Review: The Kauffman Center's Open House

I waited ninety minutes in the rain to enter Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday. I waited another thirty minutes to get into Helzberg Hall. The experience was worth the hassle.

Even though I'd already been inside Helzberg Hall twice, I wasn't about to pass on Sunday's "open house." The festive mood of the massive crowd, along with the choice acts performing on four outdoor stages, made the wait bearable.



















I only felt frustrated when I was forced to view Alaturka's performance on a video monitor. Helzberg Hall was full and no one could be seated until spectators left. My sadness turned to joy when I squeezed inside Helzberg Hall just in time to catch Bobby Watson and an all-star band (above) perform one "original" selection. The piece was a riveting medley of familiar tunes by Kansas City jazz and blues icons. The band was a virtual who's who of Kansas City's jazz scene- Clint Ashlock, David Basse, Gerald Dunn, Jason Goudeau, Ryan Lee, Will Matthews, Herman Mehari, Al Pearson and Bram Wijnands were among its members. Splendid!

Ushers pleaded with patrons in a largely unsuccessful effort to clear the room after each performance. Call me selfish, but I wasn't about to abandon my spot after taking in just one ten-minute performance. I refused to relinquish my seat until I'd been in the room for thirty minutes.


















Immediate seating was available at the adjacent Muriel Kauffman Theater (above). Whoa! It took me a couple minutes to get my bearings. Helzberg Hall offers a highly refined and serene setting. Muriel Kauffman Theater is... "vibrant." Sitting in Muriel Kauffman Theater is like being trapped inside the gaudy bracelet of a giantess. That's not necessarily a bad thing- but learning how to tune out the sparkle and flash takes some time. I heard Megan Birdsall and her backing trio (below) overcome problematic sound issues in an enticing set.

Stunning architecture aside, perhaps the most impressive aspect of Sunday's open house was the stamina of Julia Irene Kauffman. The center's Chairman of the Board stood at the top of the main staircase in Brandmeyer Great Hall and attempted to personally greet every one of the day's estimated 50,000 visitors. I admire that gesture, just as I admire the incalculable significance the new facility will have on Kansas City.

















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The wake of Leroy Johnson on Sunday served as an unofficial convention of unemployed music retail and distribution people. Now that those industries have all but disappeared, it's finally safe to joke about the bad old days with former rivals. On the other hand, I have yet to fully process the death of my friend.

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I reviewed Friday's performance by Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.

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I also took notes at Anthony Wilson's show at the Westport Coffeehouse.

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Need a laugh? Force an unsuspecting music fan to watch the "Miracle Worker" video for the absurdly unlikely supergroup SuperHeavy. Your pal's shocked reaction will be priceless. The song is unspeakably odd.

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Bluegrass musician Liz Meyer has died.

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I want to work on James Farm.

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Kansas City Click: Future star Lee MacDougall croons at the Record Bar on Tuesday.

Dirty Bourbon River Show, featured at There Stands the Glass four months ago, play Trouser Mouse on Wednesday.

The Vibrators play Davey's on Thursday. I can't believe it either.

(Original images by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Cesmiles- Did This For Hip Hop

Cesmiles' "Sorry" stream at YouTube (featuring Ces Cru)

Cesmiles' "School" stream at YouTube (instrumental)

Miles Bonny is an over-sharer. I love the guy and the music he makes, but I just can't deal with the constant barrage of information he transmits. I had to unfollow Bonny online just so his updates didn't consume a significant portion of my days.

Now I'm playing catchup. I accidentally came across Did This For Hip Hop, his new collaboration with Ces Cru, at Bandcamp. The mixtape is so good that it temporarily relieved me of my obsession with Shabazz Palaces. Bonny's instrumental tracks reflect his interest in all types of music- folk, jazz and international sounds are added to the usual funk samples. I prefer Bonny's productions to the work of most of his more celebrated peers.

A couple of the selections on Did This For Hip Hop are little more than sketches, but hey, he's giving it away (and asking for "tips.") It almost goes without saying that the tracks featuring Ces Cru are fire.

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Blues man Willie "Big Eyes" Smith has died. (Tip via BGO.)

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The excellent video for Destroyer's "Savage Night at the Opera" reminds me of why Vancouver is my favorite city in North America. Kaput is highly recommended to anyone harboring an inexcusable nostalgia for the era in which Gary Wright was a radio star. (Guilty!)

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Why didn't anyone tell me about Death Grips? The free Exmilitary mixtape is among my favorite release of 2011.

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Rondo Leewright, of St. Louis' Rondo's Blues Deluxe, has died. His band was once a big club draw in Kansas City.

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I reviewed Time Travel, the new album by Never Shout Never, for Ink.

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Am I an idiot, or is Google's Music Beta deliberately confusing? Wait- don't answer that.

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Kansas City Click: Anthony Wilson is performing Friday at the Westport Coffee House Theater at Plastic Sax. I previewed the show at Plastic Sax.

Wrath & Ruin is at the Riot Room on Saturday.

I'll be with the hoi polloi at the Kauffman Center's open house on Sunday.

The Lonely Planet appear at Crosstown Station on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Crossroads Music Fest

Spontaneity isn't my specialty. I like plans and schedules. So when the Prairie Village Jazz Festival was washed away by a storm Saturday, I was temporary at a loss. (Here are my notes on that debacle.) The Jackson in my pocket would have been more than enough to get by at the free festival headlined by Bobby Watson and Deborah Brown, but it wouldn't necessarily get me far elsewhere.

