Live music is happening in Colorado. No, it’s not like it was. There are no rooms packed elbow to elbow, there are no festivals, and this is no Red Rocks or any of the other exceptional outdoor live music venues we typically enjoy every summer. But there is live music.
Over the past two weekends I’ve driven over a thousand miles in-state, during which I saw or heard live music taking place in the Poudre Canyon, Grand Lake, Snowmass, Basalt and Buena Vista.
This past Saturday my girlfriend Claire and I hosted a driveway concert at her house in suburbia Brighton with Float Like A Buffalo. At nearly 100 degrees the driveway was hot, and obviously (since we were social distancing) not too many people could be seen, though a few brave souls did hang with us.
The band works hard to fit locally into the spaces carved by the pure funky-soul of the Motet, the jazz infused funk of Euforquestra, and the big horn ska of 12 Cents for Marvin among Colorado’s top tier of horn driven bands.
They do drive some ska inspired music. They do some soul driven music and they do have moments where they exert themselves in the jazz vein. But you’d really have to go back to the late 60s/early 70s bands like Pacific Gas & Electric, Ides of March and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to authenticate Float Like A Buffalo as a horn driven rock band.
One of the songs in their set is being recorded as a single, which I hope is a September release. As I sat and drifted into the music, the groove and essence of the performance took me back to the 1969 CTA debut, and that band’s stellar cover of the Steve Winwood classic I’m A Man… a song Float Like a Buffalo would do an admirable job covering themselves.
They’ve already played a COVID restricted summer of yard and driveway shows and will be a part of Levitt In Your Living Room on AUG 12. Next, they hope that 2021 affords them an opportunity to play to audiences in other states, and around ours (much more likely). Whoever gets to see them is in for a treat.
Monday AUG 03 2020 – Cary Morin’s new album, Dockside Saints, isn’t yet officially available for mass consumption via Spotify or YouTube but that doesn’t mean it’s not getting some love from radio where it jumps to #1 this week in the statewide radio airplay chart. Charlie Stevens new self titled release (serviced by Rocky Mountain Music Network LLC) makes its debut this week at #3, while Down Time extends its TOP five position another week.
The Video Pick of the WeekI Can’t Breathe (Again) Feat. Wil Guice, Chy Reco, Ramond, A Meazy (at bottom of post) is a tribute to the BLM movement. Created by some of Denver’s top hip-hop producers and emcees, in a state of mourning for black lives taken by police, the video is a stunning local reminder of what we’ve seen on the streets and in the news this summer.
Live music is alive and doing as reasonably well as we might expect during COVID. A long interior drive this weekend took us into Walden, Winter Park, Grand Lake and Estes Park. Grand Lake and Estes were of course jumpin. We heard several acoustic acts singing hits from various small stages.
My friends at the Mishawaka have concerts on the calendar with the likes of the Yawpers (AUG 29) and Patti Fiasco (AUG 28).
Aug 8: Bret Billings w Greg Schochet & Halden Wofford
Aug 9: Taarka
I am happy to support FOCOMA (Fort Collins Musician Association) Drive and Jive – a weekly series showcasing some of Northern Colorado’s popular acts.
Please help Rocky Mountain Music Relief feed musicians. Donations of $15 or more receive a #COmusic COVID mask as a thank you. Proceeds will benefit food needy musicians and their families. Please make sure to provide your address so we can mail your mask.
TOP 5 WK ENDING AUGUST 01
Spinitron Designed to benefit non-commercial public and college radio stations, record promoters are among those most likely to benefit from the detailed search function. Currently 12 Colorado radio stations use Spinitron.
