Wednesday MidDay Medley
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Mará Rose Williams + Malek Azreal + Yvette Walker + Eldon Painter
10:00 – WMM Plays More New & MidCoastal Releases
- “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Orig. Motion Picture Soundtrack All That Jazz / Casablanca / December 20, 1979
[WMM’s Adopted Theme Song]
- Neko Case – “Wreck (Radio Edit)”
from: Neon Grey Midnight Green / Anti / September 26, 2025
[Neon Grey Midnight Green is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Neko Case, released by record label Anti- on September 26, 2025. Her first entirely self-produced album, it marks her follow-up to Hell-On. She has described it as being “for and about musicians, a love letter and a testimony.” // From October 2025 to January 2026, Case will be touring North America with John Grant and Des Demonas in support of the album. // Neko Richelle Case was born September 8, 1970. She is an American singer-songwriter and member of the Canadian indie rock group the New Pornographers. Case’s singing voice has been described by contemporaries and critics as a “flamethrower”, “a powerhouse which seems like it might level buildings,” “a 120-mph fastball,” and a “vocal tornado”. Critics also note her idiosyncratic, “cryptic,” “imagistic” lyrics, and credit her as a significant figure in the early 21st-century American revival of the tenor guitar. Case’s body of work has spanned and drawn on a range of traditions including country, folk, art rock, indie rock, and pop and is frequently described as defying or avoiding easy generic classification. // Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Case is the only child of James Bamford Case. Case’s maternal family surname was originally Shevchenko; her great-aunt was the professional wrestler Ella Waldek. Her father, a Vietnam veteran serving in the United States Air Force, was based in Virginia at the time of her birth. Case’s parents, who were teenagers when they had her, are of Ukrainian ancestry. Her parents divorced when Case began school. In her memoir, Case indicated that she was told that her mother died of cancer when she was in the second grade, but only two years later, she was told that this was not correct. After that, her mother flitted in and out of her life, and eventually Case cut ties with her mother for good. As she writes in the book, she had a revelation: “Perhaps her mother had never been sick at all.” // Case’s family relocated several times during her childhood due to her stepfather’s work as an archaeologist. She lived in Western Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon and Washington. She considers Tacoma, Washington to be her hometown. // Case left home and was legally emancipated at age 15. By the age of 18 she was performing as a drummer for the Del Logs and the Propanes, playing in venues including a punk club called the Community World Theater. // In 1994, Case moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, completing her studies 1998. While in Vancouver, she played drums in several local bands, including the Del Logs, the Propanes, the Weasels, Cub, and Maow. These bands were, for the most part, local punk groups. Case said of the vibrant Vancouver punk rock scene at that time, “A lot of women wanted to play music because they were inspired, because it was an incredibly good time for music in the Northwest. There was a lot of clubs, a lot of bands, a lot of people coming through, a lot of all-ages stuff—it was a very exciting time to live there.” // In 1998, she left Canada for Seattle, Washington. Before going, Case recorded vocals for a few songs that ended up on Mass Romantic, the New Pornographers’ first album. Her lead vocals on songs like “Letter from an Occupant” are straightforward, full-volume power-pop performances, shedding any country elements. Released on November 28, 2000, Mass Romantic became a surprise success. Although the band was originally conceived as a side project for its members, the New Pornographers remain a prominent presence in the indie rock world, having released their ninth album in 2023. // In addition to recording with the New Pornographers, Case collaborates with other Canadian musicians, including the Sadies and Carolyn Mark, and has recorded material by several noted Canadian songwriters, in particular on her 2001 EP Canadian Amp. As a result, she is also considered a significant figure in Canadian music—both CBC Radio 3 and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada have referred to Case as an “honourary Canadian”. In 2018 Case performed at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. // Case embraced country music on her 1997 album, The Virginian. The album contained original compositions as well as covers of songs by Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn and the 1974 Queen song “Misfire”. When the album was released, critics compared Case to honky-tonk singers like Lynn and Patsy Cline, and to rockabilly pioneer Wanda Jackson, particularly in her vocal timbre. // On February 22, 2000, Case released her second solo album, Furnace Room Lullaby. The album introduced the country noir elements that have defined Case’s subsequent solo career. That tone was evident even from the cover photo, featuring Case sprawled out corpse-like on a concrete floor. // Case sometimes tours with Canadian singer and songwriter Carolyn Mark as the Corn Sisters. One of their performances, at Seattle’s Hattie’s Hat restaurant in Ballard, was recorded and released as an album, The Other Women, on November 28, 2000. // In October 1999, around the time Furnace Room Lullaby was released, Case left Seattle for Chicago because she felt that Seattle was no longer hospitable to its local artists.// Case’s first work in Chicago was an eight-song EP that she recorded in her kitchen. Canadian Amp, her first recording without Her Boyfriends, was released on her own Lady Pilot label in 2001. She wrote two of the tracks, with the remaining six being covers, including Neil Young’s “Dreaming Man” and Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken”. Four of the covers were written by Canadian artists. The EP was initially available only at Case’s live shows and directly from Mint Records’ website, but it eventually saw wider release. // Case also recorded her third full-length album, Blacklisted, while living in Chicago. // In April 2003, Case was voted the “Sexiest Babe of Indie Rock” in a Playboy.com internet poll, receiving 32% of the vote. Playboy asked her to pose nude for the magazine, but she declined their offer. She told Entertainment Weekly that…”I didn’t want to be the girl who posed in Playboy and then—by the way—made some music. I would be really fucking irritated if after a show somebody came up to me and handed me some naked picture of myself and wanted me to sign it instead of my CD.” // Case recorded and toured for several years as Neko Case & Her Boyfriends before performing solely under her name. Albums released as Neko Case & Her Boyfriends include The Virginian (1997) and Furnace Room Lullaby (2000). She primarily performed her own material, but also performed and recorded cover versions of songs by artists such as My Morning Jacket, Harry Nilsson, Loretta Lynn, Tom Waits, Nick Lowe, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Scott Walker, Randy Newman, Queen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sparks and Hank Williams. // The 2010 New Pornographers album Together features Case as lead vocalist on “Crash Years” and “My Shepherd.” The 2014 album Brill Bruisers features Case as lead vocalist on “Champions of Red Wine” and “Marching Orders.” The 2017 album Whiteout Conditions features Case as lead vocalist on “Play Money” and “This is the World of the Theater.” // In 2016, Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs announced the case/lang/veirs project, with an album released in June 2016. // Case recorded her third full-length album, Blacklisted, in Tucson, Arizona. It was the first full-length album credited to Case alone, without Her Boyfriends, and was released on Bloodshot Records on August 20, 2002. Some believe the title Blacklisted alludes to Case being banned for life from the Grand Ole Opry because she took her shirt off during a performance on August 4, 2001, at one of their outdoors “Opry Plaza” concerts, though Case herself has denied this. Asked about the incident in 2004, Case said “I had heatstroke. People would love it to be a ‘fuck you’ punk thing. But it was actually a physical ailment thing.” // Case’s face in 2009 Most of the album’s fourteen songs are originals; the exceptions being covers of “Running Out of Fools”, previously a hit for Aretha Franklin, and “Look for Me (I’ll Be Around)” previously performed by Sarah Vaughan. Blacklisted finds Case even deeper in a “country noir” mood, and was described by critics as lush, bleak, and atmospheric. Case cited filmmaker David Lynch, composer Angelo Badalamenti, and Neil Young’s soundtrack to the film Dead Man as influences. “I hope I can comfort people a bit—maybe show people that making music is fun and accessible to them as well. I’m not out to become Faith Hill, I never want to play an arena, and I never want to be on the MTV Video Music Awards, much less make a video with me in it. I would like to reach a larger audience and see the state of music change in favor of musicians and music fans in my lifetime. I care very much about that.” // In April 2004, Case played several shows with longtime collaborators the Sadies in Chicago and Toronto. These shows were recorded and released as a live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, by Anti Records in October 2004. // Fox Confessor Brings the Flood was released on March 7, 2006. The album was recorded primarily in Tucson, over the course of two years as Case worked on the live The Tigers Have Spoken and continued to play with the New Pornographers. Critics hailed the record not only for Case’s trademark vocals but also her use of stark imagery and non-standard song structures. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood wound up on many “Best of 2006” lists, such as No.1 on the Amazon.com music editors’ picks and No. 2 on NPR’s All Songs Considered. The album debuted at No. 54 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It contains Case’s most autobiographical song, “Hold On, Hold On”. Case said: “the song is actually about me. It’s not metaphorical about other people. It’s not little pieces of my life made into a story about someone else or someone fictitious.” // “Hold On, Hold On” has since been covered by Marianne Faithfull on her 2009 album Easy Come, Easy Go. It was used over an episode of The Killing (Season 1 Episode 6) before the final credits, and in the 2015 film One More Time. “John Saw That Number” was used in the snowboarding movie “City. Park City”. // Case’s next album, Middle Cyclone, was released on March 3, 2009. In advance of a U.S. and European tour, Case appeared as a musical guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Later in 2009 she also appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Amazon.com rated Middle Cyclone the number one album of 2009. Middle Cyclone debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts in its first week of release, making it Case’s first album ever to reach the top ten in the United States. // At the time of its release, no other record from an independent record company had debuted at a higher position in 2009. She toured extensively to promote Middle Cyclone with dates in North America, Europe, and Australia, as well as a performance at Lollapalooza 2009 in Grant Park, Chicago. // The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You. // In June 2013, Case announced a new album, The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You, which was released on September 3. // In early March, 2018, Case released a teaser for an album titled Hell-On, her first solo work in almost five years. The teaser featured Case lying down singing a song of the same name while snakes move around her. The album was released on June 1, 2018. // On November 13, 2015, Case released a compilation vinyl box set containing eight of her solo albums. The set contains her first six studio albums, including the first vinyl pressing of The Virginian, as well as a live album. // On April 19, 2022, Case released Wild Creatures, described as “digital-only, career retrospective”. The album was released on CD, double vinyl, and MP3. It has 22 tracks from Case’s discography, plus a new song, “Oh, Shadowless”.]
