Stylus Style

I almost fell off the wagon this week. No, not booze- records. I accidentally stumbled across this guy on YouTube. Sure, he's a geek, but he's my kind of geek. It's easy to mock record nerds, but Lord help me, I really wish I could spend all weekend crate digging.


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Here's my review of last night's concert by James Galway.

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If Ear X-tacy- can't make it...

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Pianist Walter Norris has died.

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Listen to excerpts of Keith Jarrett's Rio new album here.

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Miranda Lambert's new album is pretty darn good.

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I listened to the new collection of Smile outtakes today. They gave me a headache.

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Man Bear's Talking Drunk at 2 a.m. is available as a free download. RIYL: Don't Tell a Soul.

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Kansas City Click: My official show picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Murs- Love and Rockets Vol. 1

Murs- "316 Ways" video stream

Murs may have cut his hair but he didn't fall off. Like a reverse Samson, in fact, Murs demonstrates renewed vigor on his new album Love & Rockets, Vol. 1: The Transformation. Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places, but it seems like the project is being roundly ignored. "316 Ways" is vicious- watch the video already- but most of the album is far more relaxed. "Eazy-E" is a joyous tribute to West Coast hip hop. More than a mere celebration of jetsetting, "International" encourages listeners to travel. "Remember 2 Forget" is about the unwelcome recalcitrance of our hearts. A hip hop rarity, "Animal Style" tells a tragic story about the consequences of homophobia. I don't even miss the dreads.


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Just because Herbie Hancock is one of my heroes doesn't mean I'm incapable of giving him a bad review.

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I liked seeing and smelling manure on the sidewalks of Grand Boulevard. Here's my report on the American Royal's debut at Sprint Center.

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Exibit #231 in the case against OFWGKTA.

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I love the handy video preview for Wale's new album.

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Listen to Erin KcKeown's F*ck That: The Anti-Holiday Album here.

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The Granny Smith Theorem, a new mix tape by Les Izmore and D/Will, is available now.

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The music on the new video by Stik Figa and D. Will begins around the 2:30 mark.

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Kansas City Click: The Toasters play the Riot Room on Tuesday.

Tommy Womack returns to Davey's on Wednesday.

The Smoking Popes visit Riot Room on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Kemper Countdown

Kemper Arena may soon collapse for good. I'll always remember it as the one-time home of the Kings. Before the NBA became popular, my dad regularly scored courtside seats. Seeing players like George Gervin and Darryl Dawkins up close had a huge impact on my world view. It wasn't much of a music venue, but I saw dozens of concerts at the old barn. Here are my ten favorite music experiences at Kemper Arena:

1. Marvin Gaye- I saw more women's underwear on the night of June 26, 1983, than I've seen in the subsequent 28 years.
2. The Who- Alas, after the death of Keith Moon.
3. Bruce Springsteen- I first saw him at Kemper in 1981, but I preferred the 2002 tour in support of The Rising.
4. Prince- What a freak!
5. Tool- The first time is always the best.
6. Christina Aguilera- The girl put on a show.
7. T.I.- I love being in the midst of thousands of people who are losing their collective sh*t.
8. Bob Seger- It seems improbable now, but he was once a superstar.
9. Dixie Chicks- They threw it all away.
10. Bob Dylan- He was monumentally awful.

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I don't care what you think- I like Coldplay. Even so, the video for "Paradise" isn't nearly as good as the opening theme of the The Banana Splits.

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While I'm still on the fence about Terri Lyne Carrington's new album, this video of a live performance is excellent.

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I'll spend much of next week studying Danny Brown's new project.

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"Hornets! Hornets!" Please sing along for me tonight at The Midland.

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Kansas City Click: Here are my official picks.

(Original image of 8th row ticket (!) by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: John Tavener's Lament For Jerusalem at Village Presbyterian Church

A blurb on the cover of the program for Sunday's performance of the 2003 composition Lament For Jerusalem: A Mystical Love Song suggests that the concert was the "Mid-west" [sic] premier [sic] of a new choral/orchestra work by John Tavener".

