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Spotlight on Plaza Art Fair artist: Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle

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This week, we’ll be highlighting some of the artists playing INK’s stage at the Plaza Art Fair this weekend, September 19-21.
 
Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle features a collection of KC’s finest musicians, fronted by pianist and composer Eddie Moore. The Houston native formed the group 3 years ago while working toward his Master of Arts in Jazz Studies at UMKC. We talked with Moore a bit about The Outer Circle’s jazz and soul-inspired sounds.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: one sentence to describe your music.
 
Moore: My music can best be decribed as groovy, sophisticated soul.
 
The Deli: Give me some background info on The Outer Circle. How long have you been together? How did it all come to be?
 
Moore: The band has been together for about 3 years. The Outer Circle came to be while I was in graduate school at UMKC. We were all in combo together for the most part and shared common interests musically. We were often experimenting with ideas, and just having fun with them.
 
The Deli: What have been your greatest accomplishments as a band?
 
Moore: I think one of the greatest accomplishments has been the opportunity to take our music aboard. This past year myself and Matt Leifer (drums) collaborated with musicians from Costa Rica in celebration for the Limon Roots African Culture Awards held at the National Theatre in San Jose. To be a part of the celebration of African American music was a very humbling experience and honor.
 
The Deli: What is your songwriting process like?
 
Moore: I don’t have a specific writing process. I usually like to sit at the piano and think of things in my life that move me to create. It could be anything from hanging out with friends and family to the car breaking down on the freeway. We are all human and life is full of twists and turns.
 
The Deli: You just released your album, The Freedom of Expression, last February. What can we expect from it? Are you recording again anytime soon?
 
Moore: People can expect to hear pieces that tell great and different stories that take the listener on a calm, at times ruckus groovy journey.
 
We are in the middle of our second project now. I am very excited for it, as it will be quite different from our last, but still true to our sound.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
 
Moore: Supporting local music to me as an artist is more than just going to local shows—yes, that is a big part and we all need support. However, I think the real support to local music is through collaboration with other artists, thus making the scene stronger. I choose to mainly play with groups that contribute their original music to the local scene, regardless of genre. Groups like Book of Gaia, Various Blonde, 77 Jefferson, Zack Mufasa, and The Project H to name a few. The time is now; more creativity makes a strong scene.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
 
Moore: Peter Schlamb and The Project H. Both are friends of mine and great bands. Have been groovin’ out to their music a lot lately.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite non-local musicians right now?
 
 
The Deli: Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Plaza Art Fair?
 
Moore: The Ink Stage is deep this year, I’m just gonna camp out there.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
 
Moore: I am a specific lover of Houston Jazz being that I was raised there, and all the great musicians that are from the city. It would be a dream to one day share the bill with all those I look up to. Guys like Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Jamire Williams, Walter Smith, and Mike Moreno.
 
The Deli: What other goals does Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle have for 2014, and beyond?
 
Moore: The main goal is to grow as band, creating more music to share with people all over the world.
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Moore: Please, listeners and patrons, go hear and support local music as often as you can. Here in KC we are blessed to have great and interesting scene brewing with lots of young vibrant talent across the board make noise nationally. Artists, collab with your friends—as well as those you may not know—to do interesting original projects.
 
Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle is:
Eddie Moore: piano
Dominique Sanders: bass
Matt Hopper: guitar
Matt Leifer / Ryan Lee: drums
 
 
Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle will be playing on INK’s stage at Plaza Art Fair on Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 p.m. The stage is located at Ward Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue, next to Gram & Dun and Plaza III. Facebook event page.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.
 
 

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Spotlight on Plaza Art Fair artist: The Project H

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(Photo by Aaron Linscheid)
 
This week, we’ll be highlighting some of the artists playing INK’s stage at the Plaza Art Fair this weekend, September 19-21.
 
Most people know that Kansas City is steeped in a rich jazz heritage that continues to this day. One of the groups that has helped carry on the city’s vibrant jazz scene is The Project H, who has taken the music’s tradition to a modern level. Though still tasteful to listeners of jazz standards, the band incorporates a range of influences and abilities, creating music that is relevant and colorful. Ryan Heinlein, the band’s trombonist and songwriter, answers a few questions for us about the group.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: one sentence to describe your music.
 
Heinlein: Doesn’t matter if you want to dance to it or analyze it, you’re going to be singing it for a while after you hear it.
 
The Deli: Give me some background info on The Project H. How long have you been together? How did it all come to be?
 
Heinlein: The band started in 2007 when I lived in Wichita. It took a year or so to get the band up and running when I moved to KC in 2008. The lineup is: drums, bass, keys, guitar, trombone, trumpet, and tenor sax, but we have a lot of people sit in. Everyone in the band freelances and makes most of their money playing other gigs so I use a lot of subs. That’s the thing about the KC jazz scene though, the talent pool is deep enough that I can call quite a few people on any instrument before there is a drop off in musicianship.
 
The Deli: What have been your greatest accomplishments as a band?
 
Heinlein: I think there’s something to be said for releasing three independent records with a band like this. Getting freelance musicians to commit their time and creative energy to a project like this is definitely an accomplishment, and the fact they still wanted to do another one was a win for me! Gig wise, we covered Beck’s “Song Reader” in its entirety (20 songs) last year with our friends Mark Lowrey, Shay Estes, and Jeff Harshbarger. Selling out the recordBar is always fun.
 
The Deli: The band has done educational clinics for schools in the area. What benefits have you seen it have on students, and also for yourselves as musicians?
 
Heinlein: Yes, we usually book them in bunches once or twice a year. I think it’s safe to say that we wouldn’t be the musicians we are today if it weren’t for music education. The day-to-day activities of being in a high school band or being a music major in college tend to run together but, for me at least, the lasting memories were the clinics that were provided as well as the performance opportunities. So I guess it’s just a “pay it forward”-type situation. The students get to see a group of younger guys making a living doing by being creative and doing what they love. And for us, it’s an easy way to let younger audiences hear us. We feel that we have an opportunity to attract people to more straight-ahead jazz if they hear our not-so-straight-ahead jazz. Basically we function as a gateway drug for jazz!
 
The Deli: You just released your third studio album, We Live Among the Lines. What can we expect from it?
 
