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RECOMMENDED: The Skeptics – “1990Now Mixtape” [Mixed by Johnny Quest]

Chris Mills — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:04:23 +0000

Topeka, KS-based hip hop group, The Skeptics, have only been active for about a year-and-a-half. But they nearly sold out their show at the Jackpot in Lawrence just a couple of weeks ago, according to Lawrencian, Johnny Quest. This is not a small feat, especially when considering these dudes are all quite young and much of the crowd made the trip from Topeka to support their hometown homies. Based off this information, I’ve come to the conclusion that these dudes just might be one of the hotter rap groups coming out of Top-City in 2012. This new mixtape, 1990Now, is absolutely fantastic, borrowing some of the hottest beats from the 90′s era of hip hop with the four MCs spitting their own wise-beyond-their-years verse and chorus covers accompanied by Johnny Quest’s precise mixing and turntablism on front street. When it comes to mixtapes and you have to sincerely ask yourself if it’s the DJ skills or the lyrical content that is so damn good, that’s when you know you have some really, really good hip hop on your hands. Featured 90s instrumentals on this project include Rakim’s “Guess Who’s Back” and Ice Cube’s “Friday” beats among other classics. I can’t reiterate enough how well Quest exectued this mixtape. Props to all parties involved. Hopefully we’ll be able to land an interview with these cats soon. If ya don’t know, now ya know…

Wild Weekend Videos: Roy Hargrove @ Foundation, Ces @ Record Bar, Mizzou/KU @ Buffalo Wild Wings

Chris Mills — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:49:29 +0000

Grammy-noted jazz composer and producer Roy Hargrove swung through the Foundation on Friday night, which turned out to be a pretty wild night in Kansas City with a lot of events going down. I first went to see Matty G at the Midland Theater downtown, and his minimal, sub-bass, West Coast-referred dubstep beats had my eyelashes vibrating at more than a couple of times throughout his set, which started rather early on the main stage. I didn’t get to stick around for Caspa because I had to be on my way to Record Bar for the Ces Cru signing party…

…where Ces tore the house down in addition to JL of B.Hood and the Phantastics. Even local band Mr. History had heads nodding to their latest Radiohead cover, which was a pleasant surprise. It was by far the most packed hip hop show I’ve seen at a medium-sized venue in Westport in quite a long time. Tons of Ces fans, both new and old, turned out and caused Record Bar to nearly hit capacity. From there, I headed over to Firefly in Westport for some house music goodness with Pat Nice and LC. I was rather taken aback at how thin the crowd was there, but I guess when the upper echelon of the establishment is accused of running their venue on racist terms, that’s to be expected. It was always a diverse crowd at Firefly, but this past Friday there was virtually no crowd to mingle with whatsoever.

Saturday saw me going to Buffalo Wild Wings in Lee’s Summit (don’t judge me) with some brothers from other mothers to watch the MU/KU basketball game. As you’ll note in this video, it got a little wild in there as well after a KU fan and MU fan got into a bit of an altercation after Mizzou sealed the deal.

All-in-all, these past couple of weeks have been a lot of fun and I look forward to a looming spring concert/show bonanza. I feel good things for Kansas City right now. PEACE.

Up and Coming: Kurt Vee

Sean Malone — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:07:59 +0000

Local singer-songwriter Kurt Viers (stage name, “Kurt Vee“) comes from the old school of punk. He’s studied at the school of hardscrabble living and has the rock and roll image down, now he just needs the fame. It might be hard to imagine anyone with just an acoustic guitar (acoustic/electric, mind you) being that edgy, but Kurt pulls it off. Last Tuesday at the Riot Room I caught up with him and his drummer Adam Park (look for a full length interview exclusively on Demencha in the coming months); the two of them together currently comprise Kurt Vee.

He’s what I’d call “post-emo” for a generation raised on artists with more style than substance. Fortunately, Kurt Vee has a surplus of both. Kurt’s music exists somewhere between Brand New in some of its more acoustic moments, and early Bright Eyes with some street-wise cynicism of punk godfather Jim Carroll tossed in. His lyrics are dark and often playful, and along with his delivery, are easily his most original and interesting assets. Within each verse he spins out ambiguous tales of “bone show kid(s)” and people that are comparable to “nuclear warhead(s).” All this and somehow his choruses are expertly melodic and catchy. Those confused by his seemingly random collection of word play and bizarre imagery can take heart in the relatively short length of most of his compositions.

