The insistent thump of Waylon Jenning’s bassist often rattled the floorboards of my home on Saturday and Sunday mornings when I was a kid. My dad enjoyed blasting his favorite country albums by the likes of Waylon, Willie and Merle as he gave me marching orders. I was reminded of those bygone days when I unexpectedly encountered a performance by Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys at a farmer’s market on Saturday morning. I almost broke down when the honky-tonk band revived “Little Ole Wine Drinker Me,” a song I closely associate with my old man.
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I wrote a lengthy examination of the previously uncharted career of the underground Kansas City rap legend Rich the Factor for KCUR.
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I reviewed a concert by Death Cab For Cutie, Chvrches, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and the Greeting Committee.
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Candido renewed my faith in humanity last week. My notes are posted at Plastic Sax.
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I write weekly music previews for The Kansas City Star and Ink magazine.
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Chance the Rapper’s return to the Midland theater is my show of the week for The Kansas City Star and Ink magazine.
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I discussed the reunion of the Anniversary on KCUR last week.
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Lou Merenstein, the producer of Astral Weeks, has died. (Tip via BGO.)
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A young quartet of British geeks has released one of the best jazz albums of 2016. Together, As One by Laura Jurd’s Dinosaur, is RIYL flouting convention, Esbjörn Svensson Trio, prog-rock.
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I have a hard time appreciating the music of Sigur Rós, but I’m all in on Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Orphée.
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“Do the funkro dance!” Even when they’re terribly flawed, the obscurities on Nigeria Soul Fever: Afro Funk, Disco And Boogie: West African Disco Mayhem! give me enormous pleasure. (Tip via Big Steve.)
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Two or three excellent songs are hidden among the dreck of Usher’s Hard II Love. Here’s ”No Limit”.
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Something about Ben Wendel’s What We Bring, the mainstream jazz album of the moment, repels me. RIYL: Gerald Clayton, jazz consensus, Kneebody. Here’s ”Song Song”.
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A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie doesn’t do anything for me. Artist is RIYL generic radio rap, Bobby Shmurda, hype. Here’s ”Friend Zone”.
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Touché Amoré’s Stage Four is a contender for my favorite rock album of 2016. RIYL: Kvelertak, rawk, Red Fang. Here’s ”Palm Trees”.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
