Glenn Lee- Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior

Passed.

I firmly believe that Robert Randolph is going to be a star. I recently spoke to Randolph; my profile is here. This compilation of sacred steel artists was recorded when Randolph was still a kid. I didn't ask him about it, but I suspect he spent some time listening to the project. If so, he was likely impressed by Glenn Lee, who's just a few years older than Randolph. His country-flavored reading of this gospel favorite is gorgeous.

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I'm infatuated with the sound and feel of Dizzee Rascal's "Sirens". It's the most exciting new song I've heard this year.

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Although I have no problem with Bon Jovi, I was not pleased when the hit "Wanted Dead Or Alive" became an unwelcome guest in my noggin after this week's humdrum American Idol episodes. I chased it away with Thin Lizzy's superior "Cowboy Song".

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Kansas City Click: "New Timey" bluegrass act The Armamo Rangers kick up some dust at the Mountain Music Shoppe.

Mingo Saldivar- Cuando Me Miraste

Gone.

"Si se puede"? I don't know; this isn't a political blog. But I can easily testify that the contributions of Texas-born Mingo Saldivar have enriched our nation. His blend of country, European polka and Mexican tradition are emblematic of what makes us great. This cumbia is from his aptly titled I Love My Freedom, I Love My Texas.

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Zola Taylor of the Platters has died. Sing along to "Only You".

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Kansas City Click: I'm not particularly enamored of Brendan MacNaughton's music, but the jam band-ish dude is at the recently reopened 75th Street Brewery tonight. Good gig.

Shoes- Hangin' Around With You (Live)

Fell off.

My friend BGO is always digging up musical treasures. One of his best finds of late is The Red Button. The band recreates the happy pop of the Hollies and similar British invasion bands. While they're ridiculously good, I judge every power pop band against Shoes. The Illinois band with a rabid cult following has crafted several wonderful head-bobbing albums. This is from a live '81 set; the audience's enthusiasm inevitably reminds me of Cheap Trick's Live At Budokan. It's now packaged with Boomerang. Shoes' titles don't seem to be available at Amazon; try the band's label.

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The two new releases I saw moving in quantity today at retailers were country crooner Blake Shelton and the Spiderman 3 soundtrack.

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A lot of talent swill be squeezed onto the tiny stage of Jardine's tonight. The featured performers are Mike Metheny, Roger Wilder, Danny Embrey, Bob Bowman and Tommy Ruskin.

The Dixie Hummingbirds- Move On Up a Little Higher

Moved away.

James B. Davis, founder of the Dixie Hummingbirds, died on April 17. He was 90. The group's powerful sound, heard to good effect on "Move On Up a Little Higher," directly influenced countless musicians. It's taken from this out-of-print compilation of '50s material. In fact, it looks like the entire Dixie Hummingbirds catalog is a mess. Of the few titles available new directly from Amazon, this might be the way to go.

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I'm using DivShare today for the first time. Please let me know if you encounter any difficulty.

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First was "Tim McGraw." Taylor Swift's song used the name of a country music star as a gimmicky title. It worked. Jason Aldean just came out with "Johnny Cash". It has nothing to do with The Man In Black. The concept could work in every genre. The image of a lightweight pop star- someone like Lindsay Lohan- would be enhanced by a song titled "Fugazi." An up-and-coming heavy rock band- maybe Black Stone Cherry- might consider separating themselves from the pack with a singled called "Black Sabbath." One of the many new R&B revival acts could record a song titled "Isaac Hayes."

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Kansas City Click: I saw Italian prog-metal act Lacuna Coil do an in-store at my neighborhood Borders last year. They were good; their intense fans were even better. They play with Shadows Fall and Stone Sour tonight at the Beaumont.

Ken Peplowski- Please Be Kind

Mean.

Ken Peplowski joins the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra for a tribute to Benny Goodman tonight. Presumably, he'll be playing clarinet. But listen to his gorgeous saxophone work on this standard from the out-of-print Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool. The song also features pretty contributions from Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and pianist Hank Jones.

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My review of last night's Taylor Hicks show is here.

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Mstislav Rostropovich died today. This video of the classical music giant performing Brahms is very compelling.

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Bobby "Boris" Pickett has also passed. Someone just uploaded this terrific live video to YouTube. It'll make you smile.

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Kansas City Click: If trad jazz isn't your thing, Pomeroy breaks in the new stage at Crossroads KC tonight. In their own way, they swing really hard.


Youngman Grand are an Austin-based guitar-based indie pop band and namelessnumberheadman are, well... everything. Together, they make for a great double bill at the Brick on Saturday night.

Rhythm of the Night! The Beaumont becomes "a place you can dance the whole night away" when Chico and James DeBarge appear on Sunday.

Dino Saluzzi- Milonga De Los Morenos

Dino is done.

I'm eagerly anticipating picking up Ojos Negros, the collaboration between Dino Saluzzi and cellist Anja Lechner. Certain to be painfully beautiful, the recording was issued by ECM earlier this month. "Milonga De Los Morenos" is the shortest piece on the out-of-print Kultrum. The bandoneonist and Lechner's string quartet evoke the score of a forgotten, tragic film.

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My review of last night's performance by Jamie Foxx is here.

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There's a music industry connection to the "Bishop Bomber" case. One of the companies the suspect allegedly targeted was Navarre. One facet of their operation is independent record label distribution.

