Hi, How Are You?

The second season of the Amazon series Transparent traumatized me.  It’s not the show’s primary theme of malleable gender identity that rattled my nerves.  A straight male character named Josh Pfefferman induced unwelcome flashbacks to the years I spent as a music distribution sales rep.  Josh, a self-centered weasel who intends to launch a record label, closely resembles a subset of men I once dealt with every day.  Listening to entitled guys almost exactly like Josh demand that albums by developing acts like the fictional folk-pop band Fussy Puss be stocked on shelves of Wal-Mart was the bane of my existence. 


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I reviewed Tech N9ne’s sold-out concert at the Midland theater.

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I reviewed Todd Rundgren’s return to the VooDoo.

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In what may most be my most subversive act of the year, I played punk rock (Radkey), jazz (Matt Villinger), rap (Tech N9ne), hip-hop (Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment), R&B (Jill Scott) and pop (Rihanna) during my guest appearance on the AAA station 90.9 The Bridge last week.  You can stream or download a podcast version of my misbehavior here.  I suppose I owe the staff and the listeners of the non-commercial radio station an apology.

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Scott Weiland died last week.  I ranked the reunited Stone Temple Pilots’ headlining appearance at the 2008 edition of Rockfest as one of the best concerts of the decade.  I also reviewed the first concert of Weiland’s 2009 solo tour.  The buzz in advance of that show was extremely negative but Weiland was great that night.

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Four of the top five releases in No Depression’s year-end reader’s poll have black-and-white or sepia-toned album covers.

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Jon Benjamin Well, I Should Have…* is amusing for about five minutes.  The premise- a comedian plays piano with a legit jazz band- gets old in a hurry.  The trailer is funnier than the album.

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I’m not the least bit embarrassed to admit that I’m partial to Buckcherry’s sleaze-rock.  Rock 'n' Roll is RIYL: Kiss, STDs, Aerosmith circa ‘76.  Here’s ”Tight Pants”.

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The recent reissue of Gloria Ann Taylor material doesn’t live up to the hype.  RIYL: psych guitar noodling, Big Brother and the Holding Company, forced vocals.

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Much of Van Hunt’s murky The Fun Rises, The Fun Sets makes even the biggest disappointments of Sly Stone and Prince seem competent.

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Archy Marshall’s A New Place 2 Drown is RIYL: Young Fathers, gloom, King Krule.

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Cam’s Untamed is acceptable mainstream country.  RIYL: Miranda Lambert, Nashville, Sunny Sweeney.  Here’s ”Burning House.

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The use of an accordion in an experimental jazz context sounds entirely natural to me on Old Time Musketry’s Drifter.

(Original image of Daniel Johnston-inspired graffiti by There Stands the Glass.)

Concert Review: Shearwater, Death Vessel and Jesca Hoop at the Horseshoe Tavern

Tourism bureaus take note- music tourism isn't limited to major festivals.

On my first trip to Toronto in 1999, I saw Royal Trux at the famous El Mocambo in Toronto.  Fifteen years later, I made a beeline for the renowned Horseshoe Tavern to catch a triple bill of Shearwater, Death Vessel and Jesca Hoop.  (I also visited Massey Hall and the Sony Centre.)

Along with about 225 Canadians, I paid $15 to enter the room that looks a lot like the 39th Street version of Kansas City's Parody Hall.  Hoop, a former nanny for Tom Waits' brood, opened the show with a flighty solo set.  Her dusky voice is her strongest asset.

Death Vessel was the primary musical draw for me.  Blind Pilot and Bon Iver excepted, Death Vessel is the best chamber folk band I've seen.  Joel Thibodeau, the band's primary vocalist, resembles a young Paul Simon.  (Don't believe me? See for yourself.)  The remainder of the ensemble is similarly intriguing.

I've never been able to get into Shearwater.  I left thirty minutes into the headliner's set.


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I reviewed St. Vincent's concert Monday at Liberty Hall and Todd Rundgren's appearance at the VooDoo Lounge on Thursday.

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The sixth installment of the second season of the KC Cypher Series is salvaged by the Phantom.

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Stik Figa and DJ Sku go "Back 2 Kansas".

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John Velghe & the Prodigal Sons were captured in a 909 session.

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House music pioneer Frankie Knuckles has died.

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Here's a portion of Kelis' amazing performance at SXSW.

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I've yet to encounter a compilation of Bob Dylan covers on which I didn't find at least something to appreciate.  The new collection Bob Dylan in the 80's: Volume One contains several gems.  I immediately skipped to the slam dunk of Craig Finn interpreting "Sweetheart Like You," but other keepers include Carl Broemel's version of "Death Is Not the End" and Gene Ween and Slash's take on "Wiggle Wiggle."

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It's nice to see Carlene Carter back on the scene.

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Range of Light, S. Carey's delicate new chamber folk album, is RIYL: Bon Iver, the Garden of Eden, Iron & Wine.

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A few tracks on Beats Antique's A Thousand Faces - Act 2 are delightful.  RIYL: Renaissance fairs, Bassnectar, Cirque du Soleil.

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Before Jesca Hoop performed at the Horseshoe Tavern, the Mekons' "Empire of the Senseless" boomed through the sound system.  I watched three guys Shazam the great song as I realized I haven't listened to Rock 'n' Roll in years.  My priorities are all screwed up.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)