I’m a big fan of indie rock. Left-of-field sounds get me all hyped up. I love music that gets my indie sense tingling. You search for those sounds that get you musically fired up inside. As a music fan, it’s a joyous feeling you chase and crave. One of my preferred subgenres of indie rock is something I call the meowification of indie rock.
I love when artists/bands unleash these glorious soundscapes. Then, you get on the mic and meow your way to the indie rock glory land. It’s a strange sound of pure sonic bliss. Roll those beats, mew from the soul and beast it hardcore! The time is meow!
Here are a few of my favorites from what I consider to be part of the meowification of indie rock:
Sonic Spectrum is my favorite radio show. The show airs on Kansas City-based radio station 96.5 The Buzz. Sonic Spectrum is a freeform radio show that focuses on new and classic indie rock.
Host Robert Moore’s passion for music is inspiring. You can’t fake great taste and Moore’s taste is exceptional. I think he is so hip, he probably can’t even see over his pelvis. He is flyer than a pelican. Moore has am ear for quality music. It’s almost like he gets on air and goes, “This track is so new, I time-traveled into the future to get it. It hasn’t even technically been created yet.” Some of his selections are trippy and excellent, “This track was recorded on a Norwegian ice flow with wood blocks.” It makes you want to learn more about great music you’ve never heard of before. I’ll often hear a track he spins and go, “I don’t know what the heck that was, but I love it and need more of it in my life!”
Radio shows like Sonic Spectrum, curated by someone with great taste, can help make your world a more musically joyous place. For an example of some of the tunes played on Sonic Spectrum, check out this playlist created by fan Patrick Morrissey. Sonic Spectrum airs Saturday nights from 8-10pm CST on 96.5 The Buzz in Kansas City and can streamed live online at http://www.965thebuzz.com/
Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Light Music brought their trippy electronica-tinged indie jams to CrossroadsKC. The past interview subjects played one of the strongest sets of the fest.
Light Music at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Past interview subjectsBassh showcased their indie pop jams. The Nashville-based band delivered a tight set. Their single “Body” was a big highlight.
Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Manchester Orchestra smashed the CrossroadsKC crowd with their epic style of indie rock. The Atlanta-based band’s songs sounded even bigger live.
Manchester Orchestra at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
St. Louis-based rap group Illphonics delivered a hard-hitting set of hip hop late night at The Tank Room. The set closed out my coverage of Middle of the Map.
Illphonics at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
The quality and diversity represented in the artists playing Middle of the Map helped to make it a wonderful experience. Over the course of the 20 sets I witnessed in three days, I saw no bad sets. The emphasis on local artists really showcased the strength of the Kansas City music scene. It will be fascinating to see what the future holds for Middle of the Map Fest.
Past interview subjectsRachel Mallin and the Wild Type won over the crowd at CrossroadsKC with a set of shimmery indie rock jams. Their tight songs sounded beautiful wafting through the breeze. It was one of the best sets of the festival.
Rachel Mallin and the Wild Type at Middle of the Map 2016
Kangaroo Knife Fight at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Past interview subjectsNot a Planet played the first ever set at the new RecordBar. Their high-energy rock had the crowd moving. The new RecordBar is intimate and the location will make the venue a draw for quality indie rock in the Crossroads.
Not z Planet at Middle of the Map 2016
The set by Vince Staples at the Midland was on point, but poorly attended. Less than 1,000 people watched the acclaimed rapper.
Vince Staples at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Cold War Kids brought their hooky indie rock to CrossroadsKC. It was my first Cold War Kids gig in nine years. They still bring the heat live. Classic tunes like “First” lit the crowd up.
Cold War Kids at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Yes You Are played an energetic late night set to a packed Tank Room. Their glistening indie jams made for a perfect end to Friday at Middle of the Map.
The 2016 edition of Kansas City’s Middle of the Map Fest showcased a great mix of local and national acts. The festival was a joyous overload of music. I was able to catch 20 sets in three days at Middle of the Map Fest 2016. The diversity and quality of the bands featured was staggering. I spent Thursday at Middle of the Map bouncing around between Californo’s basement and their outdoor patio. Here is a rundown of some of Thursday’s highlights:
Shadow Rabbits got the evening rolling with sharp, pulsing indie rock.
The Blackbird Revue showcased their quality Americana vibes on the patio.
The Blackbird Revue at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Golden Groves specializes in groovy indie rock vibes. The rocking track “Ideas” really got the band and crowd moving.
Golden Groves at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
My Oh My! played a set of soulful Southern-tinged rock on the patio. It was perfect sonic accompaniment to the setting sun.