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Kansas City Click: You won't catch me at the Brick tonight for Ssion- not that there's anything wrong with that... This makes me laugh out loud; it could be the best music video ever.

Porcupine Tree- How Is Your Life Today?

End of story.

The most rabid fans of Porcupine Tree would have you believe that the psychedelic British band is the modern day Pink Floyd. I've always considered them to be a lot closer to Marillion and Collective Soul than to indie-rockers like the Flaming Lips or Cloud Cult. This observation is not intended as a slight. It's just that Porcupine Tree seem to be an arena rock band trapped in an undeserved cult status. That seems to be changing. Their new release, Fear of a Blank Planet, is #6 on Amazon's sales chart. This song, from their out-of-print Lightbulb Sun, is clearly a tribute to the Zombies' Odessey & Oracle. For a more representative sample of Porcupine Tree's sound, watch the video for the the title track. It perfectly encapsulates the spirit of this very moment for too many kids living in the United States.

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The excellent music blog La Onda Tropical hipped me to Belgium electronic pop artist Buscemi. Listen to this.

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Kansas City Click: How is possible that the world's most celebrated musician within his selected field doesn't have a web page, a MySpace account or a single video on YouTube? Maybe it's a Welsh thing. (Bring on the hate mail, Wales!) Fortunately, Robin Huw Bowen has a Wikipedia entry. The harpist performs tonight at Asbury United Methodist Church at 75th and Nall.

Alton Ellis- Black Man's Pride

Still proud.

My recent Tim Armstrong jag put me in the mood for the original rocksteady artist, Alton Ellis. The monumental "Black Man's Pride" is one of several protest songs on the excellent compilation Arise Black Man 1968-1978. "I was born a loser," Ellis wails. "Because I'm a black man." Ellis merits a place in any discussion that includes both Curtis Mayfield and Bob Marley.

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My friend Lee is the smartest guy in the room. He reviews Matt Wilson's Friday night show at his jazz blog The New Lowdown.

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Kansas City Click: The air is awfully sticky today. That bodes well for tonight's Southern Culture On the Skids show at Knuckleheads. The sweatier the better with those freaks. The mighty Pendergast open.

Andrew Hill- New Pinnochio

Goodbye.

Andrew Hill died Friday. He was 75. One of the characteristics of geniuses is that they never end their quest. Hill is best known for his work with other jazz giants on Point of Departure from 1964. Yet his recent recordings, such as 2002's A Beautiful Day, are even further out. The entirety of the big band project is breathtaking. "New Pinnochio," like other compositions on the live album, opens relatively conventionally before unfurling in countless different directions. While it's difficult to focus on any one portion of a recording so dense (and enjoyable), Hill's brilliant explorations beginning at the 5:49 mark serve as a fitting farewell.

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My review of Sean Lennon's performance Friday night is here. Seeing Yuka Honda on stage with him reminded me of Cibo Matto's wonderful "Sugar Water" video.

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Each time I've written favorably about Lil' Flip I temper each compliment with numerous qualifications. His new tribute to the Virginia Tech tragedy is in keeping with Flip's maddening sensibility. It's at his MySpace page.

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Kansas City Click: Russian bluegrass artist Zhenya Rock does his thing tonight at the Drop.

The Silos- Behind Me Now

Left behind.

I tell a lot of jokes that are funny to no one but me. One of them comes to mind when considering The Silos. "If I had a band it would sound just like the Silos," I suggest before skipping a beat. "And that's why I'm not a musician." It's not that I don't respect Walter Salas-Humara's band. I own seven of their CDs and I've seen them perform numerous times. They've made a lot of great music. But it's obviously been a struggle. In spite of a tour supporting the project, their February release, Come On Like the Fast Lane, hasn't created much buzz. It's too bad. It continues the Silos' tradition of exploring the common ground between Lou Reed, Neil Young and Chuck Berry.

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This is surreal. A well-known area musician and business owner took a case all the way to The People's Court. His blog report, complete with YouTube video, is hilarious.

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In other Seven Degrees of Get Up Kids news, four songs from the New Amsterdams forthcoming Killed Or Cured are up at their MySpace page.

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Kansas City Click: There's no shortage of big shows this weekend. Here are three less obvious options. Los Primos De La Sierra play in Kansas City, KS, tonight and on Sunday.

All the cool kids will be at the Decemberists' show, but Saturday's bill with Warped Tour favorites Meg & Dia at the Beaumont might be more fun.

Kirsten Paludan and Olympic Size are at McCoy's Sunday night. The latter's "Friends" is one of my new favorite songs.

Johnny Hodges- Passion Flower

Wilted.

It's absolutely perfect. Anything less would make the definitive take of Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower" laughable. It's almost too much- too sensual, too languid, too intoxicating. Duke Ellington's piano and Jimmie Blanton's bass keep Hodges from falling off the edge on the 1940 small group session. Sadly, this essential collection is out-of-print and I can't find a reasonably priced domestic alternative.

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The album doesn't come out until May 22, but the pre-release frenzy for A Poet's Life has been raging for three weeks. Look at the passionate responses to this new video by Tim Armstrong. The reaction of self-proclaimed punks to the Rancid frontman's decision to work with pop tart Skye Sweetnam is amusing. Two additional new videos are here and here. I can see myself making A Poet's Life my personal soundtrack this summer. And if that happens, it's going to be a lot of fun.

