KC music
Apocalypse Meow 6 Preview: Sister Mary Rotten Crotch
Sister Mary Rotten Crotch. Try saying that name without making some sort of judgment about the music.
Not that your judgment would necessarily be wrong. We’ll let the band describe what they sound like, but it’s every bit as gritty and rowdy as you’d hope. The band got its start 15 years ago and reunited less than a month ago. Its last show was at the very first Apocalypse Meow. On the eve of the sixth and largest Meow yet, we talk to the four-piece to see what they’re up to and what they’ve been up to over the past few years.
The Deli: In a sentence, describe what Sister Mary sounds like.
Alison Dunlop-Sanders: Smirk, if you say it really fast.
Liz Spillman Nord: Your mom, when she's really pissed you didn't do the dishes or pick up your room, and you're getting an F in math... yep, that's what it sounds like.
Amy Farrand: Fun for the entire family.
Brent (Tammy) Kastler: Apple pie and Chevrolet. 'Merica dammit!
The Deli: Why did you decide to reunite now instead of moving on to your other respective projects and not turning back?
Alison: Personally, because no other band or project will have me. I can play only Sister Mary stuff, if I play anything else it'll sound like Sister Mary stuff. Who wants that?
Liz: We reunited because Alison wanted us to play the Mid-America Bully Rescue benefit. Collectively, I think, we decided we were having too much fun and we should ride the ride until the ride isn’t fun anymore.
Amy: It's the 15-year anniversary of the beginning of it all. Why not?
Tammy: Cause we are that good, damnit! We do what we want!
The Deli: What other projects have each of you been in through the years?
Alison: I was in the Itty Bitty Biggy Titty Band in my teens. We never actually played. Anything. And I played bass for The Skags for like 15 minutes, I loved it! Big fan of Rudy.
Liz: I think the music projects fall to Amy and Brent. Alison and I have focused on visual stuff long before the band, during the band, and after the band. I’ve spent the last several years trying to create little musicians of my own with my kids, so I guess that’s my music project. I like to play the piano with my son when he practices his bass. I force him to improv.
Amy: I'll just go over the ones since the old days. Shotgun Idols (guitar), American Catastrophe (bass), Whiskey Boots (drums), Rural Grit All-Stars (miscellaneous instruments), Experimental Instrument Orchestra (various homemade and experimental instruments), Dangerhand (drums), Atlantic Fadeout (drums), The Silver Maggies (theremin/percussion) Solo work.
Brent: In no particular order. Anti-state (bass) element (bass) the great planes (bass) the radtones (bass) chad Rex and the victorstands (bass) waiting for signal (bass) salt the earth (bass) spinal tap (drums) poison (vocals) milli vanilli ( backup dancer ).
The Deli: Have you written much new material or playing mostly material from before?
Alison: We haven't written anything new yet. But we have brought back some stuff that's new to Amy Lu and Tammy.
Liz: So far we have concentrated on our existing material. Amy and Brent have had to learn some songs that were crafted during the two John (John Barker and Jon Cagle) era. I have couple of little numbers in my head, and a draft on paper. We’ll tackle those following Apocalypse Meow. They will need massaged by the better poets in the group. Fortunately, there isn’t a shortage of stories or people to write about.
The Deli: What have been some of your biggest accomplishments as a band?
Alison: Epically bad humor. Epic, man.
I concur with Liz on our biggest accomplishments. I'm not even sure WE thought we'd pull it off, and I'm pretty damn sure no one else did. It really was kinda kismet. It didn't occur to us to NOT do it, we just kept plugging away without looking up in a way. We did shit we didn't even know how to do, but since we didn't know we couldn't do it we did. And we were so lucky to have amazingly talented people come along that never pointed it out, which was fucking awesome. We also had awesome support from other local musicians, who were also polite enough not to say "what the fuck are you doing?" hah. I freaked out once because I really have one style, that's it, I can't play other stuff because I have wackafied rhythms that I can't seem to not have so I went crying to John Cutler about it when he practiced upstairs from us at El Torreon with Parlay and he was like "so fucking what? Embrace that shit, you have a style. Own it." He probably doesn't even remember that but it totally made an impact on me. I was seriously ready to quit playing all together before that. I still have no fucking idea what I'm doing but fuck it. I'ma do it anyway. And I'm hurt that Liz is going to have a slumber party at Tammy's without me.
