Official Guide: 2009 Pitch Music Showcase and Awards
Dear Mr. Obama:
We know you’ve had some busy days since getting elected — when was it? Back around Christmas? But we think you’ve done a great job. (We thought the Gates thing was stupid, too!) And as a reward for your hard work in the Oval Office, we’ve prepared a special live-music extravaganza just for you.
It’s happening Thursday, August 6, in a district of Kansas City, Missouri, known as Westport, and it’s called the Pitch Music Showcase. We promise no Jonas Brothers, no Britneys and no Jack Whites. In fact, we’ll go ahead and say no one remotely famous (at least, not as of this writing) will go anywhere near a guitar at this event, so you don’t have to worry, Mr. President, about being fed all that high-profile celebrity pop music that Joe Biden probably makes you listen to during Executive Zumba.
Swarms of locals will be there because wristbands cost a measly $5 for all the venues, all night. But they won’t bug you. They’ll all be 21 and older. And you can smoke, too — outside.
Here’s how it goes down: Between the hours of 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., at four wonderful drinking and rocking establishments that you would want to visit anyway — the Beaumont, McCoy’s, the Foundry and the Riot Room — a total of 29 bands, DJs, rappers and singer-songwriters play back-to-back, 45-minute-ish sets. Everyone gets hammered. Memories are made.
You’ve heard of the South By Southwest festival down in Austin? This is like that but smaller and — just maybe — more diverse. Which is an accomplishment, given that all these bands are local, and we aren’t a very big locality.
Don’t be late, though, Mr. President. The night will kick off at 8 p.m. as the jump-and-jiving Grand Marquis strut onstage at the Beaumont; rollicking bluegrass outfit the Kansas City Bear Fighters get their pluck on at McCoy’s; dreamweaving indie-pop band the Sailor Sequence spaces out at the Riot Room; and folk laureate Howard Iceberg sings tales of love and longing at our sponsor tent outside the Foundry.
Pace yourself, Mr. President, because that’s just the beginning. And it’s not going to let up — not even for you, sir (all due respect).
Even your Secret Service detail will dance to Max Justus at the Foundry, if they’re not over at the Beaumont, that is, getting high to the reggae sounds of SeedLove and then doing the robot-boogie to Antennas Up.
At the Riot Room, you will appoint James Christos Minister of Rap, and you will throw devil horns when Hammerlord triggers the thrash meltdown. You will take solace in the catchy rock of Pet Comfort and find a kindred soul in the country gentility of Adam Lee.
You will fall in love with all-girl pop band Softee at McCoy’s.
And when it’s over, you will cry out, “Is there more?”
Good news, Mr. Prez! The 29 acts at this year’s showcase are roughly a fifth of the 126 nominated in this year’s Pitch Music Awards. Every year, we put together a ballot that highlights the area’s best musicians in all kinds of different genres — blues, metal, jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, dance, Latin, reggae, punk and many more — and then we let people vote on their favorites. Democracy, yo!
In the pages that follow, you’ll learn about all 126 nominees — what they sound like, what they’ve been up to lately, whether they think Hot Topic is more or less punk than Warped Tour is, and so forth.
The voting stops on Showcase night, and on Sunday, August 16, we present the winners with their trophies at the Uptown Theater at a ceremony hosted by David Wayne Reed that features still more live performers: the Pedaljets, Making Movies, London Transit and Stik Figa.
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In fact, maybe you should just move to KC, Mr. Obama. It’s not the White House, but our cousin has a real nice garage apartment in Blue Springs where you can stay until you find a place. You’d get to remain the most powerful man in the world and all that, but what good is that when you’re missing out on all this Kansas City music?
Patriotically,
Jason Harper
BLUES
Fast Johnny Ricker
Sound: Bluesy, psychedelic guitar rock
Origin: Parkville, the late ’60s
What have you done for us lately? Shared bills in the last three months with Charlie Musselwhite, Ana Popovic and Johnny Winter.
What gives you the blues? “If I see the blues comin’, I walk the other way. But generally, not being able to pursue a personal dream gives me the blues.” — Johnny Ricker, guitarist and singer
King King
Sound: Old-school harp blues with the occasional rockabilly dance tune
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, and surrounding areas, 2000
What have you done for us lately? Was KC’s 2009 International Blues Competition entrant and released first CD, Devil’s Dozen.
What gives you the blues? “Lovin’ a woman that don’t love you, someone deeply good who’s gone too soon,” plus house fires, cancer, dogs not living forever like they should, “the envi’nment, the gov’ment and the Disney Channel.” — Gabe Hedstrom, drummer
Levee Town
Sound: Funky Chicago blues crossed with Kansas City and West Coast swing
Origin: Mission, 2002
What have you done for us lately? Released third CD at the end of July; gigging four nights a week, with a blues jam every Sunday at Knuckleheads Saloon.
What gives you the blues? “We play the blues because it makes us happy. For a moment, it makes us forget about the bad things that can happen in everyday life.” — Brandon Hudspeth, guitarist and singer
Brody Buster Band
Sound: Progressive blues-rock
Origin: Lawrence, 2007 (current lineup)
What have you done for us lately? Recording an album, playing lots of shows around the Midwest.
What gives you the blues? “We don’t have the blues; we just make them.” — Brody Buster, guitarist and harmonica blower
Shinetop Jr.
Sound: Hard-drivin’ blues with boogie piano
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1997 (Mike Sedovic took on “Shinetop” moniker in ’99.)
What have you done for us lately? Played last year in Brazil, Ohio and Mississippi and every Wednesday at B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ.
What gives you the blues? “The blues isn’t about feeling sad or sorry for yourself. I get the blues whenever I want to have a good time!” — Shinetop Jr.
Trampled Under Foot
Sound: Sultry and smooth like Arthur Bryant’s Sweet Heat sauce
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2002
What have you done for us lately? Played the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway (the biggest blues festival in Scandinavia) and B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ every Tuesday.
What gives you the blues? “To us, the blues are a way of life. They are in everything. They live and breathe all around us, so we get the blues from everything.” — Steve McBride, manager, producer and Zen master
COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS
The Calamity Cubes
Sound: “We’ve been liking the term Thrashicana lately.”
Origin: Wichita, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Releasing two new CDs the beginning of August, touring out West.
What brand of beer would you be? “We haven’t really found a brand of beer we aren’t. Now accepting applications.” — Joey Henry, Kody Bramlett and Brook Blanche
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The Kansas City Bear Fighters
Sound: Old-timey, B-movie, rock-and-roll string band
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Releasing official CD soon, just shot a music video for the song “Sailors.”