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Kansas City Click: Kim Park is featured at Jardine's. This video accurately represents his style- he's sort of like a younger, open-minded version of Phil Woods.

Geater Davis- Sad Shade of Blue

Dark.

Recorded for a small Nashville label, this Geater Davis gut-wrencher seems to be based on Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Two Steps From the Blues." Yet Davis' convincing performance rivals Bland for passion and intensity. I pulled "Sad Shade of Blue" from a compilation titled Soul Deep that isn't listed at Amazon or Ebay. Fortunately, the song is included on this healthy collection.

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Sales of two new releases stood out yesterday. I didn't have any trouble separating the Nine Inch Nails fans from the Bucky Covington advocates.

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Your metal band can beat up my metal band: They're not exactly innovative, but I really like the new Chevelle. So sue me.

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Kansas City Click: I met a woman last night who told me about John Northern's gig at the Record Bar opening for Bob Walkenhorst. I wasn't familiar with him; he seems to be in the folk tradition of Tom Rush and Tom Paxton.

Bill Morrissey- Everybody Warned Me

Safe.

My introduction to Bill Morrissey came via one of the first CDs I purchased. The format was new, and this compilation came cheap. Based on Morrissey's performance, I assumed he was a crusty old-timer. I was stunned when I first saw him perform- he was a tiny guy not too much older than me. The revelation made me an even bigger fan. To paraphrase Steve Earle's famous quote about Townes Van Zandt, "Bill Morrissey is one of the best folk artists in the world, and I'll stand on John Prine's guitar case in my Adidas and say that." Alcohol plays a prominent role in Morrissey's work. In this song from Inside, the desperate narrator is "coughing up blood in a Motel 6." This story details his recent struggles. Good luck, Bill. We still need you.

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Ornette Coleman won a Pulitzer for the album I complained about last year. Here's a representative Ornette video.

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Kansas City Click: I used to catch rides to school from a guy who would crank UFO and Judas Priest every morning. Federation of Horsepower remind me of that dude. They play the early show at the Brick.

Too Much Joy- Parachute

Failed.

Too Much Joy always made me mildly uncomfortable, largely because I can't recall the specifics of my passing association with the band. Was I their friend? A drinking buddy? Maybe their cover of "Starry Eyes" came at my prompting. I just can't remember the deal. Until the the mental block is removed, I'll assume the line about Kansas in "Parachute" is a reference to me. The songs are on their out-of-print Mutiny. I thought of Too Much Joy as I wrote a very positive review of Bowling For Soup's Friday night concert. BFS would handily beat TMJ in a battle of "joke" bands. Still, I always liked Too Much Joy's big "hit."

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Sometimes I wonder if the Hold Steady are just a figment of my imagination. How else could a band repeatedly speak to my favorite things? Their latest miracle is a sincere Twinkies-friendly reading of "Take Me Out To the Ballgame." Snare it at their MySpace page.

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It seems like Mark E. Smith of the Fall has been around forever. I don't know which is more remarkable- the fact that Von Sudenfed is so vital, or that he looks so good in drag. Amazing-ah...

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Kansas City Click: No matter how hard Tom Russell tries, he'll never be Johnny Cash. Still, Russell's immense catalog includes at least a dozen songs that belong in the same ballpark as Cash's definitive work. Russell will sing them tonight at Knucklehead's.

Willis Jackson- Dance of the Lady Bug

Flew Away Home.

Don't let the title fool you. This 1950 Apollo Records side is a testosterone-fueled honker, replete with background screams that serve to fan the flames. Willis Jackson went on to record some fine organ jazz sessions, but this stuff is obviously rock'n'roll, even if it hadn't been tagged with that label. This vital compilation is loaded with similar rave-ups.

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I'm Bright Eyes-neutral, so I haven't waded through the innumerable words written about the Nebraskan's latest effort. Consequently, I don't know if anyone has already pointed out that he looks just like Gram Parsons in the new video for "Four Winds."

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When I heard that The Bad Plus had titled their new album Prog, I hoped for covers of ELP, Genesis, Be Bop Deluxe and Gong. Boy, am I disappointed. Still, the reworking of Rush' s"Tom Sawyer" is a blast. An MP3 of that song can be easily found, and an original composition is available from the label. The promotional video also reveals a mind-bending take on David Bowie's "Life On Mars."

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My favorite comic strip, Get Fuzzy, spoofs famous album covers this week.

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Kansas City Click: Like hundreds of thousands of others, I'm amused by Alanis Morissette's satire of "My Humps." But I still prefer Bowling For Soup's deconstruction of another insidious Fergie song, "London Bridge". I hope the wacky Texans play it tonight at the Grand Emporium.

I'm on a one-man crusade to revive the Jim Pepper anthem "Wichi Tai To." Someone like the aforementioned Bright Eyes could take a fresh version to the top of the charts. Brewer and Shipley issued their popular take of the song in 1970. They headline this benefit concert on Saturday night. Bob Walkenhorst is also on the bill.

OK Jones has the Sunday night slot at Ott's on the Plaza.

John Anderson- A Honky Tonk Saturday Night

Sunday morning.