Awkward and misleading wording aside, it's surprising that Tavener's work had yet to be performed in Kansas City. The composition's accessibility and extreme political correctness make it a natural fit for the region's kind sensibility. Perhaps logistics have been the barrier. A massive ensemble- 68 voices in the choir, 25 musicians in the orchestra, countertenor Jay Carter (a revelation) and soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson performed the piece at Village Presbyterian Church.

Lament For Jerusalem's primary theme was repeated several times while the choir's contribution occasionally resembled a less ominous version of "O Fortuna". Based on Judaic, Christian and Islamic texts, the epic piece examines the ongoing battle to control Jerusalem. I sat near the front of the chapel so I don't have a sense of the how the audience of about 400 responded to the piece. I enjoyed it enough to add Naxos' version to my next Amazon order.

The same ensemble will reprise the composition at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 30, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Redemptorist Catholic Church. Recommended.


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I reviewed Joe Lovano and Us 5's appearance at the Gem Theater.

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I went to the wrong shows Saturday. I'll forever regret failing to attend Vincente Fernandez's concert at Sprint Center.

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Bassist Ben Williams is featured in one of NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts."

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Edmundo Ros has died. (Tip via BGO.)

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The best new Peter Gabriel album isn't by Peter Gabriel. Old-school fans of Melt will be astonished by M83.

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Kansas City Click: Helmet- yes, that Helmet- play the Riot Room on Tuesday.

Cavalera Conspiracy (don't click on the link) visit the Midland on Wednesday.

The Hold Steady finally makes its Kansas City debut Thursday at the Midland Theater.

(Original image of cringe-worthy car bumper by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: An Evening With Virgil T. at Helzberg Hall

The seven dollars I invested in an "obstructed view" ticket to Thursday's Homecoming: An Evening with Virgil T. concert at Helzberg Hall might be the best money I've spent all year.

Although Virgil Thomson is Kansas City's best known classical composer, I'm only familiar with his score for The River. A learned gentleman of my acquaintance repeatedly referred to the event as a tribute to Aaron Copland. Thomson has become a stranger in his own home town. That's one reason the event was significant. The other was the inspired collection of local musicians assembled by Nathan Granner.

Here are a few of my favorite moments:

*Mezzo-soprano Elaine Fox's vocals on William Blake's The Tiger! were enthralling.

*Two selections from the opera Four Saints in Three Acts floored me. I'm deeply embarrassed by my ignorance of this work.

*Given my predilections, it's not surprising that The People's Liberation Big Band's rendition of Overture: The Mother of Us All was my favorite piece of the night.

*Shay Estes, an occasional PLBB collaborator, startled me during an appearance by The Monocle. She just keeps getting better.

*An unaccompanied solo accordion piece by Kyle Dalquist amazed me.

*The concert was filmed for use in a public television documentary about Thomson. Watching annoyed patrons in the good seats shield their eyes from the glare of camera lights amused me.

About that obstructed view seat: The piano sounded as if it was coming from the Kauffman Center's lobby. Much of the commentary by Crosby Kemper III and Dr. Andrew Granade was impossible to make out. I would have liked to have heard what Kemper said about a composition titled "Cynthia Kemper: A Fanfare," but his remarks were inaudible.

Full when the concert began, about ninety percent of the people in my section didn't return after intermission. About a quarter of the entire audience of approximately 1,200 departed at the same time.

I sat in prime seats during my three previous visits to Helzberg Hall. The sound was perfect. I can now confirm the discontented grumbling I've heard from friends and associates- until corrections are made, the oft-repeated notion that there's no such thing as a bad seat in Helzberg Hall is a fallacy.

Even so, I would have paid ten times more for the remarkable experience I enjoyed Thursday.


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I can no longer deny the genius of Tune-Yards.

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You can have Mayer Hawthorne and Raphael Saadiq. I choose Jose James.

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Here's ECM's audio player for Stefano Battaglia Trio's The River of Anyder. This represents my happy place.

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Spotify tech question- how do I view all available albums by an artist or composer?