[Neko Case plays The Uptown Theatre, 3700 Broadway Blvd., KCMO, on Saturday, November 31 with Destroyer her New Pornographers bandmate, Dan Bejar’s other band. This show was rescheduled fron January 24, 2026 and part of a 56-city tour that started on October 1, 2025 in Woodstock New York and lasts until January 31, 2026.]
- Nan & The One Nite Stands – “Primetime”
from: Primetime – EP / Nan Turner / September 4, 2026
[5-track EP. Written by Nan Turner. Additional Vox by Tracy Flowers. Recorded + mixed + produced by Chase Horsemanat Element Studios, Kansas City, KS. Mastered by Ian Dobyns. Picture of Nan by Laci Kay. Additional studio support by Frida the Dog and Georgia. Created while also producing a musical about Tonya Harding. The singer-songwriter-drummer-actress-dancer’s music has been described as “Lucy Ricardo of Indie Rock” and “Tone Loc meets the Velvet Underground.” As Nan + The One Nite Stands, Nan released the single”Primetime” on September 5, 2025. Nan released the single “Sick” on March 7, 2025. Nan released the 4 song EP HAWKIN’ IT on May 14, 2024. Nan released HIGH-CALIBER on February 19, 2021. Nan Turner released the single, “Desert Nites”, on May 22, 2020. Nan released her EP, CHAMPS AND LOSERS, VERSION 2, on July 12, 2019. Nan Turner was one half of the critically acclaimed band Schwervon! with Matt Roth (Major Matt Mason USA) on electric guitar and Nan on drums. The band started in the Lower East Side of New York City in 1999 and toured internationally for over a decade, Schwervon! released 7 full length albums, 2 EPs, and 5 singles. Nan went to college with Soon-Yi Previn
More Info at: www.nanturner.bandcamp.com ]
[Nan Turner & The One Nite Stands play The Brick, 1727 McGee, KCMO on Friday, November 13, at 8:00pm with Teazers, and Hair Person (from Omaha).]
10:07 – Fund Drive Break #1 – We Have History!
We’re interrupting our regularly scheduled programming, for just a few minutes, to let our listeners know that we are currently in day 10, of our 12-day, On-Air / Fall Fund Drive. We are breaking into our prepared programming, to encourage YOU to please call us at 888-931-0901 or www.kkfi.org to make a donation in support 90.1 FM KKFI.
Joining me in the studio, we have some very special co-hosts:
Mará Rose Williams is The Kansas City Star’s Senior Opinion Columnist. She previously was assistant managing editor for race & equity issues, a member of the Star’s Editorial Board and an award-winning columnist. She has written on all things education for The Star since 1998, including issues of inequity in education, teen suicide, universal pre-K, college costs and racism on university campuses. In 2008, she received the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship and traveled to Kenya to teach journalistic writing in the aftermath of a tribal massacre and raids on newspapers. She was a writer on The Star’s 2020 “Truth in Black and White” project and the recipient of the 2021 Eleanor McClatchy Award for exemplary leadership skills and transformative journalism. Mará served as host and producer for three installments of the nationally award winning Voices of Kansas City series she created in collaboration with 90.1 FM KKFI. In June Mará was inducted into Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame by The Missouri Press Association.
Mara Rose Williams thanks for being our guest on WMM
Malek Azrael is a 26 year old Kansas City-based singer, songwriter, and producer whose music effortlessly blends elements of Indie Rock and R&B Pop. Born and raised in the heart of the Midwest, Malek’s music is a reflection of his upbringing and his experiences, which he translates into honest, heartfelt lyrics and infectious melodies. Malek released his first album, WAVES on October 15, 2021, which first featured members of his live band “The Vibez” drummer Josh Luke, bassist Quinn Cosgrove, and guitarist Calvin Haverkamp. Upon the release of the debut project, they have played live concerts at Boulevardia Festival, Ameri’Kana, 18th & Vine Gumbo Fest, RecordBar, The Truman, Grinders, and Knuckleheads. Malek & The Vibez released the EP, FEELS LIKE… on February 28, 2025. This year Malek released LIVE AT GREENWOOD (MALEK AZRAEL & THE VIBEZ with MIKE DILLON on May 15, 2026, and the singles: “Only You”, “YOU”, “ANNOY MY FRIENDS”, and “DON’T WANNA BE ALONE” on October 2, 2026. Malek Azrael has worked for Boys Grow, was part of Making Movies non-profit organization Art As Mentorship, and currently works for the Zhou B Art Center, at 1801 E 18th Street, KCMO, where he was instrumental in producing their Rock is Black, and Pop is Black concerts and well as their new Spirit & Song series. More info: www.zhoubartcenterkc.com
Malek Azrael thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.
Yvette Walker is the Vice President and Editorial Page Editor covering the Opinion section for The Kansas City Star. She graduated with degrees from University of Missouri School of Journalism, and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Yvetter is currently studying at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She joined McClatchy in 2023. She has extensive experience as a senior editor for multiple news outlets. She has been a senior editor for five award-winning news outlets. She was part of the Star’s team that won the 2024 Scripps Howard Distinguished Service to the First Amendment. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2020 and was a college dean of journalism at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She has been instrumental in promoting media ethics through conferences and educational initiatives. Journalism, for Yvette, is a form of service that helps people understand the world and holds institutions accountable.
Yvette Walker thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.
We Have a History! – 90.1 FM KKFI Kansas City Community Radio is Non-Commercial! We don’t have commercials. We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, membership based organization. To full fill our budget – three times a year, we interrupt our regular programming, to ask our listeners, to help us continue our unique, 24-7 programming.