Heinlein: A lot of layers and textures. The rock influence really sticks out to me on this record, probably because we added guitar to the group about a year and a half ago. I think there’s a commonality among the songs but at the same time, every song can stand on its own. I honestly think there’s something for everyone on this record.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
 
Heinlein: I don’t get out as much as I wish I could with family and working on a doctoral degree but just getting out and seeing as many shows as I can. I don’t worry about genres, I like a lot of music and it’s pretty easy to find a good concert to go see when I do get out.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
 
Heinlein: This answer would be different for every member of the group so I’ll just give you mine. In no particular order: The Grisly Hand, David Hasselhoff on Acid, Peter Schlamb, and Katy Guillen & The Girls… there’s seriously a lot of really good music in this town!
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite non-local musicians right now?
 
Heinlein: Becca Stevens, Jose James, Tigran Hamasyan, Jaga Jazzist, and I have always had a soft spot for Dillinger Escape Plan.
 
The Deli: Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Plaza Art Fair?
 
Heinlein: Aside from a couple groups I mentioned earlier, The Phantastics and My Brothers & Sisters on Friday, Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle and Diverse on Saturday.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
 
Heinlein: Oh man, something really diverse. I wish Mr. Bungle were still around. Maybe have a classic jazz group like the Jazz Messengers or Weather Report. P-Funk would be awesome too!
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
 
Heinlein: This question is pretty much impossible so I’ll give you one based on my musical influences.
Mike Patton: His ability to explore and push the boundaries of music, no matter what genre he is doing.
James Brown: C’mon! He’s the Godfather of Soul! The pocket in his bands…
Bobby Watson: He’s pretty much responsible for igniting this jazz renaissance in KC. His playing and writing is the perfect combination of technique and soul. I owe him so much… Everyone in the band does too.
JJ Johnson: My influence, as far as trombone players are concerned, changes a lot. Right now I’m on a JJ kick. He’s just so soulful when he plays.
 
The Deli: What other goals does The Project H have for 2014, and beyond?
 
Heinlein: We are starting a collaborative series starting next month at the Westport Coffee House Theater where we act as a backing band for different KC musicians. October will be with Kelley Gant, December will be Emcee Reach and next February will be Lauren Krum. We are also talking with Julia Haile and Jorge Arana for later in 2015. I’d like to play some festivals outside KC, continue to support this record, and just expand our audience. I’d also like to do a Project H big band show…I have a lot of writing to do I suppose!
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Heinlein: Get out and listen to a group you may not normally follow, or go to a club that you’ve never been to. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. There are great things happening in our city, let’s celebrate it!
 
The Project H is:
Clint Ashlock: trumpet
Ryan Heinlein: trombone
Brett Jackson: tenor saxophone
Matt Leifer: drums
Andrew Ouellette: keys
Dominique Sanders: bass
Jeff Stocks: guitar
 
 
The Project H will be playing on INK’s stage at Plaza Art Fair on Sunday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m. The stage is located at Ward Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue, next to Gram & Dun and Plaza III. Facebook event page.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.
 
 

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September Artist of the Month: The Thunderclaps

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The Thunderclaps are our September artist of the month!
 
Though the two have been making music for a number of years, Bryce Jones and Colin Blunt formed The Thunderclaps just at the beginning of 2014. A grimy garage rock guitar/drums duo influenced by the surf leanings of The Gories and the psychedelic offerings of Thee Oh Sees, the band delivers an undeniable lo-fi rock ‘n roll edge.
 
Along with being our artist of the month, the band will be playing on INK’s stage at the Plaza Art Fair next weekend. We talked with Jones and Blunt to get a little more insight on what The Thunderclaps are all about.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: one sentence to describe your music.
 
Bryce: It’s like a fried egg sandwich: nothing fancy, but it’ll stick to your ribs.
 
The Deli: The Thunderclaps is a relatively new band. How long have you been together? How did it all come to be?
 
Bryce: We’ve made quite a bit of noise together over the years, but most of it has been for our own enjoyment and edification. The Thunderclaps got going when Colin tracked down a drum set and we tried our hand at thumpin’ out tunes and filling them out as best as we could as a duo. We played to the living room for a long while before we decided to gig for a friend’s New Year’s gathering. Folks were dancing and having a good time, so we settled into the idea of trying to get out and play as often as we can.
 
The Deli: The Thunderclaps are a guitar/drums duo. Was this a conscious effort to conceive a certain type of sound, or have you wanted to add other instrumentation?
 
Bryce: The configuration was bred out of necessity in a way. I don’t live in KC, so it streamlines the process a bit when I can make it to town. We can buckle down, get things moving, and flesh out ideas. From a songwriting angle it does provide interesting parameters within which to work. Certain ideas just aren’t going to play, but other options that otherwise wouldn’t even come up rear their head. We’ve kind of toyed with the idea of adding a bass player, but for right now it’s enough of a good time that I think we’ll roll with this instrumentation for a bit.
 
The Deli: What have been your greatest accomplishments as a band?
 
Colin: Honestly, being interviewed is pretty sweet. Being asked to play the Plaza Art Fair is a huge step forward as well. Then there was the time when we were asked to play at someone’s wedding reception. That was real fun. The bride lived near where we practice, heard us from up the street, and the next thing we know, we’re playing for a dancing bride and groom.
 
The Deli: You released an EP, Not Bad, August. What can we expect from it?
 
Colin: “Not Bad” is actually just kind of a placeholder name for the tracks we recorded on a cassette player a while back. And we didn’t really “release” them as much as we “put them on the internet.” But to answer your question, you can expect some lo-fi rumblings and a crocodile on the telephone.
 
The Deli: You guys are playing the Plaza Art Fair in a couple weeks. Who are you most looking forward to seeing there?
 
Colin: You know, to be honest, I haven’t heard a lot of the bands that are playing this year, which is really exciting actually. I like going to shows where you don’t really know what to expect and being pleasantly surprised. I anticipate I’ll have a few new favorite local bands after that weekend, but for now, I’ve heard a lot of good things about My Brothers & Sisters and Katy Guillen & the Girls, so that’ll be fun.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
 
Colin: Hangin’ with good people who appreciate making and enjoying music.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
 
Colin: Cadillac Flambe, Rooms Without Windows, and Making Movies are all amazing, but I’d say our new favorite is The Garage Kings—they make great music for ordering a hamburger, and even better music for eating a hamburger.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite non-local musicians right now?
 