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Sports fans need to hear Billy Bob Thornton's finest moment (not kidding) before the conclusion of the World Series.

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Blues pianist Earl Gilliam has died.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks of the week are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Kindred the Family Soul- Love Has No Recession

Kindred the Family Soul- "Sticking With You" video stream

I derive more pleasure from Rihanna's pop songs than a teenager. I freely whip my hair back and forth. Yet I reluctantly acknowledge my status as an adult. That's why I embrace Kindred the Family Soul. Love Has No Recession, the new album by the husband-and-wife duo, is music for grownups. Its songs address real-life relationship issues in the context of today's economic climate. Anyone who's still lamenting the loss of Nick Ashford needs this album in her or her life.


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I'm a sucker for bluegrass-meets-jazz and bluegrass-meets-classical collaborations. I'm charmed, consequently, by the Goat Herd Sessions.

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Pete Rugolo has died. (Tip via BGO.)

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I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I really enjoy the new Pearl Jam album.

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"Still Tippin'": Have you seen this slice of insanity from ASAP Rocky?

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Kansas City Click: Milagres plays the Riot Room on Tuesday.

Kim Richey sings at the Record Bar on Wednesday.

Mayer Hawthorne is on Thursday bill at the Midland Theater. I love the concept of this video.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Bert Jansch, 1943-2011

My first exposure to Bert Jansch was his 1990 album Sketches. My coworker, the late Dan Conn, played it when a promotional copy crossed his desk. The third track, "Poison", floored me. I've been captivated by the Scotsman's music ever since.

Jansch died last week. Rather than immersing myself in Jansch's music, I've been listening to living artists of the same ilk. It's a gross oversimplification, but Jansch was like a quieter Richard Thompson, a more muscular Nick Drake or a Scottish version of Chris Smither. I've also returned to the music of June Tabor and Roy Harper. This recent Harper appearance on BBC Breakfast is totes-awk.

A reader asked for an album recommendation. Pentangle was a bit too precious for me, so I'll suggest he start by checking out the traditional "Blackwater Slide" . If he likes what hears, I'd recommend beginning with Rosemary Lane.


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I spent over twelve hours at Rhythm & Ribs on Saturday. Here's my synopsis.

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I reviewed Laurie Anderson's performance at Helzberg Hall.

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Cosign.

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Charles Tolliver is still alive? Why is his genius being so roundly ignored?

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Unless you intend to spend $25 on the entire Fire In My Bones compilation of raw gospel, I discourage you from grabbing the three free MP3s at the link. You'll immediately discover that you need the entire set.

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Skateboarder Sean Malto is featured in Dutch Newman's lastest video. (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

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All I want for Christmas is a Fania box set.

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Ha ha!

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Oh, Mac Lethal! What are we going to do with you?

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Watch thirty wonderful minutes of Rev. John Wilkins here.

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Pop pianist Roger Williams has died.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks for the week are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Opeth at the Beaumont Club

Words a headbanger never hopes to hear: "Here's some Swedish folk music for you."

Mikael Åkerfeldt, the mastermind behind Opeth, intentionally baited an audience of almost 1,000 Thursday at the Beaumont Club.

Most members of the audience were in the mood for this. They heard something a lot like this instead. Åkerfeldt has abandoned death metal. The Opeth of 2011 sounds more like Tony Williams' Lifetime and King Crimson than Iron Maiden and Pantera. The new album Heritage is a refreshing blast of prog-rock and jazz fusion.

I love Opeth's new sound, but the band was subjected to jeers and heckling throughout its set. (The vibe was akin to the atmosphere captured on this fan footage from a show last month in Ohio. And to be fair, I'd be angry too if I'd unknowingly paid $30 for a bait-and-switch.) Frustrated denizens of the mosh pit resorted to slamming into one another during acoustic jams. Åkerfeldt seemed to feed off the negativity. A bit of a condescending fop, Åkerfeldt gave as good as he got.

It was possibly the weirdest show I've seen this year.


