NEWS NOTES and SPINS – March 1, 2013

Sunday March 3rd.  I’m a couple of days behind schedule.  Could just be the three days that February was shorted at birth.  After successfully blowing up the Y-T-D stats for unique visits in January, we lost some ground in February.  That’s cool, we still had over 40 unique visits a day on average here – not counting the activity that takes place at my FB page.

I’ve been reworking a couple of the other pages here – notably the Rocky Mountain Music Network page, which is where you can find a listing of the records I’ve sent to radio and print media in CO on behalf of artists since 2008.  Very happy to announce that the new Lisa Bell and WhiteWaterRamble releases are on the list for this  year.  There are a few more pending so stay tuned for those.

There were 28 new adds in February.  There were 27 in January.  At this rate we’d wind up with 330-360 releases being tracked for the year … which is about right.   Estimates being what they are, “we” (those of us who talk about such things) think there’s about 500 records a year released in the state from an estimated 2000 acts (from solo to full orchestra).  12 of the 28 debuts wound up in the TOP 40 most spun in February… more will likely show up in the TOP 40 for March.  I was very happy to see my friend Jon Wirtz’s new record “Tourist” do so well OTB (out of the box).  I think his debut at #7 may be the highest debut for a jazz record I’ve ever logged.

On a personal note:  I have entered a new phase in my life.  I’ve long wondered if I could enjoy a physical fitness lifestyle.. biking, working out, eating “good” (healthy) foods, not drinking, not smoking, etc … So I hit the switch in my brain and embarked on a new lifestyle.  And no, I didn’t give up the green .. a goat does need one vice LOL.  But you are likely to see me out biking this spring and summer with some buddies – or at the gym … I started at 172-174.  I’m at 161 five weeks in with a goal by Aug 1 of 145-148 and a goal by the time I hit 60 (two more years) of either a running marathon or a bike marathon.  Question:  can 60 year olds rock a sixpack?  Hmmm… guess we’ll find out.  Live healthy my friends .. catch you on the airwaves or at a show.

Do take a 30 minute break from the day and enjoy my video picks of the month.

STATION NEWS

March 1st marks the end of an era at KUNC (Greeley).  Nancy D’Albergaria, KUNC’s Development Director since January, 2008, is retiring. Though Nancy has been on staff for only 5 years, her involvement with the station dates back to the early 90’s, when she began as a volunteer, along with her husband Thom and their children Sean and Ann.

Nancy soon became a member of the KUNC Community Advisory Board, and served as its chair. In February 2001, Nancy co-chaired the Friends of KUNC group that raised $2 million in 20 days to purchase KUNC’s license from the University of Northern Colorado, creating Community Radio For Northern Colorado (CRNC) and ensuring that KUNC continued as an independent station.

She went on to serve on the board of CRNC from 2001-2007, including a term as board chair. Nancy’s commitment and many contributions to KUNC over the years have been invaluable in creating the station that we are today. We wish her well as she embarks on her future travels.

Carrie Saldo will be joining KUNC and RMPBS starting April 1st, as an  an arts and culture reporter (in conjunction with Rocky Mountain PBS and KUVO). For the past 2 years Carrie has been the host, writer and producer of “Connecting Point” – a nightly, 30 minute interview program on PBS member station WGBY-TV in Springfield, MA. Carrie also spent 3 years at WAMC public radio in Albany, NY as the Berkshire Bureau Chief.

Luke Runyon of Aspen Public Radio will officially be joining KUNC as their first Agribusiness Reporter on Monday, March 11th (in conjunction with Harvest Public Media, a network of stations across the midwest that does Grassroots reporting on food, fuel and field (http://harvestpublicmedia.org/). Luke spent the past 18 months  working in Aspen covering general assignment, environmental and land use stories. He is already a familiar voice on our airwaves because of our collaboration with RMCR (Rocky Mountain Community Radio) and He’s also been featured on NPR several times.

Sally Kane, executive director for KVNF (Paonia), is stepping down from her position in June to look for new life opportunities.  In her email out to RMCR (Rocky Mountain Community Radio) stations, Sally writes “We’ll be posting for my replacement and for a news position in the next couple of weeks. I’m still here for awhile so this won’t be the last you hear from me…”  Sally first appeared on the air at KVNF when she was a high school student in 1980, and has long been considered one of RMCR’s brightest executive directors. Founded in 1979, starting with 10 watts of power in a garage on a mesa overlooking the town of Paonia, KVNF has grown to serve parts of 6 rural counties with two transmitters and seven translators and thousands of watts of power.

