There are days when all you can do is laugh to keep from crying. Right? LOL. Last Sunday it was an ER trip due to a “fainting” spell. Last Monday it was an ER trip due to me taking a header off my bicycle. The bike and I are on a bit of a respite until my physical therapist clears me to ride again.
What saved the week, and took my mind off my sorely sprained rib muscles was the 5 hours I spent with my friend Hazel Miller, who will be April’s featured guest on Offstage …Beyond the Music – and then dinner and some honky tonk with Casey Prestwood & the Burning Angels at the Park House in Denver – John Macy, this month’s OSBTM guest on pedal steel of course.
Hazel is a vibrant, funny, passionate, and compassionate soul with a heart big enough to cover all of us in her love. 2015 marks Hazel’s 30th year of making music in Colorado and over 20 years as a de facto member of Big Head Todd and the Monsters. That’s one hell of a legacy … and with a new album on the way before year’s end and a lot of shows it’s going to be a great year for one of our most beloved entertainers (and friends). Editing down that 5 hours is going to be a chore, I swear.
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
SHEL – PLEASE COME HOME
For all the talk around the scene that the sisters have plugged in and added some “snap crackle and pop” to their sound, they give us one of the finest acoustic cuts of their career.
PLAYLIST S9|EP12
The Czars “Paint the Moon” from Goodbye (2004) Reed Foehl “When It Comes Around” from Spark (2004) Cary Morin “Tiny Town” from Tiny Town (2015) Todd Adelman “Long Arm of the Law” from Highways & Lowways (2015) OneRepublic “Something I Need” from Native (2013) Megan Burtt “Better (w/the Epilogues)” from In Good Company (2013) Mercury Project “On to You” from on to you (2007) Esme Patterson “Tumbleweed” from Woman To Woman (2014) Petals of Spain “I Gotta Know” from Soul Canon (2013) The Apples in Stereo “Stephen Stephen” from Electronic Projects for Musicians (2008) The River Arkansas “A Place to Rest” from Golden Light (2015)The Mitguards “Lookin’ for Something True” from Something True (2009) Haunted Windchimes “Wanderin’ Heart” from Out With The Crow (2012) Bill Frisell “Telstar” from Guitar In the Space Age (2014)
HOUR 2
Rare Silk “Up From the Skies” from American Eyes (1985) The Samples “My Town” from Samples (1990) (D) Fox St. “Something About You” [single] (2015)Leftover Salmon “Bluegrass Pines” from High Country (2015) Michael Martin Murphey “Wildfire” from Blue Sky Night Thunder (1975) Jon Chandler “I’m Going Home” from Sepia Soul (2002) (D) SHEL “Please Come Home” from The Lab Sessions (2015) (D) Toad In the Hole “Drifting” from Wallflower (2015)Peter Sommer “The Fruit” from Crossroads (2008)
It’s that season when flu and colds hit out of the blue .. kinda like operating system failures that cannot be restored. My main pc went down last week this time, and my laptop appeared to on Sunday when Jesse Elliott (Ark Life) and Bryce Merrill were sitting with me in my dining room discussing the music scene here regionally. Fortunately, that blip was just that – just a minor heart attack; my pc, not so much.
Ok, so I did save 99% of my music collection on an external hard drive, and two of my 1TB cloud accounts .. but noooooo .. not a lick of five years of business files. Live and learn, at least the music is safe.
I live to discover new music, new songs, new voices – it’s the voices I crave, the unique, the inviting, the telling … live or recorded. I crave new musical experiences. So when the sickening feeling hit me as Windows crashed in front of me, I momentarily felt like my life was swirling along with the rest of my files – far too much music to have to think about trying to put back together. I’m happy I didn’t lose my music collection. I really do enjoy sharing it with you on the radio here in Colorado.
New Offstage …Beyond the Music this week with award winning producer/engineer/pedal steel player John Macy.