Colin: Oh man, where to begin. As far as classic stuff, Bo Diddley is the alpha and omega of rock and roll music as far as we’re concerned. Besides that, we also really like Thee Oh Sees, The Gories, JD McPherson, Thee Headcoats, The Oblivians, Reigning Sound, etc. Basically anyone who just brings the rock and roll and never looks back.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
 
The Thunderclaps: Realistically, any of the happenin’ flashback bands right now would be fun to open for. But ultimately, maybe we bring Phil Lynott back from the dead so we can open up for Thin Lizzy?
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
 
The Thunderclaps: Bo Diddley (because he’s a gunslinger), Fats Domino (because he’s the man), Link Wray (because louder is better), and Elmore James (just because). Can Teddy still hang around to class up the place?
 
The Deli: What other goals do The Thunderclaps have for 2014?
 
The Thunderclaps: We just want to keep on rockin’ and rollin’.
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Bryce: If your toes start tappin’, tap ‘em. If your knees start shakin’, shake ‘em. And if your hips start movin’, by all means, groove ‘em.
 
 
The Thunderclaps will be playing on INK’s stage at Plaza Art Fair on Sunday, September 21 at 1:00 p.m. The stage is located at Ward Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue, next to Gram & Dun and Plaza III. Facebook event page.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.
 
 

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Artists on Trial: Admiral of the Red

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(Photo by Roshelle Hudson)
 
In its short time together, Admiral of the Red has quickly evolved from a blues-based garage rock duo into a fully realized, dynamic rock band. The raw roots rock approach of guitarist Matt Hurst and drummer Tom Hudson, coupled with MB Hurst’s visceral vocals and a low-end punch from bassist Chris Reed creates the band’s primal, driving sound, reminiscent of The Dead Weather and Queens of the Stone Age. We talk more with Hudson about the group and what they have coming up.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: one sentence to describe your music.
 
Hudson: Rock and roll with a hint of blues and a tinge of soul. At least that’s what we like to think.
 
The Deli: Give me some background info on the band.
 
Hudson: Matt [Hurst] and I met in 2012 and shared the same appreciation for the blues/roots rock sound that Jack White, The Black Keys, and Queens Of The Stone Age do so well. Particularly the sound of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather—we really wanted to capture that big raw sound. We originally planned to maintain the band as a two-piece, but when Matt’s sister MB showed up at a practice and started singing, it was pretty much a no-brainer to have her take on the lead vocalist role. After spending a good portion of 2013 coming up with a set list and writing songs, we decided we wanted to make a demo. After a 30-minute phone conversation with Joel Nanos at Element Recording, the demo became an EP and we went into the studio in August 2013 to record it, essentially putting out an album before ever playing a show. Over the last year, we have had some great times and have played great shows. About 6 months ago we decided to bring in a bass player to fill out the sound of the band since our songwriting was moving in a direction that needed it. Since then, we’ve been working on tightening up as a band, playing good shows, and just having fun.
 
The Deli: What have been your greatest accomplishments as a band?
 
Hudson: Well, we’ve been playing together for about 18 months and even recorded an EP together. While we all have our disagreements at times, we do not hate each other… yet. When you put opinionated people together in one band, it’s a big accomplishment to stick together, grow, and better yourselves as musicians.
 
The Deli: What can we expect from your EP, Almost Free? Do you plan to record again soon?
 
Hudson: As mentioned above, Almost Free originally was only supposed to be a demo. The goal was to just have something in our hands to give to promoters, friends, and fellow musicians to get the word out and book shows. However, we’re really glad that we decided to make an EP instead. The feedback on the album has been positive and we’re really happy with the way it turned out. Joel did an outstanding job and provided insight that turned out to be extremely valuable as we started to play shows. Even though it’s been over a year now, it is still a good representation of our sound. As for a new album, the plan is to start recording a full-length by the end of this year. We’re close to having enough new material for it and can’t wait to get back in the studio again.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
 
Hudson: Going to shows, supporting, helping your fellow musicians better themselves. Sort of preaching to the choir here, since the reason our music scene is so great is because so many people already do that.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
 
Hudson: This is probably the hardest question to answer. From the more established groups to the newer bands around, there is so much great music happening in KC right now. However, some highlights would definitely be Drop A Grand, The Conquerors, and Katy Guillen and the Girls.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite non-local musicians right now?
 
Hudson: Tok and Bruiser Queen from St. Louis are doing great things these days. We opened up for Leopold and His Fiction from Austin the other night and were just blown away by their live show. Another great Austin band is Not In The Face; they write and play some great rock and roll. Definitely recommend catching any of these guys the next time they come through town.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
 
Hudson: Queens Of The Stone Age, The Dead Weather, and The Kills.
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
 
Hudson: Jack White, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, and Britt Daniel. Each one of them has a great respect for the history of rock and roll, and do a great job carrying the torch.
 
The Deli: What other goals does Admiral of the Red have for 2014?
 
Hudson: We’ll be opening for Outsides on Saturday, September 13 at recordBar. This will be our last show for a bit, as we write some new material and get ready to record. Look for us to play again, hopefully with some new material in November/December.
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Hudson: Go to shows, go to shows, go to shows! As mentioned earlier, we have a great scene here and the way that scene thrives is by supporting each other. Also, spread the word to others who may not play. I feel there are A LOT of people in this city that don’t quite understand how much talent resides here and would really take notice if they were just made aware. Tell co-workers, friends, family, their friends, and so on. We are our biggest supporter, but that sometimes doesn’t work when we’re all playing different shows on a Saturday night. The mentality should be that there are never enough people listening. Spread the word, but most of all have fun!
 
 
You can catch Admiral of the Red this Saturday, September 13, where they will be playing with Outsides and Is Paris Burning at recordBar. The show will be presented by 96.5 The Buzz. Facebook event page.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.
 
 

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Money Wolf’s songwriter stage at CMF promises musical diversity

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(Photo by Todd Zimmer)
 
This week, we’ll be highlighting some of the events and artists at the 10th annual Crossroads Music Fest on Saturday, September 6. Please visit cmfkc.com for tickets or more information.
 
Along with The Record Machine (see our spotlight on them earlier this week), Money Wolf Music will be curating its own stage at CMF this year for the first time. This Kansas City collective/production house/record label has helped put musicians on display to different audiences in unconventional settings; for instance, they often put on exclusive secret shows and coordinate a private hotel showcase at the annual Folk Alliance International conference. By also co-organizing networking and informational sessions, recording and releasing albums, and advocating for its artist roster—which includes Dollar Fox (pictured above), The Hillary Watts Riot, Dead Ven, and others—Money Wolf is an important resource to Kansas City music.
 