I considered catching Clint Ashlock's jazz band at a coffee shop in the southern suburbs, New Ear's avant-classical concert, Steddy P.'s IndyFest at tbe Riot Room and a blues-based benefit at BB's Lawnside BBQ before biting the bullet at Crossroads Music Festival. The $15 cover immediately left me cash poor. After splurging on a $2 PBR at the Czar Bar, I mooched off friends.

















I saw about four inferior acts and four good bands. Here's what I liked:

The Columns did a straightforward rock-meets-R&B thing that just felt good. (That's event organizer Bill Sundahl on the far left of the top photo.) The Silver Maggies received invaluable contributions from Terrence Moore and Amy Farrand. Its hearty goth-tinged twang was similarly satisfying.

Faster Than Hell (middle photo) played in an alley behind a tattoo parlor. Perfect! A friend warned me to steer clear of Victor & Penny, but I was charmed by its throwback routine. The best surprise, however, was My Brothers & Sisters (bottom photo), a 15-piece collective led by Jamie Searle. The ensemble included a string quartet, four female vocalists and a three-piece horn section. The glorious mess reminded me of a David Byrne project.

Kansas City rewards improvisation.















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I don't go to movie theaters but I'd make an exception for Sounds and Silence, a documentary about the ECM record label. Here's the trailer.

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Confession time: Coldplay tickles my ears. I genuinely like everything I've heard from the forthcoming new album.

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Is it normal to study the schedules of music festivals you're not attending?

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Kansas City Click: Robert Earl Keen sings his songs Tuesday at Knuckleheads. (I love this song.)

Molotov and Making Movies perform at the Beaumont Club on Wednesday.

Alison Krauss appears Thursday at The Midland Theater.

(Original photos by There Stands the Glass.)

Missed the Saturday Dance

Thanks to my love of jazz, I quite frequently find myself surrounded by old folks. As a member of an audience of about 200 (!) at a piano trio gig earlier this week, I was one of the ten youngest people in the room. Aside from the speed at which they move while entering and exiting venues, I enjoy the company of my elders. They're attentive listeners. Unlike all too many concertgoers under the age of sixty, old people don't talk, text or take pictures while music's playing. God bless 'em.

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A new edition of "What's In My Bag?" featuring Seu Jorge and Almaz makes me happy.

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I was name-checked on Friday's edition of KCUR's Up To Date.

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Kansas City Click: David Letterman holds up a CD longbox of my favorite Los Lobos album in this clip. I'd forgotten that the awful packaging even existed. Los Lobos play Knuckleheads for the first time on Friday.

The Prairie Village Jazz Festival is Saturday.

The Features and Kevine Devine Sunday at The Record Bar.

Dominique Sanders leads Monday's jam session at The Blue Room.

Review: Goitse

Video stream of Goitse performing live

I was getting frustrated at Kansas City Irish Fest last Friday. The bands weren't getting it done. No amount of beer can make me like a watered down version of The Pogues. I was just about to give up when I encountered Goitse. The kids from Limerick had all the energy, passion and bum notes that most of the other bands lacked. Goitse possess the qualities people claim to admire in Mumford & Sons. Except Goitse is Irish. And trad. See for yourself in the link above.

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I consider Kansas City Irish Fest from a different angle at Plastic Sax.

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I attended a sold-out concert featuring Maroon 5, Train and Matt Nathanson. Here's my review.

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Kansas City's Stan Plesser has died.

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Wardell Quezergue has died. (Tip via Big Steve.)

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My friend and former boss LeRoy Johnson has died.

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Much of the new Wilco album sounds like outtakes from Let It Be. That's a compliment.

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Legendary A&R man Pete Lubin, a man I'm proud to call my friend, is interviewed at Popdose.

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Kansas City Click: New Jazz Order returns to Harling's on Tuesday.

Amy Farrand's Weirdo Wednesday Supper Club goes down weekly at Davey's.

Both Eilen Jewell and Butch Hancock perform at Knuckleheads on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Danny Brown- XXX

YouTube stream of Danny Brown's "30"

I have no business listening to XXX, the free new mixtape by Detroit-based rapper Danny Brown. I go to midday parades in the suburbs. Instead of plotting to "Die Like a Rock Star" while abusing Adderall, I think about the 2012 elections as I mow my lawn. Even so, my love of XXX isn't based on vicarious thrills. I respect Danny Brown's intelligence, humor and honesty. "I ain't never had sh*t- zilch, zero, none," he confesses as he calls out duplicitous rappers on "Lie4." And his music is great. XXX's grimy sound is what I liked about early Dizzee Rascal. He tellingly references Kool Keith on "Outer Space." His "anti-clean rap" is everything I wanted but didn't get out of Tyler the Creator's Goblin. XXX is messed up. And I can relate.

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Danny Brown is one of the opening acts on Das Racist's current tour.

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The Tedeschi Trucks Band sneaked up on me. Its show last night was one of my favorites of 2011. Here's my review.

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Wait… Meg of Meg & Dia was a contestant on the reality show The Voice? Why didn't I hear about this until after the fact?

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KCRW offers a stream of My Morning Jacket performing Orbital. Big thumbs up.

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I'd been sleeping on "Ghetto Dreams", the new Common and Nas collaboration.

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Kansas City Click: The great Marty Stuart is at Santa-Cali-Gon Days on Friday.

KC Irish Fest runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ledesi is Sunday's headliner at the VooDoo Lounge.