PLAYLIST S9 EP10
HOUR 1
Gary Stites “Hey, Hey” from Lonely for You (1960) Soul Survivors (Denver) “Have It All Your Way” from Have It All Your Way (1969) (N) Todd Adelman “Ghost Train” from Highways & Lowways (2015) Strange Americans “Engine” from A Royal Battle (2012) Papa Juke “When Flood Waters Came” from When Flood Waters Came (2013) AdrienneO “Take It In” from Lines EP (2014) Foxfield Four “Weatherman” from Weatherman EP (2013) Pandas & People “Out to Sea” from SpokesBUZZ Vol V: Band Together (2015) (D) Juno What?! “Stranger” from Stranger (2015)(D) Modern Suspects “Told You So” from Modern Suspects (2015) You Me and Apollo “Ghosts” from Sweet Honey (2014) John Oates “Stone Cold Love” from Good Road to Follow (2014) John Gunther’s Safari Trio “Sisters” from Surrender (2013)
HOUR 2
The Samples “Heaven” from Rehearsing for Life (2005) Acoustic Junction “Think About It” from Acoustic Junction (1995) (D) John Statz “Any Town Will Do” from Tulsa (2015) Leftover Salmon “Walkin’ Shoes” from Aquatic Hitchhiker (2012) Houses “Me & Mr Kelly” from Summer (2009) Danielle Ate the Sandwich “Faith In a Man” from Like A King (2012) Richie Furay “We Were the Dreamers” from Hand In Hand (2015) (D) Analog Son “What It Is?!” from Stomp and Shout (2015) Rob Roper “Me” from Misfit (2011) Josh Quinlan Quintet “Left Then Right” from Mountain Time Standards (2011)
Colorado Case Company a Fort Collins based, Colorado family owned business specializing in insulated soft cases, gig bags, case covers and rigid cases for most instruments, including hard to fit instruments.
SpokesBUZZ, a Colorado non-profit with a mission to develop the professionalism of artists, promote and connect progressive cultural destinations, amplify music scenes, and grow local economies. See event calendar for Spokesbuzz band shows.
The historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Northern Colorado’s Musical Playground, and seriously one of the most badass music venues in the state.
Please visit my friends’ sites. They keep this thing going. Much appreciated.
30 titles added / 12 debuts charted … I think that’s a record for one month, but don’t quote me on that. It’s a lot though.
KRFC (Fort Collins) announced the hiring of Charles Hale as new program director. Charles is a KCSU alumnus and in addition to serving on the board of directors he has been a KRFC programmer since 2013, hosting “The Ajax Diner Book Club” Monday nights at 8PM.
The Colorado Sound radio program began its 9th season; the ColoradoSound.com its 6th, andThe Colorado Sound Live365 began its 3rd. The Colorado Sound Live365 posted its best month since last June. TheColoradoSound.com posted its best non-December month in history.
I became a member of the board of directors for SpokesBUZZ, a tremendous honor for me.
Offstage …Beyond the Music started off the new year with Colorado Music Hall of Fameexecutive director G. Brown – noted former Denver Post music critic, KCUV radio personality, Colorado music historian and author of “Colorado Rocks: A Half Century of Music in Colorado” (Pruitt Publishing, Aug 2004). A newly revised edition will be (according to G) published this spring to coincide with the grand opening of the new location of the HoF at the Trading Post at Red Rocks. February’s featured guest is Wendy Woo and her husband Charles Snyder.
VIDEO PICKS OF THE MONTH
All I can say is THANK YOU to the “bootleggers” in the audience at the CMHOF inductions who had decent camera gear. I heard that the official CMHoF video will be forthcoming soon – but for now, the first five videos are from Poco’s performance at the Hall of Fame induction. Also included this month: Young Ancients, Ryan Chrys & the Roughcuts, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Mama Lenny & the Remedy, Eldren, American Blackout, The Sound and Color, Archive Nights.