Vee is no slouch on the guitar either. Sometimes he plays like he’s been listening to a lot of Kaki King, but then quickly veers (you see what I did there…) off into riffing territory and palm muted chords. The songs are carried along by Vee’s steady picking hand and his strange vocals which careen breathlessly from an affected tone to a haunting falsetto all during one section of verse/chorus/verse in songs like “Mr Grudging and the Got Dead.” Other songs like “Quick Kick to the Shin Kid. You Wake Kid Run,” find Kurt exploring the outer reaches of cryptic confessional rock.

Live, Kurt has filled out his sound with drummer/percussionist Adam Park, who is just as likely to beat on a pot or pan as he is an actual drum head. The unorthodox approach is an appropriate compliment to Kurt himself as he moves spastically behind the mic. It still remains to be seen whether Kurt Vee will attain the notoriety that his back story and talent long for, but right now he’s one of the few original singer-songwriters in town that are making people take notice.

(Currently, Kurt is hard at work on a demo with producer/engineer MFC. Some older recordings are available through his Band Camp page. Below is one track called “Jesus Got the Goat” and a live video from a Record Bar show last year. Look for Kurt Vee later this month at Davey’s Uptown as part of Amy Farrand’s Weirdo Wednesday Supper Club and the Czar Bar in March.)

jesus got the goat. by kurt vee

For your consideration: Madeon

Sam — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:38:47 +0000

If you’re looking for a soundcloud page to get lost in, I have located one for you. Of course my all-time favorite is anything that makes its way onto Star Slinger’s hallowed harbor, but stealing my attention currently is Madeon. Sometimes channeling Chromeo or RJD2, he’s got more than a bit of Daft Punk swag about him. Which is completely understandable from a 17 year old DJ/Producer from Nantes, France. But before you hate him because he’s younger than you, from a cool place like Nantes, and has a promising music career, give him a listen and try and tell me the kid can’t mix his ass off. If I were you, (luckily I’m me instead) I’d keep an ear on this particular Frenchman.

TONIGHT: Ces Cru Signing Party @ Record Bar

Chris Mills — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:43:12 +0000

Have the days of seeing Ces Cru for five measly bones been completely washed away? Quite possibly. Strange Music’s latest addition, the two headed, KC-based, lyrical giant known as Ces Cru are rocking out at Record Bar in Westport once again for their Strange Music signing party tonight. Mr. History, JL of B.Hood and the Phantastics will be coming along for the ride and “special guests” will be in the building. Ces Cru’s live show has grown into something of Midtown legend over the past several years, culminating in an aforementioned deal with Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label just a few weeks ago. Tonight, you’ll be shelling out ten bucks at the door to bear witness to their high-energy show (and hopefully some brand new material). But let’s face it – they’re worth it. I’d need a lot more fingers to be able to count how many times I’ve seen Ces live, and each show seemingly gets better and better. With their fan base practically doubling over the past couple of months, a new legion of Ces fans will arise and hopefully take similar note. The way the facebook event page is looking, Record Bar might hit capacity tonight. Congrats once again to Godemis and Ubiquitous. RSVP HERE.

Where’s the KC Anti-Folk?

Kalie Mashaney — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:26:37 +0000

Several months ago, a contributing writer for Demencha wrote a blog post requesting that our readers give her some suggestions for local female musicians. I really appreciated the article; because I too am an avid fan of a strong and talented female songwriter, lead female vocalists, or all girl bands. Until she got a few tips and responses, she was pretty much clueless, and I really did not know many myself.

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Anti-Folk. That got me to thinking about Demencha’s previous post and the writer asking for our readers input in suggesting some local female musicians she had overlooked. I’ve been into the Anti-Folk genre for a handful of years now. While the genre itself is known to have been created in New York, the state itself also seems to be a reoccurring theme in a lot of aspects of Anti-Folk. Most of the musicians classified as Anti-Folk that I am most fond of (Creaky Boards, Kimya Dawson, Major Matt Mason USA, New Ocean Waves, Adam Green, and my personal favorite, Jeffrey Lewis) normally refer to some NY city in one of their songs, originated from or currently reside in New York, or give the state credit for the inspiration to perform their music.