There were two great new voices on mainstream country radio in the '80s- Randy Travis and John Anderson. Anderson's 1982 breakthrough release, Wild & Blue, signaled the format's short-lived return to traditional sounds. Not only does that album's "A Honky Tonk Saturday Night" showcase Anderson rich voice, it's a near-perfect country song. Steve Goodman would appreciate its laundry list of topics- drinking, dancing, casual sex, and best of all, Merle Haggard on the jukebox.

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And it was going so well... I auditioned Djin Djin, the new release by African star Angelique Kidjo, last night. It's front-loaded with guest spots by pop stars. Alicia Keys, Branford Marsalis, Joss Stone and Peter Gabriel make constructive appearances in the first twenty minutes. After hearing the fifth song, which features the sublime Amadou & Mariam, I was ready to make room for Djin Djin in my best-of list for 2007. Then came Josh Groban and Carlos Santana. It's excruciating. Can one song ruin an album? I'll have to wrestle with that question. And guess what song is featured in the label's electronic press kit?

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I devoured Kurt Vonnegut's paperbacks while in high school. And I'm still thrilled at the memory of lobbing him a softball question at one of his lectures. I lost my taste for Vonnegut soon after, but there's little doubt that his work affected my world view. The author died yesterday.

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Kansas City Click: John Anderson plays the VooDoo tonight. It wasn't long ago that Anderson appeared at extremely sketchy dives. This is another case of casinos altering the live music scene. In this case, it's for the better.

Los Tigres Del Norte- Muerte Anunciada

Tamed.

Los Tigres Del Norte added another title to their enormous catalog last week. Detalles y Emociones debuted at #65 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. This narcocorrido is pulled from a 1994 album. Read this fascinating profile for background on the immensely successful band's saga. Although it's too disjointed for me to completely comprehend, this powerful video about the immigrant experience is set to the hit "El Mojado Acaudalado." It shows why the music of Los Tigres Del Norte resonates with their fans.

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I've regularly championed the work of Grace Potter and The Nocturnals. Here's a link to their new single, "Ah Mary". The more commercial sound signals the breakthrough I've been predicting. This Is Somewhere is scheduled for an August release.

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Kansas City Click: When I caught VAST at the Grand Emporium last year, the opening act perfectly reproduced the early sound of Wax Trax! Records. It was an interesting exercise in form, but I didn't get the point. The Bjork-goes-Goth sound of Anvil Chorus is a musch better fit for VAST, a fine stadium rock act with a sound that feels way too, well, vast for a small club.

Nick Lowe- Failed Christian

Saved.

I sometimes worry about the day that my streak of never repeating an artist at There Stands the Glass comes to an end. I'm up to 362 posts. Then I realize that I haven't touched on many of my favorite artists, including Nick Lowe. His solo releases and work as a producer have had immeasurable impact on my musical development. "Failed Christian" is from Dig My Mood, a relatively recent recording. It deals primarily in adult themes of this nature. I recommend it, but first make sure you have Basher, or if you're too hip for comps, Jesus of Cool.

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My friend Mike alerted a music group to this fascinating piece in the Washington Post. It tracks people's startling response when Joshua Bell poses as a busker.

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ESPN is using Pearl Jam's "Comatose" as music in highlight reels. It makes me feel like a jerk for regularly underestimating Pearl Jam.

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Tears of joy well in my eyes when I watch this shaky fan video of Craig Finn of the Hold Steady jumping out of his skin as he sings the opening lines to "Rosalita." Hat tip to my pal S.S. for knowing that I'd lose my mind over this footage.

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Kansas City Click: A great show hits Davey's Uptown tonight. Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle and Malachy Papers offer an innovative, up-to-date take on jazz. Malachy Papers' site is pretty useless, but don't miss the three Dillon compositions at the link.

Hubert Sumlin- Love You, Woman

Loved no more.

I wrote a less than flattering review of Kenny Wayne Shepherd's Friday night concert. The concept of the show is great- Shepherd's audience gets exposed to several veteran bluesman. One of them, the great Hubert Sumlin, stole the show. I don't remember him being quite as animated in the Blues-A-Rama tour I saw a decade or so ago. This unlikely solo country blues is pulled from a 1964 session. And if you don't know what all the fuss is about, watch this Howlin' Wolf video. The sync is off, the introduction is a trainwreck, and the camera stays focused on Wolf even when Sumlin solos. Even so, it's essential viewing.

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Buddy Flett is also part of Shepherd's blues review. This video shows why he impressed me.

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Starbucks ran a full page ad in yesterday's New York Times promoting an album by CeU. The new release is part of their "Hear Music Debut CD Series." And darned if it isn't wonderful. Check this revealing video for confirmation. Here's another.

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Kansas City Click: Try Jeff Wood at Vivace. His strong voice and emotional songs might be just the thing on another chilly April evening.

Billy Joe Shaver- Tramp On Your Street

Found a home.

I don't condone violence. And I'm deeply saddened that Billy Joe Shaver is in more than a little bit of trouble. It doesn't look good. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being slightly titillated by the old outlaw acting like a wild man. I grew up on this album of ill-tempered Shaver songs. Shaver sings about walking barefoot along "ten miles of train track to hear Hank Williams sing" on this song from a tribute album . Here's a shaky video of an in-store at Waterloo Records. It was shot immediately before Shaver turned himself in.

