. In 2020, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road ranked No. 97 and Lucinda Williams ranked No. 426 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. She was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2021.That same year, “Passionate Kisses” ranked No. 437 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.]

[Lucinda Williams plays Starlight Theatre on Saturday, July 4, opening for Bob Dylan along with the John Doe Trio.]

6. Ann Peebles – “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You”
   from: Meeting on Mission Street / HearMusic / 2005
   [“Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You” is a song written by Bob Dylan from his 1969 album Nashville Skyline. It was the closing song of the album. // Ann Lee Peebles (born April 27, 1947) is a retired American singer and songwriter who gained popularity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s while signed to Hi Records. Her most successful singles include “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” which she wrote with her husband Don Bryant and radio broadcaster Bernie Miller, and “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down.” In 2014, she was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. // She was born in Kinloch, Missour the seventh child of eleven. As a child she began singing in the choir of her father’s church and with the family’s group, the Peebles Choir, who regularly opened shows for gospel stars including Mahalia Jackson and the Soul Stirrers featuring Sam Cooke. She was also influenced by R&B performers, including Muddy Waters, Mary Wells and Aretha Franklin. // “Why gritty singing like this can’t be heard on ‘progressive’ radio when a borderline hysteric like Lydia Pense is an automatic add ought to be investigated by the Civil Rights Commission.”— Review of Straight from the Heart in Christgau’s Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981) // She began performing in clubs in St. Louis, and in the mid-1960s joined a revue led by bandleader Oliver Sain. While visiting Memphis in 1968, she sang in a club with trumpeter Gene “Bowlegs” Miller, a popular local bandleader known for helping other musicians get their start in the Memphis music industry (including the members of the Hi Rhythm Section, who played on Peebles’ recordings). Miller introduced her to Hi Records producer Willie Mitchell, who quickly offered her a recording contract. // Her first record, “Walk Away,” written by Sain, reached the R&B chart in 1969, as did the follow-up, “Give Me Some Credit,” and she released an album, This Is Ann Peebles. All her early records on Hi were produced by Mitchell and featured the signature sound of the Hi Rhythm Section and Memphis Horns. In 1970, her single “Part Time Love,” a version of Little Johnny Taylor’s 1963 hit, reached no. 7 on the R&B chart, and no.45 on the pop chart, and she began working with the Hi label’s songwriter Don Bryant, whom she married in 1974. One of the first songs he wrote for her was “99 Pounds” in 1971.. // She continued to have R&B hits in the early 1970s, including “I Pity the Fool,” “Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love,” “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” (a Hot 100 hit in 1973 for Albert King and later recorded by Bette Midler), “Somebody’s on Your Case,” and “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” (later a hit for Paul Young). She was also the only female singer on Hi to release a string of albums, including Straight from the Heart and I Can’t Stand the Rain, that contained many tracks that she co-wrote. The title track of the latter album, written by Peebles and Bryant with DJ Bernard Miller, was her biggest commercial success, reaching no. 6 on the R&B chart and no. 38 on the pop chart in 1973.// Although she continued to have hit R&B singles and to release albums on Hi, none matched the success of “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” Mitchell later said: “She was the girl with the big voice who could have really gone further … But I don’t think Ann spent enough time thinking about what she needed to do. I don’t think she put as much energy into her career as a singer as some of the rest of these people.”[6] After Hi Records closed in 1979, and with the rise of disco music, Peebles took a break from the music industry to spend more time with her family. She returned in 1989 with the album Call Me, again produced by Willie Mitchell and released on his own Waylo label. During the 1990s, she released albums on Rounder Records’ Bullseye Blues subsidiary label.n She continued to perform, and in 2006 she released the album Brand New Classics, which consisted of re-recordings of some of her songs in an acoustic style. Peebles also joined Cyndi Lauper on a recording of “Rollin’ and Tumblin'” on Lauper’s 11th studio album, Memphis Blues. She gave up performing after a stroke in 2012.]

[Bob Dylan plays Starlight Theatre on Saturday, July 4, with Lucinda Williams the John Doe Trio.]

7. Tierra Whack – “WAX PAPER”
   from: WHACK’S MUSEUM / Interscope Records / June 18, 2026
   [Tierra Helena Whack was born August 11, 1995. She is an American rapper and singer. She originally performed as “Dizzle Dizz” as a teenager but reverted to her birth name in 2017. Her debut mixtape, Whack World, was released in May 2018 and received widespread critical acclaim. Her song “Mumbo Jumbo” was nominated at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for Best Music Video. Whack has since collaborated with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Tyler, the Creator, Chief Keef, and Melanie Martinez. // Whack was born in 1995 and grew up living with two younger siblings and their mother in North Philadelphia. In a 2018 interview with The Fader, Whack mentioned that she and her father are estranged. She was an introverted child who wrote to help herself deal with insecurities. As a child, Whack loved the author Dr. Seuss to the extent that she would rhyme the sentences together in her homework assignments. // Whack pinpointed the exact moment when her love for rhyming began. She had to rhyme for a homework assignment for class and after receiving positive feedback, she continued with it. She later asked her mother for composition books to fill with rhymes and lyrics before she eventually started recording herself. // Whack attended The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia for three years before finishing high school in Atlanta. At Benjamin Rush, she was a vocal major and was one of the few black students in a predominantly white graduating class. With some difficulty, she and her friends persuaded their principal to let them perform the finale from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit for the school vocal showcase; Whack performed a rap verse in the song. Later in Whack’s career, she toured with Lauryn Hill, who starred in the 1993 film. // At around fifteen, Whack who went by the moniker “Dizzle Dizz” appeared in a 2011 freestyle video produced by Philadelphia’s underground music collective We Run the Streets. Her mother drove past the group of men freestyling and encouraged her to join. She released several tracks as Dizzle Dizz including “Dizzy Rascvls”, but struggled with depression in the months afterwards. Despite being a teenager, Whack gained notoriety in the streets of Philadelphia as “Dizzle Dizz.” Although she had growing fame, Whack grew bored. There was no way to make money in freestyling and no way to creatively grow. She claimed there was little experimentation and growth beyond battle rapping if she were to stay in Philadelphia. Her mother elected to move out of Philadelphia so Whack could finish school. After going to Atlanta with her mother, Whack began working at a Mister Car Wash allowing her to save for a Mac laptop and start recording her music. She was often the only woman working on the line at the car wash, and her former manager said she was a memorable person with an impressive drive, which Whack credits to her mother. // In Atlanta, Whack kept a low profile, having felt the effects of fame back home. She wanted to keep to herself to have a chance to solely focus on her music. By the time she returned to Philadelphia, she had a laptop full of two years’ worth of music, which she never ended up sharing with anyone. She left her family behind in Atlanta. During that time she was homeless for three months and hopped around staying at friends’ homes but refused to return to Atlanta. She believed staying in Philadelphia would be best for her music career. // By 2015, Whack was in Philadelphia and she reconnected with Kenete Simms, a sound engineer and music producer whom she knew from her teenage years. Whack credits Simms as being her collaborator. After she returned to working with Simms she learned how to properly mix her own music. Simms helped her use equipment in order to help her make music more easily. In 2017, she signed with Interscope Records; Johnny Montina is her manager. // In March 2017, Whack made her debut as Tierra Whack with three tracks, including “Toe Jam” and “Sh_ Happens”. In October 2017, she released “Mumbo Jumbo”, a hip-hop single and accompanying music video which featured the young rapper performing while wearing a mouth prop. Most of the lyrics to the track are purposefully unintelligible. She also toured with Flying Lotus in 2017. // Whack’s debut fifteen-track mixtape, Whack World, was released on May 30, 2018 and received a “Best New Music” accolade from Pitchfork. Critics praised the unusual format of the album—each song lasting precisely one minute. She released each short track on Instagram, each accompanied by a short film directed by Thibaut Duverneix and Mathieu Léger. The multimedia project received widespread critical acclaim. Robert Christgau gave the album an A-minus and reported in Vice that his wife, fellow critic Carola Dibbell, loved the video, saying, “it gave me reason for living”. // Often referred to as the “Missy Elliott” of this generation, Whack has gained a great amount of acclaim for the creativity and eccentricity of her music videos. The track “Mumbo Jumbo” received a nomination for Best Music Video for the 2019 Grammy Awards. In October 2018, Whack traveled to Tokyo for a long-term artistic sabbatical. // In an episode of Genius’ The Cosign series on YouTube in which current artists who have been in the industry have the opportunity to watch videos of newer artists, rapper Remy Ma chose to cosign Whack. Even though she mentioned seeing potential in each of the artists, Remy said, “I pick(ed) her because I feel like she brought the entire package as far as the song, the delivery, the vocals, and the actual visual. I feel like she did something that was super out of the ordinary, and I enjoyed it… I wanna watch it again.” In the episode of The Cosign, Whack’s music video for her single “Unemployed” was put in a group with music videos from other female MCs including Kash Doll, CupcakKe, Mulatto, Tay Money, and That Girl Lay Lay. // She has recorded as-yet-unreleased music with Meek Mill and Childish Gambino. In 2018, she toured with 6lack on his world tour, From East Atlanta with Love. Briana Younger, the writer for The Fader, wrote that “popular and mainstream rap hasn’t championed a darker-skinned woman since Missy Elliot…and Whack seems poised to be the one.” Whack acknowledged that women in the music industry often aren’t afforded the privilege to make art for art’s sake, but she refuses to let that inhibit her. Beginning February 19, 2019, Whack released one single per week for five weeks in a series she called “#whackhistorymonth.” These singles included “Only Child”, “Clones”, “Gloria”, “Wasteland”, and “Unemployed”. Whether these tracks will be released under a full-length album has not yet been revealed. Whack has said that she is not thinking about a timeline for a new album, saying “I’m not gonna drive myself crazy. I’m having fun creating what I’m creating.” Whack collaborated with Flying Lotus on the song “Yellow Belly” for his 2019 album Flamagra and she was later named as one of the members of XXL’s “2019 Freshman Class” on June 20, 2019. She appeared at many festivals in the 2019 festival season including Coachella, Primavera Sound, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Camp Flog Gnaw, Osheaga, and Austin City Limits. Her song “Unemployed” is featured in the football game FIFA 20. // Whack co-wrote and was featured in Melanie Martinez’s single “Copy Cat”, which was released on February 10, 2020. It marks the first time that Whack has worked in a professional capacity with Melanie Martinez.[29] In May 2020, Whack appeared alongside American rapper Lil Yachty on the song “T.D” which features rappers ASAP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator. The song was #84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Whack’s first entry on the chart. She featured on the song “Me x 7” by Alicia Keys, taken from her seventh studio album, Alicia, in September 2020. Her 2017 single, “Mumbo Jumbo”, had an accompanying music video that garnered a Best Music Video nomination for the 2019 Grammy Awards. // In October 2020, Whack released her first solo single of the year titled “Dora”. In November 2020, she appeared in the 2020 Apple holiday commercial “The Magic of Mini” which featured the new singles, “Peppers and Onions” and “feel good” which were released coinciding with the introduction of the commercial. In April 2021, she released a single titled “Link”. The music video, created in partnership with the LEGO Group, had Whack sit with a group of schoolchildren as part of Lego’s “Rebuild the World” campaign, using their ideas as inspiration for the video. In December 2021, she released three EPs, Rap?, Pop? and R&B?. // March 15, 2024, Whack released her 2nd studio album “World Wide Whack” under Interscope Records, it received a 7.3 on the Pitchfork web site. In June 2024, she performed a Tiny Desk Concert featuring some songs from her new album; “Mood Swing”,”Accessible”, “Ms. Behave”, “Imaginary Friends”, “Moovies”, “27 Club” and “Shower Song” as well as earlier favorites: “Flea Market”, “Pretty Ugly”, and “Hungry Hippo”. The concert featured the mascot Phillie Phanatic as a proud supporter of her birth city quoting “anything Philly is all me”. // Whack’s beginnings in rap started with battle rapping and it is something she looks upon fondly. While she appreciates the foundation which it gave her for her music, she wanted to aim higher than just rap battles. Seeing artists such as Lauryn Hill, Andre 3000, and Eminem had inspired her to become a true artist. In doing so, she would be seen as something more serious than just a battle rapper. // Whack cites Outkast, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, and Kelis as some of her musical influences. Whack claims there are many different things which inspire and motivate her and she wants to be able to portray those to her fans in her music. She credits Sesame Street and the children’s book No! David as some of her influences; that is clearly seen through her visuals from her album’s music video. Her inspirations come from everything, from her relationships to people to inanimate objects. Her single, “Only Child”, for example, was created after dating a man whose behavior she aligned with that of someone who grew up an only child. // Whack’s mother is often credited as one of if not the biggest inspirations for her music. She recalls her mother playing gangster rap during car rides. For her single “Unemployed”, her mother helped her create the key musical hook. // Whack has written poetry since she was a child. Writing was a way for her to deal with her shyness and insecurities. She is also an accomplished spoken word performer. // She lives in Philadelphia with her mother and her two siblings. She is still “Philly-based,” saying that Philadelphia is her home and where she feels grounded. She owns a cat, whom she named Starkey after the Whole Foods brand of sparkling water. She does not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. She is severely allergic to insects, a condition she satirizes in the music video for her 2018 track, “Bugs Life”.]

8. Run With It – “FORevR”
   from: “FORevR” – Single / Run With It / July 1, 2026
   [Every month, Run With It releases a new anthem — this month’s is FØRevR. A cinematic mid-tempo Alt-Rock coastal love story built for late-night drives, ocean air, and windows-down moments. Fans of Kings Of Leon, The Killers, and AWOLNATION will connect with its soaring vocals, atmospheric guitars, and nostalgic energy. The band also documents the full creative process online as they release one new song every month. // one of 18 new singes the band has produced over the past two years. // Miguel Antonio on lead vocals & guitar. Daniel Cole on drums. Cody Ryan Stapleton on lead guitar. // The band has always been known for their energetic live shows, leaving it all on the stage, and working their musical assets to make their audiences happy. The band has toured extensively. Run With It are influenced by The Black Keys, Maroon 5, Bill Withers, and more. With backgrounds in gritty rock, groovy soul, stylish R&B. // Miguel Carabello was born June 11, 1980 originally from Junction City, Kansas, Married. Daniel Cole was born April 8, 1991 and graduated from Lee’s Summit West HS in 2009. Cody Ryan Stapleton lives in KCK he has played with several bands including The Dear Misses. // Run With it were last on WMM on October 23, 2024, before that is was nearly eight years ago on March 22, 2017 with Miguel Caraballo on lead vocals & guitar, Daniel Cole on Drums, and Ben Byard on bass & vocals. promoting their EP How To Start A Fire release March 24, 2017. // More information at: http://www.runwithitband.com]

9. Rhiannon Giddens – “Carolina Rain”
   from: Hope Is The Thing With Feathers / Nonesuch Records / September 18, 2026
   [“Few American performers this century are more accomplished and important than Rhiannon Giddens” – Mojo // Pulitzer and Grammy-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens has announced that her new album Hope is the Thing with Feathers. The 10-song collection was inspired by the beauty of people coming together and drawing strength from each other. It was intentionally recorded live with no frills and few overdubs, just pure and essential music that captures the feeling of community, clarity, as well as the joy and power of creating together. From exploring the lineages that make American music to the community-oriented spirit in which it was conceived and recorded, in many ways the album tells the story of the last 20 years of Giddens’ life. // Hope is the Thing with Feathers features Giddens’ key collaborators from throughout her career. Giddens (lead vocals, minstrel banjo, fiddle) is joined by longtime bassist Jason Sypher, Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi (accordion, percussion), Congolese artist Niwel Tsumbu (guitars), and Louisiana native Dirk Powell on multiple instruments, as well as her very first bandmate and fellow North Carolinian Justin Robinson (vocals, fiddle), her nephew Justin Harrington (bones), Dirk’s daughter Amelia Powell (acoustic guitar, vocals), Charly Lowry (vocals, percussion), and Giddens’ sister Lalenja Harrington. // Says Giddens: “Louisiana, the Congo, Italy, the Carolinas – all of these influences and people coming together to make something: that is American music. It’s how American music came to be, and that was the original thought of creating a band with the musicians that I’ve been playing with for years, and featured on this album.” // On “Carolina Rain” Giddens soars over plucked banjo and fiddle runs in a song about love and money that pierces like an arrow. // Recent performances and appearances include a sold-out Carnegie Hall, and PBS’ Finding Your Roots TV series with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Her work with Silkroad Ensemble continues throughout this year with Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual. Giddens also just launched the Biscuits & Banjos Foundation, a nonprofit that celebrates the African diaspora’s role in shaping American identity and culture through music, literature, food, and community. // Giddens has a full slate of performances throughout the summer, including a special five-night presentation of concerts in which Giddens will be joined by Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff under open skies for a joyful celebration of American songs that connect generations and begins tomorrow, June 26. ]

10:30 – Underwriting

10. John Lawrence Johnson – “Endless Night”
    from: The Impossible Task / John Lawrence Johnson / May 29, 2026
    [ New 11-track solo album from John Lawrence Johnson a Kansas City based musician, producer, singer songwriter, and teacher. John Lawrence Johnson also plays guitar and sings in Supermassive Black Holes.]

[John Lawrence Johnson plays a solo show July 3, 6 to 9:00pm, at Our House on West 39th St. KCMO.]

[Supermassive Black Holes play Reply Lounge in Lawrence, Kansas on July 10, with Satori.]

[ Supermassive Black Holes play Lemonade Park July 11, with Mitzi McKee, and Gullywasher.]

[John Lawrence Johnson also plays in the band Phaze II performing Thursday, July 16 at 7:00pm at The Ship 1221 Union Ave. KCMO.]

10:36 – Interview with John Lawrence Johnson

John Lawrence Johnson joins us live in our 90.1 FM Studios to share details of his new 11-track solo album THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK, released May 29, 2026. John is a Kansas City based musician, producer, singer songwriter, and teacher. John Lawrence Johnson also plays guitar and sings in the band Supermassive Black Holes. John Lawrence Johnson plays a solo show on July 3, 6:00pm to 9:00pm, at Our House on West 39th St. KCMO. Supermassive Black Holes play Reply Lounge in Lawrence, Kansas on July 10, with Satori. Supermassive Black Holes play Lemonade Park July 11, with Mitzi McKee, and Gullywasher. John Lawrence Johnson also plays in the band Phaze II performing Thursday, July 16 at 7:00pm at The Ship 1221 Union Ave. KCMO.

John Lawrence Johnson, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Impossible Task / John Lawrence Johnson / May 29, 2026

John Lawrence Johnson’s Bands:

Supermassive Black Holes – Guitar / Vocals
January 29, 2008 – Present

Phase II – Guitar
January 2, 2025 – Present

John el & Modern Culture – Guitar / Vocals
February 15, 2025 – Present

Supermassive Black Holes: Matt Davis – Alexis Barclay – John Johnson – Chad Brothers

Formed in 2010, these four extraordinary individuals crossed paths during the legendary Monday jam nights at the renowned Crosstown Station. United by their shared passion for exploration and musical adventure, Supermassive Black Holes create a mind-bending sonic experience that transcends conventional boundaries.

Matt Davis drives the rhythm section with his captivating drumming, infusing each composition with intricate fills and an uncanny ability to bend the beat across infinite styles. Alexis Barclay holds down the rock-solid foundation with his reliable and steady bass playing, providing the band with a powerful and unwavering groove.

John Johnson’s guitar mastery channels the spirits of legends like Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa, crafting intricate melodies and scorching solos that mesmerize audiences and transport them to uncharted realms. Chad Brothers, the tasteful and textural guitarist, adds depth and nuance to the band’s sonic palette, weaving atmospheric textures that intertwine seamlessly with their cosmic explorations.

Together, they forge a musical bond that transcends genres. Their chemistry, honed over 13 years of collaboration, effortlessly pushes the boundaries of sonic expression.

Amidst the swirling sonic cosmos that Supermassive Black Holes conjure, the realms of space and the celestial find their way into the band’s artistry. Their lyrics and inter-band banter often allude to the cosmic dance, adding an ethereal touch to their already mind-expanding performances.

Within their repertoire, standout tracks like “Break Some Bones,” “Tis What It Is,” “Change Your Mind,” and “The Man” showcase the band’s multifaceted brilliance. These sonic journeys embody the essence of Supermassive Black Holes, featuring Matt’s captivating drumming, Alexis’s rock-solid bass, John’s mesmerizing guitar work, and Chad’s textured playing.

John Lawrence Johnson, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

John Lawrence Johnson plays a solo show July 3, 6 to 9:00pm, at Our House on West 39th St. KCMO.

Supermassive Black Holes play Reply Lounge in Lawrence, Kansas on July 10, with Satori.

Supermassive Black Holes play Lemonade Park July 11, with Mitzi McKee, and Gullywasher.]

[John Lawrence Johnson also plays in the band Phaze II performing Thursday, July 16 at 7:00pm at The Ship 1221 Union Ave. KCMO.]

10:54

11. John Lawrence Johnsom – “Lives”
    from: The Impossible Task / John Lawrence Johnson / May 29, 2026
    [New 11-track solo album from John Lawrence Johnson a Kansas City based musician, producer, singer songwriter, and teacher. John Lawrence Johnson also plays guitar and sings in Supermassive Black Holes.]

[John Lawrence Johnson plays a solo show July 3, 6 to 9:00pm, at Our House on West 39th St. KCMO.]

[Supermassive Black Holes play Reply Lounge in Lawrence, Kansas on July 10, with Satori.]

[Supermassive Black Holes play Lemonade Park July 11, with Mitzi McKee, and Gullywasher.]

[John Lawrence Johnson also plays in the band Phaze II performing Thursday, July 16 at 7:00pm at The Ship 1221 Union Ave. KCMO.]

12. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley – “Sophisticated Lady”
    from: With Every Breath I Take / Nonesuch / June 26, 2026
    [Cécile McLorin Salvant’s album With Every Breath I Take, her first with orchestra, features The Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley. Salvant and the ensemble perform timeless songs—by Cy Coleman, Noël Coward, Duke Ellington, Stephen Sondheim, Billy Strayhorn, and Salvant—newly arranged by composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue. “It is a rare opportunity to be able to make an album at this scale, which has been a dream of mine for many years,” she says. “Darcy James Argue wrote stunning arrangements and the Metropole Orkest, conducted by the extraordinary Jules Buckley, gave these stories a cinematic dimension … I am so incredibly proud to share it.” // Cécile McLorin Salvant (born August 28, 1989) is a French-American jazz singer-songwriter and composer. Salvant is one of the most highly regarded jazz vocalists of her generation, often winning DownBeat annual critics polls. She has released eight albums since 2010, six of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards. She is a 3-time winner of the Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy Award for her 2015 album For One to Love, her 2017 album Dreams and Daggers, and her 2018 album The Window, each released on the Mack Avenue label. Salvant’s most recent album is Oh Snap, released in 2025 by Nonesuch Records. Salvant primarily sings in English or French, her first language, and has also recorded songs in Occitan and Haitian Kreyòl. // Cécile Sophie McLorin Salvant was born in Miami, Florida in 1989. Her father, who is Haitian, is a doctor and her mother, who is French, is the founder and president of a French immersion school in Miami. Salvant began studies in classical piano at the age of five, and began singing in the Miami Choral Society when she was eight. She subsequently developed an interest in classical voice and began studying with private instructors, and later with Edward Walker, vocal teacher at the University of Miami. She said in 2015: “I was lucky enough to grow up in a house where we listened to all kinds of music. We listened to Haitian, hip hop, soul, classical, jazz, gospel and Cuban music, to name a few. When you have access to that as a child, it just opens up your world.” // In 2007, Salvant moved to Aix-en-Provence, France, to study law as well as classical and baroque voice at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory. It was in Aix-en-Provence, with reedist and teacher Jean-François Bonnel [fr], that she studied improvisation, instrumental and vocal repertoire, and sang with her first band. // In a four-star review of her sold-out engagement at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London in June 2015, John Fordham wrote in The Guardian: “She brings ideas from unexpected angles to the familiar art of standards-singing, and she applies a mischievous intelligence to well-worn lyrics in ways that transform them.” // Salvant began studying voice at the age of eight with an interest in classical music. She began her transition into jazz while studying at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory in 2007, and also studied composition and music theory at The New School . Salvant says that her main jazz influence is Sarah Vaughan, recalling childhood memories of listening to her songs repeatedly. While strongly influenced by Sarah Vaughan, she is also heavily influenced by vocalists such as Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, and Betty Carter. She describes her sound as jazz, blues, with elements of folk and musical theatre. She composes music and lyrics which she also sings in French, her native language, as well as in Spanish. She enjoys popularity in Europe and in the United States, performing in clubs, concert halls, and festivals accompanied by renowned musicians. Salvant has performed at jazz venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott’s, the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, the Festival international de Jazz de Montréal and the Village Vanguard. // In 2010, Salvant released her first album, Cécile & the Jean-François Bonnel Paris Quintet. Soon thereafter, at the age of 21, she went on to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for vocalists. Her first-prize win included a recording contract with the label Mack Avenue Records, with whom she released her next five albums. Writing in The New York Times in 2012, Ben Ratliff said: “In front of a trio led by the pianist Aaron Diehl she sings clearly, with her full pitch range, from a pronounced low end to full and distinct high notes, used sparingly […] Her voice clamps into each song, performing careful variations on pitch, stretching words but generally not scatting; her face conveys meaning, representing sorrow or serenity like a silent-movie actor.” // In 2013 she released her second album, WomanChild, which was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the category of Best Vocal Jazz Album. The songs chosen for WomanChild include original compositions, as well as compositions that date back to the 19th century and progress into the 21st. Salvant chose for this album songs she felt had a personal connection to her life. // In September 2015, Salvant released her second album with Mack Avenue Records, titled For One to Love. On this album, she chose songs that focus attention on strong women and independence. The album contains five original works and jazz standards. In 2016, the album won a Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album. Two years later, her third album with Mack Avenue, Dreams and Daggers, won a Grammy in the same category. // She has toured with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, whose music director Wynton Marsalis was quoted in a 2017 New Yorker article as saying of Salvant: “You get a singer like this once in a generation or two.” // In January 2023, Nonesuch Records announced the release of Salvant’s seventh album. The album, titled Mélusine, recounts the European folk legend of Melusine and largely features songs sung in French and Haitian Creole. The album was released digitally on March 24, 2023. // Salvant has sung in advertisements for Chanel’s “Chance” brand.]