For 38 years 90.1 FM KKFI has been on the air. The spirit of this station is kept alive by hundreds of volunteers who passionately donate their time and abilities to keep the transmission of our 100,000-watt-signal alive. But none of this is possible without YOU our listeners, who donate financially.
We are operated by a not-for-profit organization, The MidCoast Radio Project, incorporated over 50 years ago. We are a non-profit, with a dedicated paid staff of four incredible individuals, and hundreds of volunteers, who donate thousands of hours every year, producing radio shows, training new hosts & producers, developing new radio shows, serving our vast community landscape with music and news, information and stories that reflect the many communities we serve.
On February 28, 1988 folks from the Kansas City Community launched onto our airwaves KKFI 90.1 FM with hopes that through community radio we could help build our community, make it a better place, for our future, for those that follow and take our place.
Today 90.1 FM KKFI offers 100 radio programs, and 85 of these programs are locally produced, locally sourced, locally researched, locally presented by passionate and dedicated members of our Kansas City Community. Bucking all trends of commercially owned media, at KKFI, Diversity and Inclusion are part of our mission. Telling the stories of people who are under-represented is our mission. In a world where national corpora-tions have purchased almost all local TV & Radio stations, KKFI has fought hard to remain free, locally loyal, a voice for those not repented in the corporately owned & cloned stations, or the rightwing talk, church owned christian stations, that proliferate the frequencies, through all of this, KKFI has worked hard to keep a little slice of the public airwaves alive for all of the people in our collective communities.
90.1 FM KKFI’s non-profit organization and governing body is the MidCoast Radio Project. MidCoastal is where we are, on the coasts of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers with a music community that spans the Kansas City Metro region and west to Lawrence and Topeka and south to Olathe and east to Columbia and North to St Joseph. Not necessarily the reach of our 100,000 watt signal but definitely the reach of our community.
KKFI’s Mission Statement: KKFI is the Kansas City area’s independent, noncommercial community radio station. We seek to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other media.
KKFI’s Philosophy Statement: KKFI is committed to diversity in programming and discourse and seeks to create a climate of mutual respect and collaboration among volunteers and staff.
We have History. We have weathered the storms. We have purchased our tower and the land around our tower. We have recently upgraded and re-wired our tower and brought it up to date technologically. We have recently purchased a new transmitter for our tower. We are one of the longest running locally owned, Kansas City based 100,000 watt radio stations. Other than our Board and Executive Director, our KKFI Programmers want no part of A.I. We will not ever play music created by A.I. We are not artificial. We are people powered and people owned.
10:16 – WMM Plays More New & MidCoastal Releases
- The Freedom Affair – “If You Don’t Want Me”
from: “If You Don’t Want Me” – Single / Sunflower Soul Records / May 15, 2024
[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 , Vocals; Dave Brick on drums; Pete Carroll on trumpet & flugelhorn; Brett Jackson on tenor sax, baritone sax, tambourine; Pat Conway on Congas, Nick Howell on Tamborine. Recorded & Mixed by Chris Hazelton. Mastered by JJ Golden. // The Freedom Affair released the self titled third album, The Freedom Affair on may 9, 2025. The album was #1 on WMMs 120 Best Recordings of 2025. 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 contin-ues 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.]
[The Freedom Affair played Yeehaw, Friday, October 23 at The Uptown hosted by Caleb Hearon and Katie Crutchfield aka Waxahatchee. Kevin Morby played a few songs with The Freedom Affair. The event raised $140,000.00 for KC Tenants]
- Making Movies – “This is a Photograph [feat.Kevin Morby]”
from: “This is a Photograph [feat.Kevin Morby]” / 3/2 Records / August 21, 2026
[Making Movies New Album Una Vida, to be released October 30, 2026. Lead Single “This Is a Photograph (bajo el sol de Panamá)” Features Kevin Morby. The Latin Grammy-nominated band’s first album since 2022’s XOPA arrives Its lead single, a Spanish-language reimagining of Morby’s title track, written in the days after a family funeral. // The release reimagines Morby’s beloved song through a deeply personal, Spanish-language interpretation inspired by family, memory, and Panamá’s cultural legacy, and arrives with a visualizer directed by William J. Stribling. // The Spanish-language reimagining turns Morby’s beloved song toward frontman Enrique Chi’s own family album — memory, inheritance, and the Panamá he was born into. It arrives with a visualizer directed by William J. Stribling, The recording began in the wake of a family loss. As Making Movies leader Enrique Chi reflected on photographs of his family after the funeral of his grandfather, Morby’s song became a constant companion. // “When we buried my grandfather, I sat on his front porch in Santiago, Panamá looking at photos of my family. Kevin’s song ran through my head as songs often do when they are connected to the moment I am experiencing and I started thinking about translating it. I soon realized his boxing metaphor was of the historic fight between Sugar Ray and legendary Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán. It felt meant to be.” // Rather than offering a literal translation, “This Is a Photograph (bajo el sol de Panamá)” transforms the original into something entirely its own. Sung in Spanish and featuring Kevin Morby on guitar and vocals alongside the band, the song widens the original’s themes of memory, identity, and place, binding its emotional core to Enrique Chi’s family. // The accompanying visualizer, shot by William J. Stribling, expands on the song’s reflection on the passage of time – how it can weigh on us and wear us down. Featuring a photo by acclaimed documentary photographer Scout Tufankjian alongside Stribling’s images, the visualizer captures that tension through intimate, cinematic imagery, underscoring a deeper message of resilience: no matter how heavy time can feel, we have to keep fighting through it and persevering. // As Making Movies continues work on new music, with a follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2022 album XOPA, the release of “This Is a Photograph (bajo el sol de Panamá)” offers another glimpse into the band’s enduring commitment to storytelling that transcends borders, languages, and generations. // “This Is a Photograph (bajo el sol de Panamá)” is the first song released from Una Vida, the band’s first album since 2022’s XOPA. The record was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Ben Yonas, whose credits include Mos Def, Ledisi, and Mickey Hart. // Making Movies is the Latin Grammy–nominated group led by Enrique Chi, born in Santiago, Panamá, and raised in the American Midwest, forging a sound guided by tradition, yet unmistakably its own. // The band has been described by Rolling Stone as “an eclectic blend of rumbero percussion, delicate organs, and grungy fuzz,” while NPR calls the project “perhaps one of the most unique groups around today.” // Their sound is anchored in the rich rhythmic traditions of Panamá and delivered with the force of a psychedelic rock show. Chi weaves the mejorana, a traditional hand-made instrument rarely heard outside of Panamá, into each performance. // Making Movies’ is collaborative across genres, working with artists from Rubén Blades to Kevin Morby, and David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) to Hurray for the Riff Raff. Most notably, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) has served as a guiding force for the band, functioning as a spiritual band member, producer, and mentor.]