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I'm deeply attached to the last CD by tough Kansas City band Pendergast. So even though it explores the same themes, it took a while for me to fully accept the band's new release Between the Bottle & The Pulpit. I've finally come around. The title track hits on many of my favorite topics- the comfort of the road, booze, faith, women and weariness. Listen to it here.

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Kansas City Click: Municipal Auditorium will explode when Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Fat Joe and Birdman break out "Make It Rain" tonight. Here's the video. Young Jeezy, aka "The Snowman," is the headliner. His "Go Crazy" is among the best- and most disturbing- hits of the new millennium. The venerable Toots & the Maytals play the Folly on Saturday night. What'll they do without a dance floor? A much younger star, Tyrese, is at the Beaumont on Sunday.

Z-Ro- Make It

And gone.

I'm spending a lot of time with the new Lil' Flip album. I Need Mine contains almost 140 minutes of music, so listening to it even three or four times is a major commitment. References to Houston rapper Z-Ro's current incarceration litter the artwork and the outros to several songs. Z-Ro is often called "the Tupac of Texas," and in that tradition Z-Ro foretells his premature demise on Life's "Make It." Z-Ro fantasizes about his desire to "jump up out my casket" to exact revenge on his slayers. Illuminating commentary and additional links about Z-Ro are here.

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Look what I found: This is a newly posted live version of one of my favorite songs. Even though everything I love about "I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight" has been excised from this hideous 1980 performance, it's still a thrill to uncover the footage. I tire of hearing fans bemoan Richard Thompson's failure to become a star. It's exactly the willful perversity demonstrated here that keeps him obscure. I demand that RT play his songs the way I want them done! He fares no better without Linda here and here.

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Kansas City Click: One of my biggest musical regrets is not finding a way to get to Bob Marley's 1979 concert in Lawrence, KS. I couldn't drive and I didn't have a ticket, but I was aware of Marley's significance even then. His son Stephen Marley is at the Voodoo tonight. Of Bob's brood, Stephen seems the truest to his pop's vision. And "Traffic Jam" is one of 2007's best songs.

Charlie Louvin- This Darn Pen

Out of ink.

Imagine seeing an ancient guy teeter toward the podium at a book reading. "Good evening, my name is Matt," he might say. "I'm going to do something I wrote back in the day. Those King James guys did a nice version- they called it Matthew 5:3. 'Blessed are the poor in spirit....'" That's how I felt as Charlie Louvin sang originals like "Cash On the Barrelhead" and "The Christian Life." My review is here. Louvin claimed that "the best song I ever recorded" was a duet with Willie Nelson on "This Darn Pen." He was referring to the version featured on this album, which he didn't have for sale Monday night. This rendition is available on the out-of-print Live In Holland.

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I'll admit it: "Party Like a Rock Star", the moronic new single by the Shop Boyz, makes me laugh like a giddy 13-year-old.

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Kansas City Click: UMKC's White Recital Hall will resonate with Schoenberg's noise. I hope to be there.

Sonya Isaacs- The Battlefield

Peace.

As I watched the Isaacs' set at a Bill Gaither concert last week, I wondered why Sonya Isaacs didn't have a solo career. She's attractive and owns a wonderful voice. Only later did I recall that she did, in fact, cut an album. And I own it! The out-of-print self-titled 2000 release is that forgettable. Instead of highlighting Isaacs' bluegrass and gospel roots, producer Vince Gill churned out a mostly anonymous Nashville product. Only "The Battlefield," the album's final song, hints a Isaacs' distinctive soulfulness.

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I initially thought REO Speedwagon was a remarkably odd choice to sing the National Anthem on opening day at Kaufman Stadium. I expected fans to grumble things like, "I guess Head East wasn't available." Instead, the '70s and '80s hitmakers were greeted with a hearty roar of approval. It just so happens that an exclusive Wal-Mart package streets today. (The Royals are owned by a Wal-Mart executive.)

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Kansas City Click: I used to occasionally buy $8 beers at the Oak Room at what's now the Fairmont Hotel. I figured that was the price to sit in a big leather chair and listen to Kansas City's finest jazz musicians. Jazz is now out of favor at the fancy bar. Part Dave Matthews and part Norah Jones, Heather Thornton is at the Oak Room tonight. Take lots of beer money.

Jonathan Richman- Walter Johnson

Game over.

A terrific set of stories about the languishing legacies of great Midwestern hurlers ran in yesterday's Kansas City Star. In the piece on Humboldt, Kansas' Walter Johnson, ace sportswriter Joe Posnanski reports that most of Humboldt's rapidly diminishing population knows little about the pitcher. The town's citizens need to hear this Jonathan Richman ditty. While Jojo's village idiot persona isn't for everyone, I've always been a fan. And besides, willful naivete is what the best day in sports is all about. "A record's just a record in a book that's just a book," Richman reminds stat geeks like me. This a cappella version of the song is available on Richman's You Must Ask the Heart.

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A seemingly new song by the Meat Puppets can be heard at the MySpace page of Kansas City's Anodyne Records.

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My review of a Bill Gaither Homecoming concert is here.

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Kansas City Click: Brother band legend Charlie Louvin is at the Grand Emporium.

John Campbell- When the Levee Breaks

Repaired.

