June 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Glyndebourne’s production of Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of June 2026
1. SML- Spontaneous Music Live
One of my favorite bands doing a few of my favorite things.

2. Ambrose Akinmusire and Mary Halvorson- Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings
Interspatial.

3. Patricia Brennan and Sylvie Courvoisier- Talamanti
Crystal silences.

4. Zoh Amba- Eyes Full
My review.

5. James Brandon Lewis- Omni
With Aruán Ortiz, Brad Jones and Chad Taylor.

6. Alden Hellmuth- Tether
With Logan Kane, Miller Wrenn and Justin Brown.

7. Tierra Whack- Whack’s Museum
Whack-a-Mole.

8. Converge- Hum of Heart
My preferred form of rock.

9. BCMC- Stash
My review.

10. Vince Staples- Cry Baby
Undermined by unfortunate production choices.

The Top Ten Reissues and Reimaginings of June 2026
1. Peggy Lee- Too Marvelous for Words
Swinging in 1955.

2. Heiner Goebbels- Walden
A bonkers Thoreau-themed song cycle recorded in 1998.

3. Mekons- Horrorble: Mekons vs. Tony Maimone in Dub Conference 
Remix of the 2025 album Horror.

The Top Ten Songs of June 2026
1. Al Xapo and Benzoo- “Fosta Fosta”
Party in South Africa.

2. Rapsody- "God Gotta Afro"
Natural.

3. Rico Nasty- “Rituals”
Transgressive sacraments.

4. Maxo Kream- “6 Months Clean”
Relapse.

5. Ye featuring Don Toliver- "OK"
KO.

6. horsegiirL- "that's my beach"
Quicksand.

7. Charli xcx- “Wink Wink”
Ha ha.

8. 1010benja- “The Whole Damn World (Ain’t Dry Enough…)"
Soaked.

9. Tinishe- “Too Easy”
Simple.

10. Joyce and Tutty Moreno- “Is This Love?”
What the world needs now.

The Top Ten Performances of June 2026
1. By Storm and Lerado Khalil at the Encore Room
My review.

2. Cimafunk at FIFA Fan Festival KC
My review.

3. Christian Death, Gene Loves Jezebel and Descartes a Kant at recordBar
My review.

4. American Wild Ensemble at White Recital Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Paul Simon at Starlight Theatre
My review.

6. Ensemble Ibérica at Polsky Theatre
My Instagram snapshot.

7. Miles Swaminathan at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
My Instagram snapshot.

8. Elisha Israel and Az-One at Thompson Park
My Instagram clip.

9. Made in France at Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

10. The Vincents at Meadowbrook Park Festival
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Concert Review: Cimafunk and La Tribu at FIFA Fan Fest

Original image of Ilaria Cacao with Cimafunk and La Tribu by There Stands the Glass.

Selecting a date for the single free general admission pass to the FIFA Fan Fest in Kansas City available to every applicant didn’t require much deliberation. Among the music headliners, I vastly prefer Cimafunk to the All-American Rejects, Gabby Barrett, the Chainsmokers and Flo Rida. As for the Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne, I’ve attended more than 25 of his concerts. Sheryl Crow was booked after I made my selection. Cimafunk and La Tribu wowed me at Boulevardia three years ago. The Cuban show band was equally entertaining at FIFA Fan Fest at Penn Valley Park on Saturday, June 20. In addition to a joyous sound that splits the difference between James Brown and Eddie Palmieri, the ensemble’s carefully choreographed antics during its 75-minute appearance elicited appreciative smiles from each of the 500 sweaty people assembled at the stage. Cimafunk plays my brand of jock jams.

June 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of Deutsche Oper Berlin’s production of Turandot by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of June

1. Aja Monet- When the Poems Do What They Do

My review.

2. Young Thug- Business is Business

Money.

3. Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa- Jarak Qaribak

Old country.

4. Orrin Evans- The Red Door

Unlocked.

5. Tanya Tucker- Sweet Western Sound

Blood red and goin’ down.

6. Deer Tick- Emotional Contracts

Exile on Mean Street.

7. Ambrose Akinmusire- Beauty is Enough

Perhaps.

8. Pat Metheny- Dream Box

My review.

9. Meshell Ndegeocello- The Omnichord Real Book

Post-genre.

10. Killer Mike- Michael

Deadly.

Top Ten Songs of June

1. Joshua Ray Walker- "Cuz I Love You"

What a time to be alive.