The Kansas City Symphony offers a free concert Sunday at Shawnee Mission Park.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Stephen Malkmus- Mirror Traffic

Video stream of "No One Is (As I Are Be)" by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

Many of friends are Deadheads. I'm perfectly content to listen to American Beauty when I hang out with them, but I'm always on the hunt for new music that bridges the gap between their worlds and mine. Mirror Traffic, the ramshackle new release by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, is such an album. As the video for "No One Is (As I Are Be)" suggests, it's really far out. I don't have any personal insights into the behavior of Malkmus, his bandmates in the Jicks or album producer Beck, but Mirror Traffic has a strong under-the-influence vibe. "All Over Gently" resembles a jam from a forgotten Mothers of Invention splinter group. And even on rockers like "Forever 28" and "Tune Grief," Malkmus' approximation of singing is just like Jerry's.

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Here's my review of a Def Leppard and Heart concert at Sprint Center.

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I reviewed the first set of Marilyn Maye's weeklong engagement at Jardine's.

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The video for Greg Enemy's "Sophisticated Goon Sh*t" is impressive.

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I relentlessly bash Satan Taylor Swift, but I have to admit that her live collabo with Nicki Minaj was pretty cool.

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I've seen several reports that Pearl Thuston-Brown has died. I last wrote about her at Plastic Sax in 2010.

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David "Honeyboy" Edwards has died. I posted photos of the blues legend performing at the 2006 Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival at Hit Random.

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Jerry Leiber died last week. My friend Joel Francis recounts the story of "Kansas City" here.

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Kansas City Click: The Intercontinental Hotel hosts Laura Chalk's album release gig on Tuesday.

The mighty Rhino Bucket hits the Riot Room on Wednesday.

The Tedeschi Trucks Band performs at Crossroads KC on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Solid! Solid as a Rock

I ventured into my basement today with Nick Ashford on my mind. The veteran singer, songwriter and performer died Monday. I seem to recall that I own a small stack of Ashford & Simpson vinyl. I intended to use one or more of the albums in an image for this blog. (I wish I had time to listen to them again.) Then it hit me- my collection was moved by other members of my compound after a recent wet basement incident. I can't locate the A-through-B section of my vinyl. I briefly considered throwing a hissy fit until I remembered that I'm the luckiest guy I know. I saw Steely Dan last night, Lil Wayne on Monday and Marbin on Sunday. I'll be out again every night this weekend. And I'm going to complain that my music collection is unmanageable? No, I'm "Solid". Thanks for indulging me as I work through my issues in public.

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It's not as if my dark side has permanently evaporated. Kevin Devine's "Ballgame" is one of the best songs about self-loathing I've encountered.

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The unlikely editorial decisions displayed in the new video for "How To Love" only heighten my man-crush on Weezy.

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Sanctuary.

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Kansas City Click: The Midland Theater hosts Return To Forever on Friday.

TV On the Radio perform at Crossroads KC on Saturday.

Marilyn Maye begins a week-long engagement at Jardine's on Sunday.

The Low Anthem play the Record Bar on Monday.

(Original image of the former location of a portion of my music collection by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Quixotic Fusion

I guess I'm a little slow. I'd seen Quixotic Fusion several times, but it wasn't until Sunday's free show at Crossroads KC that I understood the significance of the music and performance troupe. Hippies, punk rockers, theater people, suits, children and geezers were awestruck by Sunday's display. (It looked and sounded a lot like this.) I'm immune to Quixotic Fusion's charms, but it's finally apparent to me that the Kansas City collective is at the vanguard of fulfilling the heightened expectations of today's audiences.

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I've seen Lil Wayne perform four or five times now. Last night's performance was my favorite. Here's my review.

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Bill Frisell has a John Lennon cover band. Listen here.

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The Leopards' Kansas City Slickers album has been reissued on vinyl. "Dancing In the Snow" is pretty amazing. (Tip via FP.)

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Race Riot Suite, the forthcoming album by Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, will find a spot in my year-end top ten list. I posted a miniature review at Plastic Sax.

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A new Connie Smith album? Heck yes!

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I realize that Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber have died, but i just can't deal with those losses right now.

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Kansas City Click: Strange but true- Diamond Head performs at Knuckleheads on Tuesday.

Hidden Pictures are on the bill at The Brick on Wednesday.

I suspect that my favorite Steely Dan song will be played Thursday at Starlight Theater.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: The Pack A.D.- Unpersons

The Black Keys recently reminded me of something I'd come dangerously close to forgetting. A talented blues duo is capable of making people lose their minds. As the band from Akron played to a riotous crowd of over 10,000 at a racetrack, I saw fistfights, make-out sessions, temper tantrums and convulsive vomiting. Unpersons, the forthcoming release by The Pack A.D., contains a similarly sinister and potent energy. The Canadian duo of Maya Miller and Becky Blackmake make mean, dirty music meant to incite bad deeds. Asking if The Pack A.D. is as good as, say, Heartless Bastards misses the point. The music contained on Unpersons doesn't inspire such pointy-headed theorizing. The Pack A.D. provides an ideal soundtrack for fucking shit up drunken hijinks and meaningless acts of vandalism.

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The RFT offers a great interview with St. Louis treasure Joe Edwards.

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Here's the scoop on the 2011 edition of Crossroads Music Fest.

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Kansas City rapper Neko is interviewed at Credentials Hip Hop.

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This Farm Aid photo set is stunning.

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The new The War On Drugs is Boss!

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Kansas City Click: Brad Leali leads a band Thursday and Friday at The Blue Room.

The Black House Improvisors' Collective headline a free show Friday at La Esquina.