COLORADO RADIO(14 stations / 112 titles tracked)
1. CARY MORIN – Dockside Saints LP (Jul-20)
2. NATHANIEL RATELIFF – And It’s Still Alright LP (Feb-20)
3. CHARLIE STEVENS – Charlie Stevens LP (Jul-20)
4. DOWN TIME – Hurts Being Alive LP (Mar-20)
5. WHITEWATER RAMBLE – Pseudonymous LP (Feb-20)
ROOTS MUSIC REPORT(inc international, national and Internet radio; irrespective of date / year of release)
1. REVEREND FREAKCHILD– The Bodhisattva Blues LP (Mar-20)
2. NATHANIEL RATELIFF – And It’s Still Alright LP (Feb-20)
3. CARY MORIN – Dockside Saints LP (Jul-20)
4. MOJOMAMA – Red White and Blues LP (May-18)
5. LEE SIMS – A Few More Miles to Go LP (May-20)
The Mishawakais a legendary music venue, restaurant and bar located 13.7 miles up the Poudre Canyon Highway (CO 14) in the stunning Poudre Canyon in Bellvue, CO. NOW OPEN for food, music and movies.
MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING (MMMM)
Every week I share some or all of the new music played on the show with you, here in the MMMM. Your rating gets factored into my decision in what to maintain in the show’s “for airplay” library.
A REMINDER: Please listen to ALL of the songs and rate them. Thanks 🙂
(D) = debut LP/EP or single
(N) = new track from previously debuted LP/EP
(P) = Colorado Playlist premier / not available online
HOUR 1
Billy Joe Shaver – Fit to Kill and Going Out In Style – I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal…But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday (1981) Billy Joe Shaver – I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday) – I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal…But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday (1981) (D) John March – Sweet Lorraine – For Once In My Life, a Tribute to Ted Green (2020)
SUCH – The Real Thing – Wide Nose, Full Lips (2019) Dream Feed – Push and Pull – Dream Feed (2018) Two Faces West = Brand New Suit – Brand New Suit (2020) Del Shamen – Come Back Mountain Jill – Singles 1 to 3 (2020) Freddi Henchi – Moonlightin’ (1974) Rare Silk – American Eyes – American Eyes (1985)
(D) Jayme Stone – Future Promise – Awake (2020) South to Cedars – Supernovacaine – Tell Everyone (2019) Great American Taxi – Dr Feelgood’s Traveling Medicine Show – Dr. Feelgood’s Traveling Medicine Show (2016) Space Orphan – Superphonic – Shut Up About the Sun (2017)
HOUR 2
The Beach Boys – Good Timin’ – 15 Big Ones (1976) The Beach Boys – It’s O.K. – 15 Big Ones (1976) (N) Cary Morin – Blue Delta Home – Dockside Saints (2020)
Shovels & Rope – Carry Me Home – By Blood (2019) Big Head Todd & The Monsters – Damaged One – New World Arisin’ (2017) Post Truth Serum – THE DISCOTHEQUE – MODERN VICTIMS (2020) Jeremy Facknitz – Little Devils – From Those Sweet Ashes (2020) Lord Of Word And The Disciples Of Bass – The Open Door (1996) The Fluid – On My Feet – Purplemetalflakemusic (1992) (D) Tejon Street Corner Thieves – Demons – Demons EP (2020)
White Rose Motor Oil – Billings to Pueblo – One for the Ages EP (2019) Mama Lenny and the Remedy – Lock and Key – Rain Fire (2016) Paa Kow – Cookpot – Cookpot (2017)
There are over 20 FM and LPFM (low power FM) non-commercial public/community and college stations in Colorado. I’m able to track spins at 14 of those stations that have some kind of searchable online database or use Spinitron.
I tracked 110 releases (LP, EP or Single) for the month of July. A few were advance singles that I got to share on CP network, or that stations got to share in advance of release dates in July.
Spinitron’s playlist generator was developed to benefit non-commercial public and educational terrestrial radio stations in the US. Record promoters, agents and artists are among those most likely to benefit from Spinitron’s detailed and advanced search function.
Live music is happening in Colorado. No, it’s not like it was. There are no rooms packed elbow to elbow, there are no festivals, and this is no Red Rocks or any of the other exceptional outdoor live music venues we typically enjoy every summer. But there is live music. 
Please help 
Spinitron’s playlist generator was developed to 
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 