NEWS NOTES and SPINS APRIL 1 2015

March marked the 5th birthday of this blog (March 2010).  April marks the 9th birthday for The Colorado Sound (April 2006 / KRFC) and the 3rd birthday for The Colorado Sound Live365 (April 2012).

March, like Feb and Jan, hit historical highs for page views for the month.  March also hit historic lows for the number of spins statewide for Colorado music, and the lowest number of stations spinning 10 or more titles since I began keeping track, nearly seven years ago now.  I really struggled with  that.  March also registered the lowest number of hours listened to The Colorado Sound Live365, and the fewest number of people streaming the station.

Tracking spins is always challenging.  Several of the smallest stations have no way of measuring or determining what titles they play.  Most of the time there’s no central accounting system in place and there can be over 100 individuals on the air in any given month.  Even some influential stations in the state have no effective means of tracking spins.  That alone presents some interesting challenges, especially if those stations stream online, but that’s an entirely different set of problems best left undiscussed here.

Only seven of the fifteen stations surveyed managed to air ten “currents”  (titles up to 18 months old).  And the difference in the number of over- the-air “exposures” (spins per station x number of station frequencies x number of stations) between the top of the charts and the rest was significant enough for me to tell you about it.

That we had what I think is at or near an historic number of debuts (13) this month is due also, I believe, to the low number of titles being played per station in March.  The number of titles tracked also fell to 187, the first time that number has fallen beneath 200 in over 3 years – although the total number of titles aired is about normal for the month at 108.

Bill Frisell‘s wonderful “Guitar In the Space Age” rocked the top spot for the 3rd consecutive month, out blasting the stellar new albums by heavyweights like Chris Daniels & the Kings who continued their assault on  the top position for a second month, and the new Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) release, “Hand in Hand,” that debuts at #6 this month.  Jeff Austin manages to jump to #3 with “The Simple Truth,” remaining in the TOP 5 for the second month since his January release.  Hot Rize also holds onto TOP 5 status since being released last September, a tremendous accomplishment to be fair.

Cracker made  the cut for  VIDEO PICKS OF THE MONTH with California Country Boy (sung by Johnny Hickman) shot as part of the Gondola Sessions at Aspen/Snowmass.  Cracker is David Lowry and Johnny Hickman.  Johnny Hickman lives in Northern Colorado.  He also plays in the Hickman-Dalton Gang with Colorado native picker Jim Dalton, and has maintained a solo project with musicians here in the area.  He has also been very involved with working with and supporting other Colorado acts, such as the Yawpers for whom he produced  the single “Faith and Good Judgement” (SpokesBUZZ Vol. V). And fortunately for all of us here, we’re seeing the band play more here in Colorado.  They just played the Moxi in Greeley recently, and will be appearing at the Mishawaka on June 6 as well as other dates regionally later in the summer.  In the least, Cracker is considered to have a Colorado Connection (CC).

Please visit my friends’ sites.  They keep this thing going.  

Colorado Case Company a Fort Collins based, Colorado family owned business specializing in insulated soft cases, gig bags, case covers and rigid cases for most instruments, including hard to fit instruments.

SpokesBUZZ, a Colorado non-profit with a mission to develop the professionalism of artists, promote and connect progressive cultural destinations, amplify music scenes, and grow local economies.  See event calendar for Spokesbuzz band shows.

The historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Northern Colorado’s Musical Playground, and seriously one of the most badass music venues in the state.  I’m very happy to be on board co-presenting LOCALS x LOCALS featuring Cracker with Post Paradise, Winchester Holiday, and The Colorado Sound Saturday June 6th, 2015 4:00 PM (Doors at 3:00) AND Hazel Miller | Chris Daniels & the Kings with Goatz! (my band) and William’s Reserve (my son’s band) on Sunday Aug 9, 2015 4:30PM (Doors at 3:30)  TICKETS ON SALE NOW for both events.

MARCH VIDEO PICKS

New cuts from Richie Furay, Cracker, and SHEL lead the picks this month that also includes music from Rocky Mountain Celts, along with new hip-hop from Glimmer Twins spin-off Grim & Darling, new electro-pop from  Ronitt, and new country-folk from John Statz, who’s latest album “Tulsa” picked up a few stations in March.  Enjoy.