BREAKING NEWS ADDED an hour AFTER I published …. thanks to Andrew Schneider for the update.  KRFC Development Director Danielle Hastings announced her resignation at the end of January.  She is now at FoCoMA now as their full time seasonal marketing/communications and volunteer person.  KRFC is now looking for a full time Development Director.  Full details and downloadable application at http://www.krfcfm.org/about-krfc/jobs/.   Essentially, this is a full time, 40 hour gig that pays $30,000 a year + commission to the right person.  The successful candidate should have a minimum of a Bachelors degree in a related field and/or relevant experience, with experience generating operating revenues in a corporate, nonprofit or institutional setting. Knowledge of the public radio mission and its diverse audience is an advantage, as is demonstrated success in fundraising and/or grant writing for nonprofit programs along with demonstrated success in community and professional networking.  The application deadline is March 14.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY … here I thought that only one station in Colorado was having a 10 year birthday party — and lo and behold there are two.  Happy 10th birthday to KHEN (Salida) and KRFC (Fort Collins).

Locally-focused community radio, KRFC, hit Ft. Collins airwaves on March 1, 2003.  KRFC will be hosting their 10th birthday party on April 6th featuring Great American Taxi, Mama Lenny & The Remedy, and a double dose of Michael Kirkpatrick from The Holler!

KHEN held their 10th birthday party in a new location in Salida on March 2nd.  Don’t know what those folks are up to down there, but the website at http://www.khen.org hasn’t been updated since late last summer.  Hope they get it fixed so we can all enjoy knowing what they’re playing..

MONTHLY TOP VIDEO PICKS

featuring Esther Sparks, Lisa Bell, The Lumineers, Kyle James Hauser, OneRepublic, Meniskus, Broken Tongues (7 videos = 30 minutes)

TOP 40 SPINS FEB 2013

When you look at the Station By Station listing you’ll notice [“x” number titles reported].  This is so you’ll not only see what the top five records getting the most love at a station are, but also how many “current year” releases are getting played.  For February there were 290 titles tracked.  180 titles were reported as played at least once.
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep debut on chart
(R) = reenter
[date] = Date added to reporting list

(3) 1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony (Cicero Recordings) Indie/New Alternative [1-Nov-12]
(2) 2. Fierce Bad Rabbit – The Maestro and the Elephant (self) Rock/Adult Alternative [5-Jan-13]
(D) 3. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [20-Jan-13]
(1) 4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone) Americana [1-Mar-12]
(4) 5. Jeff Brinkman – Strange (self) Rock/Adult Alternative    [1-Dec-12]
(15) 6. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP (Ruff Shod/Nettwork) Folk [1-Nov-1]
(D) 7. Jon Wirtz – Tourist (self) Jazz [31-Jan-13]
(D) 8. A Boy and His Kite – A Boy and His Kite (self) Indie/New Alternative [7-Jan-13]
(8) 9. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade (self) Americana/country-rock [5-Jan-13]
(15) 10. Flobots – The Circle In the Square (Shanachie Records) Urban Contemporary/alternative hip-hop [1-Aug-12]
(D) 11. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round (self) Bluegrass [16-Jan-13]
(R) 12. Churchill – The Change EP (A&M/Otone) Rock/adult alternative [1-Mar-12]
(30) 13. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up (self) Americana/classic country [1-Jul-12]
(R) 13. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm (self) Americana/country [1-Mar-12]
(D) 14. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize (self) Blues [7-Feb-13]
(20) 15. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down (self) Urban Contemporary/alternative hip-hop [1-Oct-12]
(D) 16. Joshua Novak – Ephemeron (self) Rock/alternative [24-Jan-13]
(6) 17. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade (self) Rock [1-Sep-12]
(31) 18. A Shoreline Dream – “333” (self) Rock/alterative [12-Sep-12]
(7) 18. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [1-Sep-12]
(27) 19. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king} (Youngest Daughter Records) Folk/pop [1-May-12]
(D) 20. Abi Robins – Such A Mess (Morning Bird Records) Indie/New Alternative [30-Jan-13]
(14) 21. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon (Sub Pop) Folk [1-Nov-12]
(23) 22. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow (Blank Tape) Folk [1-Apr-12]
(R) 23. SHEL – SHEL (Moraine Records / Mad King Records) Folk [1-Aug-12    2012]
(29) 24. Land Lines – Land Lines (self) Indie/New Alternative [24-Nov-12]
(D) 25. Catch Bees – Narratives from a Factory Town (On Joyful Wings) Indie/New Alternative [6-Feb-13]
(10) 26. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP] (self) Indie/New Alternative [1-Dec-12]
(11) 27. Chris Daniels – Better Days (self) Americana/country, folk [1-Jul-12]
(D) 27. gogoLab – Border Patrol (self) Jazz/soundtrack [7-Feb-13]
(D) 28. A Mouthful of Thunder – Slow Burn (self) Indie/New Alternative [1-Jan-12]
(D) 29. Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity (self) Folk/singer-songwriter [20-Feb-13]
(24) 29. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) Rock/AAA [19-Jan-13]
(R) 30. 4H Royalty – Where UFOs Go To Die (self) Alt-country-rock [1-Jun-12]
(27) 31. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed (Family Tree) Indie/New Alternative [1-Feb-12]
(D) 32. Lisa Bell – The Italian Project (self) POP/crossover/adult contemporary [14-Feb-13]
(19) 32. The Gromet – Barren (self) Rock/AAA [1-Nov-12]
(R) 32. Tyler Ward – Hello. Love. Heartache. (self) POP/dance/R&B [1-Nov-12]
(R) 33. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight (Hot Congress Records) Indie/New Alternative [1-Mar-12]
(31) 33. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology (Blank Tape) Rock/blues-rock [10-Jan-13]

