Monday morning: post workout. I had an exhilarating weekend. I cannot recount how many local cd release shows I’ve attended or been a part of in my career. Megan Burtt’s show Saturday night at the Oriental ranks at the top of my list, if for nothing less than the overall national level professional quality of the stage presentation, and musicianship on display. Sunday’s benefit event for Colorado blues legend JD Kelly pushed the weekend’s emotion quotient over the top.
It should be no secret to anyone who has followed me the past several years that I am a Megan Burtt fan, and have championed her music since her debut coming out of Berklee. Her latest though, the Bargain, is altogether at another level in her already stellar local career. The album, the show, the new retail merchandise (a guitar strap line?? f’ng brilliant) – the signing with Sweetwine Entertainment Group – she’s certainly ready for it. #winnerbestcdreleaseshow
We talk a lot about “scene” and “music community.” Nowhere was that more on display than at the JD Kelly benefit, at the Rusty Bucket in Lakewood yesterday. According to FB posts late last night and this morning over $7000 was raised to help JD with expenses related to being treated for stage 4 colon cancer. Bandmate Jimmy Ayers has been dealing with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The Rusty Bucket hosted a benefit on July 19th for Jimmy, that I’ve heard was just as well attended – and contributed to.
Blues Express bassist Glenn Tapia posted on FaceBook:
BIG UPS to the Colorado Blues Society – yesterday they announced that the Members Choice Award for best horn player is now and will forever be named “The JD Kelly Award”. JD was given a framed award commemorating the CBS award being in his name. That was an awesome moment. He was really loved and touched by that gesture.
BIG UPS to Billy Hoke for winning $600 on the 50/50 Raffle and instantly donating it all back to JD. That was a very selfless gesture on your part.
BIG UPS to all the help we had and all the performers who came to play out of love for JD and only for the music and community. There are far too many to name individually but it’s safe to say that yesterday was rich in local talent and regular blues supporters.
BIG BIG BIG UPS to the Colorado blues community for raising over $7000 for JD yesterday You all were all very generous with your own money to give to JD. The community was raging with love and friendship last night as the Rusty Bucket bounced and bumped all day with feel-good music and vibrant people.”
PHOTO by Monica Brown, from FB posting.
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
PLAYLIST S9|EP33
(D) = debut of single, ep, or lp
(N) = new track from already debuted ep or lp
HOUR 1
The Higher Elevation “Crazy Bicycle” (1967)
Sugarloaf “Don’t Call Us – We’ll Call You” (1975)
(D) Von Stomper “Outta My Head” from Americado (2015)
Big Head Blues Club: Featuring Big Head Todd & the Monsters “Ramblin on my Mind” from Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson (2011)
(N) The Symbols “Speak” from Smile (2015)
The Motet “123” from The Motet (2014)
Dubskin “Love for Music” from No End In Time (2009)
(N) Covenhoven “Go Easy” from The Wild and Free (2015)
Katey Laurel “Everything I Love” from From Here (2011)
Hot Rize “Blue Is Fallin’” from When I’m Free (2014)
Robert Cline Jr. “Mockingbird” from All The Right Reasons (2012)
Chip Stephens Trio “Cookin’ At the Continental” from Hold On to What Counts (2007)
HOUR 2
The Astronauts “Baja” [single] (1963)
Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids “Time Will Tell” from Sons of Beaches (1975)
(D) Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene “Let’s Do This Thing!” from Let’s Do This Thing! (2015)
Fox St. “Something About You” from Authentic Western Dress (2015)
(N) Analog Son “Stomp and Shout” from Stomp and Shout (2015)
(D) Danny Shafer “Jesus, Tonto and Springsteen” from Weddings, Floods and Funerals (2015)
Acoustic Junction “Think About It” from Acoustic Junction (1995)
Reed Foehl “Caroline” from Lost in the West (2014)
Megan Burtt “Fast As I Go” from The Bargain (2015)
Jami Lunde “A Little Bit Blue” from Big Black Birds (2011)
(N) Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band featuring Erica Brown “Done Got Old” from Born to Love the Blues (2015)
Andy Ard “That’s What She Did to Me” from What She Did (2009)
H2 Big Band “Singing In the Rain” from You’re It! (2011)
EVENTS
89.1 FM KHOL Jackson Hole Community Radio is a local, non-profit, commercial free, radio station whose mission is to engage and connect the community through volunteer radio programming. KHOL serves Teton County, Wyoming with an eclectic mix of music, local news and public affairs programming. KHOL seeks a Station Manager to provide leadership and vision, who is serious about innovative, high-quality, community based programming.
THURS SEPT 10 w/ 
This concludes the outdoor summer season at “The Mish” … I hope to see you there for this fantastic show. Nathaniel & company blew the sod off the lawn at the conclusion of Bohemian Nights at New West Fest on Aug 16. And that field held a few thousand people! What WILL they do to the 1000 that can cram in the Mish’s yard? You really don’t want to miss this.
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 