TOP 40 Spins MARCH 2015

183 titles tracked
Titles tracked = released between Oct 1 2013 and March 27 2015
108 (59%) titles identified as played at least once in the reporting period
Stations/shows surveyed: 15
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep/single debut on chart
(R) = re-enter
[date] = Date added to reporting list

(1) 1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age (Okeh Records) Jazz/Instrumental [Nov 18, 2014] (CC)
(3) 2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky To the Bone (Moon Voyage) Blues/funk [Jan 15, 2015]
(5) 3. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth (Yep Roc) Rock/AAA, bluegrass [Jan 2, 2015]
(2) 4. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers) Bluegrass [Sept 15, 2014]
(27) 5. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Bluegrass [Oct 1, 2013]
(D) 6. Richie Furay – Hand In Hand (ENT ONE Music) Americana/country-rock [March 1, 2015]
(8) 7. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V (SpokesBUZZ) Various [Dec 20, 2014]
(9) 8. Ark Life– The Dream of You & Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock/AAA [June 28, 2014]
(7) 9. Leftover Salmon –High Country (LoS) Rock/bluegrass [Nov 8, 2014]
(4) 10. Brothers Keeper – Todd Meadows (8150 Records) Rock/AAA [Dec 20, 2014]
(12) 11. 12. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Indie/New Alternative [April 26, 2014]
(31) 12. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake –Totem  (self) Indie/New Alternative [Nov 8, 2014]
(D) 13. John Statz – Tulsa (self) Americana/country-folk [March 1, 2015]
(21) 14. Rose Quartz – Axis of Love [EP] (self) Pop/EDM [Feb 1, 2015]
(18) 15. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative [Aug 14, 2014]
(11) 16. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head (SCI Fidelity) Rock/AAA [April 14, 2014]
(31) 17. John Oates – Good Road to Follow (PS Records) Pop/Adult Contemporary [March 18, 2014]
(30) 18. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways (Porch Lantern Music) Americana/alt-country-rock [Jan 8, 2015]
(24) 19. Blake Brown & American Dust Choir –“3” (self) Rock/AAA [Aug 13, 2014]
(R) 20. Cary Morin – Tiny Town (self) Blues/folk [Jan 1, 2015]
(D) 21. Jayme Stone – Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project (Borealis Recording) Folk [March 27. 2015]
(D) 22. Taarka – Making Tracks Home (self) Folk [March 9, 2015]
(29) 23. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner (Remington Road Records) Americana/folk [Dec 21, 2013]
(D) 24. Dana Landry Quartet – Standard Elevation (self) Jazz/Instrumental [March 7. 2015]
(D) 25. Moors and McCumber – Pandemonium (self) Americana/country-folk [Feb 24 2015]
(R) 26. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Feb 22, 2014]
(19) 27. Young Ancients – Y/A (self) Americana [Feb 11, 2014]
(22) 28. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive (Shout! Factory) Rock/blues-rock [Jan 25, 2014]
(R) 28. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) Rock/AAA [Jan 1, 2014]
(25) 29. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – The Drawing Back of Curtains (Youngest Daughter Records) Folk [Jan 13, 2015]
(R) 29. Safe Boating Is No Accident – Bonus Features (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb 20, 2014]
(D) 30. Trout Steak Revival – Brighter Every Day (self) Bluegrass [March 20. 2015]
(D) 31. Analog Son – Stomp and Shout! (self) Jazz/Funk [March 7, 2015]
(D) 32. Richard Dean – Accidental Human (Coastal Bend) Folk/folk-rock [March 14, 2015]
(D) 33. SHEL – The Lab Sessions (Moraine) Folk [March 20, 2015]
(D) 33. Toad In the Hole – Wallflower (self) Rock/AAA [March 21, 2015]
(6) 34. Land Lines – The Natural World (self) Indie/New Alternative [Jan 31, 2015]
(R) 35. Grant Farm – Plowin’ Time (self) Rock/country-rock [May 14, 2014]
(D) 35. In The Whale – Nate & Eric (self) Rock [March 9, 2015]
(D) 36. H2 Big Band – It Could Happen (Capri) Jazz/Instrumental [Feb 1, 2015]

