(Sunday Jan 4) Happy New Year. One of the greatest things about the long year-end holiday season is that people tend to get cabin fever …resulting in more people in places where there is live music taking place, it seems to me. And I get more new music directed my way this time of year. Westword published their BEST OF 2014 list, the last of the “major” publications and shows to do so. It goes to show there is more music in our region than even we “experts” can account for. There is not a lot of crossover between their 31 BEST OF and the TOP 50 I posted on the 1st. There is a lot of diversity in Colorado music.
No video this week. No new music to share. I do have a new episode of Offstage Beyond the Music this week – featuring Colorado Music Hall of Fame executive director G Brown. If you’d like to download the podcast please visit the Offstage Beyond the Music page.
PLAYLIST S9 EP1 2015
HOUR 1
The Samples “Underwater People” from Underwater People (1992) Sixteen Horsepower “Black Soul Choir” from Sackcloth ‘n’ Ashes (1996) Calder’s Revolvers “I Gotta Know” from Sunday Morning (2014) Johnny O. Band “Back On the Road Again” from Parapalooza Garage Sets V – Evolution (2007) Andy Palmer “Good Son” from Hazard of the Die (2013) Tennis “Needle and a Knife” from Ritual In Repeat (2014) Rachel & the Kings “Running” from Edge of Me EP (2014) Flobots “The Circle In the Square” from The Circle in the Square (2012) Beats Noir! “Where The Sun Goes Down” from Where the Sun Goes Down (2013) Joe Sampson “Moon Up Above” from Kill Our Friends (2012) SHEL “Freckles” from SHEL (2012) Brad Goode “All Fall Down” from Chicago Red (2013)
HOUR 2
Manassas “Colorado” from Manassas (1972) Zephyr “Sold My Heart” from Sunset Ride (2000) (N) Brothers Keeper “Why Do You Fall” from Todd Meadows (2014) Nina Storey “Run for Cover” from Think Twice (2013) Jeff Austin “Simple Truth” from The Simple Truth (2015) Poco “Kind Woman (Live)” from The Essential Poco (2005) Chris Daniels “South Carolina” from Better Days (2012) (N) Yawpers “Faith and Good Judgement” from Spokesbuzz Volume 5 (2014) Rob Drabkin “Feeling Good Again” from Little Steps EP (2013) Pandas & People “On My Way” from Pandas & People (2014) Bill Frisell “Baja” from Guitar In the Space Age (2014)
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.
PS … January Offstage Beyond the Music guest is G Brown, executive director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.
VIDEO PICKS DECEMBER
TOP 40 Spins December 2014
242 titles tracked
114 (47%) 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
(1) 1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers) Bluegrass [Sept 6, 2014]
(4) 2. Ark Life– The Dream of You & Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock/AAA [June 28, 2014]
(17) 3. Euforquestra – Fire (self) Rock/funk [Feb 22, 2014] (D) 4. Bill Frisell– Guitar In the Space Age (Okeh Records) Instrumental [18-Nov-14]
(6) 5. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman(Suitcase Town Music) Folk/singer-songwriter [June 22, 2013]
(3) 6. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative [Aug 14, 2014]
(2) 7. Leftover Salmon– High Country (LoS) Americana/jamband [Nov 8, 2014]
(9) 8. Nathaniel Ratefliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run (Mod y Vi Records) Folk [Sept 1, 2013]
(9) 9. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head(SCI Fidelity) Rock/AAA [April 12, 2014]
(16) 10. A Shoreline Dream – The Silent Sunrise (self) Rock/alternative [Sept 6, 2014
(5) 11. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West (NeverFoehl Records) Folk/singer-songwriter [Sept 13, 2014]
(7) 12. Big Head Todd & the Monsters –Black Beehive (Shout! Factory) Rock/AAA [Jan 25, 2014]
(8) 13. Elephant Revival– These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [Aug 1, 2013]
(10) 14. Young Ancients – Y/A (self) Americana [Feb 22, 2014]
(R) 15. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning (self) Rock [13-Jun-14]
(11) 16. You Me & Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Indie/alternative [April 26, 2014]
(12) 17. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore–Love Runner (Remington Road Records) Folk [Dec 21, 2013] (D) 18. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth (Yep Roc) Rock/AAA [20-Dec-04]
(R) 19. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana/alt-country-rock [7-Jul-13]
(R) 20. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Bluegrass [1-Oct-13]
(R) 21. Katey Laurel – Periscope (self) POP/adult contemporary [1-Aug-13]
(R) 22. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel (self) Americana [1-Nov-13]
(13) 23. The Motet– The Motet (self) Urban Contemporary/funk [Jan 4, 2014]
(22) 24. Fruition & Grant Farm – Meeting On the Mountain (Grant Central Records) Rock/jamband [Oct 1, 2014]
(15) 25. Musketeer Gripweed – Floods and Fires(self) Rock/jamband [March 29, 2014]
(34) 26. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) Urban Contemporary/EDM [July 2, 2013]
(28) 17. Kyle Hollingsworth – Speed of Life (SCI Fidelity) Rock [Sept 6, 2014]
(21) 28. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace (self) Rock/AAA [Nov 1, 2014]
(24) 29. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster (self) Rock [Aug 23, 2014]
(R) 30. Matt Skellenger – New Radio (self) Jazz/Instrumental [18-Oct-14]
(14) 31. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [April 5, 2014]
(33) 32. Chain Station – Dancin’ With the Law (self) Bluegrass [March 14, 2014] (D) 33. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V (SpokesBUZZ) variety [20-Dec-14]
(23) 34. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem (self) Indie/New Alternative [Nov 8, 2014]
(R) 35. Slopeside– One Land Town (self) Rock [5-Jul-14]
(22) 36. Chimney Choir – (compass) (self) Folk [June 1, 2013]
(R) 36. Mosey West – Bermuda (self) Rock/alt-country-rock [2-Nov-13]
(R) 37. Matt Skinner Band – Native Stranger (Tapedero Productions) Americana/country [9-Nov-13]
(R) 38. Monocle Band – Monocle Band (self) Folk/folk-rock [1-Sep-13]
(30) 39. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Living Asleep (self) Rock/AAA [July 19, 2014]
DROPPED OUT OF TOP 40 / DECEMBER
18. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline
19. John Oates – Good Road to Follow
20. Katie Herzig – Walk Through Walls
25. Ark Life – Very Fine Friends (single)
26. Drag The River – Drag the River
27. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
29. Chimney Choir – Motion (single)
31. Moors & McCumber – Against the Grain
32. 3 Twins – De Nada
33. Ben Markley-Clint Ashlock Quintet – The Return
34. Drew Schofield – 150 Million (-1) EP
35. Lauren Brombert – Love’s Carousel (single)
35. Sofie Reed – Red Hen
ADDED TO TRACKING / DECEMBER
Andy Babb and the Big Beautiful Band – Strange Existence
Brothers Keeper – Todd Meadows
Cary Morin – Tiny Town
Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
Potcheen – Take No Prisoners
Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
STATION BY STATION
[XX] = number of reported current year (2013-2015) titles
Stations monitored for spins = KAFM, KBUT, KDUR, KGNU, KOTO, KRCC, KRFC, KRZA, KSJD, KSUT, KUNC, KVNF, OPENAIR 1340, The Colorado Sound radio show and The Colorado Sound LIVE365
KAFM (Grand Junction) [24]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. David Starr – Alive Again
3. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
3. Quemando – Paradise
3. The John Weeks Band – The John Weeks Band
KDUR (Durango) [10]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Chain Station – Dancin’ With the Law
3. Born to Wander – S/T
4. J. Miller – One More High, One More Low
5. Big Gigantic – The Night Is Young
KGNU (Boulder) [22]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
3. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
KRCC (Colorado Springs) [10]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
2. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat
3. A Shoreline Dream – The Silent Sunrise
4. Eurforquestra – Fire
KRFC (Fort Collins) [145]
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
1. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace
1. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey
2. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
3. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
KUNC (Greeley) [13]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
KVNF (Paonia) [10]
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
2. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
3. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Fruition & Grant Farm – Meeting On the Mountain
3. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [30]
1. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
1. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Look It Here/Trying So Hard Not To Know
3. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey
THE COLORADO SOUND [42]
1. Eurforquestra – Fire
1. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
2. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning
2. Katey Laurel – Periscope
The hardest thing for me to do is write about my friends, especially when my friends and I are personally close and do business together. So, this is my public testament that a) I love everything Chris has ever done, b) he’s a very close friend who I adore as a person, c) I am a very old school Freddi-Henchi Band and Freddi-Henchi & the Soulsetters fan, and d) these are my first thoughts and feelings as I sit and listen for what I’d like to play on The Colorado Sound, and suggest as focus tracks on the album. This is gonna be really hard you know.
Chris and Freddi trade lead vocal duties on this album. Lots of folks today don’t know Fred Gowdy, aka Freddi Gowdy, aka Freddi “Love” Gowdy. Freddi’s legacy stretches back pre-Colorado to the mid-sixties, the genesis of Freddi-Henchi & the Soulsetters aka The Crown Princes of Funk; pre Freddi-Henchi Band for those who remember that Boulder based band. This album features two classics from that early era, “Funky To the Bone” the title track, and I Want To Dance, Dance, Dance.
The tracks as were presented to me….
It opens with “Funky To The Bone,” …slips into something that fits nicely next to the Subdudes with “Something You Got” …. and back into the real roots of booty bumpin’ funk “Don’t Let Your Mouth Write No Checks.” …first three songs out of the box and you know you’re not slowing down for the rest …tastefully changes gears as the arrangements sweep across a wide ranging geography of American soul and funk … and big band and gospel…
…gospel – Joy … get on up like you just don’t care and wave your arms to the shear exaltation in Chris’ voice on this track.. one of the most life affirming tracks in Chris’ huge catalog of great songs.
Cool Breeze … the first time i’ve ever heard someone rap in a chris daniels song… wow … nice touch buddy with that late 70s/80s g benson groove thrown in on the backside … big band horns … can i vote for this for arrangement of the decade? one of the greatest lost arts imo is arranging – this qualifies as a class lesson in the subject.
Dance Dance Dance is how it’s done “kids.” throw back out of the Freddi-Henchi & the Soulsetters catalogue. as revelent and groovy as it was in the 70s Freddi! Larry would be proud I think. and omg Doody’s trumpet solo…NICE!
… nice transition … cd gets his NYC meets SF blue eyed soul “Frank” groove on in What A Day .. Chris at his most soulful with a big band horn arrangement that would have fit right in on Louie Louie …
Nobody Knows flashes me back to my Philly roots …Santana / Neville Brothers infused … LTD / Teddy Pendergrast/TSOP …a touch of Philly’s Frankie Beverly and Maze … back to the west side for that tasty guitar solo.
ok…
Hey Chris? I’m gonna have a problem finding a focus track buddy.
Much love,
goat
PS .. the band is launching a kickstarter program on Monday Jan 5 to help fund national promotion of this record. The cd release date is Valentine’s Day, Feb 14, at Herman’s Hideaway in Denver. The national release date will be March 1.
PPS .. Bill Payne (Little Feat, Leftover Salmon) on B3 is sick .. seriously. wow.
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KAFM (Grand Junction) [24]
KRFC (Fort Collins) [145]
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [30]
THE COLORADO SOUND [42]
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 