What brand of beer would you be? “If other bands are beer, we’re whiskey. Or if we really have to be beer, let’s be a whole keg of cheap beer.” — Quinn McCue, Sean McCue and Mark Johnson
The Last Call Girls
Sound: Riot-grrl rock, bluegrass and a big dose of old-country twang
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2000
What have you done for us lately? Two free shows in the last six months, possibly a new record in the works
What brand of beer would you be? “Miller Lite — all the flavor, half the calories. That’s how we roll.” — Robin Powell, singer
The Wilders
Sound: Vintage honky-tonk laced with fiddle-shredding fury, hillbilly twang and classic Americana
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1996
What have you done for us lately? Someone’s Got to Pay, the Wilders’ latest album, cleaned up at the Independent Music Awards in January, winning Best Alternative Country Album, among other awards.
What brand of beer would you be? “Schlitz. Classic American beer — a little retro, but still cool.” — Betse Ellis, fiddler
Truckstop Honeymoon
Sound: “Breakneck breakdowns or heartbreak waltzes, like a Dodge with a burnt-out clutch — two speeds and no reverse”
Origin: New Orleans, 2003
What have you done for us lately? After taking a break to welcome a new baby, TH is working on its sixth album and touring the Northwest.
What brand of beer would you be? “We’re more of a screw-top wine band: Irish Rose.” — Katie Euliss and Mike West, core couple
Adam Lee & the Dead Horse Sound Company
Sound: A dark, murky mix of noir country rock, rambling rockabilly and honky-tonk
Origin: Phoenix, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Playing out everywhere from the Riot Room to Orlando to Phoenix, planning a new record for September.
What brand of beer would you be? “As good Missouri boys, I think we’d be Budweiser.” — Adam Lee
DJ: DANCE
FSTZ
Sound: “Electro-dubby-bounce-techno”
Origin: San Diego, 1989
What have you done for us lately? Thrown six Kablammo! dubstep parties, rocked a massive rave at the Uptown Theater, played countless other shows, created about 21 original tunes, and launched RogueDubs label.
Go-to record of the moment: “68” by 12th Planet
Kiko de Gallo
Sound: Global electro funk
Origin: Cadiz, Spain, the late ’90s
What have you done for us lately? Working as director of digital operations for tropical-music label Fania Records, running the global urban-music Web radio at groovalizacion.com, releasing an album of remixes by early August.
Go-to record of the moment: “La Mezcla” by Michel Cleis
Nomathmatics
Sound: “Loud + Distorted + Bass + Wobble = Secret Sauce”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2004–5
What have you done for us lately? Recently linked up with Scion 17 Radio to bring nationally known DJs (Franki Chan, Klever, Kill the Noise, Designer Drugs, etc.) to KC once a month.
Go-to record of the moment: Anything by Foamo, Treasure Fingers or Blackhole
Norrit
Sound: House, ghetto house and world vibe
Origin: Kansas City and Lawrence, 2005
What have you done for us lately? Released two EPs via Tactic’s Think 2wice label and “reps the area hard.”
Go-to record of the moment: “Show of Hands” by Bushwacka
Shaun Duval
Sound: Straightforward, booty-rockin’ dance music
Origin: Began in Chicago and became more serious in Atlanta, the early ’90s.
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What have you done for us lately? Won the 2009 Pitch Ultra Music DJ Contest, represented in Miami at the WMC ’09; has plans to rejuvenate the dance-music culture in KC.
Go-to record of the moment: “Shots” (feat. Lil Jon) by LMFAO
Tactic
Sound: Broad, eclectic dance music for any crowd
Origin: Lawrence, 2002
What have you done for us lately? About to release third EP on their label Think 2wice, with many more releases to come in 2009, including the formal debut EP from Tactic.
Go-to record of the moment: “In for the Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Mix)” by La Roux
FOLK/AMERICANA
American Catastrophe
Sound: The soundtrack to a David Lynch Western
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2003
What have you done for us lately? Fine-tuning songs to be recorded in the fall.
Hank Sr. or Johnny Cash? “JC by the nostrils of a winning horse. If they both bore a child by the same woman, we’d add two more members to the group.” — Terrence Moore, guitarist
In the Pines
Sound: Folk, rock and beauty colliding
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, circa 2003
What have you done for us lately? Broke a long hiatus with a handful of shows this year, finishing up second album.
Hank Sr. or Johnny Cash? “Both. Depends on the day, night, mood, drink, company, weather, porch and beer.” — Brad Hodgson, frontman
Expassionates
Sound: Mellow, but driving and dynamic, Americana-tinged rock
Origin: In current formation: Kansas City and Lawrence, 2006 (Expassionates’ first-ever record came out in ’99.)
What have you done for us lately? Released a CD, Landscapes, in 2008.
Hank Sr. or Johnny Cash? Johnny Cash
The Roseline
Sound: College country and cosmic ‘merican music
Origin: Fifth Street and Indiana in Lawrence, August 2005
What have you done for us lately? Recording new album, Vast as Sky, this summer; did not complain about not getting paid for last year’s showcase performance.
Hank Sr. or Johnny Cash? “Apples and oranges. Hank Sr., if I absolutely have to pick.” — Colin Halliburton, frontman
Oriole Post
Sound: Front-porch folk with a modern-country savvy
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Working on debut studio album with local producer Mike Crawford, scheduled for fall release.
Hank Sr. or Johnny Cash? Four out of the six members vote Hank. “Hank Sr. captures a universal longing. His lonesome sound and lofty, often spacious melodies capture what I look for in a song.” — Seth Jenkins, mandolin
The Gaslights
Sound: Rock, soul, country and folk
Origin: Midtown KC, summer of ’05. “Three drummers, nine bass players, two vans, a dead moose, cancer, and three Euro tours later, we’re still here.”
What have you done for us lately? “We gave you a free single. It’s on our Web site. We’re working on a record, and it’s taking a long time, so we thought we’d give y’all something to tide you over. And we’ve been playing some shows for you.”
Hank Sr. or Johnny Cash? “What kind of question is that? Umm … we love ’em both, but we gotta go with Johnny.” — Abigail Henderson and Chris Meck, core couple
HIP-HOP/RAP
James Christos
Sound: Genre-bending, high-energy and aggressive; could be spitting verses over Buddhist gongs on one track, then singing in French over an electro-synth beat on the next.
Origin: San Francisco’s Bay Area
What have you done for us lately? Inked distro deal with EMI/Gracie, landed single “Punk Rock” into regular rotation on KPRS 103.3, toured from California to Texas and back on the Anarchy Tour.