This year, Money Wolf will host a songwriter showcase at Celina Tio’s Crossroads district restaurant, Collection. The event will feature songwriters’ circles: four sets of four artists will trade off songs. Tommy Donoho, one of the main forces behind Money Wolf and the frontman of Dollar Fox, talks to us about what we can expect from Saturday.
 
The Deli: The Money Wolf stage at Collection features 16 different acts. Tell us why festivalgoers should make a point to check out this showcase.
 
Tommy Donoho: We worked hard to put together a lineup that truly represents the amazing diversity in this city. From folk to punk to blues to instrumental to pop to country to full-on freaks, we wanted people to really experience a taste of ALL the great songwriters this city has to offer. Plus, we’re doing a very intimate, simple mic set-up—kind of the old time approach—to capture the real essence of what these people sound like. It’s a songwriter-focused stage in every possible way.
 
The Deli: Do you have any surprises in store?
 
Donoho: You know us all too well. For us, the surprise was the diversity of the lineup. It’s something we’re really reaching towards—getting people to see ALL the music KC has to offer. Of course, you get this many folks together, I’m guessing someone is going to bust out something that inspires collaboration.
 
The Deli: Why did you decide to curate a stage at CMF?
 
Donoho: Last year, Justin [Penney] was hired to run sound at the venue for CMF and it went well. Over the last year, he and I have had more contact with both Celina and Bill [Sundahl] and it made sense to bring us back this year.
 
The songwriter circle idea came from Bill. I think he saw the potential of what we were pulling together with our involvement with Folk Alliance International some of the songwriting circles we’ve been hosting with a variety of artists. What can I say? Bill trusted us to make something unique.
 
The Deli: What value does this have for the KC music community?
 
Donoho: I’m hoping musicians make new friends and fans. I’m hoping fans find more musicians they weren’t even aware existed. And mostly I’m hoping we’ll get more and more people out to see a wider variety of shows in the future. The town and the people who write songs in it are fucking amazing. I’m starting to see the city embrace this notion more and more. I’m hoping they’ll embrace our vision of how there’s no difference between Mikal Shapiro and Mike Alexander. They write songs and damn good ones; music fans should see the musicians at the core of what they are. And that’s the biggest benefit we can hope for: to have people walking away saying, “Holy shit, those people can write some songs.”
 
The Deli: What else does Money Wolf have coming up that you’re looking forward to?
 
Donoho: We’re actually hosting our second Sonic Saturday Social Club at 3:00 on the day of CMF. It’s an event we’re working on with Coda, where we bring in rock bands on the first Saturday of each month. Day drinking, rock and roll, all ages, good food. It’s all about exposing people to great music.
 
On September 22, we’re hosting another of our infamous Secret Shows. We have Zachary Lucky from Canada rolling in. He blew people away at the FAI conference and we’re hoping to get him in front of more people. He writes some of the best sad bastard tunes around. He picked the most depressing day of the week to hit town. So we’re going to celebrate all the sadness by serving up some delicious competition smoked BBQ and music. We’re calling it All Your Hopes Go Up in Smoke. It’ll be limited to a mere 20 tickets. We’ll be announcing all of it soon.
 
The Deli: Tell us what some of Money Wolf’s artists have going on.
 
Donoho: The Hillary Watts Riot has been playing a ton in and out of town and are about to release a new video. Dead Ven is playing everywhere, including a set with the Ataris, I believe. He’s a really spectacular songwriter. Dollar Fox is woodshedding for a while, but I’m always out playing. And we just did the Records with Merritt live show, recording. It was a huge success and songs are being mixed to ship out to press here very soon.
 
We stay busy here at Money Wolf Music. And this CMF event is something we’re crazy excited for. It’s gonna be a great night.
 
 
Start your day off early at Coda and catch Money Wolf’s Sonic Saturday Social Club at 3:00 p.m., with The Thunderclaps (our artist of the month!) and Oldfield Victory. Facebook event page. Then, at 6, be sure to hit up the showcase at Collection, with 16 different songwriters. Facebook event page.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
 

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Spotlight on CMF artist: Onward Crispin Glover

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(Photo by Mark Peterman)
 
This week, we are highlighting some of the artists playing the 10th annual Crossroads Music Fest this Saturday, September 6. For more info or tickets, visit cmfkc.com.
 
Onward Crispin Glover released its first and only album, The Further and the Faster, in 2001 on Anodyne Records—a Kansas City-based label that has released albums from the likes of Shiner, The Architects, Roman Numerals, and Meat Puppets. The band had a punchy, glammy pop vibe infused with boisterous punk, starring a cast of experienced musicians from groups such as Frogpond, TV Fifty, Truck Stop Love, and Rocket Fuel is the Key. And though it released just the one album, Onward Crispin Glover has remained on the minds of many in KC music ever since.
 
One of those minds was that of Bill Sundahl, who has organized every CMF since its inception in 2005. Sundahl specifically requested for OCG to reunite for this year’s festival. “Every now and then I would run across The Further and the Faster, put it in my CD player, and it always held up,” he comments. “I can’t think of many recordings from 2001 I can say that about.”
 
And it certainly does hold up, even 11 years after the band’s demise. Though OCG’s style was heavily rooted in ‘90s power pop/punk—comparisons to Superchunk and Archers of Loaf have often been drawn—it was far more expansive than that. The members cite Elvis Costello and The Afghan Whigs as influences, which immediately eliminates them from being stuck with a simple power pop branding—something you can tell after a single listen to The Further and the Faster. Costello had a penchant for writing some of the hookiest and most timeless pop songs ever, with a new wave/punk attitude; this is absolutely evident in OCG’s songwriting.
 
“It began with a very pop-oriented sensibility and progressed toward a noisier, more chaotic sound,” says bassist Kristin Conkright.
 
Elements of that chaotic but catchy sound has manifested in Knife Crime; three of the band’s four members are also original members of OCG: Byron Huhmann, Conkright, and Brad Huhmann. With Byron’s striking, pronounced vocals at the helm—he is also primary songwriter of both bands—Knife Crime is something of a modern-day, slightly more grown-up version of its members’ previous incarnation.
 
Onward Crispin Glover formed in 1999, with Byron on vocals and guitar, Brad on guitar, Conkright on bass, and Billy Johnson on drums. Brad chose not to tour with the band and was replaced by Marty Robertson—who, along with Johnson, was in Frogpond. Robertson later handed the reins off to Steve Tulipana. In 2003, the band folded and went on to a number of other successful projects, such as Federation of Horsepower, Anvil Chorus, and Red Kate. 
 