11:00 – Station ID

13. Jamogi – “Treasure”
    from: J’DAY / Jam Tunes / June 12, 2026
    [J’Day is a celebration of growth, creativity, and self discovery. Three years in the making, the album represents the culmination of Jamogi’s journey through a wide range of genres, influences, and sonic landscapes. The result is a body of work that not only showcases his musical versatility but also reveals the many facets of his personality. // Produced alongside OceanLife Gianni, J’Day captures the energy, emotion, and moments that make life memorable. From the horn driven fanfare of “Go Big or Go Home” to the flirtatious blend of West Coast, Midwest, and Southern influences on “Back N’ Forth,” Jamogi demonstrates a clear understanding of both his sound and his audience. Tracks like “Do It to Me” transport listeners through different eras and musical inspirations, while songs such as “Storybook,” “Treasure,” and “Georgia Peach” reveal his romantic side through storytelling, heartfelt lyricism, and poetic imagery. // The album also features collaborations with a talented lineup of friends and fellow artists on tracks including “What’s It Gonna Be?” and “HOLLABACK,” adding even more personality and perspective to the project. // More than just a collection of songs, J’Day marks a defining moment in Jamogi’s artistic journey. It is a bold statement of who he is today and a testament to the creative vision he has spent years refining. Rich with personality, versatility, and heart, the project positions Jamogi for his next era and leaves listeners wondering where he’ll take them next. // Jamogi is also know as Byron Hyde a Kanas City based singer, songwriter, MC, producer, originally from Los Angeles, California.// Jamogi released the single “Georgia Peach (feat. Burgandy)” on September 5, 2025. Jamogi released Jamogi & The Jammers: Live at Flew The Coop Sessions (Flew The Coop Live) through Jam Tunes on April 11, 2025. // Jamogi released the single “Do It To Me” on March 28, 2025. // Jamogi released the single “Go Big or Go Home” on August 30, 2024, Jamogi released the single “Hot Block” on May 30, 2024. Jamogi released the EP, Star-Crossed Lover on March 3, 2023. Jamogi then released a “Star-Crossed Lover GALACTIC REMIX (feat. Watchman)” single on June 9, 2023.Jamogi previously released the AGE OF AQUARIUS EP on March 3, 2023, and the single “Celebration” on Dec. 9, 2022, and the single “Anymore” on May 6, 2022. // Jamogi played the ROCK IS BLACK—a celebration of Black artists in rock music, happening February 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Zhou B Art Center, 1801 E 18th Street, KCMO. Rock is Black features: Malek Azrael & The Vibez, Jamogi and The Jammers, Stephonne, and Frankie Shorez & Mercy Fire. Kamogi and the Jammers played Boulevardia 2025]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, KCMO, on Friday, July 10, 2026.]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Macken Park in North Kansas City Friday, July 10, 7:00 to 9:00pm]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS. Saturday, July 11 with Soul Agenda]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Union Station , KCMO, Sunday, July 12, 2:00pm to 4:00pm]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Sofar Sounds KC at Equal Minded Cafe KCMO, July 12, 2:00pm to 4:00pm]

11:05 – Interview with Jamogi

We are very happy to welcome back to the WMM, Jamogi who joins us to talk about his new album, J’DAY released through Jam Tunes on June 12, 2026. J’Day is a celebration of growth, creativity, and self discovery. Three years in the making, the album represents the culmination of Jamogi’s journey through a wide range of genres, influences, and sonic landscapes. The result is a body of work that not only showcases his musical versatility but also reveals the many facets of his personality. Produced alongside OceanLife Gianni. Jamogi is also know as Byron Hyde a Kanas City based singer, songwriter, MC, producer, originally from Los Angeles, California.

Jamogi and The Jammers play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, KCMO, on July 10, 2026.

Jamogi, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday Midday Medley

It took 3 years to get it J’DAY to Jamogi’s liking and he is so excited to build upon it. Just a heads up, this is just PART ONE.

J’DAY Songs:

Go Big or Go Home
Back n Forth
Do it To Me
Storybook
Hollaback
Hot Block
Georgia Peach
Whats it gonna be
Treasure

Album notes: J’Day is a celebration of growth, creativity, and self discovery. Three years in the making, the album represents the culmination of Jamogi’s journey through a wide range of genres, influences, and sonic landscapes. The result is a body of work that not only showcases his musical versatility but also reveals the many facets of his personality.

Produced alongside OceanLife Gianni, J’Day captures the energy, emotion, and moments that make life memorable. From the horn driven fanfare of “Go Big or Go Home” to the flirtatious blend of West Coast, Midwest, and Southern influences on “Back N’ Forth,” Jamogi demonstrates a clear understanding of both his sound and his audience. Tracks like “Do It to Me” transport listeners through different eras and musical inspirations, while songs such as “Storybook,” “Treasure,” and “Georgia Peach” reveal his romantic side through storytelling, heartfelt lyricism, and poetic imagery.

The album also features collaborations with a talented lineup of friends and fellow artists on tracks including “What’s It Gonna Be?” and “HOLLABACK,” adding even more personality and perspective to the project.

More than just a collection of songs, J’Day marks a defining moment in Jamogi’s artistic journey. It is a bold statement of who he is today and a testament to the creative vision he has spent years refining. Rich with personality, versatility, and heart, the project positions Jamogi for his next era and leaves listeners wondering where he’ll take them next.

Jamogi released the single “Georgia Peach (feat. Burgandy)” on September 5, 2025. Jamogi released Jamogi & The Jammers: Live at Flew The Coop Sessions (Flew The Coop Live) through Jam Tunes on April 11, 2025.

Jamogi Bridges a KC based singer, songwriter, MC, producer, originally from Los Angeles, California. Jamogi’s music is a fusion of soulful R&B melodies with infectious pop beats and dance-floor grooves. Jamogi released his debut single, “Celebration” on December 30, 2022. Jamogi delivered his debut EP, AGE OF AQUARIUS on March 3, 2023. Jamogi followed up with his latest EP, STAR-CROSSED LOVER, on March 3, 2023, followed by a “Star-Crossed Lover GALACTIC REMIX (feat. Watchman)” single, on June 9, 2023. Jamogi played the 19th Annual Crossroads Music Fest, on August 26, 2023. More info at: https://linktr.ee/Jamogi

Jamogi Bridges a KC based singer, songwriter, MC, producer, originally from Long Beach, CA.
He moved to Kansas City hen he was 15 years old.

Jamogi has been singing since he was seven years old. He started singing in church. It was his uncle’s church, and it was his uncle who urged him to sing.

His first performance out of Church was in Middle School, singing, CeeLo Green’s “Forget You.”

Jamogi sang with, for many years, and graduated from The Kansas City Boys Choir, founded by Ollie Robinson in 1994. Jamogi served as Assistant Music Director also.

For Jamogi’s live performances he plays with an ensemble of musicians with himself on lead vocals and keyboards, a drummer, bass player, horn section, and back up singers.

More info at: https://linktr.ee/Jamogi

Jamogi, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday Midday Medley

[Jamogi and The Jammers play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, KCMO, on Friday, July 10, 2026.]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Macken Park in North Kansas City Friday, July 10, 7:00 to 9:00pm]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS. Saturday, July 11 with Soul Agenda]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Union Station , KCMO, Sunday, July 12, 2:00pm to 4:00pm]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Sofar Sounds KC at Equal Minded Cafe KCMO, July 12, 2:00pm to 4:00pm]

11:24

14. Jamogi – “Back & Forth”
    from: J’DAY / Jam Tunes / June 12, 2026
    [J’Day is a celebration of growth, creativity, and self discovery. Three years in the making, the album represents the culmination of Jamogi’s journey through a wide range of genres, influences, and sonic landscapes. The result is a body of work that not only showcases his musical versatility but also reveals the many facets of his personality. // Produced alongside OceanLife Gianni, J’Day captures the energy, emotion, and moments that make life memorable. From the horn driven fanfare of “Go Big or Go Home” to the flirtatious blend of West Coast, Midwest, and Southern influences on “Back N’ Forth,” Jamogi demonstrates a clear understanding of both his sound and his audience. Tracks like “Do It to Me” transport listeners through different eras and musical inspirations, while songs such as “Storybook,” “Treasure,” and “Georgia Peach” reveal his romantic side through storytelling, heartfelt lyricism, and poetic imagery. // The album also features collaborations with a talented lineup of friends and fellow artists on tracks including “What’s It Gonna Be?” and “HOLLABACK,” adding even more personality and perspective to the project. // More than just a collection of songs, J’Day marks a defining moment in Jamogi’s artistic journey. It is a bold statement of who he is today and a testament to the creative vision he has spent years refining. Rich with personality, versatility, and heart, the project positions Jamogi for his next era and leaves listeners wondering where he’ll take them next. // Jamogi is also know as Byron Hyde a Kanas City based singer, songwriter, MC, producer, originally from Los Angeles, California.// Jamogi released the single “Georgia Peach (feat. Burgandy)” on September 5, 2025. Jamogi released Jamogi & The Jammers: Live at Flew The Coop Sessions (Flew The Coop Live) through Jam Tunes on April 11, 2025. // Jamogi released the single “Do It To Me” on March 28, 2025. // Jamogi released the single “Go Big or Go Home” on August 30, 2024, Jamogi released the single “Hot Block” on May 30, 2024. Jamogi released the EP, Star-Crossed Lover on March 3, 2023. Jamogi then released a “Star-Crossed Lover GALACTIC REMIX (feat. Watchman)” single on June 9, 2023.Jamogi previously released the AGE OF AQUARIUS EP on March 3, 2023, and the single “Celebration” on Dec. 9, 2022, and the single “Anymore” on May 6, 2022. // Jamogi played the ROCK IS BLACK—a celebration of Black artists in rock music, happening February 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Zhou B Art Center, 1801 E 18th Street, KCMO. Rock is Black features: Malek Azrael & The Vibez, Jamogi and The Jammers, Stephonne, and Frankie Shorez & Mercy Fire. Jamogi and the Jammers played Boulevardia 2025]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play The Ship 1221 Union Ave, KCMO, on Friday, July 10, 2026.]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Macken Park in North Kansas City Friday, July 10, 7:00 to 9:00pm]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS. Saturday, July 11 with Soul Agenda]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Union Station , KCMO, Sunday, July 12, 2:00pm to 4:00pm]

[Jamogi and The Jammers play Sofar Sounds KC at Equal Minded Cafe KCMO, July 12, 2:00pm to 4:00pm]

11:28 – Underwriting

15. Warren Burns – “Rooms”
    from: Burn Again / Warren Burns / April 10, 2026
    [Warren Burns on vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica; Brad Highnam on bass, backing vocals, piano; Marco Pascolini on pedal steel; Jon Kraft on drums, w/ Mark Cohick on pipes, Marvin Gruenbaum & Tony DeMarco & Kent Brauninger on violin; Steve Molloy & Danny Fischer on trumpet; Kari Agosti & Suzanne Hogan & on backing vocals. Recorded by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab. Mastered by Carl Saff]

[Warren Burns plays Hillsiders 403 N. 5th St., KCK, on Thursday, July 2 with Luke Callen.]

[Nature Boys play SK8BAR, 4014 Central, KCMO, on Saturday, July 4, at 7:00pm with Red Kate, The Bad Ideas, The Phantom AD, and Braggers]

11:34 – Interview with Danny Fischer

Danny Fischer joins us to talk about his musical projects including the recent release of Warren Burns and the album BURN AGAIN, released April 10, 2026. BURN AGAIN was recorded by Duane Trower at Weights and Measures Soundlab with Warren Burns on vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica; Brad Highnam on bass, backing vocals, piano; Marco Pascolini on pedal steel, and Jon Kraft on drums. Warren Burns self titled debut album was released July 2, 2022. Danny Fischer also records and performs music in his band Nature Boys who started playing together in 2009, and have release 4 albums. More information at: http://www.natureboysrocknroll.com

Warren Burns plays Hillsiders 403 N. 5th St., KCK, on Thursday, July 2 with Luke Callen.

Nature Boys play SK8BAR, 4014 Central, KCMO, on Saturday, July 4, at 7:00pm with Red Kate, The Bad Ideas, The Phantom AD, and Braggers

Danny Fischer thanks for being with us on Wednesday Midday Medley

Warren Burns played a Vinyl release show will be at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave. KCMO in Historic West Bottoms on Sunday April 12, at 6:00pm, with Lodestones.

In April 2026, Warren Burns went on tour:
04.23.2026-fayetteville ar-@ artemis w/ noah richmond
04.24.2026-Little rock ar-@ white water tavern w/ numb chunks, william blackart
04.25.2026-memphis-@ dkdc w/ Aquarian blood
04.26.2026-new orleans-@ The Okay bar w/ cry baby’s, dirty rotten snake in the grass
04.28.202-austin tx-@ crow bar w/ Cooper moon
04.29.2025-oklahoma city-@ flora bodega
05.19.2026-st louis mo-@ The hi dive w ace of spit
05.20.2026-berea ky-@rebel rebel
05.21.2026-detroit mi-@the painted lady w/ old fashioned aces
05.22.2026-kalamozoo mi-@glow hall
05.23.2026-green bay wi-@ the razz
05.24.2026-minniapolis mn-@eagles club
05.25.2026-iowa city-@tbd

Nature Boys released the single: “Common Visions” from / Dead Broke Rekerds / April 11, 2025

Nature Boys – Kansas City, Missouri punk rock & rollers that have been kickin’ up dust all across the country since 2009! They left for our first tour in January of 2010.

The band includes:
Danny Fischer on guitar & vocals
Suzanne Hogan on bass & vocals
Brad Highnam on drums.

Nature Boys released their album IV /on September 24, 2021. Nature Boys started playing together in Kansas City, Missouri September of 2009. They wrote this about their band: “We had our first show in November or December at the Troost House, and then our second show at Dave’s Stagecoach Inn.

Their fourth album and first on Dead Broke after self-releasing a slew of their previous efforts. Imagine if Dead Moon was a bunch of punk rockers from the south, then you might be getting close to what Nature Boys scrappy & energetic punk rock is all about. Limited to 300 copies. (200 Black, 100 Clear Pink) w/download code..]

Nature Boys played a Special Halloween Benefit for Confluence & KC Tenants on Saturday, October 30, at 8:00 PM, at Blip Roasters 1301 Woodswether Rd, WEST BOTTOMS, KCMO with Pink Phase, DJ Dan Cool, Killus.

Nature Boys play 21st Annual Crossroads Music Fest on Sat, Sept. 6, at 11:15pm in West Bottoms at Voltaire, 1617 Genessee St. with DJ Nana G, DJ Thundercutz, Teri Quinn & The Coyotes, and SEYKO

Danny Fischer Discography

The Afterparty – Forever After – 2005
Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Vocals – Josh Mobley
Bass – Chris DeVictor
Drums – Paul Andrews
Vocals – Sarah Carpenter
Vocals, Guitar – Danny Fischer, Dave Regnier*
Recorded By, Engineer – Chad Meise, Clarke Wyatt
All Songs Written – The Afterparty
Arranged – The Afterparty

The Afterparty – Under The Rainbow – 2006
Vocals, Guitar, Organ – Danny Fischer
Piano [Rhodes] – Josh Mobley
Bass – Chris Devictor
Drums – Paul Andrews
Guitar – David Regnier
Vocals [The Brunettes] – Amie Nelson, Sarah Carpenter, Sonya Andrews
Guitar [Guest Musician] – Marco Pascolini
Saxophone [Guest Musician] – Mark Southerland, Mark Weinberg, Sam Hughes
Soprano Saxophone [Guest Musician] – Jolin Smith
Sousaphone [Guest Musician] – Bill McKemy
Trombone [Guest Musician] – Jeremiah Kidwell, Seth Lee
Trumpet [Guest Musician] – Bobby DuSoul
Fiddle [Guest Musician] – Betse Ellis
Recorded – Chad Meise
Mastered – E. Clarke Wyatt*
Arranged – The Afterparty
Artwork [Art/Packaging] – Pascolini Design Lab

The Afterparty – unreleased 3rd album – 2007
a limited number of cassettes were created.
Side one:
boots
Big Mamou
Rock Bump Head
Tacoland Blues
In Blazes
Dinosaurs
Side two:
Butterflies and Clothesline
Drakkars Mamma
Phil
I Love You

Nature Boys – Nature Boys – 2010
San Huevos Records
Guitar, Vocals – Danny Fischer
Bass, Vocals – Suzanne Hogan
Drums – Aaron Rommel
Recorded – Ashley Miller
Recorded [Assisted By] – Zachary VanBenthusen
Written – Nature Boys
Artwork, Photography, Design Concept – Nature Boys

Nature Boys – Nature Boys – 2013
San Huevos Records
Danny Fischer – Guitar, Vocals
Suzanne Hogan – Bass, Vocals
Aaron Rommel – Drums
Danny Fischer – Lyrics
Recorded by – Jon Kraft
Mixed – Mike Tuley, Jon Kraft, Nature Boys
Photography – Michael Boles
Will Burnip – Artwork [Insert Art]

Nature Boys – 2017
San Huevos Records
Suzanne Hogan
Suzanne Hogan – Bass, Vocals
Evan Malone – Drums
Danny Fischer – Guitar, Vocals
Recorded by – Danny Fischer
Mastered By – Carl Saff
Written By – Nature Boys

Nature Boys – IV – 2021
Dead Broke Rekerds
Suzanne Hogan – Bass, Vocals
Evan Malone – Drums
Danny Fischer – Guitar, Vocals
Recorded By – Danny Fischer, James Rumsey
Carl Saff – Lacquer Cut
Pam Fischer – Cover, Artwork
Grace Ambrose – Layout

Warren Burns – Warren Burns – 2023
Danny Fischer – Guitar, Vocals
Recorded By – Danny Fischer
Mastered By – Carl Saff

Warren Burns – Burn Again – April 10, 2026
Warren Burns on vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
Brad Highnam on bass, backing vocals, piano
Marco Pascolini on pedal steel
Jon Kraft on drums
with Mark Cohick on pipes,
Marvin Gruenbaum & Tony DeMarco & Kent Brauninger on violin;
Steve Molloy & Danny Fischer on trumpet;
Kari Agosti & Suzanne Hogan & on backing vocals.
Recorded by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab.
Mastered by Carl Saff

Danny Fischer thanks for being with us on WMM.

Warren Burns plays Hillsiders 403 N. 5th St., KCK, on Thursday, July 2 with Luke Callen.

Nature Boys play SK8BAR, 4014 Central, KCMO, on Saturday, July 4, at 7:00pm with Red Kate, The Bad Ideas, The Phantom AD, and Braggers

For WMM, I’m Mark Manning. Thanks for listening!

11:52

16. Warren Burns – “Neon Lights”
    from: Burn Again / Warren Burns / April 10, 2026
    [Warren Burns on vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica; Brad Highnam on bass, backing vocals, piano; Marco Pascolini on pedal steel; Jon Kraft on drums, w/ Mark Cohick on pipes, Marvin Gruenbaum & Tony DeMarco & Kent Brauninger on violin; Steve Molloy & Danny Fischer on trumpet; Kari Agosti & Suzanne Hogan & on backing vocals. Recorded by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab. Mastered by Carl Saff]

[Warren Burns plays Hillsiders 403 N. 5th St., KCK, on Thursday, July 2 with Luke Callen.]

[Nature Boys play SK8BAR, 4014 Central, KCMO, on Saturday, July 4, at 7:00pm with Red Kate, The Bad Ideas, The Phantom AD, and Braggers]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, July 8 we welcome Audrey Crabtree from KC Fringe, Chris Garibaldi from Lotuspool Records and the band Suneaters, Theresa Scott of The Utilitarians and Kimmie Queen of The Philistines, AND singer songwriter writer Nikki White!

You can find our playlists at: http://www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & http://www.kkfi.org
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
http://www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein-Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Office Manager Book Keeper – Shaina Littler.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’s Summer Fund Drive during WMM we had a total of 36 people donate a total of $3513.50. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made 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

Show #1154

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, June 3, 2026

WMM presents: David Brighton of David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY + Jocelyn Olivia Nixon + Stephonne

1. “It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. The Forcefields – “The Symphony Of All Things”
   from: Symphony Of All Things / Frickin’ Awesome Records / June 6, 2026
   [Debut 9-track album from The Forcefields is a cosmosonic collaboration between Julia Othmer and James T Lundie AKA Aayama & Max Forcefield. The Forcefields made their first debut with the presentation TRANSMISSION for the Charlotte Street Foundation series, In(SITE), highlighting local, regional, and national acts at pivotal points in their practices. In a multidisciplinary collaboration with artists Simon Huntley, Sarah Hearn, and Mikal Shapiro, Transmission was an exploration of cosmic vibrations and soundscapes in a stunning one-night-only production. // Julia Othmer grew up in Kansas City and studied at Columbia University in New York City. The child of European refugees, she draws from a broad and richly cultured palette of experience to create her intensely human yet otherworldly songs. Her piano-driven performances are a mesmerizing and superconscious fusion of raw power, vocal artistry and joy. She played many local KC clubs including Jardine’s and Bar Natasha. Julia moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her 1st album, OASIS MOTEL. When Julia started planning to record her second album she traveled all the way to England to work with producer James Lundie. On a dark night in North London, singer-songwriter Julia Othmer landed on the front steps of producer-composer James T Lundie. She had been introduced to his music production and fell so deeply in love with his sonic architecture, she transported herself across the proverbial pond from LA to the UK, and refused to leave until he listened to her songs. This began a deeply creative and inspired partnership both in music and in life. Together they have released (under Julia’s name) studio recordings, live recordings, short films to accompany their work, a multi-media performance experience, and multiple social and environmental justice initiatives. James T. Lundie married Julia in January of 2016, during the completion of the record. The album “Sound,” was released on April 12, 2019. Leading up to the 2020 presidential election Julia & James released Seeds (Vol. 1) in 2020, and SEEDS (Vol. 2) in 2022. In the midst of these releases Julia and James relocated to Kansas City. Last year in April of 2024 Julia and James unveiled their newest creation, THE FORCEFIELDS featuring, reimagined vintage synthesizers, video projections, one of a kind instruments. // In 2021 Julia and James relocated to KC, and they recently unveiled their newest creation, a new expanding sonic & visual aesthetic called THE FORCEFIELDS. Their sound is evolving into what is described as Annie Lennox hosting a full moon party with The Beach Boys and Portishead gathered round the fire. Their studio recordings feature James’ unique sonic tools, reimagined vintage synthesizers, audireting and distilling the essence of two of Julia’s previous songs.]

[The Forcefields have been playing shows in France and UK and will be coming back to KC this summer.]

3. Boards of Canada – “Deep Time”
   from: Inferno / Warp / May 29, 2026
   [Laced with occult imagery and enigmatic samples, the Scottish duo’s immersive new album—their first in 13 years—offers some of the most captivating music of their career.- Pitchfork // Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin, active since 1986. The duo’s work, largely influenced by 1970s media, incorporates vintage synthesiser tones, manipulated analog equipment, samples, and hip hop-inspired beats. Critics have described their music as exploring themes related to nostalgia, childhood memory, science, environmental concerns, and esoteric subjects. // After releasing several early EPs, the group signed to Warp Records in 1998 and released their debut album Music Has the Right to Children to widespread critical acclaim; it is now considered a landmark album in electronic music. This was followed by their second studio album Geogaddi (2002), which adopted a darker tone and references to religious cults and the occult. Their third studio album The Campfire Headphase (2005), emphasized more organic instrumentation and conventional song structures. After a seven-year hiatus, the duo returned with their fourth studio album Tomorrow’s Harvest (2013), which drew inspiration from film scores. A thirteen-year hiatus followed before the release of their fifth studio album Inferno (2026). // Boards of Canada have been regarded as “one of the best-known and best-loved electronic acts” of their era. They are credited as a pioneering group in the intelligent dance music (IDM) and hauntology movements. The duo have been described as cryptic and reclusive; they have made extensive use of subliminal messaging and unconventional promotional methods, and rarely grant interviews or appear publicly, having not performed live since 2001. // Inferno is the fifth studio album by Scottish electronic music duo Boards of Canada, released on 29 May 2026 by Warp. It is the duo’s first studio album in thirteen years, following Tomorrow’s Harvest (2013). An electronic and ambient album described as IDM and hauntology, the album was noted as the duo’s response to a darker zeitgeist, with allusion to biblical themes, spirituality, and the occult. Recorded at Hexagon Sun studio in Pentland Hills, Scotland, its instrumentation contains guitars, live drums, and synths, adopting a live sound and prominently including sampled vocals. Members Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin are credited on the album as instrumentalists and sound designers, with all production and writing on a majority of the album’s tracks credited solely to Sandison. // The Skinny wrote that the first half contained prominent voice sampling, while the second half focused more on synths. The Wall Street Journal reports that around half of the album’s tracks are solely instrumentals. Much of the album alludes to biblical themes, spirituality, and the occult. The album was recorded at the duo’s Hexagon Sun studio in Pentland Hills, Scotland. // The instrumentation of Inferno features guitars, live drums, heavy synths, adopting a live sound. The music of the album has been compared to that of Brian Eno, the Avalanches, and Mogwai. “Prophecy at 1420 MHz” has live drums and guitar, “Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan” is based on heavy synths, and “Somewhere Right Now in the Future” takes a dream pop style. “Naraka”, named for the Sanskrit term for “Hell”, has droning synths, “Memory Death” contains buzzing flies and what has been described as an inhaling chime or beeping, and “Into the Magic Land” has been described as post-rock. “Deep Time” features strings and tympani, “Arena Americanada” takes on an early IDM style with heavy synths, and “I Saw Through Platonia” is based on a recording of the human heartbeat. // Of the voice sampling prominent in the album: “Prophecy at 1420 MHz” features the voice of Islamic scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr describing God as “the ultimate resonance”, “Age of Capricorn” begins with references to the Antichrist and Osama bin Laden, transitioning into a sample of a Christian sermon, and “Father and Son” contains a conversation from the 1971 film The Jesus Trip in which a man declares to his father that he loves the Lord “more than any physical being”. “Naraka” features Hare Krishna chanting, “The Word Becomes Flesh” features a woman describing embryo development, “All Reason Departs” features a sampled recording quoting Aleister Crowley, and “The Process” features words from a female synthesised voice transitioning from panic to babble.]

