Kemper Countdown

Kemper Arena may soon collapse for good. I'll always remember it as the one-time home of the Kings. Before the NBA became popular, my dad regularly scored courtside seats. Seeing players like George Gervin and Darryl Dawkins up close had a huge impact on my world view. It wasn't much of a music venue, but I saw dozens of concerts at the old barn. Here are my ten favorite music experiences at Kemper Arena:

1. Marvin Gaye- I saw more women's underwear on the night of June 26, 1983, than I've seen in the subsequent 28 years.
2. The Who- Alas, after the death of Keith Moon.
3. Bruce Springsteen- I first saw him at Kemper in 1981, but I preferred the 2002 tour in support of The Rising.
4. Prince- What a freak!
5. Tool- The first time is always the best.
6. Christina Aguilera- The girl put on a show.
7. T.I.- I love being in the midst of thousands of people who are losing their collective sh*t.
8. Bob Seger- It seems improbable now, but he was once a superstar.
9. Dixie Chicks- They threw it all away.
10. Bob Dylan- He was monumentally awful.

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I don't care what you think- I like Coldplay. Even so, the video for "Paradise" isn't nearly as good as the opening theme of the The Banana Splits.

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While I'm still on the fence about Terri Lyne Carrington's new album, this video of a live performance is excellent.

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I'll spend much of next week studying Danny Brown's new project.

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"Hornets! Hornets!" Please sing along for me tonight at The Midland.

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Kansas City Click: Here are my official picks.

(Original image of 8th row ticket (!) by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: John Tavener's Lament For Jerusalem at Village Presbyterian Church

A blurb on the cover of the program for Sunday's performance of the 2003 composition Lament For Jerusalem: A Mystical Love Song suggests that the concert was the "Mid-west" [sic] premier [sic] of a new choral/orchestra work by John Tavener".

Awkward and misleading wording aside, it's surprising that Tavener's work had yet to be performed in Kansas City. The composition's accessibility and extreme political correctness make it a natural fit for the region's kind sensibility. Perhaps logistics have been the barrier. A massive ensemble- 68 voices in the choir, 25 musicians in the orchestra, countertenor Jay Carter (a revelation) and soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson performed the piece at Village Presbyterian Church.

Lament For Jerusalem's primary theme was repeated several times while the choir's contribution occasionally resembled a less ominous version of "O Fortuna". Based on Judaic, Christian and Islamic texts, the epic piece examines the ongoing battle to control Jerusalem. I sat near the front of the chapel so I don't have a sense of the how the audience of about 400 responded to the piece. I enjoyed it enough to add Naxos' version to my next Amazon order.

The same ensemble will reprise the composition at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 30, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Redemptorist Catholic Church. Recommended.


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I reviewed Joe Lovano and Us 5's appearance at the Gem Theater.

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I went to the wrong shows Saturday. I'll forever regret failing to attend Vincente Fernandez's concert at Sprint Center.

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Bassist Ben Williams is featured in one of NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts."

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Edmundo Ros has died. (Tip via BGO.)

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The best new Peter Gabriel album isn't by Peter Gabriel. Old-school fans of Melt will be astonished by M83.

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Kansas City Click: Helmet- yes, that Helmet- play the Riot Room on Tuesday.

Cavalera Conspiracy (don't click on the link) visit the Midland on Wednesday.

The Hold Steady finally makes its Kansas City debut Thursday at the Midland Theater.

(Original image of cringe-worthy car bumper by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: An Evening With Virgil T. at Helzberg Hall

The seven dollars I invested in an "obstructed view" ticket to Thursday's Homecoming: An Evening with Virgil T. concert at Helzberg Hall might be the best money I've spent all year.

Although Virgil Thomson is Kansas City's best known classical composer, I'm only familiar with his score for The River. A learned gentleman of my acquaintance repeatedly referred to the event as a tribute to Aaron Copland. Thomson has become a stranger in his own home town. That's one reason the event was significant. The other was the inspired collection of local musicians assembled by Nathan Granner.