My Oh My! at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Canada’s Foxes in Fiction delivered an entrancing solo set. It was one of the best sets I have ever seen. The music was serene, trippy and beautiful.
Foxes in Fiction at Middle of the Map Fest 2016
Your Friend’semotional solo set closed out my evening. The Lawrence-based artist is signed to prestigious indie label the Domino Recording Company. Her passionate vocals and lovely, sprawling beats were the perfect combination of honesty and otherworldly beauty.
Kansas City-based indie rock band the Greeting Committee recently played a free set at the headquarters of local clothing company Charlie Hustle. Their joy and passion is infectious. It’s so inspiring to see bands that truly love what they do. The Greeting Committee bring the energy. The band are one of my past interview subjects, signed to Harvest Records and are playing Lollapalooza in July. The future is bright for the Greeting Committee.
Here are some behind the scenes photos and videos:
Addie Sartino of the Greeting Committee 5/12/16
The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16
The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16
The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16
The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16
The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16
What’s the key to indie rock glory? It might be being on point:
Going into Middle of the Map Fest 2016, Your Friend was the set I was looking forward to the most. She was one of the best of the 20 sets I caught at the fest. Your Friend is Lawrence, Kansas-based musician Taryn Miler. Miller is signed to heavyweight indie label Domino Recording Company (Domino is also home to artists like Real Estate and Dan Deacon). Her debut album, Gumption, is one of my favorite releases of the year.
A large crowd packed the basement of Californo’s to see Your Friend’s set. Miller’s shifting soundscapes were entrancing. Her vocals had more clarity and depth live. Miller would jump from guitar to looping pedal to synth, often the same song, to craft her tunes. Songs like “Gumption” grew from soft murmurs into sweeping epics. Towards the end of her set, Taryn mentioned that she had had a live band until last week and that this might be her last show for awhile. She shouldn’t worry. Your Friend’s solo set at Middle of the Map Fest proved that she can go it alone and reach glorious heights.
Foxes in Fiction at Middle of the Map Fest 2016 5/5/16
Ethereal waves of sound cascaded over the crowd gathered in the basement of Californo’s during Foxes in Fiction’s set at Middle of the Map Fest 2016. Going into his set never having heard his music, it was one of the best live sets I have ever seen. I listen to a lot of indie rock and have covered a ton of shows over the years. Music like this is a sound that I am forever chasing.
Foxes in Fiction is the solo project of Canadian musician Warren Hildebrand. His music flows, shifts and shimmers. Standing alone onstage, Hildebrand would play notes then loop and twist them into glorious soundscapes. The use of tone and space in his music really enhances the songs. Some of the pieces were reminiscent of early Youth Lagoon. His vocals were often soft utterances. The weird, ambient beauty of Foxes in Fiction’s music is really something to behold. The vibe his hour-long set created was absolute perfection. Moments of discovering wonderful new music are what make festivals like Middle of the Map so important. The glistening serenity of Foxes in Fiction’s music is a truly moving experience.
It’s always nice to see bands that enjoy meeting their fans. Indie-pop band the Mowgli’s really love their fans. The band recently brought the happy clappy indie rock heat to a secret show at the headquarters of Kansas City clothing company Charlie Hustle. Their songs sounded wonderful floating through the breeze. The energy and joy in the Mowgli’s music is infectious.
After the set, a young girl was talking to vocalist/percussionist Katie Earl about how she had wanted to see them live for so long. “Welcome to the family,” Katie said as she hugged the girl. Really sweet and kind.
The Greeting Committee is an up-and-coming Kansas City-based band. They are signed to Harvest Records, which also features artists such as Glass Animals and Best Coast. They played SXSW and are playing Lollapalooza 2016. I go to a lot of shows, I’ve interviewed a ton of bands over the years. The Greeting Committee has something special. Their well-crafted indie rock and joyous live performances are gaining them fans nationwide.The future is bright for this band. The Greeting Committee features guitarist and lead singer Addie Sartino, bassist Pierce Turcotte, guitarist Brandon Yangmi, and drummer Austin Fraser. I recently sat down with the band to discuss the insanity of SXSW, signing with Harvest and their creative process.
I’m here with the legendary Greeting Committee here, up-and-coming, soon to be legendary, in my opinion, but they already know that. How did you all get started?
Addie: I wrote and performed music as a solo artist and I decided that it wasn’t fulfilling enough. I’d previously written music with Brandon Yangmi, our guitar player. When it came time to make a band, I knew he was the first person to call and from there he got Pierce Turcotte, our bass player, and Austin Fraser, our drummer.
