Category: MMMM (New Music)

The Colorado Sound – S8 EP32

chris k new look aug 2014Now where was I?  Sunday night.  9PM.  End of the weekend.  A blur.  Grandson moved in.  Redecorated guest room for teenage boy.  Listened to lots of music.  Include:  Trial and Error by SuCH.

I’m a sucker for soul.  Growing up as a teenager in and around Philly and New York I couldn’t escape it.  The first concert my mother took me to was the Temptations with the Fifth Dimension.  I spent from 1973-1986 spinning records at parties and in clubs in North Dakota, New York, Connecticut, and Colorado.  Soul was and is a vital part of my regular listening diet to this day.

SuCH (Su Charles) intrigued me last year, both by the underground soul hit “Sugar Maple”, which spent 2 weeks in August 2013 at #1 on the UK Soul Charts … and which swept our fan poll last December … AND … by the fact …  that she won the Henry Award for Best Actress for her role as Celie in the Color Purple.  SuCH is a Boston born, New York raised, Chicago groomed Soul singer, living, working, and performing locally in Denver – on music and theater stages.

Old skool soul fans have lots to love about this record.  It immediately raised feelings of nostalgia for the great soul hits of the 70s and early 80s … with enough modernism that I’m not left feeling like the arrangements are stuck in the past.  Guests include local actor Mathenee Treco (P’s and Q’s (Playing Games)), who will be appearing in the role of Bobby in the musical MEMPHIS at the Arvada Center for the Arts next month.  

Lovin’ “Open Book” … seriously want to do the hustle to this one LOL.  …  “P’s and Q’s (Playing Games) … “Where You Left Me” … and the title track.  SuCH’s fan base is sure to vote this one to the top of the Best of 2014 fan favorite poll again, this coming December.

PS: my grandson listens to different music than I do LOL.  Go figure.  He likes metalcore (?).  Part alt.rock part screamo (?)  I’ve got some catching up to do I see.  Metal never was my thing.

PLAYLIST S8 EP32 2014

The Samples “Close to the Fires” from Samples (1990)
Subdudes “Help Is On the Way” from The Subdudes (1989)
(D) Blake Brown & American Dust Choir “Get Out” [single] (2014)  Ark Life “Proud of Me Out There Mama” from The Dream of You and Me (2014)
My Body Sings Electric “Outside” from Changing Color (2011)
Soul School “Touch My Body” from Chapter One (2014)
The Fray “The Fighter” from Scars and Stories (2012)
Calder’s Revolvers “See To Believe” from Sunday Morning (2014)
Blue Canyon Boys “Up On The Hill” from Next Go ‘Round (2012)
(D) Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene “The Other Side” from The Other Side (2014)  Cowboy Dave “Cowboy Dave Theme Song” from Saddle Up, Pal (2009)
(D) The Outfit “Station Wagon Apocalypse” from Station Wagon Apocalypse (2014)  Ben Haugland “Lift” from The Point Of No Return (2012)
Soul Survivors “Have It All Your Way” [single] (1969)
Boenzee Cryque “I’ve Never Known A Girl” from Psychedelic States: Colorado in the Sixties (2007)
Poco “Regret” from All Fired Up (2013)
Richie Furay “Hand in Hand” from Hand In Hand (2014)
John Oates “Stone Cold Love” from Good Road to Follow (2014)
(D) SuCH (Su Charles) “Trial and Error” from Trial and Error (2014)
AdrienneO “Take It In” from Lines EP (2014)
Felonius Smith “Whiskey and Gin” from Before the Rooster Crows (2014)
Silent Bear “The Green Lion” from The Green Lion (2014)
Strange Americans “The Scene” from That Kind of Luster (2014)
El Toro de la Muerte “Things In My Head” from Dancer These Days (2011)
Brad Goode “St. Louis Blues” from Chicago Red (2013)

OH YEAH … WAIT … BEFORE YOU GO.  Here’s the grandson’s bedroom I spent all weekend doing 🙂  

The Colorado Sound S8|EP30 + Carbon Valley Music Fest Recap

Chris K CVMF 2014I’ve had the privilege of producing the show for the Carbon Valley Music & Spirits Festival for seven years.  This year was the first time we expanded to a two night show.  It was also the first time we had seven regional distilleries present for the spirits tasting and competition event.  We also brought in a new lighting director and expanded the kids’ activities.