Conkright also lists “the KC affinity for really, really fucking loud guitars” as one of the trademarks of OCG’s sound. On Saturday’s reunion show, the group will once again deliver on this promise more than ever before. The lineup will include a triple axe arsenal of the Huhmann brothers and Robertson. Conkright tells us that the biggest, yet most rewarding challenge is “figuring out how to work all three guitar players into one set without smashing eardrums.” Chris Fugitt of Federation of Horsepower will be sitting in on drums, as Johnson will be out of town.
 
For now, old and new fans will have the chance to experience Onward Crispin Glover at Crossroads Music Fest this weekend. But the members note that they’ve had so much fun revisiting the songs that they might play more after the reunion show. And as well as OCG’s songs hold up more than a decade later, we’ll probably want them to.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
Michelle is editor-in-chief of The Deli KC and plays in bands. Crispin Glover scares her a little.
 
 
Onward Crispin Glover will be playing in the Mercy Seat Alley for CMF on Saturday, kicking off the evening at 7:00 pm. Don’t miss it.
 
 
 
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Album review: Katy Guillen & the Girls – Katy Guillen & the Girls

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(Photo by Michelle Bacon)
 
Normally when I discover a band for the first time, I listen to their album first, then go see them live. In the case of Katy Guillen & The Girls’ new release, the situation’s been reversed. I saw them live a couple of times before the album was released, so I was interested to hear if the record was going to capture the ferocity of their live performances. I have to confess that my hearing is not in the best of shape, and, due to a poor sound mix at what shall be an unnamed Lawrence venue, I never got to hear the words or even the melodies properly live at the most recent concert I attended. But upon hearing the self-titled LP, it’s nice to hear that Guillen can write literate lyrics to these songs I’ve heard played out.
 
The album opener, "Don’t Get Bitter," hearkens back to the sound and feel of the Beatles’ "Taxman," with Claire Adams’ bass introducing the song. It’s short, catchy, and lasts exactly as long as it should. If there were a single release off this album, this would be it.
 
This record is no-frills. It’s the band pretty much as you hear them live, with the mix capturing a live in-studio sound. What strikes me listening to this record is that Katy and the Girls are not strictly a blues band. There’s certainly an infusion of the blues in what they do, but, to my ears, they hearken back to some of the late ‘60s-early ‘70s hard rock bands like Mountain and Free, but with better lyrics and songs. I also hear some White Stripes in there somewhere. The melodies and harmonies are accentuated and they help blend with the powerful playing.
 
Katy Guillen, Claire Adams, and Stephanie Williams fill up a lot of space in these songs. It’s obvious they are all very well in sync and have that great intuitive blend that comes from playing lots of live gigs together. I also like the changes in some of the songs, which go in directions you don’t expect, like "Woke Up In Spain," which switches tempo adroitly.
 
The absolute masterpiece of this album is the last song, “Earth Angel.” (Note: The Deli KC premiered this song when it was first released as a single back in January. Here’s the link.) It’s the longest tune on the album, but it doesn’t feel long. It starts out with Guillen’s dirty-sounding guitar intro, reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s "Little Wing," and builds in intensity as it moves along. Guillen takes one hell of a solo during this song. It’s obvious from hearing this record that she is an excellent guitarist but never overplays during the songs. But when the song calls for a lengthy solo, like "Earth Angel," sparks fly. The rest of the band is equally as adept. Adams’ bass lines are nimble and fit right in place with Williams’ active drum work. It’s a pleasure to hear a band that obviously loves to play together rolling through these songs. The album’s producer (Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab) captures the clarity of the music as well as the power of a live performance.
 
–Barry Lee

Barry Lee is an occasional contributor to The Deli KC and can often be found on the radio Sunday nights at 8 pm on KKFI 90.1 as host of the long-running free-form show, Signal To Noise. In the daytime he attends to many tasks as Station Manager for KKFI. 

 
 
This weekend, Katy Guillen & the Girls will play two special performances at Knuckleheads. On Saturday, September 6, they will be throwing a CD release party with special guests The Old No. 5’s. Facebook event page. On Sunday, September 7, they will play an unplugged show for the first time, in Knuckleheads’ Gospel Lounge. This is a special benefit show for KKFI 90.1 FM. Facebook event page. Both shows begin at 8:00 p.m. Go see them and indulge yourselves.
 
 
 

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Spotlight on CMF artist: Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear

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This week, we are highlighting some of the artists playing the 10th annual Crossroads Music Fest. For more info or ticketing information, please visit cmfkc.com.
 
Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear quietly released their first album, We Burned the Cane Field, in 2012 (recorded/produced by Joel Nanos at Element Recording). It was relatively unknown and received very little press (The Deli KC published a review in 2013). The mother/son duo of Ruth and Madisen Ward continued performing week to week in coffeehouses and smaller venues, gaining a reputation for its profound songwriting, having two intriguing powerhouse voices, and an earnest charm that connected with audiences.
 
Mostly by word of mouth, Madisen and Ruth’s music has captured the attention of many in the KC area and beyond. We talk a bit with Madisen Ward about how the band came to be and what they have planned.
 
The Deli: How would you describe your music in one sentence?
 
Madisen Ward: An organic tribute to imperfection.
 
The Deli: Give us some background on the band. Why did you and your mom decide you would play together?
 
Madisen: We have been a band for 4 years now. My mother started singing at the age of 19; living a semi-nomadic life, singing in coffeehouses throughout the US. I grew up listening to her sing in coffeehouses, never realizing the impact her music and inspirations would have on me in the future. I picked up the guitar in my later teens and started singing even later. After high school, we discovered how much we enjoyed performing together, so I began writing music for both of us to sing in coffeehouses. We’ve been playing wherever we can, and as much as we can ever since.
 
The Deli: Madisen, what’s it like to be in a band with your mom? And Ruth, what’s it like to work with your son?
 
Madisen: It’s a very interesting and unique experience working with my mother. We were already connected as mother and son, so connecting as musicians was a very natural process.
 
Ruth: It’s a great experience, and I’m learning a lot from my son while enjoying the process as well. I feel like we’re tackling music in ways I never have before.
 
The Deli: Your first album, We Burned the Cane Field, came out in 2012. Do you have any new stuff in the works?
 
Madisen: We have lots of new material. Songs that we’re real excited to share with everyone, but the actual recording date is undetermined at this time. We’re looking forward to recording as soon as possible!
 
The Deli: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a band?
 