Liz: Some might say our Pitch awards are our biggest accomplishment, but I would argue that the biggest and best accomplishment is that after 15 years, we can still call ourselves a band. Granted, we’ve had some long breaks and a few changes in line-up, but considering this was really a gimmick when we started, this is pretty amazing. I will never forget the moment on Rico’s porch, July 4, 1998, when Alison said to Hannah and me, “Hey, I’m learning to play the guitar… thinking about starting a band. Wanna be in a band?” Me: “Sure, I’ll play Tim’s bass.” Meanwhile, Aaron was making bombs out of sparklers, and Tanya was telling the story about breaking her tailbone during childbirth. I’m pretty sure guns were shot into the ground in the back yard that day, and god knows what else. I don’t remember much after my kids were born, but I remember that day. What followed was a week-long discussion about the name… Sister Mary Sodomy was on the table, among others, and I believe Kathy Dunlop gave some solid advice.
Tammy: That we are still doing it! After all of the years and line up changes, time off. We can still get in a room and spend more time laughing than playing tunes. We have fun dammit!
The Deli: How do you think the music scene has changed around here since you all last performed together? Is it better? Any local bands you're really into right now?
Alison: I do not really know. Big fan of The Big Iron and Red Kate fo sho. And Amy Farrand is a bad ass. I'm old and stay in a lot tho.
Liz: Sadly, my life for the last nine years has been sucked away by the suburbs. I’m fighting my way out right now… My kids have been, and continue to be, my priority, so my life discovering new music and being involved has revolved around elementary school picnics and yearbooks. I am finally at a spot where I’m comfortable concentrating on things that I love, so ask me that same question in six months.
Tammy: I'm really into puddle of mudd.
The Deli: You're headlining what hopes to be the biggest Apocalypse Meow yet. What does this mean to you?
Alison: We're headlining? ... It's an incredible honor for sure, if that's true. Little overwhelming. Now I'm scared.
Liz: There’s a little pressure that accompanies the headline spot, but I don’t think we’d be in that position if the decision makers didn’t have faith in us. It’s an honor for me to even be on stage with Amy, Brent and Alison. I think the world of them… all three have more talent in their little pinkies that most of us have in our whole bodies. The caliber of musicians that will be performing over the weekend blows me away, and I feel blessed to be part of it, even if it all ends tomorrow.
Amy: It's pretty cool for me. I do what I can for this cause. It's very close to my heart, and I want to see it continue for a very long time.
Tammy: I'm stoked to be playing. It's a great cause.
The Deli: What else do you have planned? Anything in the works for you all?
Alison: I do what they tell me. And I wanna write some shit. I like writing shit. And then convincing these crazy bitches to go along with it.
Liz: I plan on staying the night at Brent’s house sometime in the near future. That is all.
Amy: More shows. More recordings. More. Taking over the world.
Tammy: Trying to piss people off one song at a time. I'm looking forward to truth or dare and the pillow fights that are gonna happen when Liz comes over for the sleepover.
You can hear some of Sister Mary’s music at http://sistermaryrottencrotch.com.
Sister Mary will be headlining Apocalypse Meow tomorrow, November 2, at Knuckleheads. It kicks off at The Midwestern Musical Co. Doors open at 6 pm both nights. Friday’s show is free (and features Farrand’s other project The Silver Maggies) and all ages, Saturday’s show is $10, 21+. Visit http://www.apocalypsemeow.net for a full lineup and schedule. Ticket link. Facebook event page. To find out more about MMF, visit http://midwestmusicfound.org, and learn about Abby's Fund for musicians' health care.
--Michelle Bacon
Michelle is editor of The Deli Magazine - Kansas City, and also plays drums Drew Black & Dirty Electric and bass in Dolls on Fire and The Philistines.