4. TheBabeGabe X The Human – “FUTURISTIC LOVERS”
   from: HONEYPOP / Seven Rings Media / March 5, 2025
   [One of two full length albums released in 2025 by TheBabeGabe, the other being HONEYPOP Reloaded on Seven Rings Media released August 8, 2025. March 5, 2025, both with production by The Human // After years of being the girl in the band, TheBabeGabe is stepping out, and standing ten toes down. As she dives into her solo career, Gabe brings the same sugary raps and addicting energy that she did as 1/3 of the alt-rap trio BLACKSTARKIDS. This time though, she’s telling her story, and forging a fresh start. The debut mixtape HONEY POP introduces the world to a young black girl from Kansas City that’s hungry for better things for herself and everyone who looks like her. Her energy is infectious, and you won’t want to be the one standing in her way, which becomes clear from the rowdy hook of the project’s lead single PSA. “It’s in my DNA, killing shit like every day, take this as a PSA, don’t give a fuck ‘bout what you say.” // With BLACKSTARKIDS, Gabe gained experience crushing a stage, opening on tour with The 1975, beabadoobee, Glass Animals, & more. That confidence shines through on braggadocios tracks like Only See Me, Pulse, and Pep Rally where she raps, “hoe shut the fuck up when I’m talking, got a pretty face but this mouth repulsive.” Pulling inspiration from future peers like Doja Cat & Tyler, The Creator, Gabe is quick to prove she isn’t restricted to one sound. There’s no shortage of variety with sticky hooks, soulful ballads, Janelle Monáe -esque pop hits, somber reflective cuts, and boomy west-coast kickbacks. // No song boasts this genre-bending ability better than the double track RIOT GRRL//DRAMA QUEEN. Starting with an inspirational pop-punk banger that could make any Olivia Rodrigo fan nod in approval, it soon turns to the emotional DRAMA QUEEN, seeing Gabe grapple with difficult changes and struggle to find the best way forward. Listening to Gabe can often feel like hanging with your bestie in that you’re getting both the yap sessions about the everyday as well as the venting about life’s drama and all its uncertainties. // These confessions, boasts, hooks, croons, screams, beats, and sounds all come together to create an extraordinary portrait of a young artist figuring it out. It’s an unfiltered showcase that sees Gabe pull back the curtain and step forward so you can meet her where she’s at. So when you listen, you’re seeing her for who she really is. And for many, that’s someone you can see yourself in. That’s TheBabeGabe. // TheBabeGabe was one-third of the Kansas City based BLACKSTARKIDZ Gen-Z upstarts BLACKSTARKIDS have released their sixth studio album Saturn Dayz on Sept. 20, 2024 through Dirty Hit Records and immediately followed with an 8-track 7th studio album HEAVEN ON URF, on Oct. 25, 2024 on Dirty Hit Records. Music writer Bill Brownlee talked with us about how the band created a double album, but the record company decided to release as two separate albums. The music from both albums relate to each other. Before the release of Saturn Dayz the band released their single and video “SOULMATEZ!” on August 30, 2024. “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 KC in 2020 became the soundtrack for the summer. 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 Oct. 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. KC is honestly a hidden gem when it comes to music. I feel like you can meet an artist anywhere and anyplace in this city.”]

[TheBabeGabe plays KC Pride Sat, June 6, 5:15pm Main Stage, Theis Park, KCMO ]
[Jamogi plays KC Pride Fest Sat, June 6, 1:30pm Main Stage, Theis Park , KCMO]
[Malek Azreal plays KC Pride Fest Sat, June 6, 6:50pm Main Stage, Theis Park, KCMO ]

5. ALQ3MY – “3 Amigos”
   from: 3 Amigo- Single / Dark Matter Syndicate / August 24, 2025
   [ALQ3MY is a genre-blurring R&B trio born out of Kansas City, Missouri, made up of three dynamic vocalists: Ayron Alexander, DeMazjé, and Tah’Lure. Each member brings a unique element-Ayron’s soul-drenched storytelling, DeMazjé’s emotional rawness and range, and Tah’Lure’s polished performance and creative direction. Together, they fuse vulnerability with power, blending nostalgic harmonies, modern production, and spiritual undertones into a sound that feels both ancient and futuristic. // Inspired by the mystique of alchemy and the chemistry of brotherhood, ALQ3MY crafts music that’s cinematic, sensual, and deeply personal. Their songs reflect the journey of transformation-of self, love, and artistry-with lyrics rooted in truth and melodies built to move both heart and body. Whether they re performing live, stacking harmonies in the studio, or pushing boundaries visually, ALQMY isn’t just a group-they’re a movement reshaping what R&B from the Midwest sounds like. // Ayron Alexander is a Virginia-bred, by way of the Midwest, R&B singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose voice is rooted in neo-soul and theatrical passion. After singing in church cheir and performing with a Christian rock band, he discevered his true sound and has since built a dedicated social media following. 119K+ TikTok fans have loved his original tracks including “COLLISIONS,” solidifying his reputation as a powerful and emotionally honest artist. // Now as one-third of ALO3MY, Ayron brings songwriting finesse, vocal depth, and a flair for storytelling that rounds out the group’s sonic identity. His digital presence-filled with inspiring quotes, uplifting messages, and snippets from musical theater-speaks to his mission of using music as a gateway to connection and healing. With his heartfelt artistry and stage-ready energy. Ayron is poised to channel that creative spark into ALQMY’s next wave of fresh, soulful music. // DeMazjé is a rising R&B vocalist and performer from Kansas City, known for his soul-stirring voice and captivating stage presence. With a natural gift for melody and emotion, he brings a raw, heartfelt energy to every performance, blending classic soul with modern-day storytelling. Though new to releasing music, his reputation in the city speaks volumes-he’s a well-respected singer and creative force who’s made waves at major local events like KC PrideFest. // Now one-third of the emerging R&B group ALQMY, DeMazjé steps into a new chapter, joining forces with fellow vocalists Ayron Alexander and Tah’ Lure to create a sound that’s magical, bold, and deeply emotional. With a growing online presence and a strong foundation in live performance, he’s poised to become one of the Midwest’s most magnetic new voices in R&B. // Tah’Lure is a California-born, Kansas City-raised R&B singer. songwriter, and creative powerhouse who’s lived and performed across Atlanta. Omaha, and Tampa. Known for his rich vocals. captivating stage presence, and bold choreography, he’s a multi- hyphenate artist with deep roots in performance and personal style. Whether he’s commanding a stage, directing a creative shoot, or slaying as a master loctician, Tah Lure brings undeniable passion and polish to everything he touches.// Now stepping forward as one-third of the rising R&B trio ALQMY, Tah’ Lure fuels the group with his signature mix of soul, movement, and vision. His vocal tone glides between smooth and raw, weaving real-life emotion into every harmony and verse. With a growing online presence and local aeclaim-including a nomination for Best Male Vocalist-Tah Lure is poised to lead this new era of Midwest R&B with undeniable star power. More info at http://www.alq3my.com ]

[ALQ3MY play VCMN’s Lawrence Pride Kick Off Party, Friday, June 5, at 9:00pm, at Lucia, 1016 Massachustts St., Lawrence, KC w/ Lava dreams, Nova, Romeo, Big Body Caprice, and Kansas Campbell.]

6. Cheery – “Concept Of Love”
   from: Bliss / Spirit House Records / March 20, 2024
   [Leading up to the Bliss album release on March 20 , 2024, Cheery released three singles in 2023, from her new home in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. “True Lover” on July 19, 2023 // “90210 Poster” on August 16, 2023 // “Bliss” on September 20, 2023. All three singles came with fabulous new music videos . Cheery is the “Dream Pop” music project of musician and singer and songwriter Katlyn Conroy, who was formerly based in Lawrence, Kansas. moved 4000 miles away to get married and relocate in Liverpool, England. When she was still based in Lawrence, Kansas, As Cheery, Katlyn released the single “Concept of Love” and b-side, “Vulture” on August 3, 2021, written and performed by Katlyn Conroy, and engineered and mixed by Eric Davis. Katlyn Conroy released SAPPHIRES funder her previous moniker and band, La Guerre through The Record Machine on January 20, 2015. It was #10 on WMM’s 115 Best Recordings of 2015. Katlyn Conroy was also part of the critically acclaimed band, Cowboy Indian Bear. She was the recipient of the 2013 Pitch Music Award for Best Singer-Songwriter. With over 20 years of live performance experiences she has performed alongside Daniel Johnston, Florence and The Machine, Grizzly Bear, Sara Barielles, Why? and more. Katlyn Conroy joined us on WMM on March 4, 2015 and August 26, 2015. More info at: http://www.cheery.bandcamp.com or https://linktr.ee/HearCheery ]

[Cheery plays Birdies, 202 West 18th, KCMO, for First Fridays, June 5, at 7:00pm]

7. Shakey Graves – “Time Flies”
   from: Fondness, Etc. / Dualtone Music Group / May 15, 2026
   [Shakey Graves, one of America’s most inventive DIY musicians and singer-songwriters, released his new, highly anticipated home-recorded album, Fondness, Etc. For his fifth record, a woozy work of avant-garde folk and trippy time travel, Graves returns to making music first for himself, now rebalanced through family and fatherhood. Fully embracing change, whether graceful or not, for us all it is an inevitability. Out now, on Secret Identity / Dualtone Record. // On his fifthness, Etc., Graves reflects on the quiet grief and gratitude that come with growing up. Featuring nine lived-in songs with a folk-leaning intimacy, the album wrestles with the tension between holding onto who you’ve been and making room for who you’re becoming, as time and the people in our lives inevitably reshape us. Produced by Graves and captured on a pair of tascam tape machines in a focused one-month stretch in his home studio, the enchantingly lo-fi LP was shaped with the help of assorted musical artifacts, including a possibly haunted 1932 Gibson guitar that survived a bunker fire in World War II. Speaking on the recording process, Graves says, “The endless options of digital recording can be deadly for my creativity. The urge to add, tinker, and perfect is nearly impossible for me to resist, and I easily get lost in the sauce. Catching the foundation of a song on tape means that you have to commit to a sound and accept what might initially be seen as mistakes.” // “When the Love Is New” with its driving tulsa sound beat and brooding alt rock vocal delivery reflects on the nature of the heart. “Time Flies,” is a standout timeless track and a moving cover of Frankie Sunswept’s wistful love song featuring a sonically decadent string quartet. “On My Own” an intimate portrait written about the looming threat of separation with hooky riffs and restrained vocal refrain, partially recorded on Graves’ porch at home, with acclaimed makeshift couch drums and guest performers birds and wind. Closing with “No Place To Be,” Graves imparts timeless folk wisdom over restrained guitar and vocals, making us feel at home even when we feel ruddless in the turbulent waters of life. // Emerging from Austin’s DIY scene as a one-man band armed with a guitar and suitcase kick drum, Graves (who’s also a former actor) built a devoted following through breakthrough releases like Roll the Bones, relentless touring, and imaginative fan-first experiences, a spirit that continues here with a song-first, folk-rooted record grounded in intimacy, imperfection, and quiet emotional clarity.]

[Shakey Graves plays The Truman, 601 East Truman Rd., KCMO, on Friday, June 5, 2026]

8. The Soul Activators – “Sunset”
   from: Sunset – Single / The Soul Activators / March 28, 2025
   [The Soul Activators are a 7-piece Kansas City Funk band with Latin rhythms, punchy guitars and beautiful vocal harmonies, specializing in all original funk music. The heart and soul of the band is their explosive percussion. This multi-racial, multi-gender, intergenerational collective reflects the true heart of America’s diversity. Their music is more than entertainment—it’s a message of hope, freedom, and transformation. Known for their high-energy shows, The Soul Activators deliver lyrics that inspire justice, unity, and love. They don’t just play music… they ignite change. Instagram – @thesoulactivators]

[The Soul Activators play the Charlotte Street Block Party – Saturday, June 6, 1:00 to 4:00pm, at 3333 Wyoming, KCMO with Barter Boat sailing in from Minneapolis, Dub Vendors, plus artists collective, games food, and popsicles.]

10:30 – Underwriting

9. The Creepy Jingles – “Vow Down”
   from: Washed Up / Enigmatic Brunch Records / June 6, 2026
   [Earlier this year Jocelyn Olivia Nixon shared with us the unreleased single “fight for your say” for our March 4, 2026 radio show. // Last year Jocelyn Olivia Nixon released the single, “YOU AIN’T RIGHT! YOU MUST BE WRONG!” on May 2, 2025. Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is lead singer of the band The Creepy Jungles. The Creepy Jingles are getting ready to release a new alum called WASHED UP coming this spring. Jocelyn told Nick Spacek of The Pitch, “that the songs she presents to her bandmates in The Jingles’ songs are poppier stuff, typically, while solo songs are more folky, mellow, weird, and lyrical. Solo work also gives her the opportunity to work with others outside the group. As Nixon explains, “It’s basically a tongue-in-cheek song making fun of hard right conservatives and social cliques who think only their way is ‘right.’” She said, “I felt like I needed something where I can be a bit more vulnerable and naked, I suppose,” the musician says. “I think because Jingles do rock n roll pop songs well, I think I’m kinda boxed in as an artist and singer. This is my way of saying I have many sides to myself as an individual and as an artist, and I can forge my own path and defy expectations.” // The Creepy Jingles released a series of 4 new singles in 2024 including “When Things Go Wrong” on February 23, 2024. // The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band that both honors and defies convention. Led by singer / song-writer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 through High Dive Records. Paired up with lyrics centering on themes of identity, strained relationships, social media madness, meme magic, pandemic paranoia, paid off political pundits, backyard bullies and barking up the wrong tree. Everything and the kitchen sink or swim. No stoner left unturned. The Creepy Jingles released their Debut EP on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019. The release was in the top ten of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. ]

[The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.]

10:33 Interview with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon of The Creepy Jingles joins us to talk about her band’s new 11-track album WASHED UP, released May 22, 2026, through Enigmatic Brunch Records. The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band led by Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 and their self-titled debut EP on May 3, 2019, both through High Dive Records. Blending Brit-pop hooks, garage rock grit, surf shimmer, psychedelia, and sharp-witted storytelling, The Creepy Jingles deliver energetic, genre-defying performances packed with humor, heart, and lyrical acrobatics. The band’s colorful songwriting and beautifully chaotic rock and roll have made them one of KC’s most inventive live acts.

The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

WASHED UP was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars.

The Creepy Jingles line up originally included “Drummer Nick Robertson charges the group forward with a fiery fueled obsidian backbeat. Andrew Woody on bass guitar; Rounding out the band is Guitarist Travis McKenzie who generously spins a holographic spectrum of color that lift the catchy Brit pop melodies that effortlessly dance about the rapidly changing landscapes of New York Garage Rock and 60s/70s folk music. “

The Band line-up for the Washed Up album includes:

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on vocals, piano, and guitar
Wills Van Doorn on guitar
Andrew Woody on bass
Nick Robertson on drums

The new tracks were recorded and mixed by Paul Malinowski.
Mastered by Zack Hames

The Creepy Jingles social Media Links
Facebook @CreepyJingles
Instagram @thecreepyjingles
http://www.highdivekc.com/bands/the-creepy-jingles

---

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon wrote this on Facebook on February 27, 2026

Right before I started my band, I had taken 2 years off from the stage to put my life in order after transitioning. I felt it was important to honor such a huge experience. I was nervous to be my true self on stage and talk and sing loud for the first time in my life and it was because I feared judgement and acceptance. It took me a long time just to accept myself then I had to do it under a spotlight on stage and awkwardly transition in public working retail.
I faced challenge after challenge
I sang don’t let me go
because I knew I was gonna lose people.
I knew it would be hard.
But I also knew I was strong.
I got over that fear because I knew I deserved a better me.
That the people that loved me deserved a better me.
I’ve faced discrimination at work.
I’ve had to defend myself in spaces where I have had no allies. I advocated for myself when no one would, but that taught me so much.
I learned to trust my own inner voice above all else.
I learned to get comfortable trying to find my way in the dark. To speak up when I knew it would win me no favors. I had to be real and get real because for too long in my life I ignored that voice that told me to fit in and just get along. Make everybody happy. Get in line and shut up but I couldn’t keep up the charade.
I transitioned because I was unhappy. I was so depressed. I was losing hope to live because I was living an illusion. I
hated pretending or feigning that I was ok just to make others feel more comfortable. I resented being told I should make do and accept things as they were and be who they wanted me to be. I didn’t want to be a fraud to myself so I did the scary thing and decided to take care of me and be honest. To truly be brutally honest with myself and with others. To be the one to
Say the thing that no one was saying. Not to cause waves but because it had to be said. To me my truth was always more important than me being liked or being accepted. Even before transitioning
being me has always made me enemies
And It has lost me support
But I can look proudly at myself when I see my reflection in the mirror. I can say I truly know myself and I won’t compromise my authenticity because someone feels threatened by my truth.
In embracing myself, imagine my surprise
that It has also attracted many amazing friends, allies, and colleagues that I dearly treasure.
I’m so thankful to the local music community kc/ Lawrence for supporting me as a person and a musician/ artist. You’ve given me a space where I not only feel accepted but celebrated and I’m fortunate that we have real leaders in this community who give everyone a fair shake especially when you don’t fit the mold. You have always vouched for me and championed us as a band. I’m grateful for every opportunity and every stage I’ve stepped on. Thank you for letting me be me and allowing me to share my soul with you.
transitioning saved my life
The Creepy Jingles, my songs they are my refuge. Making music / writing words is my outlet to deal with all the complex feelings and experiences I’ve gone through. It helps me to make sense of a crazy world that is determined to misunderstand me.I’m just trying to alchemize all my pain into something beautiful.
This is my therapy. This is my joy.
Operating in authenticity isn’t easy.
Sometimes you make the right choice for you and that draws opposition from people who are scared and don’t understand.
Sometimes confusion breeds hatred.
Today I woke up thinking it was just another day.
It was not.
I had no idea my whole foundation was gonna immediately be ripped out from under me.
I have challenges ahead
I have obstacles
But we all have hills to climb
and roads to hoe.
We persist despite the horrors
Roughly about 1800 transgender Kansans were affected by this cruel decision of the Kansas state legislature, to invalidate such a small and vulnerable minority of their own constituents. The message is clear. We are not welcome.
I might not have a big platform
but I got – a platform
and while I do
While I have air in my lungs and blood in my heart, I WILL FIGHT
No one tells me who I am
I ask that you speak up and stand up with us if you value your own autonomy and you see injustice in the world today.
To do the right thing especially when it’s the hard and scary thing.
My name is Jocelyn Olivia Nixon.
I am a singer
I am a songwriter
I am a transwoman.
I am a human being
I am an indomitable spirit
I am not settling to survive
I am aiming to thrive
If you have a transgender family member and they are scared right now please let them know they are not alone. I’m here for them if they need to talk or need an ear and I have a song or two for them if they need some small comfort or distraction.
It’s the least I could do.
It’s who I was born to be

---

The Creepy Jingles played an Album Release Show at Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS on Friday, May 29, with Thimstr, Teri Quinn and The Coyotes

The Creepy Jingles opened for Hello Biplane for their KC Album Release show at The Brick, 1727 McGee St., KCMO, on Friday, April 10 with The Kansas City Bear Fighters

The Creepy Jingles played miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO on Friday, February 6, 2026 with Joel vs Joel, Eradicats, and Juliette Frost.

Artists on Enigmatic Brunch Records:
Joel vs Joel
Eggs On Mars
Wills Van Doorn

Enigmatic Brunch Records is a Midwestern small-batch record label. We’re a baby label junior! 
enigmaticbrunch@gmail.com

WASHED UP was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars.

10:42

10. The Creepy Jingles – “Go Tell Others”
    from: Washed Up / Enigmatic Brunch Records / June 6, 2026
    [New 11-track album was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars. // Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is lead singer of the band The Creepy Jungles. Jocelyn told Nick Spacek of The Pitch, “that the songs she presents to her bandmates in The Jingles’ songs are poppier stuff, typically, while solo songs are more folky, mellow, weird, and lyrical. Solo work also gives her the opportunity to work with others outside the group. As Nixon explains, “It’s basically a tongue-in-cheek song making fun of hard right conservatives and social cliques who think only their way is ‘right.’” She said, “I felt like I needed something where I can be a bit more vulnerable and naked, I suppose,” the musician says. “I think because Jingles do rock n roll pop songs well, I think I’m kinda boxed in as an artist and singer. This is my way of saying I have many sides to myself as an individual and as an artist, and I can forge my own path and defy expectations.” Jocelyn Nixon’s next single, “Real Deal,” is due later this summer . // The Creepy Jingles released a series of 4 new singles in 2024 including “When Things Go Wrong” on February 23, 2024. // The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band that both honors and defies convention. Led by singer / song-writer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 through High Dive Records. Paired up with lyrics centering on themes of identity, strained relationships, social media madness, meme magic, pandemic paranoia, paid off political pundits, backyard bullies and barking up the wrong tree. Everything and the kitchen sink or swim. No stoner left unturned. The Creepy Jingles released their Debut EP on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019. The release was in the top ten of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. ]

[The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.]

10:44 – More Interview with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon of The Creepy Jingles joins us to talk about her band’s new 11-track album WASHED UP, released May 22, 2026, through Enigmatic Brunch Records. WASHED UP was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars. The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band led by Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 and their self-titled debut EP on May 3, 2019, both through High Dive Records. Blending Brit-pop hooks, garage rock grit, surf shimmer, psychedelia, and sharp-witted storytelling, The Creepy Jingles deliver energetic, genre-defying performances packed with humor, heart, and lyrical acrobatics. The band’s colorful songwriting and beautifully chaotic rock and roll have made them one of KC’s most inventive live acts.

The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

---

From The Pitch KC June 19, 2019 Nick Spacek: “Jocelyn Olivia Nixon was part of the band Abracadabras, that was active around Kansas City from 2006 to 2009 or so. Nixon fronted the band, which also included brothers Collin and Kyle Rausch, who now play in the pop act Shy Boys. “

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon told Nick Spacek in an article published in The Pitch KC on June 19, 2019, “That was, like, the first band,” Nixon says. “I’d been writing songs since I was probably about 22, and that was our first band together. So it was like we all grew up together … Once I went to Austin, I felt like it was time for me to stand on my own.”

“I’d left [Kansas City] to work on my marriage,” Nixon continues. “My wife at the time was offered a job and I figured, Yeah, Austin, great music city. I should see what happens. A music city like Austin was the silver lining in moving away from my band.”

The marriage hit the skids a few years in, but Nixon continued writing music. She released a solo project called English Major, a divorce record of sorts. Five years in, though, everything finally seemed to come to a head.

“The traffic, the cost of living — our rent went up $750,” Nixon says. “It was almost impossible to stay. I was like, Why am I killing myself to do this? I was also starting to come to terms with my own personal identity, and it blew into this existential crisis, where I was like, I can’t keep this bottled up anymore.”

Being “bottled up” was Nixon acknowledging her recent transition into life as a woman, a process she’d started early during her time in Austin.

“Tweezing my eyebrows, laser hair removal, therapy, going out more in femme,” she says — but largely abandoned after her marriage fell apart and she stepped into a new relationship. But the desire to transition hadn’t gone away; Nixon was just burying it.
“I was depressed to the point where I kind of — there’s that line in ‘Yer Blues,’ where John Lennon’s like, Feel so suicidal/ Even hate my rock & roll.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I get that line,’”

Nixon says. “I didn’t ever feel like I was going to commit suicide, but I had this fantasy of faking my death and becoming a new person, which was all sort of leading me to transition, but I was just miserable and I just didn’t want to be around it.”

She decided to leave Austin and return to KC, though moving back home as she transitioned wasn’t something Nixon was initially eager to do. “I thought it was scarier to move back,” she says. But then she realized that, as she says, “I needed to do this in front of the people I grew up with, and have those tough conversations, and tell them who I really am and how I really feel. It felt like the most honest way to do things, and it felt like the most authentic way to bridge my past to my present.”

Nixon started hormones and came out as a woman after she moved back home to KC. She says everyone’s been cool about it — tons of support.

“When I came out, I felt stupid, because I was like, ‘I should’ve done this sooner,’” she says. “An immediate weight lifted off of me, just from carrying the weight of that consuming all my mental faculties at all times. It just shot my nervous system.”

Nixon had quit playing music toward the end of her time in Austin, and she gave herself a few years during her transition to “get my head right and heal from a breakup, and also, approaching this new phase in my life,” as she puts it. But she kept writing songs.

She started jamming with Nick Robertson, a drummer. Then they brought in Travis McKenzie, a former Abracadabras guitarist, and the Creepy Jingles were born. They played around for a few years and then, last year, began recording what would become their debut self-titled EP.

“We took it slow, doing it like, once a week, and then once fall rolled around, we were like, ‘Let’s record some things,’” Nixon says. They took the music to Ross Brown, another Shy Boy, who recorded & mixed the EP in his basement. Collin Rausch ended up playing bass.

