It’s official — August is the worst month of the year in terms of blog readership. I thought maybe we broke the August curse this year, but no…. not even close. We barely eeked out an increase over last year, hitting 1199 unique page visits … a far bit off our record 2,227 in May, and at 39 unique visits a day we’re really off of the 53 a day average for the year. I attribute that to the fact that I spend less time writing in August and more time on stage – so look for increased blogging activity in the next few months to make up for it LOL.
The Colorado Sound can now be heard every Sunday morning from 8AM-10AM on Radio 94.9 Colorado … www.radio949colorado.com. Radio 94.9 has committed to airing 1 Colorado track per hour of programming. That places this Clear Channel owned property right up on top of the heap with Open Air 1340 and KRFC (Fort Collins) in airing Colorado music.
STATION NEWS & NOTES
KBUT wrapped up another successful summer pledge drive on August 12th. With the support of our family of listeners near and far, KBUT met our goal of $42,000. KBUT is also in the midst of a capital campaign to cover expenses related to a new transmitter in Gunnison, CO. This 6,500 Watt transmitter (88.7 KGNI) will replace a low-powered translator that currently broadcasts at the same location. KBUT expects to be broadcasting from this more powerful and secure signal sometime in September. More information is available at http://www.kbut.org/powerup
KGNU has hired David Wilson as Station Manager. David is already working part-time training and starts full-time on September 17. Welcome David.
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
I sent out a couple of new releases in August that feature two of the state’s wonderful female voices – Alysa Kraft from the Patti Fiasco, and Monica Whittington from the Monocle Band. I also received the new album from Gabrielle Louise – which by all standards should win best packaging of the year. I was also fortunate enough to work with a few of the best at this year’s Bohemian Nights at New West Fest … including SHEL, Rachel James (Rachel & the Kings), Hayley Helmericks (Snake Rattle Rattle Snake), Erica Brown, and Cassie Taylor – and equally, Jennifer Lane and Sophie Reed received standing ovations for their performances this year. So that got me to thinking… what are the top female fronted records right now?
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
4. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP (Erin Youngberg is co-lead singer in band)
5. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
6. SHEL – SHEL
7. Monocle Band – Monocle Band
8. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
9. Ending People – Fill Your Lungs
10. The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville
Of course this takes NOTHING away from anyone else – we’re tremendously blessed to have had some of the best female singers, songwriters, and musicians in the country here in CO…
In other news – the Motet is in the studio with Colin Bricker at Mighty Fine Productions in Denver. Supercollider just wrapped up tracking with Colin. Leftover Salmon is working on a new album. String Cheese Incident is working on a new album. The new Richie Furay is closer to getting to us. There’s going to be a new Piedmont Brothers Band record that will feature the likes of Rick Roberts, Jock Bartley (Firefall) and Richie Furay… Sean Kelly of the Samples thinks the new record will be done right after the first of the year, and there’s a new album coming out from Chris Daniels featuring Freddie Gowdy of Freddi & Henchi fame… I’d look for that one maybe next spring, but Chris HAS been known to surprise, so we’ll see.
Former Denverite, and Denver native Rusty Young, who still rocks “Denver” as home on his Facebook page, has been inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame – and right on the plague it says “Rusty Young grew up playing steel guitar in country bands around Denver…” No doubt he’ll eventually wind up in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame as well. Rusty has also just released another Poco record, “All Fired Up,” although he’s the only member of the original gang that appears – making it a weak “Poco” release, but a pretty damned strong Rusty Young release.
VIDEO PICKS – AUGUST
This month’s PICK-7 includes jazz guitarist Matt Fuller, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Colorado Springs hip-hop The ReMinders, the Raven & the Writing Desk, Andy Palmer, SHEL, and Sean Kennedy.