Never seen without: “my dirty-soulblockers – aka shades”
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Stik Figa
Sound: “Richard Pryor rap” — head-nodding beats with thought-provoking (and sometimes gut-busting) rhymes
Origin: “Top City” (Topeka)
What have you done for us lately? Recently released Stik Figa as Himself, produced by Michael “Seven” Summers; recorded single “Caked Up” with Ron Ron.
Never seen without: a fitted New Era
Greg Enemy
Sound: A jubilant mash-up of nerdy book smarts and ego-swollen swagger
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri
What have you done for us lately? Released self-titled EP in 2008, collaborated with Stik Figa in February on The Babylon EP, collaborated with Dutch Newman in May on Dutch Newman & Greg Enemy Made an EP, Wanna Hear It?
Never seen without: fly-ass glasses and a hat — preferably a vintage snap-back
Reach
Sound: Sunny and danceable or sultry and dim-the-lights, always with infectious hooks
Origin: Van Brunt Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
What have you done for us lately? A slew of parties, shows and appearances; opened for Talib Kweli; launched GoodButta Radio podcast; repping Soul Providers Crew every First Friday at 18th Street and Baltimore.
Never seen without: a silicone wristband — most recently, one that reads “ONE”
Skatterman and Snug Brim
Sound: Trunk-rattling beats from the city’s East Side, with lyrics that range from light (whiskey, weed and sneakers) to heavy (absentee fathers)
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2001
What have you done for us lately? Parted ways with Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label after seven years and released the mixtape This Is Kansas City Vol. 1; Skatterman signed a deal with Deep Distribution Worldwide in Houston, and they started up Bigg Shot Music & Films.
Never seen without: their cell phones
D/Will
Sound: Deep rhymes gliding over sweet soul samples and complex syncopation
Origin: North Kansas City
What have you done for us lately? Followed up 2008’s Heir of Abraham mixtape with this summer’s The Battery Effect; produced tracks for mixtapes by Mick Boogie and Terry Urban, Midwest Broadcast and illRoots; landed song “Good Evening” on mtvU, with a mention in XXL Magazine; appears regularly on the blog 2dopeboyz.
Never seen without: his faith
INDIE POP
Olympic Size
Sound: “Cinematic love songs, chamber pop, couch music — music that is emotionally intimate yet universal, using interweaving guitar lines, spacious arrangements and layered vocals with eerily beautiful harmonies.”
Origin: Chicago, late ’90s
What have you done for us lately? Released You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone LP; was heard on reruns of MTV’s The Real World; shared shows with Spoon, American Music Club and Efterklang.
What’s the worst part about being “indie”? “There is no worst part when you don’t know what the best part is.” — Kirsten Paludan, singer and keyboardist
Cowboy Indian Bear
Sound: Pop, period
Origin: Lawrence, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Released three-song EP; shared shows with Jeremy Enigk, the Appleseed Cast, Headlights; working diligently on full-length debut.
What’s the worst part about being “indie”? “It’s a nebulous descriptor that thousands of bands have snatched up and draped themselves with in an attempt for credibility. Never mind that a lot of ‘indie’ bands today have a surface work ethic at best, a dispirited approach to songcraft, and lack an awareness of the history and community of independent music.” — Marty Hillard, singer and multi-instrumentalist
Ghosty
Sound: “The pleasing sounds of inner turmoil played with guitars, keyboard instruments, bass, drums.”
Origin: Lawrence, 1999
What have you done for us lately? Released Answers LP in 2008, recorded Daytrotter session, played tribute shows to the Zombies and Big Star, toured the East Coast with Bears, converted guitarist Jake Blanton to a mighty fine drummer.
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What’s the worst part about being “indie”? “The talent scouts banging down your door every day. But seriously, being filed under any genre inevitably lumps you in with some other music that has nothing to do with what you do. … But I can think of worse things to be called.” — Andrew Connor, lead singer and guitarist
The Republic Tigers
Sound: “The never-before-attempted combination of acoustic and electric. Kind of like rap and rock, or rock T-shirts on country singers, or jalapeños and ice cream. Wet trousers of all kinds for all ages.” Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Released debut full-length Keep Color, toured with Travis, played The Late Show With David Letterman, scored a radio hit with “Buildings and Mountains.”
What’s the worst part about being “indie”? Not knowing exactly what that word means. — Kenn Jankowski, lead singer
Fourth of July
Sound: Celebratory folk-pop
Origin: Lawrence, 2001
What have you done for us lately? Recorded a new album, then rerecorded it to make it sound better; made some delightful videos; cultivated short shorts and facial hair.
What’s the worst part about being “indie”? Having Pitchfork Media write that your band “isn’t as good as the Weakerthans.”
The Sailor Sequence
Sound: Digital post-rock, melodic
Origin: Olathe and Lawrence, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Released a new EP called 5, opened for Coalesce’s CD-release show, appeared on a poster in an episode of One Tree Hill
What’s the worst part about being “indie”? “Being stereotyped as a certain sound. We’ve always tried to develop our own unique sound, pulling ideas from lots of different places.” — David Noffsinger, singer and keyboardist
JAZZ: ENSEMBLE
The People’s Liberation Big Band
Sound: 1930s swing with modern-day zing
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Composed an original score to Sergei Eisenstein’s classic Battleship Potemkin for International Workers’ Day (May 1, 2009).
What’s the glue that holds you together? “Boulevard Beer” — Brad Cox, founder and chief composer
The Jazz Disciples
Sound: Modern jazz with a Pendergast-era flair
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1994
What have you done for us lately? Free jam every Monday night at the Blue Room
What’s the glue that holds you together? “The music: modern swing, cool, bebop, avant-garde and post-hop.” — Gerald Dunn, co-founder, saxophonist
Snuff Jazz
Sound: Brain-tickling freak jazz
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2003
What have you done for us lately? Released a new album featuring a ditty called “13 men, two women, one crying baby and nine tracks of pure improv.”
What’s the glue that holds you together? “A deep appreciation of experimental and improvisational music” — Mark Southerland, band leader and saxophonist
Organic Proof
Sound: Feel-good party music for people aged 1 to 101
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Each of the shows is a spontaneous interplay among instruments, samplers and crowd preference.
What’s the glue that holds you together? “John Brewer and I had worked for many years as sidemen in jazz, hip-hop, world, and funk bands as well as leading our own groups. We share a similar vision and diverse background that led us to experimenting as a duo covering all of the instruments.” — Brandon Draper, drummer and composer
The McFadden Brothers
Sound: Tapdance-y contemporary jazz with a dash of old-school New Orleans
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1980s
What have you done for us lately? Brothers Lonnie and Ronald starred in Sons of a Hoofer, a documentary about what it means to be kin to tapdancing legend Jimmy McFadden.