“It was kind of like a little family reunion,” Nixon says of reuniting with old bandmates.

Nick Spacek wrote: The EP was released on High Dive Records at the beginning of May. It’s confident and exuberant, a Kinksy mishmash of Britpop garage rock”.

She says. I felt like I had to adopt a mask or a character to protect myself a little bit onstage. Now it feels very me, and I’m very comfortable.”

---

The Creepy Jingles self titled debut EP was released on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019
Ross Brown of (Shy Boys and Full Bloods) recorded & mixed the EP at escape Pod Audio.
Mike Nolte Mastered the recordings at Eureka Mastering. EP credits give special thanks to: Collin Rausch and Kyle Rausch of Shy Boys

The Creepy Jingles released the stand alone single, “Throwing In The Femme Fatale” on Nov. 18, 2021. As lead singer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, who is a transgender woman, told 90.9 The Bridge, “This is one of those songs we wanted to make space for and share because it was a favorite little oddball of ours, it’s a bit outside the box of what we normally do.” Nixon continued, “I wrote it to appear vague enough where it could be about a song, idea or a person that gets stuck inside your crawl space,” the song was about her own mindset before transitioning. “…This overwhelming thought about showing the world who I really was, because I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”

From FALLY AFANI, I Heart Local Music (June 22, 2019) “The Creepy Jingles are really throwing us for a loop. Like, we know garage rock is supposed to sound raw and a little loose. But The Creepy Jingles are so on point with their craft, we’re not entirely comfort-able with picturing them as some laid back group of rockers. Every. Single. Note. Is. Perfect. When The Creepy Jingles play, it sounds like they practice every single day. They don’t miss a single thing! Every note in every song is spot on, we haven’t heard a group of rockers this tight with their performance in ages. When they hit the Replay for their album release show Thursday night, it was hard to look away. Jocelyn Olivia Nixon runs a tight ship with this group. They began the set with her pounding away at the keys, leaving a throbbing urge for more of their exciting rock noise. Then, when they fully dove into their impeccable guitar work, the audience was also treated to her gnarly-as-hell vocals. The growls, the screams, the RAWNESS of it all brings out our most primal emotions.”

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is Community Organizer at Bandwaggn Kansas City
Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is Singer/ Songwriter/ Guitar/ Keys at The Creepy Jingles
Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is Singer-songwriter at English Major
Jocelyn Nixon Studied Filming/Directing/Acting/writing at The Art Institute of Austin
Jocelyn Nixon Studied Studied Broadcasting & Film at University of Central Missouri
Jocelyn Nixon Studied Studied Creative Writing in English at Missouri State University
Jocelyn Nixon went to Blue Springs South High School

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.

10:54

11. The Creepy Jingles – “All Because of You”
    from: Washed Up / Enigmatic Brunch Records / June 6, 2026
    [New 11-track album was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars. // Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is lead singer of the band The Creepy Jungles. Jocelyn told Nick Spacek of The Pitch, “that the songs she presents to her bandmates in The Jingles’ songs are poppier stuff, typically, while solo songs are more folky, mellow, weird, and lyrical. Solo work also gives her the opportunity to work with others outside the group. As Nixon explains, “It’s basically a tongue-in-cheek song making fun of hard right conservatives and social cliques who think only their way is ‘right.’” She said, “I felt like I needed something where I can be a bit more vulnerable and naked, I suppose,” the musician says. “I think because Jingles do rock n roll pop songs well, I think I’m kinda boxed in as an artist and singer. This is my way of saying I have many sides to myself as an individual and as an artist, and I can forge my own path and defy expectations.” Jocelyn Nixon’s next single, “Real Deal,” is due later this summer . // The Creepy Jingles released a series of 4 new singles in 2024 including “When Things Go Wrong” on February 23, 2024. // The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band that both honors and defies convention. Led by singer / song-writer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 through High Dive Records. Paired up with lyrics centering on themes of identity, strained relationships, social media madness, meme magic, pandemic paranoia, paid off political pundits, backyard bullies and barking up the wrong tree. Everything and the kitchen sink or swim. No stoner left unturned. The Creepy Jingles released their Debut EP on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019. Was in the Top 10 of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. ]

[The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.]

12. Octo Octa – “Eighth Intention (Turn The Wheel)”
    from: Sigils For Survival / T4T LUV NRG/ April 30, 2026
    [Written and Produced by Maya Bouldry-Morrison. Mastering by Carl at TruTone. Artwork by Hope Morrison. Layout by João Ervedosa // Acclaimed producer, DJ, and dancefloor healer Octo Octa (Maya Bouldry-Morrison) announces her fourth full-length album, Sigils For Survival. Following 2013’s Between Two Selves, 2017’s Where Are We Going?, and 2019’s Resonant Body, the new record marks a decade since Maya publicly came out as transgender in November 2015. // “As an autobiographical artist, I set out to write an album that would be a milestone for this past decade of joy and sorrow,” Maya explains. “Sigils For Survival is my attempt to encapsulate the intentions and techniques that I used to move through life into a spell.” // For each of the record’s eight tracks, Maya drew a sigil. Each is a personal symbol intended to “bind magic to the song and seal its intention.” These drawings appear throughout the physical edition’s design. Maya’s sister, New York artist Hope Morrison, incorporated each sigil into her original paintings, which comprise the album’s vivid artwork. Hope Morrison, whose imagery translates the sigils’ energy into vivid form; the layout was designed by João Ervedosa. // Created entirely on hardware instruments and later mixed in Logic, Sigils For Survival captures the tactile immediacy of live performance. Maya preserved the feel of MIDI-clock drift and off-grid recording, letting her machines interact in the rhythmic pocket, rather than confirming them to a click. Alongside her signature deep, ecstatic electronics, the album features hand-played dulcimer, hand-pan, and recorder. Her voice also returns, carrying spells of love, protection, and transformation. // Across Sigils For Survival, Octo Octa channels the ecstatic house lineage into an intimate ritual space. The music speaks of immediacy, play, and communion — of magic as method, love as survival, and sound as spellcraft. // The album closes with a poem Maya wrote while finishing the record:
    I commit my voice to complete this spell
    An artifact binding the seal
    Pushing the incantation to turn again
    In effort now to heal
    Alchemical messages spun in song
    Wheel open the door
    Ten years of finally living life
    I’ll fight to conjure more

Sigils For Survival is both a document of ten years lived fully and an invocation for the next chapter — a glowing testament to music’s power to protect, transform, and set the spirit free. ]

11:00 – Station ID

13. Stephonne – “Papa John”
    from: “Papa John (radio edit)” – Single / Glory Blue Music / May 20, 2025
    [“Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” – Lyrical Odyssey // May 20th, 2026 (New York, NY): Fearless alternative/genrequeer singersongwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Papa John”. A funky pop art joyride of sexual liberation, they delivers us a sonic smorgasbord. Innuendo laden and cheeky, Parliament meets Doja Cat on a Studio 54 dance floor. Over a percolating beat and playful bass synth, grit, guts and go-go simmer. “Papa John” is inimitably Stephonne. Their artistic voice here is singular, however lushly layered, and the freest we’ve heard it yet.// “In the age of A.I. it’s more important than ever to show up as perfectly imperfect and as fully as possible. Listening to this song is like freebasing me. You’re experiencing me at my purest, loosest, most raw, and in full-on play mode. Every part of creating this song was fun. It felt like a celebration and still does. I’m excited to party with everybody. Right now, we need humor and joy. We need to dance and free ourselves. Revolution can be sexy. It may even be necessary. In the midst of so much pain, it’s easy to forget about pleasure. We aren’t just here to procreate. Please be safe and get tested, but don’t forget to spice up your life. Food is not the only thing that’s better with seasoning, sis. That goes for all of us, no matter the countless ways we separate ourselves. We have more in common than we don’t. God and sex are two of the biggest things we do. God used it to create my gay ass just like He used it to create you. Can we move on to something important? You know, like stopping WWIII and A.I. armageddon? Persecuting LGBTQ people won’t stop either of those or those in power from coming for you next. Unclench, folks. Life is so much more enjoyable. The gays can show you how, honey! We can also show you how to survive, thrive, and persevere because we continue to through it all.” – Stephonne // Stephonne takes the helm as songwriter, producer, and artist again. Recent collaborator, Joseph Price (Third Son) adds his assist to amplify the Kansas City native’s potent lyricism and musical instincts. We’ve stepped into an electronic era, but “Papa John” is still punk. Full of humor and audacity, it also recalls and reimagines funk and disco. “Papa John” will live rent free in your head, long after first listen and leave you hungry for Stephonne’s next delivery .// On February 13, 2026 Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” Written, Produced, and Engineered by Stephonne Singleton, Co-Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Joseph T Price. // On August 15, 2025 Stephonne released “Worship at the Chappell: Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne is an Alternative/Genrequeer singer-songwriter, cultural producer, and generative performing artist from Kansas City, MO. They synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases since 2015. Bold new 2025 singles and videos continue to push boundaries! New experiences, both sonic and visual, await us from the upcoming sophomore LP, STEPHONNE. // Singer, songwriter, actor, model, artist, activist – Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think its Gonna Be Alright” I April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. // More info at: http://www.stephonne.com]

11:03 – Interview with Stephonne

Stephonne returns to discuss his new single, “Papa John” released May 20, 2026. Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” on February 13, 2026 written, produced, & engineered by Stephonne Singleton, co-produced, mixed and mastered by Joseph T Price. Stephonne released “Worship at the Chappell” On August 15, 2025. Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 recipient of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows.

“Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” – Lyrical Odyssey

Stephonne thanks or being with us on WMM

May 20th, 2026 (New York, NY): Fearless alternative/genrequeer singersongwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Papa John”. A funky pop art joyride of sexual liberation, they delivers us a sonic smorgasbord. Innuendo laden and cheeky, Parliament meets Doja Cat on a Studio 54 dance floor. Over a percolating beat and playful bass synth, grit, guts and go-go simmer. “Papa John” is inimitably Stephonne. Their artistic voice here is singular, however lushly layered, and the freest we’ve heard it yet.

“In the age of A.I. it’s more important than ever to show up as perfectly imperfect and as fully as possible. Listening to this song is like freebasing me. You’re experiencing me at my purest, loosest, most raw, and in full-on play mode. Every part of creating this song was fun. It felt like a celebration and still does. I’m excited to party with everybody. Right now, we need humor and joy. We need to dance and free ourselves. Revolution can be sexy. It may even be necessary. In the midst of so much pain, it’s easy to forget about pleasure. We aren’t just here to procreate. Please be safe and get tested, but don’t forget to spice up your life. Food is not the only thing that’s better with seasoning, sis. That goes for all of us, no matter the countless ways we separate ourselves. We have more in common than we don’t. God and sex are two of the biggest things we do. God used it to create my gay ass just like He used it to create you.

Can we move on to something important? You know, like stopping WWIII and A.I. armageddon? Persecuting LGBTQ people won’t stop either of those or those in power from coming for you next. Unclench, folks. Life is so much more enjoyable. The gays can show you how, honey! We can also show you how to survive, thrive, and persevere because we continue to through it all.” – Stephonne

On February 13, 2026 Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” Written, Produced, and Engineered by Stephonne Singleton, Co-Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Joseph T Price.

11:12

14. Stephonne – “Bloody Mary”
    from: “Bloody Mary” – Single / Glory Blue Music / February 13, 2026
    [Rebellious genre-queer singer-songwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Bloody Mary”. The slinky alt-electronic/pop track drips with erotic esotericism. It’s influenced by bands like Portishead, Garbage, She Wants Revenge, and Erotica – Bedtime Stories era Madonna. Stephonne writes, “I was playing Angel in RENT and heard about D’Angelo’s passing right before Halloween. The cast finally had a break from back-to-back shows and my sadness drove me to create that night and remember the power of Voodoo. 25 years later and that album’s energy is still just as potent. I turned on the Devil’s Pie documentary and this track fell from the heavens. “Bloody Mary” was also birthed from my love of witches, New Orleans, Anne Rice’s vampires, and 90s alternative music and nostalgia. I’m telling a story in a new way where I don’t have to choose between being gothic, nerdy, or provocative. I get to be all of those things and more on this record. There’s some very inspiring art coming from artists like JMSN, Slayyyter, and Charli xcx that gives me hope we are finally ready to let our freak flags fly at full mast again. Thank God!” // “Bloody Mary” plays like a Tarantino directed erotic thriller that injects dance floor fever and grunge edge. The clever wordplay and melody we’ve come to expect from Stephonne don’t take a backseat to theatricality here. All three drive Stephonne’s purpose-driven production and vocal power to new heights. Slick, cinematic, dangerous and glossy, this track a must-listen. // Stephonne writes, “Electronic music has helped me take up more space as an artist. I’ll always pledge allegiance to rock music, but I’ve loved experimenting more, letting go, and trusting the music as I hear it first. Listeners are getting more of me in every aspect of my releases and that feels good. I’m understanding my assignment more clearly, sonically, and I’m excited to showcase that through new visuals and LIVE!” // Lyrical Odyssey writes: “Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne works to synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases. // Stephonne keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think it’s Gonna Be Alright” on April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. Stephonne released the single, “Worship at The Chappell” co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne was on WMM on Sept 10, 2025 before his run in RENT playing Angel for Music Theatre Heritage. http://www.stephonne.com]

11:16 – More Interview with Stephonne

Stephonne returns to discuss his new single, “Papa John” released May 20, 2026. Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” on February 13, 2026 written, produced, & engineered by Stephonne Singleton, co-produced, mixed and mastered by Joseph T Price. Stephonne released “Worship at the Chappell” On August 15, 2025. Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 recipient of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. “Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” – Lyrical Odyssey

Stephonne thanks for being with us on WMM

Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. He also released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. More info at: http://www.stephonne.com

Stephonne Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Along with your work with KC Folk Fest, you have also worked with Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show.

Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows.

Each Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award receives an unrestricted cash grant of $10,000, recognition by Charlotte Street at the time of the award announcement and throughout 2023. The 2023 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Awards recognize two exceptional artists in the fields of dance, theatre, music, opera, sound art, performance art, multimedia performance, spoken word, puppetry or hybrid performance-based forms. Along with Stephonne Singleton and Tiara Nicole was the other recipients of the 2023 Generative Performing Artist Awards. Since 1997, 29 performing artists and 106 visual artists in the Kansas City region have received this highly regarded award.

All of the 2023 Charlotte Street Award Fellows were selected through competitive processes beginning with open calls for applications from artists based in the five-county Kansas City Metro Area. Artist selections were made by a panel of jurors consisting of renowned and qualified arts professionals. Jurors participated in interviews, presentations, and studio visits, resulting in the selection of 10 finalists for the Generative Performing Artists Awards and 12 finalists for the Visual Artist Awards.

Stephonne’s Statement:

As a generative performance artist and musician, my music is a result of radical and unconditional love that I have for my life and human connection. That love persists, despite living in a world that relishes my artistic contributions but not the color of my skin nor my queerness. It is within this relentless predicament that I find myself, my melodies, and my lyrics. I share my struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through performance. I create music and live experiences that break through the boxes of race, gender, social status and genre so that others may see their reflection in my art. All of my musical influences come together to create something inimitable but familiar. Music has always understood me and It is through music that I continue to define and understand myself. I want my audience to feel accepted and understood by my art, to feel seen – and then to better understand themselves and those around them.

Stephonne Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

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

11:25

15. Stephonne – “Worship at the Chappell”
    from: “Worship at the Chappell” – Single / Glory Blue Music / August 15, 2025
    [Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne is an Alternative/Genrequeer singer-songwriter, cultural producer, and generative performing artist from Kansas City, MO. They synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases since 2015. Bold new 2025 singles and videos continue to push boundaries! New experiences, both sonic and visual, await us from the upcoming sophomore LP, STEPHONNE. // Singer, songwriter, actor, model, artist, activist – Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think its Gonna Be Alright” I April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. // Stephonne was on WMMon Sept 10, 2025 before his run in RENT playing Angel for Music Theatre Heritage. More info at: http://www.stephonne.com]

11:27 – Underwriting

16. David Bowie – “Young Americans – Single version”
    from: Young Americans / RCA Records / March 7, 1975
    [Young Americans is the ninth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 7 March 1975 through RCA Records. A departure from the glam rock style of previous albums, the record showcased Bowie’s interest in soul and R&B. Music critics have described the sound as blue-eyed soul; Bowie himself labelled the album’s sound “plastic soul”. // Recording sessions began at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia in August 1974, after the first leg of Bowie’s Diamond Dogs Tour. The record was produced by Tony Visconti, and includes a variety of musicians, such as the guitarist Carlos Alomar, who became one of Bowie’s most frequent collaborators, and the backing vocalists Ava Cherry, Robin Clark and then-unknown singer Luther Vandross. As the tour continued the setlist and design began to incorporate the influence of the new material. The recording sessions continued at the Record Plant in New York City at the tour’s end. A collaboration between Bowie and John Lennon yielded a cover of Lennon’s Beatles song “Across the Universe” and an original, “Fame”, during a January 1975 session at Electric Lady Studios, produced by Harry Maslin. The album’s cover artwork is a back-lit photograph of Bowie taken by Eric Stephen Jacobs. // Young Americans was Bowie’s breakthrough in the US, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard chart; “Fame” became Bowie’s first number one hit single. Bowie continued developing its sound on Station to Station (1976). Young Americans has received mixed critical reviews on release and in later decades; Bowie himself had mixed feelings about the album. However, the album proved influential, as Bowie was one of the first white artists of the era to overtly engage with newly emerging black musical styles; other British artists followed suit. The album has been reissued multiple times with outtakes, and was remastered in 2016 as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) box set. // David Bowie released his eighth studio album Diamond Dogs in May 1974. His final album in the glam rock genre, it contained two songs, “Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me” and “1984”, that exhibit elements of funk and soul, which predicted the musical direction for Bowie’s next project. While his interest in soul music dated back to his mod days in the mid-1960s, he began listening to soul records extensively and incorporating soul material into his live sets. In July, towards the end of the first leg of his Diamond Dogs Tour, he performed covers of the soul songs “Knock on Wood” by Eddie Floyd and “Here Today and Gone Tomorrow” by the Ohio Players for shows in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania; these shows were recorded and released on the live album David Live in October 1974. Bowie had grown tired of the tour’s lavish set-pieces and theatricality and was ready to fully embrace black soul music. // In early 1974, Bowie met the funk guitarist Carlos Alomar, an Apollo Theater session musician who had played with James Brown, Chuck Berry and Wilson Pickett. One of Bowie’s favourite records was Brown’s Live at the Apollo (1963), so meeting a musician who played at the Apollo meant a lot to him. Alomar had never heard of Bowie when they met, but they immediately connected and formed a working relationship that would last almost 15 years; Alomar became Bowie’s guide into American black music. // While in Pennsylvania, Bowie visited Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia to work on recordings with the American musician Ava Cherry.Sigma Sound was the home of Philadelphia soul and the favourite studio of the writer-producer duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff; the two had co-founded Philadelphia International Records, the home of many well-known black American musicians. At the end of the first leg of the tour, Bowie returned to New York City to mix David Live, listening to various black albums in preparation for his return to Sigma Sound. // Young Americans features backing vocals from Luther Vandross (pictured in 1985), a then-unknown singer from New York City. For the backing band, Bowie wanted to hire MFSB (“Mother Father Sister Brother”), Sigma Sound’s house band of over 30 session musicians. Due to conflicting schedules, all members were unavailable except the percussionist Larry Washington, so Bowie went to New York City for further recruitment. Mike Garson (piano), David Sanborn (saxophone) and Pablo Rosario (percussion) were retained from the Diamond Dogs Tour, while Earl Slick was replaced by Alomar on guitar. At Alomar’s suggestion, Bowie hired Andy Newmark, a former member of Sly and the Family Stone, and Willie Weeks of the Isley Brothers to replace Tony Newman and Herbie Flowers on drums and bass, respectively. The producer Tony Visconti joined the project immediately after Bowie informed him of Weeks’ involvement;[1][9] Visconti co-produced much of Bowie’s work for the rest of the decade. Cherry, Alomar’s wife Robin Clark, then-unknown singer Luther Vandross, Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler performed backing vocals for the sessions.

[David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented by The Folly Theater, Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org]

11:32 – Interview with David Brighton

David Brighton brings SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented to The Folly Theater, this Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm.

Brighton, the leader & founder of SPACE ODDITY has been portraying David Bowie since 2001 and has garnered praise from some of Bowie’s closest companions over the years.

Harry Maslin, the producer of David Bowie’s YOUNG AMERICANS and STATION TO STATION albums has said that, “David Brighton has the voice, moves and look to actually step in for David Bowie if he were unavailable and few would ever know. Experiencing Space Oddity made for a truly remarkable evening”

Brighton’s credits include performing side by side with David Bowie himself in the TV commercials for Vittel Mineral Water and for Reality – Bowie’s CD. Brighton has performed as a resident cast member of the world famous Legends In Concert – the Las Vegas production show. He was also cast to portray David Bowie in the Warner Brothers feature film, The Watchmen. He also appeared as David Bowie on VH-1 television as well as in international pop star Shakira’s concert video.

David Brighton and his amazing band deliver a stunning note-for note theatrical concert event… transporting today’s audiences back in time through some of the most exciting moments in the history of Rock music. Space Oddity – The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience is a live, multi-media spectacle that takes you on a musical journey through the constantly metamorphosing career of Rock and Roll’s most celebrated innovator. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org

David Brighton Thanks for being with us on WMM

Bowie is not the first celebrity David has portrayed, he also played George Harrison.

Bowie fans have such deep and personal feelings about their musical hero. Mark: “For me personally as a queer kid growing up in a small town in Nebraska, Bowie was the crack in the sky and the hand reaching down to me, allowing me to accept myself in a world that didn’t always feel accepting.” These are the shoes David steps into when he performs Bowie.

The first David Bowie song David Brighton ever heard was “Panic in Detroit” from Aladdin Sane

David Brighton talked about being a “Bowie kid”: “I heard him on the radio, and there was nothing like that. It was, like you said earlier, he’s just completely unique. He worked with also some of the greatest musicians on the planet, and he is a true collaborator with his musicians. If you listen to albums with Mick Ronson on them, Mick was an enormous part of the music. Mike Garson, Trevor Bolder, and the rest; they’re all completely contributing, and each different band does the same. So, it’s a really fascinating body of work. So yes, I was always [a ‘Bowie kid’]–once I heard it, I was in. I went back and bought all the records that were before I knew about them.”

Being a ‘Bowie kid’ is a feeling that really only fellow ‘Bowie kids’ understand.

David Brighton: “Where I live, [there are] so many musicians [for whom] Bowie is one of their favorites. And I suppose when I first discovered him, I might have been one of the few, you know, but I don’t know. I’ve analyzed it, you know; what is it about whoever we gravitate toward musically? It’s not just the music that we gravitate toward, it is something subconscious or primal or something going on under the surface that attracts us to certain things and characters. And what is it? And I think with Bowie, it’s the sense of alienation, perhaps, and overcoming that. You don’t think about that consciously when you’re just listening or watching, but it’s woven into the fabric of what he did. It’s like this space-age rock and roll alien, Ziggy Stardust. I mean, what does all that mean? And I think it, like I said, it ties in this whole sense of alienation and perhaps overcoming it and finding connection, human connection. But anyway, it’s an interesting community. I just know so but like I said, in LA I just know so many people love Bowie and always did.”

David Brighton worked with David Bowie himself on a 2003 Vittel bottled water commercial.

David Brighton makes several costume changes through the show as you take the audience through the many different identities of Bowie: Ziggy, The Thin White Duke, Let’s Dance, …

David Brighton wears almost exact replicas of some of Bowie’s various costumes from across many of his eras.

David Brighton has said that when he is on stage as Bowie he tried not to think, but concentrate more on the flow..

Mark Manning: “Doing Bowie is not easy. Kansas City has a Bowie Tribute band who gather to do huge concerts around the time of Bowie’s Birthday every year. Their 12 piece band has two lead vocalist to cover Bowie’s arc of music. The lyrics are challenging, the music is challenging.”

Brighton has performed worldwide on bills with some of the biggest acts the world has known, including: Morrissey, Elton John, Devo, Smash Mouth, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins, Three Dog Night, Chicago, Little Richard and Barry Manilow. Brighton has performed at events for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver… Brooke Shields, Dustin Hoffman, Sylvester Stallone, Jay Leno, David Foster, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Barbara Streisand, Quincy Jones, Nicholas Cage… to name a few.

David and the Space Oddity band have been performing throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Europe – having just returned from touring Finland, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Portugal, Israel, New Zealand and China…

“David Brighton’s charisma keeps the audience mesmerized and his vocals are flawless… His likeness to Bowie is eerie… The crowd actually gasped in amazement as he took the stage… you wondered if it wasn’t really Bowie himself…What Brighton and band give is nothing short of the opportunity to go back in time…” – The LA Review

David began his musical career as a professional guitarist…playing lead guitar with a number of popular recording artists. His stint as a sideman began with a phone call from Kevin Dubrow from Quiet Riot. Dubrow tapped David to replace Randy Rhoads.

David also enjoyed portraying George Harrison around the world with a number of the world’s top Beatle groups, including: Rain, The Stars of Beatlemania, The Fab Four, 1964, Twist And Shout, Classical Mystery Tour, and When We Were Fab.

“David Bowie has worked with David Brighton…What does that tell you about the credibility of a tribute artist?” -Las Vegas Review Journal

SPACE ODDITY BAND MEMBERS

PAUL NELSON on Lead Guitar / Vocals
Paul’s original songs have been featured on television and in films, including the Academy Award winning – The Usual Suspects, HBO, Showtime, CBS and ABC. Paul also toured with surf legends Jan and Dean. With Space Oddity, Paul brilliantly reproduces some of rock music’s greatest guitar players’ feel and sounds (including Mick Ronson, Robert Fripp and Stevie Ray Vaughn) and the vocal stylings of vocalists as diverse as Freddie Mercury (Under Pressure) and Mick Jagger (Dancing In The Street).