Madisen: We just recently announced that we’ll be opening for the legendary B.B. King on October 1 at The Midland (Facebook event page). This is probably our greatest accomplishment so far. It is a humbling honor to share the evening with such an amazing blues icon!
 
The Deli: What does the future hold for Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear?
 
Madisen: Touring and recording is what we’re wanting to accomplish for the upcoming months. We just recently signed on with the William Morris Endeavor Agency, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this journey!
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local and non-local musicians right now?
 
Madisen: A couple of Mama Bear’s favorite musicians are Tracy Chapman and John Gorka. A couple of mine are Nick Drake and Tom Waits. Kansas City has a very unique and vibrant music scene; we’d rather not pick any one local musician as our favorite.
 
The Deli: Who are you looking forward to seeing at Crossroads Music Fest this year?
 
Madisen: I’m excited to see many bands, including The Philistines whom we’re sharing a venue with. Me Like Bees is a band I’m excited to see as well.
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Madisen: No matter what you pursue; respect others while pursuing it. With all due respect, We’re all due respect.
 
 
Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear will be playing at The Tank Room for Crossroads Music Fest on Saturday. They will be playing at 10:00 pm, right after Maria the Mexican and right before The Philistines.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.
 
 

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Spotlight on CMF artist: Scott Hrabko & the Rabbits

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(Photo by M. Krebotchnik)
 
This week, we’ll be highlighting some of the artists playing the 10th annual Crossroads Music Fest next Saturday, September 6. Please visit cmfkc.com for more information.
 
Scott Hrabko has been making music for over 25 years now, but only recently released his debut album in late 2013. The singer/songwriter composes thoughtful, reflective tunes with a backing band that provides the soul, swing, and twang that gives his music a classic country feel. We talk with Hrabko about his history and how he got back into the music scene.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?
 
Hrabko: Singer/songwriterly, semi-autobiographical songs with rambling lyrics, played in a somewhat offbeat country/folk/blues hybrid with an emphasis on soulful three-part harmonies.
 
The Deli: How did you get back into writing and playing your own songs again?
 
Hrabko: After I moved from KC in the ’90s, I had some good bands in Chicago and Austin that maybe 20 people knew about. When I came back, though, I was having trouble meeting musicians who had any interest in the kind of stuff I write. I grew kind of disillusioned about writing songs for awhile and my only connection to music was this cover band, The Original Sinners, playing semi-obscure R&B songs from the ’50s a few times a year at parties. When the urge to write started pestering me again, my wife strongly suggested that I get out and play some solo acoustic shows. That was when I asked Howard Iceberg for advice and he introduced me to Elaine McMilian. Elaine booked gigs for me and helped get my music back out in public. She and her friend, the late Tom Ryan, were huge supporters early on. That helped because I was very nervous about the whole thing and had no idea how it would be received. It’s not easy to go out and perform without a band, but I’m glad I did; I really learned whether my songs can stand on their own, without all of the seductive instrumentation.
 
The Deli: How did you hook up with the rest of the Rabbits?
 
Hrabko: I met Emily Tummons a few years ago at the Howard Iceberg tribute show at Crosstown Station. My old band, the Splinters, was invited to play a couple of Howard’s tunes; Emily and her sister Beth sang a couple by themselves and with Scott Easterday. Their sound really knocked me out. It was very old-timey—the kind of harmonies you just don’t hear these days. I thought, “I have to find a way to sing with those girls, somehow.” I figured we might run into each other eventually, but right after the show as I was loading up my car, Emily came right up and introduced herself and asked if I ever needed any backing vocals. Beth was too busy with her home life to commit to anything, but Emily wound up singing on my album and then joined the Rabbits.
 
Josh Arnold was the first musician who joined us after that. He had gone to school with Emily and played bass with the Tummons Sisters. He and Emily had sung harmonies before, as well, so they already had all this history. I knew immediately that we had a good combination. He’s a great, intuitive bass player, and the two of them just have this telepathy when they sing together. With previous bands I was probably guilty of micromanagement, not letting the musicians be themselves and find a flow, but with Josh and Emily I just say, “here’s the song—go to it,” with only an occasional suggestion of what they should do. They’re also great people, and very funny.
 
We just lost our badass guitarist, Kirk Scott, who moved with his family to Massachusetts, so we’re a trio now, but we have a fourth member lined up; it’s just not official yet. Emily sang some harmonies on my CD, Gone Places and we started rehearsing with Josh about a year ago in preparation for the CD release, which was last November at Coda.
 
The Deli: What have been your greatest accomplishments as a band?
 
Hrabko: I think it has been developing our own unique sound in a very short period of time. I always dreamed of having a band with a strong element of harmony and the first time we sang together I knew it could be something special. And, for me, personally—I was really out of the music scene for years, so getting back into it and being so warmly received is really gratifying.
 
The Deli: You released your debut album Gone Places last November. What can people expect from it?
 
Hrabko: Gone Places came out late last year. That one was me and some old friends and some guest musicians I’d just met, recorded mostly in my basement. Scott Hrabko & The Rabbits are putting the finishing touches on a new album which will be out some time this fall.
 
The Deli: Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Crossroads Music Fest this year?
 
Hrabko: There are a lot of bands I already like that I want to hear, as well as some I’m curious about. It’s very nice that it all takes place within a few city blocks. After our set I think I’m just going to go wherever the wind takes me. It all sounds good.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
 
Hrabko: It’s about acknowledging how lucky we are to be in a small-to-mid-sized major city smack dab in the middle of the country and we’re absolutely surrounded with good music. Can’t swing a dead cat. I’ll give you an example: we have this local, non-touring band, Dead Voices, who are making music that is just historically good, and they’re like our little secret. For the time being we have them to ourselves. It’s really lovely to see all this music happening here, because I can remember a time when it wasn’t, aside from a handful of true believers.
 
It’s not the product of hype, or a response to some kind of market pressure, either. It’s just growing on its own, taking its own quirky course.
 
The Deli: What has changed about the local music landscape? Why do you think it’s growing at a rate it wasn’t before?
 
Hrabko: There seems to be a convergence of musicians who came up together in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, who are all friends and play in each other’s bands. Many of the bands just seem to be part of one organism! It kind of sustains itself. It helps that the music is worth listening to.
 
Second, it seems that there are more entrepreneurs around who are musician-friendly or musicians themselves who are starting up venues and record labels, organizing festivals, etc. That infrastructure definitely wasn’t around back in the day when a band like mine could play a Monday night at The Grand Emporium or maybe open for somebody at Parody Hall.
 