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What’s the glue that holds you together? “My father’s stories about the way it used to be.” — Lonnie McFadden
The Wild Women of Kansas City
Sound: A vocal-driven fusion of blues and classic jazz
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1999
What have you done for us lately? Put on oodles of shows for charity; in June, performed free at Rockhurst High School to bolster its economically challenged scholarship fund.
What’s the glue that holds you together? “Friendship, commitment and trust.” — Millie Edwards Nottingham, Wild Woman
POP
The ACB’s
Sound: Beach-friendly power pop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? “Lots of recording. Hitting the road a bit. Poverty becoming an issue for certain members.”
Choice commercial placement: “It would almost have to be a Pepsi product, because we drink Pepsi all the time.” — Konnor Ervin, frontman
Queens Club
Sound: Electronic garage-pop rock, with a little leftover teenage angst
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, March 2008
What have you done for us lately? Released the Uh Huh! EP in July; signed a deal with Tooth & Nail for debut full-length.
Choice commercial placement: To hear its song “Less Talk” on a car commercial: “Not sure what brand officially, unless there is one out there willing to give us free cars.” — Jake Ryan, drums and programming
The Abracadabras
Sound: ’90s Britpop meets ’70s glam rock
Origin: Blue Springs, 2006
What have you done for us lately? After three years of rock, the Abracadabs called it quits earlier in the summer so members could pursue other projects.
Choice commercial placement: The anti-materialistic “C’mon and Get It!” in a Visa or eBay commercial: “However, some people might get off if it were a jingle for vibrators.” — John Nixon, lead singer
Softee
Sound: Lo-fi indie-girl pop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, summer 2005
What have you done for us lately? Just recorded two songs, “The Shoe” and “Hip Haunt”; played breast cancer benefit August 1.
Choice commercial placement: “Our list includes but is not limited to: ice cream, iPods, toilet paper, lip gloss, dog toys and hula hoops.” — Mimi Mangrum, drummer and singer
Scratch Track
Sound: Alternative blues hip-hop
Origin: Jackson, Tennessee, 2000 (KC since ’05)
What have you done for us lately? Played for the Armed Forces in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Japan.
Choice commercial placement: During the Super Bowl: “Maybe the funniest beer commercial made that year, because people usually remember those.” — Jason Hamlin, guitarist and vocalist
The Dead Girls
Sound: Power-poppy rock and roll with a double lead-guitar attack
Origin: Lawrence, 2004
What have you done for us lately? Released two EPs this year, The Hair Trigger EP and Te Quiero; putting the finishing touches on full-length album Out of Earshot.
Choice commercial placement: “Eharmony.com because everyone is tired of falling in love to Yanni. We’ll help you close the deal!” — JoJo Longbottom, guitarist and singer
DJ: HIP-HOP
Jamel Rockwell
Sound: Universally sweet beats that flow freely
Origin: Warrensburg, 1999
What have you done for us lately? DJ’d the Anarchy Tour with James Christos and worked on tour mixtape; has been invited to play KAZI’s Summer Jam in Austin, Texas.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa
Leonard DStroy
Sound: Future funk
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1994
What have you done for us lately? Released instrumental album, Works Vol. 1: Build and DStroy, and solo album, Game Over, on INnatesounds; resident DJ at Future Funk on Wednesdays at the Scion Lab; collaborating with Reggie B. and finishing up records with Deep Thinkers, CES Cru, Kutty Slitz and Blue Riddim Band
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Defining hip-hop track/album/group: The movie Juice: “All the DJing and the big battle at the end — the Mixmaster Massacre, I think. I was hooked after that for sure!”
DJ Sku
Sound: Fresh-cut electronic house and hip-hop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1997
What have you done for us lately? Spins Tuesdays at Karma; working on next mixtape for Mac Lethal’s label, Black Clover Records.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Miles Bonny
Sound: Soulful-sounding love
Origin: Lawrence, 2000
What have you done for us lately? Runs a record label (INnatesounds), DJs all the time and plans on singing more often around KC; touring Europe in August to sing, DJ and play trumpet.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: “I just love music and grew up around hip-hop.”
Beatbroker
Sound: Soul, funk and R&B-infused hip-hop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1996
What have you done for us lately? Resident DJ at the Dark Horse Tavern and Firefly Lounge; rotates between DJ gigs here and in Denver, St. Louis and other cities; has overseen Hip-Hop & Hot Wings for several years; plans to release instrumental album, Broker Than You, in the next four to six months.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Barbaric Merits
Sound: A blend of old-school and classic hip-hop that makes bass-blastin’ beats
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2005
What have you done for us lately? Released debut album, New Mutations; playing around town, planning a beat battle, scoring an indie horror film.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: Beastie Boys (DJ DubLow 7), Souls of Mischief (DJ Mythik)
INDIE ROCK
The Life and Times
Sound: “Melodically lush, rhythmically involved, lyrically metaphoric”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2003
What have you done for us lately? Self-recorded and released Tragic Boogie LP (Arena Rock Records); released an hourlong documentary, Life Is Pleasure, of 2006 Japan tour; toured the United States in the spring and summer.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips — Allen Epley, singer and guitarist
The Appleseed Cast
Sound: Atmospheric rock music with experimental nuances and thundering drums
Origin: Lawrence, 1997
What have you done for us lately? Released Sagarmatha LP in February; brought in new members John Momberg and Nate Whitman.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: Dear You by Jawbreaker
Roman Numerals
Sound: Postpunk-inspired dance rock
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2004
What have you done for us lately? Switched drummers twice; contributed a song to a benefit CD for the Prids; remixed West Indian Girl; began writing and recording material for a fall release via Topspin Media.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: This Heat by This Heat
Be/Non
Sound: Experimental, psychedelic and prog-rockulent
Origin: Lawrence, 1996
What have you done for us lately? Released A Mountain of Yeses LP on vinyl in May 2009; began production on a feature film; embarked on some regional tours and booked a CMJ showcase for the fall.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: Anything by Tom Zé
Boo and Boo Too
Sound: Headphone bliss-out for teenage gremlins
Origin: A chilly beach in Lawrence, 2005
What have you done for us lately? Released No Tempo LP in the fall of 2008; undertook two coast-to-coast U.S. tours; prepped a split 7-inch with Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk on new Lawrence label, Lovely Sea Records.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: “We’d probably just listen to ‘Unchained Melody,’ ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)’ and those Harry Belafonte songs from Beetlejuice on infinite repeat.” — Barrett Emke, singer and guitarist
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Sound: “The sound of confusion and celebration”
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Origin: Lawrence, 2001
What have you done for us lately? Released two 7-inches on the Love Garden Sounds label; invented Ad Astra Arkestra! — an eight-piece ensemble that performs new versions of Ad Astra songs.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: Jabraham Lincoln by Drakkar Sauna — Mike Tuley, singer and guitarist
JAZZ: SOLO ARTIST
Mark Lowrey
Sound: Versatile piano playing that’s heavy on standards, with the occasional Afro-Latin twist
Origin: Gladstone
What have you done for us lately? Released the album Trio ALL with Zack Albetta and Ben Leifer; plays piano for the McFadden Brothers and the Barclay Martin Ensemble; can be seen everywhere from 18th Street and Vine to Leawood.