Here are a few of my favorite moments:

*Mezzo-soprano Elaine Fox's vocals on William Blake's The Tiger! were enthralling.

*Two selections from the opera Four Saints in Three Acts floored me. I'm deeply embarrassed by my ignorance of this work.

*Given my predilections, it's not surprising that The People's Liberation Big Band's rendition of Overture: The Mother of Us All was my favorite piece of the night.

*Shay Estes, an occasional PLBB collaborator, startled me during an appearance by The Monocle. She just keeps getting better.

*An unaccompanied solo accordion piece by Kyle Dalquist amazed me.

*The concert was filmed for use in a public television documentary about Thomson. Watching annoyed patrons in the good seats shield their eyes from the glare of camera lights amused me.

About that obstructed view seat: The piano sounded as if it was coming from the Kauffman Center's lobby. Much of the commentary by Crosby Kemper III and Dr. Andrew Granade was impossible to make out. I would have liked to have heard what Kemper said about a composition titled "Cynthia Kemper: A Fanfare," but his remarks were inaudible.

Full when the concert began, about ninety percent of the people in my section didn't return after intermission. About a quarter of the entire audience of approximately 1,200 departed at the same time.

I sat in prime seats during my three previous visits to Helzberg Hall. The sound was perfect. I can now confirm the discontented grumbling I've heard from friends and associates- until corrections are made, the oft-repeated notion that there's no such thing as a bad seat in Helzberg Hall is a fallacy.

Even so, I would have paid ten times more for the remarkable experience I enjoyed Thursday.


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I can no longer deny the genius of Tune-Yards.

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You can have Mayer Hawthorne and Raphael Saadiq. I choose Jose James.

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Here's ECM's audio player for Stefano Battaglia Trio's The River of Anyder. This represents my happy place.

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Spotify tech question- how do I view all available albums by an artist or composer?

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Sports fans need to hear Billy Bob Thornton's finest moment (not kidding) before the conclusion of the World Series.

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Blues pianist Earl Gilliam has died.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks of the week are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Kindred the Family Soul- Love Has No Recession

Kindred the Family Soul- "Sticking With You" video stream

I derive more pleasure from Rihanna's pop songs than a teenager. I freely whip my hair back and forth. Yet I reluctantly acknowledge my status as an adult. That's why I embrace Kindred the Family Soul. Love Has No Recession, the new album by the husband-and-wife duo, is music for grownups. Its songs address real-life relationship issues in the context of today's economic climate. Anyone who's still lamenting the loss of Nick Ashford needs this album in her or her life.


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I'm a sucker for bluegrass-meets-jazz and bluegrass-meets-classical collaborations. I'm charmed, consequently, by the Goat Herd Sessions.

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Pete Rugolo has died. (Tip via BGO.)

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I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I really enjoy the new Pearl Jam album.

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"Still Tippin'": Have you seen this slice of insanity from ASAP Rocky?

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Kansas City Click: Milagres plays the Riot Room on Tuesday.

Kim Richey sings at the Record Bar on Wednesday.

Mayer Hawthorne is on Thursday bill at the Midland Theater. I love the concept of this video.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Bert Jansch, 1943-2011

My first exposure to Bert Jansch was his 1990 album Sketches. My coworker, the late Dan Conn, played it when a promotional copy crossed his desk. The third track, "Poison", floored me. I've been captivated by the Scotsman's music ever since.

Jansch died last week. Rather than immersing myself in Jansch's music, I've been listening to living artists of the same ilk. It's a gross oversimplification, but Jansch was like a quieter Richard Thompson, a more muscular Nick Drake or a Scottish version of Chris Smither. I've also returned to the music of June Tabor and Roy Harper. This recent Harper appearance on BBC Breakfast is totes-awk.

A reader asked for an album recommendation. Pentangle was a bit too precious for me, so I'll suggest he start by checking out the traditional "Blackwater Slide" . If he likes what hears, I'd recommend beginning with Rosemary Lane.


