Thursday at Middle of the Map Fest 2016.

May 18, 2016
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Shadow Rabbits at Middle of the Map 2016

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Foxes in Fiction at Middle of the Map Fest 2016

Your Friend’s emotional 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.

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Your Friend at Middle of the Map Fest 2016

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The Greeting Committee Rock Charlie Hustle.

May 14, 2016
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The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16

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:

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Addie Sartino of the Greeting Committee 5/12/16

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The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16

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The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16

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The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16

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The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16

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The Greeting Committee at Charlie Hustle 5/12/16

What’s the key to indie rock glory? It might be being on point:

Drum jam:

“Out Of My Head” snippet:

“Hands Down” snippet:

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The Entrancing Soundscapes of Your Friend Shine at Middle of the Map Fest 2016.

May 11, 2016
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Your Friend at Middle of the Map Fest 2016 5/5/16

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.

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The Serene Sound of Foxes in Fiction.

May 10, 2016
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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.

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The Inspirational Soul of Charles Bradley at Middle of the Map Fest 2016.

May 10, 2016
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Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires at the Midland 5/7/16

I consider myself to be a funk evangelist. It’s one of my many missions in life. I truly believe in the importance of spreading the good word of funk to the world. A lot of people are funk deficient and they don’t even know it. The wonderful and soul enriching power of music is so beautiful. No matter how funky you are, you could always be funkier. It is a never-ending, joyous journey. Charles Bradley’s set in Kansas City Saturday night reaffirmed my dedication to bring the funk to the people.

Charles Bradley is an underrated soul singer. Bradley overcame a rough childhood and homelessness to pursue his love of music. Known as the Screaming Eagle of Soul, he is signed to the excellent funk and soul label Daptone Records. The 67-year-old Bradley began his career as a James Brown impersonator, but has carved out his own path. He is not an artist just mining nostalgic ideas. Bradley is honest, real and in the now.

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Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires at the Midland 5/7/16

Over 500 people came out to the Midland to see his set as a part of Middle of the Map Fest 2016. Bradley and his tight band, the Extraordinaires, burned through an hour of simmering ballads and uplifting soul. It was one of the funkiest shows I’ve seen in years.

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Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires at the Midland 5/7/16

Live, the songs took on even more emotion and energy than the recorded versions. Bradley left so much of himself on that stage. The passion he has for his music is infectious.

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I was fortunate to briefly meet Charles before his set. I told him about my funk deficiency theory and said he is a catalyst for positive change in funk. “I’ve paid my dues,” he said in a gravelly voice. Charles Bradley’s humility, positive outlook and his love of music is inspiring.

 

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“Come on out for a special brunch with George Clinton.”

April 29, 2016
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George Clinton (Image via http://www.afropunk.com).

In an attempt to cure some of my annual missing Jazz Fest seasonal affective disorder, I tuned in to New Orleans radio station WWOZ online. It only made things worse.

“Come on out for a special brunch with George Clinton,” a radio spot proclaimed. Brunch with George Clinton would be the funkiest brunch EVER. If you make your brunch with P-Funk, you’re gonna get funked up. “The mimosas were bottomless and I can see through time now. BOW WOW WOW YIPEE YO YIPEE YAY!!!!!!”

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“If you’re gonna get a stupid tattoo, get a really stupid tattoo.”

April 29, 2016

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“My thinking is if you’re gonna get a stupid tattoo, get a really stupid tattoo,” –Molly Balloons, balloon artist, talking about her balloons lip tattoo. I’m also digging the chain. I mean, why not look like a discount version of Juvenile? A balloon maven in action.

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Welcome to the Family: The Joyous Sound of the Mowgli’s.

April 27, 2016
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The Mowgli’s live at Charlie Hustle, 4/26/16.

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.

 

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My Secret Desire to Become Jazz Fest Dad.

April 26, 2016
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Jazz Fest Dad (Image via Jazz Fest Dad’s Instagram).

Buried deep inside of me is a desire to become Jazz Fest Dad. It is an eventual life goal for me. Their Instagram account is like looking into a living mirror and seeing myself in the future. Often red faced and sunburned, wearing their trademark NOLA shirts, the Jazz Fest Dad is an important subculture of Jazz Fest. Nothing wrong with being a trippy older dude with a large collection of Irma Thomas b-sides. If you’re gonna be a dad, why not be funky dad?

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A Jazz Fest Dad “Cissy Strutting” his way to the Fair Grounds (Image via Jazz Fest Dad’s Instagram).

The Jazz Fest Dad and Jazz Fest Mom lurks within the heart of many a NOLA funk supporter. If someday I end up looking like a discount member of the Radiators, I’m totally fine with that. Money is overrated. However, I just want to make enough money  to do both weekends of Jazz Fest. I’m sure there are worse ways to spend retirement. EH LA BAS! FILÉ GUMBO! FUNKIFY YOUR LIFE!!!

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“When ur a JFD and Trombone Shorty is closing out your life and you die and get to heaven and it’s just more Trombone Shorty.” (Image via Jazz Fest Dad Instagram.

 

 

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The Noble Land Manatee.

April 25, 2016

There have been a bunch of volleyball players invading downtown Kansas City. These kids are so toned. I feel like a noble land manatee, blobbing around downtown.

This volleyball player had a team shirt that read on the back, “We eat the weak.” It seems a bit overkill. I didn’t know most volleyball players are cannibals. Kids these days! “Please don’t eat me. I’m high in fat content. I am but a noble land manatee.

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