Third, the internet. Being able to post your music online for anybody to check out has been a godsend for socially challenged musicians like me, and all of the social media has made it much easier to get the word out. Going around, stapling fliers to telephone poles seems very quaint now. I would also add that there are more true music lovers—especially for live music—than you would think there would be in a town this size, so people do come out. And of course we have KKFI!
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
 
Hrabko: It kills me to leave so many out, but I am a huge fan of Mikal Shapiro, Dead Voices, of course — anything David Regnier is involved in, Jason Beers, Marco Pascolini, Howard Iceberg, Brent Jamison, Kasey Rausch, Old Sound. John Greiner, but he just moved to the east coast, so he’s no longer local. Emily and Josh from my own band kick my ass on a regular basis.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?
 
Hrabko: Lately I’ve gotten into these mysterious, English folky women, like Cate LeBon and This Is The Kit. Also digging back into the late Townes Van Zandt’s early catalog and finding I really didn’t know all I thought I knew about him. What a lyricist… like William Blake or something! Fred Neill, early John Martyn (a lot of dead guys, I guess!), Michael Kiwanuka.
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
 
Hrabko: Leonard Cohen, Robert Johnson, Joni Mitchell, Jimmie Rodgers, Captain Beefheart (I know, that’s five): great music that has stood the test of time. I’ve had so many musical heroes that I’ve either outgrown, disavowed, or gotten sick of, but I still get chills when I listen to these people’s songs. It still has as profound an impact on me as it did when I was much younger and knew even less.
 
The Deli: What other goals does Scott Hrabko & the Rabbits have for 2014?
 
Hrabko: Stay healthy, stay busy, stay visible, write great songs, and grow as a band.
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Hrabko: If it’s crap, don’t be deterred.
 
Scott Hrabko & the Rabbits are:
Scott Hrabko: acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Josh Arnold: bass, vocals
Emily Tummons: accordion, ukulele, vocals
 
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10562953_10100267506402489_8344873471633293832_n.jpg
 
Scott Hrabko & the Rabbits will be playing at The Tank Room for Crossroads Music Fest on Saturday. Their set is at 6:00 pm, followed by Old Sound. Facebook event page. You can also catch Hrabko at Coda every fourth Saturday, where he hosts a happy hour songwriter showcase.
 
–Michelle Bacon
 
 

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The Record Machine brings a formidable lineup to Crossroads Music Fest next Saturday

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This week, we’ll be highlighting some of the events and artists at the 10th annual Crossroads Music Fest on Saturday, September 6. Please visit cmfkc.com for more information.
 
This is the first year that The Record Machine will be curating its own stage at CMF. The record label, based in Kansas City, was launched in 2003, has released more than 50 albums, and has powered breakout area [and national] acts such as Cowboy Indian Bear, Minden, Soft Reeds, and Making Movies. The Record Machine also curated and has helped organize Ink’s Middle of the Map Festival each year since its 2011 inception. 
 
Today, Nathan Reusch (who co-founded TRM with Mike Russo and Richard Robinett) owns the label and works with more than a dozen indie acts, many of whom are based in Kansas City. By booking them on widely attended showcases, helping them with touring, putting out records, among other invaluable services, The Record Machine has been a viable resource for the KC/Lawrence music community. We ask Reusch a few questions about what we can expect at the fest and in the future.
 
The Deli: Do you have any surprises in store for the CMF showcase?
 
Reusch: We will be unveiling some new branding for the label and we are excited about it. We will be launching a new website and video series from footage that we’re going to be making that weekend. We will likely have a pinata or two to smash in between bands.
 
The Deli: The showcase includes five artists on The Record Machine label. Why did you choose these acts?
 
Reusch: We are excited to have Max Justus, La Guerre, The Noise FM (pictured above), Chambers, and Ghastly Menace all on one show. They all have new records that either just came out or about to come out next year. So it’s really an accurate picture of where the label is at.
 
The Deli: What are some of the label’s greatest accomplishments?
 
Reusch: We are lucky to have released great records over the last few years from some of our favorites like Capybara, Cowboy Indian Bear, Soft Reeds, Spirit Is The Spirit, and a lot more. Between the work we do with The Record Machine and curating Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest, I feel like the label has hit a really great stride.
 
The Deli: Why did you decide to curate a stage at CMF? What value does it have for the KC music community?
 
Reusch: We were super honored to be asked to curate our own stage by CMF founder Bill Sundahl. I think it’s a great fest that shows a broad swath of what is going on in KC. It’s nice for us who have bands from around the region to join in the fest. A lot of our bands call KC a second home with The Record Machine being here.
 
The Deli: What else does The Record Machine have coming up that you’re looking forward to?
 
Reusch: We have an EP coming out this fall from Stolen Nations. It’s KC native Jon Terrey (The Chariot, The James Dean Trio). It’s really cool and fun to have Jon back on the label; he was in The James Dean Trio back in 2003 when we first started the label and was part of our first release. We also have new records coming out from Ghastly Menace, La Guerre, and Max Justus that we hope to have release dates for soon.
 
We’re currently starting work on 2015’s Middle of the Map Fest, which is always an exciting and fun event to plan but takes a lot of time for everything to come together. We also always try to throw a pretty sweet free Christmas party/winter showcase and looking at doing that in early December.
 
 
Be sure to make The Record Machine’s showcase one of your CMF stops on Saturday night. It takes place at Czar, with Ghastly Menace (6:00), La Guerre (8:00), Chambers (10:00), The Noise FM (12:00), and Max Justus (1:00). Facebook event page.
 

–Michelle Bacon

 

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Artists on Trial: Doby Watson

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(Photo by Alison Claire Peck)
 
Doby Watson has been writing songs since he was a child. His songwriting invites—or rather, pulls the listener in to the miserable but beautiful world in his mind. Though sparse in instrumentation, his music is poetic, shrouded in a dense fog of melancholy and pain. A young but seasoned songwriter, Watson has gone on numerous US tours and released several albums. With his next album, Live-In Son, being released in October, we asked him a few questions about what he has happening.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?
 
Watson: One of the only things keeping me from killing myself.
 
The Deli: You mainly work solo, but do you collaborate with other musicians very often?
 