[Making Movies play The Folly Theater, 300 West 12th St, KCMO on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 8:00pm]
- Geese – “Cobra”
from: Getting Killed / Partisan Records / September 26, 2025
[Getting Killed is the 4th studio album by Geese. It was released by Partisan Records as the full-length follow-up to their 2023 album 3D Country, as well as frontman Cameron Winter’s 2024 solo album Heavy Metal. It was preceded by the singles “Taxes”, “Trinidad” and “100 Horses”. // Getting Killed was produced alongside Kenny Beats. It was recorded over a 10-day period and has been described as “shambolic in structure but passionately performed”, with the band “[balancing] a disarming tenderness with an intensified anger”. The album’s lead single, “Taxes”, was released on July 8, 2025. The song’s music video has been described as containing “a hallucinatory rush of moshing, screaming, and violence that feels akin to an exorcism”. // On June 23, 2025, the band announced a North American headlining tour in support of the album. The tour is scheduled to begin in South Burlington, Vermont on October 10, and conclude in Brooklyn, New York on November 21. // On July 24, Cameron Winter leaked the album’s opening track, “Trinidad”, via a now-removed link shared on his Instagram page. The song was officially released 5 days later, on July 29. // All lyrics are written by Cameron Winter; all music is composed by Winter, Max Bassin, Dominic DiGesu, and Emily Green. // In the summer of 2021, Geese emerged from out of nowhere, sparking a hype cycle unlike anything that had been seen for a young American rock band in recent memory. Suddenly a band that had previously planned to release some music, break up, and go away to college was touring the world. They made their TV debut on Colbert, were profiled by the NY Times, Stereogum Band To Watch, Consequence Artist Of The Month, Paste Best Of What’s Next, Rolling Stone called them “indie rock prodigies,” and they toured with Jack White and Spoon. // And during this entire process, that very same band everyone was getting to know ceased to exist. On a practical level, Geese are still the group we were introduced to in 2021: vocalist Cameron Winter, guitarist Gus Green, guitarist Foster Hudson, bassist Dom DiGesu, and drummer Max Bassin. But on June 23, 2023 Geese returned with their third album, ‘3D Country’ fusing recognizable sounds with warped meditations on daily life in a world sliding out of view, Geese repurposing fragments of classic rock into a sound that is stranger and wholly their own. Right out the gates, the album kicks off with serpentine grooves underneath the armageddon visions of “2122,” before quickly ceding to the title track’s gospel-flecked chorus.“Undoer” is a slowburn simmer constantly building to something apocalyptic; “Crusades” travels back to Medieval times but chugs along on a “Heroes”-esque groove before strings swoop in around it. Later, Green and Hudson’s guitars bend and fry while Hudson also jumps in on vocals for an inhuman wail on “Mysterious Love,” and the whole album ends with the sideways piano elegy of “St. Elmo,” playing out like a saloon song viewed through a funhouse mirror. // More info: www.geeseband.com]
[Geese play The Midland Theater 1228 Main St. KCMO, on Friday, October 30 at 8:00pm][Not to be confused with Goose who play The Midland on Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4.]
10:26 – Underwriting
10:27 – Pledge Break #2 – We Are Inspired and We Are Building Community
WMM On Air / Fall Fund Drive Team: Mara Williams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker
Donating to 90.1 FM KKFI is BUILDING your community.
KKFI is an Inspiration! – 100,000 watts of broadcasting power, 38 years, 24-7, 88 locally produced radio shows, 150 programmers/hosts/producers, and 350 volunteers. KKFI is community centered, representative, self governing, non-commercial, educational, independent, inclusive. The Kansas City Area Community Speaks through our Airwaves.
On May 13, 2026 – WMM recently celebrated 22 years on the radio. – As of this week WMM has done 1171 weeks, equal to 2342 hours of radio, over 18,000 hours of preparation, 3000 interviews, over 3000 guests, and nearly 25,000 songs, from thousands of musical artists. We have made it our mission to mix musical genres, playing with themes, diversity, equality, free speech, connecting artists and venues and listeners and communities. Wednesday MidDay Medley has proudly endeavored to help tell the story of our growing Kansas City area music community, “The Midcoast Sound,” as we like to call it. We have dedicated our WMM programming to New & MidCoastal Releases.
We are inspired by the Fearless Women who created radio on 90.1 FM long before us: our friend April Fletcher who plays bass professionally in Los Angeles, and hosted Mix Well Before Serving on 90.1 in 1988 on KKFI’s first year of broadcast, and two years ago returned after 37 years to host and produce WMM.
We are inspired by our friend Anne Winter, who left us in 2009. Anne helped to build KKFI being one of the very first programmers who recorded their shows in Tom Crane’s basement on reel to reel tape. Anne hosted Kansas City’s first ever Punk Rock Show – Little Orphan Annie. She served on the board. She helped recruit Robert Moore to serve as KKFI’s manager briefly in the mid 1990s. Anne also organized Culture Under Fire a two week festival of live bands, teen poetry, performance art, guest speakers, zine workshops, art exhibitions, community building. Anne reminded us how we’re all connected. Anne also owned and operated Recycled Sounds, an influential record store in Kansas city from 1986 to 2005 at Westport Road and Main Street. The store that gave birth to Sister Anne’s.
At Anne’s funeral we realized that we are connected to hundreds of other people who Anne had touched with her gentle, wise, guidance and had nudged into taking a job, going out on a stage, organizing an event, doing a radio show. We were all connected, she had loved us all and supported us, and some of us made a pact to do just a little bit of what Anne did, if we all did a little we could continue her work to help build our community, that is how we keep Anne alive in our heart.
We are inspired through collaboration, and shining a light, like Abigail Hope Henderson, who we lost in 2013, but not before she ignited a movement to create the Midwest Music Foundation supporting heath care needs and mental health care for the music community. Abigail was a frequent guest on the radio show. She told us that she felt like this was “our” radio show. Inspiring Mark to re-think the entire objective of Wednesday MidDay Medley with the mission to help tell the story of Kansas City’s music “community.”
We are inspired by the diverse , intelligent, motivated, listeners, looking for place on the dial, where they can connect to the stories & music & voice of our community.
Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers.
Together we are building our community. We celebrate 1171 weeks of WMM, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves.
Thanks for listening. www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org
10:36
- Rudy Love & The Encore – “Move Slow”
from: 11 / Midtopia / July 11, 2025
[Rudy Love & The Encore is comprised of Rudy Love Jr. (vocals & keys), Marrque
Nunley (drums), Rachelle Love (percussion), Mariel Jacoda (vocals), Sherdeill (DJ) Breathett (bass), and Willy Simms (guitar). // The band members have played together for most of their lives, and formally introduced the band Rudy Love & The Encore early last year. Rudy Love Jr.’s late father, renowned musician Rudy Love Sr., was a musical mentor to the band members. The band’s name is in honor of Love Sr., based on the idea that this grouping of musicians is Rudy Love Sr.’s legacy — his encore. // In 2023, the band released their debut EP, The Beauty of Burdens, followed quickly by two more singles, “Broken Angel” and “Grey.” They have been busy since the band’s inception, performing and collaborating with Elise Trouw, performing at Black & Loud Fest in Seattle, opening for notable acts like Teddy Swims and The B-52’s, and playing multiple tours across the nation.They traded the hyper-competitive hustle of the Los Angeles show business scene, and are now working together from their hometown of Wichita, Kan. to build a dream they all hold — to make music with people they love, and to share it with the world.][Rudy Love & The Encore played the Mix Master Music Fest, Sept. 19 & Crossroads Music Fest Sept. 6, 2025.]
[Rudy Love & The Encore play the Spirit & Song series at Zhou B Art Center KC, at 1801 East 18th Street KCMO on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Doors at 6:00pm. Performance 7:00pm to 9:00pm.]
- Malek Azrael – “Annoy My Friends (Radio Edit)”
from: “Annoy My Friends” – Single / MAZ.EL RECORDS / October 2, 2026
[On July 17, 2026 Malek Azrael released the single “Annoy My Friends.” On February 27, 2026 Malek released “You”.Malek wrote to me about this new single, saying,”This record means a lot to me. “YOU” lives in that pop/indie pop space with smooth R&B vocals and textures, blending traditional pop sensibility with the singer songwriter honesty I always try to bring. It’s about that unexpected moment of falling in love and choosing to be fully open — even when it feels a little scary. Very warm, very intentional.” // On March 1, 2025 Malek Azrael released the EP, FEELS LIKE. It was part of WMM’s 120 Best recordings of 2025. On February 28, 2025, Malek Azrael released the single “Room 4U”. // On March 1, 2024 Malek Azrael released his single, “in ur mind.” On October 15, 2021 Malek Azrael released his 10-track album “Waves” which first featured members of his live band “The Vibez”. Since then, they have grown their fanbase in KC and surrounding areas through live concerts land appearances at Boulevardia Festival, Ameri’Kana, and the 18th and Vine Gumbo Fest, and shows at RecordBar, The Truman, Grinders, and Knuckleheads and collaborated with larger acts such as Making Movies, The Greeting Committee, and D Smoke debut. Male Azrael lives in KCMO. He has worked for Boys Grow, and Art As Mentorship (Making Movies non-profit organization). He sometimes plays with Making Movies and played the Ameri-Kana Fest. Malek Azrael played KKFI’s 18th Annual Crossroads Music Fest, on Aug. 27, at The Black Box, in West Bottoms. Malek & The Vibez played Boulevardia Festival at Crown Center, on June 16, 2024.]