Midwest Music Foundation Staff Spotlight: Michelle Bacon
(Photo by Todd Zimmer)
The Midwest Music Foundation staff constantly works behind the scenes at live music events you have likely attended. They’re the ones who search for facilities, supply entertainment, coordinate with vendors, and generally ensure that your live music experience will be a good one. They’re also the ones that get the word out about musicians’ health care and other educational resources for musicians, filling a vital gap in the community.
Before the advent of the sixth annual Apocalypse Meow benefit, we hear back from some of the staff to find out what they do and why they do it. Now we’ll turn the tables on Michelle Bacon, editor of The Deli KC and Promotions Assistant/Social Media Coordinator for MMF.
The Deli: When and how did you first get involved with MMF?
Michelle: Michael Byars asked me to help with some of the web admin stuff for The Mailbox (his now unfortunately defunct podcast). I had been interested in the organization since hearing about its mission; I started blogging a bit on the website and volunteered at events. Then last year at MidCoast Takeover, The Deli was so impressed by the showcase that they asked if MMF would be involved in expanding its local music publication to KC, making it 1 of only 11 cities in the nation represented. Rhonda [Lyne] asked me to head up the publication, and I was more than honored to do so.
The Deli: What is your current role with the organization?
Michelle: I’m the editor of The Deli KC, which you are feasting your eyeballs on right this very moment. I hope you dig it. I also help maintain MMF’s social media presence and sometimes help with show promotion and booking and such. And I’ll edit anything you send me, because it would drive me crazy not to.
The Deli: Why is MMF such an important cause to you? What do you hope it will accomplish in the future?
Michelle: The music community has provided me with just that—a sense of community and belonging and likemindedness. Having MMF in this city provides all of us local musicians with a commonality: our devotion to what we do and an understanding of why we do it. And I want to do as much as I can to get the word out about MMF in as many ways as I can. I hope that we continue to grow, and hope The Deli can be a catalyst to bring more attention to KC music.
The Deli: Who are some of your favorite local artists?
Michelle: I would tell you, but then I’d have to add more hyperlinks to this post. Darn.
The Deli: Do you have a favorite memory of a past Meow?
Michelle: I’m still the new kid on the block. Meow 4 was my first time in attendance, and I barely knew anyone there. Last year was Meow 5, and I had the honor of performing as well as volunteering for the first time. The overall experience was wonderful; I interviewed Abby shortly before the event, and seeing the show executed so well made it even more affirming of how much of an accomplishment it was.
The Deli: What are you most looking forward to about this year's Meow?
Michelle: This weekend is going to be amazing for a number of reasons. I think everyone’s simultaneously excited and nervous, because it’s a big year—our first without Abby. It’s obviously going to be tough for many. I think the music will expose a lot of emotions, both for audience and musician. But this community has grown and will continue to grow together with these experiences; these are the kinds of things that push people to make astounding strides. I really think it’ll be beautiful, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I’m honored to play again as well with an amazing group of folks in The Philistines.
Michelle will be at Apocalypse Meow all weekend, volunteering and playing bass with The Philistines on Saturday night. The event starts tomorrow, November 1 at The Midwestern Musical Co. and Saturday at Knuckleheads. Doors open at 6 pm both nights. Friday’s show is free and all ages, Saturday’s show is $10, 21+. Visit http://www.apocalypsemeow.net for a full lineup and schedule. Ticket link. Facebook event page. To find out more about MMF, visit http://midwestmusicfound.org, and learn about Abby's Fund for musicians' health care.
Midwest Music Foundation Staff Spotlight: Rhonda Lyne
The Midwest Music Foundation staff constantly works behind the scenes at live music events you have likely attended. They’re the ones who search for facilities, supply entertainment, coordinate with vendors, and generally ensure that your live music experience will be a good one. They’re also the ones that get the word out about musicians’ health care and other educational resources for musicians, filling a vital gap in the community.
Before the advent of the sixth annual Apocalypse Meow benefit, we hear back from some of the staff to find out what they do and why they do it. Read on to find out more about Rhonda Lyne, MMF’s Director of Development.
The Deli: When and how did you first get involved with MMF?