I'm very pleased to count Pete Lubin among my friends. The semi-legendary A&R man and raconteur recounts his work with bluesman John Campbell at Jefito Blog. The epic tale is well worth your while. Jefito offers a few tracks from Lubin's production. This Memphis Minnie via Led Zeppelin burner is from Campbell's subsequent Howlin Mercy release.

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I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed Bill Gaither's Homecoming show last night. The Isaacs' take on one of my favorite hymns was especially touching.

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Kansas City Click: KCUR's Sonic Spectrum is hosting fine music at the Record Bar Friday and Saturday. Details are here. I'm ashamed to relate that I won't see B.B. King Saturday night. Instead, I'll be catching OK Jones at The Hurricane. It'd be fun to be part of this drunken madness on Sunday afternoon.

Roger Kellaway- Mack the Knife

Out of sight.

Roger Kellaway is one of those musicians who has worked with everybody and done everything. A couple of years ago he released Remembering Bobby Darin, a tribute to his old boss. It's a wonderful effort featuring guitarist Bruce Forman and bassist Dan Lutz. The familiar Brecht/Weill composition that closes the disc is clearly played for laughs. Yet I find it a refreshingly playful performance that's all too rare in the po-faced world of jazz.

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I'll admit it. I'm obsessed with the television infomercial for this set of CDs. It's not like I'm tempted to purchase these "soft rock" hits from the '70s. I just find the lengthy advertisement oddly comforting. And I laugh out loud every time I see a satisfied "customer" say something like "It's not just a collection of music- it's a collection of emotions."

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Kansas City Click: Bill Dye is one of my favorite local guitarists. He plays with John Paul tonight at BB's Lawnside BBQ.

Geoffrey Oryema- Gari Moshi

Moved on.

Easily one of the most overtly commercial songs I've posted at There Stands the Glass, "Gari Moshi" is a propulsive Paris-based production by native Ugandan Geoffrey Oryema. If I hosted a radio program, I'd insist on making the song my primary bumper music. While this nineties release failed to make Oryema a superstar, the day is nearing when a steady stream of African artists claim spots on American pop charts.

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Only audiences for teen idols and gospel music are more fun than jam band fans. I had a good time at a sold-out Widespread Panic show last night.

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I suppose I shouldn't be disappointed that the new Timbaland is so intellectually vapid. It's just that I can't help but think that if some of the lurid lyrical content was supplanted by a broader vision, it could have been an "important" album. Instead, it sounds like a raunchy billion dollar bash.

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Kansas City Click: Most contemporary Christian music doesn't move me. Yet Mike Crawford's songs at MySpace are really interesting. I suspect he's listened to a lot of Pedro the Lion. Crawford opens for Leeland at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Overland Park tonight.

Trip Shakespeare- Pearle

Tripped

Nostalgia time. In the late '80s one of the most popular bands on the Midwestern tour circuit was Minneapolis' Trip Shakespeare. A big reason the band's shows were so fun was that girls loved them. Although they were tagged as a "new wave" act, Trip Shakespeare was actually a dance band. A geek like me could take a girl to a Trip Shakespeare show and know that she'd agree to go out with me again. That wasn't the case with other bands that shared the same circuit, acts like Soul Asylum and Tupelo Chain Sex. "Pearle" is from the band's out-of-print debut album from 1986. It's available from secondary vendors at Amazon here, or as a "custom burn" from Twin Tone here.

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I'm so deliriously tired today that this contrived Joe Nichols song made me tear up as I drove home from work.

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Kansas City Click: I'll be at the Widespread Panic show tonight.

Lil' Flip- 100%

Flipped.

I'll probably purchase I Need Mine on Tuesday, largely on the strength of the song "Ghetto Mindstate". Like many fans of the Houston artist, I have mixed feelings about Lil' Flip. He's inconsistent and anything but likable. A by-product of his many label problems is the vast amount of semi-legitimate Flip product on the market. One example is this CD. It has a few exceptional tracks, including the song featured here. Needless to say, objectionable content is pervasive.

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Kansas City Click: Try Belle Starr at Missie B's.

Bernard Purdie- Wade In the Water

Dried up.

Someone spent a lot of money on this project. It has a full orchestra conducted by Gil Goldstein and heavyweight soloists like the Brecker Brothers and Eddie Harris. The model on the cover of the elaborate CD package appears topless on the liner notes booklet. And for all that effort, the 1996 release is out-of-print and is selling for the price of a cheap cup of coffee. Fabled soul session drummer Bernard Purdie is worth the noble effort, of course, but this feels like a financial investment gone horribly wrong.

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My review of The Elders' big St. Patrick's Day concert is here.

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I'll be on a blogger's holiday the rest of the week.

Beaver Nelson- Some Day Just Like Today

Sunset.

I'm depressed. I wish I was in Austin drinking free beer and hearing my new favorite band for the first time. This is the second year in a row that I haven't attended SXSW. I first hit the annual music festival around 1990. It bore little resemblance to the celebrated international event it is today. Not better or worse. Just different. The focus used to be on unsigned Texas-based artists like Beaver Nelson. It was predominantly for industry weasels and local music heads. You'd meet with record labels, distributors and retailers during the day. At night you'd see showcases by the likes of Nelson, Jimmy LaFave, the Reivers and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Nelson's not even at SXSW this year. I don't know if he passed or if the event has moved on without him. I've always like the guy- partly because I think he resembles what I'd look like if I missed a few meals. This 2002 album is not his best effort; I chose it because it's the most obscure of the several Nelson albums I own. This amiable song conveys Nelson's general sensibility- he's like a disoriented Springsteen.