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My friends at KDHX asked me to link to their Live at KDHX, Volume 9 premium for the stations' current fund drive. The compilation features There Stands the Glass favorites Ozomatli, Bettie Serveert and Ray Wylie Hubbard.

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Teisha June Helgerson of Amelia has died. The band was featured at There Stands the Glass in 2008.

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I wonder if Tom Petty thinks about Dwight Twilley these days. Twilley's new album came out this week.

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Rdio is free-ish again. Here's my account if you care to follow me.

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Kansas City Click: Sir Threadius Mongus perform Friday at La Esquina.

"Cry Cry Cry" is probably my favorite Bobby "Blue" Bland song. The legend is on the bill of Saturday's Rhythm & Ribs festival.

Laurie Anderson visits Helzberg Hall on Sunday.

Jazzbo appears every Monday at Jazz in midtown.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Sir Michael Rocks- Premier Politics

Sir Michael Rocks- "Cell Dope" (video at YouTube)

When I heard an abominable track on terrestrial radio over the weekend I immediately assumed it was a demo by a local artist. Wrong! The hideous song turned out to be the new J. Cole hit. When quality control at the highest level is so suspect, it's completely understandable that Sir Michael Rocks of The Cool Kids feels compelled to release a free mix tape that flirts with the hip hop mainstream. Raves from nerds like me only gets an acclaimed underground hip hop act like The Cool Kids so far. If J. Cole can be star, then who am I to complain when Sir Michael Rocks sells out?

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Go ahead and call me a Wynton Marsalis apologist. Here's my review of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's concert Saturday at Helzberg Hall.

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I'm on a George Russell jag.

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I muse about the challenges inherent in watching other people listen to music.

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I wish most media outlets understood that there's a big difference between Hank Williams and Bocephus.

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Tony Ladesich made a nice video for punk-metal band Faster Than Hell.

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I dig the EPK for Christian McBride's new big band album.

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Kansas City Click: New Jazz Order perform at 1911 Main on Tuesday.

The Record Bar hosts Wild Flag on Wednesday.

I'm obsessed with Opeth's new album. The death metal/European folk band appears at the Beaumont Club on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Dum Dum Girls- Only In Dreams

Dum Dum Girls- "Bedroom Eyes" (video at YouTube)

Two albums were in near-constant rotation among my circle of friends in 1981. The Pretenders' 1980 debut and Beauty and the Beat by The Go-Go's never seemed to stop playing. The former project was the default soundtrack for hanging out with guys. The second album was adored by my female friends. Most of my associates weren't music nerds like me; they just wanted mood-setting background music.

We also listened to Controversy, Tattoo You, Being With You, Abacab, Ghost In the Machine and Nine Tonight. I recall needing to play No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, Stands for Decibels,, East Side Story, Wild Gift and Short Back 'n' Sides when no one else was around.

These thirty-year-old recollections overcame me as I first listened to Only In Dreams, the new album by Dum Dum Girls. Songs like "Bedroom Eyes" serve as an excellent tribute to Chrissie Hynde and to the girl group sound revived by The Go-Go's.

We were a reckless bunch, so it's not surprising that AIDS, car accidents and substance abuse have felled several of my friends from that era. I miss them, but getting teary-eyed isn't going to get me anywhere. Besides, I should be focusing on The Dum Dum Girls' tour schedule.

I think I'm "Coming Down".


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Pat Metheny and Larry Grenadier were excellent last night. Here's my review of their concert.

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I'd forgotten that hip hop executive Sylvia Robinson was also Sylvia of Mickey & Sylvia fame. Robinson died Thursday. Life, like love, is strange.

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What's with the sudden outbreak of piano duets? I'm not sold on Orvieto, the new album by Chick Corea and Stefano Bollani.

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Kansas City Click: Trumpet #1: Ambrose Akinmusire appears Friday at Yardley Hall.

Trumpet #2: Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra visit Helzberg Hall on Saturday.

Trumpet #3: The Kerry Strayer Orchestra features a full trumpet section. Its monthly gig returns to Jardine's on Sunday.

Trumpet #4: Maurice Brown performs Monday at the Blue Room.