Rhonda: I first got involved with MMF helping with the first Apocalypse Meow in 2008. The MMF was formed after this event and I was asked to join soon after inception to help with various fundraising events based on my contributions to the first Meow.
The Deli: What is your current role with the organization?
Rhonda: My roles have changed over the years based on need, but mostly I work to organize fundraising events, schedule volunteers, work with health care grant applications and dispense grants, and just make tons of multi-tabbed spreadsheets. :)
The Deli: Why is MMF such an important cause to you? What do you hope it will accomplish in the future?
Rhonda: I got involved with MMF because of my friendship with Abby and her passion for the organization inspired me as well. I made a promise to her before she passed that I would carry on her mission to the best of my abilities. Over the years, it has become a huge part of my life as well. I have always loved live music and did what I could to support it, be it attending shows, hosting bands at my house, or just spreading the good word of the amazing music made in KC and the Midwest. I hope in the future, we can continue to grow and provide resources so that our musicians are compensated for the work they do and can make a living making music. It's such an important part of life and the folks that made it work extremely hard for often very little money or appreciation.
The Deli: Who are some of your favorite local artists?
Rhonda: Oh wow, not sure where to even start on this one. I think I’ll just say "I love them all" as not to get myself in trouble.
The Deli: Do you have a favorite memory of a past Meow?
Rhonda: Usually I'm too busy working at Meow and other events to really remember much of anything. Some time after the silent auction ends and everyone has paid is when I get to let loose and have some fun. The first year was really amazing how so many folks from the community came together to help Abby. We had to keep adding days because so many bands wanted to play. I had never seen Parlay or Sister Mary Rotten Crotch; Pendergast and Sandoval both played, which were favorites of mine as well. I'm pretty sure Abby got up and sang with Howard Iceberg—that was always a treat. Every year has had tons of great memories with so many amazing bands and people coming together. At Meow 3, I think one of my favorite memories is when the event was over and I was sitting on the coach in the green room at The Riot Room with Abby and Adam Lee and we all had a bottle of Jim Beam in our hands. Abby was the only person that could get me to drink that vile stuff. :)
The Deli: What are you most looking forward to about this year's Meow?
Rhonda: I'm looking forward to hopefully one of our biggest years yet. Knuckleheads is a great space and hopefully Mother Nature will be kind to us so we can fully utilize the entire venue. We have some awesome auction and raffle items and a great lineup. Looking forward to hearing The Philistines for the first time and the return of SMRC to Meow. Also, the addition of the acoustic stage, which we haven't had since the first Meow. It will be bittersweet because Abby won't be there, but I know her spirit will be with all of us that night. I'm sure there will be much laughter and tears and I hope we can raise a ton of money so we can help more musicians in need.
If you can catch her, say hi to Rhonda this weekend at Apocalypse Meow. It starts tomorrow, November 1 at The Midwestern Musical Co. and Saturday at Knuckleheads. Doors open at 6 pm both nights. Friday’s show is free and all ages, Saturday’s show is $10, 21+. Visit http://www.apocalypsemeow.net for a full lineup and schedule. Ticket link. Facebook event page. To find out more about MMF, visit http://midwestmusicfound.org, and learn about Abby's Fund for musicians' health care.
Midwest Music Foundation Staff Spotlight: Brenton Cook
(Photo by Forester Michael)
The Midwest Music Foundation staff constantly works behind the scenes at live music events you have likely attended. They’re the ones who search for facilities, supply entertainment, coordinate with vendors, and generally ensure that your live music experience will be a good one. They’re also the ones that get the word out about musicians’ health care and other educational resources for musicians, filling a vital gap in the community.
Before the advent of the sixth annual Apocalypse Meow benefit, we hear back from some of the staff to find out what they do and why they do it. We’re talking here with Brenton Cook, Web Admin and Music Promotions Assistant.
The Deli: When and how did you first get involved with MMF?
Brenton: I guess MMF first came to my attention around 2010 as I was heading down to attend my first SXSW. That first year [the MMF showcase] was called Midwasteland Takeover and I had an absolute blast down there. In 2011 after spending some time with the staff at Murder Ballad Ball, I decided to volunteer some of my time and filled out the online volunteer form online at work one day. I heard back from Rhonda within an hour and I've been spending time on various projects with them ever since.