TOP 40 Spins January 2015
235 titles tracked
113 (48%) titles identified as played at least once in the reporting period
Stations/shows surveyed: 15
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep/single debut on chart
(R) = re-enter
[date] = Date added to reporting list
(D) 1. Bill Frisell– Guitar In the Space Age (Okeh Records) Instrumental/rock/pop/country [18-Nov-14]
This wasn’t even close. This is the first time I can recall where an instrumental record debuts atop the monthly spins chart, and it did it by a landslide in number of stations playing, and the total number of spins, and frequencies it’s heard on. If you listen to public/community/NPR radio anywhere in the state, you hear this record. It is the most accessible and pop based of all of Frisell’s recordings.
(2) 2. Leftover Salmon–High Country (LoS) Americana, bluegrass, rock [8-Nov-14]
(1) 3. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers) Americana, bluegrass [6-Sep-14]
(4) 4. Ark Life– The Dream of You & Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock, folk-rock [28-Jun-14]
(D) 5. Various– SpokesBUZZ Compilation V: Band Together (SpokesBUZZ) Variety [20-Dec-14](18) 6. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline (Artist Alliance) Jazz/Instrumental [1-Oct-14]
(3) 7. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative, pop [14-Aug-14]
(D) 8. Jeff Austin– The Simple Truth (Yep Roc) AAA, bluegrass, pop/rock [20-Dec-04]
(D) 9. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways (Porch Lantern Music) Americana, country-rock [8-Jan-15]
(9) 10. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head (SCI Fidelity) AAA, rock, jamband [12-Apr-14]
(D) 11. Brother’s Keeper– Todd Meadows (8150 Records) AAA, rock [20-Dec-14]
(17) 12. Euforquestra – Fire (self) AAA, funk, reggae, jamband [22-Feb-14]
(24) 13. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster (self) Rock [23-Aug-14]
(8) 14. Elephant Revival– These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [1-Aug-13]
(D) 15. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky To the Bone (self) Blues, r&b, funk [15-Jan-15]
(R) 16. Pandas & People – S/T (self) AAA, acoustic rock, pop [5-Jul-14]
(R) 17. Safe Boating is No Accident– Bonus Features (Hot Congress Records) Indie/New Alternative, pop [26-Feb-14]
(21) 17. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace (self) Rock, alt-country-rock [18-Oct-14]
(R) 18. Born to Wander– S/T (self) Jazz, folk, vocal [1-Oct-14]
(D) 18. Land Lines – The Natural World (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock [31-Jan-15](23) 19. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake –Totem (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock [8-Nov-14]
(R) 20. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning (self) Rock, rhythm & blues, soul [13-Jun-14]
(13) 21. The Motet– The Motet (self) Urban Contemporary, funk [4-Jan-14]
(D) 22. Cary Morin – Tiny Town (self) Blues, acoustic/folk [31-Dec-14]
(R) 22. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) AAA, pop [1-Aug-13]
(5) 23. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West (NeverFoehl Records) Folk, singer-songwriter, pop [13-Sep-14]
(D) 24. Eef & the Blues Express – All Rivers Run to the Sea (Blue River Records) Blues [8-Jan-15]
(30) 25. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Living Asleep (self) Indie/New Alternative, pop/rock [19-Jul-14]
(22) 26. Fruition & Grant Farm – Meeting On the Mountain (Grant Central Records) Rock, jamband [1-Oct-14]
(11) 27. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock, rhythm & blues [26-Apr-14]
(R) 28. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Americana, bluegrass [1-Oct-13]
(14) 29. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative, folk [5-Apr-14]
(28) 30. Kyle Hollingsworth – Speed of Life (SCI Fidelity) AAA, rock/pop [6-Sep-14]
(D) 30. The Sound and Color – S/T (self) Alternative, rock/pop [1-Jan-15]
(R) 31. Kate LeRoux – Phoenix (self) Country, pop [17-May-14]
(D) 31. Richard Dean – Accidental Human (self) Folk, singer-songwriter, country, rock [1-Jan-15]
(35) 31. Sofie Reed – Red Hen (self) Blues, folk, acoustic [20-Jun-14]
(D) 32. Ben Gallagher – Heart Shaped Rocks (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock, americana [1-Jan-15](D) 32. J. Miller Band – One More High, One More Low (self) Americana, bluegrass, country [1-Mar-14]
(33) 33. Ben Markley-Clint Ashlock Quintet – The Return (Dazzle Jazz) Jazz/Instrumental [22-Nov-14]
ADDED TO TRACKING JANUARY 2015
Archive Nights – 3P-Scribo EP (Rock)
