For the past twenty plus years my music interests, as a fan/consumer and an industry guy, has been focused on non-theatrical forms of presentation.
Over the past few months, however, my girlfriend – who enjoys musicals – has taken me to the Bug Theater to see presentations of musicals of Evil Dead, Disaster, and Reefer Madness presented by the Equinox Theater Company. Both Evil Dead and Reefer Madness are award winning and critically praised presentations.
If you haven’t attended a good – or any – little theater presentation recently, I highly encourage you to see the current presentation of Reefer Madness the musical .. it may not be pop, rock, country, soul or blues – but it sure is one hellova good time in one of Denver’s treasured theaters.
Being a musician fronting my own band, I know how hard it is to get three voices in sync. Watching the ensemble crew Saturday night, I was amazed at just how much work must have gone into making sure they sang well together – and danced together on such a small stage as that at the Bug.
The house band, which stays behind the scenes, is among the best I’ve heard in the region regardless of style. The only thing I found lacking was the audio engineer, who failed on several occasions to bring up the mic level on the “narrator,” a main character in the play. There were also other instances where dialogue was muddied or muffled. But sitting in row three center stage I was able to make out most of what was being said – most of the time.
Overall – if you want to break away from seeing a band perform at one of the many fine music venues, head to the Bug for the current Reefer Madness the Musical presentation. It’s been one of my favorite music experiences in 2018.
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
I’ve known Andy Sydow as a friend and consulting client since he graduated from college about six years ago now. Along the way, I’ve been able to enjoy a young artist mature into his own voice. Reasons For Departure is his latest release. This is the title track.
MONDAY MORNING
MUSIC MEETING
What you’ll find below are new songs on the show this week … listen and let me know which ones you think I should keep in the Colorado Playlist, and which I should delete.
NOTE: In order to be included in the MMMM poll, the band/artist must have an embeddable file available on SoundCloud, BandCamp, Reverbnation or YouTube.
PLAYLIST S12 EP14
(D) = debut of lp, ep or single
(N) = new cut from previously debuted lp or ep
HOUR 1
Rick Roberts “Deliver Me” from Windmills (1973)
(N) Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats “A Little Honey” from Tearing At The Seams (2018)
OneRepublic “Future Looks Good” from Oh My My (2016)
Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Hey Delila” from Black Beehive (2014)
(N) Reverend Freakchild “Personal Jesus (On The Mainline)” from Dial It In (2018)
(N) Rubedo “Sungazer” from Vaca (2018)
The Lovely & Talented “Death of the Lover” from The New American Fable (2010)
The Subdudes “Papa Duke and the Mud People” from Behind the Levee (2006)
(N) Leftover Salmon “Analog” from Something Higher (2018)
Antonio A. Lopez “Bluebird” from Cloud 9000 Vol. 2: The Alamosa EP (2016)
Reno Divorce “She’s in Love With the Avenue” from She’s In Love With the Avenue (2018)
(D) Emily Takahashi “Not Spoken`” from Not Spoken (2018)
HOUR 2
Zephyr “When Love Comes Running” from Heartbeat (Remix 2018) (2018)
(D) Rob Drabkin “It’s A Beautiful Day” from Beautiful Day EP (2018)
Brent Cowles “Cold Times” from Cold Times (2017)
Megan Burtt “The Bargain” from The Bargain (2015)
(D) Chloe Tang “Stranger” (2018)
Plutinos “Hand in Hand” from Plutinos EP (2018)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “This Is How We Do Things in the Country” from Blovdy Tenent Trvth Peace (2004)
Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams “Pill-Poppin Country Weirdo” from Sinners & Saints (2010)
(D) Ryan Chrys “Someday We’ll Never Come Back” from The Catskills (2018)
Chris Daniels & the Kings “Sweet Memphis” from Blues With Horns, Vol 1 (2017)
iZCALLI “I Don’t” from IV (2018)
Ron Miles, Bill Frisell, Brian Blade, Jason Moran & Thomas Morgan “Jasper” from I Am A Man (2017)
April 27 – Woods Boss Brewing (Denver)
April 28 – FOCOMX (Fort Collins)
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 