Katy Guillen and The Girls

The Deli KC Presents at Grain Valley Fair 2015

This Friday, we’re taking a fantastic lineup of performers out to Grain Valley for their annual Grain Valley Fair. Tickets are only $5! The stage will be located by the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce at 711 Main St., Grain Valley, MO 64029. Preview the bands, bring your lawn chairs and blankets and come say hi to us! Midwest Music Foundation will also have a table near the stage. Facebook event page.

7:00 – Kangaroo Knife Fight

8:15 – Katy Guillen & the Girls

9:45 – The Philistines

11:15 – Not A Planet

Not A Planet

The Philistines

Katy Guillen & the Girls

Kangaroo Knife Fight

Published: September 07, 2015 |

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Best of 2014 for Emerging KC Bands: FINAL RESULTS! BUMMER, The Philistines, Katy Guillen & the Girls

Deli Nation,

Our Year-End Poll for Emerging Kansas City artists is now complete! Kudos to grungy punk trio BUMMER (photo above by Crystal Faye Photography) for winning the poll!

Bummer

And congrats to our runners up, the enigmatic psychedelic six-piece The Philistines and the compelling roots rock trio Katy Guillen and the Girls (who took second place in 2013)!

The Philistines

Katy Guillen & the Girls

-----

Here is how it all went down: first, we let the local bands submit their music (for free), and got our Deli editors to pick the nominees. Then we polled a list of 15+ KC scene experts (our jury) and asked them to nominate 3 more bands of their choice each. Then we polled our writers, then we polled our readers. We tried to keep things open for each single genre, from Indie Rock to Roots Music to Hip Hop.

If you are a geek interested in all the subtelties related to how this poll works, you can read its rules here (happy reading!). But if all you care about is the awesome new music KC produced in 2014, this list is all you need. Enjoy!

BEST OF 2013 POLL FOR EMERGING NYC ARTISTS
****** FINAL RESULTS ******

	ARTIST	J	OS	W	R	TOT
1	Bummer	15			0.01	15.01
2	The Philistines	12		1	0.008	13.008
3	Katy Guillen and the Girls	8		1	0.023	9.023
4	the sluts	6		2	0.006	8.006
5	The Conquerors	6			0.007	6.007
6	Your Friend	6			0.006	6.006
7	Yore	4			1.5	5.5
8	AY MusiK	5			0.057	5.057
9	The Thunderclaps	5			0.015	5.015
10	Yes You Are	4		1	0.012	5.012
11	Hembree	5			0.004	5.004
12	Scruffy & The Janitors	3	1		0.034	4.034
13	Jorge Arana Trio	4			0.021	4.021
14	Westerners	3	1		0.013	4.013
15	Kangaroo Knife Fight	1		1	2	4
	ATLAS		3		1	4
17	The Gorlons	2		1	0.017	3.017
18	Nicholas St. James	3			0.014	3.014
19	Monta At Odds	3			0.009	3.009
20	Folkicide	3			0.006	3.006
21	Stiff Middle Fingers	3			0	3
	The Sexy Accident	3			0	3
23	Miry Wild	2			0.5	2.5
24	Admiral of the Red	2			0.164	2.164
25	Riddles	2			0.018	2.018
26	Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear			2	0.013	2.013
27	Sharp Weapons	2			0.01	2.01
	Storm Circus		2		0.01	2.01
29	Wet Ones	2			0.007	2.007
30	La Guerre	2			0.002	2.002
31	The Blackbird Revue		1		1	2
	Morningglories	2			0	2
	Chris Meck & the Guilty Birds	2			0	2
	Wick & the Tricks	2			0	2
35	White Girl		1.5		0.001	1.501
36	El Rey-Tones	1			0.42	1.42
37	The Souveneers	1			0.084	1.084
38	Many Moods of Dad	1			0.012	1.012
39	Shy Boys	1			0.002	1.002
40	Forrester	1			0.001	1.001

	Scott Hrabko & the Rabbits	1			0	1
	Janet the Planet	1			0	1
	The Uncouth	1			0	1
	Dolls on Fire	1			0	1
Legend: J = Jurors, W = Deli Writers, R = Deli Readers, OS = Open Submissions

Jurors List: Barry Lee, Bill Brownlee, Brenton Cook, Britt Adair, Canyon McClung, Chad Freeman, Chris Haghirian, Clint Hoffmeier, Dedric Moore, Hank Wiedel, Joel Nanos, John Todd, Judy Mills, Justin Mantooth, Mark Manning, Michael Byars, Michelle Wyssmann, Nathan Reusch, Neill Smith, Scott Easterday, Sondra Freeman, Steve Tulipana, Tim Finn.