I might "Go Crazy" at Young Jeezy's concert Saturday at the Beaumont Club.

Marbin perform Sunday at The Record Bar.

Janet Jackson plays Starlight Theater on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Watch the Throne

Did you know that There Stands the Glass takes requests? A couple readers have asked me to post my thoughts on Watch the Throne. Largely because I love "event" albums, I'm happy to oblige. In an increasingly fragmented world, it's reassuring to know that every once in a while everyone (everyone who shares my love of hip hop and popular culture, anyway) is listening to the same thing at the same time. And I imagine they're all smiling. Watch the Throne is hilarious. Sometimes it's even funny on purpose. (Zing!) It's not nearly as good as Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3, but it's still essential. For one thing, the most prominent samples are of Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding and Nina Simone. That's like kryptonite to would-be haters with my predilections. Want more? Ghostface Killah's review of Watch the Throne is rather remarkable.

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I reviewed Theory of a Deadman's concert last Friday. I suppose I deserve the barb made by commenter 323, but dang… Nickelback.

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Top City! I'm impressed by the video for "Hood Boi by KO Streetz.

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"The Line (Super Soul)", a new single by D/Will and Les Izmore, is available as a free download.

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I do this Plastic Sax thing.

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Kansas City Click: The Loneliest Monk plays The Record Bar on Monday.

Everette DeVan has a weekly gig at The Phoenix on Tuesdays.

Janelle Monae opens for Katy Perry at The Sprint Center on Wedneday.

(Original photo by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: JJ Grey at Crossroads KC

Who wouldn't want to sound like Otis Redding? I respect JJ Grey's musical ambitions. As I tweeted last night from Crossroads KC, Grey is no Eddie Hinton, but he ain't bad. The Floridian's backing band included a trumpeter, saxophonist, organist and a guitarist who doubled on pedal steel. Grey is doing it right. Yet most of the 1,500 people in attendance were only there for headliner Jonny Lang. They wanted nothing to do with Grey's throwback R&B. (I opted not to stick around for this.)


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Vanilla Ice, Snoop Dogg and Eminem have performed in Kansas City this year. Lil Wayne plays here later this month. The Jay-Z and Kanye West tour comes to town in November. That means that six of the best-selling hip hop artists of all time will have performed in Kansas City in 2011. Missing- The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Outkast, Nelly, 50 Cent, and obviously, Tupac and Biggie.

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Ubiquitous of Ces Cru stars in the video for Reggie B's "Celeste."

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Uh oh. An impeccable lineup at the world's most famous jazz festival attracted a combined 12,500 fans last weekend. Here's The New York Times' review.

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Kansas City Click: I hope to catch Matt Otto at the Blue Room on Thursday.

I can't imagine who Howard Iceberg was referring to in his email solicitation for his Friday gig: As a once-in-a-lifetime special accommodation to those of you who like my songs but hate my singing (you know who you are), this Friday at The Writers Place I will be reading the lyrics to some of my songs as if they were poetry. Following which I will punish the attendees by singing a few songs anyway. The dope: This Friday, Aug 12th, 8:00pm, Writers Place.

The Dwarves open for Nashville Pussy Saturday at The Riot Room.

I've had many awkward moments at previous Pitch Music Awards ceremonies. This year's edition takes place Sunday at The Uptown Theater.

More of my picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Kanrocksas

I loved Kanrocksas. My notes are included in the coverage here and here. The best part of the fledgling festival? Excellent sound. The bar for outdoor productions in the Kansas City area has been raised. My ten favorite performances of the weekend:

1. A Perfect Circle
2. The Black Keys
3. The Flaming Lips
4. Doomtree
5. Best Coast
6. Fitz & The Tantrums
7. Kid Cudi
8. Ween
9. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
10. STS9

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Even though Kanrocksas was a good time, nothing I heard at the festival was as electrifying as My Morning Jacket's performance last Wednesday at The Uptown Theater. Here's my review.

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Until I read it in an obituary, I never knew that Gene McDaniels was born in Kansas City.

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I'm just as excited about Watch the Throne as anyone. Even so, I completely respect Chuck D's diss track "Notice- Know This".

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Kansas City Click: Abel Ramirez plays the former Gold Buffet on Tuesday.

Mike Dillon joins Snuff Jazz Wednesday at Grunauer.

Hospital Ships joins Cowboy Indian Bear at The Brick on Wednesday.

(Original image of an A Perfect Circle fan's t-shirt by There Stands the Glass.)

Bill Morrissey, 1951-2011

Years before I was employed by the record label, the budget-priced Rounder Folk compilation was one of the first titles I bought in the then-new CD format. The exhausted tone and cracked voice displayed on Bill Morrissey's "My Old Town" led me to believe that the man was well into his 60s. I was shocked when I discovered that he was still young. A combination of Hank Williams and Robert Frost, the New England-based singer-songwriter rarely toured in the Midwest. I saw him perform just once. His bearing at a Rounder Records convention in Cambridge made me realize that his songs about hard living were probably based on actual experience. "These Cold Fingers", for instance, details a botched marriage proposal, alcoholism, shattered ambition and shooting a debilitated dog. Morrissey died July 23. This fine appreciation of Morrissey's career provides valuable context.

There are some saints in hiding by the river in the reeds/And they're turning down every train that don't feel the right speed. Sing them this song when you pass by, it'll be your last good deed. Ah babe, it's true, the saints are down every line waiting just for you.

"Night Train," Bill Morrissey

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ECM's audio player for Levon Eskenian's The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble transports me to another realm.

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Here's nice news for bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma.

