Original image of honky tonk troubadour Marty Bush performing at Mike Kelly’s Westsider on July 1 by There Stands the Glass.
I attended a rock show in a nightclub last night. My experience was entirely forgettable, if not downright desultory. Taking my own advice, I bought a front-and-center ticket for the classical concert tonight that opens the ten chronological August concert recommendations I created for KCUR. Each of my selections promises a memorable experience.
Screenshot of the trailer for Bayerische Staatsorchester’s production of George Frideric Handel’s Semele by There Stands the Glass.
Top Ten Albums of July (as of July 25)
1. Anohni and the Johnsons- My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross
Sacral.
2. Zoh Amba, Chris Corsano and Bill Orcutt- The Flower School
Superlative skronk.
3. Hilary Hahn- Eugène Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin
Sublime scraping.
4. African Head Charge- A Trip to Bolgatanga
Positive vibration.
5. Immy Owusu- LO-LIFE!
Goofball Afrobeat.
6. Mahalia- IRL
Back to life, back to reality.
7. Shapednoise- Absurd Matter
Dank discord.
8. Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band- Kings Highway
Scenic.
9. Black Milk- Everybody Good?
It remains to be seen.
10. Charif Megarbane- Marzipan
Lebanese lounge.
Top Ten Songs of July (as of July 25)
1. Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa- “Chicago Blues”
All things go.
2. Jamila Woods- "Tiny Garden"
Watered and weeded.
3. Robert Glasper featuring SiR and Alex Isley- "Back to Love"
Slow jam.
4. claire rousay- "Sigh In My Ear"
I hear a symphony.
5. Ryan Castro and Peso Pluma- "Quema"
Fiery.
6. Aluna featuring Tchami and Kareen Lomax- "Running Blind"
Rhythm is gonna get you.
7. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown- "Guess What B*tch, We Back H*e!"
Knock knock.
8. PJ Harvey- "Seem an I"
Might a you.
9. Colter Wall- "Honky Tonk Nighthawk"
Swinging doors.
10. That Mexican OT featuring Lefty sm- "Barrio"
Still tippin’.
Top Performances of July (as of July 25)
1. The Smile and Robert Stillman at the Midland Theater
2. The Salvation Choir at Theis Park
3. Henrique Eisenmann and Eugene Friesen at the 1900 Building
4. Rob Magill with Marshall Trammell, Alber with Alex Mallett, and Krista Kopper, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verplough at Farewell
5. Final Gasp, Persona and New Obsessions at Howdy
My Instagram clips are here, here and here.
6. Eli Wallace with Ben Baker, Seth Andrew Davis, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verploegh at Stray Cat Film Center
7. The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City at American Legion Post 370
8. Mike Horan and Scott Tichenor at the Market at Meadowbrook
9. Natalie Prauser and Marty Bush at Mike Kelly’s Westsider
10. Lee Walter Redding at Volker Park
The previous monthly survey is here.
Little of the music made by artists from Kansas City receives substantial attention from outsiders. The ongoing disintegration of the area’s traditional media outlets exacerbates the negligence. Consequently, waiting until the end of the year to recognize the recordings on this list didn’t seem right. Yet this site has never been mistaken for a popularity contest. A few of the most notable new releases- including a fine album by Kansas City’s most popular band- didn’t make the cut. People baffled by the snub of a notable group will find my monthly surveys reveal an allergy to fizzy indie-pop. While I’m displeased by the gender disparity, I didn’t adjust the rankings for representational purposes.
1. Joyce DiDonato- Eden
Straight outta Prairie Village.
2. Arnold Young and the Roughtet- Fear Is the Mind Killer
3. The Adam Larson Trio- With Love From Chicago
4. Making Movies- Xopa
The band’s best since 2014’s A la Deriva.
5. LeVelle- My Journey Continues
6. Kevin Morby- This Is a Photograph
Bob’s New Morning meets Van’s Veedon Fleece.
7. Huerco S.- Plonk
Ambient ear candy.
8. Flora- Emerald City
Over the rainbow.
9. Stik Figa and August Fanon- Heresy
“Posdnuos mixed with Pac.”
10. The Creepy Jingles- Take Me at My Wordplay
The best garage (rock) in town.
11. Dutch Newman- This Too Shall Pass, Pt. 2
Triumphant sobriety.
12. Rich the Factor- NFT Scritch
KC’s whale.
13. Seth Andrew Davis, Kyle Hutchins, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verploegh- Quartet, Vol. 1
14. Addison Frei- Time and Again
15. Belle & The Vertigo Waves- Lorelai
Let’s live together.
16. Marty Bush- The Long Way Home
The year’s best reboot.
17. Stephen Martin- High Plains
18. Seth Andrew Davis- Highways Jammed with Broken Heroes
19. Kevin “Church” Johnson- Brown Liquor Music
Potent.
20. Ben Baker, Seth Andrew Davis, Krista Kopper and Evan Verploegh- EMS
21. Norman Brown- Let's Get Away
22. Josh Nelson Bob Bowman Collective- Tomorrow Is Not Promised
23. Seth Andrew Davis and Evan Verploegh- Hunter
24. Thumbs- Trunk Wired Shut
Rock-and-roll lifers.
25. Jeff Shirley- Blue Gold