The Deli: What is your current role with the organization?
Brenton: My background is computers, particularly software programming. There was a real need for someone to handle all of the web updates when I started, so it just seemed natural that that's where I could help out best, so I've been the web administrator since I started, but I work on a lot of different stuff. You'll find me behind the MMF booth at a lot of events, or asking questions at the Musicians' Bootcamp, or working with bands to get tracks contributed for MidCoast Takeover samplers or the Midwestern Audio compilation series that I have been assembling.
The Deli: Why is MMF such an important cause to you? What do you hope it will accomplish in the future?
Brenton: I've always been such a music nerd and even though my experience in physically creating music is limited, I feel like I have a really good ear for it and a genuine passion to push Kansas City music further. That's one thing that I’ve found to be so great about MMF: the idea of helping form this community of musicians and music enthusiasts and make the most out of what is already here. And there are so many very talented musicians in this area. I'd like to see MMF continue to grow and provide more opportunities for everyone; be it more exposure, more musical connections or better health care and easier access to emergency medical funds. There are several similar organizations that are thriving in other music cities that I think serve as a good guide for what we could grow into.
The Deli: Who are some of your favorite local artists?
Brenton: Oh man, where do I start? The Grisly Hand, Be/Non, Monta At Odds, Eyelit, Jorge Arana Trio, The Conquerors, Hearts of Darkness, Cowboy Indian Bear, Metatone, Mr. Marco's V7, Olassa, The Latenight Callers, Schwervon!, Antennas Up, Rev Gusto, Grand Marquis, The ACBs, Sons of Great Dane, David Hasselhoff On Acid, there's so many really...
The Deli: Do you have a favorite memory of a past Meow?
Brenton: Last year's Meow was pretty memorable. It was at the cavernous Beaumont Club, but we still did a pretty good job of filling the room, and the love and support was really felt. My favorite memory from Meow though was a sealed envelope casually handed into our donation jar. I knew the person who put it in there and couldn't resist opening it at the end of the night as we were counting up the proceeds. I was surprised to see a crisp $100 bill, and I knew that this was from a person that normally has to watch every dollar spent. It was a strange feeling at first, but I knew that this person wanted to share what they had with their music community.
The Deli: What are you most looking forward to about this year's Meow?
Brenton: I'm very interested to see Chris Meck’s new trio (The Guilty Birds) play songs for the first time. I just feel like this is going to be something really special. I'm also excited that day two is at Knuckleheads this year. I can't wait to see Meow fill that space full of people enjoying the music and be a witness to the outpouring of support for the local music community.
Say hello to Brenton this weekend at Apocalypse Meow. It starts tomorrow, November 1 at The Midwestern Musical Co. and Saturday at Knuckleheads. Doors open at 6 pm both nights. Friday’s show is free and all ages, Saturday’s show is $10, 21+. Visit http://www.apocalypsemeow.net for a full lineup and schedule. Ticket link. Facebook event page. To find out more about MMF, visit http://midwestmusicfound.org, and learn about Abby's Fund for musicians' health care.
Apocalypse Meow 6 Preview: Chris Meck and The Guilty Birds
(Photos by Todd Zimmer)
Chris Meck is a mild-mannered, often soft-spoken man. Like his wife Abigail Henderson, he’s the type of person you instantly feel comfortable around, but in very different ways from her.
From a musical standpoint, Henderson was the bold frontwoman whose voice and presence commanded every room she performed in. She also lived with a ferocity that kept her strong through a five-year battle with breast cancer, taking the stage (at Knuckleheads) for the last time with Tiny Horse only weeks before her passing in late August (Read here for an interview with Henderson right before last year’s Apocalypse Meow to find out more about her).