SWITCH 0n Lead Guitar / Background Vocals
Switch is an award-winning guitarist and recording artist from Winnipeg Canada. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music before traveling to Hollywood to enroll at the Guitar Institute of Technology. He graduated first class honors where the school dubbed him a “Success Story.” A sought after session and touring musician, Switch has appeared with many major artists, including; Nancy Sinatra, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Bay City Rollers and Berlin.

TRENT STROH on Bass Guitar / Background Vocals
Trent Stroh is a highly respected multi instrumentalist/vocalist who toured and recorded with for six years with Eddie Money. He also toured with the classic acoustic/pop/rock super group America, Nancy Sinatra and pop hit makers, Air Supply. Trent has made numerous TV appearances on ABC, NBC, BBC and can be heard on many commercial jingles as well. Trent’s uncanny ability to reproduce the otherworldly bass lines in David Bowie’s music makes him the perfect choice for Space Oddity.

DANA DECKER on Bass Guitar / Background Vocals
Dana Decker is a highly regarded music professional who has toured with the Pussy Cat Dolls, Toni Basil and Vonda Shepard. In addition to his work as a touring musician, he has worked as an arranger, producer, musical director, recording artist and an instructor. Dana’s uncanny ability to reproduce the otherworldly bass lines in David Bowie’s music makes him the perfect choice for Space Oddity.

MONICA SCHNEIDER on Keyboards / Vocals / Percussion
Monica has been performing since the age of eight. She started out working in musical theater; touring the US with various theaters/companies, and is a long time member of the Troubadour Theatre Company. She was a principle vocalist in one of the longest running shows in Las Vegas – Ballys’ Jubilee, and performed as a singing and dancing member of the Satin Dollz with the Jive Aces. Monica has also regularly lent her background vocal skills to members of such legendary groups as The Sweet, Quiet Riot, Survivor, The Who, and many others.

JENNIFER BLACKWELL 0n Keyboards / Vocals / Percussion
Jennifer Blackwell has an extensive background in voice, music, dance and theater. She has had the fortune of combining her passions of performing and traveling the globe while working for some of the industry’s top companies…. Including: Tokyo Disneyland, Princess Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines and the Hilton Hotel in Osaka, Japan. When she is not touring with this amazing troupe of musician/performers, she can be found performing at the Disneyland Resort in multiple roles, as well as being a facilitator and trainer for the Disney Youth Education Series.
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BROOKE LAMBKIN on Keyboards / Vocals / Percussion
Since her teens, award winning vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter, Brooke Lambkin has been working with some of the music industry’s top professionals. As a songwriter and a singer, she has performed with groups that opened for Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac and others. She performed for Disney and has sung on several records, including her own.

TY DENNIS on Drums
Ty was hand picked by rock legends Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, to replace drumming icon Stewart Copeland, in their reformed version of The Doors, known as The Doors of the 21st Century. Ty also spent time drumming for the The Motels (featuring Martha Davis), Firebug, Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night), and has shared the stage with Alice Cooper, Alex Lifeson, Richie Sambora, and Ian Astbury (The Cult) . Ty’s TV appearances include the Carson Daly Show, The Craig Kilborn Show, MTV Japan, PBS’s Front & Center, VH1 Classics, and VH1′s ‘Decades Live’.

RYAN BROWN on Drums
Ryan brings his signature versatility to Bowie’s wide ranging catalog. A seasoned, in-demand live and session player, Ryan has toured the world with Frank Zappa’s son Dweezil’s, Zappa Plays Zappa, and can be heard on recordings by David Bowie, Foreigner, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Hannah Montana, Circus Diablo, Nick Lachey, Jesse McCartney, Heather Graham, Suzie McNeil as well as many other recording artists. He also played on numerous Hans Zimmer’s movie soundtracks – including Kung Fu Panda and The Dark Knight. Ryan has made numerous television and movie appearances as well.

“David Brighton is brave. To put on a David Bowie act is dangerous. To emulate such a musical genius, a one-of-a-kind persona, is artistic suicide. You either nail it or die. There is no grey area. Brighton and his band arrived in Montreal on Thursday evening. Music is a big deal in this city. Concert-goers forking out their dough are pretty knowledgeable. Brighton is ripe for criticism. Miss a note, flub a lyric – the artist may as well head across the street and cry to a Transgender person at Club Cleopatra. Brighton and his band practically nailed it from the get-go. Brighton’s uncanny resemblance…along with his perfect Bowie moves and voice, filled with the right pitches and tones for all of Bowie’s catalogue….made the most vigilant Bowie fan sit up straight. It was a celebration of Bowie’s genius. There was something for every generation and Brighton (and his band) emulated Bowie to perfection in each one. Paul Nelson (guitar/ vocals), Switch (guitar/vocals), Trent Stroh (bass/vocals), Ryan Brown (drums/percussion) and Brooke Naughton (Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion) performed like aliens. Superhero efforts in duplicating the Bowie sound. The entire ‘night out’ was a history lesson in music. No matter the decade, Brighton made it obvious. Bowie was a flower. A performer ahead of his time as a musician, a songwriter and an actor both on stage and off. David Brighton is a seed from that flower. Firmly planted and displaying his beauty through voice, charisma and an obvious love for Bowie. David Brighton is proof. THERE IS LIFE ON MARS.” – Rick Keene Music Scene.

David Brighton Thanks for being with us on WMM

David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented by The Folly Theater, is this Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org

11:49

17. David Bowie – “Changes”
    from: Hunky Dory / RCA – (Rykodisk – Virgin – Sony – EMI – Columbia ISO) / Dec. 17, 1971
    [After Bowie’s third studio album, The Man Who Sold the World was released in the United States through Mercury Records in November 1970. The album sold poorly but fared better both critically and commercially in the US than in the UK. It was played on American radio stations frequently and its “heavy rock content” increased interest in Bowie. The critical success of the album prompted Mercury to send Bowie on a promotional radio tour of the US in February 1971. The trip inspired him to write tribute songs for three American icons: artist Andy Warhol, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and the rock band the Velvet Underground, more specifically their singer Lou Reed. After the tour, Bowie returned to his apartment in Haddon Hall, Beckenham, where he recorded many of his early 1970s demos, and began writing. According to his then-wife Angela, Bowie had spent time composing songs on piano rather than acoustic guitar, which would “infuse the flavour of the new album”. In total, he composed over three-dozen songs there, many of which would appear on Hunky Dory and its follow-up album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. // Hunky Dory is the fourth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released in the United Kingdom on 17 December 1971 through RCA Records. Following the release of his 1970 album, The Man Who Sold the World, Bowie took time off from recording and touring. He settled down to write new songs, composing on piano rather than guitar as on earlier tracks. Following a tour of the United States, Bowie assembled a new backing band consisting of guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick Woodmansey, and began to record a new album in mid-1971 at Trident Studios in London. Future Yes member Rick Wakeman contributed on piano. Bowie co-produced the album with Ken Scott, who had engineered Bowie’s previous two records. // Compared to the guitar-driven hard rock sound of The Man Who Sold the World, Bowie opted for a warmer, more melodic piano-based pop rock and art pop style on Hunky Dory. His lyrical concerns on the record range from the compulsive nature of artistic reinvention on “Changes”, to occultism and Nietzschean philosophy on “Oh! You Pretty Things” and “Quicksand”; several songs make cultural and literary references. He was also inspired by his stateside tour to write songs dedicated to three American icons: Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed. The song “Kooks” was dedicated to Bowie’s newborn son Duncan. The album’s cover artwork, photographed in monochrome and subsequently recoloured, features Bowie in a pose inspired by actresses of the Hollywood Golden Age. // Upon release, Hunky Dory and its lead single “Changes” received little promotion from RCA who were wary that Bowie would transform his image shortly. Thus, despite very positive reviews from the British and American music press, the album initially sold poorly and failed to chart. It was only after the commercial breakthrough of Bowie’s 1972 follow-up album Ziggy Stardust that Hunky Dory itself became a commercial success, peaking at number three on the UK Albums Chart. Retrospectively, Hunky Dory has been critically acclaimed as one of Bowie’s best works, and features on several lists of the greatest albums of all time. Within the context of his career, it is considered to be the album where “Bowie starts to become Bowie”, definitively discovering his voice and style.]

[David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented by The Folly Theater, is this Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org]

. Joe Jackson – “It’s Different For Girls”
from: I’m The Man / A&M / October 5, 1979
[“It’s Different for Girls” is a song by Joe Jackson appearing on his 1979 album, I’m the Man. The song has since become one of his most successful singles, being the highest charting Joe Jackson single in the UK. Covers have been recorded and released by several artists. // “It’s Different for Girls” contained lyrics that feature Jackson “deliberately turn[ing] clichés on their head” in that, while originally sounding as if the song would suggest that the male protagonist was looking for sex and his female partner was looking for love, the opposite is revealed to be the case. Jackson later said on the song’s lyrics: It was something that I heard somewhere that struck me as a cliché. The sort of thing that someone might say. And again, I thought, What could that be about? And that maybe the idea was to turn it on its head and have a conversation between a man and a woman and what you’d expect to be the typical roles are reversed. So that was the idea of that. — Joe Jackson, Songfacts, 2012 // Taken from the Gold-certified 1979 album I’m the Man, “It’s Different for Girls” was Joe Jackson’s biggest UK chart single, peaking at #5 in the UK Singles Chart and #101 in Billboard. The song was backed with another track from I’m the Man, “Friday,” in Britain, but in America, a live cover of the Chuck Berry song “Come On” was used instead. // I’m the Man is the second album by English musician Joe Jackson, released in October 1979. Released shortly after Jackson’s breakthrough debut, Look Sharp!, I’m the Man saw Jackson continue the style of his earlier album. Singles from the album included “I’m the Man” and “It’s Different for Girls”, the latter of which was his biggest UK chart single, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. // I’m the Man was re-released in 2001 with one bonus track, a live version of “Come On”. “Come On” was originally released as the B-side to Jackson’s single “I’m the Man”, also issued in October 1979.]

[Joe Jackson and his band play their Hope and Fury Tour 2026 at The Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, KCMO on Tuesday, June 9, at 8:00pm.]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, June 10 members of the band Say That Again join us to share their newest singles.

Also joining Mark as special co-hosts for the entire show are: Mará Rose Williams of The Kansas City Star. She has served as a member of the Star’s Editorial Board and is an award-winning columnist. She was a writer on The Star’s 2020 “Truth in Black amd White” project, and the recipient of the 2021 Eleanor McClatchy Award for exemplary leadership skills and transformative journalism. Mara Rose Williams was the creator host and producer of Voices of Kansas City and award winning special series creatred by the KC Star with KKFI.

Also joining us is D. Rashaan Gilmore host pf “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore,” on KKFI on Saturdays at 5:00pm. D. Rashaan Gilmore is a two-time Emmy Award winning host and producer of Flatland In Focus on KCPBS. D Rashaan is Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the KC CARE Clinic.

And Rev Dwight Frizzell is a Professor & Sound Head, at Kansas City Art Institute, – Photography & Filmmaking Dept. with a Terminal Degree in Sound Design. Dwight is an internationally recognized artist whose work combines video, performance, installation, music, audio art, and writing. Frizzell’s work about his boyhood neighbor, Harry S. Truman, was featured in the Peabody-awarded “Lost and Found Sound” series broadcast on National Public Radio. Frizzell has produced an opera based on the life of Charles Darwin. In addition to his B.F.A. degree from KCAI, he holds a terminal fine arts degree in Sound Design from the UMKC. Dwight Frizzell, is a founder of the “groovy polyphonic jazz/dance” band, Black Crack Revue, now in their 43rd year. Dwight Frizzell is also an Arif, with Moorish Orthodox Church, and served at First Editor, The Pitch, he is a founding member of the newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, and is host & producer of “From Arc To Microchip” heard on the fifth Thursday of each month on KKFI’s Thursday Night Special at 7:00pm on 90.1 FM.

Dwight’s new piece–Before the Big Bang– for 100 speakers opens at the Unicorn Theater on the evening of June 10 as part of the Sound Mandala.

Mará Williams, D. Rashaan Gilmore and Dwight Frizzell will help co-host for our Summer On-Air-Fund Drive. We will need to hear from YOU our listeners to support Community Radio. Please call 888-931-0901 during the show so we can say your name over the airwave

You can find our playlists at: http://www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & http://www.kkfi.org
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
http://www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein-Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Office Manager Book Keeper – Shaina Littler.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’a Winter Fund Drive during WMM we had a total of 49 individuals donated $3924.00 going way over our show goal!

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made 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

Show #1150

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, April 29, 2026

WMM presents: Lava Dreams + Julie Bennett Hume + Amelia Rose + Alan & Janice Wasserman

1. “It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. FlareThaRebel – “Mixology”
   from: “Mixology” – Single / Shafer / May 1, 2026
   [“Mixology” from his upcoming full length album DEAR CITY. // Flare Tha Rebel’s lead single “Mixology” is a confidently smooth record that uses the art of the cocktail as a metaphor for ambition, drive, and balance. The song is produced by longtime collaborator, Bob Pulliam (“Happy Clouds (Bob Ross Flow)”, “Rose’ All Day”, “Royalty Pt.1/2”). The single precedes the release of Flare’s upcoming album, Dear City, which drops Friday, May 1st. // Amplifying the tension between having love for one’s city while not dismissing its inequities, Dear City is a lyrical reflection of truth-telling and hometown pride. The album highlights commonalities experienced by many urbanites regardless of where they call home.  // In the weeks leading up to the album release concert, Flare has been releasing music video reels on social media featuring snippets of the new songs from Dear City. Filmed by Flaming Heart Productions, each reel features only the first verse or at most the first verse and chorus of each song, giving fans a taste of what’s to come and building hype for the album’s release. // Elevating the concoction further, Flare collaborated with bar owner, Bryan Ari, to film the music video reel of “Mixology” at Fern Bar. Flare turned the filming into a “fishbowl experience” inviting guests to watch him create the reel live while sipping cocktails of their own. Flare landed the scene, which involved rapping while mixing a cocktail and flaming an orange rind a precise moment within the song’s verse. The outcome? Confidently smooth – after about six takes and some hands-on coaching from Bryan Ari.// Career and love brought hip-hop MC Flare Tha Rebel™ back to his hometown of Kansas City, MO, which sparked a creative renaissance. As The Pitch noted, “As a member of hip-hop collective Anti-Crew, Flare Tha Rebel made quite an impact on the Kansas City hip-hop scene. After making the leap from KC to Chicago in the late ’00s, he’s now back…” His homecoming has proved fruitful – his track “Playground” was voted the Number 1 Song of 2022 by listeners of 90.9 FM The Bridge. Throughout his career, Flare has shared stages with heavyweights including Chance The Rapper, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Lethal, Nappy Roots, and CES Cru. His most recent release is the locally acclaimed EP, “Summer You, Summer Me”, followed by his feature on the Kemet Coleman song “Android”. // Flare Tha Rebel aka Jeff Shafer is Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate. This was the job that brought Jeff back to KC, where he became Executive Director.]

[FlareThaRebel plays an album release concert at recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd. KCMO on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:00pm featuring performances by Flare Tha Rebel, Black Light Animals, and Eddie Moore.]

[FlareThaRebel join us on WMM on May 27 just before his appearance at Manor Fest 8, and just after his performances in Ireland with Kadesh Flow and Kemet Coleman on May 13 – 22]

3. SEYKO – “Anybody High”
   from: “Anybody High” – Single / Groove King Records – Fat Beats / December 1, 2023
   [Produced by Colby Bales of the band Black Light Animals and also a bandmate of SEYKO’s in The Freedom Affair. // Seyko released the single “What I Want” on June 23, 2023. //From http://www.seykomusic.com: Seyko has always found music to be a reflection of her innermost thoughts and feelings, a way of self-expression but even deeper than that. Music was always a life-giving, constant companion from the happiest moments to the darkest days. Music continues to be Seyko’s way of communicating with the world around her. // Seyko developed her musical talent during her formative years through church and school choirs, friendships that evolved into singing groups, and professional training through voice lessons and songwriting. Opportunities presented themselves, but Seyko also created opportunities for herself as she chased her dream to create and perform her own music. // The Freedom Affair and SUNU, two Kansas City bands Seyko performs and writes with, have solidified her place in the music scene and provide a solid foundation for beginning her solo career. Seyko’s singing and songwriting career has spanned twenty years, and it shows! Her creative growth has led to her being a well-respected artist in Kansas City, allowing her to participate in recording projects for fellow musicians and even singing background vocals for Michael Bublé at a live concert in 2022.]

[Seyko plays WOMEN OF THE REBELLION, a special concert headlined by Seyko and Carolina Mendoza, with Gracie Caggiano, Julie Bennett Hume, and Emma Jo, at recordBar, 1527 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Thursday, May 14 at 6:30pm, presented by Heartland Song Network, KKFI, Folk Alliance International, and Missouri Arts Council.]

11:11 – Interview with Julie Bennett Hume

Singer-songwriter Julie Bennett Hume shares details about WOMEN OF THE REBELLION. For over 35 years Julie has played bass, guitar, banjo and performed with: The Alferd Packer Memorial String Band, The KC Cajun Band, The All Night Fiddlers, the Afro-Cuban ensemble Manos, The Euphoria String Band, Table for Three, and Lost Cowgirl Revue which toured Germany and the Netherlands. With Leslie Giggler she performs as The Stray Grays. Julie worked for several decades as a High School teacher, and served as producer & host of “River City Chautauqua“. She is currently working with eight women in producing & hosting SHE TALK WHA?, Saturdays at 3:00pm on 90.1 FM. Julie has released four albums: “Late Bloomer” (2017), “Vinegar,” (2019), Songs Of Latter Days With Chris Hudson as The Multiverse, (2020), and “The Lorelei” (2025). Julie Bennet Hume plays WOMEN OF THE REBELLION, headlined by Seyko and Carolina Mendoza, with Gracie Caggiano, and Emma Jo, at recordBar, 1527 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Thursday, May 14 at 6:30pm, presented by Heartland Song Network, KKFI, Folk Alliance International, and Missouri Arts

Julie Bennett Hume thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

WOMEN OF THE REBELLION, a special concert headlined by Seyko and Carolina Mendoza, with Gracie Caggiano, Julie Bennett Hume, and Emma Jo, at recordBar, 1527 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Thursday, May 14 at 6:30pm, presented by Heartland Song Network, KKFI, Folk Alliance International, and Missouri Arts Council

Juoier Bennett Hue is the coordinator of She Talk Wha hosted by a team of 8 women who represent The EPA, The League of Women Voters, Habitat for Humanity, area Public High Schools, Metropolitan Community College system, and more. She Talk Wha? airs every Saturday, 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

The title track of “The Lorelei” is based on the poem of the same name by the German poet Heinrich Heine and revisits the theme of the dangerous siren. Songs on her latest project deal with politics, family dynamics, love and loss .

Julie Bennett Hume partial Discography

Julie Bennett Hume – “Vinegar / Lost Cowgirl Records / November 1, 2019
Julie Bennett Hume is a singer-songwriter from Stilwell, Kansas. She has been playing folk music for over 35 years in the Lawrence/Kansas City area. She has played bass, guitar, banjo and sung in numerous folk ensembles such as The Alferd Packer Memorial String Band, The Kansas City Cajun Band, The All Night Fiddlers, the Afro- Cuban ensemble Manos , The Euphoria String Band and Table for Three. She currently performs solo and with the duos The Stray Grays (with Leslie Giggler), The Multiverse (with Chris Hudson), the string band Wolves a’ Howlin’ and the group Lost Cowgirl Revue, which recently toured Germany and the Netherlands. Julie also teaches German part-time at a local high school and is the producer and host of the KKFI program “River City Chautauqua”. Her newest CD, Vinegar, was released in November of 2019.]

Chris Hudson & Julie Bennett Hume – The Multiverse / 2020
Chris Hudson & Julie Bennett Hume have been playing and creating songs for decades in the KC – Lawrence area. Prolific songwriters with a love of poetry and prose, their music is an eclectic mix of folk, blues and country. For this recording of 13 songs Chris wrote 6 and Julie wrote 6 and they wrote one song together. They play on all songs together with help from the Kansas City acclaimed alternative string duo The Wires with Laurel Morgan parks on violin and Sascha Groschang on cello. Also contributing to the recording was Jason Beers. Chris Hudson also plays solo and with the bands “Gullywasher” and “The Bard Owls”. More info at: http://www.themultiversekc.com

Julie Bennett Hume’s – “The Lorelei” / February 9, 2025 Part of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2025. More info at: http://www.juliebennetthume.com

Julie worked for decades as a High School teacher who teaches German in public schools.

Julie Bennett Hume thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Julie Bennett Hume plays WOMEN OF THE REBELLION, a special concert headlined by Seyko and Carolina Mendoza, with Gracie Caggiano, Julie Bennett Hume, and Emma Jo, at recordBar, 1527 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Thursday, May 14 at 6:30pm, presented by Heartland Song Network, KKFI, Folk Alliance International, and Missouri Arts Council

11:26

12. Julie Bennett Hume – “One Man”
    from: The Lorelei / Julie Bennett Hume / February 9, 2025
    [4 years in the making, “The Lorelei” was produced by Chad Brothers and includes musicians: Chad Brothers, Marco Pascolini, Brandon Day, Scotch Hollow, Mark Montgomery, and Ernest James. // Julie Bennett Hume has been playing and writing music for over 35 years in the Lawrence/KC area. She has played and sung in various ensembles including a blues trio, an Afro-Cuban ensemble, various string bands, a Cajun ensemble and folk/Americana duos and ensembles. Her music shows a strong Cajun, Old-time and Blues influence with a nod to some of her favorite songwriters such as Stephen Stills, Maggie Roche and Gillian Welch. Julie has released four CD’s of original music including “Late Bloomer” in 2017, “Vinegar” in 2019, “Songs of Latter Days” in 2021 with the Multiverse and “The Lorelei” coming in February of 2025. The title track of “The Lorelei” is based on the poem of the same name by the German poet Heinrich Heine and revisits the theme of the dangerous siren. Songs deal with politics, family dynamics, love and loss. http://www.juliebennetthume.com]

[Julie Bennett Hume plays WOMEN OF THE REBELLION, a special concert headlined by Seyko and Carolina Mendoza, with Gracie Caggiano, Julie Bennett Hume, and Emma Jo, at recordBar, 1527 Grand Blvd., KCMO, on Thursday, May 14 at 6:30pm, presented by Heartland Song Network, KKFI, Folk Alliance International, and Missouri Arts Council.]

10:31 – Underwriting

5. Ivory Blue – “History”
   from: “History” – Single / IVORY BLUE / April 3, 2026
   [IVORY BLUE released the singles: “afterglow” on February 20, 2026; “Forevermore” on November 28, 2025; and “Echo” on September 5, 2025. // Kansas City based artist, IVORY BLUE has a tendency of breaking through barriers that keeps her from saying what needs to be said, regardless of style. Bringing us hard hitting rock inspired ear candy like “Starlit Love Child” and “Control”, the idea of genre is only a tool IVORY uses to express her ability to communicate through music. // IVORY BLUE released the singles “Mirrors” on August 1, 2025; “Heartbeat” on March 28, 2025; “Rhythm of the Radio” on January 31, 2025 // “Exiled” on November 29, 2024; “Olé!” on October 4, 2024, Breathing Underwater” on August 9, 2024, “Bad Dreams”on June 7, 2024, “Batter Up” on April 22, 2024, “Flashback” on March 15, 2024, “Howl” on Feb. 16, 2024. // IVORY BLUE released their 2nd full length album, STARLIT LOVE CHILD, on Nov. 17, 2023. The 10-track album was in the top five of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2023, and in the “Best of” lists at 90.9 The Bridge and stations around the world. // On Oct. 27, 2023 IVORY BLUE released the single “Ghost of Life.” This single followed IVORY’s previous releases,”In A World Like This” from Sept. 22, 2023, ”The Best of Life” from Aug. 4, 2023 and “Control” from May 26, 2023. IVORY released the single “All Outta Love” on Feb. 24, 2023. // IVORY BLUE released the single “Starlit Love Child” on Oct. 28, 2022, “Red Light” on July 29, 2022. // IVORY BLUE released their full length debut album COMPOUND LOVE on Feb. 25, 2022. COMPOUND LOVE was in the Top 10 of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2022. For COMPOUND LOVE, IVORY BLUE served as songwriter, producer, vocalist and played all instruments with the exception of: Lester Estelle on drums, Klaartje Van Lue on piano, Craig Kew on bass, Lennon Bone on drums, and Marco Pascolini on pedal steel guitar. // IVORY BLUE released the single “Good Changes” on Oct 26, 2021. Ivory Blue released the singles: “Heavy,” “Bad Weather,” “It Must Have Been Me,” “Compound Love,” and “The Start” on December 14, 2021. // IVORY BLUE’s debut EP, Ready Get Set was released in June 2015. While the EP helped spread the word and give IVORY BLUE attention from regional radio and TV stations, a big break would come in 2017 when Ivory was among 1800 artists/bands that competed in neXt2Rock. Ivory won local & regional challenges and advanced to nationals in Los Angeles to win the top prize. // IVORY BLUE has played with The Band That Fell to Earth, Boulevardia, Crossroads Music Festival, Middle of the Map Fest, Westport Roots Festival, KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at KC Public Library, and Kauffman Stadium. // Ivory Blue was born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, as Devin James Miclettet. Ivory’s birth mother put them up for adoption at the age of four. Ivory speaks about how it was difficult to find trust in people offering their home to someone denied it for so long, Ivory lived with eight different families, before running away at 15. // Ivory has talked with us about how in their life they have turned to music to express pain. Ivory spent most of their childhood looking for a family. In 2010 Klaartje Van Lue saw Ivory performing in a YouTube video and contacted them, flying Ivory to Kansas City, and adopting Ivory into the Van Lue family. In 2011, Ivory settled in the Kansas City, MO area. During the past 10 years Ivory came out as “Non-Binary Transgender”, and then later as Trans-Female. // As a multi-instrumentalist, Ivory began refining their performance style, using digital looping pedals to stack harmonies and guitar parts live on stage, giving their solo shows the feel of a full band. Info at: http://www.ivorybluemusic.com]

10:35 – Interview with Amelia Rose

Amelia Rose, a 21 year old, transgender filipina student currently in her third year attending UMKC. Amelia is majoring in Media Arts and Design. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue a career in either radio broadcasting or graphic design. Amelia is working with other students doing a group oral history project which revolves around LGBTQ+ movements in Kansas City in the 1990s, with a bit of an emphasis on Transgender Rights. This project is part of Dr. Sandra Enríquez ‘s Oral History Class. Dr. Enríquez is an Associate Professor of History / Director of Public History Emphasis; Faculty Internship Coordinator; Associate Director of the Mellon Internship Program School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Enríquez is also the director of the Latinx KC Oral History Project and the co-editor of a digital project on Kansas City activism.

