Marty Bush

An August Gathering

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.

July 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

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

My review.

2. The Salvation Choir at Theis Park

My Instagram clip.

3. Henrique Eisenmann and Eugene Friesen at the 1900 Building

My review.

4. Rob Magill with Marshall Trammell, Alber with Alex Mallett, and Krista Kopper, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verplough at Farewell

My review.

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

My Instagram clip.

7. The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City at American Legion Post 370

My Instagram snapshot.

8. Mike Horan and Scott Tichenor at the Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram snapshot.

9. Natalie Prauser and Marty Bush at Mike Kelly’s Westsider

My Instagram clip.

10. Lee Walter Redding at Volker Park

My Instagram clip.


The previous monthly survey is here.

The Top Kansas City Albums of 2022 (So Far)

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

My review.

3. The Adam Larson Trio- With Love From Chicago

My review.

4. Making Movies- Xopa

The band’s best since 2014’s A la Deriva.

5. LeVelle- My Journey Continues

My review.

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

My review.

14. Addison Frei- Time and Again

My review.

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

My review.

18. Seth Andrew Davis- Highways Jammed with Broken Heroes

My review.

19. Kevin “Church” Johnson- Brown Liquor Music

Potent.

20. Ben Baker, Seth Andrew Davis, Krista Kopper and Evan Verploegh- EMS

My review.

21. Norman Brown- Let's Get Away

My review.

22. Josh Nelson Bob Bowman Collective- Tomorrow Is Not Promised

My review.

23. Seth Andrew Davis and Evan Verploegh- Hunter

My review.

24. Thumbs- Trunk Wired Shut

Rock-and-roll lifers.

25. Jeff Shirley- Blue Gold

My review.