You can browse these artists in lists organized by genre here:
ALT ROCK/REVIVAL ROCK - ELECTRONIC - HIP HOP/OTHER - INDIE POP - INDIE ROCK/PSYCH - NOISE ROCK/POST PUNK - ROOTSY

Hope you'll find some awesome new artists you weren't aware of!

The Deli's Staff

Published: February 20, 2015 |

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A sampling of some of KC's 2014 emerging artists

Here are some blurbs we wrote in 2014 on ten of our favorite emerging KC artists of the year:

Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear

Madisen Ward can write tunes that sound more seasoned than someone of his age should be able to do. Along with it, his vocal styling demands attention, ranging from serenely soulful to ardent and impassioned. Ruth Ward plays guitar effortlessly, as though it’s an extension of herself, and sings each note from deep within. The connection they share—both musically and as mother and son—comes through with the genuine delivery of each song.

Special congrats to them for their appearance this evening on The Late Show with David Letterman!

The duo was signed to Glassnote Records in 2014, and just released its newest single “Silent Movies.” It is now available on iTunes.

The Project H

Most people know that Kansas City is steeped in a rich jazz heritage that continues to this day. One of the groups that has helped carry on the city’s vibrant jazz scene is The Project H, who has taken the music’s tradition to a modern level. Though still tasteful to listeners of jazz standards, the band incorporates a range of influences and abilities, creating music that is relevant and colorful.

The Project H released its third studio album We Live Among the Lines in September 2014. It is available on Bandcamp.

Katy Guillen & the Girls

Katy Guillen & the Girls' style is rooted in the blues but draws heavily from rock, flamenco, and jazz elements, performed by three musicians at the top of their craft. The group—led by Guillen's masterfully intricate guitar work and earnest songwriting—is propelled by the rhythm section of Claire Adams and Stephanie Williams, who adds crucial melodic accents to its signature style.

Katy and the Girls advanced to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in early 2014, and released its debut self-titled LP in September 2014. It is available on Bandcamp.

Jorge Arana Trio

There’s something both soothing and jarring when you hear Jorge Arana, Jason Nash, and Josh Enyart share a stage together. They conjure up these wickedly rich, complicated rhythms and melodies that almost make you uneasy. It’s like when you snuck out of your parents’ house as a teenager to smoke cigarettes with your friends or make out with your crush—an innocent enough gesture, coupled with the exhilarating rush of rebellion and intensity. And every time the trio takes the stage, it seems like the perfect setting, be it in a dingy basement or a big venue.

The trio released its EP Oso on Haymaker Records in July 2014. It is available on Bandcamp.

The Blackbird Revue

The Blackbird Revue is a collaboration of Danielle Prestidge’s upbeat pop influences with husband Jacob Prestidge’s sincere folk approach, resulting in compositions that are simultaneously sweeping, delicate, and intriguing. The duo’s latest offerings have incorporated a multi-instrument approach, adding a momentous layer to its already purposeful music.

Danielle and Jacob released the music video for their latest single “Blueprints” in late 2014, and are currently working on a studio album.

Your Friend

(Photo by Lindsey Kennedy)

Taryn Miller’s project Your Friend was signed to Domino Records earlier this year. Her intelligent songwriting and entrancing music is making its way around, and for good reason. With her debut album Jekyll/Hyde, Miller constructs a simultaneously comforting and haunting atmosphere, fashioned around somber but colorful vocals.

Miller was signed to Domino Records in early 2014 and released the Jekyll/Hyde EP in February. It is available through Domino Records.

Miry Wild

(Photo by Zach Bauman)

Only a month after forming its full lineup, Miry Wild recorded its debut self-titled EP, a concise spiritual sojourn dotted with enchanting instrumentation and alluring vocal harmonies. The band’s natural chemistry and charm is apparent even from a cursory listen to the album. With this fairly new lineup and only a handful of shows under its belt, Miry Wild is finding its identity as a collective. Fortunately for the rest of us, they’re finding it through cohesive, tasteful songwriting.

Miry Wild released its debut self-titled EP in March 2014. It is available on Bandcamp.

The Thunderclaps

Though the two have been making music for a number of years, Bryce Jones and Colin Blunt formed The Thunderclaps just at the beginning of 2014. A grimy garage rock guitar/drums duo influenced by the surf leanings of The Gories and the psychedelic offerings of Thee Oh Sees, the band delivers an undeniable lo-fi rock ‘n roll edge.

The duo released a self-titled EP in August 2014. It is available on Bandcamp.

Admiral of the Red

In its short time together, Admiral of the Red has quickly evolved from a blues-based garage rock duo into a fully realized, dynamic rock band. The raw roots rock approach of guitarist Matt Hurst and drummer Tom Hudson, coupled with MB Hurst’s visceral vocals and a low-end punch from bassist Meredith McGrade creates the band’s primal, driving sound, reminiscent of The Dead Weather and Queens of the Stone Age.