Amelia Rose thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Amelia Rose, a 21 year old, transgender filipina student currently in her third year attending UMKC.

Amelia is majoring in Media Arts and Design. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue a career in either radio broadcasting or graphic design.

Amelia is working with other students doing a group oral history project which revolves
Amelia is working with other students doing a group oral history project which revolves around LGBTQ+ movements in Kansas City in the 1990s, with a bit of an emphasis on Transgender Rights. This project is part of Dr. Sandra Enríquez ‘s Oral History Class. Dr. Enríquez is an Associate Professor of History / Director of Public History Emphasis; Faculty Internship Coordinator.

10:51

6. Flamy Grant – “Fortune Teller”
   from: “Fortune Teller” – Single / Glam & Glory Records / October 24, 2023
   [Produced by Ben Grace. Sound engineer and electric guitars by Daniel Shearin. // Flamy Grant is winner of 2023 Kerrville New Folk Competition; and the 2023 San Diego Music Award nominee for Best Pop Album for BIBLE BELT BABY, the world’s first contemporary Christian music record by a drag performer. With influences from gospel, blues, folk & rock, hines light on queerness, faith, and overcoming spiritual trauma so often endured by LGBTQ+ people and others who grow up in conservative religious spaces. // Flamy’s iconic roots-rock sound is influenced by singer/songwriters like Natalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman, Over the Rhine, and Amy Grant. Her art shines a spotlight on the queer spiritual journey, telling stories of resilience and recovery from religious trauma. With a bold lip, a big lash, and a blistering voice, Flamy is here to rewrite the rules when it comes to faith-based entertainment, demanding a reckoning for an industry that for too long has silenced and shut out its LGBTQ+ artists and fans. // Flamy’s single “Good Day” released 9/6/23 is the first song by a drag performer to reach #1 on the iTunes Christian charts. It also debuted at #20 on Billboard’s Christian digital chart. Flamy Grant played an Official Showcase the 2024 Folk Alliance Intern. Feb 22.]

Fortune Teller (Lyrics)

I’m a medium, I’m a fortune teller
I know every word you’re gonna say
I’m a headstrong, lifelong city dweller
I can take you where you’re going by the fastest way
It’s gonna be okay

I traveled time, I’m here from the future
I can show you how this all turns out
I can save you with the data in my computer
We can flourish in the flood and avoid the drought
Yeah, we’re gonna make it out

You feel it in your bones 
But your head is moving slow

I’m a scientist, I got a method and a measure
For observable, reliable, repeatable fact
I’m a decorated educator in the field of pleasure
I’ve learned a lot of lessons I can reenact
Yeah, I been keeping track

You sense that I am true
But your heart is split in two

I’m a prophetess, singing my story
A dressed-up, effervescent, ethical fraud
But this world ain’t ready for an allegory, no
We’re still waiting on a literal god
I just smile and nod

You have intuition
And it’s telling you the story isn’t done

7. Leela James – “Be Your Baby (Nour-Eddine Remix)”
   from: Be Your Baby (Nour-Eddine Remix) – Single / BMG / February 13, 2026
   [Alechia Janeice Campbell, was born June 2, 1983 and is known professionally as Leela James, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, California. // James made her debut on the soundtrack to the 2000 Jamie Foxx film Bait on the Roots song “Work”, credited as Alechia James. // In 2004, James toured as an opening act for the Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock’s album Soul Survivor II, providing vocals to the track “No Tears”. In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song “Compared to What”. // ames’ debut album, A Change Is Gonna Come, was released on June 21, 2005. James co-wrote most of the tracks on this album, two exceptions being her covers of the pop rock band No Doubt’s 1996 hit “Don’t Speak”, and the Sam Cooke song “A Change Is Gonna Come”. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and Wyclef Jean. // James guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band’s 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to “Stronger”. // After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let’s Do It Again, in homage to the Staple Singers. // In June 2009, James appeared on the Moby album Wait for Me, performing the vocal on “Walk with Me”. // James’ third album My Soul, her first with the Stax label, was released on May 24, 2010, and debuted on the US Hip Hop/R&B chart at No. 7. Speaking in May 2010 to UK soul writer Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, she stated: “With this album I wanted to make sure that I showed all sides of me – in terms of variety in the music and in my vocal range – while at the same time making it clear that every song deeply came from my soul. Plus I also wanted to incorporate a little more hip hop this time, and infuse it with my traditional R&B – because I felt that. By making my beats edgier and harder-hitting, I’d show there was more to me than just doing ballads and things of that sort.” // On July 31, 2012, James released her fourth studio album, Loving You More… In the Spirit of Etta James. Originally the album was going to have one song honoring Etta James, but with her death it became a full tribute album. It was released by Shanachie Records. // On July 8, 2014, James released her fifth studio album, Fall For You. The album’s first two singles, “Say That” feat. Anthony Hamilton and “Fall For You” both reached Top 15 on the Billboard Urban AC charts, with “Fall For You” reaching No. 12. James supported her album with tours nationwide, including performances at Essence Music Festival, Arizona Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Fest, Capitol Jazz Fest, and more. // James’ sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017, by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[5] The album has the singles “Don’t Want You Back” released on October 28, 2016,[6] “Hard for Me” released on February 25, 2017,[7] “Don’t Mean a Thang” released on March 27, 2017,[8] and a video single “All Over Again” on May 4, 2017.[9] The single “Don’t Want You Back” reached number 1 on Billboard’ Adult R&B Songs chart on April 15, 2017, becoming her highest-charting single ever. // In February 2021, James debuted the song “Complicated”, the first single off her seventh studio album See Me. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’ Adult R&B Songs chart becoming her second number one. Its music video is her most successful with more than 28 million views on Youtube. // In 2014 & 2015, she starred in seasons 2 & 3 of the TV One reality show R&B Divas: Los Angeles. // James cites singers James Brown, Roberta Flack, Toni Braxton, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, and Etta James as influences. // James is an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority; she was inducted on July 27, 2024 at the sorority’s Boulé in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Leela James Discography

A Change Is Gonna Come (2005)
Let’s Do It Again (2009)
My Soul (2010)
Loving You More… In the Spirit of Etta James (2012)
Fall for You (2014)
Did It for Love (2017)
re You Ready? EP (2019) (with The Truth Band)
See Me (2021)
Thought U Knew (2023)
2BHONEST EP (2025)

[Leela James plays The Madrid, 3810 Main Street, KCMO, on Friday, May 1, at 8:00pm]

8. Jamogi – “HOLLABACK (feat. Les Izmore)”
   from: “HOLLABACK (feat. Les Izmore)” / Jam Tunes / May 15, 2026
   [Jamogi is also know as Byron Hyde a Kanas City based singer, songwriter, MC, producer, originally from Los Angeles, California.// Jamogi released the single “Georgia Peach (feat. Burgandy)” on September 5, 2025. Jamogi released Jamogi & The Jammers: Live at Flew The Coop Sessions (Flew The Coop Live) through Jam Tunes on April 11, 2025. // Jamogi released the single “Do It To Me” on March 28, 2025. // Jamogi released the single “Go Big or Go Home” on August 30, 2024, Jamogi released the single “Hot Block” on May 30, 2024. Jamogi released the EP, Star-Crossed Lover on March 3, 2023. Jamogi then released a “Star-Crossed Lover GALACTIC REMIX (feat. Watchman)” single on June 9, 2023.Jamogi previously released the AGE OF AQUARIUS EP on March 3, 2023, and the single “Celebration” on Dec. 9, 2022, and the single “Anymore” on May 6, 2022. // Jamogi played the ROCK IS BLACK—a celebration of Black artists in rock music, happening February 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Zhou B Art Center, 1801 E 18th Street, KCMO. Rock is Black features: Malek Azrael & The Vibez, Jamogi and The Jammers, Stephonne, and Frankie Shorez & Mercy Fire. Kamogi and the Jammers played Boulevardia 2025] // Les Izmore is a Africanfurist, a multi-disciplinary artist, a lover of music. Les Izmore is a musician, spoken word artist, producer, director, curator, poet, DJ, writer, percussionist, songwriter, music composer, beat maker, emcee and vocalist. Les Izmore is a creative centered around experimentation and love. His current project is now known as Les Izmore & The GOATS, it is a project that opens a portal to decolonized worlds using the technology of live looping, hand percussion, vocalization, collaboration and improvisation based off lyricism and heartfelt structured vibrations. Les is part of Arquesta Del SolSoul, a Kansas City-based, cosmic music collective, teleporting through indigeneity, decolonization, love and freedom. Les Izmore has shared the stage with such acts as: Kendrick Lamar, Shabazz Palaces, Public Enemy, Seun Kuti and the Egypt 80, Tank and the Bangas, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force ft. Mádé Kuti, KRS-ONE, dead prez, SOUL GLO, Lupe Fiasco, Mobb Deep, Reflection Eternal (Hi-Tek & Talib Kweli), Sadat X, Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Tef Poe, Hermon Mehari, Joc Max, Deejay Platinum, Emcee Reach, The Roots, Chance the Rapper, Del the Funky Homosapien, Combo Chimbita, Earthgang, Fashawn, Exile, Bahamadia, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Clipping, Mobb Deep, Radkey, Ozomatli, Making Movies, Las Cafeteras, Gio Chamba, Busdriver, Milo, Nocando, Open Mike Eagle (Hellfyre club), and The BUHS.]

[Jamogi played KKFI’s Band Auction Last Sat, April 25, at 12:20pm]

[Jamogi plays Manor Fest 8]

11:02 – Station ID

9. Blue Swede – “Hjooked On A Feeling”
   from: Hooked On A Feeling – 40th Anniversary Collection/ Parlophone / 2014
   [Hooked on a Feeling is an album by Swedish rock band Blue Swede released in 1974. They became internationally recognized largely due to their ‘ooga chaka’ cover of Jonathan King’s 1971 version of the 1968 Mark James song “Hooked on a Feeling”. // Blue Swede (Swedish: Blåblus) were a Swedish rock band fronted by Björn Skifs which was active between the years 1973–1979. Blue Swede released two albums of cover versions, including a rendition of “Hooked on a Feeling”, which brought them international chart success. The band consisted of Anders Berglund (piano), Björn Skifs (lead vocals), Bosse Liljedahl (bass), Hinke Ekestubbe (saxophone), Jan Guldbäck (drums), Michael Areklew (guitar), and Tommy Berglund (trumpet).[2] They disbanded after Skifs decided to embark on his solo career. // Blue Swede was first formed in 1973, when Björn Skifs, a top vocalist in Sweden, was looking for a band to accompany him during his concerts. // The band was originally called “Blåblus” (Swedish for “blue blouse” [could be made out of denim], a pun on the word “blues”) and featured Skifs singing the lead vocals. The band got their international breakthrough in 1974 with their cover of the 1968 B. J. Thomas song “Hooked on a Feeling”. Blue Swede recorded Thomas’s song in 1973, but based its rendition of the song on a 1971 version released by British pop eccentric Jonathan King, which created the “ooga-chaka” introduction.[clarification needed] The producer at the recording sessions was Bengt Palmers. Blue Swede released “Hooked on a Feeling” in Sweden in May 1973 and in the United States in February 1974. The song reached number one in the U.S. for one week in April 1974 and stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 18 weeks. The track also topped charts in Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, where it reached a peak chart position of 26. To capitalize on the success of the song, Blue Swede released the album Hooked on a Feeling that same year. // Throughout the rest of 1974, two follow-up singles from the same LP were released: “Silly Milly”, which peaked at position 71 in the U.S., and a cover of The Association’s “Never My Love”, which made the Top Ten by peaking at position 7. From the band’s 1974 follow-up album, Out of the Blue, they recorded a medley of “Hush” by Deep Purple and “I’m Alive” by Tommy James and the Shondells (not The Hollies’ song of the same name), peaking at position 61 in the U.S., and achieving its greatest chart success in Scandinavia. Skifs left the band in 1975 and the band continued as Blåblus, releasing a further two albums.

11:05 – Interview with Alan & Janice Wasserman.

Alan & Janice Wasserman. Alan was recently elected to his second term as a Board Member for KKFI. Janice has done three Guest DJ appearances on KKFI. Alan & Janice were both born and raised in The Bronx, NYC. The building where Janice grew up was also the home of Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band. Alan graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Engineering. After leaving New York City, Alan & Janice lived in Tennessee, Illinois, and Mississippi, before landing in Kansas City in 1981. Alan started his own business in 1994. Through all of this time Alan worked in the apparel industry. Janice has received degrees in Speech Pathology and Special Education and has worked in Kansas City, Kansas, and Blue Valley District schools. Janice operated her own Sylvan Learning Center for five years. Besides KKFI, Alan volunteers at his synagogue and Janice volunteers at Children’s Mercy South, both volunteer at The Folly Theatre. Alan & Janice have been married for 52 years and have two children and five grandchildren.

Alan & Janice Wasserman, Thanks for being with us on WMM.

Alan Wasserman was recently elected to his second term as a Board Member for KKFI.

Janice Wasserman has done three Guest DJ appearances on KKFI.

Both are Longtime KKFI Listeners

Alan Wasserman was born and raised in The Bronx, NY. He met his wife Janice while in high school. Alan graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Engineering. After leaving New York City the Wasserman family lived in Tennessee, Illinois, and Mississippi, before coming to Kansas City in 1981. Through all of this time Alan worked in the apparel industry since I graduated college and started his own business in 1994.

Janice Wasserman was also born and raised in the Bronx. In the building where she grew up Peter Wolf of the J. Geils band also lived. Famous artist Stan Lee of Marvel Comics is her father’s first cousin. Alan Wasserman mother is a cousin to Arthur Murray. She has received degrees in Speech Pathology and Special Education and has worked in District #500 in Kansas City, Kansas and The Blue Valley School District in Shawnee Mission. Janice also operated her own Sylvan Learning Center for five years. Janice has also worked as an actress in community theater and then stand up comedy.

Longtime listeners Janice has done three Guest DJ appearances on KKFI. Recently Alan began is second term as Board Member at 90.1FM. He also volunteers at his synagogue and Janice recently started volunteering at Children’s Mercy South. Both volunteer at The Folly Theatre. Alan and Janice have been married for 52 years and have two children and five grandchildren.

In the 50s, Ann Bancroft went to our HS as well as Christine Jorgenson- 1st transexual. And in more recent years, David Berkowitz aka Son of Sam (my father’s name was Sam!).

Janice plays Mah Jong once a week. She say that it is hilarious like a reality show.

Janice also dabbles in stand up-adult material.

Alan & Janice Wasserman Thanks for being with us on WMM

11:26

10. Radkey – “Ain’t No Sunshine”
    from: “Ain’t No Sunshine” / Little Man Records / April 7, 2020
    [Radkey released the EP Victory on July 30, 2025. It was part of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2025. // single “Falling Out of Grace” on October 24, 2025. Radkey released the single “Victory” on March 28, 2025. On September 23, 2022 Radkey released the single “Better Than This.” The band released “Games (Tonight)”: on January 28, 2022 on Little Man Records. Isaiah, Dee, and Solomon Radke of the critically acclaimed rock trio Radkey joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios on September 5, 2018. Radkey was formed in 2010 in St. Joseph, where the brothers were raised. The family moved to Kansas City. The band has released multiple full-length recordings. In 2021 Radkey was featured in Dave Grohl’s van-touring documentary film, WHAT DRIVES US. Radkey released GREEN ROOM on Little Man Records on November 27, 2020. On Green Room the band serve as their own producers. Radkey released DARK BLACK MAKE UP in 2015 and DELICIOUS ROCK NOISE in 2016 — plus multiple EPs and singles, and were part of a MasterCard advertising campaign on digital billboards in NYC along with a national television commercial that aired during the 2018 Grammy Awards that brought the band to the attention of Jack White who asked the band to tour with him. In 2018 the band went back on the road with The Damned throughout the United States. In December they went back into the studio to record with producer Bill Stevenson of the California punk rock group Descendents. In early 2019 they played shows in Amsterdam and Stockholm. In 2018 the band released “Basement,” “St. Elwood,” “Rock & Roll Homeschool,” as well as several other singles. On February 22, 2019, Radkey released “No Strange Cats…P.A.W.” a 7-song EP is essentially a collection of the band’s most recent singles. It comes after the January 11, 2019 release of No Strange cats…Spiders – EP a 6 song EP of several new songs mixed with several singles from late 2018.]

[Radkey plays Hammers’s Piano Bar, 3901 Main KCMO, for Lowkey Wednesday, TONIGHT!!! – April 29, 6:30pm w/ Of Tree.]

11. Anjimile – “Turning Away”
    from: You’re Free To Go / 4AD / March 13, 2026
    [Anjimile also released the singles “Waits For Me on March 13, 2026 and “Like You Really Mean It” earlier this year. Today North Carolina based singer-songwriter Anjimile announces plans to release the full-length album You’re Free to Go, due out March 13, 2026 on 4AD. The announcement comes with the luminous lead single “Like You Really Mean It” which overflows with tenderness and vulnerability, accompanied by a beautiful video directed by Caity Arthur. // Anjimile shares: “I wrote this to make my girlfriend want to give me a kiss. We live about an hour apart, and I was just by myself thinking about her. Thinking about wanting a kiss. What could I do to get a kiss from my sweetheart? Write a song about it! Anyway, it worked.” // “Like You Really Mean It” comes after the November single “Auld Lang Syne II,” a tender note-to-self on resilience and hard-fought freedom, characterized by delicate finger-plucked strings, charming horn passages, and intimate vocal delivery, which Stereogum called “stunning” upon its release; a song Anjimile says was: “originally intended as something of a wedding present for my best friend, who got married a few years back.” // Contrasting the intricacy and complexity of The King, You’re Free to Go unfolds organically under the intuitive direction of producer Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mavis Staples). The album’s songs bloom naturally, grounded in warm acoustic guitars, subtle synth textures, lush string arrangements, and delicate rhythmic layers. Collaborative efforts with musicians Nathan Stocker (Hippo Campus), Matt McCaughan (Bon Iver), and guest vocalist Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) – a personal hero of Anjimile whose music deeply influenced the album even before his involvement – cultivate an exploratory yet intimate atmosphere, perfectly aligned with Anjimile’s nuanced storytelling. // Anjimile (ann-JIM-uh-lee) Chithambo has forged a distinctive musical path characterised by unflinching introspection and deep honesty. Emerging from Boston’s vibrant indie scene while studying at Northeastern University, Anjimile captivated audiences with earnest songwriting, delicate sonic textures, and performances that felt like prayer and celebration. // Critical acclaim quickly followed; 2020’s Giver Taker, hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the year’s best albums, positioned him as a compelling voice exploring enduring themes of spirituality, identity, and liberation. With The King(2023), Anjimile intensified his examination of Black and trans existence amid personal and societal turbulence, reaffirming his courageous commitment to navigating discomfort as a means of liberation. // You’re Free to Go picks up where The King left off, but with its hands open wide – a central question being: what happens when you let go and let love in? // Crafted over years marked by transformation, the album traces vividly the profound complexities of change – from breakups to new love; deep grief and loss to renewal and rediscovery. “The past two years have been a deeply transitional point in my life,” Anjimile explains. On You’re Free to Go, he learns to trust life again. The album’s title symbolises Anjimile’s expansive perspective on love and personal freedom, influenced profoundly by his relationship with his partner and their joyful embrace of non-monogamy. He describes this dynamic playfully: “I view non-monogamy as setting out milk every night on your porch for the cats; they can come if they want,” – a reminder that connection thrives when it’s truly chosen and not confined and restricted by normativity. This same playfulness runs through “Rust & Wire” which captures the exhilaration of falling in love again and again (“ripen in the heat like wine”). // Elsewhere, You’re Free to Go explores heavier, darker truths; ‘Exquisite Skeleton’ hauntingly portrays the ache of familial estrangement and ‘Ready or Not’ the exhaustion of facing transphobia. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be free… When I was a little boy, I wanted to be real.”, he disarmingly reflects on “Waits For Me,” a powerful reckoning on childhood identity. But even in its most searching moments, the record radiates light. // Each song holds space for healing – for turning pain into something tender, communal, and free. // Spirituality remains the heartbeat of Anjmile’s work. “Songwriting feels like a prayer, a plea, or a question,” he says. Across You’re Free to Go, sacredness feels alive and imperfect — a practice of breathing, wondering, forgiving. The album hums with that same sacred energy: messy and full of grace. // Throughout You’re Free to Go, Anjimile skilfully integrates a variety of musical inspirations to heighten the album’s emotional impact. Tracks such as “Turning Away” and “The Store” channel the raw and unadorned authenticity reminiscent of early Modest Mouse. The collaboration with Sam Beam on “Destroying You” adds a gentle warmth that beautifully complements Anjimile’s refined vocal expression. Melodically, the album evokes a subtle nostalgia for late-’90s alternative pop, seamlessly blending folk sensibilities into inviting, memorable hooks. Anjimile has notably evolved, adopting a more relaxed and expressive approach to his singing, partly due to his ongoing hormonal therapy – a transformative journey he embraces gladly. This newfound vocal depth amplifies the album’s emotional resonance, allowing him to express himself with greater authenticity. // As Anjimile prepares to share You’re Free to Go live, he envisions intimate performances that reinterpret rather than replicate the album’s recordings. He aims for the authenticity and vulnerability embedded in these songs to resonate deeply, emphasising, “This record feels very authentic to my life experiences. It’s about as close to getting to know me as you could ever get with a record.” // You’re Free to Go is a portrait of transformation — not as a wound, but as an opening. Richly textured, this collection of songs is an honest reflection of life’s fluctuations. It holds space for contradiction and finds liberation in tenderness. As Anjimile beautifully articulates, the album embodies “breathing into the question,” acknowledging that life’s most profound moments often come without clear answers, but rather exist in the gentle tension of uncertainty and discovery. In every note, Anjimile provides space for each listener to reflect and uncover their own truths, while gently reminding us that freedom isn’t the absence of pain, but the courage to love, to ask, to keep beginning again.]

11:30 – Underwriting

12. Lava Dreams – “Chemistry”
    from: “Chemistry – Single / Lava Dreams / February 19, 2026
    [Written by Lava Dreams and produced by Spencer Hoad. Lava Dreams (she/they) is a queer, multidisciplinary artist, performer, and songwriter based in Kansas City, Missouri – who’s been writing music for as long as they can remember. / Flourishing dreamy vocals, vulnerable lyrics, and visceral rhythms- hooking listeners through catchy melodies and electric performances – Lava Dreams is quickly becoming a striking figure in the Alternative Pop scene. / Lava Dreams released the single “Thirsty” on September 12, 2025, “Your Warrior” on August 9, 2024, “Driver” on May 24, 2024, “R.I.P. The Old Me” non July 28, 2023, “Thrill Ride” on July 1, 2022, “Galaxies” on July 9, 2021, and “The Amazing Wave” on January 8, 2021. Her 2020 project “GOOD ENERGY + FOCUS,” was praised by 909 The Bridge as one of the best EPs of that year. / Lava Dreams is dedicated to writing songs that lift the spirit and connect to the soul. Lava Dreams released the single. You can listen to Lava Dreams everywhere you stream music. Lava Dreams began writing lyrics and melodies as a young child. Growing up, she learned to play her first guitar chords from her father – who played around the house and in local bars. After playing guitar and singing in several Kansas City bands as a teenager, she set out to become a solo artist in 2018. Lava Dreams (Julia Hamilton) is also a film maker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila University. More info at: LavaDreamsMusic.com] [Lava Dreams played Apocalypse Meow 18, Saturday, November 1, at recordBar, with: Steddy P, Betse & Clarke (Electric), and Nathan Corsi & My Atomic Daydream.]

[Lava Dreams plays Concert 333: with Shay Lyriq & Jass on Saturday, May 16, at 7:00pm at Vine Street Brewing, 2019 Vine Street, KCMO.]

11:34 – Interview with Lava Dreams

Lava Dreams is a queer, multidisciplinary artist, performer, and songwriter based in KC. Known for flourishing dreamy vocals, vulnerable lyrics, and visceral rhythms- hooking listeners through catchy melodies and electric performances. Lava Dreams released the singles: “Chemistry” on February 18, 2026, “Thirsty” on September 12, 2025, “Your Warrior” on August 9, 2024, “Driver” on May 24, 2024, “R.I.P. The Old Me” on July 28, 2023, “Thrill Ride” on July 1, 2022, “Galaxies” on July 9, 2021, and “The Amazing Wave” on January 8, 2021. Her 2020 project “GOOD ENERGY + FOCUS,” was praised by 90.9 The Bridge as one of the best EPs of that year and was part of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2020. Lava is also a filmmaker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila University. Info: LavaDreamsMusic.com

Lava Dreams plays Concert 333: with Shay Lyriq & Jass on Saturday, May 16, at 7:00pm at Vine Street Brewing, 2019 Vine Street, KCMO.