[Malek Azrael played 22nd Annual Crossroads Music Fest, Sept. 12, 2026]
- Ivory Blue – “Dreams”
from: “Dreams” – Single / IVORY BLUE / October 30, 2026
[Kansas City Singer-Songwriter IVORY BLUE Explores the Mystery of Sleep on New Single “Dreams”. A haunting alt-pop anthem about dreams, grief, and the fight to break through! Independent artist IVORY BLUE returns with a new single that asks a simple, unsettling question: do our dreams follow us into the deep, or do we follow them. What IVORY BLUE says about the song: “Dreams isn’t just a song about sleep. It also talks about the struggle of being an artist and finding your own truth in the mess of trauma built by a turbulent past”. // Ivory Blue released her single “Come On Over Rover” September 25, 2026. Ivory Blue released her single “Feelin’ Like A Star” on July 17, 2026. Ivory Blue released her New 10-song full length album ECHO on May 22, 2026. Her third full length album. IVORY BLUE released the singles: “History” on April 3, 2026.,“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: www.ivorybluemusic.com]
10:46 – Fall Fund Drive Break #3 – So Many Special Guests!
WMM Fall Fund Drive Team: Mara Williams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker
So far this year in 2026 Mark conducted over 100 interviews with 154 guests:
Michelle Bacon, Chris Hudson, Dwight Frizzell, David Basse, D Rashaan Gilmore, Calvin Arsenia, Cera Impala, FlareThaRebel, Shaun Crowley, Sara Swenson, Nathan Reusch, Charlie Burt, Mike Bland, Brad Smith, Mará Rose Williams, Sandra Draper, Betse Ellis, Joelle St. Pierre, Jennie Ferguson, Scott Mize, Matt Kesler, Hank Pendergraft, Diane Scott, Jade Osborne, Dedric Moore, Steve Tulipana, Christena Graves, IVORY BLUE, Dandelion Lakewood, Rosie O’Brien, Sam Wright, Spencer Goertz-Giffen, Braden Young, Brent Kinder, Ed Wallerstein, Ian Byrne, Kian Byrne, Norm Dahlor, A.M. Merker, Colm Chomicky, Jennifer Owen, Brad Cox, Krystle Warren, Michael B. Tipton, Kasey Rausch, Marcus Rattler, Hailes, Scott Moreau, Becky Barta, Taylor Bapp, Lava Dreams, Julie Bennett Hume, Amelia Rose, Alan Wasserman, Janice Wasserman, Jesse Bartmess, Krysztof Nemeth, Ned Stacie, Francois, Peter Pain, Rachel Christia, Vi Tran, Darin Challacombe, Madeline Marak, Lori Buntin, Margaret Cho, Brodie Rush, Cody Calhoun, Liam Sumnich, Nate Hubert, Tim Jenkins, David Brighton, Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, Stephonne, Will Kuenne, Vinnie Cascone, Carlos Nunez, Jonathan Van Ness, Warren Williams, Julia Othmer, James Lundie, Ames King, Noah Bartelt, Katie Schieferecke, Luke Rowe, Miki P, Rachel Lovelace, Brooke Tuley, John Lawrence Johnson, Jamogi, Danny Fischer, Audrey Crabtree, Chris Garibaldi, Scott Free, Nick Carroll, Kimmie Queen, Theresa Scott, Nicki White, Danielle Anderson, Katheryn Krouse, Bowie Krouse, Lee Walter Redding, Angela Ward, James Ward, Joel Kraft, BOSCO, Just Angel, Clarence Copridge, Abe Abaleanie Brown, Matthew Hayden, Stephen Roper, Austin Marks, Al Hawkins, Fritz Hutchison, Derek Trautwein, Amanda Davis, Andrew Woody, Brian Hurtgen, Joseph Peaks, Ken Lovern, Xavier Martin, Maddie Lai, Bill Sundahl, Mike McCoy, Erin Eades, Silver Wesley, Tim Miller, Heather Carver, William Horner, Marilyn Maye, Michelle Shocked, Zachary Van Benthusen, Jane Prewitt Watkins, Patty Prewitt, Cortland Gibson, Elaine (Lainey) Chang, Colin Halliburton, Jesse Kates, Mack McKinney, Kate McCandless, Fanny Mandelberger, T.A. Rell, Gie Santana, Jon Hypocrace Lewis, Eboni Fondren, Alec Nicholas, Shawn Saving, Francis Connor, Darren Defrain, Eddie Moore, Claire Adams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker, Dan Talmadge,
Last year In 2025 Mark conducted interviews with 159 special guests:
Krystle Warren, elska, Michelle Bacon, Mike Dillon, Peregrine Honig, Malek Azrael, Joshua Luke, Izzy Vivas, Julie Bennet Hume, Doug Hitchcock, Diana Watts, Kevin King, Daniel Gum, Chris Garibaldi, Mark Henning, Ross Brown, Miquel Antonio, Daniel Cole, Paul Seiz, Cody Ryan Stapleton, Matt Muckenthaler, Nathan Reusch, Zach Lamun, Les Izmore, Charlie Colborne, Billy Belzer, T.A. Rell, Just Angel, Dylan Pease, Andy Wooden, Betse Ellis, Rachel Christia, Mikal Shapiro, Seth Davis, Evan Verploegh, Shanté Clair, Benjamin Baker, SEYKO, Cole Bales, Cody Calhoun, Noah Cassity, Kole Waters, Alex May, Stephonne, Danielle Anderson, Zach Hodson, Valerie Schurman, Joe Frogge, Fally Afani, Til Willis, Heather Pontonio, Jose Faus, Elizabeth Bettendorf Bowman, Chico Sierra, Zo E., Jaclyn Danger, Simon Huntley, J. Ashley Miller, Grace Broadhead, Jason Turk, Sandra Draper, Enrique Chi, Julia Othmer, James T. Lundie, Alber, Jennie Ferguson, Scott Mize, Matt Kesler, Shaun Crowley, Paul Jesse, Alex Wong, Jen Kiper, David Luther, Sergio Anthony Gonzalez, Jeremiah James Gonzalez, Katlyn Conroy, Chris Catterall, Cheyenne Jackson, Kate McCandless, Moksha Sommer, Jemal Wade Hines, Chris Haghirian, James McGee, Meighan Peifer, Michael McQuary, Joey Arias, Lonnie Fisher, Tara Fisher, Adee Dancy aka Sisterbot, Hadiza., Suzannah Johannes, Keelon Van, Alyssa Murray, Ernest Melton, Mará Williams, J.M. Banks, Beth Watts Nelson, Spencer Thompson, Amanda Davis, Derek Trautwein, Dedric Moore, Rachel Lovelace, Kai McGarry, Alicia McGarry, Sandra Draper, Steve Tulipana, Day Shepherd, Tirzah DeMeire, Keyon Monté, Lee Sampson, Joel Stratton, Jim Hubbell, TheBabeGabe, TyFaison, Mitzi McKee, Don Simon, Morgan Holcomb, Bill Sundahl, Rick Truman, Nick Carswell, Brody Lowe, Fritz Hutchison, Mark Ronning, Iona DeWalt, Nan Turner, Amy Steinberg, Pete Kuhn, Brandon Day, Flare Tha Rebel, Margo May, Jared Bond, Tim York, Rita Hanch, Brock Johnson, Howard Iceberg, Chad Brothers, Julie Bates, Andrew Morris, Bess Wallerstein-Huff, Christopher Ruiz, Wills Nan Doorn, Sondra Freeman, Steddy P, David George, Scotty Sharp, Ben Wendt, Brock Wilbur, Nick Spacek, Gabe Rivera, Sara Swenson, Tommy Capps, Dirk Liebert, Graham Stone, Barry Lee, Chuck Haddix, Judy Mills, and Bill Brownlee.