FEB ADDS
Abi Robins – Such A Mess
Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
Brad Goode – Chicago Red
Catch Bees – Narratives from a Factory Town
Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity
Drop Switch – Thin the Herd EP
Esther Sparks & the Whiskey Remedy – Back to Life
FaceMan – Talk Talk Talk
Fox Steet Allstars – Tough Talk
Glass Delirium – Diamond Lullabies
gogoLab – Border Patrol
Jeremy Dion – Golden Some Days
Jesse Manley – A Path Through the Dark
Jon Wirtz – Tourist
Lisa Bell – The Italian Project
Meniskus – Stowaway
Mountain Standard Time – Sunny
Paper Bird – Rooms
P-Nuckle – The System
Poet’s Row – Poet’s Row
Rebecca Folsom – Reunion
Reno Divorce – Lover’s Leap
Rob Roper – The Other Side of Nowhere
Ryan Chrys – A Lick & A Promise
The Centennial – Nervous System
Thief River – Southbound to Nowhere
Uncommoners – Time and Other Tricks
WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove

STATION BY STATION

KAFM (Grand Junction) [20 titles reported]
1. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
2. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
2. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
3. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade
4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers

KBUT (Crested Butte) [12 titles reported]
1. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
2. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
2. Jeff Brinkman – Strange
2. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
3. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm

KDNK (Carbondale) [24 titles reported]
1. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
2. John Oates Band (CC) – The Bluesville Sessions
2. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker

KDUR (Durango) [22 titles reported]
1. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade
2. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s
3. The Epilogues – Cinematics
4. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed

KGNU (Boulder) [17 titles reported]
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
3. Chris Daniels – Better Days
4. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
4. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm

KRFC (Fort Collins) [>100 titles reported]
1.  Fierce Bad Rabbit – The Maestro & the Elephant
2.  Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches & Hugs
3.  Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
4.  Wire Faces – King Cataract
5.  The Lumineers – The Lumineers

KRCC (Colorado Springs) [12 titles reported]
1. A Shoreline Dream – “333”
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round
2. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology
3. The Lumineers – The Lumineers

KRZA (Alamosa) [4 titles reported]
1. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
1. Jeff Brinkman – Strange
1. Trout Steak Revival – Flight
2. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
.

KSJD (Cortez) [3 titles reported]
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade
3. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
.
.

KUNC (Greeley) [13 titles reported]
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
1. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
2. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
3. Churchill – The Change EP
3. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}

KUVO (Denver) [6 titles reported]
1. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
2. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
3. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
4. Polarity – King of Hearts
5. Jon Wirtz – Tourist

KVNF (Paonia) [7 titles reported]
1. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Chris Coady – From Down Here
3. Darryl Purpose – Next Time Around
3. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony

OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [67 titles reported]
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. Wire Faces – King Cataract
3. Land Lines – Land Lines
4. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
4. The Centennial – Nervous System

The Colorado Sound [57 titles reported]
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – The Maestro and the Elephant
2. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
3. Flobots – The Circle In the Square
3. gogoLab – Border Patrol
3. Jeff Brinkman – Strange

GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT

Americana/Alt.country/Alt.country-rock
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade
3. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
3. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm
4. Chris Daniels – Better Days

Blues/Rhythm & Blues
1. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
2. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
3. Boa & the Constrictors – Married to the Blues
4. Sofie Reed – Simplicity Chased Trouble Away
5. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road

Dance/Funk/Hip-Hop/Urban Contemporary
1. Flobots – The Circle In the Square
2. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down
3. Tyler Ward – Hello. Love. Heartache.
4. Air Dubai – Be Calm
4. Drop Switch – Thin the Herd EP

Folk/folk-rock/singer-songwriter
1. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
2. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
3. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
4. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
5. SHEL – SHEL

Indie/New Alternative
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. A Boy and His Kite – A Boy and His Kite
3. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
4. Abi Robins – Such A Mess
5. Land Lines – Land Lines

Jazz/Instrumental
1. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
2. gogoLab – Border Patrol
3. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
4. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
5. Mango fan Django – Indigo Dreams

POP / Contemporary Adult / Crossover
1. Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity
1. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
2. Lisa Bell – The Italian Project
2. Tyler Ward – Hello. Love. Heartache.
3. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down

ROCK / AAA / ALT / AOR
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – The Maestro and the Elephant
2. Jeff Brinkman – Strange
3. Churchill – The Change EP
4. Joshua Novak – Ephemeron
5. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade