Category: MMMM (New Music)

Thanks to my pal Russ Christiansen for turning me onto John Statz … who’s new to the Denver area.  He moved here from Wisconsin.   I’ve been sitting listening to his two most recent releases with my morning coffee and email reading … and I’ve requested he send his stuff to me for the show … Folks are gonna be talking about John.  Welcome to Colorado .

It’s been a few weeks I guess since I featured some new music I’ve been into.  This week I’m featuring three fairly new singer-songwriters in the library … two of whom share friends in common, two of whom went to CU Boulder … all three of whom are exceptional singer-songwriters in the best tradition of the style.  All three albums equally should be well represented at community/public radio around the state.  I really do expect to see them chart respectably… and to come up for regional music awards.

David James Band – Street Performer Genre/Style: Rock, Pop, Adult Contemporary
Website: www.davidjamesband.com
RIYL: Ben Folds, Jamie Cullum, Elton John, Billy Joel, Chicago
Sampled Tracks: Street Performer, Midnight Hide & Seek, Alcohol.edu
Notes: count this one as among my picks for best self-written, arranged, and produced records of 2011 so far …. strong strong writing and arranging skills (something more BANDS to take notice of in every style of music).    Equally strong are the individual performances of the core trio of David James (piano/vocals), Justin Francoeur (guitar), and Preston Smits (bass/vocals).
From the website: As a university trained classical pianist, David James brings a unique technicality to piano pop music. Striving to keep tunes both radio friendly and musically challenging, his group’s newest album “Street Performer” targets a wide variety of listeners by incorporating memorable melodies and jazz influenced harmony. The final track “Alcohol.edu” earned him the 2007 John Lennon Scholarship for Songwriters from The BMI Foundation, NY.
Free Album Download at: http://www.thedavidjamesband.com

Justin Roth – Now You Know Genre/Style: singer-songwriter, acoustic pop
Website: http://www.justinroth.com
RIYL: Michael Hedges, Crosby, Stills & Nash
Sampled Tracks: Out Of The Blue (The Orchard), The Last Time, Trembling Like A Train
Notes: It took me a while to really warm up to this record … simple as it may sound on first or second listens, the simplicity and subtlety belie an underlying sophistication that takes you by surprise and is genuinely breathtaking at times … a superbly done singer-songwriter/acoustic guitar album.

• Engineered and Produced by Justin Roth
• All Instruments and Vocals by Justin
• Mixed by Alex Oana
• Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• “Fans of Leo Kottke or Michael Hedges will find themselves right at home with the intricate guitar work…beautifully written lyrics.” –  San Francisco Art Magazine
• 2007 Songwriter Showcase Honorable Mention – Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
• 2006 NewSong Honorable Mention – Mountain Stage NewSong Contest
• 2005 Best Songs Winner, “Shine” – Indie Acoustic Project
• 2005 New Folk Finalist – Kerrville Folk Festival
• 2005 Troubadour Honorable Mention – Telluride Bluegrass Fest
• 2004 New Folk Finalist – Kerrville Folk Festival
• 2004 Songwriter Showcase Honorable Mention – Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
• 2004 Troubadour Contest Alternate – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
• 2004 SMAF Songwriting Competition Finalist – Susquehanna Folk Festival
• 2003 Emerging Artist Showcase Finalist – Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

John Mieras – Painted Glass Genre/Style: singer-songwriter, acoustic rock/pop
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/johnmieras#!
RIYL: Paul Simon, David Gray
Sampled Tracks: Love & Rent, Yesterday (I Wish There Was A Way), Constellations
Notes: John was raised in Washington state and educated to be a musician, eventually moving to Colorado to pursue a MA in Choral music at the University of Colorado.  Like his friend Justin Roth, he is friends with the duo Storyhill.  Painted Glass , and produced by Chris Cunningham and recorded at Bascamp Studios in Bozeman, Montana.  Like David James, he received his formal education at CU Boulder.  I like John, especially his sensitivity about the world around him.  Unlike the others, I’ve been able to spend some time getting to know John – and the way his music presents is in fact deeply reflective of how he sees his life, the world and his family.  A very strong addition to the singer-songwriter collective here in Colorado.

Slopeside – Road to Oblivion (self)  Genre/Style: adult contemporary, soft rock, pop
Website: www.slopesidemusic.com
Notes: You’re in your car.  You’re driving 75.  You want to feel like you’re driving 100.  You put a new disc in the player.  It’s called Road to Oblivion.  You know the band.  You know the producer.  Your expectations are high.  You hear the revving of a high performance motor starting off the first track.  You feel a tingle of excitement as your foot itches to press slightly down on the accelerator in anticipation of being hit hard in the chest by a solid kick – but it doesn’t emerge.  Instead you get a limp ____ of a foot in the chest – and the makings of a solid, if uninspiring, album dedicated to soft voices, lush harmonies, subdued tones, and the old “a little bit of rocknroll, a little bit of country” vibe.  Producer John McVey, a smoking singer/songwriter in his own right and well known for this kind of soft adult contemporary work (think Shawn Colvin and early John Mayer), eases up on the rocky road feel here in favor of an old school Buick floating down the highway.

Disclaimer:  I’ve known drummer Norris Jones for over 20 years; he played in one of my older bands, and I’ve always known him as “Thunder Hands Jones.”  I guess I expected his once powerful chops to show up on this record.  I’ve known lead singer / songwriter Arn Current for over a decade; he’s got one hellova vocal range; I guess I expected more emotional range to go along with that great vocal range.  I’ve booked the band to appear in at least one room I’ve promoted … so I like these guys … and this is by far the best thing they’ve ever recorded and released.  But it is not good enough, sadly.  I want more.

It’s okay to be soft and easy going, and even to lending a bit of Bon Jovi’s inspired country-rock vibe in your style, but please don’t tease kids — kill it … (even if it’s a love song) … make my foot slam the pedal to the floor board… make me grip the wheel, max the speakers, and drive the road to oblivion – after all, that’s what the album is called, isn’t it?  Favorite tracks include the dreamier love songs “Love You More” and “Don’t Know Why.”

Max Speed Desired:  100.  Speed Achieved:  60 (which is fast enough if you’re driving an old Buick).

Mountain Standard Time – Mountain Standard Time (self) Genre/Style: rock, bluegrass, jamgrass
Website: www.mstband.com
Notes: There is considerable buzz among some of my peers and collegues in the scene about this band.  I can see why.  I haven’t seen them live, but after this album I am excited at doing just that.  There have been other jamgrassers in the region who have tried this – adding sax to the band – adding in some jazz elements, etc… to not such grand accomplishment.  The guitarist and sax player are jaw dropping good.  I’d love to see guitarist Stanton Sutton go riff for riff with the likes of someone like national flatpicking champ Tyler Grant (Emmitt-Nershi Band, The Grant Farm).  I’d love to see saxophonist Kyle Stersic throw down at someplace like Dazzle or Jazz @ Jacks.  As a debut, this is great.  There is a bit too heavy a reliance on the oh-so-typical country/bluegrass shuffle, as the players are really about showcasing their jam chops, but I expect that will settle down a bit over future recordings.  There are some hits and misses vocally as well, though overall there’s enough strength there to keep my interest.  Also, all too typical of a lot of jam bands (and jazz) 4 of the 10 songs are over six minutes – perfect for jazz, not so perfect for grass … and not too good for radio programs like mine that prefer songs under five minutes as much as possible.  Otherwise, where others have given their best effort, MST succeeded in making me forget about Leftover Salmon for 49.3 minutes.  Favorite songs include…. welllllll…. the whole album I guess … this one stays in the player a while.