Defining jazz album/song/moment: Quartet by Herbie Hancock
Bram Wijnands
Sound: 1940s jump-swing piano
Origin: Born in the Netherlands; moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in ’92.
What have you done for us lately? Plans to release a CD in September; completed a Dutch tour at the beginning of the summer; plays regular solo gigs around town and also with his swing band, the Majestic Seven, with the Bram Wijnands Trio and with his French trio, Nuit Du Jazz.
Defining jazz album/song/moment: “Sweet Sue” by Fats Waller and His Rhythm
Everette DeVan
Sound: Soulful B-3 organ jazz
Origin: Originally from Pueblo, Colorado; relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, in ’69.
What have you done for us lately? Teaches music theory and history at Kansas City, Kansas, Community College; hosts weekly jam sessions at the Juke House and the Phoenix; performs at both Peachtree locations.
Defining jazz album/song/moment: Got My Mojo Workin’ by Jimmy Smith
Megan Birdsall
Sound: Sassy, smooth and seasoned vocal jazz
Origin: Born in Detroit; moved to area in high school and began performing about seven years ago.
What have you done for us lately? Rebuilding arsenal of regular local gigs since recovering from reconstructive facial surgery in 2007; released Obama-inspired This Is The Time earlier this year and plans to release the follow-up, Over the Bones, later this year.
Defining jazz album/song/moment: “Sugar” by Billie Holiday
Bobby Watson
Sound: Free-flowing hard bop for alto sax
Origin: Lawrence, Kansas; first gig in 1970 in high school
What have you done for us lately? Currently playing and conducting workshops in Italy; released From the Heart this past March; is director of jazz studies at the UMKC Conservatory of Music; performs regularly at the Blue Room.
Defining jazz album/song/moment: Bird With Strings by Charlie Parker
Pearl Thuston Brown
Sound: Gently melodious, early modern jazz piano
Origin: Downtown Kansas City at places like Gigi’s, the Muehlebach Hotel and the Highball Bar in the early ’50s
What have you done for us lately? Released The World of Pearl Thuston in March; frequently plays Blue Monday Jams at the Blue Room.
Defining jazz album/song/moment: Seeing Dorothy Donegan play the piano standing up
LIVE ACT
Bacon Shoe
Sound: Greasy, experimental disgusto-rap
Origin: Lee’s Summit, 1996
What have you done for us lately? Working on a new full-length titled Cornking and getting ready to film a video and comedy sketch.
Your best concert? Crashing a frat party and playing an impromptu set, knocking over a dining table covered with half-empty beers. “Ruggles was not there for that one — he was at a separate frat party getting head from some football coach.” — Lethal D, MC
Hearts of Darkness Afrobeat
Sound: A 16-person Afrobeat ensemble melded with 21st-century hip-hop and a twist of funk
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Gigging and working on a first CD.
Your best concert? The Crosstown Station Mardi Gras show: “An outrageously costumed audience who danced incessantly throughout the show.” — Sean Branagan, drummer
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The Good Foot
Sound: Straight-up soul music
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? “We’re not really touring, but [we’re doing] all the other things. Playing music you can dance to.”
Your best concert? “Every one’s the best one. The response thus far has been pretty positive. We’ve never really played to an empty room, and we always have a good time.” — Tim Braun, guitarist
The Grand Marquis
Sound: Jump, blues and jazz with a Prohibition-era suavity
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1998
What have you done for us lately? Playing 150 shows a year, touring the Midwest and working on a new record for spring 2010.
Your best concert? “One of the best was playing a packed Ruby Skye in San Francisco in 2004: great vibe, everyone dancing, three encores.” — Ben Ruth, bassist
The Rumblejetts
Sound: High-octane rockabilly with a Sun Studio appreciation
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1998
What have you done for us lately? Finishing a third studio album that’s set for release in September.
Your best concert? “Opening for the Stray Cats’ farewell U.S.A. tour at the Uptown.” — Jim Holopter, lead guitarist
The Sex Police
Sound: Ska and rock-steady rhythms from the ’60s to the ’80s
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? “Our rhythm section is made up of the Architects, and they’re out rocking asses on the Warped Tour right now. Once they get back, we’ll have a huge party.”
Your best concert? “They’re all good.” — Mike Walker, trombonist
REGGAE
SeedLove
Sound: Reggae revved up
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Late last year, released Grow People, a soul-stirring anthem to reggae’s glory days.
All-time favorite reggae album: Burnin’ by the Wailers
Blue Riddim Band
Sound: Jamaican-good (and Grammy-winning) reggae
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1978
What have you done for us lately? In March, performed for the first time in eight years at the Beaumont Club.
All-time favorite reggae album: African Love Dub by King Tubby
Jahration
Sound: A cool-whipped blend of reggae, jazz and funk
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Playing local ethnic festivals, including the upcoming Ethnic Enrichment Festival.
All-time favorite reggae album: Exodus by Bob Marley
77 Jefferson
Sound: A progressive mishmash of reggae, rock and hip-hop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Played the Trinity Festival in McLouth, Kansas: a cornucopia of boobs, bonfires and chill grooves.
All-time favorite reggae album: New Chapter by Aswad
The Irietions
Sound: Herb-friendly, mellow music
Origin: Lawrence, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Made two EPs available for free at myspace.com/theirietions.
All-time favorite reggae album: Best Dressed Chicken in Town by Dr. Alimantado
Elisha Israel & AZ-ONE
Sound: Socially conscious roots reggae
Origin: Tulsa, 1985
What have you done for us lately? The message behind the music, which is all about helping thy brothers and sisters.