I was beyond thrilled to present four very legendary Colorado artists this year- Richie Furay, Chris Daniels, Fred Gowdy (Freddi-Henchi Band), and Sean Kelly (the Samples).   Presenting Richie was one of the highlights of the many years I’ve introduced bands to audiences around Northern Colorado, and one of the highlights of my life in music.

Richie’s “Kind Woman” has always been one of my most favorite songs of all time.  Nearly every second of his performance of that song is in the recap video below — along with footage from Chris Daniels & the Kings with Freddi Gowdy, Chris Daniels with Richie Furay, Mojo Mama, Slow Caves, Savage Cabbage, and the Mojo Music Academy Band Camp program … I’m sorry I was unable to get any video of Alterity.

A BIG thank you to the folks who came up to me all weekend and said they heard the show on KUNC … folks came from Conifer, Aurora, Boulder, and Fort Collins.  I got mad compliments about stage, sound, and lights all weekend .. much love  to my buddies from Mighty Fine Productions (sound), Marshall Austin Productions (stage), and Maniac Productions (lighting)

Here’s a recap of the weekend …

PLAYLIST S8|EP30

The Apples in Stereo “Seems So” from Tone Soul Evolution (1997)
Dressy Bessy “New Song (From Me To You)” from Dressy Bessy (2003)
(N) Calder’s Revolvers “I Gotta Know” from Sunday Morning (2014)The Samples “Save It For a Rainy Day” from Return to Earth (2001)
AdrienneO “Just Happened” from Lines EP (2014)
(D) Felonius Smith “Delivery Man” from Before the Rooster Crows (2014)
Bad Weather California “When You Smile” from Sunkissed (2012)
Lissa Hanner “Colorado Colors” from My Colorado (2014)
Matt Skinner Band “I’ll Keep Loving” from Native Stranger (2013)
(D) Molina Speaks “Denver (ft. Randy Runyan)” from Everyday Denver (2014) H*Wood “One Love” from One Love (2013)
Cocktail Revolution “Mistercool” from Better Reception (2008)
Tommy Bolin “Shake the Devil” from Private Eyes (1976)
Firefall “Mexico” from Firefall (1976)
Eddie Turner “Rise” from Rise (2005)
Zephyr “Don’t Come Back” from Heartbeat (1982)
Mama Lenny and the Remedy “Kiss and Tell” from Time (You’re Doing Fine) (2014)
(N) Ark Life “Proud of Me Out There Mama” from The Dream of You and Me (2014)
You Me and Apollo “Don’t Sleep for Free” from Sweet Honey (2014)
Danielle Ate the Sandwich “Faith In A Man” from Like A King (2012)
Chris Daniels “Better Days” from Better Days (2012)
My Body Sings Electric “New Friends” from Part 1: the Night Ends (2014)
Jeff Finlin “Jesus Was A Motorcycle Man” from Ballad Of A Plain Man (2008)
Raincheck “Right There” from Raincheck (2012)

S8|EP29 + “Hand In Hand” – a review

chrisk smilingThis has been an exhilarating week.  Four days of doing sound for or emceeing three shows and a festival – and countless people coming up to me and saying they heard the show.  When I walk around crowds at shows I work and people tell me they heard and love the show I’m blown away.

In response to the handful of queries about the Colorado Sound on KUNC (and its statewide network) — KUNC airs only HOUR 2 of the show on Saturday at 2PM following American Routes.  HOUR 1 is heard on KRFC (Front Range), KDNK (Carbondale / Glenwood), KWMV (Westcliffe), KFVR (Pueblo), and Radio 94.9 (Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley).  See Stations and Times.

If you haven’t had the opportunity yet to download the current episode of “Offstage …Beyond the Music” .. each new episode or part of an episode will be published here every other week.  Grab EP1|PT1 of my conversation with Chris Daniels.

SpokesBuzz Fort Collins logoA correction / retraction is in order.  In the show this week, and in this blogpost I incorrectly wrote/stated that the Deadwood Saints were from Portland — this was a typo in the original press release.  I followed up with SpokesBUZZ PR to make sure there were not TWO Deadwood Saints – one in CO and one in OR … there’s only one .. .from Fort Collins. Glad I got that taken care of.  For more on the BandSwap program go here.  SpokesBuzz is a major supporter of The Colorado Sound.  Please go see what they’re up to; it’s pretty cool.