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I spent over twelve hours at Rhythm & Ribs on Saturday. Here's my synopsis.

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I reviewed Laurie Anderson's performance at Helzberg Hall.

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Cosign.

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Charles Tolliver is still alive? Why is his genius being so roundly ignored?

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Unless you intend to spend $25 on the entire Fire In My Bones compilation of raw gospel, I discourage you from grabbing the three free MP3s at the link. You'll immediately discover that you need the entire set.

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Skateboarder Sean Malto is featured in Dutch Newman's lastest video. (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

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All I want for Christmas is a Fania box set.

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Ha ha!

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Oh, Mac Lethal! What are we going to do with you?

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Watch thirty wonderful minutes of Rev. John Wilkins here.

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Pop pianist Roger Williams has died.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks for the week are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Opeth at the Beaumont Club

Words a headbanger never hopes to hear: "Here's some Swedish folk music for you."

Mikael Åkerfeldt, the mastermind behind Opeth, intentionally baited an audience of almost 1,000 Thursday at the Beaumont Club.

Most members of the audience were in the mood for this. They heard something a lot like this instead. Åkerfeldt has abandoned death metal. The Opeth of 2011 sounds more like Tony Williams' Lifetime and King Crimson than Iron Maiden and Pantera. The new album Heritage is a refreshing blast of prog-rock and jazz fusion.

I love Opeth's new sound, but the band was subjected to jeers and heckling throughout its set. (The vibe was akin to the atmosphere captured on this fan footage from a show last month in Ohio. And to be fair, I'd be angry too if I'd unknowingly paid $30 for a bait-and-switch.) Frustrated denizens of the mosh pit resorted to slamming into one another during acoustic jams. Åkerfeldt seemed to feed off the negativity. A bit of a condescending fop, Åkerfeldt gave as good as he got.

It was possibly the weirdest show I've seen this year.


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My friends at KDHX asked me to link to their Live at KDHX, Volume 9 premium for the stations' current fund drive. The compilation features There Stands the Glass favorites Ozomatli, Bettie Serveert and Ray Wylie Hubbard.

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Teisha June Helgerson of Amelia has died. The band was featured at There Stands the Glass in 2008.

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I wonder if Tom Petty thinks about Dwight Twilley these days. Twilley's new album came out this week.

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Rdio is free-ish again. Here's my account if you care to follow me.

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Kansas City Click: Sir Threadius Mongus perform Friday at La Esquina.

"Cry Cry Cry" is probably my favorite Bobby "Blue" Bland song. The legend is on the bill of Saturday's Rhythm & Ribs festival.

Laurie Anderson visits Helzberg Hall on Sunday.

Jazzbo appears every Monday at Jazz in midtown.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Sir Michael Rocks- Premier Politics

Sir Michael Rocks- "Cell Dope" (video at YouTube)

When I heard an abominable track on terrestrial radio over the weekend I immediately assumed it was a demo by a local artist. Wrong! The hideous song turned out to be the new J. Cole hit. When quality control at the highest level is so suspect, it's completely understandable that Sir Michael Rocks of The Cool Kids feels compelled to release a free mix tape that flirts with the hip hop mainstream. Raves from nerds like me only gets an acclaimed underground hip hop act like The Cool Kids so far. If J. Cole can be star, then who am I to complain when Sir Michael Rocks sells out?

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Go ahead and call me a Wynton Marsalis apologist. Here's my review of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's concert Saturday at Helzberg Hall.

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I'm on a George Russell jag.

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I muse about the challenges inherent in watching other people listen to music.

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I wish most media outlets understood that there's a big difference between Hank Williams and Bocephus.

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Tony Ladesich made a nice video for punk-metal band Faster Than Hell.

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I dig the EPK for Christian McBride's new big band album.

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Kansas City Click: New Jazz Order perform at 1911 Main on Tuesday.

The Record Bar hosts Wild Flag on Wednesday.

I'm obsessed with Opeth's new album. The death metal/European folk band appears at the Beaumont Club on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)