All-time favorite reggae album: No Nuclear War by Peter Tosh
ROCK
Faster Than Hell
Sound: Crusty old-school rock in the vein of Fu Manchu, Clutch and Artimus Pyledriver
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, winter of ’07
What have you done for us lately? Played a few shows in KC and surrounding areas; planning a full-length release this year.
Face off or with cock out? “Rock out with your cock out!” — Kriss Ward, frontma
Federation of Horsepower
Sound: Oncoming-train rock
Origin: “Killa City,” March 2003
What have you done for us lately? “We put a wiggle in your walk and a stutter in your strut. We make you shake what yo’ mama gave ya.”
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Face off or with cock out? “Straight-up rock out with yo’ cock out. Ain’t no other way!” — Gregg Todt, singer and guitarist
The Architects
Sound: When rock and roll was good.
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2004
What have you done for us lately? New album The Hard Way; playing all summer with the Vans Warped Tour.
Face off or with cock out? “Cock in or out does not seem to make a difference when you ball this hard.” — Brandon Phillips, singer and guitarist
The Pedaljets
Sound: Loud, Midwestern, college-radio rock from the mid-’80s
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1984; reunited 2006
What have you done for us lately? Putting out a 7-inch of “Giants of May” for OxBlood Records, with an unreleased B-side track; releasing remastered version of Today Today this fall.
Face off or with cock out? “There’s four cocks, y’know?” — Rob Morrow, drummer
Thunder Eagle
Sound: 101-proof rock
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Streaming the Ride the Timberwolf EP on MySpace, writing new music and playing as many shows as possible across the Midwest.
Face off or with cock out? “Melt your face off!” — Zach Brotherton, guitarist and singer
Waiting for Signal
Sound: Dissonant, guitar-driven rock songs with polished pop structures in a dirty, Kansas City exterior
Origin: A River Market office, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Embarking on late-summer Midwest tour with Roman Numerals to support new five-song EP. “When not sequestered in our rehearsal space, we can be found at local places of unsavory reputation, soiling the good names of our families.”
Face off or with cock out? “A four-way split: Cock out; balls out; cocks concealed; and pleading the Third, Fourth and Eighth Amendments.” — Brent Kastler, bassist
ELECTRONIC/DANCE
Max Justus
Sound: Pure, red-hot sweat jams with 360-degree booty shaking
Origin: Madison, Wisconsin, 1999
What have you done for us lately? Released new record, No Mercy, and remixed the Middle Eastern-style dance-punk act from Los Angeles, Rainbow Arabia.
Ultimate remix project: “We Are Siamese” from Lady and the Tramp
Andrew Northern
Sound: Eclectic euro electro
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2002
What have you done for us lately? Current music director for umove.net; DJing four to five nights in KC, including Saturday nights at Casa Grande and being in regular rotation at Mint Ultra Lounge; starting own record label.
Ultimate remix project: Anything by Brian Wilson
The Monitor
Sound: Dark, electronic dance-rock
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Composed and performed 10 new songs for the 18th Street Fashion Show; performing at the Queen’s Rocket launch fashion show at La Esquina on August 23; working on upcoming full-length.
Ultimate remix project: “Electric Eye” by Judas Priest
Ssion
Sound: Shock pop rock
Origin: Lewisport, Kentucky, 1997 (Kansas City since ’99)
What have you done for us lately? Touring like crazy, finishing a film, making a record.
Ultimate remix project: “I only do remixes if I get paid. I’d rather people remix my tracks.” — Cody Critcheloe, frontman
London Transit
Sound: Club-friendly electro indie pop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2004
What have you done for us lately? Released first full-length album, Digital Kid; will have new single out in three months.
Ultimate remix project: “Fat Boys” by Fat Boys or “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
Kipsquared
Sound: Progressive beach house with an electro-disco twist
Origin: Izmir, Turkey, 2003
What have you done for us lately? Played the Ultra Music DJ Contest 2009; working on future potential ideas.
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Ultimate remix project: “Nane Limon Kabugu” by Baris Manço
LATIN
Mitnal
Sound: Death metal from the ninth level of Mayan hell
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Working on new material that will “rape everybody’s ears and molest everyone’s minds to the point of no return.”
Recommended If You Latin: Severe Torture, Vile, Disgorge, Decapitated — Cisco Human, guitarist
Making Movies
Sound: A hybrid of Afro-Cuban rhythms and indie-rock melodies, described by the band as “new wave salsa”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, circa 2006
What have you done for us lately? Opened for Aterciopelados; touring Midwest later in August with Sonido Minimal; working on new album; recently released “Libertad” CD single.
RIYL: Sonido Minimal, Café Tacuba, Ozomatli
Caja De Grillos
Sound: Blues-based rock en español with an ’80s sensibility
Origin: Kansas City, Kansas, 2005
What have you done for us lately? Toured Mexico for seven days and performed on a soccer show on a national TV network; promoting second and most recent album, Tierras Extrañas.
RIYL: Nickelback, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Son Venezuela
Sound: Salsa without borders
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1994
What have you done for us lately? Upsized from an eight- to a 10-piece; recently celebrated 15th anniversary: “We thought about getting outfits, but we weren’t sure how good 10 middle-aged guys would look in quinceañera dresses.”
RIYL: Oscar D’León, Isaac Delgado, Fania All-Stars — Kelfel Aquí, lead singer and percussionist
Makuza
Sound: Contemporary and authentic Afro-Latin dance with mucho energy and horn power
Origin: UMKC Conservatory Latin jazz lab, 2005 (led by percussionist Pablo Sanhueza)
What have you done for us lately? Played festivals and clubs around the Midwest; preparing to release debut full-length, Natural Wisdom.
RIYL: Fania All-Stars, Los Van Van, Africando, Grupo Niche
Mañana Band
Sound: Tejano with a jazz flair and a touch of tropical salsa
Origin: Kansas City, Kansas, 1987 (current lineup formed 2006)
What have you done for us lately? Playing second Sundays in August at Casa Grande; maintaining busy schedule of weddings and community events.
RIYL: The Latin Breed, Jay Perez, Chente Barrera
METAL
At the Left Hand of God
Sound: Darkly melodic death metal with dual-guitar harmonies and “dirty clean” vocals
Origin: Mission, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Nearing completion of debut full-length album, The Apocalypse Tapestry; just finished shooting a video for first single, “An Anthem for Honor.”