Lava Dreams thanks for being with us on WMM.

Lava Dreams released the singles
“Chemistry” on February 18, 2026,
“Thirsty” on September 12, 2025,
“Your Warrior” on August 9, 2024,
“Driver” on May 24, 2024,
“R.I.P. The Old Me” on July 28, 2023,
“Thrill Ride” on July 1, 2022,
“Galaxies” on July 9, 2021, and
“The Amazing Wave” on January 8, 2021.

Lava Dreams plays Concert 333: with Shay Lyriq & Jass on Saturday, May 16, at 7:00pm at Vine Street Brewing, 2019 Vine Street, KCMO.

Lava Dreams (Julia Hamilton) is also a film maker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila University.

Collaboration with FlareThaRebel

Lava Dreams played Apocalypse Meow 18, Saturday, November 1, at recordBar, with: Steddy P, Betse & Clarke (Electric), and Nathan Corsi & My Atomic Daydream.

Her 2020 project “GOOD ENERGY + FOCUS,” was praised by 909 The Bridge as one of the best EPs of that year. Since then, Lava has written and released a series of evolving singles – the latest of which is an alternative pop-rock anthem called YOUR WARRIOR. She directed and starred in the music video that accompanied its release.​

Lava Dreams is dedicated to writing songs that lift the spirit and connect to the soul. You can listen to Lava Dreams everywhere you stream music.

Solo artist Lava Dreams is the electronic music project of Julia Hamilton who writes songs influenced by pop, soul, RnB, jazz, trap, house, funk, reggae, rock, and world music. Hailing from Kansas City, MO, her guitar-based music is both dreamy & electric.

Lava Dreams began writing lyrics and melodies as a young child. Growing up, she learned to play her first guitar chords from her father – who played around the house and in local bars. After playing guitar and singing in several Kansas City bands as a teenager, she set out to become a solo artist in 2018.

Lava Dreams thanks for being with us on WMM.

Lava Dreams plays Concert 333: with Shay Lyriq & Jass on Saturday, May 16, at 7:00pm at Vine Street Brewing, 2019 Vine Street, KCMO.

Info: LavaDreamsMusic.com

11:54:30

13. Lava Dreams – “Thirsty”
    from: “Thirsty” – Single / Lava Dreams / September 12, 2025
    [Written by Lava Dreams and produced by Spencer Hoad. Lava Dreams (she/they) is a queer, multidisciplinary artist, performer, and songwriter based in Kansas City, Missouri – who’s been writing music for as long as they can remember. / Flourishing dreamy vocals, vulnerable lyrics, and visceral rhythms- hooking listeners through catchy melodies and electric performances – Lava Dreams is quickly becoming a striking figure in the Alternative Pop scene. / Lava Dreams released the single “Thirsty” on September 12, 2025, “Your Warrior” on August 9, 2024, “Driver” on May 24, 2024, “R.I.P. The Old Me” non July 28, 2023, “Thrill Ride” on July 1, 2022, “Galaxies” on July 9, 2021, and “The Amazing Wave” on January 8, 2021. Her 2020 project “GOOD ENERGY + FOCUS,” was praised by 909 The Bridge as one of the best EPs of that year. / Lava Dreams is dedicated to writing songs that lift the spirit and connect to the soul. Lava Dreams released the single. You can listen to Lava Dreams everywhere you stream music. Lava Dreams began writing lyrics and melodies as a young child. Growing up, she learned to play her first guitar chords from her father – who played around the house and in local bars. After playing guitar and singing in several Kansas City bands as a teenager, she set out to become a solo artist in 2018. Lava Dreams (Julia Hamilton) is also a film maker who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Film from Avila University. More info at: LavaDreamsMusic.com] [Lava Dreams played Apocalypse Meow 18, Saturday, November 1, at recordBar, with: Steddy P, Betse & Clarke (Electric), and Nathan Corsi & My Atomic Daydream.]

[Lava Dreams plays Concert 333: with Shay Lyriq & Jass on Saturday, May 16, at 7:00pm at Vine Street Brewing, 2019 Vine Street, KCMO.]

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

NEXT WEEK on May 6, we talk with Diane R. Scott – Director of Artist Services at the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and founding director and principal designer of the Artist INC professional development program. Now in its 17th year. We also talk with Krysztof Nemeth, Dedric Moore, and Dawn Don of REVISER. AND we welcome direct from shjows at Yhe Emerald, The Black Box, KC Fringe Fest, and Edinburgh Festival Ned Stacie of Ned’s Nighthole LIVE! Joins us to share all of the details of their new show: NED’s Friend-Hole Cabaret LIVE Saturday, May 16, at 8:00, at The Warwick Theater, 3827 Main Street, KCMO. And ambient experimental musician Jesse Bartmess who records as Sinple shares new music.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’a Winter Fund Drive during Wedneday MidDay Medley we had a total of 49 individuals doante $3924.00 ngoing way over our show goal!
Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Shaina Littler – Office Manager Book Keeper

You can find our playlists at: http://www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & http://www.kkfi.org
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
http://www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made 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

Show #1145

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 11, 2026

WMM presents: D Rashaan Gilmore + Calvin Arsenia + Cera Impala + FlareThaRebel + Shaun Crowley

1. “It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. Eggs On Mars –”Good Morning (I Love You)”
   from: Good Morning (I Love You) / Enigmatic Brunch Records / March 3, 2026
   [Eggs on Mars, a 4-piece soft psych pop band from KCMO. Brad Smith – lead vocals, guitars & piano; Doug Bybee – bass, keys, vocals on “Shooting Stars” & “Takes Time”; Joel Stratton – lead guitars & keyboards; Mason Potter – drums, percussion, & field recordings. All songs by Eggs on Mars. Words for “Takes Time” by Justin Longmeyer. Recorded by Joel Stratton in fall 2024/winter 2025 at Soundstructure Studios. Mixed by Doug Bybee & Joel Stratton. Mastered by Doug Bybee & Josh Johnson. Art Direction by Brad Smith. Graphic design, photography, CD layout, cassette layout by Doug Bybee. Info at: http://www.eggsonmars.bandcamp.com]

[Brad Smith will be with us next week on February 18 to talk about the new Eggs On Mars album]

Eggs On Mars Discography

Welcome to our Family – August 25, 2014
10-track album
Recorded Summer 2014 at Potter Underground Studios
Guitars/Lead Vocals-Brad Smith
Bass/Other Vocals-Justin Longmeyer
Drums-Mason Potter

Spacey Stacy – September 4, 2015
8-track album
Recording/Mixing/Mastering/Pancakes-Doug Bybee
Recorded August 2015 at Sound + Vision Studios of the Lawrence Public Library
Cover photo taken by Mason Potter
Guitars/Vocals – Brad Smith
Bass – Justin Longmeyer
Drums – Mason Potter

On Hold, Hold On – October 7, 2016
5-track EP
Album art by Anna Smith
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered by Justin Longmeyer
Guitars/Vocals/Keys – Brad Smith
Bass – Justin Longmeyer
Drums – Mason Potter

In A Desert Place – March 15, 2018
10-track album
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered by Justin Longmeyer // Recorded at 2319
Guitars/Vocals – Brad Smith
Bass/Vocals/Guitar solo – Justin Longmeyer
Drums – Mason Potter

Mama Pancake – November 9, 2018
10-track album
Recorded/mixed/mastered by Rodd Fenton
Recorded May through September of 2018 at 2319
Artwork by Julie Smith
Brad Smith – guitars/vocals/keys
Justin Longmeyer – bass
Mason Potter – drums/percussion

It Will Be Like It Was – October 4, 2019
10-track album
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered by Rodd Fenton
Recorded summer of 2019 at Bread Basket Music Studios
Guitars/Vocals/Keys – Brad Smith
Bass – Justin Longmeyer
Drums – Mason Potter

Brighter Now – June 25, 2021
7-track EP
Recorded / mixed / mastered by Rodd Fenton
Recorded in the fall of 2020 at Solstice Audio
Cover painting by Jesse Bartmess
Brad Smith – Vocals, guitar
Mason Potter – Drums, backing vocals, self-sacrificial tambourine
Bennie Neselroad – Keys, backing vocals,
Doug Bybee – Bass, backing vocals

Warm Breakfast – March 21, 2023
10-track album
Recorded/Engineered/Mixed by Rodd Fenton
Mastered by Josh Johnson.
Recorded 2023 at Solstice Audio.
Cover painting by Shannon Brouk
Brad Smith – guitar/lead vocals/keys
Mason Potter – drums/percussion/backing vocals
Doug Bybee – bass/keys/backing vocals;
Joel Stratton – keys/backing vocals;
with
Austin Smith – additional guitars
Sam Smith – backing vocals
Rodd Fenton – backing vocals/hand claps.

Good Morning (I Love You) – March 3, 2026
10-track album
All songs by Eggs on Mars
Words for “Takes Time” by Justin Longmeyer
Recorded by Joel Stratton in fall 2024/winter 2025 at Soundstructure Studios
Mixed by Doug Bybee & Joel Stratton
Mastered by Doug Bybee & Josh Johnson
Art Direction by Brad Smith
Graphic design, photography, CD layout, cassette layout by Doug Bybee
Brad Smith – lead vocals, guitars & piano
Doug Bybee – bass, keys, vocals on “Shooting Stars” & “Takes Time”
Joel Stratton – lead guitars & keyboards
Mason Potter – drums, percussion, & field recordings

3. Angie Fights Crime – “Between the Mountain and the Sea”
   from: To Be Beautiful / Angie Fights Crime / February 14, 2026
   [Written and recorded in Kansas City Missouri. Ash Reynolds on vocals on all songs except; Tess Savigear & Bethan Mathis on “To Be Beautiful”; Nikki Goodson on “Tiny Lies”; Keith Howell on Drums. Production & Mastering by Robert Rebeck. Album Art by KD Grant, Album Design Jeff Irvine. Angie Fights Crime is the brainchild of Brent Kinder, a musician, poet, songwriter of unlimited passion and a desire to create music and share it with the world. Angie Fights Crime often features collaborations with musicians from around the world. Angie Fights Crime released the album SAVIOR OF THE WORLD on March 1, 2025. Savior of The World features Daniel Jordan on vocals, and Keith Howell on drums; with artwork by Tyson Schroeder, and J. Irvine. Mixing and mastering by Robert Rebeck. // Brent Kinder is also in the band sMallWaves where he plays bass. With 49 albums, and 461 tracks, Angie Fights Crime is the musical project of one guy who couldn’t stop writing songs. Part I 1995-2015 (The Alphabet Series) Part II 2016 – ? (The Greyscale Series). More information at: https://alonetone.com/angiefightscrime.%5D

[Brent Kinder will join us on WMM on March 25]

4. Quiet Takes – “Hope”
   from: Veils / Sarah Magill / December 12, 2025
   [Songwriter Sarah Magill makes music for feelers as Quiet Takes. A writer and wanderer, After Magill had a nomadic creative journey she eventually settled and found community in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She makes a living as a freelance writer. She makes joy as a DIY music community organizer and show promoter in Eau Claire. // Sarah Magill wrote to me from Wisconsin last December, telling me she was “really fascinated by the way a song can shift between revelations and hiding places.” Sarah writes that “Veils is seven raw songs for a stark season.” She tracked it live, solo, with a piano and the river out the window. Sarah writes she is “fascinated by how songs, like veils, can both reveal and obscure. There’s power in both.” The record was engineered by Lena Sutter and mixed/mastered by Zach Hanson. // On February 15, 2024 Quiet Takes released the album, Regrets Only, written by Sarah Michelle Magill. Produced, engineered & mixed by Zach Hanson. Mastered by Huntley Miller. Recorded at The Hive in Eau Claire, WI. Environmental sound recorded by Sarah Michelle Magill in various locations, except 2, recorded by Redditor @roffels. // On November 5, 2021 Quiet Takes released the EP, Weekly, Weakly with music written by Sarah Magill, produced by David Bennett, with vocals & keyboards by Sarah Magill. Guitars, bass and percussion by David Bennett. Drums by Jared Bond. Engineered and mixed by David Bennett at Aorist Studios in Kansas City, MO. Mastered by Zach. Weekly, Weakly the third collaboration between Magill and producer/multi-instrumentalist David Bennett. “Ghosty…” was inspired by pandemic-era panic attacks and social unease. This song was one way I tried to process the new, very anxious voice inhabiting my brain, which I nicknamed Ghosty. Sarah writes, “I made the WEEKLY, WEAKLY EP exactly as titled: During weekly Friday sessions at Aorist Studios with my producer, David Bennett, while feeling extremely weak. I was living alone during the pandemic and (like many of us) coping with isolation, depression and anxiety. Making this EP was my lifeboat. Both the process of making music — refining lyrics, experimenting with new textures, collaborating on harmonies — and the commitment to the weekly process kept me relatively grounded and connected. This project tethered me to human-ness when I was afraid I was going to float off into some kind of feral, disconnected netherworld of pandemic loneliness. I’ll forever be grateful to David and his wife, Kayla, for creating a safe space to continue working at Aorist during such a dangerous time.” WEEKLY, WEAKLY followed the release of Sarah Magill’s EP, SAN FIDEL under her moniker, Quiet Takes. Released March 5, 2021. Written by Sarah Magill. Produced by David Bennett and Sarah Magill. Vocals and keys by Sarah Magill on vocals & keyboards, David Bennett on guitars and bass, Ian Thompson on additional keyboards & synthesizers, Kyle Rausch on drums, and Bryan Koehler on percussion. Engineered and mixed by David Bennett at Aorist Studios in Kansas City, MO. Mastered by Zach Hanson. Cover image by Shawn Brackbill. Sarah Magill released her single “Wanted (The Dirty Windshield Version)” on May 1, 2020. . Sarah Magill released AHEM, a 4-song EP, on December 11, 2020. The songs were originally released under her old project name MYRY, in November 2018. Quiet Takes (formerly MYRY) is an on-going collaborative music project by Sarah Magill a writer & musician based in KC. She performs with a rotating cast of friends—although these stay-at-home days, she is playing solo. In KC, she is known for hosting house shows and co-founding Rubix, a performance art collective. MYRY’s first EP, AHEM, was released in 2018. Sarah released four of MYRY’s songs from that 2018 EP release as Quiet Takes singles in 2020. Sarah Magill was a guest. We interviewed Sarah Magill on WMM on May 13, 2020 and on March 10, 2021 and Nov. 2, 2021. // Info at: https://quiettakes.com ]

5. Stephonne – “Bloody Mary”
   from: “Bloody Mary” – Single / Glory Blue Music / February 13, 2026
   [Rebellious genre-queer singer-songwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Bloody Mary”. The slinky alt-electronic/pop track drips with erotic esotericism. It’s influenced by bands like Portishead, Garbage, She Wants Revenge, and Erotica – Bedtime Stories era Madonna. Stephonne writes, “I was playing Angel in RENT and heard about D’Angelo’s passing right before Halloween. The cast finally had a break from back-to-back shows and my sadness drove me to create that night and remember the power of Voodoo. 25 years later and that album’s energy is still just as potent. I turned on the Devil’s Pie documentary and this track fell from the heavens. “Bloody Mary” was also birthed from my love of witches, New Orleans, Anne Rice’s vampires, and 90s alternative music and nostalgia. I’m telling a story in a new way where I don’t have to choose between being gothic, nerdy, or provocative. I get to be all of those things and more on this record. There’s some very inspiring art coming from artists like JMSN, Slayyyter, and Charli xcx that gives me hope we are finally ready to let our freak flags fly at full mast again. Thank God!” // “Bloody Mary” plays like a Tarantino directed erotic thriller that injects dance floor fever and grunge edge. The clever wordplay and melody we’ve come to expect from Stephonne don’t take a backseat to theatricality here. All three drive Stephonne’s purpose-driven production and vocal power to new heights. Slick, cinematic, dangerous and glossy, this track a must-listen. // Stephonne writes, “Electronic music has helped me take up more space as an artist. I’ll always pledge allegiance to rock music, but I’ve loved experimenting more, letting go, and trusting the music as I hear it first. Listeners are getting more of me in every aspect of my releases and that feels good. I’m understanding my assignment more clearly, sonically, and I’m excited to showcase that through new visuals and LIVE!” // Lyrical Odyssey writes: “Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne works to synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases. // Singer, songwriter, actor, model, artist, activist – Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think it’s Gonna Be Alright” on April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. Stephonne released the single, “Worship at The Chappell” co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne was on WMM on Sept 10, 2025 before his run in RENT playing Angel for Music Theatre Heritage. More info at: http://www.stephonne.com]

6. Katie Ziegler – “Ready To Fly”
   from: “Ready To Fly” – Single / Katie Zielger / January 9, 2026
   [Katie Ziegler is an independent singer-songwriter based in the Kansas City metro area whose voice carries the wide-open spaces of her rural Kansas upbringing and the intimate stories of home. Raised in a musical family, she began writing songs at age 11 and picked up the guitar at 16 — early roots that formed her personal, narrative-driven songwriting. // In August 2022 she released her first single, “He Ain’t Yours,” and then followed it with her debut EP Residue, steadily building a catalog of 14 songs. // Katie has opened for acts like the The  Bellamy  Brothers, Eli Young Band, Billy Dean, Twitty & Lynn, Jerrod Niemann, Logan Mize and Cody Canada & The Departed, sharpening her performance chops on larger stages. // In her own words: “I’m a small-town Kansas girl chasing dreams — and if I can write something and make someone else feel understood, then it’s all worth it.” That sentiment reflects both her origin and her mission. // Off stage, she shares glimpses of her heart with her social media following: “Long video alert but if you’re looking for a little encouragement I hope this can,” she posted recently, showing that her music is about more than notes — it’s about connection. // Beyond her role as an artist, Katie embraces life as a “songwriter, wife … girl mama” from small-town Kansas, “chasing dreams.” // With one foot in her rural roots and the other in the vibrant KC metro music scene, Katie Ziegler writes songs that feel lived-in and real. Whether she’s strumming a guitar in a quiet cabin or stepping into the spotlight as an opener for national artists, her journey is both grounded and ambitious — and each song is a small invitation to walk alongside her. Info at: http://www.katiezieglermusic.com]

[Katie Ziegler plays Buffalo State Pizza, 932 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS. Saturday, February 14 @ 7:00PM — 9:00PM]

7. Betse & Clarke – “Fill My Way With Love”
   from: River Still Rise / Betse & Clarke / July 1, 2016
   [Full-length debut album, from traditional and future folk duo, Betse & Clarke Betse Ellis on fiddles, violins, viola & vocals and Clarke Wyatt on banjos and cello. Recorded during the Winter-Spring of 2016. Produced by Clarke Wyatt and Betse Ellis. Recorded and mixed by Clarke Wyatt/ Final mix assistance from Chad Meise at Massive Sound. Traditional & future folk inspired by explorers Lewis & Clark showing how Betse & Clarke are trailblazers of sound & vision. “River Still Rise,” is a collection of originals and reworked traditional compositions that are presented “to be enjoyed as a musical adventure, much like the river exploration of the famous duo Lewis & Clark, an inspiration for the band’s name.” Betse Ellis writes in the extended liner notes: “The phrase River Still Rise appears in the journals of Meriwether Lewis, and to me, most notably when the Corps of Discovery readied their boats and supplies for the beginning of their river journey. Documenting all the details of the excursion included aspects of the weather, the general demeanor or specific behavior of the crew, and most certainly the level of the river. The river needed to be high enough to be navigable, and in that way, Clarke and I have been putting together our gear and supplies, building our boat, and watching the weather signs for about a year and a half at this point. The process of recording RSR took several months, beginning in early 2016. We made this recording at home with the best gear we could acquire at this point, and with Clarke’s long-built engineering and producing knowledge.” Betse & Clarke joined us live on WMM on Februry 17.]

[Betse & Clarke play the Stockyards Brewing Company, 1600 Genessee St. Suite 100, KCMO in Historic West Bottoms, on Sunday, February 15, 3:00pm to 6:00pm.]

8. Mikal Shapiro – “Everybody’s Baby”
   from: The Musical II / Mikal Shapiro / May 26, 2018
   [“Everybody’s Baby” is her pop song she wrote, but all the songs on The Musical 11 are great. The sequel to Shapiro’s 2015 concept album “The Musical.” Mikal Shapiro, on vocals & guitar, Chad Brothers on vocals & guitar, Johnny Hamil on bass, and Matt Richey on drums. Special guests include: Hermon Mehari on trumpet, Tina Bilberry on viola & violin, Damon Parker on keyboards, and Lauren Hughes on vocals. Engineered and co-produced by Joel Nanos at Element Recording & Mastering Studios. Mikal Shapiro is a KC songwriter whose musical influences span popular songs, psych rock, lounge, classic country and old time spirituals. She has toured extensively across the U.S. and has recorded five critically acclaimed albums. KC Star and Tim Finn declared her album “The Musical” to be one of his top five releases of 2015. A third generation storyteller, she draws inspiration from her travels, love life, and the state of the Union.]

[Mikal Shapiro & Chad Brothers as Shapiro Brothers play The Love Hangover the annual post Valentine’s Day celebration of love duets, this year at miniBar 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Sunday February 15, 2026 at 6:00pm, with Scott Easterday trio; Nathan Corsi & Nathan Showalter; Of Tree; and Dana Woolard & Jeff Harshbarger, + Steve Tulipana. The Love Hangover is an annual multi-city, multi-artist musical event that explores romantic love in all its many guises. Held each year on February 15th, this post-Valentine’s showcase features a line-up of duets singing songs of the lovelorn, love sworn and love torn. 26 years, 10 cities, 89 shows, 900+ performers.]

10:31 – Underwriting

10:33 – Interview with D Rashaan Gilmore

Starting this Saturday, February 14 at 5:00pm on 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio is the return of the very good radio show called, “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore.” After nearly four years as part of the team on 90.1’s The Tenth Voice, D. Rashaan made the leap to producing and hosting his own weekly radio show “Unbossed and Unbothered” that aired from 2021-2022 on 90.1 FM KKFI, that was until our friends at KCPT Kansas City PBS took D. Rashaan away from us to be host and producer of Flatland In Focus where he won two Emmy Awards. Last year, budgetary reasons caused KC PBS to end this critically acclaimed program, and we are lucky enough to have D. Rashaan’s old time slot suddenly become open again, around the same tome D Rashaan was looking to return to KKFI. A life-long resident of Kansas City. D Rashaan is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic. D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization. “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore” makes its return to 90.1 FM KKFI this Saturday, February 14 at 5:00pm. More info at: http://www.blaqout.org

D. Rashaan Gilmore thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

“Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore” makes its return to 90.1 FM KKFI this Saturday, February 14 at 5:00pm.

After nearly four years as part of the team on 90.1’s The Tenth Voice, D. Rashaan made the leap to producing and hosting his own weekly radio show “Unbossed and Unbothered” that aired from 2021-2022 on 90.1 FM KKFI, that was until our friends at KCPT Kansas City PBS took D. Rashaan away from us to be host and producer of Flatland In Focus where he won two Emmy Awards.

Last year, budgetary reasons caused KC PBS to end this critically acclaimed program, and we are lucky enough to have D. Rashaan’s old time slot suddenly become open again, around the same tome D Rashaan was looking to return to KKFI.

Unbossed and Unbothered – The slogan “unbought and unbossed” appeared on Shirley Chisholm’s campaign posters, one of which resides in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. NMAAHC, Gift of Ellen Brooks

In 1972 Shirley Chisholm announced her historic run for the White House, challenging fellow Democrats George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Edmund Muskie, Henry M. Jackson and George Wallace. “I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the woman’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that.”

Before Carol Moseley Braun, before Barack Obama, before Hillary Clinton, Shirley Chisholm was both the first woman and the first African American to run for the nomination of a major party for president of the United States. Already the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress in 1968, Chisholm made her ambitious attempt to win the White House decades before her country was ready for her, garnering just 152 delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention.

One of the segments of your show was “Reclaiming My Time” in honor of Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) is the first woman and first African American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Waters ‘went viral’ in 2017 when she invoked House procedural rules during Steven Mnuchin’s House Financial Services Committee hearing. Rejecting Mnuchin’s attempts to avoid her questions, Waters repeated the phrase “reclaiming my time” to indicate her right to retain minutes on the clock that had been allotted to her. The hashtag #ReclaimingMyTime began trending on social media and has since become a symbol of resistance and refusal.

D Rashaan Gilmore’s sister is Dana Gilmore, who Mark interviewed in the early years of WMM. Dana Gilmore appeared in episode 5 of the 4th season of Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO. The show ran for 7 seasons from 2002 – 2007. Tell is about your parents and how they raised two children both gifted in words and communication.

D Rashaan is community connector, organizer, collaborator, and AIDS activist, who serves as Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core.

Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic.

D Rashaan has also served as the Senior Field Organizer for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT equality and advocacy organization.