Aside from the given “New York scene” Anti-Folk has been associated with for so long, where are the local KC bands performing this kind of music? I’ve looked, but I don’t come up with squat. In a way it is sort of a bummer, too. I listen to the aforementioned bands and I hate that I’m not familiar with any local bands that want to play this kind of stuff. Of course no one really knows exactly what this genre or any genre for that matter entails anymore, but there is a constant theme in Anti-Folk; fun, experimental, intriguing, and most of the time extremely sarcastic. It’s almost as if Anti-Folk dismisses the need for stressing out about perfecting every single detail of a song, and playing just because it makes you happy. Maybe it’s too uncomplicated. Maybe most of the bands nowadays are reaching for the stars and really aiming to make it big, but I’m still hopeful there’s a local musician floating around just goofing off. IF YOU ARE THIS PERSON, SEND ME STUFF.

Take Jeffrey Lewis for example – I absolutely love everything this guy has ever done. I heard him for the first time about five or six years ago when City and Eastern Songs came out. The simplistic instrumentals that fade in the background of Lewis’ usually screechy vocals, mixed with what he was actually saying, wasn’t like much I’d heard before. I related him to Daniel Johnston, but still Jeffrey Lewis was something else. While a majority of his songs are self-deprecating (while still remaining hilarious), there’s a few that really stand out to give your ass a swift kick of motivation. For instance, in Lewis’ track “Another Girl” from his 2001 album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane, Jeff shouts – “Now I’ve got another girl, and she’s cuter and younger than you ever were! And she could kick your ass if you fuck with her, and she’s good in bed, and she calls me sir.” Talk about an awesome feeling if you’ve ever been a tad bitter toward a person you once dated, and now you get to rub in his or her face that you’re dating someone totally awesome and better. If you’ve been in a situation of that sort and you didn’t feel like you had won some sick, warped, pointless battle…I don’t believe you.

So, help me out MY READAZ – enlighten me with your insight! Because for Pete’s sake, I want to go to one of these shows again without it costing $40 because a few of your songs were used in an overrated, pretentious, teen comedy written by the worlds biggest hack.

Here’s one of my favorite Jeffrey Lewis songs. I like to replace the streets and monuments he sings about with the ones we’ve got in Westport or Downtown Kansas City. The aftermath he talks about still remains when doing so, which makes me even antsier to hear someone around here sing this kind of stuff.

NEW: Nina Sky – “Day Dreaming” [FREE D/L]

Chris Mills — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:28:20 +0000

The two NYC-based, singing sisters known as Nina Sky, of Major Lazer (“Keep It Goin Louder”) and Alchemist (“Hold You Down”) collab fame among others, have a new album coming out in July titled “Nicole & Natalie”. Embedded here is the player for the latest freebie single from that album, “Day Dreaming”, which just came across my e-mail inbox.

Here is what looks like their last EP they released in August of 2010.

THE OTHER SIDE by NINA SKY

Demencha Interview/Podcast: Matty G [Dub Police]

Chris Mills — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:56:03 +0000

This is an interview we did over the phone with Northern California-based dubstep producer and DJ, Matty G, last month. Be sure to check him out live at the Midland Theater in downtown KCMO with Caspa and more on Friday, February 3rd.

p.s. The first person who listens to this podcast in its entirety and can spot the whining dog in the background will win a drink on me next time we see you in KC. Haha!

BluntRap Album Release Show w/ Phantom, Les Paul, J Boozer @ Riot Room [02.04.12]

Chris Mills — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:40:33 +0000

Come celebrate the creation of BluntRap‘s new album, “Thunderalbum9million”, this Saturday at Riot Room in Westport. Accompanying the smoked-out live rap band are Phantom (KC), Les Paul (KC) and J Boozer (STL). Hit up THIS GUY for $5 presales. They might want to bring a dousing helicopter over Riot on Saturday (joking).

VS Mini @ Riot Room [Recap]

Chris Mills — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:57:56 +0000

As usual, the VS battle on Saturday night prompted a lot of “ooohs” and “aaahs”. DRplus2, Barbaric Merits, Info Gates and Ghost competed in a beat battle royal with Ghost playing drums over his own pre-recorded tracks. Barbaric Merits left with the prize, while former Demencha cover guy, DRplus2, drew some attention and cocked some heads with his far-out instrumentals and remixes. There were some rather mysterious sound issues with the producer/beat battle, however.

Hosted by Sephiroth, Vertigone and Reach, this fourth VS battle event was supposed to act as a precursor to a larger VS event in KC coming up soon in May. If I’m correct, the winners of both the producer and MC battles each skated with a cash prize and an automatic slot in the upcoming, more grand competition this spring.

The MC battle ended with Swayzorblades winning, but not before Abnorm, Dutch Newman, Lou Rip and others had something to say about it. Congrats to both winners and all the contestants for making it a fun night. And if anyone has video from the event, please leave a comment/link.