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This just in- Bjork's new song sounds just like Bjork.

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You'd think I'd love the new single by Mocean Worker. I hate it.

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I took no pleasure in trashing Snoop Dogg's performance in my town Tuesday. Here's my review.

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I reviewed last night's performance by Paul Thorn.

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I reviewed Big Scoob's Damn Fool album.

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"Yoga doesn't make you invisible!" I adore The Ettes.

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I suppose this marks the return of the "death blog," as my highly-valued friend BGO once put it. I still intend to note the recent passing of greats like Kenny Baker.

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Kansas City Click: My weekly show previews for Ink are here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Amy Winehouse, 1983-2011

Just like most everyone I know, I enjoy Amy Winehouse's two albums. Rather than turning to Frank and Back to Black when word of her death arrived yesterday, I lamented what might have been. Had she survived, it's very likely that Winehouse would have eventually focused on jazz. It's not much of a stretch. She'd already recorded "'Round Midnight" and "Moody's Mood For Love." She could have become her generation's Anita O'Day. Who knows how many people Winehouse would have turned on to Karrin Allyson, Mildred Bailey, Gretchen Parlato, Nancy Wilson and, of course, Billie Holiday? Losing Winehouse in 2011 is awful. Speculating on a jazz-oriented career that might have peaked in 2031 only deepens the pain.


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Yours truly can be seen handing Mega Ran a Nas CD as he freestyles at an in-store performance at Access Music in San Diego last week.

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The nomination for the Mercury Prize brought Ghostpoet to my attention. I'm embarrassed that I hadn't given him a listen until now. RIYL: Both Gil Scott-Heron and The Streets.

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Spotify make be clunky, but don't let its many detractors fool you- the streaming music service is a game-changer.

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Kansas City Click: Matt Otto plays The Record Bar on Sunday.

Dennis Winslett leads a jam session at The Blue Room on Monday.

Sade and John Legend will perform Tuesday at The Sprint Center.

Horse Opera hits The Record Bar on Wednesday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Lil Wayne- Sorry 4 the Wait

Audio stream of title track at YouTube

One of the revelations provided by hanging out at Turntable.fm is the depth of many people's loathing of Lil Wayne. It's not uncommon to find hip hop forums with guidelines like "Anything But That Blanking Lil Wayne." Haters gonna hate. Although I've been quick to mock Weezy's missteps, my criticism is based on disappointment rather than spite. I believe that if Wayne didn't constantly drop the "b," "f", "h," "n" and "p" words, his genius would be almost universally acknowledged. Sorry 4 the Wait, the free new mixtape that dropped last week as a stopgap until the oft-delayed Tha Carter IV is finally released is wildly inconsistent. Even so, Sorry 4 the Wait serves as yet another reminder that Wayne is head and shoulders above almost all of his peers.

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Kansas City Click: What?

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Keb' Mo' at Frontier Park

I don't mind sweating. As long as I have access to water, I actually enjoy the sensation of completely saturating my clothing. It's not much of an achievement this time of year in the Kansas City area. With the heat index over 100 last Friday evening, I headed directly to Olathe to catch Keb' Mo''s free concert at Frontier Park after mowing my lawn. Even in my dank condition, I dug the first song, a duet with opening act Kelley Hunt. I soon remembered, however, that Keb' Mo' appeals directly to James Taylor's fan base. The soft approach worked for most of the approximately 1,500 people who braved the heat, but I conceded after thirty minutes. July wins. I lose.

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I reviewed Dysfunctional, Ahmad Alaadeen's new oral autobiography, at Plastic Sax.

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Kansas City Click: You're on your own. I'm going to get back to enjoying the cool breeze right here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Grieves with Budo- Together/Apart

Grieves with Budo- "Bloody Poetry" video stream at YouTube

One of the toughest decisions the Warped Tour schedule forced me to make last week was whether to catch Lucero or Grieves with Budo. I went with the roots rockers. I don't regret it, but passing on the opportunity to see Grieves and multi-instrumentalist Budo in their first Kansas City-area show since they parted ways with the locally-based Black Clover label hurt. Others can make fun of so-called emo-rap all they like. I've loved Grieves songs like "I Ate Your Soul" for years. The new album Together/Apart on the Rhymesayers label contains several new favorites. Grieve's dark rhymes are good but what really makes Together/Apart work are the jazz, pop and avant-garde leanings of beat-maker Budo. I also appreciate the superior packaging.


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Am I influential or merely prescient? Laurie Anderson and Phillip Glass have been booked at the Kauffman Center. I mentioned them as ideal candidates for the new performance space in an ill-tempered rant eight months ago.

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The photos accompanying my review of Gomez's concert are excellent.

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I like Ted Nugent.

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Does my interest in the new Winnie the Pooh soundtrack make me a creep?

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I wish I connected with the music of Terri Lyne Carrington's new project.

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Kansas City Click: The Randy Rogers Band appears at the Power & Light free concert series on Thursday.

Keb Mo and Kelley Hunt play a free show in Olathe on Friday.

Rob Zombie headlines a "low-dough-show" Saturday at Sandstone.

Innerpartysystem appear at The Midland on Sunday.

The Fleet Foxes play The Uptown Theater on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

My Turntable.fm Problem

My name is Solar Compactor and I have a Turntable.fm problem.

The new social media/streaming music service is so compelling that I'm often tempted to neglect my real life obligations so that I may goof off in its digital playground. Even as I write these words, I'm actually weighing the option of staying glued to Turntable.fm instead of attending tonight's Gomez/Mike Doughty concert.