FELL OUT OF TOP 40 IN MARCH
10. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West
13. Paul Mullikin – Time Is Now
14. Selasee & the Fafa Family – Time for Peace
15. Ben Markley-Clint Ashlock Quintet – The Return
16. Euforquestra – Fire
17. Nathaniel Rateliff – Closer EP
17. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster
20. The Motet- The Motet
23. Dianne Reeves – Beautiful Life
25. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
26. Gerald Albright – Slam Dunk
26. Gipsy Moon – Autumn’s Retreat
28. Musketeer Gripweed – Floods and Fires
31. Katie Herzig – Walk Through Walls
32. AMZY – We Don’t Walk, We Dance
32. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning
32. The Seers – Deaf in June
33. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Living Asleep

ADDED TO TRACKING IN MARCH
Amy Kress – Secret Music
Analog Son – Stomp and Shout!
Anthony Ruptak – Between the Hangman and the Halo
Dana Landry Quartet – Standard Elevation
Fox St. – Something About You [single]
In The Whale – Nate & Eric
Jayme Stone – Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project
John Statz – Tulsa
Michael Kirkpatrick – Honey Rider
Modern Suspects – Told You So [single]
Moors and McCumber – Pandemonium
Otis Taylor – Hey Joe Opus Red Meat
Plume Varia – Vernor | Forge
Ragged Union – Hard Row to Hoe
Richard Dean – Accidental Human
Richie Furay – Hand In Hand
Sean Curtis Band – Kind of Like Wyoming
SHEL – The Lab Sessions
Stelth Ulvang – and as always the infinite cosmos
Stephen Melton – S/T
Taarka – Making Tracks Home
Toad In the Hole – Wallflower
Trout Steak Revival – Brighter Every Day

 STATION x STATION

[XX] = number of reported current year (Oct 2013-March 2015) titles
Stations monitored for spins = KAFM, KBUT, KDUR, KGNU, KOTO, KRCC, KRFC, KRZA, KSJD, KSUT, KUNC, KVNF, OPENAIR 1340, Radio 94.9 Colorado,  The Colorado Sound radio show and The Colorado Sound LIVE365.  Stations with minimum 10 “currents” featured in breakout.

KAFM (Grand Junction) [15]
1. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Richie Furay – Hand In Hand
4. Paa Kow – Ask
5. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace

KDUR (Durango) [12]
1. Kyle Hollingsworth – Speed of Life
2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
2. Grant Farm – Plowin’ Time
2. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Leftover Salmon – High Country

KGNU (Boulder) [15]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Gipsy Moon – Autumn’s Retreat
3. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
3. Jayme Stone – Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project
3. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters

KRFC (Fort Collins) [>100]
1. Pandas & People – S/T
2. Cary Morin – Tiny Town
3. Taarka – Making Tracks Home
4. John Statz – Tulsa
5. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone+

KUNC (Greeley) [15]
1. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
1. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
4. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive

OPEN AIR 102.3 (Denver) [30]
1. Plum – Behind Your Man (single)
2. In The Whale – Nate & Eric
3. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
4. Land Lines – The Natural World
4. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem

THE COLORADO SOUND [32]
1. Rose Quartz – Axis of Love
2. Todd Adelmen – Highways and Lowways
2. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
3. Analog Son – Stomp and Shout!
3. Brothers Keeper – Todd Meadows

THE COLORADO SOUND LIVE365 – TOP SINGLE SPINS
Nathaniel Rateliff – Nothing to Show For
Fierce Bad Rabbit – Crystal Ball
Calder’s Revolvers – I Gotta Know
Richie Furay – We Were the Dreamers
Drew Schofield – Break It Down

RADIO 94.9FM – MARCH ADDS
Brothers Keeper – Why Do You Fall
Cary Morin – Tiny Town
Chris Daniels & The Kings – Something You Got
Fox St. – Somethin About You
Jeff Austin – What The Night Brings
John Statz – Any Town Will Do
Leftover Salmon – Two Highways
Modern Suspects – Told You So
The Motet – Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed
Rose Quartz – Medicine
SHEL – Please Come Home
Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Evil Eye
Strange Americans – Rocks Rolls
Tennis – Needle and a Knife
Todd Adelman – Right Before You Said Hello