Your EP, It’s Not All That Bad, is out now and doing well. You’re getting radio play, you’re really growing. How does your song writing process work? Do you start with lyrics first, melody first?
Brandon: Usually, it starts off with the music. Someone will bring an idea, me, Pierce or even Addie. One of us will bring an idea and we’ll kind of build it off of that. Usually, it’s like one idea and bringing in the rest of the band. We then mold it together as a whole band. We just kind of jam on stuff. Then, lyrics go on the top of the music that we’ve already written.
You guys really dig into your songs and that’s a beautiful thing to see. You’re really focused and I see a lot of bands that are not focused. You guys are locked in and that’s awesome. How often do you find yourselves writing?
Addie: Writing is more of a continuous project. It’s harder to write while we’re on the road. Since we’ve been on the road a short amount of time, it’s not that difficult. I would say writing is a continuous process and not something that we take breaks from. If we have an idea, we go with it. If not, we don’t put pressure on that.
That’s the thing about being creative, you just have to let it flow. You guys are signed to Harvest Records. How did you get hooked up with him? How did that happen?
Addie: The first email we got was from Republic Records and then Atlantic Records. After that, we spoke with Lazlo, who’s our manager, and he kind of made the connection with Harvest. He’s been best friends with Jacqueline, who is the general manager. They’ve been close for about 20 years or so. After having meetings with Republic, Atlantic and Harvest, it was just kind of clear which one was the best fit for us personally. Harvest just felt like home.
That’s awesome. There are some heavy hitters on Harvest, Best Coast and Glass Animals. These guys are melting kid’s faces off. You’re going to melt their faces off too. Have you guys started tracking your debut album yet? Are you writing right now?
Pierce: We have been writing, but not tracking anything.
Austin: We haven’t recorded anything, but we have been getting ideas and stuff. I think we’re going to record it over the summer. We haven’t recorded anything yet.
The Greeting Committee, 4/9/16
Do you have favorite quoted motto that you live by?
Addie: Peyton Marek and I, she’s our tour manager, we just say, “Be a girl boss,” all the time. I don’t know if that works for the guys. I don’t know if they have their personal motto.
Austin: “I like Dirt.”
You’ll be seeing those boys soon enough. Are you pumped for Lollapalooza?
Addie: I am really excited for Lollapalooza. A lot of my favorite artists that I haven’t gotten a chance to see, like Daughter is on the same day as us. I am really excited for that.
Austin: I’m glad you got the “I Like Dirt” reference. Did you notice us go into it when we played MGMT’s) “Kids?”
Yeah, I did catch that. It was nice. You had a spacey jam segment.
Pierce: I just wanted someone to catch the “I like Dirt.”
You did throw it in there. You’re loose enough too that it works. You guys are really in the moment live. It’s all about being good live. You’re going to rip Lollapalooza apart. Did you enjoy South by Southwest too?
Pierce: Yes, it was a lot of fun.
Austin: South by Southwest was insane. It was definitely a new experience. Besides the venues, just the whole city and the people. It was a great experience. We got treated really nicely. We played a Stubb’s Showcase where a notable artist, Charli XCX, was playing outside. That was a really fun performance. Everything was really fast paced. I’m glad we only dd two shows because I felt like if we did more, then there would have been a lot of things that we wouldn’t be prepared for.
You don’t get burned out. I know people that have done like 12 showcases. They feel like they’re going to die. I went a few years back. You feel great, but you’re falling asleep at the Korean taco truck. It’s like a Hunter S. Thompson music fest put on by Taco Bell. I’m watching Youth Lagoon and people in flannels are shoveling Taco Bell in their faces. It was confusing.
Brandon: That’s the life. People go down to South by Southwest just to sell stuff. They know tons of people will be down there.
So many voices all shouting. What advice would you give to the artists who just starting out? You guys are still young and you got the future in front of you.
Brandon: We are still starting out.
Addie: Play as many shows as you possibly can. You’re never too good or too above anything. Just play music and have fun doing it.
Austin: Practice a lot. Chemistry in the band is one of the most important things for a band.
Pierce: There can be very special things about each individual, but it’s also important how everyone kind of gets together and kind of bonds with the music too. Put in the work and stay humble.
Austin: I think it’s also important to really show off your individuality in the music too, because everyone comes from a different backgrounds. I think it is very important.
Brandon: You shouldn’t set roles for yourself. You shouldn’t be like, “No one else is doing this, I probably shouldn’t do it.” You should do do whatever you feel like you want to do.
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