The sonic voyeurism also confirms traditional stereotypes. Jazz cats are bitter snobs. Hip hop heads are obsessed with one-upping one another on knowledge of their music's history. Indie rock fans are lemmings. Metal dudes are elitists. Even so, the opportunity to listen to and chat about Mulatu Astatke in real time seems like a dream come true.

It'd be even better with you there. I still haven't found a single forum where I can comfortably share my affection for N.R.B.Q., Ted Hawkins, Tech N9ne, Slayer, Coleman Hawkins and Asha Bhosle. Help me out.

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I have another Warped Tour under my belt. Here's my review of Wednesday's tour stop.

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Kansas City Click: If I'm not geeking out on Turntable.fm on Friday night, I'll be singing along to Gomez at Crossroads KC.

John Anderson will be getting wild and blue at Knuckleheads on Saturday.

Ben Folds returns to Crossroads KC on Sunday. I regret that I never saw him do this.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Point Juncture, WA- Handsome Orders

Point Juncture, WA- "Violin Case" video stream

My tastes have changed considerably in the intervening years, but there was a time when each new release by record labels like Homestead, SST and Twin/Tone changed my life. Handsome Orders, the fine new album by Point Juncture, WA is a glorious throwback to those simpler times. It's jangly and arty- and it rocks. Reference points include Paul McCartney and Mitch Easter. "Baptist Jesus" even manages to sound like a mashup of Yes and R.E.M. And I'm down with any band that's willing to title a song "The Economics of Basketball."

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I reviewed Friday's "concert" by Ray J.

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I reviewed a recent performance by The Civil Wars.

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Last week's new releases, in order of personal preference: Gillian Welch, Beyonce, Amina Alaoui, Rave On Buddy Holly, Taking Back Sunday, Ben Williams, Jolie Holland, Thievery Corporation, Eilen Jewell, Richard Thompson- Live at the BBC, Dolly Parton, Queensryche, Big Sean and Curren$y.

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Credentials Hip Hop offers a list of the Top 10 Kansas City Hip Hop Albums of 2011 So Far.

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Wugazi!

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The Jayhawks have reunited.

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"Are you wearing underwear?" Here's an odd interview with Wayne Coyne at Love Garden.

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Why am I attracted to videos featuring vomiting? Appetite's "Tussy" is a nausea-inducing joyride.

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Kansas City Click: Marnie Stern plays the Record Bar on Tuesday.

Here's a list of the ten acts I'm most looking forward to catching at Warped Tour on Wednesday: Grieves with Budo, Lucero, MC Lars, Bad Rabbits, Foxy Shazam, Moving Mountains, Hellogoodbye, Lionize, August Burns Red and The Bots.

Pat Travers appears at Knuckleheads on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Call That Brainstorming: Music Midway in 2011

Is 2011 a good year in music? Beats me. For every great thing (the rollout of Turntable.fm and the rise of OFWGKTA) there are offsetting disappointing developments (Beyonce's disastrous new music and the premature deaths of Billy Bang, Nate Dogg and Gil Scott-Heron.) Well, I'm still here obsessing about music. Here are three lists containing sixty things I love.

25 Best Albums of 2011 (so far)
1. Bill Frisell and Vinicius Cantuaria- Lagrimas Mexicanas
2. Tech N9ne- All 6's and 7's
3. Reverend John Wilkins- You Can't Hurry God
4. Joe Lovano & Us Five- Bird Songs EPK
5. F*cked Up- David Comes To Life
6. David Binney- Graylen Epicenter
7. Mac Lethal- North Korean BBQ
8. The Go! Team- Rolling Blackouts
9. The Get-Up Kids- There Are Rules
10. James Farm- James Farm
11. Paul Simon- So Beautiful Or So What
12. Captain Black Big Band- Captain Black Big Band
13. Hospital Ships- Lonely Twin
14. Bon Iver- Bon Iver
15. Nicholas Payton- B*tches
16. Atmosphere- Family Sign
17. Israel Nash Gripka- Barn Doors and Concrete Floors
18. DJ 2-Tone Jones- Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber
19. Pat Metheny- What's It All About
20. Terell Stafford- This Side of Strayhorn
21. Ambrose Akinmusire- When the Heart Emerges Glistening
22. Steddy P- What Happened Tomorrow
23. Mr. Marcos' V7- Sparkin' Your Mama
24. The Streets- Computers and Blues interactive film
25. Tyler the Creator- Goblin

25 Best Live Performances of 2011 (so far)
1. Joe Lovano & Us Five- Folly Theater
2. Deftones- VooDoo Lounge
3. Daniel Johnston with Capybara- Beaumont Club
4. Janelle Monae- Independence Events Center
5. Del McCoury with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band- Lied Center
6. Stone Sour- Rockfest
7. Kool Keith- Czar Bar
8. Bach Aria Soloists (tango concert)- All Souls Unitarian Church
9. Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience- VooDoo
10. Jonathan Butler- Gem Theater
11. Karrin Allyson- Folly Theater
12. Motley Crue- Sprint Center
13. Ingrid Fliter and the Kansas City Symphony- Lyric Theater
14. Old Crow Medicine Show- Crossroads KC
15. Diverse with Tony Tixier- Grant Recital Hall
16. Clutch- The Midland Theater
17. Todd Clouser- Record Bar
18. New Ear/Owen Cox- Union Station
19. Tribute to Miles Davis- Crosstown Station
20. Toots and the Maytals- Crossroads KC
21. Deborah Brown- Gem Theater
22. Snuff Jazz- Crosstown Station
23. Kenny Rogers- VooDoo Lounge
24. DJ P- Zebedee's
25. New Jazz Order- Polsky Theater

