Dan Calderon
Stories by Dan Calderon
Sympathetic Vibrations | This is How We Do It
Local post-punk band, Emmaline Twist will take a leap forward with the release of its new album, “Dissimulation”, tomorrow. And though the album represents the band’s formal full-length debut, it is by no means the first rodeo for its veteran band members – Meredith McGrade (vocals, guitar) Kristin Conkright (bass) Jonathan Knecht (drums), Krysztof Nemeth…
Sympathetic Vibrations | End of the Run
There will likely be hugs and tears tomorrow night at The Rino, as local alt rock trio Run With It completes its victory lap with one final show. And while their swan song will be the end of an era for one of this city’s more successful acts, Miguel Caraballo (guitar and vocals), Daniel Cole…
Sympathetic Vibrations | To Bold Men
Local music fans unleashed a collective fist pump last spring when word began spreading that Shy Boys, one of the area’s most beloved indie outfits, was back in the studio tracking its much anticipated sophomore effort. That album, “Bell House,” will release next week through Polyvinyl with an album release party at recordBar on August…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Setting the Record Straight
For many musicians, writing and performing music for the public is a privilege. And though artists rights typically don’t factor into the general perception of being a kick-ass rocker, that doesn’t mean those rights should be ignored. But safeguarding those rights can often be more difficult for female artists. In my time as a practicing…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Counterpoint: Who Wants Boring Kids?
A week ago Ed Fugit, the best man at my wedding and my brother-from-another-mother, emailed me a link to an article chastising hipster parents who insist on bringing their kids to concerts. “Would read your take on this in Flatland…,” Fugit said of the story, written by Steven Hyden. OK, I’ll bite. We’ve all seen…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Kansas City of Music
A few quietly celebrated last fall as Kansas City was officially designated a “Creative City of Music” by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. And though the UNESCO announcement met little fanfare, that hasn’t dampened the spirits of an excited delegation from KC that traveled to Poland this week for the next phase…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Fits for the King
Hip-hop and testosterone-filled bravado have run hand-in-hand since the genre’s inception. And save a few brave acts over the decades, few rappers are willing to spit bars about something as vulnerable as their feelings. That’s where KC-native Joe Stanziola, aka Second Hand King, is different. Stanziola, 28, began writing tracks for his new album, “Frankie,”…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Music and Movies, Rooftop-Style
Hundreds of area music and film lovers will ascend atop the Central Library this Friday night for the season’s first 2018 Off-the-Wall Film Series: Summer Cinema Mixtape. The annual summer film series, co-presented by the Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, provides an intersection between music and film through a collection of beloved…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Finally, One for the Good Guys
Unlikely Congressional bedfellows in the U.S. House of Representatives came together last week to unanimously pass a sweeping overhaul of the music licensing and royalty payment laws that may have repercussions from D.C to KC. The bill, known as the Music Modernization Act, now heads to the Senate for debate later this month, where it…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Five Reasons to Participate in Record Store Day 2018
Music lovers worldwide will celebrate in unison this Saturday, April 21, in faithful observance of Record Store Day – a crate geek holiday that began in 2007 and has enjoyed year-over-year growth in both geographical reach and sales figures since its creation by the Record Store Day organization. And while it is undoubtedly the Black Friday…