2. Big Freedia- "Gin In My System"

Bounce.

3. Don Omar- "Carcelero"

Jailhouse rock.

4. Rufus Wainwright and Chaka Khan- “Cotton Eyed Joe”

Where did you come from?

5. Kelly Clarkson- “rock hudson”

Pillow talk.

6. Militarie Gun- “My Friends Are Having a Hard Time”

Time tough.

7. Joanna Sternberg- "I Will Be with You"

Hi, how are you?

8. Bettye LaVette featuring Anthony Hamilton, Ray Parker Jr. and Rev. Charles Hodges- “Sooner or Later”

The time is now.

9. Peso Pluma- "BZRP #55"

Wise guy.

10. Lil Uzi Vert- "Rehab"

No no no.

Top Ten Performances of June

1. Boulevardia, day one (Cimafunk, Steddy P, the Beths)

My review.

2. Nickel Creek and Gaby Moreno at Muriel Kauffman Theatre

My review.

3. Devin Gray, Maria Elena Silva and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Firehouse Gallery #8

My review.

4. Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre

My review.

5. Donald Harrison’s “The Jazz of Physics: Quantum Improvisation” at the Folly Theater

My Instagram snapshot.

6. Boulevardia day two (Big Freedia, the Salvation Choir, Peter Schlamb)

My review.

7. Chalis O’Neal at the Blue Room

My Instagram clip.

8. Danielle Nicole Band at Town Center Plaza

My Instagram clip.

9. Frederick Hodges’ “Music Will Win the War” at the National WWI Museum and Memorial

My Instagram clip.

10. Sarah Tannehill Anderson and Elizabeth Suh Lane at Loose Park

My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly survey is here.

Festival Review: Boulevardia 2023

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I recently suggested in a piece for KCUR that Boulevardia is “Kansas City’s biggest multigenre music festival.”  Music, not beer, is my priority, and much of Boulevardia’s programming isn’t to my taste.

Yet I found plenty to enjoy at Boulevard Brewing Company’s two-day festival.  The sound, lighting and layout were superlative.  Thoughtful details like free yard games and a small army of volunteers produced a cheerful atmosphere.

The scheduling on five stages forced difficult choices- I missed another chance to see Post Sex Nachos- but I’m very pleased with my experience.  I caught at least 15 minutes of more than two dozen sets. Here’s a ranking of my ten* favorite performances.

1. Cimafunk

Nonplussed by Cimafunk’s recordings, I harbored low expectations for the band. What a stunning surprise!  Every member of the Afro-Cuban artist’s electrifying ensemble possessed as much charisma as their leader.  Cimafunk is the best show band I’ve encountered this millennium.

2. Steddy P

I’ve known the man who raps as Steddy P for 15 years.  Just as our relationship has had its ups and downs, his set at Boulevardia was a study in extremes.  The creative entertainer overcame sound issues to win over everyone present.

3. Big Freedia

Nice for what!  My face still hurts from broadly smiling throughout Big Freedia’s over-the-top spectacle.

4. The Salvation Choir

The Salvation Choir, my favorite band in Kansas City, were relatively subdued.

5. Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks

Peter Shlamb, arguably Kansas City’s most exciting musician, was joined by saxophonist Matt Otto, keyboardist Matt Villinger and drummer Ryan J. Lee. 

6. The Beths

The Beths were the festival’s primary draw for many of my friends and associates.  The New Zealand band’s straightforward indie-rock isn’t my thing, but the quartet’s endearingly goofy banter won me over.

7. Kat King

The fizzy indie-pop of Kansas City’s Kat King is radio-ready.

8. The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra

Pablo Sanhueza’s Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra thrived in direct sunlight.

9. Katy Guillen & The Drive

Katy Guillen & The Drive’s roots-rock exemplifies the Boulevardia aesthetic.

10. Grand Marquis

I’ve been taking Kansas City’s Grand Marquis for granted. The longstanding bar band plays hearty jump blues with heaping helpings of Dixieland and vintage soul on the side.

*Where’s Jason Isbell?  Isbell is the equal of John Mellencamp, Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen in their primes. Yet unwilling to tear myself away from Cimafunk’s set, I didn’t secure a spot at the front for Friday’s headliner.  Even after pushing my way into the middle of the throng, I couldn’t escape the intolerable bellowing of people flush with ignorant oil.  Frustrated, I headed home thirty minutes into Isbell’s set.