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My review of a wonderful John McEuen performance is here. And I rave about the new album by The Frames here.

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Kansas City Click: Since I have the blues, I'll suggest Trampled Underfoot tonight at Eddie's in Lee's Summit (in spite of their "Blues Hammer" leanings). The Elders play the Uptown on St. Patrick's Day. Perfect! The big time hits KC on Sunday with a show at the Gem by The SF Jazz Collective.

Charlie Poole- Goodbye Booze

Dried up.

I was delighted to see John McEuen give an intimate concert last night at an instrument shop. The performance may send me on an old-timey bender. McEuen's demonstration evoked the mysterious "old, weird America" of legends like Charlie Poole. If Poole had followed the advise proffered in this 1926 recording, he might not have died at the age of 39. An excellent box set of Poole's work is available, but this song is also available on this CD.

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Kansas City Click: John McEuen joins the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tonight at the VooDoo Lounge.

Charlie Rich- You Don't Know Me

Unknown.

Many music fans are in a dither about The Definitive 200 list of albums. They fail to understand that the campaign is a music industry promotion. The tag line "Where would you be without them?" isn't directed at consumers; it's aimed at retail. Without monstrous smashes like Thriller or Rumours stores might not have prospered in the '70s and '80s. Nonetheless, I belong to a group made up mostly of area industry veterans, and we're compiling our own list.
I'm struggling with my desire to load my ballot with lost gems like
the out-of-print Pictures and Paintings. Recorded shortly before the Silver Fox's death, it's a magnificent summation of Rich's life and career. For each album like this, however, I'd be forced to omit a stone cold classic like Exile On Main Street, Catch a Fire or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

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Kansas City Click: Brilliant Minneapolis pop band The Honeydogs stop at The Hurricane tonight on their way to SXSW.

Sir Mack Rice- Mini-Skirt Minnie

Gone to bed.

It's an involuntary reflex. I swoon every time I hear a contemporary artist evoke the '60s soul of Stax Records. Last year I fell for throwback music by Christina Aguilera and James Hunter. And I can't wait to buy the new Amy Winehouse tomorrow. Her breakout song "Rehab" seems to "borrow" elements of this 1967 hit by Sir Mack Rice. The song is available on one of the best big investments I've made- The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968 box.

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My review of Aaron Lewis' Saturday night concert is here.

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Kansas City Click: I suggest the Dennis Winslett-led jam session at the Blue Room.

Mary Chapin Carpenter- It Don't Bring You

Delivered.

I never understood why so many people actively dislike Mary Chapin Carpenter. Is it because she's not as conventionally pretty as Emmylou or Dolly? If it's a presumptive lifestyle thing, well, I won't even go there. Maybe it's because she can be wimpy- well, she is a singer-songwriter... Besides- what a singer! And what a songwriter! And Come On Come On is one of the landmark albums of its time. Carpenter also introduced both BeauSoleil and Lucinda Williams to the mainstream. Anyway, she doesn't need me to defend her. Her new release Between Here and Gone is out this week. Underneath the slick major label production of 1989's seemingly out-of-print State of the Heart is this gem of a song. If the somewhat dated sound is too much for you, try to hear Maura O'Connell sing it.

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Kansas City Click: Reach is the last of seven artists at The Record Bar tonight. The Jackpot in Lawrence has a great triple bill on Saturday night. Sunday offers another chance to see a tremendous summit of top regional acts. The Roman Numerals, Vedera and the Architects are three of the bands at El Torreon.

Paul deLay, 1952-2007

Farewell.

Portland bluesman Paul deLay died March 7. He was 55. deLay led a hard knock life. He didn't play "the blooze"; he was the real deal. He's heard here on his 1999 album deLay Does Chicago. This original composition showcases his expressive voice and remarkable skill on harmonica.

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My review of Wynton Marsalis' intriguing new From the Plantation To Penitentiary is here. I enjoyed talking to Aaron Lewis of Staind last week. My profile is here. (Registration may be required.)

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The New York Times has a nice video feature on Jay Farrar of Son Volt.

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Kansas City Click: Get your nose broken Irish-style tonight at the Beaumont. The Dropkick Murphys headline a show that also includes excellent true believers The Briggs.

Jerry Clower- Big Fish

Part of the catch and release program.

What made Jerry Clower funny? It's force of personality, not jokes, that made him a beloved Red State comedian. And while this is the first time I've posted a purely spoken word piece, it's not entirely random. Focus on Clower's musical cadence. I've heard several preachers use variations of this gag in their sermons. Just as Clowers' rhythm may be church-based, his Southern sensibility is part of the same culture that produced Elvis, Hank and Lynyrd Skynyrd. A complete understanding of the music and lives of these artists isn't possible without an appreciation of the likes of Clower.

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I had intended to purchase the new Notorious B.I.G. release yesterday, but when I had it in my hands it just didn't feel right. The inclusion of so many "guest" vocalists alarmed me.