Watson: I’ve historically avoided accompaniment (with the occasional exception of my dear friend Austin Swearengin). However, lately I have been lucky enough to play alongside Adam Brumback (guitar, vocals, percussion), Grant Buell (keys/piano) and Chad Toney (bass) live. And on record Grant Buell (My Oh My, Kansas City Bear Fighters), Jerad Tomasino (Everyday/Everynight), Chad Toney (Hidden Pictures, Leering Heathens), Lennon Bone (Ha Ha Tonka), Ryan Brewer (Hank., Good Night & Good Morning), Richard Gintowt (Hidden Pictures), Austin Swearengin, Matt Dill, Margo May, and a multitude of others have joined me. There are countless other folks I’d love to work with, as well.
 
The Deli: What is the heart of your songwriting all about?
 
Watson: Just a beer-soaked, privileged white guy complaining about his relatively nice life, I suppose.
 
The Deli: You’re releasing Live-In Son on October 17. What can we expect from this?
 
Watson: Imagine the emotional equivalent of locking yourself in your parents’ bathroom for 5 years, filling the tub with terrible beer, getting in said tub while chain smoking, occasionally letting loved ones in and asking them to hold your head down in the tub until you drown in beer, but instead of helping you drown (or lifting you up from the tub), they simply walk away in disappointment and shame.
 
I recorded the songs live in Ross Brown’s basement about a year ago here in KC. The following day, Grant Buell (Rhodes) and Jerad Tomasino (vocals) came in and improvised over the live recordings, having never rehearsed with me or each other. Hannah Jensen added some viola drones at Ross’s, and Richard Gintowt added additional vocals at his home in San Francisco. The songs sat for some time until Ryan Brewer was kind enough to mix them and add some electric guitars, field recordings, and auxiliary percussion, etc., in Champaign, IL. Finally, Cory Schulz has been kind enough to beautifully master the results in Milwaukee. Essentially, I’ve been riding on the backs and good will of my talented friends to piece together a slow, creepy, sob-fest about some of the most unpleasant years of my life (so far).
 
Not to mention the visual side of the record, which has been/is being put together with help from Alison Claire Peck, Adam Brumback, Tim Williams, Megan Inghram, as well as my parents.
 
The Deli: You are releasing the album on Error Records and Double Shift.
 
Watson: Error Records is an amazing record store, venue, and DIY label based in Champaign, all masterfully run under the ironclad beard of Nathan Landolt. Double Shift is a new label based in Queens, NY, operated by Cameron Matthews (as fantastic a journalist as he is a musician) of which I am lucky enough to be the flagship artist. The two labels are working together to release a cassette and digital version of Live-In Son.
 
The Deli: You’re kicking off an extensive tour soon. What are you looking forward to most?
 
Watson: Seeing all of the wonderful friends I’ve made over the years and miss dearly. At that, making new wonderful friends as I get back on the road.
 
I’m also thrilled to be accompanied by Adam Brumback on this tour. He brings a lot to the songs, so much so that I wish he was around for the recording sessions. I’m equally excited to be joined by ZXO on this tour, a new solo project from Ryan Brewer, who was also heavily involved in the completion of the record.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
 
Watson: That’s a hard question for me to answer. I don’t feel like I’m very involved in much “local” music or go to enough shows in KC. I should fix that.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
 
Watson: There are so many. I feel like Kansas City is in a bit of a renaissance. I have so many amazingly talented friends and am introduced to countless wonderful performers I was previously unaware of every time I go to a show. So, really, anyone who is trying and cares about what they are doing is my favorite. That being said…
 
Manipulator Alligator (Matthew Hoppock). He doesn’t play much, if at all anymore. But he’s one of the only artists I have ever covered and has remained one of my greatest influences. I sincerely believe he is one of the greatest songwriters to have ever lived. It amazes me that I am able to call someone so talented a friend as well. Honestly, that goes for all of my musical friends, local or not.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?
 
Watson: Again, there are so many. I will simply list what I’ve most recently listened to: Mandarin Dynasty, Pill Friends, What Moon Things, Blood Orange, Shahman, Gem Club, Stars Of The Lid, Temple, Year Of Glad, Inc., Nevada Greene, The Body, Portraits Of Past, CJ Boyd, Brambles, FKA Twigs, American Football, ZXO, Scott Walker, Olive Drab, and Grouper.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
 
Watson: Well, considering I don’t want to shatter the deity-like status I have attributed to most of my favorite artists… I would love to play a show with myself from 10 years ago and myself 10 years from now. I guess I could also just masturbate in front of a mirror while holding up old pictures of myself. That would probably be more entertaining.
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why? 
 
Watson: John Prine. Just four giant sculptures of John Prine’s face. Listen to John Prine and you’ll know why.
 
The Deli: What other goals do you have for 2014?
 
Watson: Not die. Get sad about more sad stuff. Make more sad songs about being sad. Repeat.
 
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
 
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Watson: Don’t talk during anyone’s set. Ever. They worked very hard to share something very important to them with you. It means a lot if you pay attention. If what you are talking about is so important you can’t shut up long enough to watch a set, go outside. If you simply don’t like what you’re hearing, leave. Don’t be the asshole who fucks up the show for everyone else.
 
Also, fuck the police.
 
 
The next time you can catch Watson will be this Friday, September 5, at Prospero’s Books. The show starts at 8 pm. He’ll be performing with Shahman (Toronto), Nevada Greene (Columbia), and Not Like Igor. Facebook event page. Then, on September 13, he’ll be at Art Closet Studios with Temple (Milwaukee) and Riala. Facebook event page.
 

–Michelle Bacon

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Coming up: the 10th Annual Crossroads Music Fest

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Next Saturday, September 6, the 10th annual Crossroads Music Fest will be held in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City. The annual event, presented this year by KKFI 90.1 FM, will feature over 30 performers on seven stages. Visit cmfkc.com for a complete schedule and ticketing info.
 
These musical acts will be featured at Crossroads KC at Grinders, The Brick, Czar, The Tank Room, Mercy Seat Alley, Collection, and Green Lady Lounge. Highlights will include a reunion set from Onward Crispin Glover, who has not performed since 2003; showcases curated by The Record Machine and Money Wolf Music; and a diverse collection of rock, jazz, roots, and indie sounds representative of the Kansas City music scene.
 
From noon to 5 pm, the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (KCVLAA) will present the third annual Legal Bootcamp for Musicians at Czar. Topics will include copyright law, licensing agreements, band agreements, and other essential topics for the business-minded musician.
 

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Individual venues will charge a lesser fee. Tickets can be purchased at Vinyl Renaissance (the 39th St or Overland Park location), Crossroads KC or Grinders, The Bottleneck, or at this link. Facebook event page.

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