Tasty Brew Music

Being in the music ecosystem provides loads of opportunity for serendipity.  Making a connection with newcomer songwriter Henry Conlon is a case in point.  A fellow KKFI colleague had been contacted by Conlon’s team looking for on air opportunities in support of an opening slot Henry had at a recent Sundown Concert Series featuring Kansas City’s own Casi Joy and Danielle Nicole.  I reached out to Henry offering a spot with the understanding it was a Pledge Drive Show and I would be asking him to assist in pitching for donations.  He was all in.

He began writing songs in high school playing coffee houses and the occasional open mic. As time went on, he began to grow a small but loyal fanbase in the northeast and eventually cut an album of original songs at Dirt Floor Records. Since releasing his first album, Henry has moved to Nashville where he has been writing and performing nearly every night of the week, embedding himself into the songwriter scene.

Conlon has had a variety of cuts with artists such as Zachary Scott Kline and Madeline Finn. His song “Reckless Love” released by John Hollier in 2022, placed on the Americana Radio charts. 

In May of 2022 he had the opportunity to open for Whitey Morgan and Jesse Daniel at the Bandit Town festival in Manor Texas and for Old Crow Medicine Show and Billy Joel as a part of the Greenwich Town

Enjoy the conversation and in studio performance with Henry Conlon.

International Folk Music Awards 2017 Artist of the Year Ordinary Elephant captivates audiences with their emotionally powerful and vulnerable songs, letting the listener know that they are not alone in this world. The collaboration of husband and wife Pete and Crystal Damore, their connection, and their influences such as Gillian Welch and Guy Clark all meet on stage.

Crystal and Pete set aside the work they've done previously as a veterinary cardiologist and a computer programmer, respectively. The two met at an open mic in College Station, Texas, in 2009 and soon moved to Houston together. With her on acoustic guitar/lead vocals and him on clawhammer banjo/harmony vocals, they threw all caution to the wind and hit the road in an RV.   Ordinary Elephant’s songwriting has won numerous awards and they regularly shine in showcases at Folk Alliance International conferences, music festivals, house concerts and workshops. 

Crystal and Pete recently made their way to Kansas City for what of course was a stellar and very moving performance at the Green Guitar Folk House Series in Lenexa, Kansas.  I was able to grab a few moments with them on the radio as they were enroute to our fair city.  Enjoy my conversation with the extra

Billy Brady was given his nickname “Bluegrass” by his close family and friends.  He is a first generation musician born to a blue collar family that works construction.  He began playing guitar at 16 and his bluegrass roots started in the Ozarks one summer when he was working at a fish hatchery.  He played in a reggae band for a minute.  Travelling to festivals across the county, he settled on bluegrass as his musical voice.  Kansas City has become fertile ground for

Billy recently joined me on the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show to share some details about opening up the concert season at Kansas City’s Lemonade Park and what is shaping up to be a very busy summer festival season for the Whiskey Mash  Band.  Enjoy my conversation with musical interludes from Billy Brady, front man for the Whiskey Mash Band.

The email from Eli Lev came into my inbox like dozens of new music submissions do on any given day.  This one stood out a bit because the subject line referenced my radio show by name instead of something generic like “new music from singer/songwriter Eli Lev.”  The body of the email indicated that Eli had done some homework and was of the opinion his music would be a good fit for the show. It did not appear to be a completely “cut and paste” email.   I was impressed enough by the professionalism and personalization of the post to click through the entries of his submission.  He was correct…it appeared he was a good fit but still… the interactions we had to set up this appearance were timely and complete. 

Eli’s back story, as you will hear, is rather unique.  His professional career started as an educator in places like Arizona on an Indian reservation and a corporate

The Missouri Ozarks is both home and backdrop to Missouri Arts Council Touring Performer, Mick Byrd. A member of the MO Blues Society and Tennessee Songwriters Association International, Mick has performed at the legendary Bluebird Café in Nashville for over 20 years.  An award from Billboard Magazine kicked off his music career in 1994. Mick brings fans an amazing array of original Roots Rock, Country & his signature “Ozark Blues.”  Mick performs solo or with some of his very talented musician friends as a duo or band, creating “The Backroad Band.” Whether in his travels across Missouri, the United States or Ireland, people everywhere find common ground in Mick’s music.

My personal introduction to Mick Byrd may be the most unique and unusual yet.  A lifelong friend of nearly 50 years and I were talking one day and she surprised me by telling me her 93 year-old mother confessed she had been married to a man before she was married to my friend’s father.  His name

My friend suggested at some point Mick get in contact with me.  She thought my music connections in the Heartland may be of assistance to him.

It is always a thrill and privilege to host an artist’s first radio appearance or debut a new song to a listening audience; I had that opportunity recently when classically trained opera singer turned roots music artist Kirstie Lynn appeared with me on an episode of Siren Song on KKFI. 

Originally from the Fingerlakes region of Upstate, NY, Kirstie Lynn brings elements of all the places she has called home into her songwriting. From the lilacs of Rochester, the bridges of London, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, and the sweeping prairies of the Midwest, you can find melodies and words accompanied by her finger-picking on guitar reminiscent of the many lives she has lived so far.  Her ability to whistle with vibrato and mimic the sounds of a trumpet are sweet enhancements to her vocal prowess. 

As an aspiring conservationist and naturalist as well, her lyrics are deeply saturated in the outdoors and her experiences and adventures in nature. 