TOP 40 SPINS – AUGUST 2013
305 titles tracked in August
178 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
(1) 1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [Jun-13]
(2) 2. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) EDM [Jul-13]
(3) 3. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind (Yellow Dog) Blues [May-13]
(D) 4. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [Aug-13]
(6) 5. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [Jan-13]
(39) 6. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise (self) Folk [Jun-12]
(5) 7. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana [Jul-13]
(9) 8. Paper Bird – Rooms (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-13]
(7) 9. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant (self) Rock [Jan-13]
(R) 10. Chris Daniels – Better Days (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(18) 11. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [Jun-13]
(14) 12. Jeff Brinkman – Strange (self) Rock [Dec-12]
(40) 13. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be (Vizztone) Blues [Mar-13]
(D) 13. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights (self) Rock [Jul-13]
(38) 14. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology (Blank Tape) Rock [Jan-13]
(12) 15. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon (Sub Pop) Folk [Nov-12]
(19) 16. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller (Howdy Skies Music) Americana [Jun-12]
(D) 17. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP (Swingfingers Records) Americana [Aug-13]
(R) 18. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize (self) Blues [Feb-13]
(R) 19. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(R) 20. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade (self) Rock [Sep-12]
(13) 21. SHEL – SHEL (Moraine Records / Mad King Records) Folk [Aug-12]
(16) 22. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Indie/New Alternative [Jun-13]
(37) 23. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Apr-13]
(20) 24. The Changing Colors – Joan & the King (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-13]
(R) 25. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round (self) Bluegrass [Jan-13]
(D) 25. Monocle Band – Monocle Band (self) Americana [Aug-13]
(D) 25. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) Rock [Aug-13]
(R) 26. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Sep-12]
(29) 26. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches (self) Bluegrass [May-13]
(27) 27. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle (self) Rock [Jun-12]
(R) 28. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP] (self) Indie/New Alternative [Dec-12]
(8) 29. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony (Cicero Recordings) Indie/New Alternative [Nov-12]
(R) 30. Ending People – Fill Your Lungs (Cash Cow Productions) Indie/New Alternative [Aug-12]
(24) 30. Jon Wirtz – Tourist (self) Jazz [Jan-13]
(23) 30. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round (Blank Tape) Indie/New Alternative [Jan-13]
(R) 31. The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville (self) Americana [Jun-13]
(R) 32. Trout Steak Revival – Flight (self) Bluegrass [Nov-12]
(R) 32. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down (self) POP [Jun-12]
FELL OUT OF TOP 40 AUGUST
4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
10. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive
11. 3 Twins – De Nada
15. Wendy Woo Band – Live
17. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
21. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon
22. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
25. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die
26. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
30. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
31. The ReMinders – Born Champions
32. Chimney Choir – (compass)
33. Colfax Speed Queen – Satisfaction Intended
35. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends
36. The Swayback – Double Four Time
ADDED AUGUST 2013
Bad Weather California – Back Seats
Birds of A Feather – A Million Miles Away
Bobby Walker – Feelin’ Good
Candy Claws – Ceres & Calypso In The Deep Time
Covenhaven – Covenhaven
Damon Wood – Sirens & Pipers
Deadwood Saints – Hometown Blues
Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP
Flashbulb Fires – Unseen Things [single]
Gabrielle Louise – The Bird in My Chest
Holly Lovell – The Illusions EP
Joe Johnson – New West Sound
Katey Laurel – Periscope
Kinetix – Never Too Late
Leftover Salmon – Thornpipe [single]
Maxwell Hughes – Only in Dreams
Molina Speaks – Greatest Rapper Never Heard
Monocle Band – Monocle Band
Moors & McCumber – Against the Grain
Navy – Spirit Groove
Poco (CC) – All Fired Up
Princess Music – Odobenidae
Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
The 14ers – Get Some EP
The Belle Jar – Union Station
The Drunken Hearts – Live for Today
The Lonelyhearts – Years in the Great Interior
The Outfit – Tough Kids
The Still Tide – Tinder
Thee Dang Dangs – For the People
STATION BY STATION
[X] = number of “current” titles reported as played in reporting period. This is so you’ll not only see what the top five records getting the most spins are at any station, but also how many “current year” releases are getting played.
KAFM (Grand Junction) [24]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Fox Steet Allstars – Tough Talk
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
4. Arthur Lee Land – Cracked Open
5. Chris Thompson & Coral Creek String Band – Forty Years
KBUT (Crested Butte) [14]
1. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
2. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
KDNK (Carbondale) [40]
Cary Morin – Streamline
Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
KDUR (Durango) [11]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville
3. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
3. Sour Boy Bitter Girl – The Days After the Fire
3. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon
KGNU (Boulder) [20]
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
3. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
4. Chimney Choir – (compass)
5. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
KRCC (Colorado Springs) [16]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
4. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology
5. Changing Colors – Joan & the King
KRFC (Fort Collins) [>100]
1. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
3. Cary Morin – Streamline
4. Cassie Taylor – Out Of My Mind
4. Escape Goats – On The Lam
KRZA (Alamosa) [11]
1. Monocle Band – Monocle Band
2. Chimney Choir – (compass)
2. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
2. Trout Steak Revival – Flight
2. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove
KUNC (Greeley) [12]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
3. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
4. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
4. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
KUVO (Denver) [14]
1. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
2. John Gunther’s Safari Trio – Surrender
3. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
4. Curtis Fuller – Down Home
5. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
KVNF (Paonia) [10]
1. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
4. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
5. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [57]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
3. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
4. Paper Bird – Rooms
5. The Outfit – Tough Kids
The Colorado Sound [48]
1. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
2. Chris Daniels – Better Days
2. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
3. Fierce Bad Rabbit – The Maestro and the Elephant
4. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT
Americana / Alt-country / Bluegrass
1. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
2. Chris Daniels – Better Days
3. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
4. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
5. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
Blues / Rhythm & Blues
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
3. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
4. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
5. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
Folk / folk-rock / singer-songwriter
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
3. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
4. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
5. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
Indie / New Alternative
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
3. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
4. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
5. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP]
Jazz / Instrumental
1. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
2. Manuel Lopez Trio – Searching Out
3. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
4. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
5. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
Pop / Adult Contemporary / Crossover
1. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
2. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
3. The 14ers – Get Some
4. Wendy Woo Band – Live
5. Katey Laurel – Periscope
Rock / AAA / ALT / AOR
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
2. Jeff Brinkman – Strange
3. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
4. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology
5. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
Urban Contemporary / EDM / Hip Hop / Soul
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down
3. Selina Albright – Brighter
4. Molina Speaks – Greatest Rapper Never Heard
4. The ReMinders – Born Champions
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 