Ten Best Singles of 2011 (so far)
1. Tyler the Creator- "Yonkers"
2. Kelly Rowland- "Motivation"
3. Lil Wayne- "6 Foot 7 Foot"
4. Adele- "Rolling In the Deep"
5. Jill Scott with Anthony Hamilton- "So In Love"
6. Manchester Orchestra- "Simple Math"
7. Vybz Kartel featuring Sheba- "You & Him Deh"
8. Spoek Mathambo- "Control"
9. Ledisi- "Pieces of Me"
10. Mary Mary- "Walking"

(Original image of Motley Crue concert by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Priory

Priory performing "Kings of Troy" live, YouTube video stream

I laughed as I surveyed NPR's new "Best of the Year (so far)" list today. It's not that I'm dismissive of the selections. I respect The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, Death Cab For Cutie and My Morning Jacket, six of the top ten picks. It's the predictability of the consensus voting that irks me. The problem is that developing and low-profile acts like Priory are inevitably overlooked. Like their better-publicized peers, the members of the Portland-based band are masters of melody and impeccable purveyors of discrete indie rock. The new self-titled album is very fine. Priory's primary flaw is that it exists in an overly crowded field- one that's already dominated by the aforementioned acts. Priory performs Sunday, June 26, at The Granada in Lawrence, and Monday, June 27, at the Riot Room in Kansas City.

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Mike Waterson of The Watersons has died.

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James "Pappy" Garrett of the area band Cadillac Flambe, was killed in a car accident last Sunday morning.

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How dare I call the members of Motley Crue and Poison cartoonish! Here's my review of Tuesday's concert.

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The devil is real. (Lord help me- I love these evil kids.)

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The end is nigh, part two. (Love her, too!)

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Kansas City Click: Norman Brown plays at Jazz In the Woods on Friday.

Del tha Funky Homosapien appears at the Riot Room on Saturday.

Crosstown Station hosts a tribute to Howard Iceberg on Sunday.

Priory plays the Riot Room on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Take Me Out With the Crowd

People often say they don't like big crowds. Not me. I love attending outdoor festivals, sporting events and concerts in arenas. Even so, my affection for decidedly unpopular music often places me in nearly empty rooms. This is the scene at a performance I attended yesterday. The audience for a ten-piece band never numbered more than four while I was there. At least it was better than the same event on the previous Monday. I was the only listener last week. The music's great, but I don't think I can bear to go back. Warped Tour can't come soon enough.

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This week's new releases, in order of personal preference: Ninety Miles, Bon Iver, Jill Scott, Gerald Wilson, Grieves, The Red Button, Dave Alvin, Gomez, Jim Lauderdale, In Flames, Laura Cantrell, Centro-Matic, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Bo-Keys, August Burns Red, Justin Moore, Messy Marv, Dave Valentin, Viva Voce and Pitbull.

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Clarence Clemons has died.

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Wild Man Fischer has died.

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Rockabilly musician Mack Self has died.

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I'm intrigued by a new set of ECM remixes.

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Laurie Pepper has issued a 1980 session of Art Pepper recordings on her Widow's Taste label. A free download from the box set is available here. (Via Jazz Wax.)

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Guess who has made a big band album?

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Kansas City Click: Here's something I've never been able to write at There Stands the Glass: The New York Dolls are in town! The band is at the Sprint Center on Tuesday.

A Vibe Called Def will feature a live performance of Mos Def's Black On Both Sides Wednesday at the Blue Room.

The Lonely Forest is at Crosstown Station Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: David Bazan- Strange Negotiations

A lot of my acquaintances are baffled by my faith. Many people seem to think that drinking, cursing and headbanging are incompatible with spirituality. The most intolerant accusations, ironically, usually come from people who disdain religion entirely. David Bazan has dealt with these issues on a dramatic scale. While his relationship with God is none of my business, it continues to make for compelling music. Strange Negotiations, his latest post- Pedro the Lion album, combines the philosophical musings of vintage Richard Thompson with the toughness of contemporary rockers like F*cked Up. My favorite song on the album, "Virginia", is atypically austere.


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The video for Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat's "The Copper Top" is devastating. Watch it and weep.

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Pat Metheny continues to find new ways to blow my mind.

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Carl Gardner of The Coasters has died. Here's my summer theme song.

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I admired Old Crow Medicine Show's first concert in Kansas City, Missouri. Here's my review.

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Kansas City Click: I don't know why another dude's name is attached to some of these blurbs, but these show previews- excepting the one for Ray LaMontagne- are mine. You can find my work every week in Ink Magazine.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Sunburned and Constipated

I listened to the All Songs Considered podcast discussion of The Year's Best Music (So Far) yesterday. I enjoyed the effort even though I don't share the panelists' tastes. NPR Music, the forum's parent, offered a separate list that includes a handful of titles more to my liking. Even so, the sensibilities of these refined list makers is worlds removed from mine. "Sunburned and constipated," I responded when a friend asked how I was feeling yesterday. I blasted a rock station's broadcast of Korn's "Freak On a Leash" and Staind's "For You" during my commute from work last night. No, I don't have a CD player in my car. I don't even have A/C. My affection for disaffected music is undoubtedly related to that issue.

