Seen But Not Heard: Celebration at the Station 2013

I've never hesitated to share my affection for Celebration at the Station. The Kansas City Symphony's concert on Memorial Day weekend is one of my favorite annual events. As the embedded video from my perch near the back of the throng indicates, Celebration at the Station is becoming a victim of its own success. If you listen carefully, you might be able to make out guest artist Oleta Adams singing "Get Here" underneath the murmur of the crowd. The sound emitted by two supplemental speakers hoisted in the air by cranes isn't sufficient. I'm not complaining- the event is free and anyone who wants to appreciate the performance can either arrive early or jockey for position near the stage.

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I reviewed Cheap Trick's concert Saturday at Harrah's Casino.

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Henri Dutilleux died last week. The composer was 97.

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Drummer Ed Shaughnessy has died.

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Flamenco guitarist Niño Miguel has died. (Via Beau Bledsoe.)

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"I'm a hero in my hometown, baby!" The video for Action Bronson's "Strictly 4 My Jeeps" has to be seen to be believed.

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I almost made it to Soundset this year.

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Quartette Humaine, the new release by the acoustic quartet of Bob James, David Sanborn, James Genus and Steve Gadd, is an excellent throwback album in the vein of the Heath Brothers and Grover Washington, Jr.

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After I check out the latest album by The-Dream, I'll investigate this week's new releases by Baths, Terence Blanchard, Blood Ceremony, Tamar Braxton, Eliane Elias, John Fogerty, Hot Club of Cowtown, Kylesa, Laura Marling and Tricky.

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Kansas City Click: Chelsea Crowell performs Tuesday at Knuckleheads.

The RecordBar hosts the Detroit Cobras on Wednesday.

Malachy Papers return to the Brick on Thursday. (Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

(Original cinematography by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Toro Y Moi- Anything In Return

Although I've only published a handful of posts at There Stands the Glass since New Year's Day, I've already offered abundant praise of hip hop, EDM, opera, gospel, R&B, reggae, folk, jazz, blues, punk and indie rock artists.  Is there anything I don't like? 

I have, in fact, encountered a new album that encapsulates many of the things I abhor in popular music.   The fashionable aural wallpaper of Toro Y Moi's Anything In Return serves as a case study of my dislikes.  The frothy album is emotionally vacant and deliberately devoid of grit and soul.  By my standards, Toro Y Moi makes music for people who don't like music.

Incredibly, many of my friends love Anything In Return.  That's fine.  The pleasure they take in the music of Toro Y Moi doesn't bother me.  To each his own.


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James Carter plays a lot of notes.  And I like it.  I reviewed last weekend's concert by the James Carter Organ Trio at the Folly Theater.

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I reviewed Passport's self-titled debut album at Plastic Sax.

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Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonnner of the Ohio Players has died.  He last performed in Kansas City at the 2010 Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival.

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Gour Khyapa has died.  (Tip via BGO.)

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Foxygen's "San Francisco" fills me with joy.  RIYL: Ray Davies, Eric Burdon, fops.

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Miss the White Stripes?  Pony Time has you covered with the excellent "Geordie".

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Whenever I find myself bedridden with an injury or an illness, I attempt to make the best of a bad situation by using my impaired state to explore new forms of music.  Armed with painkillers after I broke my ankle a few years ago, I came to appreciate EDM on a new level.  When the flu knocked me out last week, I discovered the compositions of Henri Dutilleux.  This stuff is sick.

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Chris Morris wrote a great analysis of Amoeba's digital efforts.

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I adore Broadcast's original soundtrack for Berberian Sound Studio.  RIYL: Ennio Morricone, John Zorn, found sound.

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Free Energy's Love Sign is an excellent windows-down summer cruising album. RIYL: The Cars, Cheap Trick, Peter Wolf.

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The demos at the end of some versions of Camper Van Beethoven's new reunion album La Costa Perdida are markedly more interesting than the official tracks.  RIYL: the Grateful Dead, California, patchouli.

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I'm looking forward to digging into Gamak, Rudresh Mahanthappa's skronky new album.

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Vinyl eroticism from Salina, Kansas: "The Doors Infinite Unboxing".

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Kansas City Click: Max Groove plays Jazz on 39th Street on Tuesday.

Stone Sour is Wednesday's headliner at the Midland.

La Guerre performs Thursday at the RecordBar.

Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle hit the Blue Room on Friday.

The Folly Theater hosts Danielle de Niese on Saturday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)