(Original image of lonely singer-songwriter by There Stands the Glass.)

Typewriter Ribbon

Karma, as no one has ever said, is a bear.

Even though I realized that people were doing the right thing by putting money into the hands of a very worthy band, I scoffed as impressed passerby purchased physical copies of The Grisly Hand's album at the band's fine performance Sunday at the Plaza Art Fair. Didn't they realize that until recently the album was available as a free download at Bandcamp?

The joke was on me. Hours later, the hard drive on my new MacBook Pro died. Everything- including about 48 hours of music- was lost.

Suddenly, my typewriter ribbon museum, as I've come to refer to my absurdly massive CD collection, doesn't seem quite so useless. My stacks of box sets look especially appealing after the devastating digital loss. My interest in Pop Market has also been revived. I was tempted by today's offer of a "bundle" (ugh!) of Wilco vinyl and by yesterday's discount on an Earth, Wind & Fire box set on CD.

I suppose I could spend my money on The Grisly Hand's album. My previous copy is gone forever.

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I reviewed Saturday's Uproar Festival. As is often the case with my reviews, one or two of the indignant comments are more entertaining than my recap.

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The last thing I did before my hard drive collapsed was make note of my attendance at Sunday's performances by The Grisly Hand at the art fair and by Todd Clouser at Jardine's. That put me at 287 shows for 2011.

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Grace Potter does a good deed.

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Jessy Dixon has died.

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A horn section keeps Yellow Dubmarine afloat, er, submerged.

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Opeth and I share a guilty pleasure.

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A friend just turned me on to Where Are the Arms, the new album by Gabriel Kahane. RIYL: Paul Simon, Barclay Martin, Jeff Buckley.

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The Good Feeling indeed!

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Kansas City Click: The Beach Nuts return to Jardine's on Tuesday.

The UMKC Conservatory is showcased Wednesday at The Kauffman Center.

Garage a Trois perform Thursday at Crosstown Station.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

The Hackberry Ramblers: An Appreciation

Of all the music memorabilia hanging on the walls of my home, a signed tour poster by The Hackberry Ramblers is perhaps the least likely to impress a typical visitor. Yet it means a lot to me. I had the honor of arranging a series of in-store performances and retail meet-and-greets with the Cajun gentlemen when Ben Sandmel served as the band's drummer and tour manager. Not unlike the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Hackberry Ramblers are an act that's passed on through the generations. Here's what it sounded like in 1937. And here it is in the 1991 documentary Marc and Ann. (The earthy anecdotes beginning at the 1:24 mark are too much.) The band's music may be a little creaky, but it's eminently soulful. Guitarist Glen Croker died last August. He was 77.

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Frank Driggs has died. Driggs and Chuck Haddix wrote the definitive history of Kansas City jazz.

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It's difficult for me to muster enough emotion to even shrug my shoulders at the news that R.E.M. is calling it quits. Its first three albums had a profound influence on me and I'll always be able to brag about seeing R.E.M. at a $1.02 concert at the Uptown Theater as it toured behind Murmur. I quit following the band after Lifes Rich Pageant was released. In fact, I passed on a R.E.M. concert to attend a Richard Thompson show at Parody Hall in 1986. Peter Buck stood next to me during Thompson's last few songs.

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I'm a prophet! Look for my quote from 2007 in Tim Finn's analysis of Taylor Swift's career.

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With a great deal of skepticism, I cued up Miles' Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1. Oh man! It's tremendous.

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Love it.

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Vesta Williams died yesterday.

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I don't understand what Tech N9ne is supposed to be doing in the video of Ubiquitous' "Roadwork". (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

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I recently discovered the music of Suchitra Mitra.

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Kansas City Click: The enticing triple bill of The Life and Times, Dirtnap and Cowboy Indian Bear is at Crosstown Station on Friday.

Mac Lethal headlines at the Riot Room on Saturday.

I recommend bringing earplugs to Todd Clouser's gig at Jardine's on Sunday.

The Jazz Disciples appear at the Blue Room on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

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.)