What’s the most metal thing about your band? “Dave [Thompson, guitarist] and Scott [Eggleson, drums] power the metal blood that flows through ATLHOG’s veins with their lumberjack beards.” — Rikk Wolf
Hammerlord
Sound: Powerful thrash played on guitar strings made from a mythical sword forged of the finest steel
Origin: Lawrence, 2008
What have you done for us lately? “Ever since we officially became Hammerlord, we have been on a steady diet of fun, which to us is write, record, rehearse, perform, repeat.”
What’s the most metal thing about your band? “I could answer that question, but that would give away our secret, and then we would have to slay you and write an epic tale about it.” — Stevie Cruz, singer
Diskreet
Sound: Head-exploding death metal that’s almost too technically proficient to be real
Origin: Topeka, 2003
What have you done for us lately? Just returned from a monthlong tour with Oceano, Burning the Masses and Conducting From the Grave; new album out in early fall.
What’s the most metal thing about your band? “Easily the k in our name. If you look at the way that it’s drawn in our logo, it looks like crazy, lethal werewolf fangs.” — Dustin Albright, bassist
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Snake Eater
Sound: Hardcore apocalyptic rock simmering in a cauldron warmed by a dragon’s fiery breath
Origin: Lake Lotawana, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Played the Architects’ CD-release show, the American Waste festival and the local date of the How to Power Clean Everything Tour with Stick to Your Guns; promises that the “faster, heavier” new material will “blow you a new gaping asshole.”
What’s the most metal thing about your band? “Snake Eater is often accused of not being metal enough. Why is that? Because we aren’t a metal band. If that isn’t apparent to you, then you are fucking blind. But because Snake Eater is up for a metal award, we have taken it upon ourselves to defend our honor: You motherfuckers are gonna pay. We’re gonna fuck your mothers while you watch and cry like little bitches. We’re gonna make ’em eat our shit, then shit out our shit, then eat their shit, which is made up of our shit that we made ’em eat. Then all you motherfuckers are next.” — Snake Eater
Gornography
Sound: Blistering two-man grindcore assault, with jarringly melodic guitar work
Origin: Independence, Missouri, 2004
What have you done for us lately? New album tracked and ready for vocals, planned for release later this year with bonus DVD.
What’s the most metal thing about your band? “We are in a band called Gornography that sings songs about leech-filled cunts, saliva-soaked shit and pissing blood. Doesn’t get much more metal than that.” — Chris Wilson, drummer
Moiré
Sound: Vulgarly powerful, breakdown-studded, raw-meat metal from the godfathers of the local scene
Origin: Kansas City, Kansas, 2000
What have you done for us lately? In the studio recording tracks for new album, Last Ditch Effort.
What’s the most metal thing about your band? “The most metal thing about Moiré is our legendary booze consumption at any given show, or should I say every given show? Moiré will do that, then get onstage and throw down without missing a beat, without compromising any of our energy. We love the hell out of what we do and we still have so much fun doin’ it. The crowd feeds off that, and we feed off them. After this constant back-and-forth, by the end of the night, everyone is dead. It’s beautiful.” — Paul Kelley, singer
PUNK
Wrong Crowd
Sound: “Punk as fuck”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Finishing up a 7-inch for Little Room Records.
Less punk: Hot Topic or Warped Tour? “Don’t they kind of go hand in hand for being unpunk? Sorry, Architects!” — Christian O’Reilly, Brenton Wheeler and Rory Cameron
Fag Cop
Sound: “Doesn’t your tattoo say ‘journalist?'”
Origin: “Doesn’t your tattoo say ‘journalist?'”
What have you done for us lately? “Doesn’t your tattoo say ‘journalist?'”
Less punk: Hot Topic or Warped Tour? “Doesn’t your tattoo say ‘journalist?'” — Fag Cop to contributor Nick Spacek, who has a tattoo that reads “Rock Star Journalist.” Ever get the feeling that some folks don’t want to deal with the press?
KTP
Sound: Equal parts Hamm’s and pure punk rock talent
Origin: Yates Center, Kansas, 2000
What have you done for us lately? Massive amounts of touring
Less punk: Hot Topic or Warped Tour? “What’s Hot Topic?” — Merritt Schenk, singer and guitarist (Schenk then proceeded to smash a 40 of malt liquor on the ground, flip off a cop and slink down a dark alley singing Crass lyrics.)
Sucked Dry
Sound: Three adolescent males whining
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Origin: A garage in Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Planning winter tour and cassette releases of Secret Cities and It’s Fun to Do Bad Things.
Less punk: Hot Topic or Warped Tour? “What are those? We’re going to go eat ice-cream sandwiches.”
Der Todesking
Sound: Four guys who want to take it out on whomever makes eye contact
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Demo reviewed in Maximum Rocknroll; had song “The Doombird Cometh” featured on KJHK 90.7’s Fresh Sounds compilation.
Less punk: Hot Topic or Warped Tour? “Punk’s fucking dumb.”
Sorry Excuse
Sound: If Poison Idea and Youth of Today had a sit-down, and one was convinced to quit being positive and the other to become straight-edge.
Origin: A front porch at 5 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Working on demos and a first release
Less punk: Hot Topic or Warped Tour? “Considering I’m probably banned from Hot Topic, I’ll say Warped Tour.” — Jesse Street, guitarist
SINGER-SONGWRITER
Dri
Sound: Psychedelic dance moving toward island dub reggae
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Toured extensively with the Handsome Furs; working on new album.
Favorite author and/or book? “Gabriel García Márquez and his One Hundred Years of Solitude, Paulo Coelho with The Alchemist, and Linda Goodman’s Love Signs. All three of these books changed my life in their own respective ways.”
Howard Iceberg
Sound: Two parts Bob Dylan and one part Buddy Holly. “I’ve been lucky enough that a lot of local bands have covered my songs, so the sound varies, but it always sounds better than when I sing ’em myself.”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 30-plus years ago, usually as Howard Iceberg and the Titanics
What have you done for us lately? Writing, swapping songs with fellow musicians; playing live on occasion; and recording a CD’s worth of music (November Nights) for the Abigail Henderson benefit.
Favorite author and/or book? “I read all the time and have a lot of favorites. But I’ll tell you this: You can turn to almost any page of Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine and write a song from something he says there.”
David Seume
Sound: Rock ‘n soul
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Started own label (Grassland Records); released a debut album in December 2008; contributed the theme to the Liberty Restoration Project; and played some local sets.
Favorite author and/or book? C.S. Lewis, Space Trilogy; Peter Brown, The Love You Make: An Insider’s Story of The Beatles; George Orwell, Animal Farm; Ron Paul, The Revolution: A Manifesto; and Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island
Barclay Martin
Sound: A singer-songwriter’s take on folk, jazz, pop, world and Latin music
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Wrote the music for and contributed to the making of the documentary Zamboanga: Poverty, War, Music, about a concert in the Philippines.