10:55
- Eldon Painter – “111”
from: Fantasia / Blue Dream Records / September 12, 2026
[Dan Talmadge performs and records under the moniker, Eldon Painter. This Kansas City based musician formerly played in the bands: Minden, Kyle Craft, Soft Reeds, and Capybara. Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when the band Minden moved there as a group. Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music. He returned back to Kansas City at the end of 2020. In 2024 Eldon began work on a new set of songs that would become FANTASIA. The album was recorded in his home in Kansas City and at the Honeymoon Suite in Los Angeles with multi-instrumentalist/producer Riley Geare. Eldon Painter played his first show at the recordBar in 2025. More info at: www.eldonpainter.bandcamp.com] [Check out on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/2bMIz5pqwB4%5D
[Eldon Painter plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm with Hoaxes, and Scammers.]
10:59 – Station ID
10:59 – Interview with Dan Talmadge aka Eldon Painter
Dan Talmadge performs and records under the moniker, Eldon Painter. And he joins us LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studio to talk about Eldon Painter’s new debut album is called FANTASIA, that was released on September 12, 2026 on Blue Dream Records (Eldon’s label). This Kansas City based musician formerly played in the bands: Minden, Kyle Craft, Soft Reeds, and Capybara. Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when the band Minden moved there as a group. Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music. He returned back to Kansas City at the end of 2020. In 2024 Eldon began work on a new set of songs that would become FANTASIA. The album was recorded in his home in Kansas City and at the Honeymoon Suite in Los Angeles with multi-instrumentalist/producer Riley Geare. Eldon Painter played his first show at the recordBar in 2025.
Eldon Painter plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm with Hoaxes, and Scammers. More info at: www.eldonpainter.bandcamp.com
Eldon Painter thanks for being with us onWednesday MidDay Medley
Dan Talmadge performs and records under the moniker, Eldon Painter.
Eldon Painter’s new debut album is called FANTASIA, that was released on September 12, 2026 on Blue Dream Records (Eldon’s label).
This Kansas City based musician formerly played in the bands: Minden, Kyle Craft, Soft Reeds, and Capybara.
Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when Minden moved there as a group.
Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music.
Eldon Painter plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm with Hoaxes, and Scammers. More info at: www.eldonpainter.bandcamp.com
Eldon Painter thanks for being with us onWednesday MidDay Medley
11:08 – Eldon Painter
- Eldon Painter – “Badu T-Shirt”
from: Fantasia / Blue Dream Records / September 12, 2026
[Dan Talmadge performs and records under the moniker, Eldon Painter. This Kansas City based musician formerly played in the bands: Minden, Kyle Craft, Soft Reeds, and Capybara. Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when the band Minden moved there as a group. Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music. He returned back to Kansas City at the end of 2020. In 2024 Eldon began work on a new set of songs that would become FANTASIA. The album was recorded in his home in Kansas City and at the Honeymoon Suite in Los Angeles with multi-instrumentalist/producer Riley Geare. Eldon Painter played his first show at the recordBar in 2025. More info at: www.eldonpainter.bandcamp.com]
[Eldon Painter plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm with Hoaxes, and Scammers.]
11:11 – Fund Drive Break #4 – New Music Discovery
WMM Fall Fund Drive Team: Mara Williams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker
Timothy Finn in KC Star named WMM “The Best Place to Hear Local Music on the Radio.” and the Best Place to hear area musicians talk about their music.
Wednesday MidDay Medley was the first radio show to ever play the recordings of:
Calvin Arsenia, Stephonne, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Krystle Warren, The Black Creatures, The Shy Boys, The ACB’s, Miss Boating, Rev Gusto, Mommas Boy, The Salvation Choir, The Creepy Jingles, Marmoppes, Ivory Blue, Miki P., Kai McGarry, Rude Cousin. We were the first to interview these artists live on the radio and bring their music to a wider audience.
Music – We play more area musicians, new releases, and tell their stories
In 2026 we have had Live Performances from: Calvin Arsenia, IVORY BLUE, Erin Eades, Dandelion Lakewood, Gullywasher, Rosie O’Brien & Taylor Bapp, Lee Walter Redding, Just Angel & Clarence Copridge, oldnothing, Maddie Lai, Mike McCoy, Just Angel, & T.A. Rell,
In 2025 there were over 1675 MidCoastal (KC area) releases in Albums, EPs, & Singles...(that we know of).
In 2026 – So Far – there have been 831 MidCoastal (KC area) releases in Albums, EPs, & Singles...(that we know of).
On WMM we culled these releases for our special mix of New & MidCoastal releases.
In 2025 we’ve broadcast nearly 900 different tracks on WMM over our 100,000 watts of 90.1 FM Community Radio Airwaves.
Since 2009 WMM has presented our End-of-Year Specials: The 120 Best Recording of the Years, a 4-part, 4 week series. All of our Best of Lists and all of our weekly playlists are available at: Our “Best of Lists” can be found at: www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org
WMM has presented new formats in radio, with our “A Story In A Song” series, our shows featuring: Apocalypse Meow, Juneteenth, Power to The People Fest, Crossroads Music Fest, Folk Alliance International, Manor Fest, The Outer Reaches Festival, Boulevardia. KC Fringe Festival, Waldo Folk Series, Shuttlecock Music, The Folly Theatre, Owen Cox Dance Group, Bach Aria Soloists, KC Pride, our annual tribute shows to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., David Bowie, Iris Dement, Pioneers of Punk, LGBTQIA Themes, Black Lives Matter and interviews with Lily Tomlin, Laurie Anderson, Tommy Ramone, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Joey Arias, Marilyn Maye, Cheyenne Jackson, Margaret Cho, Iris Dement, Greg Brown, Scott McCaughey, Michelle Shocked, Ubaka Hill, Flamy Grant, Members of Fanny, Regina Spektor, Regina Carter, Jonathan Van Ness, Tim Miller, Cris Williamson, Nick Cave, Holly Near, Sam Harris, our annual 4-week special: WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of the Year.
WMM has been inspired by the KC music community. The KC music community is fueled by a collaborative & generous heart that is beating in the artists we’ve met doing this show.
11:19 – Underwriting
11:20 – More Interview with Dan Talmadge / Eldon Painter
Dan Talmadge performs and records under the moniker, Eldon Painter. And he joins us LIVE in our 90.1 FM Studio to talk about Eldon Painter’s new debut album is called FANTASIA, that was released on September 12, 2026 on Blue Dream Records (Eldon’s label). This Kansas City based musician formerly played in the bands: Minden, Kyle Craft, Soft Reeds, and Capybara. Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when the band Minden moved there as a group. Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music. He returned back to Kansas City at the end of 2020. In 2024 Eldon began work on a new set of songs that would become FANTASIA. The album was recorded in his home in Kansas City and at the Honeymoon Suite in Los Angeles with multi-instrumentalist/producer Riley Geare. Eldon Painter played his first show at the recordBar in 2025.
Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when Minden moved there as a group.
Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music.
He returned back to Kansas City at the end of 2020.
In 2024 Eldon began work on a new set of songs that would become FANTASIA.
The album was recorded in his home in Kansas City and at the Honeymoon Suite in Los Angeles with multi-instrumentalist/producer Riley Geare.
Eldon Painter played his first show at the recordBar in 2025.
Eldon Painter thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley
Eldon Painter plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm with Hoaxes, and Scammers.