Admiral recently released its single “Footbeats.” It is available on Bandcamp.

Hembree

Hembree is picking up where Quiet Corral left off, but with a renewed vigor and sensibility. The group—who makes up five of the six members of now-defunct Quiet Corral—retains much of its former identity of compelling, captivating Americana, but with a pop appeal.

Hembree released its debut EP New Oasis last month. It is available on Bandcamp.

--Michelle Bacon

Michelle is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.

Published: February 12, 2015 |

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September 2014

Katy Guillen & the Girls
"Katy Guillen & the Girls"

Normally when I discover a band for the first time, I listen to their album first, then go see them live. In the case of Katy Guillen & The Girls’ new release, the situation's been reversed. I saw them live a couple of times before the album was released, so I was interested to hear if the record was going to capture the ferocity of their live performances. I have to confess that my hearing is not in the best of shape, and, due to a poor sound mix at what shall be an unnamed Lawrence venue, I never got to hear the words or even the melodies properly live at the most recent concert I attended. But upon hearing the self-titled LP, it’s nice to hear that Guillen can write literate lyrics to these songs I've heard played out.

The album opener, "Don't Get Bitter," hearkens back to the sound and feel of the Beatles' "Taxman," with Claire Adams' bass introducing the song. It's short, catchy, and lasts exactly as long as it should. If there were a single release off this album, this would be it.

This record is no-frills. It's the band pretty much as you hear them live, with the mix capturing a live in-studio sound. What strikes me listening to this record is that Katy and the Girls are not strictly a blues band. There's certainly an infusion of the blues in what they do, but, to my ears, they hearken back to some of the late ‘60s-early ‘70s hard rock bands like Mountain and Free, but with better lyrics and songs. I also hear some White Stripes in there somewhere. The melodies and harmonies are accentuated and they help blend with the powerful playing.

Katy Guillen, Claire Adams, and Stephanie Williams fill up a lot of space in these songs. It's obvious they are all very well in sync and have that great intuitive blend that comes from playing lots of live gigs together. I also like the changes in some of the songs, which go in directions you don't expect, like "Woke Up In Spain," which switches tempo adroitly.

The absolute masterpiece of this album is the last song, “Earth Angel.” It's the longest tune on the album, but it doesn't feel long. It starts out with Guillen’s dirty-sounding guitar intro, reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," and builds in intensity as it moves along. Guillen takes one hell of a solo during this song. It's obvious from hearing this record that she is an excellent guitarist but never overplays during the songs. But when the song calls for a lengthy solo, like "Earth Angel," sparks fly. The rest of the band is equally as adept. Adams’ bass lines are nimble and fit right in place with Williams’ active drum work. It's a pleasure to hear a band that obviously loves to play together rolling through these songs. The album’s producer (Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab) captures the clarity of the music as well as the power of a live performance.

--Barry Lee

Album review: Katy Guillen & the Girls - Katy Guillen & the Girls

(Photo by Michelle Bacon)

The absolute masterpiece of this album is the last song, “Earth Angel.” (Note: The Deli KC premiered this song when it was first released as a single back in January. Here’s the link.) It's the longest tune on the album, but it doesn't feel long. It starts out with Guillen’s dirty-sounding guitar intro, reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," and builds in intensity as it moves along. Guillen takes one hell of a solo during this song. It's obvious from hearing this record that she is an excellent guitarist but never overplays during the songs. But when the song calls for a lengthy solo, like "Earth Angel," sparks fly. The rest of the band is equally as adept. Adams’ bass lines are nimble and fit right in place with Williams’ active drum work. It's a pleasure to hear a band that obviously loves to play together rolling through these songs. The album’s producer (Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab) captures the clarity of the music as well as the power of a live performance.

--Barry Lee

Barry Lee is an occasional contributor to The Deli KC and can often be found on the radio Sunday nights at 8 pm on KKFI 90.1 as host of the long-running free-form show, Signal To Noise. In the daytime he attends to many tasks as Station Manager for KKFI.

This weekend, Katy Guillen & the Girls will play two special performances at Knuckleheads. On Saturday, September 6, they will be throwing a CD release party with special guests The Old No. 5’s. Facebook event page. On Sunday, September 7, they will play an unplugged show for the first time, in Knuckleheads’ Gospel Lounge. This is a special benefit show for KKFI 90.1 FM. Facebook event page. Both shows begin at 8:00 p.m. Go see them and indulge yourselves.

Published: September 02, 2014 |

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Published: December 31, 1969 |

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The Deli Magazine was born in NYC's Attorney Street in 2004, in the shape of a print issue with a then unknown band on its cover, called Grizzly Bear. Ths NYC blog came in 2005, then the SF one in 2006, and then 9 more in the following years. The Deli is focused on the coverage of emerging bands and solo artists with a 100% local focus - no exceptions!