D. Rashaan Gilmore thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

“Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore” makes its return to 90.1 FM KKFI this Saturday, February 14 at 5:00pm. More info at: http://www.blaqout.org

10:55

9. The Freedom Affair – “Love Is Love”
   from: “Love Is Love” – Single / Sunflower Soul Records / June 26, 2024
   [The Freedom Affair released their second full length album The Freedom Affair on May 9, 2025. This album was #1 on WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2025. // The band includes: Shon Ruffin on vocals, Paula Saunders on vocals, Seyko Groves on vocals, Cole Bales on guitar, Branden Moser on bass & Acoustic Guitar, Chris Hazelton on Hammond B3 Organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Piano, Bass (Track 4), Vocals; Dave Brick on drums; Pete Carroll on trumpet & flugelhorn; Brett Jackson on tenor sax, baritone sax, tambourine. Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, TN. Recording Engineer: Boo Mitchell. Tape Operator: Wesley Graham. Produced by: Chris Hazelton, Dave Brick, and The Freedom Affair. Mixed by: Vince Chiarito. Mastered by: JJ Golden at Golden Mastering. Horn Arrangements by: Hazelton, Carroll, Jackson, and Bales. Design and Layout: Tracy Lenihan // The Freedom Affair has planted deep roots in soul music from their start, but after nearly a decade together, the group’s self-titled sophomore album focuses their sound squarely where Muscle Shoals meets Memphis Soul. It’s a masterstroke of impassioned message-music exploring ageless themes of inequity, love, and togetherness. // A fateful February 2023 encounter with Grammy Award-winning recording engineer Boo Mitchell (Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, Al Green) at Royal Studios created a spark that sent the band back to Kansas City with new musical conviction. By November, the band had returned to record all-new Southern Soul-inspired songs in the legendary Memphis studio. // The ever-powerful female trio fronting the band–Paula Saunders, Seyko Groves, and Shon Ruffin–has been the hallmark of The Freedom Affair’s sound and identity, and their collective vocal prowess is on full display ranging from tough to tender, touching on heartache and hope. The experience at Royal studios convinced the band that there isn’t a better room to record horns. The “one take” horns of Pete Carroll on trumpet and Brett Jackson on saxophone prove their years together as a unit have paid off with their precision and lines written to meet the vibe perfectly. With rhythm section personnel remaining the same from their debut album Freedom is Love, a shift in instrumentation moves Chris Hazelton from bass to his primary instrument of the Hammond B3 organ along with various keyboards. Branden Moser swaps in the bass, which also happens to be his primary instrument, from his former rhythm guitar. Cole Bales continues to dig into timeless riffs on lead guitar, and Dave Brick maintains the backbone with the heavy boom-bap on drums. This album has cemented The Freedom Affair’s sound: enduring melodies with rich arrangements, backed by a gritty pulse. // Royal was the perfect site for this album, and the band took full advantage of the studio’s history by incorporating studio tools and relics throughout the process. With only four days to fully track the ten-song album, the band insisted on using the same Ampex 1” tape recorder that produced all the Hi Record hits from 1974 and prior to preserve authenticity. It was the first time the machine had been used for an album since 1974. The limitations and quirks of using vintage, analog gear made way for magic moments that shape the album’s charm. The record calls fresh attention to classic Southern Soul with all the coziness and warmth you’d expect from listening to Al Green or Ann Peebles, captured in the very same room. Mixed by Vince Chiarito (Hive Mind, Jalen Ngonda, Charles Bradley) and mastered by JJ Golden (Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, The James Hunter Six, Antibalas), this album is a truly an all-killer, no-filler lesson in soul music.]

11:00 – Station ID

10. Calvin Arsenia – “Rose Petals”
    from: Paradise / Calvin Arsenia / June 23, 2023
    [Paradise is Calvin Arsenia’s 14 track album. Available through http://www.calvinarsenia.com // A new turning point as a songwriter. His most biographical album yet, with songs about Black Lives Matter, Racism, The Police, being on probation, gay love. The album contains collaborations with Cheery, Kadesh Flow and Jametatone. Calvin Arsenia one of our most frequent guests, who first appeared on WMM on July 25, 2012. KC Magazine has hailed Calvin as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-7-inch harpist with a 3 and ½ octave range, natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’ Born in Orlando, Florida, Calvin’s creative journey began when he moved to Olathe, Kansas, teaching himself the guitar, piano, banjo. He learned his signature instrument, the harp, at the age of 20. His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career into a life-changing music mission, with an Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to KC reborn as a humanistic songwriter / performer where at 24 he released his EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. On February 14, 2017 Calvin released his critically acclaimed full length debut, Catastrophe, with a live show at recordBar in November 2016 that involved a company of 50 people, dancers, stilt walkers. After signing to Center Cut Records, Calvin released the albums: Cantaloupe in 2018, with a sold out gigantic spectical at The Gem Theatre on Saturday, September 15, 2018. He then released, L.A. Sessions in 2019, and the EP HONEY DEW, and the EP Goddess with Quixotic, the Holiday album, ALL IS CALM. In 2020 Calvin collaborated with Mike Dillon on the Soundtrack to “Summer in Hindsight,” a feature-length film created by The West 18th Street Fashion Show that starred Calvin as an actor. Calvin is also the co-creator of the podcast “We Were Christian Kids” created with childhood friend Justin Randall who is a stand up comedian working in New York City and now Los Angeles. Calvin is also the published author of VERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal. Calvin was voted KC’s Best Musician in The Pitch 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. He has been featured in Billboard, NPR.org. Charlotte Street Foundation announced that the recipients of the 2022 Generative Performing Artist Awards are The Black Creatures and Calvin Arsenia Scott.] [Calvin Arsenia played a PARADISE Album Release Party, Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, at 7:00 PM at The Emerald, 1715 West 9th Street, KCMO, WEST BOTTOMS. More info at http://www.calvinarsenia.com][Calvin Arsenia was our guest on WMM on Jan. 18, 2023, June 21, 2023, and our 1000th Show on June 28, 2923.]

[Calvin Arsenia plays Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, Saturday, February 14 at 8:00pm, for a special Valentine’s Day Show. More info at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com]

11:03 – Interview with Calvin Arsenia & Cera Impala

Calvin Arsenia a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, teacher, writer, actor, model, designer, and artist. Calvin is also the curator at the Greenwood Social Hall. Calvin Arsenia was born in Orlando, Florida. His creative journey began when he moved to Olathe, Kansas, teaching himself guitar, piano, banjo. He learned the harp, at the age of 20. Calvin Arsenia first appeared on WMM on July 25, 2012. His passion for stretching the boundaries saw him transformed after a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career. An Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to KC reborn as a humanistic songwriter / performer where at 24 he released his EP, MOMENTS, in 2014, his EP, PROSE in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP, CATASTROPHE in 2016. On February 14, 2017 Calvin released his full length debut, CATASTROPHE, with a live show at recordBar in November 2016, involving 50 people: dancers, body painting, stilt walkers. After signing to Center Cut Records, Calvin released the albums: CANTALOUPE in 2018, with a sold out show at The Gem Theatre on September 15, 2018. He then released, L.A. SESSIONS in 2019, along with the EP, HONEY DEW, the EP, GODDESS with Quixotic, and the holiday album, ALL IS CALM. In 2020 Calvin collaborated with Mike Dillon on the Soundtrack to “SUMMER IN HINDSIGHT,” a feature-length film created by The West 18th Street Fashion Show that starred Calvin as an actor. Calvin Arsenia released his 14 track album PARADISE to fans on June 23, 2023. His most biographical album yet, with songs about Black Lives Matter, racism, probation, gay love, and collaborations with Cheery, Kadesh Flow & Jametatone. KC Magazine hailed Calvin as “equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator, a charismatic 6-foot-7-inch harpist with a 3 and ½ octave range, natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.” Calvin Arsenia was voted KC’s Best Musician in The Pitch in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. He has been featured in Billboard, NPR.org. Calvin is the recipient of the Charlotte Street Foundation 2022 Generative Performing Artist Awards, along with The Black Creatures. Calvin is also the co-creator of the podcast, “We Were Christian Kids” created with childhood friend Justin Randall who is a stand up comedian working in New York City and Los Angeles. Calvin is also the published author of EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal.

Calvin Arsenia & Friends play Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, Saturday, February 14 at 8:00pm, for a special Valentine’s Day Show. More info at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com

Calvin Arsenia thanks for being with us on WMM.

Cera Impala is prolific spell-casting songwriter who creates compositions that feel instantly familiar. A whiskey-honeyed voice and intimately crafted pieces take her audiences to another time and place, one of dreams and magic -sensual as they are savage. `Armed with a sound like an audio-hug’, this powerhouse multi-instrumentalist has been heard all over the world; toured internationally with her handpicked band, The New Prohibition. She is in currently recording a much anticipated double album, Demeter’s Daughter (Part I), followed by Persephone (part II). // Cera released her 5th album of beautifully reviewed original work, “Wildest Dreams’, available on all digital platforms, CD and Vinyl. Impala is an accomplished recording artist and session musician, having performed on recordings for Bella Hardy, Jellyman’s Daughter, and notable others. In 2019, Cera debuted a new duet project, Delightful Squalor (currently on pause), and is a member of the Dance bandits ‘psychedelic comedy ceilidh band’, and has been a previous imbedded touring and recording member of The Blackberry Bushes, Dark Green Tree, and the infamous queens of sass and harmony for years, The Bevvy Sisters.

Cera Impala, thanks for being with us on WMM.

Calvin Arsenia and Friends (including Cera Impalla) – Sat, Feb 14 @ 8:00PM Knuckleheads, Kansas City, MO

Calvin Arsenia at eTown – Wed, Feb 18 @ 7:00PM eTown, 1535 Spruce St, Boulder, CO

Cera Impala plays ICONS, at 16 E Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, CO., on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 7:00pm

Calvin Arsenia has had a very busy 2026 so far. Calvin played theFolk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans as a special Showcase Artist.

Ramy Essam played New Orleans too and Calvin brought him back to KC to play Greenwood Social Hall.

Calvin Writes about Cera Impala: “For lovers of Norah Jones, Billie Holliday, and Lana Del Rey, Impala’s charm, wit, and prowess are undeniable. It takes a songwriter with deep and clear understanding of theory and multiple technical disciples to make music this complex and nuanced sound utterly effortless. Run, don’t walk to bless your ears and soul with this delicious nectar.” -Calvin Arsenia

Cera Impala’s Half Moon Medicine: Impala hosts, curates and performs monthly at the Peoples Leisure Club in (previously held at the Jazz bar) in Edinburgh and curates annually for both Knockengorroch festival and Kelburn Garden party (festival) . Cera is passionate about supporting minority voices and helping the untold story get told and providing ‘The Cure For Wot Ails Ye’ via a regular heroic dose of her brand of ‘Half Moon Medicine’ and teaching her method of writing, collage and music in her bespoke workshop “The Distillary”

Greenwood Social Hall – Long term collaborator, ally, and friend of Calvin Arsenia, Peregrine Honig began hosting performing arts events in the Spring of 2017 at Greenwood Social Hall – the gently renovated historically Black Baptist Church formerly known as Greenwood Baptist Church. Over the years, Calvin Arsenia had filmed multiple projects in the space: Toxic music video, Convert Kit music video, and Live at Greenwood. As her season came to close near the end of 2023, Honig asked Arsenia if he would like to take the helm and make the place his own. He said yes and the rest, as they say, is history.

sissiboi presents: C Yu – Friday, Feb 13 & Saturday, Feb 14, Doors 7:30pm, Show 8:00pm, at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, 2nd Floor // C Yu is an original performance by sissiboi—the collaborative partnership of performance artists Ósq Trujillo and Sam McReynolds. Two queer lives, shaped by different histories and timelines, meet through movement, listening, instinct, and the quiet power of negotiation. What unfolds is tender, curious, and deeply human. // This is an evening for those who crave embodied art, emotional exposure, and the electricity of shared presence—experienced up close in one of Kansas City’s most intimate spaces. Moe info at: http://www.greenwoodsocialhall.com/events

Guinevere Goodwin + Fritz & Sons + Honeybee play Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, 2nd Floor, KCMO on Friday, February 27m 2926 at 7:00pm

Monarch String Trio: Pop Queens on Strings play Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, Kansas City, MO Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Doors at 6:30 pm Music at 7:00 pm

Cera Impala plays Greenwood Social Hall on Sunday, March 15 at 7:00PM

Calvin Arsenia & Cera Impala thanks for being with us on WMM.

Calvin Arsenia & Friends play Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, Saturday, February 14 at 8:00pm, for a special Valentine’s Day Show. More info at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com

11:23

11. Calvin Arsenia – “Toxic”
    from: Cantaloupe / Bullseye Records / September 15, 2018 (KC Release)
    [The first release on Bullseye Records. Calvin Arsenia premiered these songs in a live show at recordBar in November 2016 in a stage show that involved a company of 50 people, dancers, stilt walkers, special lighting, back up singers, guest artists. Born in Orlando, Florida, Calvin’s creative journey really began when he moved to the KC suburb of Olathe, teaching himself the guitar, and eventually the harp. He learned his signature instrument at the age of 20 after he couldn’t find a harpist as determined as him to meld folk, rock, classical, rap and R&B into the irresistible fusion which has become his calling card in the Kansas City music scene and beyond. His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career into a life-changing music mission, with an Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to Kansas City reborn as a humanistic songwriter/performer whose impassioned and conceptual stage shows (regularly sold-out in Kansas City, currently catching fire on the West Coast with a diverse following across Europe), are collaborative, costumed-culture-bridging spectacles which In KC Magazine has hailed as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-6-inch harpist with a natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’ Since Calvin Arsenia came home to KC after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, he has released his EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. His full length album Catastrophe on February 14, 2017, His EP Caviar in November 2017. Calvin’s 2018 national debut, Cantaloupe, was released on September 15, 2018 on Center Cut Records. On June 28, 2019 Calvin released Honeydew, an EP including a remix of three songs from Cantaloupe. On September 20, 2019 Calvin released LA Sessions. On December 13, 2019 Calvin released his full length Christmas album “all is calm.” Calvin is also a graduate of Artist INC. Since 2014 we have been celebrating the music of Calvin Arsenia. He has played Folk Alliance International, Kansas City Fringe Fest, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, The Middle of the Map Fest., The Folly Theatre. Calvin was first on WMM on July 25, 2012.

[Calvin Arsenia plays Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, Saturday, February 14 at 8:00pm, for a special Valentine’s Day Show. More info at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com]

11:28 – Underwriting

12. FlareThaRebel – “Mixology”
    from: “Mixology” – Single / Shafer / October 8, 2025
    [“Mixology” from his upcoming full length album DEAR CITY to be released in 2026. Career and love brought hip-hop MC Flare Tha Rebel™ back to his hometown of Kansas City, MO, which sparked a creative renaissance. As The Pitch noted, “As a member of hip-hop collective Anti-Crew, Flare Tha Rebel made quite an impact on the Kansas City hip-hop scene. After making the leap from KC to Chicago in the late ’00s, he’s now back…” His homecoming has proved fruitful – his track “Playground” was voted the Number 1 Song of 2022 by listeners of 90.9 FM The Bridge. Throughout his career, Flare has shared stages with heavyweights including Chance The Rapper, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Lethal, Nappy Roots, and CES Cru. His most recent release is the locally acclaimed EP, “Summer You, Summer Me”, followed by his feature on the Kemet Coleman song “Android”. // Flare Tha Rebel aka Jeff Shafer is Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate. This was the job that brought Jeff back to KC, where he became Executive Director. ]

[FlareThaRebel hosts Music Maker Mondays presented by Manor Records Foundation, & Brewery Emperial on the First Monday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm (through August) at Brewery Emperial, 1829 Oak St. KCMO, to provide local music makers of all types – any genre, a laid-back, non-gig environment to connect, organize, and build community through a new monthly happy hour occurring on the first Monday of each month.]

10:33 – Interview with Flare Tha Rebel

FlareThaRebel returns to WMM to share details about Music Maker Mondays from Manor Records Foundation, & Brewery Emperial on the First Monday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm (through August) at Brewery Emperial, 1829 Oak St. KCMO to provide local music makers of all types – any genre, a laid-back, non-gig environment to connect, organize, and build community through a new monthly happy hour occurring the first Monday of each month.

FlareThaRebel released his latest single “Mixology” on October 8, 2025 from his upcoming full length album DEAR CITY to be released in 2026. Career and love brought hip-hop MC FlareThaRebel back to his hometown of Kansas City, MO, which sparked a creative renaissance. As The Pitch noted, “As a member of hip-hop collective Anti-Crew, FlareThaRebel made quite an impact on the Kansas City hip-hop scene. After making the leap from KC to Chicago in the late ’00s, he’s now back…” His homecoming has proved fruitful – his track “Playground” was voted the Number 1 Song of 2022 by listeners of 90.9 FM The Bridge. Throughout his career, Flare has shared stages with heavyweights including Chance The Rapper, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Lethal, Nappy Roots, and CES Cru. His most recent release is the locally acclaimed EP, “Summer You, Summer Me”, followed by his feature on the Kemet Coleman song “Android”. FlareThaRebel is also known as Jeff Shafer who serves as Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate. This was the job that brought Jeff back to KC. More info at: http://www.cityyear.org

Shaun Crowley joins FlareThaRebel. Shaun is a classically trained guitarist, and has studied at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. Crowley started playing in the Kansas City music community when he was 17 in band Rev Gusto who released their debut album on High Dive Records. Rev. Gusto then transformed into the band Momma’s Boy. Shaun is the Founder & Executive Director of Manor Records, a non-profit organization that functions as a record store and record label to support Kansas City musicians. Crowley started the nonprofit in 2017 with concerts first in a rented house in Shawnee, then moving to a cafe in Strawberry Hill , then a basement space in the West Bottoms, and then to a storefront retail space on Troost.

FlareThaRebel and Shaun Crowley thanks for being with us on WMM

FlareThaRebel hosts Music Maker Mondays presented by Manor Records Foundation, & Brewery Emperial on the First Monday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm (through August) at Brewery Emperial, 1829 Oak St. KCMO, to provide local music makers of all types – any genre, a laid-back, non-gig environment to connect, organize, and build community through a new monthly happy hour occurring on the first Monday of each month.

Manor Records has expanded the idea of what a music label can be, by creating multiple record store locations, hosting Songbird Sessions every Sunday at ARTSKC, 106 Southwest Blvd, KCMO; Manor Fest an eight day, two weekend music festival held progressively in eight different neighborhoods in Kansas City in May; and now Music Maker Mondays on the First Monday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm at Brewery Emperial, 1829 Oak St. KCMO. More info at http://www.manorrecords.com

Flare Tha Rebel aka Jeff Shafer is Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate. This job brought Jeff back to KC, where he became Executive Director.

Flare has shared stages with heavyweights including Chance The Rapper, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Lethal, Nappy Roots, and CES Cru. His most recent release is the locally acclaimed EP, “Summer You, Summer Me”, followed by his feature on the Kemet Coleman song “Android”. FlareThaRebel is also known as Jeff Shafer who serves as Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate. This was the job that brought Jeff back to KC. More info at: http://www.cityyear.org

Flare Tha Rebel played a special acoustic performance for Manor Records Songbird Session with SEYKO, featuring Jeff Stocks on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at ARTSKC, 106 Southwest Boulevard, KCMO.

Upcoming projects

FlareThaRebel is planning to release a new full length album, DEAR CITY, in 2026.

The DEAR CITY album will be connected to DEAR CITY Reels – obe show music video reels filmed ny Lava Dreams, Direcred by FlareThaRebel. Each Reel will showcase the first verse or first verse and chorus of songs from DEAR CITY album.

The majority of reels will be released leading up to the DEAR CITY elease concert.

Jeff Shafer is Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate.

FlareThaRebel “SUMMER YOU, SUMMER ME” EP was removed from Spotify.

FlareTheRebels’ encouragement to Kansas City is to form a music ofice0A MUSIC OFFICE AND MEETING IN OCTOBER WITH DALLAS MUSIC OFFICE

Flare’s brother Sike is known for his pristine community murals’s located all over Kansas City. Sike’s time at Recycled Sounds was memorable for Jeff as a young kid and as he developed into a DJ and graphic designer and got heavily into the scene with The Guild, CES Cru, Sounds Good, Brother of Moses, etc. This influenced Jeff and Anti-Crew to start releasing music and performing as well.

Many of Flare’s songs are connected to his Art to Empower initiative, raising awareness and funds for a variety of social justice causes and nonprofits, such as his Royalty EP poster designed by muralists JT Daniels, which raises funds for the Equal Justice Initiative.

As Flare explains, in our country Black men are being mistreated, demonized, killed, and not given the same structures that they need to be successful.

“We have to pull together ourselves as a community, but something like the Bloc is very education-focused and that’s something that I’m very passionate about. I can’t just talk about it. I got to walk the walk and, if I can use art to promote and raise funds for nonprofits and social justice causes that are making difference on the front lines, then that’s what I want to do.”

The end result of all of this is that The Revolution Will Not Be Hashtagged is a very powerful collection of songs, not just because of the strength in the lyrics and in Flare’s delivery, but also with a lot of empathy. The rapper isn’t attempting to shame anyone so much as he’s addressing sense of being overwhelmed by these things and understanding of how that can be for folks.

“You can’t do this without being empathetic, in my opinion,” Flare concurs. “I might be bringing up topics that are hard for people to swallow, but I hope I do so in a way that’s still motivating. Music is supposed to make you feel an emotion and hopefully, the emotion that people feel from this music is motivation to make a change, to make a stand, or–at the very least–to educate themselves about the realities of our country.”

Flare’s Art to Empower initiative, and about merchandise that was designed by your brother muralist Sike Style to raise funds and awareness for BLOC (Brothers Liberating our Communities).

Flare Tha Rebel & Bob Pulliam joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios on August 11, 2021. the year his EP, THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE HASHTAGGED, was released (on July 9, 2021). This was the 50th anniversary of Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”

Inspired by Gil Scott-Heron’s 1971 single, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, Lyricist Flare Tha Rebel and beat producer Bob Pulliam took on a slew of social issues on their 4-track EP release: police brutality on “P.O.P. Off”, quotes from revolutionaries and civil right activities on “Different Ships,” and the United States tragic apathy towards gun violence for the track “Child’s Play” featuring Bob’s dad, KC Jazz musician and teacher Joe Miquelon. More Info at: http://www.flaretharebel.com

Flare Tha Rebel told Nick Spacek in a July 13, 2021 article for The Pitch Kansas City:

The Revolution Will Not Be Hashtagged EP carries through on that sense of empowering and motivating the listeners. “Different Ships,” especially, interweaves a series of quotes from people by whom the rapper has been motivated, drawing its title from a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” As Flare puts it, “That’s a call for unity amongst the Black community, but it’s also showcasing the struggles that we’ve had in our shared experience.”

“I’m motivated by my ancestors,” states Flare emphatically. “I’m motivated by the revolutionaries and civil rights activists that have come before me and I’m motivated by the ones that exist today. I’m learning from them and when I’m creating art, I’m interweaving what I’ve learned from them into what I’m addressing. It was a way to create a lyrical pro-Black narrative that I felt was very relevant.”

Manor Fest 8 Dates Announcement – Monday March 9th, 2026
Manor Fest 8 Lineup Announcement & Ticket Launch – Monday, April 6th 2026
Manor Fest 8 Venue Schedule – Monday, April 13th 2026

Manor Festival Dates: Weekend One : May 20th – 23rd // Weekend Two : May 27 -30th

Shaun Crowley will be back on April 8, at 11:00am to announce all of the artists playidmng this year’s Manor Fest.

Shaun Crowley will be back on Wednesday, May 13, 10 to Noon, for the entire show, as our co-host, to do our annual survey of all eight days of the Monor Festival. It is our “radio journey” through the dates and times chronologically, playing bands from every venue (or as many as we can)?

FlareThaRebel and Shaun Crowley thanks for being with us on WMM

FlareThaRebel hosts Music Maker Mondays presented by Manor Records Foundation, & Brewery Emperial on the First Monday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm (through August) at Brewery Emperial, 1829 Oak St. KCMO, to provide local music makers of all types – any genre, a laid-back, non-gig environment to connect, organize, and build community through a new monthly happy hour occurring on the first Monday of each month.

For WMM, I’m Mark Manning. Thanks for listening!

10:54

13. Flare Tha Rebel & Bob Pulliam – “P.O.P Off (Radio Edit)”
    from: The Revolution Will Not Be Hashtagged / Shafer / July 9, 2021
    [Career and love brought hip-hop MC Flare Tha Rebel™ back to his hometown of Kansas City, MO, which sparked a creative renaissance. As The Pitch noted, “As a member of hip-hop collective Anti-Crew, Flare Tha Rebel made quite an impact on the Kansas City hip-hop scene. After making the leap from KC to Chicago in the late ’00s, he’s now back…” His homecoming has proved fruitful – his track “Playground” was voted the Number 1 Song of 2022 by listeners of 90.9 FM The Bridge. Throughout his career, Flare has shared stages with heavyweights including Chance The Rapper, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Lethal, Nappy Roots, and CES Cru. His most recent release is the locally acclaimed EP, “Summer You, Summer Me”, followed by his feature on the Kemet Coleman song “Android”. // Flare Tha Rebel aka Jeff Shafer is Executive Director for City Year Kansas City, an educational-equity nonprofit that places mentors/tutors in schools to keep kids on track to graduate. This was the job that brought Jeff back to KC, where he became Executive Director. Info at: http://www.flaretharebel.com]

[FlareThaRebel hosts Music Maker Mondays presented by Manor Records Foundation, & Brewery Emperial on the First Monday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm (through August) at Brewery Emperial, 1829 Oak St. KCMO, to provide local music makers of all types – any genre, a laid-back, non-gig environment to connect, organize, and build community through a new monthly happy hour occurring on the first Monday of each month.]

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

Next week, on Wednesday, February 19 at 10:15am we talk with Sara Swenson who returns to share more new music from her new album TALLER. Sara Swenson plays a TALLER Album Release show Saturday, February 28, Doors at 6 pm. Show at 6:30 pm. ay Knuckleheads Gospel Lounge, 2715 Rochester Ave., Kansas City, MO. // At 11:00 Nathan Reusch shares several new tracks from the Kansas City Synthesizer Collective 4th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, February 20, at Stockyards Brewing. // AND at 11:30am Brad Smith joins us to talk about the new album from Brad’s band Egg on Mars called Good Morning (I Love You) to be released March 3, 2026. Brad also talks anout his new music label Enigmatic Brunch.

You can find our playlists at: http://www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & http://www.kkfi.org
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
http://www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Shaina Littler – Office Manager Book Keeper

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made 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

Show #1134