More info at: www.eldonpainter.bandcamp.com
11:28 – Eldon Painter
- Eldon Painter – “Fantasia”
from: Fantasia / Blue Dream Records / September 12, 2026
[Dan Talmadge performs and records under the moniker, Eldon Painter. This Kansas City based musician formerly played in the bands: Minden, Kyle Craft, Soft Reeds, and Capybara. Eldon relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2012 when the band Minden moved there as a group. Eldon was there through 2020 doing all things music. He returned back to Kansas City at the end of 2020. In 2024 Eldon began work on a new set of songs that would become FANTASIA. The album was recorded in his home in Kansas City and at the Honeymoon Suite in Los Angeles with multi-instrumentalist/producer Riley Geare. Eldon Painter played his first show at the recordBar in 2025. More info at: www.eldonpainter.bandcamp.com]
[Eldon Painter plays miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO, on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm with Hoaxes, and Scammers.]
11:32 – Fund Drive Break #5 – Themes, Events, Venues
WMM on-Air / Fall Fund Drive Team: Mara Williams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker
Wednesday MidDay Medley offers incredible mix of: Themes, Events, Bands, Venues
Featured on Wednesday MidDay Medley: MLK Tribute, Iris Dement Tribute, David Bowie Tribute, The Band That Fell To Earth KC, Folk Alliance International in New Orleans, New Protest Songs, Grammy Winners, Manor Records Foundation, Greenwood Social Hall, The Uptown Theater, Enigmatic Brunch Records, She Said, Kansas City Synthesizer Collective, The Record Machine, Black History with 20+ Black Artists & Bands from KC, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City Community Collage, Outer Reaches Fest, Artist INC, Artists Thrive, Kosmic City, The RINO, Sass-a-Brass Band, The Elders, Owen Cox Dance Collective, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Quality Hill Playhouse, BCR celebrates 50 Years!, Lawrence Pride, WOMEN OF THE REBELLION, recordBar, Heartland Song Network, Missouri Arts Council, Vine Street Brewing, NED’s Friend-Hole Cabaret LIVE, The Warwick Theater, REVISER, The Emerald, Manor Fest 8, All That Class and Jazz, KC Folk Fest, Kansas City Artists Coalition, An Evening of Pink Floyd, The Folly Theater, David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, Say That Again, Sound Mandala, The Forcefields, The Unicorn Theatre, Sara Bellum and the Brainwaves, The Swallowtails, Shuttlecock Music, PERSPECTIVES at Lavender Studio, miniBar, Replay Lounge, Lemonade Park, The Ship, Equal Minded Cafe, KC Fringe Fest, Bird Comedy Theater, Whim Space, Lotuspool Records, The Suneaters, Pamper The Madman, The Philistines, The Musical Universe of Rev. Dwight Frizzell, AMERI’KANA Music & Arts Festival, Magic of Grandmas, Comprehensive Arts Institute, The Blue Room, The Morton Amphitheater, The Brick, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Flew the Coop Fest, Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore, BlaqOut KC, Light Up the Lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary for Art, Waldo Folk, Zhou B Art Center – Zhou Spirit and Song, Rural Grit Happy Hour, Oddly Correct Block Party, Hotel Leo, Knuckleheads, Molly Picture Club, Found A Job, Tribute to Dolly Parton, Hillsider’s, The Creepy Jingles, True Lions, Charlotte Street, The Spooky Shxt Show, YesWay Live, John William “Blind” Boone, The Boone Theater, encode, 22nd Annual Crossroads Music Fest, 30 Annual Kansas City Film Fest, Spike Hellis, Tribute to Mama Bear – Ruth Whitlock Ward, 9th annual Apocalypse Meow, The Roseline, She Speaks in Tongues, The Sexy Accident, No Choice but Action: Kansas Postpunk 1978-1994, Black Site Records, Truck Stop Love, Ned’s Fright-Hole Cabaret,
For 22 years we’ve shined a light on artists, music labels, recording studios, & venues.
11:40 – WMM Celebrates New & MidCoastal Releases
- The War and Treaty – “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore”
from: The Story of Michael and Tanya / Atlantic / June 19, 2026
[This is the 6th album from this amazing duo. We first met The War and Treaty right before their Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference on Friday, February 16, 2018. We first played them on February 7, 2018. The War and Treaty released their full length debut album, “Healing Tide” on August 10, 2018. Michael Trotter Jr & Tanya Blount-Trotter are from Albion, Michigan. For Michael Trotter Jr., the journey began in 2004, when he arrived in Iraq, an untested soldier stricken by fear and self-doubt. His captain made it his personal mission to see to Trotter’s survival. The unit was encamped in one of Saddam Hussein’s private palaces, and in a forgotten corner in its basement, they found a black upright piano that once belonged to the dictator himself. When Trotter shared the fact he could sing, he was encouraged to teach himself to play piano on that confiscated keyboard. “I wrote my first song after that captain was killed,” Trotter recalls. “I sang it for his memorial in Iraq.” Soon after it became his mission to sing at the memorial services for those that had fallen. For the next three years, he sang songs that brought solace and comfort to the members of his unit. His efforts eventually garnered wider recognition as well. He came in first place in “Military Idol,” the army’s version of “American Idol,” during a competition held in Baumholder, Germany. Following his discharge, he was featured on the Hope Channel program “My Story, My Song.” Then he met Tanya Blount. Blount’s musically influences include Mahalia Jackson, Sister Odette and Aretha Franklin. The two fell in love, got married and used the experiences they had gained to create a new musical collaboration. The couple then secured the services of musicians whose skills add a distinctive sound to The War and Treaty’s blend of roots music, blue grass, folk, gospel and soul. Their 2017 EP Down to the River was released July 21, 2017. Recorded in Albion, Michigan, Down to the River boasts a sound that’s both stirring and sensual, driven by joy, determination and an unceasing upward gaze. The music is visceral but never morose, flush with emotion but void of despair… a style that touches on a variety of genres, but never finds itself confined to anyone. The arrangements are uncluttered– harmonies, basslines, guitar and mandolin licks, settle drum patterns and keyboards create an immensely moving soundscape — but the sentiments and emotions are fully realized and soar with a steady, chilling assurance. “The recording process wasn’t like anything I ever experienced,” Tanya recalls. “This EP has allowed me to breathe musically. I feel like all I have wanted to express for the past ten years has come forth with what we’ve done. The combination of heart, soul and the overwhelming amount of love that Michael and I have for one another comes across in this record.“ “I was sitting on the banks of the Euphrates River in Baghdad dreaming about one day being able to play and sing professionally for people all around the world,” Michael reflects. “As we recorded our music, I constantly had flashbacks of those desert dreams. I thought to myself that this is actually the perfect ending to usher in a new beginning in my life.” ]
[The War and Treaty return to play Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester st. KCMO on Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30pm with Blank Page and Jordan Babbs.]