Ashley Raines and the New West Revue – After the Bruising (Americana)
Audi Y Zentimiento – Simplemente Audi (World)
Augustus – The Common Collapse EP (Americana)
Avourneen – Beloved (World)
Ben Gallagher – Heart Shaped Rocks (Rock)
Champagne Charlie – Devil Bone Crazy EP (Rock)
Chella Negro & the Charm – Chella & the Charm (Indie/New Alternative)
Chemistry Club – Copia 1 – The Electric Hush EP (Rock)
Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky To the Bone (Funk/Soul)
Danielle Ate the Sandwich – The Drawing Back of Curtains (Folk)
Eef & the Blues Express – All Rivers Run to the Sea (Blues)
Equally Challenged – EQC2 (Rock)
Grayson County Burn Ban – three chords (Rock)
Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth (Americana)
Land Lines – The Natural World (Indie/New Alternative)
Lunde Station – Anouther Country (Americana)
Nathaniel Rateliff – Closer EP (Folk)
Pete Kartsounes – Unwind (Rock)
Porlolo – Everything, Barely EP (Indie/New Alternative)
Richard Dean – Accidental Human (Folk)
Selasee & the Fafa Family – Time for Peace (World)
Shady Elders – The Night Air EP (Indie/New Alternative)
Stereo Twins – Good News (Indie/New Alternative)
Susie Fitzgerald – Restless (Americana)
The Sound and Color – The Sound and Color (Rock)
The Windermeres – Anthem Of The Recession Generation (Rock)
Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways (Americana)
Wild High – SDREAMS (Rock)
Wild Wombat – Return 2 Wildstyle (Hip Hop)
STATION BY STATION
[XX] = number of reported current year (Aug 2013-Jan 2015) titles
Stations monitored for spins = KAFM, KBUT, KDUR, KGNU, KOTO, KRCC, KRFC, KRZA, KSJD, KSUT, KUNC, KVNF, OPENAIR 1340, Radio 94.9 Colorado, The Colorado Sound radio show and The Colorado Sound LIVE365
KAFM (Grand Junction) [15]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Paa Kow – Ask
3. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
4. The Williams Brothers Band – Live at the Mesa Theater
5. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West
KDUR (Durango) [10]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Leftover Salmon – High Country
3. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head
4. Born to Wander – S/T
4. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows
KGNU (Boulder) [16]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Eef & the Blues Express – All Rivers Run to the Sea
3. Leftover Salmon – High Country
3. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
KRCC (Colorado Springs) [10]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat
4. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
5. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline
KRFC (Fort Collins) [80+]
1. Cary Morin – Tiny Town
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways
3. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
4. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
KSUT (Ignacio) [10]
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
2. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
3. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
3. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head
4. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows
KUNC (Greeley) [12]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
3. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
4. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows
4. John Oates – Good Road to Follow
OPEN AIR CPR (Denver) [30]
1. Land Lines – The Natural World
2. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem
3. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
4. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
5. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster
THE COLORADO SOUND [32]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
2. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline
2. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways
3. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
It’s that season when flu and colds hit out of the blue .. kinda like operating system failures that cannot be restored. My main pc went down last week this time, and my laptop appeared to on Sunday when Jesse Elliott (Ark Life) and Bryce Merrill were sitting with me in my dining room discussing the music scene here regionally. Fortunately, that blip was just that – just a minor heart attack; my pc, not so much.
KAFM (Grand Junction) [15]
KDUR (Durango) [10]
KRFC (Fort Collins) [80+]
KSUT (Ignacio) [10]
OPEN AIR CPR (Denver) [30]
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 