Favorite author and/or book? The Complete Poems of Carl Sandburg: “I love his blue-collar ethic and elegant simplicity of his word choice.” Sailing Alone Around the Room by poet Billy Collins: “He has a tremendous warmth to his phrase and is amazingly evocative while being frugal with his choices of words.”
Sara Swenson
Sound: Soft and warm indie folk
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? A slew of live performances in early 2009, with only a few shows on the calendar for early fall. “My primary focus will be working on a new album, perhaps with influences or reflections from my monthlong excursion to a handful of Southeast Asian countries.”
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Favorite author and/or book? Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller: “When I first read it, the honesty and freshness of it appealed to me in ways I hadn’t encountered in such a book before.”
Andrew Morgan
Sound: Dreamy, throwback Britpop with an affinity for Andrew Bird
Origin: Started playing guitar at 13; first album, Misadventures in Radiology, dropped in 2005.
What have you done for us lately? Toured Great Britain with A.C. Newman; got some radio play on BBC Radio 2; and celebrated release of UK-exclusive version of Please Kid, Remember LP.
Favorite author and/or book? “I’d say Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, because he’s able to contemplate moral and philosophical questions via the guise of a mystery thriller. He was like J.J. Abrams meets Nietzsche.”
NEW ACT
Antennas Up
Sound: A train named the “Space Funk Express”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Released debut album in April 2008 and reached No. 121 on the CMJ Top 200; built a custom light show; launched songs for Tap Tap Revolution iPhone app.
What did you almost name your band? “TechNostalgia. Man, that would have sucked.” — Kyle Akers, singer and bassist
Audiovox
Sound: Electro-pop with guitars
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Released self-titled EP in June; expanded set list to a full 45 minutes.
What did you almost name your band? “The TurnOn. Unfortunately, David Pajo already had dibs.” — Martin Bush, singer and guitarist
Hospital Ships
Sound: “Songs my cat wrote.”
Origin: Lawrence, 2006
What have you done for us lately? Released debut album, Oh, Ramona; toured the country; played trumpet for Shearwater (and thereby opened for Coldplay).
What did you almost name your band? Jordan Geiger — Jordan Geiger, Ships captain
Pet Comfort
Sound: A little pop and a little rock, a lotta great harmonies
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2008
What have you done for us lately? Released debut EP, Paperdolls; appeared on KRBZ 96.5; wrote a bunch of songs for a full-length to be released in December or thereabouts.
What did you almost name your band? “Drew [Van Dyke, frontman] had the name picked out since he was 16 years old.” — Mike Graham, bassist
Rooftop Vigilantes
Sound: “Danger pop. It’s sort of like throwing kittens at electrical fences. We did that once. Not really. We are really just a Porno for Pyros cover band.”
Origin: Lawrence, 2008
What have you done for us lately? “We put out a record of sorts called Carrot Atlas. It’s terrible — you should give it to someone you hate as a Christmas gift. … We went on a coast-to-coast tour and managed to survive machine-gun-armed militiamen, the town of Boise, exploding amps in Seattle, exploding bladders in Portland, an angry one-man mob in Phoenix, every asshole that lives in Memphis, late-night drives in D.C., a Starbucks study hall show in Bloomington, and Seth going to the hospital in Illinois while the rest of us watched a leather-clad man piss himself in the middle of a party. Oh, we are also recording our second ‘record’ and going back on tour in October. Don’t vote for us; we like the Gin Blossoms.”
What did you almost name your band? “Bob Dylan.” — Zach Campbell, singer and guitarist
The Dactyls
Sound: Rock with alternate tunings and gnarly riffs
Origin: Lawrence, 2007
What have you done for us lately? Released two 7-inches and an EP, toured with Bandit Teeth, traveled to Austin to play SXSW and record a full-length album with producer Jim Vollentine.
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What did you almost name your band? “Maximum Surrender, Ghostly, animalcollectivesoulasylum, or BoneScan.” — Nick Bergwell, singer and guitarist
FRONTMAN/FRONTWOMAN
Les Izmore (Hearts of Darkness)
Sound: James Brown funk, plus African music, improv jazz and hip-hop
Origin: “My tribal connection is Beardcrazy, which was spawned in rock ‘n roll’s inner sanctum. I’ve been performing through existing channels for thousands of years. My first time appearing onstage in my new physical form was sometime last year with the Hearts of Darkness.”
What have you done for us lately? Currently recording with engineer Chad Meise (find music at izmore.com).
Signature move: “Starting at birth, members of the Beardcrazy tribe are trained with multiple moves. If I were to speak of these moves, death would be imminent to the readers.”
Abigail Henderson (The Gaslights)
Sound: “Loud.”
Origin: Kansas City via New York City, Detroit and Colorado
What have you done for us lately? “Making a record. It’ll be out in the fall.”
Signature move: “Nary a stage move nor a particular outfit. I stomp my foot a good bit; holler and wail; bang on the guitar; and listen to the amazing Chris Meck, Erik Voeks and Mike Meyers, who are all way more badass than I could ever hope to be.”
Mitch Rich (The Rich Boys)
Sound: Garage-punk rock ‘n roll à la the Ramones or the Dead Boys
Origin: Westport via Smithville
What have you done for us lately? “Just wrapped up third album, Spread the Wealth.”
Signature move: “Getting wasted … or scissor kicks.”
Jenny Carr (The Waiting List, solo artist)
Sound: “Indie-pop acoustic dribble.”
Origin: North Kansas City, 2003
What have you done for us lately? New Waiting List album soon.
Signature move: “Cat-in-the-litter-box eyes.”
Cody Critcheloe (Ssion)
Sound: “Weird pop.”
Origin: Lewisport, Kentucky, 1997 (Kansas City since ’99)
What have you done for us lately? “We toured with CSS twice last year and just finished a tour with Fischerspooner in May. We’ve been working on a film to accompany Fool’s Gold (our record) called Boy, which will debut in September. We’ll also be releasing a new record in 2010.”
Signature move: “I’m really good with my hands!”
Robin Powell (The Last Call Girls)
Sound: Raw, edgy country
Origin: Liberty
What have you done for us lately? Working on next record; getting some “kick-ass new stickers and buttons.”
Signature move: “I don’t have one in particular, but I like to get down low on the stage and look people in the eyes while I’m singing to them, as well as use hand and eye gestures to embellish the lyrics.”