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This week's new releases, in order of personal preference: Pat Metheny, Terakaft, Bad Meets Evil (Eminem and Royce Da 5'9"), Aaron Goldberg/Guillermo Klein, Ledisi, , Erik Friedlander, Neil Young, Freddie Hubbard, Junior Boys, Madeleine Peyroux and Black Country Communion.

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Marilyn Maye has been hospitalized.

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I reviewed Deborah Brown's recent concert at Plastic Sax.

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Music industry veteran Steve Popovich died June 8.

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Seth Putnam of Anal C*nt has died.

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Credentials HIp Hop, a Kansas City hip hop blog, is back on the scene.

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Kansas City Click: March Fourth Marching Band performs at Crossroads KC on Tuesday.

Brandi Carlile is Wednesday's opener at Starlight.

Jason Ricci plays Knuckleheads on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Mystic Number National Bank

Mystic Number National Bank- "St. James Infirmary" stream at YouTube

There are countless albums dating from the late '60s and early '70s by forgotten boogie bands. This is just another act with an embarrassingly overt debt to Cream. But because it's new to me, and because the band was from Kansas City, Mystic Number National Bank is among my current obsessions. I almost didn't give the self-titled album a try when I noticed that the opening track is titled "Blues Jam" and the closing song is titled "Blues So Bad." Thankfully, it's not all about Eric Clapton. The influences of the Mothers of Invention, Blood, Sweat & Tears and (unexpectedly) Neil Diamond provide balance. Kansas City's always been a boogie-happy town, but this album reminds me that the form doesn't have to be boring.

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Here's a nice video synopsis of last week's amazing MidCoast Cares benefit for Joplin at Crosstown Station.

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Chris Mills' notes on his experience at Wakarusa are illuminating.

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All 6's and 7's, Tech N9ne's new album, is very good. Here's my review.

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I reviewed a Kenny Rogers concert last night.

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I reviewed Tuesday's performance by Toots and the Maytals a few days ago.

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I don't know which I like more- Grieves or Rhymesayers' packaging EPKs.

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Whoop whoop! The new Gathering of the Juggalos promo video is brilliant. The really good stuff starts around the 7:30 mark.

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Kansas City Click: Deborah Brown is backed by a European band Saturday at the Blue Room and Sunday at the Gem Theater.

The People's Liberation Big Band return to the Record Bar on Sunday.

Ivan and Alyosha play the Record Bar on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Young Jeezy- The Real Is Back

Young Jeezy permanently changed my listening habits in 2005. The Snowman's impact on me wasn't directly related to the associated "No Snitchin'" mindset or the ingestion of drugs. I'd been deliberately avoiding succumbing to trap music, but "Go Crazy" forced me to realize that resistance was futile. I've been part of the problem ever since. "My President" aside, Jeezy has lazily repeated his recipe. His sing-song tributes to street life are musical junk food. I give the man credit for coming up with the formula, but there's been laughably little in the way of musical progression in the intervening years. A placeholder for Thug Motivation 103, the free mixtape The Real Is Back is more of the same. And yet I listen.

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This week's new releases, in order of personal preference: Tech N9ne, Gene Watson and Rhonda Vincent, F*cked Up, Artic Monkeys, Joe Jackson, Battles, Lee Konitz/Brad Mehldau/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian, Chick Corea, Joe Ely, Black Lips, Morbid Angel, Randy Travis, Craig Taborn, Ronnie Dunn, Frank Turner, Cults, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tommy Castro, Dawes and Sondre Lerche.

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I really like the new video for Tyler the Creator's "She." Does that make me a bad person?

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Jazz pianist Ray Bryant has died. He's best know in pop culture for his hit "The Madison Time.

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Benny Spellman has died. It doesn't get much better than this.

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Andrew Gold has died.

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Here's a new video featuring Mac Lethal and Irv da Phenom. (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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You'll need to fish around at his site to find the information, but Israel Nash Gripka is offering a three-song EP. Proceeds benefit Joplin's storm victims. Gripka's Barn Doors & Concrete Floors is my favorite folk-rock album of 2011.

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Kansas City Click: Toots & the Maytals perform Tuesday at Crossroads KC.

Steve Poltz returns to Davey's on Wednesday.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat play the Record Bar on Thursday. Chatham County Line play Davey's on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Easy Does It: Lagrimas Mexicanas

"Aguela Mulher" stream at YouTube

It's been a noisy year. I've taken to relaxing to the sounds of Slayer and Albert Ayler. I'm geeked for tonight's Tech N9ne concert. Even so, the album I've listened to most in 2011 is Lagrimas Mexicanas, the quiet new collaboration between guitarist Bill Frisell and Vincious. The intoxicating project has even replaced Ali Farka Toure's The Source as my primary soundtrack during my regular visits to western Kansas. Sure- songs like "Aguela Mulher" could be characterized as fancy-pants easy listening music. Wanna make something of it?

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That reminds me- "Have You Never Been Mellow?"

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I don't regret downloading Young Jeezy's The Real is Back mixtape.

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Here's a promotional video for my friend Corky's book of photography.

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Members of The Kansas City Symphony are pleased with their new performance venue.

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"Guntitled", the latest video from Ces Cru, features Mac Lethal. (Via Wayward Blog.)

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I had my hopes up high. I expect great, not merely good, from Joe Ely. Here's my review of last night's performance.

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Kansas City Click: Tech N9ne performs at the Midland Theater on Friday. Here's his ambitious new video for "He's a Mental Giant."

Bobby Watson collaborates with Bach Aria Soloists on Saturday.

Ben Harper performs at Crossroads KC on Sunday.

Sleigh Bells and Neon Indian play the Midland on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)