On the other hand, Meck’s musicianship has typically been defined by its tastefulness. Though he plays with a finesse and texture that few other guitarists are able to pull off, he exudes a high volume of emotion and heart through each note. Likewise, he has been the perfect complement to Henderson’s big brazen personality and even larger heart. The two of them started Midwest Music Foundation five years ago, after Henderson was diagnosed with cancer. Apocalypse Meow was the name of the benefit originally held in her honor, and they helped provide the resources and manpower for it to continue as a benefit for musicians' health care for many years.
This will be Meow’s sixth year, and it’s expected to be the biggest one yet. Days before his wife passed, Meck decided he still wanted to play this show, as it had been a tradition since Henderson's benefit for the two of them to play the first night of Meow (they were unable to in 2011 due to Henderson’s illness). He had no idea what this project would eventually become, but he knew that it should happen.
“It’s not Tiny Horse, won’t even try to be,” said drummer Matt Richey. “Chris has his own approach to writing, especially now that he's taking on the role of frontperson; he's experimenting a lot too.”
Meck’s project The Guilty Birds will make its debut at The Midwestern Musical Co. for Apocalypse Meow 6 on Friday. It will be his first time as a frontman and primary songwriter of a band, both duties that Henderson assumed in all of their previous projects, which included Trouble Junction, The Gaslights, Atlantic Fadeout, and Tiny Horse.
“I stopped writing songs about 15 years ago. My tastes exceeded my grasp, so I decided I was probably a better guitar player and became a side man. I was playing with all these people that were prolific and I didn’t need to write,” he explained. “In our bands, Abby would usually bring in what she would call the bones. Basic musical changes, lyrics, melody. I would do the arranging. That’s kind of what I’m doing now, with the roles switched.”
Richey and Zach Phillips provided the rhythmic backbone of Tiny Horse since it was realized as a full band (Cody Wyoming also rounded out the five-piece), and remain with Meck in this new venture. “His writing is sharp and we're really making an effort to keep the focus on the songs, not overplaying as many trios tend to do,” stated Richey. “At its heart it’s still pretty straightforward rock ‘n roll, but there are elements of soul and country. It’s pretty high-energy as well. The more he continues to write, the more it will change.”
But Meck seems slightly concerned to be at the forefront. “I’m terrified,” he remarked. “But I’ve always heard... if something scares you, you should probably do it.”
He explained that he barely touched a guitar for about a month after his wife passed away. "She was the most prolific songwriter I knew. We played together for 10 years, just a couple months after we started seeing each other.” Not long before she passed, the two of them discussed her songwriting process. "Abby used to say, ‘ass in seat.’ Even when we were on tour, she would always be up early sitting in the corner of our hotel room with a guitar. So I sit down every morning with a notebook and fill it with drivel, waiting for something good to come out."
On Friday, The Guilty Birds will execute Meck's newly exercised songwriting process, debuting four original songs, along with a few covers. This year’s Meow will be notably different with Henderson’s absence, even more so while three-fifths of her band performs for the first time without her. "There will be a lot of nerves and it's likely to be quite emotional," said Richey. "I have no idea what to expect it to feel like, but I'll be up there with good people who I have a great deal of respect for and surrounded by a lot of friends. That's what matters the most.”
With Meck at the helm, it’s certain that he will take a divergent path from Henderson’s style of songwriting, but it will be handled with the same delicate sense of care and earnestness. “I don’t know if the end result is gonna be good or not, but I'm enjoying the process. It’s a new adventure for sure."
--Michelle Bacon
Michelle is editor of The Deli Magazine - Kansas City, and also plays drums Drew Black & Dirty Electric and bass in Dolls on Fire and The Philistines. Chris Meck is her all-time favorite tall guy (take that, Abe Lincoln) and has one of a very select few hug passes.
To find out more about MMF, visit http://midwestmusicfound.org. Find out more about Abby's Fund for musicians' health care also. Be sure to join Chris and The Guilty Birds at Midwestern Musical Co. on Friday, November 1 at 8 pm along with The Silver Maggies. It's a free, all-ages show, donations welcome. Head to the big event on Saturday night at Knuckleheads. Visit http://www.apocalypsemeow.net for a full lineup and schedule. Ticket link. Facebook event page.
Tiny Horse "Ride" from Jetpack Pictures on Vimeo.