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Kansas City Click: The Taking Back Sunday/Underoath/Armor For Sleep show at the Uptown appears to be sold out. So why not head down to El Torreon, where four bands of the same ilk are playing. Chances are pretty decent that a few members of the "star" tour will also be at El Torreon to check out Autumn Offering.

Betty Carter- Tell Him I Said Hello

Goodbye.

When Nicole Kidman's lookalike was ousted from American Idol last week she cannily interjected words to the effect of "Oh why did I decide to scat/Americans hate jazz" into her farewell song. I won't begin to speculate on how an artist like the great Betty Carter would fare on the program. But I may never hear a better example of a great instrument utilized by a great mind than this 1955 recording. The out-of-print Social Call sells for $40.00 and up. But don't fret- this song is also available on this Spanish import for half that.

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Here's a static video of the delightful Dr. Dog at a recent in-store.

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Maybe it's because my cranium is loaded with enough allergy medication to operate a meth lab, but I'm captivated by this human jukebox. I'd live at my neighborhood tavern if a guy or gal like this sat in the corner entertaining my requests every night.

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Kansas City Click: The Boulevard Big Band does their thing at Harlings or at J. Barleycorns- their site indicates that they may have recently moved their bi-monthly session. Call the venues to confirm.

Kerry Strayer- Night Lights (The Lonely Night)

The light is off.

Kerry Strayer is one a couple dozen prominent jazz musicians too often taken for granted in Kansas City. He regularly leads bands at area clubs and lounges. So what happens when a guy like Strayer leaves town? Ten years ago this month Strayer was joined by the jazz world's top musicians in a New York studio. The resulting Jeru Blue: A Tribute to Gerry Mulligan on Palmetto Records is an outstanding straight-ahead date. Randy Brecker and Ted Rosenthal are two of the stars heard here. But it's Strayer's perfect tone and deeply emotive work on baritone saxophone that make this devastatingly gorgeous ballad memorable.

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My review of Friday's George Strait, Ronnie Milsap and Taylor Swift concert is here.

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A primitive St. Louis music 'zine blew my impressionable mind back in the early '80s. It made me realize that I wasn't alone; other geeks were out there. A decade later I found myself working with many of the editors and writers of Jet Lag. The first five issues are now online. They demonstrate how pathetically underground the "alternative" scene was "back in the day." I implore you kids to scroll through the site- you'll quickly realize that being a fan back then really was like walking five miles to school in two feet of snow. This was punk.

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Kansas City Click: Last Monday night, the country-folk side of Wilco was represented at the Record Bar by Autumn Defense. Wilco's arty jazz/noise/classical side takes its turn tonight when drummer Glenn Kotche takes the stage. Olympic Size opens.

Scott Appel- Somnus

Thank you, Scott.

Here's a tip for a savvy record label- reissue Nine of Swords. The three copies available through secondary vendors at Amazon are priced at $80 and $100. It's not as if the Scott Appel album is a secret. It received enthusiastic reviews when it was released in 1988. Appel was a sort of Nick Drake revivalist back when Drake was no more than a footnote to all but hardcore folk fans. This album, which included previously unpublished Drake songs, served as my introduction to the now fashionable Drake. Out of respect for the late Appel, I'm featuring one of his original compositions here. But trust me- he did Drake better than anyone. C'mon Drag City. Or what about you, Sugar Hill? Every freak-folker worth his or her salt needs Nine of Swords.

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"The Way I Live" by Baby Boy Da Prince is easily the best current radio hit. I usually burn out on such tracks after a week or two. And I certainly can't get behind the lyrical content. Yet every time I hear it on both urban and "hot' formats it makes everything else on the playlists sound stale. Part of the attraction is the young man's speech impediment. Is it caused by his grillz or by something else? The song of the South is already slow, so the chopped & screwed version is kind of unnecessary.

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Borders provides good footage of a Gomez in-store. My favorite part is watching a couple of the guys roam the store.

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Kansas City Click: Local jazz fixture David Basse is joined by California-based veteran pianist Mike Melvoin at Plaza III Friday and Saturday night. I've never been to Jerry's Bait Shop in Lenexa but Sunday might be a good time to change that. A dude from the Pomonas entertains that evening.

Randy Newman- Shame

No more shame.

I love The Driftwood Singers. The vinyl fetishists at the eclectic music blog are funny, smart and kind of creepy. Lefty, one of the site's contributors, recently suggested that Randy Newman's Bad Love is his second-best album. It's easy to scoff at that silly assertion, but "Shame" is certainly one of his best songs. The deranged narrator attempts to woo back his "pretty little baby." "Do you know what it feels like to have to beg a little bum like you for love?" he cries before falling apart at the 3:50 mark. Making matters even more absurd, he quarrels with song's background singers. While the pathetic narrator's clearly a self-centered, materialistic pig, Newman's brilliant portrait forces the listener to identify with him anyway.

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Brett Dennen fought the crowd and the crowd won. The rising star attracted a couple hundred people to a bar in my town last night, About half of them knew the words to every song and sang along with impassioned conviction. Unfortunately, they also gabbed with one another as if a year-long vow of silence was going into effect at midnight. The big redhead was clearly rattled by the raucous carnival atmosphere. I took this photo during one of his failed attempts to capture the audience's attention. His band offered a dance-oriented reggae-based lilt that his fine new album So Much More only hints at.

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Kansas City Click: The Record Bar pops with Apples In Stereo.