RICHIE FURAY – HAND IN HAND

I debuted another new track from the upcoming Richie Furay album “Hand In Hand,” due out this September.  For old fans, this is a lifetime achievement record – worthy of anything he’s ever done in the past with Buffalo Springfield or Poco.  At 70, this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Coloradan still has a remarkable voice, with some pretty stellar guests pickin alongside him … among whom is honorary Coloradan Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle), Keb Mo (guitar), Pate Wasner (keys, piano … Vince Gill, Alison Kraus), and Richie’s vocal sidekick, his daughter Jesse.

This is easily at the top of my list for album of the year in Colorado.  The album was impeccably well produced by Richie and Colorado Grammy Award winning engineer, producer and pedal steel guitarist John Macy, in Nashville and Denver.  Songs of note include the title track, and “We Were the Dreamers.”  “Love at First Sight” is a 10th wedding anniversary song written for his daughter Jesse and her husband Tom, that took 10 years and a shower to complete.  Richie’s wonderful stories about each song in the liner notes is an elegant touch, on what is truly one of the most elegant records in my collection – Colorado or not. 

THE COLORADO SOUND PRESENTS

I am beyond excited to present the Richie Furay Band at the 7th Annual Carbon Valley Music & Spirits Festival in Dacono, on Saturday, August 2nd.  Admission to the show is FREE and ALL AGES.

This year’s festival is the most ambitious the City of Dacono and I have worked on together over the past 7 years.  It has been expanded to include a show on Friday night from 5-9.  We are bringing back the Samples (featuring founding member / lead singer and songwriter Sean Kelly) to headline the debut of our Friday night show. Joining them will be the Matt Skinner Band who I had the pleasure of working with this weekend on two shows in Fort Collins and in Lyons.

Saturday’s show is going to be fun I think.  Five youth acts lead off the day from 1:45 to 5PM, including students from Mojo Music Academy in Longmont, along with Slow Caves, Savage Cabbage, and Alterity. Mojomama kicks off the main part of the evening at 5, with Chris Daniels & the Kings, celebrating their 30th anniversary at 6:30.  The Richie Furay Band goes on at 8:30 — and ends at 10 with a fireworks display.

Here is some video of the Matt Skinner Band from Friday night July 18 in Fort Collins …

COMING TO THE MISH

mishEOTO

Friday August 22nd, 8:00 PM with special guest Dr Fameus of The Disco Biscuits and The Echo Chamber

This 100% improvisational dubstep duo EOTO consists of String Cheese Incident members Michael Travis and Jason Hann. The duo mixes the organic sounds of live drums, bass and guitar through a variety of programs and gadgets to create a cacophony of catchy dance music. An Eoto fan best described it as “a raging dance party that nobody should miss. An indescribable feeling that lingers for hours“.  For information.  For tickets.

PLAYLIST S8|EP29

The Rainy Daze “That Acapulco Gold” [single] (1967)
Beast “Floating (Down By the River)” from “Beast” (1969)
(D) Lion Drome “Winter” from Curve of the Earth (2014) Ivory Circle “We Will Run” from Equilateral (2014)
String Cheese Incident “Let’s Go Outside” from Song In My Head (2014)
Mama Lenny and the Remedy “In Danger” from Time (You’re Doing Fine) (2014)
Lionel Young Band “Blues & Boogie Woogie” from On Our Way to Memphis (2011)
Jeff Finlin “What’s the Big Idea” from Ballad Of A Plain Man (2008)
Railsplitters “Jackson Town” from The Railsplitters (2013)
OneRepublic “Everybody Loves Me” from Waking Up (2009)
Whiskey Blanket “Blatto Nox” from From the Dead of Dark (2014)
(D) Analog Son “A Trip Around the Sun” from Analog Son (2014) Bob Lind “Colorado Line” from Colorado Line (1971)
Acoustic Junction “Penny For Your Thoughts” from Love It For What It Is (1993)
Philip Bailey “Won’t Waste Time” from Love Is Real (2010)
Five Iron Frenzy “It Was a Dark & Stormy Night” from Engine of a Million Plots (2013)
(D) Fierce Bad Rabbit “Dreaming of Things to Be” from Living Asleep (2014) Drag the River “Not that Kind” from Drag The River (2013)
(N) Richie Furay “Hand in Hand” from Hand In Hand (2014)
Sofie Reed “Down by the River” from Red Hen (2014)
Chris Daniels & the Kings “Jackhammer” from Is My Love Enough (1993)
Monocle Band “Can’t Get By” from Monocle Band (2013)
Jeff Brinkman “Ordinary Day” from Strange (2012)
(D) Paa Kow “Life Is Good” from Ask (2014)