​With her vocal training, Kirstie Lynn's voice is free and easy to listen to. My listening ear references her voice and style to that of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez,  and Judy Collins, but her singing is uniquely her own. 

 Enjoy my initial conversation with and musical performance by Kirstie Lynn aka Kirstie the Worstie.  She’s the best!

Howard Mahan is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter originally from Fredonia, Kansas and now based out of Lawrence, Kansas. Howard started playing guitar in a family band at age 9.  After finishing college where he studied guitar, business, and law, Howard has played shows and recorded music across the US with several different groups, including the primary configuration "Howard Mahan & Friends"

On February 3, 2023, I presented a four-hour edition of the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show, interviewing an array of local, national and international touring artists that were in Kansas City for the annual Folk Alliance International Conference.

Last, but certainly not least for the show, was internationally reknown guitarist Pipo Romero. Although flamenco is not necessarily a genre of music heard on my radio show, when Pipo applied to play the Heartland Song Network Private Showcase Room and I had no room for him, I KNEW I had to get him on the radio so I could share his musical prowess with as many people as possible while we had him here in Kansas City.

Romero is the new reality of the acoustic guitar in Spain, with a mixture of styles in which folk, flamenco or classical music merge, as well as Celtic or country touches that together crystallize into unique melodies with an innovative sound. From Cadiz, his music comes from music, influences and folklore from around the world. His unique approach to the instrument has made him one of the most respected acoustic guitar artists in the world.

I would have loved to devote more time to Mr. Romero but I had to make way for the next program; although the language barrier proved to be a challenge the music was universally understood. It was an honor to be present as a witness and to share it with my listeners.

Enjoy this musical interlude with the otherworldly Pipo Romero.

On February 3, 2023, I presented a four-hour edition of the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show, interviewing an array of local, national and international touring artists that were in Kansas City for the annual Folk Alliance International Conference.

Next up is Patterson Barrett from Austin, Texas and Beth Bombara from St. Louis.

Patterson first came to my attention about 8 years ago at the Folk Alliance Conference as the side man for Songwriter Stephanie Urbina Jones. As you’ll hear, we’ve stayed in touch over the years and I learn something new about Patterson with each visit. During this conversation, he casually drops new information to me that at the age of 17 he played pedal steel, dobro and guitar on Jerry Jeff Walker’s rendition of Guy Clark’s L.A. Freeway for Walker’s first release on MCA Records. He has helped anchor the Buddy Miller House Band during an Americanafest Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium. I had the privilege of attending those Awards Show for a good number of years and the house band was always on fire!

Not long after arriving in Austin, he formed the band Partners In Crime, which included Buddy and Julie Miller, sometimes referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Americana Music….releasing one album on their own label, Criminal Records.

In the years since, Patterson produced some of Hal Ketchum’s earliest demos, served in Al Kooper’s back-up band, and performed before 10,000 festival-goers as Chuck Berry’s pianist. He accompanied Nancy Griffith on Austin City Limits, legendary Austin singer Lou Ann Barton in music clubs around the country, and Buddy Miller on his Your Love And Other Lies CD, and more recently, on the Buddy & Jim CD. He has a continuing collaboration with Stephanie Urbina Jones as her accompanist, musical director and producer, including work with her Honky Tonk Mariachi project, appearing on the Grand Ole Opry multiple times.

In addition to years of supporting other talented artists in every format imaginable, Barrett has maintained a career as a recording artist in his own right.

Around 2015, I was introduced to Beth Bombara through a mutual musical friend, Sky Smeed. Although based in Missouri, Beth has spent much of her adulthood on the road, carving out her own award-winning mix of vintage folk and electric roots-rock. She’s been a solo artist, a bandleader, and an occasional side musician for other artists. Her songs live in the same world as greats like Petty and Dylan; Gillian and Joni, and grow up like trees drawing nourishment from their roots music. But she never, ever sounds like the "typical" artist who claims these influences; Bombara to zig where someone else might zag, making harder or gentler turns, brushing up against jazz or taking rock toward its fulfillment.” - The Columbia Tribune

It’s been my pleasure to include Beth for the last three years now as part of the Heartland Song Network Private Showcase line up.

Enjoy these conversations and performances with Patterson Barrett and Beth Bombara in Hour 3 of the Folk Alliance Takeover of the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show.

On February 3, 2023, I presented a four hour edition of the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show, interviewing an array of local, national and international touring artists that were in Kansas City for the annual Folk Alliance International Conference.

Next up is Miki P and Cameron Keeling and The Runaway Train.

Miki is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who shares her passion through music and performing.

She decided when she was 11 years old that making music absolutely was it for her. She picked up her first guitar in 6th grade, and shortly after took up drum set, becoming a dedicated student of both instruments. A self-led musician, Miki now shares her stories through her voice, joined by playing either guitar, drums, piano, bass, or ukulele.

“Miki P’s voice is kind enough to squeeze your trembling hand, and strong enough to teach you to stand on your own.”

Emma Ottinger – Manor Records

Cameron Keeling has been saturated in bluegrass music for the last decade or more…. On the road playing clubs, festivals and honky tonks. He hosted weekly bluegrass jams for 4 years at the Westport Saloon in Kansas City while holding down a spot for five years in the touring powergrass trio of Grassfed. Cameron is writing new songs and performs “Haystack” and “Hey Hey Hey” here for us live in the studio with his Runaway Train line up… Zack Bozeman on upright bass and Corey Clark on mandolin.

Enjoy Part 2 of the 2023 Folk Alliance Takeover of the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show.