August 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Wiener Staatsoper’s production of Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of August

1. Ryuichi Sakamoto- Opus
Staring down death.

2. JPEGMAFIA- I Lay Down My Life for You
Sonic sacrifice.

3. Jack White- No Name
He’s back in Wichita.

4. Lux Quartet- Tomorrow Land
Future now.

5. Joana Mallwitz- The Kurt Weill Album
Revelations.

6. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Wild God
Zeus.

7. Grigory Sokolov- Purcell and Mozart
Elite recitals.

8. Shelby Lynne- Consequences of the Crown
My review.

9. ​​Thee Marloes- Perak
Little bit o’ soul.

10. Nikka Costa- Dirty Disco
Party like it’s 1999.

Top Ten Songs of August

1. Meshell Ndegeocello- "Travel"
Pack your bags.

2. Yolanda Adams- "Church Doors"
Wide open.

3. A$AP Rocky featuring Jessica Pratt- “Highjack”
I miss the old Kanye.

4. Tank and The Bangas featuring Samara Joy and Robert Glasper- “Remember”
Ribbon in the sky.

5. Jhéne Aiko- “guidance”
That little light of hers.

6. Melt-Banana- “Seeds”
Planted.

7. Gel- "Shame"
Hardcore.

8. Willie Nelson- "Last Leaf"
Holding on.

9. Lainey Wilson- "Keep Up With Jones"
The race is on.

10. Post Malone and Luke Combs- “Missin’ You Like This”
Long gone.

Top Ten Performances of August

1. Nick Shoulders and Chris Acker at Knuckleheads
My Instagram video.

2. Childish Gambino and Willow at the T-Mobile Center
My review.

3. Mike Baggetta with Peter DiStefano at the Ship
My review.

4. Aaron Sizemore, Forest Stewart and Mike Warren at the Music House
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Brian Baggett Trio at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram video.

6. Síomha at the Kansas City Irish Festival
My Instagram video.

7. Smith and Jessen at Charlotte Street Foundation
My Instagram video.

8. Treanne at 90.9 The Bridge
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Clay Kirkland at Theis Park
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Dan Thomas, Harold O’Neal, Forest Stewart and Zach Morrow at the Blue Room
My Instagram video.

The previous monthly recap is here.

June 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Opéra national de Paris’ production of Gaspare Spontini’s La Vestale by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of June
1. Bilal- Live at Glasshaus
With Common, Robert Glasper, Burniss Travis and Questlove.

2. Linda Thompson- Proxy Music
There Stands the Glass review.

3. Nduduzo Makhathini- uNomkhubulwane
South African spiritual jazz.

4. Kaitlin Butts- Roadrunner!
Oklahoma!

5. Marsha Ambrosius- Casablanco
A chaotic pileup of jazz, hip-hop and R&B.

6. William Parker- Heart Trio
With Cooper-Moore and Hamid Drake.

7. Tarbaby- You Think This America
Orrin Evans, Eric Revis and Nasheet Waits.

8. Rod Fleeman- Live at Green Lady Lounge, Volume 3
Plastic Sax review.

9. Charli XCX- Brat: and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not
Impudent pop.

10. Peso Pluma- Éxodo
Extravagant excess.

The Top Ten Songs of June
1. Staples Jr. Singers- "I've Got a Feeling"
A good old feeling.

2. Menahan Street Band- "Tropical Man (TV Mix)"
My song of the summer.

3. Spice- "2085 Tea"
“Look back pon tings.”

4. Heems featuring Vijay Iyer and Sid Vashi- "Manto"
Partition blues.

5. Kaytranda featuring Channel Tres- "Drip Sweat"
Steam bath.

6. Nikka Costa- “Dance ‘N Forget”
She would die 4 U.

7. Leigh-Anne- "Nature"
U.K. pop reggae.

8. Val Fleury- "Technically"
Facts.

9. 42 Dugg featuring Sexyy Red- "N.P.O."
Ha ha!

10. Silverada- "Doing It Right"
She’s actin’ single, he’s drinkin’ doubles.

The Top Ten Performances of June
1. Makaya McCraven at Liberty Hall
Plastic Sax review.

2. Nick Shoulders at Third Place Lounge
There Stands the Glass review.

3. Flatland Cavalry at Grinders KC
Instagram clip.

4. Adam Larson at the Blue Room
Plastic Sax review.

5. Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire at the T-Mobile Center
There Stands the Glass review.

6. Yo-Yo Ma at Parade Park
Instagram clip..

7. Deanna Ray Eberhart at Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church
Instagram clip.

8. Galaxxu and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.

9. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge
Instagram clip.

10. Yo-Yo Ma, Joel Thompson and Ralph Yarl at Helzberg Hall
Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Concert Review: Nick Shoulders at Third Place Lounge

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

“Another act is coming up next.” The unintentionally dismissive aside from a Kansas City based singer-songwriter at the conclusion of her set during a Manor Fest showcase last week didn’t seem to phase Nick Shoulders.

Although the Arkansas based artist has more monthly listeners at Spotify than the combined total of all four dozen Kansas City based acts featured at the homegrown festival, the insurgent folk musician is remarkably humble.

Mindful not to infringe on his August 1 concert at Knuckleheads with a full band, Shoulders told me before his thirty-minute solo set he intended to play only “deep cuts.” (Most people in the room had previously purchased festival passes. I paid $30 at the door for admittance for two.)

Shoulders opened with a hilariously transgressive cover of Randy Travis’ “Diggin’ Up Bones” that was calculated to tickle my fancy. Decades older than the remainder of the audience of about 75, my life partner and I were the only people able to sing along to the 1986 hit.

Dozens of locals suffering from the cultural myopia that’s long incapacitated Kansas City’s music scene had their ears opened. Hometown boosterism is commendable but insular parochialism is poisonous. Shoulders’ incontrovertible talent served as a masterclass in the sound of success.