- Hannah Jadagu – “Describe”
from: DESCRIBE / Sub Pop Records / October 4, 2025
[On Describe, Hannah Jadagu learns the hard way that distance is relative. After 2023 debut album Aperture garnered glowing praise from outlets like The New York Times and NPR, Jadagu’s promising career took her away from her blossoming relationship in New York. “I was feeling love and gratitude, but also guilt about being away for my job,” she recalled. “Being a musician requires sacrificing time–And one thing about me, I’m a quality time girlie.” Her expansive second album sees her grappling with that separation, finding connections that extend beyond the physical and strengthening her own voice in the process. Describe reverberates with that tension, between wanting connection and craving space. Its lyrics, as on her debut, ache with an emotional specificity that can only be pulled from lived experience. // But that distance also pushed Jadagu to explore new dimensions of her sound. “I’m super into artists that are able to mix analog with modern,” she said, and moving to California for the summer gave her the opportunity to meet new collaborators and experiment with analog synthesizers and drum machines. And while the warm hum of her guitar was her primary instrument for Aperture, she began to feel that her muscle memory of the instrument was holding her back. “It was freeing to be able to sit at a synth and drone on one note while I explored my vocals,” she said. ”I found that to be a bit more freeing than playing on a guitar.” Working with her co-producer Sora at his studio in Altadena and remotely on a few songs with Aperture co-producer and collaborator Max Baby out of Paris, Jadagu carved out a sound on Describe that is both distinctively hers and a total departure from the distorted guitar melodies of her debut. // Fresh out of high school, Hannah Jadagu released her debut EP, What Is Going On?, a collection of intimate bedroom pop tracks recorded entirely on an iPhone 7, which was, at the time, Jadagu’s most accessible mode of production. An off-the-cuff approach to music making and instinctive ability to write unforgettable hooks belied the intensity of Jadagu’s subject matter. In a short run time, What Is Going On? confronts some of the nation’s most urgent struggles all through Jadagu’s compassionate perspective. “I want my songs to be both super intimate and still universally relatable,” Jadagu says. “With the EP, so many people told me that the songs resonated with them on a personal level, and that’s what I’m always hoping for.” // Resonate it did; What Is Going On? was Jadagu’s first Sub Pop release, but she’d been putting out music on SoundCloud for years, garnering a small online fanbase as she settled into an aesthetic, and recognition from a broader audience was overdue. “It really took off when I became a percussionist in my middle school’s band,” she says. “Writing songs started as a hobby and quickly became a passion to the point that I spent all my free time recording.” // On May 19th, 2023 Jadagu premiered Aperture, her first LP and most ambitious work to date. Aperture was part of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2023. Written in the years between graduating from high school in Mesquite, TX and her sophomore year of college in New York, Aperture finds Jadagu in a state of transition. “Where I grew up, everyone is Christian; even if you don’t go to church, you’re still practicing in some form,” Jadagu says, laughing. “Moving out of my small hometown has made me reflect on how embedded Christianity is in the culture down there, and though I’ve been questioning my relationship to the church since high school, it’s definitely a theme on this album, but so is family.” // As a kid, Jadagu followed her older sister – a major source of inspiration who she refers to as “the blueprint” – to a local children’s chorus, where she received choral training. “I hated it,” Jadagu admits. “But it taught me how to harmonize, how to discover my tone, how to recognize and write melody.” The aching single “Admit It” is dedicated to Jadagu’s sister, whose boundless love and impeccable taste has been a constant for Jadagu ever since she was a kid. At home, the siblings were raised on mom’s Young Money mixtapes and the Black Eyed Peas (to whom she credits her love of vocoder) but it was in the sanctity of her sister’s car that Jadagu discovered indie artists who would go on to inspire her work. // Hannah Jadagu played the Bottleneck in Lawrence Kansas on Friday, September 29, 2023]
[Hannah Jadagu plays T-Mobile Center, 1407 Grand Blvd. KCMO on Saturday, October 31 with SOMBR, and Last Dinner Party.]
11:48 – Pledge Break #6 – DIVERSITY
WMM On-Air / Fall Fund Drive Team: Mará Williams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker
KKFI Offers Incredible Diversity – With shows locally produced about Native People, LGBTQIA People, Women, Working People, Black People, Ecological People, People in Prison, Stories of Middle Eastern and Latinx, KC Tenants, Understanding Israel Palestine, Economics For The People, Local elected leaders, Creatives, Artists, Poets, Musicians, Teachers, Theatre People, Dancers, Writers, Environmentalists, Historians, Activists, Survivors, KKFI’s News, Public Affairs, Arts & Culture programs go the distance with every show to represent and report of what is going on in our world here in Kansas City and the surrounding metro in our 80 mile radius of signal, and even farther on line digitally.
KKFI offers music shows produced by steadfast representatives from the diverse Music Community of Kansas City: Jazz shows 7 days a week hosted by professional Jazz Musicians; Reggae Shows throughout the week hosted by Reggae Royalty, Folk and Americana shows all week long hosted by folk musicians with decades of performances; Blues shows hosted by women & men who dearly love and live in KC’s enduring and nationally recognized blues community. Music shows that celebrate Independent, Local, Alternative, Soul and R&B, Punk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Vinyl Only, Glam Rock, New Wave, Rockabilly, Tejano, Classical, K-Pop, LIVE!, Gospel, New!, World, Experimental, Old-Timey, House, Country, Heavy Metal, and so much more. Every show is produced, engineered and hosted by a real live person on the other end of the telephone.
90.1 FM is a miracle in broadcasting because hundreds of volunteers and active members keep it alive with their passion for the possibilities of radio, our most accessible media, available online, but also over the airwaves from our 100,000 watt tower that we own as a station and non-profit membership based organization.
Now, more than ever, Independent, Community Media is important for our world. We are here to listen to you, to share your concerns, and offer resources and information. Along with our National Public Affairs shows like Democracy Now and Alternative Radio we offer more locally produced public affairs programs than anywhere else on the dial.
We offer programs for Women, the LGBTQIA Community, Native Americans, Black Public Affairs, Labor & Worker’s Unions, Middle Eastern Music & Information, Latino Programming, prison & justice system, environmental programming, Visual & Performing Arts, KC Tenants, Economics for the People, Understanding Israel Palestine.
At KKFI there is no automated robot playing the same 40 songs in a “rotation,” based on a formula, created by a singular programmer of the robot. KKFI is the opposite of a robot.
There is almost always a human on the end of the phone line when you call 816-931-KKFI.
90.1 offers 100 different radio programs. 88 of these programs are locally, produced, hosted, engineered and written by over 150 different people, who create content, and personally handcraft each show, each week. There are 64 local music shows and 24 locally produced News, Public Affairs, Arts & Talk shows.
There are 140 hours each week of locally produced handcrafted programs.
You will not find this kind of representative diversity anywhere else on your radio dial. Or from any singular source on your computer. It is very special. It needs to be nourished and kept alive in a world of corporate, nationally owned, commercial or religious broadcasting.
Not only do we bring the most diverse and unfiltered news and information, but our play-lists are deep and comprehensive. In one week you can hear 2000 different songs played, in Blues, Jazz, Folk, Hip Hop, Reggae, Classical, Soul, World, Americana, Gospel, Southern Soul, Rock, New Wave, Electronic, Native, Local, Old Timey, Rockabilly, & Experimental.
With all of this, you hear the voices from the hundreds of KKFI volunteers, and thousands of guests from the community, who share their stories, broadcast live from our non-commercial, midtown studios, at 39th & Main, in the center of our metro, across two states, a collective of communities, and thousands of listeners. What is this worth to you?
You are helping to build our community.
For Mará Williams, Malek Azrael, Yvette Walker, and Dan Talmadge I’m Mark Manning. Thanks for listening! Thank you to everyone for donating!
- Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
rom: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]
NEXT WEEK, on November 4, filmmaker John McCrite discusses his new documentary “Still Here” about the legendary KC Drag Queen Melinda Ryder. We’ll also talk with Seth Davis a music scholar and instrumentalist and co-founder of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society abut his new album. AND Sondra Freeman returns to talk about The 19th annual Apocalypse Meow on Saturday, November 7, Doors at 6:00pm, Show at 7:00pm, at recordBar, featuring live music from: ROMAN NUMERALS, JAMOGI & THE JAMMERS, PHAZE II, and STUBBLEFIELD. Apocalypse Meow is MMF’s main fund-raiser for Abby’s Fund For Musicians’ Health Care, providing local musicians and music workers with essential health care resources. In addition the RockDocs will be on site to offer flu shots and COVID boosters provided by the KC Indian Center, as well as discuss screenings, wellness programs, health conditions and concerns, and arrange follow-ups. Also live raffles t of items donated by local businesses at AM19, and an online auction. www.midwestmusicfound.org
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 Fall Fund Drive during WMM we had a total of 39 people donate a total of $4703.50!!! 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.instagram.com/wednesday_midday_medley
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
https://www.soundcloud.com/wednesdaymiddaymedley
http://www.bandcamp.com/wednesdaymiddaymedley
On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org
Show #1171
